Well, maybe not more. The story that follows is interesting to me for a number of reasons, primarily, I think, because it helps to illustrate the "fallacy" of religion. There are many catholics in the world (not to pick on the catholics but, well, here I go) but how many of them believe in demonic possession? How many believe that this can be "cured" by exorcism? If we were to ask 10,000 catholics what they believe regarding demonic possession I think most would try to equivocate. Why? Because, IMO, the idea is so very preposterous. Yet their religion says that it is possible. Doesn't it? It's not something that they talk about much but there it still is, in 2007. So the typical catholic will shrug his shoulders and figure that this is one of them there "mysteries" and forget about it. Anyway:

Priest jailed for exorcism death

A Romanian priest has been jailed for 14 years for conducting an exorcism that led to the death of a nun who he believed was possessed by devils.
Irina Cornici, 23, died after being starved and chained to a cross at a secluded convent in the north-east.
The ritual in 2005 was led by Daniel Petru Corogeanu, 31, the priest at the Holy Trinity convent in Tanacu village.
He and four nuns were convicted of manslaughter. The nuns got jail terms ranging from five to eight years.
Nicoleta Arcalianu got eight years, while Adina Cepraga, Elena Otel and Simona Bardana were given five-year sentences.
All the defendants plan to appeal against the verdict in a case which has shocked Romania.
The Orthodox Church, which described the Tanacu incident as "abominable", has promised reforms, including psychological tests for those seeking to enter monasteries.
It banned Corogeanu from the priesthood and excommunicated the four nuns.
In 1999, when the Vatican issued its first new guidelines since 1614 for driving out devils, it urged priests to take modern psychiatry into account in deciding who should be exorcised.
After hearing the sentence, Corogeanu said: "We will appeal and hope that it will succeed. We didn't expect this sentence, but this is the judge's decision. We will pray to God for help."
Dozens of Corogeanu's supporters packed the courtroom and several burst into tears when the verdict was announced, AP news agency reported.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/6376211.stm

Published: 2007/02/19 16:29:36 GMT

© BBC MMVII

When I was a young man, 19,20, 21, I would sometimes go out with "the guys", sometimes as many as eight of us in a group and just go out and do whatever. Not looking for trouble, not looking for anything other than a good time, something interesting to do. Sometimes we would encounter other such groups, no problem, right? Except we had one in our group who always had to play some weird kind of game at this point. Usually he would stare at the other group and try to catch one of them looking his way and try to stare him down. Or "what are you lookin at" or something. He would do his best to stir up some hostility and then think "we" should fight "them". Of course the plan was for him to hang towards the back and look for a chance to sucker punch somebody or maybe stomp somebody who was down on the ground. His name was George W. Bush. He's still at it today (but on a much larger scale).

Here you go GWB, time for another invasion. Is there a little wheel that you have to spin or are you working from a list?


Six dead after US shooting spree
A gunman has opened fire in a shopping centre in the US state of Utah, killing five people, police say.
The man shot at shoppers before he was cornered and shot dead by police at the Trolley Square Mall in Salt Lake City.

Detective Robin Snyder said: "There have been multiple victims and there are some fatalities," adding the suspect had been killed.

One shopper reported hearing "shot after shot after shot" as she and others hid during the incident.

The gunman reportedly fired randomly at passers-by, apparently using a pump-action shotgun, forcing people to scramble for cover.

Witnesses said 20 shots were fired and said police eventually forced the gunman into a children's clothing store.

At least two men, aged 16 and 50, were in a critical condition following the incident, a University Hospital spokesperson said.

'Frantic'

Antique store owner Barrett Dodds, 29, said he saw a man in a trench coat exchanging fire with a police officer.

He said: "I saw the cops go in the store. I saw the shooter go down."

Shopper Barb McKeown, 60, who was in another antique shop, said two frantic women ran in and reported gunshots.

"Then we heard shot after shot after shot - loud, loud, loud," she said.

Streets outside the centre were blocked, as police swarmed around the scene.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6356071.stm

Published: 2007/02/13 05:18:07 GMT

© BBC MMVII

I just finished reading, while on vacation, "The God Delusion", by Richard Dawkins. Very well written and very thought provoking. I returned home and read a post on "Whit's Whittlings" about an Ivan Karamazov quote questioning whether or not mankind can have a society in which some things are not permitted if there is no "God".

This question is well addressed in Dr. Dawkins' book, I will soon be posting some thoughts on what I read. For now, here's this: you only think you "need" an imaginary "God" in your life, you have been programmed to think this way from birth. This can be overcome. I'm here to help. Read more (or read the Dawkins book) if you dare.

I'm off to Brewers Fantasy Camp! Back in a week, in time for kickoff, I hope.