So, I’ve already blogged about the hundreds of portable, solar-powered, audio-Bible “Proclaimers” on their way to “help” the people of Haiti. Now, not to be outdone, the Scientologists are also getting in the act – with John Travolta leading the way. The article, John Travolta to Airlift Desperately Needed E-Meters to People of Haiti, reports that Scientologists, like proclaimers of other supernatural belief systems, often use tragedies as recruitment opportunities.
I wondered if the E-Meter is anything like the Proclaimer, but, unfortunately, the article failed to explain what it is. So, I looked up “E-Meter” on Wikipedia and this is part of what I learned:
The device’s primary component is an electrical measuring instrument called a Wheatstone bridge, which measures the subject’s galvanic skin response. By inducing a tiny electrical current through the body, the device measures changes in the electrical resistance of the human body. According to Scientology doctrine, the resistance corresponds to the “mental mass and energy” of the subject’s mind, which change when the subject thinks of particular mental images (engrams). The device also has such sensitivity that Hubbard claimed to be able to measure whether or not fruits can experience pain, claiming in 1968 that tomatoes “scream when sliced.”
So, now we know.
Well, I’m so glad that they can find their way back to the Lord now… Pat Robertson doesn’t need to worry anymore about those bad Haitians who made a pact with the devil. Ugh!!
Whew! Tough poll! On the one hand, who doesn’t love a good Bible thumping, but then you toss in e-meter and man! That’s almost too close to call!
In the end, I voted for food, water, medicine and shelter over sewage.
Audrey:
lol – Yes, I’m dying to find out who voted for the E-Meter. :D
Oh, that was me! I want my own e-meter. I want to just walk around with it attached to my skull to see what’s going on in there. :)
Maybe it will turn out that I’m not really tired. That I don’t need more sleep.
Like the good people of Haiti. They don’t need food, etc. They need more mysticism and electrodes!
Of course, if it turns out to be hocum (but what better deity to put our faith in that John Travolta!) then I’ll have to take a nap. And I guess those Haitians will need food.
But that’s for later. Let’s play with electronic gizmos now!
Nance
Well, when you say it like that, it makes perfect sense! :D
Wondering why heavy artillery and handguns aren’t on the poll and aren’t actually being shipped in by conservative second NRA types as part of their missionary zeal. After all, they were putting the bible verses on the guns, so aren’t there any religions that would ship guns with their iconic doodahs?
Well, they may need all that stuff for Montana — http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/montana_citizens_group_distributes_questionnaire_d.php
Nance
JJ,
I would guess that Bible-believing, 2nd-Amendment NRA types wouldn’t want “other” people to have guns. He w/the most guns wins the arguments, you know.
Nance,
Wow, that’s quite a story. The “Ravalliban” is right. Interesting that they’re also anti-vax – and skeptical of so-called “science.” I wonder how they feel about Government-run schools and Global Warming…
But Lynn, if they so badly want other people to have the power of their god, why not the guns to go with it and get the job done right? ;-)
Btw did you see this poem about your topic, at Killing the Buddha?
I Would Use My Last Ounce of Strength to Freak Out
by Mary Valle
There’s been an attack or an earthquake
and you’re waiting for help
lying on the ground, possibly bleeding
and who shows up?
Some dick with an e-meter
JJ, have you noticed what color the people in Haiti are? Do we think they are the same color as the distributors of the meter product? No, we do not. And those salesmen want no part of anything that actually gives power to anyone of a darker shade.
This is America, after all!
Nance
I like Stephen Colbert, cannot see color!
[sniff, sniff] It’s so moving…
Am I understanding this correctly?
FCBY is teamed up with another org and are supplying food for the body and soul.
For the past few years atheists worldwide have literally wasted enormous amounts of money during times of recession, war and poverty not in helping anyone in any material need but in order to purchase bus ads and billboards attempting to demonstrated just how clever they consider themselves to be; and now they want to become the charity police—please!
Futher dissection of this particular atheist hypocrisy here.
Mariano,
I just read your “dissection” and, sadly, you’re not understanding anything correctly. While atheists have *not* “wasted enormous amounts of money,” we have wasted enormous amounts of *time* trying to educate people like you. And, I’ve got other stuff to do. Sorry.
Have a good day.
@ Mariano: Ughh talk about enormous amounts of time wasted. I just slogged through a few of your blog posts. Nothing like turning your head away from truth, eh?
Even though I’m not technically an atheist, I’ll continue to donate money to organizations that help those in need with no strings attached (in case anyone is too obtuse to understand this, that means non-religious charities)
:)
No, Mariano, you missed the boat entirely.
This post is about people who need material help, now. They’ve got plenty of Jesus and other stories to fling at each other. What they don’t have is anything you’d think a generous god would make sure his creations have — food, water, medicine, shelter, etc.
But you go on worrying about how much money atheists are wasting. If we had a fraction of what organized religion has to hand out — under their conditions, of course — we might be able to get our message out better.
Here’s a group that is trying — with limited funds but with good hearts and thoughtful intentions — http://foundationbeyondbelief.org/
Nance