Observations and inanities by a second-shift assistant supervisor in the Puppy-Grinding division of the Evil Atheist Conspiracy® (our motto: "Sure it's cruel, but think of the jobs!"), your host, Brent Rasmussen.
God's Glow
A regular UTI reader sends this outrageous example of spending public funds on extravagant religious structures. The temple being constructed, named the "Mahalakshmi Temple" is near Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. Every surface is layered with gold, except for the pathways, and even the chandelier in the main hall is made from gold. The temple's cost is "Rs. 300 Crore". (Click the image for a larger version.)
I'll let Radi explain exactly how stinkin' much this monstrosity is costing the citizens of India.
[Radi] From a regular, devoted reader of your blog (albeit usually only lurking, not commenting)...
FYI: 1 crore is 10 million, so Rs. 300 Crore makes Rs. 3 BILLION (at INR 40 to 1 USD, that makes $75 million). WHAT A COMPLETE AND UTTER WASTE OF TIME, MONEY AND RESOURCES!
I have attached a screen capture of the relevant info (from the Hindustan Times, Mumbai Edition, Page 7, August 24th 2007).
Wow. 75 million bucks for a gold-plated temple. What do you bet that if the U.S. Government offered to fund such a thing here in the U.S., the evangelicals would jump all over it? Heh.
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Think of this as an investment
In a few decades/centuries your descendants can make a mint selling gold they strip off the temple.
"If there is evil in this world, it lurks within the hearts of men" ~Edward D. Morrison, Tales of Phantasia
At least the Fairy Tale Mausoleum used donations
Of course the evangelicals would take, plus ten percent off the top for the tithe. Since it's from their sheep, it would be reasonable to do so, right?
The Fairy Tale Mausoleum, in northern Kentucky, cost $27 million, but they say that it was all through donations. It amazes me how much money they will sink into such material things, and then they complain about what they perceive to be my materialism.
PS. I sent a submission for your hosting of the Skeptics' Circle.
Don't feel bad Radi
Thanks Radi, but don't feel bad. Important programs like Medicaid and Medicare are being slashed to make room for our fearless leaders "faith based" pork barrel projects. Here are some of the things our government pisses our tax dollars away on:
-$100 million for competitive state grants to promote "healthy marriages."
-$25 million as AIDS grant to faith-based groups
-$200 million dollars for a Compassion Capital Fund to assist local faith-based organisations
Here are just a few quick articles I found on the subject and pulled those stats from "The Bush Faith Based Budget" and "Faith-based Funding Increases, Domestic Funding Slashed".
A few years ago I remember hearing Bush talk about increasing the $1.7 billion per year he was spending on faith based organizations. I'm kinda busy this week, but I will see if I can find time to really look into how much of our money goes to religious institutions clearly in violation of the Establishment Clause under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Dirk
protect and defend
Let us not forget the criminal in question swore to protect and defend the very Constitution he has so blatantly violated. Let us also not forget that said criminal could not spend even a single penny unless authorized by a Congress and Senate that also swore to protect and defend the same Constitution. Thanks for the links. I am trying to compose a coherent letter to my Senator on this very subject and this information will be very useful. How I am going to get past my rage to the coherent part is still a mystery.