Vatican Official: Muslims Outnumber Catholics

Intresting how they don't mention anything about the many people converting from Catholicism (or other religions) into Islam.....

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23885015/?GT1=43001

VATICAN CITY - Islam has surpassed Roman Catholicism as the world's largest religion, the Vatican newspaper said Sunday."For the first time in history, we are no longer at the top: Muslims have overtaken us," Monsignor Vittorio Formenti said in an interview with the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano. Formenti compiles the Vatican's yearbook.

He said that Catholics accounted for 17.4 percent of the world population — a stable percentage — while Muslims were at 19.2 percent."It is true that while Muslim families, as is well known, continue to make a lot of children, Christian ones on the contrary tend to have fewer and fewer," the monsignor said.

Formenti said that the data refer to 2006. The figures on Muslims were put together by Muslim countries and then provided to the United Nations, he said, adding that the Vatican could only vouch for its own data.

When considering all Christians and not just Catholics, Christians make up 33 percent of the world population, Formenti said.

Spokesmen for the Vatican and the United Nations did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment Sunday.

Self-Delusions...

Are good! It's okay to lie to yourself!!

Yea, I know you think I'm crazy... but think of how depressing the world would be if we looked it at they way it should be. The realism is too depressing. We would be in a constant state of dissarray. Afterall, its the people who have a very clear realistic idea of the world that are depressed. It would diminish the confidence we set in our goals. By thinking 'delusionally' -- life wouldn't be half bad.

For example... going into an exam thinking you will ace it, even if you didn't study for it is infinitely better because you have given yourself the delusion to thinking you will do well. You will feel more relaxed while taking the exam and probably do better on it than being nervous and thinking that you bomb it miserably. Maybe this simple act of deluding yourself will earn you several more points for the increased confidence and clear mindset you arranged for yourself.

Here's the link that explains it so much better.

So my friends.... endorse yourself with the highest self delusions around. It's the opposite mindset of "I can't do this". And it will make your getting through the long days that much more bearable.

Feed the hungry...

... while testing your vocabulary!

www.FreeRice.com is a site that tests and improves your vocabulary. For every right word, you give 20 grams of rice to help end hunger in the world's poorest nations. There are no annoying "enter your name here" type questions. As the site's warning says, the vocabulary you learn may make you smarter, increase job performance, prep for SAT's and other exams, improve reading & writing and so many others. You may play as long as you want, and may quit at any time. Challenge a friend (how I got hooked) and see how much you can help yourself and other hungry people.
Pass it on!!

My competitive edge....

Maybe its the reason that I'm the oldest child in the family, or the constant pressure to be the best. I always heard that I must be the best in everything. It can be anything, physical or mental. I would constantly race my brother on our bikes or by foot, just to feel that I was the best. I was the best speller in my class. I was the fastest girl in the grade. I was among the top female athletes in gym class and would always be among the first to picked when choosing teams for a game of kick ball or prison dodge ball. It made me happy when I was best at different things.

This is something that I have carried throughout my life. If you really want me get to riled up, issue me challenge. I thrive when I work under pressure, because its a competition against the clock. If you want to get me going on a subject, I am very hard headed in the beliefs I hold the most dear, and will argue/compete to win over your opinion. I will rise up to the challenge and will strive to bring down whoever was daring to challenge me on it.

As riled up as I can get about any sort of challenge, I've been taught to lose gracefully and with dignity. Only recently, I've learned that its not about winning or losing a challenge but its how you meet adversity. It says a lot about your character. Is a challenge something that you embrace and not afraid to tackle, or is it something that makes you a hide behind a tree?

Restlessness & Frustration...

I want to be released of the blueprint of 'a normal life'.

I want to do something huge, something great. I'm tired of this humdrum life. My brain is so scattered and I want to make an impact on the world and prove to myself than I can accomplish anything that I dream of. All these ideas in my head are disorganized like a messy junk drawer. I want to run the NYC Marathon in 2009, start a movement, and join the Peace Corps! I want to just forget the restrictions of family, of society, and of what a girl my age and with my background should do. I'm tired of "you're grown up, can do whatever you want", but at the next moment having rules imposed on me and being told that I can't pursue what I desire.

My dream is to have a purpsoe to work happily with whatever I choose, and have no second thoughts or regrets. Sure, I'll finish school and work diligently to pay for the studies-- but please, I want to explore and try new things, make and learn from my own mistakes. Please don't judge, belittle or try to stop me....

Just let me find something to make myself feel complete, fulfilled and alive. Let me be me.

Dont Stop the Music...