Virgin Mary Beheaded!

[Chris OConnor]

This is the stained image on a window in Clearwater, FL that looks similar to the Virgin Mary. Shermer mentions it in How We Believe. Since I took the above picture a vandal has shot out the top panes of glass with a pellet or BB gun completely shattering them. "The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them"

[Chris OConnor]

Professor Richard Dawkins and Dr. Michael Shermer conversing inside the Virgin Mary building. We were standing inside a large room filled with souvenirs and gift items. One thing that blew my mind were the dozens of plaques on the walls with direct messages from Jesus (or was it Mary?) to the owners of the building...meant to be shared with the visitors of course. Amazing. These people really raked in the dough for a long time. Now that the windows are broke I don't see many people standing outside staring at the lower remaining section of the window anymore. But some still come to pray...and donate. "The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them"

[Chris OConnor]

This picture shows how the base looks with thousands of candles and flowers. "The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them"

[Chris OConnor]

This is what the window looked like immediately following the vandalization. "The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them"

[Chris OConnor]

This hand-carved cross took no less than two full years for the artist to complete. I'm not sure what the hold up was, but he definitely didn't work on it every day...or even every week. For months it seemed to be covered in a blue tarp, perhaps waiting for the owners of the building to make further payments to the artist so he could continue his work. "The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them"

[Chris OConnor]

And this is James "The Amazing" Randi, borrowing my cell phone and making a long distance call. Someone remind me to send him the bill please. Thanks. "The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them"

[Chris OConnor]

Michael Shermer and James Randi. These pictures are from the 2003 Atheist Alliance International Convention in Tampa, FL. "The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them"

[Chris OConnor]

Professor Dawkins about to break into a Riverdance routine. "The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them"

[Chris OConnor]

Richard Dawkins, Michael Shermer, and James Randi. "The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them"

[Chris OConnor]

And again.... "The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them"