Believe it or not the spate of young suicides due to what is often called bullying, for lack of a better term, is a symptom.
This may sound like a stretch but bear with me.
Republicanism and right wing politics is synonymous with win at any cost Rovian tactics. I know, yawn, so what. This is not news -- everyone knows the level of slander, misinformation and outright lies being spread these days.
However, how in the world can we expect to eliminate bullying if the leaders in our country are the biggest bullies? We are teaching our children that the way to deal with someone who thinks differently than you is to bully them.
In fact, we are showing our children that the way to win, to be a winner, to be a leader among men, is to belittle others. To bully them.
What in the fuck are we thinking? Why do the news stations give so much air time to bullies?
Friday, October 8, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Christine O'Donnell And Witchcraft?
If this really was a high school era issue I can imagine that most young women these days are into all things vampire.
Yes, she is allowed to be right wing, hold right wing views, and otherwise not be taken to task for her earlier views.
Cut her some slack unless something a little more modern comes to light. If you don't you will just be taken as "anti" something and dismissed.
Yes, she is allowed to be right wing, hold right wing views, and otherwise not be taken to task for her earlier views.
Cut her some slack unless something a little more modern comes to light. If you don't you will just be taken as "anti" something and dismissed.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Sin As A Choice
I think something very important has been lost in the politicized discussions that invoke religion.
While we may all be born sinners we do still have free will and choice in our actions. We do not have lie, cheat, steal or otherwise make very bad choices. Much of the time sin is in fact a choice. It's a reflection of how we behave in various situations. Do we cheat on our spouse when the opportunity arises? That is a choice.
The concept that seems to be lost is that we have to leave people choices. We may not like various behaviors that other people perform but that does not mean it is our job to eliminate that choice. God does not attempt to control us so why do we think we should control others?
We are not here to force everyone to make the right choices. In fact, if we remove the concept of choice, what is left to differentiate between those of us that live well and those of us that don't?
Personally, I feel it is a huge mistake to remove the option for people to make their own choices according to their own views. Perhaps another person is interpreting the message of the Bible better than I. Perhaps birth control is something that is not only appropriate but more desirable than more people living in poverty.
Who really would claim to know the mind of God? How can we have such hubris that we think we know exactly which choices God would prefer everyone make? God has a plan for everyone and what if there might even be exceptions that we do not know about?
Whether or not you use birth control, smoke, drink or otherwise make choices that I may or may not agree with is not important to me. In fact, unless you are acting in a way that directly impacts others in a negative way (and not just through their opinion of your actions) it is not mine to judge.
I would go so far as to suggest that removing choices, attempting to force others to behave as you believe, is wrong. I can't know but I expect it is a sin. You are attempting to remove choices and actions that God intends us to have. Who are you to attempt to coerce others not to sin.
Who are you to decide which choices another human being is offered? We all know we are going to be judged... and some will choose not to act appropriately. It is something we must accept.
And please, no silly arguments, I'm not suggesting that we don't have the right to defend the well being of ourselves, our families or our homes. There is a huge difference between allowing others choices and allowing others to choose to harm you.
While we may all be born sinners we do still have free will and choice in our actions. We do not have lie, cheat, steal or otherwise make very bad choices. Much of the time sin is in fact a choice. It's a reflection of how we behave in various situations. Do we cheat on our spouse when the opportunity arises? That is a choice.
The concept that seems to be lost is that we have to leave people choices. We may not like various behaviors that other people perform but that does not mean it is our job to eliminate that choice. God does not attempt to control us so why do we think we should control others?
We are not here to force everyone to make the right choices. In fact, if we remove the concept of choice, what is left to differentiate between those of us that live well and those of us that don't?
Personally, I feel it is a huge mistake to remove the option for people to make their own choices according to their own views. Perhaps another person is interpreting the message of the Bible better than I. Perhaps birth control is something that is not only appropriate but more desirable than more people living in poverty.
Who really would claim to know the mind of God? How can we have such hubris that we think we know exactly which choices God would prefer everyone make? God has a plan for everyone and what if there might even be exceptions that we do not know about?
Whether or not you use birth control, smoke, drink or otherwise make choices that I may or may not agree with is not important to me. In fact, unless you are acting in a way that directly impacts others in a negative way (and not just through their opinion of your actions) it is not mine to judge.
I would go so far as to suggest that removing choices, attempting to force others to behave as you believe, is wrong. I can't know but I expect it is a sin. You are attempting to remove choices and actions that God intends us to have. Who are you to attempt to coerce others not to sin.
Who are you to decide which choices another human being is offered? We all know we are going to be judged... and some will choose not to act appropriately. It is something we must accept.
And please, no silly arguments, I'm not suggesting that we don't have the right to defend the well being of ourselves, our families or our homes. There is a huge difference between allowing others choices and allowing others to choose to harm you.
God And Environmentalism
I've seen religion used to support commercial interests too many times. In particular, statements like the following are offered:
God gave us the planet and it's resources for our use.
Sure, certainly, but this does not mean that God will not care what we do with it.
How are we to be judged if not by our actions? Only by giving us the freedom to do wrong can we make the choice to act appropriately. The planet may have been given to us without limitation but what we do with it will certainly reflect our care and respect for this gift.
When you twist religion to support your commercial beliefs, for things you personally prefer, you put your very soul at risk.
This does not imply that we can't have commerce, shouldn't mine, or otherwise can't support our own needs. However, there are differences between need and greed. We can take steps to reduce negative impacts as we conduct commerce or otherwise use the resources our planet provides.
God gave us the planet and it's resources for our use.
Sure, certainly, but this does not mean that God will not care what we do with it.
How are we to be judged if not by our actions? Only by giving us the freedom to do wrong can we make the choice to act appropriately. The planet may have been given to us without limitation but what we do with it will certainly reflect our care and respect for this gift.
When you twist religion to support your commercial beliefs, for things you personally prefer, you put your very soul at risk.
This does not imply that we can't have commerce, shouldn't mine, or otherwise can't support our own needs. However, there are differences between need and greed. We can take steps to reduce negative impacts as we conduct commerce or otherwise use the resources our planet provides.
Does The Right Own Religion?
I don't understand what is happening to religion these days.
We see and hear religious based arguments entering politics and being used exclusively by the right. The right do not own religion. The right don't even seem to get the ideas espoused by Christianity at times... choosing instead to twist it to back their own views.
This blog is simply going to contain my own ideas, as a liberal, and how they fit into my religion.
We see and hear religious based arguments entering politics and being used exclusively by the right. The right do not own religion. The right don't even seem to get the ideas espoused by Christianity at times... choosing instead to twist it to back their own views.
This blog is simply going to contain my own ideas, as a liberal, and how they fit into my religion.
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