Chicken John, in an interview with RU Sirius, points out the absurdity of calling Burning Man a "green" event with a jab at Larry Harvey... though the context is actually about innovation and creative thinking, and complaining about doing things "the way they've always been done..." A problem, it seems, even on the bleeding edge.
short excerpt
full interview
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Losing Faith
An L.A. Times reporter requests the religion beat, but a few years of reporting the reality of religion turns him away from his beliefs LINK
One can't help but be angry after closely held beliefs are found to be very wrong. That's why there are many angry atheists and Humanists. Others are angry because such a large percentage of the population has such strong, unfounded faith. But who wants to join a bunch of angry, bitter people ?
Let's hear it for *happy atheists* ! uh, where are they?
One can't help but be angry after closely held beliefs are found to be very wrong. That's why there are many angry atheists and Humanists. Others are angry because such a large percentage of the population has such strong, unfounded faith. But who wants to join a bunch of angry, bitter people ?
Let's hear it for *happy atheists* ! uh, where are they?
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Pentagon Access?
WASHINGTON - The Army and Air Force are considering disciplinary action against seven officers - including four generals - who violated ethics rules by assisting a Christian group in the production of a fundraising video. (link)
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Curing a Ham ?
After self-claimed male prostitute Mike Jones in 2006 alleged that former evangelical preacher Ted Haggard had indulged in gay sex and drug abuse, Haggard entered three weeks of counseling with four ministers - one of whom claimed, at the end of that period of time, that Haggard was "completely heterosexual." That claim suggests a conversion of record time that even reparative therapists would not support.
Says Robert-Jay Green PhD, Executive Director of the Rockway Institute, "It takes longer to cure a ham than it took to cure Ted Haggard of his homosexuality."
My Ex-Gay Life :: Reclaiming Homosexuality
===========================
This article touches on some issues regarding gays who don't want to give up on their religion, even if their religion has given up on them. Ouch on that photo.
Says Robert-Jay Green PhD, Executive Director of the Rockway Institute, "It takes longer to cure a ham than it took to cure Ted Haggard of his homosexuality."
My Ex-Gay Life :: Reclaiming Homosexuality
===========================
This article touches on some issues regarding gays who don't want to give up on their religion, even if their religion has given up on them. Ouch on that photo.
Find Religion, Get out of Jail
The old "I found Jesus in prison" is a familiar refrain for shortening one's sentence. Now, the new angle is "go to church, forego prison." What a bargain, if you can stomach all that.
The link below takes you to an article about a church offering rehab and escape from sentencing. Now, with the administration's funding of faith-based initiatives, the program can get even more money.
Of course, government funding of religious programs is essentially government sponsorship of religion. Some of us understand why that's a slippery slope, and why prohibition was specially written into the constitution. HINT: The pilgrims came to North America to escape governments who sponsored specific religions that weren't the ones the pilgrims happened to believe in.
I'd like to make two comments about this article, its subject, and the comments people make in response to the article.
First of all, religious institutions are uniquely positioned to deal with some issues. Take the wayward person who chooses church instead of prison. Essentially, that person needs a group of people to monitor them and help them steer clear of unproductive behavior. Unfortunately, a counselor working office hours, which is the state-sponsored method, doesn't quite provide the support a person needs 24/7. A group of people through a church can be more proactive. So the churches can tout how superior they are to government programs. Twelve-step programs ARE religious, though there is an alternative called Rational Recovery. I can't vouch for any of these, since I haven't had these issues.
The second point I want to make is that you should take the time to read the COMMENTS posted online in response to this story. What is blatantly obvious in these comments is that there are MANY people out there who are so immersed in the religious mindset, that they can't fathom what " separation of church and state" actually means other than "godless commies going hell in a handbasket." To these people, even a, say, a MORMON would be preferable to having an atheist or civil libertarian for president.
So here it is... if our country is to truly embrace its founding principles of separation of church and state, then the secular community must come up with programs to compete with human services provided by the religious community:
Evansville Church offers prison alternative
The link below takes you to an article about a church offering rehab and escape from sentencing. Now, with the administration's funding of faith-based initiatives, the program can get even more money.
Of course, government funding of religious programs is essentially government sponsorship of religion. Some of us understand why that's a slippery slope, and why prohibition was specially written into the constitution. HINT: The pilgrims came to North America to escape governments who sponsored specific religions that weren't the ones the pilgrims happened to believe in.
I'd like to make two comments about this article, its subject, and the comments people make in response to the article.
First of all, religious institutions are uniquely positioned to deal with some issues. Take the wayward person who chooses church instead of prison. Essentially, that person needs a group of people to monitor them and help them steer clear of unproductive behavior. Unfortunately, a counselor working office hours, which is the state-sponsored method, doesn't quite provide the support a person needs 24/7. A group of people through a church can be more proactive. So the churches can tout how superior they are to government programs. Twelve-step programs ARE religious, though there is an alternative called Rational Recovery. I can't vouch for any of these, since I haven't had these issues.
The second point I want to make is that you should take the time to read the COMMENTS posted online in response to this story. What is blatantly obvious in these comments is that there are MANY people out there who are so immersed in the religious mindset, that they can't fathom what " separation of church and state" actually means other than "godless commies going hell in a handbasket." To these people, even a, say, a MORMON would be preferable to having an atheist or civil libertarian for president.
So here it is... if our country is to truly embrace its founding principles of separation of church and state, then the secular community must come up with programs to compete with human services provided by the religious community:
Evansville Church offers prison alternative
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