A few days ago, a massive earthquake and tsunami struck Japan, possibly the strongest one they've ever experienced. The death toll is in the thousands and rising, along with so many displaced and injured people who no longer have homes.
Lots of people around the world are praying for the people of Japan. I have to ask, aren't you praying to the same omnimax creature that designed, planned and executed this natural disaster? And what would you be praying for? For it to go back in time and magically save all those people? For the people who died to go to heaven and not to hell?
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
A response to the open letter from Rabbi Adam Jacobs
This is a response to the letter in the link below:
Open Letter from Rabbi Jacobs to Atheists
1. Am I wrong, or did the rabbi spend the first half of his letter telling us how there are no true atheists, then starts the second half by saying that he's spent a sizable portion of his life as an atheist??? WTF? Having been so studied in the fields of belief and atheism, surely the author knows that an insignificant number of people would define atheism as he has. That can't have escaped his attention. Every atheist that I know of understands that a-theism means lack of BELIEF in god. This is still not clear to the rabbi after all that study? Jeez.
2. Appeals to authorities dismissed. What do I care if Antony Flew wishes to now call himself some kind of deist. Has absolutely no bearing on whether or not a god exists. Same could be said for Dawkins and Hawking...they don't know either.
3. I'm going to assume that you live in the US, and as such, you must either be pretending or seriously, seriously obtuse not to recognize the powerful influence that religion and those who claim to know/speak for/love/be on a mission for god have on social and political matters affecting ALL citizens.
4. Hitler, Stalin, etc. This AGAIN!!?? Are we pretending that those loathsome individuals were responsible for the deaths of millions of people? Are we going to pretend that the vast majority of those doing the actual killing were believers of one stripe or another? Puh-leeze.
5. 'The faith to which I ascribe has brought substantial light and unique meaning to the world.' Like what? Fear of hell? Body issues and being ashamed to be human? What has the faith to which you ascribe brought to the world that could not have been done through reasoned discourse, education, freedom of thought/action, etc.? My answer: nothing. On the contrary, I'd argue that we are worse off rather than having been bettered by faith.
6. "...you ask us to accept that it's the result of undetectable organizational forces..." NO! What most atheists reject is the supposition that there is some ultimate Truth out there that you and people like you have discovered. Instead of saying, 'I don't know, let's work together to grow, learn, and discover things about the universe', you say 'I have the Truth, and not only is it true for me, it is true for EVERYONE.' That certainty, that unmovable position, that FAITH that you have, is the single biggest objection that most atheists would probably have against the idea of faith. I think that the religious need to learn those three powerful words...'I don't know!'.
Open Letter from Rabbi Jacobs to Atheists
1. Am I wrong, or did the rabbi spend the first half of his letter telling us how there are no true atheists, then starts the second half by saying that he's spent a sizable portion of his life as an atheist??? WTF? Having been so studied in the fields of belief and atheism, surely the author knows that an insignificant number of people would define atheism as he has. That can't have escaped his attention. Every atheist that I know of understands that a-theism means lack of BELIEF in god. This is still not clear to the rabbi after all that study? Jeez.
2. Appeals to authorities dismissed. What do I care if Antony Flew wishes to now call himself some kind of deist. Has absolutely no bearing on whether or not a god exists. Same could be said for Dawkins and Hawking...they don't know either.
3. I'm going to assume that you live in the US, and as such, you must either be pretending or seriously, seriously obtuse not to recognize the powerful influence that religion and those who claim to know/speak for/love/be on a mission for god have on social and political matters affecting ALL citizens.
4. Hitler, Stalin, etc. This AGAIN!!?? Are we pretending that those loathsome individuals were responsible for the deaths of millions of people? Are we going to pretend that the vast majority of those doing the actual killing were believers of one stripe or another? Puh-leeze.
5. 'The faith to which I ascribe has brought substantial light and unique meaning to the world.' Like what? Fear of hell? Body issues and being ashamed to be human? What has the faith to which you ascribe brought to the world that could not have been done through reasoned discourse, education, freedom of thought/action, etc.? My answer: nothing. On the contrary, I'd argue that we are worse off rather than having been bettered by faith.
6. "...you ask us to accept that it's the result of undetectable organizational forces..." NO! What most atheists reject is the supposition that there is some ultimate Truth out there that you and people like you have discovered. Instead of saying, 'I don't know, let's work together to grow, learn, and discover things about the universe', you say 'I have the Truth, and not only is it true for me, it is true for EVERYONE.' That certainty, that unmovable position, that FAITH that you have, is the single biggest objection that most atheists would probably have against the idea of faith. I think that the religious need to learn those three powerful words...'I don't know!'.
Friday, February 04, 2011
Happy Birthday Kia!
Well, my lovely lady turned 38, so we decided to mark the day with a photoshoot for her! We headed out to the park after a quick trip to the 'Boutique' to pick up a few accessories. She did a great job, and looked absolutely beautiful! Bravo, Mrs. Bonaparte! Here are a few results:
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Happy Birthday Lena!
My daughter Selena's 4th birthday came in the middle of the week, so the following Saturday we had a blowout bash at the house. Thanks to all of her friends from the neighborhood and daycare for coming out and celebrating with us! We had hotdogs, chips, cupcakes and ice cream, and of course, lots of games and fun! And special thanks to her grandparents, Nina and Pop-pop, for spending a full week here in Charlotte to hang out and celebrate as well. It was really awesome of them to make that time!
Sunday, January 09, 2011
A Convenient Lie?
So I'm watching Monsters vs. Aliens the other day with the kids, and at a pivotal point near the end of the movie, a few of the main characters are trapped and their deaths are imminent. Two of the characters say their last heartfelt words to each other, "It's been an honor to know you" style. Another of the characters, who is literally a brainless amorphous blob, says to the others, "I'll see you two tomorrow." The other two say, with complete false sincerity, "That's right, Bob, and we'll have cake and ice cream." Bob brings his hands to his 'face' in absolute glee and says "Cake and ice cream!? It's gonna be the best day ever!"
This scene (like all the others) is played for laughs, as we, the audience, are in on the fact that the doomed players are simply consoling the blob in the face of their impending deaths. But I couldn't help thinking of the parallels between the movie scene and the many times I've seen/heard the religious say something along the same lines when people are dealing with grief, pain and anguish.
"It's alright, he's in heaven/with his Father/in a better place now."
Is a convenient lie better than a painful truth under those circumstances? Is it even a lie if it is believed by the one telling it?
This scene (like all the others) is played for laughs, as we, the audience, are in on the fact that the doomed players are simply consoling the blob in the face of their impending deaths. But I couldn't help thinking of the parallels between the movie scene and the many times I've seen/heard the religious say something along the same lines when people are dealing with grief, pain and anguish.
"It's alright, he's in heaven/with his Father/in a better place now."
Is a convenient lie better than a painful truth under those circumstances? Is it even a lie if it is believed by the one telling it?
I haz a blog?
Hey, I have this space, might as well use it! Only 4.5 years since the last post, hey, whaddya want, like timely updates or something? Anyways, I'll try to fill this space with some ramblings and see what happens. Only good can come from that, right?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)