A scathing review does not in itself indicate prejudice. I suspect most Christianists would agree in the example of the Christ that the use of 'whited sepulchre', 'hypocrite', 'brood of vipers' and similar terms indicate a well-founded review. That may not be the case when Christianists listen to Mark Perakh's review of William A Dembski's work in the book "Unintelligent Design".
With a quote attributed to Tolstoy saying 'that the actual value of a person is like a fraction wherein the numerator indicates the person's achievements and talents, where the denominator indicates what the person thinks of himself.' used to indicate that Dembski's value is nearly zero (p. 106) and a statement that "The result is a seemingly very sophisticated theory, which may be impressive to those who find in it a confirmation of their preconceived convictions, but which nevertheless has so many holes and inconsistencies that it is overall meaningless." it can be said that the art of scourging bad work is not dead.
Dembski's failure to remain as an expert witness in Katzmiller vs. Dover - even though he was deposed - speaks volumes for his ability to stand up and meet criticism. In his own publications he is fierce, but when it comes to public discourse and peer review he seems to flee any true debate or adjudication.
Intelligent Design fails.
Mark Perakh, Unintelligent Design (Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 2003).
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Dead Witch Walking
Kim Harrison has a series with vampires and witches and shape-shifters and all sorts of fantasy characters in a modern-day world. But I love it because of the strong women characters. They're not perfect and neither are the men. But there are many strong women who are equal partners. And since that's what I grew up seeing between my parents, that's what I look for in my fiction. My own romantic involvements may be with my own gender, but that's not because I hate or fear women. Strong women to me say 'mother' or 'grandmother' or 'aunt' and I don't fear or hate any in that bunch of women who raised me. And so I enjoy strong characters whether men or women and skip the novels where one or the other gender is put down.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Morris L. West
If a man is centered upon himself the smallest risk is too great for him, because both success and failure can destroy him. If he is centered upon God, then no risk is too great, because success is already guaranteed--the successful union of creator and creature, beside which every thing else is meaningless.
Morris L. West in _The Shoes of the Fisherman_
Morris L. West in _The Shoes of the Fisherman_
Touchdown Jesus
R. Laurence Moore's book "Touchdown Jesus: The mixing of sacred and secular in American history" is one that I return to for fodder. It is the meat and potatoes part of my reading, not the dessert. Today what struck me was his sentence about how women experienced both freedom and kept to their faith - "Living in other countries often reinforced their belief in the superior position of women who lived under Christiainity. " (p. 84)
Their experiences with worse led them to settle for the better. But there is still the best for which we should aim. Today we do the same with racism and more. We can see how much better we are than in some other places in the world and want to settle. But we should be asking the question of where should we be rather than how much better are we than those others. There are certainly times when we need to be grateful for what is, but that should not blind us to where we should be.
The Christian life, as Paul puts it, is one of training for a race. We are not satisfied with our present condition but are preparing for something in the future. We shouldn't settle for being partially trained, but look towards the completion of the training. Yes, we have come far. And we have further to go. So let us continue the path until God's realm is at hand seeking not just for what is adequate, but for the best.
Their experiences with worse led them to settle for the better. But there is still the best for which we should aim. Today we do the same with racism and more. We can see how much better we are than in some other places in the world and want to settle. But we should be asking the question of where should we be rather than how much better are we than those others. There are certainly times when we need to be grateful for what is, but that should not blind us to where we should be.
The Christian life, as Paul puts it, is one of training for a race. We are not satisfied with our present condition but are preparing for something in the future. We shouldn't settle for being partially trained, but look towards the completion of the training. Yes, we have come far. And we have further to go. So let us continue the path until God's realm is at hand seeking not just for what is adequate, but for the best.
D. T. Niles
Evangelism is witness. It is one beggar telling another beggar where to get food. The Christian does not offer out of his bounty. He has no bounty. He is simply a guest at his Master's table and, as evangelist, hecalls others too.
D. T. Niles in _That They May Have Life_
D. T. Niles in _That They May Have Life_
History and Maps
A map that shows the spread of several religions over time. Cool. I found it through scienceblogs. com at A Blog Around the Clock. At Maps of War there are several like this and more.
Diana Wynne Jones
I looked at my blog today and realized very little is about my passion for books. I read constantly, in fact I started kindergarten knowing how to read, but not how to tie my shoes. That might not be a problem today, but in the 1960's every shoe for kids needed to be tied. Velcro has improved the life of parents immensely.
One of my favorite authors is Diana Wynne Jones. Most of her output is for children and high school, but there are a few books for adults. "Deep Secrets" is the book I'm reading today. It's a romp through growing up and finding talents with a couple of digs (kindly meant) at science fiction and fantasy fans. Since I'm on my second copy, I suspect it's one I'll keep re-reading for years.
One of my favorite authors is Diana Wynne Jones. Most of her output is for children and high school, but there are a few books for adults. "Deep Secrets" is the book I'm reading today. It's a romp through growing up and finding talents with a couple of digs (kindly meant) at science fiction and fantasy fans. Since I'm on my second copy, I suspect it's one I'll keep re-reading for years.
Medgar Evers
From The Ghosts of Mississippi:
"When you hate, the only person who suffers is you, because most of the people you hate don't know it, and the others don't care."
Myrlie Evers quoting her late husband Medgar Evers
"When you hate, the only person who suffers is you, because most of the people you hate don't know it, and the others don't care."
Myrlie Evers quoting her late husband Medgar Evers
What happened in 2000
There was a list of things that the GOP disagreed with about Clinton's foreign policy in 2000. America Abroad took a look in an article called That was then. It's devestating, but not for Clinton.
The earth at night
I saw this on Living the Scientific Life (Scientist Interrupted) credited to Image: C. Mayhew & R. Simmon (NASA/GSFC), NOAA/NGDC, DMSP Digital Archive. Can you find where you live? Since I'm just on the outskirts of Denver, it's fairly quick for me.
When a prayer is not a prayer
I've often prayed in my workplace and, even when I wasn't working as a pastor, no one had a problem. But then I never quite went to the extent of inviting a couple of other people to pray with me, then anointed a co-workers space, and prayed over my co-workers space about evil dogs leaving the workspace. And yet someone who did that and was, IMO, quite properly fired has filed a lawsuit "alleging that they were wrongfully fired last spring based on their religion, age and gender."
I think the word for this is chutzpah. It's like throwing oneself on the mercy of the court because one is an orphan - though one murdered their parents. Certainly one can say a quick prayer over one's meal, or when a fellow worker is causing problems, or for many other things. But when one goes to the extent of anointing a fellow workers area - that is damaging the employers property - and calling a co-worker 'demonically posseses' - that is harassment. It's not the same thing as being fired for one's religion, gender or age - which is what the lawsuit claims.
This is not being a martyr for one's faith. This is holding up Christianity for ridicule because of pure and simple idiocy. This is not spreading the faith or healing the sick, it is making a mockery of another human being and the faith one claims to profess.
And to appeal a firing is chutzpah. And I can't think of a word to indicate the lawyers who took on this case - ambulance chaser doesn't quite do it.
I think the word for this is chutzpah. It's like throwing oneself on the mercy of the court because one is an orphan - though one murdered their parents. Certainly one can say a quick prayer over one's meal, or when a fellow worker is causing problems, or for many other things. But when one goes to the extent of anointing a fellow workers area - that is damaging the employers property - and calling a co-worker 'demonically posseses' - that is harassment. It's not the same thing as being fired for one's religion, gender or age - which is what the lawsuit claims.
This is not being a martyr for one's faith. This is holding up Christianity for ridicule because of pure and simple idiocy. This is not spreading the faith or healing the sick, it is making a mockery of another human being and the faith one claims to profess.
And to appeal a firing is chutzpah. And I can't think of a word to indicate the lawyers who took on this case - ambulance chaser doesn't quite do it.
Simple pleasures
It's often the simple pleasures that we remember. One of thememories I have of growing up is our Sunday dinner. We always used the good dishes and the menu didn't vary much from pot roast with carrots and potatoes, another vegetable, gravy. Then we washed up the dishes and relaxed for the afternoon.
Our good dishes weren't saved for special ocassions, they were used to make the ocassion special and used often. And yes, they were used from the time we were very small. Mom's good dishes were a set that dad had brought back from Japan after WWII. He bought three sets - one for each of his sisters and the last for his future bride - and all of them used the sets regularly. And so we took pleasure in the small things.
Now it is also true that the dishes got broken. I remember them on the table as some of my earliest memories. And then as we began helping around the house I remember breaking some doing the dishes. And after we were in college mom found a place to replace the dishes and spent more on the few replacements than dad had for the whole set. And it was worth it for her, because we had the memories.
And I applaud my mother's wisdom, since I have the memories and not just the dishes.
Our good dishes weren't saved for special ocassions, they were used to make the ocassion special and used often. And yes, they were used from the time we were very small. Mom's good dishes were a set that dad had brought back from Japan after WWII. He bought three sets - one for each of his sisters and the last for his future bride - and all of them used the sets regularly. And so we took pleasure in the small things.
Now it is also true that the dishes got broken. I remember them on the table as some of my earliest memories. And then as we began helping around the house I remember breaking some doing the dishes. And after we were in college mom found a place to replace the dishes and spent more on the few replacements than dad had for the whole set. And it was worth it for her, because we had the memories.
And I applaud my mother's wisdom, since I have the memories and not just the dishes.
Young Frankenstein
Could be worse, could be raining! - from
"Young Frankenstein," spoken by Igor milliseconds before adownpour
"Young Frankenstein," spoken by Igor milliseconds before adownpour
And spam
When I first started this blog I thought I won't get a lot of comments so why should I turn on the comment filter. But then back in September I did so. There was a nice note about 'Hey nice blog, here's a place where you can make extra money... wink, wink' And it was responding to a note about AIDS and sin and the effects of sin. And I thought... I don't want a note like that next to a serious discussion, so I turned on the spam filter and it's worked.
But really I wonder who responds to such drivel. I certainly like extra money, but at what price? That of integrity or the ability to have a meaningful discussion? I don't think so. And I've never been a fan of the sly 'here's a story and we both know it's dirty but we won't say so' form of discourse. If it's dirty or pornographic or sexualized or whatever just say so and move on. Just don't patronize me or making the loveliness of sex - a gift from God - into something less than it can be.
And so I turned on the spam filter in spite of my wanting to be a more open forum.
But really I wonder who responds to such drivel. I certainly like extra money, but at what price? That of integrity or the ability to have a meaningful discussion? I don't think so. And I've never been a fan of the sly 'here's a story and we both know it's dirty but we won't say so' form of discourse. If it's dirty or pornographic or sexualized or whatever just say so and move on. Just don't patronize me or making the loveliness of sex - a gift from God - into something less than it can be.
And so I turned on the spam filter in spite of my wanting to be a more open forum.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
The Letter to James
"Consider it pure joy... whenever you face trials of many kinds, becauseyou know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."
James1:2
James1:2
Christians and Intelligent Design
I've been re-reading the Katzmiller vs. Dover decision in the last month or so. And I become more disturbed by the outright lies of those who claim to be Christian. The so-called Christians claimed in one deposition that they had no idea where the money to by the Panda's book came from. Then it was revealed that one of them had asked for the money in church before worship; that the money had been placed in his mail-box and church; that he had passed a check to another so-called board member (who claimed the name of Christian) who gave it to his father; who was the one who bought the books. And they all lied.
And there were more lies. Several claimed they'd never mentioned the word creationism or its cognates. Though those words were repeatedly reported in the papers. Even with videotape of using the word 'creationism' the one claimed it had only been a slip of the tongue.
This is not the sort of behavior which should happen from anyone in our country and it is certainly not what we should expect of those who call themselves Christian. Lies will not bring the realm of God close at hand. They will send the people who use them, even if they use them in the name of the one the claim to served, to hell.
And there were more lies. Several claimed they'd never mentioned the word creationism or its cognates. Though those words were repeatedly reported in the papers. Even with videotape of using the word 'creationism' the one claimed it had only been a slip of the tongue.
This is not the sort of behavior which should happen from anyone in our country and it is certainly not what we should expect of those who call themselves Christian. Lies will not bring the realm of God close at hand. They will send the people who use them, even if they use them in the name of the one the claim to served, to hell.
A Christmas letter
This went out with cards and presents to my family and friends this year and now to you whom I haven't met.
A Christmas Letter
This is to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
I’ve continued to work at themotel as the front desk manager. This isn’t without it’s challenges as I’m consistently hiring people for their first or second job and introducing them to the pleasures of getting to work on time and becoming professionals. I am so thankful for parents who looked me up and down to see if I was dressed appropriately before going out to look for a job.
I am still looking for a job in the church. I do find it frustrating to get so far and then have the conversation go silent when I mention my sexual orientation. While some have suggested that I shouldn’t let the congregations I’m talking with know that I’m gay, I believe it is important for all of us to be aware of possible conflicts. That I am chaste and faithful seems to be beside the point for many of the places with whom I’ve had conversation. I do see myself as continuing in ministry if only by providing an example of a homosexual that is different from so much of the media exploitation of the more vivid examples of homosexuality.
I have started up my very own blog this year at latifundiaetal.blogspot.com. This is providing a wonderful outlet for the sermons and meditations that I’ve continued writing even though I am without a pulpit. I have enjoyed returning to the discipline of regular writing that I missed since I’ve been without the pulpit. While I’ve continued with regular reading of scripture, it is also good to return to thinking and writing down my thoughts and observations. I try to post something there daily.
Again best wishes for Christmas and through the New Year.
A Christmas Letter
This is to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
I’ve continued to work at themotel as the front desk manager. This isn’t without it’s challenges as I’m consistently hiring people for their first or second job and introducing them to the pleasures of getting to work on time and becoming professionals. I am so thankful for parents who looked me up and down to see if I was dressed appropriately before going out to look for a job.
I am still looking for a job in the church. I do find it frustrating to get so far and then have the conversation go silent when I mention my sexual orientation. While some have suggested that I shouldn’t let the congregations I’m talking with know that I’m gay, I believe it is important for all of us to be aware of possible conflicts. That I am chaste and faithful seems to be beside the point for many of the places with whom I’ve had conversation. I do see myself as continuing in ministry if only by providing an example of a homosexual that is different from so much of the media exploitation of the more vivid examples of homosexuality.
I have started up my very own blog this year at latifundiaetal.blogspot.com. This is providing a wonderful outlet for the sermons and meditations that I’ve continued writing even though I am without a pulpit. I have enjoyed returning to the discipline of regular writing that I missed since I’ve been without the pulpit. While I’ve continued with regular reading of scripture, it is also good to return to thinking and writing down my thoughts and observations. I try to post something there daily.
Again best wishes for Christmas and through the New Year.
In denial
David Irving and James Dobson have something in common. They both are in denial about some inconvenient truths. One denies the holocaust, the other that gays and lesbian couples make perfectly good parents. I can understand their wanting to do so. But I don't approve of their misstatements about what actually happens and their cherry-picking of statements to support their views. They are simply dishonest. They have a right and responsibility to say what they believe in spite of what anyone else might say. They don't have the right to distort what others say and have researched in order to support their point of view. When they do distort the words and research of another they need to be called to account immediately by all and sundry. That's what is our responsibility to have the right to freedom of speech.
War on Christmas
Every year I hear about the war on Christmas from some of the televangelists. And it's all about how the real meaning of Christmas is being lost because we aren't greeted with Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays is meaningless and more. I keep wondering if they'll ever look at history. Christmas is at this time of year because of the Roman feast of Saturnalia - a pagan and lascivious festival - scripture would indicate - the shepherds are in the fields - that it would be during lambing season. And as for going shopping the Puritans would have been aghast. One of the biggest problems they had was the way Christmas was treated as something other than a solemn remembrance. They made a point - at least some of them - of going to work and treating Christmas like a regular day rather than Christmas. I don't mean to be a Scrooge, for I quite enjoy celebrating Christmas, but the war on Christmas was started by Christians a long time ago.
Ed Gardner
Opera is when a guy gets stabbed in the back and , instead of bleeding, he sings.
(Ed Gardner)
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