New Year's Hymn

Here are not only two fantastic tunes by Stevie Wonder, but an amazing "this-could-only-happen-in-1966" mid-performance interview between aforementioned (16-year-old) musical genius and an awkward white guy.

There's just something about "A Place in the Sun" that makes me want to hug the world. And say 'yeah!' (which, Ian, isn't so very different from clapping hands and saying yeah.)



I think this should be considered Stevie's application for official sainthood in the Church.

Can I get a (r)Amen?

I'm using up all my Sabbaths at once...

Okay, so I just saw this terribly blasphemous film (in the process, really) called 'Religulous.' I find it absolutely disgraceful that the Internet would host such filth (You can watch this abomination unto man here; ads may be NSFW).

(Please note, the above link was presented not for promotion of such terrible blasphemy, but so my congregation may easily avoid it. Piracy bad!!!)

Inspiration has moved me towards our latest Hymn. Presented for elder approval is Bob Dylan's classic "Highway 61 Revisited"



The Freakin' Deacon

Update: Just finished the movie and got to the thesis of the film: Religion weakens the hearts and minds of men, and leads us further into destruction (keep in mind this is a documentary and like any Michael Moore film, it follows the same template: discredit the other side, show them as weak and insignificant, and allow for airtime to answer questions that may have been posed by the opposition that quick thinking couldn't provide for). As a skeptic it's fun, but it's the wrong kind of fun. It's like watching World Wrestling Federation or eating at the China Buffet in Manitowoc -- it feels good to watch it, but only in the sense that it feels good to scratch a mosquito bite.

I think this just boils down to seeing religion in two different ways. Bill Maher (and Dawkins, and Hitchens) think that the fundamental problem with the world is that so many people buy into religion. I think that a fundamental problem with the world is that religion has a tendency to be intolerant of non-belief. But see, I can kind of see the premise behind that. If we don't believe, we don't get in. Our loved ones don't like that. I can't see the idea behind the premise of hating people because of their faith.

Here's the kicker though. The Freakin' Deacon, my mother-in-law, the average Jew, and the average Muslim have nothing but the greatest intentions for the world in our minds. But we get divided because we're drowned out by the Mahmoud Ahmadinejads, Pope Ratzingers (the Nazinger), and Ted Haggards of the world. I don't think skeptics need to assert that we don't believe (or in my case, are unsure), we need to assert that these guys don't speak for us, and not point the finger when some preacher speaks for the other side.

Just a thought,

The Freakin' Deacon

Nice.

Christmas Hymn: A Two-for-One Special

In the spirit of the "new Black Friday," I'm offering a basement-bargain deal on the Hymn of the Day, with two entries from The Flaming Lips.

Enjoy!

Be Peaceful, Be kind.

The first celebrations of the winter variety came about around 7,000 years ago. In the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, ancient Sumerians gathered together in the local school gymnasium to stare at their children on the stage. Historians aren't exactly sure why, but it appears as though they all showed up wearing winter garb very similar to ours; like us, they also didn't have a place to put their fucking coats for the duration of the show. It being the first Christmas show there were no songs to sing, or plays to perform. The tradition continued for several thousands until today.

The holiday season means many things to many people. Be they Jews who celebrate Hanukkah, Pastafarians who celebrate Holiday, Atheists who celebrate Christmas, or freaks who celebrate Festivus. One of the very charming things about this time of year for everyone involved, is that strangers pretend like we care for one another more (our advertisements even proclaim this). The truth is: traffic's a mess, stores are ridiculous, everyone's grumpy, and where are all those friendly neighbors with those fancy snow-blowers when you're out with the shovel?

I have felt this way about the season for a long time. But it's all bullshit. What really matters this time of year is not the guy in the Cadillac Escalade who can't drive for shit, or the person who is completely oblivious to being in your way at the store (do people get off on this? I swear to god!). The holiday season is, and should be, about the people you love. It should be about being happy, and being excited that days are getting longer, and that we are closer to spring (or the dawn of a football season that hopefully won't see the total collapse of my two favorite teams), and that (thanks to presents given by my Step-Mother, among other habits, rituals, and tools) my kids are a step closer to being literate and not frustrated by reading.

H/t to Alex for pointing out to me a new Atheist celebration that uses the spirit of the holidays to create a humanist holiday for those living outside of faith. It's called HumanLight. Alex nailed it when he said it seems a little silly and unnecessary, especially since Atheists have no problem celebrating Christmas. But the point is, we need to do all we can to make ourselves and our loved ones happy, and that's what this holiday appears to be about. And that's what our lives should be about.

Be happy everyone, but don't try to put happiness on your Credit Card.

~This Blogger is raged!!!~

Okay, so this Amish lady, Rebbecca, goes to an airport to apply for a job as a flight attendant. Her resume is amazing. She can (and does quite frequently) cook for 80 people, she's really friendly, and is used to dealing with "the angry English."

"I have to warn you, the job is not easy, you have to know exactly what the needs of each passenger are at all times. Your job isn't being a flight attendant, really it's more like being an indentured servant," says the interviewer.

Rebbecca insists that she can handle it.

"Great" says the guy interviewing her, "we have a spot open for you, come by on Monday to start your training."

That Monday the Rebbecca shows up, and she breezes through the training -- twice as fast as anybody has ever done it. Even the simulations go great: she foils the fake would be terrorist, serves another cup of decaf, and gives little Johnny a pillow all while keeping her bonnet perfectly straight.

"Wow" says the trainer, we usually make everybody go through three weeks of training, but we all feel that you're ready. Show up tomorrow for your first flight."

"Flight? I can't fly, I'm morally opposed to airplanes and everything they stand for." says the Amish lady.

"So why did you apply for the job?" asks the trainer.

"Well I figured I could do all of the things the job requires me without getting on an airplane," Rebbecca says.

"Without getting on an airplane? But that's what the job is! It's even the title of the handbook, 'Being on the Plane: a guide to serving people on a plane!' How did you expect to do the job properly?" Says the trainer.

Rebbecca retorts "well you can't make me get on the plane. Where's my check?"

Okay we all see the problem here. We all like Rebbecca, she's talented, able to do her job, and has every intention of doing her job unless it interferes with her beliefs. But the story presented illustrates the problem with executive legislation pushed through by the lame-duck administration recently.

You see, a new rule grants medical professionals of faith to withhold medical attention if it interferes with their religious beliefs.

Says Mike Leavitt secretary of the Department Health and Human Services: Doctors and other health-care providers should not be forced to choose between good professional standing and violating their conscience

You see the problem with that thinking is that no one is being forced to choose between violating their conscience and their professional standing. This isn't Stalinist Ireland (just go with it, it makes sense). Nobody is forced into a professional career, these people spend tens of thousands of dollars to go to school in order to get into the lucrative business of providing medical care.

The far-reaching regulation cuts off federal funding for any state or local government, hospital, health plan, clinic or other entity that does not accommodate doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other employees who refuse to participate in care they find ethically, morally or religiously objectionable. It was sought by conservative groups, abortion opponents and others to safeguard workers from being fired, disciplined or penalized in other ways.

If I had gone to my job interview with Beans n' Cream and said "I will do everything except help people who arrived by car because I have the belief that cars are evil, and are destroying the earth," I wouldn't have been employed -- and rightfully so.

It's not like this shit sneaks up on you. You know exactly what you're getting into, and if you don't it's up to you to fix it by finding new employment.

My biggest problem with this sort of faith based initiative is that it always assumes people are doing good when it comes to making decisions in good faith. We live in a society that tries to level the playing field as much as possible for those that are playing the faith card. But it's bullshit. If someone is unwilling to give care based on their religious views, they are unqualified to hold the job. It's that simple.

The Freakin' (pissed) Deacon

The World Debut of The Church of What's Happening Now Official Hymn!!!

Edit: As per my wife's request, I have added the lyrics to the Hymn in Block quotes (below the video).

So, I'm pretty unimpressed with the video. I'd like to record it in a proper setting (not a webcam and the webcam's microphone), this would allow me more freedom and the ability to use my big boy voice.

But I like the song, and I wondered: what the hell kind of church would we be if we didn't have an official hymn?

So submitted for the church elders and parishioners of the first church of reason's approval is the official hymn of the church!

V,1-
Oh Atheists, Taoists, and happy-go-luckies
people who don't give a damn
Secular Humanists, and all of you tourists
and people stuck in a jam
If you feel lost and lost on the cross
and need somewhere to belong
Come on in, you'll fit right in,
Just help us sing this song

V, 2-
Be peaceful, be kind, Use your heart, use your mind
Do unto others, as they'd do unto you
Take a joke, enjoy a smoke, and relax that old world view
Perhaps you feel mad, or maybe your sad, frustrated, down, and blue
You'll get no grief, come and get some relief, please won't you pull up a pew

(Chorus)
So we'll bow at the alter of Reason
and celebrate each passing season
Don't feel down, we're right here in town
We're the Church of What's Happening Now

V,3-
You can pass on that old time religion,
but pass me the comunal wine
You can do anything that you wanna do, as long it don't trespass on mine
Well if it feels right won't you please do it,
But if it don't just let it be
My friends are all here and it's given me cheer
Jack's all the Dogma I need

V, 4-
Don't wait on no fire and brimstone
You won't get none of that here
cheering, laughter, and music, is all that'll ring in your ear
The only vestment we have is a bathrobe
and we ain't never heard of a sin
our wisemen are women, our saints are our friends
please have an Amen (Amen!)

(Chorus)

Peace,

The Freakin' Deacon

Late and Lonely II: It Still Gets Dark, Return of the Grievous Angel

Thanks to the F.D. for breaking the Parsons cherry. I've been itching to pop it. That said, there's just too much to be said about Gram and not enough music to be heard. I chose "Return of the Grievous Angel" as the song for this post. It never quits, it tugs at the heart strings, even causes some goose flesh on my neck.

It's probably because it addresses that good ol' poetic question that goes back to Odysseus and beyond, "how do I get home again?" I just love that question and the search for home is a mystery really. It's why we leave home or just ramble.

These lines always get to me:

"Twenty thousand roads I went down, down, down
And they all lead me straight back home to you"

"`Cause I headed West to grow up with the country"

Late and Lonely Hymn...

Gram Parsons. I've been trying to wrote about this name for awhile. He was everything that was right about Country and Americana. He was Jerry Garcia,George Jones and Tumbleweed rolled into one. Throw in Emmylou, an Angel (type case) right here on earth, and you get something that we'll sadly never see or hear again. I was trying to decide what would be the best Emmylou/Gram song that I could post and I couldn't find one that matched how I felt. Instead I decided to post this, Emmylou's tribute to Gram. And what a tribute it is. I've already rambled for far too long. I'll let Emmylou do her amazing, awe-inspiring thing.

Oh, Snap! (with apologies to Ian)

I've heard Geoffery Canada before; he was a guest on, I believe, Talk of the Nation, in the past couple of months. This is a great program, especially the idea of Baby College. There is absolutely a disparity between the haves and have-nots in this country; that disparity is knowledge. The more educated parents are, the more opportunity their children will have. It's not about money (or at least, it's not ALL about money). Knowledge is power; the more knowledge is available to parents to share with their children, the further those children will go. Even if those children decide to become English majors.

"My guest tonight wants to help underprivileged kids go to college. Well, if they major in English, they'll become underprivileged adults."
-Stephen Colbert, December 8, 2008


Ian, don't listen to anything Stephen Colbert says. I know you're going to go far. In fact, don't listen to anything I say. Or, if you must listen to me, take it all with a grain of salt & know I will make up for it in Tibetan sweets.

P.S. Tonight's post brought to you by vitamin Beer.

He's a Cyber Freak, Cyber Freak: He's Cyber Freakin'

Today my dad sent me an interesting email.

It was a link to slashdot, a uber nerdy website.

The story is about William Gibson, a prescient science fiction writer of the dreaded American/Canadian hybrid. I have only read a little of the man's work. But he envisioned much of the internet has become, and how computers, cyberworlds, etc...have shaped humans.

I've yet to read the AGRIPPA Files poem, I've only slept about 5 hours the last three days, but I look forward to it after finals are over, as well as more good future-fashioned sci-fi reading over the winter holidays. Neal Stephenson's "Anathem" hear I come.

But I'll post it here as well:

Bud Cook writes "While the text of William Gibson's elusive electronic poem AGRIPPA is widely posted around the Web, it has not been seen in its original incarnation — custom-built software designed to scroll the poem through a single play before encrypting each line with an RSA algorithm — since 1992. Today is the 16th anniversary, to the day, of the poem's initial release. A team of scholars at the University of Maryland and UC Santa Barbara used forensic computing to restore the code from an original diskette loaned by a collector and have placed video of the complete 'run,' as well as never-before-seen footage from the night of AGRIPPA's public debut in 1992, up on a Web site called the Agrippa Files. There's also a detailed essay documenting the forensic process, plus a mess of stills, screenshots, and a copy of the disk image itself."


Here is the link to UC Santa Barbara's AGRIPPA recent past archeology of sorts.

Jon Stewart Says it...

Because I'm far to busy to say it.

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Mike Huckabee Pt. 2

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

I generally like Huckabee. He truly believes in his convictions, and he isn't swayed by money or power (okay, well as much as a politician can not be swayed bu these things). His convictions are just weird to me.

To All Our Readers, Deacons, Acolytes, & Who-Have-Yous

sometimes i check the site meter, not so much to see how many hits we get (not all that great), but rather to see where our readers are from. this helps me to discern whether we are just entertaining ourselves (we are & that's really enough for me) or whether anyone else, especially non friends & family, are interested.

so, with that, my call is to all you anonymous readers to comment. give us feedback or give us direction---is there something you'd like to see more of? (yeah i see that preposition dangling there grammar geeks)

kisses & cashews
cheers & beers

~ian

Classic!

I'm sure the Church has seen this before - and if you haven't, you ought to. Anyone want to get together this Friday?

Medical Marijuana
Uploaded by TraceyUK

Winter Hymn/ Southern Hymn

Last night Ghost Town Council made their High Noon Saloon debut to an enthusiastic crowd opening for Wichita Kansas' Split Lip Rayfield.

Tonight's song always brings a smile to my face. It's by the Mountain Goats, from the record, "All Hail West Texas". But for some reason this song translates well to winter.

Here's the words. Maybe my new favorite band will learn it? Here's to hoping. Hell of a job guys.



"she came in on the redeye to dallas-fort worth.
all the way from sunny taipei.
skin the color of a walnut shell,
and a baseball cap holding down her black hair.
and she came here after midnight.
the hot weather made her feel right at home.
come on in, we haven't slept for weeks.
drink some of this. it'll put color in your cheeks.

he drove from in from mexicali, no worse for wear.
money to burn, time to kill.
but five minutes looking in his eyes and we all knew he
was broken pretty bad, so we gave him what we had.
we cleared a space for him to sleep in,
and we let the silence that's our trademark
make its presence felt.
come on in, we haven't slept for weeks.
drink some of this. it'll put color in your cheeks.

they came in by the dozens, walking or crawling.
some were bright-eyed.
some were dead on their feet.
and they came from zimbabwe,
or from soviet, georgia.
east saint louis, or from paris, or they lived across the street.
but they came, and when they'd finally made it here,
it was the least that we could do to make our welcome clear.
come on in, we haven't slept for weeks.
drink some of this. it'll put color in your cheeks."
~john darnielle

Happy Black Friday!

The feel good day that is Thanksgiving was followed by rampant consumerism and disregard for human life! The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, once again, leaves my soul darker and more calloused than a year before. At a Wal*Mart in New York, a worker was trampled to death and one lady suffered a miscarriage. Three people were also taken to the hospital. You know say what you want about our economy being in the shitter but we don't let things like mountains of debt get in the way of the important stuff like iPods, Blu-Ray players, and good old-fashioned trampling. The footage below is from Wal*Mart and a previous years stampede. No deaths occurred in the footage presented, so it really goes to show how much we Americans have stepped up our game!
USA! USA! USA! USA!
EDIT: Turns out there was no Miscarriage, that's good. Wal*Mart worker? Still dead...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Michelle and I were talking about Thanksgiving yesterday. It has to be the closest thing to the perfect holiday. It has become a day that we get together, eat too much, laugh, and be with our friends and family. Unfortunately I couldn't be in Colorado with my folks and their always amazing Thanksgiving. Fortunately, I have family here in Madison that took me and my kin in for a Thanksgiving Dinner that couldn't be beat. To Michelle, Daiv, Tom, Keith, Sid, and Sonny (unfortunately Science had to work, her presence was truly missed; Ian and Norah were up North for the Holiday, and they were truly missed as well): I had a great time yesterday, thank you for helping me make it 28 for 28 and thanks for the fantastic spread. To all of you: I am truly thankful to call you all friends and family. Cheers! I hope that your Thanksgiving was as good as it could have been. And since it's never too late for tradition...

God Exists: Here's Proof

Ann Coulter's jaw has been wired shut.

It seems that her mouth has been touched by the noodley appendage.
Now if only The Strap-On Veterans for Truth can find her elusive penis.

Great Billboard.

h/t to Roesmary on the San Diego Dialed in Blog.

This is pretty awe-inspiring. I hate to be all cynical, but I wonder how many Christians question and judge the actions of these christians (note the type case)

Ghost Town Council: objectively awesome!

I think I have a new favorite band. And check out the smokin' bass player!

Gave up the Bottle


There are more photos available here.

Sex: Keep It Funny

Really, sex, intercourse, coitus,fucking, the monkey mounting the plow, whatever is your preferred nomenclature, is funny.
Just think of the look on your face, your partners face (i truly hope you actually see their face).

We really are ridiculous mammals.




This is from a wonderful comic Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal

Jesus Didn't Tap...

UPDATE:



If I were a Lebron fan, I would have no problem wearing this!






h/t to Sweetser of the Death Valley Drver boards.

Words cannot explain these shirts unless there is some hybrid word for Insane and Hilarious.

Hey all Madison folk.

The Freakin' Deacon trying to slide past you once more...

I started a new blog about Madison area Country (Folk, Americana, Bluegrass, etc.) music. You can find it Here. I'm always open for pointers and such so please check it out, and let me know what you think.

Peace,

The Freakin' Deacon

Life, the Universe, and the Economy: According to John Cusack

i do not have a lot to say on this subject at the moment, but i wanted to post this interview before i forgot about it.

i will update and expand this entry and share my thoughts.
i hope everyone enjoys.

Petition for Sainthood: Studs Terkel

Studs Terkel died October 31, 2008 at the ripe age of 96. In my mind he is more relevant now than ever. The man lived out his days in Chicago, he was not just a man, writer, radio-personality, the occasional actor (8 Men Out anyone?)--he was a man in the neighborhood.

Every time I heard the man speak, he sounded like a neighbor. When politicians speak of "Wise Old Men"--they should be talking about human beings like Studs Terkel. His wit and humor were surpassed by his humanity, his sympathy for the common person.

Although he was kind, he was a no-bullshit kind of guy. The kind of old-time Chicago man who had seen corruption, violence, & exploitation in every form--from the government, organized crime, business, and the bully.

Studs was infinitely quotable, as are the best of humans. Here is some of his wisdom from the interweb.

Chicago is not the most corrupt American city. It's the most theatrically corrupt.

I hope for peace and sanity - it's the same thing.

I want people to talk to one another no matter what their difference of opinion might be.

People are ready to say, 'Yes, we are ready for single-payer health insurance.' We are the only industrialized country in the world that does not have national health insurance. We are the richest in wealth and the poorest in health of all the industrial nations.

With optimism, you look upon the sunny side of things. People say, 'Studs, you're an optimist.' I never said I was an optimist. I have hope because what's the alternative to hope? Despair? If you have despair, you might as well put your head in the oven.

***my personal favorite***

You happen to be talking to an agnostic. You know what an agnostic is? A cowardly atheist.

damn right. i hope the wisdom of st. terkel will help guide our new president, mr. barack obama.

let us give it up, raise it in the memory of studs terkel.
to the kindest of rabble rousers! to us, the giddy multitude!
also, here is the link to his website

also, for your enjoyment, the man himself.

Liberals, God's favored Children???

Remember this?



Do you remember the result? Of Course you do. Obama went on stage at Mile High and wowed the world with one of his awesome speeches.

Do you remember the start of the RNC? The huge Opening Night ceremony was delayed because of Hurricane Gustav.

Today in Wisconsin, I wore a T-shirt to the polling place at 7:00 in the morning. On November-fuck-4th. In a state that has gone blue for 5 straight Presidential campaigns.

Are you with me so far???

NEW CHICK TRACT!!!

Global Warming my Ass!

You Can't Scare Me

This is a great interview with one of the finest Americans this young country has produced.

Pete Seeger helps me to believe in the best of America. That those with humble origins can influence the masses, AND find life, liberty, and pursue happiness is the most American of narratives.



It all puts a bounce in my step.

Get ready kiddies, the election is upon us. Let's blog the crap out of it.
The revolution will be blogosized.

Here's a little love for Deacon Daiv and everyone else. Screw the scabs.

Up Too Late Hymn

I've been listening to Emmylou tonight, and wondering why I don't listen to more of her - or any music, for that matter. Curses, NPR, your nefarious plot is coming to fruition!!

I think this is perhaps the perfect amount of Dave Matthews. I do love his voice, but this satisfies any nostalgia I may experience.



Maybe it's because I watched some of a Steven Wright special last night, but I feel like the crack about the "politically correct world" and following statement are straight from his act. But imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. ("Nothing New Under the Sun" by Anne Fadiman - excellent essay about plagiarism).

Morning Hymn

Don't mean to step on Deacon Ian's toes, but I found this and couldn't resist.



How timely...
TFD

Evening Hymn

Tonight's hymn, brought to you by Beirut.

This song, along with the video, has dancing, mustaches, wine-n-whimsy, and a certain Gypsy-ness that is not entirely trustworthy. Hence, I love it.
Zach Condon is the real McCoy. Whatever Old-Worldness that he may affect, it seems genuine. From the various write ups, he sounds like a real-life globe traipsing tramp.

Enjoy. Lets bang the shit out of metal garbage cans. Raise some racket, hell and Cain.

NERRRRRDS!!!!

John Hodgman warms the cockles of my heart. I will freely admit I have a giant nerd-crush on the intrepid PC; whenever I see those "Get a Mac" commercials, it makes me want to rush right out to get my own walking, talking, lovably geeky PC. (Or purchase a cupcake).

And now I find that "The Areas of my Expertise" is merely the first portion of a planned trilogy of fake history/trivia. How delightful!

Equally delightful is this interview John Hodgman gave to the AV Club. I'm pleased to learn that he will (eventually) be returning as a semi-regular contributor to "The Daily Show."

Add to all this that he will also be appearing in the final season of "Battlestar Galactica." Well, as he says, "Only the nerds will save the earth" (Hodgman, 2008).

Let's hear it for the nerds!!!

So would that be *unt with a Big 'C' or a little 'c'?

So I was dining with my beautiful daughters tonight at some west-side chain restaurant. The place was virtually deserted, but the host inexplicably sat us next to a family of five (Mom, Dad, three tots) eating with an elderly gentleman (probably about as old as the Dad's dad, still able to get around, not decrepit, but retired). All is well and good, until eventually they started talking about someone working at Edgewood College. "It's a very liberal college, it may be a Christian school, but we're talking about a very small 'c.'"

I know this is nothing new, but this is one of those communication practices that gets me all pissy (as you may recall). So what my dear elderly friend was saying was that a good christian (notice the type case) couldn't possibly be a liberal, and a liberal has no place within Christianity (again, type case). This is no doubt the kind of guy that is going to go out and vote for McPalin (certainly his right, but I would guess he probably had his doubts before Palin was brought on board), because of his incompatible world-view. But what about his world-view? Does his narrow scope extend beyond Christianity? For instance, what about Hindus? Are the only good Hindus conservative? What about fundamentalist Muslims (using one definition from a conservative source yields us a person that adheres to strict cultural traditions with very limited Government oversight. Sounds a lot like the the theocracies of the Middle East to me), are they God's favored children because of their Conservative world view?

I know this sounds bitter, and I understand that this does nothing for discourse. But I just can't understand how these exclusionary principles help anybody. I know how it is when we get in our groups of friends, sometimes there's talk about the archetypal religious redneck that will refuse to vote for Barack Obama, but we understand that's not the majority of the people voting for McCain. Just as I hope this gentleman understands that not everyone that is voting for Barack is a gay atheist (or gaytheist).

Just a thought.

The Deacon

I'm so confused....

How can someone possibly believe in God and the theory of evolution? Wouldn't his head explode???

At any rate, this is a very interesting article about one man's quest to unify faith and science, and make it clear that the two are not mutually exclusive.

Today's Hymn

First, a definition:

Hymn

Hymn\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hymned; p. pr. & vb. n. Hymning.] [Cf. L. hymnire, Gr. ?.] To praise in song; to worship or extol by singing hymns; to sing.

I shared the blog with a co-worker who is quite religious. The term "hymn" offered some confusion, as did the whole concept of a church that is not Christ (or other deity) centered. My statement at the time was that "today's hymn" = "song of the day," not "song praising God."

Anyway - for today's hymn, I have chosen a song that expresses my joy at not living in Manitowoc any longer. Enjoy.

Poem of the ... Blog, so far.

Truth

by Leonard Nathan

As children in the schoolroom game
whisper from one end of the class to the other
and garble the message they pass on or change it
beyond recognition, so we
pass on the truth of our kind.

My father heard it from his, something
vaguely involving God, and his father
heard it from his, and so on back
to Abraham, and so father
passed it on to me, but God had dropped out.

And so my son heard it, a wisdom
found inside a Chinese fortune cookie:
"Be good and hope," which he will pass on
to his son, but maybe with good
missing or hope, maybe with love added.

Though love was never meant to mean so much.

"Truth" by Leonard Nathan from The Potato Eaters. © Orchises Press, 1999.

This arrived in my email today, courtesy of Garrison Keillor & The Writer's Almanac.

I love the way it feels like my life - passing a story on with different elements from the story my parents told me. I wonder what tale my children will tell their children, how they will explain life, the universe, and everything...

Youd have me down down down down on my knees Now wouldnt you, barracuda?

larger version here



this made me shake with laughter. also, i'm now a little afraid of ann & nancy wilson. they are not to be trifled with.

i hope they'll never find out how i've used "crazy on you."

O.M.G.

I cannot even begin to describe the level of excitement this video inspires in me.

If there were any way for the Phish organization to understand how badly I want tickets to the shows (one, all, I don't care), I would be holding those tickets in my grubby little wanna-be-a-dirty-hippy-again hands right now.

the universe (revealed)

if it can't be explained in comic form, chances are you need a new god.
i suppose the vengeful god of jack chick is a valid one too.
oh well.

Today's Hymn

I told you I would go three-for-three. I know I didn't tell you that one of these was going to be a hymn, but it's not cheating if the hymn is awesome. And this Hymn is awesome.

Here it is, Tom Waits with the beautiful "Come on Up to the House."

Peace,

The F.D.

Modern Dance

That's right, where's your god now, by jeebus?
Oh, god bless you Emo Philips.

Morality and Belief

I had the great fortune of seeing one of America's funniest comedians on Saturday night. Emo Phillips put on a great show,despite attempts from idiots who don't know how to turn off cell phones and drunken bachelorettes to ruin the evening for everyone.

Emo told a great joke (actually he told it twice as he appeared to be a little befuddled by all the distracting idiots in the crowd). "I used to pray to God everynight for a bicycle, then I realized that God doesn't work in that way. So I stole one and prayed for forgiveness." This actually ties in rather well with the topic of this post.

I was listening to Christian hate radio the other day on the way to Baraboo (the FM transmitter wasn't working all that well, and I needed something to drown out the shit that goes on in my head). But before I tell you what I heard, I'd like to describe Christian hate radio (CHR). CHR is the type of good, Christian broadcast that exists not to celebrate God, but to destroy the thousands of other established religions in the world so that their church (invariably some small minded baptist church from middle Tennessee), stands alone as the paradigm of virtue in a world run by Satan.

On this particular broadcast, I heard the good reverend say the same tried and true line rationalists, agnostics, and atheists have heard countless times. "Atheists have no morals, science has no morals, they use their Atheism -- their belief that God doesn't exist as an excuse to unleash terrible acts on the world in the name of progress." Now I'm not going to get into whether theists or atheist are more moral than the other, that's ridiculous, obviously people of faith and people that have no faith live great virtuous lives and faith has little to do with it.

We can all agree that this line of thought is not the way all theists think, and I don't want people to assume that I'm picking on believers, that is most certainly not the case, and I also want to make it clear that I don't have a bone to pick with religion. I've made it clear that I have a deep reverence for those with faith.

But what does it say of someone that will claim Atheists will partake in all kinds of evil acts because they don't believe in God, and then turn right around and tell of a God that will forgive all sins if one just prays hard enough? What if Eva Braun killed Hitler just after he repented with all his heart and soul? Would then the murderer of 6 million Jews be instantly redeemed in the eyes of the Lord because he was no longer amoral? There is something inherently wrong with the line of logic pursued by the good Reverend quoted above, just as there is something inherently wrong with saying: what's to stop atheists from killing and raping kids (a question you'll come across if you engage in internet message boards about the question of God)? Well I don't know about them, but I don't kill and rape children because I have absolutely no desire to kill or rape children. I think it's wrong, deplorable, and I have absolutely no desire to engage in that sort of action.

All these stupid lines of thought that are spewed by either side do nothing to open up honest religious dialog, it only keeps people from wanting to engage in honest discourse, and if your goal is to get people to see the majesty of God, you are doing more harm than good to your cause.

The F.D.

Been too long

Hi All, The Freakin' Deacon back with you after an extended unplanned hiatus. Ever since school has started it has become harder and harder to find time to blog it out (not to mention work), but I have some ideas in my head, and will hopefully go three-for-three in the next couple of days.

Back at it...

I'd like to start today's Sermon by pointing out what a Creationist is. According to Answers.com (yeah like I'm going to Merriam Webster's for this one, HA!), it is one with "Belief in the literal interpretation of the account of the creation of the universe and of all living things related in the Bible." I'm sure we could come up with some other definitions, but this is my blog not yours. So with that definition we can separate Creationists from many, many Abrahamic Christian Sects. Even the Catholic Church, who is often the last one to the party, recognizes evolution as the way we humans got here.

Creationism is the belief that God created the world in six days as described in the Bible. The Catholic Church does not read the Genesis account of creation literally, saying it is an allegory for the way God created the world.

So with that we can clearly see that the antithesis of Creationism is not evolution, the antithesis of creationism is abiogenesis. The idea that conditions were right on Earth at one time to harbinger very basic cellular life.

I hate to sound like Bill O'Reilly, but there truly is an attack on reason. And I'm sorry to be the one to say it, but if you don't want your kid being taught about evolution, home school them or send them to private school. Just don't send them to a school that teaches science with the expectation that you will change the curriculum to suit your world view. Science, fact, and empiricism don't work that way. Your world view (as well as your child's)will be accepted and respected, but just as there is a place for religion, faith, and prayer -- the school is the place for fact, reason, and intelligence. Dozen's (or more) of major, established religions have accepted evolution as fact. This is because it is the theory that logic clearly supports. The theory of evolution does not mean there is no God, this is something I have been saying since I started blogging. I understand you have faith, but if your faith means evolution didn't happen, then your faith doesn't stand up to everyone else's logic.

Humor

I couldn't help it.
This is just too funny....for all you "The Office" fans.

Petition for Revered Elder: Neil deGrasse Tyson

I can't pretend to understand what goes through the heads of religious people. There must be some excitement that they can only get through revelation. What I can say is that I get the same heightened rush (now this is huge for me to say) from music, reading, Super Bowl XXXII, all of those things provide the same rush for me that I get when Neil deGrasse Tyson speaks. I get excited. I want to jump up and scream Amen. I want to touch the hem of his garment. It isn't the science or the passion (both of which are just amazing), it's him explaining how we descend from a higher order. The higher order he speaks of is an order of the cosmos. And he's right. Look at the basic elements on the periodic table. Everything that we see, taste, feel, and and everything we are is made up of those elements.

We can trace these elements to the cosmos, and the cosmos brought forth life, but there is something profound and deep that connects us, and as long as we keep putting up barriers that separate and label us as Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Hindus, Atheists (and the list goes on...) we keep ourselves from discovering the true nature of the universe and potentially the great life force (and maybe even a G/god) that connects us. I just can't help but feel we're missing something here. And it's not that these religions are wrong (though logically speaking if one of them is right, then all the others are wrong), or that people should stop finding new ways to worship. It's just that we need to start making what makes us the same more important than the things that make us different. And to quote the great Bill Hicks, when we do that "we can explore space together, both inner and outer, forever in peace."

I'll shut up and let the great Neil deGrasse Tyson do his thing.



EDIT: More Tyson Awesomeness!!!

Today's Hymn...

This is something I've been thinking about for some time. Basically it's just a chance for me (or other parishioners) to post music videos. The first installment features Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, and Old Crow Medicine Show doing the Band classic "The Weight." This is a truly beautiful song performed by truly beautiful people. Enjoy!

Another Death by Ministry case

As with yesterday's post, "Death by Faith," this is a case where the apparent need for God's ego stroke destroyed a child's life. Full Text Here.

Javon's food was stopped in December 2006 - when he was about 15 months old - partly because he refused to say 'amen' after dinner, investigators were told by two children who had been taken away from the cult by Philadelphia police.

Members viewed Javon as 'a demon', the children said.

No medical care was sought for the toddler when he stopped breathing, and he died in his mother's arms, according to court records of police interviews with the two children and another informant.

You know, I have kids. My kids are not perfect, and have done some stuff that makes me question whether they can properly think things through and make a decision without thinking about the ramifications. But what kind of person would it take to just assume that a toddler is evil? And worse yet, when a five year old does something repeatedly while being told not to do it, you get frustrated, sometimes to the point where you really want to teach them that you mean what you say (in my case it usually involves taking a toy away, or reneging on a promise to do something fun, not starvation). But there's a huge difference between my kids and this kid that died of starvation. This kid was a toddler. A toddler. Knowing the thought process of a toddler rather well, I can only assume that the adults freaked the fuck out every time he wouldn't say 'amen' and thereby were reinforcing his ability to control situations. It was probably little more than a game to him (at least the first couple of times it happened).

But apparently this cult decided that a sacrificed toddler would be a glory unto God. Not only did they sacrifice him, they put his remains in a suitcase.

Now I'm not going to compare this cult to Lutherans (the congregation that I grew up in), I have seen first hand their goal of showing compassion to all walks of life, believers or not. And I'm not going to compare this cult to Catholics, Jews, or any other religion. It is clear that this cult let this situation get way too far out of hand, and a toddler paid the ultimate price.

But really, can someone explain to me the difference between letting a child die by withholding food, and letting a child die by withholding medical attention? Why will someone in this cult pay for this child's death, when the couple from "Death by Faith" will likely get off without any punishment at all? They both believed that what they were doing was right because of their faith. I can see why they are not the same thing, but I see a stronger connection to their relation than I do their differences.

Now I'm not blaming this on G/god, the bible, or established religion in general. I'm not trying to make the case that belief in God is an inherent evil (as many atheists do). I'm saying that complete faith in God without a touch of reason, or intelligence (using that thing that God put in our heads) is the complete opposite of what every major established religion stands for.

At Least I think so...

Death by faith...

There was an article in the 8-8-08 Isthmus about a family that opted to let Jesus handle the healing when their daughter was faced with ketoacidosis (in its simplest terms, it is an abundance of acid in the body as a result of, in this case, untreated diabetes). Full Text Here.

In the days, perhaps weeks, before their daughter died of diabetic ketoacidosis — an illness authorities contend could have been readily treated — Dale and Leilani Neumann refused to seek medical care. They did so despite the girl's worsening condition and despite the urging of family members and friends. Instead, they insisted her body was a battleground in a spiritual war between Jesus Christ and the forces of Hell. Only by resisting worldly medicine, they believed, could she be saved.

Go ahead and read that again. I'll wait. This eleven year old girl, that should have been worried about whether an awkward pre-teen boy liked her, was instead a pawn in a spiritual movement. All the while, relatives and friends alike were begging the family to seek medical attention for the poor child. And the parents will likely avoid prosecution because in Wisconsin (and many other states) there are provisions that say parents are free from charges of neglect and abuse if they are using faith as an alternative to medicine.

Now I realize there is nothing in the article about whether the little girl had asked her parents to seek medical help (we can only assume that she didn't), but what if the tables were reversed? What if her parents had insisted that they immediately go see a doctor, but she instead wanted to test the "holy waters?" The state would then, assuredly step in, or bring charges forth if death had occurred. Don't believe me? There's a case of a child being treated for leukemia in Canada in which a boy who refused medical attention was taken into custody by the state who was going to make sure the boy saw the treatment through to the end. Just in Canada? Not so much. If these children were seeking faith heeling as an alternative, would they still be brought into custody for their forced treatments? It astounds me that people can look at some of these cases and deem that children must undergo these treatments but will look the other way when it comes to faith healing.

These people believe that faith healing is sound, they have to believe it, I have no doubt. The seemingly dark-age ritual is only around in modern times because of the Christian Scientist movement, a movement that goes back to the late 1800s. I'm not saying that this powerful organization with lobbyists and lawyers galore (if your God is so powerful, why would he need lobbyists and lawyers?), doesn't believe in its objectives, I just feel that if these people can convince others to seek healing as an alternative to medicine (which is clearly the case) then these churches should be held responsible for the deaths of the people that seek divine intervention as opposed to medicine. How many deaths by faith would we see then?

Children for Sale

I love being a parent. The joys, the challenges, the constant surprises that come when you raise children.

Like your daughters playing with your keys and then locking them in the car. After you told them to unlock the doors. After they've been told multiple times that keys are not toys and they are not allowed to play in the car.

I love being a parent. I just wish my kids didn't have brain damage.

i think i am, at least i'm pretty sure i'm an agnostic. part 1: beer & cheese

While most evidence and common sense and the burden of proof all point towards a Godless Universe (at least God in the big G sense of the world, and I will avoid the little g in the quantum or sacred/poetic sense), I am an Agnostic. Even though I am pretty sure that all the God stories and narratives are bunk, if not beautiful, comforting, and sometimes enlightening.

If I sound wishy-washy it is because I am an Agnostic. Wishy-washy, namsy-pamsy, flip-flopping and so on and so forth are common characteristics of Agnostics. The sort that can't committ to a consistent, while also a contradictory world-view-the type that's written into stone.

But, the real reason I can't committ my life and my choices to G(g)od is not because my brain is ssssoooo rational that I can't take a leap of faith or because logic or truth charts cannot prove or disprove belief. No, I don't always apply logic. I try hard to believe in every conspiracy. While enjoying most, I believe in few. A terrible leap of faith, but I try.

Nor do I hold a tenuous, if not trepidatious grasp to the possibility of G(g)od. I do not fear Hell. A place of eternal reality show snuff film where all your faults are flogged and boiled in Hellfire and sulfur.

Nor is Heaven a big enough carrot to dangle in front of me. The promise of golden streets and crystal mansions where all one does is praise the perfection of G(g)od and G(g)od's creation does not force me into buying any religion's particular narrative.

I believe in the possiblity of G(g)od because of beer and cheese.

I find beer and cheese, besides tasty and worth living for, to be completely mysterious. Just how in the hell our most ancient of parents figured out how grains and water and spices/hops/flowers and such can be fermented by invisible yeasts to create an intoxifying/nurishing beveridge. Amazing.

As modern humans we to often misunderstand and mock our ancient parents. How could they believe in magic/witchcraft/pagan what-have-yous? We have miscroscopes and germ theory and partical accelorators.

They figured out how to make cheese, a way to preserve milk, probably accidently.

When i drink a well-crafted beer, its smell, appearence, taste-the warm comfort of alcohol remind of mysterious things. The way starchy grains can be roasted and boiled, transformed into sugars and with the introduction of yeast it is all transformed into something completely different. Wonderful.

Then, during my rambly, if not somewhat drunken diatribe, I think, "Well man, you're in Wisconsin, heartland of Beer & Cheese."

Am I a product of my environment? I'm sure wine has inspired many-a-French(wo)man towards faith. And the Trappist monks....beer-making is a portion of a sacred duty.

Or, if I am not a product of my environment could I merely be in Beer & Cheese Heaven? The perfect place for me, I have merely chosen to go where I belong and be happy and prosper. Madison is an excellent beer-town in my and many other's estimation. Is this Heaven? asks the ghost of a long dead baseball player. No, it's Wisconsin.

Cheers to all my friends. Let's lift a few cold ones whenever we gather together. Heck there might be a G(g)od, but G(g)od sure as Hell doesn't drink Miller/Budweiser/Coors.

"We the Nation need to ask ourselves what's going on"

This is probably the best thing ever. Sorry for the lack of updates. All three of you...

There is no telling how much this video made me laugh. My face hurts...
The FFD

The Future

I think this might be why Michelle is so against entertainment of the electronical variety.

Woah, man

I found this website interesting. I've read a lot about what Earth might have been like billions of years ago, but I've not seen/read much about what it might be like in the distant future.

Randomness!

This guy scares me. The site comes complete with lyric - so even if you really can't stand to listen to it, you can read the pure silliness. But at least he's got a good justification for writing it.

An another note, I'm finding this guide oddly fascinating. I'd really like to edit something right now.

Petition for Revered Elder: Stephen Hawking

This is why:

"Even if there is only one possible unified theory, it is just a set of rules and equations. What is it that breathes fire into the equations and makes a universe for them to describe? The usual approach of science of constructing a mathematical model cannot answer the questions of why there should be a universe for the model to describe. Why does the universe go to all the bother of existing?" From A Brief History of Time (1991).

Pat Condell is S-M-R-T...

You can use the little arrows underneath the video player to turn off the captions...sorry it's so big (that's what she said).

Two posts in one day, I'm spoiling you.

I've seen some of Pat's videos on the Internets before but this one really spoke to me (I know I sound like a stupid Yankee asshole, but I really want him to say "a nod's as good as a wink to a blind bat"). This video makes a great point on the difference between Spirituality and Religion, a point I think is important and profound (a point I tried to make here).

Pat calls his work "Godless Comedy;" The first few videos I saw I thought to myself 'okay we get it you don't believe in God,' but the more I see of his work, the more I realize that he is an atheist that has great respect for faith (really he calls it spirituality, and I'll stick to my verbiage). What he doesn't like (as is made clear in the video) is Religion (the established pillar that preaches without Dogma there is nothing). Instead of seeing the church as a threat, he sees it as a hurdle that mankind must overcome in order to reach a higher plain.

Good stuff.

George Carlin 1937-2008

I apologize that this took so long, I feel really shitty about it...

I really liked George Carlin. I thought he was funny, smart, and observant. He was never afraid to speak his mind. Religion, politics, the absurdities of life, Carlin was always ready with a quip that pretty much shows how twisted our world can be, in a way that no one else has been able to do in this way.

What you got from comedians in the 80s and 90s (Hey what can I say, I was a child of Comedy Central) were airline jokes, or they'd talk about how nice it is to be in Tulsa, these routines were all the same and all seemed to be taped in front of the Brick Wall of the Improv. The big guys -- Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, Sam Kinison, and George Carlin were different. They were the people that would stand up on stage and say "What the Fuck is wrong with you people?" George Carlin did this better than anyone.

What sucks the absolute most about this, is that we always seem to lose these people in a time when we need them the most (Lennon, R&JFK, MLK, Jesus). We are living in very important times. $4 gas, the clusterfuck in Iraq, the Biggest election in my lifetime (just to name a few), and we need people that will us the truth in the time of corporate sponsorship of elected officials, and news pieces that lack substance.

I'll miss George, he was exactly what this country needed, and we lost him far too soon. This is the best quote I've ever heard from him, and I didn't even hear it from him, but from my stepfather, the Great High Priest Bobbo: "If you're born in this world you're given a ticket to the freak show. If you're born in America, you're given a front-row seat."

Thanks George, Rest In Peace, give HST a kick in the ass then a hug from me...

The Fickle Media

They just don't know a good thing until it's gone. Maybe this will teach them to appreciate what they have.

Sorry for the Incoherence

The music gods have been mocking me. And you know what? I laugh in their faces, because I can listen to WPR all the way to Baraboo and back!!

I've been trying to solve my 'what to listen to in the car' problem in various ways. After my MP3 player crapped out on me, I turned to CDs, those archaic shiny things of the past. Then I got a disc stuck in the player and had to deal with the radio. There's only one station that doesn't fade out on me between Madison and Baraboo. Or so I thought.

I caught the beginning of a program on WPR last night as I was commuting and thought, "Well, I'll listen to it for as long as I can." I was pleasantly surprised to find that the station was still coming in strong when I got to work.

I know this isn't a really fascinating story or anything - but it does bring me to my point. The program I caught last night was a repeat of Kathleen Dunn's morning show. She inteveriewed Kenneth Miller, professor of biology at Brown University and author of several books, including Finding Darwin's God and Only a Theory. I've been reading Finding Darwin's God and wanted to blog it out once I finished the book. Unfortunately I don't know when finishing the book is going to happen - technically, I should really be studying right now.

Anyway, he was on Kathleen Dunn's show talking about Only a Theory. He made some excellent points about scientific method and theories as well as the need for teaching appropriate science in the classroom of public schools. He's a fairly religious Catholic, which was obvious from what I've read of Finding Darwin's God. And yet: he believes that evolution is a fact (or at least a damn good theory). Somehow he has found a way to reconcile his religious views with his scientific views, without practicing shoddy science. Amazing. I would highly recommend that the Church peruse his books, or even listen to the program.

'Bout time ye jerk.

So, this lady named Julia Wertz writes a comic called The Fart Party. It's dirty, makes cheap jokes rooted in bodily functions and creative vulgarity (which I for one love), but it's semi-autobiographic and she is a genuinely interesting person.

Here is an interview with her concerning her time in Mexico as a Evangelical Missionary (which she is not, by a long-shot, any more).

Here's to dick and fart jokes and sensitive insight into our dumb human foibles.
So say we all.

Slow Going...

But I can't Blog tonight. So I'll leave you with a funny comic that typifies the strange union of The Church of What's Happening Now. I don't know how the internets requires me to show props to the artist, but I figure that me sharing his work is the sincerest form of praise. But then again the internet is a breeding ground stupidity and backwardness. So if you are the artist, I praise you sincerely or you're an asshole, which ever one you prefer.

Also you owe it to yourself (all three of you) to check out the newest edition of Firefox (the third installment).

(To view the comic, right-click the image, and click on 'view image')

Welcome to the Church

Yay Fenix!!

I'm so happy you've joined us in the blogosphere. You can soon start officiating meetings of the Rockies branch of TCOWHN!

So say we all.

The Big Bang!

This great article about the big bang talks about physics, time, and the elements of universe formation.

I post this here because it is a good concise view of some leading physicists, but also because it bring up an important point.

People that have an unending faith in science as the end all and be all, can't agree on some of the fundamental foundations of the universe. This shouldn't surprise anyone, all we can do is observe from the crust of the Earth and make educated guesses about what these observations mean for the universe. Scientists come up with baffling theory after baffling theory, and it continues to blow away the layman.

This does have a point.

When I think of a possible intelligent hand that guided or introduced life to earth, I think that hand would not only be invisible to the eye, but would be so baffling that our minds couldn't comprehend that such a life form could exist. But I have a hard time believing that such a being is watching over us at all times counting how many times I lie, or think about sex. This "God" doesn't care if someone I love is a homosexual. This "God" doesn't oversee an ultra exclusive night-club in the sky while sending those that don't belong to a Sea of Fire.

But that's just me I guess.

Call for Holidays

Friends, I am inspired.

The Freakin' Deacon and I just watched "What Would Jesus Buy?" and my question for the Church is this: what the *#&@ do we do about the holidays? I'm not a new convert to this stop-consumerism movement just because of a movie. I have these little acolytes at home and I want to raise them right. This has been a struggle for the Deacon and myself since they were old enough to be deluged in gifts (in utero is old enough, apparently). Do we celebrate Christmas despite the fact that we are arguably not Christians? Is it enough that it is part of our family heritage? There are a lot of times I don't think that is enough to go on - "because that's the way it's always been done" is a pretty poor answer to any question about habitual events.

I propose that we, over the course of the next several months, come together as a Church and establish some NEW traditions. Spending a pile of money and chopping down innocent trees that could better spend their lives cleaning our air is not what TCOWHN is about, at least in my opinion. Festivus has been raised as an option to the insanity that is X-mas. For the record, the Deacon & I are currently in possession of a pole in our basement - we would be more than happy to host the airing of grievances and feats of strength. If anyone out there has an alternative to X-mas, shopping till you drop, eating way the frak too much, and hanging out with people you'd never speak to if you weren't genetically related to them - I'm all ears.

Really, this is all for the acolytes. We've got this one chance (their formative years) to teach them what the Church is all about, what LIFE is all about. I want to do a good job and not raise spoiled rotten brats who feel entitled to everything their greedy little eyes land on. Just because they see it on TV doesn't mean it's coming to our house.

I know I'm not a Christian, but I'd be all for people being more Christ-like, especially come the holidays. I don't need all the doo-dads and whirligigs and whatzits - and my kids most certainly don't either. They need to learn to use their Imaginations and their Hearts, to appreciate the people they love EVERY day rather than one day a year, to show their love with actions rather than things. I need to learn to do those things so I can teach them to my children. And I'm asking for the Church to support my efforts.

After all, that's why we're here. Right?

This I believe. Penn Jillette is awesome!

I'm sure you're all aware of the This I Believe series from NPR. The rules state anyone submitting a TIB essay must start it with some variation of "I believe..." Penn Jillette begins his piece with "I believe that there is no God."

~!~!~! Vanity Birthday Post, now with 100% more Tilda~!~!~!

I know it really loses something without the proper video but it's the best I could do.

So yeah, Happy Birthday to me! I made it past 27...Take that Brian Jones! This is a spot where you can lavish praise upon me for having a Basal Metabolic rate that suspends my life functions, and for having averted life ending injuries, accidents, and disasters to this point.

Here's to another 365!~

/\/\ (13)

Bucey's be bloggin?!?!

This is my first blog ever. Whatever happend to good ol paper and pen? Or the telagraph for that matter any way? I'm kinda wonderin' whats next a "bat signal" in the sky? Maybe a direct link to our concious thought process???? I digress, this is a great way for all of us to reach out, or blog out, as the case may be, our most inner thoughts on the subject of TCOWHN, or maybe the, use of, too many, commas. I shall leave you with this little tidbit for the day... week...month... or year. Always pay attention to your gut, because that feeling you have may be more than just bad gas!

Dude, We're Getting the Church Back Together!!!

Wow.

It feels really good to be in Madison again. I have really missed this town. I have also become inured to ignoring my neighbors - a habit I hope to change as I settle in to my new neighborhood. It's just weird to see people being FRIENDLY when you walk past them.

Seriously, what the hell is wrong with Manitowoc? All that beer, and still no one's happy. Huh.

It's been awesome, though, being welcomed back into the loving arms of my favorite town - and having the joy of knowing that my friends are mere miles away. I can make it from here to Hamilton House in 20 minutes flat (if traffic lights will let me through). LOVE IT!!

It's good to be home.

Reason and Belief: Thoughts on communication practices

I am notoriously agnostic. Actually I am able to identify better with the atheist movement than anything else, but I do not call myself an atheist. As fellow Deacon and co-music director of the Church of What's Happening Now, Ian has noted: we share a natural disposition to be frustrated by wishy-washy people, but when it comes to the question of God we (at least I) find it almost noble. Now I suppose that raises the point of that making us wishy-washy, but that's another question better left for another post.

But one thing I notice by the fundamentalists of the atheist and the theist camps is that there is a tendency to use reason (or science) as a term that is the opposite of belief (or religion, or God). It's natural to think this way when we are confronted by it at all turns. Pro-choice vs. Pro-Life is my favorite example. Do you think that those that identify themselves as "Pro-Life" are constantly living their lives as though life is paramount to all things? Of course they don't all believe that. I point to the tired example of pro-life proponents that are advocates for the death penalty. This is one example of people using polarizing language and thought patterns but don't think about the consequences of the language they use.

Richard Dawkins, Bill O'Reilly, Ben Stein (stay-the fuck-tuned), Sam Hitchens, all of these men use this same communication habit, and when people attempt to engage in honest dialog about religion, they fall into the same trap. This isn't to say that faith or reason aren't real things with real qualities on both sides, just that they don't seem to be antonyms in my mind.

Do reason and faith intersect? I think it's clear that there are important people in each field that are being ignored to make way for the fundamentalists. There is no reason that these two fields cannot be related, or that one can have utter faith in one over the other. But the habit of saying faith vs. reason, or science vs. God, as though these two things are mutually exclusive is pathetic and unreasonable.

Look, I'm not trying to say that I have a better answer than anyone else, but living as though science doesn't exist is ignorant and wrong. And as Trey Parker (creator of South Park) put it (through Stan Marsh) "Couldn't evolution be the answer to how and not the answer to why?" I'm not convinced, and I've read some of Dawkins' stuff
and haven't found anything that suggests the existence of God is completely out of the question. But again this is probably left for a different post.

Here's my point: these terms are not used to benefit either movement, they are just meant to tear the other one down. That is no way to construct positive communication, but that should surprise no one. Neither side seems to want to convince anyone that they are right, just that another side is wrong.