My birthday was a serious anticlimax. So I'm going to just cover some thoughts I had from perusing the blogs and the news and the day in general yesterday. No particular order or headlines, just a collection of rambling paragraphs:
On the Michael Vick situation, there has to be a point at which someone who has served time for their crime, has made repentance, and has tried to do right, has proven himself enough to be forgiven (especially by you dog-loving Christians). After all, if we can never forgive those who do wrong and seek to do right, what's the point in doing right ever again?
Far too many people assume that the fringe kooks speak for the majority, whether it be the right being led to an Obama-q by the Klan or the left trying to institute a place for the old and crippled and unwanted unborn until they can perfect the Soylent Green recipe. Fringe kooks are fringe kooks for a reason, and no reasonable individual agrees with their tactics. And to suggest otherwise makes you look like an ignorant slut.
Does anybody know which religion only requires a belief in the general existence of God (without all the biblical trappings), a moral compass roughly cut from the non-God parts of the Ten Commandments, an assumption in the natural goodness found in the hearts of Men, an appreciation for those religions that embrace a positive outlook without anger, and a relentless drive to seek the truth no matter where it leads? Or do I need to start my own church, with all the tax benefits associated?
You can get a great meal out of a bag. Chicken, linguine, mozzarella, tomato basil sauce, ten minutes of skillet time heating it.
For some reason, it took a while for me to remember what day it was in the morning, and it was on my mind while trying to find the desk in my bedroom (Mission Accomplished somewhere in the deep AM).
Finally, there's some of my ideas for my viewing in this cartoon. Except the rupturing of my charred cavities by buttery goodness:
17 comments:
I didn't know it was your birthday, you shit. Why didn't you tell me?
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And yeah, I can help you out with that religion stuff.
"Does anybody know which religion only requires a belief in the general existence of God (without all the biblical trappings), a moral compass roughly cut from the non-God parts of the Ten Commandments, an assumption in the natural goodness found in the hearts of Men, an appreciation for those religions that embrace a positive outlook without anger, and a relentless drive to seek the truth no matter where it leads? Or do I need to start my own church, with all the tax benefits associated?"
Yes, it's called deism of which some of this country's founding fathers were quite enthusiastic about. They were part of The Enlightenment movement of the 1700's which ushered in the concepts of natural religion and the age of reason. It certainly makes much more sense than the Catholic voodoo I grew up with.
BTW - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Personally, I like my birthdays to be anti-climatic. I try to ignore it as much as possible. My mother in law makes me a lemon meringue pie, my family calls; that's enough for me.
Happy Birthday Patrick!! Point taken as regards to the Vick situation. If I feel that he has truly repented for his actions then
forgiveness should be given. Should he be required to show he's changed before we offer forgiveness?
Saty: I was trying to get a good woe-is-me on to distract from the lack of anything happen. I almost succeeded, but my mother timed her call well.
Rocky: As far as I know though, there is no Church of Deism. And why does everybody who was a Catholic now knock the church so much (as I do)?
As for the B-day, I was trying to avoid even the family calls. But we're going out to eat on Saturday (no kids).
Jenn: that was my point. He has done work to show his change. And there are still people (PETA pukes) that want to see him put in stocks on the square for perpetual spititude.
Religion without anger?? Ha, good one.
Looks like you will have to start your own.
Ah, Patrick, but that is the beauty of Deism - you can never be late for church or feel guilty because you missed a day.
I have time I have set aside for daily reflection and meditation. I keep a box of inspirational snippets and I pick one or two to ponder on that day. I also follow the credo of a doctor who once said," I ask God for nothing, but thank Him for everything."
If you are centered in the universe, then you will always have what you need; your life works.
As far as the Catholic church goes (and we are talking Roman Catholic here), I have huge issues with things like pedophilia and amassing riches while your flock suffers. Such hypocracy and mal feasance deserves nothing but our total contempt.
Patrick: I believe Buddhism has many of those things you mentioned...
The issues I have with RC are far more basic than the behaviour of their leaders. I had purely theological issues that could not be reconciled.
You see more of my temper than most people do, (you earn it, actually) but I assure you that from a theology standpoint, we're not angry people.
Lemme know. I can hook you up. I got peeps in Cleveland :) and Columbus :) and parts elsewhere.
Toad: Just because you focus on the negative aspects of religion (and we all know them), doesn't make religion a negative force in general. In fact, despite philosophical disagreements, there are vastly more positives than negatives to be found.
James: I'll be investigating. I just don't see me going Buddhist.
Saty: didn't think you were anywhere on the angry train.
As for your peeps, if it'll get me a date, I'm game. But I'm not one for being seriously converted.
Re religion you'll never find me doing a blog "In Defense of Organized Religion." I try to get what I can out of it, it's hard though. Don't have too much of a choice in the matter as agreed to be the godparent of my nephew, before that I was attending services at different churches sporadically feeling my way. I like Papa Walton's philosophy though, what if some of us want to worship God on top of a mountain? works for me.
Well my friend, the birthday is one of the few times a year I can count on a climax so I feel for you.
As for the religious stuff? Unless you decide to run for office and need to pander to Jesus freaks, I would just keep doing what you're doing.
How did I miss your birthday, Patrick?
Happy belated birthday, and may you have many, many more.
Answer to rockync, re: religion question: I believe the Unitarian Universalists (the Uni-Unis) are about as close to what you described as any religion is. Several members of my family belong to this sect, and I like to kid them by saying that when they pray, they begin by saying "To Whom It May Concern."
The welcome all beliefs in any deity.
My Files - not sure what that attack is all about. We are talking religion and birthdays here.
If you are talking about my reference to our founding fathers and natural religion, try a little research. Begin with Benjamin Franklin's biography and Thomas Paine's Age of Reason.
I'm not sitting on any fence and I don't need you and the mouse in your pocket to stand up for my rights - I do that very well on my own, thank you very much!
Shaw - You're right, the Unitarians are pretty close to the deist ideal.
But I'm always leery of any religion that requires you to make an appearance and pay your dues.
Been there, done that and I've had enough.
Z: I think that any time people have access to more information, the organized churches take a hit.
101: What's a climax (it's been a while)?
As for politics, I have considered running. And I can speak to the Christian heart just fine without pandering. It's my overriding libertarian philosophy that'll kill me around here.
MyFiles: Spamming the same shit you posted on Shaw's site (especially when it's off-topic) is not within comment guidelines.
Shaw: I hide the information so I can depress myself. It means I can then produce poetry.
Rocky: Sorry for not blasting a person who got his username from his computer (which runs Windows 98, sits in his parent's basement, and is rather sticky) off the comments sooner.
That's ok Patrick, I'm not shy about taking care of myself. I also did not realize he was a troll until later when I saw he had repeated the same drivel at Shaw's.
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