SethBlog

Stephen & I are contemplating braving the cold and starting Camp Courageous of Canada. Mom & Jon said they'd come with us. Jon's job is being eliminated after the first of the year...Thank you Mr. Bush.

I have to say I am upset about Kerry losing, I myself am torn between the issue of same sex marriage, that last line rubs me the wrong way Seth. First off, moral values does not equate to God's word. It's called right and wrong. It involves respect, honesty, and caring of people. Whether you're a person of faith or not, that should be important to you as well. Second, if you were worried about upsetting enthusiasts of Russian food, then you should give me an apology as a man of faith, and strong spirtitual values, as I am very hurt for the lack of respect you show of the Christian faith with those statements.

Ahh, but the Russian Food thing was because I was representing my University abroad.

On this issue, I represent only myself. If you believe in an invisible man in the sky, that's fine, it's your right, granted and protected by our Constitution. That document also grants my right to mock it. I'm not worried about offending Christians, in fact, I rather enjoy it. They're the majority, they can take it. Turn the other cheek, if you will.

If you're going to call yourself a Christian, and you're a True Believer, then proudly say you believe in that Invisible Man in the Sky, and take your lumps. Some people respect religious fervor, and some don't. I'm firmly in the camp that thinks more suffering and death have resulted from religion than anything else, and the sooner we come to our senses, the better.

It's not about Faith, the atheist/agnostic position requires plenty of that. If you're right, and I'm wrong, I go to spend an eternity in Hell. If I'm right and you're wrong, you're only out a couple hours each Sunday. Who's risking more here?

Next time you're watching a conservative on TV, talking about why gays shouldn't be allowed to marry, see how long it takes for him to mention the Bible as rationale for this belief. Phrases like "Our Heritage" and our "Family Values" are code-words for this same belief system that considers homosexuals an abomination before God. They're the same people that were on our campus recently with the "Adam & Eve, not Adam & Steve" signs, spewing their vile hatred at every passer-by.

You won't find many Christians distancing themseles from that group, and that's why I'm distancing myself from the Christians.

That's a pretty broad brush that you're painting with, Seth. I wouldn't say that ALL Christians allow their political sense to be guided by their faith. I am all in favor of permitting gay civil unions, but then again I think that marriage should be more of a self-descriptor than a title the government confers. That is, I am also in favor of straight civil unions.

Faith is defined as belief without proof. Religion requires it, for no one has seen God, yet they still believe it its existence. Atheism requires believing the absolute non-existence of God without demonstrable evidence to prove it. However, because atheism would require proof of a negative, I don't think it requires quite the same faith. What I'm interested to know, Seth, is how you feel that agnosticism (?) requires faith, considering that to be agnostic is to have no firm belief due to the absence of proof.

Josh,

If you're hurt by a comment about 'an Invisible Man Who Lives In The Sky', you need to take a step back and look at the big picture.
Christians pray to, and look for guidance from, a man whom none have seen, and apparently 'he' resides in Heaven, which traditionally is associated with the sky. If you would like to argue that point, I'll be more than happy to listen to you.

Try watching a PBS or a National Geographic special on isolated, and long-standing tribes within the Amazon jungle or somewhere in the lesser travelled parts of Africa. The producers of these documentaries are very specific in making note of the processes those people perform in paying homage to their long-dead ancestors or god(s). While it may look silly to us watching them spilling animal blood, chanting in foreign tongues, or dancing around wildly, it's how they communicate to the supernatural being of their choice.

Now pretend you are one of those documentarians coming across religion (specifically Christianty) for the first time. You'd notice things like dipping babies in water, singing, chanting, and eating crackers/drinking wine as a symbolic form of cannibalism. Odds are, you would be able to see this "God", just as easily as the National Geographic producers can see the dead great, great, great grandfather of the tribal leader of a village somwhere in the depths of the Amazon jungle.

I think when you view religion from that perspective, it gives Seth's statement a fair amount of validity. Watching people talk to someone that is not there does seem a little insane to an outside eye...

As for the gay marriage issue...I think it's quite sad it's even an issue. What really bothers me is the hypocrisy of some Christian leaders. Don't let gays or lesbians marry as it will destroy the social fabric of this great nation! Well, isn't that the same social fabric that currently supports the 50% divorce rate of 'heterosexuals'? Are the Christian fundamentalists afraid the gay community might show them that marriage is actually lifelong commitment?

It's nice to see the 'great melting pot' of America celebrate it's diversity by literally (and now, legally) oppressing the minority. I also love the fact that ideas created halfway across the world, 2000 years ago, still dictate the laws that govern me and my fellow Americans.