Religion

I've written before about my neighbors: Trinity Baptist mega-church. They are still fine neighbors; although sometimes the marquee in front of their church makes me scratch my head and wonder where their priorities lie.

Here is this week's announcement:

Schiavo's mind died in 1990. Her body died in March 2005. But, apparently, her story is still very much alive in the Christian fundamentalist community. I suspect the reason for this is because the controversy represented the high-water mark in their attempt to turn the United States into a theocracy.

Think about it: They were able to get congress to convene for a special session. They were able to get the President to come to DC from one of his vacations. I've even heard rumors that Florida governor Jeb Bush seriously considered sending in state police to prevent the court's order.

Now that is political muscle.

If fundamentalists couldn't keep Shiavo's feeding-tube in with a lap-dog conservative congress bending over backwards for them, they sure-as-heck are not going to be able to overturn Roe v Wade, teach creationism in public schools, or force homosexuals back into the closet.

Having the rule of law win the day in spite of their best efforts and prayers must have been a huge psychological blow to the religious right. It demonstrated that there still is a ceiling to their power, and, by extension, God's ability to use them for His Divine Will. Small wonder they still obsess about the case.

I will probably attend Gibb's lecture this Sunday to witness first-hand the Schiavo obsession, and see how long it's possible to beat a dead horse.

Read counterpoint here.

Tags: Schiavo - David Gibb - Lecture - Fundamentalism - Rule of law - marquee - Sit Rover, sit! SUBMIT! OBEY!!!

Off topic side note: If you visit the Trinity Baptist Church website today, the top link is for Dr. Sexton's message series on Obedience. So if you have dogs that need to be house-broken - check him out.

I mean, why else wouldn't it be about dog-training?

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Just because you're not religious, doesn't mean you can't find use in religious practice.

For example, for the past few months I've gotten into the habit of grabbing a rosary when I go for a walk. I can usually complete one round of beads by the time I finish. (That's over 50 "Hail Mary's, for those of you who don't know)

I'm careful to keep the beads hidden in my palm so that other people don't see them. To the casual observer, I'm just a guy walking along.

The odd thing about this practice is that I am not a very good Catholic. I only go to church a half-dozen times a year, and I don't believe in 99% of church dogma.

For example: My attitude toward the church sanction against pre-marital sex is: It isn't "pre-marital" if you don't plan to get married.

For me, the rosary isn't about religious experience, it's about meditation.

I've tried Buddhist and Muslim prayer beads, it isn't the same. Perhaps 12 years of Catholic school somehow prevents me from getting the same enjoyment from another religions beads?

In any case, I find the sacrament of the Rosary a useful religious practice. I suggest you try it.

Read counterpoint here.

Tags: rosary - prayer - Catholic - non-religious - meditation

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Trinity Baptist, a local mega-church, is only two blocks away from my home. Like many houses of worship, they have a marquee on their property facing the road informing people about upcoming events.

Last week they featured "Law and Order Sunday". Here is what the marquee read:

On Sunday, the church's property was filled with police-cars and officers in uniform. I wanted to take a few snap-shots of the scene, but cops get antsy around citizens with cameras; so I waited until the next morning to photograph how Trinity Baptist decorated their parking lot for the event:

Note how the church doesn't have a single cross on the building, yet they displayed more flags than a used-car dealership.

There is nothing wrong with supporting police officers, troops and other authority figures. Nor is there anything inherently wrong with symbols of nationalism or a marquee proclaiming support for a government organization.

The police have a tough job that deserves respect. I agree 100% with my church-going neighbors that civil servants should be honored.

However, I don't see how "Law & Order Sunday" fits with the Christian message of peace, love and brotherhood. It also blurs the line between church and state in a way that should make all citizens wince.

If Trinity Baptist wants to honor people who put their bodies on the line for the rule of law, why not have a special service for activists who were arrested, beaten and shot at for demanding an end to the occupation of Iraq?

You know, the way Jesus would have done.

Or, if that idea is too political, why not have a weekend where the local homeless folks are invited to camp out on church property for a few days? A dozen scruffy homeless men are a better reminder of Jesus's teachings about caring for each other than an entire squad of police officers.

To be fair, perhaps Trinity Baptist does host these kind of events. I checked their calendar and didn't see any, but it's possible that I missed it.

I should also add that they are fine neighbors. It's just that for a church dedicated to the teachings of Christ, I don't understand their fascination with earth-based power.

Read counterpoint here.

Tags: Christians - Police - Church and State - Baptist - Church - Marquee

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Let's talk about the importance of faith. Without it, civilization would not be possible.

Faith is a set of beliefs you hold to be true in the absence of hard data. For example, no amount of evidence will convince a fundamentalist that the Bible/Torah/Koran/name-your-text is not the absolute authority on the will of God.

There is another type of faith that is so deeply ingrained within us, we tend to view it differently than churches and televangelists; even though it also requires an act of faith in order for it to exist.

I'm speaking about the government. After all, if you want to be technical - a government is nothing more than a collective mental construct.

There is no United States other than what exists in your mind. You can't point to "America" anymore than you could point to God, Allah or the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

It is true that you can experience the effects of the government in the form of roads, armies and taxes. However, you can also see the effects of Mickey Mouse, Elvis and Jesus. All three of them are are also nothing more than mental constructs, it doesn't mean they are alive or actually exist.

Just like the old Catholic church, the US government has a sacred text (The Constitution), a mythology (The Founding Fathers), and a zero-tolerance policy for up-start governments from within. (Google: US Civil War.)

Whether the faith in the religion of a government is a good thing or not is debatable. I happen to think it is, but I'm bias. My life and well-being depends upon the religion of the US government, and the same is true of most of the people reading this blog.

Political ideology is also an act of faith. For example, many Liberals take on faith ideals such as:

1. All people have inherent value.
2. Activism makes a difference.
3. The more democratic a government is, the more just it will be.
4. The rule of law is something worth fighting for.
5. Non-violent civil disobedience is the most effective way to to change a political structure which will not accept necessary reforms.

I sometimes wonder if religious and civic faith come from the same part of the human psyche?

Read counterpoint here.*

Tags: religion - faith - fundamentalism - government - civic duty - civics

LAST EDIT: 05/18/2006 @ 16:30 EST

* This is the closest thing to a counterpoint I could find for this entry. If you can find a better one, please post it in the comments.

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To commemorate the Easter holiday, here are "The Beatitudes" from the book of Matthew.  I'll be using the USCCB version of the bible:

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.

He began to teach them, saying:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.  Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.  Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.  Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me.

 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.

Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."

Happy resurrection day y'all!  

By the way, I looked reeeeeeal hard for the part where Jesus says that it's okay to strike someone's cheek if you suspect that someday he might strike you on the cheek.

I also looked for where Jesus said that God prefers well-adjusted, powerful-types who go to church every Sunday.  I scoured the bible for the part where Jesus says that if someone doesn't have health insurance, they deserve what they get for not finding a job that provides it.  I was surprised to read that Jesus didn't demand tax cuts, condemn homosexuality or support the death penalty!

The king-of-kings who was risen today is a Liberal who asked his followers to love and care for each other unconditionally.

Read counterpoint here.

Tags:  beatitudes - Jesus - Easter - Liberals - Bible - religion

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Last week the state of Florida, under the leadership of Governor Jeb Bush (R), opened it's third faith-based prison in Wakulla.  (The other two are in Lawtey and Hillsborough.)

While the incarcerated are already granted full religious freedom in regular prisons; faith-based prisons are teamed up with churches who volunteer to provide counseling and classes that have been drastically reduced in the state-run system.  The religious organizations also have greater flexibility to administer their education and training the way they see fit.

Proponents of the faith-based approach to prison management are quick to point out that the program is open to all faiths, including atheists. However, the majority of the attendees and staff are fundamentalist Christians.

While the idea of a faith-based prison sounds bad on the surface, when you actually look into it... it's a terrible idea rife with opportunity for abuse.

For example, if a prisoner "converts" in order to improve his quality of life while he serves his time; isn't that a breach of the separation of church and state?  Or, if a religiously devout prisoner has a theological disagreement with the cleric running the program; wouldn't a faith-based prison make the said prisoner open to reprisals from the clergy?

The answer to these both of these questions by proponents for these religious programs is:  No.

Don't look for evidence to back up the above denial, because even the most die-hard advocates admit that they don't have anything except anecdotal evidence so far.  Also, don't ask for secular oversight for the faith-based programs, because if there were - it would cease to be  faith-based.

Jeb Bush put it best during the opening of the Wakulla prison:

"My expectation is we'll have a lower recidivism rate. <snip> My expectation is that you'll be better behaved here, but also better prepared when you get out of here to live a productive life."

The religious-right is basing its faith-based prison initiative on expectations about the nature of crime and punishment, rather than reality.  There is no evidence that faith-based prisons reduce crime or recidivism any more than "abstinence only" sex education reduces teen-pregnancy rates.

While experimentating with different different methods to rehabilitate criminals has always been a hallmark of American criminal justice; there is no reason why an untested and unscientific program should now be in three Florida prisons.

If the religious-right truly cared about helping prisoners improve themselves, there is nothing stopping them from volunteering in the secular prisons already.  The faith-based prison initiatives are a thinly veiled move by fundamentalists to set up a system of Christian madrassas within the penal system.

Before another faith-based prison is built, taxpayers should demand that these programs provide hard data which show they are more effective at reducing recidivism than secular, science-based methods.

Read counterpoint here.

Summary:  Faith-based prisons weaken the separation of church and state and have no basis in science.

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To gain insight into the subconscious reasons why fundamentalist Christians loathe Halloween, read Edgar Allan Poe's classic psychological thriller: The Tell-Tale Heart. The Tell-Tale Heart is the short story about a murderer who is tormented, and eventually exposed, by the the beating heart of the man he killed.

At the start of the story, Poe's character tries to explain why he was driven to his heinous crime:

"I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye! yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture --a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees --very gradually --I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever."

Just as the main character of Poe's tale grew to hate the eye of the old man, the medieval church grew to hate polytheistic views which competed with it's power. The animosity torward this nature-based worship eventually led Christians to murder every druid, wise-woman and heathen they could lay their hands on. It was a genocide of such vast proportions, that it would not be matched again until Europeans started focusing their energies on killing Jews. So zealous was the church's desire to stamp out paganism, that they re-wrote the very symbology of the old religion so that the five-pointed star would be taken as a symbol of evil, instead of an insight into the divinity of man.

While at first it may seem like Christianity was able to get away with the mass murder of pagans, as Poe illustrates, sometimes our past actions have a way of catching up with us in unexpected ways. In The Tell-Tale Heart the murderer starts to hear the thumping of his dead victim's heart as he attempts to deceive police:

"No doubt I now grew very pale; --but I talked more fluently, and with a heightened voice. Yet the sound increased --and what could I do? It was a low, dull, quick sound --much such a sound as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton. I gasped for breath --and yet the officers heard it not. I talked more quickly --more vehemently; but the noise steadily increased. I arose and argued about trifles, in a high key and with violent gesticulations; but the noise steadily increased."

To the fundamentalist's mind, the celebration and acceptance of Halloween by the popular culture is like hearing the still-beating heart of your victim under the floorboards. Where you or I see an innocent little girl dressed like a witch asking for candy on Halloween night; to the radical Christian's perspective, this is akin to having the woman you murdered knock on your door once a year and demand recognition.

Such a blatant reminder is to much to bear! The main character in Poe's short story was driven to confession despite his best efforts at being nonchalant:

""Villains!" I shrieked, "dissemble no more! I admit the deed! --tear up the planks! here, here! --It is the beating of his hideous heart!""

Just as the murderer in The Tell-Tale Heart is driven by his own guilt and insanity to rip open the floor to show the authorities the heart of his victim, Christians now spend Halloween frothing at the mouth and warning their flocks about the "hidden" meanings of Halloween. In the old days, the church tried to hide the holiday behind a new name and dedicated it to a sanctioned saint; but the beating heart of the old religion has forced the hand of the church.

No wonder fundamentalists dread Halloween so much! To radical Christians, this holiday subconsciously forces them to face up to their worst fears that someday another belief-system might do unto them what they did unto others.

If the traditions of the old religion are still strong enough to make people in a post-industrial, technologically advanced society carve pumpkins, it begs the question: What else can the old spirits still do?

Boo!

Happy Halloween!

Read counterpoint here.

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