I Love History

"What religion a man shall have is a historical accident, quite as much as what language he shall speak." -George Santayana, philosopher (1863-1952)

I think it might be time for a repeat.

Like the Guilty Catholics?

I never knew this and find myself highly intrigued by this fact.

People in Japan either consider themselves, Shintoist, Buddhists or both. That said, the Japanese are not very religious in the sense that they do not live their life according to their religion. The average Japanese typically follows the rituals from their religious beliefs on matters like birth, weddings and death only. Today, there are 90million people in Japan who consider themselves Buddhists.

Do you see any goats around? No, because I sacrificed them.

Move along, no one here is being oppressed. A clear infringement on a military soldiers religious beliefs, a pentacle will not be shown on his grave.

"That's because Stewart was a Wiccan, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has refused to allow a symbol of the Wicca religion -- a five-pointed star within a circle, called a pentacle -- to be inscribed on U.S. military memorials or grave markers. The department has approved the symbols of 38 other faiths; about half of are versions of the Christian cross. It also allows the Jewish Star of David, the Muslim crescent, the Buddhist wheel, the Mormon angel, the nine-pointed star of Bahai and something that looks like an atomic symbol for atheists. Stewart, 34, is believed to be the first Wiccan killed in combat. He was serving in the Nevada National Guard when the helicopter in which he was riding was shot down in Afghanistan last September. He previously had served in the Army in Korea and Operation Desert Storm. He was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star."

Because freaky images should never ever be put on gravestones, right? This picture taken of one of the many early gravestones up in Boston. From the classic scene in 'Gingerbread' between Willow and her mother.

What's Good for the Penguin is Good for the Man.

Man and woman were created in God's image right? Down here we concentrate on gender roles and sexual preference. What if to God those two parts were more like feet and hands? And all of the physical stuff that exists here on Earth is just an added bonus?

ENTROPY

I’m tired of people being scared all of the time. I’m tired of wondering what people’s intentions are by saying to me Merry Christmas. I’m tired of having to agree on everyone’s side about the meaning of Christmas. I’m tired of politics. I’m tired of religion. I’m tired of people believing in the Bible and in their preachers more than in God and some politician on tv. I'm tired of societal norms becoming mandates. I'm tired of funny lines and much prefer actual conversation and opinions being shared that doesn't end in screaming. I'm tired of not being listened to. I'm tired of feeling bad and not being able to do anything for people I care about. I'm tired of being tired. I'm ready for New Year's Eve because I need a drink.

Patience, where have you gone?

A cult is a religion with no political power. - Tom Wolfe

:(

And you wonder why....

The Vatican yesterday published its long-awaited definition of what sort of homosexuals are acceptable in its priesthood, a definition instantly rejected as homophobic by gay organizations but defended by Roman Catholic officials as reasonable guidelines for priestly chastity. The document -- known formally as an instruction -- states that the church will not ordain "those who are actively homosexual, have deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called gay culture." However, those deemed to have "homosexual tendencies that were only the expression of a transitory problem" would be admitted if they had "clearly overcome" their tendencies three years prior to ordination.

(Read on) Read the entire release from the Vatican here.

Token Post Regarding Religion

This is just cool. No other word to describe it. Reminds me of John Stewart's Democracy book and his Third Party Cemetary Picture.

Did Everyone Have Their Crazy Flakes Today?

Someone had his share of Crazy Flakes today.

"I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: If there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God. You just rejected him from your city," Robertson said on the Christian Broadcasting Network's "700 Club."

Then again, maybe it was just another day for him. I always wonder if people like him have real friends. You know? Because eventually everyone you know and love will do something that is against what you believe or feel is right. It's human nature. Maybe I'm just trying to humanize Pat Robertson. I need more tea.

Go Fish!

There is a competition down here for the most offensive fish you can have on the back of your car. This site is all about the fishies.

Flying Spaghetti Monster!

The renewed interest in supplementing science education with more religious-friendly theories has spurred lots of paradies.
Mac got me the other day with the intelligent falling theory.
Now, there is the Flying Spaghetti Monster. I had not heard of it until I visited J-Walk. Apparently a Pastafarian religion has been created and now wish that their theory of how the world began also be taught in schools. Here is the letter that they sent to the Kansas School Board. I like that the Flying Spaghetti Monster prefers to wear 'full pirate regalia' instead of a toga.

You just need to go here. Or here for the t-shirt.

Us Westerners Too

Profgrrrrl mentioned this author, and since I am always on the hunt for a good read...well..this one excited me. Pema Chodron. A bio snippet:
Pema Chödrön is an American Buddhist nun and one of the foremost students of Chögyam Trungpa, the renowned Tibetan meditation master. She is resident teacher at Gampo Abbey, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, the first Tibetan monastery in North America established for Westerners. That description alone is enough to feed one day's imaginiation.
Her books can be found here.

Grail For All

When you don't even consider the story behind this quote, I think that it is very true.
"The Church should not be accepting money for something that is not a true story. They should be praying more, and then the money would come in. "