I love the old "it's the sin and not the sinner" argument. It's kind of like sending a one-legged man into an ass-kicking competition.
It's sort of the more politically correct way to continually justify a different standard for gay people, as opposed to actually trying to show any understanding.
After all, what kind of cruel God would make someone gay (or allow them to be born that way) and then unnaturally and cynically repress their ability to do what (by his own account) comes naturally?
That's the kind of cruel and very human-manufactured God that rightly offends so many people.
Those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. - Dr. Seuss
On the Jazz! (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 04/28/08 | Reply
Heh, religion. Okay SG or someone tell me to shut up before I get started. My atheistic like views tend to be a bit harsh on all religions, Christians in particular. I just don't think its needed in a modern society that should be focusing its energy on becoming human beings as one large encompassing deal. But yeah, I do get what you're saying. John was raised a Catholic too, was even an altar boy hehe, but he's ended up an atheist as well. It's kind of what happens when you really get into science, and especially anthroplogy. As an anthropologist, religion falls into the same category as culture. When you start looking at humans as homo sapiens in the larger picture, religion kind of fades to a side category. I guess it just takes all the frill out of it.
Heh, you are a master rant starter Molly-chan, and if I don't watch I'll write a whole book on this one, so I'll end here.
As for gas, urgh, that's a whole other huge rant waiting to happen there. We do have other sources of renewable energy already to take some of the weight off needing oil. And I think we could push towards not using fossil fuels at all, if we really tried. But industrial society is so damn entrenched in fossil fuels. Sure, a 100 years ago there was plenty of it for our purposes (polution aspect aside), but that was before people decided they need to do nothing but breed and consume, us Americans being the worst of the lot with our SUV's, wide open roads, and poor public transit systems. They're so worried about a global switch over from oil and fossil fuels in general and losing money, when if they did more jobs would open up in the new economy to replace the lost ones. New fuel sources would need research and distribution and all kinds of labor to make it happen, but capitalist don't seem to want to get their head out of their ass with the oil. It's going to be a very interesting time for them, and the whole world when we eventually use up all the oil with our mass population. Which in reality is probably coming up sooner, rather than later.
I'm all for starting rants, because rants among civilized people start discussions! I'm all for civil discourse unless I've have an entire bottle of wine
Madman With a Box (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 04/26/08 | Reply
I too am at odds with religion over many social issues. Fortuntely my immediate family is liberaly minded while still being religious.
Although, my grandma and I get into arguments frequently over "Arabs" (she's 100% prejudiced against all of them) and evolution.
There are things in this world that religion has no place sticking it's nose in. A person (or group) of one faith CANNOT tell someone else how to live their life. I tend to feel religion is too much of a suffocation on personal freedom.
Interestinly though, back during the lead-up to Easter, I was watching a lot of programs about Jesus, and I started to gain a new appreciation for the man himself (divesting him of all the divinity he's given). I think religion today has gotten too far away from what he was about on a personal level.
You're good at ranting. Heh, no wonder you couldn't sleep (and I kinda feel guilty that you dreamed about your house burning down after we finally decided that saying "nothing's on fire" would be the ideal response to "how are you?").
Funny thing I learned about Catholicism, actually. Apparently, the official Roman Catholic stance on homosexuality is that it is indeed inherent in some people by nature, is not something people choose to be, and has nothing to do with sinful upbringing or anything like that. Hehe, the rub is that while being homosexual isn't sinful, homosexual acts still are (sodomy's still too badass for them, I guess); thus, the church encourages abstinence in gays, but still want them to be supportive members of the parish and all that jazz.
That's what the internets seem to be telling me, anyway, but I'm willing to believe it - it's just way too funny/curious to think it's all a crock.
James
Team | Posted 06/15/08 | Reply
I love the old "it's the sin and not the sinner" argument. It's kind of like sending a one-legged man into an ass-kicking competition.
It's sort of the more politically correct way to continually justify a different standard for gay people, as opposed to actually trying to show any understanding.
After all, what kind of cruel God would make someone gay (or allow them to be born that way) and then unnaturally and cynically repress their ability to do what (by his own account) comes naturally?
That's the kind of cruel and very human-manufactured God that rightly offends so many people.
Those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. - Dr. Seuss
Dark Phoenix
On the Jazz! (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 04/28/08 | Reply
Heh, religion. Okay SG or someone tell me to shut up before I get started. My atheistic like views tend to be a bit harsh on all religions, Christians in particular. I just don't think its needed in a modern society that should be focusing its energy on becoming human beings as one large encompassing deal. But yeah, I do get what you're saying. John was raised a Catholic too, was even an altar boy hehe, but he's ended up an atheist as well. It's kind of what happens when you really get into science, and especially anthroplogy. As an anthropologist, religion falls into the same category as culture. When you start looking at humans as homo sapiens in the larger picture, religion kind of fades to a side category. I guess it just takes all the frill out of it.
Heh, you are a master rant starter Molly-chan, and if I don't watch I'll write a whole book on this one, so I'll end here.
As for gas, urgh, that's a whole other huge rant waiting to happen there. We do have other sources of renewable energy already to take some of the weight off needing oil. And I think we could push towards not using fossil fuels at all, if we really tried. But industrial society is so damn entrenched in fossil fuels. Sure, a 100 years ago there was plenty of it for our purposes (polution aspect aside), but that was before people decided they need to do nothing but breed and consume, us Americans being the worst of the lot with our SUV's, wide open roads, and poor public transit systems. They're so worried about a global switch over from oil and fossil fuels in general and losing money, when if they did more jobs would open up in the new economy to replace the lost ones. New fuel sources would need research and distribution and all kinds of labor to make it happen, but capitalist don't seem to want to get their head out of their ass with the oil. It's going to be a very interesting time for them, and the whole world when we eventually use up all the oil with our mass population. Which in reality is probably coming up sooner, rather than later.
Teddy of Koopa
Otakuite | Posted 04/28/08 | Reply
I can understand that Gas could be expensive. Did you know by summer it's expected to rise to 4.50? That's hard for me to comprehend...
and in about two years it's expected to reach 10$. that's just crazy!
~Teddy Koopa
moletta
Firestarter (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 04/26/08 | Reply
@TimeChaser:
I'm all for starting rants, because rants among civilized people start discussions! I'm all for civil discourse unless I've have an entire bottle of wine
TimeChaser
Madman With a Box (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 04/26/08 | Reply
I too am at odds with religion over many social issues. Fortuntely my immediate family is liberaly minded while still being religious.
Although, my grandma and I get into arguments frequently over "Arabs" (she's 100% prejudiced against all of them) and evolution.
There are things in this world that religion has no place sticking it's nose in. A person (or group) of one faith CANNOT tell someone else how to live their life. I tend to feel religion is too much of a suffocation on personal freedom.
Interestinly though, back during the lead-up to Easter, I was watching a lot of programs about Jesus, and I started to gain a new appreciation for the man himself (divesting him of all the divinity he's given). I think religion today has gotten too far away from what he was about on a personal level.
Heh, guess one rant begets another.
Bazinga!
SomeGuy
Canadian Liaison (Team) | Posted 04/26/08 | Reply
You're good at ranting. Heh, no wonder you couldn't sleep (and I kinda feel guilty that you dreamed about your house burning down after we finally decided that saying "nothing's on fire" would be the ideal response to "how are you?").
Funny thing I learned about Catholicism, actually. Apparently, the official Roman Catholic stance on homosexuality is that it is indeed inherent in some people by nature, is not something people choose to be, and has nothing to do with sinful upbringing or anything like that. Hehe, the rub is that while being homosexual isn't sinful, homosexual acts still are (sodomy's still too badass for them, I guess); thus, the church encourages abstinence in gays, but still want them to be supportive members of the parish and all that jazz.
That's what the internets seem to be telling me, anyway, but I'm willing to believe it - it's just way too funny/curious to think it's all a crock.