Book Burning: Churches vs. Government

A tale of two books and of two circumstances.  Both due to fear of books.

A nutjob pastor in Florida wants to burn the Koran.  While I'm not a fan of any religion, I would equate this to burning a flag.  Protected speech?  Definitely.  Stupid?  Absolutely.  This action is not going to make people like us.  Supposedly the pasta doesn't want the Muslim version of a YMCA to be built in NYC.

That's a separate issue, but something I need to discuss there.  This is not a "ground zero Mosque".  It is literally like a YMMA.  It even has Jewish and Christian people on its management board.

One book burning deserves another right?  Enter the Pentagon.  One of our soldiers who fought in Afghanistan has published a book, which supposedly has attracted the ire of the CIA and others.  They are now trying to buy the 10,000 copies of the book already printed and destroy them.  Too bad for them, copies of the book were already distributed for advance reviews, and some of them are even on eBay.  I would also argue that his book is protected speech.

At the end of the day, what we can learn from this lesson is that people who want to burn or destroy books are probably not good people.  I would go so far as to call a book burner an asshole.  And as we can see, there are assholes both in the church and in the government.  Thankfully we have separation of church and state.

Ground Zero Mosque

I'm not one to say great things about any religion, but I'm also leery of government regulation of private activities.  This is why I think it is great that a mosque and Islamic center is being built in lower Manhattan. While some are calling this a "ground zero" mosque it is actually located several blocks away.  That's miles in NYC terms.  There are also bars and other establishments nearby.  We should not hold half of Manhattan sacred, and the government should definitely not block development.

Religious tolerance in Northern VA

A lot can be learned from this example.

Spreading the wrong word

While I appreciate our soldiers (hopefully) spreading messages of peace throughout the word, reading about them spreading a different kind of word troubles me beyond belief. I am not a Christian, and do not wish for my country to be spreading bibles to other nations. How would we feel if someone did this to us?

I'm all for religious freedom, but...

Religious freedom does not mean being allowed to kill your kid.  This is child abuse.

Taibbi on religion

Taibbi responds to the Newsweek piece and the fallout.  

Killer line: 

It’s the same problem all religions have: none of them can be right unless whoever doesn’t believe it is wrong.

My bet is their all wrong.

The entire last paragraph is fucking hilarious.

A "Post-Christian" America

Jon Meacham has an interesting article in Newsweek regarding the lessening influence that religion has on our everyday lives.  The fastest growing religion is non at all, at least not of an organized variety.  

Many on the right wing will tell you that this country was founded on "Judeo-Christian" principles.  That is complete bullshit.  First of all, despite what you may hear, Jews are not Christians.  They believe in different gods, although the the Christians do incorporate the backstory provided by Judiasm.  However, they choose to ignore it, which is why George W. Bush eats pork.  Second, the founders of our country were deists, men who may have believed in a higher power, but certainly not Christians.  

The fact of the matter is, religion causes problems in our country, both minor (alcohol forbidden to be purchased on Sundays in some states) and major (denying children the right to quality science educaiton).  I for one hope that the end of "Judeo-Christian" influence within the United States is on the wane, and eventually we will be a country that uses principles grounded on logic, not on myths.

I'd also point people in the direction of this book.

Gay Marriage in Middle America

Today the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that gay marriage is consistent and required by that state's constitution.  This is the first time that such a ruling has come not from the "elite" coasts, but from the midwest.  

Iowa is arguably the most American of states, with a fairly contested national election, an agrarian economy, and generally sensible people.  When a state like this upholds same sex marriage, it is a sign that the dam may well have broke.

And that's a good thing.

Additionally, unlike the disastrous Prop 8 in California, Iowa's constitution is very difficult to amend.  At the very earliest, a vote could come in 2012.  By that time it is unlikely that a majority of people would approve a ban on same sex marriage.  In the 3 years between now and then, there is likely to be a lot of educational campaigns on what is really at stake, and the more people learn about the issues, the less supportive they would be of a ban.

I've argued many times in the past that in order for this country to take equality seriously, we need to stop regulating marriage.  Interracial marriage used to be illegal, and now, while definitely not a majority of marriages, it is completely acceptable.  

Now, of course there will be a campaign in Iowa of religious nutjobs who say "Jesus wasn't gay."  To that, I say, he surrounded himself with men and wasn't married but what do I know?  All joking aside, any Christian who refers to the old testament to say that homosexuality is a sin should rethink most of their daily lives, since upholding the rules of the old testament would turn a Catholic into a Jew, at least via dietary habits.

Nate Silver predicts that by 2012, half of the states in the country would have a majority of people seeking gay marriage, and I'd say that by 2020 (if not earlier) the US Supreme Court will rule in that way as well.

Film Review: Religulous

Religulous is a great documentary/comedy starring Bill Maher.  Absolutely no religion is spared his wrath, be it Scientology, Islam, Christianity, or Judaism.  The core point he strives to make, which I agree with, is that anyone who follows one of these religions and believes in the stories and rituals is a bit nuts.  

Whether you believe that earth was created by aliens who unleashed nuclear weapons (Scientology), that it is a sin to tie a knot on a Saturday (Judaism), or that your prophet requires you to wear magic underwear (Mormonism), do the details really matter?  

No, they are all nuts. 

 It is especially scary that our elected leaders believe in these types of fairy tales and that it guides their policies.

The film concludes with a skewering of religion in general, and the central point that "Religion must die for mankind to live."

J Street Survey

J Street has conducted some interesting polling on Jewish Americans.  The full presentation of the survey is below.  Some highlights:

• almost half have a connection to Bernard Madoff (personally affected or know someone who was)
• what I would characterize as a "schizoid" stance on Israel.  Supporting it during Gaza, but overall supporting a Palestinian state, and ambivalence towards Iran.
• On a more positive note, there is an overwhelming approval of President Obama and a large disapproval of the GOP and the conservatives in Israel.

Religion in the US shrinks

Less Americans follow organized religion than several years ago.  This is a good thing, as organized religion causes people to group themselves in ways that tend to harm others.  Muslim vs Jew, Catholic vs. Protestant, etc.  I have no problem with people being spiritual, but whenever they tend to congregate I get creeped out.  And then they tend to only marry and socialize within those groups to keeping us from assimilating as Americans.

AR Democratic leader does not reflect my values

In a very telling article in today's WaPo, the thoughts of the rural, white population of Arkansas population on our new president are presented.  While most of the people interviewed throw out the same junk: Obama hates religion, guns, etc, there was one quotation that really caught my eye, and made me very angry:

Robert Serio, chairman of the local Democratic Party for 30 years, says Obama was viewed as too liberal in Monroe County. "We don't look at national Democrats as being family-oriented," says Serio, a lawyer. "The multicultural thing would be something we are opposed to. The homosexual question would have an impact."

This viewpoint is not something we need today in America.

Now, I understand that the simple folk are afraid that some "gay agenda" is going to make their kids turn into homosexuals.  That comment likely comes from a failure to ever know or be friends with a gay person and to get most of your information from the church.

That comment is not what got me.  It is the "multicultural thing" that is really disturbing.  Here we have a leader in the more progressive party in America saying that multiculturalism is not a good thing.  In this context, I take that to mean that he disapproves of the fact that Barack Obama is half white and half black.  I would also like to know how Mr. Serio "opposes" multiculturalism.  Does he discourage African Americans from joining his local party?  Does he encourage his children not to be friends with people from other races?  That isn't clear.  What is clear is that this man does not truly reflect the principles of the Democratic party (which I am not a member of) nor does he reflect my values.

The best way to end conflict is through mixing of cultures, races, and religions.  Sometimes I think a good solution would be for the races and religions to mix and fuck at every opportunity, for eventually we'll have a nation of people that can't be categorized through into the old labels that have resulted in countless conflicts.  

Healthcare workers should not have the right to say no

I'm in full agreement with Ronald Bailey on this issue.

One of Bush's last acts in office is to allow healthcare workers to refuse treatment that they morally object to without losing their jobs. So a Catholic pharmacist could refuse to dispense birth control, or Plan B. This would also allow a nurse at a doctor's office to refuse to help with an abortion.

While at first this issue would appear to be helping individual freedom, it does not. A private employer should have the right to demand that employees perform certain tasks, since those employees can quit at any time. Don't want to dispense Plan B? Then don't become a pharmacist.

Thankfully, soon-to-be President Obama is in agreement with Ronald, me, and the ACLU and will strike this down fairly quickly.

Just another example of the Bush administration mixing church and state.

Freedom of religion must be an American phenomenon

It is one thing to close border crossings. Such a move is necessitated by security concerns. However; barring a specific sex, age group, and religion from going into their places of worship is another.

Using technology to bridge religious divides

An Israeli company is now selling a copy of the Koran that will fit on mobile phones. Yes, the owner of the company is Jewish. If that wasn't enough irony for you, try this: the ultra orthodox Jews aren't allowed to use the internet at all, so they aren't able to access the Torah on this type of service. Oh well, they still get to wear those cool black hats.

The Christian Bible is available as well.

The Muslim-Israelis seem to be happy with the service, even when they know who is selling it, so I'd say this is definitely a step in the right direction.

Now all we got to do is get everybody to eat bacon and get along.

Family Values and Gay Adoption

Over at Reason is a very good article on why family values should really mean that: valuing family and doing what's right for children.  Not what your fairy-tale religion says is good or bad.

Standing up to bigotry

Today when I got home a nice young man approached me.  He offered to help me carry some groceries up the stairs to my apartment.  His name tag identified him as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon).  I told him no thanks.  He kept pressing me to talk to him, so I politely said:

"I'm very upset about your church's involvement with passing Prop 8.  It was a horrible thing to do and I lost any respect I had for your church."  He wished me a good night and I shut the door.

Does Sarah Palin Speak in Tongues? And a new scandal

Sarah Palin just may belong to the looniest part of the fundamentalist Christian movement.  It is now being reported that she is a pentecostal, a group that is known to speak in tongues.

They also believe in faith healing.  Maybe she'll bring some snakes to the Whitehouse too!  Yes, Pentecostals are that same religious group that handles snakes.  This would extreme to even Pat Robertson.

Regardless of whether she speaks in tongues, it seems that she always speaks corruption.  She has been billing the state for her kid's trips.  Now, I understand that when you have 5 kids, you might want to keep some of them with you while you travel, but that should be on your own dime, not the taxpayers'.  She also billed the taxpayers to pay for her meals while she was in her own house.  I thought she was supposed to be a fiscal conservative!

Sarah Palin, Jews, and Jesus

The news never seems to be positive with regards to Sarah Palin.  Yesterday, it was reported that she attended an anti-Jewish sermon by the founder of Jews for Jesus, an oxymoron of a religion.  

Some evangelicals embrace Jewish people, but I suspect they have an underlying motive.  To them, a Jewish person would be the ultimate convert.

Some history: the first Christians were all former Jews, as was Jesus (though I don't think he renounced the religion, just turned into a new one).  The conversion started around this time, AD 025, and eventually Christians gained in numbers.  To someone like the founder of Jews for Jesus, or for Sarah Palin and I suspect most evangelicals, there job will not be done until all of "God's People" are converted to Christianity.  To them, J4J is a good stepping stone in what they feel is the "right" direction.

But it doesn't stop there.  Lots of religions (albeit not Judaism) actively convert people.  David Brickner, the founder of J4J, went a step further by saying that terrorist attacks against Israel is because they have not accepted Jesus and the attacks are God's "judgment of unbelief."

If I were Jewish, I'd stay the hell away from Sarah Palin and look to someone like Joe Biden instead.

Palin and Bush Agree: we work for God

While addressing a graduating class, Sarah Palin said that our troops must only go places on a "task that is from God."

Invoking religion when contemplating war is a very dangerous idea.