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Wednesday, February 22, 2012

«Swearing Muppets Turned Philosophical»

I was writing a reply to a comment on an old post about censoring the Muppets. However my reply was getting too long and not at all related to the video, so it became a new post.

So here's the comment:

I agree.

It's because people no longer believe in spiritual values that make up humanity and if you don't believe in spiritual values what choices are you going to have then to please your physical body which only brings temporary pleasure?

There really is no *Good* or *Evil* but it's more if you have a dualistic mind where you and the other person your pitted against shove each other down the throat.

People often make scapegoats in order to take responsibility away from themselves and

It really doesn't matter what your religion is as long as you believe in the fundamental values of the spirit and love your enemies as yourself or whatever your spiritual texts say that supports that kind of message.

That's the basic of that.

- Comment on "The Muppets Need Censoring"

Everything about being human is temporary. Including any pleasure we seek, anyone we love, and anything we accomplish. I have absolutely no belief in any sort of spirit or soul, reincarnation, or life after death. Quite frankly, this is it. Make the best of it.

As far as the whole spiritual text thing, I have the Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster I suppose. But I don't get my values from that. My morals and values come from how I was raised by my parents, the society I live in, and empathy. I'm not what one would call a spiritual person.

I don't see myself "pitted against" anyone. I don't have enemies. I don't view people like that. When I have a disagreement with someone I try to see their side and allow them to see mine. If we reach an impasse, then I simply accept that our points of view are different. Depending on the point argued, I may not want to spend any more time with the person, but I still don't see them as "evil" or an "enemy".

Religions are dangerous (in part) because they form this "us" vs. "them" mentality. Where "us" (we) are in the right and backed by the word of God. And "Them" are a different religion, atheists, gays, pro-choicers, evolutionists, or any other perceived group that have different values or beliefs and are simply evil/immoral/enemies/misguided.

See the rest of “Swearing Muppets Turned Philosophical”»

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

«Same-Sex Upheld, The Battle Continues»

So I don't fully understand all the circuits and courts, but apparently today the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of allowing same-sex marriage. In 2008 California Prop 8 re-banned same-sex marriage in California, which was then contested as being unconstitutional. It's been tied up in the legal system ever since. It's going to be tied up for a while longer, too. This will get pushed on to the Supreme Court next.

My hope is that the Supreme Court makes a ruling in favor of allowing same-sex marriage that applies to all 50 states and every U.S. territory. That being said, I hope the churches will be excluded from the ruling. There's no sense in "forcing" the churches to perform a same-sex marriage that is clearly against their doctrine.

I've been trying to understand how someone else's same-sex marriage can somehow invalidate or diminish an opposite-sex marriage. Especially when celebrity marriages exist. Best I can figure it's a perceived notion that legalizing same-sex marriage will validate them "under God", and to that I say we have separation of church and state. Clearly it's not a family or parenting issue. Canada hasn't fallen apart and same-sex marriage is legal there.

So if the Catholic church (and various sects of Christianity, or others) don't want to perform same-sex marriages don't force them to. They've already established themselves as discriminatory organizations, and no-one seems to mind. So I don't see why discrimination laws should apply here and force them to perform same-sex marriage. Separation of church and state is a 2-way street. There's other ways to get married. Other religions that will. State officials such as Judges for example.

In preparation for the Supreme Court ruling maybe I should brush up on marriage ceremonies. There will be a high demand for marriage officiants and if the main-stream churches turn them down I feel it is my duty as a minister to answer the call. My church fully endorses same-sex marriages.

See the rest of “Same-Sex Upheld, The Battle Continues”»

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