Hello and Happy Thursday!
Today's quote is brought to you by Whoopi Goldberg:
When you are kind to someone in trouble, you hope they'll remember and be kind to someone else. And it'll become like a wildfire.
New post coming Saturday so be sure to check back!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Update on Past, Present & Future Posts
Hello and Happy Tuesday!
Here is the Latest List of Past, Present and Future Posts:
Agnostics: 4
Apikoros: 1
Asatru: 1
Atheists: 14
Baha'is: 2
Buddhists: 8
Christians: 14
Druid: 1
Feri Witchcraft: 1
Hindu: 1
Jewish: 7
Jewitch: 1
Mathematics: 1
Messianic Judaism: 2
Muslims: 10
Mystics: 2
Noahide: 1
Non-Denominationals: 2
Pagans/Wiccans: 14
Pantheist: 1
Polytheists: 4
Sikh: 1
Sufi Darvish: 1
Taoist: 1
Unitarians: 3
Womanist: 1
If you're interested in participating, just email ymr@bell.net-
Would love to hear from you. Thanks.
Here is the Latest List of Past, Present and Future Posts:
Agnostics: 4
Apikoros: 1
Asatru: 1
Atheists: 14
Baha'is: 2
Buddhists: 8
Christians: 14
Druid: 1
Feri Witchcraft: 1
Hindu: 1
Jewish: 7
Jewitch: 1
Mathematics: 1
Messianic Judaism: 2
Muslims: 10
Mystics: 2
Noahide: 1
Non-Denominationals: 2
Pagans/Wiccans: 14
Pantheist: 1
Polytheists: 4
Sikh: 1
Sufi Darvish: 1
Taoist: 1
Unitarians: 3
Womanist: 1
If you're interested in participating, just email ymr@bell.net-
Would love to hear from you. Thanks.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Stephanie
Hello and Happy Saturday!
I wish to thank KV for his very interesting and enjoyable interview last week!
Thank you for sharing your faith journey with us KV!
Today we have a new post so please welcome Stephanie.
Stephanie is a Mormon and I know you'll enjoy her interview as well!
Here Is Stephanie's Introduction:
I am a 38-year-old stay-at-home mom to three children, ages 4, 6 and 8. I claim Atlanta, Georgia as home, but I also grew up in Illinois, North Carolina, Missouri and Indiana. My husband, Matt, and I have been married for 12 years and have spent the majority of our married life in North Carolina and Minnesota. He recently finished law school and we moved across the country to Utah, where we think we have settled for the long term. I have a master's degree in Spanish Teaching and taught high school and several university and college courses before we started having children. I enjoy blogging, Latin music, travel, reading, and spending time with my family. We like to camp, play games, watch sports, ski (everyone except me, that is), and work together.
I blog at Diapers and Divinty- http://www.diapersanddivinity.com
1) What religion do you practice?
I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes known as a "Mormon." (This nickname comes from our belief in and study of the "Book of Mormon," which along with the Holy Bible [Old Testament & New Testament] make up our canon of scripture. You can read more about the Book of Mormon here.)
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
My parents were both LDS (Latter-day Saints) growing up, and they raised me and my siblings in the Mormon church as well. I was baptized when I was eight years old. My husband was raised by a Catholic mother and non-religious father and joined the LDS Church during his college years when he read the Book of Mormon, prayed about it and received an answer of its truthfulness.
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
There are certainly many different levels of observance, but they do not have formally assigned names. Those who attend regularly and participate in church service are usually called "active" members, while those who attend infrequently are "inactive."
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you (ie. Orthodox, conservative, moderate, liberal)? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
I am an active member of the church, and my worship and participation are quite orthodox/traditional. I choose to participate at this level because I feel that it strengthens my life and blesses my family.
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
Latter-day Saints have a firm belief in eternal life, which includes both pre-mortal life and life after death. We believe that the spirit lives on after death and dwells in either spirit prison or spirit paradise. After the second coming of Jesus Christ, when all men are resurrected, there will then be a final judgment where each person is assigned to a certain level of glory.
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Our doctrine is that each person will be assigned to an eternal level of glory consistent with their devotion in this life. In other words, people who have sought to be close to their Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in this life, will have access to them in the next life, and eternal life with them. We follow the biblical claim that baptism and sacred ordinances are necessary to enter into highest kingdom of God. The LDS doctrine is quite merciful in its concept of "Hell," a state reserved for those who absolutely deny God and defy Him.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It is a good fit for me because both the doctrines and the practice of the religion help me to grow closer to my Heavenly Father and my savior, Jesus Christ. It encourages me to live a life full of Christ-like attributes and Christian values, which inevitably bring peace and strength to my life. My religion places a high value on families as the central unit of God's plan for his children, and these principles help me to teach and appreciate my family with greater purpose.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
We celebrate the Sabbath each Sunday by attending church and partaking of the Sacrament (bread and water as symbols of Christ's body and blood). We also join the rest of the Christian world in the celebrations of Easter and Christmas. There are no other days that we celebrate as "holy days," but traditionally Latter-day Saints, commemorate July 24th as "Pioneer Day" in recognition of the early Saint's arrival in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847 after a treacherous journey to escape religious persecution.
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Absolutely. I have had many dear friends of other Christian denominations, non-Christian faiths, and friends who do not practice any religion. Mormons believe that we are all children of God, loved by God, and that we should show love and respect to one another. I believe that almost every religion has good principles in it and that we can find common ground.
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
I love to learn about and understand other religious beliefs and I have visited cathedrals and mosques and other places of worship throughout the world. I am always impressed with their devotions and sacrifice. While I don't necessarily participate in the prayers or rites of these religions, I would definitely participate in their celebrations and appreciate their cultures. One of the Articles of Faith of our Church states, "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may."
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
(I don't know enough about it to comment on. Sorry.)
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
One of the unique beliefs of the Mormon church is that we believe in modern revelation. We believe that God calls prophets and apostles today just as he did in ancient times. The general leadership positions of the Church (meaning the prophet and the twelve apostles) are filled by men, but women are called to serve as the presidents and administrators of the women's, young women's, and children's organizations of the church, directing these programs both the in the world-wide Church and in local congregations. These organizations constitute more than half of the Church's auxiliary programs, and serve the great majority of its membership.
I personally have served as a president of the young women's organization and the children's organization in my local congregation, and I know of no other church that gives women more opportunities for leadership and service or promotes such faith in the input and influence of women.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
No. The full practice and blessings of our religion are available regardless of race or gender. My parents were missionaries in South Africa, where the congregations are almost exclusively black, and I was a missionary in South America teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to people of Hispanic heritage. These experiences have only strengthened my knowledge that God sees and loves all his children the same.
14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
My religion is wrapped up in most of the details of my daily life. We read scriptures and pray daily in our home. We talk about our choices and try to base our decisions on gospel principles. Our family rules are built upon principles like the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule, etc. The Church's stance on family and marriage do play a strong role in my stance on abortion, gay marriage, etc. As explained in the Church's official Statement, "The Family: A Proclamation to the World," I believe that marriage and children are sacred and that our society should value and protect them.
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
I will be honest. I would be disappointed because my faith has played such a prominent role in my daily life and in my children's upbringing. Regardless of that disappointment, I would still treat my child and his/her spouse with love and respect and they would always be family, no matter what.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
Not at all. In fact, as I've read biographies of some of the greatest men and women in the history of the world (from other religious traditions), I think they'll have a lot to teach me when we all meet up in heaven some day.
17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not? Like all religions, there are faithful members and members who are misguided. The only source that can rightfully speak for the whole church is the President of the Church (our prophet) and the First Presidency (the prophet and his two counselors/assistants) and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No, I have not, but the early members of our Church (in the 1800s), including Joseph Smith, the prophet who restored the Church, were attacked by mobs, driven from their homes, and murdered.
The only thing that I find offensive today is when people who are not members of my Church try to tell me what I do and do not believe. This is especially true when people claim that Mormons are not Christians. I find it disappointing that when a religion claims its belief in Jesus Christ, another person or group will try to tell you essentially "no, you don't." I can't imagine trying to convince anyone else that they don't really believe what they claim to believe, but for some reason this is a common practice among opponents to the Church. All I can say about it is that even a brief study of our religion would reveal that we do indeed believe in Jesus Christ, the son of God, (the same one that the rest of the Christian world worships) and we worship Him as our Savior and Redeemer. And despite what anyone else doubts, I know that I believe in Him.
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No, I never have. My religion teaches me that I am a child of God, and therefore an heir. My religion encourages me to be my very best and reach for the great potential that is in me, to become with God's help as great as He made me to be.
20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes. Daily. I fall back on the things that I know to be true and on my knowledge of Jesus Christ. These things are a foundation that give me stability and certainty even when life gets challenging.
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
No. We believe that we are literally spirit children of our Heavenly Father and that our identity is eternal and unchanging. We do believe in resurrection.
I wish to thank KV for his very interesting and enjoyable interview last week!
Thank you for sharing your faith journey with us KV!
Today we have a new post so please welcome Stephanie.
Stephanie is a Mormon and I know you'll enjoy her interview as well!
Here Is Stephanie's Introduction:
I am a 38-year-old stay-at-home mom to three children, ages 4, 6 and 8. I claim Atlanta, Georgia as home, but I also grew up in Illinois, North Carolina, Missouri and Indiana. My husband, Matt, and I have been married for 12 years and have spent the majority of our married life in North Carolina and Minnesota. He recently finished law school and we moved across the country to Utah, where we think we have settled for the long term. I have a master's degree in Spanish Teaching and taught high school and several university and college courses before we started having children. I enjoy blogging, Latin music, travel, reading, and spending time with my family. We like to camp, play games, watch sports, ski (everyone except me, that is), and work together.
I blog at Diapers and Divinty- http://www.diapersanddivinity.com
1) What religion do you practice?
I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes known as a "Mormon." (This nickname comes from our belief in and study of the "Book of Mormon," which along with the Holy Bible [Old Testament & New Testament] make up our canon of scripture. You can read more about the Book of Mormon here.)
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
My parents were both LDS (Latter-day Saints) growing up, and they raised me and my siblings in the Mormon church as well. I was baptized when I was eight years old. My husband was raised by a Catholic mother and non-religious father and joined the LDS Church during his college years when he read the Book of Mormon, prayed about it and received an answer of its truthfulness.
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
There are certainly many different levels of observance, but they do not have formally assigned names. Those who attend regularly and participate in church service are usually called "active" members, while those who attend infrequently are "inactive."
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you (ie. Orthodox, conservative, moderate, liberal)? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
I am an active member of the church, and my worship and participation are quite orthodox/traditional. I choose to participate at this level because I feel that it strengthens my life and blesses my family.
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
Latter-day Saints have a firm belief in eternal life, which includes both pre-mortal life and life after death. We believe that the spirit lives on after death and dwells in either spirit prison or spirit paradise. After the second coming of Jesus Christ, when all men are resurrected, there will then be a final judgment where each person is assigned to a certain level of glory.
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Our doctrine is that each person will be assigned to an eternal level of glory consistent with their devotion in this life. In other words, people who have sought to be close to their Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in this life, will have access to them in the next life, and eternal life with them. We follow the biblical claim that baptism and sacred ordinances are necessary to enter into highest kingdom of God. The LDS doctrine is quite merciful in its concept of "Hell," a state reserved for those who absolutely deny God and defy Him.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It is a good fit for me because both the doctrines and the practice of the religion help me to grow closer to my Heavenly Father and my savior, Jesus Christ. It encourages me to live a life full of Christ-like attributes and Christian values, which inevitably bring peace and strength to my life. My religion places a high value on families as the central unit of God's plan for his children, and these principles help me to teach and appreciate my family with greater purpose.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
We celebrate the Sabbath each Sunday by attending church and partaking of the Sacrament (bread and water as symbols of Christ's body and blood). We also join the rest of the Christian world in the celebrations of Easter and Christmas. There are no other days that we celebrate as "holy days," but traditionally Latter-day Saints, commemorate July 24th as "Pioneer Day" in recognition of the early Saint's arrival in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847 after a treacherous journey to escape religious persecution.
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Absolutely. I have had many dear friends of other Christian denominations, non-Christian faiths, and friends who do not practice any religion. Mormons believe that we are all children of God, loved by God, and that we should show love and respect to one another. I believe that almost every religion has good principles in it and that we can find common ground.
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
I love to learn about and understand other religious beliefs and I have visited cathedrals and mosques and other places of worship throughout the world. I am always impressed with their devotions and sacrifice. While I don't necessarily participate in the prayers or rites of these religions, I would definitely participate in their celebrations and appreciate their cultures. One of the Articles of Faith of our Church states, "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may."
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
(I don't know enough about it to comment on. Sorry.)
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
One of the unique beliefs of the Mormon church is that we believe in modern revelation. We believe that God calls prophets and apostles today just as he did in ancient times. The general leadership positions of the Church (meaning the prophet and the twelve apostles) are filled by men, but women are called to serve as the presidents and administrators of the women's, young women's, and children's organizations of the church, directing these programs both the in the world-wide Church and in local congregations. These organizations constitute more than half of the Church's auxiliary programs, and serve the great majority of its membership.
I personally have served as a president of the young women's organization and the children's organization in my local congregation, and I know of no other church that gives women more opportunities for leadership and service or promotes such faith in the input and influence of women.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
No. The full practice and blessings of our religion are available regardless of race or gender. My parents were missionaries in South Africa, where the congregations are almost exclusively black, and I was a missionary in South America teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to people of Hispanic heritage. These experiences have only strengthened my knowledge that God sees and loves all his children the same.
14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
My religion is wrapped up in most of the details of my daily life. We read scriptures and pray daily in our home. We talk about our choices and try to base our decisions on gospel principles. Our family rules are built upon principles like the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule, etc. The Church's stance on family and marriage do play a strong role in my stance on abortion, gay marriage, etc. As explained in the Church's official Statement, "The Family: A Proclamation to the World," I believe that marriage and children are sacred and that our society should value and protect them.
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
I will be honest. I would be disappointed because my faith has played such a prominent role in my daily life and in my children's upbringing. Regardless of that disappointment, I would still treat my child and his/her spouse with love and respect and they would always be family, no matter what.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
Not at all. In fact, as I've read biographies of some of the greatest men and women in the history of the world (from other religious traditions), I think they'll have a lot to teach me when we all meet up in heaven some day.
17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not? Like all religions, there are faithful members and members who are misguided. The only source that can rightfully speak for the whole church is the President of the Church (our prophet) and the First Presidency (the prophet and his two counselors/assistants) and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No, I have not, but the early members of our Church (in the 1800s), including Joseph Smith, the prophet who restored the Church, were attacked by mobs, driven from their homes, and murdered.
The only thing that I find offensive today is when people who are not members of my Church try to tell me what I do and do not believe. This is especially true when people claim that Mormons are not Christians. I find it disappointing that when a religion claims its belief in Jesus Christ, another person or group will try to tell you essentially "no, you don't." I can't imagine trying to convince anyone else that they don't really believe what they claim to believe, but for some reason this is a common practice among opponents to the Church. All I can say about it is that even a brief study of our religion would reveal that we do indeed believe in Jesus Christ, the son of God, (the same one that the rest of the Christian world worships) and we worship Him as our Savior and Redeemer. And despite what anyone else doubts, I know that I believe in Him.
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No, I never have. My religion teaches me that I am a child of God, and therefore an heir. My religion encourages me to be my very best and reach for the great potential that is in me, to become with God's help as great as He made me to be.
20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes. Daily. I fall back on the things that I know to be true and on my knowledge of Jesus Christ. These things are a foundation that give me stability and certainty even when life gets challenging.
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
No. We believe that we are literally spirit children of our Heavenly Father and that our identity is eternal and unchanging. We do believe in resurrection.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Jane Austen Quote
Hello and Happy Wednesday!
Today's quote is brought to you by Jane Austen:
Selfishness must always be forgiven you know, because there is no hope of a cure.
There'll be a new interview on Saturday so please check back!
Today's quote is brought to you by Jane Austen:
Selfishness must always be forgiven you know, because there is no hope of a cure.
There'll be a new interview on Saturday so please check back!
Saturday, June 18, 2011
KV
Hello and Happy Saturday!
First up I wish to thank Kriss for his wonderful interview last week. I very much enjoyed reading your answers and thank you for sharing Kriss!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome KV.
KV is a Christian and I know you will enjoy his interview as well!
Here Is KV's Introduction:
"Hobby blogger and professional scientist. In my early forties and hence more conservative then I used to be. Married late, but to the absolute right girl. I am Dutch. If I were American I'd probably be a Teapartier. I smoke and I drink. I eat red meat. And I enjoy all three without shame. I spend too much time indoors at the computer and too little in the great wide open, though I actually like that latter more then the former. But hey, such is life, I guess. I'm not complaining. I get paid too good for that."
The blog: http://kleinverzet.blogspot.com/
1) What religion do you practice?
Christianity. Nominally I am Dutch Reformed, but I tend to incorporate beliefs and points of view from other denominations and even other faiths. My wife is Catholic, so some of that rubs off. In daily life I find some Buddhist principles are very useful. My approach to the core principles of my belief is on the other hand more evangelical then anything else.
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I was raised in a Dutch Reformed family, but lapsed around halfway into puberty, when the principles my parents and the church taught became irreconcilable with what I read about science.
It took a few years of more study and life experience to see that the differences were not as irreconcilable after all, which is when I admitted to myself and God that I do believe. I got confirmed shortly after that.
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
I don't know that these differences can be described definitively. They are more descriptive and hence rather subjective. What may seem moderate to one might appear quite orthodox to another, and very liberal to a third.
This is a longwinded way of saying I don't know how to answer that question.
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
I'd say orthodox on principles, moderate in practice.
I do believe there is a God that loves us, watches over us (if we let Him) and that wants to stay in touch with us. I do believe Jesus was the Son of God and that He died on the cross for the sins of the world. It may be a more moderate view to cast Jesus as a very wise man, a teacher, as the Buddha was. But I reject that notion with a passion.
On the other hand I am not fanatically opposed to for instance abortion or euthanasia. I don't like both, but I can see there may be circumstances where what is forbidden becomes the only course of action. And it is then an issue between God and the person(s) in question. I don't think any of us have a natural right to interfere with that, other then to offer counsel when asked for. That goes doubly for state agencies and authority.
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
Obviously yes. There is a Heaven and a Hell. However, I don't think either are places of 'reward' and 'punishment'. I belief that ultimately you chose where you go. That belief I pilfered from the late, great C.S. Lewis, who does a tremendous job explaining why certain people might chose Hell over Heaven in 'The Great Divorce'.
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
I would hope they do. But I fear that some won't. Simply because having to enter Heaven means recognizing some truths that are just too unpalatable to some.
It has to do with recognizing your failings and accepting they are, in fact, flaws, deep flaws even. And it has to do with recognizing and accepting that you are *not* master of your own destiny, that you are not the centre of your universe. That there is One who overrules even you. If one is unable to accept these, Heaven may just seem the most intolerable of places.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
I'd like to distinguish between religion and faith, if I may.
My religion, by which I mean Dutch Reformed Protestantism, doesn't fit me all that well, actually. Unfortunately none of the religions (in the meaning of organized faith communities) fit. In any religion there are going to be points of view being put forward that one doesn't agree with.
That is not to say religion is useless. I regularly attend church and am active in our community. I receive a great amount of satisfaction, joy and energy from doing that. And at times it provides invaluable guidance in spiritual matters. But a religion is a human creation, susceptible to human flaws and mistakes. Any organized group will have rules and guidelines, official and unspoken, that do not agree with my points of view, even after a long period of contemplation, prayer and meditation.
Ultimately faith is a highly personal thing between a person and his/her Maker. If the question refers to my faith, I must say that it fits quite comfortably. Because it makes sense. It is logical. More logical than atheism, even. Because it fits not only with the world I observe, but also with my instinctive feelings about the metaphysical. It offers an explanation for the universal morality we humans are afflicted with, and of why we find it so hard to keep that innate morality.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
The three most important to me, in order of importance:
1) Good Friday
2) Easter
3) Christmas
Obviously, Good Friday is not a day of celebration, but more a day of remembrance. It is the day we keep to remember the day that Jesus, God incarnate, died a most excruciating death to atone for the sins of this world. Since a few years we have a habit of attending a performance of the Saint Matthews Passion by J.S. Bach. It is beautiful music, but also the most profound sermon on the meaning of Good Friday.
Easter is spent in church and with family. It always is a joyous time, without actually anything out of the ordinary. It probably is just the entourage provided by the traditions (the eggs, the Easter palms) that puts you in the right frame of mind.
Ever since I met my wife, who is Catholic, Christmas has started early, with First Advent (the Sunday four weeks prior to Christmas). We sort of ease into the spirit of the holidays by putting on appropriate music, lighting candles and putting up decorations over the four week period. That also includes regular visits to Christmas markets, to soak up the atmosphere as much as looking out for new decorations.
Christmas itself is marked by a Christmas Eve church visit and two days of visiting and receiving family and friends. Outwardly it doesn't seem all that special. But it is the frame of mind that takes hold of you in the season. Heaven and Earth seem to be just a little closer to each other during those days.
I should make a special mention of Sundays in general. I am blessed with a wife who also recognizes the importance of that one special day in the week devoted to our higher selves. Devoted to family, friends and faith.
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Yes.
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
No, I would not. And I would not expect them to join one of mine.
A holy day is a holy day because of the spiritual meaning behind it. If I were to participate, I would be going through the motions outwardly. But as the meaning of the holiday doesn't agree with, and may run counter to, my faith, I would participate without being able to inwardly honour that spiritual meaning. Without honouring the spirit, the intention of that holy day. In short: I would be faking it.
That, to me, seems utterly disrespectful to who has invited me and the religion, the holy day of which I am attending. I would not accept this from others and I won't perpetrate it myself.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
Oh boy! Can I just glibly note that I think both are really very, very bad ideas?
I can be short about Shariah law: It is very detailed and comprehensive, seeking to regulate every nook and cranny of daily life. It doesn't leave any freedom to anyone and as such will (and does) create societies that are stilted and stunted, without joy, without creativity and without prosperity.
With regard to be burka: I loathe the concept and the thinking behind it. It is predicated on the notion that men are too primitive to control their urges and it is the responsibility of women to not give 'cause'. And while I recognize there are 'men' out there that indeed have no control over themselves, I think putting on a burka is the ultimate in laying blame on the victim and declaring the offender to be the victim.
That is why I find modern feminism so irrational. All during the 70's and 80's the feminist movement fought hard to expunge the notion of 'she was asking for it' from our (Western) society. That was a good fight and I am happy they succeeded in that respect. But for the life of me I can't grasp why modern feminism would want to turn all that back and argue that the veil and the burka are somehow a good thing.
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Yes, they are. And to be ruthlessly honest I have mixed feelings about it.
I have met some female ministers that were exemplary ministers. But lately I am seeing female ministers becoming the norm and with that the character of the church seems to be changing in a direction that is not altogether positive. There has to be a balance, and that balance is a bit lost nowadays, in my denomination
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
No, it doesn't.
14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
A faith or a religion is so fundamental that I think that it inevitably, even in ways you're not aware of, is going to influence how you live your life and how you make decisions. That is how it is for me.
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
That really depends on what she is going to do with that fact.
If she marries into another Christian denomination or the Jewish religion I wouldn't have any problems. If she marries an atheist, I would hope she holds on to her beliefs despite everything and I would watch with some trepidation. The same goes for marrying into Buddhism or Hinduism. If, however, she would marry into Islam or Scientology, that would cause me no end of worry.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
No. I don't think the decision on Heaven or Hell is solely predicated on religion. See the answers to questions (5) and (6).
17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
There are many, many people who claim to be Christian and then go on and preach something that is diametrically opposed to the first principles of Christianity. One example well known in the US is reverend Wright, president Obama's pastor, who is preaching some corrupt version of black liberation theology that utterly denies the value and humanity of others.
Here in the Netherlands we've had a rather infamous case about a Protestant minister that published a book in which he explained why he was an atheist. The astonishing thing is: He is still up on the pulpit every Sunday, preaching his misbegotten, Godless Christianity to an adoring crowd.
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No, can't say that I have.
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No, the opposite even.
20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes, very much so.
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
I do not. But I did for a while, even as I already was coming to terms with my Christianity.
First up I wish to thank Kriss for his wonderful interview last week. I very much enjoyed reading your answers and thank you for sharing Kriss!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome KV.
KV is a Christian and I know you will enjoy his interview as well!
Here Is KV's Introduction:
"Hobby blogger and professional scientist. In my early forties and hence more conservative then I used to be. Married late, but to the absolute right girl. I am Dutch. If I were American I'd probably be a Teapartier. I smoke and I drink. I eat red meat. And I enjoy all three without shame. I spend too much time indoors at the computer and too little in the great wide open, though I actually like that latter more then the former. But hey, such is life, I guess. I'm not complaining. I get paid too good for that."
The blog: http://kleinverzet.blogspot.com/
1) What religion do you practice?
Christianity. Nominally I am Dutch Reformed, but I tend to incorporate beliefs and points of view from other denominations and even other faiths. My wife is Catholic, so some of that rubs off. In daily life I find some Buddhist principles are very useful. My approach to the core principles of my belief is on the other hand more evangelical then anything else.
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I was raised in a Dutch Reformed family, but lapsed around halfway into puberty, when the principles my parents and the church taught became irreconcilable with what I read about science.
It took a few years of more study and life experience to see that the differences were not as irreconcilable after all, which is when I admitted to myself and God that I do believe. I got confirmed shortly after that.
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
I don't know that these differences can be described definitively. They are more descriptive and hence rather subjective. What may seem moderate to one might appear quite orthodox to another, and very liberal to a third.
This is a longwinded way of saying I don't know how to answer that question.
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
I'd say orthodox on principles, moderate in practice.
I do believe there is a God that loves us, watches over us (if we let Him) and that wants to stay in touch with us. I do believe Jesus was the Son of God and that He died on the cross for the sins of the world. It may be a more moderate view to cast Jesus as a very wise man, a teacher, as the Buddha was. But I reject that notion with a passion.
On the other hand I am not fanatically opposed to for instance abortion or euthanasia. I don't like both, but I can see there may be circumstances where what is forbidden becomes the only course of action. And it is then an issue between God and the person(s) in question. I don't think any of us have a natural right to interfere with that, other then to offer counsel when asked for. That goes doubly for state agencies and authority.
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
Obviously yes. There is a Heaven and a Hell. However, I don't think either are places of 'reward' and 'punishment'. I belief that ultimately you chose where you go. That belief I pilfered from the late, great C.S. Lewis, who does a tremendous job explaining why certain people might chose Hell over Heaven in 'The Great Divorce'.
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
I would hope they do. But I fear that some won't. Simply because having to enter Heaven means recognizing some truths that are just too unpalatable to some.
It has to do with recognizing your failings and accepting they are, in fact, flaws, deep flaws even. And it has to do with recognizing and accepting that you are *not* master of your own destiny, that you are not the centre of your universe. That there is One who overrules even you. If one is unable to accept these, Heaven may just seem the most intolerable of places.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
I'd like to distinguish between religion and faith, if I may.
My religion, by which I mean Dutch Reformed Protestantism, doesn't fit me all that well, actually. Unfortunately none of the religions (in the meaning of organized faith communities) fit. In any religion there are going to be points of view being put forward that one doesn't agree with.
That is not to say religion is useless. I regularly attend church and am active in our community. I receive a great amount of satisfaction, joy and energy from doing that. And at times it provides invaluable guidance in spiritual matters. But a religion is a human creation, susceptible to human flaws and mistakes. Any organized group will have rules and guidelines, official and unspoken, that do not agree with my points of view, even after a long period of contemplation, prayer and meditation.
Ultimately faith is a highly personal thing between a person and his/her Maker. If the question refers to my faith, I must say that it fits quite comfortably. Because it makes sense. It is logical. More logical than atheism, even. Because it fits not only with the world I observe, but also with my instinctive feelings about the metaphysical. It offers an explanation for the universal morality we humans are afflicted with, and of why we find it so hard to keep that innate morality.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
The three most important to me, in order of importance:
1) Good Friday
2) Easter
3) Christmas
Obviously, Good Friday is not a day of celebration, but more a day of remembrance. It is the day we keep to remember the day that Jesus, God incarnate, died a most excruciating death to atone for the sins of this world. Since a few years we have a habit of attending a performance of the Saint Matthews Passion by J.S. Bach. It is beautiful music, but also the most profound sermon on the meaning of Good Friday.
Easter is spent in church and with family. It always is a joyous time, without actually anything out of the ordinary. It probably is just the entourage provided by the traditions (the eggs, the Easter palms) that puts you in the right frame of mind.
Ever since I met my wife, who is Catholic, Christmas has started early, with First Advent (the Sunday four weeks prior to Christmas). We sort of ease into the spirit of the holidays by putting on appropriate music, lighting candles and putting up decorations over the four week period. That also includes regular visits to Christmas markets, to soak up the atmosphere as much as looking out for new decorations.
Christmas itself is marked by a Christmas Eve church visit and two days of visiting and receiving family and friends. Outwardly it doesn't seem all that special. But it is the frame of mind that takes hold of you in the season. Heaven and Earth seem to be just a little closer to each other during those days.
I should make a special mention of Sundays in general. I am blessed with a wife who also recognizes the importance of that one special day in the week devoted to our higher selves. Devoted to family, friends and faith.
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Yes.
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
No, I would not. And I would not expect them to join one of mine.
A holy day is a holy day because of the spiritual meaning behind it. If I were to participate, I would be going through the motions outwardly. But as the meaning of the holiday doesn't agree with, and may run counter to, my faith, I would participate without being able to inwardly honour that spiritual meaning. Without honouring the spirit, the intention of that holy day. In short: I would be faking it.
That, to me, seems utterly disrespectful to who has invited me and the religion, the holy day of which I am attending. I would not accept this from others and I won't perpetrate it myself.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
Oh boy! Can I just glibly note that I think both are really very, very bad ideas?
I can be short about Shariah law: It is very detailed and comprehensive, seeking to regulate every nook and cranny of daily life. It doesn't leave any freedom to anyone and as such will (and does) create societies that are stilted and stunted, without joy, without creativity and without prosperity.
With regard to be burka: I loathe the concept and the thinking behind it. It is predicated on the notion that men are too primitive to control their urges and it is the responsibility of women to not give 'cause'. And while I recognize there are 'men' out there that indeed have no control over themselves, I think putting on a burka is the ultimate in laying blame on the victim and declaring the offender to be the victim.
That is why I find modern feminism so irrational. All during the 70's and 80's the feminist movement fought hard to expunge the notion of 'she was asking for it' from our (Western) society. That was a good fight and I am happy they succeeded in that respect. But for the life of me I can't grasp why modern feminism would want to turn all that back and argue that the veil and the burka are somehow a good thing.
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Yes, they are. And to be ruthlessly honest I have mixed feelings about it.
I have met some female ministers that were exemplary ministers. But lately I am seeing female ministers becoming the norm and with that the character of the church seems to be changing in a direction that is not altogether positive. There has to be a balance, and that balance is a bit lost nowadays, in my denomination
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
No, it doesn't.
14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
A faith or a religion is so fundamental that I think that it inevitably, even in ways you're not aware of, is going to influence how you live your life and how you make decisions. That is how it is for me.
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
That really depends on what she is going to do with that fact.
If she marries into another Christian denomination or the Jewish religion I wouldn't have any problems. If she marries an atheist, I would hope she holds on to her beliefs despite everything and I would watch with some trepidation. The same goes for marrying into Buddhism or Hinduism. If, however, she would marry into Islam or Scientology, that would cause me no end of worry.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
No. I don't think the decision on Heaven or Hell is solely predicated on religion. See the answers to questions (5) and (6).
17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
There are many, many people who claim to be Christian and then go on and preach something that is diametrically opposed to the first principles of Christianity. One example well known in the US is reverend Wright, president Obama's pastor, who is preaching some corrupt version of black liberation theology that utterly denies the value and humanity of others.
Here in the Netherlands we've had a rather infamous case about a Protestant minister that published a book in which he explained why he was an atheist. The astonishing thing is: He is still up on the pulpit every Sunday, preaching his misbegotten, Godless Christianity to an adoring crowd.
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No, can't say that I have.
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No, the opposite even.
20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes, very much so.
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
I do not. But I did for a while, even as I already was coming to terms with my Christianity.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Friedrich Nietzsche
Hello and Happy Wednesday!
Today's quote is brought to you by Friedrich Nietzsche:
Anyone who has declared someone else to be an idiot, a bad apple, is annoyed when it turns out in the end that he isn't.
There's a new interview coming up on Saturday so please check back!
Today's quote is brought to you by Friedrich Nietzsche:
Anyone who has declared someone else to be an idiot, a bad apple, is annoyed when it turns out in the end that he isn't.
There's a new interview coming up on Saturday so please check back!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Kriss
Hello and Happy Saturday!
First up I wish to thank CF for his very enjoyable interview last week. Thanks for sharing with us CF!
We have a new interview today so please welcome Kriss.
Kriss is an Atheist and I know you're going to enjoy his interview as well!
Here Is Kriss's Introduction:
Hello everyone, my name is Kriss (no last name like Sting, Cher, Bono and my boss, Joan) and it is my pleasure to participate here. I'd like to thank Debra and all others involved with You Me and Religion for this opportunity. It is my hope that we can all emerge from this with a better understanding of each other. I am 42 years old and I've work in a cafe called Espresso Metropolitan for the past 18 years. I casually go to college and still hang on to the dream of being a professional musician (sigh, one day). In 2004 I came out as an atheist when the Four Horsemen and The New Atheist appeared on the scene. I'm very proud to be a skeptic and an out atheist in this day and time. My blog is called krissthesexyatheist and my intent is to redefine what "sexy" is, show the humanity of The New Atheist, report on the negative aspects of extremist and intolerant religion and have a little fun in the areas of art, music and culture along the way.
http://krissthesexyatheist.blogspot.com/
1) What religion do you practice?
I do not practice a religion, I am an atheist. I was raised Catholic, just like most Filipino's are, and indoctrinated into the martial arts in 72' and with that came Eastern philosophy. In 2004 I came "out of the atheist closet" and I do consider myself a part of the movement called The New Atheist. For purposes of time and space, let's define atheist as lack of belief in God(s) and the supernatural, nothing more.
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
As Richard "Papa Bear" Dawkins says, and I believe this to be correct, we are all born atheist. It is not until childhood that we are indoctrinated into our parents religion, which often times is the regional religion. In the early 2000's I took a biology class that studied extraordinary claims like UFO's, the Loch Ness monster chi etc... One of the books we used was the skeptic's classic from Michael Shermer called "Why People Believe Weird Things." After honing my critical thinking skills, reasoning skills and logically thinking about why it is biologically impossible for, let's say, the Loch Ness monster to exist (there is not a food source large enough for a creature that size), I became a skeptic and an atheist. My previous beliefs were Catholicism and chi. I no longer believe in either.
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
This is a great question. The New Atheist come in all kinds of shapes, sizes and beliefs. The only common denominator is that we do not believe in God(s). Some of us are very casual and some of us are more vocal and up front. There are atheist/agnostics and atheist/Buddhists and every category in between. Just like there are many different kinds of Christianity or Buddhisms, there are many different kinds of atheists.
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
Wow, I do not know what to call myself. For the most part, I'm live and let live. If someone believes in a God and we agree on social issues (abortion, GLBT, feminism etc...) then I'm cool with that. If a practitioner of a more extreme and intolerant religion "forces" me, or anyone else, to believe in said religion, if they spew hate like Westboro Baptist Church or are willing to kill for their God(s), then I'm soooo not cool with that. I guess I'm a mirror that reflects what it is in my environment at the time. If 'you' have no problem with my nonbelief, then I have no problem with you having belief. If my nonbelief makes you angry and it is your 'mission' to convert or kill the infidel, then of course I have a problem with that (and I'm sure all reasonable peeps would). Afterall, atheist have the whole compliment of human emotions, thoughts and feelings just like any one else. Often times we are called angry atheist, but what is not addressed is that someone, a fellow human, made us angry. So, I guess my "degree of observance" can change with the situation, but for the most part, I'm "mellow yellow (and I like it that way)."
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept).
Skeptics and atheists do not believe in an afterlife. As of right now we do not see that there is any hard evidence to suggest other wise (and if 'you' believe in an afterlife, I'm totally cool with that as long as you don't yell at me to believe in what you believe, but you guys wouldn't do that anyways). I once had a near death experience after a Greatful Dead show in the mid 90's. What I learned later on was that NDE's 1) can be induced, 2) that it happens because of a lock of oxygen to the brain 3) the formula of the NDE is susceptible to suggestion (skeptics believe it happens exactly the way it is described to peeps, a prescribed learned experience so to speak).
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
We do not believe in heaven, again, for lack of evidence. If the idea of heaven gives one comfort (death is a big dealeo) then I have no problem with that. It just doesn't make sense to skeptics and atheists. We believe that there is only one life and it is best to make the most out of the life here on Earth (and if that is a symbolic heaven, then call it what you will. We choose to call it life here on Earth.).
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
Well once again atheism is not a religion. It only means lack of belief in a God(s). I can still answer the question though. After "soul searching" and asking hard questions and toiling over those questions, I have come to the conclusion that the supernatural does not exist. Now that being said I do leave the door open for evidence and I would be willing to change my position, but I really don't think that will happen. If the supernatural existed and could be proven, then those peeps should contact James Randi and collect the million dollar prize.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
There are no holy days for atheism, but if there is food and drink involved and I'm invited, I'm down for celebrating any holiday (just don't force me to do anything that I do not want to do).
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Yes, I do not see why not. Once again, I'm a mirror, a reflection. If you accept me, then I see no reason to not accept you. In fact one of the myths of atheists is that we hate religion. That is not true for all of us. This atheist finds religion very fascinating and beautiful. It's just that I do not not acknowledge the negative aspects of some of the extremist religions. The recent Pew research survey of religious knowledge showed that atheist, agnostics and then Jewish peeps, scored highest in religious knowledge. So, a friend is a friend is a friend, regardless of what s/he believes.
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
I see no reason to do that. I get invited anyways.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
Wow, that's not an easy one. If a woman claims that it is her choice to wear a burka, I guess I'm fine with that. I just wonder if the choice is really a choice. I'll have to admit that I do not know for sure on that one. Shariah law it seems to me is oppressive to women and downright unfair. There may be instances of fair Shariah law, but as far as I know (and I know very little) it is responsible for violence in the name of God-and last I checked, no one wants that.
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Well, you know what I'm going to say about that. What the secular crowd wants from extremist religion (and I do understand that there are no extremist here) is a softening of stances on women as clergy, misogyny and GLBT issues. Currently there are splits in churches that on one side want to allow women as clergy, which is cool, while the other side does not want that-which means they are stuck in ancient ways and are not willing to grow.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
The New Atheists are not exactly organized, per say. But what often times comes up is lack of minorities and women in the groups that we do have and at the top leadership positions.
14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
Well atheism and skepticism certainly do influence my "daily." The most obvious is that the materialist worldview keeps me grounded in the here and now right here on Earth. Many, not all, atheists/skeptics are progressive liberals so we want equal rights for all peeps, GLBT, women, minorities and certainly a woman's right to choose what to do with her body is her choice and her choice alone.
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
Well, I do not have children (one day I would really like that), but... It would be my hope that by the time my child got married, that I have taught them to think for themselves. If my child were to marry a believer, then I would still love my child, accept the decision and welcome his/her partner into our world.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
We do not believe in hell, so you can't go to a place that does not exist.
17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
I do not know how to respond to the first part. The New Atheist are a diverse bunch, but it is the Four Horsemen (Dawkins, Hitchens, Dennet, Harris) who get all the press. Unfortunately they are considered 'militant atheists' (which is a horrible designation because they write books, not carry arms) and the perception is that we are all like that. I agree with them to a certain extent, but they do not represent "us' entirely. That is why it is so important for venues like this. To let the world know we are diverse.
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
I'd have to say no. I've been very fortunate so far.
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
Me personally, I'd have to say no. Generally, I'd have to say that one of my main problems with extreme religion is the treatment of women. Perhaps naively, I believe that we can have world peace if as a society we treated women as equals.
20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
I think it does.
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
I do not. I used to believe, but as of now, I see no evidence besides faith to believe in reincarnation. As a skeptic/atheist we require extraordinary evidence for extraordinary claims.
Well, that was more epic than I had anticipated. Still fun though. Once again I'd like to thank Debra and Y M & R for this opportunity. I hope that this was informative for all the peeps out there. It takes all kinds to make the world go round and it takes all kinds to actively live in peace here on Earth in this lifetime. If you disagree with my position, then I hope that we can still be friends and that we can agree to disagree and leave it at that. May your God(s) bless you and if you don't have a God(s), then just like the atheist bus campaign says, "Don't worry, be happy." Thank you so much.
Kriss
First up I wish to thank CF for his very enjoyable interview last week. Thanks for sharing with us CF!
We have a new interview today so please welcome Kriss.
Kriss is an Atheist and I know you're going to enjoy his interview as well!
Here Is Kriss's Introduction:
Hello everyone, my name is Kriss (no last name like Sting, Cher, Bono and my boss, Joan) and it is my pleasure to participate here. I'd like to thank Debra and all others involved with You Me and Religion for this opportunity. It is my hope that we can all emerge from this with a better understanding of each other. I am 42 years old and I've work in a cafe called Espresso Metropolitan for the past 18 years. I casually go to college and still hang on to the dream of being a professional musician (sigh, one day). In 2004 I came out as an atheist when the Four Horsemen and The New Atheist appeared on the scene. I'm very proud to be a skeptic and an out atheist in this day and time. My blog is called krissthesexyatheist and my intent is to redefine what "sexy" is, show the humanity of The New Atheist, report on the negative aspects of extremist and intolerant religion and have a little fun in the areas of art, music and culture along the way.
http://krissthesexyatheist.blogspot.com/
1) What religion do you practice?
I do not practice a religion, I am an atheist. I was raised Catholic, just like most Filipino's are, and indoctrinated into the martial arts in 72' and with that came Eastern philosophy. In 2004 I came "out of the atheist closet" and I do consider myself a part of the movement called The New Atheist. For purposes of time and space, let's define atheist as lack of belief in God(s) and the supernatural, nothing more.
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
As Richard "Papa Bear" Dawkins says, and I believe this to be correct, we are all born atheist. It is not until childhood that we are indoctrinated into our parents religion, which often times is the regional religion. In the early 2000's I took a biology class that studied extraordinary claims like UFO's, the Loch Ness monster chi etc... One of the books we used was the skeptic's classic from Michael Shermer called "Why People Believe Weird Things." After honing my critical thinking skills, reasoning skills and logically thinking about why it is biologically impossible for, let's say, the Loch Ness monster to exist (there is not a food source large enough for a creature that size), I became a skeptic and an atheist. My previous beliefs were Catholicism and chi. I no longer believe in either.
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
This is a great question. The New Atheist come in all kinds of shapes, sizes and beliefs. The only common denominator is that we do not believe in God(s). Some of us are very casual and some of us are more vocal and up front. There are atheist/agnostics and atheist/Buddhists and every category in between. Just like there are many different kinds of Christianity or Buddhisms, there are many different kinds of atheists.
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
Wow, I do not know what to call myself. For the most part, I'm live and let live. If someone believes in a God and we agree on social issues (abortion, GLBT, feminism etc...) then I'm cool with that. If a practitioner of a more extreme and intolerant religion "forces" me, or anyone else, to believe in said religion, if they spew hate like Westboro Baptist Church or are willing to kill for their God(s), then I'm soooo not cool with that. I guess I'm a mirror that reflects what it is in my environment at the time. If 'you' have no problem with my nonbelief, then I have no problem with you having belief. If my nonbelief makes you angry and it is your 'mission' to convert or kill the infidel, then of course I have a problem with that (and I'm sure all reasonable peeps would). Afterall, atheist have the whole compliment of human emotions, thoughts and feelings just like any one else. Often times we are called angry atheist, but what is not addressed is that someone, a fellow human, made us angry. So, I guess my "degree of observance" can change with the situation, but for the most part, I'm "mellow yellow (and I like it that way)."
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept).
Skeptics and atheists do not believe in an afterlife. As of right now we do not see that there is any hard evidence to suggest other wise (and if 'you' believe in an afterlife, I'm totally cool with that as long as you don't yell at me to believe in what you believe, but you guys wouldn't do that anyways). I once had a near death experience after a Greatful Dead show in the mid 90's. What I learned later on was that NDE's 1) can be induced, 2) that it happens because of a lock of oxygen to the brain 3) the formula of the NDE is susceptible to suggestion (skeptics believe it happens exactly the way it is described to peeps, a prescribed learned experience so to speak).
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
We do not believe in heaven, again, for lack of evidence. If the idea of heaven gives one comfort (death is a big dealeo) then I have no problem with that. It just doesn't make sense to skeptics and atheists. We believe that there is only one life and it is best to make the most out of the life here on Earth (and if that is a symbolic heaven, then call it what you will. We choose to call it life here on Earth.).
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
Well once again atheism is not a religion. It only means lack of belief in a God(s). I can still answer the question though. After "soul searching" and asking hard questions and toiling over those questions, I have come to the conclusion that the supernatural does not exist. Now that being said I do leave the door open for evidence and I would be willing to change my position, but I really don't think that will happen. If the supernatural existed and could be proven, then those peeps should contact James Randi and collect the million dollar prize.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
There are no holy days for atheism, but if there is food and drink involved and I'm invited, I'm down for celebrating any holiday (just don't force me to do anything that I do not want to do).
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Yes, I do not see why not. Once again, I'm a mirror, a reflection. If you accept me, then I see no reason to not accept you. In fact one of the myths of atheists is that we hate religion. That is not true for all of us. This atheist finds religion very fascinating and beautiful. It's just that I do not not acknowledge the negative aspects of some of the extremist religions. The recent Pew research survey of religious knowledge showed that atheist, agnostics and then Jewish peeps, scored highest in religious knowledge. So, a friend is a friend is a friend, regardless of what s/he believes.
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
I see no reason to do that. I get invited anyways.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
Wow, that's not an easy one. If a woman claims that it is her choice to wear a burka, I guess I'm fine with that. I just wonder if the choice is really a choice. I'll have to admit that I do not know for sure on that one. Shariah law it seems to me is oppressive to women and downright unfair. There may be instances of fair Shariah law, but as far as I know (and I know very little) it is responsible for violence in the name of God-and last I checked, no one wants that.
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Well, you know what I'm going to say about that. What the secular crowd wants from extremist religion (and I do understand that there are no extremist here) is a softening of stances on women as clergy, misogyny and GLBT issues. Currently there are splits in churches that on one side want to allow women as clergy, which is cool, while the other side does not want that-which means they are stuck in ancient ways and are not willing to grow.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
The New Atheists are not exactly organized, per say. But what often times comes up is lack of minorities and women in the groups that we do have and at the top leadership positions.
14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
Well atheism and skepticism certainly do influence my "daily." The most obvious is that the materialist worldview keeps me grounded in the here and now right here on Earth. Many, not all, atheists/skeptics are progressive liberals so we want equal rights for all peeps, GLBT, women, minorities and certainly a woman's right to choose what to do with her body is her choice and her choice alone.
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
Well, I do not have children (one day I would really like that), but... It would be my hope that by the time my child got married, that I have taught them to think for themselves. If my child were to marry a believer, then I would still love my child, accept the decision and welcome his/her partner into our world.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
We do not believe in hell, so you can't go to a place that does not exist.
17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
I do not know how to respond to the first part. The New Atheist are a diverse bunch, but it is the Four Horsemen (Dawkins, Hitchens, Dennet, Harris) who get all the press. Unfortunately they are considered 'militant atheists' (which is a horrible designation because they write books, not carry arms) and the perception is that we are all like that. I agree with them to a certain extent, but they do not represent "us' entirely. That is why it is so important for venues like this. To let the world know we are diverse.
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
I'd have to say no. I've been very fortunate so far.
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
Me personally, I'd have to say no. Generally, I'd have to say that one of my main problems with extreme religion is the treatment of women. Perhaps naively, I believe that we can have world peace if as a society we treated women as equals.
20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
I think it does.
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
I do not. I used to believe, but as of now, I see no evidence besides faith to believe in reincarnation. As a skeptic/atheist we require extraordinary evidence for extraordinary claims.
Well, that was more epic than I had anticipated. Still fun though. Once again I'd like to thank Debra and Y M & R for this opportunity. I hope that this was informative for all the peeps out there. It takes all kinds to make the world go round and it takes all kinds to actively live in peace here on Earth in this lifetime. If you disagree with my position, then I hope that we can still be friends and that we can agree to disagree and leave it at that. May your God(s) bless you and if you don't have a God(s), then just like the atheist bus campaign says, "Don't worry, be happy." Thank you so much.
Kriss
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Michael J. Fox Quote
Hello and Happy Thursday!
Today's quote is brought to you by Michael J. Fox:
One's dignity may be assaulted, vandalized and cruelly mocked, but cannot be taken away unless it is surrendered.
There'll be a new post coming up on Saturday so be sure to check back!
Today's quote is brought to you by Michael J. Fox:
One's dignity may be assaulted, vandalized and cruelly mocked, but cannot be taken away unless it is surrendered.
There'll be a new post coming up on Saturday so be sure to check back!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Big Thanks!
Hello and Happy Tuesday!
I wish to thank YMR participants:
Miss Grace, Hesham A. Hassaballa, G*3, AnnMarie, Wee_Beastie, Jason Hughes and CF.
What a unique and interesting group of participants! I learned much from all of you and I thank you all so much for sharing your journey with all of us.
Thank you!
I wish to thank YMR participants:
Miss Grace, Hesham A. Hassaballa, G*3, AnnMarie, Wee_Beastie, Jason Hughes and CF.
What a unique and interesting group of participants! I learned much from all of you and I thank you all so much for sharing your journey with all of us.
Thank you!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
CF
Hello and Happy Saturday!
I wish to thank Jason Hughes for being so open and sharing his journey with us last week. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your answers. Thank you Jason!
This week we have a new interview so please welcome CF.
CF is Agnostic and I know you will enjoy his post as well!
Here Is CF's Introduction:
I am a 55 year old male, born in England. Emigrated to Canada a LONG time ago.
I wish to thank Jason Hughes for being so open and sharing his journey with us last week. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your answers. Thank you Jason!
This week we have a new interview so please welcome CF.
CF is Agnostic and I know you will enjoy his post as well!
Here Is CF's Introduction:
I am a 55 year old male, born in England. Emigrated to Canada a LONG time ago.
1) What religion do you practice?
Passive involvement in the Anglican religion. Mostly when someone else needs me to be involved- weddings, funerals, and such.
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
No
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
Within any organization there are some who approach things with more "zeal" I'm not sure of any official levels of observance.
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
Passive, very passive. Mostly due to lethargy.
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
Just the usual WASP-y rewards.
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Not sure either way.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
I didn't know it was.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
See 5 above
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
I'd not exempt anyone from being a "friend" based on beliefs, unless such beliefs are so intense and obtrusive that their company wasn't comfortable.
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Yes, and I have. It's not about their religion, it's about them. My biggest concern would be seriously offending their customs and/or beliefs.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
The burka is a symbol of belief, like wearing a cross or star of David, and therefore a choice. Wear it or don't unless or until it becomes illegal as it has in France. I know little or nothing about sharia law, but believe that in Canada we have a
legal system that works fairly for all and that is the only law which should be practiced here.
When in Rome...
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Yes, carry on.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
No
14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
None, and no.
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
I'd care about the person, not the religion.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
If I'm not pleased with them, they can all go to hell, but I'm sure that's not what you mean.
17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
No answer for this, I guess my apathy knows no bounds - or restrictions.
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
Nope
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No - it pretty much leaves me alone.
20) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
Too tough to answer this - as a lazy agnostic...
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Helen Keller Quote
Hello and Happy Thursday!
Today's quote is brought to you by Helen Keller:
So long as the memory of certain beloved friends lives in my heart, I shall say that life is good.
Today's quote is brought to you by Helen Keller:
So long as the memory of certain beloved friends lives in my heart, I shall say that life is good.
There'll be a new post coming Saturday so be sure to check back!
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