Get the F out my Way! I'm Spreading Christmas Cheer!

I always loved Christmas; it seemed my birthright to love the holiday that celebrates Christ’s birth, I was born in the wee morning hours the day after Christmas. I tried my darnedest to be born on the actual day of Christmas, but I blame the blizzard of 1982 for prolonging my entrance into the world. As a girl I loved everything about Christmas, because it all seemed to be about me and my birthday too. I remember many birthdays lying under the tree with a new doll or notebook gazing up, entranced by the branches, tinsel, and lights. As I got older I loved the traditions and sharing the season with my family. But the last few years I’ve changed my mind about Christmas and all the silliness it brings out in people. I’m not so sure it’s the most wonderful time of the year, I think it might be the most schizophrenic time of the year. Now, I already trashed Thanksgiving so I will attempt to temper myself on the Christmas topic and I promise I’m not fighting any war on Christmas. As far as I’m concerned we can skip X’mas all together.

The Deist in Me

It has been said that Deism is as far from Christianity, as Atheism; I personally don’t agree. Deism can be simplistically defined as: a religion or category of belief that assumes the probable existence of a higher power/God based on reason, nature and experience. Explaining Deism can be complex, so any trite definition will have some shortcomings. Deism itself can be a category of belief, or a religion depending on who is doing the defining.

So how do I relate to Deism?

I think there are many Christians out there who believe that God moves people around like zombie chess pawns. They also tend to think every mundane interaction and circumstance has the hand of God written all over it. I have found that Christians of this ilk seem to be virtually unable to effect change in their own lives, which basically means they are ineffective in helping others. These neutered Christians rationale is that- God is “in control” of their lives…thus, HE must want them in their current circumstances (which usually means if God doesn't miracle their arse out of a situation…They aren’t moving!) I know that Milton said: “They also serve who stand and wait”…but even a blind Milton would have seen the thinking errors of these would-be Christians.

The Truth of the matter is:

God has pretty much done all HE is going to do. Creation, Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, The Bible- how many more tools does a “believer” need? Time for Christians to nut up and stop waiting for a divine sign to move them! Because if you are waiting for God to move…you might just be left waiting in a pant full of your own feces while the opportunity to serve humanity passes you by…Get into the game!

So how do you think God interacts with the world these days?
Are you more of a Deist…or more divine interventionist?

Losing a Part of Me...

On Tuesday this week Mark and I drove to the hospital in –9 degree weather to have my gallbladder removed. This week I’ve been recovering in the form of laying on the couch and ordering Mark around. So the topic most clear in my mind at the moment is my absent gallbladder and my present abdominal pain. So can we have a little fun with this post and just let me whine a little? And if this is silly and rambling, just blame it on the pain meds.

Believe in Creation? Boy you’re an Idiot! (Part 1)

I totally agree that the creation of the universe is awesome!

Believe in Creation/Creator? Boy you’re an Idiot!

Yes, this is what almost every proponent evolution thinks of you. It does not matter if you hold advanced degrees; if you believe in a Creator, every atheist, Darwinist, and evolutionist, with a GED is smarter than you! Why? Because all of the evidence is on their side…isn’t it? Well, not exactly…

The Theatre of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving used to be one of my favorite holidays; it was a close tie with the 4th of July. And now I think the girl who used to love those holidays was perhaps a little more ignorant and a little less cynical than the woman I am today. Because today I am sick of the obsessive need for symbolism over substance in this country, in this world. It seems to me that people are more content to talk about or honor things that are important to them rather than actively change their lives to reflect their own values. We would rather put plastic pink ribbons on our bumpers than donate money to breast cancer research, we would rather donate money than go sit with a woman while she receives chemotherapy or stuff envelopes and sweep up at an understaffed nonprofit. We would rather drop 50 cents into the bell ringer’s bucket than offer to share a meal with a smelly homeless person. We would rather change our facebook status to “support” the newest trendy cause than actually support it and we would rather spend one day pretending to be thankful than to actually live lives of gratitude. If Black Friday doesn’t demonstrate what a joke Thanksgiving is, I don’t know what does. On Thursday I’m thankful for everything I have, but on Friday I have to go out and buy bigger and better things to be thankful for, cause what I’ve already got certainly isn’t enough.

Why I believe Evolution is a Fact

Yes, we are all Evolving..but which way?

ev·o·lu·tion/
Noun:    The process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the...
The gradual development of something, esp. from a simple to a more complex form.

This blog was inspired by an atheist friend of mine who wrote a post about how he has now come to believe in Creation/Intelligent Design. He writes: “What I discovered was a form of life that could not have evolved. In ability and life expectancy, it outpaces us. It is surprisingly intelligent and simply has no classifiable family tree.” 1

The Dark Side of the Reformation.

I have some other opinions too!

I planned to write this blog on October 31st - “Reformation Day”…but due to getting caught up in the pagan holiday- Halloween, I decided to put it on the back burner (kids in costumes are so damn cute! And they require candy!)  However, there is a time and season for all good and bad things, and depending on your attachment (or lack thereof) to dogma and denomination, opinions will inevitably vary. So lets rumble!

I believe if Christians are to have a legitimate dialog with non-believers we have to dispense with the propping up of straw-men and engaging in blatant lies of omission. In fairness, I must say that most Christians do not openly lie…they are just uninformed. But Christians today cannot afford to be oblivious when it comes to matters of church history, nor can they continue to be ignorant concerning other belief systems, and religions.  To remain on this path will only continue to reinforce the notion that Christians are a naïve, bigoted, and close minded group of  individuals. 

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

Martin Luther’s involvement in the Protestant Reformation is very well documented. Luther, a German theologian and religious reformer, started the Protestant Reformation and forever caused a schism within the Catholic Church. His influence extends well beyond religion to politics, economics, education and language. In 1505, after receiving a bachelor's and master's degree, he suddenly abandoned his studies, entered the Augustinian monastery in Erfurt and became a monk. He became a controversial figure when he published his Ninety-Five Theses, opposing the indulgences (release from the penalties for sin through the payment of money by the Catholic Church). This resulted in his split from the Roman Catholic Church where he established unique Christian interpretations about the Bible and theology. His influence resulted in the major Protestant denomination of Lutheranism where their churches today use Luther's name.

What is not often taught about Martin Luther is his open disdain and hatred of the Jewish people. In Luther’s wonderful little work entitled "On the Jews and their lies," 1543- he really shows his true colors. Initially Luther was sympathetic towards the Jews…however, when he found out that it was very tough to “convert” them, he became a tyrannical madman lashing out with unbridled vitriol and hatred.

Some examples:

He who hears this name [God] from a Jew must inform the authorities, or else throw sow dung at him when he sees him and chase him away.
-Martin Luther (On the Jews and Their Lies)

Moreover, they are nothing but thieves and robbers who daily eat no morsel and wear no thread of clothing which they have not stolen and pilfered from us by means of their accursed usury. Thus they live from day to day, together with wife and child, by theft and robbery, as arch-thieves and robbers, in the most impenitent security.
-Martin Luther (On the Jews and Their Lies)

Luther’s anti-Semitic rants and tendencies did not go unnoticed. In Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler listed Martin Luther as one of the "greatest reformers". And similar to Luther in the 1500s, Hitler spoke against the Jews. The Nazi plan to create a German Reich Church laid its bases on the "Spirit of Dr. Martin Luther." The first physical violence against the Jews came on November 9-10 on Kristallnacht (Crystal Night) where the Nazis killed Jews, broke glass windows, and destroyed hundreds of Jewish synagogues, just as Luther had proposed.

I want to close by saying that I realize that we are all human, and we all make mistakes. I also believe God can use the work of flawed men to further His Kingdom. My problem with Luther is that his anti-Semitic antics occurred while he was a supposed “born again Christian”. So in good conscience I cannot say that Martin Luther displayed his hateful words/behavior out of youthful naiveté', lack of education, or out of unfounded Christianity. That being said, I wonder what bible this religious dolt was reading? But in fairness…Luther was not alone in his “assholery”. Next week, John Calvin is on the Reformation chopping block.

So what are your opinions about Martin Luther?
Did he really deserve a whole denomination named after him?
Any defenders/Lutherans?

Now this is a "Luther" I can get into!