I am a Christian, and I have my own views.
There is a grim reality about the entire situation that is created by Prop 8 that most people don't even see. Fortunately for me, I am no longer angered by the whole ordeal. Mostly it's just because I don't usually get very angry over anything. A lack of blinding passion allows one to see most clearly.
Very few times before this has our government passed legislation on marriage that favors one religion over another. You may think to yourself that Prop 8 is favoring of religion in general and not one church over another, but you would be wrong. There are churches in this country, legitimate groups of faithful people, who believe that homosexual marriage is an appropriate and sacred thing. Now that heterosexual marriage is the only one recognized under the law, these churches have been discriminated against by the law.
Are we really ready for this kind of legal precedent?
What will happen if (or when) people decide that marriage must legally be "only until death do you part". You may think that won't affect anybody, but there happens to be a church of sigificant following who believes in marriage "for time and all eternity". If Prop 8 is allowed to stand, then no legal action will be able to stop a majority vote in favor of a time limit on marriage.
Do you see where I'm going with this?
When the definition of marriage is decided by majority vote, it will be the majority relgion that gets to enforce its will upon others. Then matters of faith become matters of law, and the idea of 'freedom of religion' will change to 'freedom of the biggest church'.
Is this the future you want to live in?
Are we really ready to force our neighbors to do as we dictate?
It's fine if you're on the winning side, but that could be said of quite a few nations of the past. Jews don't forget Egypt, or Nazi Germany. We as Christians would do well to remember Rome.
We are taught to "do unto others". We are taught to "love our neighbors". How can we stand by and allow ourselves to rule over the faiths of others? How would you react if a law was passed restricting your marriage? What would you do?
To every Christian who voted for Proposition 8 in California, or for something similar in another place, I say this to you:
We have given in to temptation. What we thought would give us strength and protection has created a great weakness and vulnerability, and the safety of our freedom to worship is in danger.
We have unjustly wielded power over our fellow man. Regardless of what we think about them and what they do, they are our neighbors. We have not shown them the love that our Savior taught us.
We must give up this unjust power.
We must ask our neighbors for forgiveness.
We must ask our God for forgiveness.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Hope (imported)
Friday, November 07, 2008
Hope
Current mood: hopeful
Category: Life
There have been times when I despaired over what has become of our nation. The blind loyalty and unspeakable acts conducted under the current administration have bordered on facism.
The only reason I say boredered is because of the vote. True facists don't relinquish power.
Maybe now there will be a chance for calm, diplomacy, and justice. Maybe we will have a chance for the voice of the people to be heard above the din of angry mobs and rabble-rousers. Maybe now we can work to repair the damage done by our nation gone mad.
Our nation, our chance, our time, it is now.
Yes, we can.
4:49 AM
Hope
Current mood: hopeful
Category: Life
There have been times when I despaired over what has become of our nation. The blind loyalty and unspeakable acts conducted under the current administration have bordered on facism.
The only reason I say boredered is because of the vote. True facists don't relinquish power.
Maybe now there will be a chance for calm, diplomacy, and justice. Maybe we will have a chance for the voice of the people to be heard above the din of angry mobs and rabble-rousers. Maybe now we can work to repair the damage done by our nation gone mad.
Our nation, our chance, our time, it is now.
Yes, we can.
4:49 AM
On Marriage and Equality... (imported)
Saturday, July 26, 2008
On Marriage and Equality...
Current mood: annoyed
Category: Life
I have one thing to say about this entire tooth-pulling, back and forth ordeal, so pay attention, and think about it.
A time may come when Muslims, Hindus, Pagans, Atheists, Independent Thinkers, and everyone else finally outnumber Christian voters in this country. When that time comes, the same legal precedent that protects a homosexual's right to marry as they believe fit, will be one of the few things protecting Christian rights to do the same.
I am Christian, I am free to do as I please under the law.
I am not free to re-write the law to deny rights to those who do not share my religion.
And neither are you.
6:13 PM
On Marriage and Equality...
Current mood: annoyed
Category: Life
I have one thing to say about this entire tooth-pulling, back and forth ordeal, so pay attention, and think about it.
A time may come when Muslims, Hindus, Pagans, Atheists, Independent Thinkers, and everyone else finally outnumber Christian voters in this country. When that time comes, the same legal precedent that protects a homosexual's right to marry as they believe fit, will be one of the few things protecting Christian rights to do the same.
I am Christian, I am free to do as I please under the law.
I am not free to re-write the law to deny rights to those who do not share my religion.
And neither are you.
6:13 PM
On Patriotism... (imported)
Saturday, July 05, 2008
On Patriotism...
Current mood: awake
Category: Life
I am America
I have rebelled against the will of kings,
I refuse to obey the dictates of fools.
I am a Patriot,
I will not bow to hypocrisy.
I fight the aggressor,
For better or worse.
I respect the rights of my neighbors,
My own are not diminished.
I rejoice in my successes,
admiring the great things I accomplish.
I recognize my failures,
weeping for all that is lost in the process.
I strive for peace in a world at war.
I stand for justice when others sit idly by.
I seek the truth.
I sing the song of freedom.
And so can you.
12:30 AM
On Patriotism...
Current mood: awake
Category: Life
I am America
I have rebelled against the will of kings,
I refuse to obey the dictates of fools.
I am a Patriot,
I will not bow to hypocrisy.
I fight the aggressor,
For better or worse.
I respect the rights of my neighbors,
My own are not diminished.
I rejoice in my successes,
admiring the great things I accomplish.
I recognize my failures,
weeping for all that is lost in the process.
I strive for peace in a world at war.
I stand for justice when others sit idly by.
I seek the truth.
I sing the song of freedom.
And so can you.
12:30 AM
The Meaning and Purpose of Life (Imported for posterity)
Another MySpace import:
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
The Meaning and Purpose of Life
Current mood:Exo-Thermo-Intro-Spective
Category: Religion and Philosophy
(This is a direct transcript from my journal at 1am. It's meant to be read as a theatrical monolog, NOT an essay.)
The Purpose Of Life.
Some say it's to find joy. Some say it's a test. Some don't even try to say what it's for; they just call it a bitch, then you die. I say it's a bit of everything, maybe. But specifically, it exists for itself.
Life exists to live. To see, to experience, to witness, to do.
Why do we climb mountains?
Because they are there.
What do we say when we reach the top and see the new horizon?
"I feel alive"
It's so simple,
so logical.
Why do we do anything in this life? After we peel away our terrestrial motivations, however profound they may be, all we are left with is this: It is worth the experience.
Why do we fear death?
Well, there's lots of reasons.
But one of the main ones is that there's still so much we want to do, to see, to share.
Some say we're here by the will of some higher being. Well that begs the next question,
"What is the purpose of the higher beings' life?"
And don't tell me it's just to create us, because then we've got a big fat Rube Goldberg Universe, and that just seems wasteful.
We're here for a reason.
To experience
To witness
To share
To live.
-Sean
1:17 AM
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
The Meaning and Purpose of Life
Current mood:Exo-Thermo-Intro-Spective
Category: Religion and Philosophy
(This is a direct transcript from my journal at 1am. It's meant to be read as a theatrical monolog, NOT an essay.)
The Purpose Of Life.
Some say it's to find joy. Some say it's a test. Some don't even try to say what it's for; they just call it a bitch, then you die. I say it's a bit of everything, maybe. But specifically, it exists for itself.
Life exists to live. To see, to experience, to witness, to do.
Why do we climb mountains?
Because they are there.
What do we say when we reach the top and see the new horizon?
"I feel alive"
It's so simple,
so logical.
Why do we do anything in this life? After we peel away our terrestrial motivations, however profound they may be, all we are left with is this: It is worth the experience.
Why do we fear death?
Well, there's lots of reasons.
But one of the main ones is that there's still so much we want to do, to see, to share.
Some say we're here by the will of some higher being. Well that begs the next question,
"What is the purpose of the higher beings' life?"
And don't tell me it's just to create us, because then we've got a big fat Rube Goldberg Universe, and that just seems wasteful.
We're here for a reason.
To experience
To witness
To share
To live.
-Sean
1:17 AM
Double Standard? (old blog republished here for posterity)
First thing I'm doing is bringing some old stuff over from MySpace, which has proven to be little more than an oversized music fan network. Enjoy.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Double Standard?
Current mood:appalled
So I'm reading this news article today about how some dude on TV named Pat Robertson, who I vaguely remember hearing about somewhere, is telling people not to ask God for help. Apparently, since they voted against having intelligent design taught in their schools, they're not allowed to ask God for help the next time disaster strikes, according to this dude. This is a problem.
A bigger problem is something I read that was barely mentioned in the article. Pat Robertson made a public call for the assassination of a foreign official. See this link for a quote about that: http://mediamatters.org/items/200508220006
That's a really big problem. Here we are AT WAR with terrorists, and one of our own citizens is starting up with the same tactics we're trying to prevent in other countries.
Let's compare:
-Muslim extremists, who seem to ignore or explain away the parts of the Koran that say not to kill people, get told by their religious leaders to go kill the people they don't like.
-Christian extremists, who seem to ignore or explain away the parts of the Bible that say not to kill people, get told by their religious leaders (in this case, Pat Robertson) to go kill people they don't like.
No wonder parents in Pennsylvania voted against having religious ideas taught in their schools. When the religious thought that is on display for all to see, i.e. The 700 Club which has been carried by ABC family, is preaching counter to the belief system it claims to espouse, people want to distance themselves from it. Especially when that publicly displayed thought is, "that guy seems dangerous, and 'could' pose a danger to us. let's get rid of him before he gets the chance."
Self defense is not a pre-emptive strike. There is no clause in "Thou shalt not kill." that says "unless the guy is a possible danger". Self defense is a response to immediate danger. You have to actually be under attack before you can even use the word counterstrike.
If people started attacking countries and individuals just because they were well equipped for destruction and had a track record of attacking without proper cause; the United States would be the one under fire.
Oh.
Wait.
We are.
You know, I heard there was some effort to try to disrupt this kind of thinking. It was a really great idea, what was it called? Oh yeah, the WAR ON TERROR. Where we find the people who attack without just cause, and try to keep them from attacking unarmed, innocent people. Part of this program is to take the people who are willing to kill with a word from their religious leaders, and get them to stop killing.
It just so happens there are people like that who don't wear turbans. They don't live in Afghanistan, and they don't hate America. Or at least what they think of as America. These people happen to live here. They're probably as white as I am, may even have a beard like mine, though a small group of them will shave their entire head. They're just as ready to kill for their misguided ideals, and just as easily influenced by their misguided idealists.
What happens when they attack? Do we finger the ringleaders of the local militia? Do we name their clerics who stir them up to violence?
What do we do with our religious leaders who claim to represent a religion based on truth, forgiveness, and personal responsibility? What do we do when those leaders preach hopelessness, murder, and intolerance?
We give them a TV show.
Here's the link again for that article about Pat Robertson and his call for assassination.
http://mediamatters.org/items/200508220006
On that page you'll find a link to a petition to help get him off the air.
There are many people in this world who are just looking for someone to listen to. Let's talk to them about something good, before they tune in to this madness.
-Sean
3:56 PM
3 Comments
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Double Standard?
Current mood:appalled
So I'm reading this news article today about how some dude on TV named Pat Robertson, who I vaguely remember hearing about somewhere, is telling people not to ask God for help. Apparently, since they voted against having intelligent design taught in their schools, they're not allowed to ask God for help the next time disaster strikes, according to this dude. This is a problem.
A bigger problem is something I read that was barely mentioned in the article. Pat Robertson made a public call for the assassination of a foreign official. See this link for a quote about that: http://mediamatters.org/items/200508220006
That's a really big problem. Here we are AT WAR with terrorists, and one of our own citizens is starting up with the same tactics we're trying to prevent in other countries.
Let's compare:
-Muslim extremists, who seem to ignore or explain away the parts of the Koran that say not to kill people, get told by their religious leaders to go kill the people they don't like.
-Christian extremists, who seem to ignore or explain away the parts of the Bible that say not to kill people, get told by their religious leaders (in this case, Pat Robertson) to go kill people they don't like.
No wonder parents in Pennsylvania voted against having religious ideas taught in their schools. When the religious thought that is on display for all to see, i.e. The 700 Club which has been carried by ABC family, is preaching counter to the belief system it claims to espouse, people want to distance themselves from it. Especially when that publicly displayed thought is, "that guy seems dangerous, and 'could' pose a danger to us. let's get rid of him before he gets the chance."
Self defense is not a pre-emptive strike. There is no clause in "Thou shalt not kill." that says "unless the guy is a possible danger". Self defense is a response to immediate danger. You have to actually be under attack before you can even use the word counterstrike.
If people started attacking countries and individuals just because they were well equipped for destruction and had a track record of attacking without proper cause; the United States would be the one under fire.
Oh.
Wait.
We are.
You know, I heard there was some effort to try to disrupt this kind of thinking. It was a really great idea, what was it called? Oh yeah, the WAR ON TERROR. Where we find the people who attack without just cause, and try to keep them from attacking unarmed, innocent people. Part of this program is to take the people who are willing to kill with a word from their religious leaders, and get them to stop killing.
It just so happens there are people like that who don't wear turbans. They don't live in Afghanistan, and they don't hate America. Or at least what they think of as America. These people happen to live here. They're probably as white as I am, may even have a beard like mine, though a small group of them will shave their entire head. They're just as ready to kill for their misguided ideals, and just as easily influenced by their misguided idealists.
What happens when they attack? Do we finger the ringleaders of the local militia? Do we name their clerics who stir them up to violence?
What do we do with our religious leaders who claim to represent a religion based on truth, forgiveness, and personal responsibility? What do we do when those leaders preach hopelessness, murder, and intolerance?
We give them a TV show.
Here's the link again for that article about Pat Robertson and his call for assassination.
http://mediamatters.org/items/200508220006
On that page you'll find a link to a petition to help get him off the air.
There are many people in this world who are just looking for someone to listen to. Let's talk to them about something good, before they tune in to this madness.
-Sean
3:56 PM
3 Comments
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