it's like the eye of a duck

The sight of religious extremists in my neck of the woods today reminded me that I meant to write a long-winded post on the subject of religion.

I'd initially thought of using this heretic quiz (hat tip idragosani) as a jumping off point, because any result I would have received would have been inappropriate/wrong - it's very hard to be a heretic when you don't have an organized belief system to commit a heresy against, but I still would have scored as something because most of us start somewhere.

( the long winded part )

I'm sure I've pissed off a good many people with this post, but I meant no disrespect. I'm genuinely curious - why do the quietly, confidently faithful still go to church? And other stuff.

Keeping it public in hopes that it will stimulate conversation. If it gets all flamey I'll make it friends only 'cos I know my friends tend to be a civil lot :)

....the trajectory of my costume. It is obviously that of a Pastafarian Acolyte (Reformed)*!

Reform Pastafarians can only consume whole wheat pasta. Ok, well, mostly. Well, we should :P

At last the articles about the Christian Dominionists from last month's Harper's magazine are online:

Inside America's most powerful megachurch

Feeling the hate with the National Religious Broadcasters

Still don't have a good "political" icon, but after reading these articles, I thought the "fear" one quite suitable. Sometimes you just have to take people at their word :(

Seriously - read them.

I couldn't make this up: "I thought I would have to be single forever and live in Africa and wear unflattering tops. I was totally not up for it." (spring for the free day pass - you'll want to).

I'm not surprised that "evangelical raving" came out of Europe; electronic music is more "mainstream" there so perhaps the idea isn't as radical as it would be here (U.S.). As it is, most fundie kids I knew growing up were much too uptight to do something as hedonistic as dance all night, let alone nice enough to spend the evening handing out fruit to passers by, so their willingness to stay up late and get on down represents a favorable evolution, IMHO!

Reading this article, I'm not sure what to think. If the quotes in the article are representative, these kids (I shouldn't say that - most are in their early-mid twenties, technically not children by any country's legal standard) aren't cynically trying to gain converts, they're really earnest and I find it sweet, in an eerie, zealously wide-eyed sort of way.

I do question the ethics/effectiveness of preaching to the tweaked: I can't help but think it's unfair to press someone high as a kite into religious conversion (espeically when they'd happily find a bit of heaven inside their own skull, if left to their own devices).

Givng away free fruit and candy is nice - hell, my friends and I used to do that many moons ago when I was a raver - but we did it because we liked to, not as the opening pitch to try and save someone's soul. The idea that someone is only being nice to me in order to gently shove their views down my throat is frankly offensive. Besides, to me the whole "rave ethic" was one of tolerance and respect, not interference/attempted manipulation in your fellows' personal beliefs.

Putting this in my gray box for now. An interesting development in both the raving/clubbing population and in evangelical Christianity, at any rate.

From Daily Kos lefty blog, suggesting a solution to the "gay marriage" mess that I've agreed with for a long time: get the government out of the marriage business.

Makes sense to me - the government shouldn't be telling religious institutions who they can and cannot marry, just as they shouldn't be denying the legal/civil benefits to anyone at all. Civil unions for any and all, in any combination, who want them, and if you want a marriage on top of that, take it up with your priest/rabbi/mullah/grand master/whoever.

Besides, it would stimulate the economy: think of all the gay couples who have waited YEARS to tie the knot, who finally get to. The wedding planners, florists, bakeries, etc. just know they're going to pay a minor fortune for hotel ballrooms, flower garlands, fancy cakes, wedding dresses/tuxes, etc.!

P.S. I voice this suggestion in silly words, but I'm serious - I really think that the "gay marriage" issue is as much, if not more, a church-state separation issue as it is a civil rights issue.

P.P.S.: I need a better "political" icon - Lister as "rebellion against authority" just doesn't cut it.

P.P.P.S.: Yes, this isn't politically filtered. I'm saving that filter for my rants :P

From my sister, who seems to have an odd talent for finding stuff like this: Jesus jumping Christ on a pogo stick, this is tacky!

In Orlando Florida, of course, and don't forget to check out the menu items, so cleverly named but looking like something off of the Applebee's kids menu....

I'm not even Christian and I find this offensive. Just so cheap and shallow, how can this place possibly show anything good or pure or heartfelt about anyone's faith?

Man, it's just depressing.