There are many things about these United States that stick in the craw of atheists, and one of them is the requirement that “In God We Trust” be emblazoned on all of our currency, both paper and specie. Their hearts are warmed at the thought that, like the Euro, any references to God would be …
People who are Both Gay and Fat are in Serious Trouble
The lobby for the overweight strikes back at Michelle Obama's campaign against swelling waistlines: Speaking at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., Monday, NAAFA public relations director Peggy Howell said the First Lady “essentially gave permission to everyone to condemn the children with higher body weights.” Howell called Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign “well-intentioned, but …
Continue reading "People who are Both Gay and Fat are in Serious Trouble"
The Hole in the "Dominionist/Theonomist Plan" for America
Ryan Lizza's piece in the New Yorker about Michele Bachmann brings up what must rate as the most incoate dread the left has about the Religious Right: the "dominionist" movement, which I prefer to refer to as the "theonomist" movement. You see this in left wing blogs (both in the articles and in the comments) …
Continue reading "The Hole in the "Dominionist/Theonomist Plan" for America"
The Collapse of Political Trust = The Collapse of Expectations
In his interesting analysis about The Collapse of Political Trust, Jonah Lehrer makes the following observation: And this returns us to the present dysfunction in Washington. If trust is about the distribution of rewards – about learning to expect bonuses from others – then it’s going to be a lot harder to share those rewards …
Continue reading "The Collapse of Political Trust = The Collapse of Expectations"
Month of Sundays: Time
Take great care, then, how you live--not unwisely but wisely, Making the most of every opportunity; for these are evil days. (Ephesians 5:15-16) Many years ago, my family business established a branch operation in West Palm Beach, Florida. We built a facility and lined up personnel to operate it. We also brought in people from …
Rick Perry's Prayer Rally: It's Really Midnight Yell Practice
This Saturday Texas Gov. Rick Perry is sponsoring a prayer rally called "The Response." In a country whose elites are sensitive to any serious demonstration of faith, the reactions have been predictable. But in view of the buzz regarding Rick's plans after The Response, I think we need to look at this another way. Ags, …
Continue reading "Rick Perry's Prayer Rally: It's Really Midnight Yell Practice"
The American Middle Class: When You Have Nothing to Lose, You Don't Care If The System Makes It Or Not
That, according to "Spengler" is what's going on with the Tea Party's stubbornness in the recent debt ceiling debacle: The trouble is that both the Tea Party and President Barack Obama have existential reasons to force a crisis. Obama, as I wrote two weeks ago, faces probable defeat with a becalmed economy, and may benefit …
Month of Sundays: Temptation
Once more the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms in the world and their glory. The devil said to him, "I will give you all this if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Go away, Satan! Scripture says, 'Worship the Lord your …
Boomer Christianity: A Victim of Its Own Leadership
George Barna lets us know that Boomers' enthusiasm for church is waning in their old age: Meanwhile, as Boomers have aged, they have been slowly distancing themselves from both conventional religious behaviors and beliefs – the typical expectation-breaking pattern we have come to expect from Boomers. (Just as they are reluctant to accept 65 as …
Continue reading "Boomer Christianity: A Victim of Its Own Leadership"
Les Reflets: De l'abondance du coeur, la bouche parle (Out of the Abundance of the Heart, the Mouth Speaks)
When we think of "contemporary" Christian music, most of us restrict ourselves to the US, or throw in the UK for good measure. But the revolution in Christian music in the 1960's and 1970's went far beyond the Anglophone world, and this album--from France--may be the best example of that. It's conventional wisdom to characterise …
Positive Infinity 