Category: Livejournal

Philosophy: “I do not know, and neither do you.”
Religion: “I do know, and so should you.”

from Joseph Campbell:

“God is a metaphor for that which trancends all levels of intellectual thought. It’s as simple as that.”

“Too many of our best scholars, themselves indoctrinated from infancy in a religion of one kind or another based upon the Bible, are so locked into the idea of their own god as a supernatural fact — something final, not symbolic of transcendence, but a personage with a character and will of his own – that they are unable to grasp the idea of a worship that is not of the symbol but of its reference, which is of a mystery of much greater age and of more immediate inward reality than the name-and-form of any historical ethinic idea of a deity, whatsoever … and is of a sophistication that makes the sentimentalism of our popular Bible-story theology seem undeveloped.”

“The two greatest works of war mythology in the west … are the Iliad and the Old Testament…. When we turn from the Iliad and Athens to Jerusalem and the Old Testament [we find] a single-minded single deity with his sympathies forever on one side. And the enemy, accordingly, no matter who it may be, is handled…pretty much as though he were subhuman: not a ‘Thou’ but an ‘It.'”

Albert Camus:

I shall not, as far as I am concerned, try to pass myself off as a Christian in your presence. I share with you the same revulsion from evil. But I do not share your hope, and I continue to struggle against this universe in which children suffer and die.

In order to exist just once in the world, it is necessary never again to exist.

Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow;
Don’t walk behind me I may not lead;
Walk beside me, and just be my friend.

And, finally, from George Carlin:

I’m completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death.

So I don’t glob up ‘s live journal with my political rants, I’ll put it here. And we can yell about it in MY backyard, rather than his. 😉

John Ashcroft on “the issues”:

Would enforce laws against abortion clinic attacks. (Jan 2001)
Life begins at conception. (Jan 2001)
Supports “human rights amendment” against abortion. (Jan 2001)
Opposes all abortion, even for rape and incest. (Dec 2000)
Voted YES on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions. (Jun 2000)
Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions. (Oct 1999)
Voted YES on disallowing overseas military abortions. (May 1999)
Voted NO on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. (Jun 2000)
Voted YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage. (Sep 1996)
Voted NO on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation. (Sep 1996)

Mr. Ashcroft on the record:

“Civilized people — Muslims, Christians and Jews — all understand that the source of freedom and human dignity is the Creator.” (defining “civilized people” as MONOTHEISTS. All others are obviously “barbarians.”)

“We are a nation called to defend freedom — a tradition that is not a grant of any government or document, but is an endowment from God.”

“[The war on terrorism isn’t a religious war, but] a defense of our right to make moral choices, to seek fellowship with God that is chosen and not commanded.”

“Christianity is a faith in which God sends his son to die for you, [while Islam is] a religion in which God requires you to send your son to die for him.”

“Unique among the nations, America recognized the source of our character as being godly and eternal, not being civic and temporal. And because we have understood that our source is eternal, America has been different. We have no king but Jesus.”

“If America is to be great in the future, it will be if we understand that our source is not civic and temporal, but our source is godly and eternal.”

“Frankly, the president, during the first opportunity I had to be in a Cabinet meeting, before we started the meeting, he said, “Folks, before we begin this meeting, I’m going to call on General Ashcroft and ask him invite the wisdom and presence of God in what we do.” And I thought to myself how ashamed I’d been that so many times in my life I had entered upon great important tasks and I had cheated myself and those that I had served of a blessing.”

And then, there’s our beloved President:

“I don’t think that witchcraft is a religion. I wish the military would rethink this decision.”

“I urge all Texans to answer the call to serve those in need. By volunteering their time, energy or resources to helping others, adults and youngsters follow Christ’s message of love and service in thought and deed.
Therefore, I, George W. Bush, Governor of Texas, do hereby proclaim June 10, 2000, Jesus Day in Texas and urge the appropriate recognition whereof,
In official recognition whereof,
I hereby affix my signature this
17th day of April, 2000.”

“Making sure every child can read, making sure that we encourage faith-based organizations … when it comes to helping neighbors in need, making sure that our neighborhoods are safe, making sure that the state of Texas recognizes that people from all walks of life have got a shot at the Texas dream but, most importantly, making sure that government is not the answer to people’s problems.”

And then there’s Mr. Bush’s dad:

“No, I don’t know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered as patriots. This is one nation under God.”

Just imagine for a moment — just a single moment — that we change all this context to KRISHNA, the God of the Hari Krishna movement. Read the quotes again, changing that context.

Would you, could you, with sound mind and body, elect a person who advocated such things in the name of KRISHNA?

Or how about CUCHACLARON, the Horned God of the Celtic Faith?

Or Odin?

Or Zeus?

Or Osano-o?

Or the Great Spirit?

Or Bashthraka?

Think about it. Really think about it.

SIS: “The reason you should come visit: http://www.sweetseattle.com/whats_new.html *
ME: “The reason YOU should come visit:

I so miss her. 🙂

* click on the picture of the girl and the white fluffy puppy on the right

Tomorrow night: Vampire LARP. The Great and Mighty Jess Heinig running. Marcus will sing.

Saturday night: Sabbat LARP in San Diego with G&MJH. Mr. Finger will be making an appearance.

Sunday night: L5R table top. I can’t wait. (Neither can they. They’ve been talking about it all week! Makes papa proud.) 🙂

For Marcus and Finger, I may shave off the whiskers. Considering it. If you’ve got an opinion, speak out… before it’s TOO LATE!!!