A Friendly Warning

Someone on my friends list put up a post that asked an honest question. “Why do people make fun of my religion?” I think the post was inspired by the various “Happy Zombie Jesus Day!” declarations.

Well, since she asked, I replied. I told her exactly why I thought her chosen religion was dangerous, contradictory, and nonsensical. I also went into some detail why I can’t find any virtue in “faith” (believing in something without any evidence).

Unfortunately, the conversation did not go as well as anyone hoped and she disabled commenting. I’m not going to use caricature or anecdote to illustrate the conversation. I was actually hoping to put a link to the threads here, but since she’s disabled comments, all of it is lost.

So, here is a friendly warning to everyone else.

I have no respect for “faith.” I have no respect for any belief that teaches you that you are somehow better than other people because you happen to believe in something that has no basis in fact. I don’t respect teachings that lead to conclusions that ignore reality. I also find it very frustrating when you want to talk about your chosen religion when you really don’t know anything about its history or fundamental tenants.

And yes, I can love you and still be frustrated with you. Even angry at you. I still love you. All of you.

But before you engage me in your belief, before you espouse something that you can’t back up with evidence, before you go talking about faith and religion… please-please-please … have some understanding of what you’re talking about. And be ready for some very hard questions.

All Hail Eris.
Hail Discordia.

I don’t have faith in faith
I don’t believe in belief
You can call me faithless
You can call me faithless
But I still cling to hope
And I believe in love
And that’s faith enough for me
And that’s faith enough for me

My Favorite Chapter

Almost everyone who’s read it says Raymond K. Hessel is their favorite chapter.

“Raymond! What. Did. You. Want. To. Be?”

While I love that chapter–it kicked my ass into gear and started my novel–it wasn’t my favorite.

Tthis one was my favorite. I read it over and over again, mesmerized by the language, stunned by the marriage of two powerful ideas… and the ritual that makes it real.

We don’t have rituals anymore. Some of us do, but not many. Campbell said that was what was missing from our culture. Powerful, violent, changing rituals that left scars. Scars that reminded us of the truth we learned.

This was my favorite chapter.

Stolen from the Big Bad Buddha

(paraphrased from an original by

)

Hillary says: “I think given all we have heard and seen, [Wright] would not have been my pastor.”

John says: “I think given all we have heard and seen, Bill would not have been my husband.”

HotB: Casting Wish List

If I were casting for the Houses of the Blooded movie, my first choice for Shara would be, has been, will always be… Thandie Newton.

Wowzers.

Weird…

I had a dream last night. At Gen Con, I was selling two new books. The first was Me and Shinsei: An L5R Memoir. The second was I Hate D&D (And So Do You).

Teller bought a copy of the first one and Christopher Hitchens bought a copy of the second.

Weird.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame

Watching the induction ceremonies for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. The inductees include Leonard Cohen and Madonna.

Leonard Cohen and Madonna?

LEONARD COHEN AND MADONNA???? IN THE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL HALL OF FAME?!?!?!?

I’m typing with the TV on. Justin Timberlake is talking about…

WAIT. WHAT THE FUCK. JUSTIN FUCKING TIMBERLAKE???

WHAT THE FUCK DOES JUSTIN WHAT THE FUCK TIMBERLAKE HAVE TO WHAT THE FUCK TO DO WITH ROCK AND WHAT THE FUCK AND ROLL?!?!?!???!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!

AND WHAT THE FUCK IS MADONNA HAVE TO DO WITH WHAT THE FUCK ROCK AND WHAT THE FUCK ROLL?!?!?!???!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!

His induction speech is the lamest piece of drivel. Her acceptance speech is nothing but pure self-serving crap. And the founders of this piece of shit place say they will NEVER induct bands like Rush because “they aren’t rock and roll.”

But Justin Timberlake and Madonna, apparently, are full on rock ‘n’ roll.

So then, when all that shit is done, Billy Joel comes up and starts talking about John Mellancamp. And he’s funny. And his speech isn’t about him. And when john Mellencamp gets on the stage…

Goddamn isn’t that what we’re here for?
Goddamn isn’t that what we’re here for?
GodDAMN isn’t that what we’re here for?

Rock ‘n’ roll.

And then Tom Hanks gets up and makes an incredibly passionate, incredibly powerful, incredibly ROCKIN’ induction for the Dave Clark Five. A band you’ve probably never heard of but you know EVERY SINGLE DAMN SONG.

And WHAT THE FUCK? JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE AND MADONNA??!??!?!??!??!