Easter

My #2 daughter and I went to lunch on Sunday. We get together quite often since we are the “without partners” in the family. She was somewhat upset. When I asked her what was wrong she told me the following story. I need to tell you also that she considers herself a Christian, although she is anti-religion. She does not go to church but she believes in God and prays.

“ I called #3 (her sister) this morning to wish her a Happy Easter. I then asked her what kind of plans they had for Easter. She said that it is General Conference Weekend so they weren’t even going to church. I was shocked! She is so religious and so into her LDS church, why was she sitting out the most important holiday of Christianity?”

I knew this about the Mormons but I think my #2 is just beginning to realize how strange they are.

“I asked her why there was not a special service at church. Then she told me that Mormons celebrate the life of Jesus and not the death. Mom, she said, isn’t Easter all about His life? The fact that he rose from the grave as promised by God?”

I am no expert certainly, but I do remember when I was a Christian, Easter was the most important holiday at church. Even my parents who rarely went to church, made sure we were all dressed and in the pews on Easter Sunday.

My #2 doesn’t understand the Mormons but this was incredibly hurtful to her. She thought her sister was a good Christian. She told me that there is no way she could be Christian and not celebrate the resurrection of the Son of God.

So What am I?

I think a woman has a right to choose to have a child or not, but I think the father has the same right.

I think women on welfare who have a second child out of wedlock should be cut off.

I think people who live and work in this country should be legal, if they aren’t they should be deported. I think businesses who hire them have a responsibility to check them out and make every effort to be sure they are legal. It they aren’t and the company hires them, the company should pay, dearly.

I do not think an employee who is offered paid insurance, should be able to turn it down in order to get Medicaid.

I do not think that private schools, including charter schools, should get public funds when they have the right to choose who attends. I think that students should have to be legal citizens to attend public school but public schools must take all students so public funds should be used for public schools.

I think the school day should be longer and that summers should be shorter. American students rate so low it is embarrassing. I think teachers should be paid in direct proportion to the success of their students. I was a teacher and I still think so.

I do not think it is beneficial to our country to have Congressmen and women in office over and over, even if they are elected. They should have term limits…and they should NOT get retirement for life after serving.

I think Social Security should be paid to those who pay it in and it should not be reduced because I draw $700 a month on teacher retirement.

I think capital punishment is barbaric. I think our prisons should be bare minimums without televisions, game systems and computers. Prisoners should work not go to school for a BS, BA, Masters or PHD at our expense. Training for acclimation into society and productive work should be required.

I think that religion should be taken out of government, completely. That means when someone runs for office it is off limits to talk about or use his religion or lack thereof in any capacity while campaigning or while in office.

I think that drugs should be legalized and controlled. Prohibition does not work. As it is now the criminals are making a lot of money and kids have ready access to whatever they want. The so called War on Drugs is not working and the money spent could be put to better use.

I think everyone deserves good medical care but I don’t have any idea how it should work. I am, however, glad that someone is working to get it done.

I think the office of president deserves all the respect we can muster, even when we don’t particularly like the one who resides within. I think his/her personal life is personal and not fair game for the media.

So what am I? Democrat, Republican, Libertarian? No, American.

Perfect: What does it mean?

“If you wish to converse with me,” said Voltaire, “define your terms.” That might be a good rule to follow here as well.

per•fect–adjective

1. conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type: a perfect sphere; a perfect gentleman.

2. excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement: There is no perfect legal code. The proportions of this temple are almost perfect.

3. exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose: a perfect actor to play Mr. Micawber; a perfect saw for cutting out keyholes.

4. entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings: a perfect apple; the perfect crime.

5. accurate, exact, or correct in every detail: a perfect copy.

6. thorough; complete; utter: perfect strangers.

7. pure or unmixed: perfect yellow.

8. unqualified; absolute: He has perfect control over his followers.

9. expert; accomplished; proficient.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/+perfect

Should We Ditch Religion?

Why do people Cuss?

It is interesting to note that profanity exists in every language. When I began to learn Spanish the first words I learned were the “bad words”. It was funny because I could say them and most people didn’t know what they meant. I did get caught a few times…

Profanity changes over time. When I was growing up my parents would have washed my mouth out for saying ass, or damn or hell, now those are pretty benign words. Shakespeare writings are full of profanity but few recognize it now. Words like sblood (God’s blood) and zounds (God’s wound) cause little ruckus now but in the day they were considered especially outrageous. And, do you know anyone who shops at Gadzooks? That was another reference to the crucifixion of Christ (God’s hooks).

Although I cannot quote book and page, I understand that cursing in public will get you a fine. However, for the most part bad language is more prevalent today than it was in the 50’s and 60’s when I was growing up.

Does that mean it is more accepted? In some circles yes, but for many , myself included, I see the use of bad language as a clear indication that one has limited vocabulary. Maybe it’s the teacher in me but with the vast and rich texture of our language, surely one could find a more appropriate word.

So why do people cuss? There are generally considered two types of profanity: those that refer to deity and those that refer to bodily functions. Both can be quite vile. I think, and this is strictly opinion, that many swear to be accepted by a group; they think it is expected. Others think it makes them feel important (don’t ask me why). For some it is a natural reflex; stub your toe and, “Oh shit!” just pops out. I learned to say “Oh sugar!”…my mother was rather prudish. But I think the reason most people cuss is to make a point, whatever that point is.

So now…is it sacrilegious to use “the lord’s name in vain”? Probably to some, but I tend to believe that most people are not thinking of the lord when they use profanity. I think “taking the lord’s name in vain” is something else altogether…but that’s my opinion.

The Literal Bible Truth

Agnostics, Atheist, Anti-theist, Brights and now the Jews. Reading a thread at RFM, I clicked on the link and to my absolute surprise…proof that the bible is fiction.

Well, maybe not proof but certainly a step in the right direction. Someone else said it but I will repeat it here: I can’t wait to hear the Christians claim they know more Jewish history than the Jews.

Abraham, the Jewish patriarch, probably never existed. Nor did Moses. The entire Exodus story as recounted in the Bible probably never occurred. The same is true of the tumbling of the walls of Jericho. And David, far from being the fearless king who built Jerusalem into a mighty capital, was more likely a provincial leader whose reputation was later magnified to provide a rallying point for a fledgling nation.

The notion that the Bible is not literally true ''is more or less settled and understood among most Conservative rabbis,'' observed David Wolpe, a rabbi at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles and a contributor to ''Etz Hayim.'' But some congregants, he said, ''may not like the stark airing of it.'' Last Passover, in a sermon to 2,200 congregants at his synagogue, Rabbi Wolpe frankly said that ''virtually every modern archaeologist'' agrees ''that the way the Bible describes the Exodus is not the way that it happened, if it happened at all.'' The rabbi offered what he called a ''litany of disillusion'' about the narrative, including contradictions, improbabilities, chronological lapses and the absence of corroborating evidence. In fact, he said, archaeologists digging in the Sinai have ''found no trace of the tribes of Israel -- not one shard of pottery.''

http://

www.nytimes.com/2002/03/09/books/new-torah-for-modern-minds.html

Hell

Several blogger have posted on the topic of hell; I have also but I am going to do another---from a different angle.

Where did we get our idea of hell? I don't mean that it exist but what it looks like. I have just read "Go to Hell" by Chuck Crisafulli and Kyra Thompson and I learned a great deal about the origins of our idea of hell.

The bible tells us that hell is a separation from god but, and I know you will correct me if I am wrong, the bible does not really describe hell or tell us exactly where it is. So where is it? What does it look like?

i believe that one of the oldest recorded stories of hell comes from the epic tale of Gilgamesh but our most vivid idea of hell comes from Dante Alighieri the author of Divine Comedy and artists Hiieronymus Bosch and Auguste Rodin.

One of the more interesting parts of the book is "My Hell"...snippets fro people you know on hell. I'll give you two:

William Shatner

Hell, for me , would be to leave here today.
Right Now.
Maybe tomorrow--that would be all right.
But not today.
I'm having too much fun.
And to leave right now...?
That would be hell.

Bob Newhart

I was thinking about hell and the "gnashing of teeth". So, I imganie everyone there would have really bad teeth. There would be a dentist ---but no Novocain.

There are many more but I do not want to infringe on a copyright so 'nuff for now. The book is great...check it out.

But for now what is your hell? So in the spirit of the the book here is mine:

My Hell
Listening to television preachers 24/7
That would be hell.