Hebrews 13:3 Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. Read more
Hebrews 13:3 Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. Read more
We’re heading to the mountains for a few days to a place with no TV or Internet (this is a feature, not a bug). I’ll be back Sunday evening — hoping to get home in time to catch the Eagles’ next fourth-quarter collapse. So in the meantime, here, in no particular order, are some random links that I didn’t have time to put together any longer or more coherent response to/comment on. Adrian Mack explores a treasure trove for “trash... Read more
Another part of my complaint about “debates” like the one we discussed yesterday (on “The World Would Be Better Off Without Religion“) is that I think such point-scoring face-offs wind up replacing the conversations that ought to be happening instead. Such debates are framed as having something to do with persuasion, but there’s little reason to think that really has anything to do with what’s going on in such forums. No skeptic has ever left such a stage saying, “Gee,... Read more
The TV show I would like to see — on MTV, or the N, or the CW — is simply this: Jesus Goes to High School. I wouldn’t call it that, of course, but that’s the whole idea, no more and no less. The story would work due to the same dynamic that allows those contemporary reworkings of Shakespeare or Jane Austen to work in a high-school setting when they otherwise defy contemporary adaptation. High school is one place where... Read more
This report on a debate at NYU on the subject “The World Would Be Better Off Without Religion” is depressing. If one is going to produce a staged re-enactment of a late-night dorm-room bull session — without even the benefit of pizza and alcohol that such conversations generally require — then at least try not to include rabidly dishonest racist jackwagons like Dinesh D’Souza. The New York Times’ Jennifer Schuessler captures my own reaction to this stale ritual when she... Read more
“’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Read more
Robin Hood Who: Unstoppable, death-defying, badass revolutionary outlaw who stole from the rich and gave to the poor. Historical Accuracy: Some slight possible real-life basis for the legendary hero of folklore, but probably not much. On screen: IMDB lists 125 movies and television shows featuring the adventures of Robin Hood, including several big-budget Hollywood features. Harriet Tubman Who: Unstoppable, death-defying, badass revolutionary outlaw who stole from the rich and gave to the poor. Historical accuracy: The true story of... Read more
OK, so yet another religious right pastor rails against the “homosexual agenda,” claiming that gays “will not stop until their will is pressed upon the majority.” Blah blah blah, yadda yadda, same stuff, different day. But the pastor in question here is Matthew Hagee, “son and heir apparent of televangelist John Hagee.” That’s “Bible prophecy expert” John Hagee. Hagee is a premillennial dispensationalist preacher who has, for decades, been telling us that the Rapture was about to occur — “perhaps... Read more
The “occupation” of Zuccotti Park was not an end in itself. The Occupy movement was organized to address injustice and inequity, but that injustice had nothing to do with the lack of tents erected in a lower Manhattan park. Nor was the encampment in the park established in order to produce a particular or specific remedy. The occupation echoes similar earlier efforts, such as “Resurrection City” in Washington, D.C., or the Bonus Army encampment near the Capitol. The Bonus Army... Read more
1. When your actions are lawful, honorable and just, you perform them in the light of day. You have nothing to be ashamed of and nothing to hide. You don’t need to seek out publicity and the camera’s eye, but you have no cause to avoid them because you can be proud of your actions, knowing them to be lawful, honorable and just. 2. If your actions are such that you perform them in the dark of night, avoiding cameras... Read more
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