Lay Theism

I really like SOF (Speaking of Faith) on NPR Sunday mornings (yes, really). Krista Tippett has the good fortune to interview the most interesting people, and today it was Kate Braestrup. She serves as chaplain to the Maine Game Warden Service to support and comfort those that experience loss or tragedy in the Maine wilderness. A Unitarian Universalist minister, she is called upon to support search-and-rescue missions when children disappear in the woods or when snowmobilers disappear under the ice. I like her theology, which she says has become simpler over the years. She sums up her theology as “God is Love”. I am just a small baby step beyond her in that I refuse to include “God” in the whole idea of love. The way she presents her beliefs reduces to a semantic argument that certainly doesn’t require God to remain a wonderful idea.

The show’s producer, Colleen Scheck, makes an excellent point that has nothing whatsoever to do with theology, faith, or spirituality:

I love this week’s program with Kate Braestrup, chaplain to the game warden service in Maine. Simply, her practical theology just makes sense to me — a daily translation of spirituality into caring, useful, deliberate action.

Although, I am not as commited as the full-time chaplain, my wife and I spend most of our free time in the mode of caring, useful, deliberate action. Certainly, Kate, of all people, sees enough random tragedy that much of it makes little sense (if any). What impresses her is the “miracle” of people wanting to help. Every time there is tragedy, people appear to assist in any way they can… out of love for their fellow man. She indicated this to be the essence of love (and God) that she feels to be so profound. I agree… except (once again), this has nothing to do with God. I may be oversimplifying her point-of-view, but not much.

Why is it that people insist on a divine explanation for compassion, beauty, love, weather, etc.? We can all save ourselves a giant leap of faith by embracing life as it is, without the spooky magic and mysticism. The framework of theology simply is not required… in fact, it adds an inordinate amount of unnecessary noise to the process.

Although, would she be as revered if she were an atheist/agnostic psychologist serving the exact same role?

Legendary comedian George Carlin passed away Sunday night at the age of 71. I owned many of the original LPs that George cut back in the 70s and 80s… and I must say, as funny as those were, I really was impressed by his recent comeback. He had become much more outspoken about politics and religion, and the best part was that he forced you to think. He had not forgotten the value of a cheap laugh, but he also knew the power of intellect.

Incredibly, I had blogged about George just a few days ago. Wonder what would happen if I blogged about Glenn Beck? Hey, I just did!

George, you will be missed.

Look for the HBO George Carlin marathon on June 25-27.

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OK, I posted the first Henry Rollins clip, and then found this one… even better. It’s excellent.

A new Zogby international poll shows that 69% of Americans support public school teachers presenting the theory of evolution as well as theories that are in opposition. If only there were any that didn’t have God somewhere in them.

The theory of evolution proposed by Charles Darwin in his groundbreaking work “Origin of Species” published in 1859 has been championed by scientists ever since. And like evolution itself, the science of it, the gathering evidence and data is a ceaseless pursuit of scientists all over the world. In the theory of evolution there is no talk of God, and no Bibles are used. They’re not looking for higher powers, extra-terrestrials or anything else that could be found in the science fiction section because they are not dealing with fiction.

As more is known and more is shown, Christian fundamentalists see their fingers being pulled off the steering wheel as their oppressive shackles are being more and more seen as fear-based nonsense. And so these awful people who favor abstinence only sex education as does the President of the United States seek yet again to put God into public school classrooms. First, it was the re-write of the Pledge of Allegiance, the addition of “under God” between “one nation” and “indivisible” which they insist sounds great. Actually, it sounds like a badly punched in edit that throws the rhythm of the piece way off and totally removes the power of the statement.

Well, they’re back with the theory of intelligent design (ID). It’s not much of a theory. It’s more of an over-fancified collection of sentiments basically saying that there are lifeforms and functions in them that are so complex only God Almighty could’ve come up with them, and we can just stop wondering and just start praising him.

Now the foundation of intelligent design relies heavily upon an idea called irreducible complexity. The breathtaking stupidity of irreducible complexity is only outweighed by the complete lack of science involved. It is just intellectually lazy and cannot be tested or challenged. You can’t get God to come down to the lab and prove a fucking thing.

You just have to believe, and science does not operate on faith. Faith is taught in churches. If you can’t prove it in the scientific world, you’ve got no game. These Christian fundamentalist psychotics are so power-mad they will stop at nothing. Willful ignorance, intimidation and suppression of information are their tools. Intelligent design, abstinence only sex-ed! The new Dark Ages are upon us! Hang on folks, this century’s gonna be a rough ride!

Also, you might want to take a look at the VERY powerful story of Henry Rollins speaking to a wounded soldier.

Henry Rollins — Ember of Rage

I never was a Black Flag fan, but he is an interesting guy. I don’t necessarily think he’s a genius, but to combat the likes of Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh it may take exactly this sort of tough, straight talk.

Freedom is under attack…under attack by hysterical and well-funded Christian psychotics; intellectually undernourished leaders who lie and manipulate information; over-fed, Baby Huey, coward-bitch motherfuckers like Karl Rove and their suck-up coward-weakling apologists like Sean Hannity. To question authority is to be somehow unpatriotic? un-American? and in league with terrorists world-wide? Fuck you!

George Carlin is a very bright guy…

This is so good, I can’t stand it.

God loves you… but he needs your money!

There is no Humpty Dumpty and there is no god.