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?

Atheism, Love, Religion god, inspiration, miracle, radio

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!

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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.

Atheism, Religion bible, bullshit, comedy, divine plan, fairy tales, funny, George Carlin, Joe Pesci, prayer, sabbath, scam, sunday

Obama is a true believer in the religion of Environmentalism. Not the science of the environment. Where that science survives, it provides us with a vital service; and it doesn’t take any faith to believe in the findings of genuine scientists doing science properly.

Read more below in the column by Orson Scott Card…

Freeman Dyson’s thoughts on the subject are stunning:

All the books that I have seen about the science and economics of global warming … miss the main point. The main point is religious rather than scientific.

There is a worldwide secular religion which we may call environmentalism, holding that we are stewards of the earth, that despoiling the planet with waste products of our luxurious living is a sin, and that the path of righteousness is to live as frugally as possible.

The ethics of environmentalism are being taught to children in kindergartens, schools, and colleges all over the world.

Environmentalism has replaced socialism as the leading secular religion. And the ethics of environmentalism are fundamentally sound. Scientists and economists can agree with Buddhist monks and Christian activists that ruthless destruction of natural habitats is evil and careful preservation of birds and butterflies is good.

The worldwide community of environmentalists — most of whom are not scientists — holds the moral high ground, and is guiding human societies toward a hopeful future. Environmentalism, as a religion of hope and respect for nature, is here to stay.

We have to be cautious of Environmentalism as a religion vs. a science… The Environmental Puritan movement is anti-American to the core. You can’t follow their advice while being president of the United States — we don’t need an anti-American president.

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Atheism, History, Politics, Religion, Science democrats, environment, liberals, Science, tree huggers

If millions of Christians suddenly disappear from the face of the Earth, most non-believers will be too busy freaking-the-hell out to check their e-mail. But if they do log in, now they can be treated to some post-Rapture needling from their missing friends and loved ones, courtesy of the PAY web startup YouveBeenLeftBehind.com.

Check out the full story from Wired magazine.

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