Thursday, November 18, 2010
Violence in the Bible and Qur'an
The article I found talks about the instances of violence in both the Bible and the Qur'an. The article mostly discusses the differences and similarities of the context in which violence is instigated and what that means for interpreters of each holy book. The article argues that, like the Bible, the Qur'an is full of contradictions and double talk; in one passage it might condemn religious persecution but in another it mite incite a killing of the unbelievers. The choice of passage usually just represents the personality of the person quoting it rather than reflecting on the religion as a whole. The author's main point though is to state that Christianity is a much more peaceful religion that Islam; which I fully disagree with. Many foul things have been done in the name of God by people from all religions. The reason why many people in the US believe Islam is the source of violence against the western world is because they cannot believe that, without some "satanic book," people could come to the conclusion that western culture was bad and needed to be destroyed.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Why Evolution is wrong
I don't actually believe evolution is incorrect, but the institution for creation research is convinced that some divine being willed us into existence. By analyzing the data from a scientific study on the evolution of eukaryotic cells, the ICR came to the conclusion that evolution was impossible because there is such a small chance for things to happen (like the original engulfing of a mitochondria by another cell and the relationship that formed between them.) What they don't take into account is that conditions could have existed in the past that do not exist today; this includes lifeforms, weather patterns, the chemical composition of the atmosphere and landmasses, and anything else that existed then, but does not now. Just because a result cant be repeated under different circumstances does not make it wrong.
"Fix" Homosexuality Camps
The Sunday Times posted an interesting article about religious camps, Exodus International in particular, that claim to help suppress or even eliminate homosexual desires. Many of these camps just exacerbate the conflict and depression that many religious homosexuals struggle with. The author says that these camps are sponsored by the Church in order for them to ignore their homophobia and say: "We don't hate gays- Just look how we're welcoming them." Most of these camps are located in the U.S., but there are still a few more discreet ones in England and the rest of Europe.
Homosexuality and the Church
While navigating a Anabaptist website (http://www.anabaptists.org) I stumbled across a link to what they claimed was a basic summarization of their branch of Christianity's views on Homosexuality. The main points that the Author made about homosexuality were that he believed any homosexual relationship was sin; people were homosexuals by choice; God and Jesus love homosexuals; Jesus died for homosexuals; the church is the best place for homosexuals; and homosexual relationships should be rejected by the church. I disagree with the author on almost every single level because I believe that anybody, and everybody has a right to engage in any kind of relationship that they want. Who are you to judge what somebody else chooses as their lifestyle; homosexuals are not trying to hurt anybody, their just trying to live like anyone else.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Mormons
In case anyone was wondering about the differences between Mormonism and Christianity, there is a website that provides a chart showing each major facet that they differ in. It also provides quotes from the major texts of Mormonism and Christianity to give context to the differences the website charts.
Like the Onion, but...
This website is like a religiously based version of the Onion so its articles are humorous, but with a religious twist.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
In relation to FSMism
The Onion, generally known for poking fun at almost anything, particularly likes to bash organized religion. Most things that The Onion writes on are completely fictional, but they hint at absurdities present within organizations. Evangelicals are seen as a group that generally reject many scientific discoveries concerning the origins of life, planet Earth and the Universe; so The Onion created a satirical article saying how Evangelical physicists have "disproved gravity."
Pastafarianism
When the Kansas school board was proposing to teach intelligent design alongside evolution in the classroom a concerned citizen drafted and sent a letter reminding the Kansas school board that there are other forms of intelligent design just as well documented as the form proposed in Christianity. Threatening legal action if his religion's views were not expressed alongside those of traditional intelligent design, FSMism attained a following of sorts and has become an image of Atheistic beliefs.
Below is a link to the letter to the Kansas School Board.
Christianity vs. Catholicism
I have always had trouble distinguishing between Christianity and Catholicism. Not being religious myself, I have trouble recognizing difference between sects, even if they are the two main branches of the largest religion in the world. This website provided an overview of the different ways Catholics and Christians attain salvation and what the major differences are between these two massive sects of an already huge religion.
Christianity
This website provides a basic understanding of what it means to be a Christian and what Christians believe. This website is merely a simple overview and should not be used for in depth research, but it puts many of the simple tenets of Christianity into layman's terms and provides a quote from the new testament justifying that tenet/belief.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Jewish Astronauts
Although not as famous as Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins or even the Apollo program as a whole; there have been many other astronauts since the program ended. Out of over 500 astronauts there have only been 6 Jewish ones though. This article highlights the few Jews that have been up into space.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Antisemitism in America
Although antisemitism in America was never as harsh or rampant as in Europe, there were still many people who held hardcore antisemitic attitudes. As with any minority groups, the Jews were discriminated against. The 1930's were a particularly bad time for Jews in America. Jews were seen as scapegoats for the great depression. Even during WWII many Jewish refugees were turned away from the US because of the widespread negative feelings towards them. ADL (Anti-Defamation League) surveys show a decreasing trend of antisemitism in America over the last 60 years, but will it ever completely disappear?
Superman
Superman was in fact invented by 2 Jewish Teenagers from Cleveland at the start of the 1930's. Originally a criminal mastermind, superman attained his heroic status at the outbreak of WWII and has stood for freedom, justice and American ideals ever since.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Kind of Funny Jewish joke
"Admiring the Christmas trees displayed in his neighbour's windows, Peter asks his father, 'Daddy, can we have a *Hanukkah Tree?'
'What? No, of course not,' says his father.
'Why not?' asks Peter again.
Bewildered, his father replies, 'Because the last time we had dealings with a lighted bush we spent 40 years in the wilderness.'"
Jews going back to Germany
Since the fall of communism in Germany, Jews have been moving back. Despite that just over 60 years ago the Nazi party within Germany tried to exterminate the entire Jewish population. Now there are many incentives that Germany offers to Jewish immigrants coming into the country that encourage them not to move to Israel. Around 12,382 Jews emigrated from Russia to Israel in 2003, but in the same year 15,442 emigrated to Germany. Israel is starting to see more and more of its citizens moving abroad because life is incredibly stressful in a hot-spot for terrorist activity.
If the Chickens Stop Swinging Judaism as we Know it will fall Apart
Attempting to change religious traditions can often lead to heavy opposition by more fundamentalist groups. In this case, the tradition in question is swinging a chicken above one's head, then cutting its neck and letting it run around spraying blood everywhere. One rabbi when asked about ending this practice of animal-cruelty said that "the generation that will stop doing this ritual will give birth to a generation that will stop observing the day of atonement, and the generation that will stop observing the day of atonement, will give birth to a generation that will marry non-Jews."
Judaism around the world
We don't generally think of Africa when we think of the Jewish faith, but the continent does have a thriving Jewish population and history.
Monday, August 30, 2010
A different perspective.
Over summer break I read a book named; "Destiny Disrupted", by Tamim Ansary. This book was one of the first I have ever read that delves into history from a non-western perspective. Tamim Ansary was born and raised in Afghanistan and only moved to the U.S. in 1965 so his view of history is remarkably different from anything else I have read.
"Destiny Disrupted" is pertinent to RLST 2600 because it focuses on the history of the Muslim world and highlights how western society and religion was, and is, perceived by the eyes of Islamic culture. Ansary answers many questions about why such huge friction exists between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, but even he cannot answer them all.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has the least bit of interest in history, but
if you want to read a quick review look here: http://www.oregonlive.com/books/index.ssf/2009/05/_headline_tamim_ansarys_destin.html
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