The site for ranting and reporting by John Masters
Religion is a frequent topic on this blog, and should not be confused with Christianity.
Take one preconceived notion and grasp it strongly. Bake this idea into your mind until well seared. If necessary, run around shouting it at the top of your lungs with your ears plugged and eyes shut so as to drown out any competing notions.
Read moreThe principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.
Read moreIn the not-too-distant future, a solitary man walks across the wasteland that was once America. There is no civilization here, no law. The roads belong to gangs that would murder a man for his shoes, an ounce of water… or for nothing at all. But they’re no match for this traveler. It’s not his life he guards so fiercely but his hope for the future; a hope he has carried and protected for 30 years and is determined to realize. Overall, this movie is probably worth watching, but wait until it is out on video.
Read moreToday in Sunday School, We still going through the Rick Warren book. This discussion was about being friends with God. The discussion went off in a number of directions, and I’m not sure how much I got out of this week. Today is also the Birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., so I wanted to work in a reference to that in today’s prayer. I heard a great story this morning on NPR about how King had once been asked, in his teenage years, what he was looking at as he stared out the Window. He was watching the gas lamp lighter going along lighting the gas lights. King said he was watching the man, “knock holes in the darkness.”
Read moreI honestly can think of nothing more vile and hateful than the things that come from the mouth of Pat Robertson. Who can forget his blaming feminism and abortion for the attack on the 9/11, and now, as is so often the case, he’s blaming the victims in Haiti for their own misery. According to Robertson, the reason for the earthquake there, and the poverty of the country is because back during the days of French Colonialism, the Haitians made a pact with Satan to get the French out.
Read moreI honestly can think of nothing more vile and hateful than the things that come from the mouth of Pat Robertson. Who can forget his blaming feminism and abortion for the attack on the 9/11, and now, as is so often the case, he’s blaming the victims in Haiti for their own misery. According to Robertson, the reason for the earthquake there, and the poverty of the country is because back during the days of French Colonialism, the Haitians made a pact with Satan to get the French out.
Read moreIt seems I’m frequently asked to offer the closing prayer for my Sunday School class. I guess some are good enough that I’ve been asked to get them down for possible future publication. This seems to be as good a place as any. So this will be the first in what may become a series.
Read moreThe fine folks at Rescue Marriage, who faked out the American Family Association with their tongue-in-cheek campaign to ban divorce in California, have really stepped up their game with this ad. And the California Attorney General has titled the measure and certified it for signature gathering. It has been called the 2010 CALIFORNIA MARRIAGE PROTECTION ACT.
Read moreThe fine folks at Rescue Marriage, who faked out the American Family Association with their tongue-in-cheek campaign to ban divorce in California, have really stepped up their game with this ad. And the California Attorney General has titled the measure and certified it for signature gathering. It has been called the 2010 CALIFORNIA MARRIAGE PROTECTION ACT.
Read moreStephen Fry explains why the Catholic Church is not a force for good in the world. Fry is a well known British actor, but is probably best known to American audiences for his role in V for Vendetta.
Read moreFrom time to time I have a discussion of politics with someone at work. He’s very much a conservative Republican. Yesterday our discussion went to how far off the cliff the most extreme elements of theright-wing have gone. He kept insisting there were extremists on the left as well. And now come forth the Psalmists. Apparently they are now printing the phrase, “Psalm 109,” on mouse pads, bumper stickers, and even teddy bears. The Biblical verse Psalm 109: “Let his days be few; and let another take his office. Let his children become fatherless; and his wife become a widow.”
Read more