Tuesday talk: on being Christian…

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…Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, or human. Growing up, in Catholic school and out, the good nuns and priests, the lay teachers and my parents, taught me three things (not one of which was how to tie my shoelaces properly): Do unto others God = love To thine ownself be true The first two are biblical, the last Shakespearean. Specifically growing up Christian, we were taught that the basics of morality derived from Christ and his teachings. I got the sense from my parents that this … [Read more...]

God, politics, and other topics I shouldn’t discuss

In his New York Times piece today, Ross Douthat claims that America’s lack of a religious center has left us heretical and adrift.  I take issue with almost everything Douthat suggests in the piece but being called a heretic really gets my panties in a bunch. In 1633, Galileo was condemned as a heretic for getting behind the idea that the earth revolved around the sun and not vice-versa, so calling someone out as one isn’t necessarily the best way to present an argument. Douthat writes: “…But … [Read more...]

Democrats: losing our religion?

Living in Los Angeles, you could spit and hit a Democrat, but not a Republican.  There aren’t that many here.  You’d also be hard-pressed to find individuals who wear their religion on their sleeve or announce it on a bumper sticker.  In fact, it’s the opposite.  Too many of us on the left apologize for our belief in God, a greater power, Jesus.  We confuse our strong belief in separation of church and state with separation of church and everything. I mention Republicans because the religious … [Read more...]