(Ir)religiosity

This is a fascinating article.  Scientists from the Stockholm Brain Institute have linked brain symmetry with sexual orientation.  “Using MRI scans of gay and straight men and women, the researchers found that people who liked women — heterosexual men and homosexual women — had larger right brain hemispheres, while people who liked men — heterosexual women and homosexual men — had symmetrical brains.”  Interesting.

Last week I posted my reasons why Barack Obama should not choose Hillary Clinton as his VP and I promised a list of my top picks.  Here they are.

The Big 3

1.) Jim Webb. Matt stole my thunder on this the other day.  After it’s all said and done I’m hoping this guy is still standing; I really think he would be the best not only as next in line to the presidency but also as someone who can balance the ticket.  First, to be frank, Read the rest of this entry »

It’s true.  Al Gore just sent me an email:

“A few hours from now I will step on stage in Detroit, Michigan to announce my support for Senator Barack Obama. From now through Election Day, I intend to do whatever I can to make sure he is elected President of the United States.

Over the next four years, we are going to face many difficult challenges — including bringing our troops home from Iraq, fixing our economy, and solving the climate crisis. Barack Obama is clearly the candidate best able to solve these problems and bring change to America.

I’ve never asked members of AlGore.com to contribute to a political campaign before, but this moment and this election are too important to let pass without taking action.

That’s why I am asking you to join me today in showing your support for Barack Obama by making a contribution to his campaign today.”

I guess this is great. BUT — it sure would’ve been better had it happened about 3 months ago.  Oh well.

One year ago today I married my best friend.  It seems just like yesterday and yet it seems so long ago.  So today I celebrate and I remember the vow I made. Yesterday. Today. Forever. I love you Bonnie. Happy Anniversary. Here’s to many, many more.

When asked yesterday by reporters what it was like to be interviewed by Russert, McCain said with a smile, “I once told him I haven’t had so much fun since my last interrogation at prison camp.” [Ht. Daily Kos]  Wow.  Seriously John?

Disclaimer: Anyone who knows me or has read this blog much knows that I am no fan of the Clintons.  This list reflects that and should be taken with a grain of salt. Furthermore some of these are serious and some are probably just outrageous. I do think there are very serious reasons why Obama shouldn’t choose Clinton, but as long as this process has been I think we have to poke a little fun at it too.

Since at least January people have been talking up the so-called “dream ticket.” I don’t like it.  I thought it was a bad idea from the start regardless of who is on top.  But, now that all that is taken care of here are a few (or eight) reasons why I think Barack Obama shouldn’t pick Clinton has his VP.

The Serious Reasons

1. Unity won’t be a problem. The Democratic party will be as united as it’s going to be in November regardless of whether Hillary Clinton is on the ticket.  We see this all the time in elections.  Candidates fight tooth and nail during the primary season, they develop a cult-like following, and when it’s all said and down one is left standing.  The other endorses the winner, and while the loser’s supporters may seem bitter at first, they usually come around.¹  Now, I know there is a case to be made that this Read the rest of this entry »

1. Remember Howard Dean in 2004? Not as big of a deal, but still a good recent example. [↩]

Pete Rollins has at least two more books slated to be published! They will be the second half of a two part “theological triptych calling for a radical change in the way we approach faith.”  I’m excited.  The first Rollins book I read was The Fidelity of Betrayal which I finished a week or so ago.  Now I’m plowing through How (Not) to Speak of God. Both are excellent; both are pushing me to (re)think G-d and a/theism.

This was a great book to read. Especially now.

I’ve always considered myself independent in my politics. I’m a registered independent and I’m constantly finding myself wore out by our two party (or one party,however you view it) system. So this was good for me.

Marcia is an aggressive researcher. And I say that being an aggressive researcher myself. She knows her stuff and the book is chalk full of great, enriching information. The best part is she presents the information in an accessible way. Her writing style is engaging, witty, and, at times, downright funny. I once heard someone say that the trick to teaching and presenting information is to communicate in such a way that the learner doesn’t realize (s)he has been taught. This book is a perfect example. Read it and you will learn without knowing you have learned, it will be a fun and engaging experience.

I confess that before reading this book I was a poorly misinformed independent — at least when it comes to the indie political scene (I had to get that phrase in somewhere!). I’ve always known that our system is inherently biased toward Read the rest of this entry »

There’s been a lot of noise going around the blogosphere over the past week or so concerning Emergent Village and their going mainstream, or selling-out, or whatever and by doing so losing the veracity of their marginal and thereby prophetic voice.  

Behold the great dilemma we all must face. Do we compromise ourselves only to lose our integrity and our voice, or does our voice change and evolve as we try to become marginally persuasive within the belly of the beast, or to put it another way and to echo someone we’re all familiar with, are we to be “in the system, but not of the system?”  Tough, tough, call.  

But that’s not really what I want to talk about (though it’s something we had all better be talking about, at least with ourself, before we’ve decided without even knowing it. Plus, I just got through talking about it, and my failing to do it).

What I want to talk about is the future of Emergent Village.  Ironically — and I have no idea of this is connected to the blogging I mentioned above, Read the rest of this entry »

“[W]e lack the courage for the truth…[it] will make us stronger just so long as it doesn’t kill us first.”
- Friedrich Nietzsche

Maybe hypocrisy isn’t the best word. But on a certain level I think it fits. If anything it’s a catchy, provocative title that will hopefully catch the attention of some readers.

Recently I was speaking to a — I don’t want to say hostile — less than friendly crowd on pretty controversial topic in a “church setting.” I was presenting some research I had done (which wasn’t outside mainstream scholarship at all) and was arguing what I believed to be a position of truth and one that in my view remained deeply faithful not only to the Way of Jesus but to the Hebrew prophetic tradition.

I knew in advance that this was going to be tough gig and I decided that I would do the best I could to remain prophetic, speaking what I believed to be the truth, while retaining some sense of a pastoral spirit and meeting people where they are. So I toned down some of the material a bit and tried to walk the line the best I could. I didn’t want to completely alienate or turn anyone off, but at the same time I wanted to challenge them, which meant a certain degree of uncomfortability. Read the rest of this entry »