Why do you believe in god? In other news, Morgan Freeman has a cat on his head.
Day: February 22, 2010
Atheists are aggressive
Weekend wrap up. Key word: Sausage.
It was a good weekend. Friday night I made a sausage pizza. Saturday night, we had Chinese, you may have smelled heard. And Sunday night, my brother in law Michael made a pasta dish with sausage, with baby broccoli and raviolis in a red wine sauce. It was really good. And by really good I mean really awesome. And by awesome, I mean I’ll punch you in the face if you reach for my plate again with that fork.
I grabbed a couple pictures for you to see.
Tonight I’m making spaghetti squash with sautéed zucchini and yellow squash in marinara sauce. When are you getting here so I know when to set the table?
I woke up Thursday morning with a subconjunctival hemorrhage. Holy shit, I need a manicure.
Last week Thursday I had a client meeting to review a cut of a video I’m editing. This marked two weeks since I was there and the night before I burned the fuck out of my hand. My hand healed fine (thanks for asking). But wouldn’t you know, I woke up with a subconjunctival hemorrhage the day of my next meeting with that same client.
The hemorrhage simply means that a blood vessel popped in the white of my eye. I was a little embarrassed about it, but these things happen, and the best thing to do is go about your day. People will see it, and if they care to know what it is, perhaps they’ll ask. Otherwise, it’s let ’em gaze at it and be happy it didn’t happen to them.
In fact, I brought it up to my main contact while walking to the meeting, and she said that she’s had several. One time she was lifting a stack of brochures, and she claimed she felt it happen. She’s much younger and cuter than I am, so if it can happen to her, it can happen to anyone.
Since Thursday it’s grown, but it’s pinker rather than redder. Over the weekend, I had Tina snap a shot for posterity. The shot is to the right.
It means I should probably get an eye exam. The list of causes ranges from pressure on the eye or a sneeze to high blood pressure. My blood pressure during the day has been ranging in levels higher than it should — around 130 over 85 –, so it’s important that I get that under control. In the morning and at night, it’s been pleasantly in regular ranges. I have been a little stressed out over some work-related issues, so it might be correlative.
I noticed in the shot that Tina took, my finger nails look outright disgusting. I’ve never gotten a manicure before, but suddenly I thought, “Maybe now’s the time.” To add grossness to this post, I probably should get a pedicure, too. I rarely cut my toe nails. I tend to rip off the nails. Lately I’ve been swimming, and while I’m sitting in the Jacuzzi it’s hard not to.
All that said, I probably won’t do it.
How many guys do you know who have gotten a manicure or pedicure? Which do you think will end first, the social stigmas associated with homosexuality and gay marriage or heterosexual males getting manicures and pedicures?
I’ll end with this five second clip of Stewie getting a subconjunctival hemorrhage.
Study shows the more faithful a nation is, the more likely it is to have markers of social pathology. In other news, atheists die of ennui
Thanks Phil Ferguson at Skeptic Money for the link!
Ehrman-Licona Debate: Can Historians Prove Jesus Rose From The Dead
I’m working on taxes and some proposals today. I tend to put things on like debates in the background while I’m working.
Right now, I’m listening to this debate between Bart Ehrman, renowned author, professor and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Christian apologist and historian, Michael Licona. Can historians really prove Jesus rose from the dead?
Interestingly enough, the president of Montreat College, my alma mater, delivers the opening prayer. If you had any doubt about my background, watch the first 2 minutes of this debate and see for yourselves what kind of leadership I learned under.
If you’re serious about the debate between Christianity and atheism, this is a good debate to consider listening to.
Q&A
Naked Pastor, Embracing my Atheist
Friendly Atheist Hemant Mehta turned me on to the Naked Pastor. Mehta’s been posting NP’s cartoons from time to time. They really are great.
The Naked Pastor is David Hayward, and his blog says this about him: “David Hayward is an artist trapped in a pastor’s body, stripping to the essential.”
I really should buy the Naked Pastor a beer after this one. He’s been writing about his “inner atheist.” You have to give it to the guy, he explores his faith in such excruciating depth that he’s not afraid to do and say things that no other pastor I’ve ever experienced would do. That’s not to say these kinds of pastors don’t exist; I simply haven’t heard of them.
This post struck me. It’s titled, “Embracing my Atheist.” You should read it.
He writes:
I validate those who never sense God’s presence. I see honor in rejecting gods. It takes nerve to topple idols and walk away from falsehood. It is fearless to detach oneself from people who cherish counterfeit and peddle snake oil. And I think it sometimes takes courage to be an atheist. I embrace atheists, for in many ways I am one myself.
Go read his words. I don’t want anyone claiming I quoted him out of context. You should also read the part that’s linked in the quote. It’s another post called “My Inner Atheist.”
While I’m telling you a bunch of “you shoulds” … you should to go read the comments to the posts.
Some of the responses show that the individuals don’t understand Hayward. They are written from the perspective of people who are still too afraid to question their faith. Then there are honest replies from a couple people who really have looked at atheism and retained their faith. Still there are others who have questioned their faith, put it down and embraced atheism.
This, dear readers, is a Christian whom I have utmost respect for. I don’t care if he becomes an atheist. For his sake and his flock, I hope he keeps faith for all time.
I don’t care if you are a believer and become an atheist. My goal on this blog is to reflect what I see with a twist. They aren’t always original ideas. But that’s a simple view of how I see Le Café’s purpose.
Why do I have respect for Hayward? He questions. He searches. He’s honest. He’s critical of his personal beliefs and the beliefs of others.
But most of all, Hayward doesn’t come from the standpoint that he’s got both hands around truth that’s superior to mine.
When I read the Naked Pastor, he has a way of humbling me to reconsider my tone. He doesn’t cause me to reconsider my stance, that’s something I do on a daily, if not hourly, basis. I’m constantly asking myself questions whether I feel more right or more wrong today than yesterday.
No, Hayward makes me think about what the best tone may be for presenting the details.
In laziness, I become indignant.
The question is whether a calm voice can be heard when exploring the realms of belief and non-belief.
What do you think?
***UPDATE****
I forgot that I wanted to post an example of the Naked Pastor’s work. Bon appétit!
Isaiah 45, in context.
Apparently I posted Isaiah 45:7 out of context. Here it is in context. I’m posting the entirety of Isaiah 45 on this post. Continue reading “Isaiah 45, in context.”
Le Café Wittypoots 