Not sure where this came from originally, but I love it

Interesting

A table from the sttudy

America is becoming less Christian, and US Christianity is becoming less white

Christianity is on the decline in America among just about every demographic you can think of: young adults, older adults, white and black Americans, Latinos, men, women, and people with and without a high school education.

But the new Pew demographic study with those findings has another interesting twist: the Christians who remain are more diverse than ever.

I don't normally comment on news stories, or reply to other comments

But one woman was going on about how gays weren't in God's plan, and how God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, etc., etc., in capital letters to try to make her point somehow more believable than anyone else's, I suppose. It irritated me, to say the least. So this was my reply:

The sin of the people of Sodom & Gomorrah was, according to Jewish tradition (as in the one that the scriptures come from), one of hospitality. There was a great deal of sin in the cities, per the Bible, but as the scholar Jay Michaelson wrote: "Homosexual rape is the way in which they violate hospitality—not the essence of their transgression. Reading the story of Sodom as being about homosexuality is like reading the story of an ax murderer as being about an ax." Perhaps you might consider reading the text of the scripture and of those who have devoted their lives to studying it, rather than using it to spout hate. Also, shouting in giant capital letters and misspellings does nothing for your case, but rather just indicate that you are trying to spout hate masked in religiousity at the top of your lungs. I wish Christians were more concerned with their own souls than that of others. I am neither Christian nor Jewish, and the status of my soul is a matter for time to tell, and for my Gods to decide, but I do respect the teachings of Christ, and wish more people who profess to be Christian would actually learn his lessons of love rather than casting aspersions on others they perceive to be sinners. Beyond that, marriage in this country is a civil matter. You can marry in a church, but without the state's blessing, it is not recognized. It is just customary to not require two ceremonies when a couple marry, for simplicity's sake. So Biblical arguments against legal marriage in the United States are invalid. Religious bodies are free to not bless unions, but legal civil marriage should be open to people regardless of gender, for without it, basic rights protected by our Constitution are violated. All gay couples are asking is that they be able to enjoy the same rights and straight ones. And I say more power to them--I was married nine months and it was considered legal and binding. Friends of mine have been together 16 years, yet they are seen as being merely partners because they are the same gender. Who had the greater commitment to each other? Definitely my friends. They should be allowed to marry in this, their state of residence.

Here's the original story: Couple Sues Ky To Issue Same-Sex Marriage License

Coincidentally, I had someone post a comment on my last post (why, I'm not sure, since it had nothing to do with religion, or anything that would even tangentially made sense) in a long rambling bunch of Bible verses (and yet again, much of it in all caps). Now, I moderate the comments on this blog, and frankly, I didn't see any reason to allow that one, because it was not related in any way to me or to what I wrote. Or at least, I'm assuming it doesn't have anything to do with me. I suppose it could have been a pathetic attempt at conversion, in which case, sadly for the writer, it failed. Please understand that I'm very open to comments, but do not pass on things that are either simply spam or, in this case, the equivalent of leaving a religious tract on my doorstep. Also understand that I don't have problems with Christians, especially ones who have compassion and tolerance. Nor do I necessarily expect all Christians to respect that I have my own religious beliefs. But this is my forum, so I'm afraid it operates by my rules. So sorry, no long praise comments regarding the Christian God. Maybe a nice Orphic hymn would be more appropriate, don't you think?

YKWIA found this

You have to admit, they have a point.

I found this interesting, listening to public radio on Sunday....

Alain de Botton on a School of Life for Atheists

Alain de Botton is a philosopher who likes the best of religion, but doesn’t believe in God. So he’s created “The School of Life,” a secular community in London. He explains why wisdom and ritual shouldn’t be reserved just for believers.

Also not so surprising

Thinking can undermine religious faith, study finds: Those who think more analytically are less inclined to be religious believers than are those who tend to follow a gut instinct, researchers conclude

Scientists have revealed one of the reasons why some folks are less religious than others: They think more analytically, rather than going with their gut. And thinking analytically can cause religious belief to wane — for skeptics and true believers alike.

The study, published in Friday's edition of the journal Science, indicates that belief may be a more malleable feature of the human psyche than those of strong faith may think.

I had the wrong disk today to do some tech work

and wound up taking 8 buses back and forth over the course of the day, meaning several hours of bus riding, waiting at bus stops, and walking to them. One nearly broke me--a man who (and I have it on good authority that this is he usual schtick) harangued a young man who did Christian rap, telling him he was going to teach him a lesson and preaching at the top of his lungs, and quite arrogantly believing he had The Truth directly from God, when the young man had a better idea of how to live a life based on Christ's teachings than that over-inflated buffoon who was attempting to impart his 'wisdom', got so onto my nerves that as the bus came to a stop and they were still at it (his wife was in this supportive role), that I finally shouted, 'Oh for God's sake, shut up!', and left the bus. I should say that it takes a lot to make me do anything assertive, but I feel really strongly about being subjected to religious bullying, and yet at the same time, it irritated me that even though the guy could quote chapter and verse (why do so many people believe that makes them knowledgeable?), he had no real understanding of the history and meaning of the scripture. I've probably studied more religious topics than he has.

Then they got on the next bus with me, and my heart sank, for I had a headache from all his shouting, but they were very, very quiet. Thank goodness. If I'd known the Orphic hymn to Hekate by heart I would have recited it. What would he do with an actual pagan, rather than brow-beating the flock of fellow believers? I may just put that on my phone for future reference. I don't normally encourage belligerent people or bother the hornet's nest, but really, some people need to be taken down a notch or two. I know someone who encountered this same man and did that more eloquently than I could ever have, but it inspired me to act, and I'm glad I did.

Oh, but I'm glad to be home now. I could barely see (my contacts were bothering me) or walk straight on the way from the bus stop. I wouldn't have been surprised to be questioned about public intoxication, even though I was sober. I came in, made a quick phone call to announce my safe arrival, made some steel-cut oatmeal, and now I'm headed to bed. Tomorrow is game day and it starts very early. Good night.

In a comparative religion mood, I guess

I've been listening to Jesus Christ, Superstar at work (I had to put it on today--a student was watching an old VHS tape with one of our former doctors on it and his voice was soothing to the point of hypnotic. Rock opera can counteract this immensely.) I had noticed one of my recommended books for the Kindle was an Interlinear Latin-English Vulgate New Testament. It was nice that they credited Jerome as the author. I saw a few New Testaments for the Kindle that had God as the author.

In the interest of being ecumenical, I looked for a good Tanakh (the Jewish scriptures, which are (mostly) the books the Christians call the 'Old Testament'). There were several, although I couldn't find an interlinear Hebrew one (that would have been great). I did find a version of one that we used in class (I was a Judaic Studies minor.) It is considered one of the best modern translations out there.

Next I found a copy of the Qu'ran that was quite reasonable and highly rated. I've never read it (unlike the other two).

I have several of the Indian texts such as the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana, etc. (that collection even came with the Kama Sutra). :) I also have Babylonian, Greek, and Aegyptian texts. So I've got a nice collection of religious texts on the Kindle, most of which were very little price-wise. I love having this sort of thing at my fingertips.

Okay, I'm going to check the news and then do some reading. If I don't get back here tonight, good night.

Another quiz, this time on which religious founder I resemble

Your result for The Religion Founder You Resemble Test...

Zoroaster

You two would probably really get along!

Founder of Zoroastrianism

"Taking the first footstep with a good thought the second with a good word and the third with a good deed I entered Paradise."

Take The Religion Founder You Resemble Test at OkCupid

The rights of women seem to be among the first to fall in Chechnya

Chechen leader imposes strict brand of Islam: Critics fear dictatorship in region where Russian laws will not apply

Ramzan Kadyrov insists seven young women shot in the head and found alongside a road were the victims of Islamic honour killings for having loose morals, even though the facts and quite a bit of public opinion do not agree. It's just one aspect of a move towards a stricter form of Islam that has some worried about the loss of separation of church and state that Russian law ensures.

There is a Jewish prayer where a man thanks G-d for not being born a woman. I thank the Gods I was not born a woman under Islam. I don't have trouble with Islam itself--but the strict forms are hell on women's rights. Lots of religions have problems in terms of how they treat women--how they should dress, how they should behave, etc. I fortuantely don't have that problem in my own religion, which is actually rather female-centric, but all it would take is a change in religious freedom and that could go out the window. Also, the rights I enjoy as a US citizen are not portable through the world, and that's certain true in many Muslim areas, among others. It seems to me that most Fundamentalist faiths seem to share the desire to control women, and any faith focussed on controlling half of the population in favour of the other half is just wrong, no matter what faith it is--Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or non-Biblical religions that relegate women to traditional roles and ideals.

And whilst headscarves can be pretty, and it's certainly any woman's right to wear them should she choose--it shouldn't be imposed on women on pain of punishment. It often seems to start with headscarves, doesn't it? Then it's a birka, or who you can talk to, and what you can talk about. Then it spins downward from that. Other religions have their own versions of headscarves, too, so I'm not just picking on Islam.

I'm up early

I've showered/brushed my teeth, gotten dressed, taken my medicine, made my bed, did the dishes, gathered up the trash from the kitchen and bathroom, and taken some pictures off my camera and put them on the computer, all with two hours left before I have to be at work, so I'm going to do some yoga and work on notes as well.

Last night I did some holiday decorating. I strung lights in the window (normal, multi-coloured ones, replacing the white icicle ones that no longer lit. I can now close my curtains in the living room. I couldn't before because the string had caught on the mechanism. Here is a before and after shot of the tree, which is a Norfolk Virginia pine in a pot:



and decorated:



If you look carefully, you'll notice a few top branches removed, because I tried in vain to get my tree topper on it (so I hung it from the window--it's the star). I did tie the removed bits to my equal-armed reed cross that hangs on the door. The tree looked like Charlie Brown's tree with the topper on it, bent over (okay, it still does, a little bit). But it's a live tree that hopefully I'll be able to keep alive for a few years, as long as I remember to water it, because they like moist soil. That's two plants in the house right now--the other being a Christmas cactus I'm trying to get to bloom. My mom says the secret isn't so much dark and cool environment like you normally see but putting an apple slice with a bag over the plant to release ethene gas. I'll have to try it. It's kind of nice not to have cats so I can have plants without worrying about them being eaten.

(Just in case you're wondering, yes I am pagan, but so is the so-called Christmas tree. Ancient pagans in northern Europe brought in evergreens, after all. And in many cultures light is important at this time of the year to symbolise the return of the sun.)

Last night, in fact, was my night to give an offering to my Patroness. I put out two halves of a pomegranate, with spring water poured over it, then honey, then lavender petals sprinkled over that. I had taken a cleansing bath beforehand with sea salt in it. I do this every month at the time of my menstruation, and have for, oh, I don't know, maybe 15 years.

Okay, that's enough for now. It's time for notes!

I guess that last post didn't make much sense

On Friday, I knew my Internet service was going to be restricted by midnight, so when I got home at 11:20 I tried to blog to that effect. Unfortunately, I hit the return key right after typing the title, so it published, then went in to actually do the post and by the time I got through (although before midnight), my service was off. Sorry about that. It's back on (obviously), so here's what you missed:

Friday the 18th

Reading: Necroscope by Brian Lumley (reading aloud with a friend, a chapter a night)

Once again I'm going to have an Internet outage, albeit a relatively short one, that should run from tonight about midnight until Tuesday, when I can pay my bill. I hate that Insight will only allow you to make arrangements to pay once every six months.

On the other hand, I did make my rent yesterday, albeit late, but all the working I did this week should help me be able to be on time for August. Right now I have a roof over my head, electricity, gas for the car, and a little food, so hopefully I can make it until I get paid next week. But I don't have money for anything else, like the bus if something happens to the car, which inexplicably stalled in traffic today, although thankfully it started right back up.

I hate this. I've been looking at jobs and noticed one at the public library closing tomorrow for a part-time children's librarian. But although I love children in theory, and certainly love children's literature, in practice I'm just not comfortable around children. I wasn't even that comfortable around children when I was a child. Babies especially both intrigue and terrify me. Give me a kid about 6-10 and I can relate well. Before and after that, they might as well be aliens. So I'm not going to apply for that job, although it would help to have a second job that paid over $17 an hour. Everything else was either too far away or paraprofessional. There are definite downsides to living in a town with a library school--much more competition. But at least the library jobs are still posted fairly frequently. I've seen a greater dearth, especially the year I graduated (1993), when even the grocers around here weren't hiring. And I've been keeping an eye out for non-library jobs, too. I'd hate to leave librarianship, even temporarily, but I've got to have some financial stability.

I worked 34 hours or so at the store this past week, so I was very busy between that and appointments. It was a little better because I took off from the hospital on Thursday through Tuesday, so I got paid vacation and didn't wind up working 54 hours this week. But when I was home, I was pretty much asleep. I still haven't gotten a chance to call my mom and talk to her for a little while or figure out which physical therapist will work for my elbow issues. And I need to go to the gym/clear off a space in the living room to do yoga. I might be able to work the classes in this week with my work schedule, as I think I am off from the store on Monday and Wednesday. It's worth a try, anyway.

I found out today that one of the women I really like at work is going to be moving to another state soon. It sounds like a great opportunity for her family, it isn't too far away, but still, I'm going to miss her. She's the main person I eat lunch with these days (the others tend to eat outside, and I don't care to be out in the sun, since I burn so easily and am on some medication sometimes that makes that more likely). She's actually expressed interest in how the role-playing game works and I've told her a little bit about what's happening here and there and about my characters (without geeking out on her too badly, I might add).

Well, I think I'll update on Twitter and then head to bed. A friend will be calling me at 3 am for a ride, and tomorrow I work 10-6. I need to work on notes badly tomorrow, but there's also the grand 2-hour finale of 'Avatar: The Last Air Bender' on television, and I'd like to see it.

(Okay, so I couldn't stay on...I had to post this later.)

Saturday the 19th

Yay! We went to pre-pay! Okay, so no one told me until noon, so I was happily pre-authorising pumps for two hours before I found out. This means I have had no drive-offs for July and WON'T EVER AGAIN. Woo-hoo. Of course, it was rather stressful because several people bitched about it and threatened to never darken our door again. Good luck on finding a gas station in this area that isn’t pre-pay. We were one of the last to go.

Avatar was excellent by the way. I'm slowing getting a friend all the DVDs so we can watch them. I just haven't had much money to do so lately.

Sunday the 20th

No game today, but I did all the preparations for it plus a few other projects. I got home around seven, took a three-hour nap, and then got up at ten to do some things (I’d gotten up before 7 am, so I was a little tired.) I need to clear a space in my living room floor for yoga (I have some boxes of books and such. I’m not sure where to put them. Maybe the bedroom closet? I’ll have to check.)

Monday the 21st

A little white spider rode to work with me this morning. Sometimes spiders seem to be messengers from the Gods (particularly my own Patroness, Hekate), but I didn't get a clear sense of a warning or other message.

One more chapter of the Lumley book to go.

Tuesday the 22nd

A very long day, working from 10 am-10 pm between both jobs. The prepay thing has made things much easier. After work I went over to my friend's and we finished Necroscope. The idea is to read the whole series. I enjoyed it thoroughly, although I may need to go back over the last chapter because I was falling asleep as I read, and he did too--not because it was boring, but because we were both so tired (well, and we're kind of geared to fall asleep when read to).

Today

I still feel tired. I got about 6 hours of sleep, but I need more. Today I don't work at the store, but I do have my first session of physical therapy for my elbow, which should be interesting.

Speaking of religion

Here is Graham's (somegreybloke) latest video post:
'Choosing My Religion 2'


I love the Jesus-headed pigeon with God's thunderbolt. :) What can I say, you have to watch. My favourite line, 'It depends if you favour the words of Jesus or the words of Paul. Most Christians seem to go with the latter. Which is odd, because you would think Jesus would outrank Paul. Apparently not.'

Cool

An Altar Beyond Olympus for a Deity Predating Zeus

This is so me

I try to go to the gym, but I can't find the time. Thanks YKWIA for finding these.

'Gym Membership' by Graham (somegreybloke)


I also like these as well'
'RE: Jesus Loves You' by Graham (somegreybloke)


'Choosing my religion' by Graham (somegreybloke)

Sorry I didn't post last night

I'd thrown up rather awfully out of the side of my car whilst picking up some friends (who quickly moved to the back seat and called for Lysol) and went home and slept to let the dizziness to subside. I wasn't sick with a virus. It seems to have been either 1) emotional, 2) I ate something bad 3) my period or 4) some combination of the above. I also managed to blow a blood vessel in my eye, which is now quite red.

Is it just me or am I becoming more of a danger to myself lately?

PS Burritos not as good coming up as they are down. Fortunately I had a couple tonight that seem to be sitting better on my stomach.

Today I didn't really dress up for Halloween beyond wearing black, but when trick-or-treating started at work (the kids come 'round the offices, which have candy for them, all coordinated by the rec therapy folks), someone let me borrow a Jason masque and I put the hood of my jacket up and apparently was suitably scary. Of course, I had to go without my glasses to wear the plastic masque, so I had to be a little careful when putting the candy into sacks and pumpkins. It was great fun. :)

Second work was uneventful except for some malfunctioning pumps that those affected handled with great aplomb, for which I'm grateful, as all I could really do is refer them to the manager and bag the pump so no one else could use it.

Tonight I finished up my notes for the month and then got some meds from the pharmacy, came home, and then I gave a pomegranate as offering to Hekate along with some mead, a departure from the regular honeyed burgundy, since tonight is a special night. Although She is considered a Graeco-Roman Goddess and She is my Patroness by mutual choice, my heritage is primarily Celtic. We've worked it out over the years. So even though the year dies and is reborn in Celtic tradition tonight, rather than at the various times found in the Greek or Roman world, I worship Her tonight on Samhain a little differently than I do all other nights. Besides, she's not really Greek, but older than that, some say Karian, or Thessalian, but She is associated with wild magic and death, both associated with Halloween. All I know is that She has made a wonderful difference in my life, and so tonight I thanked Her for the blessings of the last year and entreated fortune for the coming one.

In my office is a line drawing of Hekate, with the following Orphic hymn's translation:

I praise lovely
three-formed Hekate Enodia,
saffron-veiled,
of Sky, Earth, and Sea,
who celebrates
Bacchanalia at the tomb
with the souls of the dead,
Daughter of Perses,
Lover of solitude,
honored with cakes,
Nocturnal One,
Protector of dogs,
Invincible Sovereign,
heralded by the roar of wild beasts...
Keybearing Queen of the whole Cosmos.

A shame

African Evangelists Destroy Artifacts

It's the more recently converted Pentecostals whose intolerance is leading to the destruction of African art and cultural items for the most part, rather than the more tolerant Catholics and Anglicans who have been established for some time. As much as I would hate to have Nigeria's past looted, it might be better for these items to be preserved by museums and private collectors (many no doubt from outside Africa) than to be burnt and otherwise destroyed.

Okay, this is stupid and wrong

Religious books taken off prison library shelves:
Federal directive is intended to prevent inmates from reading radical materials.

Thanks to YKWIA for the link

A couple of quizzes

You Are A Lily

You are a nurturer and all around natural therapist. People see you as their rock. And they are able to depend on you. You are a soothing influence. You can make people feel better with a few words. Your caring has more of an impact than even you realize.

What Flower Are You?

The Keys to Your Heart

You are attracted to those who are unbridled, untrammeled, and free. In love, you feel the most alive when your lover is creative and never lets you feel bored. You'd like to your lover to think you are flexible and ready for anything! You would be forced to break up with someone who was ruthless, cold-blooded, and sarcastic. Your ideal relationship is open. Both of you can talk about everything... no secrets. Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment. You think of marriage as something precious. You'll treasure marriage and treat it as sacred. In this moment, you think of love as something you can get or discard anytime. You're feeling self centered.

What Are The Keys To Your Heart?

Today was a little weird at work. We had underage teens asking for a local strip club so they could pray outside it. We went through many newspapers, almost all of our ice, and lots of beer in preparation for the Kentucky Derby (sort of like our Mardi Gras, except everyone parties hard and then the actual event is over in like 2 minutes). The woman who was supposed to relieve me didn't come in at all, even though her husband said she had left. I waited around over 30 minutes, and finally decided I needed to go. The assistant manager was coming in a couple of hours to close instead. I don't get it. I'm a little afraid my co-worker may have had an accident or something; it's not like her to be no call, no show.

I worked a couple of hours on the notes and took a friend into work, then helped another with a project or two. I went to go out and do my religious obligations, but I can't for the life of me find my wine (which I had, really). I can't buy any more this late or at all on Sunday, so I couldn't do the traditional offering of honeyed wine. Instead I did honey, with a promise of more wine as soon as I can get some. I changed the place where I do the libation; out back near our back porch a family of snakes lives. Earlier today there was one basking in the rain (yeah, I know, it sounds weird) with its head up tasting the air. It seemed appropriate to give a Cthonian offering near a den of snakes. I think She liked the new arrangement.

That's all for now. Good night.