Procrastination Sensation of a Proud Deist
I've really stopped using this in favor of the MySpace blog, but today I figured, "What the hell, I'll go out on a theological loop on here this time".
So, the Marine Corps-run Toys for Tots turned down talking Jesus dolls, and now the religious right's a bit ticked over the refusal of these (ridiculous, to begin with) "action figures". I doubt he even has kung-fu grip. Personally, I don't really care so much about the insensitivity of the gift (though that is a concern) as much as it's the fact that, I mean, c'mon, when you were eight, did you want the Mouthy Messiah doll or the sweet-ass Nerf gun that shot thow little yellow foam balls? That's right, you know you wanted that Nerf gun.
The Original Article
Responses on Free Republic
And this, my friends, is why I distanced myself from the Republican party awhile back. Now you may be wondering when I fell into the spotlight, losing my religion (to quote a little Michael Stipe, even though he's a bit of a douche), but my pessimistic side finally got the better of me and began to question dogma that gets hurled left-and-right and, quite frankly, gets a little old after awhile.
This is why I love David Hume:
And is it possible, Cleanthes, said Philo, that after all these reflections, and infinitely more, which might be suggested, you can still persevere in your Anthropomorphism, and assert the moral attributes of the Deity, his justice, benevolence, mercy, and rectitude, to be of the same nature with these virtues in human creatures? His power we allow is infinite: whatever he wills is executed: but neither man nor any other animal is happy: therefore he does not will their happiness. His wisdom is infinite: he is never mistaken in choosing the means to any end: but the course of Nature tends not to human or animal felicity: therefore it is not established for that purpose. Through the whole compass of human knowledge, there are no inferences more certain and infallible than these. In what respect, then, do his benevolence and mercy resemble the benevolence and mercy of men?
Epicurus's old questions [see here] are yet unanswered.
Is he willing to prevent evil, but not able? then is he impotent. Is he able, but not willing? then is he malevolent. Is he both able and willing? whence then is evil?
You ascribe, Cleanthes (and I believe justly), a purpose and intention to Nature. But what, I beseech you, is the object of that curious artifice and machinery, which she has displayed in all animals? The preservation alone of individuals, and propagation of the species. It seems enough for her purpose, if such a rank be barely upheld in the universe, without any care or concern for the happiness of the members that compose it. No resource for this purpose: no machinery, in order merely to give pleasure or ease: no fund of pure joy and contentment: no indulgence, without some want or necessity accompanying it. At least, the few phenomena of this nature are overbalanced by opposite phenomena of still greater importance.
And I should clarify that I don't hate Jesus; if anything, quite the opposite. Like Nietzsche I find many, many commendable qualities in the man that go above and beyond basic standard of humanity. It's just the sheep-like individuals who flock to be his "followers" (pun intended) without using any sense of rationality or, as it seems, a grip on reality that tend to bug the piss out of me (and personally, I never really got the whole "sheep" thing in Christianity; it detracts from the idea of us having free will by settling on something even lower than determinism).
So, the Marine Corps-run Toys for Tots turned down talking Jesus dolls, and now the religious right's a bit ticked over the refusal of these (ridiculous, to begin with) "action figures". I doubt he even has kung-fu grip. Personally, I don't really care so much about the insensitivity of the gift (though that is a concern) as much as it's the fact that, I mean, c'mon, when you were eight, did you want the Mouthy Messiah doll or the sweet-ass Nerf gun that shot thow little yellow foam balls? That's right, you know you wanted that Nerf gun.
The Original Article
Responses on Free Republic
And this, my friends, is why I distanced myself from the Republican party awhile back. Now you may be wondering when I fell into the spotlight, losing my religion (to quote a little Michael Stipe, even though he's a bit of a douche), but my pessimistic side finally got the better of me and began to question dogma that gets hurled left-and-right and, quite frankly, gets a little old after awhile.
This is why I love David Hume:
And is it possible, Cleanthes, said Philo, that after all these reflections, and infinitely more, which might be suggested, you can still persevere in your Anthropomorphism, and assert the moral attributes of the Deity, his justice, benevolence, mercy, and rectitude, to be of the same nature with these virtues in human creatures? His power we allow is infinite: whatever he wills is executed: but neither man nor any other animal is happy: therefore he does not will their happiness. His wisdom is infinite: he is never mistaken in choosing the means to any end: but the course of Nature tends not to human or animal felicity: therefore it is not established for that purpose. Through the whole compass of human knowledge, there are no inferences more certain and infallible than these. In what respect, then, do his benevolence and mercy resemble the benevolence and mercy of men?
Epicurus's old questions [see here] are yet unanswered.
Is he willing to prevent evil, but not able? then is he impotent. Is he able, but not willing? then is he malevolent. Is he both able and willing? whence then is evil?
You ascribe, Cleanthes (and I believe justly), a purpose and intention to Nature. But what, I beseech you, is the object of that curious artifice and machinery, which she has displayed in all animals? The preservation alone of individuals, and propagation of the species. It seems enough for her purpose, if such a rank be barely upheld in the universe, without any care or concern for the happiness of the members that compose it. No resource for this purpose: no machinery, in order merely to give pleasure or ease: no fund of pure joy and contentment: no indulgence, without some want or necessity accompanying it. At least, the few phenomena of this nature are overbalanced by opposite phenomena of still greater importance.
And I should clarify that I don't hate Jesus; if anything, quite the opposite. Like Nietzsche I find many, many commendable qualities in the man that go above and beyond basic standard of humanity. It's just the sheep-like individuals who flock to be his "followers" (pun intended) without using any sense of rationality or, as it seems, a grip on reality that tend to bug the piss out of me (and personally, I never really got the whole "sheep" thing in Christianity; it detracts from the idea of us having free will by settling on something even lower than determinism).