Some Quotes

1.   “Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.” – Gandhi

2.   “The Roots of Violence: Wealth without work, Pleasure without conscience, Knowledge without character, Commerce without morality, Science without humanity, Worship without sacrifice, Politics without principles." – Gandhi

3.   “I believe in the fundamental truth of all great religions of the world.” – Gandhi

4.   “There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.” – Gandhi

5.   “I came to the conclusion long ago that all religions were true and that also that all had some error in them, and while I hold by my own religion, I should hold other religions as dear as Hinduism. So we can only pray, if we were Hindus, not that a Christian should become a Hindu; but our innermost prayer should be that a Hindu should become a better Hindu, a Muslim a better Muslim, and a Christian a better Christian.” – Gandhi

6.   “Prayer is not an old woman's idle amusement. Properly understood and applied, it is the most potent instrument of action.” – Gandhi

7.   “When every hope is gone, 'when helpers fail and comforts flee,' I find that help arrives somehow, from I know not where. Supplication, worship, prayer are no superstition; they are acts more real than the acts of eating, drinking, sitting or walking. It is no exaggeration to say that they alone are real, all else is unreal.” – Gandhi

8.   “My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.” – Abraham Lincoln

9.   “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” – C.S. Lewis

10.                “God allows us to experience the low points of life in order to teach us lessons that we could learn in no other way.” – C.S. Lewis

11.                “Science investigates; religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge, which is power; religion gives man wisdom, which is control. Science deals mainly with facts; religion deals mainly with values. The two are not rivals.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

12.                “The purpose of all the major religious traditions is not to construct big temples on the outside, but to create temples of goodness and compassion inside, in our hearts.” – Dali Lama XIV

13.                “It is not about doing what we feel like. It is about doing what God says.” – Joyce Myer

14.                “Men take care not to make women weep, for God counts their tears.” – Tomas S. Manson

15.                “For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible.”- Stewart Chase

16.                “Don’t tell me about your god with your words. Show me about your god with your actions.” – Steve Maraboli

17.                “God not only loves the obedient - He enlightens them.” – Henry B. Eyring

18.                 “Oh what I would do to have the kind of faith it takes to come out of this boat I’m in, onto the crashing waves… to step out of my comfort zone, into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is and He’s holding out his hand. But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me, reminding me of all the times I’ve tried before and failed; but the voice of truth tells me a different story, the voice of truth says “do not be afraid” and the voice of truth says this is for my glory. I will listen and believe the voice of truth. – Casting Crowns

19.                “I know God won't give me anything I can't handle. I just wish he didn't trust me so much.” – Mother Teresa

20.                “Christmas can be celebrated in the school room with pine trees, tinsel and reindeers, but there must be no mention of the man whose birthday is being celebrated. One wonders how a teacher would answer if a student asked why it was called Christmas.” – Ronald Regan

21.                “The way liberals are interpreting the First Amendment today is that it prevents anyone who is religious from being in government.” – Rush Limbaugh  

22.                “Christian, Jew, Muslim, shaman, Zoroastrian, stone, ground, mountain, river, each has a secret way of being with the mystery, unique and not to be judged” – Rumi

23.                “Tolerance becomes a crime when applied to evil.” – Tomas Mann

24.                “Tolerance isn't about not having beliefs. It's about how your beliefs lead you to treat people who disagree with you.” – Timothy Keller

25.                “This IV Pole is a Scooter, this bed is a racecar and these nurses are angels.” – Matthew Ethridge

My Top 10 LEAST Favorite Pro-Life Arguments

1. Bad: "Abortion is Murder"- actually murder by definition is illegal so as long as abortion remains legal it is not murder.

   Better: It's the end of the life of a full separate and unique human being and is morally comparable to murder. Then you start hitting them with the facts about early development and go through explaining to them why it is a life.

2. Bad: "Women who get abortions are irresponsable" Thats a cruel generalization for one thing and while it may indeed be true of some it's not all.
    Better: Many of those seeking abortion had the chance to prevent pregnancy and didn't when they should have.

3: Bad: "God hates abortion" In general faith-based arguments (if they are to work) need to be audience specific. In a Christian context you always want to use the specific passages that support the idea that God upholds unborn life. (Isaiah 46, Jerimiah 1, Psalm 139, 1Timothy 4) In the case of other theologies the key is to appeal to the contradictions that almost always exist between abortion, and a given religion's moral precepts.

4. Bad: "Abortion is bad because society is missing out on all the people who have been aborted" That's correct, we are. But it's a bad argument becuase it opens a whole can of worms host of other arguments from the pro-choice side, things like overpopulation and how horrible it can be to be an unwanted child.
    Better: No human being is worth more than another so making life and death decisions about the lives of those who can't yet speak up for themselves is a bad idea in general.

5. Bad: "Abortion is bad for the economy" I'm not even sure where this one came from but the basic idea is that if most of the people who have been aborted since 1973 were alive and working social security in the US would not have failed. That might be accurate and reasonable but I don't like it for two reasons, 1 it totally disregards the morality of the issue and I don't find it appropriate to do that in an ethical debate, and 2 it's country specific and Abortion isn't just wrong in the US, it's wrong everywhere.
    Better: If you're going to use it I'd reccomend using the gap in the workforce and the problems it's causing to help refute the over population argument.

6. Bad: "Overpopulation is a non-issue" It is an issue but if we (we being those living in the more prosperous developed areas of the world) stopped over consuming everything and taking so much more than what we actually need, hunger and poverty and diseases that we've rid our societies of could end in other parts of the world. Instead of calling it a non-issue try refuting the pro-choice argument that abortion is ok because of overpopulation by explaining that overconsumption is the real problem and bring up prevention of pregnancy verses ending a pregnancy.

7. Bad: "How would you like to have been aborted?" this one will get you nowhere mainly because most pro-choice people are pro-choice partly because fetal personhood doesn't compute with them. therefore the typical reply you can expect using this argument is that they wouldn't know or care.

8. Bad: "What if you aborted the next Albert Einstein?" Or the Hitlers and Stalins, and Lenins, and Gengas Khans and every other historical tyrant/murderer

9. General inconsistancies like abortion is wrong yet supporting war the death penalty... you get the idea

10. Bad: "Planned Parenthood is evil" they are the largest providers of elective abortion in the US and I'm inclined to agree with that statement because of that but they also provide actual healthcare the resources for which would need to be replaced. It is true that the founder of PP was a racist and had eugenist ideas and tendancies but I don't know that it operates like that anymore (I hope not)

Letter to Proponents of Eugenics

I will give you the benefit of the doubt and write this on the assumption that you genuinely believe that the human race can be made stronger by aborting fetuses with birth defects and genetic conditions or that another plague wiping out all those with weak immune systems wouldn’t be such a bad thing because it would make the species as a whole more resilient and control the population.

But to be blatantly honest, that kind of emotionless, cold disregard for the value of each and every human life disgusts me on a very deep level. I myself was born with not 1 but 3 Congenital Heart Defects. I know what it’s like to lay in a hospital bed and wonder why mom won’t meet your eyes and why there are tears in hers when she does. I know what it’s like to think you’re finally done with medicines and hospitals only to have a doctor order a test that could put yet another operation on your schedule. I have also known others with similar problems and stories; one of the implications of eugenics is that at best we don’t matter and at worst we’d be doing the world a favor by being gone. Does that sound right to ANYONE?

Also, let me explain something. There is a difference between congenital conditions and genetic conditions.

Congenital conditions occur during fetal development, most of the time certain cells just don’t follow the marching orders given by DNA or the fetus isn’t exposed to the correct hormones/vitamins or exposed to too much or too little of something, which can lead to any number of things. Congenital defects range in nature, severity, and prognosis as much as the children born with them do in personality, and many times where exactly a given defect or set of defects is located on that spectrum is not apparent until after the child is born. So is it fair to judge something like that with a blanket call for death?

I knew a boy who was born with not only a severe CHD but also a very dangerous immune deficiency. Sadly he died of infection at the age of 7 (God rest his soul), but I can guarantee you that no one who knew him would take back a day of those years for anything in this world.  

Also Congenital defects as I said are developmental mishaps, they don’t go gene deep and they can’t be genetically passed from parent to child. A person with a congenital condition has as much chance at having a healthy child as someone who was born completely healthy, which is about 14:1.

Genetic conditions such as Downs (Trisomy 21) or Hemophilia CAN be passed on, but any fetus can have a simultaneous genetic mutation that didn’t come from either parent. As many times during gestation as cells divide and the code is split and replicated I’d say it’s nothing short of a miracle that mutations like that don’t occur more often than they do. That’s just a risk everyone has to take when they go to have a baby.

The Separation of Church and State

Now I will say that history clearly shows us that when the Church and the State are combined both are corrupted and it's a bad situation for everyone.

By the same token it is my opinion that societies which are forcefully atheistic, such as China, North Korea, and the former Soviet Union, societies in which religion as a whole is largely banned, are just as bad for humanity.

Religion MUST be allowed in order for a healthy, free society to exist. I’m NOT saying that societies where very few people are religious are bad or can’t function, (though I can’t promise I’d like to live in one) but I am saying that faith in a higher power, and the philosophies and practices that go with that, should be left up to the individual person. So the question becomes what is the line that allows religion, but keeps the corruption of either institution at bay and ensures freedom for ALL faiths?

For one thing I don't think that line should be so far on the side of forced atheism as to only allow freedom of worship, outlawing practices and expressions of faith.

Because if that’s the case how can people of different faiths learn to respect each other if we are taught by law and society the subliminal message that faith in general is to be ashamed of and that we shouldn’t be open about that part of ourselves?

For another thing I think that idea is based on a small minded, petty, lack of understanding of what a religion is to the people that follow it.

For example, there is a ban on the hijab in public schools in France. It's supposedly to protect freedom of thought. But all it's really done is alienate the girls who wear it further from French society and show the French government as a bunch of Islamaphobes. Though it is technically a ban on “conspicuous religious symbols” and supposedly affects all, there is a distinction here. For Muslims, Orthodox Jews, and some Christians like myself, a headcovering is more than a “symbol”. The school administration can take a cross away without forcing a Christian to violate their faith, but to take a hijab off in the presence of boys who are not immediate family does force a Muslim girl to go against her faith; and given all the political anti-Muslim sentiment in most of western Europe when the law was put in place and really even now, I think it’s pretty safe to say that they are targeting one specific group here.  

But I really don’t think whether or not the person considers an expression of faith a mandatory precept of their beliefs should be the hinge-pin of whether to allow it or not in the first place.
For example if I was asked to remove my cross (and I was many time throughout high school) do I believe that I absolutely HAVE to wear it? No. But is it a reminder that I’m part of something bigger than myself? Yes. Is it a symbol of a big part of who I am? Yes. Am I insulted by being asked to remove/hide it? Oh yeah. Am I ticked off? You bet. Do I feel wanted? No. Do I feel respected as a human being? No.

I don’t think any employer or government should have the right to make a person feel those things whether it’s over a headscarf, a start of David, a Cross, a turban, Whatever the symbol is and whatever the belief is. America is a cultural, racial, and theological melting pot; in order for it to function peacefully we ALL have to grow up, throw out our petty prejudices and respect each other as fellow human beings.

We aren’t going to get there by hiding ourselves behind closed doors. That’s just a fact.

I hate to be a Disney nerd here but if it applies it applies.

“How can they respect my culture if they haven’t seen it?” – Pocahontas in Pocahontas 2 Journey to a New World

I also think that a World Religions class should be Required in all school districts in order to graduate high school. That’s not about indoctrination, that’s about gaining an understanding of beliefs other than your own in the hope that respect will follow and you Won’t be indoctrinated by the ignorance around you.

"Christian" Haters

*Note: this is NOT aimed at a generalized group of people or denomination but for the people off all denominations who fit the bill and at those who lump the rest of Christendom in with them

All I can say is that people who hate, who bully, who slander, and generalize entire groups of people, and then use the Lord Jesus Christ as their justification, do way more harm than good.

They are behaving like the Pharisees of Jesus’ time, (for those of you unfamiliar with the New Testament the Pharisees basically held to the letter of the Law of Moses and treated everyone who didn’t or who made a mistake like crap). Jesus never acted that way. In fact he hung out with tax collectors and gentiles, healed lepers who most people of the day wouldn’t even approach. He didn’t patronize them for lifestyles or behaviors he didn’t agree with, he simply taught them what they should do and moved on, leading by example more than anything else.

Christianity is rooted in God giving mankind a second chance, but no non-Christians or former Christians, or Christians who have given up are going to realize that they still have the opportunity to accept that second chance if they are judged and bullied and patronized for their past or their sexual orientation. Hatred is the opposite of Christ-like love, it doesn’t bring about change. It only breeds more hatred and damages the soul of the one who does it.

When someone sees someone and the other person is of a group that the first person has yet to encounter they become that person’s definition of that particular group. That means that as Christians, we are, literally Christ’s representatives in the world today. As his followers we need to act like it both for ourselves and so that we don’t corrupt his image in the minds of those who have never heard his word.

Matthew 5:14-16: “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

1Timothy 4:12: “Despised not thy youth but be thou an example of the Believers in word, in conduct, in Love, in Spirit, in Faith, in Purity.

Sadly some hatred is even encouraged by some Pastors, just watch a Televangelist on TV or check out the Westboro Baptist website. I hope people realize that these people are not actually following the bible. Check this out for example:

1Tmothy 1:5-11: “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm. But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.”

Modesty Continued

So yesterday we covered female modesty and today I’m going to take a look at three related topic in one.

Male Modesty

Modesty isn’t just for women, it’s men too. Male modesty should mean, basically be dressed and clean cut in public. Granted everything I say here is a matter of personal conscience about which I am giving the opinions and conclusions I have reached, but I don’t see a modest guy as somebody who goes around with a Mohawk bigger than their head with piercings all over the place or who looks like he stole his sister’s/girlfriend’s skinny jeans, or who constantly wanders around topless.

Respect Where You Are

The second point I’d like to go into is that, call me crazy but I really think that for those of us who are people of faith I think we need to raise the bar just a little bit when in comes to modest apparel in a house of worship.

Using myself as an example, on any old day, yeah sure you might see me in jeans and either a Chicago Bears Jersey with a long or three-quarter sleeved shirt underneath it or a hoodie of some sort. But when I’m going to liturgy, no way; those aren’t Sunday outfits, then it’s dress slacks and a blouse and/or sweater or leggings and a knee-length dress.

For guys I’d say go with slacks and a button-down shirt, lose the cargo shorts and anything with huge, obvious company labels on it.

Not just about clothes

Getting a way from all this clothes talk a little bit, modesty isn’t just about what a person wears, it’s also how they act. That doesn’t mean being a doormat. It means don’t be arrogant or obnoxious in public, don’t treat anyone like they’re “beneath you” and show the respect your current situation entails. Have a servant’s heart, that could be as simple as holding the door open for someone else, or offering to help when you see someone trying to carry something heavy, or comforting someone you even remotely know when you see that they’re upset.   

“Whosoever is first among you let him be your servant.” – The Gospel According to St. Matthew 20:27

Modesty and Headscarves, Oppression or Empowerment?

 As is hopefully made clear by my choice of profile icon, I am a Christian woman who wears a headscarf. This is very rare in the United States and the headscarf in general whether worn by Christians, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Baha’i, or Hindus often carries with it negative connotations in the western world. So I want to address a few of those.

I have found that most of the opposition to it stems from misconceptions rooted largely in ignorance and Islamophobia.

Misconception #1: “It’s a “Muslim Thing””

Answer: Actually it’s a cultural thing common to the Middle East as well as parts of Asia and Eastern Europe since way before Islam even came about. Devout Jewish women still often adopt the headscarf either starting on their wedding day or when they reach marrying age. The Blessed Virgin Mary is ALWAYS represented wearing a veil of some sort. Hindu, Sikh, and Baha’i women, wear them as well. So no, it’s not an exclusively “Muslim thing”.

Misconception #2: “It’s Oppressive to Women”

I would agree that it can be, if it’s forced. But the cultures and religions that encourage it have a different mindset about modesty in general than the modern, western, secular society. They see it as the protection and empowerment of women, because when our bodies are covered in fabric it is our minds and personalities that are left to be noticed. Physical beauty isn’t seen as a bad thing in these cultures, but rather a prize that is to be protected instead of flaunted.

Personally I would rather be celebrated for my intellect and kind heart than for my body and I firmly believe that ANYONE who comes to that same conclusion should be able to take that stance as far as she sees fit.

Let’s face it ladies, any potential dating material who would rather stare at our breasts than meet our eyes and engage us as equals in intelligent conversation isn’t worth our time. To me that’s what’s oppressive and patronizing; that we live in a society that tells young men that that’s ok and tells us that such treatment is par for the course and even to be desired.

Misconception #3: “There’s nothing about it in the Bible”

One day I’ll do a whole entry on this as its own topic but I just have to facepalm when I see and hear comments made by other Christians claiming that the bible either doesn’t say something that it does or does say something that it doesn't either because it suits their point or because they’re just repeating what their pastor said and have never actually read it for themselves.

“In Like manner also, that the woman adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but which is proper for women professing godliness with good works” (1Timothy 2:9-10 NKJV)

“But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for it is one and the same as if her head were shaved.” (1Corinthians 11:5 NKJV)

That’s about as clear as it gets don’t you think?

In the Orthodox Church modesty is required within church doors, generally that amounts to nothing low cut or sleeveless and no shorts or short skirts shorter than knee length. Dresses are not required for women but are still quite common for Holy Liturgies.

Head coverings are encouraged out of respect for God but are not required unless there are monks or bishops present. (Deacons and priests can be married as long as they are wed prior to ordination but monks and bishops have taken a vow of celibacy). This is out of respect for the vow these men have taken.

Though it is common in societies that are traditionally of an Orthodox majority for women to wear a headscarf full time out of piety and respect for God and themselves, this is the path I have taken.

Misconception #4: “From the biblical standard women shouldn’t wear pants at all”

The verse those of this view are referring to is Deuteronomy 22:5 which states: “A woman shall not wear a man’s clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman’s clothing, for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God.”

That did used to mean dresses only back when that was all women wore, but that’s not the case these days. In modern times I’d refrain from applying this to anything less than drag queens. In the 21^st century wearing pants doesn’t make a girl a cross dresser.

My Thoughts on Homosexuality

Gay-Marriage is perhaps one of the most confusing and emotionally charged issues for Christians to wrestle with in modern times. Many gay, lesbian, and bisexual Christians have been so judged by their families and church communities as to hate themselves for something they cannot help and yet believe makes their existence an abomination before God. Still others believe they can be gay and Christian without being in conflict with themselves; for some this means living an open and practicing homosexual lifestyle, and for others this means a vow of celibacy not unlike those taken and lived out by Roman Catholic and Orthodox nuns and monks or actively trying to find someone of the opposite sex to spend their life with. The truth is that only six passages are traditionally used to condemn homosexuality, but do these passages condemn the passions themselves or the action of engaging in homosexual behavior, and do Jesus’ teachings about compassion for ones fellow man apply when there is reason to suspect that the other person has violated the laws of God?
The first place in the bible where homosexuality is condemned is in the nineteenth chapter of the book of Genesis: “Thus they called to Lot and said to him “Where are the men who came tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them.” But Lot went out to them and said, “By no means my brethren, do not act wickedly.” (Gen. 19:5-7). In this scene from the infamous story of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot is protecting a group of outsiders in his home. Based on what the men who were from town said it is clear that they wanted to gay-rape these visitors. What is interesting here is that a careful reading of the text suggests that it is the action that these men are trying to take, and not the passions that make them want to do so, that is the sin. The text, at least in this passage, does not say that it is wicked to be homosexual but that it is wicked to carry out the act  of homosexual relations.

The next passage used to condemn homosexuality is in the eighteenth chapter of Leviticus. “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.” (Lev. 18:22). Again the act of homosexual relations is condemned, more explicitly this time, but the passions that lead to the action are never even mentioned let alone condemned unless they are acted upon. Leviticus goes on later to outline what is to be done with those who commit homosexual actions. “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both have committed an abomination. They shall be put to death for they are guilty” (Lev. 20:13). Yet again there is only condemnation of the action. The language used in this verse is almost as if to stress that it is the action alone which is condemned. “Both have committed an abomination” is not the same as saying that they are abominations.

Now for the next passage one must jump to the New Testament book of Romans, which has this to say on the subject.

“For this reason they were given up unto uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the creator who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason were they were given unto vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.”  (Romans 1:24-27)

In this passage the writer, almost certainly the apostle Paul, references the natural relationship between a man and a woman that God established way back in the days of Adam and Eve. He suggests here that deviating from that natural order, as God ordained it to be, is in essence saying that man is more important than God and that it is therefore blasphemy against God. The passions that lead to these acts are mentioned here for the first time but again it is not they that is condemned but the acts they cause and letting the passions gain control and make the individuals sin.

The Apostle Paul mentions homosexuality again in his first letter to the church at Corinth.

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortionists will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” (1Cor. 6:9-11)

Of the six passages traditionally used to condemn homosexuality this is the first and only one, which at face value, seems to condemn the people themselves. However the text here lists homosexuality as one of a whole list of sins which make one unrighteous and every single one of the other sins mentioned is one of action. As a result of this and in combining this passage with the other five, it can be inferred that it is still the action that is being condemned here. It is also worth pointing out that the word, which is translated here as homosexuality is used in the original Greek as a more general term for sexual sin of any kind, not necessarily just homosexuality 

The sixth and final passage said to condemn homosexuality does not actually mention it at all. Instead it reiterates the list of sins from 1Corinthians but leaves some out and makes a more general statement that implies the others.

“Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm. But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.” (1Timothy 1:5-11).

 Now it becomes a question of how should Christians react to homosexuals? As of yet no proponents of Gay-marriage have suggested that various opposing church groups be forced to accept it, that is a commonly held misconception floated by perhaps overly defensive ministers. The judgment and hatred exhibited by some groups, most viciously and most famously by the Westboro Baptist Church who are well known for protesting the funerals of fallen armed forces members due to America’s toleration of homosexuality is completely contradictory to Jesus’s teaching about how to treat other people. This is exhibited clearly by Jesus’s sermons in the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Mt. 5:14-16) Here Jesus states essentially that Christians must be held to a higher standard of morality because they have knowledge of a greater morality than that which is provided by the laws of men including their treatment of others.

After thorough examination of the passages in question it is made clear that the Holy Bible does speak against homosexuality, but in the sense of actions. All are tempted and tried at some point during their lives and the passages that come into question here are not meant to say that some people are evil or ungodly, at least not more so than others, because of some aspect of their being. Rather, the message is to not allow ones temptations to control them but instead cling to the commandments and one’s moral conscience and let them guide their actions.

As Christian Writer Molly Sabourin once said:

“Who of us dare to sit idle with our assurances, interpreting the conditions of the bridegroom’s invitation while our lamps for illuminating the darkness run out of oil? My individual salvation is being worked out with fear and trembling through the unique responsibilities God deemed best to set before me…I am careful to not assume I have a handle on the spiritual state of others, I would do best rather, to stay focused on my own flagrant shortcomings, reverencing both friends and enemies as living icons of Christ Jesus.”

To conclude, though it is human nature to do otherwise, what would be best for humanity and what the biblical text states that God demands of us, is to abandon the fear and hatred born of ignorance and not take God’s words out of proportion. Man is not God and everyone on this planet who is of an age of awareness has their own sins, since none but Jesus has ever lived and died without sin, at least of those who lived long enough to make such judgments, it is not for man to judge the nature of another man, that is the place of God alone.

While I do not support the ability of homosexual couples to wed in a house of God I believe firmly that marriage in the eyes of the state is another matter entirely and so long as no one else is harmed in any way, each person's lifestyle and decisions are between them and God and that hatred, bullying, harassment, and violence suffered by some homosexuals at the hands of people who profess to be my brothers and sisters in Christ, is inarguably and fundamentally wrong, as such treatment of any human being will ever be wrong.

What is an Orthodox Christian?

The Orthodox Church, is the original form of organized Christian religion and was founded at Pentecost (the moment when the apostles first received the Holy Ghost approximately 10 days after Jesus ascended into Heaven) in 33AD.

"When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord^[a] in one place. ² And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts 2:1-4

 For the first few hundred years Christianity was oppressed, we were forced to fly under the radar for our own survival. In fact the first churches were in caves, not the free standing marvels of architecture we see around the world today. 

Once the Emperor Constantine was converted, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire.

Originally there were 5 patriarchates, or hubs of Christianity, they were Antioch, Rome, Alexandria, Jerusalem, and Constantinople. The patriarchates were one in doctrine and morality and stood unified for over 1000 years. Then in 1054 Pope Leo IX declared himself  the infallible and universal head of the Church, an authority that up to this point had never been claimed by a mortal man. This, among other issues, tore the church apart. Leo excommunicated the patriarch of Constantinople for refusing to go along with this and other heresies and was excommunicated by him in response. Though I personally think that Leo expected the other 3 patriarchs to follow Rome (which would explain why Roman Catholics think that we split off from them) they did not and Rome was on its own from that day forward. Those who remained in communion with the other 4 patriarchates came to call themselves Orthodox.

The word Orthodox literally means "Right Glory" though it can also be translated as "Right Belief". I prefer the "Right Glory" translation when discussing Orthodox Christianity because when one uses the "Right Belief" translation there is another word that goes right along with it; Orthopraxy, literally meaning "Right Practice" or "Right action" and Orthodox Christianity asks both of mankind. "Right Glory" is both Right Belief and Right Action.

To be an Orthodox Christian, one must live in the world but not be so sucked in as to be of the world. One must base their opinions on scripture, justice, and the peace of their own conscience; not societal norms and ideals or political loyalties. It is to not judge a neighbor but instead try to understand them, to lead by example instead of coercion and force, and fight sins within ourselves first, fight the situations driving our neighbors into sin next, and to walk upright in righteous, humble, grace where others do not. To do as Christ did, to fight sin and injustice with peace and righteous influence all of your days.

Let's Get Started

I want to start things off by explaining a bit about the purpose of this blog... so here it goes...

Ever since I was a little girl I have been both an intellectual, a curious spirit with a hunger to know things and understand everything I could about the world, and a person of deep spirituality. Therefore the subjects of history, philosophy, and theology, as well as the biological sciences have always been of deep facination for me. But the more I learned, and in particular the more people I saw and interacted with, I noticed a disturbing trend.

Although in general humans seek the same thing, that is a connection with the trancendant reality which exists beyond merely the physical, the landscape of ideas and schools of thought which stive to understand and give people access to that trancendance is one frought with ignorance, strife, confusion, fear and hatred.

My own spiritual background is characterized most of all by openness. I was raised in an essentially non-practicing Methodist household but always permitted and even encouraged to explore other spiritual ideas. Even though my parents are creationist christians, they never tried to stifle my interest in science. I was raised largely on a duality of the biblical cartoon series "Greatest Stories Ever Told" and "Veggie Tales" AND "Bill Nye the Science Guy", "Magic School Bus" as well as programming on the History, Discovery, and National Geographic Channels.

I will go into what prompted me to leave Methodist Protestantism at a later date but I now Identify as an Orthodox Christian who also draws wisdom from Buddhism, Daoism and Islam. My hope for this blog is to explain exactly what that means, how that effects my attitudes about society and social/political matters, and hopefully strike down the hatred, hurried judgements, and ignorance I see so often both on the internet and society at large