The general Protestantism of the culture (whether you're atheist or whatever, you're still essentially Protestant if you drink deep of it) is perhaps nowhere more visible than in its marketing: At Valspar, we believe there is power in color. I believe in keeping guns out of our inner cities... (the President) I believe we're all equal... Belief, statements of belief, belief systems are … [Read more...]

Today on NPR, they read Anne Boleyn's last letter to Henry VIII, on the anniversary of her arrest. I think if I had been Henry's successor, and were I a Western Christian, I would have first restored the Church to Rome, and then ordered Henry's body exhumed, beheaded, burned, and the ashes cast into the sea. And lastly, I would have asked the rightful Patriarch in the Church of Rome to pronounce … [Read more...]

Revisiting an old hymn from my Anglican days, "Be Thou My Vision", I find it full of depth and meaning. But I realized that it uses some of the special language that grow from all religions, and that all cultures, tribes, and lovers develop, and it won't mean much to a lot of people. I'm fine with that. It's not for them, it's for us. But as I go through the coffee shop today, I hear the continual … [Read more...]

I don't take the census of what people think where I live about koran burning. I fully expect to hear "Awl bern one them KO-rans rat now." But I've tried to think of what one could do to fundamentalist neoconservatism that would have the same impact. Not because I'd advocate it - that would make me an idiot as well. But because if you needed to convey how it would feel to people who possess no … [Read more...]

It's Thistle & Shamrock night, and Folk Salad night. I'm always surprised that people seem surprised, sometimes, because I listen to Celtic or Appalachian folk. Likewise, I have a straw hat I wore when I ran a company based on working outdoors. Normally I come off as either a bit Breaking Benjamin or just Wagner, though my secret passion is lesbian music. I'm a diehard Sarah Maclachlan fan, … [Read more...]

When some people ask about my religion and, and I mention our traditions, they express surprise because I wasn't raised in it. Their point is that, if you didn't grow up in the Faith, speaking of "my people" or "our tradition" seems false or contrived. It has taken me some years to realize that, because they are inundated with fundamentalist 'messages' from every megaphone the world offers, they … [Read more...]

I've always thought atheists should be consistent. Don't bow your head when someone says grace. Don't close your eyes and pretend to go along. Don't go through the motions in your parents' church. Just be what you are. It's really impossible for atheism to be fully consistent - nihilism is the theoretical outcome, but if implemented, they would simply make arbitrary decisions. To step in front of … [Read more...]

Every movement driven by ideology of any kind will eventually massacre, maim, murder, torture, and terrorize in the name of its ideals, if it can get the means, acquire enough support, and evade eradication. It could be a movement for peace and lollipops led by Bambi and Mother Theresa, and it would shoot your family in the back of the head to hold onto power if it ever even accidentally got … [Read more...]