There's one question that flitters through my head every time I see the Danish cartoon protesters: Where do they get the flags they burn?
Well Slate has the answer. They make them, or buy them at, I shit you not, the PLO Flag Shop.
It's not because of the views on religion, or the issues, or even Intelligent Design. No, I'm calling them stupid because they are pressuring to NBC affiliates not to air "The Book of Daniel." It's this new show with Aiden Quinn as an Episcopal priest with a disfunctional family. He also talks to Jesus, and Jesus talks back. Groups like James Dobson's Focus on the Family are against it because it portrays Jesus in a less than Christ-like manner. They've even managed to get two stations to drop the show.
Now, I'm disputing their claims. I agree that the project tends to de-Jesufy Jesus. However, I also think the project looks like it's going to suck. Go watch the trailer if you don't believe me (it's linked from the main page.) So it should get terrible ratings right? Not if news outlets are reporting that Christians are boycotting. Now everyone wants to see what the big deal is about.
In short, Religious Right, if you truly want this show to go away, Shut the hell up!
I've had it up to here with the whole "Happy Holidays" versus "Merry Christmas" debate. I was at Church earlier tonight, and the Monsignor admonished us not the leave Jesus out of the holiday. While I have my issues and disagreements with the Church, I had a lot more respect for them, than to believe that they would get sucked into this stupid issue.
It is a stupid issue, because zealots on both sides of the argument seem to miss the point. At this time of the year we are more charitable, more caring, and more generous to others. The point of offering any sort of seasons greeting is to extend that elevated humanity to others. To offer any sort of well-wish as weapon or to push your views on another person makes your charitable offering crap before it leaves your mouth.
For most people, to offer someone "Happy Holidays" is to say "I want to offer you well wishes but I'm not sure what holiday you celebrate." It may also mean "I don't really care but I am offering you platitudes." It doesn't mean "I hate the baby Jesus."
On the other hand, most people that say "Merry Christmas," are saying "I want to offer you well wishes and I celebrate Christmas." It may too mean "I don't really care but I am offering you platitudes." It doesn't mean "I hope the baby Jesus devours you and your heathen children."
My rule on the matter, is that if you really want to extend well wishes to people offer the well wishes that they want to receive. If you encounter a someone you know is Christian, say "Merry Christmas." If you encounter a person you know is Jewish say "Happy Chanukah." If you encounter someone you know worships the Flying Spaghetti Monster, ask them where their pirate costume is.
If you don't know, remember that "Happy Holidays" means "I don't know what you celebrate, but I wish you well!"
And for the record, I am Catholic, which means according to me, I'm Christian, (according to others, I'm a "so-called Christian.") I respond to "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays," and I will just be happy that in this craptastic world someone wishes me well... or is at least offering platitudes.
Of late I find my thoughts turning to a form of ritualistic abuse steeped in tradition. A situation where more experienced people have power over those with less experience or knowledge. I think often people haze those they have power over because they went through it themselves so they will make other suffer.
I am talking about marriage, of course.
It seems like everybody involved with the process seems to be out to make it difficult for us. The Church is making Janice get confirmed, despite the fact that I'm pretty sure it's not sacramentally required. They wouldn't even discuss it with us. Wedding vendors love to use F.U.D. on us. My family is causing me issues over the invitations. That's right, I've lost precious hours of my life to multiple, lengthy family conferences over FUCKING INVITATIONS! People that were months ago repeatedly pressuring me to propose, and cajoling me fore taking my time are now asking me if I've really thought this thing through.
In the next few months, I have more fights ahead of me, over shit I don't care about. I get to have the Catholic Church teach me (again) about the Rhythm Method er... Natural Family Planning. I'm sure my family will be angered by the centerpieces, or a food choice or something.
I know everyone go through this, and I don't have a larger point here, I just wanted to vent... And of course to point out that Janice is worth it. But eloping sounds better every day.
Slate has this interesting piece about parishoners holding hands in the Catholic Mass.
Finally an issue with which I agree with the traditionalists. Hand-holding smacks of the Post-Vatican II mistakes like tamborines, and lay teachers with bowl cuts. Don't get me wrong, I think most of Vatican II was a good thing. I just don't like the hippy influences on the church.
I'm a Catholic living in Philadelphia. I can't help but have an opinion on the new revelations of Church involvement with sex scandals. Let's get the disclaimers out of the way. I have never been abused. I have met one abusive priest. (Long before the allegations came to light.) I know many more priests who are or were decent, true, and noble men. I am going to explore the reasons behind the coverup in this post. While I am seeking an understanding of the cover-up, I'm not looking for anything to condone it, because I don't. I just want to understand why the cover up happened in so many places. Finally, let me make it clear, I may discuss the nature of pederasty as a sin, how it fits into the Catholic understanding of sin, but there are two things that are not question for me, that pederasty is indeed a sin, and further that except under certain impossible to fathom-by-me hypothetical situations, it is a mortal sin.
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Copyright 2003-2008
Terrence Ryan.
This is a personal blog. The opinions expressed here are mine and not those of my employer.
