For Halloween I shall dress up as a Methodist.Describe my costume.
Friday, October 31, 2008
The Myth of Freedom
Shots Across the Bow has a great post up asking "Are you a citizen or a subject?" He argues very persuasively (not that I needed much persuading) that a government that promises to give you everything is subjugating you, rather than liberating you. Money quote:
If a man owns your house, your bank account, your job, and your health care, he owns you. Period. Just ask a coal miner from West Virginia about the company store.
"You load 16 tons, and what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt.
St. Peter don't call me cause I can't go.
I owe my soul to the company store."
The whole post is prime cut libertarian red meat. But I'd like to take this problem in another direction.
At the age of seventeen as a young and overly confident political philosopher, I was one day pontificating to my father about the virtue of freedom. My much wiser father's response was simply "There's no such thing as freedom. You're always a slave to someone."
At the time, I did not understand him, but within a few years I did more than I would care to. I learned a simple truth: everyone is a slave to their employer. If your financial safety is dependent upon some other person or company, that person or company owns you. Your boss at work has the power of financial life and death over you and your future.
Thus our lives may be filled with a hundred petty tyrants who hold sway over us. Now not every boss shall be a tyrant, but all have the power to be tyrants. And as Harry Browne once said, "The problem is not the abuse of power; the problem is the power to abuse."
Unless you're financially independent, you'll always live under a dictator. Possibly and usually a benevolent one, but not necessarily so. Get used to your chains.
HT: Instapundit
If a man owns your house, your bank account, your job, and your health care, he owns you. Period. Just ask a coal miner from West Virginia about the company store.
"You load 16 tons, and what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt.
St. Peter don't call me cause I can't go.
I owe my soul to the company store."
The whole post is prime cut libertarian red meat. But I'd like to take this problem in another direction.
At the age of seventeen as a young and overly confident political philosopher, I was one day pontificating to my father about the virtue of freedom. My much wiser father's response was simply "There's no such thing as freedom. You're always a slave to someone."
At the time, I did not understand him, but within a few years I did more than I would care to. I learned a simple truth: everyone is a slave to their employer. If your financial safety is dependent upon some other person or company, that person or company owns you. Your boss at work has the power of financial life and death over you and your future.
Thus our lives may be filled with a hundred petty tyrants who hold sway over us. Now not every boss shall be a tyrant, but all have the power to be tyrants. And as Harry Browne once said, "The problem is not the abuse of power; the problem is the power to abuse."
Unless you're financially independent, you'll always live under a dictator. Possibly and usually a benevolent one, but not necessarily so. Get used to your chains.
HT: Instapundit
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Has Halloween Become Overcommercialized?
As America increasingly abandons its roots and turns into a secular wasteland, we can expect more stories like this:
In The Know: Has Halloween Become Overcommercialized?
Dear readers, this Halloween, let's not forget the reason for the season.
In The Know: Has Halloween Become Overcommercialized?
Dear readers, this Halloween, let's not forget the reason for the season.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Caption Contest
Previous contest winnerWINNER: DannyG: Also available in the lighter 5W20 version, look for the blue label!
The Libertarian in the Room
Jonah Goldberg, a political conservative, has long said that every political debate needs to have at least one libertarian in the room just to question statist presuppositions that government intervention of any kind, liberal or conservative, is a good thing.
I've been pleased to serve in that capacity recently in two posts at Andy Bryan's blog, where I appear to be blindsiding people by suggesting that government shouldn't even take a stand on gambling and spending.
I've been pleased to serve in that capacity recently in two posts at Andy Bryan's blog, where I appear to be blindsiding people by suggesting that government shouldn't even take a stand on gambling and spending.
I Got 95 Theses But the Pope Ain't One
A remarkably well-made rap music video about Martin Luther.
[Video Link]
Via Jeremy Smith, who has the lyrics for this rap.
[Video Link]
Via Jeremy Smith, who has the lyrics for this rap.
Awake, O Sleeper
Jeremy Smith found this fantastic Brandon McCormick music video entitled "Awake, O Sleeper." You gotta see this to believe how good it is.
[Video Link]
The video's description is "A Hero comes from the wilderness to cry out to the captives, pleading for them to awaken. This short film from Whitestone was in part inspired by "Plato's Cave" and depicts the struggle of freeing the captives, whomever they may be."
Jeremy has theological problems with the last ten seconds of the video, because they seem to suggest retributive violence. I understand the problem, but I don't see the chains that hold the men as necessarily their own sins, but also the oppression of the world. This is Christus Victor and Christ the Liberator. This is the God of Ass Kicking, who promises the poor, the oppressed, and the downtrodden a day of justice at the end of time. And I like that God.
[Video Link]
The video's description is "A Hero comes from the wilderness to cry out to the captives, pleading for them to awaken. This short film from Whitestone was in part inspired by "Plato's Cave" and depicts the struggle of freeing the captives, whomever they may be."
Jeremy has theological problems with the last ten seconds of the video, because they seem to suggest retributive violence. I understand the problem, but I don't see the chains that hold the men as necessarily their own sins, but also the oppression of the world. This is Christus Victor and Christ the Liberator. This is the God of Ass Kicking, who promises the poor, the oppressed, and the downtrodden a day of justice at the end of time. And I like that God.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
The New Menace to American Security: Paraguay!
Paraguay has claimed the new world record for the largest barbecue on earth!
[Video Link]
30,000 people in Mariano Roque Alonso, Paraguay cooked and ate 28 kilotons of meat in six hours.
As an American, I am appalled that this record has been taken away from us. Surely we are capable of outconsuming every other nation on earth, in every category. This usurpation must not stand!
Fellow citizens, this is your call to forks! For love of flag and country, eat! Eat! Eat! Eat until it hurts!
Link via J-Walk Blog
[Video Link]
30,000 people in Mariano Roque Alonso, Paraguay cooked and ate 28 kilotons of meat in six hours.
As an American, I am appalled that this record has been taken away from us. Surely we are capable of outconsuming every other nation on earth, in every category. This usurpation must not stand!
Fellow citizens, this is your call to forks! For love of flag and country, eat! Eat! Eat! Eat until it hurts!
Link via J-Walk Blog
Which Kitchen Implement Does Blogging Resemble?
Katie Granju notes one journalist who suggests that blogging is the 'microwave oven' of journalism. Glenn Reynolds prefers to compare blogging to the pressure cooker. What do you think? Fill in the blank:
Monday, October 27, 2008
Question of the Day
Who would win a mud wrestling competition between Bishop Joseph Sprague and Bishop Will Willimon?
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Zombie Attack During Sarah Palin Rally
From the Ashville Citizen-Times: a zombie attack during a Sarah Palin rally.Wow. 700 zombies. I understand the need to cram the candidates' schedules this late in the game, but sometimes it's better to just play it safe. Anyway, zombies always vote Democrat.
HT: Puppy Blender
Saturday, October 25, 2008
A Short Story That I Have Written
Like so many people, when I was in college, I wrote bad free form poetry. I have a pile of photocopies of several such poems among my things, and I thought that I would share with you a short story that was among them. It, I think, is not so terrible a composition. I wrote it when I was perhaps twenty years old. It is called "Faust."
Content Warning: this is a graphic story about demonic possession and human depravity, and is not for the faint of heart or stomach. I'm very serious about this warning.
i waited in the alley for her for hours and hours and she came real late and i saw her beautiful eyes and i saw her warm warm body and i knew that she wanted it and i ran out and grabbed her and told her to shut up then i stab stab stabbed her with my knife and it felt good to hold the blade and feel the power beauty and i jammed it into her belly it was the vengeance i wanted and i felt good and i licked the blade clean and it was good to taste the warm warm blood it was like home and i heard a noise and got scared no no no theyre not gonna get me ill kill everyone of them first i just want to go home and i ran and hid but then i thought of her and i got her and a rat was trying to eat her already and i dragged her back inside and i put her on the table and i thought and i was scared theyre not gonna get me i know how to kill them all i hate them i hate them i hate them they will suffer for their crimes i will make them pay and i will i will i will i will and i heard a siren and i got scared first i gotta get rid of her and i took a big axe and cut off her arms and legs and it felt good to know she would feel like me and i put her in trash bags and went outside and i still heard the siren but i know what to do if theyre out there and i ran out and put her in the dump and i heard the siren again and i knew they were coming and i ran and ran and i ran and i ran to the bridge and i saw them coming and i ran across until i saw another car blocking it and i was scared and i saw them coming thousands marching and i couldnt run anywhere and i was scared mama mama mama help me im lost mama and i heard him talk and say give them your blessing and i saw all the people coming close and telling me to give up and i would be helped and i heard him say in my head lie lie lie lie lie lie lie and i felt the power and i rose up and lashed out and the men exploded and i felt their blood splashed on me and it felt good and i tried it again and i tasted the blood and i felt the joy and he said do it some more you like it you like it and i made the bridge die and it boomed i felt good and i fell into the water and it was warm and i felt scared where was everybody and the voice didnt talk where are you help me dont leave me alone i need to feel where i am and i screamed in the darkness mama mama hold me keep me safe
Content Warning: this is a graphic story about demonic possession and human depravity, and is not for the faint of heart or stomach. I'm very serious about this warning.
i waited in the alley for her for hours and hours and she came real late and i saw her beautiful eyes and i saw her warm warm body and i knew that she wanted it and i ran out and grabbed her and told her to shut up then i stab stab stabbed her with my knife and it felt good to hold the blade and feel the power beauty and i jammed it into her belly it was the vengeance i wanted and i felt good and i licked the blade clean and it was good to taste the warm warm blood it was like home and i heard a noise and got scared no no no theyre not gonna get me ill kill everyone of them first i just want to go home and i ran and hid but then i thought of her and i got her and a rat was trying to eat her already and i dragged her back inside and i put her on the table and i thought and i was scared theyre not gonna get me i know how to kill them all i hate them i hate them i hate them they will suffer for their crimes i will make them pay and i will i will i will i will and i heard a siren and i got scared first i gotta get rid of her and i took a big axe and cut off her arms and legs and it felt good to know she would feel like me and i put her in trash bags and went outside and i still heard the siren but i know what to do if theyre out there and i ran out and put her in the dump and i heard the siren again and i knew they were coming and i ran and ran and i ran and i ran to the bridge and i saw them coming and i ran across until i saw another car blocking it and i was scared and i saw them coming thousands marching and i couldnt run anywhere and i was scared mama mama mama help me im lost mama and i heard him talk and say give them your blessing and i saw all the people coming close and telling me to give up and i would be helped and i heard him say in my head lie lie lie lie lie lie lie and i felt the power and i rose up and lashed out and the men exploded and i felt their blood splashed on me and it felt good and i tried it again and i tasted the blood and i felt the joy and he said do it some more you like it you like it and i made the bridge die and it boomed i felt good and i fell into the water and it was warm and i felt scared where was everybody and the voice didnt talk where are you help me dont leave me alone i need to feel where i am and i screamed in the darkness mama mama hold me keep me safe
Friday, October 24, 2008
Yankee Pot Roast
I've only recently discovered the blog Yankee Pot Roast, which bills itself as "The Journal of Literary Satire, Hastily Written and Sloppily Edited." It's a wild assortment of various humor columns, lists, post, and stories. Great stuff! Here are a few good examples:
A Six-Year Old with a Future in Elected Politics Tackles a Tough Question
"Yo' Momma" Jokes as Told by Nerds
Recipe for Disaster
William Carlos Williams is a Really Bad Roommate (which I recently linked to).
A Six-Year Old with a Future in Elected Politics Tackles a Tough Question
"Yo' Momma" Jokes as Told by Nerds
Recipe for Disaster
William Carlos Williams is a Really Bad Roommate (which I recently linked to).
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Gay Scientists Isolate the Gene that Makes People Christian
[Video Link] Don't interpret this post as a change in my stance on the morality of homosexual behavior. I just think that this video is funny.
Question of the Day
Can one be a Christian and support the waterboarding of terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay?Caption Contest
Previous contest winnersWINNER: John Battern: Declining attendance at Bingo night forced St. James Church to turn to "laying on the guilt" in order to get people in the doors.
Does Transgenderism Have a Biological Basis?
Yesterday, I mentioned a discussion of transgenderism in the Methoblogosphere. Zoe Brain left a lengthy comment arguing that there is solid scientific evidence for transgenderism as a biological reality. I do not necessarily endorse this view, but the comment does make for interesting reading. Even if true, it doesn't change my view that transgenderism is an illness, and not a lifestyle choice. After all, schizophrenia has a biological basis, but that does not make it any less of an illness.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
A Novel Approach to Writing Charge Conference Reports
Put them in the form of haikus.
I hope that Christopher Gudger-Raines' District Secretary has a good sense of humor.
Via John Meunier
I hope that Christopher Gudger-Raines' District Secretary has a good sense of humor.
Via John Meunier
Is Prosperity Gospel Responsible for the Financial Crisis?
Here's an interesting premise: Prosperity Gospel teaches irresponsible financial decisions, and is therefore a key contributor to the overextension of credit markets in the U.S.
Fascinating.
Fascinating.
The Union of Transgender Rights and Gay Rights
Antony Hebblethwaite of Reconciling Ministries Blog argues that bundling the two causes together is appropriate. My own contrary view is here.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
How to Avoid Motorcycle Accidents
Jeremy Clarkson suggests buying a Vespa:I also liked the idea of a Vespa because most bikes are Japanese. This means they are extremely reliable so you cannot avoid a fatal crash by simply breaking down. This is entirely possible on a Vespa because it is made in Italy.
Via Jeff the Baptist, who quips "Perhaps this explain the popularity of Harley-Davidson's as well?" Heh, probably. Although Harley has improved it's quality control over recent years. Or so I've heard. A company can only count on brand loyalty for so long.
Personally, I've long dreamed of getting a Vespa and riding it from Barrow, Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, and then writing a book about the experience. That's one motorcycle adventure that I don't think has been yet tackled on a scooter.
Gotta Get One of These for the Baby
Because it's never too early to get a child ready for a zombie apocalypse. That's why every nursery should come equipped with this detachable zombie parts doll, known as the "Dismember Me" Plush Zombie.
It's certainly more practical than some doll that wets itself. Just compare the number of times in your own life that you've had to change a diaper vs. you've had to kill a zombie.
Via Geekologie, where there's a cool video of these dolls in action.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Noah's Blog
I have a feeling that the Bible would have been written differently if it had been composed on a laptop with WiFi.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Caption Contest
Previous contest winnerWINNERS:
Mark the Warrior Heart: Still trying to work off that Last Supper...
John Meunier: Paul said I'd get a glorified body. He didn't say I'd have to work for it.
"You Are Not Invisible!"
"To See the Invisible Man" is one of the greater episodes of 1980s version of The Twilight Zone. Based on a short story by Robert Silverberg, it is the tale of a man sentenced to a year of shunning by the entire world as punishment for having a cold personality.
[Video Link] Part 2 Part 3
Have you ever been invisible? I have.
When the Church is working, it is a place where invisible people can go to be seen.
[Video Link] Part 2 Part 3
Have you ever been invisible? I have.
When the Church is working, it is a place where invisible people can go to be seen.
"God Made Me This Way" as an Argument in Christian Ethics
John Meunier examines a particular approach in the homosexuality debate and finds it wanting:
I’m not arguing for exclusion, but I’m interested in how this conversation can be formed in a way that does not fall back on “God made me this way.”
Why?
Because of all the reasons above. “This is the way I am” arguments can be used by anyone to justify virtually any behavior. As a faith that teaches we must be reborn to come into a right relationship with God, we teach everyone that the way they were born is not fully the way God wants them to be.
If “God made me this way” becomes the doctrine of the church, then don’t we have to pitch out holiness entirely?
[snip]
My problem with both arguments is what happens when a teenage boy who wants to have casual sex with five different girls uses them to justify his feelings. Or what happens when the church member who drives spends his whole life in a mad pursuit of wealth tries to use them to explain his needs?
I’m not arguing for exclusion, but I’m interested in how this conversation can be formed in a way that does not fall back on “God made me this way.”
Why?
Because of all the reasons above. “This is the way I am” arguments can be used by anyone to justify virtually any behavior. As a faith that teaches we must be reborn to come into a right relationship with God, we teach everyone that the way they were born is not fully the way God wants them to be.
If “God made me this way” becomes the doctrine of the church, then don’t we have to pitch out holiness entirely?
[snip]
My problem with both arguments is what happens when a teenage boy who wants to have casual sex with five different girls uses them to justify his feelings. Or what happens when the church member who drives spends his whole life in a mad pursuit of wealth tries to use them to explain his needs?
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Decoding Christianese
Provocative Church has a great post up listing various phrases commonly used by Christians that obscure true feelings behind God-talk. It's pretty funny. Here are the first ten:
1. I'll pray about it = NO!
2. We need to pray for so and so = Guess what I just heard?!
3. I'm waiting for God to open some doors = I'm living in my parent's basement.
4. God gave me a word for you = I have advice to help you with your disaster of a life.
5. I'm going to have my quiet time = Leave me the heck alone!
6. God is good = My life sucks.
7. Bless his/her heart = What an idiot.
8. I have the gift of discernment = I can judge people without even talking to them.
9. I was having fellowship with them = We had beer and pizza and watched the game instead of going to church.
10. I'm saved by grace, not works = I can do whatever the heck I want.
As I said, it's funny. But it's also disturbing. I've far too often witnessed -- and been on the receiving end of -- weaponized prayer and pastoral care. By that I mean subtle insults and degradations disguised as Christian love. What's worse is when prayer is used to hurt other people -- that's just plain blasphemy, as well as spiritual abuse.
I believe in a God who is holy above all things, and worthy of our adoration more than anything else in this universe. And consequently, I refuse to use him as a prop. And it drives me nuts when others do.
HT: Smart Pastor
UPDATE: In the comments, truevyne points us to this excellent spoof on the Christianese phenomenon:
[Video Link]
I have no objection to cultures and groups developing their own jargon. What galls me is the dishonest manipulation of spiritual experience for personal gain.
1. I'll pray about it = NO!
2. We need to pray for so and so = Guess what I just heard?!
3. I'm waiting for God to open some doors = I'm living in my parent's basement.
4. God gave me a word for you = I have advice to help you with your disaster of a life.
5. I'm going to have my quiet time = Leave me the heck alone!
6. God is good = My life sucks.
7. Bless his/her heart = What an idiot.
8. I have the gift of discernment = I can judge people without even talking to them.
9. I was having fellowship with them = We had beer and pizza and watched the game instead of going to church.
10. I'm saved by grace, not works = I can do whatever the heck I want.
As I said, it's funny. But it's also disturbing. I've far too often witnessed -- and been on the receiving end of -- weaponized prayer and pastoral care. By that I mean subtle insults and degradations disguised as Christian love. What's worse is when prayer is used to hurt other people -- that's just plain blasphemy, as well as spiritual abuse.
I believe in a God who is holy above all things, and worthy of our adoration more than anything else in this universe. And consequently, I refuse to use him as a prop. And it drives me nuts when others do.
HT: Smart Pastor
UPDATE: In the comments, truevyne points us to this excellent spoof on the Christianese phenomenon:
[Video Link]
I have no objection to cultures and groups developing their own jargon. What galls me is the dishonest manipulation of spiritual experience for personal gain.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Caption Contest
Previous contest winnerVia J-Walk Blog
WINNERS:
David Garrett: Asbury... preparing young people for full-time ministry since 1923!
Jeff the Baptist: Well boys and girls, it's time to separate the Methodists from the Baptists.
Fundraising Idea for the Methoblogosphere
Well, since no one was really keen on my idea of a Methoblog swimsuit issue, I'd like to propose an alternative.
Recently, Travis Fessler of Florence, Kentucky broke a world record for holding the most number of Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches in his mouth: 11.
[Video Link]
After observing a number of Methodist potlucks and that the UMC is growing as a measure of gross tonnage, I think that we can do better than eleven. And with the publicity, we can raise money for valuable causes, like the Second Life mission and some decent clothes for Gavin Richardson.
Hat tip to J-Walk Blog via Neatorama
Recently, Travis Fessler of Florence, Kentucky broke a world record for holding the most number of Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches in his mouth: 11.
After observing a number of Methodist potlucks and that the UMC is growing as a measure of gross tonnage, I think that we can do better than eleven. And with the publicity, we can raise money for valuable causes, like the Second Life mission and some decent clothes for Gavin Richardson.
Hat tip to J-Walk Blog via Neatorama
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Parody of TBN
The televangelist network TBN is hard to parody, as it is almost one itself. But this is quite good. Hat tip to Internet Monk.
[Video Link]
Evil as a Objective Reality
Is evil an objective characteristic that a person can claim? Or will evil, by being praiseworthy to an individual, necessarily become good? Two AD&D orcs debate the subject in this Lore Sjoberg cartoon.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Merry Christmas from Chiron Beta Prime
Let's have Christmas in October, shall we? It'll give me an excuse to share this great Jonathan Coulton song about a family sharing Christmas cheer after alien robots have enslaved the human race.
[Video Link]
UPDATE: I swapped out the video for a better one.
[Video Link]
UPDATE: I swapped out the video for a better one.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Martin Luther Rap
[Video Link] HT: Gavin Richardson
Previously on Locusts & Honey: The St. Augustine Rap, The Calvinist Rap, and William Shatner rapping Shakespeare.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Translating Christian Ethics Into Public Policy
In our recent discussion on the effect of attacks on corporations on the poor, we talked about how we live out our Christian values as citizens, advocating for particular policy changes on the basis of those values. Rich wrote a very thoughtful comment in which he disagreed with my view that Christian ethics and public policy are largely separate spheres -- or should be. Read the entire comment, for it is quite challenging. At the conclusion, Rich asked me:
My question is, on what basis can any Christian fail to advocate for laws and policies that express this core Christian value?
Again, I question how Rich proposes that we differentiate between Christian values that we advocate as public policy changes and those which we leave in the private (i.e. non-coercive) sphere. Rich uses the term "core" as a distinction, but I do not see how this different from selecting from the buffet of Christian values those items which reflect one's own political philosophy.
For example, Rich proposes a progressive tax policy explicitly on the basis of Christian values:
It's a given that the costs of necessities (food, energy, housing, etc.) require a larger percentage of the resources of the poor than of the wealthy.
This is a great argument in favor of a progressive tax policy (by "progressive" I mean taxing progressively higher income at progressively higher rates).
The fact that taking appropriate steps to care for God's creation might have greater impact on those with less money is not an excuse to not care for God's creation--it means we must define policies that also care for all of God's children as well.
But he also tries to distinguish this "core" value from mandatory prayer, as forced prayer would not be sincere, and thereby spiritually effective:
By "relevance to governance", I exclude such things as the Christian value that frequent prayer is important. I certainly urge people to have a flourishing prayer life, but this is not a item for governance--even if a law were passed that "all people must pray daily", that would not actually help people have true prayer lives, and would probably have the opposite effect.
I agree that coerced virtue is no virtue at all, which is why prayer before the one true God should not be forced. But taxation for the benefit of the poor is likewise a coercive act. It isn't charitable giving; it's stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. To give freely is live out a Christian value, but there is no virtue in being robbed.
But regardless, what is this "core" of Christian teaching? Rich argues:
Again, care for the needy is a *core* teaching of Christ and of the Hebrew prophets.
True. But as I've argued in the past, worshipping false gods is a sin that the Bible rejects even more vigorously than the neglect of the poor. Surely monotheism is a core Christian value and therefore, by Rich's argument, should be criminalized by Christian voters.
Any takers?
But I am still left with Rich's very challenging question at the end of his last comment:
My question is, on what basis can any Christian fail to advocate for laws and policies that express this core Christian value?
I've been mulling this over for several hours and reached this tentative conclusion: Christian values are to be lived out by Christians individually and communally. And the Christian community isn't the state, but the Church. If the Church fails to lift up the poor and downtrodden, then it has fundamentally failed as the Church. But the state -- or the American state, at least -- is a secular institution, and is not bound by Christian values.
How can I fail to advocate Christian values into law? By recognizing that the state is coercion, and the Gospel is free will. People cannot be saved without their own consent, nor act virtuously with a gun to their heads.
How would you answer Rich's question?
My question is, on what basis can any Christian fail to advocate for laws and policies that express this core Christian value?
Again, I question how Rich proposes that we differentiate between Christian values that we advocate as public policy changes and those which we leave in the private (i.e. non-coercive) sphere. Rich uses the term "core" as a distinction, but I do not see how this different from selecting from the buffet of Christian values those items which reflect one's own political philosophy.
For example, Rich proposes a progressive tax policy explicitly on the basis of Christian values:
It's a given that the costs of necessities (food, energy, housing, etc.) require a larger percentage of the resources of the poor than of the wealthy.
This is a great argument in favor of a progressive tax policy (by "progressive" I mean taxing progressively higher income at progressively higher rates).
The fact that taking appropriate steps to care for God's creation might have greater impact on those with less money is not an excuse to not care for God's creation--it means we must define policies that also care for all of God's children as well.
But he also tries to distinguish this "core" value from mandatory prayer, as forced prayer would not be sincere, and thereby spiritually effective:
By "relevance to governance", I exclude such things as the Christian value that frequent prayer is important. I certainly urge people to have a flourishing prayer life, but this is not a item for governance--even if a law were passed that "all people must pray daily", that would not actually help people have true prayer lives, and would probably have the opposite effect.
I agree that coerced virtue is no virtue at all, which is why prayer before the one true God should not be forced. But taxation for the benefit of the poor is likewise a coercive act. It isn't charitable giving; it's stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. To give freely is live out a Christian value, but there is no virtue in being robbed.
But regardless, what is this "core" of Christian teaching? Rich argues:
Again, care for the needy is a *core* teaching of Christ and of the Hebrew prophets.
True. But as I've argued in the past, worshipping false gods is a sin that the Bible rejects even more vigorously than the neglect of the poor. Surely monotheism is a core Christian value and therefore, by Rich's argument, should be criminalized by Christian voters.
Any takers?
But I am still left with Rich's very challenging question at the end of his last comment:
My question is, on what basis can any Christian fail to advocate for laws and policies that express this core Christian value?
I've been mulling this over for several hours and reached this tentative conclusion: Christian values are to be lived out by Christians individually and communally. And the Christian community isn't the state, but the Church. If the Church fails to lift up the poor and downtrodden, then it has fundamentally failed as the Church. But the state -- or the American state, at least -- is a secular institution, and is not bound by Christian values.
How can I fail to advocate Christian values into law? By recognizing that the state is coercion, and the Gospel is free will. People cannot be saved without their own consent, nor act virtuously with a gun to their heads.
How would you answer Rich's question?
Weekend Music: Skullcrusher Mountain by Jonathan Coulton
A sweet but sad romantic ballad about unrequited love.
Reminds me of an ex-girlfriend who was just never happy, not matter how many pony-monkeys I cloned for her.
[Video Link]
Lyrics:
Welcome to my secret lair on Skullcrusher Mountain
I hope that you've enjoyed your stay so far
I see you've met my assistant Scarface
His appearance is quite disturbing
But I assure you he's harmless enough
He's a sweetheart, calls me master
And he has a way of finding pretty things
and bringing them to me
I'm so into you
But I'm way too smart for you
Even my henchmen think I'm crazy
I'm not surprised that you agree
If you could find some way to be
A little bit less afraid of me
You'd see the voices that control me from inside my head
Say I shouldn't kill you yet
I made this half-pony half-monkey monster to please you
But I get the feeling that you don't like it
What's with all the screaming?
You like monkeys, you like ponies
Maybe you don't like monsters so much
Maybe I used too many monkeys
Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you?
I'm so into you
But I'm way too smart for you
Even my henchmen think I'm crazy
I'm not surprised that you agree
If you could find some way to be
A little bit less afraid of me
You'd see the voices that control me from inside my head
Say I shouldn't kill you yet
Picture the two of us alone inside my golden submarine
While up above the waves my doomsday squad ignites the atmosphere
And all the fools who live their foolish lives may find it quite explosive
But it won't mean half as much to me if I don't have you here
You know it isn't easy living here on Skullcrusher Mountain
Maybe you could cut me just a little slack
Would it kill you to be civil?
I've been patient, I've been gracious
And this mountain is covered with wolves
Hear them howling, my hungry children
Maybe you should stay and have another drink and think about me and you
I'm so into you
But I'm way too smart for you
Even my henchmen think I'm crazy
I'm not surprised that you agree
If you could find some way to be A little bit less afraid of me
You'd see the voices that control me from inside my head
Say I shouldn't kill you yet
I shouldn't kill you yet
I shouldn't kill you yet
Reminds me of an ex-girlfriend who was just never happy, not matter how many pony-monkeys I cloned for her.
[Video Link]
Lyrics:
I hope that you've enjoyed your stay so far
I see you've met my assistant Scarface
His appearance is quite disturbing
But I assure you he's harmless enough
He's a sweetheart, calls me master
And he has a way of finding pretty things
and bringing them to me
I'm so into you
But I'm way too smart for you
Even my henchmen think I'm crazy
I'm not surprised that you agree
If you could find some way to be
A little bit less afraid of me
You'd see the voices that control me from inside my head
Say I shouldn't kill you yet
I made this half-pony half-monkey monster to please you
But I get the feeling that you don't like it
What's with all the screaming?
You like monkeys, you like ponies
Maybe you don't like monsters so much
Maybe I used too many monkeys
Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you?
But I'm way too smart for you
Even my henchmen think I'm crazy
I'm not surprised that you agree
If you could find some way to be
A little bit less afraid of me
You'd see the voices that control me from inside my head
Say I shouldn't kill you yet
Picture the two of us alone inside my golden submarine
While up above the waves my doomsday squad ignites the atmosphere
And all the fools who live their foolish lives may find it quite explosive
But it won't mean half as much to me if I don't have you here
You know it isn't easy living here on Skullcrusher Mountain
Maybe you could cut me just a little slack
Would it kill you to be civil?
I've been patient, I've been gracious
And this mountain is covered with wolves
Hear them howling, my hungry children
Maybe you should stay and have another drink and think about me and you
I'm so into you
But I'm way too smart for you
Even my henchmen think I'm crazy
I'm not surprised that you agree
If you could find some way to be A little bit less afraid of me
You'd see the voices that control me from inside my head
Say I shouldn't kill you yet
I shouldn't kill you yet
I shouldn't kill you yet
Lewis Black on Blogging
Lewis Black and other comedians opine upon the phenomenon on blogging.
[Video link]
HT: Apropos of Nothing
[Video link]
HT: Apropos of Nothing
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Zombie Tag
Via Double Plus Undead comes this news story about an increasingly popular variant of the game of 'tag':Welcome to the world of Humans vs. Zombies (HvZ), a tag-like game that is the latest trend in campus entertainment. An HvZ game typically involves hundreds of students and runs 24 hours a day for days on end; dwindling numbers of humans try to fend off and outlast growing legions of zombies.
The rules are fundamentally simple: Zombie tags human, human becomes a zombie. Unlike movie zombies, with shambling walks and undead makeup, zombies in the game just wear headbands to distinguish them from armband-wearing humans. And they are free to sprint.
Humans ward off zombies with Nerf guns or by hitting them with a balled-up sock — a defensive move that stuns the zombie, usually for 15 minutes. The goal is to still be a live human at the end.
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Experience and the (Vice) Presidency
Stanford Law professor Lawrence Lessig put together an interesting video objectively assessing the political experience of Vice Presidents throughout American history, and concluding that Sarah Palin has less political experience than any other Vice President, save Chester Arthur and, arguably, Spiro Agnew.*
It's an interesting argument, and Lessig makes a powerful case. However, his argument is somewhat askew of his data set. He asserts that because 1 in 5 Vice Presidents becomes President through succession and America faces serious challenges right now, such as two wars and a financial crisis, Palin is unqualified to be President and therefore unqualified to be Vice President.
Here's his sampling error: if he considers political experience just as important for Vice Presidents as it is for Presidents, then he should consider Presidents in his sample.
Here are the Presidents with equal to or less political experience (as Lessig defines the term) than Sarah Palin:
George Washington
John Adams
Zachary Taylor
Abraham Lincoln
Woodrow Wilson
Ulysses S. Grant
Chester A. Arthur
Theodore Roosevelt
Herbert Hoover
Dwight Eisenhower
So a minority of Presidents have had less than or equal the political experience of Sarah Palin, but Palin's experience or lack thereof is not as unusual as Lessig proposes.
*Lessig's list includes the experience of Theodore Roosevelt, who had been governor of New York for only two years before becoming Vice President, which apparently Lessig considers to be greater than Palin's two years in Juneau. It can be argued being governor of a very large state such as New York is greater administrative experience than a demographically small state such as Alaska, but Lessig does not posit this argument.
HT: Bits & Pieces
So Much Depends Upon a Red Wheelbarrow
What if poet William Carlos Williams was your really bad roommate?
This Is Just to Say
I have restarted
the PlayStation
that was in
your room
and which
you left on
because you
hadn’t found a save point
Forgive me
I skipped my job interview
and wanted
to play FIFA
HT: Grow-A-Brain
I have restarted
the PlayStation
that was in
your room
and which
you left on
because you
hadn’t found a save point
Forgive me
I skipped my job interview
and wanted
to play FIFA
HT: Grow-A-Brain
Monday, October 06, 2008
How Would Star Wars Be Different If George Lucas Was a Methodist?
- Luke Skywalker's Jedi training would take twelve years, not one.
- Yoda would be considered a comparatively young Jedi.
- The Empire would have a publicly stated and supported set of very progressive Social Principles, which it would then ignore.
- Some Jedi would not believe in the Force, or would suggest that it was only a socially-constructed reality.
Add your own in the comments.
Charity Through Capitalism
Carl at ChicagoBoyz has an interesting post up about how increasing costs for utility companies (e.g. legal fees) are ultimately passed on to the poor:
Ever wonder who pays for all those law suits the environmentalists come up with to sue the local power company? The customer. Ever wonder who pays for all the emissions clean up (scrubbers, clean coal) and for the more costly technologies like natural gas against plentiful US coal? The customer. Who pays for the fact that it takes 20 years of red tape and permits to build a transmission line? The customer.
Not only that, but the grants that fund all these non profits usually come from cities, counties and governments. How do they pay for this? Tax revenues, and utility taxes make up a sizable portion of their take from the public. Look at any utility bill and you can see that it is riddled with tax after tax, and you can’t even see the impact of other taxes levied on the utility (property and sales taxes) because these are built into the rates.
Thus I would love for all those doe-eyed environmentalist believers to go to a utility and volunteer THERE at the customer service window for a while and watch the poor decide whether to pay the power bill or buy medicine. They can watch people decide on back to school clothes and supplies or the gas bill. These are real choices, and they will become more and more evident should the economy go into a spiral.
There are no two ways about it - 17% of the income of the poor goes to energy bills which are VASTLY inflated by taxes and regulation, without which the cost of energy would probably be 50% lower (or more… we are the “Saudi Arabia” of coal). Think of this next time they volunteer at a soup kitchen or go on a clothing drive… couldn’t they accomplish the same exact thing by working to lower the costs of energy for the poor so that they’d have more income in their pocket?
We need to remember that when a company is attacked, the person who really gets hurt is the poor schmuck making $6 an hour at the bottom of the financial food chain.
Previous thoughts here and here.
Ever wonder who pays for all those law suits the environmentalists come up with to sue the local power company? The customer. Ever wonder who pays for all the emissions clean up (scrubbers, clean coal) and for the more costly technologies like natural gas against plentiful US coal? The customer. Who pays for the fact that it takes 20 years of red tape and permits to build a transmission line? The customer.
Not only that, but the grants that fund all these non profits usually come from cities, counties and governments. How do they pay for this? Tax revenues, and utility taxes make up a sizable portion of their take from the public. Look at any utility bill and you can see that it is riddled with tax after tax, and you can’t even see the impact of other taxes levied on the utility (property and sales taxes) because these are built into the rates.
Thus I would love for all those doe-eyed environmentalist believers to go to a utility and volunteer THERE at the customer service window for a while and watch the poor decide whether to pay the power bill or buy medicine. They can watch people decide on back to school clothes and supplies or the gas bill. These are real choices, and they will become more and more evident should the economy go into a spiral.
There are no two ways about it - 17% of the income of the poor goes to energy bills which are VASTLY inflated by taxes and regulation, without which the cost of energy would probably be 50% lower (or more… we are the “Saudi Arabia” of coal). Think of this next time they volunteer at a soup kitchen or go on a clothing drive… couldn’t they accomplish the same exact thing by working to lower the costs of energy for the poor so that they’d have more income in their pocket?
We need to remember that when a company is attacked, the person who really gets hurt is the poor schmuck making $6 an hour at the bottom of the financial food chain.
Previous thoughts here and here.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Prayer Station
I do not know where this is, but I would really like to find out. Hat tip to Bits & Pieces
UPDATE: Alex Santoso has done some research on this picture, and found out who made this prayer booth and where it can be found.
UPDATE: Alex Santoso has done some research on this picture, and found out who made this prayer booth and where it can be found.
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Caption Contest
Picture via Internet Monk
Previous contest winner
WINNER: Jeff the Baptist:
The results of Vatican III were somewhat underwhelming.
Christian Radio Found to Be on Continuous Loop for Past 20 Years
PONTIAC — Listeners of Christian talk radio were surprised and dismayed to learn that the same slate of programs has been playing on Christian radio stations since 1988, and that the entire façade of Christian radio has been run out of a basement complex in Michigan.
"I always found the programs very comforting and familiar," says Kathy Reynolds, a regular listener in Columbia, Mo. "Now I know why."
The 365-day-long loop, which has been running continuously since January 1, 1988, includes programs by ministers such as James Dobson and Chuck Colson who dispense parenting and marital advice, Bible answers and non-specific calls to political action. The loop followed the calendar’s rhythms, with programs about creating lasting family traditions at Thanksgiving, back-to-school prayer programs in August and cloyingly sweet programs about home, hearth and "the reason for the season" at Christmas. A layer of conservative concern over the direction of the country was included throughout the year.
Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana as Performed on Ukuleles
Via John Carney, who likes the Shaft theme as performed by the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.
Friday, October 03, 2008
The Film Strip Version of Star Wars
Here is a 1978 film strip presentation of Episode IV of Star Wars. Run time: 20 Minutes.
Via Topless Robot
Damn Dirty Apes!
My horoscope for this week:
All of the evidence will soon point to you, as will all of the witnesses, each and every one of the jurors, and most of the screaming chimpanzees.
The chimps are always the first to turn on you.
All of the evidence will soon point to you, as will all of the witnesses, each and every one of the jurors, and most of the screaming chimpanzees.
The chimps are always the first to turn on you.
Weekend Music: The Best Is Yet to Come with James Darren and Avery Brooks
In an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the characters of holographic lounge singer Vic Fontaine and Captain Benjamin Sisko sang the Frank Sinatra song The Best Is Yet to Come.
[Video Link]
[Video Link]
Thursday, October 02, 2008
I Killed Another Time Traveler Today
That makes three this week. This one must have had his coordinates off, because he materialized inside the bathroom -- at a moment very inconvenient for me -- and tried to get into the nursery. Like all the others, he screamed "Your baby has to die before 2048! The safety of the entire world depends on it! She looks innocent, but --" and that was when I clipped him with the shovel.They're worse than waterbugs -- they just keep on coming, again and again. It's incredibly annoying to have to deal with them. I'm just glad that I have a pickup truck to help.
My little angel was fine -- she woke up in her bassinet during the commotion, but didn't fuss any. She just looks up at me and smiles with her little red glowing eyes. Hmm. I'd better ask the pediatrician about that on Monday.
God Owns the Entire World = Government Owns the Entire World
Shane Raynor is discussing the recent statement by the UMC General Board of Church and Society on the American financial crisis. He questions the GBCS' causal link between health care costs and the credit shortage, but I'm more curious about the conclusion of the document:The financial bubble has burst. Corporate greed must be replaced by the biblical mandate of stewardship. All we have is ours “on loan” from God to be used for good in this world. John Wesley’s mandate to “do no harm” is violated when we prey on the vulnerable.
The Administration and Congress must devise legislation that embraces our whole society. Let’s pray our elected officials act with wisdom in this crisis. Please contact your Members of Congress to insist they devise a just and equitable response to the financial crisis.
As I've previously written about the Biblical view of property rights, all the earth is indeed God's, but that is not a propertarian basis for government taking "measures that would reduce the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few." God has the sovereign right to redistribute property, but the GBCS does not provide a sound argument that government may do so.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
It's About Time: Christian-Themed Lingerie
From the company Victorious Secret, founded by a Candler School of Theology graduate, no less.
I guess that Asbury just doesn't produce ministers as forward-thinking as that. My blog sometimes gets pinged with the search terms "theresa coleman playboy", and I've never understood why, but now it makes a lot more sense.
I guess that Asbury just doesn't produce ministers as forward-thinking as that. My blog sometimes gets pinged with the search terms "theresa coleman playboy", and I've never understood why, but now it makes a lot more sense.
FYI
Although revenge is a dish best served cold, mercy is best served slightly warm with a light hollandaise sauce.
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