A busy day with church activities that taxed my bad knee in particular. It was ice pack time when I arrived home, which turned into ice pack and cat nap time. Tomorrow is teaching and physio. I hope you are all getting as ready as possible for all the holiday activities, but are remembering to take some time for yourself.
Puzzle — Today’s took me 3:26 (average 7:51). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes
Washington Post — "What he wanted to do was get the state of Virginia out of the business of deciding which was the best religion, and who had to pay taxes to support it," said Spellberg, a professor of history and Islamic studies at the University of Texas at Austin.
During the bill's debate, some legislators wanted to insert the term "Jesus Christ," which was rejected. Writing in 1821, Jefferson reflected that "singular proposition proved that [the bill’s] protection of opinion was meant to be universal."
Where the preamble declares, that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed, by inserting the word "Jesus Christ," so that it should read, "a departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion;" the insertion was rejected by a great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mahometan [Muslim], the Hindoo [Hindu], and Infidel of every denomination."
An interesting article that I encourage everyone to read. There are plenty enough people today who state that the US was founded by Christians and should have biblical law as the basis for its laws. I know, having studied history, that the Founding Fathers would not have sanctioned this but would support the separation of church and state. They came out of Britain where there was great strife between Roman Catholics and Protestants in the 1500's. To read Jefferson's words provides additional evidence of this.
Alternet — As the Donald Trump campaign turns from farce to tribulation, it’s worth noting that millions more Americans support Bernie Sanders than the Republican frontrunner.
Trump’s level of national support is 30.4 percent of GOP primary voters, according to the average calculated by Real Clear Politics, while Sanders remains in second place among Democratic primary voters with a 30.8 percent average level of support.
Ah, truth in numbers? Let's hope that Bernie and the Democrats prevail. To be sure though, it is vitally important to get out the vote!
Politico — They must find a way home to the countries they have chosen to adopt, and which are still willing to adopt them. For Muslims to be at home in France or in America means that they have to develop and evolve through constant reinterpretation of the sacred texts, and their historic experiences. Above all, we must see ceaseless efforts to synthesize the core values of their religion with the very ethos of the countries in which they live. Otherwise the war will go on forever.
An interesting article I thought. This last part had me thinking about my own Christian beliefs. The plethora of Christian sects each has an interpretation(s) of key tenets. Roman Catholics differ from Protestants, Baptists from Methodists, Roman Catholics from Eastern Orthodox, etc. on some tenets. And undeniably there has been blood shed in the name of religious differences. But I hope that all religions will not be so "stuck" on their own dogma that they remain in the past and fail to grow with the people that believe.
My Universe —
5 Responses to “Squatch’s Open Thread 13/12/2015”
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LS: Seems that as we all get older, our knees and other joints become "fussy". lol.
WaPo: A state religion? Come on, separation of church and state! Virginia and other states need to get out of the business of deciding which is the best religion. US was founded by Christians is not true at all. The land was already occupied by the true Americans – The Natives, the First Nation, The Aboriginals, Native Americans, The People, The World. "Christians" stole the land from the Natives.
People from other parts of the world, Europe, England came to America for religious freedom, freedom from religious prosecutions, freedom from religious conflicts.
Alternet: Who are you going to believe with all of the numerous polls out there by so many different organizations… Polls are often misleading by the questions asked of the people by the pollsters. Best bet is to listen to all of the candidates and their platform, ideas. And VOTE for the person who you think will do the job of representing USA to the World.
Politico: I am so sick of religious dogmas from all around the world, No one religion is better than another. It is all a belief system of some sort. People just want to live in peace and not be trampled upon for their beliefs. People should not force other people of a different belief to change to another belief not of their choosing.
"All religions are flawed as are men". There is no "perfect" belief system, no perfect religion anywhere in the World.
Universe: Silly kitty outmaneuvered by squirrel. lol.
Today's articles got my hackles up. lol.
WaPo
I’m always confused by Talibangelical christianists who endlessly claim: “America is a Christian nation” – and then turn right around to maintain that “Christians are the most persecuted people in America.”
Seems to me it can be one or the other – but it can’t be both!
Alternet
We’ve all seen numerous posts recently comparing Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler – and rightfully so!
You’d be hard press to find a better illustration of one of Karl Marx’s most famous (but a bit confusing) quotes when he observed:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Eighteenth_Brumaire_of_Louis_Napoleon
(Gotta admit – Trump does farce very well!)
You're getting well acquainted with the magic of catnaps, aren't you, Lynn. Just give us a shout when you're running out :-))
Washington Post: The Founding Fathers may or may not have agreed with a separation of Church and State, that will always be a matter of interpretation. History changes as historians, they themselves children of their own time, reinterpret what is behind them. We'll never know what really was meant in those days unless it was specifically put to paper for posterity. That is why we do know that Jefferson and Franklin were very serious about this separation. They were children of the European Age of Enlightenment as both Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson came to Europe during that period and contributed actively to the scientific and political debate, and the ideals of the Enlightenment were incorporated into the United States Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. The principal goals of Enlightenment thinkers were liberty, progress, reason, tolerance, fraternity and ending the abuses of the church and state. (from Wikipedia). The ideas of the Enlightenment undermined the authority of the monarchy and the church.
Sadly what we see now, with America leading, is a dimming of the light and a return to the Dark Ages in terms of thinking.
Alternet: The numbers sound good, with even number two in the Democratic race trumping Trump, but that should in no way mean that Democrats can be complacent about the elections. As you say, Lynn: GET OUT THE VOTE, and make sure both the presidency and Congress returns in safe(r) hands.
Politico: I'll pass on this one, Lynn, as I feel the only way forward is a more secular society and government where everyone is free to believe whatever they want in their personal sphere. Religion as institutes or bodies of power, yielding dogmas as weapons, stand in the way of personal freedom to believe (or not).
My Universe: But Simon's cat never came down again!?
6:13 I guess to catch the snail one must be the snail.
WaPo – I knew this was how Jefferson (and other Foundign Fathers) felt, and the treaty of Tripoli, but I didn't have this quote. What (sadly) strikes me about the story is that the old, tired arguments like, "But a Muslim could become President!" were already endemic. Well, of course, that's how they got old and tired. For all we talk about and claim to idolize the Founding Fathers, our leaders today don't have spines like theirs.
BTW, Jefferson set the bar for skepticism. He didn't believe in meteorites. He had never heard of, and saw no logical or scientific reason why, stones should "fall from heaven," and considered it a more likely occurrence that "a Yankee professor would lie."
AlterNet – You gotta wonder what the percentages would look like if both Bernie and The Donald could split the publicity The Donald is currently getting. Of course, the 1% is scared of Bernie – and no wonder.
Politico – Hmmm. "(S)ynthesize the core values of their religion with the very ethos of the countries in which they live." That sounds to me an awful lot like advice that, since I live in a town overwhelmingly comprising evengelical fundamentalist "Christians," I should synthesize my core values with evangelical fundamentalist "Christianity." That doesn't sound like something I would be enthusiastic about doing. Somewhere there must be some middle ground, I hope.
Squirrels do give razzberries – to cats and also to dogs – I've seen them do it, though I haven't actually heard the sound. They may be just visual, or perhaps the sound is something only cats and dogs can hear LOL.
I hope your knee is better.
Washington Post: This should be required reading for all Americans. Too many people today are declaring that our founders declared us a Christian nation, and when the espouse religious freedom, they clearly think it pertains only to Christians.
Politico: Very interesting article.
Alternet: I too, hope the Democrats prevail.