Blogging 101 - What not to put on your blog. It burns us - there is this picture of me flopping around in the Merced that evokes the same emotion. It should never see the light of day.

On the way to Matisyahu

Photo taken in route to Matisyahu concert.

I took my son to his first concert last Wednesday at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. My son is 11 and just the right age to expose him to high quality live music. We saw Matisyahu and Michael Franti & Sprearhead. The show was outstanding. There is nothing like a mixture of a Hasidic Jewish crowd, middle class parents with their kids, the ususal posers, and Rastafarians. The mix of cultures was unlike anything I had ever experience before. We had a blast.

Michael Franti was unknown to me. I had heard a few of his songs on KCRW, but did not know much about his music. I loved what I heard, even if the anti-war slant did not play well to the audience. I will be adding him to my music rotation, I thought his music would be a great add to my reggae collection. My son slept through most of Franti’s set. Several bystanders snapped pics of him with their cell phones, so I am sure he is on the net somewhere.

Intermission was covered by the Street Drum Corps – it was painful.

The main act, Matisyahu was outstanding. I’ve been a fan for a few months already and had been looking forward to the show. He did not disappoint. If you would like a more in depth analysis, checkout Pastor Brad’s post, he and I went together with our sons.

I watched my sons eyes light up as he took in the spectacle. The lighting was amazing, the music moving. For a brief time, my son and I held hands and just grooved on the experience. (he’s 11 so he will still holds dad’s hand in public). I can only say that for me the night was all about my son experiencing the joy of live music. I will never forget it.

I should note here that the first concert I took my other son to was MC Hammer and his crew in Long Beach. That’s right, hammer time! Vanilla Ice was supposed to perform, but he cancelled. Like Matisyahu, the experience of taking my son to MC Hammer, despite my distaste for his music, is a memory I will cherish the rest of my life. There is something about music that moves the soul (or in my case, that inner me thingy). I miss my older son, he is out of the house and on his own now. Sometimes, I miss him so bad it hurts – now, where did I put that MC Hammer tape?

Technorati Tags: Matisyahu, Music, LA Culture, Photography

The Atheist Mama watches 30 Days

I have a few guilty pleasures, one of them is getting my fix of the well written and uplifting atheist blog The Atheist Mama. This week she posted on the FX TV show, 30 Days. Based on her post, I watched the show toady (love that Tivo). The premise of this episode is for Atheist Brenda to spend 30 days with the Shores, an evangelical Christian family living in Texas. Brenda must spend 30 days with the Shores while living a Christian lifestyle. The Atheist Mama observed:

Anyway, I think what struck me the most about the show was the fact that the Christians just could not understand how in the hell a person could live without God in their lives. He didn’t understand where their morals came from, or what their purpose for living was. It seems that some Christians see no value to their lives without God. Is that the case?

I felt the show did an adequate job of juxtaposing a rational atheist and decent Christians. Although it was strange at times to fathom the problem Papa Shores had understanding how Brenda could live her live without something to believe in. A concept we atheists understand well is as mysterious to a Christian as belief in a deity is to an atheist.

I am somewhat disappointed that Brenda did not rise to the occasion when a bible study turned towards evolution. Brenda holds several degrees, including a PhD in psychology; it would have been a simple matter for her to refute some of the fundamentalist rants about evolution while interjecting that Darwinism is not a replacement for Christianity with atheists.

One thing that bothered me about this episode was that Brenda did not seem to embrace learning what it means to be a Christian in America today. Instead, the show focused on Christians reacting to atheists. I watched a second episode of 30 days, where a Christian went to live among Muslims in Dearborn Michigan. This episode featured a man who genuinely wanted to learn about the Muslim community he was living in. It was good TV, and much better than “Brenda visits the Christians”. I recommend both episodes highly.

The Atheist Mama also posted her review here.
The photo was borrowed from the Atheist Mama.

Technorati Tags: TV, FX, 30 Days, Atheism, Christianity

Bad news for Dobson

The Atlanta Braves will not mix "Faith Day" with Focus on the Family’s. intolerant conservative agenda.

While the team wouldn't provide a reason for its decision, several gay rights groups on the Web bristled with speculation that Focus on the Family was given the boot for promoting its belief that homosexuality is a social problem comparable to alcoholism, gambling or depression.

I celebrate the small victories.

Technorati Tags: Dobson, Atlanta, , FOTF, Religion, Politics

Dobson wants to screen judges

Florida Family Policy Council, which is affiliated with Dr. James Dobson's Focus on the Family wants to screen judges running for office in Florida. Can you guess what Dobson wants to know?

The council, though, wants to put candidates on the record about how they would rule on - big surprise coming - same-sex marriage, abortion and vouchers to attend religious schools. Council President John Stemberger, a lawyer who is promoting a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Florida, said at a news conference two weeks ago: "It's clear that certain judges may not like this. The public is demanding it."

Technorati Tags: Dobson, Florida, FOTF, Religion, Politics

Shades of Manzanar

File this under scarry, 2 in 5 Americans believe Muslims should carry special ID. A gallup poll produced results showing Many Americans Harbor Strong Bias Against U.S. Muslims. These results are scarry and do not bode well for the future of America's muslims.

America learned a hard lesson once; we put thousands of innocent Japanese citizens in detention centers. During a time of war, America failed to protect one of its minority populations. We will never live the shame down. We must guard against repeating our collective mistake. American Muslims simply share the same religion as the terrorists President Bush calls Islamic fascists. To vilify our Islamic citizens because of a potential link to the terrorists is incondensable. As citizens, they deserve the full protection of the law. Anything less would be counter to the American spirit.

On the other hand, being an American comes with obligations. Organizations like CAIR do not help solve the problem when the fail to link the acts of terrorists to the religion they represent, however misguided that representation may be. CAIR and American Muslims have a moral obligation to stand against the members of their religion who choose use to terror as a weapon of retribution and conquest.

Technorati Tags: Islam, Gallup, Muslim, Terrorism, CAIR

Evolution, it's just a theory

In a follow up to I have no chimpanzees in my familiy, I offer another National Geographic article that asks the question Was Darwin Wrong? We already know that most of the country, at least 50%, thinks evolution is false based on religious grounds alone. Many reject evolution while saying, its just a theory. This statement shows a depth of ignorance that is breathtaking. A scientific theory is not the same as a pet theory about who will win the Super Bowl. A scientific theory is the highest order of truth. To quote the author:

...you might even be tempted to say that it's "just" a theory. In the same sense, relativity as described by Albert Einstein is "just" a theory. The notion that Earth orbits around the sun rather than vice versa, offered by Copernicus in 1543, is a theory. Continental drift is a theory. The existence, structure, and dynamics of atoms? Atomic theory. Even electricity is a theoretical construct, involving electrons, which are tiny units of charged mass that no one has ever seen. Each of these theories is an explanation that has been confirmed to such a degree, by observation and experiment, that knowledgeable experts accept it as fact. That's what scientists mean when they talk about a theory: not a dreamy and unreliable speculation, but an explanatory statement that fits the evidence.

Love that science - hate that ignorance!

Technorati Tags: Evolution, Fundamentalism, Creationism, Science

I have no chimpanzees in my family

National Geographic has a story on a study showing that Evolution Less Accepted in U.S. Than Other Western Countries. Thanks Reagan - as a nation we score below every other western nation except Turkey. I think they added Turkey to the list just so we would not end up dead last.

The team found that individuals with anti-abortion, pro-life views associated with the conservative wing of the Republican Party were significantly more likely to reject evolution than people with pro-choice views. - fundies!

Technorati Tags: Evolution, Fundamentalism, Creationism

The Evangelical Sanhedrin

Don Dart explores the powers behind the evangelical movment in the US and Canada in The Evangelical Sanhedrin and Republicanism. I must admit, I had to look up Sanhedrin. But once I understood the term, Dart's excellent analysis of the roots of evangelical power in the US and Canada was a worthy ready.

The New Evangelicals that emerged throughout and after WW II attempted to define and clarify their identity and denomination as a middle path between a militant, narrow and reactionary fundamentalism and a form of liberalism that had capitulated to modernity and the trends of culture. The Sanhedrin that guided the ship over such turbulent waters did much to make it clear that there was a third way of understanding the faith journey, and such a way need not be liberal nor fundamentalist. Who were the leaders and the institutions/organizations that formed this appealing denominational Sanhedrin? And, what were the faults and failings of such a Sanhedrin?

This article is a keeper. Set aside a few minutes for the read.

Technorati Tags: Evangelicals, Dobson, Religion

Evolution is Unconstitutional

Rudy Takala takes us on a twisted logical journey through Christian apologetics by claming that because inmates are allowed to form an atheist discussion group, then atheism is a religion, and therefore evolution is unconstitutional. I'm not kidding, read it yourself.

...they (atheists) have no right to talk about it in government schools. Because the thought of teaching creationism in schools usually causes liberals to hyperventilate, the thought of teaching evolution or atheism should now have the same effect. What’s the real problem that liberals have with teaching creationism in schools? Do they oppose it because it’s a matter of faith, and not of science? Or do they oppose it because it isn’t their faith? We should know soon, since the predominantly atheist belief in evolution has now been defined as a religious matter.

A reality check is in order. Atheism is simply the doctrine or belief that there is no God. Evolution is a scientific theory unrelated to atheism in any way. Why do some Christians insist the two are linked?

btw - religion is commonly defined as belief concerning the supernatural, sacred, or divine, and the moral codes, practices and institutions associated with such belief. Atheism has everything to do with religion and nothing to do with evolution.

Technorati Tags: Atheism, Evolution, Religion, Logic, Christian apologetics

The Evangelical Left

Reverand Gregory Boyd goes after the The Evangelical Right, and all I can say is oh hell yes!

Although supposedly shunning both political left and right, almost all of Boyd's fire is aimed at conservatives, mostly fellow evangelicals. "I am sorry to tell you," he preached in one 2004 sermon, "that America is not the light of the world and the hope of the world," a view that he ascribes to his targets. He chastised the "hypocrisy and pettiness" of evangelicals who dwell on "sexual issues" like homosexuality and abortion. American evangelicalism, he said, "is guilty of nationalistic and political idolatry."

I've been pressing Pastor Brad to do the same thing. This movement, even if it is led by the religious left, is sorely needed. Preach on Reverend Boyd!


Technorati Tags: Evangelicals, religion, politics, culture wars

Manufactured news

Pallywood is a documentary looking into manufactured Palestinian news clips. All of which are eagerly used by the MSM. It begs the question, how much of what we see is real? Can anything we see be trusted to represent what is really going on in Israel, in Lebanon, or in Iraq? I do not think so.

Hat tip to Bruce Cohen, a California libertarian candidate for Congress.

Technorati Tags: Pallywood, Israel, Palestine, MSM, Youtube, Bruce Cohen

The evangelical web grows

Bob Withers of the Herald Dispatch explores the possible merger of Focus on the Family and the West Virgina Family Policy Council. The merger will focus on social issues such as the sanctity of human life, marriage of one man to one woman, religious liberty, parental rights, constructionist constitutional government and community standards that exclude such activities as gambling and the spread of pornography.

This is scary, James Dobson continues to expand the influence of his FOTF movement. His goal, according to Dr. Phil E. Suiter, president of the Virgina coalition, are to retard the movement of our nation and state away from biblical principles of morality and ethics - news flash: America is a secular nation, not a Christian nation. America must remain free to embrace the religions and ethics of all people. Christianity is only one of many religious in our great nation today. Promoting one religion over another will only led to some level of sectarian strife. Do we really want to walk down the same road as we see in Iraq?


Technorati Tags: Dobson, FOTF, Evangelicals, Religion

American vrs Christian Ideals

Lee Salisbury of Dissident Voice writes that Today, America continues to face the onslaughts of government imposed fundamentalist prayer in schools and the posting of the Ten Commandments. These same fundamentalists led by the likes of Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, James Dobson, Father Richard Neuhaus, etc., etc. want legislation banning stem cell research, women’s reproductive rights, contraception, and sex education.

Salisbury thinks American can weather the storm. I am not so optimistic.

Technorati Tags: Dobson, Fundamentalism

Floyd Landis - another theory

Floyd Landis has disgraced himself and disgraced America. it is fitting that Jay Leno Grilled Landis over his flunked drug test. Landis was only able to offer, maybe it was something I ate. We either believe him, or like Barry rub-some-juice-on-my-back Bonds, we point and yell boo. I'm yelling boo.

The booing holds until we find out that Landis is a gun nut. Because recent studies have shown that handling a gun causes increased testosterone levels. Maybe Landis did a little target shooting after taking cortisone shots, drinking beer with whiskey chasers, taking his thyroid medications, dranking too little water, and suffering the pain of an overacting metabolism. No, Landis should have did a Bonds - Testostowhat? I thought I was getting a back rub.


Technorati Tags:
Cycling, testosterone, cheating, Landis