There sometimes comes a point when I can only shake my head and sigh. The Scarecrow had more brains. If thy rifle scope offends thee, pluck it out (via  Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine)

It’s really interesting to me (and not in a good way) how the sheeple in the public and Congress are so easily swayed by “The Big Lie”. Then again I’m also amazed (and not in a good way) that people hang on every venom-coated word spewed by the “fair and balanced” pundits

You see it everywhere: in the media, in bars, in prayer groups, at rallies. It crosses all races, political orientations, genders,perceived intelligences, and more. What is it? Fear. Not just the fear of ohmygod I’m being chased by an angry grizzly bear

You know, I like to think of myself as a fair-minded individual. In the past few years, courts, and now state legislatures, have begun approving of same-sex marriages. Given the numbers of conservative-minded folk in the United States, is it no wonder that there has been a vocal backlash of sorts? I have to say, I’m totally amazed that this is really an issue at all.

The concept of soul ages isn’t exactly new or unique. Religions that espouse reincarnation are built on this very concept. But can you tell? Is there some say to determine if a person’s soul is young, old, or somewhere in between? What does it matter?

This holiday season I had some very interesting encounters. As I offered a Merappiful Chrismukkwansoltivusuleday to people that I’d meet, I found something very curious: there are more pagans out in the world than you’d generally assume. I’m not talking robe-wearing, pentacle-dripping pagans (let’s face, if you’re dressed like that you’ll be easy to spot), [...]

Since I was a teenager, I’ve been on a search trying to understand faith. After much reading, listening, debating, contemplation, and so forth, I had an epiphany. Suddenly the niggling confusions became non-confusions. The core of just about everything came together.

I was talking to my brother about how the Black and Latino communities in California scuttled the gay marriage issue with Proposition 8. While we were discussing the you-scratch-my-back-I’ll-stab-yours aspects of this dirty business, he proposed this: remove marriage from being a government consideration for everyone.

People who have a strong faith—you know, religious God-fearing people—confound me. They talk a good game, but when life comes around they seem that much more susceptible to temptations. Is their devotion because they recognize that weakness in themselves and want to be better? Is that why the slips seem more glaring?
Of course the poster [...]

I’ve been amazed how religious people have been such a large part of my life as I’ve always walked to the beat of my own bagpiper when it comes to faith issues. If I thought that there was a reason behind things that we do, I’d be confounded by wondering if it was because they [...]