A few quotes

We do not oppose exposing our children to philosophical and spiritual discussion around the origin and meaning of life. There are appropriate venues for such discussion -- but not in the context of teaching science in a public school science classroom.

We have come together -- people of science and people of faith –
Erwin Chemerinsky Defcon

We are a community of people who do not check our brains at the door when we go to church, or check our faith at the door when we leave-
Anonymous?

I'm reminded of Emma Goldman's famous sound-bite: "If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution." I think I would join my wife in saying if I can't dance, I want no part of your religion. Give me a religion that not only sings but celebrates, that indulges in color and art and ritual and mystery. Give me a religion where bells ring and incense wafts and people respond with gesture and movement. Give me a religion where silence means something and the entire love of the universe can inexplicably be discerned in something as utterly ordinary as bread and wine.
Earthmystic

Nothing is more dangerous to the advancement of God's kingdom than religion. But this is what Christianity has become. Do you not know that it is possible to kill Christ with such Christianity? After all, what is more important - Christianity or Christ? And I'll say even more: we can kill Christ with the Bible! Which is greater: the Bible or Christ? Yes, we can even kill Christ with our prayers. When we approach God with our prayers full of self-love and self-satisfaction, when the aim of our prayers is to make our world great, our prayers are in vain.
--C.F. Blumhardt

Says Farid:
I thought I was alone who suffered.
I went on top of the house,
And found every house on fire.

Baba Sheikh Farid (1173-1266)

A little while back the corporate right redefined liberal to mean those who want to give handouts to lazy people, create drive-thru abortion clinics and dismantle the military in favor of mime troops. Okay, fine. That has now become the accepted definition. Well done. But of late I've noticed that liberal now means anyone who disagrees in any way with how the Bush White House is leading our nation. So according to recent polls 61% of our nation are now whining liberals. Why does it feel like this will end like an old Twilight Zone episode with W under his desk, covered in sweat, whimpering "There's liberals everywhere...there's liberals in my salad...in my shoes! Liberals!!!"? When men like Richard Clarke and Paul O'Neil fall under the heading of liberal you know the label has run out of gas.
-Adam Mckay

Tomorrow - as I often do whenever I pray -I will ask God to guard my friends who were murdered on 9-11, and my cousin who is currently serving in Iraq.

I will even say a prayer for George W. Bush.

No, I won't ask the good lord to bless the man's cape, crown and scepter - but I will pray for our commander in chief's forgiveness and deliverance... I will pray that when the time comes for our president and his chamberlains to see the true suffering they could have prevented, the merciful god in whom I believe won't reveal it to them in such devastating detail as to cause their fragile souls much harm.

Javier Grillo-Marxuach- "Lost" writer.

I know some of you think that "religion is crazy, so why do you still pay attention." But the simple fact is that billions of people follow an organized religion. They are a fact of life and a force in the world -- people of faith need to push to make certain they're a force for good. This battle will help determine that for the Catholic Church and it's one war I heartily endorse.
John Aravosis

The truth is that some of the greatest scientists in history -- Einstein, Isaac Newton -- have been people of faith. And for most major religions, there is no conflict between religious belief and the latest scientific findings.
(John Aravosis)

I got an email the other day and it said, "Cindy if you didn't use so much profanity... there's people on the fence that get offended."
And you know what I said? "You know what? You know what, god damn it? How in the world is anybody still sitting on that fence?"
"If you fall on the side that is pro-George and pro-war, you get your ass over to Iraq, and take the place of somebody who wants to come home. And if you fall on the side that is against this war and against George Bush, stand up and speak out."
Cindy Sheehan

If you choose to respond to this ramble, please refrain from bringing up the bible verses here, unless you do not receive any income from interest and don't have any graven images hanging on your wall. I don't buy the "it's about the authority of scripture" argument. Not only don't I buy it, I think it is dishonest, and get offended when the bible is wielded like a weapon to cut down those who don't neatly fit into a thumper's imaginary cookie cutter world.

I'm convinced it's not about the bible at all. What I suspect is that those in the Church opposed to allowing a person to choose their life partner are acting out of the "ick factor." Some folks imagine what couples are doing in private, and find it icky. To be quite honest, if some of the stories I've heard are true, what goes on between some married couples is pretty disgusting to me. I mean, sucking toes??? That's just downright depraved.
Father Jake

"Right now, the most serious threats to the fundamental rights and liberties in our nation are not coming from a lack of God's interest but from a small group of religious right leaders who have assumed the mantle of national religious authorities and seek to impose on the whole nation and its constitution their particular views on religion, the courts, politics, and justice...

Ted Gaddy, president of Interfaith Alliance

Now, the religious believer asks, where does God the creator feature in this scientific scenario? If one believes in God's loving relationship with his creation, and especially with the human beings made in his image and likeness, and if one also respects the science described above, then there are marvelous opportunities to renew one's faith in God's relationship to his creation.
Father George Coyne (chief astronomer at the Vatican)

To imagine, to dream, to hope--to me, these things are as essential to the future of Christianity as anything else. If every answer to every question found in scripture, then how am I to live a life of worship? Is it really God's hope for me that I should memorize and know all the answers? Seems a little robotic for the same God who so loved the world that all the people in it were given free will, no?

Bad Christian