Perhaps in his state, but in Massachusetts, that would be the Corporations Division of the Department of the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Office.
posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 9:29 AM
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Of course, he wants you not to support them, which is enough for me to stop by them every chance I get.
posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 9:25 AM
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... Glenn is a devout evangelical Christian who embraces a view called Theistic Evolution (TE). This is the faith based position that the universe, the solar system, the earth, and the history of life up to and including the evolution of anatomically modern humans from earlier primates, were created by God using processes created by same which humans can understand and explain to some degree through careful scientific investigation. In this view there is no contradiction possible even in principle between believing in a Creator and any valid facts gleaned from studying that Creation. Technically this could be considered a form of Creationism as it assumes a Creator Deity which produced the universe and everything in it. But if so, Theistic Evolution is the only form of creationism which is 100% fully consistent with modern science. So I represent Glenn as such with his permission and as an admirable example of an honest Christian in the hope that anyone reading this doesn't get the idea that Know Your IDCists is a thinly veiled series seeking to bash Christians out of sheer malice by tarring them all with the embarrassment of a few fanatical anti-science extremists. ...Interesting concept. If I were a Believer, that's what I'd believe. But I'm not, so I don't.
A tip of the hat to Street Prophets.
posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 8:12 AM
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I would venture that the two pillars that holds this diverse faith together are: 1) mutual support for each individuals search for truth and meaning, or as it is more likely to be said in our time, for their own deep spirituality, and 2) that religious community, created by mutual covenant of the faithful is called to witness to a vision of community that is more the aggregate of the individuals who have assembled. The second is a reformulation in contemporary terms of the vision of the church universal. The most common language among Unitarian Universalists to describe this vision today is “the beloved community.”I think there are two relevent questions: 1) What holds UUs together, and to me more importantly, 2) what makes us different - what differentiates us.
I expect he's right in saying that community holds us together. The thing is, we're not the only religion that community holds together. So to me, community, while essential, isn't the cosmicly interesting thing about our religion. Rather, I think it's his first pillar: mutual support for each individual's search for truth and meaning. Isn't that what have that no other religion has?
posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 7:41 AM
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4. The office staff's desks don't become public property on Sundays when they aren't in.
The computer has a password because there is private financial information in it, as well as emails of a personal nature from parishoners to the office. Don't hack the password just because you want to print the lyrics to this is my favorite song and I want to read it during Joys and Concerns and forgot them at home. The markers belong in the marker drawer, the lables are for mailings not name tags, the expensive paper that was hidden below the desk is for Canvass, not your Sunday School fold-up activity, and File Folders are not a substitute for oak tag posters. And used tissues go in the TRASH.
posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 7:31 AM
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... The Commission on Appraisal is looking for a topic for its next big study, and in that it is apparent that how the Association and its congregations express themselves on social justice and peace issues has become a persistent controversy among some Unitarian Universalists. ...
posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 7:24 AM
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Thank goodness she's being defended by the ACLU.
posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 1:41 PM
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Three days after Rep. Jean Schmidt was booed off the House floor for saying that "cowards cut and run, Marines never do," the Ohioan she quoted disputed the comments.Danny Bubp, a freshman state representative who is a colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve, told The Enquirer that he never mentioned Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., by name when talking with Schmidt, and he would never call a fellow Marine a coward.
"The unfortunate thing about all of that is that her choice of words on the floor of the House - I don't know, she's a freshman, she had one minute.
"Unfortunately, they came out wrong," said Bubp, R-West Union.
posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 8:34 AM
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... This issue of Mother Jones is dedicated to illuminating the interplay between conservative Christianity and the U.S. government. We regard the movement’s history, chart its arteries of funding and influence, and locate its wellsprings of support and aspiration. And we also show how such national issues as Intelligent Design and the death penalty are being debated within the church. It’s been more than 200 years since the founders established the separation of church and state. The assault on that principle now under way promises to alter not only our form of government but our concept of religion as well.A tip of the hat to The Revealer.
posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 7:46 AM
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... Most religious liberal congregations consist of people who think they are free, but are bound by consumerism, conformity to social norms, and “the demands of the work ethic.“ Inviting these free agents to a consideration that they might be enslaved to these ”systems“ is hard work, but necessary for transformation. It does not lend itself to proclamation, and scolding. ...
posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 7:58 AM
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AMERICANS' outpouring of support for those who have suffered from natural disasters, either from the tsunami, the earthquake in Pakistan and India, or Hurricane Katrina, shows true generosity of spirit. Americans offered millions of dollars to clothe, feed, and shelter those who have lost everything.Federal and state governments housed victims in stadiums and military barracks and spent millions of dollars to maintain in motels people who have nowhere else to live. But what about those with no homes who weren't victims of a natural disaster? Are they any less worthy of our concern, generosity, or of a governmental response to address their needs?
Each Thursday I and judges throughout the state hear cases involving the eviction of tenants who can no longer afford to live in their apartment or house. Who are these people? ...
posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 11:49 AM
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I think that's a lovely idea. Problem is, if I were someone who felt like painting swastikas all over town, I'm not going to say "woops, can't do that in this town 'cause it's a hate free zone!".
I think this is another case of preaching to the choir.
posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 7:22 AM
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The talent, intellect, and entrepreneurial spirit of the American people have made this nation the leader in economic and technological advancements. House Democrats believe American leadership is fueled by national investments in an educated and skilled workforce, groundbreaking federal research and development by public and private sectors, and a steadfast commitment to being the most competitive and innovative nation in the world.We must make the decision now to ensure that America remains the world leader. Working with leaders from the high-technology, venture capital, academic, biotech and telecommunications sectors, we have identified and are committed to priorities that will guarantee our national security and prosperity, expand markets for American products, and assert economic leadership throughout the world. Together, America can do better.
posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 8:22 AM
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posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 10:32 AM
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Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson warned residents of a rural Pennsylvania town Thursday that disaster may strike there because they "voted God out of your city" by ousting school board members who favored teaching intelligent design.Someone should come up with a new name for Robertson's religion, because it sure doesn't fall under any definition of Christianity I'm familiar with.All eight Dover, Pa., school board members up for re-election were defeated Tuesday after trying to introduce "intelligent design" - the belief that the universe is so complex that it must have been created by a higher power - as an alternative to the theory of evolution.
"I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: If there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God. You just rejected him from your city," Robertson said on the Christian Broadcasting Network's "700 Club." ...
posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 7:11 AM
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There need be nothing inconsistent about this position. The first view, that abortion is morally impermissible, is a moral or ethical view. The second view, that each woman should be permitted to choose for herself whether to have an abortion, is a political view, one about what laws a state ought to have. The combination is therefore consistent so long as one denies that, if it is morally impermissible to do A, then it ought to be illegal to do A. ...
posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 9:17 AM
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posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 9:03 AM
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SEATTLE, Nov. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Kansas today became the fifth state in the nation to adopt science standards that encourage students to learn both the strengths and weaknesses of Darwinian evolution.Oh please. Please. Nothing like redefining the word science."This is a big victory for the students of Kansas, providing them with full-disclosure of the scientific debate about Darwinism going on between scientists and in the scientific literature, so we're very pleased," said Casey Luskin, program officer for public policy and legal affairs with Discovery Institute's Center for Science & Culture.
The science standards adopted in Kansas emphasize that they do not include teaching of intelligent design. Instead they require students to learn the scientific evidence for and against Darwinian evolution. Discovery Institute strongly believes that schools should require only that the scientific evidence for and against neo-Darwinism be taught, while not infringing on the academic freedom of teachers to present appropriate information about intelligent design if they choose.
"In every case Darwinists have tried to say there is no controversy and in every case they were wrong," said Luskin. "Kansas now joins Ohio and three other states in recognizing that there is a legitimate scientific controversy and there are credible scientific criticisms of evolution."
In 2002, Ohio became the first state to require students to learn about scientific evidence critical of neo-Darwinian theory, adopting a benchmark that says students should know "how scientists continue to investigate and critically analyze aspects of evolutionary theory." Pennsylvania, Minnesota and New Mexico have also adopted similar standards calling for critical analysis of the scientific evidence both for and against neo-Darwinian theory, as have individual school districts around the country.
posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 8:30 AM
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The American Civil Liberties Union and award-winning producer/director Robert Greenwald (Outfoxed, Unconstitutional) have teamed up to create The ACLU Freedom Files, a revolutionary new series of ten 30-minute episodes. The series, produced and directed by Jeremy Kagan, explores current civil liberties issues, featuring well-known actors, comedians and activists, along with actual civil liberties clients and the attorneys who represent them.
posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 7:07 PM
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Why is liberal religion is fading from the American scene? There’s more than one reason, but I’m not going to point the finger of blame at some other group. I’m going to look at my own profession, ministry, and show how we ministers are helping to cause the decline of liberal religion.He may well be right, as far as he goes. My church is about 125 members (could be quite a few more, but we do a pretty good job of paring down the membership list to reflect only people who really are acting as members). We've said for a while that we're a small church acting as a medium church in a physical environment suited to a large church. Besides our senior minister, we have a wonderful affiliate minister as well as a new ministerial intern, all of whom - by and large - play the roles to which they are best suited.
As was conceptually noted in The Almost Church, we'd quickly be large if we could manage to keep a significant number of those people who walk into our church for the first time each Sunday morning.
posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 12:31 PM
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The INPM is dedicated to advancing health, spirituality, peace and human fulfillment through research, education and applied psychology with a focus on the universal human quest for meaning and purpose.Thanks, Sis :)
posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 7:49 AM
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... The society in which Unitarian Universalists do ministry is very stressful, and the social support systems for most people in our society are weak or non existent. Churches are places where people come who need help, and some of these needy people present “mental health” problems. In many of our churches as many of a quarter of the membership is clinically depressed, and a significant number will tell you that they are “borderline.” Narcissism is our most common character disorder and it can present as a “right to express myself” with demands and tantrums. Narcissism denied takes the form of long term antagonism. Other clergy will point out that I haven’t even mentioned passive aggressive styles among board members, and burnout among volunteers. ...And there's more.
posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 2:48 PM
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Gotta love it. A tip of the hat to Scott Shields at MyDD.
posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 8:52 AM
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Thoughts about liberal religion (I'm a Unitarian Universalist), liberal/progressive politics, and increasingly more other subjects.
