The air is thick with gray smoke and the sun is blood red when you can see it (the moon was positively eerie last night!) as the fires continue to rage through Northern California. The Concow fire (called the Oroville fire on the national news) is about 2 1/2 miles away and as of right now highway 70 to the north is shut down at Big Bend, leaving us but one way out of the area in the event of emergency. Our house is not under any evacuation notices or orders and unless the winds really stir up we should be should be fine here. The firefights say that if the wind cooperates they may have this fire under control by tonight. We're praying.
But if the smoke gets much worse I'll have to leave as the smoke is beginning hurt my already weak lungs. If that happens, I may not be at a computer for a while.
Also, a fond farewell to George Carlin, a truly unique and fascinating entertainer. I will always remember him as will my son (but he remembers him as Mr. Conductor on Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends hehe).
"The Seven Dirty Words You Can't Say On TV"
(Note this video contains a LOT of profanity. Don't watch it if this will offend you)
(Note this video contains a LOT of profanity. Don't watch it if this will offend you)
And finally...
Another of my replies to an AllExperts question in the Bible Studies Category: On Worship and Religious Extremism
Question: How important is "worship" to "faith," and how does it define a religious or spiritual person? What does it matter who or what a person worships? How does one keep worship reasonable?
My reply:
Hi Sara,
I believe this is a homework question and as I explain on my info page, I don't usually answer such question due to requests by several teachers.
I will say though that one must first define what "worship" is. Is worship attending services, reciting prayers, performing rites, submitting to rules, etc.
As I define the word, worship is the natural byproduct of faith. For one who truly believes, worship is life. Life is the "sacrifice of praise" as the Bible puts it.
Most people, the vast majority, are not "religious" in the sense that religion makes any practical impact on their daily lives. Most people are not irreligious, but most are non-religious. They "do" church, temple, etc. but religion has little meaning in their daily life (Rev. 3:15-20).
What or who one worships is all important, on one hand, but on another it doesn't matter much. It depends on what one is considering important.
For a true believer it is all important. Worship should be exclusively applied to God (as conceived). Worshiping a tree is nothing... unless one is a Druid.... and that's the point. Worship is the natural reaction to the spiritual realization of divinity however concieved and so the object of that worship is vital and automatic. For most Christians worshiping HaShem or Allah or Jesus is essential, but for the Jew or Muslim worshiping Jesus is sinful (even idolatry) and so on. Who is worshiped (and who is not) is vital. Most Christians will say they don't worship Allah, most Muslims will say they don't worship HaShem and so on but Allah and HaShem are bother merely titles of the God of Abraham.
On the other hand, faith and worship promotes morality, social stability and a sense of community that is beneficial regardless of the object of worship. If we are one, due to shared belief etc. we are community and will naturally support one another.
What is "reasonable?" The current war against "religious extremism" (I'm not talking about the US war against Islam here but the concept of opposing "religious extremism") is really an attack on religious faith in general. Those who sincerely follow any religious teaching will be viewed as "extremists" by those who don't. The move today is toward Secular Humanism and anyone who rejects this "new" religion and maintains devotion to the older religions (be it Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, etc.) will be branded as a "religious extremist" by the growing Secular Humanist majority, just as many Christians regard Hindus as "heathens" and Islam views most Christians and Jews as "infidels" and so on. Most religions (not all) have this trait and Secular Humanism has it in spades.
For instance, for a Christian to say that "Jesus is the only way to God" and that all others are destined to go to Hell is an "extremist" view according most non-Christians. For most Christians however it is an essential article of faith.
All religions are "reasonable" if one accepts the paradigm upon which they are based. This is why I converted into so many different religions rather than studying them exclusively from without.
Hope this helps,
~John of AllFaith
Another of my replies to an AllExperts question in the Bible Studies Category: On Worship and Religious Extremism
Question: How important is "worship" to "faith," and how does it define a religious or spiritual person? What does it matter who or what a person worships? How does one keep worship reasonable?
My reply:
Hi Sara,
I believe this is a homework question and as I explain on my info page, I don't usually answer such question due to requests by several teachers.
I will say though that one must first define what "worship" is. Is worship attending services, reciting prayers, performing rites, submitting to rules, etc.
As I define the word, worship is the natural byproduct of faith. For one who truly believes, worship is life. Life is the "sacrifice of praise" as the Bible puts it.
Most people, the vast majority, are not "religious" in the sense that religion makes any practical impact on their daily lives. Most people are not irreligious, but most are non-religious. They "do" church, temple, etc. but religion has little meaning in their daily life (Rev. 3:15-20).
What or who one worships is all important, on one hand, but on another it doesn't matter much. It depends on what one is considering important.
For a true believer it is all important. Worship should be exclusively applied to God (as conceived). Worshiping a tree is nothing... unless one is a Druid.... and that's the point. Worship is the natural reaction to the spiritual realization of divinity however concieved and so the object of that worship is vital and automatic. For most Christians worshiping HaShem or Allah or Jesus is essential, but for the Jew or Muslim worshiping Jesus is sinful (even idolatry) and so on. Who is worshiped (and who is not) is vital. Most Christians will say they don't worship Allah, most Muslims will say they don't worship HaShem and so on but Allah and HaShem are bother merely titles of the God of Abraham.
On the other hand, faith and worship promotes morality, social stability and a sense of community that is beneficial regardless of the object of worship. If we are one, due to shared belief etc. we are community and will naturally support one another.
What is "reasonable?" The current war against "religious extremism" (I'm not talking about the US war against Islam here but the concept of opposing "religious extremism") is really an attack on religious faith in general. Those who sincerely follow any religious teaching will be viewed as "extremists" by those who don't. The move today is toward Secular Humanism and anyone who rejects this "new" religion and maintains devotion to the older religions (be it Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, etc.) will be branded as a "religious extremist" by the growing Secular Humanist majority, just as many Christians regard Hindus as "heathens" and Islam views most Christians and Jews as "infidels" and so on. Most religions (not all) have this trait and Secular Humanism has it in spades.
For instance, for a Christian to say that "Jesus is the only way to God" and that all others are destined to go to Hell is an "extremist" view according most non-Christians. For most Christians however it is an essential article of faith.
All religions are "reasonable" if one accepts the paradigm upon which they are based. This is why I converted into so many different religions rather than studying them exclusively from without.
Hope this helps,
~John of AllFaith
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