Daily Meme

A question for religious people.

2009-02-12T17:10:56.454-05:00

Specifically, a question for people who presume the existence of a singular Almighty deity, a Supreme Being, a King Of Kings, that sort of thing. Would it matter to you if this being, while fully in charge of our universe, was itself subject to some other authority? Would it change the way you deal with your deity of choice?

What I mean is this: imagine that your prayers are answered and your chosen deity offers you to have a conversation about any topic you like over a nice cup of tea. Naturally, your first question is some variant of the classic "If you created everything then who created you?" conundrum. And your deity of choice chuckles and says, "My deity created me, of course. And then he put me in charge of you. And," the deity seems to anticipate your next question, not surprisingliy, "don't even think about it. You couldn't possibly begin to comprehend the entity that I answer to. I'm in charge of this-here reality, the one in which you live, and I'm the one you want to keep worshipping. Capiche?". And then he checks his wristwatch, conveys to you without words a deep undertsanding that He's Got To Go, and disappears in a puff of sweat-smelling smoke.

What do you do? This deity is still all-powerful as far as you're concerned, except He just told you there He has less than total autonomy in some dimension beyond your comprehension. Does this affect your relationship?

Some thoughts of indeterminate depth.

2008-12-25T16:12:40.913-05:00

Progressivism is the opposite of conservatism, while liberalism opposes authoritarianism.

The left-right dichotomy is at its most authoritarian around the endpoints - communism on the left, fascism , monarchy and other dictatorial schema on the right. On that scale, liberalism occupies, nay, owns the metaphorical center. It represents the ultimately moderate viewpoint, the plateau at the top of the bell curve.

Which is why to hear right-wingers (who typically call themselves conservatives) call liberals "leftists" is to laugh. But when liberals accepts such framing and self-identify as leftists, they are not helping their cause. This does nothing but dilute, and pollute, the brand.

Bankrupt Newspaper Editorial

2008-12-24T12:37:15.6-05:00

On behalf of the American people, we hereby forgive the Bush administration for all the crimes it has committed against the American people.

If you ever wondered why I don't hide my head in shame every day then consider the fact that nobody disputes the inate decency of a man everybody knows to be a warmonger as well as a liar who routinely bears false witness while I am not a warmonger so how could I be any less decent?

2008-05-27T21:44:18.475-04:00

Of Richard Cohen's op-ed today, my favorite part is this:

All it takes is a decent regard for when history says not to talk -- and when it says to listen.

Richard Cohen tells us how he feels every Tuesday, come rain or shine.

In other venues - you can always count on uggabugga for the numbers, and Attaturk pours words on the crier at firedoglake.

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2005-07-20T03:00:00-04:00

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