Listening to a segment on morning radio titled 'how do you deal with Mormons' driving to work today, I was reminded of a visit from the Mormons that I had over 5 years ago, at a previous residence. The results from the callers to the station ranged from suitably polite, through mildly impolite, to spectacularly bad-taste.
The Mormons that came to my door offered me a copy of their Book of Mormon, which I took. They did return a week or so later asking "Are you going to join us?"
"No fellas, I haven't read all of your book yet..." They seemed a little dismayed. Which I thought they'd have been used to after fifteen months of their mission. I wonder what their success rate is? Long story short, we moved a few weeks later and I never saw them again. I've still got their Book of Mormon, though. Still mostly unread.
The Mormons haven't come to the new place in 5 years, but the Seventh Day Adventists have been a couple of times. One pair landed on Easter Sunday, so I wished them a happy Easter, partly realising they don't necessarily partake of Easter as Catholics do. The other family called by a couple of times, until they were told Catholicism Lives Here, and will do so for a long time to come.
To an extent, its the Catholic Missionary taken to grass roots in a community with an already-established religious bent. Can Mormon missions be compared to Catholic missionaries of the 1800's, preaching and converting Africa, Amazonian tribes, etc?
Insert tagline here...
Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Let's Mess with Texas
I read this article on the Sydney Morning Herald website this morning, and had to marvel at what a system the US education board setups are. To learn a little more, read the Wiki articles on US Education, School Board and School District. In the District article, it notes that Texas has a unique setup. This is also noted here.
"Texas — Here, "Independent" denotes that the district is separate from any county- or municipal-level entity. All of the state's school districts, with only one exception (Stafford Municipal School District), are independent of any municipal or county control. Moreover, school district boundaries rarely coincide with municipal limits or county lines. Most districts use the term "Independent School District" in their name; in the few cases where the term "Common School District" is used the district is still an independent governmental entity."
Texan School Districts are actively independent, answering to none but themselves it appears. And the power they wield seems very strong, as the reference to textbooks and other states following suit would attest. As for the curriculum, one new board member refers to changes being made as 'corrections'.
"Those corrections prompted a blizzard of accusations of rewriting history and indoctrinating children by promoting right-wing views on religion, economics and guns while diminishing the science of evolution, the civil rights movement and the horrors of slavery."
It continues: "Several changes include sidelining Thomas Jefferson, who favoured separation of church and state, while introducing a new focus on the ''significant contributions'' of pro-slavery Confederate leaders during the civil war. Study of Sir Isaac Newton is dropped in favour of examining scientific advances through military technology.
The education board has dropped references to the slave trade in favour of calling it the ''Atlantic triangular trade'', and recasts the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as driven by Islamic fundamentalism."
They're very savage 'corrections'. Dilution and rewriting of history, selective quoting and paraphrasing of historical events, non-separation of church and state, and a belief in the US as the worlds moral flagship are all on the cards. There are glaringly obvious things there that are seemingly at odds with a christian viewpoint of morals and ethics, even as I have been taught and shown to understand them. Can someone explain how slavery was a positive act of history?
And of course, underlying all this is the Intelligent Design or Creationism argument that is ever so popular among the US christian movements. While many are happy to tout the line "teach ID and evolutionary science side by side", the reality seems to be "teach ID, mention evolution as an alternative...in that order".
I often wonder whether fundamentalists would get voted in if everyone was obliged to vote on matters such as this. It possibly reflects a lack of care, or more likely an over-zealousness on the part of the religious elements, that this is even happening in the first place.
Insert tagline here...
"Texas — Here, "Independent" denotes that the district is separate from any county- or municipal-level entity. All of the state's school districts, with only one exception (Stafford Municipal School District), are independent of any municipal or county control. Moreover, school district boundaries rarely coincide with municipal limits or county lines. Most districts use the term "Independent School District" in their name; in the few cases where the term "Common School District" is used the district is still an independent governmental entity."
Texan School Districts are actively independent, answering to none but themselves it appears. And the power they wield seems very strong, as the reference to textbooks and other states following suit would attest. As for the curriculum, one new board member refers to changes being made as 'corrections'.
"Those corrections prompted a blizzard of accusations of rewriting history and indoctrinating children by promoting right-wing views on religion, economics and guns while diminishing the science of evolution, the civil rights movement and the horrors of slavery."
It continues: "Several changes include sidelining Thomas Jefferson, who favoured separation of church and state, while introducing a new focus on the ''significant contributions'' of pro-slavery Confederate leaders during the civil war. Study of Sir Isaac Newton is dropped in favour of examining scientific advances through military technology.
The education board has dropped references to the slave trade in favour of calling it the ''Atlantic triangular trade'', and recasts the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as driven by Islamic fundamentalism."
They're very savage 'corrections'. Dilution and rewriting of history, selective quoting and paraphrasing of historical events, non-separation of church and state, and a belief in the US as the worlds moral flagship are all on the cards. There are glaringly obvious things there that are seemingly at odds with a christian viewpoint of morals and ethics, even as I have been taught and shown to understand them. Can someone explain how slavery was a positive act of history?
And of course, underlying all this is the Intelligent Design or Creationism argument that is ever so popular among the US christian movements. While many are happy to tout the line "teach ID and evolutionary science side by side", the reality seems to be "teach ID, mention evolution as an alternative...in that order".
I often wonder whether fundamentalists would get voted in if everyone was obliged to vote on matters such as this. It possibly reflects a lack of care, or more likely an over-zealousness on the part of the religious elements, that this is even happening in the first place.
Insert tagline here...
Monday, July 21, 2008
The Pope and The Dope
First to The Pope...
We've just come out of a thing called World Youth Day here in Sydney. World Youth Week is probably a more correct moniker though, as it did seem to extend for more than a simple Day.
From dozens of youths gathered at bus stops about my area, climbing onto buses with scraps of paper with billet addresses on them, to the posters on every church, school and spare skerrick of advertising space, World Youth Day has been going for months really. The Pope came in on Thursday, staying at a nice little Opus Dei centre, before partaking of his duties and celebrations.
Road closures started on the Saturday night for the Sunday mass at Randwick Racecourse, something the punters and horse-folk alike had been lamenting, fighting, and ultimately compensated for. Out of Government coffers, of course. You can’t expect the Catholic Church to pay for putting other people out. The Pope said mass for the masses, and this morning was leaving the country bound for...some other place.
This morning the deputy Premier was stating on the radio that the whole thing was a 'huge success', as the images of Sydney would have gained worldwide exposure amongst the Catholic world. The airport is expecting a very busy day as thousands of pilgrims fly out, not bothering to look around at the city and its environs after coming for mass. I fail to see how it’s boosted our image. I'm sorry, but if you didn’t know where Sydney was, or seen any images of it prior to coming for WYD, then you aren’t likely to come for any other reason.
I wonder how much of a windfall WYD has been for the state? The Church asks the state to shut a racecourse for them, compensate the people put out by the event, had roads closed and traffic diverted, and no doubt put one heck of a bulge in the infrastructure.
If you're one of the richest organisations in the world, can't you be expected to pay for the cost of mounting some of the event?
The splinter groups and outsiders wanted a say, and it seems the church is a veritable goldmine for controversy. The 'annoying pilgrims' law that was passed created a fair hoo-ha, but doesn’t seem to have been used, except maybe a few odd times. The pictures on the news of three people dressed as giant condoms handing out condoms in a churchyard was a little overt. And the sexual abuse groups demanded the Pope's personal apology for the previous sins of the church-appointed priests. You can’t be responsible for everyone in your organisation, and there comes a time when you've just got to distance yourself from some people. You can apologise, but you wont undo what others have wrought. If your faith is that strong, then be assured that the abuser is bound for downstairs, and your own selves, by forgiveness, are going to the man up top with all haste.
And now for The Dope...
The Tour de France is on again, and entering week two we've already had four or five guys busted for EPO in various states. One team has withdrawn because of it, after winning three stages in their colours. Another is down to 4 riders through doping and injury.
But, that said, its still exciting to watch the guys you believe are clean. An Australian, Cadel Evans, leading for a handful of days. Another Australian, Simon Gerrans, winning a stage overnight. A Manxman winning 4 stages in one edition through a thunderous turn of pace. Frenchmen, Italians, Australians, Spaniards and Belgians all out front, showing the international flavour the race enjoys.
A loose crank arm derailed my own Tour de Parkway on Sunday afternoon. It makes me wonder how much these guys train, and the array of doctors and legal drug assistance that the riders have to make the 21-stage race in the times they do. Sure, anyone can ride for 6 hours, even through some discomfort, but to do it at the speeds they do, and for 21 days out of 23 is an amazing feat.
Insert tagline here...
We've just come out of a thing called World Youth Day here in Sydney. World Youth Week is probably a more correct moniker though, as it did seem to extend for more than a simple Day.
From dozens of youths gathered at bus stops about my area, climbing onto buses with scraps of paper with billet addresses on them, to the posters on every church, school and spare skerrick of advertising space, World Youth Day has been going for months really. The Pope came in on Thursday, staying at a nice little Opus Dei centre, before partaking of his duties and celebrations.
Road closures started on the Saturday night for the Sunday mass at Randwick Racecourse, something the punters and horse-folk alike had been lamenting, fighting, and ultimately compensated for. Out of Government coffers, of course. You can’t expect the Catholic Church to pay for putting other people out. The Pope said mass for the masses, and this morning was leaving the country bound for...some other place.
This morning the deputy Premier was stating on the radio that the whole thing was a 'huge success', as the images of Sydney would have gained worldwide exposure amongst the Catholic world. The airport is expecting a very busy day as thousands of pilgrims fly out, not bothering to look around at the city and its environs after coming for mass. I fail to see how it’s boosted our image. I'm sorry, but if you didn’t know where Sydney was, or seen any images of it prior to coming for WYD, then you aren’t likely to come for any other reason.
I wonder how much of a windfall WYD has been for the state? The Church asks the state to shut a racecourse for them, compensate the people put out by the event, had roads closed and traffic diverted, and no doubt put one heck of a bulge in the infrastructure.
If you're one of the richest organisations in the world, can't you be expected to pay for the cost of mounting some of the event?
The splinter groups and outsiders wanted a say, and it seems the church is a veritable goldmine for controversy. The 'annoying pilgrims' law that was passed created a fair hoo-ha, but doesn’t seem to have been used, except maybe a few odd times. The pictures on the news of three people dressed as giant condoms handing out condoms in a churchyard was a little overt. And the sexual abuse groups demanded the Pope's personal apology for the previous sins of the church-appointed priests. You can’t be responsible for everyone in your organisation, and there comes a time when you've just got to distance yourself from some people. You can apologise, but you wont undo what others have wrought. If your faith is that strong, then be assured that the abuser is bound for downstairs, and your own selves, by forgiveness, are going to the man up top with all haste.
And now for The Dope...
The Tour de France is on again, and entering week two we've already had four or five guys busted for EPO in various states. One team has withdrawn because of it, after winning three stages in their colours. Another is down to 4 riders through doping and injury.
But, that said, its still exciting to watch the guys you believe are clean. An Australian, Cadel Evans, leading for a handful of days. Another Australian, Simon Gerrans, winning a stage overnight. A Manxman winning 4 stages in one edition through a thunderous turn of pace. Frenchmen, Italians, Australians, Spaniards and Belgians all out front, showing the international flavour the race enjoys.
A loose crank arm derailed my own Tour de Parkway on Sunday afternoon. It makes me wonder how much these guys train, and the array of doctors and legal drug assistance that the riders have to make the 21-stage race in the times they do. Sure, anyone can ride for 6 hours, even through some discomfort, but to do it at the speeds they do, and for 21 days out of 23 is an amazing feat.
Insert tagline here...
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
What is it with Christians?
What part of scientific fact can you dispute by looking at a book that may or may not have been written owing to the influence of one man several thousand years ago?
Now a group called Answers in Genesis in the US, where this Creationism furphy seems to be rife, have opened the Creation Museum in Kentucky.
Some quotes from the article (smh.com.au, May 28, 2007):
"Here exhibits show that the Grand Canyon took just days to form during Noah's flood, dinosaurs co-existed with humans and had a place on Noah's Ark, and Cain married his sister to people the earth, among other Biblical wonders."
Cain married his sister? I thought there was Cain, Abel...and thats it! The human line ENDS THERE! Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel. Did they write a sister in later to revive the plot? Perhaps I didn't read my Bible close enough. Or far enough. I do have one, I should get it out.
"A Gallup poll last year showed almost half of Americans believe that humans did not evolve but were created by God in their present form within the last 10,000 years."
Where did they take this poll? At a Fundamentalist Christian Conference next to an American Scientists Convention? Can carbon dating be so inaccurate? God sure didn't create INTELLIGENT people, cause we'd realise that we're ruining the world through overpopulation and overuse.
"Three of 10 Republican presidential candidates said in a recent debate that they did not believe in evolution."
Help. These people want you to vote for them to let them run your country?
Insert tagline here...
Now a group called Answers in Genesis in the US, where this Creationism furphy seems to be rife, have opened the Creation Museum in Kentucky.
Some quotes from the article (smh.com.au, May 28, 2007):
"Here exhibits show that the Grand Canyon took just days to form during Noah's flood, dinosaurs co-existed with humans and had a place on Noah's Ark, and Cain married his sister to people the earth, among other Biblical wonders."
Cain married his sister? I thought there was Cain, Abel...and thats it! The human line ENDS THERE! Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel. Did they write a sister in later to revive the plot? Perhaps I didn't read my Bible close enough. Or far enough. I do have one, I should get it out.
"A Gallup poll last year showed almost half of Americans believe that humans did not evolve but were created by God in their present form within the last 10,000 years."
Where did they take this poll? At a Fundamentalist Christian Conference next to an American Scientists Convention? Can carbon dating be so inaccurate? God sure didn't create INTELLIGENT people, cause we'd realise that we're ruining the world through overpopulation and overuse.
"Three of 10 Republican presidential candidates said in a recent debate that they did not believe in evolution."
Help. These people want you to vote for them to let them run your country?
Insert tagline here...
Monday, January 01, 2007
Well, that's it for another year
Christmas and New Year are over for another year. Only 358 days till Christmas 2007...how depressing.
Not depressing in the sense that I'm a 'bah humbug' kinda guy when it comes to christmas. Two kids has renewed the christmas gift giving spirit a little, and with one birthday on christmas eve, it only adds to the season. What I cant help but notice is that a great many "retailers" didnt seem to pay even the remote lip-service to the catholicism of the event, as they've done in past years. This in turn caught a LOT of people up in the brouhaha of shopping and such.
Yes, I am a catholic. No, I didnt go to mass. I havent been for quite a few years. But that doesnt mean that quiet reflection cannot take place. You worship your way, I'll do it mine. But more on the church and state in future, I think.
I did my shopping on wednesday evening, right before christmas. Crowds were down on daytimes, and I got what I wanted. Well, I looked, liked the look of a few things, and bought them. Going in with a pre-determined idea of "this person is getting that gift" was not the thing to do I discovered, after about five seconds of shopping.
So, we all had some fun, big lunches all round, four birthday parties within a week of christmas, and two more next week, and time to get back to work tomorrow so I can relax a little.
Insert tagline here...
Not depressing in the sense that I'm a 'bah humbug' kinda guy when it comes to christmas. Two kids has renewed the christmas gift giving spirit a little, and with one birthday on christmas eve, it only adds to the season. What I cant help but notice is that a great many "retailers" didnt seem to pay even the remote lip-service to the catholicism of the event, as they've done in past years. This in turn caught a LOT of people up in the brouhaha of shopping and such.
Yes, I am a catholic. No, I didnt go to mass. I havent been for quite a few years. But that doesnt mean that quiet reflection cannot take place. You worship your way, I'll do it mine. But more on the church and state in future, I think.
I did my shopping on wednesday evening, right before christmas. Crowds were down on daytimes, and I got what I wanted. Well, I looked, liked the look of a few things, and bought them. Going in with a pre-determined idea of "this person is getting that gift" was not the thing to do I discovered, after about five seconds of shopping.
So, we all had some fun, big lunches all round, four birthday parties within a week of christmas, and two more next week, and time to get back to work tomorrow so I can relax a little.
Insert tagline here...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
