Name:Kevin Country:United States State:Pennsylvania Metro:Pittsburgh Birthday:5/7/1985 Gender:Male
Interests:Science, Computers, Philosophy, Religion, Skepticism, Atheism, Sufism, Humor, Art, Music, Tea, Narghile, Khoomei, Singing, Politics, Libertarianism, Economics, Photography, Russia, Scandanavia, India, Turkey, China, Languages, Culture, Foods Expertise:Arguing and debating intelligently. Being smart. Being arrogant. Being really kind. Being a complete ass. Ranting. Communicating. Boring my readers by making them read the very crap they're looking at right now. Again, I don't feel that this section says much about me, despite that its purpose usually does seem to serve to characterize people with some degree of thoroughness. Occupation:Student
Stained one of my favorite white shirts with some Indian food I had heated up, and had to throw it back in the hamper
Went to my parents' house to drop off some old clothes I hoped to clear out and to pick up a 90-page instruction manual I had my dad print out at his work for me
Saw my younger brother, Jeffrey, for the first time since he had his surgery which entailed one of those metal halos around his head used for adjusting the jaw
Had a wonderful dinner, thanks to my mom
Heard my young sister, Michaela, play violin for me
Retrieved my Windows XP CD which I needed to install a language pack onto my computer so I could view language pack fonts that I couldn't before, and actually intended to use
Bid my parents farewell and returned to my apartment
Started up two loads of laundry for my makeshift roommate, Stooker, to complete for me
Left my apartment to go to Downtown Pittsburgh
Arrived at Images, Liberty Avenue
Met an old and near-acquaintance, Travis, which was most unexpected, yet a pleasant surprise
Realized I forgot deodorant, and was accommodated by Travis (how nice it is to be acquainted!)
Penguins won the Stanley Cup. The giant populace around me was elated, I remained apathetic about hockey
Made maybe $200, give or take
Had wonderful conversation with Travis and proposed mutual brain picking in the future. Numbers were exchanged.
Made my subsequent destination to Tilden, the after-hours bar just a fraction of a block away
Was interrupted by some strangers evidently versed or experienced in Middle Eastern culture/life
Was able to employ my Arabic skills to land myself a splendid business transaction and establish rapport with strangers I probably would have preferred not to have
Was questioned why I would be going to Tilden if I was a Muslim. Had to explain to the gentleman, "أنا كافر"
Departed Pittsburgh because I was afraid of what would happen to my car and the $200 I had just made if I left both of them where they were, despite wishing to have hung out Downtown a little longer to sober up more
Drove to WalMart to procure a 20-amp fuse to fix the car-outlet/cigarette lighter and some small-size hangars for my pants
Made it home and said, "Hello, darling" to Stooker, took a shower, and wrote this
... and remained FRUSTRATED AT FACEBOOK FOR PREVENTING ME FROM LOGGING IN AND BEING UNABLE TO RESET MY PASSWORD AND BEING UNABLE TO FIND A WAY OF CONTACTING THEM TO REMEDY THE SITUATION.
Good night! Iyi geceler! До свидания! ¡Hasta mañana!
The bird of life is singing on the bough His two eternal notes of "I and Thou"— O! hearken well, for soon the song sings through, And, would we hear it, we must hear it now.
The bird of life is singing in the sun, Short is his song, nor only just begun,— A call, a trill, a rapture, then—so soon!— A silence, and the song is done—is done.
Yea! What is man that deems himself divine? Man is a flagon, and his soul the wine; Man is a reed, his soul the sound therein; Man is a lantern, and his soul the shine.
Would you be happy! hearken, then, the way: Heed not To-morrow, heed not Yesterday; The magic words of life are Here and Now— O fools, that after some to-morrow stray!
Were I a Sultan, say what greater bliss Were mine to summon to my side than this,— Dear gleaming face, far brighter than the moon! O Love! and this immortalizing kiss.
To all of us the thought of heaven is dear— Why not be sure of it and make it here? No doubt there is a heaven yonder too, But 'tis so far away—and you are near.
Men talk of heaven,—there is no heaven but here; Men talk of hell,—there is no hell but here; Men of hereafters talk, and future lives,— O love, there is no other life—but here.
Look not above, there is no answer there; Pray not, for no one listens to your prayer; Near is as near to God as any Far, And Here is just the same deceit as There.
But here are wine and beautiful young girls, Be wise and hide your sorrows in their curls, Dive as you will in life's mysterious sea, You shall not bring us any better pearls.
Allah, perchance, the secret word might spell; If Allah be, He keeps His secret well; What He hath hidden, who shall hope to find? Shall God His secret to a maggot tell?
So since with all my passion and my skill, The world's mysterious meaning mocks me still, Shall I not piously believe that I Am kept in darkness by the heavenly will?
The Koran! well, come put me to the test— Lovely old book in hideous error drest— Believe me, I can quote the Koran too, The unbeliever knows his Koran best.
And do you think that unto such as you, A maggot-minded, starved, fanatic crew, God gave the Secret, and denied it me?— Well, well, what matters it! believe that too.
Old Khayyám, say you, is a debauchee; If only you were half so good as he! He sins no sins but gentle drunkenness, Great-hearted mirth, and kind adultery.
But yours the cold heart, and the murderous tongue, The wintry soul that hates to hear a song, The close-shut fist, the mean and measuring eye, And all the little poisoned ways of wrong.
So I be written in the Book of Love, I have no care about that book above; Erase my name, or write it, as you please— So I be written in the Book of Love.
Fun little survey that can be found here. I put italics in for comments, too. I ended up with 19, though I could easily make it into the next category. I guess I'm not as good as an atheist as I'd like to be.
How serious do you take your atheism?
Let’s find out.
Copy and paste the list below on your own site, boldfacing the things you’ve done. (Feel free to add your own elaboration and commentary to each item!)
Started an atheist group in your area or school.Does online count? I started the first specifically atheist groups on at least two social networking sites.
Told someone you’re an atheist only because you wanted to see the person’s reaction.Sort of... mostly, I just like to invite potential challenges, so I like to see what people come up with.
Had to think twice before screaming “Oh God!” during sex. Or you said something else in its place.
Lost a job because of your atheism.
Formed a bond with someone specifically because of your mutual atheism (meeting this person at a local gathering or conference doesn’t count).
Have crossed “In God We Trust” off of — or put a pro-church-state-separation stamp on — dollar bills.I've put stuff like "Ba'al" on top of God, even.
Refused to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.Not quite; I've said it, omitting the "under God" part of it.
Said “Gesundheit!” (or nothing at all) after someone sneezed because you didn’t want to say “Bless you!”
Have ever chosen not to clasp your hands together out of fear someone might think you’re praying.Hm... yeah, I've caught myself doing something like that, only to realize what it looked like!
Have turned on Christian TV because you needed something entertaining to watch.Not TV, but does radio count?
Are a 2nd or 3rd (or more) generation atheist.
Have “atheism” listed on your Facebook or dating profile — and not a euphemistic variant.
Attended an atheist’s funeral (i.e. a non-religious service).
Have been interviewed by a reporter because of your atheism.
Written a letter-to-the-editor about an issue related to your non-belief in God. I've been tempted to, and I probably will someday.
Gave a friend or acquaintance a New Atheist book as a gift.I've lent them out before, but never given... I've also recommended such books to people, and they've purchased them.
Wear pro-atheist clothing in public. If I had spare money to get some, and really went out in public that often, I probably would wear such clothing.
Have invited Mormons/Jehovah’s Witnesses into your house specifically because you wanted to argue with them.Yep, I had some Mormons come over before... they were so nervous, I almost felt bad.
Have been physically threatened (or beaten up) because you didn’t believe in God.
Receive Google Alerts on “atheism” (or variants).
Received fewer Christmas presents than expected because people assumed you didn’t celebrate it.
Visited The Creation Museum or saw Ben Stein’s Expelled just so you could keep tabs on the “enemy.”
Refuse to tell anyone what your “sign” is… because it doesn’t matter at all.Usually, they'll eventually get it out of me, but I like to make them play guessing games first.
Are on a mailing list for a Christian organization just so you can see what they’re up to…
Have kept your eyes open while you watched others around you pray.
Avoid even Unitarian churches because they’re too close to religion for you.That's part of a reason I don't go to one, but mostly it's just laziness/apathy.
And just so you know how you fare, here’s a scale to rank yourself (adapted from Darwin’s Dagger’s suggestions):
0-10: Impressive, but not too far from agnosticism.
11-20: You are, literally, a “New Atheist.” But you now have something to strive for! Go for the full 50!
21-30: You are an atheist, but babies aren’t running away from you. Yet.
31-40: You are the 5th Horseman! Congratulations!
41-50: PZ Myers will now be taking lessons from you.
I provide this post in response to an entry written by McDanell99. In this post, he explains how, in light of the reaction to the passage of Proposition 8, many of the "pro-gay" movement have taken to violence against Christians, and how their right to voice their opinions is met with the worst sorts of oppression. I provide my response below.
Before I begin, I must firmly state that I am in favor of free speech of any kind, no matter how offensive or hateful. I'd tend to let the free market of ideas deal with hate speech; I think it'd be much more efficient than government proscription. No one has the right not to be offended.
Now then, your post.
"But what if I told you that such things did happen. However it wasn't from the actions and words of Christians but of homosexuals?"
I would be skeptical of this claim. I have heard it said by Christians that this very thing is happening, but I have difficulty imagining a mob of homosexuals descending upon a Christian community to rape and pillage. I suppose it's possible, but it seems more likely to me that the great majority (certainly not all) of stories like this are fabrications by a victim-card-playing religious right (indeed, all of the links you provided come from Christian resources, and the self-victimization tone is replete throughout). I have also heard it said that many Prop 8 supporters have vandalized their own property in an attempt to put the blame on their opponents. It may be false, but I certainly wouldn't put it past them. To say that homosexuals are out to rape Christians requires a bit more of a stretch for me.
"The intolerant pro-homosexual movement doesn't want equality."
I will inevitably receive flak for saying this, but I have to concur with you, though for different reasons. I depart from my liberal counterparts when I disagree for pieces of legislation like ENDA or hate crime laws, as this is effectively affirmative action providing special rights to a certain group. However, in areas like marriage, military service, adoption, et cetera, equality is precisely what we want.
"For it they did, they would lick their wounds and move on."
I suppose this argument would work if we already had equality in the terms I mentioned in my last sentence, and aimed for the regions of special treatment, but this is not the case.
"... enforce their sin in society and onto others"
About this "sin"... seeing as how "sin" is entirely a religious invention (and I operate under the assumption that it can effectively be understood as a "wrong against God"), and as religion possesses no place in our governing documents (i.e., state and federal constitutions), "sin" does not necessarily mean a bad thing when it comes to things like law. For instance, it may your belief that consumption of alcohol is sinful (I don't know if it is or not), but the tacit endorsement of this "sin" in the form of government regulation of alcohol is certainly more desirable to the alternative of prohibition. I'd go as far as to argue the same for gambling, divorce laws for things that our government regulates, for the freedom to worship idols or disobey one's parents for government's passive allowance, and marijuana use and perhaps even prostitution for things government currently prohibits.
If something that is considered a "sin" also happens to pose a threat to one's freedom, such as murder, rape, theft, or perjury, then it would make sense to outlaw it. No society could operate if it allowed such deeds; it would collapse. I haven't seen any evidence that homosexuality, or the rights that many homosexuals request, would do such harm to a society. As such, I cannot see the notion of "sin" being a legitimate argument in the legal realm.
With that said, I'm again not entirely sure that this homosexual movement you speak of it trying to require heterosexual Christians into adopting their own lifestyle. Perhaps they're trying to shove it in their faces... I don't know; although I'm gay, I'm not really involved with the gay community. Although I have no problem telling people that I'm gay, that I'm adopted, or that I'm a libertarian, I'm not generally one to announce myself to the world. I would, however, be surprised if homosexuals were out trying to force Christians to be just like them, but people have done weirder things.
"If such movements like the homosexual movement do not get their way the traditional way, then they are willing to force their wills and agendas on us, even if it takes assault, molestation, threats, violence, anger, mobs, and anything else."
Again, I would be surprised if these things you mention actually make a notable composition of the tactics used by the gay rights movement. Once more, I'd rather allow us to yield to the free market of ideas; it is far more efficient than physical force. I think the gay rights movement is largely aware of this, just as the black rights movement also seldom resorted to violence when their measures were often met with failure.
"Previously, I pointed out the dangers that redefining marriage presented. I argued that if homosexual marriage is allowed and becomes wide-spread, this nation will see persecution against the Church in ways unimaginable."
I have not seen this post. Perhaps I will have to refer back to it to familiarize myself with your argument, but again, I am going to have to meet this claim with skepticism (and I will remain unconvinced when the sources you cite as evidence come from people who try to prove a presupposed conclusion; i.e., Christian websites).
"We are not living in the same country we were decades ago where freedom flourished and dialogue was encouraged."
ithiliya provided an excellent point elsewhere. I think it's worth considering. I don't think we've quite reached a point where all dialogue everywhere is civilized and rational, and I suspect we shall be waiting for a great deal of time if we expect this to be the case.
"As Christians, we must not be surprised. The world hates us. But let us remember, it first hated Jesus."
I understand that this is more or less unrelated to the primary gist of your post, but it is my opinion that Christians are not hated just for being Christians. It is the ideology. The set of ideas. When one considers a certain ideology, and rejects, perhaps even hating, it on moral grounds, that is something entirely different from hating the adherents of the ideology. It is, in my opinion, not Jesus that Christians are hated for, but for the appalling morality he, his predecessors (ancient Jewish prophets), and his successors (Paul, et al.) bring to the table. I could be wrong on this, or that some people hate Christians for different reasons, but I think it is worth investigating why someone would find Christian morality repulsing.
Election day yielded mixed results... While I was happy that what effectively could have been a third consecutive term of Bush was thwarted, California's passage of Proposition 8 left me feeling... shitty. You've likely seen the below video all over, but in case you haven't, here it is. I'm just spreading it a bit more...
Lifetime
