Faith in 2010

Everyone please note...Islam, the religion of peace, continues to kill and discriminate and practice intolerance. They are all the enemy of our way of life.

Shoon4774,

"Faith is of the strongest of the emotions experienced by humans."

"...there is indeed more than just one faith to believe in...."

"Real faith is very cognitive of the fact...."

"...maybe they need to find something stronger to believe in."

What grade are you in now, Shoon honey?

There is no meaning in the world (in the literary sense) except the meaning people look for in the world, thus creating the meaning they are looking for, most of the time without being aware of it.
Sometimes individuals become the focal points of the created meaning (like various prophets). The meaning is not created by the individuals themselves, but rather by the people who have looked for meaning in/from the individual who is the focal point. This is not only their immediate contemporaries, but also countless latter followers who have looked for meaning in the records of the events. Looking for meaning in the records creates the events (or the teachings) in the records, when the records are historically correct, or it creates the fabrications and additions to the records, if/where they have been altered.
The reason one the major religions is jewish of origin, is because jews have an old tradition of looking for meaning in records (doing literary analysis of the Torah), which means that someone like Jesus (assuming he existed) would be searched for meaning by his contemporary jews which would set a feedback loop where some meaning is initially created in the events by his contemporares, and latter amplified by subsequent readers of the records of the events (christians).
Telling the future is the most trivial bit - this is the byproduct of readers (or listeners) looking for meaning related to contemporary (to themselves) events in the records, or in their memories of what has been said.

Therefore, the meaning found in any year (last, this or next, negative or positive) is what people want it to be- this is a bit like the movie "The Secret".

Ahh, faith. It used to be that the mention of the word faith brought to one's mind the feeling of courage and brute perseverance in the face of adversity...especially emotional and spiritual adversity. Now, when the word 'faith' is mentioned the window shades of a persons heart are pulled down, closed until further notice or until the individual slinging the word 'faith' around disappears. Faith was formerly an understanding between the individual human and their understanding of who and what God is. This faith has dissolved over the years, the most unfortunate victim of religious abuse at the hands of the many bullies perusing institutionalized religion. Faith is now a ridiculously complicated carnival, where, at the center, you may tie your personal beliefs to a bull and hope to God it holds up to the barrage of opinions of what faith should and shouldn't be. I recently overheard a couple discussing the Satanic ravings (their term, not mine) of an ebook posted at www.smashwords.com From their conversation I could acertain that they truly believed that this book was strategically placed on the internet to try to destroy both the faith and belief in God of as many people as possible. How absurd, I thought. The book is called 'Turkey Broth for the Spirit: For the Theologian's Spirit', and is by author Ester Lighthorse. I went to the website and read the book for myself. I thought it was hilarious, but I did not see how anyone could interpret what the book said as a tool with which to destroy a person's faith. Yes, this book was obvious in its disapproval of institutionalized religion and pretty much Christianity as a whole. That didn't bother me at all. Why should it? If a person finds that their faith is consistently being injured, tested, or strained by whatever is going on around them, then maybe they are not placing their faith in something that is really and truly valid. Faith is of the strongest of the emotions experienced by humans. Contrary to popular belief faith is not easily broken nor disrupted, disbanded, or weakened just because there is more than just one faith to believe in. Faith is not chinaware. Real faith is tough, enduring, and completely understanding that there is indeed more than just one faith to believe in. Real faith is very cognitive of the fact that though there are many faiths, not one of them is any better than the other regardless of whether or not one God or many gods are acknowledged. After I read the book that the couple had so fervently treated as spiritual kryptonite I realized that if a person really believes that their faith is that fragile, well then maybe they need to find something stronger to believe in. I sincerely hope this couple is completely unsuccessful in their declared quest to remove the book 'Turkey Broth for the Spirit: For the Theologian's Spirit' from ebook shelves everywhere. This book isn't the problem. Their faith in something weak is. Change it.

Ahh, faith. It used to be that the mention of the word faith brought to one's mind the feeling of courage and brute perseverance in the face of adversity...especially emotional and spiritual adversity.

Now, when the word 'faith' is mentioned the window shades of a persons heart are pulled down, closed until further notice or until the individual slinging the word 'faith' around disappears.

Faith was formerly an understanding between the individual human and their understanding of who and what God is. This faith has dissolved over the years, the most unfortunate victim of religious abuse at the hands of the many bullies perusing institutionalized religion.

Faith is now a ridiculously complicated carnival, where, at the center, you may tie your personal beliefs to a bull and hope to God it holds up to the barrage of opinions of what faith should and shouldn't be.

I recently overheard a couple discussing the Satanic ravings (their term, not mine) of an ebook posted at www.smashwords.com From their conversation I could acertain that they truly believed that this book was strategically placed on the internet to try to destroy both the faith and belief in God of as many people as possible. How absurd, I thought.

The book is called 'Turkey Broth for the Spirit: For the Theologian's Spirit', and is by author Ester Lighthorse.

I went to the website and read the book for myself. I thought it was hilarious, but I did not see how anyone could interpret what the book said as a tool with which to destroy a person's faith.

Yes, this book was obvious in its disapproval of institutionalized religion and pretty much Christianity as a whole. That didn't bother me at all. Why should it?

If a person finds that their faith is consistently being injured, tested, or strained by whatever is going on around them, then maybe they are not placing their faith in something that is really and truly valid.

Faith is of the strongest of the emotions experienced by humans. Contrary to popular belief faith is not easily broken nor disrupted, disbanded, or weakened just because there is more than just one faith to believe in. Faith is not chinaware.

Real faith is tough, enduring, and completely understanding that there is indeed more than just one faith to believe in. Real faith is very cognitive of the fact that though there are many faiths, not one of them is any better than the other regardless of whether or not one God or many gods are acknowledged.

After I read the book that the couple had so fervently treated as spiritual kryptonite I realized that if a person really believes that their faith is that fragile, well then maybe they need to find something stronger to believe in.

I sincerely hope this couple is completely unsuccessful in their declared quest to remove the book 'Turkey Broth for the Spirit: For the Theologian's Spirit' from ebook shelves everywhere.

This book isn't the problem. Their faith in something weak is. Change it.

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

Mohandas Gandhi

"Abortion foes never want

To admit the fact they won’t confront:

Those unviable tissues that they treasure

Are not babies by any measure."

-- Clara Barton

With so many so anxious to label the current administration, and Obama specifically as socialist, why is so little said about the greatest socialist of all, Jesus. He spoke of healing the sick, helping the poor and told the rich to give up ALL there wealth.

Additionally, he and his disciples lived communally.

Read the Sermon on the Mount and join the socialist party.

"What a waste of the Washington Post's resources and reach to not be able to find much more in the sphere of faith and religion to motivate discussion than Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin."

Chatard, You got that right. But then, I don't think it's the Washington Post so much as it is merely Sally Quinn. I find she is right up there, with the Palins and Becks. However, people like these are amusing and fun. No, that's not quite it, either. It's their supporters and detractors that are amusing and fun.

Happy New Year Schaum and All!

Frankly, I found Christopher Hitchens dealing with his late stage cancer with dignity and wit to be a far more important figure than any of the ones on the list. Taking such brutal news without resorting to a need for reassurance of some mythical afterlife and continuing about his work and debates in spite of it makes him a far better role model for me than say the Pope, who apologizes for child rape while not actually working to solve the problem, or people like Beck and Palin who use their religion as a shield to keep them from proper criticism.

The difference between the obvious religious personnel and Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin is the difference between the purveyors of religion and religious beliefs, and that of the exploiters of religion and religious believers.

Seeing as how the lot of them are parasites on the suckers who believe this crap, really, what's the difference?

We wrecked the place. Liquidations will be up next year, so business will be great. You can sell more, if you sell it for less. The Press is the great fog-compeller..."The Millennium Tour gives us undistilled Foghat, recorded and filmed live in concert in 1999, shortly before Peverett's premature death at the age of 56." http://www.foghat.com/

Take a slow ride and pour me something distilled. Hold onto your Foghat!

Unsure as to the rationale of Glenn Beck or Sarah Palin being defined as an important "religion story". They simply use the "God" to advance their cause.

Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin didn't talk about religion a whole lot. Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin are not commonly associated with religious issues. Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin spend most of their time on political issues.
Yet "On Faith" continues to make it's "On Faith" part of the Washington Post all about politics. Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin are lightning rods for the left-wing in this country, which is why "On Faith" encourages people to come on it's "On Faith" venue and talk about Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin. There are thousands and thousand of influential people in all walks of life, religion and otherwise. But the Washington Post and "On Faith" continue to twit the right and pacify the left by providing space to berate Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin. For an outlet given to the concept of the separation of church and state, it is remarkable that the Washington Post cannot have a real "on faith" corner, but has to drag it's political pursuits into it at every opportunity. What a waste of the Washington Post's resources and reach to not be able to find much more in the sphere of faith and religion to motivate discussion than Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin.

Louantha I find your multi-posting offensive. Once was quite enough. We got your point. Three times is overkill.

Also, I suggest you walk a mile in these women's shoes before recommending that Government get involved with Doctor/Patient confidentiality. This is considering that the largest number of women seeking abortions are adults (over 21). Adult women should have the same rights and considerations as adult men.

While your's and other website tout the reason is birth control the true reasons for seeking abortion varies - many if not most are because of medical issues. Unless you are in the consultation room with the patient and the doctor you have not idea what was said, what was recommended, the thought process for the woman - nothing, nada.

So, while you can personally be against abortion and that is your right, unless you get a medical degree specializing in OB-GYN and prenatal health you cannot know all the issues and causes for a woman wanting to terminate her pregnancy.

Personally, I would like to see abortions be far and few between and only when there is no other option. The earlier the better, but I also know that sometimes things happen that are not planned. I don't want to be the one to make medical decisions for someone else.

If you are part of the "Its God's decision" crowd - I hope you are also against male enhancement medicines and drugs. After all if pregnancy is in the hands of God, so is impotancy.

The Pope and some bishops of the Catholic Church (Bishop Olmsted in AZ in particular) deserve to he at the top of the list - but for all the wrong reasons.

Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin have peaked. During the coming year many of the people who claimed to like them, to support them, will realize they've been played by these rabble rousers and will drift away.

The Poop will not change anything either. The Catholic church is shedding members at a constant rate, don't expect any acceleration one way or the other in that.

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf? I already don't remember who he is ... it is a he, right?

2012 will be a much more interesting year in the war of superstition.

Religion Newswriters Association?

In 2011, news that would be globally newsworthy instead of just for Americans...

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf - no news if he do nothing, say nothing at all.

Pope Benedict XVI - more news if he makes interesting comments, remarks on matters related to his own faith group and other faith groups.

Glenn Beck - unless his show goes global and invoke globalised ire.

Sarah Palin - unless she announced her intention to be a Republican candidate for Presidential bid.

U.S. bishops - what they say and do affecting their faith group, other faith groups and faith-based initiatives in the US and globally.

And of course the Evangelicals, the Christian Conservatives, the Constitutional Conservatives "swarming" the media, the state and federal legislative bodies, the courts, the school boards etc as they stated they will in 2011 and beyond having been given new vigour by the results of the recent November elections.

And of course, inter-faith and intra-faith spats, threats, actions related to Muslims and by Muslims and taken up by the media, blogs as threats to America, democracy, freedom, way of life, civilisation and the ensuing reactions ranging from perhaps, another burn the Qur'an day to another state banning the Sharia, calls for ban of Muslim immigration etc.

On Faith: 2010 influences on faith
Since the year is coming to a close, it is time to take a look back and discuss the people who had the biggest impact on faith in 2010.

Once again, atheists are not solely to blame for religious people losing faith in religion and God this year. It seems that religious leaders are able to drive people away from religion all by themselves. Pope Benedict XVI does a great job this year in his continued refusal to take responsibility for the actions and conduct of priests under his charge and his continued systematical cover up of the crimes of these child molesters. His comical attempt at blaming everyone else has made him the number one influencer of faith this year. The only way he can top this for next year is if Wikileaks were to release evidence that he too was a pedophile. As it is, we just have to settle for the Pope’s ridiculous statements allowing male prostitutes to wear condoms.

You can read the rest of my response to this topic:
http://exm.nr/gOVzCY

I will be responding to every issue posted in the 'On Faith' section. If you would like to be notified when my new response is up, please subscribe.

"How would you have ranked them?"

I haven't.

"Has their influence been harmful or constructive?"

Probably much more harmful than constructive, as their influences are based on ignorant superstitions.

"What issue or person do you expect to have the biggest impact in the year to come?"

I have no way of knowing that; nor do you.

Pro-Life News: The sobering fact is that over 27,000 Virginian babies are lost to abortion each year, 9,000 right here in Hampton Roads. Did you know that the abortionists have said that 17 of the 21 abortion facilities in Virginia would have to close if they were regulated? Please sign the petition at virginiarallyforlife.com and ask Governor McDonnell to order these regulations. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has confirmed that Virginia has the legal authority to initiate these regulations NOW without the General Assembly passing a separate statute. Join us for the Virginia Rally for Life in Richmond on January 13, 2011 at the Bell Tower on the Capitol Grounds. Details, including bus information, are on the website, virginiarallyforlife.com. This is our historic opportunity in Virginia to change the face of abortion in our state. If you are pro-life, please stand up and be counted!

Pro-Life News: The sobering fact is that over 27,000 Virginian babies are lost to abortion each year, 9,000 right here in Hampton Roads. Did you know that the abortionists have said that 17 of the 21 abortion facilities in Virginia would have to close if they were regulated? Please sign the petition at virginiarallyforlife.com and ask Governor McDonnell to order these regulations. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has confirmed that Virginia has the legal authority to initiate these regulations NOW without the General Assembly passing a separate statute. Join us for the Virginia Rally for Life in Richmond on January 13, 2011 at the Bell Tower on the Capitol Grounds. Details, including bus information, are on the website, virginiarallyforlife.com. This is our historic opportunity in Virginia to change the face of abortion in our state. If you are pro-life, please stand up and be counted!

Pro-Life News: The sobering fact is that over 27,000 Virginian babies are lost to abortion each year, 9,000 right here in Hampton Roads. Did you know that the abortionists have said that 17 of the 21 abortion facilities in Virginia would have to close if they were regulated? Please sign the petition at virginiarallyforlife.com and ask Governor McDonnell to order these regulations. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has confirmed that Virginia has the legal authority to initiate these regulations NOW without the General Assembly passing a separate statute. Join us for the Virginia Rally for Life in Richmond on January 13, 2011 at the Bell Tower on the Capitol Grounds. Details, including bus information, are on the website, virginiarallyforlife.com. This is our historic opportunity in Virginia to change the face of abortion in our state. If you are pro-life, please stand up and be counted!