Religion, SF, and Other Speculative Fictions.


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Entries from October 2008

More Fun Quotes for MoF

June 30th, 2008 · by xJane · 3 Comments

I’ve been collecting emails since the success of the last Fun Quotes post. Without further ado:
A myth is a religion in which no one any longer believes.
-James Kern Feibleman, philosopher and psychiatrist (1904-1987)

This is definitely something I’ve believed in for awhile. It’s just nice to hear someone with authority say it (in this case, the […]

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Tags: Activism · Atheism · Belief · Church and State · Creationism · Death · Dialog · Education · Ethics · Politics · Reason · Religion · Skeptic · Spirituality

Music Monday: the Grave

June 30th, 2008 · by xJane · 1 Comment

I was listening to this the other day while packing and it made me cry (as it always does). If anything could make me a pacifist, it would be this song: Don McLean’s the Grave

This line, particularly:
When the wars of our nation did beckon,
A man barely twenty did answer the calling.
Proud of the trust […]

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Tags: Art · Death · Humanity · Music · Music Monday · Musings · Pacifism · Peace; conflict resolution. · Video

LDS Church warns Young Men against Interracial Marriage

June 28th, 2008 · by John · 32 Comments

C. L. Hanson excerpts the following quote from the current Aaronic Priesthood manual over at the Latter Day Main street:
“We recommend that people marry those who are of the same racial background generally, and of somewhat the same economic and social and educational background (some of those are not an absolute necessity, but preferred), and […]

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Tags: Getting over Religion · Mormonism

Spark: Female Imams in China

June 25th, 2008 · by John · 3 Comments

The practice is not unique to China, but comparitively rare elsewhere.  The real Chinese innovation is the woman-only mosque.  I have mixed feelings about this: like separate spaces elsewhere in the Muslim world, segregation create opportunities for women to become professionals, business owners, academics–and imams–that wouldn’t otherwise exist in institutions or societies dominated by a […]

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Tags: Feminism · Islam

Spark: Denominations and Gay Marriage.

June 23rd, 2008 · by John · 8 Comments

The LA Times has this handy guide to the various attitudes towards gay marriage from religious denominations.  It should come as no surprise that the Mormon and Catholic churches condemn gay marriages, and that the United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalists support them.  In fact, both the Mormons and Catholics will be using […]

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Tags: Activism · Church and State · Current Events · Homosexuality · Politics

Music Monday: Where the Hell is Matt?

June 23rd, 2008 · by John · 4 Comments

I never thought I’d get choked up watching a stupid dance video, but this one is amazing for both the incredible range of Matt Harding’s travel experience and for showing that no matter the culture, age, race or location, homo sapiens loves to dance.

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Tags: Music Monday

“Dying Wish”

June 21st, 2008 · by xJane · 8 Comments

on Fox. I don’t know how long that link will work…there’s a YouTube of it somewhere, too, I may imbed it below a fold later when I find it.
This is my father, busy exploiting his illness for his life-long pet project: “the right to life”. Which I’ve learned translates into “the denial of rights”, “inadequate […]

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Tags: Death · Ethics · Feminism · Getting over Religion · Humanity · Justice · Law · Links · Personal

Random Notes on a Friday Night.

June 20th, 2008 · by John · 8 Comments

CatGirl and I are training up to LA tomorrow to see the Amy Sol exhibit at the ThinkSpace Gallery.  She’s one of our favorite contemporary artists–she inspires CatGirl’s art and my stories.  We’ve been waiting for this for months.  We’re also planning to hit the Farmer’s Market and Little Tokyo (including a possible lunch with […]

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Tags: Activism · Atheism · Charities · Church and State · Creativity. · Getting over Religion · Mormonism · Personal

Spark: Target Women

June 19th, 2008 · by xJane · No Comments

Whoever invented this is inspired! Here they are on politics.

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Tags: Activism · Current Events · Feminism · Gender · Links · Media and Design · News · Politics · Society · Women

Quick Hit: Join the [Steampunk] Party!

June 18th, 2008 · by xJane · No Comments

I will be at Edison this Thursday (that would be tomorrow, June 19th) from at least 5ish to past 7 (5-7 is “1910 martinis at 1910 prices”). Come promote drinking, blogging, and steam punk. Or just come to hang out (I’ll be wearing goggles & a white vest with pocket watch).

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Tags: MoF Events