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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Peregrinus: [QB] Just to hit on the whole religious thing... A lot of the practices of the early Catholic Church bother me yet, particularly their co-opting of local religions by twisting them into Christian contexts. In late December, I celebrate the Solstice. My new year starts at sundown October 31st. I enjoy the family-and-friends spirit of the Christmas season, as well as the exchanging of gifts, so I essentially start celebrating on Thanksgiving, carry over through the Feast of St. Steven (I think -- last Sunday in November?), on through Advent, a party for the Solstice, followed by celebrating the rebirth of Mithra starting the evening of the 24th, then Boxing Day on the 26th, and then round out the Twelve Days and end with a party on Twelfth Night -- even though that's dogmatically when the Magi arrived. I incorporate as much of the old pagan (originally meaning only "non-Christian") observances as I can. All of the Christmas accoutrements predate Christianity's encroachment on those regions. Christmas trees, yule logs, holly, mistletoe, wreaths, tinsel, lights (well, candles)... It was all pagan in origin. I am multi-denominational, and I like to keep my observances of faith pure. Celtic, Shinto, and Jedi. I was also raised Episcopalian, and I like to keep my religious (as distinct from faith) observances equally pure. I love the ceremony and ritual, but a lot of Christian doctrine is nothing more than medieval superstition writ large. I believe the universe is alive and aware, to some degree, and I have no real problem calling that awareness "God". I admire and respect the teacher named Yeshua ben Yosef who was born a bit over two millennia ago, and celebrate his birth and death every Easter (but keep it separate from the fertility rites that are what Easter is [i]really[/i] about). I belive in a cerain intangible "spirit" that infuses everything (animate or in-) that science is thus far unable to detect or measure in any meaningful way. I belive the universe is full of magickal things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper. I belive science and mysticism are equally valid, but by their very natures incompatible with each other's realm. Mystecism is intensely personal, and should not me imposed on others who don't want it. And science is intensely universal, and imposes itself on everyone -- willing or not. I view hard-core religion as a crutch for people who can't deal with reality. And I know that's going to stir up a few hornets. Tough. You think keeping condoms out of schools is going to revent adolescents from having sex? You think illegalising abortion is going to prevent women from getting them anyway? You think fighting a war for oil is going to help [i]anyone[/i] in this country? America could pay for over four hundred million full-ride scholarships to major public universities and [i]still[/i] spend less than was spent on the Iraq War last year. Cutting school budgets, veteran's benefits, and combat pay doesn't help either. If there's a serious global concern, we ought to stop fucking around and turn Iran, Iraq, North Korea, and Pakistan into glass parking lots! Otherwise, there a lot more constructive things we could be doing. --Jonah [/QB][/QUOTE]
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