Cursive - Big Bang

Before we ever saw straight, we were grasping at straws
A debate was born, picket lines were drawn
There was this big bang once, now we’re learning to use our thumbs

We need a purpose in life, a survival guide
We need explanations for how we arrived
There was this big bang once, now we’re standing on our own two feet
There was this big bang once, we’ve been sharpening up our teeth

They say there was this big bang once, but the clergyman doesn’t agree, oh no
There was this big bang once, but it don’t jive with Adam and Eve
Original sin, idyllic garden
Some talking snake giving apples away
What would that snake say if he could only see us today?
Ha ha ha!

There was this big bang once, we were left here to fill in the blanks
There was this big bang once, now we’re aimlessly drifting in space
We’re gonna need an explanation for rational thought
And what it meant and the weight of our hearts
In a world of entropy, why can’t we just simply be?
And don’t feed me lies, intelligent design

There was this big bang once, why are we raptured on our knees?
Ha!

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

On Wednesday I received through Netflix, the pilot episode of the new Aaron Sorkin show, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Many argue (I am one of these) that Sorkin is the best writer in television. His dialogue is crisp and quick, and it tends to have a cadence to it. In my opinion, his dialogue more closely resembles the speech patterns of real people, except that there is no way real people are consistantly this smart and witty.

That being said, I was really impressed with this show. Since I’ve been excited about it for nearly a year, the fact that it exceeding my expectations is a pretty big deal. The show stars Matthew Perry (Friends), Bradley Whitford (West Wing), Amanda Peet (Saving Silverman), Steven Webber (Wings) Timothy Busfield (West Wing) as well as Sarah Paulson, DL Hughley, Nate Corrdry (The Daily Show), and has a guest appearances from Felicity Huffman (playing herself) and Judd Hersch. A stellar cast, great cinematography from Sorkin friend Thomas Schlamme (West Wing, Sports Night) and of course, amazing writing will make this show a hit from the very beginning.

September 18 couldn’t come any sooner.

Jon Stewart and the Daily Show

Once again, they are on top of things. Check out this piece about CNN’s Target:USA

Myspace C of C Forum

I don’t know what to do with this place. Wendi Dawn just responded to my comment with this comment.

justinWrote:

Just because our name is in the bible doesn’t make us the “one true church”. The only reason our name is in the bible is because 200 years ago, barton stone and alexander campbell were sick and tired of denominational infighting and wanted to seek unity in christ, not in doctrines or creeds. They took the name “christians” or churches of christ or any other name that the believers in the bible were called. You can’t trace the lineage of the c of c back any further than the late 1700s

Wendi wrote:

I don’t understand you… You are a member of Christ’s church, yet you’re one of the biggest hypocrites I’ve ever come across and you even deny that Christ’s church is the one true church.. It’s absurd and sickening.. You need to do some serious rethinking. All you do is drag others into your warped thinking. And to think that the future of Christ’s church rests in the hands of the youth, and sadly many that think as you do.. I’m ashamed of the fact you call yourself a child of God and that you are going around “preaching” to others… It truly worries me and I am worried about your soul’s state..

Really, she just said that. She’s had two email correspondences with me, and came to that conclusion. And I didn’t even tell her I don’t believe in hell.

Social Justice Crowds Intolerance

In the circles in which I run here in the blogosphere, my questions aren’t appreciated.

Its kinda frustrating, because I was under the impression that we’re a part of a conversation, one that questions traditional doctrines and is welcome to differing ideologies. However, the more I join the conversation, the more it appears that my views aren’t welcome. People have insinuated that I’m a racist, that I hate the poor, and that I’m, for lack of better words, a Kool Aid drinker because they believe I just take my parents or churches word for everything and that I don’t think for myself.

It makes me kinda angry in all honesty. Anyone that knows me knows that I am committed to helping the poor. They know that I am not a racist. And they know for sure that my views are not my parents or my churches. I’m often too critical of churches for Republichristian tendencies. Critical to the point of being mean. Its something I’m working on. But that’s beside the point. The point is, that I am viewed as an enemy because I don’t believe that socialism and welfare programs are the best way to raise poor people out of poverty. I don’t believe we need the government to bring the Kingdom of God on earth. I think it can be helpful, but at the same time it is dangerous. I dont’ believe that any governments should exert force over citizens for moral reasons, so long as those morals aren’t protecting the individual rights of citizens. That means its just as wrong for the government to have an unfair progressive income tax system that penalizes productivity as it is for the government to criminalize homosexuality or prostitution. Even if wealth redistribution through the government worked, I would still be against it because it is in essence, stealing. It doesn’t work though, and it discourages wealthy people from wanting to help the poor. Forcing people to care for the poor is not at all helping the poor. Hearts must be changed, and they can’t be changed through the government.

Anyway, can anyone explain why so many in the social justice movement in the evangelical church is so belligerent against anyone who disagrees on how to most effectively help the poor?

Harding’s ASI Speakers

I kinda thought that after last year’s backlash in the blogosphere when Harding tried to bring Anne Coulter in as a distinguished speak, Harding would pick some moderate speakers, people from the lecture circuit rather than Burlesque Political Pundits.

I was wrong.

Mark Elrod has a list of all the speakers at his blog. Some of them I don’t have a problem with because they may have valuable insight. George Tenet for example, could bring some interesting words to the discussion. However, when I saw that Sean Hannity was the headlining speaker, I threw up in my mouth.

I won’t lie to you. There was a time in my life (brief as it was) that I listened to and enjoyed Sean Hannity. It was early on in my political awareness which was also the beginning of my Republichristianity. Anyway, soon after I made it to Lipscomb, I realized that, well….. Sean Hannity is a moron. He doesn’t let anyone else get a word in edgewise if they disagree. He tries to make sure to get the craziest people in the world who disagree with him to come on his show so he can easily make them look insane. If someone articulate tries to debate with him, he throws talking points at them, or asks them leading questions that would never work in a court of law.

Basically, Sean Hannity is political pornography. He’s an embarrassment to Christianity (Which he professes) and really he’s an embarrassment to our country and humanity. I wish he never spoke another word in the public arena. I think the world would be a better place.

And Harding, if you are reading this, I have enought beef with you anyway for not challenging your students theologically and socially, but if you let Sean Hannity speak, there is no doubt I will do all I can to keep anyone from sending their children to your school. You are in bed with the Neo Cons and I would venture to say that JC is probably unhappy.

Should this be humourous or angering?

Environmentalist Anticapitalist hypocricy.

What if 9/11 Never Happened

Sullivan and others weigh in on their opinions of a world where the twin towers still stand. Pretty interesting.

Israel Hezbollah: Day Two of Cease Fire

Congratulations to everyone that pushed for peace in Israel and Lebanon. You’ve gotten your wish. However, this peace won’t last for long. We’re finding out more and more than Iran and Syria were supporting Hezbollah with missiles and munitions. Not only that, but because Israel stopped fighting, Hezbollah, Iran, and Syria are declaring victory. And they will continue to win battles as long as the west can’t stomach civilian casualties. Islamofacists view us as weak and they know all that they much do to win is hole up near civilians and blow up civilians. Their entire gameplan revolves around harming those who have nothing to do with the fighting. These people are sick, and even as a Christian who is becoming more and more anti war, I think that we must defeat Islamofacism in our day, or it will be far worse for our children. As a matter of fact, we may be on the verge of fighting unseen on this world since the 40’s.

Iran, once again, is making inflamatory remarks against Israel. President Tom (Ahmadenijad) has been stepping up his rhetoric, never more clear than in the Mike Wallace 60 Minutes peice and in public statements in Iran, he’s been talking about the coming Islamic Messiah, which hardliners believe will not return until armegeddon begins. Speaking of that, we are one week away from the end of the world.

I’m really not sure what to do about this situation, which makes me glad I’m not President Bush or Tony Blair right now. I will say this: sitting around idly and hoping nothing happens is not an option. Military force is going to have to happen soon. We must get out of Iraq and prepare for it. Russia, China, North Korea, and the Fundamentalist Muslims are going to join forces to try and destroy the West. I think the Russians and Chinese are going to be the most rational out of these groups, but I don’t think they know who they are getting into bed with. We’re going to see WW3, maybe not on August 22nd… but probably in my life time. I just wish I had some answers as to what to do in the coming years.

God’s Own Party?

Its becoming more and more obvious that the Republican Party has been taken over by fundamentalist christians. Check out Sullivan.