I'm an Enabling Hypocrite

This morning I dropped my girls off at "Bible School". They will come home happy and with goodies (that will be thrown away in a few weeks).

But, I know they will be fed a crock full of myth as if it were true.

They will learn about a flood that never happened, walking on the surface of water without assistance that is impossible (unless the water is frozen). Feeding thousands of people with a few fish and a couple of loaves of bread - the fish and bread must have been huge or infinitely better nutritionally than the ones we have now.

My wife wants them to go and I do not. I give up and they go "where all their friends will be".

I'll have to remind myself that I can carefully moderate their understanding of these and all the other make-believe stories that they hear.

Sigh, sign me weak

Where does this omniscient all loving God hide?

Please tell me how to find him/her/it. I have some questions.

Tell me why there are tsunami's, earthquakes, forest fires, volcanic eruptions, and other "acts of God". Why is there cancer, diabetes, heart ailments, arthritis, and unfortunately, on and on...

If "God" created all, then "God" created the disasters and illnesses above.

The intelligent design folks have a difficult time explaining that side of creation.

I care for my children better than "God" does.

If there is a "God", then the Xian image of a loving "God" has some major flaws.

And, don't give me the cop-out of "God moves in mysterious ways" or "who can understand the mind of God?".

more to follow ...

Why is our Congress on this side-trip

of a resolution about the genocide of Armenians in the first world war by the Ottoman "empire"? Are the Congressionals now history experts? 90 years ago. What about today's issues?

Well, that really sounds uncaring, but with all the urgent problems in the USA really needing attention - well, you know: our stupid war in Iraq which is flushing us down the tubes and killing our young people (and their/our children paying for it with their $) and innocent Iraqi's; healthcare emergency; immigration problems; ineffective government agencies (Katrina recovery, Homeland Security waste, etc.) why in the hell is our Congress's attention diverted to that resolution? What lobby group got to them (apparently Armenians from California)? Well, it does take our thoughts off more painfully important issues while we divert our attention to the resolution.

What about the current genocide in Darfur? Stand up and do something about that.

Communication is difficult

It is so easy to be misunderstood, even easier to misunderstand. Much of what we try to share with others is inadequate. We often resort to metaphor and say or write phrases starting with "it's like ...".

Using metaphor, or language for that matter, assures that there will be a good chance for misunderstanding or no understanding at all, in most of our attempts to communicate - especially when we're talking about complex or emotionally charged subjects. My understanding of an emotional word or phrase will never be exactly the same as yours. That's why it's important to be a good listener. Try to understand what someone really means, do not assume that your interpretation of a word or phrase will be the same as the one you are listening to. Ask for elaboration, clarification, examples, etc.

Try to consider the background, culture and conditioning that someone brings to a converstion or writing.

Everyone has a blog

Why not me? I have resisted even thinking about a Blog, but my son (the Physics grad student) has persuaded me by complimenting me. He suggests that I have something to share and things worth writing down. We'll see ...