and it was so warm and springy for the first part of week 2...
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Thursday, March 15, 2007
rock and roll
I can't stand when I still occasionally hear relgious fundies talk about rock as "the devil's music" or "fleshy music" or "the empty music of the world". I see rock as a very spiritual and positive thing. When I listen to "When the Levee Breaks" or "Us and Them" or "Jump", I don't think, "Gee, this song makes me want to disregard the people around me and live arrogantly for myself with selfish actions!" A good song makes me want to strive upwards, appreciate the beauty of life, and get more in touch with the love of God and the universe. And isn't that a good thing?
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Why Myspace bulletins are stupid
I logged into my myspace to check bulletins and I noticed one of my friends posted a bulletin with their name done obituary style. For example, "BOB SCHMITT* 1986-2007".
* Bob Schmitt is the best pseudonym ever.
Here's what the bulletin read:
Ooookay. First of all, these kind of "if you don't ___, you will ___" things are annoying anyway, but to make a threat towards someone's FAMILY??? Not only is this disrespectful to my friends who have actually lost one of their parents or someone close, but how dare a fucking text bulletin on the Internet make a threat towards my family?!! Who the fuck would make such a thing? And for those of you who would repost such a thing- I guess it's good that you demonstrate care for your family even through superstition- but the God of the universe Who loves us is not going to let harm befall you or your family because of a fucking Internet bulletin. Shit happens in this world, but it definitely isn't caused as a result of you not posting a bulletin.
In conclusion, Myspace is annoying and if Myspace could be incarnated into a single human entity (probably a whining emo guy), I would beat its ass.
Peace,
Nick Fed
* Bob Schmitt is the best pseudonym ever.
Here's what the bulletin read:
You opened it which means u really care....!!!!! Because you opened it now
you have to repost this saying R.I.P. with your name, the year you were born,
and the year now. If you don't your mother will die in 12 days w/a horrible
sickness but if you do the one person you truly love will show you their true
feelings for you...........!!!!!!
Ooookay. First of all, these kind of "if you don't ___, you will ___" things are annoying anyway, but to make a threat towards someone's FAMILY??? Not only is this disrespectful to my friends who have actually lost one of their parents or someone close, but how dare a fucking text bulletin on the Internet make a threat towards my family?!! Who the fuck would make such a thing? And for those of you who would repost such a thing- I guess it's good that you demonstrate care for your family even through superstition- but the God of the universe Who loves us is not going to let harm befall you or your family because of a fucking Internet bulletin. Shit happens in this world, but it definitely isn't caused as a result of you not posting a bulletin.
In conclusion, Myspace is annoying and if Myspace could be incarnated into a single human entity (probably a whining emo guy), I would beat its ass.
Peace,
Nick Fed
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Free Thought or Disrespect? (Blasphemy Challenge)
I'm writing this to explore some complicated feelings. My friend Jeremy Smith wrote an entry on his blog about something called the Blasphemy Challenge. Google or Wikipedia it if you want; I'm not going to link to it. Essentially, this atheist/"anti-irrationality" group has isolated the biblical excerpt about "he who blasphemes the Holy Spirit commits an unpardonable sin", and is encouraging people to deny the Holy Spirit in YouTube videos to get a free DVD.
This is a tough issue for me in a lot of ways. Firstly, it brings up a lot of baggage. Early in my Christian journey, I struggled with the idea that the wrong choice of words or opinions can shut someone off from God's grace permanently. (Also, someone like me with minor obsessive compulsive tendencies will go crazy over the idea that there is an "unforgivable" thing to think or say).
Thank God, I was able to resolve this issue by placing an emphasis on God's love above a focus on biblical literalism (an emphasis I developed from experiencing God's real love through His creation- from friends and puppies to rock music). I had a great Orthodox priest explain to me in vivid, profane examples that the passage doesn't refer to literal blasphemy per se. I also realized that God loves people beyond measure and nothing can seperate us from the love of God.
So I believe that these people who deny the Holy Spirit on YouTube can and will be forgiven. So what's the big deal? The big deal is that the Blasphemy Challenge raises a struggle, in me, between respectfulness and free thought.
On the one hand, people should be allowed to use their God-given intellect to speak and think without restriction. On the other hand, a site like this strikes me as just disrespectful, both to God and to Christian individuals.
I am not the kind of person to tiptoe around things to avoid offending people. But there's a difference. To enjoy offensive irreverent humor, to stand up for your actions and beliefs, to ask any question no matter how blasphemous- this is one thing. It's something else to go out there and deliberately try to upset people (Christians) who have really done nothing to deserve it (even if there are serious problems with fundamentalism, aren't we supposed to love the sinner and hate the sin, or hate the game and not the player?)
It seems that there are better ways to question religion than by upsetting people and deliberately encouraging others to do something disrespectful. I have really mixed feelings about this site. It seems completely different than something like Moral Orel or The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told or The New Sins- things which tweak traditional religion to serve a greater goal and provoke thought.
Instead, the Blasphemy Challenge sets out merely to shock, offend, and encourage people to behave disrespectfully both to God and to sensitive Christians.
What do you think?
This is a tough issue for me in a lot of ways. Firstly, it brings up a lot of baggage. Early in my Christian journey, I struggled with the idea that the wrong choice of words or opinions can shut someone off from God's grace permanently. (Also, someone like me with minor obsessive compulsive tendencies will go crazy over the idea that there is an "unforgivable" thing to think or say).
Thank God, I was able to resolve this issue by placing an emphasis on God's love above a focus on biblical literalism (an emphasis I developed from experiencing God's real love through His creation- from friends and puppies to rock music). I had a great Orthodox priest explain to me in vivid, profane examples that the passage doesn't refer to literal blasphemy per se. I also realized that God loves people beyond measure and nothing can seperate us from the love of God.
So I believe that these people who deny the Holy Spirit on YouTube can and will be forgiven. So what's the big deal? The big deal is that the Blasphemy Challenge raises a struggle, in me, between respectfulness and free thought.
On the one hand, people should be allowed to use their God-given intellect to speak and think without restriction. On the other hand, a site like this strikes me as just disrespectful, both to God and to Christian individuals.
I am not the kind of person to tiptoe around things to avoid offending people. But there's a difference. To enjoy offensive irreverent humor, to stand up for your actions and beliefs, to ask any question no matter how blasphemous- this is one thing. It's something else to go out there and deliberately try to upset people (Christians) who have really done nothing to deserve it (even if there are serious problems with fundamentalism, aren't we supposed to love the sinner and hate the sin, or hate the game and not the player?)
It seems that there are better ways to question religion than by upsetting people and deliberately encouraging others to do something disrespectful. I have really mixed feelings about this site. It seems completely different than something like Moral Orel or The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told or The New Sins- things which tweak traditional religion to serve a greater goal and provoke thought.
Instead, the Blasphemy Challenge sets out merely to shock, offend, and encourage people to behave disrespectfully both to God and to sensitive Christians.
What do you think?
Sunday, March 4, 2007
How I spent my spring break....
The jubilation I felt when I got in my Mazda 3 and fled ONU campus for spring break was an indescribable rush of non-substance-induced ecstasy. Although I love college life (and this quarter afforded me wild opportunities ranging from partying with Argentinans to playing guitar in a 1960s version of Shakespeare)....all things (and quarters) must come to an end, thank God. No more sleeping through my 9 o clock, no more discussions on things I haven't read....I cranked up Talking Heads' "Once in a Lifetime" and Mogwai's "Yes! I am a long way from home" and blasted down US-30, using my skills and experience to spot and avoid those nasty speed traps.
So what did I do with my time in Kalamazoo? Well, I didn't do anything too earth shattering or exciting, but I still think it was a worthwhile break. Essentially, shitty weather and feeling sick conspired to keep me chillin at home...either I was too worn out and tired or the roads were too bad and I tended to not want to go anywhere. I did get to work a LOT in ProTools. I did get to see my old friend Pastor Mike and hear about his mission trips, got to jam with my priest (yes, you read it right!), got to see Josh and Brian for a bit, and got to go to the blues bar.
That said, I feel like break came and went really fast and I didn't get a chance to see everyone I wanted to. (That's part of why I'm glad I'm coming back to K-town next weekend too...to get my money's worth on this "time at home" thing). Yet I am hopeful and not depressed. Why? Because of some things I learned over break. I had some interesting conversations (and arguments) with my folks about how I sometimes tend to drag myself down with negativity and doubt. Long story short, the conclusion I have reached is that even though shit happens and some pretty depressing failures loom in the past, I don't have to make myself miserable.
I can choose today whether to dwell on failures of the past or to instead look ahead to what I can do right now. And right now I am choosing to look on the bright side. Tommorow morning begins a new quarter. New classes, new chances to actually study, new chances to really appreciate my friends, new chances to jam, a new cell phone that WORKS and will get activateds soon, new chances to focus on all the good things in my life, new chances to thank God for the fact that there is much in the world to be thankful for, and that I am alive in it.
Peace and God bless,
Nick
So what did I do with my time in Kalamazoo? Well, I didn't do anything too earth shattering or exciting, but I still think it was a worthwhile break. Essentially, shitty weather and feeling sick conspired to keep me chillin at home...either I was too worn out and tired or the roads were too bad and I tended to not want to go anywhere. I did get to work a LOT in ProTools. I did get to see my old friend Pastor Mike and hear about his mission trips, got to jam with my priest (yes, you read it right!), got to see Josh and Brian for a bit, and got to go to the blues bar.
That said, I feel like break came and went really fast and I didn't get a chance to see everyone I wanted to. (That's part of why I'm glad I'm coming back to K-town next weekend too...to get my money's worth on this "time at home" thing). Yet I am hopeful and not depressed. Why? Because of some things I learned over break. I had some interesting conversations (and arguments) with my folks about how I sometimes tend to drag myself down with negativity and doubt. Long story short, the conclusion I have reached is that even though shit happens and some pretty depressing failures loom in the past, I don't have to make myself miserable.
I can choose today whether to dwell on failures of the past or to instead look ahead to what I can do right now. And right now I am choosing to look on the bright side. Tommorow morning begins a new quarter. New classes, new chances to actually study, new chances to really appreciate my friends, new chances to jam, a new cell phone that WORKS and will get activateds soon, new chances to focus on all the good things in my life, new chances to thank God for the fact that there is much in the world to be thankful for, and that I am alive in it.
Peace and God bless,
Nick
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