God Has No "Side"

One of the most ridiculous ideas in many religions is the idea that God has a "side". If God is truly omniscient then he would ultimately is on no "side" to speak of. God has no political agenda, no ideology and no favoritism towards any group of people.
For any select group to call themselves "the chosen", is the highth of arrogance. And, to do so implies that God is less than universal.
A truly just and all incompasing God is for everyone.
In essence, there is a transcendent view of God and the tribal concept of God. And it is the tribal view of God which lead to such things as the attacks of 9/11, the prosecution of people of other faiths and all sorts of horrors done "in the name of God".
But, to do so makes God something less than infininate. God can only be found through opening the mind, not closing it.
No human being can comprehend the will of God, any more than an ant can comprehend quantum physics.
Equally absurd it the idea that words in some ancient scripture is the " word of God." Who said? What God truly is, no words can describe.
One does not need a bible or a church to find God. God is already everywhere.

Rednecks Vs. Sex Toys

Alabama has a proposed to outlaw sex toys. The big problem with this law, aside from its intrusive nature, is that ANYTHING can be used as a sex toys. (not that would know personally) ; )
Would this law ban, shoes, stockings, hands and computers? And, of course, it does nothing to make people more moral, anyway.

Sideswipe Review Of "Crash"

"Crash" was well made, with three-dimensional characters, a nuinced script and a surprising touch of humor.

Religion And Morality Not Aways The Same Thing

Religion and morality have less in common with each other than many people think. A person can be deeply religious and still be immoral. A person can be very secular and still have a strong sense of right and wrong.
Osama Bin Louden, Jim Jones other religious leaders all were people with a strong beliefs. And they all did things which are profoundly horrific.
Jim Abramoth is jew who strictly observed all the rituals and taboos of his faith, yet bulked an Indian tribe out of millions and denounced them as "tribulites".
In fact, many of the rules, taboos and rituals of many religions are arbitrary and do little to foster any true sense of "morality".
Wearing special clothing, avoiding certain foods and going to church every Sunday do not nessisrily foster any real sense of morality.
What really matters is what’s in a persons heart.
Acting out of fear of punishment and the desire for reward is not morality, but coercion.
And reward and punishment don’t really foster any genuine sense of morality. Once the coercion is removed, however, there is little to stop a person from engaging in immoral behavior.
Many religious people get so caught up in dogma, tradition and their political agenda that morality itself is thrown overboard.
A genuine moral sense is based on compassion, selflessness, discipline and humility. And what other bases would a just and all knowing God judge us on?

Self-Indulgent Believers

The Problem with "End Time" beliefs is not just the fanaticism and blindness they foster, but also the undlying escapism. If you believe God is going to come down and solve all the problems of the world, then why care about the environment, or the plight of the poor, or income inequality? Believers in such prophecies aren’t really concerned with morality but in getting a personal "ticket to heaven". And what could be more narcistic and arrogant then that?

Relgious cause and effect

I don’t think religion(except the more extreme sects of fundamentalism) causes society to become dysfunctional. Rather, when the institutions of society are corrupt, the economy is poor and education levels are low, and crime is high, people tend to become more religions.
If society and the economy work well and people have more prosperity, people simply have less need to embrace religion.
Religion, quite frankly, has a stake in corruption, crime and insecurity(be it personal, financial, etc.)

The "Christian" Right

Many right wingers claim to champion morality and the teachings of Jesus. But would Jesus approve of massive tax cuts for the rich, gutting services for the "least among us", an "optional" war, dividing people on wedge issues and coddling the powerful?
Jesus, it should be noted, said nothing on the issue of homosexuality and said little about "family values". Instead, he championed the poor and powerless. He said "turn the other cheek" and "he who is without sin cast the first stone." He advocated peace over war and unity over division.
Jesus also attacked the wealthy and powerful.
In many respects, he was opposite of many contemporary right wingers. Much of the right, it seems, have just used faith and values as just another sleazy political ploy.
In short, the "Christian Right" is neither.