Saturday, January 3, 2009
I'm hoping this will turn out as I hope- it's the first time I've tried to embed an url link in a post... The MP speaks for all people with brains when he criticises the idea of naming a school a "place of learning". The whole point of calling it a school is to save on words and ink and breath... What's next? A pub being called a "drinking centre"? Shops being called "purchasing localities"? Farms being rebranded (pardon the pun) "agriculture zones"? Schools are- by their very definition (maybe the head teacher could gain an understanding of that word) "places of learning" and therefore don't need to have their definition spelt out. It's enough to make one want to consume large quantities of sugar-digested-by-yeast...http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/7809481.stm
New Year’s Resolutions 2009:
Slightly late in posting these, but here goes:
I've classified them separately:
Professional:
Do a great job as (acting) Head of Languages. Sort out Spanish, increase take-up and manage the department well! Manage the International Week. Possibly start some evening classes- where I can try out new language-learning experiments on friends and acquaintances.
Health:
Lose weight. At least 10kilos. Spend an alcohol-free January and lose 5 kilos by February half-term. I'm actually thinking about running a half-marathon in October.
Personal:
Meet someone of the opposite sex. I suspect we haven't met yet because all the girls I have met unfortunately know me! Write. Go to the Basque Country in the summer (where I'd love to write a travel book), spend New Year’s Eve 09/10 abroad, possibly Istanbul. Read more (that's started already). Travel to the US in Easter (already being organised).
I'm sure that's not the exhaustive list, and am sure there's so much to be added, but those were the things that leapt to my hungover mind on January 1st.
I've classified them separately:
Professional:
Do a great job as (acting) Head of Languages. Sort out Spanish, increase take-up and manage the department well! Manage the International Week. Possibly start some evening classes- where I can try out new language-learning experiments on friends and acquaintances.
Health:
Lose weight. At least 10kilos. Spend an alcohol-free January and lose 5 kilos by February half-term. I'm actually thinking about running a half-marathon in October.
Personal:
Meet someone of the opposite sex. I suspect we haven't met yet because all the girls I have met unfortunately know me! Write. Go to the Basque Country in the summer (where I'd love to write a travel book), spend New Year’s Eve 09/10 abroad, possibly Istanbul. Read more (that's started already). Travel to the US in Easter (already being organised).
I'm sure that's not the exhaustive list, and am sure there's so much to be added, but those were the things that leapt to my hungover mind on January 1st.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7763216.stm
ETA have struck again. Today they killed a businessman called Ignacio Uria Mendizabal in the town of Azpeitia. I haven't read if he was a prominent politician or had any strong views, and I believe he didn't. Just a businessman, who happened to be one of those with involvement in the coming Basque high speed train ("La Y Vasca"). It is also possible that he refused to be blackmailed by ETA into paying the "revolutionary tax" (basically protection money). So it has come to this. ETA is no more than a mafia of criminals and have lost almost all resemblance to the revolutionaries who started the fight against Franco.
And they have the Basque Country by the balls, because the nationalists are shit scared of them and the non-nationalists have turned against the peace-loving nationalists, therefore making the situation all but impossible.
When will it stop?!
ETA have struck again. Today they killed a businessman called Ignacio Uria Mendizabal in the town of Azpeitia. I haven't read if he was a prominent politician or had any strong views, and I believe he didn't. Just a businessman, who happened to be one of those with involvement in the coming Basque high speed train ("La Y Vasca"). It is also possible that he refused to be blackmailed by ETA into paying the "revolutionary tax" (basically protection money). So it has come to this. ETA is no more than a mafia of criminals and have lost almost all resemblance to the revolutionaries who started the fight against Franco.
And they have the Basque Country by the balls, because the nationalists are shit scared of them and the non-nationalists have turned against the peace-loving nationalists, therefore making the situation all but impossible.
When will it stop?!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The Morning After...
The world breathes a huge sigh of relief. And I was moved by Obama's speech. Admittedly, I watched it online because I couldn't stay up that late- I needed to phone the doctor's surgery at 8... but I digress... What a speech. What an orator. What I particularly loved was his use of "we as a people", echoing Martin Luther King's reference to African-Americans, but applying it to the whole of American society.
Here's hoping he doesn't cock it up.
Here's hoping he doesn't cock it up.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
The Inevitable American Election Post...
Tonight the USA is voting for the next Leader of the Free World. Whoever wins, I hope he does a better job than the last one. I hope he travels far and wide, and gives the rest of us a break. Personally, I hope Obama wins it, as do most Europeans. McCain seems like too much of the same thing again, foreign policy-wise, which is what affects us. But it's not as simple as that. Americans don't all look at their leaders from a foreigner's perspective (heck, why should they?) and domestic policy probably takes precedence, so McCain is more credible than we expect him to be here in the Old World.
Many Christians are going to vote McCain today, mainly on the basis that he is pro-life as opposed to Obama's pro-choice stance. Us British pinko heretic would argue that there is more to politics than the abortion issue, but the Church in the States seems to me to believe this is important enough to decide who governs the country. My problem with the Republican Party in the US is that it holds out the anti-abortion carrot and millions of Christians follow. I was accused by an American voter today of being trite by saying that, and it probably is, but I wonder if McCain would be more "righteous" than Obama. It seems that Obama is actually a churchgoer (though liberal) whereas McCain is not. And so many other issues.
I'm not American, I don't have a vote, and I'm not pretending otherwise. But it would be refreshing to see an Afro-American in the Whitehouse, and to see a President of the USA who gives a monkey's about the outside world.
Many Christians are going to vote McCain today, mainly on the basis that he is pro-life as opposed to Obama's pro-choice stance. Us British pinko heretic would argue that there is more to politics than the abortion issue, but the Church in the States seems to me to believe this is important enough to decide who governs the country. My problem with the Republican Party in the US is that it holds out the anti-abortion carrot and millions of Christians follow. I was accused by an American voter today of being trite by saying that, and it probably is, but I wonder if McCain would be more "righteous" than Obama. It seems that Obama is actually a churchgoer (though liberal) whereas McCain is not. And so many other issues.
I'm not American, I don't have a vote, and I'm not pretending otherwise. But it would be refreshing to see an Afro-American in the Whitehouse, and to see a President of the USA who gives a monkey's about the outside world.
Monday, November 3, 2008
"Such certainty..." (Jo, Spooks BBC1)
It seems to me it has become fashionable to believe that the main problem with terrorists and other nasty people is their absolutist ideology and certainty in what they believe. The comment above refers to some nasty manipulated suicide bombers who try to blow up innocent Londoners. Now don't get me wrong, I deplore all this inhuman violence, but my problem is not with the ideology per se, rather the phenomenon of violence.
I hadn't realised that the perception of absolutism as the problem was prevalent in this country until tonight. We are all aware of the popular hate of any absolutist religious belief, although for some reason Dawkins and some of his popularisers (Marcus Brigstocke, Jeremy Hardy et al) seem to think that absolutist atheism doesn't fall into this category. But applying this to Islamic bombers worries me since it suggests that all those who believe strongly and earnestly in something are put in the same category. I believe this is seriously wrong. It is violence and exlusively violence that is the problem. And therefore I would argue that Ian Paisley is not as bad as George W Bush.
This belief in seeing ideology as the problem is very popular in the Madrid-based media in Spain. They see ETA (the Basque Separatist Terrorist Group) as erroneous because of their violence, obviously, but increasingly because of their ideology. It worries me that so many Spaniards can't understand the idea of believing storngly in a cause, and therefore they suspect a financial motive for terrorists' membership of the organisation. Because of this, the Spanish press has demonised all Basque nationalism and implies that it is nationalism that needs to be eliminated, not violence.
The solution is this: Even if someone earnestly believes you are going to burn in the fires of Hell, as long as they don't harm you- or seek to have you harmed, I cannot see a problem. If you don't believe in God, their belief is quite ridiculous so you shouldn't even take it seriously. If they want to hurt you, then that is quite another matter, regardless of their belief. They could even share the same ideology as you yourself, but if they want to cause violence they are in the wrong.
I know I sound like a lilly-livered (sp?) hippy pacifist, and haven't entered the whole Just War thing etc., but basically I just wanted to argue against the idea of Thought Crimes while supporting every step to eliminate violence from our world.
I hadn't realised that the perception of absolutism as the problem was prevalent in this country until tonight. We are all aware of the popular hate of any absolutist religious belief, although for some reason Dawkins and some of his popularisers (Marcus Brigstocke, Jeremy Hardy et al) seem to think that absolutist atheism doesn't fall into this category. But applying this to Islamic bombers worries me since it suggests that all those who believe strongly and earnestly in something are put in the same category. I believe this is seriously wrong. It is violence and exlusively violence that is the problem. And therefore I would argue that Ian Paisley is not as bad as George W Bush.
This belief in seeing ideology as the problem is very popular in the Madrid-based media in Spain. They see ETA (the Basque Separatist Terrorist Group) as erroneous because of their violence, obviously, but increasingly because of their ideology. It worries me that so many Spaniards can't understand the idea of believing storngly in a cause, and therefore they suspect a financial motive for terrorists' membership of the organisation. Because of this, the Spanish press has demonised all Basque nationalism and implies that it is nationalism that needs to be eliminated, not violence.
The solution is this: Even if someone earnestly believes you are going to burn in the fires of Hell, as long as they don't harm you- or seek to have you harmed, I cannot see a problem. If you don't believe in God, their belief is quite ridiculous so you shouldn't even take it seriously. If they want to hurt you, then that is quite another matter, regardless of their belief. They could even share the same ideology as you yourself, but if they want to cause violence they are in the wrong.
I know I sound like a lilly-livered (sp?) hippy pacifist, and haven't entered the whole Just War thing etc., but basically I just wanted to argue against the idea of Thought Crimes while supporting every step to eliminate violence from our world.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
So I Say Thank You For The Music...
I'm steadily realising how important music is to me. It's one of those things that stops me falling into deep despair. I used to think that I preferred Talk Radio to Music Radio- and that may be true still, yet I'm getting to appreciate music so much more these days. I guess that the fact that I can pick and choose what I listen to (glorious mp3 player) allows me to listen to some amazingly life-affirming and cheerful ditties.
The four albums currently lifting my heart (hey, something has to!) are the following: The Secret Of Life- The Ukulele Orchestra OfGreat Britain; Rock With The Hot 8 Brass Band- The Hot 8 Brass Band; Adelantando- Jarabe De Palo; La Radiolina- Manu Chao. The secret of these musicians is twofold: They combine brilliant musicianship of the highest order with either clever musical jokes and satirical adaptations (in the case of the former two) or just cheerful and vibrant energy (in the case of the latter two).
Of course, people have always understood the importance of music in manipulating the masses, from the French Revolution to the Third Reich, to many religious organisations today.
Anyway, sorry to almost seem upbeat, but I thought I ought to share the secret of my survival (heehee).
The four albums currently lifting my heart (hey, something has to!) are the following: The Secret Of Life- The Ukulele Orchestra OfGreat Britain; Rock With The Hot 8 Brass Band- The Hot 8 Brass Band; Adelantando- Jarabe De Palo; La Radiolina- Manu Chao. The secret of these musicians is twofold: They combine brilliant musicianship of the highest order with either clever musical jokes and satirical adaptations (in the case of the former two) or just cheerful and vibrant energy (in the case of the latter two).
Of course, people have always understood the importance of music in manipulating the masses, from the French Revolution to the Third Reich, to many religious organisations today.
Anyway, sorry to almost seem upbeat, but I thought I ought to share the secret of my survival (heehee).
Saturday, June 21, 2008
That bloke Solomon
I remember meeting a bloke in Paris from South Wales of Arab extraction who said his name- Salman- was the Arabic version of Solomon and- weirdly enough- Frederick. I would love to get confirmation from someone for that. Let me know.
Anyway, this bloke Solomon. Clever guy. Wrote a few books in the Bible, apparently. One of these- the Preacher's Book (or Ecclesiastes to you good Greeks), must be one of the best philosophical tracts ever. Far easier to read than Marx's Das Kapital anyway.
I should read it again, but from what I remember Solomon talks about what he's done and what his conclusion is. He had it all- riches, concubines (women, not large hedgehogs), and the throne of Israel. He tried three things, broadly: Pleasure, Fame, and Wealth. And the conclusion he came to was that it's all a load of crap (not strictly his wording, but very close to the meaning). The hilarious thing is that I now get where he's coming from: I've experienced fame, then pleasure, then some wealth and have come to the conclusion that it's worth nothing. Life is meaningless and empty. End of story.
Anyway, this bloke Solomon. Clever guy. Wrote a few books in the Bible, apparently. One of these- the Preacher's Book (or Ecclesiastes to you good Greeks), must be one of the best philosophical tracts ever. Far easier to read than Marx's Das Kapital anyway.
I should read it again, but from what I remember Solomon talks about what he's done and what his conclusion is. He had it all- riches, concubines (women, not large hedgehogs), and the throne of Israel. He tried three things, broadly: Pleasure, Fame, and Wealth. And the conclusion he came to was that it's all a load of crap (not strictly his wording, but very close to the meaning). The hilarious thing is that I now get where he's coming from: I've experienced fame, then pleasure, then some wealth and have come to the conclusion that it's worth nothing. Life is meaningless and empty. End of story.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Starbucks, Borders
Not to be confused with "Paris, Texas" or "Newport, Gwent" (that lesser known Wim Wenders film)...
I have been twice to Starbucks in Borders this week. Such luxuries are afforded to us by holidays. Antiglobalism goes out of the window as I engage in three of my favourite hobbies: drinking coffee (the stuff of life), reading, and people watching. There's always a group of people gathered around a table, earnestly discussing something: They could be a book group (even a Bible Study group) but I prefer to think of them as some kind of revolutionary group planning to overthrow the Government and establish a new world order. Wishful thinking... There are no revolutionaries anymore. We're too comfortable and the coffee's never strong enough. Oh, and there are always interesting women sat at tables by themselves, sketching or writing that never-to-be-published novel. Which gets me onto my next subject: I've decided I'm going to try and get those short stories written, so I started.We'll see...
Currently reading "La Sombra Del Viento" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. In the original Spanish, of course!
I have been twice to Starbucks in Borders this week. Such luxuries are afforded to us by holidays. Antiglobalism goes out of the window as I engage in three of my favourite hobbies: drinking coffee (the stuff of life), reading, and people watching. There's always a group of people gathered around a table, earnestly discussing something: They could be a book group (even a Bible Study group) but I prefer to think of them as some kind of revolutionary group planning to overthrow the Government and establish a new world order. Wishful thinking... There are no revolutionaries anymore. We're too comfortable and the coffee's never strong enough. Oh, and there are always interesting women sat at tables by themselves, sketching or writing that never-to-be-published novel. Which gets me onto my next subject: I've decided I'm going to try and get those short stories written, so I started.We'll see...
Currently reading "La Sombra Del Viento" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. In the original Spanish, of course!
My “31 Songs” (apologies to Nick Hornby)
ALBUMS (a variation on NH's theme)
Graceland- Paul Simon
Rattle & Hum- U2
Trimmed’n’Burnin’/Slow Burn- Glenn Kaiser/Darrell Mansfield
Tapestry- Carole King
Slow Train Coming- Bob Dylan
Ben Folds Five- Ben Folds Five
August & Everything After- Counting Crows
Songs From The Rain- Hothouse Flowers
Samedi Soir Sur La Terre- Francis Cabrel
Out Of Time- REM
Five Leaves Left- Nick Drake
There Will Be A Light- Ben Harper & The Blind Boys Of Alabama
James Taylor Live- James Taylor
Requiem- Mozart
Rhapsody In Blue/An American In Paris- George Gershwin
O Brother Where Art Thou Soundtrack- Various Artists
Squint- Steve Taylor
Elton John- Elton John
Buena Vista Social Club- Buena Vista Social Club
The Hardline According To...- Terence Trent D’Arby
Disraeli Gears- Cream
Little Shop Of Horrors Soundtrack- Various
Divine Madness- Madness
The White Album- The Beatles
Flood- They Might Be Giants
Unplugged at MTV- Eric Clapton
Beautiful Mess- Sixpence None The Richer
Hyfryd I Fod Yn Fyw- Jess
Live From Mars- Ben Harper
Time Out- The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Roll Away The Stone- Kelly Joe Phelps
Those which narrowly missed out:
Golosinas- Pedro Guerra
Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band- The Beatles
Abbey Road- The Beatles
Unplugged at MTV- Nirvana
Spontaneous Combustion- Glenn Kaiser
Tuesday Night Music Club- Sheryl Crow
The Freewheeling Bob Dylan- Bob Dylan
I tried not to include any “Best Of” or “Greatest Hits” albums as they sort of break the rules. Not sure if "Divine Madness" counts... The albums above aren’t in any particular order of preference.
PS: "Skybound" by Tom Baxter would probably make the list now...
Graceland- Paul Simon
Rattle & Hum- U2
Trimmed’n’Burnin’/Slow Burn- Glenn Kaiser/Darrell Mansfield
Tapestry- Carole King
Slow Train Coming- Bob Dylan
Ben Folds Five- Ben Folds Five
August & Everything After- Counting Crows
Songs From The Rain- Hothouse Flowers
Samedi Soir Sur La Terre- Francis Cabrel
Out Of Time- REM
Five Leaves Left- Nick Drake
There Will Be A Light- Ben Harper & The Blind Boys Of Alabama
James Taylor Live- James Taylor
Requiem- Mozart
Rhapsody In Blue/An American In Paris- George Gershwin
O Brother Where Art Thou Soundtrack- Various Artists
Squint- Steve Taylor
Elton John- Elton John
Buena Vista Social Club- Buena Vista Social Club
The Hardline According To...- Terence Trent D’Arby
Disraeli Gears- Cream
Little Shop Of Horrors Soundtrack- Various
Divine Madness- Madness
The White Album- The Beatles
Flood- They Might Be Giants
Unplugged at MTV- Eric Clapton
Beautiful Mess- Sixpence None The Richer
Hyfryd I Fod Yn Fyw- Jess
Live From Mars- Ben Harper
Time Out- The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Roll Away The Stone- Kelly Joe Phelps
Those which narrowly missed out:
Golosinas- Pedro Guerra
Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band- The Beatles
Abbey Road- The Beatles
Unplugged at MTV- Nirvana
Spontaneous Combustion- Glenn Kaiser
Tuesday Night Music Club- Sheryl Crow
The Freewheeling Bob Dylan- Bob Dylan
I tried not to include any “Best Of” or “Greatest Hits” albums as they sort of break the rules. Not sure if "Divine Madness" counts... The albums above aren’t in any particular order of preference.
PS: "Skybound" by Tom Baxter would probably make the list now...
Episode IV: A New Post
Just read a post on www.last.fm which remarked on Bach's "Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring"- "It's like listening to God."
Beautiful comment. There should be more of these.
Beautiful comment. There should be more of these.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Glad I'm not religious
I'm so glad I'm not religious. Because if I was, there'd be a massive temptation to get power and praise from nice gullible chapel-goers over Wales. There are chapels crying out for ministers and a "nice young man" always goes down well. It could be so much fun getting to be a preacher man, spouting crap from the pulpit, with the right religious words and phrases to elicit "Amen"s from the congregation...
But I'm not like that. Firstly, I wouldn't be able to stomach the empty religiosity; and secondly, I'm above hipocrisy like that...
But I'm not like that. Firstly, I wouldn't be able to stomach the empty religiosity; and secondly, I'm above hipocrisy like that...
Thursday, January 17, 2008
A Parable
A man went to swim in the sea with his mates. He was determined to get the most out of the experience so- rather than paddle in the shallows or tread water and chat with a group of friends- he decided to swim back and forth across the bay. He loved the sensation the waves gave him, but felt bad that none of the others had wanted to join him. They weren't too concerned, though, as he was known to be a strong swimmer.
Eventually he got exhausted, but found himself far from the shore and the other swimmers. Because of the sound of the waves breaking on the shore the others were unable to hear him. Unable to relax and float on the surface of the water, he gradually succumbed to the powerful waves. By the time the others noticed he was sinking, it was too late...
Eventually he got exhausted, but found himself far from the shore and the other swimmers. Because of the sound of the waves breaking on the shore the others were unable to hear him. Unable to relax and float on the surface of the water, he gradually succumbed to the powerful waves. By the time the others noticed he was sinking, it was too late...
Monday, December 3, 2007
Flotsam and Jetsam (2)
Indian Restaurant Songbook
Girlfriend In A Korma- The Smiths
Tears On My Pilau- Kylie Minogue
Pappadum Preach- Madonna
It's Basmati And I'll Cry If I Want To- Altered Images??
Prawn Vindaloo S A- Bruce Springsteen
Anything by the Spice Girls (obviously)
Girlfriend In A Korma- The Smiths
Tears On My Pilau- Kylie Minogue
Pappadum Preach- Madonna
It's Basmati And I'll Cry If I Want To- Altered Images??
Prawn Vindaloo S A- Bruce Springsteen
Anything by the Spice Girls (obviously)
Sunday, November 11, 2007
November 11
Today is Rememberance Sunday and has completely passed me by. Not strictly true, as I did watch Blackadder Goes Forth to mark the occasion.
Don't get me wrong: The First World War was an utter tragedy and deserves- or rather demands- to be remembered. What it does not demand, nevertheless, is to be celebrated. The soldiers who fought in 1914-18 do not need to be thanked, as they were merely "Lions for Asses" sent to fight in a completely needless conflict. It should be remembered as the tragedy it was. The Second World War is different story, and I'm happy to thank those who fought to defeat Nazism. What bothers me is the institutionalisation of the whole thing- the celebration which borders on jingoism and celebration of things British. I'm no longer a rabid Welsh nationalist, but I couldn't really give a monkey's about the State of the United Kingdom.
Two other things: The lads who volunteered to fight in the Spanish Civil War aren't officially remembered as their involvement wasn't officially sanctioned by HMG. And the whole contraversy (sp?) about the wounded soldiers worries me, as it gives everyone the message that this is a jingoistic celebration rather than a commemoration.
Don't get me wrong: The First World War was an utter tragedy and deserves- or rather demands- to be remembered. What it does not demand, nevertheless, is to be celebrated. The soldiers who fought in 1914-18 do not need to be thanked, as they were merely "Lions for Asses" sent to fight in a completely needless conflict. It should be remembered as the tragedy it was. The Second World War is different story, and I'm happy to thank those who fought to defeat Nazism. What bothers me is the institutionalisation of the whole thing- the celebration which borders on jingoism and celebration of things British. I'm no longer a rabid Welsh nationalist, but I couldn't really give a monkey's about the State of the United Kingdom.
Two other things: The lads who volunteered to fight in the Spanish Civil War aren't officially remembered as their involvement wasn't officially sanctioned by HMG. And the whole contraversy (sp?) about the wounded soldiers worries me, as it gives everyone the message that this is a jingoistic celebration rather than a commemoration.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Flotsam And Jetsam (1)
"I've gone through life wondering, "What if the hokey-cokey is what it's all about?" Have you ever thought about that? It could be, couldn't it? 'Cause that's what I was told, when I was a kid. "You put your left leg in... that's what it's all about." I'm not saying it is, I'm saying "what if?" I never really knew what it was all about so any signsin that general direction I was willing to pick up. And that's a view of the world my parents regularly expressed to me at moments of high mirth and emotion. That's cockney Zen, that is."
-Billy Bragg "The Word" Magazine, November 2006
Haiku
by Simon Bird
Ironically
This haiku's final word is
Monosyllabic
If
by Arthur Smith
If you can roll along at a decent pace
And you find that your rear
Contains lots of space
If you have windows at the front
Yet none at the side
And offer a smooth unflashy ride
If you have a red and white flag
On your bonnet
And can never imagine doing a ton
Then yours is the road and everything on it
And, which is more, you'll be a van, my son.
-Billy Bragg "The Word" Magazine, November 2006
Haiku
by Simon Bird
Ironically
This haiku's final word is
Monosyllabic
If
by Arthur Smith
If you can roll along at a decent pace
And you find that your rear
Contains lots of space
If you have windows at the front
Yet none at the side
And offer a smooth unflashy ride
If you have a red and white flag
On your bonnet
And can never imagine doing a ton
Then yours is the road and everything on it
And, which is more, you'll be a van, my son.
Christians
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." - Mohandas K Ghandi
Interestingly enough, I have mellowed quite a bit since I had the intention of writing about Christians, but- though the spirit is more benevolent- the criticisms still stand.
My problem is that Christians seem to deny their creed and their belief in a life-changing God by being so... well, Unchristian!
Ultimately, it is they (correction: we) who put me off the system known as Christianity. It's our hypocrisy- the gaping abyss between our beliefs and our practice; our selfishness- our complete inability to see others' needs; our religiosity- our little obsessions with silly rituals and rites which have nothing at all to do with Jesus of Nazareth; and our self-righteousness- our sick tendency to look down on others without seeing how filthy we ourselves are. There are many other traits too, but I would wind myself up into a frenzy...!
Now, I know what the response is to this: "We're saved by Grace...none of us are perfect...let he who is without fault...". Granted, we will not attain perfection in this life, but surely the Church is meant to be an outpost of heaven, a community of God's people, and surely we believe in a God that transforms lives into being more like Jesus, not more religious or self-righteous. I always liked the quote on the "Jesus Freak" album (DC Talk) about Christians confessing Christ with their lips and then denying Him with their lives. And I echo the sentiment that that is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.
But I continue to seek Jesus...
Interestingly enough, I have mellowed quite a bit since I had the intention of writing about Christians, but- though the spirit is more benevolent- the criticisms still stand.
My problem is that Christians seem to deny their creed and their belief in a life-changing God by being so... well, Unchristian!
Ultimately, it is they (correction: we) who put me off the system known as Christianity. It's our hypocrisy- the gaping abyss between our beliefs and our practice; our selfishness- our complete inability to see others' needs; our religiosity- our little obsessions with silly rituals and rites which have nothing at all to do with Jesus of Nazareth; and our self-righteousness- our sick tendency to look down on others without seeing how filthy we ourselves are. There are many other traits too, but I would wind myself up into a frenzy...!
Now, I know what the response is to this: "We're saved by Grace...none of us are perfect...let he who is without fault...". Granted, we will not attain perfection in this life, but surely the Church is meant to be an outpost of heaven, a community of God's people, and surely we believe in a God that transforms lives into being more like Jesus, not more religious or self-righteous. I always liked the quote on the "Jesus Freak" album (DC Talk) about Christians confessing Christ with their lips and then denying Him with their lives. And I echo the sentiment that that is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.
But I continue to seek Jesus...
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
One step at a time...
I went to church on Sunday. I would have added a sarcastic "what a surprise" if it weren't for the fact that this is unusual nowadays. In truth, I turned up in order to collect a package a friend had left for me. The sermon was okay, but the interesting thing was that the assistant pastor decided to sit next to me. I am completely unable to lie, so when he asked me after the service how things were, I had to admit that things were quite crap. I can't hide my feelings either, so I would've been on a loser... The conversation was good and he was (externally at least) optimistic. We agreed in the end that we would meet up on Friday to read the Bible. We'll see how it goes...
I'm reading a book called "The Case Against Christ" at the moment, by John White. Unlike a few other Christian books, it's not overly patronising or pompous and presents a very intellectually rigourous argument in favour of Jesus' life and work. And more positively, it's making me want to read about Jesus in the Gospels about him.
Next post: why I don't like Christians!
I'm reading a book called "The Case Against Christ" at the moment, by John White. Unlike a few other Christian books, it's not overly patronising or pompous and presents a very intellectually rigourous argument in favour of Jesus' life and work. And more positively, it's making me want to read about Jesus in the Gospels about him.
Next post: why I don't like Christians!
Monday, September 10, 2007
Honestly...
Let me put my cards on the table. I do want to believe. I would like to follow Jesus.
Why?
In order have a purpose in my life? Possibly.
Because I have no other options in my life? No longer the truth- hence, possibly, the reason I've been more off the rails than ever before.
Because I want to be moral? Well, there are other, more self-righteous and self-glorifying ways...
The true reason is that I would like to follow Jesus because I know that otherwise I'm on a handcart to hell...
Why?
In order have a purpose in my life? Possibly.
Because I have no other options in my life? No longer the truth- hence, possibly, the reason I've been more off the rails than ever before.
Because I want to be moral? Well, there are other, more self-righteous and self-glorifying ways...
The true reason is that I would like to follow Jesus because I know that otherwise I'm on a handcart to hell...
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Cheese and wine
I have a female friend with whom I get on very well. She's got a very strong character and I don't think she realises how attractive I find that. The only problem is that when we argue/discuss, we rarely find common ground since neither of us is willing to concede any ground. So we were discussing my intention to look into the person of Jesus by starting to read an apologetics book. She couldn't understand why on earth I was so anti-church in many ways and why I felt the need to start reading into this on my own first of all. I tried to explain that my approach was one of starting at the bottom in order to build up from a basis of "who Jesus is" then confronting Him and then following Him (hey, let's be honest about the desired outcome of this journey). Be she started to accuse me of not believing in the power of preaching, that I wasn't open to the possibilities of God using preaching to speak to me (nice reformed evangelical girl that she is). If the truth be told, I'm not sure if I do believe in all that in the state I'm in at the moment. So if you're reading this (you know who you are), that's one of the reasons.
Let's just say we agreed to disagree...
Let's just say we agreed to disagree...
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