Disqus - Friends of tmamone

Re: Christian Pastor: National Geographic? More Like National Pornographic!

nakedanthropologist — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 15:48:57 -0000

I think I forgot my sarcasm tag. This pastor is so incredibly silly I honestly don't comprehend why people listen. However, it is interesting to note that most of the art containing Jesus shows him as being attractive and muscular. I went to the Catholic University of America for my master's degree (don't laugh - they have a great anthropology program) and right on campus is the Basillica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception - its enormous, and very intimidating in its grandeur. A beautiful piece of art. There is a huge mosaic of Christ on the ceiling in the main basillica, and he is very muscular. Students would comment among themselves that perhaps that representation sometimes sent the wrong signal.

Re: Baptist Church Told Girl to Apologize for Being Raped

nakedanthropologist — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 15:58:07 -0000

Uh, no. You're so incredibly wrong here. You're doing the same thing the church was - trying to blame the victim. And whether or not God judges someone after death is not our issue - our issue to protect fellow humans from being horribly traumatized and abused. Shame on you.

Re: Baptist Church Told Girl to Apologize for Being Raped

nakedanthropologist — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 16:05:12 -0000

See, this is a true story. It's not a straw man - these events actually took place. Reason and ethics demand that we criticise people who can and do commit these atrocities and/or assist in victim blaming. Yes, lots of people are good people who run women's shelters and so on. But they do that because they are good people, not just because they are Christian. Showing only the good paints the wrong picture and allows rapists to get away with their crimes more easily - by giving them a public image to hide behind. Exposing the horrible isn't fun or generalizing - its just adding another piece to the bigger picture and participating in advocacy for the victim. So stop with the persecution complex, okay?

Re: UK Government Lawyers Defend Law Forbidding Workplace Religious Expression

nakedanthropologist — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 17:53:11 -0000

I believe the article is referring to a government employee who either officiates and/or assists (I'm not of the terminology) the couple with the paperwork that declares two people to be legally married in a civil ceremony - completely separate from a church employee being forced to enact a religious ceremony. In that case, it is not only unprofessional and unethical to shirk their duties towards lgbt couples, but also illegal.

Re: This Is Pure Baloney

nakedanthropologist — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 17:59:59 -0000

LOL. I have a deep platonic love for you right now.

Re: Rick Joyner: We Prayed for an Amputated Finger… and Most of It Grew Back!

nakedanthropologist — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 18:28:03 -0000

Lots and lots of people have limbs that "grow back" - it's a matter of where they grip it!

Re: Richard Dawkins: ‘Who Cares About Creationists? They Don’t Know Anything’

nakedanthropologist — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 12:52:37 -0000

Dear Mr. Dawkins: the universerve thanks you!

Re: Richard Dawkins: ‘Who Cares About Creationists? They Don’t Know Anything’

nakedanthropologist — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 12:55:37 -0000

In a word - yes. We all know why we're here, and what its all about. You see, when a mommy and daddy want a baby, the decide to have unprotected sex or go to a fertility clinic. Life is all about what we experience and do as we interact with the environments around us. Simple questions = simple answers.

Re: A Theologian Talks About Being an Atheist Ally

nakedanthropologist — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 18:10:12 -0000

Thank you Ms. Riswold. Truly, you have most sincere thanks.

Re: Every Christian Right Group Needs to Take This Quiz

nakedanthropologist — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 18:28:58 -0000

No one is telling you that you're only allowed to be who you are in private (unlike some of your other posts that have led many of the regular commenters here to conclude that you would love for non-heterosexual and non-christian peeps to hide who they are). You have the civil right to be who you are - and so does everyone else. What you don't have is the authority to force yourself or your views on others. Pray all day long/wear a jesus freak t-shirt/eat spaghetti and peanut butter sandwiches - we don't care. However, you do not have the right to make other people pray or do anything else in regards to faith or no-faith. Being publicly gay is like being publicly caucasian - it forces nothing on anyone else. Being involved in a same-sex marriage is like being involved in an opposite-sex marriage - its a question of orientation and preference. This is the 21st century and humanity is (hopefully) working towards an age where we can all be ourselves and embrace equality without fear of ostracizement or violence. Including people who are lgbt, christian, atheist, taoist, and so on. My advise is that you let go of your bigotry and delusions of persecution - see a therapist if you need to, because you're talking like a crazy person.

Re: Bryan Fischer: Grad Schools Requiring You to Properly Treat LGBT Clients Are Like Vietnamese Reeducation Camps

nakedanthropologist — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 19:32:13 -0000

If exercising your faith means hurting or persecuting other people then yes, you should be penalized. If you worked for me (presumably at a law firm) it would be wrong for me to harrass or fire you because you are a Christian (and only that). So if you pray, go to church, participate in symbolic cannibalism - I'm cool with that. However if you break the law or your employment contract by being rude to clients, deliberately losing cases which involved gay clientelle - then I have every right to fire you. That's how a civil, pluralistic, and secular society works. We may have differences in opinions, but we treat each other as equals.

In closing, Julia Ward was training to be a healthcare professional. Ethically, she has an obligation to put her own prejudices aside (we all have 'em) and work with her clientelle towards a better state of mind. Furthermore, she was at a secular university and agreed to their nondiscrimination policy when she accepted an offer to study there. She violated the terms of that agreement. It would be no different than if an atheist refused a Christian treatment (because of the differences in faith) in the same program. And its not as if this was a hasty decision - the school made it clear what was expectedof her not only as student, but what would be expected by the ethical guidelines set down by the national organization that governs said profession. Your argument is in error.

Re: Every Christian Right Group Needs to Take This Quiz

nakedanthropologist — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 10:47:24 -0000

Wow, just wow. First of all, maybe you should read the article before you pontificate on matters discussed in the comments. I was being a reasonable person - in response to rwlawoffice. However you are acting like filthy bigot, so why don't you go fuck yourself while the adults talk, okay?

Re: After High School Teacher Defends Atheist and Gay Students, He Is Forced to Resign

nakedanthropologist — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 15:13:09 -0000

I'm very familiar with Lenoir City (I work at a business there) and the majority of the people there are very conservative. I'm not suprised this happened, but it disappoints and saddens me all the same.

Re: After High School Teacher Defends Atheist and Gay Students, He Is Forced to Resign

nakedanthropologist — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 15:23:00 -0000

I do! I would love to get in on that - perhaps we could even find a private business to sponser his class(es) for school supplies, and maybe an educational fieldtrip or something. Anyone else want to get in on this?

Re: After High School Teacher Defends Atheist and Gay Students, He Is Forced to Resign

nakedanthropologist — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 15:28:02 -0000

Dude, we have got to form a club for the 'misfits' of East Tennessee. We could include atheists, humanists, lgbts, and so on. Even better, we will have the best parties...

Re: A Christian Theologian Wants Your Tough Questions…

nakedanthropologist — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 17:03:22 -0000

You know, when you say it that way Christianity kinda reminds me of the Necromongers from the Chronicles of Riddick. Their religion centers around conversion (forcible when possible), death, life after death, coupled with the exchange of suffering and atonement. Tropes and imagery includes violence, war, and the spiritual "other". All that, combined with the belief that they are absolutely right and that they have dominion and a type of manifest destiny. Interesting, no?

Re: Focus on the Family is Giving Up on Reaching Out to Millennials

nakedanthropologist — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 21:26:52 -0000

This seems a little optimistic to me. Sure, they may be lessening some of their marketing resources on the millenials/gay marriage - but that's just one group for right now. They will probably never apologize for all the damage they've done to lgbt families; and they'll probably keep spreading their hate speech and bigotry to other demographics. I guess we'll have to wait and see, although I know better than to get my hopes up.

Re: University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Will No Longer Have Christian Prayers Before Football Games

nakedanthropologist — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 00:12:39 -0000

May the Sauce be with you.

Re: University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Will No Longer Have Christian Prayers Before Football Games

nakedanthropologist — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 00:20:06 -0000

Hopefully your son will grow up to be a man os strong integrity, sound ethics, and have a great love and respect for his country. In doing so, he will be a greater man than his father - secure in whatever faith he chooses and proud to live in an inclusive nation that respects all of its citizens faiths or those of no faith. Which will be a very good thing, since there is a high probability that Christianity will be a minority by the time your son actually gets to college.

FYI, many of the commenters are former Christians - and probably know the bible better than you do. Also: "render unto Caesar..." (hopefully you can pinpoint the verse without google)

Re: Illinois Family Institute Goes After Teacher for Wanting to Discuss Brokeback Mountain in Film Class

nakedanthropologist — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:18:19 -0000

I disagree with your analysis. Yes, homosexuality is a main theme in Brokeback Mountain - but I think that's a relevant issue for people today. As others have mentioned, the film and the short story portray two people who love eachother, but due to time, culture, and circumstance this love becomes a major force of strife and woe. Whether or not one believes homosexuality is moral will probably be discussed, but I would imagine that it would be done so in a fair manner (which respects everyone's viewpoints) and which centers on its portrayal in the literature as well as cinema. Slumdog Millionaire was (I think) a great movie, but it also has contestable and mature content, such as rape, pedophilia, prostitution, torture, and violence.

Plus, we must remember that these are high school seniors. They will (presumably) graduate this year, and many will go onto to college. Brokeback Mountain deals with issues and themes found in the real world - American culture, poverty, violence, love, anger, joy - its not just about two guys getting it on. I think the teacher chose this film & short story with care and a great deal of forethought. Additionally, this course is an elective and permission slips along with a detailed syllabus was sent to the parents. In my opinion, IFI is overreacting; we also know (from previous statements and/or press releases) that IFI disparages anything remotely related to homosexuality - that's their schtick. However, in this case their opinions are not remotely relevant, as no one is being forced to watch the movie (there is an option to opt out and do an alternative assignment) and therefore I must conclude that the IFI is trying to make an issue of something that really isn't an issue at all.

Re: Illinois Family Institute Goes After Teacher for Wanting to Discuss Brokeback Mountain in Film Class

nakedanthropologist — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 19:38:02 -0000

"Circumstances like making marriage vows to their spouses to be faithful and not have adulterous relationships with others?"

Well, yes. Adultery does happen and this film/short story portrays that quite accurately. A lot of literature and/or cinema contains the theme of adultery - but I don't think the IFI would be speaking out against it if it wasn't linked to homosexuality (in the context of this discussion). Literature and other forms of artistic expression are often linked with social commentary. For example, one could make the case that the reason the main characters were adulterous was because of societal constraints and how the circumstances prevented them from having a monogamous relationship with eachother. The film in no way portrays aldultery in a positive light - IMHO, adultery is portrayed very accurately. Ultimately, the high school seniors in this class are there to learn about literature, film, and the numerous sociocultural circumstances that surround those genres. The assignment will probably foster debate and critical thinking from many perspectives - a good thing, in my opinion.

Again, homosexuality is part of our social and political discourse. Unless someone has been very sheltered, they have some concept of lgbt - however it may be nuanced. Its a relevant issue, and having a class assignment that contains that issue while relating it to larger tropes and themes found in literature, film, and society is realistic. In that light, even if this teacher chose Brokeback Mountain partly because of its portrayal of homosexuality makes it no less valuable as a lesson plan. LGBT people are part of our world - trying to ignore that would be next to impossible. So the assignment (chosen for homosexuality or not) is still appropriate.

Re: Illinois Family Institute Goes After Teacher for Wanting to Discuss Brokeback Mountain in Film Class

nakedanthropologist — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:21:40 -0000

I definitely have to concur with smrnda here. We also need to cognizant of the time period in which the film and short story take place - its the 20th century and in rural America - so there's plenty of social context and pressures to not be gay or even accused of it, because that stigma carries with it very real threats, including murder. To wit, I live in Tennesse and I'm 29 years old and not married. People often find this odd; in their view, I "should" be married by now. But I've been busy with work, grad school, and dealing with a major illness - so marriage isn't really a priority for me. My point is, there's a fair amount of social pressure where I live (suburban, TN, 2012) to be married (heterosexually) and its 2012. So context plays a very large role in the events of Brokeback Mountain - its not just a black and white story with clear cut lines. And again, all these litle details foster discussion and academic interest among students (i.e. learning) and shouldn't that be the goal of any teacher and/or class?

Re: Illinois Family Institute Goes After Teacher for Wanting to Discuss Brokeback Mountain in Film Class

nakedanthropologist — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:23:02 -0000

Now you're just being obtuse, and you know it.

Re: Illinois Family Institute Goes After Teacher for Wanting to Discuss Brokeback Mountain in Film Class

nakedanthropologist — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:35:40 -0000

These aren't young children - they're high school seniors. They will be legal adults very soon, and probably go out into the world on their own. As we age, are cerebral cortexes mature and are able to process more complex works of art, literature, and social discourse. The movies and literature presented are age appropriate and deal with real-world issues. The messages aren't "sent", they are interpretive - people will see what they want to see in art. Controversial subjects foster debate, research, and interest - all good things for young adults in school.

Re: Illinois Family Institute Goes After Teacher for Wanting to Discuss Brokeback Mountain in Film Class

nakedanthropologist — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:49:36 -0000

Too right you are.