Comments on: Five Questions

By: Derek

Derek — Tue, 05 Apr 2005 05:40:52 +0000

To make people care about something, they have to feel attached to it. So for #2, how about: “Our Home Planet”.

By: AF

AF — Mon, 04 Apr 2005 18:24:12 +0000

Oops. Got my numbers mixed up (above). So much for my critical thinking skills.

By: AF

AF — Mon, 04 Apr 2005 18:21:53 +0000

1. I love the word biosphere, although I imagine people who don’t own dictionaries can distance themselves from that word as well. 2. I think the Terry Schiavo case has been so prominent because it’s such a soap opera. Who needs Jerry Springer when you have dueling family members, death threats (how can people support Terry’s right to live, while threatening Michael’s???), court battles, and totally erroneous Presidential intervention. 3. Maybe I’m old school, but I don’t see how the Internet can effectively teach skills such as effective listening and collaboration. I think we need people to teach people skills. And that’s okay.

By: fouro@alchemysite.com

fouro@alchemysite.com — Mon, 04 Apr 2005 00:48:55 +0000

Well,I’ll take Number 1, Dave.Because they think the future doesn’t want them. And they’re probably right. Because, sadly, some people of faith are not driven by their beliefs as much as they are driven by defending their beliefs. For many, a beseiged mentality is a visceral reaction against a mundane and anonymous existence. Existential peace escapes them; spiritual practice leaves them largely un-beatified. (i.e.: still Imperfect) and somebody must pay. Christian consulting firms like The Barna Group, polling evangelicals and self-declared people of faith, find that many are poor at practicing what they preach. In effect, they are human and succumb to temptations just like regular folks, and in many cases, more so. (Massachusetts libs divorce at rates equal to or slightly less than born-agains.) Given this reality one has two choices: 1. Adhere to Jesus’ admonishment that your relationship with him is personal, not to be worn on your sleeve, and so, blame self and try to do better. 2. Make your faith public, and its quality outside your control like that of the biblical “Hypocrites” and so, blame others and find an all-purpose excuse, security blanket *and* rallying cry. Cake, and no calories!Number two has appeal for all kinds of reasons that governments, corporations and tribes of all stripes are familiar with: It cements the bonds of the group, albeit at the expense of greater American community. It changes the subject from personal imperfection and failure, and relegates practical everyday accountability to the back burner because, well, because “we have bigger fish to fry–there are barbarians at the gate!” Terry Schiavo, rest her soul, will be their Che, t-shirts and all, for years to come. And like today’s che-wearing skateboarder, CYO kids 20 years hence will have their Terri in a beret fashions and have no clue of her significance or the facts of her case. She will be part of the uniform–a prop.

By: Dave Pollard

Dave Pollard — Sun, 03 Apr 2005 19:46:46 +0000

Thanks — some brilliant (and humbling) ideas here. If this is a foreshadowing of the kind of thinking we might accomplish in blog-hosted conversations, we’re on to something big.

By: Brett

Brett — Sun, 03 Apr 2005 17:33:53 +0000

1. The Republicans have done a fine job of merging church and state and this fuels their fire.2. the environment v our environment?3. Stuffed toys scare me.4. Meditation (or ralaxation) is being greatly enhanced with biofeedback loops. In practice, midwives are using biofeedback devices very successfully to train expectant mothers in relaxation to aid the birth process.

By: Justin Kitzes

Justin Kitzes — Sat, 02 Apr 2005 05:47:31 +0000

#2 – I’d throw out “our environment” rather than “the environment” as a small but important change. Issues of ownership would arise in this case, but at least we’d be a part of it (maybe) rather than it being some sterile object that we can choose not to relate to.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 23:07:23 +0000

1. because it is a clear illustration of this question – Shall we have a government of laws or a government of God?

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 22:57:45 +0000

“the New Yorker of blogs” – perfect.

By: Noumenon

Noumenon — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 18:28:54 +0000

Most of your ideas are good, but they never seem to mature.Dude, what are you asking for, the post before this one was nine pages long! I bet the average blog entry is two paragraphs. This is like the New Yorker of blogs. Develop the ideas yourself.