Evolutionary Creationism?

I have found a post about the Atheon that provides me with a convenient label for my beliefs on our origin, if you will: Evolutionary Theology or Evolutionary Creationism. I have believed in this way for a very long time and its just nice to know that I am not alone in my thoughts and to have a label for it.

It appears that a man named Michael Dowd pioneered this belief in his book "Thank God for Evolution"". I will have to pick it up and give it a read.

Another Reason to Vote Obama....

Obama GOOD!

McCain BAD!

If you care about civil rights here is another reason to "Vote for Obama":

Ultra-conservative Puritanical Religionist Republicans of Dooooom!

Civil Rights has a history, (especially under Bush politics) of suffering and being violated horribly under a Republican regime - I am talking to you Patriot Act, to which the ACLU has had to fight hard to try and fix. Who knows how many innocent people's lives have been wrecked with these horrible laws in effect. Will these people whose rights have been violated ever be compensated for their governments enforcement of these broken laws? No. They will receive a "My bad!" and then be left tot recover from having their life destroyed by an illegal law.

The next president will most likely have the chance to nominate 2 or 3 Supreme Court Judges. The McCain camp is against Gay Rights which is very strongly a civil rights issue which he is against from a puritanical and ultra-conservative (save me some votes) standpoint. This way of thinking is one of the greatest problems with the Republical Party - Conservative Christian Religionism is their hidden mantra.

McCain will appoint judges that will enforce a close-minded backwards-traditional mindset and in an attempt to crush all of cultural progress out of fear, as well as crushing our civil rights in the process.

The Three Party Politcal System

I am unhappy with the 2 party system that we have currently. With this there is too much I'm right and your wrong. type politics that goes on. I am predominantly a centrist, at least I think I am, and our political process could greatly benefit from a centrist party to balance out the zealous party devotionary lunacy that goes on much to the detriment of the people. To much stand behind this proposal because it is the thing to do.

We need a party that is based on pragmatism, balance, and results that can work with and farm the other parties to create legislation that is balanced, well researched, and less biased towards the ideological extremist parties. One party has too much federal involvement the other too much state funded social programs (in some people's opinion). Having a majority party with a bend towards balance and pragmatism would be great.

Of course this is my (uninformed and ill researched) version of an ideological centrist party.

My Presidential Vote....

Well, presidential voting season is coming up and I think I know who I will be voting for. I have not really been following the polls or speeches or anything. I will try to do that more towards voting time.

I am more liberal than most and I would really like to see a strong centrist candidate or libertarian candidate step up, but alas the world is quiet. I will most likely vote for Barack Obama this season. We need a change and I think with Hillary Clinton in the wings being tempered by Barack that great things can come of it. So I hope....

World Citizen - At Last!

With the potential of going to Belarus under questionable political circumstances I have broken down and filed to be a World Citizen. I have wanted to do this for a really, really long time, but could not justify the expense. Now, there is some reason and possible use for the documents provided by the World Service Authority (WSA).

The WSA can provide a Passport, Identification Card, Birth Certificate as well as other documents relevant to your identity and travel ability - their service is used heavily by refugees. I have filed for the aforementioned documents as well as a few others. For people, especially Americans, that are traveling abroad to places where Americans might not be looked kindly upon, an extra, or camouflage passport, is something that can help ensure our safety.

The WSA was founded by Gary Davis September 4, 1953 based on the 1948 United Nations document called the 'Universal Declaration of Human Rights', specifically articles 13, 14, and 15. Give it a read. It is not too painful and is really relevant in today's world.

Why Beautiful People Have More Daughters ... (Review)

I have just finished reading "Why Beautiful People Have More Daughters: From Dating, Shopping, and Praying to Going to War and Becoming a Billionaire-- Two Evolutionary Psychologists Explain Why We Do What We Do". Hows that for a really long book title.

This was a very interesting read. This book gives a 2 chapter intro into Evolutionary Psychology and then it is off to explaining many of humanity's cross-cultural universal behaviors from an evolutionary psychological perspective. I think that this book is a wonderfully enlightening read. I would suggest that everyone pick it up (if you are into that sort of reading). In some cases I think that they maybe trying to hard to come up with answers, but their empirical evidence is telling.

I was previously on the 'nurture' side of the 'nature vs nurture' argument, but with the books that I have been reading such as this plus Anatomy of Love: A Natural History of Mating, Marriage, and Why We Stray (Paperback) a (sociocultural look at mating in humans and other creatures) and The Myth of Monogamy: Fidelity and Infidelity in Animals and People (an evolutionary biological look at mating in humans and other creatures) I am seeing that our evolution greatly affects what and why we do things as humans today.

Esperanto - The International Language?

I have mentioned before that I am pro globalization. I support the World Service Authority in their attempts to unify the world under one government. I also support the idea of a global currency and the International Fixed Calendar (IFC). A necessary piece to tie all of this together is an nation independent language that can serve as the common language medium for international interactions, which is what Esperanto was created for.

Esperanto has many advantages over any other language. No nation can claim Esperanto as theirs. Some countries hesitate to pick any other language for pride and political fear. None of these problems are associated with Esperanto. It was created for ease of learning and to sidestep the aforementioned problems.

If you have read this far - Thank you. I have seen that Esperanto has a word similar to 'hu' (noted from my previous post) - Ĝi. I find it interesting....

Am I psycho? You might think so, by now. Perhaps I will be lucky enough to have my children to speak English, Russian, and Esperanto.

Esperanto Links

• Esperanto at Wikipedia
• Esperanto Grammar at Wikipedia
• Esperanto.net
• Universal Esperanto Association
• Esperanto USA

What is the Date and Time?

What is the Date and Time right now? ↑

To Go Or Not To Go - to Belarus

Politics and a Trip to Belarus

So, the wife is in Belarus for 3 months and I am planning on going there for a month to attend the wedding of a close friend and then spend time in Belarus with my in-laws and our friends there. I am really looking forward it, since it has been quite a while since I have been there.

I am faced with some annoying facts while planning a trip to Belarus. The U.S. government has currently frozen the assets of a Belarussian oil company there as a show of unhappiness towards the imprisoning of the the opposition leader during the last completely corrupted and farce of an election. (In Response to Sanctions, Belarus Seeks to Oust U.S. Envoy: WP March 8, 2008)

In retaliation for that the Belarussian government has demanded that the U.S. embassy in Minsk have its staff reduced down to a level equal to or less than that of the their embassy in the U.S.. The U.S. has also basically closed down the embassy and is not issuing any visas. (Belarus wants U.S. embassy staff cut to seven: Reuters April 2, 2008)

Will their be a second string of maneuvers and counter-maneuvers and how will it affect me, and other U.S. citizens making their way to Belarus. Will I be in danger due to Belarus' corrupt government?

A Visa to Belarus

For more information on Visas and Belarus check my previous post on December 15, 2005.

So, now I gather the things that I need for a tourist visa (a passport picture, passport, a visa application form and a check) for a month long trip to Belarus. As long as I am there for less than 30 days I do not need an invitation and can get a standard tourist visa. Tanya is arranging to get an invitation ready for me in case I need one while I am there. Specifically, if she or I have issues with leaving the country due to political or immigration issues. Wish me luck! =)

Wisconsin Democracy Campaign's Mike McCabe Spoke at Our Church Service

The speaker for our Sunday service at church, The Free Congregation of Sauk County, was Mike McCabe of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign was quite enlightening. He talked about Wisconsin's politics being historically corrupt, then moving, due to a progressive grassroots movement, to something more transparent and legit. Now we have come full circle back to corrupt state politics where you have to pay to be heard in our state government.

I enjoyed the speech and I have to agree to what he was saying special interest and large corporations have more influence over legislation than the common and everyday constituents. Jump on over to the WisDC site and take a look around.

I am Legend (Review - B+)

To put review this in a little perspective, I saw Rambo IV (review) last night and I am still caught up in my darker thoughts because of that. I had also heard a lot of great words from people that have seen 'I am Legend' and I have high expectations of it.

Last night I was discussing with my parents the wonders of genetics/cloning and the disabilities and diseases that can be healed with technological advances stemming from these researches. It will be awe inspiring the knowledge and cures that this will eventually unlock. I seriously worry about the evils that can become if we are not careful and in our hubris allow evil to be wrought when we play with things that we do not yet fully understand.

This movie is about what happens when a genetically modified virus that is meant o cure cancer goes bad and converts those subjected to it into, well, zombies of sorts (in a similar vein as the 'Resident Evil' movies). Will Smith is excellent, as always, and the scenes are tense and gripping. I was not moved as much as I was expecting to be by this movie. Perhaps I was inured to such emotional swings from my Rambo IV experience last night. I like it and I was glad to finally have been able to see it. Another guy movie down. =)

Rambo IV (Review - B+)

Rambo IV is not for the squeamish or the faint of heart with it's 'Saving Private Ryan' level of gore and blood bringing to the forefront the horrors and atrocities committed in the senseless and inhumane ethnic cleansing in Burma.

Perhaps after this movie you will question whether humanitarian efforts there are even worth it if all that are being helped will end up senselessly butchered anyhow. Perhaps your will think the humanitarian efforts are futile and will not change anything if we do not work to change those that are in charge and who are promoting the death - without that we may just delaying the inevitable.

How far are you willing to go for what you believe in before you become that very monster to which you fighting against. Accepting and embrace who you are or that denial shall torment you until you come to grips with it.

A good and violent movie with a message. Stallone was brooding and great. Just what the doctor ordered and was great compensation for all of the chick flicks I have recently seen. Do not take bring anyone to this unless they liked and could appreciate the gore in Saving Private Ryan.

"Live for nothing, die for something"

John Rambo

Acceptance and Not Tolerance

This is pulled form something larger that I am writing so it may seem a bit disjointed and a little out of context I have tried to clean it up so that the idea is preserved out of its original context. I know that you will see where this is coming from...

---

Tolerance is a problem that we have in our relations with others. Tolerance means 'I believe that you are incorrect or mistaken in your beliefs, opinion, or way of life, but I am not going to make a big deal about it'. You still believe that you are correct and/or that they are wrong. Tolerance is not enough as it divides us with invisible mental and emotional borders. This 'Tolerance' problem plagues humanity in issues of religion, sexual orientation, family orientation, politics, or whatever the family is going to eat Friday night.

Acceptance is what is needed. Your views, opinions, or way of life may be different than someone else's and that is OK, and perhaps there is something that can be learned from that. A difference is only natural and inevitable as our live's experiences are as varied as we are, but do not believe that because someone's views are different from yours that they are necessarily wrong. Their views, especially when it comes to religion, may not be right for you, but it may be right for them. Everyone believes something different even if there is a lot of similarity in base beliefs. So, take the moment and revel in the differences you have with you fellow and accept it.

Revel in the differences that make each of us unique in perspective. Accept that we are different, but do not reduce yourself to toleration.

Gore I am!

This wandered its way around the internet following Al Gore's loss for his presidential bid which had a crap load of screwed up ballot counts in Florida. It was most definitely funny at the time. I give props to Al Gore now. He has gone on to do some great work since that time. This was posted on my original website as well.

---

Can we count them with our nose?
Can we count them with our toes?
Should we count them with a band?
Should we count them all by hand?

If I do not like the count, I will simply throw them out!
I will not let this vote count stand I do not like them, AL GORE I am!

Can we change these numbers here?
Can we change them, calm my fears?
What do you mean, Dubya has won?
T his is not fair, this is not fun

Lets count them upside down this time Lets count until the state is mine!
I will not let this VOTE count stand! I do not like it, AL GORE I am!

I'm really ticked, I'm in a snit!
You have not heard the last of it!
I'll count the ballots one by one And hold each one up to the sun!
I'll count, recount, and count some more!

You'll grow to hate this little chore
But I will not, cannot let this vote count stand! I do not like it, Al Gore I am!

I won't leave office, I'm stayin' here!
I've glued my desk chair to my rear!

Tipper, Hillary, and Bubba too, all telling me that I should sue!
We find the Electoral College vile! RECOUNT the votes until I smile!

We do not want this vote to stand!
We do not like it, AL GORE I am!

How shall we count this ballot box?
Let's count it standing in our socks!
Shall we count this one in a tree?
And who shall count it, you or me?
We cannot, cannot count enough!
We must not stop, we must be tough!

I do not want this vote to stand! I do not like it AL GORE I am!
I've counted till my fingers bleed!

And still can't fulfill my counting need! I'll count the tiles on the floor!
I'll count, and count, and count some more!

And I will not say that I am done!
Until the counting says I've won!

I will not let this vote count stand!
I do not like it, AL GORE I am!

What's that? What?
What are you trying to say?
You think the current count should stay?
You do not like my counting scheme?
It makes you tense, gives you bad dreams?
Foolish people, you're wrong you'll see!
You're only care should be for me!

I WILL NOT LET THIS VOTE COUNT STAND!

I DO NOT LIKE IT. AND AL GORE I AM!

Words of Darrell Scott to Congress on the Columbine Shootings

This was posted on my original website and I have no idea if this is legitimate.

---

It is not what happens to us, it is what happens within us that will change the world, Quote by Mother Teresa

On Thursday, May 27, 1999, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School Shootings in Littleton, Colorado, was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's sub-committee. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert!

These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness. The following is a portion of the transcript:

"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers.

"The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used. Neither was it the 'NCA', (The National Club Association). The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart.

"In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore, I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent. I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy. It was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies!

Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best. This was written before I knew I would be speaking here today.

Your laws ignore our deepest needs, Your words are empty air. You've stripped away our heritage, You've outlawed simple prayer.

Now gunshots fill our classrooms, And precious children die. You seek for answers everywhere, And ask the question, "Why?" You regulate restrictive laws, Through legislative creed. And yet you fail to understand, That God is what we need!

"Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, soul, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc.

"Spiritual influences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in doing so, we open the doors to hatred and violence.

"And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs, politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to the erosion of our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws.

Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre.

"The real villain lies within our own hearts. Political posturing and restrictive legislation are not the answers. The young people of our nation hold the key. There is a spiritual awakening taking place that will not be squelched! We do not need more religion. We do not need more gaudy television evangelists spewing out verbal religious garbage. We do not need more million dollar church buildings built while people with basic needs are being ignored. We do need a change of heart and a humble acknowledgment that this nation was founded on the principle of simple trust in God!

"As my son, Craig, lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America, and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred regard for legislation that protects your God-given right to communicate with Him.

"To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA - I give to you a sincere challenge. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone! My daughter's death will not be in vain.

The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"

Marriage, Love, and Gay Marriage Reading

Here is some reading about Marriage, Love, and Gay Marriage from Biblical, Anthropological, and other perspectives:

Articles

• An Elastic Institution: American Anthropological Association (2004)
• Anthropologists debunk ‘traditional marriage’ claim : The Washington Blade (2004)
• Gay marriages fit into this adaptable institution: USA Today (2004)
• Multicultural marriage: Boston Globe? (2006)
• Scientists counter Bush view: The San Francisco Chronicle (2004)
• The Science of Love, and the Future of Women by Helen Fischer: Ted (2006 - Video/Audio)

Books

• Anatomy of Love: A Natural History of Mating, Marriage, and Why We Stray (1994)
• Divine Sex: Liberating Sex from Religious Tradition (2006)
• God is not a Homophobe: An unbiased look at Homosexuality in the Bible (2006)
• Myth of Monogamy, The (2002)

10 Reasons Why Gay Marriage is Wrong!

1. Being gay is not natural. Real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, cosmetic surgery, hair dye and air conditioning.
2. Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall.
3. Gay marriage will change the foundation of society; we could never adapt to new social norms. Just like we haven't adapted to cars, the service-sector economy, or longer life spans.
4. Straight marriage has been around a long time and hasn't changed at all; women are still property, blacks still can't marry whites, and divorce is still illegal.
5. Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were allowed; the sanctity of Brittany Spears' 55-hour just-for-fun marriage would be destroyed.
6. Straight marriages are valid because they produce children. Gay couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn't be allowed to marry because our orphanages aren't full yet, and the world needs more children.
7. Obviously gay parents will raise gay children, since straight parents only raise straight children.
8. Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That's why we have only one religion in America.
9. Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home. That's why we as a society expressly forbid single parents to raise children.
10. Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.

Gay Marriage

I have mentioned before that I support gay marriages (same-sex marriages) and that I am willing to perform same-sex marriages. This is a civil right issue and it is a travesty that this is an issue here in America.

What follows are a few links that talk about gay rights and gay marriage. If you take a look at nothing here but one link - check out Out Take Online - click through the intro and take a look at the Trailer.

• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LBGT) Project
• Fair Wisconsin
• Freedom to Marry
• Out Reach
• Out Take Online
• Gay Civil Rights
• Unitarian Univeralist Association (UUA) Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender (LGBT) Community

You may also want to check out the book 'God is not a Homophobe: An unbiased look at Homosexuality in the Bible' by Philo Thelios.

Thanks for stopping by.

I am Ordained

On May 25, 2007 I became an ordained minister for the Universal Life Church. Why did it do that? That is a good question and I am going to try to answer it, at least a little bit, here. Some will laugh and some will cry (at the apparent absurdity) when reading this, and that is OK. =)

Religion, theology, spirituality or whatever you would like to call it is a person seeking that answer to the question that plagues each and every person in one way or time or another. Some have the strength to look for the answers themselves and some do not. Some are happy being told what to believe and some find satisfaction in their own pursuit to the answer. I have not really cared either way until the last few years when I began my own little search to find my answers. Will I ever truly find the answer? Just like everyone else - No, I shall not. Will I find the answers that make sense to me and sate my need for more answers? I certainly hope so.

There are things that I have thought and read about (from civil rights and relationships to religion) and conclusions that I have come to (but I will discuss them at a later time), and being guided by my home in Unitarian Universalism which has an penchant for lay lead services, I found this ordainment path rather appropriate for me.

Becoming ordained, is in some way, a personal affirmation that I am in charge of my spiritual journey and that no one else can travel it for me. I am responsible for my beliefs and no one can tell me what to believe. (Well, they can, but that does not mean that I will be a believer.) I must decide and discover what truths resonate inside me. Others may assist me along my journey by helping me to discover what I believe, but let them not condemn me for not partaking fully what is true in their own heart, for in each person lays their own truth and only they have the power to discover and unleash it.

I have semi-recently performed my first wedding ceremony and wow was I nervous. I am happy and more than willing to perform services for (and I support) those of the 'LGBT+P' persuasion.

"Class 2i"

So we stand there in front of my new flat in Belize. I have just upgraded my Domicile Class Rating (DCr) to 5 and we moved to here from Austria. I speak English, Austrian, and, strangely enough, Latin. In our times we are required to speak at least 3 languages and it is good for the mind and very good for such a globalised civilization. Schooling is free. Medical care is free. Basic travel is free to all around the world. Basic food access is free. Basic housing is free. World Web access is free and ubiquitous. Everyone has access to a Personal Communication Center (PCC) via a public terminal or most have a Personal Communication Device (PCD) of sorts. Basic PCD access is gained at Class Two or higher. I am a Standard Class 3 with a new DCr 5.

All people are granted a basic access to a shelter, food, clothes, schooling, and medical care at Class 1 Access and everyone in the world has Class 1 access. You do not have to work if you do not want to, but if you do something that provides a service or product of worth to society you can gain a class upgrade and and increase in access to better food, housing, and other things. Some people make living as writers, researchers, dockworkers, preachers, jewelers, teachers, manufacturers, artists and many other professions.

All the world is open and free. There are no longer national borders. Money as was known before does not exist. People now have Access Levels. The better a service or product you provide the more access you can earn, and depending on the demand for your service or product you may always have improved access. You may trade a Standard Access Increase for a specific access increase in a different area such as housing. I just gained a Standard Class Increase 4 to and traded it in for a Class 5 Domicile rating. After a long period of time I may gain the class 4 Standard Rating back, but it may be a long while. This Class Rating trade is something similar to what you would refer to the effect a loan would have. I give up an increase in general access to services and products of a certain level for a greater increase in another area.

Moving is easy. I just call the World Housing Authority and tell them that I no longer need my flat in Austria and I wish one in Belize. They make the arrangements and when I get there my flat was set up with clothes, food and so on in a very similar matter as I was set up in Austria. I do not always have the choice in flats that I want given my low level of access but I do have some choice. If I want my stuff moved from there to here I could have arranged for that as well. Life is good here on earth.

What do I do for a living you ask? Well, I am a Class 3 Dock Worker with a Class 2 Foreman Specialization in Small Commercial Aquatic Dock Facilities which upgrades me to a Class 4 Standard. I have primarily worked for small dock firms and am looking for work in a larger dock facility so I can upgrade my specialization to Large Dock Foreman which could mean a Standard Class Increase of two. That would be great. We are required to take tests to achieve rankings in a job, as well, of course, as experience doing the job. Once we apply for a class upgrade our peers are interviewed as well as are our bosses and then we are tested randomly and then we achieve our upgrade. Sometimes upgrades can be recommended from excellent performance. That is not common, but does happen to those that do really well at their job.

Patents no longer exist and research done is available to all of humanity and resources and man power are pooled to research things quickly and efficiently. Organizations that wish to work on research in radiation shielding let the World Research Department know their intent and they are hooked up with others that are doing the same. The newcomers discuss what their thoughts are and find out if that has already been done and where to go from there. They are told where the best and most available facilities are to start this research and what databases to log their information and results in so that the rest of the community may benefit from the fruits of their labor.

Advances in research and development are quickly disseminated throughout the world and old plants and products are upgraded or recycled. New upgrades are available to those with a higher level access and older products work their way down the access chain.

I have also worked hard and traded in quite a few Standard Class upgrades to achieve and Class 2i, which means that if I chose to not ever work again I will always have Class 2 access. It is sometimes referred to as Class 2 Infinity. It is sort of like prepping for what you would refer to as retirement.