Posts Tagged by religion
Religion? Maybe not…
| March 3, 2013 | Posted by Zac Menzies under culture, lifestyle |
Of course this is a sensitive topic and I do not wish to be a Richard Dawkins assaulting the beliefs of others. However I am of the opinion that religion is nothing more than nonsensical historical diatribe! As a History student my work constantly revolves around the changing nature of religion through time, as well as its many atrocities. Maybe History has given me a blinkered view of religion, I certainly see it as a more divisive and aggressive force than a force for good. So for those that say it is a benign power and forms the basis for modern morality… really? Is it not intrinsic that we see it as bad to kill one another, that kindness is good, that it is better to love than… more
DNC: The Democrats should have stuck by their Party Platform on God and Jerusalem
| September 8, 2012 | Posted by Jeremy Dobson under international |
In linear-narrative terms, the Democratic Party U-turned when ex-Governor Ted Strickland proposed to include “god” and “Jerusalem” to the Democratic Party Platform. These subjects had occupied space on most party platforms in post-war electoral history. This was heavily prompted by the criticisms from Paul Ryan, the Mitt Romney campaign and much of the press, as well as some discontent from within the party. The subject went to a vocal vote, administered by LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, requiring a two-thirds majority. The results were inconclusive; especially after Villaraigosa took two more votes for “clarity.” But the party instated mentions of “god” and “Jerusalem” anyway, therefore defeating the purpose of a vote in the first instance. Although the Democratic Platform did not mention god until its recent pitiful… more
Godless, by Pete Hautman
| May 10, 2012 | Posted by Jane Lu under culture, lifestyle, reviews |
Today, there are about 7.006 billion of people on the Earth, as estimated by the United States Census Bureau. Of these 7 billion people, it is estimated that 5.1 billion to 6.8 billion have a religion, which is 73% to 97% of the world’s population – a very large proportion. Yet have you ever asked yourself: what is a religion? In the book Godless, by Pete Hautman, Jason Bock is a 16-year-old atheist who becomes tired of his religious parents and their Catholicism. Instead, Jason decides to invent a new god – “the Ten Legged God,” which is the town’s water tower. After all, as Jason himself reasons, “water is life.” It starts off as a joke when Jason names his… more
I’m not sure if I hate Facebook or the people on it
| April 12, 2012 | Posted by Dan Peacock under satire |
Okay, maybe “hate” is a strong word. Perhaps “constant sense of annoyance” is more accurate. But, as is probably the case with a lot of people, my homepage is set to Facebook: it’s the first thing I see when I open my web browser. And why not? It’s a useful social tool. You can keep in touch with people who live far away, organise events, and socialise without having to get out of bed or, indeed, dressed. Sadly, this is where it goes downhill. I log in and the first thing I see is: Stacii was tagged in 345 photos in ‘NiGht Outttttttt!!!! Okay. Instead of investigating further and seeing Stacii leering into the camera from a range of provocative… more
Abortion: a discussion
| March 1, 2012 | Posted by Alaa Jasim under lifestyle |
I’m biased – everyone has a bias on something, right? Well, two big ones for me are the Iraq war, which I’ve already written about, and abortion, which I’d like to look at today. Abortion is a difficult subject to broach, and I’m not saying that my viewpoint is necessarily right, but it makes sense to me. I’ve been seeing a lot about abortion in the news, and after asking friends to comment on a status I put up on Facebook, I was inspired to write. I think I should make it clear from the start that I’m against abortion; I’m not an absolutist, but I’m against it in most situations. I recently read a piece about abortion and pregnancy… more
The devil’s advocate: Discrimination is good
| February 29, 2012 | Posted by James Harle under lifestyle |
Discrimination is certainly a word which has undergone a pejorative process in recent years. But what most people don’t realize is that, in literal terms, to call someone discriminating is positive, as in “a person of discriminating tastes.” The ability to discriminate between different things is important – vital, in fact – and someone who does not have it would be hugely disadvantaged. This does not simply apply to the literal meaning of the term, however; discrimination based on race, gender, ethnic origin, religion and sexuality is no less vital. The reason it’s necessary is because people with different characteristics, whatever they are, will always be received differently on some level. It is unavoidable – necessary in the philosophical sense.… more
Why Warsi is wrong: secularism does not share the traits of totalitarianism
| February 24, 2012 | Posted by Jeremy Dobson under national |
In Britain, the debate over secularism has started to permeate into the political classes. The unelected Baroness Warsi, an influential Muslim and the coalition’s “Minister with Portfolio” (whatever that title means), has denounced secularism in her recent speech to the Vatican, calling it “militant” and “aggressive.” Is she right? I wonder when the tabloids will reveal that the National Secular Society and British Humanist Association, with Dawkins as leader, are going to storm London as part as of some military Whitehall putsch. Damn it, I gave the game away! Embedded within her dry shameless prose, she declared: ” … [Secularism] demonstrates similar traits to totalitarian regimes – denying people the right to a religious identity.” This, her most sordid innuendo,… more
The devil’s advocate: The problem with charity
| February 15, 2012 | Posted by James Harle under lifestyle |
Charity is a great thing. It’s selfless, pure, and it improves both the helper and the helped; that’s probably why it’s often recommended even in religious doctrine. Charities, however, are something rather different. The organised charity represents a group of people who, presumably, wish to be charitable themselves – however, the water is muddied when they ask for donations from the public. Suddenly, unlike in its pure form, the ‘charity’ involves a great number of people in different roles. The moral impetus is no longer personal, and the motives behind it are no longer singular. In short, things get complicated. There are a number of problems with organised charities, and most of them have to do with the difference between… more
Society, faith and isolation
| February 15, 2012 | Posted by Alaa Jasim under lifestyle |
Before I really get into this article, I want to impress on you as the reader that I’m not trying to sway you in your beliefs. You can believe what you like, have faith in whatever you want; I won’t hold a view against you, nor will I attempt to change your core beliefs. The thing about beliefs is that they form a huge part of you, and when people try to take that away from you it feels like they don’t want you to be, well, you. Belief can come in all shapes and forms, whether it be religious belief, political belief, belief in yourself, belief in people around you or even belief in theories or stories. Everyone believes… more
Should I read… Life of Pi?
| December 13, 2011 | Posted by Emma French under should I read...? |
One of those books people talk about incessantly, and everyone feels they should read: Life of Pi. But, unlike the bizarre, ‘serious’ books that people think it sounds good to have read (say… Murakami?), this book by Yann Martel is worthy of ‘superior’ reputation. A captivating book from the very start, Life of Pi follows the life of Piscine Molitor Patel (Pi) who, after the boat transporting his family and the contents of their zoo is caught in a storm, survives 227 days in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. The story is told from the point of view of Pi as an old man, looking back on his childhood and adolescence. While the main bulk of the… more
