Comments for SelfishReasons.com

Comment on The Light Bulb Goes Off by Halogen Bulbs

Halogen Bulbs — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 07:27:46 +0000

HI there,

Light bulb goes off after its expiry is done… I guess it is common

Thanks,
bradley

Comment on Pascal and the Odds of Faith by Brian

Brian — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:06:16 +0000

Now, I’ve got no problems with creeds or creedal orthodoxy. But I’d like to suggest that this early emphasis on “right belief” has seriously skewed the Christian tradition in ways that I don’t think are all that healthy. Specifically, by emphasizing “right belief” (orthodoxy) over “right practice” (orthopraxy), Christians have lost (or never acquired in the first place) a robust notion of “Christian practice.” This is evidenced by the observation that most churches would not understand what it might mean to be an “observant Christian” or a “practicing Christian.” That is, Christianity isn’t mainly understood as “practice,” it is understood as “belief.” This situation makes Christianity a bit of an odd duck when it comes to world religions. For example, being an observant Jew is totally comprehensible. But being an observant Christian sounds odd to most church-going folk.

Source:
http://experimentaltheology.blogspot.com/2006/06/on-being-practicing-christian.html

Comment on Pascal and the Odds of Faith by Kevin

Kevin — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 13:14:37 +0000

Virtually every religion outside modern Christianity emphasizes practice over belief. For example, one cannot rightfully claim to be Buddhist or Hindu, because one believes in something, but because one practices Buddhism or Hinduism / Yoga. Even Judaism and Islam require some form of practice. The modern Christian conception of Hell as a place of eternal torment for sinners (or in some Protestant’s case, non-believes) is as new as the idea of salvation by blind belief. Notice at no point have I used the word faith. That is because faith is not merely blind belief. It is a practice, but this is also misunderstood by many Christians today. For the most part, the practices of other religions bring their practitioners joy and happiness in this life, and that is why they follow the teachings, not because of fear. I suspect only modern Christians could really look back on a lifetime of Sundays and think, maybe I should have taken up a hobby instead. When you say “Christian doctrine teaches…” you are using a lens that was fashioned by other men, not by God. Fashion and use your own lens.

Comment on Pascal and the Odds of Faith by Lisa

Lisa — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 12:59:52 +0000

There is another option. Faith and a Christ-like life born of Love. Love of God, our world, each other, and ourselves. 1 Cor 13

Comment on Waters by Dan

Dan — Sat, 02 May 2009 21:02:44 +0000

That’s incredibly deistic.

Comment on What we once knew by Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:54:57 +0000

My mother gave our children a beautiful picture book that tells this story. It says that it is an old story told to children. The angel is Layla, and she is with you the whole time you are in the womb. She tells you every story ever known, teaches you the languages of all the plants and animals, sings to you.. and she is with you through your birth. Right before you are born, she places her finger on your lips and says “Shhh” and you forget it all. And you have the rest of your life to relearn it all. It’s very sweetly told.

Comment on What do we want? Teachers who are competent! by matt

matt — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:21:10 +0000

The irony is California passed a law this year mandating that in order to homeschool your own child, you must be a certified teacher. The thought being that only a certified teacher, with credentials from the state, is capable of educating children. This if course was done to protect these poor children from their backward parents and force them into public schools, where, supposedly, they would receive proper educuation and “socialization”. The teachers in the NPR story you cited, according to this law, are more capable teachers than a parent with a doctorate in physics. If given the choice between these certified teachers or my uncertifed wife, their chant makes that choice that much easier.

Comment on What do we want? Teachers who are competent! by Dan

Dan — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 16:48:35 +0000

What do we want?!
A budget increase sufficient to cover the increased cost of living!
When do we want it?!
Within the next fiscal year!

Comment on Tyranny on a small scale is still tyranny by Irish John

Irish John — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 07:22:03 +0000

Came over from Matt’s.

Well said. From the Feds right down to city government, they are getting more and more involved in things they have no right to, all the while not paying attention to the things they are supposed to involved in.

Comment on Tyranny on a small scale is still tyranny by The Mattatarian » In Soveit Edmond, Awning Paints You

The Mattatarian » In Soveit Edmond, Awning Paints You — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:47:23 +0000

[...] My good friend has an excellent blog called SelfishReasons.com. Last week he reported on a story involving one of my favorite locally owned Itallian eateries, Falcone’s. In short, the owner, Danny Falcone, placed a sign inside his newest location in Edmond, banning two city officials and one quasi-official from his restaurant. The reason behind the sign? He wished to paint his awning with the colors of the Italian flag, as is the trademark of his other locations. Being the owner of his business, one would think this would not be an issue. Instead, Falcone was denied “permission” from doing so by the city of Edmond. You can read the original story here: SelfishReasons.com. [...]