Save Killing the Buddha

A while back I reposted what I think must be one of the coolest short little pieces of writing to come along in a long while, Jesus and I Broke Up. I read this on an internet magazine Killing the Buddha which has great writing on religion and such, and has been recognized by Utne (always a plus in my book).

As is the case with many undertakings of the heart and soul, this one has not been all that well-funded and has cost those who keep the magazine up and running quite some time, money, sweat, and tears. And they need some money that does not come from their own pocketbooks or else they’re goin’ under. I donated a measly five dollars, but if you add up lots of five dollars from poor seminarians (and throw in maybe a few donations of not-so-poor not-seminarians) it could accumulate enough to make a difference. And you can pay by paypal, which, as they might say here in Boston, makes it wicked convenient. Pay via paypal HERE and you can read the appeal on their website HERE.

p.s. It is a tax-deductable contribution. They are a non-profit.

So Much to Say, So Little Time

So my job as head gluer at the Andover Divinity School library (I glue every single label on every single book) has been more time-consuming than I envisioned and cut into my blogging time. Part of this is also because I want to craft each post as if I was painting my ultra-final masterpiece to go in a very fancy museum. That has to stop. So I’m going to try to post shorter, sweeter, and with less explanation. First posting will be my (I am sure long- and eagerly-awaited) Eating Sustainably and Lovingly Tips. I’m going to do that right now.

Why are U.S. Americans so religious?

Does anyone know a good article or book (or several) that explains why U.S. Americans are so religious/Christian (for instance, as compared to Europe which is so secular)? I’m sure I could find some, but I’m wondering if there are ones people know of that are actually good or accepted as pretty on-target. I know, I know. I’m in divinity school and should know this. But I don’t.

On Strengths and Weaknesses, a lesson from Mrs. Troutwine

I have been informed by an unnamed source that despite my attempts at spell checking there are, gasp, some errors on this blog. This reminds me of first grade when dear Mrs. Troutwine pulled me aside to comfort me because I had recieved yet another C on my spelling test. Despite the fact that I could read quite well, my spelling was not going as well despite lots of intense studying. Mrs. Troutwine told me that I was a “sight reader” which meant that I just recognized words rather than sounded them out as many first graders do. An early lesson that we cannot have our cake and eat it to — its either spelling or reading for me, and I got reading. This story is getting long. The point is that since I did not sound out many words, I did not learn how spelling worked. This has haunted me to this day, including a Rhodes Scholarship application that was apparently rejected because of “numerous errors” (despite multiple proofreadings). This blog is not an exception. Alas. Apologies to those that are understandably troubled by such errors.

Sorry, Nothing Uplifting Yet

But now that the BBC site is back up we find that the bird flu has been found in German poultry. Not long before it is here in the old USA. How are you preparing for the bird flu? It is always good to have 14 days worth of food and water in your house anyway. If (or perhaps I should say when) the bird flu becomes the human flu, it appears that most people believe that they should not go out. Including to work. Which might be a reasonable thing to think. You won’t find me out and about when the chance of contracting this thing seems to be even a little likely. However, I work at a church and not for the just-in-time system that gets groceries to our store, gas to the gas stations, and all that sort of stuff. But, studies show that many who DO work in these sorts of very important jobs might find it best not to go to work either. And this will mean a serious disruption in our just-in-time system. So even if you would LIKE to go out and get groceries and refuse to be scared into staying in your house (akin to people who refuse to leave their homes even if a hurricane appears to be coming) it may not matter because there may not be food on the shelves. So stock up on those yummy canned foods, pastas, and, my favorite, those thai lemongrass chili soups that you just have to add hot water too. And get some jugs of water too. It can’t hurt and then you won’t have to borrow food from my stockpile.

Read the article about the bird flu coming to Germany here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4879480.stm

p.s. Call me crazy, but with mad cow and the bird flu, it seems like we could solve a lot of problems by not mass-farming animals, ehh? Just an idea. But that is another post.

Another federal government official doing shady things

While I, like nearly all people, find adults who try to have sexual encounters with children to be morally abhorrent, I am continually surprised at how really stupid they are as well. Since the BBC is having website problems this morning, I resorted to CNN where I read this article about an official for The Department of Homeland Security that gave an undercover officer posing as a 14 year old girl (14!) his home and work numbers and told her that he worked for The Department of Homeland Security.

As the two continued chatting online, police said, Doyle [the official for the DHS] gave the detective his home and office phone numbers as well as the number to his government-issued cell phone. He also had explicit telephone conversations with the detective posing as the girl, authorities said.

“The investigation revealed that the phone numbers given to the detective were in fact Doyle’s and that the AOL account was registered to him,” the sheriff’s office said.

Doyle also sent photos of himself that were not sexually explicit but said he would send nude photos if the “girl” would buy a Web camera and send him nude photos, according to authorities. In one photo, Doyle’s Department of Homeland Security tag is visible, Judd said.

I have such a hard time imagining how this makes sense for someone. Not only wanting to have sex with 14 year old girls, which is just awful enough, but also in being so open about one’s position with the government of the United States.

I’ll try to find an uplifting story somewhere to counter this. And no, that uplifting story won’t be the fact that it is spring and it has been snowing all morning. Luckily, however, I had mentally prepared myself for this (four years in the Northeast teaches one something about weather) and so I am remaining strong. Good excuse for hot chocolate right!? (with soy milk of course)

On to reading the rest of my early afternoon news.

Read the CNN article here yourself: http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/04/04/homeland.arrest/index.html

Stop me.

Really, I have to stop myself from posting many times a day. Give someone an audience (even if it is only my supervising minister and my mom to this point) and she goes wild. But, I just visited kblog and her description is below. I just thought it was such a nice descirption that I thought it would share it. I espeically liked the part about cats. Oh, you ask about why I like the part about cats? Give me time, and you will get to meet my four sweeties who teach me wonderful things each day, mostly, how important cuddling is. Along with taking naps. And the importance of just being. But I’ll stop on the cats for now. Here is the blog description I liked so well.

This is a blog about trying to live out the best of intentions and live up to the greatest of hopes even when intentions are not enough and hope is in too short supply. Aspirations, inspiration, politics, principles, philosophy, religion, sprituality, culture, kids and cats and anything else that is or may become important to me.

If You are New

Just a note that if you are just joining Elizabeth’s Little Blog you can scroll down to the first two posts for directions on posting comments and for the introduction.

Just saw this article in The New York Times “Bush Was Set on Path to War, British Memo Says.” I thought of several sarcastic comments that I could say to follow this ever-so-revelatory article, but I’ll simple leave the link for folks to visit if you are so inclined and you can draw your own conclusions.

Also found this blog today by a UU minister that explores sexuality and religion as the main topic of the blog. Reminds me that I hope to do more posting on indecent theology (the topic of a sermon which went over well at FUUSM a month or so ago).

In the meantime, enjoy the lovely almost-spring weather.

Introduction — The First Post

Greetings! I have thought a lot about having a blog but hesitated because I wondered what I would say? Who would read it (besides my parents)? Then, this morning as I was preparing to write my student minister intern column for the newsletter I thought “I know who might read it!” My wonderful congregation in Middleboro! Also, I thought that this might be a great place to easily post sermons and to discuss ideas about sermons or other things going on in the life of our community.

While I hope this is a place to share thoughts, events, etc. this is not an official First Unitarian Universalist Society of Middleboro blog and the things I post here represent me — Elizabeth — not the congregation where I am an student intern minister and not Unitarian Universalism as a whole. I reserve the right to remove comments that are disrespectful or that just don’t fit or are inappropriate, although I can’t imagine that being a danger. Okay, well that’s the introduction. I will try to post interesting things here that are of interest to FUUSM, but also relevant to Unitarian Universalism, liberal religion, social justice… and maybe some things relevant to crafty things I like to do, cats (of which I have four), international relations issues, theology, and other interests of mine that I find *might* be interesting to others. Above all, I know my mom and dad and Wolfgang (my partner) will read this so at least there will be a crowd of four of us. I welcome all others who might be interested as well! Many smiles, Elizabeth

Blast from the Past

This posting is for my high school friends so they can see the scanned pictures I have from when we were little. Everyone else just ignore.