I am not interested in your religion.
That isn't true, I probably am, but it's mostly from an academic/curiosity perspective. I do not care what you personally believe unless you force me to care. If you want to discuss it, that's fantastic. As long as you don't become preachy towards me and try and convert me, chances are I'll be interested in what you have to say. Don't try to convert me. I'm not susceptible to it, and I'll consider you a douchebag if you do. Further more I'll have little else to say to you.
I am wholly unconvinced that your religious beliefs mean that deep down you are a good person. They can influence you. But look at the perspective of different believers. The Muslim who blows up a cafe full of customers considers himself a decent person, doing what needs to be done to further his religious cause. The Christian who blows up an abortion clinic also considers themselves to be furthering a religious goal. From my perspective there's not really any difference between the two. The notion that you must yield to a certain religious belief in order to be a decent human being is a perplexing one. Perhaps people carry that notion to help themselves feel more secure in their religous beliefs, I don't know, but it's not something that I have personally experienced.
You might think. Well sure I've met some nice decent folks who didn't believe what I do, that just shows that they all have a good kindly spirit. No, what it shows is that people can be decent outside of religion. Outside of your religion. Some of you are going to argue this point. Go ahead. I'll let you. You won't convince me. I'm fully convinced of my view, I've got sources to back me up. You're really only trying to convince yourself.
So yes. If you want to discuss religion Please let's do. I'm always happy to learn something. Do not assume that I share your religion with you. I don't. Do not assume that you can convert me. You can't. Do not assume that just because somebody is a decent person, they must follow your belief system as well. That assumption isn't true.
I'm not interested in your beliefs or your morals. I'm only interested in your integrity.
Labels: Personal, Religious Criticism
Change is in the air.
It's a quiet night this New Years Eve. I am home, not alone but surely in isolation, wileing away the last few hours of 2012 by watching movies, reading and surfing the internets.
Not the ideal way to spend New Years Eve, I've certainly had worse nights, though I've definitely had better.
I had made no plans, initially because I was scheduled to work tomorrow morning bright and early at 4:00 a.m. There was a possibility that we would get it off, mentioned as early as last Monday, but it was never a sure thing and we only found out for sure this morning in a short meeting.
I am not complaining. Tomorrow was my "Friday" and my regular days off this week are Wednesday and Thursday so having tomorrow off gives me a three day "weekend" so to speak. However if I had known for sure that I did have tomorrow off I would have made arrangements to go to Salt Lake or even Logan and spend the night bringing in the new year with friends out there.
Didn't happen that way, so alone I sit typing.
I want to reflect on 2012 a bit. It was sort of meh.
No, it wasn't horrible. In fact I did have some great times with friends and even a few with family. Playing my Pathfinder game with "the boys" a couple of times a month help to keep me sane. Sadly one of "the boys" is gone now.
Playing games with my nieces and nephews is always a joy. In fact I gave a few of them the pleasure and wonder of Pathfinder for Christmas and that is exciting. Bringing up the next generation of geeks.
Worked my first year at a the new job. Not quite as new now that I've been there a little over a year, but still going with it, even thought the company has had a rough patch of late. Aside from the early morning schedule I have to switch back and forth too, I don't mind it.
Did see some fun plays this year, not as many as I would have liked though. Drinking a beer with Tiny and JayC at Busybees (JayC didn't have a beer, but I did and it was tasty). Tiny even introduced me to some fabulous resturants when I went out for St. Patricks day.
Getting a pink birthday cake last year was probably the highlight. Tom and Anna are terrific. That baby of theirs is damned lucky.
All of these were great times. I have no complaints about any of it.
It's all the stuff in between. The day to day slog (I suppose this really includes the job, even though I don't hate it). It wears on a person.
I know in order to change things I have to make an effort to change things.
Well, here it goes.
Labels: Personal
