An Open dialog

Faith is an often contentious issue. So I often struggle about making posts that deal with it. What with the current polarization of our body politic, it seems that most issues have taken on a theological tint (from climate change to the subject of gay marriage).

But periodically there are things I just can not resist.

I love a good argument. I especially like ones where, one of the debaters absolutely drinks up his opponent's milkshake on national tv.

This dust up happened the other night on Hardball. In general I tend to loathe Christopher Hitchens. By and large he is a pompous, sanctimonious ass, with a palpable disdain for religion, the religious, and religious institutions.

Some of his commentary and issues with religion on the whole are valid complaints, however he tends to wrap this in an all encompassing anti-religious bigotry, that I believe injures his argument.

That all being said, he does know his history. Mr. Blackwell, the woefully uninformed individual charged with debating Mr. Hitchens, is a disappointing hack unfortunately.

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I don't feel that the debate was in anyway even. My dislike for both men notwithstanding, Mr. Hitchens is just better at presenting his side of the case in a factual manner. His contempt is obvious, but his ability to support his point of view is commendable.

This is not so much a support of the views expressed, but an attempt to highlight the sort of argument I dislike. Shorter Blackwell: I am right because I say so!

Basically. Yes you are entitled to your opinion, but not your own facts. And most assuredly if your assertions do not stand up to scrutiny, then they should be savaged, if you place them into the public square.

-Cheers

Heinous....

[Warning...if you are easily offended by religious matters, child abuse or abortion...just ignore this post. This is not meant as a blanket condemnation of all religion, but of this particular one, in this particular place, with these particular people.]

Religion is always a touchy subject, there is no doubt of that. But this is bordering on....well I am not sure what the term for clergy who would do this to a family or its parishioners after what they had just survived.

Nine-Year-Old's Abortion Outrage

I really am not sure what to say about it actually, though Steve Benen has some words on the subject.

This is the sort of thing that I find absolutely terrifying and maddening about religion at times, the frightening adherence to dogma and orthodoxy in this case amounts to physical and emotional torture. Though that doesn't even begin to encompass, the abject revulsion I feel. This child was raped and impregnated, with twins, by her step-father. Her life is at risk cause her body is not prepared for the rigors of birthing a child.

And the Church turns a blind eye to that. It is the job of the church to provide succor for its adherents. To ameliorate their pain and give them a vision of a better and more just world. Not to heap upon them more suffering, injustice and inequity.

This?

Well this is just evil.

This line from the Archbishop is perhaps the most chilling thing I have read in ages:

"...Abortion is much more serious than killing an adult. An adult may or may not be an innocent, but an unborn child is most definitely innocent. Taking that life cannot be ignored."

And what of the child who's life you are putting at risk? Remember there are three "children" at risk here. Not only the unborn. Who is trying to save her life? Obviously not the church.

No matter what your beliefs are on the subject, we all can agree that no child should have to shoulder this burden.

If it is "wrong" to feel that further increasing this child's suffering or potentially killing this poor girl under some misguided notion of "God's Will". Then I most definitely and with all my being do not want to be "right". Nor do I want any part of any church or god that would condone this.

This child has already been robbed of her innocence, now she has been robbed of her faith as well.

-Cheers