Caffeinated Gonzo!

Religion cries out for a biological explanation. It is a ubiquitous phenomenon

—arguably one of the species markers of Homo sapiens—but a puzzling one.

From:

The science of religion

Where angels no longer fear to tread

Mar 19th 2008
From The Economist print edition

A religious court in Afghanistan has sentenced a man to be put to death for downloading a document from the Internet. The man was accused of blasphemy after he downloaded a report criticizing religious leaders for their treatment of women. The harsh sentence handed down against a young 23 year old journalism student was recently upheld by the country’s rulers.

It’s wonderful to know that the “post-Taliban” Afghanistan has improved it’s human-rights record so much under the influence and presence of American and NATO troops over the past few years isn’t it?

It has been pointed out elsewhere that this appears to be a first in recorded history: “a death penalty for downloading.” Let’s hope that a certain industry’s lawyers are not paying attention and getting any bright ideas. Death penalty or not, this is the tip of an iceberg that only appears to be getting larger as the waters get colder.

Seriously: This is a scary precedent, no matter how you look at it and where you look at it from.

The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently.
-Friedrich Nietzsche

Something to keep in mind as we approach the upcoming elections in America and elsewhere.

Peace.

The Buffalo Community Outreach group is an local independant association of volunteers partnered with the University at Buffalo's Steering Committee for the visit of the 14th Dalai Lama to our fair Buffalo.  As a part of their effort to get the word out about the many community events leading up to and surrounding the Dalai Lama visit they have put up this web site:

dalailamabuffalo.com 

In honor of, and preparation for the Dali lamas upcoming visit to Buffalo this Fall, I am linking to this "5 Minute Guide to Buddhism" guide for friends who are looking for a little understanding of what Buddhism is about.

This sort of FAQ only scratches the surface of what Buddhism is about and doesn't really touch on the Dali Lama ~ it is however a place to start.

Reality Isn't What It Used to Be : Theatrical Politics, Ready-to-Wear Religion, Global Myths, Primitive Chic, and O

by Walter Truet Anderson

Have you ever found a book just laying about, free for the taking, and actually read it? Such was the circumstance in which I stumbled across this book. Now I am beginning to wonder if my finding the book wasn’t as much an accident as some sort of experiment in postmodernism in itself. After all, ”Reality isn’t what it used to be.” My priest left this book in a box, in the tent where we hold Mass. On the box, with a handful of other books in it was a sign that said “free to take.” Was it really?

That is the question.

This was the last lonely book in the box when I found it. Was my priest trying to tell his flock something, something about the state of the world or did he really just want to make room on his bookshelf?

It’s an open question.

Aptly titled, the book Reality Isn’t What It Used to Be by Walter Truet Anderson, is very much like I suspect the circumstance in which I obtained my now dog-eared copy an exercise in social constructed reality. If you are open to the ideas it presents you will enjoy the read, as did I. If you aren’t into its premise you might find the ideas presented disturbing—Disturbing enough to contemplate using the book’s pages as a less than satisfying substitute for two-ply.

See more about Reality Isn't What It Used to Be …

The Dalai Lama is coming to Buffalo in September of 2006 to speak at the University of Buffalo. People I know are working hard to welcome him here. I would love a chance just to hear him speak. I would consider it one of life’s greatest honors if I could be in his presence even for a moment.

Learn more about Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

National Public Radio (NPR) Weekend Edition Sunday had a very interesting story this morning on the history of women in the early church and one group of Catholic Women's pilgrimage to learn more about it. You can also hear it online here.

IMH opinion, women are the only reason that the Catholic church survives in modern times. The Catholic church needs to recognize reality and stop denying the contribution of the most dynamic and reliable force for a prosperous future that the Church truly can count on.

The best place to start is to be open to sharing the historical, artistic, and literary evidence detailing the historical efforts and contributions all parties, including women made to the early Church.

Just in time for Easter, Dilbert gets religion. Well, sort of.