Fucking Infidels!

[talktooloose]

Toutou got a job. I was tempted to write "finally" at the end of that sentence, but really he's only been seriously looking since the new year began. It looks like a pretty good job, actually and he's really happy and proud. But it does mean that on three days of the week there will be no one at home to walk the dog during the day.

I am talking to some professional dog walkers this weekend, but my mind rebels at the thought of paying $30 a week even though it really is a reasonable price. I made a proposal at work today which I think makes a lot of sense and would solve the problem. Instead of working three full days, I proposed that I work four long afternoons -- two five hour days and two six hour days. In fact, I would undertake to always stay at work until 6 p.m., a departure time that was maintained by a designer who has just resigned.

It would be great! I get up and make breakfast and lunch for Snake and Toutou and get them out the door by 8 a.m. Then I stretch and have breakfast and get down to my drawing board by 9 a.m. I work for two or three hours and then take the dog for a good walk and leave for the office. I think this would be a productive schedule and one that would break up the days better. My immediate supervisor was all nervous when I proposed this, but I'm going to push -- obnoxiously if I have to.

Oh, I also got a raise! My first in five years. The company is supposed to give lovely, generous profit shares in lieu of raises but we haven't had any real profit in two years. So I pushed on that too.

Finally, I was just reading through a thread on someone's journal wherein they are trying hard to reconcile what I gather are feelings of same-sex attraction with adherence to Catholicism. Call me a bigot or a snob or whatever, but I have trouble with scholarly discussions that are founded, ultimately, on a belief in a divinely-inspired bible. I think I'm going to create a new faith that posits divine inspiration for Hagar the Horrible. And I'll go and burn infidels in my spare time.

Fucking infidels!

Comments

[rfmcdpei.livejournal.com]

Wonderful news for Toutou! Give him my congratulations.

Now, if I can figure out what to do.

[goodall.livejournal.com]

For those who truly believe in a divine being, they live in the alternate universe where the bible for them is reality. The only way to debate a subject with them is within the rules of that reality.

I have read books written by priests, ministers, and rabbis on being gay while being Catholic, Protestant, or Jewish. These books were written at least three decades ago, when one would think that people had more antiquated views on homosexuality than they do now, but these religious leaders seemed to have more enlightened views on the subject than many who are religious leaders today.

While doing research for my thesis, I also became acquainted with a Japanese-American PFLAG group who preferred to get information on LGBT issues from their ministry, or the mouths of their own children, than any other resource. In this context of religion as a binder for their community, they found it much easier to learn about and accept their gay children.

I have made my peace with religion, though I remain a non-believer and an atheist. Human beings are the ones who twist religion around to separate themselves from others, and to punish those who don't fit in with what they believe is their god's plan. Queer folk in religious communities who feel conflicted about their attraction will be more likely to feel conflicted if their religious leaders and families reject them in word and/or deed, and if they believe those peoples' interpretations of their religion over their own interpretation.

What would explain a Hasidic youth who continued to pray and find solace in his religion and community, yet identify (proudly) as a young gay man? What would explain a gay priest? They have discovered their reality, and their truth, within the boundaries of their world. And they, more than anyone, perhaps, are the truest believers who do good work in the name of their religion.

[briseur.livejournal.com]

I have trouble with scholarly discussions that are founded, ultimately, on a belief in a divinely-inspired bible.

I only have trouble w/ such discussions when they're keeping someone from pursuing happiness. We can discuss whether or not Jesus would've wanted us to give to bums all day, but if we're discussing how to be attracted to men & still please God, we probably need to rethink our idea of what pleases God.

[briseur.livejournal.com]

> these religious leaders seemed to have more enlightened views on the subject than many who are religious leaders today.

That's why they were writing about it in the 70s, when the majority weren't touching it w/ a 10-inch rod.

[goodall.livejournal.com]

Those religious leaders who were homophobic never stopped being homophobic, and those who were inclusive probably never stopped being inclusive.

There is a Christian bookstore close to where I work, and they have a few books on being gay and Christian. I was expecting to read some nasty stuff, but was pleasantly surprised. Copyright dates: 1990s-2004.

Don't get me wrong--I am well aware of the Mormon brainwashing camps for gay kids, and the rampant homophobia that exists among the general population. I had a friend commit suicide because he was afraid that his Catholic parents would not accept him as a gay man. I do not think that my friend himself was religious. I also know a born-again Christian (originally Jewish) who identified as gay but insisted on celibacy and tried to push his obnoxious views on everyone else.

So everyone interprets their reality differently, and everyone accepts different authorities (family, religion, or their inner voice) when it comes to their own self-acceptance.

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

I backed graciously out of the thread, telling her it hurt to much to participate in it. Here is the opening salvo of the whole thing:

I've come to believe that Christianity and homosexual behaviour can't be reconciled, but I don't think that absolves Christians of the need to be just to homosexual people, on a societal and personal level. And justice here means equality, nothing more special than that.

This brings up a complex array of feelings me. Mostly anger which is what I should feel. Heh, I'm imagining the "enlightened" Priest giving this sermon up on the pulpit. Suddenly, to the sound of heavenly orisons, his robes part like the velvet curtains on a proscenium arch, revealing me on my knees sucking his ecumenical knob.

And John Paul II can't die fast enough to please me.

[manny-script.livejournal.com]

I think I'm going to create a new faith that posits divine inspiration for Hagar the Horrible. And I'll go and burn infidels in my spare time.

I think Joseph Smith already did essentially this

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

heh.