For What It's Worth » morality

Moral Nudity?

Rick — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 18:55:16 +0000

Technorati Tags: morality,nudity,sin,temptation

Here’s a search term that led someone to my naturist blog: moral nudity. I’ve been trying to figure out how these words might go together but I haven’t found a connection. Moral is not an adjective you can logically use to modify the noun nudity. Nudity is neutral, neither moral nor immoral, good nor bad. Morality is a value judgment best applied to behavior, intentions or purposes, not to a physical characteristic or state. To say that it’s immoral to be nude is like saying it’s immoral to be poor or to be a sports fan or to live in a certain area or to practice a certain faith.

I hear Christians talk of avoiding or not engaging in certain activities because it may cause others to stumble and fall into sin or temptation. How are we to know what might cause our neighbor to stumble? Wouldn’t it be better to show him a new perspective, change his attitude, or teach him how not to stumble? If someone falls prey to temptation because of me and that wasn’t my intention, isn’t that his weakness? And if I am aware of his weakness then shouldn’t I help him to overcome it rather than merely removing that which might tempt him?

Avoiding temptation doesn’t make us stronger. Learning to overcome and neutralize it so that it no longer tempts us shows real strength of character. I’ve faced and overcome many personal demons. I’m stronger for it and those demons no longer pose a temptation for me.

For what it’s worth…

Are Atheists Immoral?

Rick — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:27:58 +0000

Do you believe atheists are immoral?

No. Whether or not one believes in God has nothing do do with one’s moral character. Many non-believers may actually have higher moral standards than many believers. Consider all the wars, atrocities, terrorist acts, genocide, and persecution that have been carried out in the name of God (or Jesus). There are, and have been, many devoutly religious people who seem to have problems following a high moral standard, many of whom have (had) the title of Reverend, Pastor, Father, Pope, or some other religious moniker before their names.

One person who left a comment on this Facebook poll said, “The Bible tells us what they are in Proverbs….not immoral…fools.” The only passage in Proverbs using the term fools I could find read, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7). Is fearing God the same as believing in God? In Christianity there is talk about God’s infinite love and at the same time we must fear God. We must love what we fear and fear what we love? That makes no sense.

I believe there is but one god who is known by many names and worshiped (or not) differently by many peoples. There are many paths to enlightenment, each just as valid as any other. That we believe or how we believe is unimportant. The important thing is to find our own path and follow it. If it turns out we have chosen a path that is wrong for us, we can chose a different path and follow that. All paths ultimately lead to the same destination. It’s the experience of the journey that enriches us.

For what it’s worth…

God loves atheists

Rick — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 18:17:03 +0000

Quote of the day: “History does not record anywhere at any time a religion that has any rational basis. Religion is a crutch for people not strong enough to stand up to the unknown without help. But, like dandruff, most people do have a religion and spend time and money on it and seem to derive considerable pleasure from fiddling with it.” — Robert Heinlein

Song of the day: Losing My Religion
Artist: R.E.M.
Album: Out Of Time
Released: 1981

Something to think about…

“With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.” — Stephen Weinberg

For what it’s worth…

Jumping On The Morality Bandwagon

Rick — Mon, 13 Feb 2006 19:42:00 +0000

Listen up, politicians. Do you want to know the quickest way to lose my vote? Just jump on the morality bandwagon and start pushing legislation that purports to support family values but, in reality, makes absolutely no sense. Not every voter in this state is an idiot. Unfortunately, too many of them are.

I see in the today’s news that there is a bill making its way through the Ohio State House would make it illegal for gay and lesbian couples to adopt kids. Supporters of the bill say they have the best interests of the children at heart. Bullshit. It’s homophobia, plain and simple. Gay and lesbian couples are just as capable of raising normal, well-adjusted, and, yes, straight kids as heterosexual couples. A couple’s sexual orientation has nothing to do with their child raising skills. Take a look at all the screwed up kids that come from straight homes. If this bill becomes law, it will actually cost the state money because fewer children will be adopted and the state will have to support them.

If they really have the children’s best interests at heart, then encourage couples, both straight and gay, to adopt.

From WHIO-TV’s web site:

New State Bill On Gay, Lesbian Adoptions
POSTED: 5:11 am EST February 13, 2006
UPDATED: 6:40 am EST February 13, 2006

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A new bill making its way through the Ohio State House would make it illegal for gay and lesbian couples to adopt kids.

Supporters said the bill is geared toward keeping the best interests of the children and their placement at heart. But a group called Equality Ohio wants to keep the bill from becoming reality.

Lynne Bowan, Executive Director of Equality Ohio, said if the bill becomes law, it will actually cost the state more money because fewer children will be adopted.

Currently there are about 20,000 children in Ohios foster care system.

Let’s start passing laws that protect the rights of our citizens rather than take them away.

Getting run over by the morality bandwagon again

Rick — Mon, 13 Feb 2006 16:55:00 +0000

The Rolling Stones – Jumpin’ Jack Flash

Today’s Quote: “The worst crime against working people is a company which fails to operate at a profit.” -– Samuel Gompers, 1st AFL president
[I guess that makes the CEOs of GM, Ford, and Chrysler criminals. I kind of thought they were anyway.]

Yes, “morality” does come from morons
At least the legislative kind does. I heard on the news this morning that the state legislature has its collective head up its collective ass again. They’re pushing a bill that would make it illegal for gay and lesbian couples to adopt. It sounds to me like a bunch of homophobic morons jumping on the morality bandwagon in order to get votes anyway they can. Do any of these idiots ever do any research to back up their inane ideas or consider how the courts are going to interpret their law when it gets challenged?

They just jump up on whatever bandwagon looks like it will get them the most votes. They jump up and down yelling, “Look at me! I support family values and morality! I have no idea what I’m talking about! Vote for me!!” If you want my vote, start supporting legislation that makes sense and fixes issues that are really important, such as finding a “constitutional” method of supporting our public schools.

Music Trivia Quiz:
1. Who had a hit in the 60s with Julie, Do You Love Me? A) Rick Nelson B) Donny Osmond C) Bobby Sherman
2. Love and Marriage sung by Frank Sinatra was the theme song for this show: A) Married…With Children B) Love American Style C) The Donna Reed Show
3. Who wrote the music for the musical, Promises, Promises? A) Burt Bacharach B) Frederick Lowe C) Frank Loesser
4. What was the musical theme for the Merry Melodies cartoons, which was written by Eddie Cantor? A) Mary Had a Little Lamb B) The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down C) Merrily We Roll Along
5. In the 1915 song M-O-T-H-E-R, what does “M” stand for? A) the magic that she showed me B) the million things she gave me C) the meaning of my life

Help Desk Slave
Why is that when I help somebody out, I become their Help Desk slave? I helped this guy out with a little problem with a third party application last week. Now his computer boots slowly, things don’t work right. I have no idea when he did with it before I helped him or what he’s done with it since then. My solution will be to reload his computer with the standard package because I don’t have time to diagnose the root problem. I’ll tweak it a bit to work with his application (at least what I know about it). But he claims he’s to busy to give up his computer for half a day. He won’t be very busy once it becomes unusable. I’m sure he’s got some spyware or something running in the background.

Come on, people. In a corporate environment a computer is one of your tools, just like wrenches, drills, lathes, etc. Take some responsibility and learn to use your tool. You’d learn to use a lathe, wouldn’t you? I can’t hold your hand. I don’t want to hold your hand. I’m not your personal computer tech. I have over 400 other users I have to take care of too.

Computers really aren’t that difficult. It’s mostly common sense. Of course, the biggest problem I see with technology is that the people developing it seem to be trying to make it more difficult than it needs to be.

Music Trivia Answers:
1. C) Bobby Sherman [My sister and her friends thought he was just dreamy. Believe it or not, he still has several fan sites on the Interweb.]
2. A) Married…With Children
3. A) Burt Bacharach
4. C) Merrily We Roll Along [ The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down was used in Who Framed Roger Rabbit?]
5. B) the million things she gave me