high bed in the low chapel

Is Intelligent Design (ID) a vast conspiracy of the extreme Right? Yes, it is! Does it need to be stopped immediately? Yes, it does! I have been wondering for the last several days and since Pat Robertson declared that God no longer felt moved to comfort Dover, PA who in heck invented Intelligent Design. New York Magazine has a good op-ed piece and explains it's origins. I was also happy that a Vatican official also weighed in correctly (for the most part) on the debate.

I am most disturbed for two reasons. One, that an idiot idea has taken over much of the media and sent ridiculous arguments into our court system and two, that people who identify themselves as Christian are once again hung-up on an idea that is not worthy of Christ.

ID is not a scientific idea and to teach it to a group of biology students or qualify their lectures with a bogus reading of ID is unconscionable. I've read that the IDers call the Theory of Evolution just that, a theory. Scientific Method defines a theory as "a collection of hypotheses that have been tested many times and not rejected. A theory indicates a higher degree of certainty; however, in science, nothing is certain." As human understanding of genomes and the mapping of more organismal genomes continues, the Theory of Evolution will be more apparent than it already is. In my study of biology as I work towards a career in healthcare, they teach us evolution and also say specifically that ideas of and proof of the supernatural is not a concern of science. As our society becomes more relativistic and illogical, it becomes easy to publicize and explain bogus theories. I do not want our society to become intellectually lazy. And I think the idea of ID is contributing to just that.

I also do not look towards science to prove the physical existance of God nor confirm my belief in His Son. Nor, should any other Christian pursue this path. As Christians, we believe in the New Covenant, that God chose to sacrifice Himself as Christ that those who believe in Him are promised eternal life. This belief is not contingent upon proof that the earth was created a few thousand years ago in just seven days. We are called to be humble and humble ourselves as we serve our fellow man. We are not called to pursue legal proceedings to further ideas that do not further service and dedication to humanity.

I am fascinated by molecular genetics and encouraged by the similarities we find with our fellow living beings. As I firmly believe in God, I believe He planned the lives we live and intended us to be born. And in that vein, I am continually thankful and amazed at life's diversity. What a gift! I hope that our further realization of the closeness of life encourages us and commands us to be compassionate and respectful of life other than our own on earth. Chimpanzees are 96% similar to human beings! Should we not take care of them and ensure their continued survival and respect their personalities and have them thrive in their lives. I think so.

And if you are not a believer, I think you should also be celebratory of diversity. How lucky that we were born at all. How amazing that you were conceived during that month's cycle and that one sperm, so to speak, made it. The statistical calculation is possible however, I will not attempt it. If I didn't believe my existance was planned, I would just be bowled over that it happened by chance anyway.

I hope ID disappears as quickly as it appeared. Our collective intelligence is partly at stake.

Posted by at 4:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

60 Minutes aired a segment on the ELF (Earth Liberation Front) and the ALF (Animal Liberation Front) last Sunday. The ALF and ELF have set fires, destroyed vivisection (experiments on live animals) laboratories, liberated animals, burned SUV dealerships, and other related activities. I am not in favor of destruction to further social causes because one, it's not moral and two, it doesn't work. However, I do believe in and support the principles of animal rights.

The segment disappointed me in a few ways. 60 Minutes reported that in over 1,000 attacks by these groups not a single person was injured. Despite this fact, the FBI considers them the number one domestic terrorist threat. The report showed contempt for the ALF and ELF by inserting the following phrases in the narrative.

He [John Lewis, a Deputy Assistant Director for Counterterrorism at the FBI] admits they're not in the same league as al Qaeda but says they're racheting up their actions and turning up the rhetoric.

Animals, he [Dr. Jerry Vlasak, a practicing trauma surgeon in Los Angeles, who also acts as a spokesperson for several extreme animal rights groups] says, should be accorded the same rights as human beings, despite their place on the food chain.

The first quote suggests the reporter brought up the issue of al Qaeda. The ALF is nothing like al Qaeda and to suggest that given that the term is emotionally charged is irresponsible. The second quote was ascribed to Vlasak however I doubt strongly he personally used the phrase, "...despite their place on the food chain." Rarely in an argument does someone given the counterargument in the same sentence as the thesis. Vegans don't use the the phrase "food chain." If you're a vegan, you believe in an abolition of the concept.

The biggest problem with the report was Dr. Jerry Vlasak himself. For a high-profile report, he did nothing to further the cause of animal rights. Curiously, most people are turned off just by the title "animal rights." This suggest their renouncing their proud status as head the food chain. Vlasak also used the term, speciesism. The word is too radical for the mainstream and you don't get people on-board by instantly turning them off to the words you use. He did a terrible job for the millions of people all over the world committed to the compassion movement for animals. He's not furthering the cause at all.

Posted by at 9:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We've turned that corner on the calendar and are headed straight for Thanksgiving. In the spirit of compassion and celebrating all the things with which we have been blessed, go ahead and adopt a turkey. The Farm Sanctuary has saved many, many birds from the deplorable conditions of factory farms. This year, I'm choosing Tofurky which is a delicious meat substitute. Please join me!

Posted by at 11:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

With the new video iPod and now with more sophisticated mobile devices, pornography will now be in our mobile world, as if our homes weren't bad enough. As I hear pornographic films are frequently watched by your neighbor on commercial airline flights, we can now contend with our friends on the Metro and other public transportation systems.

Carriers Adopt Content Rating for Cellphones

By MATT RICHTEL
Published: November 9, 2005
The nation's major cellular phone carriers said yesterday that they had adopted a content rating system for video, music, pictures and games that they sell to cellphone users - a development that could pave the way for them to begin selling pornography and sex-oriented content on mobile devices.

The carriers said the ratings, meant to mimic content classifications for movies and video games, are voluntary.

Initially, the carriers would classify content in two categories: general interest and restricted content deemed appropriate only for people over the age of 18.

The carriers said they had agreed not to begin making restricted content available until they had developed filters and other technological tools that would enable parents to prevent children from getting access to inappropriate material.

The carriers, including Cingular Wireless and Verizon Wireless, the largest and second-largest mobile companies, said they were developing filtering technology and that it should be available soon.

"This gives people the tools to decide what's appropriate and what's not appropriate for them," Mark Siegel, a spokesman for Cingular, said of the content ratings. But industry analysts said the creation of a rating system showed that the carriers were moving toward selling sex-oriented content. That could add to the growing revenue carriers are getting from selling music, short videos, images and access to news and information.

The content guidelines and any filters that carriers may provide would not affect content that mobile phone users download directly from the Internet. The guidelines apply only to content that subscribers purchase on menus provided by the carriers.

The Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association, an industry trade group that published the guidelines, said in a statement that the content classifications would use criteria based on the existing movie, television, music and games rating systems.

Jeffrey Nelson, a spokesman for Verizon Wireless, said it was possible the industry would eventually come up with more than two classifications for content. "Once the ratings are in place, the market will dictate whether gradations are in order," he said.

Posted by at 3:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Last night was the District [hmmm, perhaps I shouldn't publish the number] Toastmasters Humor Contest. There were six speakers. I did not win first, second, or third which means I did not place. Ah, the shame. To compete in something and not win is a terrible feeling. At this point, I could write a novel about what happened and why however I will spare this audience the details that one, might reinforce the absurd and two, identify me and therefore bar my chance of winning any contest again.

I should say, though that the woman who won took a line from my speech and the accompanying body gesture. If I had won, her theft would have solidified my superior speech elements. However, because I lost I simply see this as a dirty trick. Which means that last night I felt as if I had run for office and been beat down by the masses.

A couple things of note... I was the youngest contestant by fifteen years and the average age of the attendees was sixty-five. Speaking in front of that many people was a major first for me. If someone had asked me in June to speak in front of three hundred people I would have said, "No flippin' way." Now, I would jump at the chance. And that's my victory without the accompanying statue.

Posted by at 2:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)