tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988839706387198339.post4294101793228164091..comments2024-03-17T12:51:46.412-07:00Comments on Cutting Through The Crap: Christmas, MerrySid Schwabhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14182853083503404098noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988839706387198339.post-77084470007599600362011-12-24T09:40:12.842-08:002011-12-24T09:40:12.842-08:00I grew up in a VERY religious household, and it to...I grew up in a VERY religious household, and it took me about 58 years to throw off all that crap. I raised my kids in the same faith that I was brought up in, but didn't constantly pound the fear of hell into them. Now maybe 2 of them sort of believe and 2 of them don't.<br /><br />I think it all depends on whether you decide to use the intelligence and free will given to you, to decide what you believe or don't believe in.<br /><br />MFederleGypsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18052445200220681513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988839706387198339.post-48776218390485781402011-12-23T11:40:14.353-08:002011-12-23T11:40:14.353-08:00I've thought the same thing about forcing reli...I've thought the same thing about forcing religion on kids: seems a bad thing to do, making open-mindedless and curiosity harder to achieve. But, of course, the religious would see it entirely the opposite way: <i>not</i> to indoctrinate would be to let them down.<br /><br />On the other hand, I managed eventually to think for myself. In part, I suppose, it was from growing up in a not-very-religious household.Sid Schwabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14182853083503404098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988839706387198339.post-70808497684176036972011-12-23T11:32:58.336-08:002011-12-23T11:32:58.336-08:00Sam's great-grandfather immigrated from Ukrain...Sam's great-grandfather immigrated from Ukraine to sell hats in Baltimore. Otherwise Sam is ethnically Christian (though really it's profoundly wrong to label me as such, or as a Jew). I mention this only because I don't wish to sound churlish. Well, okay, I like talking about myself too.<br /><br />I can't shake a feeling that it's wrong to force children to participate in a culture or religion. Cultural differences are interesting, and I admit I'm glad for them. But still.<br /><br />A few years ago, at a moment when my Asperger's filter was weak, I asked a Jewish co-worker if it wasn't perhaps unkind to deny his little daughters a present at a time when every other child was getting them. I'm pretty sure he didn't care, but his wife evidently wanted his daughters to know in their bones that they are different.<br /><br />Obviously solstice celebrations pre-date Jesus, and I don't recall seeing a date of birth or any mention of conifers in the Bible. So really my friend's wife's reasoning amounts to, "The Christians have claimed the evergreen tree/gift giving/solstice thing, and therefore we must reject it to maintain our cultural heritage and unity."<br /><br />Richard Feynman had the perfect attitude about Judaism in my opinion; he celebrated what he liked and condemned what he didn't. He was joyful when an old Jewish woman said something like, "Today I met a doctor and now a professor. My day is complete." On the other hand a group of rabbinical scholars had noticed that light switches produce a spark, and were thus worried about using light switches on the sabbath. Feynman addressed their concern from an electrical engineering point of view, and was alarmed that they didn't care to understand. He doesn't say so in so many words, but I imagine he found that to be a repugnant way to live a life. So do I. Nor do I see a practical way to promote cultural cohesion without appealing to metaphysical nonsense.Sam Spadenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988839706387198339.post-39387063501546750492011-12-23T07:30:21.322-08:002011-12-23T07:30:21.322-08:00Wow, what a co-ink-ee-dinky...
I had a group of Ko...Wow, what a co-ink-ee-dinky...<br />I had a group of Koreans try to convert me the other day...<br />Right in the driveway of my Palatial McMansion, was changing the Oil in the Z06, so couldn't really avoid them. <br />And I responded in kind, expressed by Condyloma-ences for the dear departed Kim-Jong-Ill(hey if Jimmuh Cartuh can do it, so can I) and asked if they had kittens & puppies in Korean-heaven..<br /><br />OK by this time they were on to the next house...<br /><br />FrankFrank Drackmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17846499693803159688noreply@blogger.com