Hmmm… Now you sound like someone that’s worth listening to. I’ll have to check out your blog.

And from what I’ve heard, the “god” in the movie sounds like one that needs to be killed anyways.

Linda, it’s true that Jesus was a polemicist — so is Rush Limbaugh — and had radical ideas — so does Fred Phelps — but while these things aren’t bad in themselves, they aren’t good in themselves either.

Of course. I understand your point. But if the radical ideas bring about questions, conversations, and ultimately more knowledge and insight into the issue at hand; then everybody wins. No, the ideas may not be good in themselves… but the possible results can be, if all parties are looking in the same (at least similiar) direction. If you just flat out dismiss the ideas without even taking a good look, then everyone loses. Then we go back into our separate (oh no that word again) boxes and the fear of stepping on people’s toes. Complacency will not resolve conflicts. It just promotes more fear, hatred, war, and… death.

Jeff, I didn’t like The Last Temptation of Christ — except for Peter Gabriel’s soundtrack, which I went right out and bought. But the movie would have worked better, I think, if they’d gotten someone like Nino Rota to do the music, very Godfather-ish. I think Christianity has already returned to its end-of-the-world, apocalyptic, faith-healing, demon-exorcising, hellfire-and-damnation preaching roots, and the world isn’t much better off for it.

As far as “admitted” and “avowed,” these terms have gotten a lot of play with gay people like me. Still, there is a point to them, since “queer” and “atheist” have been popular labels of abuse, much as “retarded” and “mentally ill” seem to be among atheists. The early Christians were called atheists for denying the Roman gods, and they returned the gesture by calling the pagans atheists. People like Thomas Jefferson were, if I recall correctly, called atheists. And a good many people have been called fags and dykes (feminists, for example). So, it can be worth noting that someone has not just been called an atheist or a fag, but does in fact answer to the name.

Still, I was very happy the first time I was able to work “admitted heterosexual” into a book review, back in the 80s. “Admitted” and “avowed” Christian would work too.

Now I have to go bring science to all the good little children of the world. Back later.

What were you doing up so late? Do you suffer from insomnia too?

Jeff

Thank you for all you said. You are very kind. And yes, I guess I’m pretty radical. I always have been that, even when I was an atheist. Then I found out Jesus was a Liberal and had radical beliefs. He was a true polemicist. I’m proud to be like him in however small sense…

Stephen,

What would the world come to if our kids were presented with multiple points of view?

The world would be a much better place, I imagine… (sigh)