It’s a question of faith

I loaned The Da Vinci Code to a friend of mine. That’s how it all started.

He soon moved on to Dan Brown’s Angels & Demons. Which led to some research into the Illuminati, then secret societies in general, to the Freemasons, culminating in The Hiram Key.

Now, for those who’ve never read The Hiram Key, it links ancient religions with secrets about the “true” life of Christ to the Knights Templar and finally to Freemason ritual. It’s theory and conjecture written as fact and certainty. It’s perfect for anyone who relishes the good conspiracy theory (and who knows? it could even be true).

He’s now convinced that his religion, Christianity, is a sham. That the Bible got the history all wrong, therefore the entire establishment is false.

I just finished reading Saramago’s The Gospel According to Jesus Christ and was eager for just this sort of debate.

But do the facts of what occurred in a 35 year span, thousands of years ago, REALLY matter? Christianity has been around for over 2000 years. Isn’t the religion better defined by how the scripture is interpreted by its followers now? By the actions of the Church now? By the faith of its followers?

Am I the exception in feeling that the absolute infallibility of the “historical facts” have nothing or little to do with faith? Does it matter whether or not Jesus was an only child or had a brother or a twin or a dozen brothers and sisters? Does it matter whether or not he was married? Does it matter whether or not he had children?

Isn’t the point to learn the scripture and the lessons of the parables and strive to be the best person you can be? And to follow the laws of the Church (regardless of the historical accuracy of the beginning)?

Pure genius

Buy your Ann Coulter action figure today. Illustration compliments of Andrew Furdell.

Parallel reality

So…. hypothetically, let’s say that Karl Rove approaches you to replace him at the White House. You’ve now got the ear of the President. Some say you’re his premier advisor, his right-hand (wo)man, the administration master mind.

If you could guide White House policy – what would be the first thing you’d change?

Time flies
Someone once told me that the older I got, the faster time would pass. At the time, I nodded and grinned thinking, “Yeah, whatever.”
I’ve officially joined the Rapid Passing Time Continuum (RPTC). Can someone please tell me what happened to October? Typically one of my favorite months, I barely found time to enjoy it. One second I was on a plane flying to Seattle – I blinked – then I was entertaining guests and looking forward to seeing Cats – I yawned – next thing I knew I was leaving the theatre, blinking in the unusually sunny and warm day – and now it’s NOVEMBER!
I know since I’ve entered the RPTC, tomorrow I’ll be writing about how I celebrated Thanksgiving. I’ll blink and will be on a flight to Massachusetts for the holidays. And before I know what’s happened, I’ll be standing in a long line, shifting from foot to foot, waiting to get into one of the DC bars on St. Patty’s Day.
It’s disconcerting.
Yet somehow, I manage to make time to go to work, meet friends out, speak with family, read, go to lectures, visit museums, and travel. I guess I wish I could find more time to sleep and get through my “To Do List.”
And maybe get rid of this dreadful feeling that there just isn’t enough of it left.

The stupidest girl in DC

I stayed home yesterday…. spent most of the day lounging on the couch, reading Jose Saramago’s most controversial novel, O EVANGELHO SEGUNDO JESUS CHRISTO.

At 3:00 p.m., imagine my surprise when I turned on the boob tube to catch Dr. Phil, to find breaking news and Capitol Hill in chaos. Apparently, some brainiac of a staffer decided to bring a toy gun into work.

When do those Darwin awards come out? I have a nomination.

The gun was part of a “Sydney Bristow” costume. Ordinarily, no. big. deal….. ordinarily as in PRE-2001. Security is everywhere – not only visible throughout Washington, DC, but most U.S. cities. We’ve grown accustomed to a lower tolerance for what is and isn’t considered a possible threat.

WHAT was this moron thinking when she decided to pack her toy gun for work? And did the Capitol Police overreact by sending in SWAT teams and evacuating the building floor by floor? Could the situation have been handled differently or is everyone satisfied with the way the authorities handled the situation? Did this make national news or did it just permeate the District airwaves?

Attention Washingtonians

Capital Action is organizing the Third Annual Alternative Gift Fair. They’re looking for volunteers to plan the event over the next couple months. They also need people to help with advertising near the event and to help on the day of the event. Volunteers are needed to:

* Contact and arrange for a venue to host the event

* Contact and set up organizations to attend (they need to create items for their “shopping lists” which people can purchase and provide informational materials for display and a representative to volunteer to educate people at the event)

* Advertise through appropriate event calendars, listserves, websites, etc.

* Gather volunteers for the evening of the event to set up, work the event, collect money, write cards.

If you’re interested in helping out, please contact Sat Jiwan Khalsa, Capital Action volunteer, at satjiwan@newdream.org and let him know how you’d like to help out. Include name, preferred role and level of organizing you can commit to (ie. day of only, some organizing (5-10 hours), a lot of organizing (15-20 hours), etc.)

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Roadtrip::cross-country
   

2. Honey::sweet and golden
   

3. Flanders::ceramics
   

4. Vampire::Anne Rice
   

5. Justice::scales
   

6. Marine::biology
   

7. Protractor::architect
   

8. Rubber::burning
   

9. London::dirty, cold and wet
   

10. Jerry::Seinfeld
    

Trick or treat

I can’t believe Halloween is this Friday! Where did October hurry off to?

So does anyone have freaky Friday plans for Halloween? Is anyone dressing up? I’ve decided to cause havoc and mayhem dressed as a naughty Catholic school girl.

Are you planning to have fun or are you leaving all the tricks and treats to the kids?