Monday, April 16, 2007
Flying Spaghetti Monster
I did not write this, I copied it from a digg user sometime back because I liked it. Unfortunately I don't remember the user so I can't give proper credit but at least I can be clear that these are not my words.
The problem is that American fundamentalists do not understand what it's like to have alternate religions. Their mind can only grasp around two concepts:
1) Jesus is a literal son of God, and believing in him brings you salvation.
2) Non-belief in God will make you burn in hell.
Here are some concepts they have no understanding of, because the very idea of possessing them feels so incredible foreign:
1) Judaism
2) Hinduism
3) Buddhism
4) Taoism
5) Islam
6) Sikhism
7) Spiritism
...and many others.
Believe it or not, there is an actual reason for this. You see, American fundamentalists are born, raised, live out their adult lives, and die right in the center of some of the most homogeneous geographic locations in the entire world. In their daily lives, the only thing they ever deal with are people who believe EXACTLY what they believe in, and then occasionally hear about some pesky Anti-Jesus-ites stir trouble. Sometimes they hear stories of one of their own neighbors venturing outside their communes into the "real world" (usually a larger American city, rarely a foreign country) and hear stories of people who don't base their whole lives and the understanding of the world they live in around the concept of pleasing Jesus, and they are downright distraught and frightened by this concept.
This, dear friends, is exactly why the concept of the "Flying Spaghetti Monster" was created. This is something that is incredibly important as a teaching tool, and I believe that the concept of the "Flying Spaghetti Monster" should seriously be taught in all public schools from an early age. The point of it is: imagine a "religious" concept so ludicrous and contrary to what you are willing to accept, and pretend that people actually believe in it. Now, if you want to enact any kind of religion-based public policy, imagine how it applies to the those who believe in the "Flying Spaghetti Monster" as strongly as they believe in whatever it is they believe in (Jesus, for example).
If you want to teach a Christian creation mythology in science, you must also teach the creation mythology of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Same with giving monetary funds to Christian organizations, funds that must also be given to followers of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Basically, EVERYTHING that any government official ever proposes in relation to ANY religion must pass the Flying Spaghetti Monster test. If you are not willing to grant the real possibility that the Flying Spaghetti Monster must be included in any and all of your proposals for public policy, then your proposals are inherently flawed and must be abandoned.
If you read up the history of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and it's invocation in public discourse, it becomes immediately obvious that American fundamentalists simply do not understand what the point of it is, and dismiss it outright as ridiculous. It is FAR from ridiculous. It is FAR from being a joke. In my opinion, it is one of the most important, illustrative examples of logical, political, and religious thinking that has ever been thought up, and more people need to become aware of it (and be touched by His noodly appendage).
The problem is that American fundamentalists do not understand what it's like to have alternate religions. Their mind can only grasp around two concepts:
1) Jesus is a literal son of God, and believing in him brings you salvation.
2) Non-belief in God will make you burn in hell.
Here are some concepts they have no understanding of, because the very idea of possessing them feels so incredible foreign:
1) Judaism
2) Hinduism
3) Buddhism
4) Taoism
5) Islam
6) Sikhism
7) Spiritism
...and many others.
Believe it or not, there is an actual reason for this. You see, American fundamentalists are born, raised, live out their adult lives, and die right in the center of some of the most homogeneous geographic locations in the entire world. In their daily lives, the only thing they ever deal with are people who believe EXACTLY what they believe in, and then occasionally hear about some pesky Anti-Jesus-ites stir trouble. Sometimes they hear stories of one of their own neighbors venturing outside their communes into the "real world" (usually a larger American city, rarely a foreign country) and hear stories of people who don't base their whole lives and the understanding of the world they live in around the concept of pleasing Jesus, and they are downright distraught and frightened by this concept.
This, dear friends, is exactly why the concept of the "Flying Spaghetti Monster" was created. This is something that is incredibly important as a teaching tool, and I believe that the concept of the "Flying Spaghetti Monster" should seriously be taught in all public schools from an early age. The point of it is: imagine a "religious" concept so ludicrous and contrary to what you are willing to accept, and pretend that people actually believe in it. Now, if you want to enact any kind of religion-based public policy, imagine how it applies to the those who believe in the "Flying Spaghetti Monster" as strongly as they believe in whatever it is they believe in (Jesus, for example).
If you want to teach a Christian creation mythology in science, you must also teach the creation mythology of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Same with giving monetary funds to Christian organizations, funds that must also be given to followers of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Basically, EVERYTHING that any government official ever proposes in relation to ANY religion must pass the Flying Spaghetti Monster test. If you are not willing to grant the real possibility that the Flying Spaghetti Monster must be included in any and all of your proposals for public policy, then your proposals are inherently flawed and must be abandoned.
If you read up the history of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and it's invocation in public discourse, it becomes immediately obvious that American fundamentalists simply do not understand what the point of it is, and dismiss it outright as ridiculous. It is FAR from ridiculous. It is FAR from being a joke. In my opinion, it is one of the most important, illustrative examples of logical, political, and religious thinking that has ever been thought up, and more people need to become aware of it (and be touched by His noodly appendage).
Labels: flying spaghetti monster religion church state
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Quick Commentary on Dieting and Exercise
Diets in themselves are not necessarily bad. People just need to take them for what they are, a way to lose weight rather quickly. However, if you don't have a plan in place to transition from the diet into a healthy lifestyle of course you'll gain the weight back. This isn't because the diet didn't work, it's because you got off the diet and went back to doing the same thing you did to gain all the weight in the first place.
Diet = short term quick weight loss solution, it's not a sustainable way of eating
btw...want real results?
1) Go on a high protein diet (.9g protein/lbs of body weight)
2) Lift weights...FREE WEIGHTS...no machines
- Squats, Deadlifts, Bench; 1 per week; 3 sets and 5 reps
- Squats, Rows and Military Presses; 1 per week; 3 set and 5 reps
- Do not add weight until you have good form
- Once you have good form, increase weight each time while making sure you can still complete your 3x5 with good form
3) 30 minutes of cardio 3 times a week (treadmill is best as it uses your overweight status to your advantage)
4) Drink lots of water
5) Get 8 hours of sleep
You'll feel like a changed human in 3 months, I guarantee it!
You obviously are unlikely to stay on the above program longterm so plan on transitioning to a more normal lifestyle at some point. You can maintain your new body with much less work but be warned, if you just stop lifting, stop cardio and eat junk food you're old body will be back in a flash!!!
Diet = short term quick weight loss solution, it's not a sustainable way of eating
btw...want real results?
1) Go on a high protein diet (.9g protein/lbs of body weight)
2) Lift weights...FREE WEIGHTS...no machines
- Squats, Deadlifts, Bench; 1 per week; 3 sets and 5 reps
- Squats, Rows and Military Presses; 1 per week; 3 set and 5 reps
- Do not add weight until you have good form
- Once you have good form, increase weight each time while making sure you can still complete your 3x5 with good form
3) 30 minutes of cardio 3 times a week (treadmill is best as it uses your overweight status to your advantage)
4) Drink lots of water
5) Get 8 hours of sleep
You'll feel like a changed human in 3 months, I guarantee it!
You obviously are unlikely to stay on the above program longterm so plan on transitioning to a more normal lifestyle at some point. You can maintain your new body with much less work but be warned, if you just stop lifting, stop cardio and eat junk food you're old body will be back in a flash!!!
