Now here is a chart to help decide which religion is right for you.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Abusing Our Call
As many thoughts from our past have well stated that human beings are the measurement all of things. We are the greatest achievement of nature because we are a conscientious thinking machine. At such, we have been bestowed with gifts that place us at the top of hierarchical chain of all other beings, perhaps, with the only exception being God, that is, if God exist. Thus, at the top, we are in control of all other beings in this world of ours where all other living creatures are known to us as beast. These creatures, these beasts, are under our dominion since human beings are the only creature that possesses a reasoning-thinking brain. Hence, we find most normal to dictate our wills onto this so-call beast. So, we amuse ourselves through abusing the world because we incorrectly understood dominion as domination of other which really wasn’t its intentional meaning. Instead, we are in dominion, that is, we are in charge of taking care of or providing for all that it is in this world. We are to be care-giver or care-provider for this world. Thus, the above picture reflects how far we are from our true call of care-giver and provider for God's creation.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Good To Know That Stupidity Knows No Degree
One hopes that science is the one disciple not influence by racial superiority principle, i.e., certain racial groups are superior than another. However, this is a wishful thinking since many extermination of ethnical group has been done in name of science. The most prevalent is the idea of IQ difference among racial groups. Many people still believe that certain racial groups are intellectually more advance than another. The good thing is that most of these racial discrimination has been condemned both by the scientific and religious community. However, one racial discrimination which has not really been given lots of coverage is concerning beauty. And, this is quite evident that some racial minority groups accept that “white” is standard of beauty. The below publication supports such believe that to be beautiful one must be more closely alike in “white” physiology.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
50 Most Influential Rabbis According to Newsweek
The Rabbis
1. David Saperstein (2008 Ranking #5) Saperstein jumps to the top spot because of his role as Washington insider and political powerbroker and Friend of Obama. He is the Director of the Religious Action Center and the Co-Chair of the Coalition to Preserve Religious Liberty.
2. Marvin Hier (2008 Ranking #1) Hier is a major player in national and world politics and has built one of the world's leading human rights organizations, the Simon Wiesenthal Center.
3. Mark Charendoff (2008 Ranking #10) Charendoff is President of the Jewish Funders Network, an international organization of family foundations, public philanthropies and individual funders.
4. Yehuda Krinsky (2008 Ranking #4) Krinsky's impact continues to grow as the global leader of the Chabad movement.
5. David Ellenson, Ph.D. (2008 Ranking #8) Ellenson is charged with training tomorrow's leaders as the President of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, the nation's oldest institution of higher Jewish education.
6. Robert Wexler, Ph.D. (2008 Ranking #3) Wexler is the President of American Jewish University.
7. Shmuley Boteach(2008 Ranking #9) Boteach calls himself "America's Rabbi." He continues to promote himself and his perspective on his daily radio show, on television and in his long list of books, including the recently published "The Broken Male and How to Fix Him."
8. Eric Yoffie (2008 Ranking #2) Yoffie is the leader of the Reform movement, representing 1.5 million Jews in over 900 synagogues. He has pioneered dialogue programs with Christians and Muslims nationwide.
9. Uri D. Herscher, Ph.D. (2008 Ranking #6) Herscher is the Founder and President of the Skirball Cultural Center.
10. Irwin Kula (2008 Ranking #7) The Co-President of CLAL and bestselling author continues to raise his profile nationally as an innovator committed to reshaping America's spiritual landscape.
11. David Wolpe (2008 Ranking #12) Wolpe is considered one of the most dynamic pulpit rabbis in America
12. Peter J. Rubinstein (2008 Ranking #15) Rubinstein is the spiritual leader of New York's Central Synagogue.
13. Yehuda Berg (2008 Ranking #11) Berg is the world's most popular authority on the Kabbalah.
14. Norman Lamm (2008 Ranking #43) Lamm is Chancellor of Yeshiva University.
15. Joseph Telushkin (2008 Ranking #21) Telushkin is a best-selling author and speaker.
16. J. Rolando Matalon (2008 Ranking #13) Matalon is the spiritual leader of Congregation B'nai Jeshurun.
17. Menchem Genack (NEW) Genack is the CEO of the Orthodox Union's Kosher Division.
18. Ellen Weinberg Dreyfus (NEW) Dreyfus is the new head of the CCAR.
19. Jeffrey Wohlberg (2008 Ranking #18) Wohlberg is Rabbi at Washington, D.C.'s Adas Israel Congregation.
20. Steve Gutow (NEW) Gutow is the CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.
21. Harold M. Schulweis (2008 Ranking #19) Schulweis is considered the leading Conservative Rabbi of his generation and the Founder of Jewish World Watch.
22. Haskel Lookstein (2008 Ranking #22) Lookstein is head of New York's Ramaz School and Rabbi at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun.
23. Dan Ehrenkrantz (2008 Ranking #20) Ehrenkrantz is the President of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.
24. Michael Greenbaum (2008 Ranking #37) Greenbaum is Vice Chancellor and COO of the Jewish Theological Seminary.
25. Sharon Kleinbaum (2008 Ranking #17) Kleinbaum is the Senior Rabbi of New York's synagogue for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Jews.
26. M. Bruce Lustig (2008 Ranking #24) Lustig is the leader of Washington Hebrew Congregation, the largest congregation in Washington, D.C.
27. Art Green (2008 Ranking #23) Green is Dean of Hebrew College's Rabbinical School.
28. Daniel Brenner (NEW) Brenner is the new Executive Director of Birthright Next.
29. Abraham Cooper (2008 Ranking #25) Cooper is the Associate Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.
30. David Stern (2008 Ranking #26) Stern is leader of the largest congregation in the Southwest, Temple Emanu-El in Dallas
31. Sharon Brous (2008 Ranking #30) Brous is the founder of IKAR, one of America's most dynamic new congregations.
32. Stephen Pearce (2008 Ranking #47) Pearce is the leader of San Francisco's largest congregation, with 2,700 families.
33. Marc Schneier (Returning from 2007 List) Schneier is President and Founder of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding.
34. Kerry M. Olitzky (2008 Ranking #32) Olitzky is one of the leading rabbinical advocates for outreach to interfaith and unaffiliated families in America.
35. Ephraim Buchwald (2008 Ranking #44) Buchwald is the Founder of the National Jewish Outreach Program.
36. Arthur Schneier (2008 Ranking #28) Schneier is the spiritual leader of Park East Synagogue and Founder and President of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation. He is the first rabbi to host the Pope at his synagogue.
37. Mark Golub (NEW) Golub is the CEO of Shalom Television.
38. Avi Weiss (2008 Ranking #36) Weiss is the driving force behind the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale.
39. Naomi Levy (2008 Ranking #41) Levy is a popular author and a leading woman in the Conservative movement.
40. Bradley Shavit Artson (2008 Ranking #31) Artson is the Dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the American Jewish University.
41. Elliot Dorff (2008 Ranking #35) Dorff is the leader of the top lawmaking body in Conservative Judaism.
42. Bradley Hirschfield (2008 Ranking #39) Hirschfeld is the Co-President of CLAL and an outspoken proponent of interfaith dialogue.
43. Hayim Herring (2008 Ranking #40) Herring is Executive Director of STAR (Synagogues: Transformation and Renewal).
44. Ed Feinstein (NEW) Feinstein has taken Valley Beth Shalom to a whole new level.
45. Zalman Schachter-Shalomi (2008 Ranking #27) Schacter-Shalomi is Founder of the Jewish Renewal Movement in America.
46. Elie Kaunfer (NEW) Kaunfer is the Founder of Mechon Hadar and Kehilat Hadar.
47. Harold Loss (2008 Ranking #42) Loss has more than 12,000 members in his congregation at Temple Israel in Detroit, MI.
48. Jill Jacobs (NEW) Rabbi-in-Residence at the Jewish Funds for Justice.
49. Joy Levitt (NEW) Levitt is the Executive Director of the JCC of Manhattan.
50. Michael Paley (2008 Ranking #48) Paley is the scholar-in-residence and director of the Jewish Resource Center of the UJA-Federation of New York.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Roman Catholic Mad As A Bull
It is quite humorous to hear Archbishop John C. Favalora's comment that Father Alberto Cutie's action "caused a grave scandal within the Catholic Church." Honestly, the Roman Catholic has caused itself a greater grave scandal with all of its sexual abuse against children by its priests. In all seriousness has not the Roman Catholic caused itself enough grave scandal within and out of the Catholic Church? Does Father Alberto Cutie’s action, which is regrettable and wrong, a grave scandal in light of the Catholic Church sexual abuse against children by its priest? Father Alberto Cutie’s action seems to be just a very minor regrettable misjudgment but nothing like the true grave scandal of sexual abuse against children within the Catholic Church. With all honesty, Archbishop Favalora is just mad that “Father Oprah” is living them to the Episcopal Church. I am sure Father Oprah will add to the flock in the Episcopal Church and that is unacceptable for Favalora. But, the Catholic Church does that all the time by accepting Lutheran, Episcopalian, and other pastors into the Catholic Church. So, does that mean the non-Roman Catholic bodies need to take that as “a serious setback for ecumenical relations and cooperation between” Rome and other Christian bodies in this world? Favalora is just angry that he lost Father Oprah. I’m sure I would be upset to lose Father Oprah to my competition.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
The Wonderful Cross by Michael W. Smith
The Wonderful Cross
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My Richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride
See from His head His hands His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown
Oh the wonderful cross (2x)
Bids me come and die and find
that I may truly live
Oh the wonderful cross (2x)
All who gather here by grace
draw near and bless your name
Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an off'ring far too small
Love so amazing so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all
Oh the wonderful cross (2x)
Bids me come and die and find
that I may truly live
Oh the wonderful cross (2x)
All who gather here by grace
draw near and bless your name
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all
and the beauty and the shame
in the glory of His name
Oh the wonderful cross
Oh the wonderful cross (2x)
Bids me come and die and find
that I may truly live
Oh the wonderful cross (2x)
All who gather here by grace
draw near and bless your name
Monday, June 8, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
SPLC Sues Mississippi County to Stop 'Shocking' Abuse of Children at Detention Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center today filed a federal class action suit to stop the "shockingly inhumane" treatment of children at a juvenile detention center and to force officials to provide sanitary facilities and mental health treatment to young people confined there.
The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi on behalf of a 17-year-old boy who, despite attempting suicide while in the facility, has received no mental health treatment. He has been subjected to physical abuse and filthy conditions, and has been forced to sleep on the floor in an overcrowded, insect-infested cell.
The Harrison County Juvenile Detention Center in Biloxi, Miss., has been operated by a private corporation, the Mississippi Security Police, for more than nine years at an annual cost of $1.6 million.
"It is a travesty that the county has chosen to let a private company profit by neglecting and abusing our children," said Vanessa Carroll, a staff attorney for the SPLC's Mississippi Youth Justice Project and counsel for the children.
Most of the children confined at the facility have not been adjudicated guilty of any crime and are awaiting court hearings. Many are there for minor offenses and so-called "status offenses" like truancy.
The lawsuit describes how the county has failed to provide the most basic, constitutionally required services to the plaintiff, known in the suit as D.W.
"Toilets and walls are covered with mold, rust and excrement," the lawsuit says. "Insects have infested the facility, and the smell of human excrement permeates the entire building. Children frequently have to sleep on thin mats that smell of urine and mold. Defendants do not provide children with adequate personal hygiene items."
Children who have been confined there describe assaults by guards, being locked in their cells for 23 hours every day, inadequate medical and mental health care, and widespread infections caused by the filthy conditions.
Marlon, 17, said children are treated like animals at the facility. "I've seen the guards slam kids, mace them and do things they wouldn't even do to their own dog, let alone a human."
D.W. said he was abused even while on suicide watch after he had tried to hang himself with a bed sheet. "A guard choked me from behind and slammed me on the floor," he said. "While that guard held me down, another guard dropped his knee in my neck, slammed my face to the floor and then pushed my face into the concrete. I couldn't breathe."
Mississippi Protection and Advocacy Inc., a congressionally authorized nonprofit organization that enforces the civil rights of people with disabilities, is also a plaintiff in the suit. It is demanding access to the facility, to which it is entitled under federal law.
"This lawsuit demands that Harrison County ensure the safety of children in its custody," said co-counsel Sheila Bedi, SPLC's regional juvenile justice attorney. "But this lawsuit also gives the county a chance to reconsider investing $1.6 million a year in a private, for-profit prison company at the expense of our children. Perhaps now the county will recognize that investing in communities and families is a wiser use of taxpayer dollars."
The lawsuit seeks class action status to protect all children who are currently confined at the detention center as well as those who will be confined there in the future.
Please add your voice. We will send your message to the officials in Harrison County.
Contact us:
If you, your child or anyone you know has information about the Harrison County Juvenile Detention Center, please contact the SPLC's Mississippi Youth Justice Project at 601-594-0848 or toll free at 800-597-9583, or send an email .
"Ten Trillion and Counting" by Frontline
The journey begins as FRONTLINE correspondent Forrest Sawyer takes viewers to a secret location: the Treasury's debt auction room, where the U.S. government sells securities backed by the "full faith and credit of the United States." On this day, the government is auctioning $67 billion of Treasury securities. The money borrowed will be used to fund services and programs that the government cannot pay for through tax revenues alone.
Why 10% is a lofty goal for the ELCA?
Beside the fact that I’m leaving the ELCA, okay, I’m just joking about my importance, well, partial joking since I’m planning to leave the ELCA by the end of this calendar year. Okay, I’m not naive, at least not enough, to assume that another mainline denomination has no issue concerning race, gender and sexuality. They all have problems. However, the ELCA makes any major mainline denomination look diverse. Honestly, even the PCUSA looks multi-ethnical because of the ELCA. Yes, they are lots of good people in the ELCA and lots of wonderful minority ministers trying to make the ELCA more diverse. However, as long as the ELCA is a staunch defender of the gringo/a gospel, the ELCA will be gringo/a in its core. Bishop Hanson, if you ever come across this blog, I want you to know that condemning racism is wonderful, but such condemnation is hardly of any great value when the ELCA is still, after more than two decades, hovering just below the three percent mark in minority membership. It took the ELCA about two decades to move more 1.6 percent to 2.7 percent in minority membership. Bravo! Perhaps, in another two decades, the ELCA can be around 4 percent. Well, in total honesty, it will take more than learning a few cute phrases in Spanish or another foreign language to reach out. Granted that it would be a good idea for us, who don’t speak English, to learn it. I’m guilty of it. Perhaps, that would help in the area of communication, which is a good thing since forward movement begins with good communication. However, it is important to remember that having good communication means merely that there is talking going on. But, as most of us are well aware of that old saying: “Talk is cheap!” Yes, it is cheap to talk. So, please begin by really forcing the issue to the front burner. Force large and wealth congregations to see their own discrimination against minority ordained ministers as senior pastors. Honestly, I do hope the ELCA stops its own self inflicted bleeding and begins to live its own motto: “Semper Reformanda!” I do hope this is soon.
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