I just saw this diary on Daily Kos. It is taking me a while to learn the ins and outs of the place, but one thing I know is that if a diary does not get a bunch of "recommends" pretty quicky, it becomes very hard to find. And I think it's pretty neat, so I'd like it to be seen by more people. A creation story for evolutionists Perhaps.... ...the beginning, God was no size at all.  Because there was no Space.  And no age at all, because there was no Time. God just was. And perhaps God was lonely -- and did something extraordinary. Perhaps God grew. And when God grew, Time and Space exploded into being. Stuff at colossal temperatures shot outwards, clumping into clouds of burning gas and splashes of red hot liquid.  Suddenly God was everywhere, because there was everywhere to be. And God called Time and Space her Universe. Click the title link for the rest.

On January 1, 2002,  I dutifully dragged my sleepy self out of bed, bundled up, and drove to our local Unity church for a 7 a.m. global meditation for healing. Unity was one of the many stops on my spiritual journey, and it's where I happened to be in the wake of 9/11. Feeling a profound need to help "heal the world" in any way I could, I decided, "It couldn't hurt", therefore I have to give it a shot. When I came back, I announced to family that I had been out "saving the world before breakfast"--my own takeoff on the Powerpuff Girls' "Saving the world before bedtime" (TM). Even though I decided long ago that a lot of what people at that church believed was too "woo woo" for me, I still hold to the possibility that meditation and visualization can bring about real change. So this year, once again, I think I will ring in the new year by joining people around the world and meditating on peace. This time, I'll do it from the comfort of my own home, though. ;-) Anyone else ever do anything like this? I'm trying to find any links about it. Here's what I've found so far: Join us on the inner planes to call forth the Spirit of Peace to assist humanity in creating worldwide peace.   Friday,  December 31, 2004 at 11:55 PM through Saturday, January 1, 2005 at 12:05 AM (Your Time) http://www.orindaben.com/home/wwmeditationpeace.htm New Year's Eve World Peace Meditation December 31 2004, 6:00 am–December 31 2004, 7:00 am http://www.unityhouston.org/events/21 If nothing else, it can't help but be a good thing if a lot of us take a little time out this weekend to "think peace."

I've been to the Cobb/LaMarche site plenty of times to check for updates on the recount situation, but just recently I decided to see, "Okay, what does the Green Party stand for?" Someone at our church meeting a couple weeks ago commented that she'd decided after this election that (paraphrased) supporting the lesser of two evils isn't something she can do any more. So she got online to read the platforms of the different parties, and, based on what she'd read, she was joining the Green Party. So I did some poking around the site, and found this: Ten Key Values There is no authoritative version of the Ten Key Values of the Greens. The Ten Key Values are guiding principles that are adapted and defined to fit each state and local chapter. The version you see here was ratified at a national Green Party convention in Colorado in 2000. Read them over and see how many you agree with. 1. Grassroots Democracy 2. Social Justice and Equal Opportunity 3. Ecological Wisdom 4. Non-Violence 5. Decentralization 6. Community-Based Economics and Economic Justice 7. Feminism and Gender Equity 8. Respect for Diversity 9. Personal and Global Responsibility 10. Future Focus and Sustainability Wow--I almost wept when I read those. Yeah, I know...it would never play in the red states. ...or would it? "Vote Green--it's how Jesus would vote!"

51 Capital March I haven't posted here as much lately due to a combination of work schedule, the impending holiday season, life (you know, that which happens to you while you're busy making other plans.) Much of my spare time has been devoted to my new blog, Ohio Counts. I figure it makes sense to devote the bulk of my blogging time to this issue in the short term, because this is a time-sensitive issue. If you want to find out more about the voting irregularities in Ohio, the public hearings that have taken place, and the impending recount, I've been updating this web site with all the relevant articles I can find. There is a big, national event tomorrow, which many of you may not have heard about. So, as a public service announcement: 51 Capital March On December 12th 2004 at 12 noon, before the steps of your State Capitol and the Federal Capitol, join with us to protest the theft of our votes and our voting rights in the 2004 election. As citizens, it is our duty to protect those basic rights that insure the survival of our democracy and constitution for present and future generations of Americans. Egregious infringements of our voting rights occurred in the 2004 election: our voting systems were compromised and our votes violated. The line was crossed: we no longer trust our voting systems. Click here for more. And, if you're interested, you can find my account of the Jesse Jackson rally in Columbus here and here.

Better late than never--today is St. Nicholas Day. We have some friends who celebrate St. Nicholas Day instead of Christmas, and on Christmas they "give back" by working at a soup kitchen or something. That always struck me as a really neat way to handle the holidays, but there are probably about a dozen or so reasons why that would not work with our families. But anyway, I'll make with some links now... How to Celebrate Saint Nicholas Day (from EHow) Wikipedia page on St. Nicholas (notice his almost complete lack of physical resemblance to Santa Claus) St. Nicholas Day legends and recipes

Just a reminder from the folks at Adbusters that today is Buy Nothing Day For 24 hours, millions of people around the world do not participate -- in the doomsday economy, the marketing mind-games, and the frantic consumer-binge that's become our culture. We pause. We make a small choice not to shop. We shrink our footprint and gain some calm. Together we say to Exxon, Nike, Coke and the rest: enough is enough. And we help build this movement to rethink our unsustainable course.

A 20/20 "Expose" on Matthew Shepard's murder is scheduled to air on ABC tomorrow night, November 26. The web site "Boycott for Matthew" reports In a press release promoting the show, ABC promised "surprising revelations, including Laramie's underground world of methamphetamine use that may have contributed to the crime and whether or not Shepard knew his killers." The following is a statement from Matthew's parents about the upcoming program On November 9, ABC-TV announced their intention to air a report on the hate crime and murder of our son, Matthew. The ABC press release was sensationalistic in nature and its implications have caused many of us to be concerned. As a reputable news magazine show, 20/20 has an obligation to its viewers to present fair and truthful reporting, regardless of the subject matter. Based on the problematic wording of their press release, it appears that 20/20 may have strayed from this policy in the interest of strong ratings. We appreciate everyone’s concern. We will be issuing a more complete statement following 20/20’s broadcast. ABC News did not return repeated requests for an advance copy of the program. Here is GLAAD's viewer's guide, explaining some of their concerns and questions about the program. Visit Boycott for Matthew if you are offended by this program and would like to respond.

In my last post, I mentioned the Institute for Servant Leadership. I really recommend checking out the site. I first heard of the idea of Servant Leadership when I read the review of Bennett Sims' book, Why Bush Must Go. I believe this concept of leadership needs more attention and contemplation... What is Servant Leadership? Servant Leadership seeks alignment with the primal human view that the cosmos is Ensouled and responds to Love as the abiding Power in all relationships. This perception translates into a contemporary relationship with the earth that sees humanity as in the earth, not on it. Thus humans are Creation' s ensoulment become visible and responsible, making the soul of education in Servant Leadership an education of the Soul. Servant Leadership functions from trust in Love as the energy to overcome the Fear that distorts leadership into the struggle for domination, vengeance and control. Repressive power in any system eventuates in violence --from such milder forms as passivity, quitting the company or, in the case of children, running from home --to the fiercer forms of violence as smoldering non-compliance, strikes, mutiny, armed rebellion or the horrors of genocide. In a world become too small for violence, power has no acceptable moral purpose except for empowerment to participate in power --in freedom and dignity. Where freedom is the context of any form of human organization members at all levels are harnessed to a loftier goal than competitive personal gain. The high purpose in servant-led systems --families, schools, businesses and nations --is the inclusion of all its members in proportional responsibility for decision-making and the success of the system. Organizations so aimed will be enlargers of life for their people. We believe that there is nothing optional about Servanthood as an approach to life. It represents the way the world must go if humanity is to pass successfully through the sea-change of planetary evolution that marks our time.

This morning, when I saw a blog comment from someone who had a hard time going to church any more, I realized that I hadn't plugged The Center for Progressive Christianity for a while. I remember how excited I was to discover that there was a Christian organization that was so inclusive and open to questioning. Here are the 8 points that describe progressive Christianity, according to this group. Anyway, I realize that there are probably a lot of people out there who are struggling with churches that don't reflect their values, so this might be a good time to point out their search page. If you can't find a progressive church in your area, you can try searching for progressive individuals in your area. I also recommend checking out their links page. Some interesting sites I hadn't heard of before, like the Institute for Servant Leadership. Their annual conference sounds so inviting: Emerging Communities of Hope: Conversations, Community and Transformation. Wish I could make it to Atlanta to hear Marcus Borg on that topic. Borg is so gentle and hopeful--I sure could use some of that about now.

Regina Sewell penned this imaginary letter from Mother Earth... Dear children, Most of you presidents, prime ministers and other leaders have been acting like school playground bullies, beating up countries that you perceive to be smaller and/or weaker in order to get their resources and fighting back to prove how tough you are. I’m sick of your silly squabbles over who has the best resources, the best land, and the best water. I have given you everything you need. There is plenty enough of everything to go around if you would all just share. Your greed is killing me. With your weapons of mass destruction, every military and terrorist attack ends up being an even greater assault on me. And just how do you think you are going to live if you manage to completely destroy me? I’ve tried to be patient, but I’ve had it up to here with you. Stop this fighting at once and go to your rooms! And don’t even think about taking your game boys, walkmans, cell phones, TV sets or anything to play with while you’re in there. This is serious punishment. And the rest of you stop smirking. You’re in trouble, too. As a group, you put them in power and have supported their destructive decisions. Many of you have even benefited by the gains of war. At this level, most of you share a portion of the blame. Don’t you dare roll your eyes at me. The damage you have inflicted on me with your silly conflicts is serious. You have probably either forgotten or ignored the impact of your actions or inactions, so I’ve written a list of some of the most blatant recent atrocities to refresh your memory and hopefully stimulate your conscience. Click here to read the rest

Riverbend's latest. Maybe if I keep reading these, I can become numb to them. Because, what can I do? The election is over. We American have apparently said this is cool with us. Now what? They killed a wounded man. It's hard to believe. They killed a man who was completely helpless- like he was some sort of diseased animal. I had read the articles and heard the stories of this happening before- wounded civilians being thrown on the side of the road or shot in cold blood- but to see it happening on television is something else- it makes me crazy with anger. And what will happen now? A criminal investigation against a single Marine who did the shooting? Just like what happened with the Abu Ghraib atrocities? A couple of people will be blamed and the whole thing will be buried under the rubble of idiotic military psychologists, defense analysts, Pentagon officials and spokespeople and it will be forgotten. In the end, all anyone will remember is that a single Marine shot and killed a single Iraqi 'insurgent' and it won't matter anymore. It's typical American technique- every single atrocity is lost and covered up by blaming a specific person and getting it over with. What people don't understand is that the whole military is infested with these psychopaths. In this last year we've seen murderers, torturers and xenophobes running around in tanks and guns. I don't care what does it: I don't care if it's the tension, the fear, the 'enemy'… it's murder. We are occupied by murderers. We're under the same pressure, as Iraqis, except that we weren't trained for this situation, and yet we're all expected to be benevolent and understanding and, above all, grateful. I'm feeling sick, depressed and frightened. I don't know what to say anymore… they aren't humans and they don't deserve any compassion. So why is the world so obsessed with beheadings? How is this so very different? The difference is that the people who are doing the beheadings are extremists… the people slaughtering Iraqis- torturing in prisons and shooting wounded prisoners- are "American Heroes". Congratulations, you must be so proud of yourselves today.

From the newest post on Baghdad Burning. G-d, I just wish I could make it better. I wish we could find some way to heal the world... Murder... People in Falloojeh are being murdered. The stories coming back are horrifying. People being shot in cold blood in the streets and being buried under tons of concrete and iron... where is the world? Bury Arafat and hurry up and pay attention to what's happening in Iraq. They say the people have nothing to eat. No produce is going into the city and the water has been cut off for days and days. Do you know what it's like to have no clean water??? People are drinking contaminated water and coming down with diarrhoea and other diseases. There are corpses in the street because no one can risk leaving their home to bury people. Families are burying children and parents in the gardens of their homes. WHERE IS EVERYONE???

Disenfranchised in the Buckeye State I know this isn't a usual topic of discussion, but I think it's important--and it's very Matthew 25. Look at some of what Bob Fitrakis wrote about voting in Columbus: It all seemed personal. There was a real sense among the poor and minority voters that they were making history. One older African American man quietly sang to himself “Ain’t gonna turn me around, turn me ’round…” When I decided to vote myself at 3pm when there was the shortest line of the day, I found myself between Mr. Young, an older African American man, who’d left earlier because of the osteoarthritis in his hip. He had returned with a folding chair in high spirits, proclaim in to all who could hear that he was willing to wait all night to vote. On the other side of me was Mrs. Meredith, a youthful-looking 80, who softly told me that she was there to vote for Mr. Kerry because she had lost two relatives, including a brother in World War II. “I don’t like war,” she said. Nor did the elderly African American woman like the party-like atmosphere that had broken out at the Model Neighborhood facility because she felt it wasn’t dignified. Still, the election judges didn’t seem to mind the fact that people had ordered in pizza for the wait that lasted more than three hours at various times in the day. The wealthier white people who had recently filtered in to the gentrified neighborhood kept showing up with free pop, juice and food for those waiting inside. The neighborhood known for its tension, captured in a PBS documentary, between traditional black residents and newly arriving white, many of them gay, suddenly were all working together. It was true. President Bush was a “uniter, not a divider.” The neighborhood was at the height of its solidarity as blacks and whites expressed their joy in voting against Bush. One white male wore a tie dyed peace sign shirt with the words “Recovering Bystander.” One woman left happy that Bush would soon be homeless like of her former neighbors. An hour and 35 minutes later I quickly cast my ballot with the “five minute voting rule” imposed by the presiding judge. Over in the much poorer Ward 5 at the Hope Lutheran Church reported the average wait to be three hours and thirty-five minutes at 3:30 in the afternoon, but reported a steadfast calm and an attitude that the people in line had expected a long wait. The Republican and Democratic challengers appeared to be getting along quite well, as rumors circulated that Republican Governor Robert Taft had instructed the controversial Republican poll challengers to go easy on challenges. At two other Ward 5 polls, Free Press staffers reported frightened Republican poll challengers who had little stomach to directly challenge the overwhelmingly and determined throngs of voters. Please take a few moments to find out the latest on the counting of provisional ballots in Ohio and our Secretary of State's less than above board behavior. I have a diary about this at Kos, and you can check here to find out about the public hearings that are coming up in Ohio.

From the PBS Religion and Ethics Newsweekly Multifaith Calendar November 12 Diwali (Deepavali) is perhaps the most popular Hindu festival. Known as the Festival of Lights, it is dedicate to the Goddess Kali in Bengal and to Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth, in the rest of India. As with several festivals, Diwali is associated with one of the stories about the destruction of evil by Vishnu in one of his many manifestations.

Yesterday I wrote of my sadness at learning that my friend Kimmy's sister Christy had died. Her story can be seen here. Yesterday I wrote that I wanted to be able to do something tangible and proactive in response to this tragedy. This is a small thing, but it is still something. I am adding a link to www.stophospitalinfections.org to my web sites. It would mean a lot to me, and to Kimmy and her family, if other web site and bloggers who (feel so inclined) would do the same.

This week I feel struck dumb...at a complete loss for words. My emotions have riquocheted from numb to enraged to depressed, and back to numb again. I am grateful that bloggers at The Village Gate and elsewhere are able to write articulate, thoughtful posts at this important time. There have been a series of painful blows this week, but the one that really knocked the wind out of me was learning that Kimmy Cash's sister Christy passed away this morning. And, after I learned the news at the end of my lunch hour, I continued my work day with a deep ache at the center of my being--but one that I couldn't even hope to explain to anyone. How could I possibly explain to anyone in my "real life" (other than a few close family members) the profound grief I am feeling right now for a family I have never met in person? But the world wide web is aptly named--its threads connect human lives all over the planet, and we become bound up in each other's joys, frustrations, and sorrows. "Invisible lines of connection" as Rabbi Lawrence Kushner has called them. I want to do something tangible and healing and proactive in response to this. I don't know what, just yet. But I wanted to begin to explain why this is important. If you have not read about young Christy's baffling illness and months-long hospital ordeal, it is all here. And if you wish to share a prayer or some words of sympathy, you can do so here.

This year, election day coincides with a religious/cultural holiday. For some, it is the Day of the Dead (or Dia de los Muertos ). Others call it All Souls Day. Rev. Richard W. Kelley said of All Souls' Day, This is the time for honoring our beloved dead who are not famed in story and legend, in song and scripture. You might say, it is an occasion for honoring the "little people", the "ordinary people" of Earth's past. It's a time for remembering with respect and affection all those people, now dead, whose lives are intertwined with ours in ways both known and unknown. For there is a large element of the unknown here -- unknown influences and unknown personalities -- that go into the fulfilling of our lives in every moment. And All Souls' Day is the intentional occasion for reminding ourselves of the importance of the lesser people of our human past. I like that line--"remembering with respect and affection all those people, now dead, whose lives are intertwined with ours in ways both known and unknown." I think no matter what your theology, there is value in remembering. And as we go to cast our votes tomorrow here are some of the souls that will be with us in our hearts, because their lives were intertwined with ours--directly or indirectly, in the recent or the distant past... The women who endured imprisonment and beatings so that all women could have the right to vote Activists who risked and sometimes lost their lives in the effort to end disenfranchisement due to "Jim Crow" laws Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Eleanor Roosevelt Paul Wellstone Charlie Dean, brother of Governor Howard Dean John Lennon Mother Teresa More as I think of them, or as you suggest them.

The second half of this web page has links to some of the online resources I am aware of--a variety of prayer and meditations sites, web pages where you can light a virtual candle for your intention, and prayer request sites. If you know of other such sites that would be good to link to, my e-mail address is on that page. Or you can leave a comment here.

Some quotes for All Saints Day All Saints Day: Quotes, Resources, and a Teaching Story "For centuries the church has confronted the human community with role models of greatness. We call them saints when what we really often mean to say is 'icon,' 'star,' 'hero,' ones so possessed by an internal vision of divine goodness that they give us a glimpse of the face of God in the center of the human. They give us a taste of the possibilities of greatness in ourselves." — Joan D. Chittister in A Passion for Life "I am reminded of the biblical use of the term saint in the book of Acts. That it applies to each of us. All who are attempting to imitate the Christ in their lives merit the title of 'saint.' Some do it more fully than others and are willing to let go of more to get the job done." — Matthew Fox in Confessions "All of the places of our lives are sanctuaries; some of them just happen to have steeples. And all of the people in our lives are saints; it is just that some of them have day jobs and most will never have feast days named for them." — Robert Benson in Between the Dreaming and the Coming True "The challenge of the saints of the twenty-first century is to begin again to comprehend the sacred in the ten thousand things of our world; to reverence what we have come to view as ordinary and devoid of spirit." — Edward Hays in Secular Sanctity "Keep in mind that our community is not composed of those who are already saints, but of those who are trying to become saints. Therefore let us be extremely patient with each other's faults and failures." — Mother Teresa quoted in No Greater Love edited by Becky Benenate and Joseph Durepos

I try to share these things, just because I see the value in better acquainting ourselves with the whole range of religious traditions in the United States. But for holidays like Samhain, about which I know next to nothing, it seems safest just to post the information I've found without comment, and provide links that people can explore. If you are knowledgeable about this holiday and its traditions, by all means, share that with us in the comments. Samhain (or Samhuinn) is pronounced "sow-in" (with "sow" rhyming with "cow"). It formed the dividing day between years. It was a time that was neither in this year or the next. --- Most modern day Wiccans and Druids have attempted to reconstruct as accurately as possible, Celtic beliefs, rituals, and other practices. A Wiccan, or other Neopagan, may celebrate the Sabbat alone, as a solitary practitioner. Or they might gather with others in a coven, which typically might include 6 or more adults. A typical celebration of Samhain might involve: Scheduling the celebration to a day near October 31. Wiccans often avoid Halloween, because of the interruptions from "trick or treaters." Decorating their altar with autumn flowers, pine-cones, small pumpkins, decorative gourds, etc. Ritual purification of each participant; they take a solitary bath. Casting (creating) a sacred circle within which their ceremonies are conducted. The circle is usually marked with four candles of various colors aligned at the four cardinal directions. The purpose of the circle is to confine the Wiccans' healing powers within it. It is not created to provide protection against demonic powers as some Cowans (non-Wiccans) have suggested. Performing rituals of divination to predict the future. This may involve tarot cards, runes, I Ching, etc. Performing rituals to contact loved ones who have died. ''There is a recognition of our close ties with our ancestors and a recognition that the veils between the worlds are thin at this time of year." They do not perform séances, as do Spiritualists. They do not summon or order back the dead. "They do, however, believe that, if the dead themselves wish it, they will return at the Sabbat to share in the love and celebration of the occasion." More information here: The Celtic New Year Samhain (from CelticSpirit.org) Samhain (from the Witch's Voice)

George Eddey, with the Foundation for Contemporary Theology in Columbus, just passed along this article to me... AlterNet: God On Their Side If God is indeed up there - on a throne, in the clouds - then what He's watching is a wildly unbalanced game of Red Rover. The exuberant kids have all run to one side. The quiet kids, who used to have a pretty good team, are drifting away one by one. And the cool kids stand in a knot, making fun of the players. The cool kids, a small but increasing minority, profess no religion at all. They're mainly pro-Kerry Democrats.The exuberant team, the evangelical Christians, is growing so fast, and in such determinedly political ways, that they've tipped the country Republican. They're also boosting traditionalist attitudes toward religion within the party. And the big loser, the team whose members are walking off the field? Mainline Protestantism, the calm, reasoned faith that shaped this country from its colonial beginnings through the 1960s. Its liberal clergy pushed hard for social reforms, economic equality and civil rights. Its members, who used to be the northeastern sort of Republicans, are increasingly Democratic, more comfortable with John Kerry's style than George Bush's.

Christy has been in the Intensive Care Unit at a hospital in Dallas since the end of July. There have been ups and downs, but her condition is especially grave tonight. I won't mince words, here. I am asking God for a full fledged, honest-to-goodness miracle. Of Biblical proportions, even. I do believe miracles can happen--I don't know how often, or if one is forthcoming in this instance. Please join me. Right now I want for Christy, her parents, and sisters to be enfolded in a loving, healing mantle of prayer. If you have a favorite prayer, of just some words of care and support to share, please post here.

This website is streaming Michael Moore's film Fahrenheit 9/11 until Nov. 3rd. Scroll to the bottom. http://www.rocksaladradio.com/ On Michael Moore's web site, this page lists theaters that are offering "FAHRENHEIT FOR FREE" on October 26.

I first heard about George Lakoff over a year ago from Allen Brill. At the time, his name did not seem to be too widely known. All that has certainly changed--especially among the more more liberal "Internets". This is a Very Good Thing, because Democrats have been losing in the court of public opinion for too long--when we should be winning. George Lakoff's latest book is called Don't Think of an Elephant! Know Your Values and Frame the Debate. He will be discussing it at Blog for America (the blog of Democracy for America) this evening at 7:15 Eastern. This is part of the Fall Blog Book Club--click this link to learn more, and to sign up to participate.

This is from Jim Wallis of Sojourners: Because of a deep and growing concern about an emerging "theology of war" in the White House, the increasingly frequent language of "righteous empire," and official claims of "divine appointment" for a nation and president in the "war" on terrorism, I have joined with several theologians and ethicists in writing the following statement. A climate in which violence is too easily accepted, and the roles of God, church, and nation too easily confused calls for a new "confession" of Christ. The statement names five key points of Jesus' teachings, while rejecting false teachings that nullify his message. It has been signed by more than 200 theologians and ethicists - many of them from theologically conservative seminaries and Christian colleges. We share it with you and ask that you send it to friends and present it to your churches if you resonate with its concerns and convictions. Click to read the confession

Rev. Barry Lynn on "America for Jesus" 'America For Jesus' Rally Pushes Religious Right Agenda, Says Americans United A collection of Religious Right groups is hosting an “America For Jesus Rally” in the nation’s capital today to advance a radical agenda and attack church-state separation, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The rally, a project of Virginia pastor John Gimenez and far-right group called American Veterans in Domestic Defense, has been portrayed as merely an opportunity to pray for the nation. There’s much more behind the event, Americans United says. The group notes that rally organizer Gimenez is a Religious Right stalwart and opponent of church-state separation. “Far from promoting ‘pro-family’ values, these groups are rallying for an officially Christian nation, a theocracy,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director. “They have contempt for our First Amendment and separation of church and state and seek a government that will promote their rigid theological views.” Gimenez, a longtime associate of TV preacher Pat Robertson, leads a mega-church in Virginia Beach called The Rock Church. He promoted the rally at the Christian Coalition’s “Road To Victory” conference in Washington, D.C., last month, proclaiming that “the righteous” must defeat their enemies for America to survive. Click here to read the rest.

Wow, the universe is really gorgeous, isn't it? As the election draws nearer, the sense of urgency grows ever more palpable. Yet it is not healthy to remain in a state of "high alert" for too long. That's why zebras don't get ulcers, and humans do. It's important to find time to pause and marvel at the beauty that is all around us. Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder Consider all the works thy hand hath made, I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed; Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

HoustonChronicle.com - Why abortion rate is up in Bush years This is interesting. It supports what I read in the article about pro-life progressives that was in Sojourners a few months ago. "I don’t think it’s an accident that the abortion rate went up under Reagan and Bush but went down under Clinton," she says. "We have to integrate parenthood and school or parenthood and work to relieve some of the social and economic pressures that make abortion feel like the only choice." The current article in the Houston Chronicle, notes the following: Under Bush, the decade-long trend of declining abortion rates appears to have reversed. Given the trends of the 1990s, 52,000 more abortions occurred in the United States in 2002 than would have been expected before this change of direction. The article, which was written by a pro-life Christian ethicist, connects the increase in abortion with Bush administration policies... Economic policy and abortion are not separate issues; they form one moral imperative. Rhetoric is hollow, mere tinkling brass, without health care, insurance, jobs, child care and a living wage. Pro-life in deed, not merely in word, means we need a president who will do something about jobs, health insurance and support for mothers.

Anglicans Criticize U.S. Church on Gays I only officially became Episcopalian this past March. To tell you the truth, one of the things that tipped the balance and prompted me to make it "official", was its consecration of Bishop V. Gene Robinson. I knew that the church was likely to be losing some members over this issue, so I liked the idea of expressing my appreciation for the open, inclusive stance the church had taken. Anyway, an official commission was created after Robinson's consecration, and it gave its report today. An Anglican church commission on Monday urged the U.S. Episcopal Church not to elect any more gay bishops and called on conservative African bishops to stop meddling in the affairs of other dioceses. The commission, created last year after the consecration of V. Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire, called for apologies from both sides, and for reconciliation among the world's Anglican churches. The immediate reaction, however, suggested no move toward reconciliation. The head of the Episcopal Church pointedly did not express regret for Robinson's elevation, drawing fresh denunciations from conservative opponents who believe the U.S. church has strayed from biblical truth. The report also urged the Canadian and American churches to refrain from blessing same-sex unions, arguing that North American liberals had breached "the proper restraints of the bonds of affection" among Anglicans. Read the rest of the article here. I don't really have any thoughts about this right now--I understand that it is a tricky balance trying to maintain church unity. I also remember hearing last year that the church in Africa was more conservative about sexual issues, in part because the missionaries had made such a deal about such issues--insisting that in order to convert, Africans had to give up polygamy. I tend to think that unity might prove impossible to maintain--or maybe the cost will be too high for some. I wonder about the Catholic church too--how many people are leaving, and how many splinter groups are forming due to the rigid stance of the church on certain issues.

Last night I was watching a video called Full Circle, which is about women's spirituality, with a fair amount of attention devoted to earth-based religions. Two of the women who speak on the video are Charlene Spretnak, whose book Missing Mary I have sort of been reading for about a month now, and Starhawk, the well known Wiccan activist. Since I hadn't checked in on her web site for a while, this reminded me to do so, and see what's new. I found this essay about the election: Be the Wind: On the Upcoming Elections One of the more authentic, well written defenses of voting for Kerry as a progressive, with eyes wide open, that I have seen... I've heard it said that "the lesser of two evils is still an evil." Kerry does not perfectly represent my vision for the world, or the policies I would like to see implemented. I don't expect that any candidate for President will, under the current system which is so driven by money and corporate influence. But Kerry does represent change, a refusal to give the current evil a mandate. And here let me quote my brother, Mark Simos, who wrote to me saying: "I'm choosing to focus on these messages: that voting for change right now will send the most powerful possible message to the world, that Americans still have a conscience; that we are not completely controlled by our media spinmeisters; that the mechanisms of democracy are, somehow, still intact if compromised on all sides; that we hold our leaders accountable for the consequences of their policies, even if they themselves refuse to do so; that we are capable of getting out of denial about realities on the ground, instead of "changing the facts to suit our position"; and that we are fundamentally committed to finding more just ways of exercising leadership in the post 9/11 world. In other words, the act of change itself will open doors to new alternatives hard to envision right now.'

Lots of neat quotes on this page--it keeps showing up in searches when I am looking for various types of uplifting quotes Spirituality and Mysticism-- Quotes, Poems and Wisdom for Gardeners. Here is just one of them: There are sacred moments in life when we experience in rational and very direct ways that separation, the boundary between ourselves and other people and between ourselves and Nature, is illusion. Oneness is reality. We can experience that stasis is illusory and that reality is continual flux and change on very subtle and also on gross levels of perception . . . - Charlene Spretnak

And now for something completely different...Bodhi Tree Creations (Buddhist humor)

Today is the first day of the month of Ramadan.

I don't often think of the words "adorable" and "archbishop" as going together, but, dang, this man is adorable! I can't think of many people of his public stature who could use words like "boo boo" and "tummy" in interviews. Yet he speaks powerfully about issues of oppression and injustice, and continues to call America to live up to its ideals as a democracy. My first night in Guantánamo Desmond Tutu is taking his off-Broadway debut in his stride. "I'm just waiting for my Tony nominations now," he says from his New York hotel. Tutu, 72, is relaxing for a few minutes after two well-received performances in Guantánamo: Honour Bound to Defend Freedom. Then he is on his way to Rochester, Chicago, Philadelphia and back home. Guantánamo, written by Gillian Slovo and former Guardian journalist Victoria Brittain, is a documentary-drama based on the transcripts of interviews with those detained at the American military base in Cuba. Tutu was asked by Slovo if he would perform the role of Lord Justice Steyn, a law lord who delivers a damning judgment on the American abuse of human rights at Guantánamo. So Tutu brought forward his trip to America to accommodate his performances at the Culture Project in Greenwich Village. ... The fact that this is not a regular war, he says, does not mean the west can lower its standards of justice. "For me, the shattering thing is discovering how there is a sense of deja vu because this was exactly the kind of argument that the South African apartheid government used to make. We asked, why do you detain people without trial? Why do you ban people? Why do you put people under house arrest without the benefit of due process? And they would say: security of the state. "You see, they have decided ahead of time that these are terrorists. The whole point of democracy is the recognition that there are rights which you cannot cancel out even when someone is a prisoner. The treatment meted out to these people, is torture. And if they had to appear before our Truth and Reconciliation, Commission we'd have said that the administration is guilty of gross violation of human rights." ... Finally, Tutu's comments about his performance: How did he go down in the role of Lord Steyn? The archbishop launches into that great, irrepressible hyena laugh. "Well, I myself had considerable butterflies in the pit of my tummy, but there's hardly any acting, really. The actors just come in and sit down and speak. And people were very nice. "When I walked on stage on Saturday, they thought they should give me a standing ovation. And at the end they didn't throw any tomatoes. They thought: that poor guy, let's give him another standing ovation. They are nice to old, decrepit men."

I just saw this headline among those in the "Christian Right" newsfeed on The Village Gate: 'America for Jesus' Plans Major Pre-Election Prayer Event Christians from all over the U.S. are being encouraged to head to the National Mall in Washington, DC, later this month for an event focused on prayer and fasting for the nation. The October event is organized by Virginia-based "America for Jesus" and targets Christians who are concerned about the moral direction of America. In case you are wondering who these "America for Jesus" people are, here is their web site. What is America For Jesus? America’s soul is in peril. But God will yet intervene on her behalf, if His people will humble themselves and pray and seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways. For this purpose, He has called them to a solemn assembly on the Mall in Washington, DC, on October 22. This is the vision He has given John Gimenez. It is similar to the vision twenty-four years ago that resulted in Washington For Jesus. While the new gathering will benefit from the experience his team gained in that and subsequent events, it is entirely new. And America’s need has never been greater.

When I woke up this morning, I checked my e-mail, and was shocked and saddened to learn that Christopher Reeve had died. Apparently it was not sudden, but a pressure wound ( a common complication for people living with paralysis) had become infected, resulting in a serious systemic infection and heart failure. I remember reading about Christopher Reeve's spiritual journey a while back in Rosie magazine. The following is an excerpt from a sermon at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington: "My identity and self-esteem had always been based in the physical world." Reeve says. "I cherished health, athletics, travel, adventure. At first I couldn’t imagine living without those things. In an instant, paralysis created an indescribable void. Family, friends, and well-wishers from around the world assured me that prayers and my faith in God would comfort me. I tried to pray but I didn’t feel any better, nor did I make any kind of connection with God. I wondered what was wrong with me." He goes on, "Gradually I have come to believe that spirituality is found in the way we live our daily lives. It means spending time thinking about others. It’s not so hard to imagine that there is some kind of higher power. We don’t have to know what form it takes or exactly where it exists; just to honor it and try to live by it is enough. Because we are human we will often fail, but at least we know that we do not deserve to be punished. That knowledge makes us safe and willing to try again." "As these thoughts unfolded in the process of learning to live my new life, I had no idea that I was becoming a Unitarian. In my late forties faith and organized religion unexpectedly converged. Dana, Will and I attend services regularly, bringing along whichever nurse happens to be on duty. Sue Citarella, a lifelong practicing Catholic, has come with us a number of times and finds the welcoming, nonjudgmental atmosphere to be very rewarding. In the words of our minister, ‘We see our church as a place where people can truly be themselves, where honest doubt is not taken for heresy, and where the beliefs of the past and the present become the inspiration for future growth and discovery." In a profile of Christopher Reeve as a spritual hero, Mitch Horowitz writes: Today, Reeve holds a set of core beliefs that have emerged in his public statements since the time of his accident. They are: --a dogged certainty that the grace of something higher emerges when we muster the will to face our tragedies; --the belief that our minds wield a crucial measure of control over the health of our bodies; --and the principle that we have the potential to grow beyond what we are told is possible.

What Matthew Shepard Taught Us, by John Edwards This appeared in the Windy City Times: It was almost six years ago that we learned the name Matthew Shepherd. We might someday have learned about how this bright, kind and compassionate man contributed to our country. But we learned Matthew Shepard’s name because of the terrible way he was killed on Oct. 12, 1998. We still remember the fence where Matthew died. His brutal murder opened our country’s eyes to the hatred and violence that many gays and lesbians endure. Yet here we are, almost six years later, with a president who refuses to support legislation barring hate crimes based on sexual orientation. According to the FBI, crimes committed in 2002 due to bias based on sexual orientation represent 1 in 6 of reported hate-crime incidents. There were more than 1,200 incidents and 1500 victims in 2002 alone. John Kerry and I want an America that is stronger at home and more respected in the world. We know we cannot achieve that goal until we recognize that all Americans, including gays and lesbians, are part of the fabric of America’s family. And when it comes to family, we must protect each other. We must recognize that crimes against people because of their race, religion, or sexual orientation have no place in America. That is why John Kerry and I firmly support the bipartisan legislation that will add new protections against hate crimes motivated by the real or perceived sexual orientation of the victim. George Bush has said that this kind of legislation amounts to “special rights.” But there’s nothing special about the right to be free from hateful violence. In America, people ought to be able to take that right for granted. In Columbus, the Shepherd Initiative will hold its annual "Victims of Crimes Against Humanity" service on October 15.

Kevin posted the following on Lean Left back in March. Don't know how I didn't manage to find it until today--must have just been too wrapped up in myself to notice. ;-) I have a faith, too. Speaking of the Bush Administration Kerry asked: The scriptures say, what does it profit, my brother, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?" Kerry told the congregation at New North Side Baptist Church. "When we look at what is happening in America today, where are the works of compassion?" After describing Bush's predictable response (when my son was first verbal, his automatic response to anything he didn't want to hear was "Don't say that!". Bush is slightly more verbal than my son as a 2-year old, but the theme is the same) Kevin writes For far too long, the right wing has gulled the media and the country into thinking that its religion was the only acceptable face of Christianity. It has used the respect for all religions on the left as evidence of the left's irreligiosity. That has never been the case. The teachings of Jesus Christ are at the core of how millions define their support for liberal causes, myself included. John Kerry, with one small statement, has reminded the nation of that fact. Millions of us are liberal because of our religion. Millions of us are not represented by Opus Dei, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, James Dobson, or any of the other right wing talking heads the media turns to when it wants to "discuss" religion in this country. Antonin Scalia does not speak for all Catholics. And Kerry's statement is also a very Catholic statement. Catholics grow up immersed in the doctrine of works -- that faith alone will not save you, your own efforts are required. Catholic doctrine also highlights the biblical injunctions to aid your neighbors, and the defense of life and dignity throughout a person's entire time on this earth. Kerry, like so many of us, has merged those strands of theology into a world view that compels us to be liberals, in action and thought if not always in name. Kerry's statement shows a depth of understanding about Catholicism that a million of Karl Rove's carefully crafted photo-ops could never hope to discredit. Every Catholic who hears that speech will hear a little bit of their upbringing. The language of religion has always been spoken comfortably on the left, even if the principle of tolerance has caused it to occasionally be spoken too quietly. John Kerry is not speaking quietly now. Whatever George W. Bush may desire, whatever the editors of the Washington Post and New York Times may decree, Christianity and faith are not the property of the right wing. I have a faith, too, as does John Kerry and millions of others. It is strong, and sincere, and, as Kerry has reminded us, powerful. And in the face of provocation and distortion, it has no reason to be silent.

Today volneysimmons shared an e-mail she received from the American Family Association: Would you please print out the list of those U.S. Senators and Representatives who voted in favor of homosexual marriage and against the traditional one man, one woman marriage? Our goal is to have 20,000,000 of these distributed. Please make at least 20 copies and pass out to your friends, at church, at work, etc. Click here to print the list in pdf version Click here to print the list in Word.doc version Sincerely, Don Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman American Family Association P.S. Please forward this email to at least one friend. Hey, I'll do better than that. Don't know how many people are reading right now, but I know it's got to be more than one. The goal here is clearly to "punish" anyone who didn't vote to write discrimination into the Constitution. I find it terribly discouraging that Christians are being targeted by Republicans so shamelessly with this wedge issue. There is so much more to the same-sex marriage bans on the ballots than most people know. I've been posting articles about Ohio's Issue 1 in my diary at Daily Kos. It's a bad, far-reaching amendment that stands a good chance of passing because people voting on it don't know the whole story. So I would say yes, by all means take note of the names on this list. You might even want to write to them and thank them, not for "voting in favor of homosexual marriage", (wording that grossly misrepresents the vote), but for refusing to write discrimination into our country's Constitution.

Tomorrow is the Feast of the Holy Rosary. I have really wanted to post something about that, but it is disheartening sometimes how hard it is to find any rosary sites with a more progressive bent. I am sure they are out there. Charlene Spretnak, author of Missing Mary, describes herself as a "pro-Mary progressive", as does Andrew Greeley in his review of the book. Kathleen Norris, the Lutheran author of Amazing Grace, The Cloister Walk, and Dakota, has written about reclaiming Mary as a significant figure in her faith. She is poor yet gloriously rich. She is blessed among women yet condemned to witness her son's execution. She is human yet God-bearer, and the Word that she willingly bears is destined to pierce her soul. Had we a more elastic imagination, we might be less troubled by Mary's air of serene contradiction. But ours is a skeptical and divisive age. We are more comfortable with appraisal than with praise, more adept at cogent analysis than meaningful synthesis. Yet so much of what I find is quite conservative--overtly Republican, even. Our Lady of the Rosary Center for Peace actually has a Bush/Cheney 2004 banner on its home page. I know that would not come as much of a surprise to many people, but it does to me. Pray the rosary for peace (as the Blessed Mother is often portrayed as asking us to do) but then vote for this guy? Do we want to set this up as a challenge for God? Driving home a few days ago, I saw a house with a Bush/Cheney campaign sign, a "Support President Bush and Our Troops" sign, and a semi-circle of American flags surrounding a statue of the Virgin Mary. One of Mary's many names is "Queen of Peace". It just seemed so wrong. I had a brief, irrational urge to "rescue" that statue. Of course I didn't. But what I must do is stand with pro-Mary progressives like Charlene Spretnak in reclaiming Mary as a progressive--even "subversive" voice.

I found out about this in the comments at The Village Gate. The Kerry, Edwards prayer team web site is LIVE!!! visit us at www.keprayerteam.org Submit a prayer, blessing or petition Affirm, visualize and or light a candle God Bless you, keep the faith and enjoy! Mary Lottie (please help us pass the news and build our community) I checked, and it's pretty cool--obviously a lot of work went into it. Click here to visit the site.

My friend Kimmy just posted this in the Blog for America comments, and since tomorrow is the deadline for voter registration in many states (including Ohio) I thought it should be posted as many places as possible. Don't want anyone to miss the chance to vote because they didn't know. In most states, tomorrow (Monday, October 4th) is the last day to register to vote. For those of you who've yet to register, PLEASE make sure you do it tomorrow! And for those who've registered but not received anything back, make sure your registration went through properly. In order to do either of these things, call your local Board of Elections, and they can tell you exactly what you need to do. When calling these numbers, simply tell them you're looking to register or verify your registration. They should be able to help you do so. State Voter Registration Phone Numbers and Links ALABAMA Elections Division (334) 242-4337 http://www.sos.state.al.us/ ALASKA Division of Elections, Juneau, AK (907) 465-4611 http://www.gov.state.ak.us/ltgov/elections/homepage.html ARIZONA Election Services (602) 542-8683 http://www.sosaz.com/ ARKANSAS Election Department, Little Rock, AR (501) 682-3419 http://www.sosweb.state.ar.us/ CALIFORNIA Elections Division, Sacramento, CA (916) 657-2166 http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections.htm COLORADO Elections Center, Denver, CO (303) 894-2680 http://www.sos.state.co.us/ CONNECTICUT Elections Office, Hartford, CT (860) 509-6100 http://www.sots.state.ct.us/ DELAWARE Office of State Election Commissioner, Dover, DE (302) 739-4277 http://www.state.de.us/sos DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Board of Elections and Ethics, Washington, DC (202) 727-2525 http://www.dcboee.org FLORIDA Division of Elections, Tallahassee, FL (850) 245-6200 http://dos.state.fl.us GEORGIA Elections Division, Atlanta, GA (404) 656-2871 http://www.sos.state.ga.us/elections/default.htm HAWAII Elections Division, Honolulu, HI (808) 453-8683 http://www.hawaii.gov/elections/index.html IDAHO Office of Secretary of State for Elections, Boise, ID (208) 334-2300 http://www.idsos.state.id.us/elect/eleindex.htm ILLINOIS Board of Elections, Springfield, IL (217) 782-4141 http://www.elections.state.il.us/ INDIANA Election Division, Indianapolis, lN (317) 232-3939 http://www.state.in.us/sos/elections/index.html IOWA Office of Secretary of State, Des Moines, IA (515) 281-5865 http://www.sos.state.ia.us/elections/ KANSAS Elections and Legislative Matters Division of the SOS, Topeka, KS (785) 296-4565 http://www.kssos.org/ KENTUCKY State Board of Elections, Frankfort, KY (502) 573-7100 http://www.sos.state.ky.us/ LOUISIANA Elections Division, Baton Rouge, LA (225) 342-4970 http://www.sec.state.la.us/ MAINE Division of Elections, Augusta, ME (207) 624-7650 http://www.state.me.us/sos/ MARYLAND Board of Elections, Annapolis, MD (410) 269-2840 http://www.elections.state.md.us MASSACHUSETTS Elections Division, Boston, MA (617) 727-2828 http://www.state.ma.us/sec/ MICHIGAN Office of Director of Elections, Lansing MI (517) 373-2540 http://www.sos.state.mi.us/ MINNESOTA Office of Secretary of State, St Paul, MN (651) 251-1440 (metro area) 1-877-600-8683 (outside metro area) http://www.state.mn.us/ebranch/sos/ MISSISSIPPI Elections Office, Jackson, MS (601) 576-2550 OR 1-800-829-6786 http://www.sos.state.ms.us/ MISSOURI Election Services, Jefferson City, MO (573) 751-2301 http://mosl.sos.state.mo.us/ MONTANA Elections and Legislative Bureau, Helena, MT (406) 444-4732 http://sos.state.mt.us/css/index.asp NEBRASKA Office of Secretary of State, Lincoln, NE (402) 471-2554 http://www.nol.org/home/SOS/ NEVADA Office of Secretary of State for Elections, Carson City, NV (775) 684-5705 http://sos.state.nv.us/ NEW HAMPSHIRE Election Division, Concord, NH (603) 271-3242 http://webster.state.nh.us/sos NEW JERSEY Division of Elections, Law & Public Safety, Trenton, NJ (609) 292-3760 http://www.state.nj.us/lps/elections/ NEW MEXICO Bureau of Elections, Santa Fe, NM (505) 827-3600 http://www.sos.state.nm.us/elect.htm NEW YORK State Board of Elections, Albany, NY (518) 474-6220 http://www.elections.state.ny.us/ NORTH CAROLINA State Board of Elections, Raleigh, NC (919) 733-7173 http://www.sboe.state.nc.us/ NORTH DAKOTA (701) 328-4146 http://www.state.nd.us/ OHIO Office of Secretary of State, Columbus, OH (614) 466-2585 http://www.state.oh.us/sos/elecpage.html OKLAHOMA State Election Board, Oklahoma City, OK (405) 521-2391 http://www.oklaosf.state.ok.us/~elections/ OREGON Elections Division, Salem, OR (503) 986-1518 http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/elechp.htm PENNSYLVANIA Office of Commissioner of Elections, Harrisburg, PA (717) 787-5280 http://www.dos.state.pa.us/election/cel.htm RHODE ISLAND Office of Director of Elections, Providence, RI (401) 222-2345 http://www.corps.state.ri.us/ELECTIONS/elections_division.htm SOUTH CAROLINA State Election Commission, Columbia, SC (803) 734-9060 http://www.state.sc.us/scsec/ SOUTH DAKOTA Office of Supervisor of Election, Pierre, SD (605) 773-3537 http://www.state.sd.us/sos/sos.htm TENNESSEE Elections Office, Nashville, TN (615) 741-7956 http://www.state.tn.us/sos/sos.htm TEXAS Office of Secretary of State, Austin, TX (512) 463-5650 or 800-252-8683 http://www.sos.state.tx.us/ UTAH Office of Director of Elections, Salt Lake City, UT (801) 538-1041 http://www.governor.state.ut.us/menu/html/elections.html VERMONT Office of Secretary of State, Montpelier, VT (802) 828-2304 http://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/electdex.htm VIRGINIA State Board of Elections, Richmond, VA (804) 786-6551 http://www.sbe.state.va.us/ WASHINGTON Office of Election Director, Olympia, WA (360) 902-4151 http://www.secstate.wa.gov/ WEST VIRGINIA Office of Chief of Staff, Charleston, WV (304) 558-6000 http://www.state.wv.us/sos/election/ WISCONSIN State Elections Board, Madison, WI (608) 266-8005 http://seb.state.wi.us/ WYOMING Deputy Secretary of State, Cheyenne, WY (307) 777-7186 http://soswy.state.wy.us/election/election.htm

A friend of mine just sent me a link to a site I'd never heard of before. Godchecker - Your Guide To The Gods. Mythology with a twist! Further evidence that I need at least an hour or two added to every day, just have enough time for reading, not just the things I have to read, but the things that make me think, "Hey, that looks pretty interesting! I'll have to look at that in more detail when I've got some free time." (By the way, have you seen my free time? I'm pretty sure I'm missing some. I'll bet it's in one of those boxes in the basement, but I just can't seem to find the time to look through all of them...) Some things you can find on the site: Mythmatics--The Mythology of Numbers On the link from the home page, the number shown was 42. I smiled, wondering if it really was going to be a Douglas Adams reference. Sure enough... Forty-two is the Ultimate Answer to Life, the Universe and Everything. At least in Magrathean mythology. It is also the mystic number which obsessed Lewis Carroll when he was writing about Alice and Boojums. In the Pantheons, you can find out about African, Australian, Aztec, Celtic, Chinese, Egyptian, Finnish, Greek, Incan, Mayan, Native American, and Norse gods, with more coming soon. Here's the introduction to the site: Welcome to Godchecker - your Guide to the Gods. We have more Gods than you can shake a stick at. Godchecker's Mythology Encyclopedia currently features over 1,600 deities. Browse the pantheons of the world, explore ancient myths, and discover Gods of everything from Fertility to Fluff with the fully searchable Holy Database Of All Known Gods So click here and have a look...

Blessing of the Pets Here is an example of a Blessing of Pets Liturgy This is another variation, from the Web of Creation web site. Finally, I quite like this sermon by Rev. Dr. Bob Rowlands: One of the great things about having E-mail is all the wonderfully enjoyable tit-bits that pop-up on my computer screen. Most of the time, these tit-bits take the form of jokes, that lighten my mood and improve my day. But, sometimes, these tit-bits that I get in my E-mail are NOT funny. Instead, they are serious and thought-provoking. That's what happened this past week when I got this message: "If you can start your day without caffeine, If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains, If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles, If you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you time, If you can overlook it when people take things out on you, when, through no fault of yours, something goes wrong, If you can face the world without lies and deceit, If you can eat the same food, day-after-day, and be grateful for it, If you can conquer tension without medical help, If you can relax without alcohol, If you can sleep without the aid of drugs... ...If you can do ALL these things, then, you are probably the FAMILY DOG. I don't know who it was who wrote this (the author is unknown), but, whoever it was, they wrote it because they had stumbled upon a profound truth. The profound truth is that, in many ways, animals are superior to people. What kind of arrogance is it, that makes human beings think that we are superior to the other animals who populate this earth? We are NOT!!! We are most certainly DIFFERENT from the other animals who populate this earth, but we should not kid ourselves, we should not flatter ourselves, into thinking that we are superior to them. Yes, I am well-aware of the fact that the scripture that we just read informs us that humankind was made "in the image of God." That means, that we humans, unlike the other sentient creatures that God has made, have the unique ability to CONSCIOUSLY relate to God. Essentially, that means that we humans have the ability to pray. It means that we humans have the ability to talk to God, and have a conscious and personal relationship with our Maker. I do not believe that my cat has the ability to CONSCIOUSLY communicate with his Maker. But, that does not mean that my cat cannot experience an UNconscious relationship with God, of which I am unaware, which enables him to live in harmony with his Creator. And, in fact, the evidence suggest exactly that!!! Click here for the rest.

Animal Blessings on the Feast Day of St. Francis Sunday, October 3, is Take Your Pet to Church Day in many congregations around the country. All right--actually it's the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. Many churches celebrate by doing a blessing of the animals. The Episcopal church I ordinarily attend is having a brief service inside the church, including communion "for the two-legged attendees" (we're an "Open Table" congregation, but offering Rover the Body of Christ would apparently be pushing things a bit too far.) Another local church where I sometimes attend weekday services is having an outdoor event with demonstrations by people from the zoo on Sunday evening, along with a pet treat sale and a blessing of the animals. The actual feast day is on October 4, but a lot of churches are doing blessings on Sunday. Anybody else have a pet blessing in your neck of the woods? The American Catholic web site has a partial listing of pet blessings around the U.S., but I think that's just for Catholic churches, and a lot of people probably didn't know to send in their details.

Thanks to rojopelo in the comments for alerting me to this editorial in the National Catholic Reporter: NCR Editorial: Partisans try to narrow Catholics' choices Roughly 25 million Catholics will vote in the upcoming presidential election. Approximately half — give or take a few hundred thousand — will cast their ballots for George W. Bush; the other 12.5 million or so for John Kerry. The latter, say a handful of bishops and a group of Catholic pundits, are sinners. Last May, Colorado Springs, Colo., Bishop Michael Sheridan issued a pastoral letter in which he said that Catholics who vote for pro-abortion rights candidates (or those who favor euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research or gay marriage) should refrain from receiving Communion until they confess their sin. He was taking the matter well beyond the original question of whether Kerry should be welcomed at Communion. While his approach seemed to many a little eccentric and not-too-subtly partisan, the Sheridan formulation is gaining momentum. And, on the page with that article was a link to this one: Critics charge that Washington cardinal misled bishops’ conference A senior U.S. Catholic leader is being accused by critics of misleading his brother bishops and misrepresenting Vatican guidance on the question of how the church should treat Catholic politicians who support abortion rights, reports NCR Washington correspondent Joe Feuerherd.

In response to a thread at Blog for America about the Republicans sending out "Democrats will take away your Bibles!" flyers: Is John Kerry a good Catholic? By Joan Chittister,OSB Catholic Voting Project (nonpartisan) Christians for Kerry/Edwards Kerry Catholics Public Christian The Center for Progressive Christianity The Interfaith Alliance Tikkun Engaged Buddhist Religions for Peace Every Voice Network Faithful America Sojourners: Christians for Justice and Peace Fellowship of Reconciliation The Village Gate Fellowship Magazine

Cool--I just found this site linked from Juan Cole's blog: Church Folks for a Better America An Appeal to America We are Christians, from different communions. And citizens who span the political spectrum. We grieve that our nation is not standing for “liberty and justice for all,” nor treating Iraqis as we would be treated. We believe that accountability begins at home, that wise leaders know their mistakes, and that honest leaders admit them. Fear and resentment will never guide us to a just and lasting peace. Any nation that hopes to be “under God” must live for a positive vision of world community, not a blind response to terrorism that tragically makes others see us as if we were terrorists ourselves.

Thank you Jimmy Carter I didn't know until someone posted a comment about it at Blog for America (I don't watch news) that today was former President Jimmy Carter's birthday. Knowing that, I feel I would be remiss if we did not honor him in some way today. Mr. Carter has been both an eloquent, intelligent voice against the war in Iraq, and a positive present day example of a Christian who really "walks the walk". Thank you, President Jimmy Carter, for continuing to work for justice. For continuing to be an outspoken advocate for peace, and an example of what William Sloane Coffin calls the "good kind" of patriot: Coffin reminded us that there are three kinds of patriots, two of them bad, and one good. The first kind are the uncritical lovers of their country. “To say our country right or wrong is the same as saying my grandmother drunk or sober; it doesn't advance any argument,” he told us. The second kind are those who are loveless critics. Coffin says that you have to hate what's wrong with your country or you become sentimental but if you hate what's wrong more than you love what’s right you become a good hater but not a good patriot. Good patriots, he says, are those who love their country enough to address its flaws. They are the ones who carry on a lovers quarrel with their country, wanting it to be its best and doing what they can to help make it so. In the words of Mark Twain, “Patriotism means being loyal to your country all the time and to its government when it deserves it.”

Happy Michaelmas I actually did not know today was  Michaelmas--don't think I had ever heard the word before--until the priest told us at a noon service today. So of course, I looked it up, and discovered that, much like Christmas and Easter, its timing allows it to replace earlier pagan celebrations of the season. This Christian saint, Prince of All Angels, is an archangel who was the leader of the army of God during the Lucifer uprising, casting Satan out of Paradise. He is one of only two angels named in the Bible, the other being Gabriel. He is associated with the planet Mercury. Muslims, Christians and Jews all express devotion to him, and there are writings about him in all three religions. Considered the guardian angel of Israel, Michael's name means in Hebrew, "Who is like God?". From School of the Seasons: In medieval England, Michaelmas on September 29 functioned as the start of a new business year, a time for making contracts, paying rent, hiring servants, holding court and starting school. Again, food was symbolic. If you eat goose on Michaelmas, you shall not want all year. From the Religious Tolerance.org page describing the Fall Equinox celebrations of Christianity, Pagans, Neopagans, etc. The Christian Church replaced earlier Pagan solstices and equinox celebrations during Medieval times, with Christianized observances. Replacing the fall equinox is Michaelmas, the feast of the Archangel Michael, on SEP-29. "His feast was celebrated with a traditional well-fattened goose which had fed well on the stubble of the fields after the harvest. In many places, a there was also a tradition of special large loaves of bread made only for that day. By Michaelmas the harvest had to be completed and the new cycle of farming would begin. It was a time for beginning new leases, rendering accounts and paying the annual dues."

Prayer for Leadership Give us, O God, leaders whose hearts are large enough to match the breadth of our own souls and give us souls strong enough to follow leaders of vision and wisdom. In seeking a leader, let us seek more than development for ourselves-- though development we hope for-- more than security for our own land-- though security we need-- more than satisfaction for our wants-- though many things we desire. Give us the hearts to choose the leader who will work with other leaders to bring safety to the whole world. Give us leaders who lead this nation to virtue without seeking to impose our kind of virtue on the virtue of others. Give us a government that provides for the advancement of this country without taking resources from others to achieve it. Give us insight enough ourselves to choose as leaders those who can tell strength from power, growth from greed, leadership from dominance, and real greatness from the trappings of grandiosity. We trust you, Great God, to open our hearts to learn from those to whom you speak in different tongues and to respect the life and words of those to whom you entrusted the good of other parts of this globe. We beg you, Great God, give us the vision as a people to know where global leadership truly lies, to pursue it diligently, to require it to protect human rights for everyone everywhere. We ask these things, Great God, with minds open to your word and hearts that trust in your eternal care. Amen. --Joan Chittister, OSB

Malaysia's Abdullah Says Islamic Nations Should Rebuild Iraq So, can we think about leaving now? Soon? Is it possible that the U.S. brand name on this effort is making this take longer--and making it more costly in both lives and resources? Malaysia, which opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, has said it is willing to provide humanitarian assistance for Iraq's reconstruction. It won't contribute troops to a Muslim force in Iraq proposed by Saudi Arabia in July. Last month, former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said a Muslim security force for Iraq that has the backing of Iraq's interim government won't happen unless the U.S. withdraws from the country. ``We support that the post-invasion reconstruction of Iraq takes place under the supervision of the United Nations,'' Abdullah said. ``We will actively assist efforts undertaken by the UN to rehabilitate Iraq.'' Click for the rest.

Don, from my church, just sent me this in an e-mail. Hope you'll share it with anyone who needs to see it. IF AMERICA WERE IRAQ, WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE? By Juan Cole Professor of History at the University of Michigan Wednesday, September 22, 2004 President Bush said Tuesday that the Iraqis are refuting the pessimists and implied that things are improving in that country. What would America look like if it were in Iraq's current situation? The population of the US is over 11 times that of Iraq, so a lot of statistics would have to be multiplied by that number. Thus, violence killed 300 Iraqis last week, the equivalent proportionately of 3,300 Americans. What if 3,300 Americans had died in car bombings, grenade and rocket attacks, machine gun spray, and aerial bombardment in the last week? That is a number greater than the deaths on September 11, and if America were Iraq, it would be an ongoing, weekly or monthly toll. And what if those deaths occurred all over the country, including in the capital of Washington, DC, but mainly above the Mason Dixon line, in Boston, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, and San Francisco? What if the grounds of the White House and the government buildings near the Mall were constantly taking mortar fire? What if almost nobody in the State Department at Foggy Bottom, the White House, or the Pentagon dared venture out of their buildings, and considered it dangerous to go over to Crystal City or Alexandria? Click here for the full article.

I just saw a link to this article in a comment on the Kerry blog: GOP urges Catholics to shun Kerry. The article tells of an official GOP web site, http://www.KerryWrongForCatholics.com, which, predictably, cites reasons Catholics should vote against Kerry. Hmm...I don't know if we have anything "official" to counter that (doesn't seem like the DNC's style) but if you take a look at this page of grassroots resources, you might find something helpful. This in particular could be a useful way to counter the attacks: Why Evangelical Christians Must Vote Against George W. Bush, by Oscar (also available as a trifold brochure, PDF) And, if any Catholics are tempted to cast a vote for Bush, they should probably check this out first: Bush's "Christian" Blood Cult: Concerns Raised by the Vatican. Finally, Joan Chittister, OSB, wrote an article in May entitled, "Is John Kerry a good Catholic?" When I was growing up, for a Catholic to eat meat on Fridays was a "mortal sin," the kind of thing for which you went directly to hell, they told us -- no passing go, no collecting $200. But no Catholic lawmaker I know of introduced legislation to close grocery store meat departments on Fridays to protect Catholics from error or to save others from sin. Click here for the rest of the article, which goes on to discuss positions of Kerry's that are very much in line with Catholic teaching.

High Holy Days on the Net - The Jewish Holiday of Yom Kippur Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the most sacred of the Jewish holidays, the "Sabbath of Sabbaths." By Yom Kippur the 40 days of repentance, that begin with the first of Elul, have passed. On Rosh Hashanah G-d has judged most of mankind and has recorded his judgement in the Book of Life. But he has given a 10 day reprieve. On Yom Kippur the Book of Life is closed and sealed. Those that have repented for their sins are granted a good and happy New Year. Since Yom Kippur is the day to ask forgiveness for promises broken to G-d, the day before is reserved for asking forgiveness for broken promises between people, as G-d cannot forgive broken promises between people. Yom Kippur is a day of "NOT" doing. The is no blowing of the Shofar and Jews may not eat or drink, as fasting is the rule. It is believed that to fast on Yom Kippur is to emulate the angels in heaven, who do not eat, drink, or wash. Click for more.