A Word on Texts...

Today I have to get a little more intense than my last post. This is a message on scriptophiles. Basically, there's a problem that exists in religions based on people who think that the text itself is an end-all tool to convert people into one's beliefs. THIS IS NOT TRUE. Please, if you are of any religion, do NOT push your religion's scripture as the only evidence to your or your religion's superiority.

(DISCLAIMER: IN THE FOLLOWING, I'M USING ONLY CHRISTIANITY AS AN EXAMPLE BECAUSE I FEEL IT IS THE CLOSEST TO HOME. I DON'T NECESSARILY FEEL IT HAS PRECEDENCE OVER OTHERS OR IS MORE AT FAULT. IT SIMPLY MAKES FOR A BETTER EXAMPLE.)

You're probably wondering where this is coming from. Well, I read some recent responses to Jimmy Carter's recent outcry against the southern Baptist church. These responses were mixed, some used basic ideologies and explained in perfect detail their personal beliefs. However, some where mindless recitations of scripture that were only somewhat related to the topic. Both types of responses were found on both the for and against sides of the argument, so I'm not saying only strictly negative Christians are at fault. The main group at fault is the group of people many refer to as "fundamentalists," though I don't really agree on that term.

What I mean when I say "fundamentalists" is a group found in any religion that use the scripture and texts appropriate to their means, while omitting the texts that go against their beliefs or actions. Again, I do not agree with that term, being that not all fundamentalists are this way, but this is simply the closest term I've found people relate to the problem (Sorry fundamentalists).

Here's the deal, if someone is not of the same beliefs as you, your particular scriptures mean ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to them. I hate to break it to you, but to many people in the world, the bible is only a book. Just pages with words. So, how do you convince somebody that your religion is superior? Here's my tip: Whether you're Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Atheist, Deist, Taoist, Etc. the best thing for you to do is be a good person. People don't care how much scripture you can vomit and they sure don't care how much you've read. What will shine on people is if you exemplify a good person and if that example can be equated to your religion. What does this mean? Well, let's go back to the Christian example. Instead of shouting scripture at a supposed Atheist, try being kind to them. Smile, be friendly, be helpful and caring. Go to church every Sunday, pray, don't swear (much). Basically, everything that the text tells you to do that is related to being simply a kind, good-hearted person. One of the biggest lessons in most religions isn't to deny others and be forceful, it's to live like the highlighted figure of your religion. For Christians, this means living like Christ. Be what he was: A kind, good-hearted person.

I'll sum this up with an analogy. Religion is often related to a light. Think of it as a flashlight and the person you're guiding as someone who is in a dark room. They need that flashlight to be able to see. Do you think it would be more productive to shine that light in their face or to shine it in front of them and let them follow? Think about it.

I've decided I'm gonna start ending these things with little challenges based on the topic. Today's challenge is gonna be to learn about another religion through it's text. Not necessarily it's direct text, being that those are usually very lengthy and even hard to find. That and I feel based on this topic, those might be counter-productive. Anything related to the religion works. Personally I recommend a biography of a religious leader or spiritualist. If your interested in Buddhism, pick up My Land My People. It's a good read.

Now, go forth and shine thy light!

Nickelodeon killed my speech!

For my first post, I figured I'd start with something light and flaky. So for my very first mental danish, I want to discuss something I noticed in the dialect of my generation.

I realised the other day that a strange phenomena has occured. It deals with the dialects of people my age and most people within a range of +/- 3 years (So, for people with little to no maths, that gives us a range of seven years). I realised that the people within this range say the word "like" more than those outside of this bubble. Why? How did it get limited to that group? I realised it had to be something to do with how we were raised. So what exactly did most of the kids in this range have in common? Then it struck me.

Nickelodeon was big dog when we were kids. Many, if not most, of the kids in this range watched at least one show. Even though this is considered the "golden age," many of the shows were considerably low budget and handled by smaller crews than many shows now-a-days. Thus, the shows were a bit more personal and the writers' lives had direct influence on the work. Here's where we find an answer. Nickelodeon studios had two headquarters: one in Orlando and one in California. It's a well known fact that "coast/beach dialect" has it's own spin on various things, such as the prescence of the word "like." Specifically in California, where there exists many delicious dialects such as the wonderfully intellectual "Valley Girl" and the hard-working, goal driven "Surfer Bum." Writers for Nickelodeon shows were constantly exposed to these dialects in their children and the world around them. This translated into their writing. They created teens based off the teens they observed, and this includes the dialect. Thus, Nickelodeon characters had itchy trigger fingers with the word "like." Being that many of us in the age range I listed were in a prime stage of language development, we adopted this word into or own dialects, and have thus built a beautiful and terrible relationship with that word. Like, I don't even know what life would be like without it! Like, it would be bogus, dude.

Does that, like, feel better? Good.
First Post! Woo!