I grew up Roman Catholic and have a degree in religious studies from Creighton before I lost my faith. My experience has been that of being told that doctrine matters, a lot. My parents remember getting the Catholic movie cards about which movies were ok to watch by the Church’s standards. I remember CCD class where we learned some fairly specific things.

My main reason for leaving the Church (outside of the criminal child rape crime ring) was seeing this doctrine lumped in with the “people of faith” bit for some fairly earthly ends. I don’t think religion is silly. I think it is just another way of looking at the world and it doesn’t need to hide behind faith to make some fairly decent moral claims. I love the Sermon on the Mount. For all I care, Jesus could be a Muppet and it wouldn’t change the standing of those words. However, to be told that those words stand where they are because of something beyond this realm….well, I think once faith for the sake of faith is called upon, it takes away from the true meaning of the teaching..l.which is sometimes quite good.

(FWIW, I no longer consider myself an atheist. I have found a lot of peace in meditation and Mindfullness. I believe in the connectiveness of it all….my difference is that I would never presume that the details of my arguments have primacy over those of the other guy. They are all just ideas that should be argued over.)

I’m just feeling salsy after my 3rd triple shot espresso and no sleep in 3 days…

We need a “solved” button.

for @duckofdeath in today’s game thread.

He really does fit in…in all the worst ways.

Mr. Monster was arrested for driving around Sesame Street at gravely unsafe speeds while screaming and firing a handgun in the air. After a high-speed chase and a minor scuffle, officers were able to remove Telly from the vehicle and place him in custody. He began screaming that aliens put a chip in his brain and that “the giant bird is one of them! Oneee ooooffff theeeeeemmm!!!!”