Short Post On Ecards

Facebook

Rotten Ecards Card

I did not post this on Facebook because I would state it as is, or that I reason it is an exhaustive and extremely accurate philosophical statement.

No, I would not, but to some extent I agreed with what I viewed and view as the spirit of the message.

One should not preach to someone, without love or at the expense of love.

My Facebook comments edited:

Messages like this have limited context and are not exhaustive.

They (messages like this one) need to be read as such. It is not an all-encompassing philosophical text. It is just a point.

I reason the second (point) is more important than the first and that is what it likely meant. But it is exaggerated for point.

It is not worded how I would word it, but the spirit of it has merit.

It is like stating to me 'God does not care if you have a PhD, but that you love others'. God does care that I have a PhD, but loving others is more important. But such a statement could be stated to make a point.

In certain contexts, my PhD would not matter much, but loving others always would...etc..

I think with both examples (from the ecard and mine) it is always love others and do not use knowledge the wrong way...as in stating verses without love, PhD knowledge or not.

It is not stating to do not memorize. At least how I deduce and read it.

Knowledge is always a necessity in Christ and there are different levels and types, but must be in love.

It is just stated in a way with an agenda and not exhaustive, to make a point.

Funny idea, although of course unrealistic in this age. There is not exhaustive philosophical context and so this ecard can too be criticized.

Financially Based Religious Accommodation?

Stanley Park, Travel+Leisure, Facebook

Google+

Google+

Financially Based Religious Accommodation?

Female segregation

Teen felt ‘degraded’ after teacher backed aikido student’s request to avoid touching females on religious grounds

Cited

'A Nova Scotia high school student is asserting she was reduced to “second-class citizenship” after her Halifax aikido school followed provincial human rights law and accommodated a male student’s religious request not to touch his female classmates.'

'Ms. Power, a resident of the Halifax suburb of Upper Tantallon, NS, had been a student at East Coast Yoshinkan since the age of six. In the spring of 2012, Ms. Power, then 15, was just on the verge of earning her aikido black belt when she said a man enrolled at the school and told its owner that, for reasons of his Islamic faith, he was not allowed physical contact with women.'

'The request would not have been noticed in a pottery class or a fencing course, but Aikido — like any martial art — is uniquely physical. The ultimate effect, said Ms. Power, was that sessions were suddenly being divvied up by sex.'

'Steve Nickerson, a fifth degree black belt and the owner and sensei of East Coast Yoshinkan Aikido, wrote in an email to the National Post that although he met the student’s request to avoid physical contact with women, the student “interacted, without physical contact, with women in my classes each week as part of our regular program.”

“There was never any segregation,” he wrote.'

'As for the bowing, Mr. Nickerson said the request was made respectfully and was “very easy to accommodate.” “I believe every person should have an equal opportunity to participate in recreational activities and I would not deny this student access to my classes,” he wrote, noting that he made the accommodation with the confidence that it would not be “disadvantaging any other person’s participation in my classes.” The decision, he said, was supported by both the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission and the Halifax Recreation Administration, which operates Lakeside Community Centre.'

'‘Why would someone’s religion — something that they choose to follow — trump my gender, which is something that I was born with?’'

'Amir Hussain is a theology professor at Los Angeles’ Loyola Marymount University and wrote his thesis on Toronto Muslim communities. Speaking to the National Post, he called the student’s requests an unusual interpretation of mainstream North American Islam, but said “it could well be that this person feels that this is what their religion is demanding.” Said Mr. Hussain, “in Islam, you’re supposed to respect your teachers. You’re not supposed to bow down to other gods, but the sensei isn’t your god.”'

End citations

The two links appear to take a different angle of the story. The Sun News video takes a stronger view that segregation took place.

In Canada, the federal government handles immigration and provincial and territorial governments attempt to bring in new immigrants for business purposes.

The first link, the Sun News video states that many sought after immigrants in Canada are from Northern African countries that are Islamic.

Therefore the primary reason governments and related agencies would make at times these special religious accommodations for Muslims is not because state agencies are choosing religious rights over women's rights, which would seem the opposite of what would likely occur in Canada, but for the sake of being attractive and to appease current North African Muslim immigrants with money to invest in Canada and for potential immigrants to view Canada as a good place to immigrate to and invest money.

Personally, I would not support accommodation in the context of a public martial arts class for religious reasons as it is not a clear religious context as would be a mosque or men's prayer breakfast or women's lunch within a Christian cultural context in a church where natural rules of separation would apply.

Christian Tingle?

In a previous post on my other blog I noted an interaction with a professional writer and businessman that deals issues of psychology.

Divinity Student

Cited with edits:

'Two, he stated I needed to change the type of people that I wished to associate with in certain ways. He claimed that I should avoid certain relationships with fundamentalist Christians, in content/context seemingly as if all Bible-believing Christians were stereotypical American fundamentalists. Within the context he wrote, he labelled the fundamentalists as being naive in certain aspects. He did not state I was a fundamentalist.

Now, I can admit, certainly some fundamentalists will be naive in certain ways, as will some non-fundamentalists, but the red flag came up in basically labeling all Bible-believing Christians as stereotypical fundamentalists.'

Well, my main disagreement with him was his claiming I was a divinity student and his refusing, seemingly to be corrected, even as I obviously had the greater knowledge at point.

Clearly, I have never been a divinity student, never interested at all in becoming a Reverend or Pastor, but was a theology, religious studies and philosophy of religion student at a secular European level.

Therefore the archived post.

But I digress...

He was stating in the context of potential romantic relationships that fundamentalist Christians, and he meant Bible-believing Christians, evangelicals included, were naive and immature in regard to romantic love.

Now with a few more years of online listening and reading, I can state that this type of view of Biblical Christians is probably pretty commonly held by secularists in psychology related fields.

Interesting indeed as almost none of these experts I have studied, I reason, have been happily married for several years. Many are divorced.

And yet they often state that they have the exclusive best answers and advice.

Few of them have religious views that I would find challenging to debate.

Not well-reasoned out.

There goes my skeptical, intellectual nature again, but in whatever fields one studies whether theology, philosophy and various psychology related, one has to think and pray hard to cut through the falsehoods and find some truth.

However, the clip below makes me ponder again on his view in regard to naive fundamentalists....

Satirically.

Just viewed via a Facebook friend:

 

Prison eyes, 99,3 The Fox, Facebook:  Looking for a job in corrections?

Serious & Satirical Sunday

Cappadocia, Turkey, Travel+Leisure-Facebook

Just back from church @ sunny Surrey. Nice Spring so far and these Biblical mega churches have merit.

So many people and refreshing from what I have been used to.

From

Buzzfeed

McDonalds hits a new low. What is next, is that going to come out in the media as a secret ingredient in McNuggets as well?

Metaphor for philosophical societal confusion?

If that dog is leaving 'smokin' parcels, he and his owner have a real problem. Perhaps the dog could be trained by the CIA?

One should always fall with grace just in case the event is recorded on a cell phone and ends up on a social networking site, Always fall on your a** with class.

I came across this link today on science connection.com and commented on this with a couple of comments on my blogs, but on second thought reason I could add more material...

Science Connection.com

Synopsis is combination of male and female responses for balance.

Cited and with my comments both serious and satirical

'Synopsis of views on age-related topics:

Cited

1. Many women of all ages are offended by the stated desire by men (generally those in their 40s and older) for much younger women, when this does not appear related to the desire to start a family,'

Serious

If it is simply searching for a 'barbie doll' in some kind of evolutionary model, for example, I can give the women's perspective some merit.  

However, I am glad to see the desire to start a family is granted merit and a pass.  

Biblical.

Seems to me up until 40-50 years ago in world history, including the West, although large age gaps were not perhaps common, not most common, they were not considered wrong or weird.

My take is feminism has caused the view that supposedly unequal relationships are not right.

Question.

What is equal?

A younger woman that is very intellectual with perhaps more dating experience than an older man is not necessarily going to be in an unequal relationship.

Much depends on the relative experience of the man.

Does he have children close to her age, or is he basically at a similar romantic age as the younger woman?

I remember from my psychology studies at Columbia Bible College that biological age is only one form of age; there is also romantic or relationship age and other ages.

Also, ironically, in fundamentalist, evangelical, conservative Christian circles where the parents have much say in the marriage of younger women, I reason if parents are not sure of a potential older man that wants to potentially date a younger daughter, they may simply avoid him in order to avoid the risk of something negative.

I can understand the natural and Biblical, protect mode.

A way of safety has been found and rightness is assumed. To have dialogue is to put this at risk.

This assumes, philosophically, all older men are basically the same, with similar experiences.

Or if not the man is somehow faulty.

These are false, especially in the Christian community today.

A man may be quite Godly and therefore is not very experienced, dating wise, with the often worldly church and still wants a family.

Both Biblical.

Satirical

If the older man has 'gamblin' debts, is 350 pounds, has killer BO and smokes various substances, the feminists may have a point...

Cited

'in which case the search for a woman of child-bearing age is considered legitimate (if sometimes over-optimistic when it involves men in their late 40s and over).'

Good.

Again, Biblical.

If there is mutual attraction I think there is over-focus on age difference.

If no mutual attraction the issue takes care of itself.

Nothing will and should happen.

Satirical

To show interest is to be a man.

Chasing is not manly.

I used to have to chase my German Shepherd-Husky, Rebel (Jerkhead) down the street after he broke out of Stalag 13, posted a parcel on the neigbour's lawn, nearly was hit by a car, and then proceeded to look for fights with male dogs and for 'bitches', but those chasing days are over for me.

I doubt he was looking for a family...

Cited

'Middle-aged women find that in person men their age are attracted to them, yet "on paper" they are rejected by men older than they are.'

There is baggage, experience and family considerations, even if there is experience.

Satirical

How about being rejected Biblically?

Quite the concept...

Cited

'And the women targeted by men ten or more years older tend to be unimpressed or even irked as well.'

Not a problem. No mutual attraction means no issue, a person should move on.

Satirical

I thought that was what Daddy with the shotgun was for...

I know...that is more of a Southern and rural thing.

Cited

'2. Nevertheless, many men do in fact seek women of their age and the average ages difference between males and females of couples meeting via Science Connection is very small - 2 or 3 years on average. And both men and women have reported happy unions involving an older woman with a younger man.'

Serious

More likely experienced men. Men without desire for family, or do not mind pre-made older family.

Satirical

'And both men and women have reported happy unions involving an older woman with a younger man.'

Then there is that 1980s expression 'boy toy'.

Something I have always had zero interest in...

Cited

'3. Although misrepresenting one's age demonstrably occurs, no one has been prepared to defend this in the Newsletter and all condemn it as a bad idea in practice and for moral (even legal) reasons.'

Honesty is good. One may not concentrate on sharing their age, but should not lie.

Satirical

If you are rich I suppose boasting about age is no big deal...

Cited

'4. Some members argue that being of similar age brings benefits of cultural and general compatibility and syncronicity of life stage (retiring about the same time, etc.). Other members de-emphasize age, citing the greater importance of individual differences and regarding as folly the setting of narrow age limits for a prospective mate.'

The second has more truth. The first assumes similar experience for all.

Satirical

I do not plan on retiring.

Menopause is not for everyone, i.e. not universally men.

That is a bit of wrench in any life stage relationship argument.

Don't you think?

A comment from a female perspective

Cited:

'One of the member's comments struck a chord with me. I'm sure you get a lot of comments about the guys who want (or say they want) a much younger woman. This is such a turn off! Makes them sound so arrogant. Guys, explain to me why any woman (any woman over 30 anyway) would want to go out with a guy 15 or 20 years older than she is. It may be alright at 20, but when she's 50+ she's looking at prolonged widowhood.'

Serious

Arrogance, not necessarily, as it is not necessarily to view this is as an issue of deserving or not, which I think is philosophically misplaced.

Who deserves another in relationships?

Rather, it is a matter of nature and experience and related needs and desires.

The fact the younger woman would eventually be a widow is in my view is the best point against age gap relationships.

Other premises used such as lack of relating and assumed greater experience for the older man often do not hold up under intellectual scrutiny.

The younger woman has to believe reasonably that the older man is among the best potential men for her in order to choose him. The older man needs to be youthful and committed to staying healthy. It needs to be the case that if such a relationship would not occur, it would be a lessor good and greater evil from a Christian perspective that if it did not take place.

Here is where the Christian, Biblical commitment to family is important as the future widow would need to have extended family in place as well as if possible, immediate family.

Also with medical, nutritional and scientific advancements it appears that persons can live youthful lives longer.

I am somewhat qualified to comment on homecare as I homecare for my disabled Mother.

I do not see homecare for an older spouse as huge impairment to the life of the younger woman.

My Mother is disabled and is an old 79 year old biologically, probably with a 90+ years old body.

She with the assistance of professional homecare is not a significant burden upon family.

If I needed to relocate she could be placed in local care or move down to Arizona with my brother and family.

This care is pension and government covered in Canada and I assume by pension, government and/or medical insurance in other Western jurisdictions.

A typical senior, especially over the next few decades with advancing medical knowledge and technology is likely not going to be a significant time and work burden on family.

Satirical

Chuck Norris was born in 1940...I am the theological Chuck Norris-Facebook

Thomas Ronald Smith is our oldest resident at Shady Green, born in 1800. He sleeps a lot...

Interestingly here the seniors prefer 'grass'. Not sure if this is in BC, Washington or Colorado. Does not look like Monaco, definitely.

Ethiopian Suri Tribe/Why I View Game of Thrones & Vikings

Hawaii, Facebook-Travel+Leisure

Profuse apology (nice mode) for a reader's life on Blogger, Google+ or Facebook that I have somewhat 'disrupted' this Easter long weekend by now presenting my fourth post and taking up too much of your precious time.

'My precious'...

No, actually not (selfish mode), I need all the pageviews I can get and more views are created with increased catalogs of posts.

Oh yes, that 3 million plus pageviews statistic on Google+ has really gone to my head.;)

Send complaints to complaints dept:

Dr. Russ Murray
Between Pope Chucklin Estate: 'The Fatican' and Bobby Buff, Graceland
Maple Ditch, BC, The Socialist Paradise of Canada (Not the Excited States of Americana)
Although we probably have as much pot here in BC as the 'Mile High 'State'' and 'Washerington State', Avenue.

Thank you for your co-operation with these matters...

Besides this posts the posts include two Easter related posts. Articles this Easter weekend...

MPhil Resurrection Thoughts This Easter, Sunday, April 20

Rehashed material from my massive 40, 000 word MPhil thesis degree and blog posting, but edited and focused more specifically for Easter and the Biblical resurrection doctrine to form an original article.

If you do not like my rehashing of material in any way, I totally disagree as I am not interested in reinventing the wheel for your benefit, but there is the complaints dept.

Satirical, Critical, Images: Response On Easter-Saturday, April 19

This is somewhat influenced by thoughts on a recent Facebook debate. These debates are often circular, tedious and not view changing, especially when dealing with those from various fundamentalistic, religious and non-religious perspectives, but can assist in further clarifying ideas.

GC Berkouwser (PhD Edit), April 18, 2014

Discuses in brief, human freewill and determinism.

Thank you, thank you very much.

Ethiopian Suri Tribe

Daily Mail: Ethiopian Suri tribe

Cited:

'It may look odd to us, but in the Ethiopian Suri tribe, this enormous lip plate is actually a sign of beauty. When girls hit puberty they have their bottom two teeth removed in a bizarre ritual before a small hole is cut into their bottom lip. A clay disc is then inserted into the hole, which is steadily increased, stretching the lip, much like flesh-tunnel piercings which have become popular with teenagers in the UK.

The larger the lip plate the more cows the girl's father can demand in dowry when his daughter is married - usually 40 for a small plate and 60 for a larger one.

'Men on the other hand take part in the considerably less-painful ritual of body painting.'

The young women

Omo Valley

i1yiting.com

I am of dual thoughts with this issue.

On one hand I reason Western and Christian standards should not be forced upon those in Africa. An historical mistake from the past. A culture should at least be respected.

On the other hand, it certainly appears a cultural form of physical deformity and with potential health concerns.

This would be more of a potential issue than aesthetics.

Is the practice culturally forced?

I shall keep my mouth shut on this issue, satirically...

Why I View Game of Thrones & Vikings

My brother in his trips back home introduced me to the programs. One from HBO (Canada), the other The History Channel.

I suppose in a way I am a typical male, and there are many ways in which I am not, but I am not typically very interested in extended dramas that do not also contain action.

I think I would do better with extended dramas in a live theatre context as there would be more empirical stimulation than simply viewing a two dimensional screen.

I do not with my busy work schedule with basically two careers and homecaring, like committing to viewing a two hour movie, often which is not being watched from the beginning.

I then often realize part way through the movie that I have seen portions previously, or portions from a related film.

These films repeat and repeat.

These films repeat and repeat.

Game of Thrones is a fictionalized reality of a realm influenced by English and European history from the middle ages/medieval period. The wickedness, gore, although not slasher film like, and combination of Church-Religion/State union makes the show more than just entertainment for me; it is also provides philosophical and theological considerations in regard to the association of Church-Religion/State and how politicized religion is predominantly evil.

As Game of Thrones is a fictional realm and reality, there is not from what I seen and I have not viewed the show from the beginning. a Judaism or Christian gospel.

The polytheistic religion (s) portrayed, although not explained in great detail does/do not seem to represent primarily benevolent gods.

Therefore, finding redemption for this realm on a philosophical, theological basis is interesting and difficult.

However, there is still at times, glimpses, of human good. There are a few sympathetic adult characters.

The program also has me philosophically and theologically ponder on my historical studies in regard to torture in the middle ages/medieval period and freedom of religious thought and/or freedom not to have religious thought as in preference.

I ponder back to the torture museums and dungeons viewed in the British Isles and the Continent. Those tortured and killed for being considered treasonous against a Church/State.

The program is thoroughly entertaining with fine actors, many of them, not surprisingly appear to be from the British Isles, although the program is American produced.

Vikings, I find almost as entertaining and the contrast between the Viking, Norse religion, that at times offers human sacrifice and medieval politicized Christianity is interesting.

However, the adult Vikings are so brutal, even though Game of Thrones is probably overall more graphically brutal and violent as a series, I simply do not find the lead characters in Vikings worthy of sympathy. When they battle each other or the Christians, virtually everyone of adult age, via my theology and philosophy of law and order, is worthy of death for murderous acts via just punishment.

I do not find myself sympathizing with the Vikings or the Christians, both murderous within Church-Religion /State systems, even though the story focuses more so on the lives of the Vikings.

The usual film technique is to build sympathy, a feeling of harmony, for the stars of the program.

The adult Vikings simply are not sympathetic characters. I feel for the children and innocent victims, on all sides, primarily.

And the program is still quite interesting.

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