Thursday, October 16, 2008

17 Tishri 5769: Ḥol hamMo‘edh Sukkoth/Dictionary Day/World Food Day/Reptile Awareness Day/Bosses’ Day

Greetings.

Worthy causes of the day: “Tell John McCain and Sarah Palin to Reject the Politics of Division” and “Keep Our Commitments”.

It is Sukkoth, and I am sitting outside in my sukkah putting this posting together.  (Thank YHWH for wireless networking!)

Relevant to Divine Misconceptions:
  1. “Shift the focus from synagogue to home”: Rav Boteach is correct that the true focus of Judaism is not the synagogue. Serious religions (not just Judaism) tend to cover every aspect of human life. As such, they are not limited to a one-time-per-week activity.
  2. “3,000 Christians flee Mosul 'killing campaign'”: Just in case any of you thought Islam was merely anti-Jewish. Non-Muslims living under Muslim tend to bear the brunt of Muslim anger, whether they have done anything to deserve it or not.
  3. “Man accused of assaulting 'witch' at Taft”: Please do not ask me what this student was thinking. I have no idea.
  4. “Suit Against God Thrown Out Over Lack Of Address”: Thus is it written:
    A judge has thrown out a Nebraska legislator's lawsuit against God, saying the Almighty wasn't properly served due to his unlisted home address. State Sen. Ernie Chambers filed the lawsuit last year seeking a permanent injunction against God.

    He said God has made terroristic threats against the senator and his constituents in Omaha, inspired fear and caused "widespread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants."

    Chambers has said he filed the lawsuit to make the point that everyone should have access to the courts regardless of whether they are rich or poor.

    On Tuesday, however, Douglas County District Court Judge Marlon Polk ruled that under state law a plaintiff must have access to the defendant for a lawsuit to move forward.
    This lawsuit involves some serious problems.  First, the alleged reason for the lawsuit, access to the courts, does not seem to have much to do with suing God.  Second, it is difficult to imagine holding deities who are not part of our universe subject to our laws; enforcement is probably impossible.  Turning around the matter of jurisdiction, (assuming an Abrahamic worldview) God created this universe and it is therefore His.  Being His creatures living in His universe, we are subject to live by His rules, including matters of reward and punishment, whether or not we think they are fair.  Thirdly, Mr. Chambers forgets that humans bear much responsibility for human suffering, with politics, stupidity, greed, blame-shifting, ignorance, and senseless hatred doing so much to kill and injure people as well as simply make their lives miserable that even an outright human-hating deity would probably just sit back and watch rather than try to improve on our work.
Today’s news and commentary:Today’s weird thing is “The Top 20 Satirical Candidates Of All Time”. Enjoy, share the weirdness, and vote for Nobody.

Aaron

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