Monthly Archives: November 2008

“Civil Rights and Gay Marriage”

Probably the best piece I’ve seen written so far on the gay rights movement and Proposition 8: Civil Rights and Gay Marriage. It’s from Black and White, “Birmingham’s City Paper.” The author, Jeff Jacoby, is identified as a columnist for the Boston Globe. His question: where is the real bigotry and hate being displayed? (I’ve …

November 28, 2008 – 8:53 am | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Life and Choices | Tagged | Comments (18)

The Internal Experience of the Holy Spirit

Scripture tells us, and Christians commonly concur, that there is an internal experience of the Holy Spirit that assures us of God’s reality in our lives. It is not the only way we know God is real, but it is an important one. Paul asked yesterday, Could you describe in positive terms what this direct …

November 28, 2008 – 8:43 am | By Tom Gilson | Posted in The Faith | Tagged , | Comments (300)

“All Men Are Created Equal”

I’m a week late for a certain anniversary date: it was 145 years, one week, and one day ago that Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. He thought his short speech rather a failure at the time, but upon its publication, the nation and later the world came to regard it as a master statement …

November 27, 2008 – 10:19 pm | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Origins and Science, The Faith | Tagged , , , | Comments (8)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all–whether your country sets aside today for the purpose or not, it’s a thanksgiving day for all who know the One who is worthy of all thanks.

November 27, 2008 – 8:27 am | By Tom Gilson | Posted in The Faith | Comments (1)

Kindergarten Thanksgiving Celebration Provokes Protests, Hate Mail; Police Called

Not filed under “parodies:” Protesters descended Tuesday on Condit Elementary School in Claremont, tersely arguing over the construction-paper pilgrim and Native American costumes worn by kindergartners at a decades-old Thanksgiving tradition. Police were called to the school when tensions rose. Officers also were monitoring Claremont Unified Supt. David Cash’s home after he received hate mail …

November 26, 2008 – 7:36 am | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Miscellanea | Tagged , | Comments (6)

Dualism Dueling With Science?

There is a lively debate going on regarding two views of the mind: dualist vs. materialist. Last month’s New Scientist article, “Creationists Declare War Over the Brain,” prompted responses from several quarters, including one of my own. Dr. Steven Novella wrote a two-part response (Part One, Part Two), taking the opportunity especially to make swipes …

November 22, 2008 – 3:28 pm | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Origins and Science | Tagged | Comments (44)

New Theme Test

It’s an experiment… I can’t help it, I like messing around with different looks. [poll id="4"]

November 21, 2008 – 8:14 pm | By Tom Gilson | Posted in The Faith | Comments (3)

“Attending Religious Services Sharply Cuts Risk Of Death, Study Suggests”

Interestingly, the protection against mortality provided by religion cannot be entirely explained by expected factors that include enhanced social support of friends or family, lifestyle choices and reduced smoking and alcohol consumption’ . . . There is something here that we don’t quite understand. [Link: Attending Religious Services Sharply Cuts Risk Of Death, Study Suggests] …

November 21, 2008 – 4:26 pm | By Tom Gilson | Posted in The Faith | Comments (1)

“Charles Garner, guest column: It’s not religion; it’s sound, skeptical science”

With reference to full-spectrum teaching of evolution, and the controversy over standards in Texas: The “strengths and weaknesses” language has been in place for a decade. If it had been used to introduce religion or supernatural explanations into the classroom, these groups would have a long list of specific incidents, with names, dates, etc. But …

November 21, 2008 – 4:20 pm | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Origins and Science | Comments Off

Do You Suppose She Really Meant To Say That?

There’s a pretty funny typo in this headline, published today in a Bay Area GLBT publication: [Link: San Francisco Bay Times] I think she meant “whither,” not “wither.” That’s the way it reads right now. I wonder if they’ll change it later today…

November 20, 2008 – 8:08 am | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Just For Fun, Life and Choices | Comments (5)