"Brother Mike" on UC Campus

This guys, "Brother Mike," preaches blasphemy on UC's campus, and has been for the past week or so. He's surrounded by police-issued caution tape to keep from getting his ass beat. Today was the only day I actually chose to watch, because I'd already heard enough about how he does this for attention, or how he just says shit to rile people up until they fight him, and then he sues the college (haha). 

Standing in a long sleeve button up with spandex and beige slacks, with some sort of CamelBak-like backpack, he also carries his Bible and a gallon of water. He preaches of quotes from the Bible, and entertained but slightly enraged college students shout things at him to make him as upset as he's made them. If anything, I'm crossing my fingers that no one takes him the slightest bit seriously, because he preaches against premarital sex, homosexuality, and a plethora of other things that are just illogical to insult. 

"Women can't find an income because they're too busy giving it out for free," was one of a series of insulting lines that I heard from this guy.

At another point, someone shouted about his hypocrisy, and for the life of me all I wanted to do was argue with him one on one. "Brother Mike" leaps to the edge of the caution tapes, nearly offended, and points his finger so furiously at this kid and says, "You know what i think!? I think you're a FORNICATOR!! I think you partake in premarital sex, which is a SIN."

But I rolled my eyes, turned the other cheek, and took comfort in his counter-productivity. If there is a God, I'm willing to bet that isn't the way She would've wanted him to promote activism. Once again, WWJD does NOT apply here...

Nice.

Woman lets daughter die by praying instead of calling 911

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/newshome/5588968

That's just ridiculously disgusting. The girl dies from untreated diabetes. "She could have been saved with basic medical treatment: fluid and insulin." 

Absolutely disgusting. 

Womanist

"Womanism" as defined by Oxford American Dictionary (recognized by a little red underline in this format like it's not a real word) is a form of feminism that emphasizes women's natural contribution to society, used by some as distinction from the word "feminism" and it's association with white women.

Now, when I had searched this word earlier to write a paper about it, the immediate definition came up as a distinct term for feminists of color. The word itself in the context of the article i was reading emphasizes this sentence: "I am a black female scholar." as if one can't be a womanist should they lack one of these qualities. 

My immediate reaction was that it was unfair and creating more intricacy to the Movement. My thoughts were, "Why create yet another term to exclude a whole category of people?" I was reminded that I, as a white female, have travelled an entirely different road in America. But in turn, I am not allowed to identify as a womanist. 

The example was given that people who go to church on holidays but never any other time are not real "christians." And the idea in turn is that if you are to identify as a certain label, it brings a sense of security and comfort. But part of me is still fighting this. If womanist is to separate the feminist struggle of women of color from white women, the foremothers using the term "feminist" probably hadn't intended it to include strictly white women. 

And maybe this where we find our web of miscommunication with sexism in religion. Maybe, in an optimistic state of mind, the terminology just hadn't been explained to the extent that we need it to be today. Maybe we're taking literally what's meant to be said figuratively and it's just one giant misunderstanding. 

I'm curious to find out when classism will be incorporated into our lexicon. I'm waiting for us to divide even further, and am actually trying to come up with a word for low class, uneducated, white feminists. 

To me, it'd be equivalent to make a term for male feminists. Sure, it's got its upsides to the creation, but wwhyyyyy is it SO necessary? I feel like it should be appropriate enough to say, "I am a male feminist. I am a black feminist. I am a feminist of the lower class. I am _____ feminist." and the connotation will be immediately interpreted within the listener. 

I'm a little torn. After just taking "the Study of Language" i feel so frustrated and torn with the English language and nearly irate at America as a whole. Melting pot, my ass. I mean, maybe if the pot contains vegetable oil, rubbing alcohol, water, dish soap, and corn syrup. 

Why can't we just mix together and demand a mass movement for the progression of a way bigger population??

Mary Magdalene

Listen, kids. There's something significant missing from this story. I haven't gotten a chance to read Mary's gospel chapters, but I have every intention of doing so. With that said, I think that Mary's rep is all wrong.

Why was I preached that Mary was a prostitute, a conniving whore, when in it never even says that in the New Testament? This is where I'm so frustrated. 

A portion of religious strains believe that Mary of Bethany is the sinning terrible woman and that she's different from Mary Magdalene. But Mary Mag gets like 7 demons cast out of her from Jesus? I don't know. Regardless, how is it so unclear who this woman even was when she's got her own gospel that was stricken from the record? 

Here's what I'm thinking.

Mary Magdalene must've been educated enough to be able to read and write. She's got a written gospel accredited to her. This seems to me like blind patriarchy. The male dominance has the ability to push her out of the Bible and into this twisted idea that she's Mary the Sinner, when she's really not quite like that at all.

Think of the same way you hear people argue Adam and Eve. Like women are responsible for the fall of the human race. PSH. God never TOLD Eve not to do it, he made it very clear to Adam what would happen if he ate the fruit, and he still did it. As one of the girls in my class so elegantly stated it, "Adam was just a punk."

Adam was just a mark ass trick. 

A little over 7 minutes in...

Regardless of how hard I was laughing the whole time... At like 7:30 they hit gender. =)

in regards to the importance of language and communication

At the American Jewish University, Sam Harris and Rabbi David Wolpe debated their beliefs. Submitted online January 7, 2008, both men make it a point to restate their words. Specifically when the Rabbi says, “No, I shouldn’t say it like that,” and rewords his phrase. Later in the debate, Sam Harris argues that he sees the Rabbi as a reincarnate, to which the Rabbi responds, “I was someone famous, don’t make me as like a washerwoman or something.” If both of these men take the time to consider their language choice, and even correct themselves when need be, why would he make such a pompous claim?

Sam Harris, described as "the lovechild of seth green and ben stiller" (which had me staring at him the first two times i watched this), uses an analogy of Elvis to God that I think is superb. Religulous status. Enjoy.