At the Left Hand of God

[pegkerr]

I like this most recent column by Anna Quindlen and identify with it myself (barring the bit about being raised Roman Catholic).

Yeah. Like that.

Comments

[splagxna.livejournal.com]

thank you for posting that; i've been meaning to do so myself. she's one of the first things i read when my newsweek arrives, and this one was - yeah. she hit the nail on the head.

[rachet.livejournal.com]

Wow. Great column. Thanks for sharing the link!

[klostes.livejournal.com]

What an excellent column! Unfortunately, almost my entire experience with Christianity has been with that radical right that trades in absolutes and "direct lines to God" and not in compassion or love or forgiveness. However, as I've moved away from that in my own life, the few Christian friends I have kept have been largely Catholic--and as Ms. Quindlen states, I find the quality of their belief is not expressed in soundbytes and pronouncements, but in a willingness to listen, to love, and to accept--and in thinking deeply and what and why they believe. I've been quite impressed with those friends individually and as a whole.

Emerald House Rising

[kiwiria.livejournal.com]

Not at all relevant to what you just wrote, but I recently ordered "Emerald House Rising" from a Danish web-bookshop and have just received confirmation, that I should receive it next week. Yay! :) Can't wait to read it :) I'll be sure to let you know, what I think of it.

...I still get such a kick out of actually knowing one of my favourite authors personally! (or as personally as ís possible over the web - it's still a thrill for me :) )

[lemonlye.livejournal.com]

I don't generally assume that all liberals are irreligious, since I know plenty of examples to the contrary. However, I find myself frequently having to refute the vice-versa assumption: namely, that all conservatives are religious. Lots of us aren't particularly. We just believe in personal responsibility regardless. :)

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

I take your point.

And yet is it your point that liberals do not believe in personal responsibility?

[lemonlye.livejournal.com]

Oh, not at all. I just meant that our reason for believing in personal responsibility is not necessarily based in religious morals; i.e., it's possible to believe in moral right and wrong, yet still be agnostic or atheist.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

I can certainly agree with that!

[bibliotrope.livejournal.com]

I read that on my break -- an advantage of being a librarian is that I get to read the magazines on my breaks -- and I also agree totally. And I was raised Methodist (I converted to Catholicism in my 20s).

And Peg, crossing threads: not only do you not look evil (as per your userpic), you look very nice in your new hairdo. I am thinking of doing much the same as you did (my hair is down to my waist now), so I am sort of "interviewing" the idea of short hair by reading your posts on the subject.

[cakmpls.livejournal.com]

I was raised Roman Catholic, going to Catholic school for 12 years, and--believe it or not--that's where I learned to think for myself. It's also where I learned most of my liberal leanings. And it's certainly where I learned to stand up for what I think is right. So though I am a non-theistic liberal today, I am such because of the Catholic Church.

[littlecatfeet.livejournal.com]

I had this exact same discussion with my friend at church this Sunday about how people either assume that I am atheist or agnostic because I am liberal or assume that I am conservative because I go to church every Sunday. This article expresses my frustration and response better than I could. Thanks for posting it.

[vass]

Just so. I mean, I don't think they count my religion as a religion, since it's not the One True, but even so. Actually, my religion isn't technically legal in my state, depending how you classify it - some church groups block it every time someone tries to repeal that law.

But yeah, it matters. Loving your neighbour as yourself, and doing good not only to those who are good to you (even politicians do that) and believing that there's something more, whatever that something happens to be - or even if one doesn't believe, believing that what other people revere deserves honour and respect. I don't know how anyone could get away with saying that only one political hemisphere has those ideals.