On Atheism and his Agnosticism: Neil DeGrasse Tyson

I love this guy.

Trayvon Martin III: Mother Seeks to Trademark "I Am Trayvon"

Like the murder and the subsequent failure to prosecute the perpetrator, our system supports much that defies common sense, and so it should perhaps come as no surprise that Trayvon Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton, is seeking to trademark the phrases, "Justice for Trayvon," and, "I am Trayvon.

I have mixed feelings about her choice.  On the one hand it seems dirty to capitalize on this misfortune this way, like racism is evil but greed is totally cool. On the other hand, if I was in her situation and saw that others were capitalizing, what would I do?  She'll probably make millions with T-shirts and book deals and movie rights.  Can I begrudge her that?  And if not, and if it still feels wrong, where is the problem?  I don't know.

If the focus of past civilizations was religion, as evidenced by archeologists finding objects of ritual and cathedrals having been the most significant architectural efforts put forth, our society, by contrast, worships wealth.  Our cathedrals are shopping malls, and our sacred objects are plastic cards, but there's something that feels wrong about that in a case like this.

I've heard that some ancient societies had no concept of ownership or personal property, and as a thought exercise it seems interesting to contrast that with what we do.  In our society it seems that everything, if not already owned, is at least subject to ownership, and so Trayvon Martin's death can become a commodity, and if I want to sell T-shirts that say, "I Am Trayvon," I should owe money to his mom. 

Weird.

God Hates Facts

I liked this post at boingboing today.

In Science We Trust

I found this item at Unfollowing Jesus.

Fanaticism Fail Or Authentic Anger?

I posted this article earlier today, but I'm having second thoughts...

Afghanistan Fanaticism Fail
Given that this blog is called The Fanatical Moderate, I have a nagging sense of responsibility that won't allow me to let the outrage in Afghanistan pass by without comment.  In case you don't follow news, local garbage collectors at Bagram Airbase found evidence that someone had burned a Koran.  That was five days ago, and since then about 30 people have died in the rioting and unrest.
Burning a holy book is a harm, I get it, and I can see how people might be insulted and hurt, and that that might cause anger that legitimately needs a public expression.  Maybe there would be madness and marches, bullhorns and banners.  Maybe a few thugs would go too far and flip a police car and set it on fire, but omfg, 30 human beings have to die?
How about I print you another Koran, and you return those husbands to their wives and you return those sons to their fathers!

The problem is that the harm, the burning of a Koran, was perpetrated by an occupying foreign army, and maybe that changes everything.  Has this event triggered an authentic and legitimate objection to a foreign occupation?  I know I would resent occupation by a foreign army, particularly if they showed a lack of sensitivity to my culture and my values.

Define Fanatic

Philosopher George Santayana defines fanaticism as...
        "...redoubling your effort when you have forgotten your aim."

To Winston Churchill...
        "...a fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject."

Religions Always Collide

Ritual in Action

The boy in the photo knows the rule: lick your finger and turn the page.  He's seen others abide by it and he emulates them, and he creates for us a beautiful image of how religions fail. The rule, initially an advancement of safety or efficacy, is eventually misunderstood or outdated and then comes to exist for its own sake, divorced from the context of its creation.

If then a religion is a powerful organization of these rules collectively attributed to an almighty and all knowing God, the religion--to itself--can never be in error and therefore can never willingly change.  In this sense religion has a keel, but no rudder. 

This is why religions always collide.