Comments for The Accidental Theologist

Comment on Who is the AT? by carin

carin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 21:21:36 +0000

I just found this blog…and, I am mesmerized.

Comment on Hazleton on Hitchens by snow black

snow black — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:12:59 +0000

Bravo, and thanks for reading Hitchens so I don’t have to, as they say. I’ve always prided myself on having grown out of my taste for his brand of bullshit well before the Iraq war made plain his true nature.

Comment on Best Valentine of the Year by Mary Johnson

Mary Johnson — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:53:38 +0000

I love Rebecca Brown’s work! Thanks, Lesley, for sharing this. And all those pictures and statues of Jesus with his heart in his hand, the heart surrounded by thorns, with flames shooting out from the top–how I hated those statues. Now, after reading this, I can laugh at those Sacred Hearts and Immaculate Hearts and Bleeding Hearts in a new way, and feel what it is to yank one’s heart out, day by day by day.

Comment on Foreskin Fixation by Bruno HANQUIER

Bruno HANQUIER — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:19:03 +0000

When tradition is at the expense of one’s personal, or yes, individual, decision and integrity, one doesn’t have to be an “extreme liberal” to consider a practice should be banished.
Considering your post, I still wonder where your acceptance of tradition can lead you. Where are the limits, and who should decide of this limit? You? The group that follows said traditions? So, if I’m not part of this group, should I let you do what your traditions command you, even if it’s against my own morals? You give the example of female genital mutilation, which a heavily traditional practice in some areas, and following your “logic” I don’t see how and why it could or should be stopped.
As for “groups assert themselves and remain cohesive” you fail to express why this is desirable in the modern world in which -to give myself as a very low-key example- I have friends all over Europe, the Middle East (Lebanon and Israel mainly), Latin America and South East Asia. Another organization of the society has replaced or complemented tradition and religion in all modern countries: it’s called democracy, a system in which each individual has his voice and yet abides to the decisions of others. That men corrupt this idea too often doesn’t hinder its vast superiority over any older systems that may have prevailed in the past.
And yes, for me tradition and religion are just a way some people try to force their limited views of the world on me. It’s not just a limit to my person as an individual but to my free will… “Free will”, interestingly enough a concept that even the three main monotheistic religions consider essential to the individual…

Comment on “Do You See Religion on my Chest?” by Catherine Fransson

Catherine Fransson — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:03:34 +0000

You go, Girl!

Comment on Hazleton on Hitchens by homophilosophicus

homophilosophicus — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 03:56:03 +0000

Dear Leslie, sycophancy isn’t really what I do best, so I shall keep this brief. Your blog is marvellous. See, that was brief. I have been surfing for this brand of intelligent read for a while, and the reason for this is that I am stuck. Recently ‘homophilosophicus’ (an Irish theology blog) has begun an interfaith project at which I would dearly like you to take a peek. At present we are short on a Jewish voice, female voices in general and a Feminist opinion. You may not have the time, you may not even be interested, but please take a look:
http://homophilosophicus.wordpress.com/introduction/
and the contributors so far:
http://homophilosophicus.wordpress.com/contributors/
Yes, we run the risk of looking rather pale in your light (there’s that sycophant again!), but this is something we are willing to risk.

The pay scale is rubbish (non-existent in fact), but if we could entice you in anyway whatsoever please mail me on:
homophilosophicus.wordpress@gmail.com

Jason Michael

Comment on Anti-Semitism = Islamophobia by Anti-Semitism = Islamophobia - Page 11 - Political Wrinkles

Anti-Semitism = Islamophobia - Page 11 - Political Wrinkles — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 07:47:46 +0000

[...] Posted by Coyote Source: Anti-Semitism = Islamophobia The Accidental Theologist She makes good points No kidding. Some of us know this. And nice people like you come along [...]

Comment on Who is the AT? by Ziryab

Ziryab — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 02:09:46 +0000

Mrs Hazleton.

I’m deeply moved to tears as i am watching your words on the prophet Muhammad pbuh. it takes subtlety to notice subtlety and you are most definitely awe inspiring in the way you express words into an almost living speech. I wish your pen never gets tired and the beauty in your words become as vibrant as sunrise aaaaaaaaand that your beautiful smile never fades away.

Peaaaaaaaaaaaaaace

Comment on Two Quotes for the New Year by Tamam Kahn

Tamam Kahn — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:34:18 +0000

Glad you are back, Lesley! I miss your words.
Save and Savor — a beautiful quote.
Ya Fattah! May the way open! for the rest of your work on the important project– the fruits of which, we will savor.
Warmly,
T’m

Comment on Foreskin Fixation by Daabatul Ard

Daabatul Ard — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 02:54:23 +0000

Ms. Hazelton I admire your writings, but here you have touched the sensitive views of the extreme liberal, whose worldview is solely based on perceived harm to individuals. Tradition is an alien concept, Religion obviously a cancer and individual choice (or rather, desire) is supreme.

By these marks, groups assert themselves and remain cohesive. These differences from others provably (I recommend the work of Jonathan Haidt in particular for detail) strengthen sense of community. Adherence, difference and hierarchy are emphasized. That it may be sensible otherwise is not really that important in terms of effect.

That a person could be a part of a tradition, a continuity, is essentially taboo in the modern era. The forced comparison with female genital mutilation should be telling. To any reasonable person, the two are not comparable regardless of what your religious or political affiliations are.

When one blinds themselves to every concern except harm to individuals, they lose touch with reality no matter how much their claims are seemingly grounded in empirical data. One will only look at it from that perspective and justify their reactions accordingly. All other benefit is ignored or conveniently incidental.