Giving a Gift to People of Different Religions

I respectfully disagree with this man's thoughts, although, of course, he is certainly welcome to conduct his life as he wishes and does not require my permission.

I will admit that I'm not religious in the conventional sense. I practice Pagan/nature worship, but I do so in my own way.

I think it would be a nice gesture of tolerance and an attempt at understanding if a non-Pagan were to give me a gift in honor of one of our holidays. I would accept that gift graciously.

~Gunnar~

Try to Understand

I am not terribly knowledgeable about Islam. The Muslims that I know are definitely peaceful people. It was upsetting to see the way they were attacked following 9/11, being grouped with extremists.

Extremism of any kind is always destructive.

We need to try harder to understand one another.

In the end, we all bleed red.

~Adam~

What Really Matters

 Visit the Photo Prompts blog for inspiration

  
 This piece isn't fiction. But it is a little bit flashy!

What Really Matters

The biggest mistake I’ve made in life is berating myself mercilessly for being at odds with certain dogmas and tenets, or failing to live up to certain arbitrary social standards, when there is only one rule which really matters in the scheme of things:

 Image found on this blog, which everyone should go read, right after they finish reading this!

My actions matter, not my system of belief or my appearance.

~The Cheese Hath Spoken~

Cross-Posted to:

The Cheese Whines

One Love

It Gets Better: Joe Pang

We don't believe that a person's sexual orientation is a "sin." We believe that bi, gay, or straight is normal and okay.

Dream Tree Program During Anti-Bullying Week

Skepticism vs. Cynicism

 

Skepticism vs. Cynicism

by

Opal

 

The team normally uses these as prompts for flash fiction, but given the words, I was inspired to do a non-fiction bit.

 

So very often, people confuse the skeptical view with cynical bitterness. The two are not the same, and it makes me sigh to think that they have been so convoluted.

 

In this day and time, cynics have endeavored to saturate the world with naysaying and sneering mockery. To make the bold claim "I am right and all others are wrong" proves to be a grievous error in judgment time and again. It matters not whether the one making the claim proclaims the supreme might of the deity ze worships; or if the claimant is stating that there is, without a doubt, no higher power of any kind, nor nothing beyond the material Universe.

 

There is no slight difference in saying "I cannot believe something which cannot at this time be scientifically proven" and saying "If it cannot be scientifically proven at this time, it cannot in fact be true." There was a time when people believed the Earth to be flat, believed that the Earth was orbited by the Sun and all other celestial bodies, and would have laughed anyone who stated that one day people would go to the Moon out of town.

 

We are always on the threshold of new discovery. Why not unwind from the tension of the need to be right? It is not necessary to believe exactly as another believes. All is perception. Why cut down another's thoughts with a tongue like a sword?

Everything we believe is theory. Why can we all not share our theories without a need to be right, especially when it comes to subjects about which we still have so little understanding?

 

 

However, no matter what scientists proclaim, I say that Pluto will always be the ninth planet in our Solar System!

 

Namaste.

 

~Opal~

Here's a song for Pluto, and for you, dear Visitor.