We are taking a blogging-break for Lent, and we’ll be back on April 8th.
Posted in: Religion
Lent
Posted on February 22, 2012 by Alte
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91 Responses “Lent” →
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No ignorance, but walk towards glory. | Dark Brightness →
February 22nd, 2012 → 2:27 pm[...] Christianity is taking a Lenten Break. In the meantime, Ash Wednesday is over, and today we start thinking about the Cross. Well, Jesus [...]
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The imp of the Reformed. | Dark Brightness →
February 23rd, 2012 → 10:55 pm[...] unity. Consider that we have Elspeth (reformed) and Alte (traditional catholic) as editrixes of that blog in a Lenten break, and Svar (Catholic) and Will S (quite reformed) agree on most things. Unity from the top has not [...]
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Ignore the smoke and mirrors. | Dark Brightness →
March 13th, 2012 → 1:56 pm[...] say that we should not celebrate days and seasons — and thus stop people from keeping their vows of dedication in seasons. We need to remember that Paul supported his Jewish Christian brothers in completing vows of [...]
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Alte
February 22, 2012
I was surprised to see that the Pentecostal church near here is having an Ash Wednesday service.
Elspeth
February 22, 2012
Before I sign off I wanted to note that it’s true that Protestants don’t have to give up anything for Lent. Our interpretation of faith does not rely on works.
That said, there are Protestants who do recognize that a season of sacrifice leading up to the commemoration of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice (and ultimate triumph) is a meaningful discipline.
It’s not surprising when looking at it from that perspective that a pentecostal church recognizes the value of a communal season of sacrifice.
And with that, I wish you all a blessed Lenten/Resurrection season.
Will S.
February 22, 2012
Do you two give up reading blogs, as well, for the duration of Lent?
Just curious.
David Alexander
February 22, 2012
We are taking a blogging-break for Lent, and we’ll be back on April 1st.
I thought Easter was on April 8th?
Laceagate
February 22, 2012
I won’t be reading any blogs or commenting.
Alte
February 22, 2012
You’re right. Lent doesn’t end until Holy Saturday, which is April 7th. So, we’ll be back on April 8th, which is Easter Sunday (just an open thread). Sorry about the confusion.
I just read Zerohedge and Business Insider, other than my own blog. I have a lot of reading material on my Kindle and in hardcopy, so I don’t have the time for other people’s blogs anymore.
Alte
February 22, 2012
Does anyone break fast on Sundays, since they don’t count toward Lent?
David Alexander
February 22, 2012
No, as I simply just accept that Lent is simply the duration between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday.
As for me, I’m giving up something else that’s a bit more private. I’ll admittedly miss the immediate feedback that I get here for the next month and a bit, so I may have some room for extra sleep and less procrastination as I don’t have the other bad habit taking up space and I won’t have the addictive nature of the blog keeping me at my desk. I read other blogs and have my railfan message board, but other places just don’t have the same level interest to me, and I’ve stayed out of commenting on the MRA/PUAsphere for various emotional reasons. So maybe I’ll exercise, edit photos, or even take mommy out.
Gabriella
February 22, 2012
I’ll be reading occasionally but not so much the manosphere/tradosphere blogs. I want to get more articles written and could use some inspiration from the internet but mostly from news sources or online magazines.
Laceagate
February 22, 2012
I consider Sundays Lent days.
Stewart
February 22, 2012
I do not give anything up on Sundays as each and every one of them is a celebration of the Resurrection.
Jimmy Akins on this:
Alte
February 22, 2012
I get into “Lent mode” and it’s hard to break that on Sundays.
Æthelfrith
February 22, 2012
For we Orthodox, Lent actually starts next week. (For the past three years ours has coincided with the Romans). Right now is a pre-Lent week where dairy is OK, but meat isn’t.
“Giving up something for Lent” isn’t something that’s required for us since we give up so much already (meat, seafood, dairy, [olive?] oil, alcohol (except on certain feast days). Oddly enough, it’s OK to eat invertebrates and caviar). But people do give up things because it is a season of asceticism after all.
I’m just waiting to see Carnivore show up and call mine a false religion because of the what we are forced (well, not really “forced”) to eat.
Chris
February 22, 2012
AEthelfrith, this reformed will not criticise your rules. For in this we have freedom, but that has to be tempered with love. If the tradition is you eat no meat or fish, so be it.
I’m blogging through but avoiding the coffee shops,… which is a new step, because the Presbyterians tradition eschews feast and fast days… but I agree with Elspeth, it is better to do this.
Oh, and I’m still “lectionarizing” @ my place. I don’t want to break that habit.
David Collard
February 22, 2012
I am giving up buying printed and recorded material for Lent.
I usually give up discretionary purchases of food extras (lollies, as we call “candy”), nuts, cheeses, sauces, etc. But being home and doing more cooking these days makes it too complicated, so I won’t.
I was sick on Ash Wednesday. So I tried to “offer it up”. We abstained from meat, but I didn’t fast. Every time I do, I get sick. So this year I didn’t, although I was sick anyway.
David Collard
February 22, 2012
I shall not be giving up blogs for Lent.
BTW, the Catholic convert, wit and journalist Helen Rittelmeyer, is blogging again:
http://cigarettesmokingblog.blogspot.com.au/
David Collard
February 22, 2012
In other news, our female Prime Minister is being challenged for party leadership by Kevin Rudd:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/kevin-rudd-resigns-as-foreign-minister-condemns-julia-gillards-silence/story-fn7x8me2-1226278811641
Hearthie
February 22, 2012
I don’t do Lent. I did the pre-Passover scrubdown of my entire house last year, I don’t know that I will do that this year. DH & I gave up grains at Halloween, so not sure what we’ll do about the Passover season this year.
Working on some other stuff in the personal realm.
MizDarwin
February 22, 2012
Look up “kitnyot” and see if there’s anything else traditionally forbidden that you could give up. Or try separating meat and dairy, for a real challenge.
We are also very low-carb, which makes Passover a not-terribly-big change in lifestyle (Atkins Week, my husband calls it) … frankly, I think we eat MORE carbs and flour during Passover than usual, because we go to town on matzoh.
Marxist-Leninist girl
February 22, 2012
I fast.
I only ate about 10 calories today (a stick of sugar-free 5 gum). Today means from 12 AM in my time zone to now.
I don’t feel hungry. Ghrelin, where are you?
alcestiseshtemoa
February 23, 2012
Isn’t the Eastern Orthodox Church going to start fasting now as well?
Jecolia
February 23, 2012
As a cradle Episcopalian, I still like to observe the liturgical calendar in my personal devotions, even though the Reformed Protestant church I now attend does not. This year I’m observing Lent by being consistent about daily prayer and Bible study. I currently average 3-4 mornings a week of devotional time, so I’m aiming for 6 mornings (the 7th being Sunday, when I’m in church).
I’m also committing to put at least one thing a day in the giveaway/donation box. Conveniently, our church is having a rummage sale in April, so my aim is to have at least 40 items (hopefully more) to donate to the rummage sale.
DH is abstaining from alcohol. I will probably abstain too, although I drink so little normally (maybe a glass or two of wine a week) that it hardly feels like a sacrifice.
I will miss you all and look forward to your return.
Alte
February 23, 2012
Hi guys. If any Catholic is looking for a Lent devotion, I just downloaded Magnificat for the season onto my Kindle:
Magnificat Lenten Companion 2012
David Alexander
February 23, 2012
There’s also a similar app for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad…
Alte
February 24, 2012
http://www.ncregister.com/blog/simcha-fisher/just-pray/
Alte
February 24, 2012
If you would like to pray the rosary as a Lenten devotion, here’s a good MP3 to use. I pray the Sorrowful mysteries on Fridays while cleaning the kitchen, as the physical labor keeps my mind from wandering and helps me with the meditation (ADHD adaptation, FTW). I also tune into The Catholic Channel at 3pm, when I pick my kids up from school, and listen along in the car while they recite a decade.
The Deuce
February 24, 2012
A nice piece on Lent at a blog I highly recommend: http://tofspot.blogspot.com/2012/02/make-ash-of-yourself.html
Marxist-Leninist girl
February 25, 2012
Did everyone give up (or limit) posting on blogs or forums on Lent?
I have a confession: I am currently attending Mass and pray before my slumber.
Lol, that seems coincidental. I don’t think I’ll miss anything significant from abstaining from a certain leftist board.
I thought Lent is a period where one becomes closer to God by emulating Christ’s period of self-abnegation during His forty days in the desert. Indeed, the primary reason for this period of voluntary abstinence is to reap spiritual benefits, such as becoming closer to God, not utilitarian physical or mental benefits, although these might be ancillary benefits for a given Lenten sacrifice. Presumably, a serious sacrifice, as opposed to a frivolous or trivial one, reflects a profounder degree of spiritual sincerity and solemness. Lent is not a personal experiment or an exercise in endurance, although I was surprised and curious that I went 24 hours without feeling physiologically hungry, and I actually reviewed my food consumption on Tuesday to find an explanation. Perhaps it was the fact that, in addition, to my regular meals, I consumed about 600 kcals (a cup of vanilla Greek yogurt, two tablespoons of cocoa, and 400 kcals of peanut butter) an hour before Ash Wednesday to replenish my hepatic glycogen, replete my fat cells so they can secrete leptin, and provide some protein. During the course of the day, I decided, at 3 PM, to count that as a meal, meaning that consume anything else, except a piece of sugar-free gum at around 11 AM, since I didn’t experience any discomfort, presumably due to the effects of the meal before.
As for me and Lenten dietary restrictions, my life is already austere than most Catholics even on Lent, since I consume about 1200-1400 calories a day (for ~ 90% of days) for secular reasons. That doesn’t deserve any spiritual commendation, and I have already enjoyed my reward for that lifestyle.
Now its my rational hypostasis’ turn to talk (I feel like I am schizophrenic in the etymological, not clinical, sense — that is possessing two personalities/consciousness)
Interest piece… most conservative Catholic pieces emphasize “subsidiarity” while often omitting a reference to social solidarity.
One aspect that I find unimpressive about Christianity philosophically is that it doesn’t offer anything particularly unique relative to secular ethics. For instance, pragmatic irreligious people certainly see the value of temperance, courage, and justice in pursuing their goals, whether it is to advance their self-interest or to pursue a more altruistic or abstract end. I find it interesting that mercy and sympathy are not emphasized as virtues. However, these values that these virtues embody are antithetical to the contemporary (economic) conservative where the poor regarded odiously as inferior, incompetent, or immoral persons not worthy of material aid since they are culpable for their own problems.
Stewart
February 25, 2012
I have not reduced my web usage in anyway for Lent.
Charity is a virtue one of the fruits of which is mercy. Catechism 1826:
1829:
There are also the seven corporeal works of mercy: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked, visit and ransom the captive, visit the sick and bury the dead. As well as the seven spiritual works of mercy: instruct the uninformed, counsel the doubtful, admonish sinners, bear wrongs patiently, forgive offenses willingly, comfort the afflicted and pray for the living, sick and dead.
Alte
February 26, 2012
The editors here have taken a blogging-break, but I don’t think anyone else has. I’m leaving this thread open during Lent, and I’ll be checking in occasionally, but that’s all.
I am currently attending Mass and pray before my slumber.
How awful. You must be so ashamed. Pray two rosaries and give alms to the poor in penance.
I find it interesting that mercy and sympathy are not emphasized as virtues.
I find it interesting that you would think that. I assume you mean corporeal mercy, as the Lord already grants us forgiveness when we honestly ask for it. Debt forgiveness, caritas, etc. figure greatly in both the New and Old Testaments. Also, Caritas (the charitable arm of the RCC) is the world’s largest, oldest, and most widespread charitable organization.
One of the Virgin Mary’s official titles is “Mother of Mercy”, and her merciful and empathetic nature is one of the reasons that she is considered the greatest of all saints and venerated accordingly. We ask her to intercede for us because we know that she cares especially for the poor and downtrodden, and the RCC commands us to emulate her in our own lives.
Hermione
February 28, 2012
Delurking and dropping in to ask for prayers for our baby, who needs to see a pediatric cardiologist for a heart murmur. They don’t think it’s anything major…but I would still appreciate any thoughts you can spare for us.
Alte
February 28, 2012
Of course, Hermione. Prayers for your little one.
Gabriella
February 28, 2012
Praying!
Elspeth
February 29, 2012
I am offering prayers for your little one, Hermoine.
Hearthie
February 29, 2012
Praying here too.
Saint Velvet
February 29, 2012
Praying for your sprout and her parents, Hermione.
David Alexander
March 1, 2012
A fun read about bankers who feel poor due to their small bonuses. Even the 1% can feel like the 99%…
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-29/wall-street-bonus-withdrawal-means-trading-aspen-for-cheap-chex.html
Marxist-Leninist girl
March 2, 2012
“How awful. You must be so ashamed. Pray two rosaries and give alms to the poor in penance.”
I have to admit that a large portion of my sense of identity or essence was in my incisive skepticism and materialist worldview.
Alte
March 2, 2012
Yes, it’s a shame though, as that’s the most tiresome aspect of your persona. The rest is so much more interesting.
Marxist-Leninist girl
March 2, 2012
What other aspects of my persona you deem interesting?
I don’t know if I fit in here since I am primarily a verbal autistic as opposed to the visio-spatial bent here. I am somewhat confrontational and aggressive also, imagining myself as a LHP attacking corners of the strikezone with 90-93 MPH fastballs and 80-83 change-ups.
The Deuce
March 2, 2012
A bad baseball analogy from our Black Rose! It’s been a while, and I actually kind of missed it.
Btw, Ms. Rose, I’ve been praying for you. But disregard that and keep going to church
Hermione
March 2, 2012
Pediatric cardiologist says the baby will grow out of her heart murmur and that there is nothing to worry about. Thank you all!
Marxist-Leninist girl
March 2, 2012
I’m no Jamie Moyer! (grammatically correct sentence intended) I can throw relatively hard, but certainly not in the Verlander range.
The Deuce
March 2, 2012
Oh yeah, been praying for you too Hermione. Great news!
The Deuce
March 2, 2012
BR:
I can throw relatively hard…
Wait, are we still talking metaphorically, or do you actually play some baseball?
Marxist-Leninist girl
March 2, 2012
metaphorically…
I think I am like Jaime Garcia (2011 K/9: 7.2, BB/9: 2.3, HR/9: .7, fstb average: 90.3 mph)
Liu is like Clayton Kershaw.
The Deuce
March 2, 2012
Okay, I’m ready to start missing it again. :-p
Alte
March 2, 2012
Thank you all!
Thank God!
Chris, how is yours doing with his treatment?
Alte
March 2, 2012
What other aspects of my persona you deem interesting?
Your constant, detailed self-analysis is rather fascinating. I do the same thing, but I don’t know anyone else who does so who doesn’t have a grossly inflated ego. It’s hard to be that objective and that completely unconcerned with “appearing humble” (as opposed to “being humble”, which is something different).
Also, your incredible dryness and superficial lack of empathy, at the same time that you’re highly concerned with the fates of other people. A bit like an abbess; cool, but feisty.
David Alexander
March 2, 2012
Speaking of that, Alte, how is your uncle?
Alte
March 2, 2012
He’s recovering well. Thank you for remembering.
Alte
March 2, 2012
Did you guys see what I tweeted about the Georgetown Skank? Just think, if you go on national television and talk proudly about what a slut you are (not that there’s anything wrong with that), and how you’re a rich brat but can’t afford condoms, you too can become a mascot of the Democratic Party.
Dems are anti-Catholic and pro-Skank. Okay, got the message. Being Catholic and not being a skank, I guess that doesn’t leave me with a lot of options come November…
It’s so funny, as we were informed this summer during the Slut Walks that they’re “skanks and proud”, but now they’re all ashamed about it. I’m confused.
Æthelfrith
March 2, 2012
Democrats: Pro-civilizational suicide.
Republicans: Pro-civilizational suicide but not right now.
Alte
March 2, 2012
LOL. Yeah, that’s about right.
Chris
March 3, 2012
Alte, treatment has just started: the good news is that his mother (Southern German) has arrived which means there are two people looking after things so that the stress is down. Daughter of mine managed to have her car hit this week (not her fault) and the freaking canadian customs charged her for a comfort package.
He managed one hour at work and then was too tired. Which is to be expected, given the kind of chemo he is on.
Serves me right for looking at Non Canadian clothes. All I wanted was kids clothes, not something that Miley Cyrus would wear.
So thanks for the prayers… chemo started and we just have to wait.
The Deuce
March 3, 2012
I had a bit to say about the Pride Of Georgetown on my stomping grounds. Disappointingly, I haven’t gotten anyone to drop me from their friends lists like I usually do at times like this. I must have inured them to it by now. Maybe I should up the ante. Possibly float the argument that if other people should be forced to pay for her sex, she should be forced to share it with them.
http://www.facebook.com/ibbibby/posts/262662187142621.
Alte
March 3, 2012
I’ll keep him in my prayers, Chris.
Alte
March 3, 2012
The whole “I can’t afford contraception” thing is a joke anyway. You can get the Pill at any Walmart in the country for $9/month, or even get it (and/or condoms) completely free elsewhere.
Saint Velvet
March 3, 2012
I was thinking 23 was looking a lot harder these days, even for chemically sterile sluts, come to find out PofG is in fact 30. They can’t even tell their own lies right.
Alte
March 3, 2012
You mean this? http://www.jammiewf.com/2012/sandra-flukes-appearance-is-no-fluke/
She’s an activist plant.
Hermione
March 4, 2012
A quick topic change, but Leonidas and I have just started using this website for our workouts and it is pretty awesome: http://www.fitocracy.com . It’s still in beta, but if anyone wants to get an invitation to try it out from me, I still have several left.
David Alexander
March 4, 2012
A fun article at the NYT about the some differences between the French and German economies.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/04/world/europe/when-a-border-shapes-more-than-territory.html?_r=3&hp
Elspeth
March 4, 2012
I sent you an email Hermoine.
Alte
March 5, 2012
Marxist-Leninist girl
March 5, 2012
**
He seems like an AJ Burnett, a righty that lacks control.
The Catholic Church does not have a strong historical legacy of supporting religious tolerance and freedom. I might give the HCKL treatment on this issue.
—
I would be more impressed if he told the congregation that bourgeois democracy is a farce and just stay home a smoke a joint during Election Day. I am going to do something like that (I don’t plan to vote), and I will smoke of joint if I have a friend who possess some .
Iran a nuclear power? At best, it would be just like North Korea who perceives nuclear weapons an essential geopolitical asset, not to aggressively project its agenda onto other nations, but to protect its sovereignty and national interests from belligerents, namely the United States. . During the age of nuclear weapons, the possession of these weapons insures immunity from unconditional defeat in geopolitical conflicts, since the possessor always has recourse to use the weapons and poses a credible threat, and this would give the possessor a degree of leverage in negotiation, allowing the nuclear nation to be to granted concessions in a negotiation process. Moreover, the possession of nuclear weapons also acts as a deterrent from direct military intervention. It is often stated by some M-Ls that Iraq was invaded because the US already knew that it did not possess weapons of mass destruction, and therefore, did not have to fear the possibility of nuclear reprisal. To use an Old Testament analogy, nuclear weapons possession is like a lintel with lamb’s blood that prevents the Destroyer (the United States) from entering the dwelling and slaying the first-born. It is a defensive emblem to protect its Westphalian sovereignty in an epoch of the barbarous realpolitik of supranational, neoliberal hegemony.
Iran possessing nuclear weapons does not pose a threat on the safety of the material interests of the median US citizen, but it noisome for US geopolitical interests as Iran wielding nuclear weapons would restrict the options of the US military..
David Alexander
March 5, 2012
As a quick note, since I seem to hang around a bunch of Christian “mom” who don’t watch TV, I suspect that many of you may not have been aware that there’s a new show on TV called “GCB” which was originally titled “Good Christian Bitches”. If one watched the pilot, the original title of the show would have made some sense given that it’s losely based around a church, but arguably, the show feels like Desperate Housewives set in an upper class Texan suburb with more “sexy” clothing. Admittedly, none of you are the ideal audience except for Texas Barbie as it may remind her of the life she could have lead if she turned to evil, but I suspect that some people may spin the show around as proof that “religious” women are bad given that the main antagonist is in a choir and there are plenty of half-assed Biblical references.
And yeah, I’ll keep watching not because I like the show, but because it”s a porn free way of seeing women with lots of make up and high heels on television. Maybe Texas Barbie was right, and I may have to import a girl to bring to the North…
alcestiseshtemoa
March 6, 2012
DA that TV Show that you cited will do more harm than good and you’re correct: it’s a misinterpretation and only reminds oneself of liberals shouting “religious hypocrisy!”.
Alte
March 6, 2012
Just what we need. Wonderful.
Alte
March 6, 2012
Spain rebells against Euro tyranny. Yahoo!
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/ambroseevans-pritchard/100015432/spains-sovereign-thunderclap-and-the-end-of-merkels-europe/
David Alexander
March 6, 2012
Just what we need. Wonderful.
If you pray hard enough, maybe the show will have low ratings and be canceled. Other than the blonde hair, high make up use, high heels, and designer dresses*, there isn’t much entertainment value in the show. Supposedly, the creator worked on Sex in the City so it’s not like the writing will become better, but that claptrapish show managed to run for nearly a decade fueled by customer subscriptions to HBO.
Regardless, the show seems to be half-assed attempt to mock the so-called Churchian and feminist Christian types that are mentioned in the blogosphere, and the Church appears to be of Protestant origins, so I suspect that no Catholics were harmed during the production, but I can see why a trad like yourself would be concerned since most people watching won’t make that attempt to discern between traditionalists like yourself and “religious” women like the antagonists on the show.
*Arguably, it’s why I also watch Suburgatory, Jersey Shore, Jersey Couture, and yes, Jerseylicious, or a number of other vapid reality TV shows.
David Alexander
March 6, 2012
Spain rebells against Euro tyranny
Admittedly, I don’t blame them. While there was a degree for some need of austerity and reform of various sectors of the economy, the perpetual game of extreme austerity isn’t going to revive the economy, and if anything, the it’s rather silly to beat on Spain thinking that it’s no better than Greece just so the markets can have some high interest rates on bonds to make up for stock market instability and low returns elsewhere.
Marxist-Leninist girl
March 7, 2012
If you pray hard enough, maybe the show will have low ratings and be canceled.
I never saw significant evidence for the efficacy of intercessory prayer, and I doubt petitions to God will affect the success of a television program. I think it is futile, much like praying for a professional sports team’s success.
However, I will continue pray for myself — mainly to Saint Monica, the mother of Augustine of Hippo — for my own conversion, since spiritual affairs are the appropriate realm of intercessory prayer. I currently only have enough faith to pray daily and attend Mass, but it is still insufficient to sincerely believe in Church doctrine with my intellect. God has to be patient with me, as I am with myself and with God.
Marxist-Leninist girl
March 7, 2012
or elections…
Why aren’t Catholics like M-Ls and just be resigned fatalists in politics?
Alte
March 7, 2012
Because we believe that the state is part of the natural order.
I currently only have enough faith to pray daily and attend Mass
Well, judging by Mass attendance records and prayer-frequency studies, that implies you have more faith then most self-professed Catholics.
Anymouse
March 7, 2012
“And yeah, I’ll keep watching not because I like the show, but because it”s a porn free way of seeing women with lots of make up and high heels on television.”
We need to get you interested in schoolgirls.
David Alexander
March 7, 2012
We need to get you interested in schoolgirls.
I went to Catholic school, so that concept is lame to me…
Marxist-Leninist girl
March 7, 2012
“Because we believe that the state is part of the natural order.”
I meant the general belief that citizen participation can positively affect the political process, not whether the state is part of the natural order.
Well, judging by Mass attendance records and prayer-frequency studies, that implies you have more faith then most self-professed Catholics.
I suppose this gives my earlier remarks credence:
I don’t consider myself a Catholic since I do not believe in the dogma and tenets of the Church. When the congregation enunciates the Nicene Creed, I say it, and understand the meaning of the Creed, but I do not consciously accept it in its entirety. In order to identify myself as a Catholic, I would have to sincerely believe in the material of the Creed, but some self-identified Catholics perfunctorily say the creed in an ignorant stupor, to be in conformity with the other parishioners, without comprehending it.
I do feel God’s presence during Mass sometimes and during moments of contemplation, but my rationality tends to be dismissive of the reliability and significance of subjective spiritual experiences. Sometimes I am compelled to sing hymns during Mass, but I am naturally inhibited since I do not have a euphonious singing voice because my vocal range is limited.
What is the frequency distribution of prayers among individual Catholics? For instance, do people pray on a regular basis, like once a day (seven times a week with little variation of the number of times one engages in prayers per week) or it is random like a Poisson distribution (where the number of times on prays per week varies and it is uncorrelated with prayers during other time intervals)?
What Catholic Saint I am like the most (male or female)? Am I somewhat arrogant to compare myself (privately) to Saint Augustine?
Alte
March 7, 2012
I have a post about prayer-frequency coming up after the break.
Well, you’re obviously more similar to St. Augustine than St. Theresa. Maybe St. Hildegarde, as she was a cool intellect.
I meant the general belief that citizen participation can positively affect the political process, not whether the state is part of the natural order.
Why do you assume that we vote because we think we can positively affect the political process? We vote to be good citizens. There are only two acceptable states: being a good citizen or attempting to reform the government. There is no political apathy because a state can only be a net-good or a net-evil.
I’m currently on the fence about the “state of the state”, so I’m voting at least this one last time. The results of the next election and the agitation of the bishops will decide it for me.
Marxist-Leninist girl
March 7, 2012
I wonder if my Marxism-Leninism is like Augustine’s Manichaeism. I currently consider myself more of a M-List than a Catholic. However, the beliefs are somewhat mutually exclusive, and Enver Hoxha would probably not tolerate me.
I do not understand the (or a) Catholic theory of good citizenship, but I think it would be best for me to appropriate the M-L position that voting in bourgeois elections is merely a waste of time. I have no particular preference for any candidate in this election, although I will pay attention to it, since the outcome might be a bellwether for economic, cultural, and political trends. In fact, most M-Ls believe, at least in retrospect, that McCain was the lesser of the two evils, since Bush was overtly right-wing, and now, since an allegedly left-wing party is in control of the White House, the people would now incorrectly conflate plutocratic and neoliberal policies (in addition to pursuing antagonistic (to populist conservatives) liberal social policy) with genuine progressive policies. I harbored similar thoughts before the 2008 election, but I nevertheless supported Obama, despite knowing that he would be a captive of the wealthy cosmopolitan elite and only enact token reforms, because I thought he would allow the Bush tax cuts to sunset, as opposed to McCain who explicitly advocated their extension ad infinitum. Also my odium towards the Republican Party occluded my rationality, since I considered the possibility that Obama would not rectify any economic problems, due to the incentives of US representative democracy or the limitations of his executive power, and leftism would unfairly assume responsibility for the economic problems.
In the end, I had too much faith in Obama, even though I was already cynical as I did not join in the liberal chorus singing canticles of “change” and “hope”. (I am an autistic so I am immune to group think). I am surprised that much of the liberal left, such as the average reader of the Daily Kos, were such panglossian automatons. My disillusionment with Obama’s presidency is the contemporary political phenomenon that led me into M-Lism, in addition to reading Liu’s historical and economic expositions.
David Alexander
March 8, 2012
Another fun read arguing about college versus apprenticeship, with some comments noting that the German apprenticeship system may not work here due to the lack of regulations in the Anglosphere in regards to these positions…
http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2012/03/apprenticeships-v-college.html
And a soft-core porn book for adult women that reeks of Twilight. The more one learns about women, the more wants to replace them with a porn addiction.
http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2012/03/the_new_smutty_novel_fifty_shade_of_grey_.html
Anymouse
March 8, 2012
No, women need to replace *their* porn addiction with us.
Marxist-Leninist girl
March 8, 2012
David Alexander or anyone else,
Does anyone think there will be an increased demand for STEM graduates in the labor market, either in academia or in industry? Yes, I am willing to concede that they will do relatively well compared to “softer” liberal arts majors, but it seems that some of the advantages STEM graduates enjoy are due to the zero-sum dynamics of labor market signaling instead of their specific skills that their education has bestowed on them. I am wondering whether the economic quagmire will also negatively affect STEM graduates too, along with other college graduates and unskilled laborers.
Alte
March 9, 2012
Marxist-Leninist girl
March 9, 2012
Nani!?
So is religious freedom really a foundation of the United States? Who are these soldiers who fought for religious freedom as their primary reason?
Vote? That’s the message!? Why should anyone vote? It is just a waste of time. I don’t vote in bourgeois elections anyone.
Alte
March 9, 2012
Greece has defaulted: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/greece-has-defaulted-here-where-we-stand
RL
March 10, 2012
http://pdf.zeit.de/2012/11/01-Ehe.pdf
Marxist-Leninist girl
March 11, 2012
I have a similar personalty to Peter Thiel, the gay “Christian” tech entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and hedge fund manager.
“
Marxist-Leninist girl
March 11, 2012
http://www.scribd.com/doc/75778228/Thiel