Dear 2016,
I hope this finds you well rested. It's been a wild ride in 2015 and I know you must be exhausted.
You've seen war and wacky weather and warped world views.
You've seen great suffering, from refugees fleeing homes that are no longer safe to a dog getting its mouth taped shut.
You've seen a woman with a big butt and a man with bad hair dominate every day conversation.
You've seen mothers weeping with the worst kind of sorrow because police shot and killed their sons.
You've seen religion held up as a torch while its flames burned those under it who weren't white enough, Christian enough, Muslim enough, Jewish enough, rich enough, straight enough, male enough, conservative enough, devout enough, loud enough, quiet enough.
You've endured the social media...
Philosophy
To the students addressed in Dr. Piper's letter,
I am sorry.
I am sorry that I cannot contact you all directly and I am sorry for any hurt you may feel. I have felt hurt a lot in my life, and am very sad to say that I never found help for my problems or pain in chapel sermons when I was a student in those same seats. I wanted to. But I found no hope, only guilt.
Now I could talk to you about my time at OKWU, or why I transferred before my degree was finished, but I don't want to call people out. I don't want to respond in kind, I want to respond with kindness.
I don't know your names, I don't know who you are, but I want to tell you that you are loved. And while I believe in the virtue of humility, nothing has ever humbled me more than an act of love. Not a sermon about love, not a...
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Dear Believer,
You come to me and speak of a god that you claim you know so well. You tell me I have not truly encountered him the same way you have. You tell me I am missing out, I am not truly whole or happy unless I have him. I ask you, how are you so sure that I have not known him as well as you claim to. I have felt what people claim to be the holy spirit. I have spoke in tongues. I have wept with my brothers and sisters over those that do not know him. I have prayed until I couldn't anymore over those who do not know him. I have worshiped with my whole heart. I have longed to be with him in the end. So who are you to tell me I have not known him in this way?
You tell me that you have been where I am. No. No you haven't. Have you been in a place where you were so happy and so...
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With this text, I would like to address all members of our society, our nations, our humankind. I know I am not the only one worrying about recent events, past events, historical events. Acts of pure violence that have happened, that have affected our society, our actions, our minds; and yet to this day, we still seem to only be able to respond to violence with violence. Killings with Killings. Slaughters with Slaughters. Waving flags, wearing uniforms, singing hymns, justifying our acts of manslaughter. We shout war, seeking peace.
Hence, I ask myself, you, all of us: What is the difference? How can we seek world peace, if we apparently only know how to attack others or defend ourselves? Why is it an abominable crime to murder some people, yet, if our nation kills in the name of...
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Because it's 2015....
I am not afraid of you because you practice the Islamic faith.
Because it's 2015....
I am not afraid of you because you might be terrorists who want to hurt me.
Because it's 2015....
I am not afraid of you for dressing differently than I do.
Because it's 2015....
I am not afraid to speak out against racism, hate or fear based mistruths being spread by ignorant people.
Because it's 2015....
I am not afraid of you, but I am afraid FOR you.
Please know that I proudly stand beside you as a fellow Canadian, regardless of any differences in our faith, beliefs or customs -
BECAUSE IT'S 2015.
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Dear Waleed,
From my living room in Germany, I watched and nodded along with so many others around the world, as you brought a refreshing, much needed input to the dialogue about ISIL. It is without doubt that the world needs more voices like yours to speak against the ever-growing xenophobia (especially in Europe) addressed not only to Muslims, but also to people of Arabic origin regardless of their religion. However I find myself wondering if you would address a critical issue that is rarely (or with bigoted intentions) discussed. It is an issue so great I that if we don’t confront it head on, I fear we will lose this ‘war’ (or better said, this clash of ideologies). And please take this not as a provocation, for I find your opinion a smart, important and accurate contribution to the...
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You should stop participating in this Satanic holiday.
Ten reasons you should not celebrate Halloween.
Many in our secular society believe Halloween is nothing more than a harmless festival that allows kids to collect candy. But is it? Its origins lie deeply rooted in the occult, and Christians should stay away. Here are ten reasons why:
1. October 31st has long been known as “The Festival of the Dead”.
2. The Celtic tribes and their priests-the Druids-celebrated this day as a marker for the change from life to death.
3. Halloween is still celebrated today by adherents of witchcraft who use the night for their rituals. Witches celebrate Halloween as the “Feast of Samhain”, the first feast of the witchcraft year.
4. Being a festival of the dead, Halloween is a time...
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Dear Church of England,
I see you are trying to get yourselves some limelight of the migrants and refugees again.
Would that be anything to do with your recent scandal regarding Peter Ball in the press?
Oh, of course not, yes it is.
You haven't delivered a 'stinging attack' on David Cameron, he and the government including your own, Eric Pickles and Theresa May consistently and persistently protect your corruption and wrongdoing.
Jesus made it extremely clear that he considered the Pharisees' attitude of loving to be seen doing good deeds as wrong before God.
'They will get their reward here on earth' was his attitude.
And it will be the same with your empty, vainglorious noise about refugees to try and give the Church's reputation a boost after a little bit of your...
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Growing up in a country like India, I had heard several mythical stories from all religions and had often wondered how strong and charismatic all those Gods would be. I always doubted about Gods capabilities of being able to perform impossible tasks, but never dared to question because deep down, subconsciously I had started believing all those stories to be true.
Several times in my mind I had imagined all the lords and great leaders I heard stories of, most of the time the imagination was bounded by the their description in the stories. Sometimes , during my childhood days, sitting alone I would think what if someone shows up wearing an abnormally awkward attire ? Should I bow before him or just look at him ?
Many years passed and no one showed up, stories faded away and so did...
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We often hear statements trying to not to generalize groups and communities, instead or "all white people..." we say "some white people..." We still live in a society separated by race weather we acknowledge it or not. I'm sure there are white people that will not agree and not want to be generalized but I do.
I say continue generalization. I am a white woman. I understand I have privilege. So please continue to say "all white people" please do not say "some" it gives myself and others opportunities to say "yes some white people but I am not part of that some". Please hold me and other white people accountable for our privilege. We have it but if we hear a chance to dismiss it, it will be.
Now, I am not saying that all white people are bad, no. But I am saying white people either...
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