#Religious values

[tmarshconnors]

"If I were the Devil"

Paul Harvey, the famous radio commentator, delivered "If I Were the Devil" in 1965. The piece is a reflection on how society could be led astray by moral decay and cultural deterioration. Harvey's hypothetical scenario outlines a plan the devil might undertake to lead humanity away from virtue.

"If I were the Devil"

If I were the Devil, I wouldn’t be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree Thee.

So, I’d set about however necessary to take over the United States. I’d subvert the churches first. I’d begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: "Do as you please."

To the young, I would whisper, "The Bible is a myth." I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what is bad is good, and what is good is "square."

And the old, I would teach to pray after me: "Our Father, which art in Washington..."

And then I’d get organised. I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting, so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. I’d threaten TV with dirtier movies, and vice versa. I’d peddle narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. I’d tranquillise the rest with pills.

If I were the Devil, I’d soon have families at war with themselves, churches at war with themselves, and nations at war with themselves until each, in its turn, was consumed. And with promises of higher ratings, I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flames.

If I were the Devil, I would encourage schools to refine young intellects but neglect to discipline emotions—just let those run wild. Until before you knew it, you’d have to have drug-sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door.

Within a decade, I’d have prisons overflowing. I’d have judges promoting pornography. Soon I could evict God from the courthouse, then from the schoolhouse, and then from the houses of Congress. And in His own churches, I would substitute psychology for religion and deify science. I would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls, and church money.

If I were the Devil, I’d make the symbol of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas a bottle.

If I were the Devil, I would take from those who have and give to those who wanted until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious.

And what’ll you bet I couldn’t get whole states to promote gambling as the way to get rich?

I would caution against extremes in hard work, in patriotism, in moral conduct.

I would convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun, that what you see on TV is the way to be. And thus I could undress you in public, and I could lure you into bed with diseases for which there is no cure.

In other words, if I were the Devil, I’d just keep right on doing what he’s doing.

[akeliciousmedia]

Naira Marley: Hold Me Accountable For My Mistakes, Not My Religion

Nigerian musician Abdulazeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, has publicly addressed criticisms urging people to hold him accountable for his actions rather than blaming his religion. In a recent post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, the controversial artist highlighted the difference between the perfection of Islam and the imperfections of its followers. “Islam is perfect, Muslims…

[faithroots74]

Who is imposing their religious views?

The Justice Secretary Shabana Mahood has come out strongly against assisted dying. She has made it known that she has religious views that underpin her position. Lord Falconer who has himself attempted to bring an assisted dying law into force through the House of Lords has complained that people should not impose their religious views onto others. It is worth noting two things, first that…

[georgeworrellstyle]

#insideSTYLE presents an inspiring conversation with Rabbi Aaron Alexander (@aaronalexander), where faith meets social impact. Join George Worrell as they delve into how religious values can foster community resilience and drive meaningful change.

Rabbi Alexander sheds light on the role of faith-based leadership in addressing today’s challenges and nurturing compassion and responsibility. Discover how faith traditions intersect with modern social responsibility, promoting a path forward grounded in ethics, empathy, and a shared commitment to justice.

Don’t miss this powerful dialogue. #georgeworrell #georgeworrellstyle

[storytour-blog]

Who Is in Control of Whom?

A man was charged with committing a serious crime against the king and placed in prison until his trial. When it came time for him to stand trial, one of the king’s guards took him from his cell and escorted him to the place of justice. The king’s guard, suspecting that the prisoner might try to escape, took a pair of handcuffs from his pocket. He then placed one of the cuffs around the wrist of…

[crustyfloor]

Again on the dissonance between what Mizi says versus what she does... Mizi's relationship with her agency / autonomy is complicated and strained. She wanted to go to Anakt Garden for that sense of control and solidarity among humans and away from the aliens, but even then, she's punished for possessing her own autonomy (ie. Her encounter with "I'm Quite," who hit her for not reciprocating his feelings, because he felt wronged and entitled to her, like she's an object. In turn, this establishes how Mizi is punished for rejecting the education that the Aliens taught, which teaches her that her say-so is conditional and that there will always be a standard and expectation for her that she doesn't want to commit to--

but she's forced to conform either way, she never has a full grasp on that sense of control that she needs, with her dynamic with Sua, they are women, so as women they are seen the same way by the society they live in, in that way Mizi feels seen by an equal and a human like herself, in another way, Sua is like a mirror of what Mizi hates having to be, that's also why Sua's submissiveness is so gratifying to her sense of confidence and insecurities in the moment, above Sua her usual role is reversed, she can believe that she has the full control because of this power imbalance and Sua lets her have it. But something is interesting about Mizi's behavior. There's so much resentment and hurt built up within her. The moment she has the chance to become vulnerable and vent that frustration, she can't do it-- she doesn't do anything but hold Sua gently. That is how Mizi loves Sua, having the strength and say so to completely "crush" Sua, but chooses to hug her and cradle her fragile heart, Mizi's fragile god, whom she reveres and loves so much that, of course, with this much power, she couldn't destroy her, she'd worship Sua for the blessing of having this. Having the agency and ability to do whatever she wants with someone so willing, but innately, Mizi doesn't truly want to hurt anyone in the same way her pain is laughed at and enjoyed by the aliens for entertainment (As opposed to what she thinks about herself)

(🫩)

[worfsbarmitzvah]

there’s such an attitude among ex-christian atheists that religions just spring up out of the void with no cultural context behind them. like ive heard people say shit like “those (((zionists))) think they own a piece of land bc their book of fairy tales told them so!!!” and they refuse to understand that no, we don’t belong there because of the torah, it’s in the torah because we belong there. because we’re from there. the torah (from a reform perspective) was written by ancient jews in and about the land that they were actively living on at the time. the torah contains instructions for agriculture because the people who lived in the land needed a way to teach their children how to care for it. it contains laws of jurisprudence because those are pretty important to have when you’re trying to run a society. same for the parts that talk about city planning. it contains our national origin story for the same reason that american schools teach kids about the boston tea party. it’s an extremely complex and fascinating text that is the furthest thing from just a “book of fairy tales”

[son-of-avraham]

People often assume that a person is primarily religious because they believe their religion is The Most Correct. However, I am a very strict believer in judaism and I love arguing for other religions.

I just got done outlining how exactly polytheism is advantageous over monotheism and it was incredibly fun. I love people and I love g-d and these two things coexist in perfect harmony

[finalgirlsamwinchester]

guy who so desperately tries to find god. who wants to have faith in a higher authority to guide him out of the hole he's in. from the weight of guilt from simply existing, as the person he is. but every time he thinks he's answered his higher calling it turns out he's made the Morally Incorrect choice and his path to goodness and holiness was the road to the devil all along

[riversaremeanttobefollowed]

We all know that the reason why Bruce Wayne isn't religiously Jewish is because dc are cowards, but also because many of the community itself is cowards. I personally believe it comes from a lack of knowledge about what it even means to be religious because most of the community is Christian or culturally Christian. So as someone that would probably be considered not religious by Christians, but Religious by most other Jewish people, I think that Bruce Wayne fits in this section of being Jewish.

Bruce can't go to the Synagogue often because of the whole being Batman stuff, but he still goes on the high holidays when he can. He celebrates with the Kane family as well! And Kate would obviously understand if he couldn't come because she's Batwoman! Give me a Bruce Wayne says Yiddish curses. Give me a Batman that has a bunch of Chanukkiot that are just so pretty because they are rich and definitely have a ton. Give me Batfamily shabbat dinners when they are able to. Rest days on Saturday for the Jewish members when they are more members in the Batfam to make it work (and it being a mitzvah when he does have to be Batman on Shabbat because its a mitzvah to save a life). Give me Mezuzot on every entryway. Give me a Bruce Wayne who inherited his mother's seder plates and actually uses them. Give me a Bruce Wayne that says stuff like kein ayin hara before giving good news! Give me a confused Dick Grayson when Bruce insults him (its actually a compliment, but to ward against the evil eye you will say the opposite of what you mean) and then Bruce having to explain after he realizes that Dick has no idea why he just insulted him. Give me a Batman that follows Jewish values (more than he canonically does)

Just because someone ins't actively involved within a wider community of that Religion doesn't mean they aren't Religious! Or at least don't give me a culturally Jewish Bruce Wayne that doesn't do any of this. Thats just you stripping away all the Jewish parts of him.

Bruce Wayne is Jewish and you can't just ignore that

[tetedurfarm]

i know this is a long haul video, but it's also an extremely good breakdown of the myth of self-sustainability homesteading and how you should never believe everything you see online or in books. also a little bit about how joel salatin suck ass, actually.

this shit is not easy and it doesn't make money. i am only allowed to do this because my spouse is a software engineer in the video game industry. don't fall for the promise of being able to pay your way via a small farm. the only thing small-scale homesteading gives you is a sense of accomplishment, a connection to your food, and at least one joint injury that you will need to go to physical therapy for. i will never talk anyone out of wanting to grow their own food, because i think it's an extremely good and important thing to do, but i will always encourage you to do it within your means with a realistic vision of that future.

[queerorthodoxy]

I love queer religious people, the world needs our perspective and experiences. The world needs you.

[essenceofarda]

I know this may sound weird to say out loud but damn do I wish my tolkien fanart/fanfic/fandom content was at all "smart" :/

Idk if that means more 'meta', or if just more profound/intellectual, but it's been really striking me lately that my art is just not all that great, particularly my tolkien fanart. It just feels very surface level entertainment, budget-friendly stuff, and not exactly anything to write home about, kind of vibe? Which like, there's nothing particularly wrong with that, since that kind of entertainment does have its value, imo

But I wish my tolkien fandom content was just a bit more...? idk, good, maybe.

[thatdiabolicalfeminist]

What would it be like if people in your community looked out for you?

What would it look like if people outside your most-texted friends and closest family knew you and were invested in your wellbeing and were willing to make deliberate effort to contribute to it?

What would a healthy supportive community, full of a wide variety of people who aren't all necessarily friends, look like?

What would make your community more like that?

What structures or opportunities already exist that might enable that? Are they sufficient? Why or why not? If you don't know what kinds of organizations etc exist in your community, how could you find out? If they aren't sufficient, what could you do to contribute or create new opportunities for relating with each other?

What barriers interrupt opportunities for healthy connection and support in your community? What would effectively addressing those barriers look like?

What would be the easiest possible first step that one busy person could take to start to make your community more connected? Can you think of anything that you personally could do?

What kinds of skills or ideas would be necessary that you can't provide? How could you find people with those kinds of skills or ideas who are also interested in community care and who might be willing to work together?

You're probably marginalized by at least one form of oppression. Most people are. You're probably busy and tired. Most people are. What would make it possible for you to contribute anyway? What would make it possible for other busy tired people to contribute?

If you want your community to care for you—if you need that, as I'm convinced all people do—you might have to figure out how to care for your community first. If you wanted that, how would you start?

[nights-at-crystarium]

got curious after a convo about finding artists through fandom tags, of course you don't have to sweat it if you followed me for so long that you don't even know anymore, buuuuuuutt if you happen to remember-

[chamerionwrites]

Listen. I’m not saying that people like this don’t exist. But I am saying that you’re the one who appears to believe in original sin, so maybe consider that the call is coming from inside the house: