2012 conventions 2012 election 2013 session arts arts and culture author ballot measures basketball bomb books boy scouts budget bullying business charlie hales children clackamas climate change coal college courts crime culture culture club democrats drugs economy education environment family film fluoride food gay rights guns handguns health health care health insurance high school history housing immigration internet kitzhaber law legislature lgbt literary arts living marijuana marriage media medicine mental health military minor parties mohamed mohamud movies music native americans news newspaper obama olympics oregon our town parenting pers photography police politcs politics port portland portland business journal president prevention public safety religion republicans rnc romney rural salem sam adams sandy hook schools science shooting sports suicide supreme court taxes technology terrorism theater third parties transportation union university of oregon washington wildfire women

Having grown up an alter boy (not violated) who repeatedly enjoyed carrying the cross into the service  and moving the book from the Epistle side of the alter to the gospel side, I came to realize that the essence of my attraction for that faith was the beautiful music and social connection and consistent ceremony. Examining the various creeds and doctrines and words of the songs, I grew up  to find them fantastical and beyond belief—understandably fitting the needs of western humans before the Scientific Revolution and Age of Reason.

Today I am reverent and respectful of all respecting faiths AND I have come to believe this to understand the plethora of different faiths—which is supported by the Pugh survey:

There are many faiths espousing many different stories and explanations of the world and most participants DO NOT REALLY KNOW or CARE about what their specific religion espouses. Standing shoulder to shoulder with fellow worshipping friends feels good. This is why the Pugh Study showed such little knowledge of their faith. I now believe that all of the different human faiths exist because they meet these human needs:

1. The need for social connection with a right-sized community of other people for stable social groups (tribes if you will) to celebrate the family events of our lives but especially births, coming of age, weddings, deaths, tragedies, as well as everyday goings on.
   
   
2. The need of every human to be able to state a belief and feel right about it—we each have a need to be “right” because it allows us to “look good” to others. Hence, the arguments between people of different faiths. Just listen to the current guests arguing for their beliefs—even though they are being civil.

I find peace in this model and it seems to fit the way we humans are. (And, I like being “Right” about this!)  Thank you for the good show.

posted 2 years, 7 months ago
view in context

While I appreciate all bridges for their function, I most enjoy back country foot bridges.  

The Drift Creek Bridge, about 10 miles inland from Lincoln City, is 240 feet long and accessed after hiking or wheelchairing about 2 miles from a good parking lot. From the bridge and the creekside lunch spot below, falls from a tributary add a special dimension. For this and other beautiful bridges built by a local Seattle company, see sahale.com.

I appreciate the different view on wildness that such bridges provide as well as the history of each bridge. Bridges provide unique engineering challenges; they draw talented engineers and contractors to them, in the same way that commercial jetliners are loved by those who design and build them. They are labors of love. 

posted 2 years, 10 months ago
view in context