Comments for Blue Torch

Comment on This Is Why I’m Not A PETA Member by Cellar

Cellar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:08:26 +0000

Somehow i missed the point. Probably lost in translation Anyway … nice blog to visit.

cheers, Cellar!!

Comment on This Is Why I’m Not A PETA Member by patricksperry

patricksperry — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:28:10 +0000

Curious comment about stem cell research. Adult stem cells are getting incredible research results lately. Whereas, the work that is being done with embryonic stem cells continues to show little if any promise.

People Eating Tasty Animals, still going strong, and without terrorist connections!

Have a good one.

Comment on The Case for Catholic Apostasy by huntingdonpost

huntingdonpost — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:12:59 +0000

At some point, we all have to decide who defines us. I was born gay and I was born a Catholic, and at some point denying the first became impossible, so I denied the second, and then, after living in all that denial, I decided that I am in charge of my life.

Comment on The Case for Catholic Apostasy by Jackie

Jackie — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:35:16 +0000

Thank you!
I dated a Catholic for a while (I grew up Catholic but dispise the institution) and broke up with him when I realized I had no respect for him. Calling yourself a Catholic, but picking and choosing what to believe in is not Catholic; it’s hypocracy and ignorance. When will people realize that?

Comment on The Case for Catholic Apostasy by huntingdonpost

huntingdonpost — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:22:10 +0000

I am to blame. As a gay person who goes to Catholic mass, I choose to express my faith in Christ, not the papacy or the hierarchy, and I fight for change within. I attend mass with my partner. Only once has a person refused to give us the sign of peace even though it is clear to everyone we are gay couple. The priests know. I have complained about homophobic literature being placed in the reading room, and it has been removed, for example. I don’t know if this does any good, but I feel like were othe gay people and I not there, then GLBTI people could simply be forgotten.

This pope, as Cardinal Ratzinger, wrote the Church’s official statement on homosexuality in 1976. It sounds today like a homophobic document, but I tell you that as a young Catholic then who was well aware of my sexuality, that statement made me believe I could be both Catholic and gay, that I was not a pervert. Groups like Dignity made me aware there were others like me. John Boswell, my teacher at Yale and a man of faith, also helped lead me to a place where I recognized I belonged. Boswell wrote Christianity, Social Tolerance and Homosexuality, a truly transformative book on the history of gay people in the church from the beginning.

I don’t disagree that the church as an institution has stood for terrible things. You are right to condemn it for its positions on birth control that have helped lead to a crisis of AIDs. I too condemn it, from within.

Sorry to be long-winded. This is just my perspective.

Comment on Sex, Diamonds, and Chimps by spike the cat

spike the cat — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 10:24:03 +0000

Hi. Yes, I made the comment about the untestability and bias but only to explain why there are so many outlandish interpretations from psychologists. Furthermore I gave an example. Other evolutionary psych examples are the claims that “all (not just Europeans but all) men have a preference for blond haired women” or proclaiming that certain preferences are “universal”, such as the 0.70 ratio for a females figure.

It’s unfortunate that evolutionary psych seems to have it’s unfair share of this type of reasoning; whereas geology, general evolutionary theory, physics, etc seem to be less vulnerable to human cultural prejudices. That’s all I meant.

But great post!

Comment on Sex, Diamonds, and Chimps by SAC

SAC — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 08:34:46 +0000

Yes, but are all Mormons of Panamanian descent living in a soggy state excellent piano and violin players? Hmmm……

Comment on Sex, Diamonds, and Chimps by Rishi Gajria

Rishi Gajria — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 06:32:56 +0000

Thanks for responding to my post on Feministing. I do not view Arranged Marriage any more malignant then any other notion or method of marriage or finding a mate.