How can we solve the problem of saying LGBTQ+ individuals should be celebrated and given full rights as persons, but still tackle issues like the question of Trans athletes competing in female sports or using female bathrooms?
LGBTQ+ Rights
What’s New
Vouchers—taxpayer dollars being used to support private (usually religious) schools.
- “What’s the biggest church/state separation issue in America right now? I would argue it’s the rapid spread of vouchers—taxpayer dollars being used to support private (usually religious) schools. (Hemant Mehta)”
Wise Words From Tennis Superstar Roger Federer
“Perfection is impossible. In the 1,526 singles matches I played in my career, I won almost 80% of those matches. But what percentage of points did I win? 54% In other words, even top ranked tennis players win barely more than half the points they play. When you lose ever second point on average, you learn not to dwell on every shot. You teach yourself to think: ‘Okay, I double faulted…it’s only a point.’ ‘Okay, I came to the net and I got passed again…it’s only a point.’ Even a great shot, an overhead backhand smash that ends up on ESPN’s top 10 playlist – that too is just a point. Here’s why I’m telling you this. When you’re playing a point, it has to be the most important thing in the world. And it is. But when it’s behind you, it’s behind you. This mindset is crucial – because it frees you to fully commit to the next point with intensity, clarity, and focus.” –
Euthyphro
The Philosopher Plato has Socrates ask “is it (1) pious [holy] because it is loved by the gods, or (2) loved by the gods because it is pious?”
This question is an issue today because some religious people think we can’t have a real morality and ethics unless there is a God to tell us what is right and wrong. For the atheist, right and wrong are just opinion and taste.
Does this make sense to you? In the same way, would we say we can’t judge writing as good or bad unless this is revealed by God? What other areas do we make judgments in without needing these criteria to be based on the will of God?
And, are these religious people even being biblical. In Genesis with creation things aren’t good because God declares them so, but rather God see that they are good.
The First Secular Web Kids Book Is Coming Soon!
This won’t be the actual cover art, but what ideas come up when you ask yourself “Where Did Everything Come From?” God? Nature? Billy and Bee will find out soon!
Religious Studies During School Hours
Prayer, Bible lessons and a big red bus: How an Ohio group is bringing God to public school
LifeWise Academy is on a mission to reach school children with the gospel. Opponents say the weekly Bible studies blur the line between church and state. See article HERE
Will Artificial Intelligence Replace People?
It depends what we do with it. Here are one author’s thoughts:
What would you like AI to do for you?
Happy Easter!
If you don’t celebrate Easter as religious event, you can still have Easter-like activities, such as an egg hunt. And, this year Easter falls on a day celebrating the equality and rights of transgender people. Here is what president Biden said:
“On Transgender Day of Visibility, we celebrate the joy, strength, and absolute courage of some of the bravest people I know. Today, we show millions of transgender and nonbinary Americans that we see them, they belong, and they should be treated with dignity and respect (President Joe Biden).”
Activity: Using A Thesaurus
Have you ever wanted to make your writing more interesting? There are a lot of words out there you can use instead of the ones you usually do: synonyms. Try using a thesaurus, like this one. If you check out a thesaurus, look at all the words you can use instead of “said.”
Question: Have you ever known someone who uses lots of big words? Do you think people who often use big words instead of small ones really know the differences between the many synonyms they use?
Activity: Using an Etymology Dictionary
Are you a philologist, someone who loves words? If so, did you know words have a history? For instance, did you know the word lunatic comes from the word luna, meaning moon. We can picture the person changing into a werewolf on the full moon.
To check out the history of some of your favorite words, explore an online dictionary of etymology!