Comments for rlew.com

Comment on Atheists “de-baptize” with a blowdryer… by rlew

rlew — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:26:07 +0000

Thanks mrtsax for the note; I’d like to avoid calling people stupid. (But I suppose I’m not shy about calling what people do “insipid and uninspiring” — there’s a subtle difference. Really!)

Comment on Should Christians judge others? by rlew

rlew — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:20:05 +0000

I agree mrtsax, like the Edmund Burke quote: “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

(I suppose I’m contributing to the convoluted history of this quote.)

Comment on Atheists “de-baptize” with a blowdryer… by mrtsax

mrtsax — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:22:47 +0000

stupid is as stupid does =/

Comment on Should Christians judge others? by mrtsax

mrtsax — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:50:49 +0000

also, if we stay silent, who will oppose the oppressors, the oppressors will continue to oppress (ie North Korean refugees).

Comment on Male, Female or “Intersex”? by Sophia Siedlberg

Sophia Siedlberg — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 22:32:40 +0000

Hello rlew

Thanks for your thoughtful reply. I think what is bothering me about this debate is the way some have taken all this as a license to attack intersex people using biblical narratives. (I am not saying you do this :)

I agree with you that the separation of male and female is a fundamental biblical principle. Your description of a beach is a wonderful analogy of the concept behind the name El Shaddai. It is a part of what G-d created and for a reason. G-d will always be above creation and G-d has left such places and ideas to remind us all of that. It is impossible for the entire world to be like a beach, but without beaches the world would seem wrong somehow. I am comfortable with the fact that I am intersexed because I know that G-d has a reason for it.

I do love the analogy you used as well.

thanks

shalom :) Sophie

Comment on Male, Female or “Intersex”? by Nick

Nick — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 18:32:06 +0000

I’m intersex and I’m comfortable with it. I was born intersex because of a extra gene in body.

Comment on Male, Female or “Intersex”? by rlew

rlew — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 02:35:14 +0000

Thanks for taking the time to write, Sophie. I certainly agree that both males and females are made in the image of God. Believe it or not, I’d also affirm that intersexed individuals are made in the image of God — full of the dignity, morality, rationality, spirituality, and capacity for relationships that God intended.

At the same time, I still uphold the distinctions that God makes in creation. Land is separate from water and that is the way it must be for life to exist as God intended. Of course, there is the place where the water meets the land — the beach. It’s a beautiful place to be for sure, but not what all the earth should aspire to be.

Comment on Male, Female or “Intersex”? by Sophia Siedlberg

Sophia Siedlberg — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:19:29 +0000

Not sure I agree with you. Genesis 1:27 being an “Elohimist” narrative implies both male and female were made from the singular image of G-d.

Be glad that G-d made you as you are and not intersexed. I suspect that were you born intersexed, you would have a very different perspective, on how others treat you “Oh they should not be allowed to blur the sacred two sexes” (yes that is called Idolatry, there is only one G-d not two)

You may also come to understand G-d in a different light

shalom Sophie

Comment on Should men get facials? by rlew

rlew — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:28:55 +0000

I had a similar question: Men pampering themselves is self-absorption while women pampering themselves is… (a) acceptable because they’re women, (b) also self-absorbtion, or (c) ____ ?

Comment on Should men get facials? by mike

mike — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:55:04 +0000

Hm…. I dunno. Apples and oranges? I very much want as “men with chests,” as Lewis would call it. I am just uncomfortable with the male/female dichotomy that Stinson uses to get there.

Values may manifest themselves differently but I tend to think the principles are gender free. Thoughts?