Southern Baptists and I.V.F.

As a committed atheist I am always amazed at some of the things religious people believe.  Reincarnation, the angel Moroni and the angel Gabriel, virgin birth, Noah’s ark, the power of prayer, etc., etc., etc.  I am also amazed at how religious beliefs are interpreted in the modern world.  

The medical procedure of in vitro fertilization is usually used by couples who are having difficulty conceiving.  The convention of Southern Baptist “messengers” earlier this month rejected I.V.F.  Not only that, but the conventioneers declared that embryos have “personhood.”

Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island, wrote a letter to some followers in Rhode Island explaining his views on religion.  Suppose, he said, you have a number of passengers on a ship with different religious beliefs.  He mentioned Jews, Catholics, and Muslims, although he used different labels.  He said the Captain could not force those people to follow the Captain’s religion.  (That’s the first right in the First Amendment of the Constitution–no establishment.)  Nor could the captain stop people from praying and following their beliefs.  (That is the second right in the First Amendment–free exercise.)  He then said that if a religious practice interfered with the sailing of the ship, the Captain could put a stop to that practice.  

We have some stuff going on that is definitely interfering with the sailing of the American ship of state.   

Anne from Brussels

Anne, a long-time good friend who now lives in Brussels, visited us this weekend.  We have known Anne for at least 35 years; she noted that when she arrived here on Friday everything was familiar and felt like home.

Like many Europeans, she is worried that Trump will win in November.  What would a Trump victory mean for Ukraine, NATO, worldwide prosperity, the Middle East, nuclear war?  She reads the New York Times on-line every day and follows American politics closely.  Unfortunately we could not reassure her.  We have the same worries.

We did go on a hike on Sawmill Trail in Beltzville State Park on Saturday.  It is the best trail in the park, paralleling a swift-flowing trout stream with wild flowers blooming and perfect weather.  For a few hours at least, we were able to enjoy nature and forget the ugliness that is American politics.

Happy Birthday To You

I was born on Nov. 18, 1942, which makes me two days older than Joe Biden.  I am also older than Donald Trump, who turned 78 today.  Age is far less of a factor in running for President than running in a foot race.  Physical stamina is not as important for Presidents as it is for Philadelphia Eagles running backs.

Mental capabilities, on the other hand, are important.  Trump is three years younger than I, but I would never claim Covid could be cured by swallowing horse worming medicine or sticking a light up one’s butt.  I have never ruminated about jumping to a shark if my battery powered boat sank.  I wouldn’t suggest a tax cut of 20% because it is a “nice round number.”  I know that Putin is not America’s friend.  I understand that mail-in ballots take longer to count that those cast on election day.  I know windmills don’t cause cancer.  I’ve tested magnets under water and found they still work.

So, how would I be as President at age 81+?  I’m pretty sure the nation would be in far better hands than in those tiny hands of the birthday boy.

Are We Doomed?

That’s the title of a course at the University of Chicago taught by an astrophysicist and a sociologist.  Students meet for three hours every Thursday afternoon to hear guest speakers, watch movies, and discuss topics like climate change, artificial intelligence, and nuclear war.

I could teach this class.  At San José State I usually ended the last session of the semester with graphs of population growth, a description of a nuclear explosion a list of how many countries had nuclear weapons, and a timeline of how long dinosaurs lived compared to how long humans have been around.  The concluding question: “Given current trends do you think humans will last anywhere near as long as the dinosaurs?”  Students told me it was the most depressing lecture they had ever heard.

Let’s just look at nuclear weapons.  Nine countries–U.S., France, UK, India, Pakistan, Russia, China, North Korea, and Israel–have nuclear weapons.  The strategy of MAD (“mutually assured destruction”) has worked reasonably well to keep things under control, but accidents can occur (and almost have on at least two occasions).  Two of those countries are led by crazy people.  In the U.S. one person can decide to launch nuclear weapons.  One.

Now add to that climate change, religious fanatics (Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, even Buddhist), artificial intelligence, global climate change, willful ignorance, and growing irrationality.  Yes, we are doomed.

(Quick story:  in 1983 a Soviet early-warning satellite system reported five incoming American missiles.  Stanislav Petrov, who was on duty at the command center, managed to convince his superiors that any American attack would have started with more than five missiles.  No action was taken, and Petrov was proved correct.  Petrov has been labeled as the man who saved the world.)

Info for this post was taken in part from Rivka Galchen, Are We Doomed? The New Yorker, (June 10, 2024), pp. 22-27.

Climbing Mt. Everest

I was eleven years old when Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary reached the top of Mt. Everest.  It was one of those things that happen when you are a kid that for some reason you remember.  Maybe I remember because Tenzing Norgay is an odd name, but I was impressed.

Today’s New York Times has a picture of dozens of “mountain climbers” ascending to the top of Mt Everest.  It looks like one of those old photos of the Klondike gold rush.  The article details how these “climbers,” with their expensive equipment and “bucket lists,” are putting their Sherpa guides in danger, some of whom die while they cater to the rich jerks who hire them.  

Here’s what I propose.  If you are planning to climb Mt. Everest, you must use the same clothing, the same gear, and the same route that Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary used.  Then I’ll be impressed.  Otherwise, shut up. 

Drinking the Kool-Aid

The Carbon County Republican Party Headquarters on Route 209 in Franklin Township has what looks very much like an illustration of a Kool-Aid pitcher in the window.   I’ve heard they “drank the Kool-Aid.” but I didn’t realize they were advertising it. 

Lyme disease

I had planned to write about what a jerk Hunter Biden is.  How he could have avoided embarrassment by simply pleading guilty.  How he continues to hurt the people around him.  How this case was open and shut.  How I hope he goes to jail.

But I’m going to bed.  About 3 hours ago all of my joints began to hurt.  I was tired.  I had a slight fever.  So I look up Lyme disease, and those are all the symptoms.  I think I’ll call a doctor tomorrow.