BrianJarrett.com

Arthur C. Clarke was my favorite science fiction writer and I own virtually all of his fiction. He was a strong influence on my logical and reasonable approach to understanding the world and provided me with countless hours of enjoyment and mental stimulation. Some of my favorite of his books are probably Rendezvous With Rama, The Songs of Distant Earth, The City and the Stars, A Fall of Moondust, and The Fountains of Paradise.

Clarke once said, “The greatest tragedy in mankind’s entire history may be the hijacking of morality by religion.” This, I believe, is probably the most profound statement he ever uttered.  It supports the crux of my arguments concerning the so-called “necessity” of religion.

An atheist and humanist, a scientist and thinker, Clarke showed me what we have the potential to be if we employ education, reason, and open-mindedness. In a world permeated with sinister fundamentalist extremists bent on dragging the rest of the world down into a new dark age, Clarke’s example of human potential is a guiding light. Although he never knew me he taught me a lot and I hope that one day he’ll teach my children and their children as well.

Good-Time Boy

Here’s an article from the Washington Post online that caught my attention today. Here is the most frightening and disturbing piece:

As recounted by former speechwriter Bill McGurn, who was at the meeting, Bush told Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-Kiun that “the church is the rock — it is the only thing that can withstand the wave of secularization, which says you can kill someone else to make your own life more convenient. He said the Catholic Church must never give in on this.”

This is an obvious attack on secularists with an implicit threat …read more »

I once overheard a conversation in which one of the conversing parties expressed frustration over a perceived constraint that prevented him from saying “Merry Christmas” and instead forced him to say “Happy Holidays”. He went on to describe how this was another example of modern American society stifling and persecuting Christians. “We can’t even say ‘Merry Christmas’ anymore”, he lamented to his friend.

I hear this argument often from so-called “persecuted” Christians; a frustration of not being able to profess their Christian belief in a public manner. My first issue with this is …read more »

After 73 years of hate, intolerance, and bigotry Falwell has finally succeeded in making the world a better place. As a farewell I’d like to present a few quotes by the dearly departed: …read more »