tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post3896327018357981106..comments2024-03-28T03:10:51.807-05:00Comments on Julia Sweeney: Julia Sweeneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459682985438227986noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-54647749554064168252012-08-24T23:18:34.215-05:002012-08-24T23:18:34.215-05:00Really effective info, lots of thanks for the arti...Really effective info, lots of thanks for the article.Irmahttp://www.leandertx.gov/redirect.php?site=sexshop.sexshoptienda.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-82669407200510186142010-04-15T01:26:59.334-05:002010-04-15T01:26:59.334-05:00this kind of blog always useful for blog readers, ...this kind of blog always useful for blog readers, it helps people during research. your post is one of the same for blog readers.masters thesis writinghttp://www.eduthesis.com/thesis/masters_thesis.htmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-83734669447999671282007-12-15T02:13:00.000-06:002007-12-15T02:13:00.000-06:00Had to write because I live on Hyperion in the 900...Had to write because I live on Hyperion in the 90027 zip code! <BR/><BR/>Mule is right--I LOVE your work!<BR/><BR/>: ) --LisaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-76847654815381588992007-10-23T16:29:00.000-05:002007-10-23T16:29:00.000-05:00In my opinion, Mule Skinner is the reason us Catho...In my opinion, Mule Skinner is the reason us Catholics get bashed so much. The true message of Catholocism is "Love the sinner, hate the sin". I think that when people forget that, and angrily condemn others for percieved wrongs, it kind of makes us all look like harsh, unforgiving idiots.<BR/><BR/>I don't believe in a lot of what you're saying, but...Who am I to judge YOU?<BR/><BR/>God Bless.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-35990306867952201232007-07-02T14:08:00.000-05:002007-07-02T14:08:00.000-05:00Hi Julia,I was just wondering why you still capita...Hi Julia,<BR/>I was just wondering why you still capitalize god in your writings?<BR/>Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-7539263382391101152007-06-25T20:51:00.000-05:002007-06-25T20:51:00.000-05:00Yeah...tarantula on a baby's face. Hmmm...I best ...Yeah...tarantula on a baby's face. Hmmm...I best not speculate.<BR/><BR/>Cheers Julia..and keep up the good work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-25957905378548430352007-06-24T01:07:00.000-05:002007-06-24T01:07:00.000-05:00Hola Ms. Sweeney;Thank you for your work. The tho...Hola Ms. Sweeney;<BR/><BR/>Thank you for your work. The thought and effort you put forth is always breathtaking. <BR/><BR/>I'm sorry I don't have anything more political to say in this forum; however it couldn't hurt to point out that "Letting Go of God" is not intended to persuade, but to describe a life change.harry potter5https://www.blogger.com/profile/05048950035973575917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-55089720952759526552007-06-21T15:56:00.000-05:002007-06-21T15:56:00.000-05:00The nice lady from Wheaton got it all wrong: I ne...The nice lady from Wheaton got it all wrong: I never said Julia was enraged. I criticized her professional work, and made an observation about her new religion.<BR/><BR/>Also, I am no conservative, I am a progressive Democrat, who has served at three Democrat Conventions as a delegate.<BR/><BR/>The person I described as enraged was Molly Ivins. As a member of my union, I attended an event staged by the Democrat Party, in Texas, just before GWB pummeled Ann Richards in the Gubernatorial race of 1994. Molly was funny at first, but then she seemed kooky and angry and ate everything in sight. Governor Richards was staggering drunk. They made quite a pair.<BR/><BR/>Holly wants to call me names, but I am just at play in the fields of the Lord.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-15229278786212853932007-06-21T15:08:00.000-05:002007-06-21T15:08:00.000-05:00Well as someone who's not an atheist (I'm a backsl...Well as someone who's not an atheist (I'm a backsliding agnostic) and from the heart of Christian Conservative Country (Wheaton, IL) I gotta say I'm a HUGE fan of Julia's. (As a matter of fact I've never seen "It's Pat" and now I"ve decided I'm putting that on the top of my Netflix queue.)<BR/><BR/>I don't get Christian's in this country -- like Mule Skinner and his ilk. They talk about God's love all the time, but they aren't hesitant about spewing hate towards those they disagree with. Doesn't sound very "Christ-like." And when Julia defends herself, he says she's "enraged". I didn't get that from her response at all. Just the opposite. It was thoughtful and rational. Sheesh. Take a pill, Mule. <BR/><BR/>The final irony is that he then admits in his response that HE'S from Hollywood!! <BR/><BR/>Frankly, I'm tired of conservatives talking about Hollywood "liberals". I can't think of any Hollywood (elected) Democrats -- although I'm sure there have been some. But I can think of a slew of Hollywood Republicans: Ronald Reagan, Arnold Schwartenzegger (sp!?), that guy from the Love Boat, Sonny Bono, that guy from Law and Order who wants to run for President, Clint Eastwood. <BR/><BR/>And the stuff that comes out of Hollywood in the last ten years or more is MIGHTY conservative. (Passion of the Christ was no Disney Family Pic) Yes, there has been a "coming out" of a lot of gay people in Hollywood -- but Gay doesn't mean liberal. I think Carl Rove proves that. Opps. Did I say that? I told him I'd keep that secret. <BR/><BR/>For example look at TV: There are more Law and Order Shows (and their analogues) on TV than one can shake a billy club at, it seems. Lots and lots of true crime and punishment shows, too. But I can't think of one show -- fiction or news or documentary that talks about police brutality, or the burgeoning private prison business. <BR/><BR/>When's the last time you saw a liberal or atheist on a fiction show that wasn't portrayed in a flattering or non-denigrating way? The last atheist I saw on TV -- other than Julia talking about religion, was an episode on Law and Order Criminal Intent that loosely portrayed the tragic end of Madelyn Murray O'Hare. And they sure didn't have a debate between the characters about the existence of God! (And by the way, they changed the story to be that O'Hare herself planned the kidnapping and then was double crossed by her granddaughter. Even though in real life the granddaughter was also murdered along with her grandmother. There are no such thing as "innocent and moral" atheists.)<BR/><BR/>Furthermore, when do you see liberals with alternative ideas about consumerism, energy conservation, animal rights, food production, labor rights, anti-war, etc. represented in the media -- whether news or entertainment? They are portrayed as granola crunching, dreadlock trussed, birkenstock clad kooks, if they are at all. Even though a lot of them look like me -- frumpy nerdy middle aged suburban housewives. <BR/><BR/>I just think the conservatives that are leaving ugly comments on your blog are proving that religion isn't about "love of God" but about controlling people. Keeping the people in line. They are angry because you have the audacity to not toe that line. We need people to question that line and we need them to do it with a great sense of humor! I say "Toe on!" Julia! <BR/><BR/>PS: And the "Pissed off Catholic Mother" link was great! http://tinyurl.com/yvpfybAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-37616579783164472932007-06-21T12:10:00.000-05:002007-06-21T12:10:00.000-05:00Oh my! This guy Mule Skinner has just killed this ...Oh my! This guy Mule Skinner has just killed this BLOG.<BR/><BR/>What happened to you, Julia? Fight back! And don't let worms like Mule Skinner Post anymore, please?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-31845031046334217402007-06-21T05:49:00.000-05:002007-06-21T05:49:00.000-05:00I just found this and now can't wait to find out m...I just found this and now can't wait to find out more about "letting go of God"<BR/><BR/>Religion is a hard thing for me to come to terms with because, as you said, <BR/><BR/>"Seeing the negative effects of belief in God looms large for me."<BR/><BR/>My parents, and later just my mother, used religion as a reason for abuse, as have many parents. It's a hard dichotomy to deal with as an adult, but even harder as a child- God is good but you have to suffer to end up with Him in the end. "suffer the little children" and all that.<BR/><BR/>Religion, as a social construct, has been beneficial and there are times I just wonder if we have moved past the need for religion as our unifying force, that now it just creates fear, confusion, and dissidence.<BR/><BR/>(I'm not spell-checking :) )<BR/><BR/>I don't know, God still 'looms large' for me but I have a lot that He needs to take accountability for. Many of my friends were raped as children and while we, the kids, knew the adults didn't because our common beleif, as taught to us by the church, was that bad things happen because we've sinned in the eyes of the Lord. We all prayed fervently more for forgiveness of our perceived sins than for help to get us out of abusive households, and now that sickens me. <BR/><BR/>I'm going to have to check in more often. I always found your work intelligent and engaging and am happy to hear you are doing well and working on a project that excites you.Victoryahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18256314171695734487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-78750855158928764472007-06-17T11:17:00.000-05:002007-06-17T11:17:00.000-05:00Julia,I have just read that you are engaged to be ...Julia,<BR/><BR/>I have just read that you are engaged to be married in February.<BR/><BR/>Congratulations!<BR/><BR/>you're a total doll, and the guy is one lucky fella.<BR/><BR/>Damn! Hearts are breaking all over the place. :^(Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-55201743777435228562007-06-14T23:54:00.000-05:002007-06-14T23:54:00.000-05:00Julia, I saw your show a year ago when you perform...Julia, I saw your show a year ago when you performed in my theatre with IRA Glass...Ken in Austin...I arranged for you to borrow my babysitter...anyway, your show changed my life...took away the self imposed Catholic guilt. Love you for that. You can read my blog at http://kenstein64.wordpress.com. When your film is done, give us a call so we can screen it at the theatre. We'll invite everyone who came to your sold-out show last year. Screw Mule. He didn't get it. His loss.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-89434815631171796822007-06-14T00:51:00.000-05:002007-06-14T00:51:00.000-05:00Dear Julia,Break-a-leg this weekend in the windy c...Dear Julia,<BR/><BR/>Break-a-leg this weekend in the windy city! They're going to love you and I can't wait to hear about it on your blog.<BR/><BR/>My head is spinning with Stumbling on Happiness....it's a fun ride. I just hate it when reality screws up a good fantasy....damnit!<BR/><BR/>Enjoy them enjoying you!Elaine Suraniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13087421621326266002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-44574143873242729842007-06-12T11:58:00.000-05:002007-06-12T11:58:00.000-05:00May we presume from Carrileeb's double posting tha...May we presume from Carrileeb's double posting that Alzheimer's has already overtaken her?<BR/><BR/>As a progressive, George W. Bush is plenty troubling. But, we have a problem looming in 2008.<BR/><BR/>While each of the big 3 Democrat Party candidates each made a statement of their religious faith at the last debate, they all look weak and pathetic...like they don't mean it.<BR/><BR/>With the Son of a Mill Worker, Hillary Rodham and Babakazama running, it is fairly certain that the next resident of the Whitehouse will be a religious conservative, Mitt Romney. He already has a double digit lead in Iowa and New Hampshire. Very troubling.<BR/><BR/>God Bless....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-20554445736942651892007-06-12T09:59:00.000-05:002007-06-12T09:59:00.000-05:00Thanks for the laughs - smart funny blogs on your ...Thanks for the laughs - smart funny blogs on your site! I cannot see/hear "Dubya" without instantly, involuntarily blurting out "Moron!" - just can't help it. <BR/>If you/someone you know is involved with Alzheimer's could you look at this blogsite in case you could help this woman?<BR/>www.bringhelihome.blogspot.com<BR/>Thank you. CarrileeCarrileehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16904009406934193172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-52987231388339296022007-06-12T09:58:00.000-05:002007-06-12T09:58:00.000-05:00Thanks for the laughs - smart funny blogs on your ...Thanks for the laughs - smart funny blogs on your site! I cannot see/hear "Dubya" without instantly, involuntarily blurting out "Moron!" - just can't help it. <BR/>If you/someone you know is involved with Alzheimer's could you look at this blogsite in case you could help this woman?<BR/>www.bringhelihome.blogspot.com<BR/>Thank you. CarrileeCarrileehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16904009406934193172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-67204038484770231872007-06-12T09:36:00.000-05:002007-06-12T09:36:00.000-05:00To those of you currently directing your comments ...To those of you currently directing your comments to Christian Mom:<BR/><BR/>1. Approach nearest brick wall.<BR/>2. Place head approximately three inches away from brick wall.<BR/>3. Tilt head at least 30 degrees away from brick wall.<BR/>4. With considerable force, tilt head >30 degrees toward brick wall.<BR/>5. Repeat until unconscious and/or desire to engage in futile debate about imaginary characters subsides.Sheldonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11861876430546129295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-81993695572740451072007-06-11T22:04:00.000-05:002007-06-11T22:04:00.000-05:00Tom,Your question is a very valid one, and I'm gla...Tom,<BR/><BR/>Your question is a very valid one, and I'm glad that you are thinking about these things. Let me just give you a little of my own personal background. I grew up in a Christian home, lost a parent to death, questioned why God would allow that to happen and was very angry for a long time. I did a lot of searching and decided that I did want to follow Jesus, even though I can't explain why God didn't choose to save my parent from an early death. I study the Bible regularly, have attended church for many years, and went to a Christian college. That being said, I am in no way a Bible scholar, but I do want to attempt to answer your question.<BR/><BR/>The sacrifice of the Father was not that He simply sent His son to die to have him back 3 days later. But, that in Jesus' death, Jesus took the sins of the whole world onto him and had to endure separation from God. God knowingly sent Jesus to a torturous death that He didn't deserve in the place of us. (It's like a person sending his son to take a death penalty sentence in place of his neighbor's son who really committed the crime and is not deserving of this gift.) It was a huge sacrifice by God the Father and more than just losing a child to death. I don't understand the agony Jesus felt by having the sins of the world on Him for 3 days and being separated from the Father, but His sacrifice and victory over death was God's way of reconciling sinful man to Himself and opening the door for us to have a relationship with Him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-89260028938645482922007-06-11T19:07:00.000-05:002007-06-11T19:07:00.000-05:00My problem is this: what does it mean he GAVE his ...<I> My problem is this: what does it mean he GAVE his only son? Ya, for 3 days maybe </I><BR/><BR/>LOL.<BR/><BR/>Someone here (maybe Julia?) said something along the lines of, "People with cancer SUFFER and die, Jesus had a bad weekend."<BR/><BR/>: ) PetraPetrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09644395385612078883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-1753406647510488322007-06-11T18:58:00.000-05:002007-06-11T18:58:00.000-05:00I posted this on a blog where a bunch of people we...I posted this on a blog where a bunch of people were attacking Sam Harris, but received no response. Maybe Christian Mom can take a crack at it.<BR/> <BR/>For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that who so ever believeth in him should not perish but have ever lasting life!<BR/>John 3:16 New King James Version<BR/><BR/>I understand that to lose a child is just about the worst thing that can possibly happen. I get that. I can't even begin to comprehend the horror were I to lose my kids. But...this is GOD we're supposedly talking about. Big, all-knowing, omniscient dude who is supposedly father & son at the same time. <BR/><BR/>My problem is this: what does it mean he GAVE his only son? Ya, for 3 days maybe, all the while knowing he would get him back "to sit at the right hand of the father". I’d say that’s a pretty minor, calculated ploy in the scheme of things.<BR/><BR/>So sure, he had to allow his son to suffer, and die (briefly), but what kind of sacrifice is that compared to some mere human who loses their child for EVER. (at least, for the rest of their temporal existence)? There's no comparison to the depth of grief of losing someone “forever” compared to knowing you're getting them "back" and all will be rosey.<BR/><BR/>Why is this example held up as the supreme example of sacrifice? I just don't get it.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00734146640181542817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-23838976398168535662007-06-10T13:53:00.000-05:002007-06-10T13:53:00.000-05:00C M,One more thing. Even if I were to accept that ...C M,<BR/><BR/>One more thing. Even if I were to accept that you actually do "Believe" that the tylenol will take away your head ache, that belief is not something you chose to have. We don't do that. You would believe it because of past experience, commercials, testimonials by friends, etc. Nobody says to themselves. "I'm going to choose to believe in...whatever." Nobody sane at least. So again, you can't "choose" to believe Jesus was a god.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-1502377552229353512007-06-10T13:13:00.000-05:002007-06-10T13:13:00.000-05:00Christian MomI appreciate your feedback, however I...Christian Mom<BR/><BR/>I appreciate your feedback, however I think you are confusing hope with belief to some extent. You hope the Tylenol will take away your headache. It doesn't always though, as you know. You hope the mechanic will be able to fix your car. Sometimes he/she can't though. Still, your using the best available evidence, which is all I do when I view the universe and conclude the the most logical thing is that there is no sky-god up there running the show. I don't choose to believe this, it is just a natural outcome of my observations. So to round it back to the original comment. Since I have not come up with the same conclusion as you, most Christians would claim that I would be consigned to hellfire for eternity, while you would live happily (can't help but think of "Brave New World" here) forever. Interesting sort of thing, that, isn't it. <BR/>I have read "Mere Christianity" before although not the other reading you mentioned. I also have about 14 years of bible education, etc under my belt, so I am not unaware of the underlying arguments for there being a god. They just aren't as sound as those for there not being a god. <BR/>Check out the "God Delusion" sometime. That and "Demon Hanuted World" a classic by Sagan to go on the shelf next to "Mere Christianity". Best to ya.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-40515012512598996442007-06-10T11:00:00.000-05:002007-06-10T11:00:00.000-05:00Dahan,You say, “You can’t ‘choose’ to believe some...Dahan,<BR/>You say, “You can’t ‘choose’ to believe something.“ <BR/><BR/>I disagree. We choose to believe things all the time. We choose to believe that certain people are telling us the truth (or not). We choose to believe that taking Tylenol when we have a headache will make us feel better. We choose to believe that our car mechanic will fix the vibration in the steering wheel.<BR/><BR/>These choices to believe are often based on historical, scientific or experiential evidence. Maybe a certain person we know tends to lie, so we choose to believe that what they are saying may not be true. Or, science has shown and my experience has confirmed that taking Tylenol when I have a headache makes the pain go away.<BR/><BR/>I think the point you are trying to make is that my choice to believe does not change the truth (i.e., if I "choose" to believe the world is flat, it doesn't make the world flat) and I would agree with that. My choice to believe in Jesus doesn’t change who Jesus is, but when I look at the evidence (scientific, historical and experiential), I believe that Jesus is who he claimed to be.<BR/><BR/>It sounds like you don’t choose to believe the same thing. Maybe you haven’t looked at the same evidence or just have chosen to interpret it differently, but as someone who seems very interested in finding evidence before they make a choice to believe something, I would suggest reading “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis (someone who lived much of his life as an Atheist) or “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel (another former Atheist who describes himself as a “former spiritual skeptic”). Both would provide a more in-depth conversation on some of these very ideas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-34076104546573527582007-06-09T17:16:00.000-05:002007-06-09T17:16:00.000-05:00Christian MomThere are many flaws in your argument...Christian Mom<BR/><BR/>There are many flaws in your argument, but I will point out just one for now. You say that "When a person chooses to believe in Jesus, they receive the gift of eternal life." Well, that's a bit tricky, you see, you can't "choose" to believe in something. Unless your talking about self delusion. I don't "choose" to believe the sky is blue, or that I live in Minnesota, or that the world I live on is basically round and orbits a star. I believe them because the best available information we have says that this is the case. Your saying that I could choose to believe in Jesus is like if I told you that you could believe that the world we live on is flat and rotated around a giant lemmon. I don't think you could do that. You could SAY you did, and even ACT like it, but that's not the same thing as real belief is it? No, the only way to get to that point is if you worked hard to delude yourself into believing it. This would be easier to do if you thought you could live happily forever if you did accept the premis, and if there were millions or billions of others that already held the same delusions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com