Don't overlook the invisible

There is a great hue and cry over certain groups of people and how they are being mistreated, abused or victimized in one way or another. For those of us with good hearts, the impuse to help and support them is automatic. But what about the people who aren't part of those groups? What about the kind and friendly person who is suddenly scowling one day? What about the person who is usually very open who is now very closed and guarded? Or the person who many people know is going through a troubled time who suddenly disappears?

Frankly the groups with good publicists are getting lots of support from many different sources. I want to make sure that the other people who need help get something. I already try to pay attention to people. I have been the one to ask "are you okay?" and "what can I do to help?". I hope I can do even more of it as a minister.

Stop creating victims

In American society, being a victim can be a very powerful position if applied correctly. Because of this, there are some groups that have been told consistently that they are victims and deserve special treatment or consideration because of it. I certainly believe in helping someone who has suffered a misfortune or injustice, but when someone or a group is constantly in that situtation, there is some underlying cause that needs to be addressed.

This needs to stop. We need to quit teaching people that they can get ahead by blaming others so that we can reserve our compassion and charity for those who truly need it. The ones who just make a habit of being victims need to learn to stand on their own two feet.

I strongly believe in equality of opportunity, but that certainly does not and should not guarantee parity of results.

Why am I writing this now? Well, the minister at the church I go to tends to push the victimization button and it does annoy me. In addition, some of the other students in one of my seminary classes are going on about how certain groups or classes of people have not only been discriminated against in the past (which I do not dispute), but are being strongly discriminated against in today's world. I've heard that story for too long and I have seen too many examples to the contrary to be willing to accept it any more. Not only that, I am really tired of being told that since I am a straight white male, it is all my personal responsibility.

Feminism Overload

This last week has been unpleasant. The focus in one of my classes has been on feminsts and feminism in the 19th Century as it applies to the history of the churches. Added to that was the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day and a sermon at my regular church about it. I went to a different church last Sunday, the sermon on global warming was far less offensive.

Fundamentally, I am sick and tired of being expected to feel guilty and ashamed for being a straight white male. I've had it and I'm really quite angry about it.

Here are some realities that are being denied:

Women are not the same as men. There are a lot of things that both genders can do equally well, but there are also a number of things that they can't.

Here are some hard facts that are in relation to me:

1. Less than 1% of the women out there have a higher IQ than I do. I've looked it up on the charts.
2. Far less than 1% of the women out there are taller than I am.
3. Less than 1% of women are stronger than I am, and I'm in lousy shape.

Yeah, some of those may seem trivial, but that's the way it works. Gender is not just a social construct, there are some very real differences between the populations of men and women.

Here's another one:
I can never have children. The closest I can come is to hire a surrogate in a third world country to bear a child for me.

Here is one of the implications:
Men really do care about how women look. Their fitness to bear the next generation is a big factor. This has been reinforced by thousands of generations of natural selection. Yes, the kind of person you are also matters, but it isn't everything.

Yeah, I'm all for equality of opportunity, but at least I understand that there will never be parity of results in many fields. One of the most obvious is the job of firefighter in most major metropolitan areas. The physical requirements are tough, most men couldn't even pass them. Reducing the requirements based on gender is only going to get more people killed. This is a harsh fact of life.

And another interesting tidbit, a recent ACM paper came to the conclusion that there are so few women in IT for the simple reason that few women are willing to put in the work required, particularly in today's society versus that of 30 years ago.

Here is the last upsetting fact:
If a significant percentage of women reject having and raising a family then our society is doomed. And that is what is happening right now. Being on the losing side of natural selection really sucks.

Women, you said you wanted a choice, and you have it. Your instant gratification or the survival of modern society. It is up to you, not the men.

Seminarians and technology

It would be comical if it wasn't so sad watching seminarians try to deal with technology. The computer stuff is bad enough, but watching someone try to use a PA system by talking into the mic while standing directly in front of a speaker is just so depressing. I know that I don't know enough about sound systems yet, so I'm planning on doing some intensive work with some of the local community theatre folks.

To any other seminary students out there, it doesn't matter how throughly versed you are in theology if you can't get the message across.

Doing a little bit of good

I spent several hours this afternoon over at a Presbyterian church repairing a porch railing at the back of their day care center. It required cutting out rusted sections and then cutting, fitting and welding in replacement sections. I discovered that I'm a bit more out of practice than I thought and way out of shape (I ache all over now).

I'm not Presbyterian and I'm not interested in attending their church, so why did I do all of this? Well, they run a food pantry, provide low cost child care to the local community, including the high school across the street from them, and generally do good things for the community. I'm happy to contribute to their efforts.

There are those who believe that preachers should just preach the word of God. Then there is me, I believe that a ministers duty is to minister to their congregaation and community. Preaching the word of God is only a small part of that. Additionally, I believe that actions speak louder than words and have already couselled a few young and enthusiastic Christians that leading by example is often far more effective than preaching.

People my disagree, but this is my blog talking about my journey and what kind of minister I intend to be.