I Wish There Were More Philosophers.

If philosophers had group meetings with people the way priests and religious leaders do, they wouldn't be philosophers. They'd be cult leaders. I like to challenge myself with questions of morality and be challenged for the purpose of understanding and opening myself up more to the world. The Church doesn't question or challenge moral codes - it preaches its own and tells people that questioning it is questioning 'God' whatever that truly is. That's why I don't go to church.

There are technologies being researched today that, by 2040, will be able to manufacture nanobots capable of repairing our cells and protecting our bodies and minds from infections and diseases in such a way that would allow us to live forever.

Sounds drastic? 50 years ago 1 computer took up an entire room. Today our phones are computers and fit in our pockets. No too long from now, they'll be the size of cells.

The fucking media (because I spent this whole post sounding obnoxiously pretentious without cursing) spends so much of its focus - as does our culture - on issues like abortion and gay rights and other social arguments about how to control other people's bodies that should be left the fuck alone and allowed to do as they wished.

Things are moving so quickly with technology that philosophical discussions and questions aren't keeping up. The usual Frankenstein problems. I wish there more people sitting down in groups to have have open discussions instead of listening to one guy preach 'from on high.' Living forever? Combining our bodies with robotic material? What the fuck? We should worry about what those things mean for society - not two guys getting married.

Like a Prayer

One of my favorite music videos from the 80s, Like a Prayer was actually seen as extremely controversial when it came out. Madonna, wearing a tight-fitting dress, makes out with a statue of a black Jesus who has come to life, watches as a black man found at a murder scene is blamed for the crime. There's a stigmata scene, a burning cross, and the lyrics have sexual euphamisms about blow jobs in the same context as God.

"When I left home at 17 and went to New York, which is the city with the most sinners, I renounced the traditional meaning of Catholicism in terms of how I would live my life. But I never stopped feeling the guilt and shame that are ingrained in you if you are brought up Catholic."

I've never been a fan of Madonna, at all. One or two songs have made their way to my music library. This one really touches me as an ex-Catholic and ex-Catholic school girl. I'm not a religious person, but I've always been touched by religious imagery. Lady Gaga has a lot of Catholic symbols in her videos as well and it's actually part of the reason of love them. It's occurred to me that no matter how much I distance myself from the Catholic faith, I will always be obsessed with it, whether I'm debating Catholic ideals or enjoying beautiful Catholic artwork. You follow the Catholic church whether it's with a candle or a club.