Mr. Deity

Now here is a theology I could get behind! These videos, which are available on youtube, but also as a free subscription on iTunes (full seasons only available here), document God as he prepares for and works through the creation of the world. Michael Shermer, author of The Science of Good and Evil, says that the videos are "funny without being offensive, insightful without trying to be too deep", but still enough to spark conversation. Basically they are another look at what it could be like to be the great creator in the sky and what that creator would go through while managing his creation and the people in it. They are full of interesting characters like Jesse (Jesus), Lucy (Lucifer), and Larry (the Holy Spirit). I would suggest these videos to anyone who has an interest in theology, philosophy or religion. I can't believe more people don't know about them...
Here is a link for a little taste...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvWdkz8Ra54

Something else that I would like to mention, is a class that I took this semester at the University of Lethbridge. The course was called 'Reason, Faith and Tolerance' and dealt with things like moral relativism, ethnocentricity, what it means to have faith, and reasonable accomodation. The topics discussed in class related directly to current events and debates.

One reason that I enjoy these Mr. Deity videos is that they are a tongue-in-cheek attempt, at least I think, to shed light on what it is you believe as a Christian. I'm not pretending to know everything about Christianity, or to be a theological scholar, but one thing that I learnt from that university class was that you should not take learned behavours for granted. I believe a crucial part of holding a faith is that you question the source of that faith; a virtue untested is no virtue at all.

I also think that a part of a healthy pluralist society is being able to ask questions about others' beliefs and the justification for them. As globalization continues to create more complex pluralist societies I think it is crucial that we be able total openly about our beleifs and opinions; religiously founded or otherwise. It is important for thedevelopment of new ideas that people can speak openly and freely.

I attempted to defend the process of exposure and discussion by writing a paper for that class which argued that a licence to offend must be protected by our rights to free speech. I acknowledge the fact that no-one wants to be offended by things they hear in public discourse, but I also feel that videos like those of Mr. Deity, which may offend some, are necessary in a pluralist society. The slippery slope towards complete censorship is the only path that restricting one's right to free speach, offensive or not, can lead.

...here is a link to a debate on this very issue...

http://www.intelligencesquared.com/iq2-video/2006/freedom-of-expres...

Obviously this blogpost has been pulled down to a different topic than that which it started, but now that I see what a blog is supposed to look like, I thought I would fill out my content a little more.