Tag Archives: pantheism

A Pantheist Pascal’s Wager

If you ever want to truly grasp the futility of taking sides in the roundabout argument between theists and atheists, I highly recommend grabbing a balcony seat for a debate over the usefulness of Pascal’s Wager. I’ve never seen such a procession of logical loop-de-loops in my life. From Wikipedia: “Pascal’s Wager is an argumentContinue reading “A Pantheist Pascal’s Wager”

Excerpt from “Birding in the Face of Terror” — Act V

In this scene, Pedro is alone, heading out for his third tour of duty on an account that his company has been serving through the summer of 2001. It involves driving Chinese tourists from the Bay Area on grueling week-long excursions to various national parks in the Western states. (JP once racked up over 220Continue reading “Excerpt from “Birding in the Face of Terror” — Act V”

Excerpt from “Birding in the Face of Terror” — Act IV

Pedro spent much of Act III ruminating on the very limited knowledge he had of the national crisis on the East Coast, and his incredulousness over the group leaders’ decision to keep the information from the fellow passengers. Only they, Pedro, and Betty Pickett know at this point. (She found out accidentally in Act IIIContinue reading “Excerpt from “Birding in the Face of Terror” — Act IV”

Excerpt from “Birding in the Face of Terror” — Act III

At this point in Act III, everything that will crash and collapse in New York City on 9/11/01 has already happened. Pedro and his birding crew have left the Central Valley location and are headed toward Azucar Mountain, the highest peak in the mountainous coastal region northwest of Los Angeles (actual location was Mount Pinos).Continue reading “Excerpt from “Birding in the Face of Terror” — Act III”

Excerpt from “Birding in the Face of Terror” — Act II

At the end of Act I, the reader is reminded of something subtly mentioned in the Prologue: this entire story takes place on September 11, 2001. There is a second narrator named Joseph d’Angelo, a Brooklyn native living in New Jersey, who in Act II is an eyewitness to the planes crashing into the WorldContinue reading “Excerpt from “Birding in the Face of Terror” — Act II”

Excerpt from “Birding in the Face of Terror” — Act I

In keeping with the theatrical motif established by the Prologue, “Birding” is divided into acts rather than chapters. Act I begins with the introduction of the primary first-person narrator, Pedro, and his wife Nadia. Pedro drives charter busses for a motor coach company in the Central Coast region of California. His job keeps him veryContinue reading “Excerpt from “Birding in the Face of Terror” — Act I”

Excerpt from “Birding in the Face of Terror” — Prologue

My name, you ask? You are dying to know, I can tell. For I have watched you. I have seen you warring against yourself since the beginning of time, spilling your own blood for the right to call me by the names of your choosing. Part of you has imagined me as legion, and builtContinue reading “Excerpt from “Birding in the Face of Terror” — Prologue”

Pantheism: Not Just “Sexed-Up Atheism” Anymore

Are you bored of the endless debate between evolutionists and creationists, theists and atheists? Not sure which is more ridiculous: Hollywood’s War on Religion or Hollywood’s War on Unbelievers? Did the whole “Ham on Nye” charade leave you shaking your head, wondering how we got into this dichotomous theological mess and what a third voice wouldContinue reading “Pantheism: Not Just “Sexed-Up Atheism” Anymore”

The Missing Person

One day, humanity realized that God was nowhere to be found, so it filed a Missing Person report. The Universe sent eight detectives to follow the trail of God and solve the case. The first three detectives each represented one of the Abrahamic faiths. They did not search for any evidence, but instead combed throughContinue reading “The Missing Person”