Finally!

Yesterday, after many years of papers and tests I finally received my Bachelor of Arts from Temple University.

My college journey began in 1989, and along the way life and its many adventures intersected with my academic career. I did not realize the importance of having a four year degree until I was laid off in 2002. I was working in information technology as a database administrator for a firm in Norristown, PA. While collecting unemployment and consulting, I found my job search hindered by the very fact that my resume lacked a degree. I was frustrated since my resume showed the culmination of over 10 years of experience in IT. So, in 2003 I decided to seriously pursue my education.

I had a handful of credits to my name, and since the last time I went to class was in 1995 they were still good. I believed I would pursue a degree in computer science, but after taking a history and a philosophy course that route seemed not so interesting anymore. I changed focus to history, and when I attended Temple I declared history my major and minored in philosophy.

Some would ask, "What are you going to do with a that degree?" Well, as the cliche goes, just about anything. Honestly getting my degree was not in vain, because I did learn a lot about myself and the world. My future plan is to attended Drexel University for a Masters in Library and Information Science. However, first I need to pay down some of my student loans, so I will be looking for work in IT again.

Church of Reality

Recently, I was doing my daily web reading and came across a link to the Church of Reality. I was very curious, so I clicked on the link. What I found was an interesting manifesto written by Marc Perkel. Perkel, calls himself the “First One,” because it was his idea. Fair enough. The church’s mission statement is “If it’s real—we believe in it,” but at the same time questioning what is real.

What is reality? That is a good question since reality is different for everyone, and defining reality has been the subject of philosophical debate for centuries. I think Perkel’s intentions are not necessarily in creating a religion per se, but questioning the religious landscape that exists currently in the United States. What is portrayed by the main-stream media to be the prominent religious viewpoint is disturbing. For the past couple of decades Christianity in America had become synonymous with backward thinking. On subjects such as abortion, gay marriage, evolution, and stem cell research have brought out the worst in the Christian community, and have colored all Christians with one brush. I think Perkel’s site is a reaction to a very vocal minority group that has become so intertwined with the current President’s administration and Republican Party. Perkel makes a good point by stating we need to think and question, and religious people do just that. Not all religious people are mired in absolutism. Not all religious people reject reason and science.

So, why set up a religion? Why create a religion based on a structure that you do not like in the first place? What does an Atheist need with a religion to believe in to begin with? Perhaps it would be better to restructure the Church of Reality as a philosophical system. Personally that would make more sense rather than mimicking the very institution you do not agree with.

I don’t want to come off as bashing Perkel’s vision. I’m only raising questions, and I believe he would agree with questioning. Also, I agree with many of Perkel’s views on issues such as patriotism and the death penalty. The site is an online tome, and is worth visiting. The address is http://www.churchofreality.org

Parting Shot

Rev. Jerry Falwell died of an apparent heart rhythm abnormality today. He was 73 years old. Falwell was the founder of the Christian Coalition and was a TV Evangelist, and his television ministry mobilized millions of votes to get Ronald Regan elected President.

Hello...

Hello,

Hopefully, this blog will be able to create an outlet for me to vent what's on my mind. Also, I would like this blog to be a place for you out there to respond and contribute you own thoughts.

More to follow...

Cheers,

Mike Jacoby