In episode #10 of Drunk Ex-Pastors, Christian and I discuss the thorny issue of sex education. Now to be honest, I have not actually listened back to it myself, so I don’t remember exactly what I said on the matter. I’ll take a stab at re-presenting some of my thoughts, and you can feel free to push back and challenge them. My main concern is that I am uncomfortable with something of such monumental significance being taught to my children by a P.E. teacher (true story in my case). This kind of education should be happening primarily in the home, with outside sources reinforcing what mom or dad is already communicating. Secondly, what if (that’s hypothetical language, by the way) a family’s values don’t match up with a school’s? … [Read more...]
Headache’s Gone. . . It’s a Miracle!
If I were to believe the majority of what I hear from Christians, I’d have to believe their lives were extraordinary. Answered prayers, miracles, their best friend (who happens to be the God of the universe) looking out for them all the time. Wow, it sounds awesome! Reality seems to tell a different tale though. I don’t see any difference between circumstances and events that surround non-Christians and circumstances and events that surround Christians. Both groups have sickness, disease, death, divorce, poverty, and depression…and in pretty much equal amounts. Both groups even seem to handle those things similarly. Sure, one group may put on a really brave face and proclaim that their prayers were answered when little Johnny’s cold goes … [Read more...]
Just the Vax, Ma’am
One of Drunk Ex-Pastors’ listeners submitted a question during our last podcast concerning vaccines: Should parents just submit to their kids’ doctors’ recommendations regarding vaccines? And what should their attitude be toward those who refuse to vaccinate their children? First off, I think I speak for both of us when I say that we welcome these kinds of difficult and many-layered questions on issues of such significance, because let’s be honest, if there’s anyone on earth qualified to tackle such nuanced matters, it’s two drunk guys with absolutely no training in any related field. But we are ex-pastors, so. For my part, here are some issues to consider: 1. Is the malady for which I am being asked to vaccinate my child a … [Read more...]
Stop! Colaborate and Listen….
As I indicate in our latest edition of Drunk Ex-Pastors, I have always been something of a skeptic about the issue of “raising awareness” of a disease. In most cases, it is some form of cancer of which awareness is attempting to be raised, and yet I can’t remember the last time I heard about a form of cancer I was not already aware of (with the possible exception of Al Pacino’s portrayal of Lefty in Donnie Brasco, who insists he has “cancer of the prick”). I will admit, though, that a huge amount of awareness has been raised this summer about Lou Gehrig’s Disease, due in no small part to the Ice Bucket Challenge that has been sweeping social media of late. And along with this awareness has come millions of dollars for research of the … [Read more...]