In Cache Valley news, a group of Hyrum students seek to form a ‘no cussing’ club. If you don’t want to use certain language, fine—don’t use it. But what will creating a group accomplish to that end? To me, this just smacks of self-righteousness, and that’s a greater social ill than cussing.
Slate Magazine reviews The Book of Mormon musical. “What Parker and Stone do isn’t religion-bashing. It’s religion-teasing. And it’s born more from fascination than disdain.” Indeed, Slate suggests the musical’s creators are rather fond of Mormonism.
This guy bribes a homeless man to remove “God” from his sign for $20 bucks. It’s exploitative, sure, but the debate and negotiations are fascinating.
Gay-rights activist Eric Ethington had his car tires slashed at BYU while meeting with students there about Utah county non-discrimination ordinances. His car boasted a couple of LGBT bumper stickers, making it an easy target at the conservative campus.
Mormon blogger Joanna Brooks challenges Elder Oaks assertion that religious freedom is under attack by gay rights.
Greta Christina digs up Pascal Wager’s coffin only to put yet another nail in it.
One of my favorite documentarians, BBC’s Louis Theroux, meets with Israeli zionists. His documentary serves as an important reminder that Islamists are not the region’s only religious fanatics.
The Christian Delusion is being called the best atheist book of 2010 and among the most exhaustive and accessible critiques of Christianity. Here are three essays that didn’t make into the book, but are still good reads: ‘God and Animals’, ‘Modern Democracy’, ‘The Will of God‘.
Common Sense Atheism asks, “Can theists and atheists reasonably disagree?” And a related question: Can you love religious people if you hate their religion?
Despite the majority of Americans believing that the Bible is the word of God, most are ignorant as to what the Bible says—especially where it concerns sex. Newsweek spells out what the Bible really says about sex.
If you care to read a 50-page journal article on the history of Mormon attitudes toward masturbation, then enjoy.
Are intuitions good evidence? When I think ‘intuition’, I think of the anti-intellectualism of Stephen Colbert following his gut. But this article notes that, for good or ill, intuition informs our philosophical and religious beliefs.
Whenever I want to read something that’s guaranteed to annoy me, I read the letters to the editor in the BYU’s Daily Universe. It’s a perpetual parade of petty complaints, like men fretting about the length of ladies’ skirts and shorts. The latest letter to irk me was published Monday. The student wrote to demand that the school take action against her Democratic classmates for wearing “Choose the Left” shirts, which she felt was tantamount to sacrilege.
Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis discusses his disillusionment with Scientology in a lengthy article in The New Yorker.
The Afghan government has arrested two men for converting to Christianity, a crime that carries the death penalty in Afghanistan and several other Muslim countries. And a 14-year-old Bangladeshi girl dies after receiving 100 lashes for alleged sexual indiscretions.
Scientists aim to resurrect the woolly mammoth in five years. My mouth is already watering for the inevitable mammoth burger.
South Dakota, a state that has unsuccessfully attempted to ban abortion twice, recently considered a law that might legalize killing abortion providers. Thankfully, as February 16th, South Dakota has indefinitely shelved the bill due to public outrage.
A faithful Mormon again uploads the anti-Prop 8 video that, two years ago, she removed on threat of having her temple recommend and church callings revoked.
Futurist author Ray Kurzweil predicts that, by 2045, the human brain will be able to adopt a machine body as its host, effectively making man immortal. P.Z. Myers is skeptical. At his popular blog Pharyngula, he called Kurzweil a “huckster” and the founder of a new religion: Singularitarianism.
Pure Mormonism’s advice to unmarried LDS couples: Go ahead and skip that temple wedding.
Okay, here come the lists: the top 8 Bill O’Reilly science fails; the top 10 transhumanist technologies; the 30 most offensive church signs of all time.
This defense of Fawn Brodie makes a compelling argument that Mormons owe the critical Joseph Smith biographer a “huge debt of gratitude.”
As soon as the No Cussing Club is formed, I garun-damn-tee you that other students will insist on their right to form a Cussing Club.
What exactly are the No-Cussing members going to do at club meetings? Sit around and… not cuss? At least a Cussing club sounds interesting.
Maybe they come up with alternative words to use in the place of profanity.
This could actually be a lot of fun…
It’ll be like on Road House when the bar owner changes “fuck” to “buick”.
The best I’ve ever seen was on the TV version of The Big Lebowski when Walter was smashing the new car and shouting “Do you see what happens, Larry? This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps!”
No joke. Funnier than the original.
I tried to click on the link for the O’reilly science fails, but it just took me to the transhuman technologies link instead.
Thanks. It should be fixed now.
I read that New Yorker article with Hagis and Scientology. Very interesting.
My favorite Daily Universe letter to the editor: “Idol Worship” by Michelle Peralta
http://universe.byu.edu/node/13756
Jon,
I am not completely opposed to cussing. I use a radioactive word occasionally when I hammer a thumb or lose money because of a misbehaving CEO. However, once one becomes a father with little kids in the house, one becomes more aware of intensely offensive language in public and movies. I much prefer intelligent use of language to express joy, sorrow, and life in general. I do get irritated at people who chose to use radioactive words merely to prove that they are grown up, free, and unconcerned whose ears they burn. Fiery language can be excused and even be useful in private conversations, adult venues, and explosive situations. However, I consider it inconsiderate to frequently throw around f**ks and s**ts in blog comments and other verbal public venues.
So I applaud the No-Cussin’ Club as long as they don’t become overtly self-righteous or actively condemn appropriate use of cussing. Hopefully, they will merely encourage considerate public language use especially around kids & their parents.
Sorry this is a late post Vince, but your response is entirely based on unsubstantiated opinion. I hope you read this so I can explain why. As a BS with honors in English, I believe I have the credentials to discredit your claim.
“Swear words” are only swear words because society deems them to be. It has absolutely nothing to do with intellect, being “grown up,” or free. In fact, using what you term to be “intelligent” language is actually your own use of language to demean what you consider to be a lower class of citizens.
I will not hide my agenda; I would place large bets that I would outscore you on any test regarding language. I am an expert in my field of study and only wish to inform you that by considering the use of certain words as “inconsiderate,” you are only demonstrating how inconsiderate, uneducated, and judgmental you are.
Language, by definition, is not a science; it can only be an art. There is no right or wrong way to use language, as it is a human creation. It is no more right for you to pick apart someone’s use of “vulgar” language than it is for me to pick apart your particular choice of words.
By its very definition, a “No Cuss Club,” is self righteous and condemning.
Is it wrong if the treatise on masturbation gave me an erection?
More importantly: what am I supposed to do about it?
Absolutely love the idea of a mammoth-burger! You know, every time I watched Sesame Street as a kid, my mouth would start watering when Mr. Snuffleupagus would take center-stage.
And I bet this bad boy could make some KILLER McNuggets: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentavis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L073xTrriZE