Kentucky Officials Deny Gay Man Entry to Creation Museum

I stumbled upon this article the other day titled "Suspected Gay Man Denied Entry to Creation Museum." Apparently officials denied a man entery into the museum because they had a hunch he was gay.

Turns out he was straight, but they still wouldn't let him in. The crazy thing is, Kentucky Law protects the museum for this discrimination!! As quoted in the article:

"There are no federal or state laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of someone's perceived orientation or gender identity. So if someone believes you to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, they have every legal right to deny you a public accommodation, like a museum visit, or restaurant visit or bus ride." Chris Hartman, director of The Fairness Campaign, said.

This is just as bad as the prejudices that took place against Black people, and there is no law that prevents it.  Didn't God love his people? Does God not ask for kindness and love for everyone? Just the fact that so much hatred could come from the officials of the Creation Museum for someone they hardly know is disturbing to me. As we read in the "Homosexuality and The Bible" article in class, it can be argued either way whether or not God was "for" or "against" homosexuals. It just goes to show that everyone can interpret it they way they want to.

Here's the link to the article:
Suspected Gay Man Denied Entry to Creation Museum

Creation Museum vs. Denver Museum of Nature and Science

I believe we talked about the Creation Museum in class last Thursday, and I decided to look it up on my own.

The museum is in Kentucky and it "brings the pages of the Bible to life." I surfed their web page a bit and the 2-3 hour tour through the exhibit seems pretty fascinating. One exhibit explains how dinosaurs were placed on Earth, and another talks about how "natural selection...is not an example of evolution in the molecules-to-man sense." There is also a simulated Noah's Arc construction site.

This is definitely a different museum than the one I grew up going to. My parents always took me to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science where we walked through exhibit after exhibit of dinosaurs and fossils. Evolution always fascinated me as a little girl, and I definitely wonder how I would've viewed the world differently if my parents had taken me to the Creation Museum instead.

I also remember the Denver Museum of Nature and Science put a huge emphasis on other cultures, like the Egyptians and other Ancient Civilizations. I wonder if children who are brought to the Creation Museum get a sense of the broader cultures of the world around them, rather than just focusing on the Biblical History and Christianity.

If I were a strict Christian parent, I might consider taking my child to both museums so they can get a taste of both worlds and decide for themselves which one makes more sense and satisfies their questions about the world best.

Here are some photos of the Creation Museum and the link to their website:

Creation Museum, Kentucky

In contrast, here is the Denver Museum of Nature and Science that I grew up knowing and loving as a kid:

Denver Museum of Nature and Science

The Annex

If you're looking to get more involved in CU Boulder Christian life, I researched the Annex yesterday and it seems like a very encompassing environment! This youth group takes place on Tuesday nights at 7 pm on 16th and Walnut and it looks like a great way to develop your relationship with God as well as meet new people that share your passions.

They have small group Bible studies, worship, community outreach programs, men's and women's retreats, mentorship, and volunteering. I've included the link below. Check it out!

The Annex

King David and "Hallelujah"

The other day me and my mom were listening to the song "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen. I had heard the song a million times (and was often quite annoyed that my mom listened to it so much) but this time was different. My mom started telling me the story of King David and his affair with the military general's wife, Bathsheba, and how Cohen was clearly referencing it in his song "Hallelujah." I think what Cohen was getting at is the fact that love is not always the easy, breezy ride we expect it to be, but instead it's a "cold and it's a broken hallelujah." All Cohen ever learned from love was "how to shoot at someone who outdrew you" which refers to the fact that the military general, Uriah the Hittite, outdrew David (by having the beautiful Bathsheba as his wife). To win the woman, David had Uriah sent to the front lines of his army so he would be killed. This teaches us all something about the human psyche: often lust breeds possession which breeds murder. I feel the song is an important representation of this story in the Bible and it really leads us to think about our own lives. I've included the youtube video of Leonard performing "Hallelujah," as well as the link to 2nd Samuel 11, which is the story of King David and Bathsheba. I hope the story brings the song to a whole new level like it did for me!
2nd Samuel 11

Seven Deadly Sins vs. Eightfold Path

I'm sure most everyone in our Western Civilization has heard of the Seven Deadly sins: Pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony, and lust. We avoid these sins at all times, because we fear that God will send us to Hell if we commit any one of these. But by instilling fear in people's psyches, are we really solving the problem? Not likely. These sins are still rampant in American culture: People are addicted to porn (lust), obesity rates have skyrocketed (gluttony), politicians boast that they are the best candidate (pride), people enjoy a T.V. dinner reclined in front of the television (sloth), college students want a good degree at a reputable university so they can get good jobs and make money (greed), children ask their parents for the new iPad for Christmas that everyone at school has (envy), and hundreds of homosexuals commit suicide every year because of the contempt they hold for themselves (wrath). Society looks pretty much hopeless right about now. Instead of condemning these people and giving up hope on them (it's too late, they're already going to Hell), what if we tried a different approach? The looming threat of punishment from God is not always the best incentive. What if, as a society, we rewarded and encouraged good behaviors? The Buddhist Eightfold Path could be an example. People often commit these deadly sins when are they suffering inwardly, and the Eightfold Path works to overcome people's suffering through Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration. Each of these "paths" is all about seeing the world as it really is as well as being kind and aware how all of our actions affect other people. By following each of these paths, you simultaneously avoid all the deadly sins as well as developing your own mental health and inner peace. http://voices.yahoo.com/the-seven-deadly-sins-explained-they-affect-1051755.html

http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/eightfoldpath.html

Whatever Floats Your Boat

Hi, I'm Kristen! This is my first attempt at blogging, so it should be pretty interesting...
Since these blogs are primarily for our Christian Traditions class, I feel like I should share a little about my religious background. My parents both grew up in fairly religious homes and they attended Church regularly. However, neither of my parents raised me or my sister as strict Christians. It was more "they-wanted-me-to-discover-it-on-my-own" type parenting. So, here I am. I don't have a strong Christian background but I am open to learning about all religions. I'm fascinated how so much of the Christian history has influenced Western society, and I think that whatever gives people purpose and happiness in life should take priority. It could be something outside themselves (like God), or something within (inner peace). My mom recently sent me an email she got from a friend titled "Symptoms of Inner Peace:"
1. The tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than from fears
2. The ability to enjoy each moment
3. Loss of interest in judging self and others
4. Loss of interest in conflict
5. Disinterest in interpreting the actions of others
6. Loss of the ability to worry
7. Frequent episodes of appreciation
8. Feeling connected to others and nature
9. Frequent attacks of smiling through the eyes of the heart
10. The increasing tendency to let things happen rather than to make them happen.

This is how I try to live my life, and for some people God offers the same thing. We are all just trying to find meaning in our lives and I respect and encourage everyone in their quest to find it :)