Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Take a walk on the Faith side

As all of my regular readers know (both of you, most likely), I was the first non-mainstream-religion writer for the KC Star's FaithWalk column back in 2007-2008.  I wrote a total of 5 articles, which were all well received.

Now, it's time again for someone else to take up the challenge.  The Star is again recruiting people to write for their column, and they're looking for just about anyone, of any religious persuasion (or none at all).  I would love to see a wider variety of perspectives from the community.  I think it would be interesting to read from a much younger viewpoint, especially for those still searching and questioning how beliefs and faith fit into their lives. 

The last couple years have seen a small increase in the diversity of views, but not enough.  Almost all of the writers have been Christian, most of the mainstream variety, and none of the overtly fundamentalist types.  There has been the obligatory atheist each year, but no real agnostic or lapsed religious types.  A single Pagan/Wiccan for that fringe.  Only one non-Abrahamic writer. 

If the point of the FaithWalk column is to provide a broader insight into the diversity and views of the greater KC area, I would hope that the Star makes the effort to recruit from the less common religious groups -- Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, etc, as well as the non-religious.

5 comments:

www.KCFreeThinkers.org said...

We talke at our meetups about this. There are a few people who said they'll submit their essays. One was born overseas into a family of missioanries and who went to a seminary to be a minister, got married to another seminarian and both turned out to be atheists and left the seminary - go figure.

I think this will be interesitng.

Emanuel Goldstein said...

Iggy, your comments are priceless!

I hope you don't mind if I bring them...as well as the other fine work you have done... to the attention of editor making the selections, so he will know what members of your group are all about.

Of course, it won't mean much. Barnhart already has his own agenda, pops!

Who ya kiddin?

www.KCFreeThinkers.org said...

Chuck,

Also, there are at least 3 ex ministers who are atheists now - all in their 60's & 70's and one in his 40's.

They may make an excellent addition to FaithWalk.

We may schedule them later this year for one of our Saturday meetups.

Chuck, have not seen you in a while? Heard you broke an arm a few months ago? Hope things are plugging along?

www.KCFreeThinkers.org said...

What do you mean by "lapsed" religious type, Chuck? Do you mean "wishy washy" spiritualists/Christian/Sylvia Browne=there is something out there but I don't know what it is but it's real and it's there type?

I'd love to see a Satan worshipper or a pagan in the FaithWalk.

I also would like to see a "fire and brimstone" preacher or one of the Southern Baptist fundies.

Unfortunately, they can only select from people who submit their essays and those are overwhelmingly "Christian culturists" and Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists don't assimilate.

Immigrants who are the most fundamental in their faith normally don't carry it on their sleeve. Their kids are busy being Americanized and then when they are teenagers, they follow the "Already Gone" book play by Ken Ham - virtually all kids in midle and high school make a decision that religion is bull shit and don't return or pay lip service.

The only people that KC Star can accomodate are "moderates" - militant atheists like I or Fred Phelps on the flip side owuld never get a pulpit on it.

It is fun, however, to talk to religious people face to face rather than write a piece in a paper that will illicit one or two "I'll pray for you" comments and that's it.

We are planning to actually have a meetup some time later this year at a coffee house of a large Kansas City church. Shoudl be interesitng. We have not decided yet what our T-shirts will say - Man Created God in His Image or Smile there is no Hell or both on front and back.

Greg Swartz has a few - they sell them at Community of Reason.

Hope you can come, Chuck? We'll see if we can discuss "The God Delusion" by Dawkins or "God is not great" by Hitch.

This should make it intersting. Maybe it will hit the news or 10 p.m. TV cast?

Emanuel Goldstein said...

Ironically, Iggy is an example of an immigrant who is Fudamental in his Faith...and his Militant Atheism is a Faith (why else be in "Faith" Walk? LOL!)...who carries in on his sleeve.

And thanks for the warning about the meetup in the Coffe House of the "Large Kansas City Church"...there are only a few of those and its not hard to pin down.

We will make sure that your best work is made available to the Pastor. Bawhahahaha!!!!!

By the way, Iggy, I am told you have been bragging that you are "glad you are not an American".

So am I, pops! It means you can't vote or hold political offic.

P.S.; I am glad you mentioned Greg Swartz...he has been trying to deny he has dealings with you on Vern Barnetts site.