Couldn't Help Noticing

Divorce that’s unconstitutional

On July 22nd, the SMH featured an article which left me shaking my head in amazement. Something important was overlooked when the courts of Ontario ruled that same-sex couples could marry—they failed to consider whether same sex couples could divorce.

What is even more interesting is that dropping the phrase “to each other” from the way that the constitution defines heterosexual marriage would provide the necessary loophole for homosexual divorce.

As for the 5 day marriage of this couple, as a friend once said to me, one good thing that might come out of allowing same sex marriages is that we might start to see the real statistics on the permanence of homosexual relationships (and even so it would be a sample of the group who saw their relationship as being stable enough to enter into marriage).

A distinct lack of food for thought

Occasionally one comes across something that captures false Christianity so perfectly, that you suspect that it's a set up or a send-up. The following, reproduced without alteration from crosswalk.com in their ‘Devotionals for Dieters’ section, captures with cringe-worthy clarity what is wrong with much that passes for Christianity in this market-driven age.

Why does God exist? To help me lose weight.
And what should I put my faith in? Me.

Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, ‘If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.’

All my friends said they didn't think I could do it. They had watched me stuff myself so many times; they didn't think I had any self-control at all. I showed them. I knew in my heart I could make it. Sure, it was tough, but I'm no quitter. When the going got the toughest, it just made me more determined to lose the weight. The key is to believe in yourself. God believes in us, even though we don't always deserve His trust. If God can believe in us, then who are we to do otherwise? Pray for God's assurance, and you will find more than enough faith to make it through.

Today's thought: God believes in me!

If all else fails, fake it

I'm not sure what the Christian angle is on this one, but it's too good not to report...

China is holding its inaugural Miss Plastic Surgery pageant in October this year.

According to this report, “the only requirement in the made-to-order competition is proof of inauthenticity—in the form of a doctor's certificate of cosmetic surgery”. (From Reuters)

Walk on

Since we're on the subject of odd things: this man is pretty enthusiastic about being able to walk on water. Now we'll be able to walk to Tasmania, rather than being stuck on slow, outmoded forms of transportation like boats and planes. However, it'll be a breakthrough in my eyes when they invent the calming-the-storm gloves. Not that I'm being fussy, mind you, I'd probably even settle for a good old sea-dividing staff.

Bah humbug

Noticed this Reuters report that the South African Government is not going to cancel Christmas.

Apparently the denial was necessary because someone suggested there are too many public holidays, presumably thus denying pleasure and happiness to a very important but oppressed minority group—economists. It was suggested that “no holiday should be regarded as sacred in multi-racial, multi-faith South Africa”, so it might as well be Christmas.

But it's the final paragraph of the report that really had me intrigued:

Last year the Advertising Standards Authority banned a Post Office advertisement asking children to write to Santa Claus, saying it was “profiting from the natural credulity of children” and perpetuating “a falsehood that could break the fragile spirits of the already disillusioned youth of South Africa”.

It's lucky that attitude didn't catch on. Just think how unhappy the economists would have been if the Chamber of Commerce was told by the Advertising Standards Authority that they shouldn't profit from the natural credulity of children (and adults) at Christmas!