Shrines to an unholy god

As I entered the line at the Target checkout counter, I finally put my finger on what is most disturbing about the visual assault of too-perfect scantily clad women popping out from magazine covers.

These magazine show women with flawless figures, glistening with spray on their bared chests, shimmering hair floating from the fans turned up at them, full lips pursed, eyes seductively turned, inviting the wanting stares of passerbys. Surrounding their tiny waists and shapely hips are "Sex tips," "Instant Sexiness," "The best sex you've ever had," distracting us from our mundane existence with the exotic and erotic.

Now let me pause to mention that the female body is the most beautiful of God's creation, with no challenger that is remotely close. And the celebration of that in a respectful way is a beautiful thing.

But the only thing these magazines celebrate is the unholy god of our culture's sexual lust. A base sexuality, one that uses and discards like an empty pizza box. One that celebrates a woman's body parts at the expense of her self-esteem, at the cost of her soul.

I do not place blame on them as if they are inherently evil, and we are passive recepients to the message. Rather I see a nation who does not see the components of a healthy psyche. The cost, I fear, is a generation of young girls who increasingly turn to destructive patterns such as eating disorders in a desparate attempt to achieve an unreachable image.

Each of them, to me, is a shrine to an unholy god.

The Edge of a Cliff

I just found out today that one of our landlords died. Our landlords were two brothers, and the eldest, Cleo, was found in his car. My understanding is that it was natural causes, and having seen the man, he was certainly not the model of health.

There is a cliff in our lives that lies just out of sight...we make sure it is just out of sight. Death.

Because when we are forced to look down over the edge, man is it a LONG way down.

Hearing about his death takes me down dark and neglected corridors in my mind. Places where deep questions and doubts fester. What horrors have greeted Cleo off the mortal coil. Is God just? Is He merciful?

The one end that is guaranteed to all of us is that which we know so little about.

Join the Discussion

I am working together with several writers to create a new website that encourages people to join a discussion that is central to both democracy and the future of our nation.

It seems both the far left and far right seem incapable of calm and reasoned discussions that assume our common pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. Instead we see adrenaline fueled attacks on the other's character.

I believe there is a solid base of Americans who truly want to see the best for our nation, and discussions that have been lost to anger and dissension must now be restarted.