Another post that could get me flamed...but I am willing to take my chances.

I'm just about done reading The Faith Club, a non-fiction book about three women (a Jew, a Christian, and a Muslim) who meet with each other on a weekly basis to discuss their questions, their misconceptions, and their deepest-held beliefs in order to better understand each other. In theory, this would work out perfectly, despite the fact that some feelings may be hurt and some nerves may be touched in the process. The end would have to justify the means. Towards the middle I was starting to think that this might be my next favorite book because, seeing how my spiritual identity is composed of two faiths, I could really relate to what the authors were saying. But towards the end of the book I was a little bothered by the fact that each woman felt the need to, in a sense, water down some of their strongest beliefs just so the other person wouldn't be offended.

The Christian one did this the most, by representing what appears to be a very modern, secular take on the Bible and Jesus' teachings. I don't think she should have reprimanded her friends about hell or using scare tactics like that, but there is a difference between expressing your concerns and then trying to change what the Bible actually says. As a Jew first I can't tell you how angry I get when Christians go up to people, point their fingers and say "You're wrong!" But speaking the truth in love? That's a challenge. And that's why I think that, had each woman been absolutely adamant in every aspect of their religious backgrounds, with no fear of offending each other, a book like this would have never gotten written.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not against interfaith book clubs and discussion groups. Under the right circumstances, with the right mind set, they can be very beneficial. However, Christianity is not the only religion that believes it's "The Way." People of different religions may find better ways to communicate with one another, but ultimately I find it disturbing that some would go as far as altering their entire belief systems just to make other people comfortable.

I'm no religious scholar or theologian but here's how I see it: if you don't believe in Muhammed, don't be a Muslim. If you don't believe in the Torah, don't be a Jew (although the fact that Judaism is both a religion and a heritage that is passed down through the mother is an entirely different issue altogether). And if you don't believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God who died on the cross to pay the price for our sins, don't be a Christian. I know it's not nearly as simple as I'm making it seem, but really, that's how it should be.

So in the end, I give this book a B+. It's not a bad read, just a thought-provoking one.

So...what I would like to find is a man who isn't completely obsessed with sex, who actually motivates me to want to grow closer to God. Is that too much to ask?????

Paul said it's better to get married than to burn with lust...and yet it is the people who get married for that exact reason who are more than likely doomed to fail. God designed sex for marriage, I understand that. And I believe in it 100%. I even wrote an article for my campus newspaper explaining that. But at the same time, studies show it's unhealthy to repress your sexual desires for an extended amount of time. Sometimes it's difficult to take that True Love Waits slogan seriously when you're halfway done with college and wondering exactly what it is you're waiting for...

But don't worry, I'm not about to lose all control and go on a sexual rampage or anything...If God hasn't planned for me to get married than so be it. I mean really, the pleasures of sex and human love and companionship are so fleeting when put in the light of eternity. Not to minimize the importance of marriage, just putting things into perspective. I won't be lying on my death bed at 110 years old, looking back on my life and all my accomplishments..."Found a cure for cancer, CHECK...won the Nobel Prize, CHECK...saved 70 people from a burning building, CHECK...what a minute...I never had sex?!? WHAT??!!! OMG PLEASE DON'T LET ME DIE A VIRGIN, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!!!!!!!"

Yeah, I think you get the point

Staying strong,

~Sarah Beth

I just wasted the past hour of my life watching Roommates, which begs the question...what the heck has happened to ABC Family???!!!

I'm going to put on my Mom Glasses for a moment to make this rant seem more appropriate...The word "family" should be somewhat of an indicator of the kind of content you'd expect to see...the ABC I remember showed re-runs of Full House, 7th Heaven, and Boy Meets World all the time, but Full House is on early in the morning, 7th Heaven got moved to the Hallmark Channel and Boy Meets World has been taken off the air completely. This doesn't make any sense! And here I used to think that Boy Meets World was a "risque" show...but you know what? Compared to today's standards, it's actually quite tame. Sure, Cory and Topanga (I used to want to legally change my name to Topanga!) made out a lot...but that's all they ever did! In fact, the one time Cory tried to go to second base with her, she got angry and avoided him for several days. They waited until they were married to have sex! Where's the restraint with today's popular tween shows, I wonder?

So, rant about Roommates...now the thing about these here today, gone tomorow sitcoms is that they are so easy to pick up on even if you haven't seen the first few episodes. So what I was able to gather from only one hour is that 2 guys and 2 girls all live in one apartment, 1 guy and 1 girl hook up secretly, and yet are supposed to carry on as if nothing has changed. Skip ahead a few scenes and another guy hooks up with his high school ex girlfriend...the day before she's supposed to get married. I applaud the originality for this "twist" if you can even call it that...I could tell by the look on the ex girl's face, as she starts biting her lip while still naked in bed with her ex that she's about to tell him 1) She has HIV, 2) she's joining a convent and just wanted one last thrill before taking her final vows, or 3) she's getting married...TOMORROW. Yep, it was #3 all right. REALLY??!!! OMG NO WAY!! I think I threw up in my mouth a little.

So I guess it should come as no surprise that the ex girl shows up at the ex guy's apartment -- in her wedding dress -- to tell him she ditched her fiance at the alter because *GASP* she's still in love with him, JUST as the ex guy was about to get back together with his OTHER ex girlfriend because he feels like a fool for hooking up with an engaged woman...you still following me? Did that make any sense at all? Are you mad that I just ruined the season finale for you? Oops...it's ok though. The same thing has probably been done to death on Sex and the City, Friends, The Hills, Gossip Girl...whatever.

Anyway, yes I'm aware that casual sex is no big deal these days, but I still have a hard time buying that it's really THAT easy to just keep playing musical beds (like musical chairs) whenever it's convenient...see, in Sitcom Land, hearts may get broken, but they get fixed as soon as another cute guy/girl comes along who is willing to sleep off the pain with you...all within the last 15 minutes of the episode. But in Real World? Hearts get broken, and people get messed up. It's not that easy to just "bounce back," and substituting bed mates for anti-depressants (or even better, Jesus!) is only asking for more pain. And God forbid any of those characters suffer a pregnancy or STD scare...save for Secret Life, it doesn't seem like a common thing to worry about in Sitcom Land. I never even once heard anyone mention so much as a condom.

However -- and I'm ashamed to admit this -- you can bet that I'm probably going to tune back in for the next season of Secret Life. I seriously think that show is an effective form of birth control for me...it has successfully scared the crap out of me and made me afraid to have kids, because God only knows what kind of moral mess the world will be in by the time THEY become teenagers...and meanwhile us old folks will be talking about Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter like our grandparents talk about typewriters, record players, and TVs with rabbit ears.

*Takes off Mom Glasses* Ok, time to make some tea for my upset tummy and go to bed!

Sarah Beth