Columns
Here’s a Thought: Opening Act
By Taylor Mason
For those of you not familiar with how I roll: I’ve been a comedian for 25-plus years and been an “opening act” for a variety of performers. Some highlights. ...
Here's a Thought: Death by Cancer
By Taylor Mason
My sister-in-law passed away last Thursday, felled by cancer after a seven-year battle. She was a dignified, lovely, inspiring wife and mother who beat the odds over and over again.
Time Out: Safety ‘Net
By Patty Elder
Summer in DC means storms, and storms mean power outages. And power outages bring out my worst fear, and it's NOT the dark. ...
Here’s a Thought: Hot Enough for Ya?
By Taylor Mason
The heat was debilitating this summer, so much so that the word “hot” doesn’t do justice to the grades of temperature we've sweated these past few months.
Time Out: Make Yourself at Home
By Cara Garretson
It’s beach week, and so far so good. We bust into our rented beach house and it looks great – the bathrooms are sparkling, the décor is charming, the kitchen is retro. ...
Here’s a Thought: Christian Scientist MonitorJuly 21, 2010
By Taylor Mason
Separation of church and state: I get it, I’m for it, I’m not even questioning it. Freedom of religion and freedom FROM religion (if you like) are part of the fabric of the USA. Fair enough. But I don’t get the separation of science and church. As far as I’m concerned, they’re intertwined and co-existent. What is the problem? The truth about science, if there is a single truth, is that it never comes to a full stop. The universe is constantly expanding (God made it that way). There is never a complete answer for any single thing, instead the discovery of a scientific truth (say, gravity) leads to more questions (how can a two-ton airplane fly? Answer: the scientific truth known as “lift.” So why don’t cars take off if you attach surfboards to the roof and build your own little plane? Etc, etc, etc). The questions that arise from scientific answers are often bigger than the original question, which sounds very religious to me: faith can be mysterious, demanding a certain respect for the hugeness of life and God’s creation. Creation continues to emerge and unfold. It’s amazing, really. And the way in which it works is, of itself, perfection. Clearly it isn’t random, because if life and science and existence were, indeed, a “random act,” then it stands to reason that anything could – and would – happen. But that is not the case: balls don’t suddenly fly up into space and disappear. Animals don’t begin to speak English. The planet doesn’t stop on its axis, take a moment, and then begin spinning backwards. There is a cohesion that goes along with the beauty and complexity, which is proof that a Creator has a handle on the situation. At the same time, I get the feeling that people of faith believe the universe is a closed box; that there is a beginning point and an end point, if that is even possible. (I doubt it.) Should all creation be contained then humans might, at some point, reach a full understanding of our existence and relationship with science and God. But it seems there are, with each new discovery and study of the minutiae of life, a whole new slew of questions. I’m happy to admit that science is amazing and brilliantly successful, and the answers to certain questions (diseases, genetics, fuels, wonder-drugs and machines, et al) improve our quality of life. Christians are quick to point out that these new inventions and discoveries are “God’s work,” but I would bet that atheists and atheist scientists would take offense. Which brings us to a conclusion that science and faith/religion have much in common. Both are very successful, and both have come up with answers that help people and improve lives and bring happiness. But for all that, both institutions have to be aware than any one of us can be wrong. That is a very difficult reality to accommodate for a scientist who spends years studying and proposing and proving theories, only to have something prove those theories wrong (global warming anyone? No? OK). And it is a harder reality to acknowledge and deal with for people who spend their lives trying to live their faith. There is a common misperception that Christians are glad they have “something they actually believe in.” I beg to differ. Atheists know that when they die, that’s it. Maybe. They could be in for a big surprise. For Christians, there is no option: we know we’re in for a big surprise, whether we like it or not.
Taylor Mason is a comedian, a musician, a ventriloquist, writer and gadget freak. And his new book, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Ventriloquism
And also check out Taylor's blog and recent Here's a Thought columns:
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is available at the link below! He has headlined every major comedy club in the United States, and has played Carnegie Hall and The Sydney Opera House in Australia. He has been part of two Emmy-winning television programs, including his children’s TV show, “Taylor’s Attic.” He is featured in comedy DVDs "