(As noted on the Blogmandu roundup for October 30) The author of Open Letter to Rational Pundits takes the atheists to task for their efforts to convince Christians of their folly by rational arguments. In an ironic way, the rant demonstrates both irrationality and a very limited “stage of development,” at least in this post. There’s little intellectual content presented, just the teenage overuse of the “f” word as if its shock value will somehow carry weight. On the the development scale, we’re probably at a preteen level. If that’s what Wilber’s integral philosophy produces, then it’s more bankrupt than I’ve thought.

Seeing Red re (Product) Red on Thoughts Chasing Thoughts is a good read on the recent program to provide AIDS relief in Africa. And it correctly identifies some misgivings about the effort to commercialize charity and whether or not it is efficient or transparently honest. You need to read that article before this one for some things to make sense. It’s a pleasant read, and I like the contrarian point of view expressed because it adds perspective to a new charitable fad.

I’m not persuaded that AIDS relief is the most import issue for Africa’s needy. I’m not convinced more money for medicine is THE issue for AIDS relief. Doctors, nurses, infrastructure, refrigeration, etc. might be more limiting than the drugs themselves. But what the Buddhist hell, increasing the funding for this probably won’t hurt either, particularly if it’s added money rather than money carved from somewhere else.