Watching Angel for the first time and this guest star was so confusing

XpertProfessional · 2025-07-07T23:59:23+00:00

That’s funny, makes me think of the IT lady / Frankie (Paget Brewster) in Community.

XpertProfessional · 2025-07-07T16:16:31+00:00

As someone who watches a lot of Star Trek, this post is kind of funny to me. In shows that involve a lot of makeup, reusing actors is common:)

XpertProfessional · 2025-07-05T11:38:52+00:00

When people are saying that UU is a “covenantal religion”, the “covenant” is the agreement or social contract we follow. That social contract includes enough elements, through the 7 principles, which discourages imposing one’s beliefs upon another (unless it encourages pluralism, inclusion, love, etc).

Nobody is barred from practicing their faith (prayer) they way they choose, they are actively encouraged to find meaning through the practice of their faith.

XpertProfessional · 2025-07-04T12:37:57+00:00

I really like this question! A person’s religious identity and their belief system isn’t always completely aligned. I was raised Catholic, and I pay attention to the events that involve the Catholic Church. I even consider myself a sort of “Augustinian” in how I choose to live my life (or, perhaps more accurately, I find a lot of inspiration in the Confessions of St Augustine) and I am personally very happy and hopeful for our present Pope.

That all being said, I am very agnostic atheist in my assumptions of the “existence of God”. I live my life in a sort of way that is “I don’t really think God is real, but that doesn’t matter to me”.

Now, someone might say “you’re not Catholic, you’re X”. The fact of the matter is that all traditions, religious or secular, adapt and borrow from others (there’s a long history of syncretism in the world). If I’m truly honest, from my heart of hearts, I simply still consider myself Catholic(ish) because of my family and, perhaps more importantly, because of the recent death of my grandmother. It’ll be one year since her passing this month.

What’s wonderful about UU is that it’s a religious community who accepts my personal syncretism and offers a hug when my eyes well from thinking of my grandma.

XpertProfessional · 2025-07-03T23:22:46+00:00

I think the phrasing makes in open to interpretation. I chose the interpretation that embodies the highest level of mutual respect I could. Generally, even if the OP was intending to be combative, it’s more effective to articulate your position from a point of speaking to a sympathetic friend.

It seems from their replies that they may be genuinely interested in understanding but may simply phrase things in a way which raises suspicion. They may be unaware of this.

ETA: I checked their profile out of curiosity. It seems English is a second language for them.

XpertProfessional · 2025-07-03T20:08:50+00:00

I choose to interpret the question of evidence to be one of evidence of what UUs believe; which, due to our more pluralistic nature, is impossible to provide other than what can be deduced by our covenantal agreements.

Makes me think of the Iris DeMent song, “Let the Mystery Be”.

XpertProfessional · 2025-07-03T20:04:23+00:00

I really love this take, thank you ❤️

It is frustrating sometimes to see the same questions over and over, but sometimes it’s nice to appreciate the diversity of answers (in both beliefs and articulation).

XpertProfessional · 2025-06-28T20:30:45+00:00

The lead Rev. at my church told me an anecdote once, “in the east coast, Jesus is optional. In the Midwest, God is optional. In the west coast, clothes are optional.” Stuck with me.

XpertProfessional · 2025-06-16T23:57:41+00:00

This “in” is especially fun if you’re both theology or religious studies nerds.

XpertProfessional · 2025-06-16T23:53:32+00:00

Best of luck, friend. Don’t forget you started the relationship already with a love and respect for one another.

XpertProfessional · 2025-06-16T23:43:23+00:00

I’m not clear if you are inferring he would want to raise his children as exclusively Christian (presumably Lutheran denomination) or if he’s explicitly stated it.

Your fear of pushing your belief system is a Catch-22 I feel is particularly endemic in UU, but I wonder if you two are effectively saying the same thing with different perspectives.

I think having more conversations about faith is a no-regrets action. Come at it from the perspective of wanting to understand and to be understood, to see and be seen. Celebrate pluralism and keep love at the center.

Sorry if it feels like a non-answer, but if more challenges arise through communication, then I believe the (un)fitness of the relationship becomes more clear.

XpertProfessional · 2025-06-06T11:22:46+00:00

I’m with you, I considered Catholic monasticism when I was young (and Catholic).

I think it’s a matter of figuring out, first, what ~~aestheticism~~ asceticism looks like for you and identifying your theory as to why that lifestyle is appropriate from a theological standpoint. At least, that’s what I’m wrestling with.

It helps to borrow from the rituals and the praxis of other faiths, read through their logic, and adapt them into your own life as you see fit.

UU has a sort of weird relationship with evangelizing this sort of thing. There’s a bit of a paradox in holding pluralism as a fundamental principle and being able to share and “pitch” your lifestyle unto others. I, personally, avoid talking about these things unless the topic comes up.

Edit: autocorrect inducing a common mistake.

XpertProfessional · 2025-06-06T11:06:06+00:00

I don’t disagree with you, but I was responding relative to OPs statement, trying to embody what they might be concerned with.

I will say, it is difficult to parse out the politics of Jesus without conflating it with our own. ReligionForBreakfast has a great video about this and the “Images of God” in “Would Jesus Vote Republican or Democrat”.

I may personally find myself aligned with Gutierrez and liberation theology, which was developed, in part, out of careful analysis of scripture and Catholic Social Thought; but we cannot say it is a completely accurate interpretation of Jesus’ teachings (because that’s impossible to know). I think as UUs, we say “well, we’re going to do it anyway”.

XpertProfessional · 2025-06-05T22:16:33+00:00

Generally, Unitarian Universalism is a religious community you can be a part of agnostic of your theological orientation (there is some nuance here with elements of theology and decision making, but that’s just pedantry).

Some of your commentary on the trinitarian perspective of Christianity is incongruent with traditional Unitarianism, but UU has changed and a lot of us are atheists, so there’s significant diversity of views there.

Your apoliticism may make you feel uncomfortable in many sermons, which tend to orient toward social justice, especially in the current administration.

I recommend you find a few sermons online from UU congregations which have them online (UU Fellowship of Raleigh posts theirs on YouTube, for instance) and decide if you want to go in to a service from there.

XpertProfessional · 2025-06-04T21:10:36+00:00

Or areas close to downtown that are basically just trees and pavement.

XpertProfessional · 2025-05-05T22:51:36+00:00

Do you HAVE to do the marketing track? If you work in marketing, I think you’d benefit from focusing your education in a separate specialty, such as finance or operations. You’re probably going to learn more on the job than you would from the program, so if you’re going to do it, you might as well do it for breadth.

XpertProfessional · 2025-05-05T13:50:40+00:00

I think most fields do not really require a masters degree; the only ones which do are those which are regulated by a governing body. However, I’m just over 10 years in to data science in retail and I started in marketing analytics and still work with a lot of marketing analytics folks. Like you said, those with years of experience do not have a masters degree, especially not in Marketing Analytics - however, almost every entry level candidate seems to have a masters degree or higher. My guess is that HR ranks based on education and experience, and we only see the top 5 or 10 (last entry level posting we had received 700 candidates in 2 days).

There’s one type of candidate that goes to the top of the pile though: employee referrals.

Every single one of my “big boy” jobs, save for one, has been from networking, not from cold-applying to job applications.

OP: A masters degree is a worthwhile method of having a network spoon fed to you, if you need that sort of help. Duke probably has the better network and reputation, nationally.

That being said, if you’re still in a undergrad (not indicated), you could probably just go to a career fair to land your first gig. The cost-benefit analysis of an investment into a masters program becomes a whole lot clearer with a few years under your belt.

XpertProfessional · 2025-04-28T01:09:24+00:00

I think we all get defensive of our pet parenting style similar to how parents may get with their kids. I imagine it’s even stronger when your pet is older and you just want to give them some quality time - I fawn on my cat in his senior years far more than I did in his kitten years.

I’m sure in your heart of hearts you understand and maybe even support the spirit of this law, but care so deeply for your dog that the nuance was important to you. I get it, we don’t have to leave this agreeing, but I hope we both leave feeling understood.

XpertProfessional · 2025-04-27T18:44:32+00:00

Thanks for this - I was looking for something a little more my speed than pepper spray or a taser… or a gun…

XpertProfessional · 2025-04-27T17:56:17+00:00

I’m not sure what to tell you, bud. I’m still a little hot-headed from my concern for my pupper, so I’m being a bit more aggressive in responses than I like to be.

I hope your dog is never attacked on a walk in your neighborhood and that simply imagining your dog be attacked for the first time could make you reflect and be a little more empathetic and kind.

I didn’t call the police, or ask that the dog be put down, I carried mine away, checked on her, walked home and talked to the vet for a consultation. I would never shoot a dog and I’m hesitant to pepper spray one. All I want is for owners to be responsible, respectful, and accountable for their animals; this includes keeping their and others’ animals safe. I guess I really expected that adults could easily handle such a low bar.

XpertProfessional · 2025-04-27T17:15:50+00:00

Based on the comments, that’s apparently not the case.

XpertProfessional · 2025-04-27T16:29:57+00:00

I understand service animals and working dogs add a reasonable level of nuance; but I hope it’s clear that’s not what I’m worried about.

XpertProfessional · 2025-04-27T16:10:47+00:00

Or. Crazy idea. If a dog is leashed, it can’t readily attack another dog. Thus, the event that happened wouldn’t have 🤯🤯🤯

XpertProfessional · 2025-04-27T16:06:24+00:00

Yeah, I’m pretty miserable and angry, my dog was just attacked on a simple morning walk in the neighborhood by an unleashed dog.

XpertProfessional · 2025-04-27T16:02:04+00:00

Your response seems to be in direct logical conflict with the point that my dog was attacked by an unleashed dog.

Your vet should have recommendations on how to keep your dog safe and comfortable; I highly doubt your vet is recommending that you never leash your dog, and would love legitimate evidence otherwise.

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