I make no apologies for my grammatical errors, FYI.
Charles: so what is it about the Muppets that you connect with? why do you love them so much?
Jarred Lee: I always liked how real they seemed. Their distinct personalities mixed with the format of The Muppet Show and the different Muppet movies
Charles: i think that's why i like Miss Piggy
Charles: because she seems like she and maybe Kermit are the most complex characters
Charles: i was reading her back story and i was actually quite wrong about the body image thing
Charles: it's crazy how much Frank Oz put into developing her
Jarred Lee: Yeah, they always felt more like actors, themselves, than puppets
Charles: I know I wasn't aware of this as a child but I think the thing that got me was that the Muppets just intrinsically good.
Charles: Even Crazy Harry, you know?
Charles: He was disruptive but he wasn't trying to hurt anyone. He was just chaotic.
Charles: I think that was a reflection of the kind of man Jim Henson was.
Charles: A man that believed in the goodness of people and the power of imagination.
Charles: I actually get teary-eyed when I think of the beauty of it.
Charles: There's just so much cynicism in the world. So much hate.
Charles: And he was the exact opposite of it.
Charles: And if you look at "The Dark Crystal" or "Labryinth" you'll see he's not afraid of representing darkness.
Charles: But he also believes in the power to illuminate. Which I find truly precious.
Jarred Lee: Very well-said
Jarred Lee: Even as children, I think that we're mostly capable of sensing a deeper meaning to things, and I feel that that came across very clearly with Jim Henson's creations.
Charles: I think you're very right.
Jarred Lee: Which aided their almost universal acclamation and appreciation
Charles: People want something to aspire to, I believe. They want inspiration.
Charles: That's my great criticism of the secular community (and why I'm not fully a part of it). Is that they so often criticize religion without realizing that fundamental truth.
Charles: Yes, I dislike religion and find great fault with it. But I don't find fault with the human need for inspiration.
Jarred Lee: I completely agree. As humans, I feel that we need something to put our faith in. My main issue with religion has always stemmed from my rejection of theism. I believe that a moral values and social etiquette can exist without the belief in deities. I've always felt that religion's descent into pettiness stems from the competitive nature of theistic beliefs.
Charles: Continue, please. I'm curious about this line of thought because I personally like what I consider "true" competition.
Jarred Lee: Well, I believe that religions are social constructs at their core. From what I've observed and read, the basic ideas of "good" and "evil" (read: right and wrong) seem to fairly static across the major religions. From what I can tell, only religions that have appeared in opposition to other religions seem to differ in that regard. That leads me to believe that defining those values are intrinsically important to the formation of any religion.
Jarred Lee: But, as a social construct, there has to be an element of control, as well. Religion has a limitless potential for influence, so it's only natural that the creators of a religion would look to the supernatural for that element, as its influence is impossible to argue and can be elevated to any level on a whim. With that said, from a religious perspective, it is difficult to make allowances for supernatural forces that exist outside of your religion.
Jarred Lee: That's what I am referring to when I talk about the competitive nature of theistic religions
Charles: The night is dark and full of terrors, am I right?
Jarred Lee: lol
Jarred Lee: Yes
