Rosscast Episode 164: This Dantanian Life

Rosscast Episode 164

The Rosscast

In this episode I talk about the disappearance of common sense, rude texting, the movies Iron man 2 and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, some asshole power bombing a kid, and I steal from This American Life and talk about things that I used to believe in including God, having kids, and abortions being wrong. Click here to download this and older episodes and click here to subscribe through iTunes and even embed a player on your site. Enjoy!

Rosscast Episode 160: Do You Care?

Rosscast Episode 160

The Rosscast

In this episode I go old school and just start talking about whatever is on my mind. Topics range from religion, church, my late brother, the zombie and biblical apocalypse, and I know I talk about the comic book Powers at some point. No, I wasn’t drunk. Just babbling. Click here to download this episode and older ones and click here to subscribe through iTunes. Enjoy!

Rosscast Episode 130: "Virgin Ears My Ass..."

Rosscast Episode 130

The Rosscast

In this special episode I am joined by fellow Tha O Show writer Brian where we discuss wrestling, marijuana laws, Black people talking like Macho Man, Jim Ross and John Madden sex, gay marriage, other cultures, parenting, religion, Skype and it acting up, chest hair equaling "bad guy", Wal-Mart, passports, my Awesome Kong obsession, my lack of geographical knowledge, "The Hangover" and how I don't like it, nasty internet shit (2 Girls 1 Cup), Death By Horsecock, The Price Is Right, whaling ships, fellow writer's, gay things that should not be said before dying, and more randomness than I can possibly write here! Remember to click here to download the show or click here to subscribe to my show through your iTunes. Enjoy!

Thoughts On Heaven & Hell Part 3

What is the point of me writing all this stuff? Seriously, its just to get my damn head clear and explain to people how I see this stuff. One thing I am very curious about is what would change about my friendships if I decided to not get saved. My relationship, I know would be altered completely. But my friends? They aren’t going anywhere. And if they did I would question how much of a friend I was to them in the first place.



To not talk to Dante, me, because I’m not saved? That’s such an odd thought for me to ponder. What would change about me if I were saved? What would I still be allowed to do? I write some really strange shit. Like, vampires, hit men, killers, and all kinds of stuff. Would that be okay still? Would saved Dante be allowed to write such things in good conscious? How about my Living Room Wrestling stuff? My movies? Hell, my Rosscast! Would I be able to talk about the stuff I do?!

This isn’t a list of things I would be forbidden to do but as a true ass Christian would it be cool in God’s eyes for me to do some of the stuff I do? I try and look at life like going to the post office or DMV. We all are in this crappy situation; let’s try and enjoy it or just get through it without hurting one another. I haven’t killed anyone. No raping going on. No drug using. I stay out of trouble, don’t you agree? This is for my friends and family that may read this.


What kinda man do you think Dante Ross is?


And for listeners of my Rosscast, from my shows what do you think of me? Do I come across as someone that would be sent to Hell? There is no wrong answer. Don’t worry about offending me. I know what I believe and what I believe is this:


I have tried my best to be a good man. Not a good Christian, Muslim, or whatever man. Just a regular ass good man. I wont screw you over and if you’re a good friend to me I will be a good friend to you. I wont bring drama into your life and will help you I any way I can. If you need me to talk, write, draw, or just help you out with stuff, just ask me and I will try my best to do a good job.


There are some people I have known half my life or more who believe I am good. There are people that I only speak to on facebook that think I’m funny. I just try to be okay. That’s all I ask of myself. To be good to folks out there and hope they do the same or close to it. I don’t wanna change any of my friends. Believe in what you wanna believe. Worship who you want or don’t. Pray to whoever you’re comfortable with praying to. I wont like you any more or any less because of who you chose.


I accept all of you and any of the bad that comes with you. Some of you have been beaten, abused, raped, and generally treated like shit. Some of you have led a life where you’ve never had to ball your fists and defend yourself. Some of you grew up with a family that loved and supported you no matter what. Some have families that disowned them for various reasons. Some of you are happy with how often we talk or hang out and wouldn’t change a thing about it. Some of you would. Either way I either like or love you and that’s why you’re in my life.


I have tried to surround myself with people that like me because I am me. There’s no bullshit going on. I will say what’s on my mind (not all of it because some things are better left unsaid). My friends don’t want anything more for me than for me to be happy and successful. That’s it.


Do they want me to go to Hell? I hope not and I don’t think so. Plus, I don’t think there’s a circle of Hell that could contain me. Yes, I’m that stubborn. I have been heading through my life wondering about God, even when I hated the fact that there might be one that was just ignoring all the suffering in the world. This isn’t new. This is just the first time I have spent an amount of time discussing it with the rest of you in this manner. I hope you all can discuss this with either me or your friends.


Rockets.

Thoughts On Heaven & Hell Part 2

I have always asked why God didn’t do more in our lives. There are people that look at the sun in the morning and thank God for a new day to live. Then they turn around and get pissed at all the stuff they have to do for the rest of the day. Sometimes it seems to me that belief is very fleeting or something clung to at times of extreme grief or extreme joy. Why isn’t God always on our minds?



This is how I view God right now. Yes, I believe that there is a God. But I believe that God has let His children run wild for too long. We’re God’s latchkey kids. We were created, He sent his kid down to die for all or jacked up ass mistakes that we have made and will make, and then…nothing. We’re left to believe that one day our dad is coming home but so far we’ve been allowed to do what we want. Some of us choose to do bad and some don’t.


We have a group of kids saying “Ooh, wait till daddy gets home!” Another group saying “Daddy ain’t ever coming home, I can do what I want!” And another saying “Daddy never existed. Oh well.” I’m more in the group of “If daddy existed he would do something about this.” Essentially the house is on fire and daddy doesn’t seem to notice. The fire alarm is going off, everyone is trying to run out the house but the windows are shut and the doors are bolted, yet daddy is sleeping.


What will it take for God to finally show up if He ever will? Millions being slaughtered by madmen? Millions being raped? Death camps? People, all human, being killed and harassed because their skin, their fucking skin, is a different color? People persecuted because they are gay? Don’t even get me started on the gay topic. Gotta love how people say God doesn’t make mistakes…except when it comes to the queers. All this occurs daily yet God remains silent.

I keep using my late brother Kevin as an example of God making a mistake. Everyone knows I love my brother. One of the coolest guys I have ever met. Died of a heart attack at 32. Why? Was it because God had different plans? God wanted him? Fuck that. I want my brother. God has millions of people that are willing to die this instant to be with Him. Why take one of the few people on this Godforsaken planet from me? Yes, I am aware of how selfish this sounds. But whenever I look outside and see the same crack heads, same bums, same assholes, same useless as people who are still allowed to walk the planet I get mad. Pedophiles, criminals, crooks, rapists, murderers. Still allowed to walk around freely. Oh, but don’t worry. One day they will be judged.


Fuck that.


I want judgment now. I want to see these people pay for their crimes. Even those that do crime and wrong in God’s name. Punishment now, not after they have enjoyed a long life of wrongness. Where is God to take care of these people? I want a more proactive God in the world. I want wrong handled quickly and effectively. I want God to be like, “Did you just try and rape that child?!” Zap! Why isn’t this happening? We shouldn’t have to suffer through so much bad to get somewhere good. I don’t have to get an arm cut off to appreciate the fact I have two of them. I don’t have to suffer to enjoy the good things in life.


I want to know where God is. Some people die cursing God. Some don’t. If I die without getting saved what will happen to me? Will I burn in Hell? Will I get into Heaven because I haven’t dicked anyone over? Or will I wander through some kinda oblivion where there’s no up, down, left, or right? Or will there just be complete nothing that I wont even experience because there really is nothing after you die?

Thoughts On Heaven & Hell Part 1

“A place where people realize what they’ve done to others; where they face every detail of it, and the realize every particle of it, so they would never, never do the same thing again; a place where souls are reformed, literally by knowledge of what they’ve done wrong and how they could have avoided it, and what they should have done…when they can forgive not only God for this big mess, but themselves for their own failures, their own horrible angry reactions, their own spite and meanness, when they love everyone totally in complete forgiveness, then they would be worthy of Heaven. Hell would have to be where they see the consequences of their actions, but with a full merciful comprehension of how little they themselves knew.” - Lestat “Memnoch the Devil


Is it wrong that the closest view religiously as to how I believe Hell should be run comes from who can be called a Pagan female author of erotic vampire tales feminine vampire character? Perhaps. But that sentence fits so perfectly for me in what I feel Hell should be like. Imagine a spiritual rehab.


I have been having quite a bit of religious conversations lately. One topic was whether or not someone that was saved should marry someone that wasn’t. I say that they should. I have spoken to people that are atheist, agnostic, Christian, and Catholic about this. I have gotten many different responses such as, “Yeah, as long as they love each other that’s all that should matter.” “No, they shouldn’t because there could be problems down the road.” “It don’t matter what two people are.”


I really do believe that it doesn’t matter what religion people follow as long as they’re good people. I don’t believe that being saved makes you a good person. I don’t believe that falling to your knees and praising God and Jesus will make you a better person. I don’t believe that every person that believes in God really believes in God. Growing up I wasn’t in church every single Sunday. I hated going to church because it meant I would miss cartoons all morning. I went a few times with friends. I went with an ex. I go with my girlfriend. I have told everyone that there is no vagina on Earth powerful enough to make me switch or join a religion. Joining or saying you believe when you really don't seems to be the fastest way to get sent to Hell (if you believe in it).


A huge misconception is that people who believe in Heaven and Hell think that people who don’t are animals or something. I discussed this on episode 51 of my Rosscast with Kiyoshi. As if you have no moral if you don’t believe in God or the Devil. This isn’t true. As someone that was an atheist, agnostic, and what I call a studying Christian, I can say that even when I was convinced there was no higher power that I still knew right from wrong. I knew what felt bad so I would try not to do that to others. I’ve never needed a bible or a belief to tell me what is right from wrong. Right and wrong existed before Jesus walked the Earth and will likely still exist if He ever decides to show up again (don’t know if you’ve ever read Revelations but when He shows up apparently the entire planet goes tits up).


One problem I have and have always had with God and the belief in Him is the lack of questioning. In the book I quoted at the beginning “Memnoch the Devil” Memnoch is Satan (which translates to The Accuser) questions God creating the Earth and humans and then pretty much abandoning us.

Rosscast Episode 86: The Devil & Dante

In this episode I talk about the WeHo Halloween Parade, our parents ruining the future, animal rights, tax breaks for pet owners, Dan-e-o's new "Dilla Pickles" album, mediocre children, and saving my soul. Click here to download "Dilla Pickles" for free. Click here to download this and older Rosscast's. Click here to watch my friend Alex Hluch act a fool with Bears With Sparklers. Enjoy!

Rosscast Episode 85: Halloween Time!

In this episode I talk about Halloween (of course!) and seeing ghosts and spirits. I also talk about whether or not I'm going to Hell, my 2 year anniversary, food, and going to the L.A Zoo. Remember to download Dan-e-o's "Dilla Pickles" album later tonight. Click here to download this and older Rosscast's. Enjoy!

Rosscast Episode 80: Quietly Judging You

Excuse the sound but Dante had some serious ass technical issues with my computer. Oh, and then my mike died! Anyhoot, I answer listener questions like who would win between Bruce Lee, Jet Li, and Jackie Chan, what holidays I think are lame, and if everything happens for a reason. I also ramble about fighting bears, gay marriage, the balloon boy, and hypocrits. Click here to download this and older Rosscast shows. Enjoy!

Rosscast Episode 45: I'm Just Big Boned!

I answer some listener questions and ramble for quite a while about hypocrits in regards to religion. I also talk about good places to eat and why dogs are smarter than children. Special thanks to Jess, Kiyoshi, Hoozle, Reinard, Njeri, and Julie for listening to my rambles every week! This is fun. Remember to keep 'em coming. Enjoy!

What Do You Believe In?

Growing up I believed in God the same way I believed in the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny. Some magical being that I could see in pictures but never meet in real life. I had to believe in them because if I didn’t I wouldn’t get a quarter for my tooth, a gift on Christmas, or a chocolate bunny to further damage to my teeth thus insuring that the Tooth Fairy would show up again soon.

Over time I realized that the things you believe in as a child are in fact childish. Santa was my family putting together bikes and gifts for me. The Tooth Fairy was one of my parents sneaking change under my pillow until my teeth started falling out at such an alarming rate that they couldn’t afford to keep up the charade. And the Easter Bunny was a clever way to sell chocolate during spring. One thing I gave up on in anger was a belief in God.

Atheism: The philosophical position that deities do not exist or that rejects theism (in the broadest sense is the belief in at least one deity) in the broadest sense, it is the absence of belief in the existence of deities.

I stayed at this point for quite a bit. I had seen too many good people die while others that seemed to revel in causing grief walked around freely all the time. I watched family mourn the lost of children while men who played with guns breath the air of the free. “What kind of god would do this?” I would ask myself. I still ask myself this in all honesty. I figured that if God existed that he just didn’t give a damn about humans anymore. We were forced to believe in him or rot in a hell away from everyone we loved. This sounded like some really unfair shit and I didn’t want to be a part of it.

Agnostic: The philosophical view that the truth value of certain claims — particularly metaphysical claims regarding theology, afterlife or the existence of deities, ghosts, or even ultimate reality — is unknown or, depending on the form of agnosticism, inherently impossible to prove or disprove. It is often put forth as a middle ground between theism and atheism though it is not a religious declaration in itself.

This is where I found myself. Calling myself an agnostic rather than an atheist. I knew that the world was a terrible place to be but would not kill myself because, just in case. It was fear of that just in case. Should people who kill themselves be allowed in a place where love conquers all? Hell, no! I figured that I would go through life not fucking anyone over and get a free pass based on what I did in life. I imagined the conversation going something like this.

God: What are you doing here?

Me: Nothing. Just enjoying paradise. You?

God: Wondering how you got past security. You never accepted me in your heart, right?

Me: Naw. I figured you’d give me a Get Out Of Jail Free card or something. I mean, I never killed, hurt, or robbed anyone. I went church a bit and even stopped damning you. So we’re cool, right?

God: Not really, no.

Next thing you know I’m wearing gasoline draws. This is seriously how I figured it should be. Be cool with everyone and God would let you slide. But then I met my lady and started finding out the rules of the game. Boy, was I in for a shocker. The thing is that its more than saying, “Yeah, I believe in God.” You can say that all day but it means fuck all. I started going to church which was something, if you know me, I never do. To go by my own free will took the death of my brother. I hated going to church. Being told that I was going to burn in hell. I had to be baptized. I was being led away by the devil. That I wasn’t a good person because I didn’t come every single Sunday and cough up cash I barely had. You could keep church!

The thing is, I was never one to bash people that went (except convict ass born again Christians but that’s for a whole ‘nother blog!). I would just accept that they believed in this imaginary creature and move on. Yeah, I could talk to anyone of any religion. I have friends that are Christian, Muslim, Atheist, Jewish, Agnostic, and Catholic. I didn’t care what you worshipped as long as you weren’t an asshole. The thing I never got was people that belonged to a religion and bashed others that weren’t. People that told you how bad you were because you didn’t believe what they believed. People that said that you couldn’t love who you were born to love based on your sexuality. That level of intolerance I could not stand and still cant. I just kept to myself and let others live how they wanted as long as they didn’t fuck with me. That was close to the Dantania motto: “Do What You Want Just Leave Me The Fuck Out Of It!”

Anyway, so I started going to church and was prepared for the same old bullshit. I actually waited for it. When are they gonna tell me that God hates fags? When are they gonna drag me on stage and make me confess my sins and convert? It never happened. I was shocked. The thing is that I became what I had fought against. I grouped people together based on the experiences I had with a few. It was like a form of racism. Are all Christians, Muslims, and Jews good? No. There is no such thing as a perfect group. But I took those few bad examples, watched the news and saw thousands slaughtered in the name of a God and ran with it. I never gave religion a chance and thereby never gave myself a chance. I wasted years being mad at something I told myself I didn’t believe in.

Does that make any sense?

I speak to my lady and cousin about religion and get their point of view on things. They are both Christian but have a different view on various topics. Hey both come from the same place but grew up on different streets if you catch my drift. I listen to podcasts with pastors and hear what they have to say. I read the bible and use what I can in my life. Will I ever learn everything there is to know about the bible? God, no! Its impossible. Will I ever be perfect? Never. Even if I lived to be 1000 I’d never be perfect. But what I can do is learn to be better and that’s what studying the bible has done for me. It has leveled me out mentally in ways I didn’t think were possible. I got this better outlook on life than I previously had. I started getting that Annie “The sun’ll come out tomorrow!” shit in my bones.

How would becoming Christian change me was a question I posed to my lady. Was I gonna be able to write the crazy shit that I write? Would I start acting differently? Will I really have to be baptized in front of a crowd? How would I know when I was even ready to accept a savior? These are all questions that will be answered hopefully sooner than later.

Do we all know what happens when we die? No. Do I want to be focused on fear into making me a religious person? Of course not. That’s a really bad mindset to have when making a decision (unless you’re Liam Neeson in that movie “Taken” when your fear is totally founded). But what if all you had to do was believe? We believe in so much shit in our lives but believing this one thing makes us laugh or doubt so much? Fuck that. I’m sick of hating what I don’t understand while wanting it at the same time. I’m tired of running around in circles mentally when the answer has been around forever. If you all want to continue living as you are right now, go right on ahead. But ask yourself: Just how happy are you as is?

Rockets.

Taking It Slow. Like, REALLY Slow...

CHICAGO – Won't kiss on the first date? How about waiting until marriage?

Chicagoans Melody LaLuz and Claudaniel Fabien shared their first kiss Saturday at the altar. The two teach abstinence at the city's public schools and practiced what they preached to their teenage students.

The Chicago Tribune reports that the couple had never kissed and that they had never been alone together in a house.

A friend of LaLuz says wedding guests cheered and stomped during the two-minute smooch between the 28-year-old bride and the 30-year-old groom.

LaLuz and Fabien say they have no worries about how they will spend their honeymoon in the Bahamas.

Okay, for serious? Is this really happening on my planet? Until last year I equated not having sex before marriage to buying a car without driving it. Not kissing until you get married is like buying a house without seeing it. At least you can say “This car blows scary uncle! I’m driving it back to the lot!” But with a house you’d have to go through so much drama just to get out of it.

Imagine if the first kiss was horrible? What would you do? I don’t believe these folks anyway. Seriously. I don’t. I don’t care how much self control you exercise, there ain’t no way you can not kiss someone you’re with. I bet the dude was all over her while she slept. All like “Fuck this nonsense! I’m kissing your hair or something while you’re knocked out…”

I just thought of something. I bet they had sex. Well, they said no kissing and they teach abstinence. Maybe they were into the whole oral thing. Yeah, that’s the ticket. I bet they were. A few years back they released some study where all of these super religious kids in school were having anal sex because they figured it still made them virgins. What’s the ticking sound? Oh, damn it.

That’s the Doomsday Clock.

I can only imagine what that survey meeting was like.

“So, kids? You having any pre-marital sex?”

No.

“None?”

No.

“Oral sex?”

No.

“Mutual masturbation?”

No.

“Anal?”

Oh, hell yeah! All the time!

That’s a huge leap. History has proved that the more religious someone is the more dangerous they are. I’m not talking about folks going to church a few times a week or read the bible like it’s the newspaper. I’m talking about those people that condemn everything under God’s sun. The one that scream bloody murder about abortions but damn you to hellfire in the same breath. They make me nervous.

Yeah, so that couple was, like, totally banging each other.

Rockets.