Where Do We See G-d In The "Mess" Of Today? Here:

 There's lots of things

Going on today

That we want to avoid

Close our eyes, ears, minds, hearts to

We are like the authorities 

Jesus condemned 

For wanting a special sign [or a pill] 

To solve life's "problems" [Matthew 16:1-4]

So where can we see G-d today?

Just look at nature

Watch the native flowers open

And the pollinators gathering there

To gather pollen

To take home to their babies

Such love

Beauty-full

Plants like golden rod 

Flourish if we let them

They are heaven to the pollinators

[And no they don't trigger allergies: it's ragweed that does. Golden rod is actually one remedy and also for colds and a digestion strengthener!]

Stop watch, listen, meditate

There in front of us

We can see G-d

Or maybe we need to plant something  or leave something to grow first!

We can see G-d in ways

We are conditioned to fear or even hate

Like when the tree frog happily chirping

Like a bird

Is gobbled up by a snake

How dare he! If he is a he!

We want to impose our foolishness and domination

On creation

But watch the magical 

Move-ment of the snake

As it quietly moves

And even "smells" with its tongue

You try it! 

We can't even survive without

A grocery store nearby

But all of nature does!

Or watch the spider

An amazing creature that makes a web

Try it! And catches 2000 insects 

In it's life time

You don't like mosquitoes?

Well thank the spiders for catching them!

Don't like ticks? Thank the possums for eating them.

Don't like mice and rats? God is there in the skunks to eat them.

And look at the humans who sacrifice them-selves

Like the parents who lay on their children to save them

As Israel drops another bomb on yet another school in Gaza [August 2024]

And all that is left are body parts of over 100 people

God is there and everywhere

That people stand-up for love: for justice - against oppression

And even those who sacrifice convenience

To not pollute

Like the woman who has a car

But takes the train instead of driving 

And those who walk, ride, and take public transit

To DO something to slow down the climate emergency

 

And those who take a moral stance

To not fly

Or even turn off the car's air conditioning

Saving 20% in fuel and pollution

We see God in those who follow

Jesus' command to sell what we have

And give to the poor

Shedding our second homes: cottages

And finally we see God 

In more small things [are they really small?]

Like when someone says thank you

Or when someone answers harshly

And calms down and says "I'm sorry"

Perhaps we need to be sorry

For be-ing blind to God 

In so many Creations - including us

We need to be creators of a beauty-full world

On an individual and also a societal/political level

Let's step out - stand up

Let's reach out

And thank God

And thank the frogs

And thank those who sacrifice them-selves

And don't forget the spiders too!

"...The LAND Is MINE And You Are But Aliens And My TENANTS..." - The Creator G-D

 

 

The glorious Creat-i-on

Revels in beauty

Harmony is its song

Listen, smell, feel....

Stop

Your excess-ive rush[ing] [and consuming of goods and experiences]

To no-where

Fast

Harmony:

Nature does not need humans

"Civilized" humans are a pariah

Greed, material-ism, luxurious "living"

 

Christians, Jews, Muslims, Agnostics, Atheists

All should be ashamed

For justifying their self-absorption

And abusing our fellow humans and non-humans

 

Stealing the land

       Air

        Water

            Anything and everything

 

As if they own all

                It is MY land

              You are but aliens

               And my tenants*

 

All you talk about

Is your right

To en-joy life

To fly to 50 countries

 

Let's talk about respons-ibility   

It's time to BE [silent]

To observe 

To listen and hear:

 

Let the rivers clap their hands,

Let the mountains sing together for joy;

Let them sing before the LORD,

For he comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the world in righteousness

And the peoples with equity.

Psalm 98 [NIV]   

 

*from the Jewish scriptures: Leviticus 25 NIV

COVID19: God Sides With The Oppressed, The Workers And The Victims

While many governments are using the pandemic to take away workers rights, the religious/spiritual person needs to demand justice. Trump and his gang of thieves are taking away more from the workers to give to corporations - perhaps will be $4-6,000,000,000,000. Where are the riots?

Workers from Amazon, Instacart, Whole Foods and others are uniting. In protest, they demand the minimum: safe working conditions. But the wealthy corporations/Republicans say "get back to work". No breaks. No PPE [personal protection equipment], no sick days, etc. States will not give financial aid to those who are sick or fear going back to work. Shame! Evil, greedy, mainly old men controlling/deciding. Democracy? Yea.

Where's the participation of the worker/citizens in life?

But the church goer continues to pray, for "God knows what". And, ironically, perhaps, many conservative pastors who denied the reality of C19 have died! Telling the gullible to still go to church and that God will magically protect them - or outrightly deny the reality of the pandemic/science[sound familiar?].
God bringing justice?

The Buddhist, who thinks she is superior to the Christian, meditates for peace - while there is no peace for the poor or the earth. Bubbles. Reality Bubbles. But while these people may not care for the plight of the poor or the workers. God does! [Psalm 12 NIV Jewish Scriptures]:

:Because of the oppression of the weak

and the groaning of the needy,

I will now arise", says the Lord.

"I will protect them from those who malign them."

And the words of the Lord are flawless.

Clearly God is taking sides. The oppressor must 'pay'. [Huh? Doesn't God love everyone?]

So what kind of oppression do people suffer today? Isn't all work a form of oppression. Unions can help get rights and protect these rights of the workers. But many, like Trump and his gang, and all conservatives, oppose them! The owners of the capital oppress the workers. The workers are exploited and many can not even pay for food, rent, etc. Where is the government or biz helping them? We need to demand it.

In Ontario and many places, the horrid conditions of long-term care facilities is coming to light. 50% of the deaths are occurring there.  There the weakest live. God takes their sides.

And the workers that are not permitted to form unions, most often immigrants, struggle at unliveable wages. In Ontario $4/hr. has apparently been added to their wages - that from the same Ford government that fought to keep minimum wage below a liveable wage of at least $22/hr. He also cut public health by 30%! Yet, like his bud south of him, gave hefty tax breaks to the rich. God is not happy boys!

The wicked freely strut about

when what is vile is honoured among men.

Normal life of polluting by driving, flying, and the wars to get oil are considered normal, everyday, blah blah b....With Covid19 people in India are seeing the mountains. Air is breathable now in many places.

            "I've been to 40 countries and counting", proudly says the woman on the dating site.

                               The 2000000000 dead in Iraq might say these are vile, evil acts - honoured among people. It's time to change.

It's time those who think they are right-eous by meditating, going to mosque, church, work, ....

make real changes to the vile things they do. And to change the systems that reward fellow oppressors and oppress the poor and the weak.

      Then, God will arise in/through us. Time to take back the power. Value shift...

                                                                              Life [-style] shift.

                                                                                      "Sacrifice" for the privileged.

"My Gun Knows How To 'Love Thy Neighbour'", says the American - and other ideas

Most religions, spiritualities, rationalists agree that "love is the answer". Sadly, today, hate is the answer for many. All the more reason we need love to counter this hate. Jesus even said we must die for others and love those we may even hate.

So what is this love? Whom is our neighbour?

All humans and non-humans are our neighbours. We are all connected and influence one another. For e.g., much of the pollution in China finds its way to California and even to Canada. Of course political/economic policies reach round the world. We are dependent on all of creation. We are part of 'it'. Any dichotomy has been discarded both by science, philosophy, religion and spirituality.

So how do we love?
Love is not merely emotion but act-i-on. Sure we may help  a person on an individual basis but what about a mass scale  Of course it means not to harm. But it must involve justice also. Some practical ways to love:

1. Make all equal - gender, economic, status. No hierarchy. Inequality continues poverty, repression, oppression... When 6 people have more wealth than almost 4000000000 people - there is a problem. When few women are in positions of power - we have a problem. When the rich and corporations don't pay tax and devour the earth - we have a problem. When power exists we have a problem. In Canada, $80000000000 is not paid in taxes, we have a problem! Tax havens amount to at least $24000000000000 for the rich and corporations! Jesus said the rich cannot enter the kingdom of God: just like a camel cannot go through the eye of a needle!
2. Pollution kills the poor and vulnerable: humans and nonhumans. Dumps are put in areas where poverty reigns. In the U.S. many of those residents can't even vote. Their polling stations also have been shut down. The rich go to their cottages in the summer. They can buy bottled water, for which corporations literally steal from poorer rural communities [one is very close to the author - and little or no taxes are paid on a LIMITED "resource"]. The poor live by highways and busy roads. The middle class and up drive to the suburbs - polluting but 'escaping' it. Noise pollution kills: increasing stress and leading to more cancer, heart attacks. 
3. Support local agriculture and organic growers especially. Pesticides, herbicides and the like cause cancer and kill humans and nonhumans. Buying local means less pollution from the transportation and usually local farmers use less toxins than far away ones. But this is relative. If your country has strict government regulations - then this applies. Strong citizen action and government action is needed. The "free" markets just supports whatever brings quick cash. The workers don't matter. Creation [and they are part of it] doesn't matter. The soil [i.e. the source of all life] doesn't mater... You get my point.
4. Grow your own food. You won't force somebody to be your wage slave labourer that way. Farm workers are often abused on many levels. "Even" in Canada, migrant farm workers suffer much. If you have land or even have a pot of soil, it all helps. And see the wonders of Creation! See here for inspiring pics and ideas!
5. Support unions and similar organizations. "Divide and conquer" is the goal of the capitalist/oppressor. Taking away power from the worker means people suffer. Without unions we can be treated unfairly, lose our jobs, get harassed, etc. Obey or be gone - or dead in many cases - either murdered or from starvation.
6. Consume less and buy locally. Workers in China, for example, have no rights. More goods does not mean more happiness. Look to share instead.
7. Welcome immigrants. We all are immigrants, including many indigenous peoples. Watch for a future post on this.
8. Share what you have. Churches, mosques, universities, businesses should fill their oft empty spaces with the homeless. How fair is it to leave a building empty much of the time? People with cottages use their second homes a few weeks of a year. Shame. Why is this accepted/legal? I better watch it I'm sounding like a communist. 
9. Make the climate emergency a priority in your life and country. The poor, Creation and others are suffering now. Scientists say we have 12 years max. to do something! That includes the above things. It requires a practicing of what you say. It means do what your religion, spirituality etc. say. Not driving, not flying, not supporting corporations that rape the earth ... opposing military budgets [almost $1000000000000 in U.S.] ... 
10. Have hope. As Cornell West says:

Hope and optimism are different. Optimism tends to be based on the notion that there's enough evidence out there to believe things are gonna be better, much more rational, deeply secular, whereas hope looks at the evidence and says, "It doesn't look good at all. Doesn't look good at all. Gonna go beyond the evidence to create new possibilities based on visions that become contagious to allow people to engage in heroic actions always against the odds, no guarantee whatsoever." That's hope. I'm a prisoner of hope, though. Gonna die a prisoner of hope.

Notre-Dame Cathedral Burns Like Fuel In Your Car, Plane, Butt

Fire burns the 'great' cathedral
People crying
History lost
Coverage all over the world

Fire burns your fossil fuels
Fire burns inside internal combustion engines
Fire burns to lift the plane that delivers your 'Amazon'
Fire burns to take you to your vacation spot

Fire burns the forests in Canada and U.S.
Drought came first
Greed came first
"Give me convenience or give me death"

No connect-i-on-s with climate change/dis-ruption
No world coverage
Keep it a secret
What's the score in the latest 'game'?

What's the score of diminishing resources?
What's the score on lack of clean drinkable water?
How's the game of clean air?
What's the score on the toxins in your food?
What the count of endless living organisms murdered by spraying fossil fuels on the land?
[used to make herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers: and very delicious and nourishing and safe: TRUST the company that profits from selling them!]

The climate emergency is more important than a relic
Representing taking money from the poor 
To make the obedient, rich and clergy feel safe
Built with slave labour

God doesn't live in temples
S/he lives among the poor and oppressed
Seen through the hope-full and wonder-full Creat-i-on
For there we find release

As greedy people, of all COLOURS/races
Devour each other and Creation
Destroying the very children: human and nonhuman
Of the Creator

For Creation reveals the great-ness and good-ness of God
Let us do all we can to protect it [we are it]
It is God's [or reason's/universe's/Buddha's/etc ad nauseum] demand
It is essential:

O LORD my God, you are very great;

you are clothed with splendor and majesty [nature].

He wraps himself in light as with a garment;

he sretches out the heavens like a tent

and lays the beams of his upper chambers on the water.

He makes the clouds his chariot

and rides on the wings of the wind. 

He makes winds his messengers [or angels],

flames of fire his servants.....

He waters the mountains from his upper chambers [yes rain is good!];

the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work.

He makes grass grow for the cattle, 

and plants for man to cultivate-

bringing forth food from the earth:

wine that gladdens the heart of man...

The lions roar for their prey

and seek their food from God...

How many are your works, O LORD!

In wisdom you made them all;

the earth is full of YOUR creatures.....

These all look to you

to give them their food at the proper time...

When you hide your face,

they are terrified...

When you send your Spirit,

they are created,

and you renew the face of the earth.

May the glory [nature] of the LORD endure FOREVER;

may the LORD rejoice in his works [nature].

Praise the LORD, O my soul.

Praise the LORD.

Psalm 104 NIV

"Biblical" Marriage: Not What You Think!

Most evangelical "Christians" dream about a heavenly biblical marriage. With-holding sex from them-selves and their partners, they want to "save" "it" for that "special" person. Sure is odd that they can do everything, including anal, but oh no...not the vagina. For this discussion see my post Dirty Girl Purity Cults Exposed

But it relates here as we think about what a truly "biblical" marriage is. Let's first separate the "biblical" version [or any marriage] from the Hollywood version. It takes work, maturity and more work. Now to the gist of what a "biblical" marriage is like. Let's make it clear that the bible, like any literature, must be interpreted. And there may be many different interpretations to contend with. But here's some pretty clear lessons from the bible and the culture it came from::

1. Marriages are arranged. Parents chose your future spouse.
2. You are about 12 years old, if a girl; 14 if a boy.
3. It is mainly an exchange to increase the wealth of your parents.Perhaps they will get sheep, land, gold....How many sheep are you worth?
4. You may not meet your "lover" till the "celebratory" day.
4. a. It should be clear this is not a romantic relationship! Keep reading those fantasy books and watching those films.
5. If your brand new husband is wealthy, you have to contend with numerous wives and concubines for his attention! The more babies the better. So that means, he needs more baby machines. Are you ready?
6. Sex is about baby production. Many church fathers protested God, "why do I have to do that horrid thing with that horrid thing to get a baby?".
7. Yea, women [were] are property. And horrid at that! As in many Muslim countries, even today, men do not associate with this underclass. Same goes for synagogues and some churches. Forget going to the movies holding hands!
8. If you screw up, the man has the right to send you to the streets. Jesus chastised the Pharisees for such abusive attitudes.
9. No Netflix.And no "netflix and chill" either! It's all about work: baby care, cook, clean, grow food, chop wood, sew clothes,.... without recognition of course. No room for any fat Suzies! [Watching too much Family Guy].
10. Paul opposed marriage. He saw it for the weak. Isn't it odd that the church demands marriage. What a surprise the church ignores most of the bible. You are not  a woman [or man] if you don't marry.

While you may deny this is biblical, pull out the good ole book and you'll see! Or do what most Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Republicans, Conservatives, Liberals, Communists....do: Pick And Chose! Good luck everybody else!

Is Driving A "Sin" [love that word]?

If God made the world and said it was good, how can people destroy it - without even a thought about it?! If people say the bible is sacred and must be obeyed...then Hear Ye::

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. Gen. 2

How many today view their goal in life to care for the land?
"I don't have time"
"I want to fly to Maui to swim with the dolphins"
"I have to drive my kids to..."

The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants...you must provide for the redemption of the land...Lev. 25

If we really under-stand who owns the land - NOT us - then we must live responsibly. Not only is private property condemned, but we must care and provide for the land. Today, most just take take take from the land for selfish reasons. Where does the pollution go? Where does your poop go? What toxins are put on food and poison the land, water, air, workers, .... ?

I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you - the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals...every living creation on earth...Never again will life be cut off by the waters of a flood...I will set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Gen. 9

The stress is on all of Creation - NOT just humans! Yet, foolish "christians" say God will destroy the world, blah blah blah...doctrine shoved gleefully down their throats by pastors about the "end times". Very odd: discard the Jewish Scriptures for junk.
Discard Creation..
Discard the poor...
Discard love...

Cars/driving them epitomizes the idea that we can do what we want without regard for Creation [which includes humans]. 2000000 dead in Iraq for oil. Blood on your hands if you drive, fly, use any fossil fuels [in pesticides etc.].....
The pollution/carbon to make cars [electric cars etc. are not the answer: 50% in the MAKING of cars]
Roads wipe out forests
#1 killer of kids
Traffic causes incredible stress
Traffic destroys community
What about the smog...pollution by driving itself?
Where will the list end [very few mentioned here]?

It ends when you make a choice between love for ALL Creation and your-self.
The choice is to obey God or your selfish desires.
God/the gospel demand self-sacrifice.

"...the deceitfulness of wealth and desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful." - Jesus [Mark 4].

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." - Jesus [Mark 8].

So let's get in the car and drive to church/temple/mosque/synagogue... to "worship" the Creator! Amen.

Are Authorities Ordained By God?

Step back. Who tells us this? Who benefits? Why are they telling us? Did they ask the oppressed and workers what they think?

Authority has been telling us this for-ever: going back to Caesar, and earlier. He, whom considered himself to be God and to be obeyed. Religious, political, military, police leaders have continued this en-force-ment for-ever!

Today, some like Jeff Sessions say the same: we should obey the government's terrible treat-ment of immigrants, or whatever they say/do. Of course, such rhetoric is especially alive during war times. "National security" trumps all.

The most cited verses found in Romans 13. Apartheid, slavery, and much of history reveal how these verses were used to subjugate the masses. Sure, it says that authority is ordained by God. So what? Why do we feel compelled to obey some text? It goes on to say that authority rewards those who do good and punishes those who do evil. Really? Unfortunately we oft turn off reason when told this and other such foolish things. Go to the prisons. Who is there? The rich? The polluters? The war mongers? The bankers that caused the 2008 collapse? No! It's the poor, the blacks, ... those who can't afford expensive lawyers. So where is God? Where is the truth of this verse? It's not true. It's propaganda to control people!

But we stop. We submit. We fail. We reject reason, truth and justice.

Ask any reformed evangelical/fundamentalist [not just religious!]. One verse strangles. The authorities in the churches, mosques, religious groups, political groups, etc. pressure the individual and mass. It's hard to believe that  one verse can bury the mind and reason. But it has/does! When those around us convince us to submit, we too often fail and obey them. But they get us when we are young, or desperate, or lonely.

Of course, no one tells us that the writer, Paul, was jailed and fought the authorities for over 3 years! Numerous Christians fought against obedience.. And remember the ones fed to the lions. Did they believe Caesar was god? No! Ok...time for dinner!

Any sense of logic leads us to the strange point then that Hitler, Stalin, Pinochet, etc. were all ordained by God. All are. So which do we obey? I'm confused. Please help me. Where is Jeff when I need him?

Of course no one talks about Christ. He disobeyed  religious/political authority....I wonder if that is why the authorities murdered him for treason.  Read again, the authorities killed the Christ: not the poor, the workers, the immigrants...He constantly and consistently opposed authority! He took the side of the 'scum': the women, the poor, the prostitutes, the outcasts, .... all those who were oppressed by these wonderful authorities!

We need to challenge authority. We need to all be one. The rich and ruling class must become workers like us. We do not need authority figures. They need us. [oh oh commi scare!] ... Remember what Jesus said [Mark 10:42-45 NIV]:

You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles

 lord it over them, 

and their high officials exercise authority over them.

Not so with you.

Instead, whoever wants to become great among you 

must become your servant,

and whoever wants to be the first

must be the slave of all.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served,

but to serve,

and to give his life as a ransom for many.

This demands a total reversal of the hierarchical model thrust upon us.  Let us love: serve others [and ALL creation]: not oppress nor support anyone or any system that does so.

We are told to follow, like little children, singing "Jesus loves me, yes I know, for the bible tell me so...." Sing with me, Mr. Sessions....You can hear him sing: "Obey me, for the bible tells you so".....amen.

The Gospel Is Not Good For The Rich! Huh?!!!

The gospel has been re-duced to a few sentences....a few "key" phrases/ideas. Is that acceptable? What really motivates such a reductionist approach to the life of Jesus? Do people even read the whole gospel? Who decided what is acceptable in the "message"?

We are told "gospel" means good news. But is it really good news to all? To the rich, Jesus said they cannot enter the kingdom of God...And the Jews knew that a camel cannot - ever - go through the eye of a needle!  But the poor peasant disciples were relieved that even they can "for all things are possible with God". What a reversal of what they were taught and what society enforced.

We have the "gospels" of Mark, Luke, Matthew and John. Mark is the earliest - about 45-55 AD. A long time after Christ was here! Matthew and Luke took much from the source "Q". Hence the commonalities. Yet there is quite a difference in all four - making one question the reliability. They started off orally before being written down - and the goal was not to be word for word true as we expect from published reports today [or do we? #fakenews]. They had a message that the authors wanted to communicate.

One must wonder how "Christians" reduce entire books down to: we have sinned, Jesus died on a cross to pay the penalty for our sin, accept him into your heart [sic] and you go to heaven"...."Sounds a little fishy", says the fisher men who followed Christ.

So what got excluded from this bastardization of the historical Jesus? Well...let's start with predictions about him in Luke 1. He was to bring down authority, feed the poor and reject/condemn the rich. And that's just chapter one. Later he condemns retaliation, wealth, racism, sexism, the Jewish/state authorities.... We see him accepting those detestable creatures called gentiles....oh, and let's not forget other "scum" like women and prostitutes. He even said the kingdom of God belongs to them....and the poor. What? When have you heard a TV [or twitter/web...] evangelist say this?

Of course the authorities - both the occupying Romans and the Jewish hierarchy enforcing their laws saw this dude as a threat....enough that he needed to be murdered - for sedition. Oh, but he was such a good Jewish boy!

So we see this Palestinian! Jew who was illiterate, poor, a stone worker [few trees so not a carpenter]...a low class scum essentially. But wait! My very brief summary is excluded from the evangelical's nice SELL-able story. You don't need to change anything. Just go to church, bible study, say a few words and study DOCTRINE. The religion becomes one of shoving your doctrine on others - not the radical social change that Christ lived and called for. In fact, he didn't say believe in me. He said, first you must repent: i.e. change: stop doing wrong. And he wasn't talking about masturbation or homosexuality or making love to a beautiful women [or man]. Not a very sell-able message. We also see a similar de-radicalization of Judaism. Once a radical social movement drawing much from the prophets, "lamed out" to be a Torah-based ritualized religion.

Christ! You should have known better! But that is the point. As "christians" pick and choose: i.e. destroy the message - they proclaim how right they are and how wrong the rest are [all funda-mentalists do this: whether atheist, Muslim, ...]. But they miss the point. Jesus stressed dying for your "brother"...sacrificing all to help the other - even if it is an "enemy" or occupier. But who wants to follow this crap message? Not a lot of fun to me!

Time to get into your expensive car, pollute God's land [killing the poor and all], go to church...and "praise" [with the mouth - not the entire body/life] the Creator.... What a sham. What a shame. Speak out and they will murder you - as they did to the real Christ. Good luck challenging institutions of conformity. The cross awaits you and your ideas!

Jesus 4 Sale [limited time offer or it's off to hell you go, bitch]

Cool church service
A band on stage
A young pastor
But no Jesus on stage

Church on insta
Flashy pics
Wow video
But Jesus got banned by the authorities

They didn't like his message
To sell all and give to the poor
Bad for capitalism
Sing praise to Jesus: consume Jesus...yum yum...

We'll 'water down' the message
It's easy 123
Just say you're sorry
Jesus sees through the platitudes


Feel the energy
Sway with us....

We're all so happy and 'gay'
Jesus said first you must repent: change. stop doing wrong...then you can believe.

We even accept 'the gays'
We love 'em all
No judgement [yet we will say it's wrong if you corner us]
Jesus says you will be judged by how you live/love [verb - not emotion]

We're not perfect
We might even hurt you
Only God won't
Ah, now we are not responsible to be/act loving-ly [Jesus demanded to be 'perfect']

Other churches have too many rules
"You shouldn't....."
We're just about acceptance
Jesus said you must sacrifice/die to your-self for others [no new iphone for billy :(]

We're just normal people
We are the status quo
No challenging [political/econonmic/justice/equality...] questions here
Jesus challenged the racism of the Jews, the power/wealth/lives of the religious/political leaders...

Jesus was just a normal dude
He would have an insta account now
Just like us...he wouldn't stand out...
Christ was assassinated because he represented the oppressed

We're so wishy washy about substantial matters of living
By NOT demanding change
We are supporting
The oppression of the earth, the poor, the land, the weak, the air...

Let's go for a drive
And listen to the sermon
Ah, feel the breeze
Meanwhile the Tar Sands and corporations [and war for oil] devour God's land

The consumeristic  message is clear:
Jesus is real cheap
Like a whore
You can take and take and take

We love the bible
[well....a few select verses: PAC theology: pick and choose]
Such a warm and fuzzy character Jesus was/is
Who was crucified for being an anarchist: a rebel against the state and powers that be

Treason all the way
The Romans were more honest about his threat
But let's just dance around
Singing praises to our peace-full lord and saviour. Amen.

Spiritual/Religious Leaders Lead The People Astray

The spiritual woman follows
The spiritual 'master'
Taking absorbing every word
As 'gospel' truth

The religious follow the spiritual
Following some leaders who knows the secrets
They do not know
"Please share your in-sights with me"

Like children
The followers absolve them-selves
Of any responsibility
I will believe and obey

Dis-daining science
Disdaining questioning
Disdaining evidence
But I feel it is true

Placebos work because people believe
Even when they know they are placebos
It's about "faith"
Believe in the healer

Don't believe in your-self
Don't believe in real-it-y
Don't believe in ration-al 'thought'
Don't believe in questioning

Where/how/why do these leaders get their 'special-ness'?
It is beyond this world
It is out of reach
For a mere mortal like me

Help me
I will follow you
I will pay you
With money, my life, my attention, my mind, my body...

My soul...
Longs for the truth
But truth cannot be determined by intuition
Which is conditioned, projected, fabricated

"As for the prophets
Who lead my people astray,
If one feeds them,
They proclaim 'peace'" [Micah 3]

Be Perfect! - You Who Consider Your-selves To Be Spiritual/Christian...

It is annoying when "Christians" excuse them-selves by saying "the church is made up of imperfect people". This is in response to any criticism about the hypocrisy of "Christians". The quotations are used to stress the over-use or misuse of the term "Christian". So what did Christ, the founder of this religion say on the subject of lame excuses and imperfection?

In perhaps the most radical part of the gospels, the beatitudes, Jesus stresses the ethical and moral demands of the gospel. He goes far beyond the Jewish Law, though he does not invalidate it, to stress the righteousness and love of those who want to follow him. Christ condemns the religious leaders [why don't "Christians"/others do this today? Rather, they follow them without question - the very thing Christ condemned]. Demanding a righteousness greater than the leaders, Jesus called for a total sacrificing of the ego - the self - to give - to love the other.

As the meme says, love, not retaliation must dominate the spiritual person's life. But it's so hard! Did Christ say, "oh it's okay, you're not perfect...don't worry about it"? No! Rather he said "Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect". [Mt. 5:48 NIV]. No excuses. No whining. No choice.

This is the gospel. It is not some lame prayer etc. It is living - be-ing right-eous. Reading the bible, going to church/temple etc. are not righteous acts, nor do they necessarily "bring about" righteousness.  It is about love. It is love. The Jews didn't see a separation between "spiritual" and everyday life. We need to be "holy" in all we do. We need to love our neighbours in all we do. That includes big issues like driving, flying, having two homes, polluting, trying to make society equal [eg. increase taxes on rich/corporations], getting involved in community/political actions, etc. And, of course, our righteous acts need to take into account the nonhuman population, the air, land, water...and our impact on "them".

We need to feel un-comfortable. We need to be perfect. It is work. It is necessary. It is love [a verb].

Super Easy Spirituality: Come Fly With Us!

Feigned spirit-u-ality

applied to any-thing

one desires

key word: desire

You can fly to California

to some "holy" mountain

and "erase" the pollution

by sending "positive" thoughts

And if somebody points out the contra-dict-i-on

you attack them for being negative

and mock them

and tell them how great and good you are

Masked greed and self-ish-ness

passed off as better, higher, holy

yet the act-i-on devours

the air, land, water

Some think conscious-ness

comes through revelation and suffering

evolving to DENY the self

and to serve the rest of Creation

Yet many others follow the mantra:

123 I can surpass real-i-t-y

I can fly above the masses

I am invincible

Yet the poor may differ in their perspective

1000000000 without food DAILY

Their land, air, water ripped up

So you can fly

Be-come a shaman or goddess

a few QUICK easy steps

you have reached en-light-en-ment!

yet your eyes are blind to the suffering

You cause

you justify

you lie to your-self

and all of creation

Peace be with you

you are [a] god or goddess

you are shame-full

you need to repent

You need to listen

to the cry of creation 

gasping 

suffering

You need to suffer

to learn com-passion [feel with]

to give up privilege 

to give up ego

Buddha, Jesus, Micah

tell us to deny our self-ish desires

to put the other [and Creation] first

to fly above desire

Then perhaps we can be spiritual

then we will be living truth

then we will not lie to our-selves

then we will stop murdering

Dirty Girl: Purity Cults "Exposed"!

It is amazing that some still think sex is dirty...oh, I mean unless in marriage. So how is it that suddenly it becomes "holy" or acceptable. What is the logic here? There is not any logic here - it is dogma taught by religions, parents, nations that want to control. Sex is very power-ful and fills the controlling with fear.

So how can it be "wrong" to show love? Most religions say to love one an-other. Hmmm. So it's ok to tease, go "so far" etc. = torture. But it is wrong to give your-self to another? Hmm.

Of course, we need discretion. With all the date rape [about 4/10 girls in Canadian universities experience some form of sexual abuse or rape], precautions need to be taken [like putting chastity belts on men]. This huge topic can't be explored now. So in a loving  relationship, how can it be wrong to show love through touch?

Some may cite a few - yes - only a few exist - passages in the New Testament. Of course the verses will be taken out of context - to support the doctrine. But once again, most of issues like culture, language, history, power, etc. will be ignored. The entire bible will be dismissed in favour of a few verses.Good ole PAC theology [Pick and Choose].

Let's look at most of the "great" men of the bible. Certainly having more than one wife and as many concubines [unmarried baby machines] was the goal. Why? This showed wealth and power. Women had no rights and men most often were disgusted to even have sex - such as St. Augustine. Regardless, having sex was not some moral sin like some extremists say today.

So to stay pure, you don't have premarital sex. So if you don't exercise, smoke, eat crap food, polluting your body, you are still "pure"?

So you drive and pollute the air but you are still pure?

So you bomb Iraq and kill 2000000000 for oil and for hegemonic reasons and you are still pure?

James says "true and pure religion is controlling  your tongue and caring for the poor and widows". Nothing about sex - but about giving of one-self to help others.

Jesus stresses giving of one-self, sacrificing for one an-other. We are to die to ourselves daily. Yet the church diverts attention to things that will enforce the status quo. This diversion results in a legalistic destructive religion. Let's see the churches stress selling their possession to give to the poor [cf. Acts 2, 4]. And let's see religious people get on the bus, bike or feet and try to stop polluting their brothers'/sisters' air, land and water [actually God's land: Lev.25]!

Easter: Bunny Rabbit Or Assassinated Dude? Your Choice!

So which story

Would you like to tell your kids

And broadcast from

The roof tops?

One about some dirty peasant dude
Un-educated, unshaven, illiterate

Charged with sedition

Hugging prostitutes and Outcasts

Or one about a cute 

Little bunny rabbit

[AKA Santa in a bunny suit]

Merry Easter

Oh, btw, the bunny

Also poops out chocolate

AHHHH gottcha!

Yum

I remember years ago

A Jesuit from El Salvador was

Sharing the meme thought

How dare he!!!

Coming from a war torn country

Trying to instill/in-spire com-passion [feel with]

In this land of peace, tranquility

And blind-ness

The Christ did this and more

He embraced the ugly, the stinky, the home-less

And even women! [considered less than garbage then]

How dare he!

Christ didn't poop chocolate,

That I know of

But he didn't talk

no poop either!

Perhaps he was silly

Telling the RICH to sell all

And that God's kingdom

Belongs to the poor

Maybe he could relate

Since he was a vagrant,

A peasant he was

Some might say an Anarchist!

The authorities hated him

Assassinating him on a cross:

Like all those charged with treason

They clearly had good reason!

But as we search for bunny poop [yum]

Remember some dude was assassinated

For the oppressed

And that we, likewise, are to

Die to our-selves

Our greediness, lust of material goods

And to sacrifice 

And stop the oppression

Both of humans

And  of nonhumans

And "mother earth"

The SHELTER with which we all live in

But, most of all

Let us not forget

The bunnies:

Especially the ones that have yummy poop!

Worth-less Spirituality: Control Your Tongue

If anyone considers himself religious [or spiritual]

and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue,

he deceives himself

and his religion [/spirituality] is worthless.

James 1 makes it "pretty" clear that you are not a Christian or Jew if your words/you are out of control. No ifs and or buts. It's not about going to church, reading the bible, praying: it's about your words.

Let's hear that preached! James says your whole religion is worth-less! I hear the echoes "but we're sinners....saved by grace...not by works..." Okay - so ignore James then. This book almost didn't make it into the canon because it mirrors the shallow-ness of most peoples' ideas about what being religious means.

How can one 'love his neighbour' if s/he doesn't control his tongue? Impossible! So go to church, sing "songs of praise"...but it's all worth-less: UNLESS you control your speech.

So how do we keep a tight rein on our tongues? Do we just say sweet things to one another? We certainly should do that but we still need to speak the truth - but in love - and with gentleness. We need to check our egos at the door and sacrifice for the good of the other. Our words impact very deeply. They heal or hurt. We need to be healers! So we need to work on our character - to be more loving - both in words, actions and in our inner most be-ings.

How few Christians are willing to suffer! It takes patience and kindness not to just spew out words that may hurt another. But we are COMMANDED to die for our brothers - we are to serve - not to look to be served.  Let us care more about impact of our words than about expressing what/how ever we want. We still need to be 'real' but with the benefit of the other as a priority. This is love. This is religion worthy of praise.

If we don't "live" our religion - PRACTICE in every aspect of our lives - it's worthless!

"Jesus Loves Me..." So How Can You Hurt Your Neighbour?

The above pic depicts the starving children of Brasil. The contrast between their lives [probably dead now] and the Olympics there is too real for them!  The quote is from James 5. Read it. Live it. But don't water it down.

"Jesus 💜 me

this I know

for the bible tells 

me so" - you sing

Yet you hurt

your neighbour

whom Jesus said you must love

and DIE for

You pollute

her water

her air

her land

Your investments

devour the land

where the resources

are stolen from

"You cannot love money and God"

Jesus said

But you say "God blesses me with what I stole

from the poor here and there"

"Go sell all your possessions

and [then you can] follow me"

But you accumulate

more and more

You read the bible

But you ignore most of it

You constantly read irrelevant passages

And ignore those that require you to live as the poor or to BE poor

You are sheltered

with lame intellectually dishonest

"answers"

Let us pray

You have no shame

Pride fills your heart

And mouth

Smothered by your full wallet

You plan your next vacation
You FLY, drive
Using more resources and polluting
More than most of the planet

You build your wealth
upon the backs of the poor
Your cell phone enslaved
so you can have convenience

You don't care
about equality,
 justice,
 fairness

Your comfort is your god
Your greed
Your oppression of people
and all of creation                                                         thrives

To avoid shame
and keep the "free market"
free for the rich
and privileged

You lie:
Your cult-r-r-e, church, priest, synagogue, mosque, chief, professor, economist, "spiritual" leader, ...  

But as for me, I am filled with power,

with the Spirit of the LORD,

and with justice and might, 

to declare Jacob his transgression,

to Israel his sin....

who build Zion with bloodshed,

and Jerusalem with wickedness. 

Her leaders judge for a bribe,

her priests teach for a price,

and her prophets tell fortunes for money...

- Micah 3

Again, the bible condemns the sin of the religious/state: Israel [not to imply only this state/religion]. Note it's about oppression, power, money, greed...all things that many "christians, jews, muslims, economists, doctors, atheists"..."follow" .... how oft have you heard these sins condemned in a religious service? Isn't it time? [Likewise politicians, teachers, parents might show some concern!]

It's rather ironic that Jesus was a peasant Palestinian. A Jew. Most of his followers were peasants. He condemned the status quo and the rich. And yet today most of the churches/shopping malls, universities, ... are emptied of the out-casts: cast out. And the interpreters of a radical bible/church are middle/upper class....the very ones Christ condemned. Hence the radical-ness of the bible/church gets twisted, ignored and put to rest. "May the peace of Christ be with you."

It's time to shut down PAC [pick and choose] theology/philosophy/economics, etc. It's time to live love [the requirement/test of the christian: no love = no faith = not a christian]. This must extend to how we live: our transportation, food, jobs, investments, police, economics, social issues....It's time to die for our neighbour: giving up our own greed and turning, instead, in com-passion and act-i-on. Without change and sacrifice, the 1000000000 will continue to starve DAILY! while you pack your bags for the winter. Bon Voyage!

Preachers Co-op The Gospel While Smiling

Have you ever wondered how a preacher or anyone takes an entire book of the bible [for e.g. the book of Mark] and reduces it to a few nice things about Jesus? How does Christ's life get re-duced to a "he died for your sins, believe and you go to heaven". Is this much worse than the terrorist who is told "blow your-self up and 70 virgins will be waiting for you in heaven"? Not sure if the Christians promise virgins...let's hope so!

So the Prince of Peace was foretold to bring down the haughty, the powerful and heal the poor, the blind, and the rejected! Hmm. Sounds pretty radical to me! But have you ever heard that from a church pulpit? No, no...keep politics, economics, sociology and challenges to hierarchy out of the pulpit and the platitudes of the pleasant "gospel". 

One must wonder why this man of peace was murdered as a traitor and a terrorist [to the state and religious leaders]? Certainly his constant challenging of religious authorities - who represented the State: the Romans, and the authorities in Jerusalem - might play a role. While he condemned the rich, the powerful and the purveyors of the status quo, he reached out with com-passion [feel with] to those rejected by these very authorities. He "hung out with" prostitutes, the poor, the sick, women: all forbidden by the Jewish authorities. We see similar things continue in most of the world and the three "great" religions of today! Ok, most in the West think it's ok to talk to women today - but don't give them equal pay or an equal hearing when raped or abused!

So how does all this get ignored when the preacher is supposedly "sharing" the "gospel"? In most cases, s/he is the very authority that Christ challenged in his day. S/he wants those listening to conform to society, the church, to the status quo. "Don't rock the boat" "Don't challenge" "Don't think about your sins beyond lust, speeding, yelling..." - lame excuses for sin.

Why doesn't the preacher of any religion, ideology, philosophy ask if what they are doing is loving? While this is the most important command, according to biblical writers, it is not  part of the preacher's gospel. If I drive to church, which pollutes my and my neighbour's air, wipes out the eco-system with highways, is the root of war [for oil, etc.], kills more children than anything...shouldn't people be told to bus, ride a bike or walk to church [or mosque, synagogue, work, base-ball games, etc.]. This is just one issue which, of course, as illustrated, is not limited to Christians nor religion - but it illustrates the abstraction of religion today. As religion reflects and sustains cult-u-r-e, we see the similar lack of real-i-t-y "check" in terms of climate change. How many are willing to get out of their cars, big houses, jet skiis, jet trips, etc.?

Lastly, isn't it ironic that the gospel, through a filter of PAC  [Pick and Choose] Theology, ignores the central message of Jesus. He consistently tells people to die for others: to put others first - even when it is inconvenient and uncomfortable! Yet many preachers promise "blessings" for obedience. But they fail to obey the greatest command: love thy neighbour...and this entails "sell all your possessions and give them to the poor". This is very different from the fundamentalist neighbour who lamely says "oh it's ok to have great wealth, live in luxury and self indulgence [condemned by the writer James] - as long as you share". Compare such lies with the meme in this post!

Many issues are merely touched upon here. See other blog posts for more specific details. Let us not merely preach but LIVE the gospel: loving one another!This in-volves our entire life and society. We must look at the sins of unequal income/land distribution, hierarchy, all levels of injustice, destruction of our home: the eco-system...just to name a few!

Abortion Sanctified In/By Bible

You may wonder why many Evangelicals, especially in the Southern U.S. deny a woman the right to abortion. Most are not aware of any biblical basis but just follow some leader or church dogma. Let’s look at some interesting and ignored passages that pertain to the topic. 

Numbers 5 outlines what a man is to do if he is jealous and suspicious of his wife sleeping with another man. He is to take her to a priest to be examined/tested for her purity. The priest writes curses on a scroll and then washes them off with bitter water. The woman is forced to drink this bitter water “that brings a curse, and this water will enter her and cause bitter suffering [v.24 NIV]. If the woman is guilty, the drink will cause her abdomen to swell and her “thigh waste away” [v.25 NIV – or the footnote: “she will have barrenness and a miscarrying womb” – perhaps an ideological choice to only footnote that translation]. She will be accursed among the people. 

It’s clear that a fetus has no value. What is of value here? The man! Forget the health/rights of the fetus or the woman! Considering that the man owns the woman, this should not surprise anyone. Let’s look at another scripture for further clarification.

Exodus 21 deals with laws pertaining to rights. “When men strive together, and hurt a woman with child [pregnant], so that there is a miscarriage, and yet no harm follows [to the woman], the one who hurt her [the woman] shall be fined, according as what the woman’s husband shall lay upon him, and he shall pay as the judge determines [v.22 RSV]. The fetus has no value. In this case, the woman does have value. The NIV is the only version that mistranslates the word “miscarriage” – probably for ideological reasons, again. Slaves also have little value as v.20-21 show, but we don’t have room to deal with that presently.

The above reveal the inequality of men, women and fetuses. It was a very patriarchal and authoritarian culture/religion. But this, in no way, excuses or justifies the message. Men had all the power to determine the fate of a woman and a fetus.

Today, men still want to control women’s bodies. Banning abortion doesn’t stop it – it merely makes it more unsafe for the poor who can’t afford to pay a doctor. A large number of women are dying as a result in areas of the U.S. where people have made it very difficult to get the procedure. The rich can always pay for the best medical care so they don’t resort to coat hangers and the like!

 If one says the bible is inspired by God, then that includes the verses above. It is “surprising” how some will hold tightly to a verse against homosexuality but then ignore these ones. It’s called PAC Theology: Pick and Chose Theology. Rather than being honest about the faults of their religion/ideology, most will ignore what they want or project their values onto a text. 

One solution is to see this, as all “holy texts” as CERTAIN peoples’ version of their reality at the time. Remember it is the power-full who [literally] write history – especially when it was only a few, of a certain background and class that could even write or read! Fortunately, some of us can now, being more “en-lightened” by humanistic values, condemn injustices and authoritarian ideologies/systems. 

 But if believers claim that the bible is the final authority, then they cannot simply ignore the difficult messages of these texts because they don’t fit into their ideological box.