My Sunday Thought for 040217: Consider, If You Will...

"Consider, if you will, that the Garden of Eden was on another planet, in another galaxy. The planet was populated with humans, men and women or Adam and Eve if you prefer. The population succumbed to evil: hate, murder, racism, genocide. You name it. At the same time, this population was making great advances in science and medicine, delving into areas that were off limits. The Creators of the Universe, masculine and feminine, came one day and scolded the population for becoming evil, and for trying to gain the Creator's' knowledge. They were cast out of planet Eden, and sent to Earth; a penal colony. We were given a probation period with the promise of returning to planet Eden if we fulfilled the conditions of our sentencing. We have failed and our Alien Creators are coming soon. What awaits us?"

-- William Folsom

My friend, Bill Folsom, shared his thought, above, with me.  I asked him if he'd send it to me so I could share it on my blog as part of the My Sunday Thought series of posts.  The thought deviates from what mainstream Abrahamic religions tout, but then, mainstream religions would like to think for us where creation and God are concerned.  In the beginning we were given the ability, by our creator, to think for ourselves.  Free thinking leads to creativity and progress; the more free thinkers, the more progress.  We were created with this ability, and it would seem religion has, throughout history, sought to control our thoughts and to squelch our progress toward an awareness of reality.  Many of the faithful have forgotten how to question and to ask important questions like, "What if?" 

"Study the past, if you would define the future."

-- Confucius (551-479 BCE), teacher, philosopher

This "what if?" scenario, which Bill offers for consideration, doesn't do us much good after we've arrived in the future.  Perhaps it would have been better if those who went before had asked the more important question of, "Why not?"  Some might be asking what the difference is.  Well, one could say the "what" deals with the tangible, that which is or might be - the decision.  The "why" is concerned only with the reason behind the outcome, the consequence; the reason behind the decision or the choice.    

Bill asks the question, "What awaits us?"   Maybe the more important question we should ask ourselves is, "Why have we put ourselves in a position where should we be concerned?"  Once we ask this question, the honest among us might be more receptive to taking ownership of what we have or haven't done to bring about the consequences of our actions.  Those actions, or inactions, have much to do with our fate.  They are why we have arrived at a particular outcome, why we should have made better choices,  and why we should be concerned about that which awaits us.

Who created us and when, where we came from and what we are doing here, are all considerations put forth by my friend, Bill Folsom.  Is he out in left field with his scenario?  Perhaps, but he gives us some food for thought.  Do we continue to believe what we've been spoon fed, or do we use the minds we were endowed with to think for ourselves before we make another mistake?  I advocate that we do the latter but, then, this is just a thought which Bill was the impetus behind for this, the next My Sunday Thought.

“Why didn't I learn to treat everything like it was the last time. My greatest regret was how much I believed in the future.”

-- Jonathan Safran Foer, novelist

Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider another viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with an Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects in pharmaceutical research.  Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, to wage battle in the guise of the Congregation's official, online, blog, "The Path," of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as lead chaplain, and Chaplain Liaison, at a regional medical center.

My Sunday Thought for 032617: Out of Someone Else's Mouth

“Do you not know that God entrusted you with that money (all above what buys necessities for your families) to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to help the stranger, the widow, the fatherless; and, indeed, as far as it will go, to relieve the wants of all mankind? How can you, how dare you, defraud the Lord, by applying it to any other purpose?”

--John Wesley (1703-1791), cleric, theologian, founder of Methodism

Last I read, studies put the number of Christian sects in the world at 33,000 plus; all of them think they are more right and, therefore, more worthy of salvation than their brothers. I have found, in discussing scripture with Christian leaders around me, most of them read their scripture, they believe in it, and seemingly do not understand what they read. They read, and yet they do not see. Perhaps it's because they put all of their unwavering faith in what they believe is the 'Word of God' on earth, that contradictory, vague, open to interpretation, 1500 page user's guide for the Ten Commandments - the Bible.  I've always wondered why ten very easy to understand commandments, from an omnipotent God incapable of making mistakes, had to be clarified by the ignorant children, created by said God, to whom this very same omnipotent God aimed those commandments.  "What God really meant to say was..."  So, were they second guessing God's perfection, or looking for loopholes in God's laws? We all know how much mankind loves a loophole, and who better than those in control of religious fervor to find loopholes to ensure their control continues unabated.

In Dan Brown's fiction novel, The Lost Symbol, he explains man's relationship to God's Word and clergy in a way which I totally agree:  "The moment mankind separated himself from God, the true meaning of the Word was lost.  The voices of the ancient masters have now been drowned out, lost in the chaotic din of self-proclaimed practitioners shouting that they alone understand the Word... that the Word is written in their language and none other."  I ask you to consider those 33,000 plus sects of just Christianity alone, and the 33,000 plus clergy, the 33,000 plus self-proclaimed leaders of millions of self-proclaimed practitioners, all shouting that they, alone, are right.

Holy Scripture is, for the most part, a 'word of mouth' history of the Abrahamic faith, our belief in God.  It tells us of our beginnings,  God's gift of His Ten Commandments, the miracles of true faith, the struggles of those who went before, and of the Christ, his prophet here on earth, given as a sacrifice for our sins.  It also predicts for us a future when the mysteries of the universe are 'unveiled' for all who wish to see; the coming age of enlightenment.  It is a book inspired by man's belief in a supreme being, but written by man.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the short epilogue, the last 25%, of this holiest of books.  All of Holy Scripture, regardless of religion based on it, holds great secrets within the writing which mankind strives to understand but is not yet ready to discover.    

A 19th century poet and educator, Matthew Arnold, once wrote: "Protestantism has the method of Jesus with His secret too much left out of mind: Catholicism has His secret with His method too much left out of mind; neither has His unerring balance, His intuition, His sweet reasonableness.  But both have hold of a great truth, and get from it a great power."

The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose.

-- C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), novelist, theologian, apologist

The great power Matthew Arnold speaks of, is the power the Church wields over their congregations, a power to control faith, thinking, and leadership. The power to interpret, without question, what scripture says. Whereas organized religion derives their great power from scripture, only within ourselves can we truly discover the unerring balance, intuition, and sweet reasonableness which are Jesus Christ. Everything we need is already within us, the rest are just words on paper or in someone else's mouth. Treat others as you would have them treat you, love the Lord God with all your heart, walk in peace, speak truth from the soul, and love all, in this way only will the teachings of Christ truly touch the hearts of others.

Use your ministry to build people, not people to build your ministry.

--Jacquelyn K. Heasley, minister, writer

We listen to the preaching of the evangelists; showering them with monetary offerings to build churches and cathedrals.  We buy our way into heaven because the preachers tell us to open our purse and give until it hurts.  These "men of God" travel around in expensive cars and private jets while many in their own congregation scratch for food.  It would seem of great importance that we show up to church and give and offering, or at least send a check through the mail to ensure our place in line for salvation.

I am constantly trying to convince clergy to come and volunteer time with patients at the medical center, to visit with them, to lend a friendly ear, and help them to pray.  Again, I am trying to convince clergy to do that which they pledged to God they would willingly do, but they're too busy running the business of religion to find time to fulfill their role as shepherd for the lost and the sick, poor, hungry and homeless.  Many of them remind me of the Catholic priest which I found had asked that he only be called to attend the sick between certain hours, and then only if the sick were Catholic and then only if they were members of his own congregation.  We all remember the biblical parable where Jesus hung a shingle stating his hours of operation and that he would only see the faithful, right?  It would seem power is the fertilizer of hypocrisy in religion.  I'm the religious leader so don't call me, I'll call you.

“Let eloquence be flung to the dogs rather than souls be lost. What we want is to win souls. They are not won by flowery speeches.”

-- Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892), the "Prince of Preachers"

We can listen to all the televangelists, go to all the meetings, and it will not benefit us if we do not hear and if we do not act.  But then, if we simply read the very simple Ten Commandments which God gave us, we would be as rich, if not more so, and certainly more worthy of heaven than if we expect others to do the work for us.  Faith must come from within us, not others.  We must give thanks to God; we must ask for God's help and we must earn our place at the table.

It is now possible to live a "Christian life" without doing the things that Jesus commanded us to do. We have hired people to go into all the world, to visit those in prison, to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to care for widows and orphans. The average Christian doesn't have to do it.

-- John Calvin Thomas, columnist, author, commentator

I find it interesting that the Bible is a collection of writings, Hebrew and Christian, compiled under orders of Emperor Constantine by a council of religious leaders in Nicaea.  Included are parables, tales of miracles, and conversations with angels and with God.  Most of these stories being an oral history handed down for several thousand years with no proof other than the stories themselves.  Yet , it seems none of today's faithful find any of this worthy of discussion or critique because they take the validity of it all on faith.

Mohammed receives another Testament directly from an angel of God, or Joseph Smith receives another testament directly from an angel of God, and no faith or credence is forthcoming from the rest of the faithful, only denial and ridicule.  Islam and Mormonism are also faithful to the same God of Abraham.  They get their scripture from the same angel, the same God, and suffer persecution from the rest of God’s children.  Christianity and Islam would agree Allah is not the Christian God, and vice versa, even though both claim direct descent from Abraham as do, obviously, the faithful of Judaism.  We all have the same creator; we simply differ in our interpretation of this 'Father' of man.  The same God, one omnipotent God, to which we have assigned different names and different ways of showing our faith.

Mormons are ridiculed simply because of their lack of proof that Smith is anything more than an author of fiction; there are no golden tablets.  And the Christian proof is where?  There are no nails from the cross, no crown of thorns, and no cross for that matter.  The Hebrew proof is where?  There are no stone tablets, no staff of Moses, no Ark of the Covenant. We all claim to have belief steeped in the same history, based on a belief in the same deity, and without any physical proof.  We base our beliefs on deep, unwavering faith.  Yet, we are constantly at odds with any new miracles which present themselves, as with Mormonism or Islam.  What will Christians believe when Christ returns?  Where will our faith be at the Second Coming?  Will history repeat, or will Christ, indeed, come fully armed to kick ass and take names?

“The Church expected the Second Coming of Christ immediately. The converts had known a first coming. And then? And then! That was the trouble — the then. He had come, and they adored and believed, they communicated and practiced, and waited. The then lasted, and there seemed to be no farther equivalent Now. Time became the individual and catholic problem. The Church had to become as universal and as durable — as time.”

-- Charles Williams (1886-1945), theologian, poet, author

Will a lowly shepherd on some far horizon, living a morally righteous life, in all humility and praising one supreme deity above all others, be any less worthy of God's grace than the multitude searching for salvation by packing stadiums to throw money at a wealthy evangelist in order to reserve their place in line at the gates to paradise?  Is the faithful beggar less worthy than the merchant, the faithful idiot less worthy than the intelligent, or the faithful student less worthy than the teacher?  I think not.  This is one situation where less can actually equal more.

In the preface of The Gospel of Thomas, Didymos Judas Thomas writes, These are the hidden words that the living Jesus spoke, and that Didymos Judas Thomas wrote down. And He said: "Whoever finds the meaning of these words will not taste death."  In reading these supposed words written as Christ spoke them, I was interested to note in this Gospel how generally clear and easy to understand Jesus describes our path to enlightenment and salvation.  At times confusing and contradictory, it seems not more so than all other scripture.  Does it really take 1500 pages of Holy Scripture and a degree in divinity to follow the path and teachings of Jesus?  Jesus Himself would simply ask that we give away our material belongings and follow.  How difficult did God make it to attain grace and paradise? Was it just for the learned? Was it just for the 'chosen' to maintain power over all others?  I think not.  Perhaps it was simple enough for a simple people to understand.  Maybe it was intended to be simple enough for all of us to understand we only answer to one higher power.  Maybe the answers we seek have been inside us all the time.

Of course, this is just food for thought, My Sunday Thought, for March 26, 2017.

Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider another viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with an Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects in pharmaceutical research.  Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, to wage battle in the guise of the Congregation's official, online, blog, "The Path," of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as lead chaplain, and Chaplain Liaison, at a regional medical center.

My Sunday Thought for 031917: Paradox

Paradox:
a) An argument that apparently derives self-contradictory
conclusions by valid deduction from acceptable premises.
b) Two collocated docks.

Each morning, when I wake and knock on wood to prove it, and after I look up to praise God for another day in paradise and another chance to excel in life, I can't wait to get out and about so I can enjoy what, for me, is an obvious paradox - the never ending circus which is humanity.  We are the most intelligent creature on this planet; a self-contradictory conclusion that is a valid deduction from an acceptable premise steeped in a rich history of egotistical stupidity.  If you don't feel this way, if you disagree with my premise, bonjour!  A seat is reserved for you in the audience and the show is about to begin.

Mesdames et messieurs, welcome to Paradox's Circus of Denial (and other crap)!

Denial is an emotion in which humankind excels, and always seems eager to flaunt.  It gives us reason to shift blame from ourselves, to excuse our actions, ignore that which we know to be right, and to hate.  Prime examples of humanity can be found wandering mindlessly through your local Walmart.  Another example might be offended crowds which riot for the greater good, and the culture which supports their argument that they are better than they are being treated.  The supporting culture will soon reel in shock and horror when the offended crowd burns down their neighborhood in an act of domestic terrorism to prove how much better they are.  The fact that the supporting culture didn't see it coming doesn't say much about intelligence.  This isn't cutting off your nose with a dull butter knife just to spite your face, this is more like setting your body on fire just to spite your life.  It is seen by the supporting culture of ignorance, and the rest of humanity, as a pointless exercise in criminal activity which damages whatever the cause more than it brings any constructive attention to it.    

I found, living next to railroad tracks for several years, that if enough trains come by daily with blaring horns, you will learn to tune the noise out and find humor in the scheduled earth tremors.  It is a humorously annoying part of daily life which becomes easier to ignore as time goes on.  Would that the perpetually offended were as easy to ignore, unfortunately we find ourselves too busy cleaning up their mess while trying not to judge the asinine stupidity of it all. 

If you don't like something, change it.

If you can't change it, change your attitude.

Don't complain.

-- Maya Angelou (1928-2014), poet, civil rights activist

Recently we saw a 'walkout' of women protesting inequality during International Women's Day, which seemed to piss off women, nationwide, who had to shoulder the slackers' workload and rearrange their lives for the selfish actions of these few malcontent 'sisters' who already won constitutionally mandated legal recourse if they feel slighted by their employers, but are too tied to being perpetually offended to consider making use of it.  Instead, they seem to prefer placing the onus, for making their lives better, on others because of their own self-evidenced weakness and inability to fight battles alone, and legally.  Why must people prove themselves to be less than they demand to be through the very actions intended to bring attention to their self-perceived plight, a plight which, more times than not, has already been fought against, and won, but which our society must be subjected to, yet again, like bad reruns of worse comedies?  We have grown numb to watching and listening.  For much of it, we just don't give a shit.  Like entertainment awards ceremonies, we turn the channel or, like the trains, simply learn to tune it all out.  Not my circus, not my monkeys.  

“If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?”

-- George Carlin (1937-2008), comedian

But this is who we are, and what we do.  Created in God's own image and given dominion over the world, right?  Careful consideration of this statement makes intelligent people question the Creator's reasoning behind our creation.  Philosopher, and poet, Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) asked, “Is man merely a mistake of God's? Or is God merely a mistake of man?”  I think the greater majority of mankind would be the first to point an accusatory finger of blame toward their own perfectly omnipotent God while, at the same time, praising the deity for the very mistake which is them?

When you think about it, if we're created in God's image then one could assume our philosophy might also reflect God's own thinking:

“Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.”

-- Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), lawyer, statesman, philosopher

We are created in the image of our creator and our religious authority deems it sacrilegious if we dare to reach out and try to touch the face of God.  If we devoutly believe, with full unquestioning faith, we are created in the image of our God; we have but to stand proudly at the mirror.  Our own face of God's is so much closer.

We make much ado about what God meant to be so easy.  God gives us ten very simple commandments to guide us through life; do and don't commandments, black and white commandments.  Only mankind could take less than one page of instructions a moron could understand and presume to write a thousand plus pages of what God really meant to say.  If one is looking for heresy does one really have to look farther than our own holy scripture to find it?  I'm sorry, but I just don't remember where in the Bible mankind was instructed to complicate God's extremely easy to comprehend and understand Ten Commandments by writing an instruction book with over one thousand pages of conflicting information.  Yet, ministers consider this good book the definitive "Word of God."

“I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing.”

-- Plato (425-348 (+/-) BCE), philosopher

If we're looking for a paradox, one need look no further that the forest which cannot be seen for the trees in front of it.  As for putting the round peg in the round hole, mankind can complicate even this.  Mankind lives for complication.  We strive to climb higher, go faster, and discover that which is undiscovered so we might one day become the image of God we already are.  I wake up every morning to an obvious paradox.  It gives me reason, and it makes me smile.

“One must not think slightingly of the paradoxical… for the paradox is the source of the thinker’s passion, and the thinker without a paradox is like a lover without feeling: a paltry mediocrity.”

--Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) philosopher, theologian, poet

Just a note:  Anyone who has ever experienced a "lover without feeling" can probably identify with Søren Kierkegaard's comparing them to a "paltry mediocrity."  My goodness!  Carpe diem!  Let no one ever label you as a paltry mediocrity.

A final thought to consider for this Sunday, a thought I try to keep up front in my paradoxical life:  Everything is fleeting, but nothing lasts forever.  It would seem the Taoists are onto something - or nothing, as the case may be.

Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider another viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with an Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects in pharmaceutical research.  Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, to wage battle in the guise of the Congregation's official, online, blog, "The Path," of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as lead chaplain, and Chaplain Liaison, at a regional medical center.

My Sunday Thought for 031217: Islam 101 - Who is Allah?

"Let there be no doubt -
Muslims worship the God of Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus -
peace be upon them all."

I'm taking a break, this Sunday, from beating my head against the wall for anything new to say.

Islam was thrust upon me again, just last week, by an older Christian. He is a very 'by the Book' Christian, a believer that the Bible is the 'Word’ of God, and that Muslims do not believe in God. What? This came as unsettling news to me considering they're one of the three Abrahamic religions but, then, I actually pick up a book occasionally and try to think for myself instead of blindly strapping an explosive vest of inaccurate, hateful, rhetoric to my chest in order to attack the innocent.

It has been pointed out to me that this gentleman could just be ignorant and doesn’t know any better. My first thought to this point is - no shit. My second thought, is to the Holocaust. Did the Holocaust occur because people just didn’t know any better? Was it a case of mass ignorance?  Perhaps so, after all, the world turned its back on the Jews because they were Hitler’s problem, and the world has spent every day since the end of WWII trying to erase their culpability in mass genocide. Let’s try to not forget the history of that little unpleasantness as we march boldly forward, repeating the same mistakes of bad judgment.  Have we not been turning our backs on current acts of genocide in the Middle East while the innocent plead for arms and intervention? I’m not sure which is worse, ignorance, hate, or blatant stupidity when it comes to genocide, but then, who am I to judge?

There are fanatics in all religions.  It is a downside of the cult phenomena that the mentally unhinged and power hungry among us search for safe haven or easy pickings in midst of our desire for salvation.  The hierarchy of Judaism had Jesus tortured and put to death because he was a threat to their power and control.  Christian hierarchy waged war on Islam because the knights were broke and bored.  And which Inquisition should we mention, the Medieval, the Episcopal, the Papal, the Cathars, the Waldensians, the Roman, Spanish, or the Portuguese?  Oh yes, Christianity is certainly not immune to controlling fanatics.  Let us keep this in mind when we rush to heresy by violating the very 'Word' we say we have faith in as we judge the belief of others without giving them the benefit of Christ's sweet understanding.

I came across this short, very easy to understand, informative piece on Islam which I thought some of you might find enlightening.  You can find the original text at IslamReligion.com.  We can keep open and active minds or we can choose to believe the media and the hate mongers which whisper sweet, genocidal, nothings in our ear.  We can move with the lemmings and drink the cyanide laced fruit punch of fanatical Christianity or we can choose to believe in the sweet tolerance and understanding of Jesus Christ.  The choice of 'taking the high road' should always be our own.

***************************************** 

Who is Allah?

Some of the biggest misconceptions that many non-Muslims have about Islam have to do with the word “Allah.” For various reasons, many people have come to believe that Muslims worship a different God than Christians and Jews. This is totally false, since “Allah” is simply the Arabic word for “God” - and there is only One God. Let there be no doubt - Muslims worship the God of Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus - peace be upon them all. However, it is certainly true that Jews, Christians and Muslims all have different concepts of Almighty God. For example, Muslims - like Jews - reject the Christian beliefs of the Trinity and the Divine Incarnation. This, however, does not mean that each of these three religions worships a different God - because, as we have already said, there is only One True God. Judaism, Christianity and Islam all claim to be “Abrahamic Faiths” and all of them are also classified as “monotheistic.” However, Islam teaches that other religions have, in one way or another, distorted and nullified a pure and proper belief in Almighty God by neglecting His true teachings and mixing them with man-made ideas.

First of all, it is important to note that “Allah” is the same word that Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews use for God. If you pick up an Arabic Bible, you will see the word “Allah” being used where “God” is used in English. This is because “Allah” is a word in the Arabic language equivalent to the English word “God” with a capital “G”. Additionally, the word “Allah” cannot be made plural, a fact which goes hand-in-hand with the Islamic concept of God.

It is interesting to note that the Aramaic word “El”, which is the word for God in the language that Jesus spoke, is certainly more similar in sound to the word “Allah” than the English word “God.” This also holds true for the various Hebrew words for God, which are “El” and “Elah”, and the plural or glorified form “Elohim.” The reason for these similarities is that Aramaic, Hebrew and Arabic are all Semitic languages with common origins. It should also be noted that in translating the Bible into English, the Hebrew word “El” is translated variously as “God”, “god” and “angel”! This imprecise language allows different translators, based on their preconceived notions, to translate the word to fit their own views. The Arabic word “Allah” presents no such difficulty or ambiguity, since it is only used for Almighty God alone. Additionally, in English, the only difference between “god”, meaning a false god, and “God”, meaning the One True God, is the capital “G”. Due to the above mentioned facts, a more accurate translation of the word “Allah” into English might be “The One -and-Only God” or “The One True God.”

More importantly, it should also be noted that the Arabic word “Allah” contains a deep religious message due to its root meaning and origin. This is because it stems from the Arabic verb ta’allaha (or alaha), which means “to be worshipped.” Thus in Arabic, the word “Allah” means “The One who deserves all worship.” This, in a nutshell, is the Pure Monotheistic message of Islam. 

Suffice it to say that just because someone claims to be a “monotheistic” Jew, Christian or Muslim, that does not keep them from falling into corrupt beliefs and idolatrous practices. Many people, including some Muslims, claim belief in “One God” even though they’ve fallen into acts of idolatry. Certainly, many Protestants accuse Roman Catholics of idolatrous practices in regards to the saints and the Virgin Mary. Likewise, the Greek Orthodox Church is considered “idolatrous” by many other Christians because in much of their worship they use icons. However, if you ask a Roman Catholic or a Greek Orthodox person if God is “One”, they will invariably answer: “Yes!.” This claim, however, does not stop them from being “creature worshipping” idolaters. The same goes for Hindus, who just consider their gods to be “manifestations” or “incarnations” of the One Supreme God. 

Before concluding… there are some people out there, who are obviously not on the side of truth, that want to get people to believe that “Allah” is just some Arabian “god," and that Islam is completely “other” - meaning that it has no common roots with the other Abrahamic religions (i.e. Christianity and Judaism). To say that Muslims worship a different “God” because they say “Allah” is just as illogical as saying that French people worship another God because they use the word “Dieu”, that Spanish-speaking people worship a different God because they say “Dios” or that the Jews worship a different God because they sometimes call Him “Yahweh.” Certainly, reasoning like this is quite ridiculous! It should also be mentioned, that claiming that any one language uses the only the correct word for God is tantamount to denying the universality of God’s message to mankind, which was to all nations, tribes and people through various prophets who spoke different languages. 

We would like to ask our readers about the motives of these people? The reason is that the Ultimate Truth of Islam stands on solid ground and its unshakeable belief in the Unity of God is above reproach. Due to this, Christians can’t criticize its doctrines directly, but instead fabricate things about Islam that aren’t true so that people lose the desire to learn more. If Islam were presented in the proper way to the world, it surely might make many people reconsider and reevaluate their own beliefs. It is quite likely that when they find out that there is a universal religion in the world that teaches people to worship and love God, while also practicing Pure Monotheism, would at least feel that they should re-examine the basis for their own beliefs and doctrines. 

Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider another viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with an Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects in pharmaceutical research.  Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, to wage battle in the guise of the Congregation's official, online, blog, "The Path," of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as lead chaplain, and Chaplain Liaison, at a regional medical center.

My Sunday Thought for 030517: LGBT Teenage Suicides

People don't die from suicide.
They die from sadness.

The Christian church has tried to make homosexuality a sin, in contradiction to the teachings about not judging others, forgiveness, tolerance, of love for all... except, of course... you know - gays.  Yet, two thousand years of condemnation have multiplied the ranks of the gay community.  Condemnation by the Christian church and their congregations, and an attempt by the Nazis to exterminate the 'undesirable' gay culture during the Holocaust, have brought unto us a gay community steeped in their own rich history of music, art, dance, and sacrifice; too many sacrifices to mention, selfless sacrifices which saved countless lives.  Their story today is a community of human beings searching for God and Christ, and for the Christianity of love, compassion, and salvation.  In many ways their Christian belief is filled with more love, compassion, and sweet understanding than their heterosexual counterparts, and deservedly so.  Many still suffer daily from a lack of what others take for granted - tolerance and acceptance.  As a Christian I have to wonder, who is more worthy of Christ?  Is it the prideful hypocrites or the humble, honest souls whose humility is shunned daily by the very society in which they still seek to be a valuable part?

Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, or bisexual. It does NOT matter if you're homosexual. What matters is how you act and your personality. So just be yourself.

-- Samantha Smolka

Shame is upon us.  Shame is, once again, upon the human race.  Once again?  To say so would presuppose the dark shadow of shame was ever lifted from our long list of sins.  If we close our eyes to ignore the dawn, the sun's warmth still falls upon our face.  We can deny the existence of God and yet in the very denial is evidence of the idea of God and, once thought, the idea becomes life.  We can remove the Confederate battle flag but it does not change the history, the truth of what went before.  It is what it is, and the only way we grow is by confronting our fears head on and learning to live with tolerance, forgiveness, love, and understanding.  Ignoring what we don't like does not make it go away, it simply helps us forget history we were meant to learn, and repeat the history we were meant to remember.  We don't teach history, we rewrite it.

Those who read my posts know our children hold a special place in my heart.  They occupy a pedestal a bit taller than the very tall one on which I place women.  Teenage suicide among the LGBT community is once again in the news so, once again, I find myself unable to resist writing yet another post concerning these 'at risk' kids, these frightened children whose own parents have rejected and we, with all of our faux compassion, have turned our collective backs on.  How very Christian of us.

You think suicide is cowardly? I'll tell you what's cowardly. Hurting someone so much that they think ending their lives is the only way to make it better.

-- Ashley Purdy, musician

These kids were gay before they were old enough to understand what gay is, yet people would say gay is a decision one makes, a decision... to be ridiculed, taunted, beaten, shunned, disowned, and so much more.  A decision one makes at an early age, like at birth, to excuse their impending suicide.  Parents who turn their backs on these confused children have no right being parents.  Fine, let's call it an aberration, a birth defect, a sickness; so many of our children are born with all of this, yet parents turn their backs on a child who, for whatever reason, is gay.  Oh-my-God!  Just throw the child away!  How could this, this... thing, possibly have come from the perfection which is you?  They are children, your children, our children, and they need us.  Making them out to be some sort of freak, diminishing who they are as a person and their value to humanity, to make them feel like they can never have a place in life, makes us the instrument of their destruction.  It makes us all responsible for their inevitable end.

To make yourself something less than you can be - that too is a form of suicide.

-- Benjamin Lichtenberg (1946-1991), educator, philosopher

The actor Peter Greene once said, "As anyone who has been close to someone that has committed suicide knows, there is no other pain like that felt after the incident."  That may be true, but a note to one's parents from a child who tries and fails, can be just as painful.  I've included the link to such a letter, just be forewarned, it is presented as written and the language is 'colorful' and telling:  suicide.org - suicide-note-of-a-gay-teen.

Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

-- Phil Donahue, media personality

In our society and throughout most of the 'civilized' world, a greater tolerance, if not acceptance, is being enjoyed by the LGBT community.  Much like racism, it is a slow process, but it is a process in progress.  Also, much like victims of racism, the LGBT community can be their own worst enemy by flaunting their perpetual offense ad nauseam.  The old adage holds true: You can attract more flies with honey than vinegar.  Learn to get along or you might still be fighting a battle years after your community finally wins the war.     

I leave you with one final thought for this Sunday:

Religious Kids at Greater Risk: Statistics show that LGBT teens from religious families suffer the most. While some religious denominations have become more accepting of the LGBT community, many are still fiercely opposed to such ideas. In households that villainize homosexuality, for example, gay teens are forced to hide their sexual identity – frequently resulting in serious mental health issues. Those who do choose to come out as gay are often rejected by their families. Being forced out of the house and onto the street is not an uncommon experience. In fact, as many as 40% of homeless teens identify as LGBT. Perhaps it comes as no surprise that suicide attempts are most common among LGBT teens who experience high levels of family rejection.

-- Universal Life Church Monastery (February 23, 2017), Gay Marriage Linked to Drop in Suicide Rate 

Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider another viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with an Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects in pharmaceutical research.  Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, to wage battle in the guise of the Congregation's official, online, blog, "The Path," of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as lead chaplain, and Chaplain Liaison, at a regional medical center.