My Sunday Thought for 031118: Abrahamic Religions - The Great Manipulation?

"Once admitted, scholars must request which specific documents they wish to review. They are only allowed to request three per day. So instead of being able to browse the contents of the archive, they must select articles from catalogs in which items are handwritten in Italian or Latin. These catalogs are quite imposing considering that the archives contain “50 miles [80 km] of shelving and documents dating back to the eighth century” (Keyser, 2015). “If in just a few minutes they realize that what they’re seeking isn’t in the requested folders, they’re forced to pack up for the day - a challenge for scholars on a deadline or those who have traveled long distances” (O’Loughlin, 2014). Computers are allowed but not photography so scholars spend most of the sessions in reading rooms typing up notes."

-- Kerry Sullivan, "What Really Lies Hidden in the Vatican Secret Archives?"

After a career in military intelligence, I'm pretty savvy as to why society doesn't need to know everything.  Some secrets and activities are best left in the purview of those who protect us.  These activities are necessary for the security of the country, mom, and apple pie.  We grudgingly have to put our trust in a fallible and oft time corrupt political system in hope that what we're paying the criminals we voted into office won't be squandered, stolen, or used against us.  We have a misplaced faith that someone is overseeing governing activities so we can catch traitors when they try to give away two-thirds of our uranium production, or go into debt borrowing money from, our mortal enemies - like China.  Treason takes many forms and crosses all political party lines, so sometimes we miss the obvious and arrive late to the party; this is why we have federal judges, special counsels, and a Supreme Court.  But, I digress... or, do I?  Hmmm...

The current investigations into impropriety, which runs rampant in our capitol, brought to mind the Vatican's "secret" archives.  But, wait; these archives are not referred to as "secret" by the Vatican, of course not.  These are actually just the pope's "private papers," all "50 miles [80 km] of shelving and documents dating back to the eighth century."  Hmmm...  And, at risk of seeming inappropriately rude to His Holiness, the yellow bullshit flags are just flyin' onto the field against the collective pontiff's offense.  I'm not certain if there's a way for one to be "appropriately" rude.  I'll work on it.

Just to prove these "private files" aren't secret, there is actually access granted, but there are rules, of course, as described by Kerry Sullivan in the article, What Really Lies Hidden in the Vatican Secret Archives?: "Once admitted, scholars must request which specific documents they wish to review. They are only allowed to request three per day. So instead of being able to browse the contents of the archive, they must select articles from catalogs in which items are handwritten in Italian or Latin. These catalogs are quite imposing considering that the archives contain “50 miles [80 km] of shelving and documents dating back to the eighth century” (Keyser, 2015). “If in just a few minutes they realize that what they’re seeking isn’t in the requested folders, they’re forced to pack up for the day - a challenge for scholars on a deadline or those who have traveled long distances” (O’Loughlin, 2014). Computers are allowed but not photography so scholars spend most of the sessions in reading rooms typing up notes."

So, these archives are so "private" that the Vatican's idea of access is to limit access to only scholars,  and then vet even those few, limit the number of items few day to just a few, limit notes to handwritten, and prevent any and all photocopying.  Oh, and the items must be requested, so it is really up to them if they feel like admitting they actually have the requested information.  This is not the Freedom of Information act where you might get a document which is highly redacted;  it is up to them to even admit they have it.  No, one would have to be seriously naive to think this dog and pony show makes these anything but secret archives.  But, why is there all the secrecy in religions of peace and love?  Hmmm...  

Secrecy provides one thing above all else.  It limits access and knowledge to a chosen few, and in the absence of physical proof it provides the much lauded ability for plausible deniability.  The Vatican is a country unto itself and, therefore, cannot be required by any court to open these archives to public scrutiny.  Well, lucky them.  And if you don't think this was part of the Vatican design, refer back to my comment on being naive.  And the fact that they are a country unto themselves brings up the question of spies, secret police, and "enforcement" of the faith (re: hit squads).

What is religion hiding from the faithful?  Why doesn't Islam still celebrate images of Muhammad when said images were a part of their culture until around 1500 A.D.?  Nowhere in the Qur'an does it prohibit images of Muhammad.  Where are the golden plates of Mormonism's Joseph Smith?  Where is the Arc of the Covenant, the staff of Moses, the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments etched in stone?  Where is the letter, the single page letter, third secret of the "Three Secrets of Fátima" which is now four pages and not in the form of a letter, nor does it involve, as we have been led to believe, "the "importance of the novissimi", and "dangers threatening the faith and the life of the Christian and therefore (the life) of the world."  What is the point of messages from God to mankind if said messages are kept from the target audience by clergy with their own agenda which might not reflect that of the God they serve?

What other "secrets" are being kept from mankind by organized religion, I wonder?  But, this is the guise of religion; belief in a peaceful and loving faith for all of mankind, right? Peace, love, tolerance, understanding and sweet reasonableness, all come with an acceptance of secrets, right?  Hmmm... 

Secrecy is fine in the context of security and protection of a population, but it begins to fall short when used as a tool to control said population or the knowledge they are privy to, unless you're a socialist, communist, fascist, or Nazi.  I think one has to ask why security or protection needs to be provided for one's faith.  Doesn't God provide all of this?  Doesn't one's strength of faith scream "Just bring it!" to evil in the world?  We have a right to protect ourselves from evil.  The commandment doesn't say you shouldn't kill, it says you shouldn't murder.  In the words of that greatest of philosophers, Ron White, "If you come to Texas and kill somebody, we will kill you back!  That's our policy!"  This is a policy the faithful can all live with, yet it is easier to make policy for all if nothing is kept secret, and here is the conundrum.  Who do you trust to determine what is secret and why?

The only reason I can see organized religion keeping any secret is if that secret threatens the very foundations of said religion, and the only threat would be to disprove the premise behind it.  Therefore, these secrets are only in place to maintain control over the faithful because the faith must be based on something other than the truth.  Truth is something man can find a path to live with, whereas lies doom the very fabric of our reality.  How can the righteous base righteousness on a premise which is anything but righteous?

The question for all of us to grapple with is, what are we willing to base our faith on?  If Satan is The Great Deceiver of the faithful, we need to determine if religion is The Great Manipulator of the faithful, and then we need to determine which worse or if they're both just as bad.  Only you can save yourself, God gave you this ability.  No one can walk your path but you.  You have the freedom to choose your fate, to change it, and to live with it.

People are questioning the church more than ever before.  As Lenny Bruce once said, "Every day, people are straying away from the church and going back to God."  Personally, I don't see this as a bad thing.

Islam raises its hand against the Chosen of God when it is explicitly forbidden by Allah, and heretical factions kill the innocent when killing of innocence is an unforgivable sin.  And, there is Jewish guilt; well, have you read the Old Testament?  The Christians attend church when attending church is frowned upon in the gospel of Matthew, and they praise God with multiple prayers when only one seems to be sanctioned in their bible.  The validity of scripture itself is undergoing scrutiny.  Scholars are questioning the history of Judaism as being contrived to make the Jews more fearsome than they were.  Books have been stripped away from scripture, not just once but several times; gospels, possible links to truth, lost to mankind.  We begin to question the Immaculate Conception, biblical stories, places and events.  Most recently we have begun to question the very existence, the life and death of Jesus Christ.  We, none of us, have any proof for our religious faith.  

Once we begin down this road of mistrust in religion, is questioning our faith, or God, any less reasonable?

"Oh! what a tangled web we weave

When first we practise to deceive!"

-- Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832), novelist, poet, historian

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 while 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 his "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 Chaplain Program Liaison, at a regional medical center.