Cat Faith

faith

fāTH 

noun  

1.  complete trust or confidence in someone or something.  -- Google

Witness the complete confidence of a cat. 

The ability to, nonchalantly, mount a rounded metal railing, ten stories above the ground, and "walk the walk."  Now the cat is focused on the photographer. This would be when the fire engine goes by on the street below, siren wailing. Camera pans to the engine below, then back to the cat. Imagine I am now standing behind the cat. I have taken the opportunity which mass noise has provided me and used it to my advantage. I am about to prove why man is the dominant species, top of the food chain, numero uno, and cats are lousy multi-taskers. That's right; as soon as the siren stops I'm going to lean in and let out a loud raspberry behind the cat. That'll shake up the ol' confidence level a tad. Cat'll be shaking for a good hour. Some touch up paint will also be required, to hide the claw marks that it will etch into the steel as it tries not to plunge to its death on the concrete below. Do cats really land on their feet? I think it depends on the height and the landing surface. Either one might render the answer a moot point.

But, that's the confidence of a cat.  Cat "faith," if you will.

I always hear of stories where cats fall from great heights and land on their feet.  I always wondered what the cat thought after it hit.  "Wow!  That was really stupid!"  "Wow!  That really freakin' hurt!"  "Wow!  Didn't think it looked that high!"  "Wow!  Stupid dog!  You die tonight!"  "Wow!  Scared the poop outta me, stupid human!  Vee av vays of making you pay... soon, but not tonight."

Would I raspberry this cat?  Oh hell yes!  That's the little devil in me.  But, I really love animals and I certainly wouldn't do it from a tenth floor balcony, nor on anything that may require work on my part to repair.  And then, one has to consider the whole "nine lives" thing.  I think it's a floor for each of the cats nine lives, so the tenth... well, I would never forgive myself.  The cat is going to exact revenge on me sooner or later as it is, at least my cat would.  That would be when I wake up at oh-dark-thirty with tabby on my chest, watching me while you sleep and thinking at me, "No. No, not tonight... but, soon."  And it creeps me out so badly I can't go back to sleep, and I end up playing Freecell until 5:00 when I finally give up on any thought of sleep, and go make coffee.  Yeah, cat revenge is insidious.

The faith of a cat is similar to what God expects of the faith of man.  Have faith that, no matter what happens in life, you have been given the tools which will enable you to rise above it and carry on.  It may shake you up for a bit, rattle your confidence, but you have been given the gift to rise up and forge ahead.  You have been endowed with superior knowledge so that when a moron sneaks up and scares the devil out of you, you know what you have to do with that tube of superglue.  Not tonight, but... soon. 

Okay, so maybe that isn't why God gave you the ability to learn and gather knowledge.  But you have what no other animal has the ability to comprehend - faith in God.

Right?  Right?

An elephant will return to the site where a young one passed, and mourn.  A monkey will adopt an orphaned young and mourn the death of another.  A pig will act as the eyes for a blind horse without prodding.  A lion will adopt the motherless lamb as a sibling, and other more amazing stories abound.  And we are left with the idea of "self-awareness" in animals, the concept of "feeling of mind," which many think needs to exist to have a concept of God.  Animals with a concept of God?  A faith in a God?

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, 

Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

William Shakespeare, "Hamlet," Act 1: Scene 5

Maybe I'll leave the cat alone.

Note from Pastor Tony, the founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance, as well as the author and editor of "The Path," the Congregation's official blogsite:  

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.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion and debate in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth.  After over twenty years as a military intelligence analyst, planner, and briefer, 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 do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.
  

Frank Anthony Villari, Pastor

The Downhill Slide

OMG!

"We seem to have reached the age where life stops giving us things and starts taking them away."

-- Dean Stanforth, "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"

It is an unfortunate fact of life.  It comes after taxes begin and before death of old age.  Everything we have worked for seemingly begins to slip inexorably through our arthritic fingers.  We become tired as the body begins to give up the health of youth; our lifestyle slims down to equilibrium with taxes and our paltry retirement.  Friends and family begin the all too short anti-race to the grave making us wonder, as we vie for "last man standing" status, if we wouldn't be better off losing this last competition.

This stage of our life is aptly referred to, by some, as the "downhill slide."  Life is like a rollercoaster with all the ups and downs.  In the beginning is a slow climb that helps us to prepare for what we think we see coming.  We find ourselves gripping the safety bar as we approach the top of a rise, then we throw our arms in the air and scream as we either enjoy the exhilarating rush of the race to the bottom, or we wet our pants.  The climax of any rollercoaster, worth its salt, is the final killer hill and the exciting "downhill slide" to the finish of the ride.

Getting to the downhill slide is the part of the ride that seems to take forever due to the anticipation, and that the hill is the tallest to ascend.  Our bodies and emotions have already dealt with the entire ride so far, and the downhill slide is the final test of our endurance; it will be fast, and defining of who we have become during the ride.  Other folks along for the ride have already succumbed to the stress of too much "fun," or are trying to tough it out with you.  Now is the time for those are left  to belly up to the bar with our game faces and to meet what is in store for us head on, or fold half-way down the slide, cry, crap our already wet britches, and then puke.  Not a pretty way to go out of the amusement park of life.

If I can sidestep my father's health issues, I hope to see his 84 year mark without enduring the same battles he has won.  This goal means I expect to have at least 23 more years on this rollercoaster to accomplish...what?  Well, my ups and downs have become less steep and more humorous than stressful.  This fairly level ride allows me a bit more freedom to enjoy the view of the park and drink a beer without fear of spilling it all over those sitting around me that may already be wet enough and don't need to add beer to the other vile smells their own bodies have evacuated upon their persons.

At this point, life is good.  Oh, hell... life is great!  But, it doesn't change the fact that things are being taken away; too many childhood friends, family, and military comrades have died.  With God's grace, I have managed to sidestep the grim reaper several times, considering I put myself at risk through stupidity.  I always feel humbled at the memories, and the fact that I wake up every morning is reason enough to declare, "Life is great!"

"My dream is to live a good life and be loving, be close to God and be a good human being and bring peace to people."

-- Ziggy Marley, musician

We must not dwell on death, or on the limited time many of us have left in this life.  It is incumbent on us, those of us that have made it this far, to stand as mentors and role models for those struggling around us.  We must pass on that which we have learned, or our lives will have truly meant nothing.  Whether we know it, or admit it, we live life to mentor those that come after.  We live life to pass on what we learn to others that have not experienced what we have.  We live life to ensure the survival of our species on this world.  The earth will abide our passing without notice, and will erase evidence of our existence from her surface with the corrosive properties only time can provide.  We must find a way to ensure the earth does not celebrate this event.  We must find a way to survive.

"The beautiful thing about when you go through a slide is that you learn from it.  Not just saying you learn from it, but applying the things you have learned."

-- Kevin Garnett, professional basketball player

We must start this process within ourselves.  If we do not love ourselves, how can we love others?  If we cannot help ourselves, how can we help others?  If we do not understand ourselves, how do we expect to understand others?  We are not responsible for everyone else's happiness; they must find their own way.  But it is so much easier to find that way when there is a shining light that shows the path.

"We have a good life when we manage to live with both satisfied and unsatisfied needs, when we are not obsessed by what is beyond our reach."

-- Kjell Magne Bondevik, former PM of Norway, Lutheran minister

On the downhill slide, life begins to move rapidly faster before it flat lines.  We have little time to make the most out of what we have left.

Live it to the fullest, enjoy every second, share all you have learned, and wake up each and every morning with praise of life, and God, of course, for the gift of it.

"Thank you, God, for this good life and forgive us if we do not love it enough."

-- Garrison Keillor, author, humorist, host of "A Prairie Home Companion"

Note from Pastor Tony, the founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance, as well as the author and editor of "The Path," the Congregation's official blogsite:  

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.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion and debate in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth.  After over twenty years as a military intelligence analyst, planner, and briefer, 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 do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.
  

Frank Anthony Villari, Pastor

How Dare God...

"Tony.  I've met a couple of people that not only don't believe in God but are angry at him and bitter.  How can the question of how do I worship a god that allows death and pain be answered?  And to believe my god is the only God is being atheist."

-- Anonymous, reader of "The Path"

I try to be tolerant, I really do, but I feel there are times when God tests my resolve.  Taking the email above as a whole, the question of answering these people, though simple, would require violating my new rule - don't get into braying contests with jackasses.  My advice to you, dear, is just that... don't.

But my sidestepping the ridiculousness of what I'm reading, here, will not give answer to the questions asked.  These questions are not only pertinent to the perpetually unhappy that have asked them, but also to those of faith that must come to grips with their own answers, answers as numerous as the theologians that voice them.

I've run into the folks voicing the questions on so many occasions they finally pissed me off and helped the other group guide me onto my current path.  These are the folks that, if they were Christian, would throw their bible up like a shield and damn me to hell for questioning "the book."  I'll give you one guess who the other group, that constantly pissed me off, were.  But, the first group isn't Christians.  Or, are they?

Let's take a shot at the first statement, "a couple of people that not only don't believe in God but are angry at him and bitter."  My goodness!  These intellectuals are angry and bitter at a deity they don't even think exist.  I was angry and bitter, but at least I knew it was toward my ex-wife.  These folks are angry and bitter at a "concept," and it's a concept they don't even believe in.  I got drafted prior to finishing my psychology degree but, off hand, I'd call this misplaced anger... toward an "imaginary" deity... they don't even believe in!  It bodes the question:  Who is saner, these folks or people with faith?

First of all, and most obvious, they seem to believe in God of their own admission, vis a vis assigning anger and bitterness toward God, albeit misplaced.  I equate this to cursing an inanimate object when you inadvertently run into it.  You're the dumbass that ran into it, yet you feel better assigning blame to an inanimate object.  Yeah, there's nothing insane in that.  Yet, this seems to be exactly what is happening here.  Let me try and elaborate.

If God doesn't exist, ask yourself this question, "To whom should we assign fault for all the pain and suffering in the world?"  If you're hearing the "Jeopardy" tune in your head, you're trying way too hard to answer.  The only other scapegoat is us, hence why we assign it somewhere else.  Goodness knows none of it could possibly be our fault, right?  Not that we don't suck at most everything we try, which is why it all costs so damned much when we get the final product, like cancer drugs.

Let us assume, for the moment, there is an omnipotent God; a God that created all the beauty in the universe and gave us life, knowing full well that the only absolute, is God.  Therefore, to everything else there must be a counterbalance, yin and yang, a positive and negative, light and dark, good and evil.  Like any good parent we are given a brain to understand, hands to work, a mouth to communicate, and ears to hear.  We were also given a set of moral rules to follow, and only one task - to live righteous lives.  But, we are children and, as expected, having been given everything, we are spoiled brats that want more and are willing to sacrifice nothing to get it.  

Then, after being spanked, several times, we were sent a prophet to save us from ourselves.  And, like any good parent, sooner or later the child must be set free to live or die of its own devices, but the parental love never wavers.  Innocence and faith will find the path to heaven.

We suck at almost everything God has asked of us and still the believers and "unbelievers" wonder why God visits misfortunes of our own doing down upon ourselves.  This isn't rocket science, if it were they'd probably understand it.  People, for the most part, just refuse to accept responsibility for being morons.

What of the children and the innocent?  Why are they punished

There is never an easy answer for the death of innocence, but I have to direct you back to the concept of "misplaced anger."  We must ask ourselves my favorite question, "Why?"  Why do the children die?  Why do the innocent die?  Why does it seem the good die so very young?  Well, the bible says it best:

“You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me.”

-- Exodus 20:5

"The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

-- Exodus 34:6-7

We are responsible for what happens to our children.  We spit in the face of the creator by destroying the planet we were given custody over, by waging wars, by allowing lawlessness and sin, starvation and famine, and we dare to ask God why the innocent are dying?  If we look to assign blame we would be better served looking in the mirror.  The murderer of innocence is us.  To cast blame elsewhere does nothing to solve the problem.  Why would God deem to stop that which we visit upon ourselves?  If we want help, we have but to ask.  The answer we seek is usually right in front of us, but be careful what you ask for, it is rarely as easy as you would hope.  But, then, why should it be?  We created this mess, not God.  Yet, only we would dare to cast blame upon the Lord who gave us the tools to prevent it.  And if God did step in, every time we mucked things up, what would we ever learn?  What have we learned so far, other than to sidestep blame?

Some children die due to lack of parenting.  The kid is a handful and the parents simply give up on them, or send them away.  Children run away due to bad situations.  The child dies for one reason or another and, instead of looking for the parents to accept responsibility for not being there, or giving up as role models, the first blame goes straight to God.

Two young skiers, Olympic hopefuls, just died in an avalanche.  Oh, God why?  Well, gee... they left the groomed trail they were on because, obviously, they knew better than the team setting up the track to keep everyone safe.  Not.  It would seem, from the news, these two guys ignored safety for themselves and those around them.  They were, after all, Olympic material and above safety concerns.  Their stupidity is God's fault?  Young people die for so many reasons we can trace right back to us, we just have to ask, "Why?"  Why did they think they were too good for rules?

Atheism is not a disbelief in gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.

-- American Atheists

These people my friend encounters are not atheists, if they don't believe in God.  By the definition from the organization American Atheists this seems fairly clear, although by this definition I come to the conclusion that it seems not even they know what they believe in, other than making theist's lives miserable.  I have met some very nice atheists that don't make a big issue of being atheist; they choose to live and let live.  The atheists we hear about in the news, are there to be in the news; they have an agenda.  These are members of what I've heard called the League of the Perpetually Dissatisfied.  It really doesn't matter what you do, they will find a reason to complain about it.  So, by my definition, and the fact that the people she met are angry and bitter at God, I think they do meet the "definition" of an atheist shown above.

My father would probably look at this definition as so much bullshit.  I can hear him saying they should either fish or cut bait.  Man up and make a decision, a commitment, one way or the other.  I would have to ask an atheist to define "lack of belief."  I look at the definition as something put forth by people that want to say something without having to say anything; covering their collective asses by leaving plenty of wiggle room for nonsense arguments that would leave both sides looking like jackasses.

By the definition put forth by the American Atheists organization, my friend is not an atheist, and for these atheists to call her one shows their own lack of knowledge as to what an atheist is.  That would be hard to believe?  Consider the definition.

As far as the Christian God being the only God, like Judaism and Islam, all three claim roots to Abraham.  Hey, same God, imagine that.  Our interpretations of His word differ, but it is the same God.  So it is with many other religions in the world.  Hindus have many gods and goddesses but consider only one to be supreme.  Buddhism considers the existence of deities and quasi-deities.  Native Americans look to the "Great Spirit" for their faith.  For the most part there are probably a couple of hundred religious and sects in existence today, the majority of which are peaceful and tout the same basic precepts of peace, love, understanding, and tolerance.  Are they wrong in their belief?

According to interpretations of the Qur'an, Bible, and Torah, they very probably are.  What everyone, including other non-Abrahamic faiths, keep missing is that it is not our place to judge, and it states this pretty clearly in the bible:

Who are you to judge a Servant who is not yours?  For if he stands, he stands to his Master, and if he falls, he falls to his Master, for it is appointed to his Master to be able to establish him.

-- Romans 14:4

To my friend I can say only this; these people you meet are angry and bitter.  This is not your fault, nor is it the fault of any deity.  Their happiness or misery is their own responsibility, as is ours.  To try and discuss something with them that they do not want to hear is, as my uncle would say, "getting into a braying contest with a jackass."  You ultimately succeed in showing everyone two jackasses braying at each other.  What's the point?

Control that which you have control over.  To do anything else is like shoveling manure against the wind, and we all know how that turns out.



Note from Pastor Tony, the founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance, as well as the author and editor of "The Path," the Congregation's official blogsite:  

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.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion and debate in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth.  After over twenty years as a military intelligence analyst, planner, and briefer, 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 do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.
  

Frank Anthony Villari, Pastor

Sunday Thought, January 11, 2015: Prayer in School

I announced on Thursday that I had writer's block.  Actually, more specifically, I had Type I writer's block.  It wasn't that I couldn't write, I simply had no new ideas.  A good friend made the comment as to how hard it was to believe I was at a loss for words.  The words were plentiful; I simply had no subject matter.  Well, it wasn't long after posting a plea for help that I received inspiration from a new reader, and I thank Lori for her questions:  

1.  What are your thoughts on prayer in school?
2.  If you agree with it, do you agree with ALL prayer (Christian prayer, Muslim prayer, etc.) being allowed?   

I am a believer in the separation of church and state.  However, although the country was not specifically founded on Christian principles, many state and local governments incorporated much of their faith, Utah and Mormonism being an extreme example.  If this country was to be based on Christian laws and values in perpetuity, then it follows the founding fathers would have ensured language reflecting this was included clearly in our Constitution.  It was not.  They wanted this country to enjoy a broader spectrum of freedoms.  As intelligent and foresighted as the gentlemen were, however, they seem to have missed the possibility of a non-Christian faith taking precedence at some point in the future.  Or, maybe they considered it as an inevitable evolution, expecting the Constitution would stand up to the task.  Providing no President mucks with the basic tenets of the Constitution, this might be a valid premise.

Having said all of this, I think other than personal, quiet prayer in public schools is ill-advised due to the diversity of culture in our country.  We have already seen the issues involved with public prayer in the classroom.  A personal prayer at meal time, or as your culture demands, is not an issue for me if it does not interfere with school schedules and rules.  Muslims must pray five times per day.  The only time this affects class schedules would be during the noon prayer.  Public schools set aside one hour for the noon break, how the student chooses to use that break should be up to them, providing it is not disruptive or against school policy.

With our multicultural global society, it is incumbent on our education system to ensure all students are well versed in other cultural and religious beliefs, just as it was, in my day, to ensure we were versed in other country's forms of government.  I don't think it would be out of line to have a religious studies building with rooms available for prayer, when personal time permitted.

In Washington, a school was confronted with a Sikh student wearing a ceremonial dagger which denotes manhood in his culture.  A weapon on school grounds, however, this presents a possible, troubling, precedent.  Knowing the Sikh culture, one understands that to use this weapon would be a last resort next to death.  Their belief set prohibits such an act.  So, what do you do?  I would be more concerned of another student grabbing that dagger and using it against the wishes of the Sikh, than the Sikh ever using it.  Here, then is the dilemma of any weapon in the school.  By the way, the school system has allowed the wearing of the dagger.

Private schools present an entirely different environment.  Their rules are governed by the virtue that they are private and not government run.  Religious schools will, of course, have prayer often.  If you don't want your child in prayer, don't send them to a religious school.  Simple.  If the public school environment does not allow for your religious or cultural freedoms to disrupt their rules and schedules, find a private school that will accommodate you.  Simple.  Tolerance is not the same thing as acceptance.  We can tolerate religious and cultural activities if it is non-disruptive, we do not have to accept them if they are.  Accommodations should be made when possible.

To elaborate on classroom prayer just a bit, I would like to cite a few documents from the three Abrahamic religions.

When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.  "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you."  And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.…

-- Matthew 6:5-6

The emphasis on congregational prayer began to grow but private prayer was never abolished. The heart and not the hour dictated the occasion for prayer. Day and night the Heavenly Father could be entreated (e.g., I Sam. 15:11; Ps. 86:3; 88:2[1])... Originally prayer was undoubtedly spontaneous and personal.

"and Isaac went out to su'ah in the field before evening..." (Genesis 24:63)  Based on this Genesis passage, the traditional afternoon prayer service - mincha - has been attributed to Isaac's early evening walks in the fields... The meaning of Su'ah, traditionally interpreted as prayer...

-- Jewish Virtual Library

"Call on your Lord humbly and secretly; surely He does not love those who exceed the limits"

-- Qur'an 7:55

We see with all three Abrahamic religions, the requirement or practice of private, personal prayer was always evident.  It would seem all three religious are violating the written word if this is, in fact, the case.  Even Islam reflects the Christian belief to pray in private, not unusual when you consider Muhammad's Christian and Jewish instructors as a young man, and the fact he received his Qur'an from the Angel Gabriel.

So my thoughts would be to not continue violating God's desire by having classroom, or public, prayer.  Personal prayer in private, at appropriate times, should be of no disruption unless someone is exercising some selfish personal agenda which would make them not only a hypocrite, but in all probability a heretic of their own religious tenets.

Note from Pastor Tony, the founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance, as well as the author and editor of "The Path," the Congregation's official blogsite:  

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.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion and debate in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth.  After over twenty years as a military intelligence analyst, planner, and briefer, 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 do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.
  

Frank Anthony Villari, Pastor

Why?

"There are two great days in a person's life - 

the day we are born and the day we discover why."

-- William Barclay (1907-1978), theologian, author, minister, professor

For some, the first great day is the beginning of a short life in famine and squalor.  For others, they have arrived to a situation of domestic abuse in which they have become the new punching bag, and far too many find their great day tainted by parental drug abuse that has visited upon them birth defects.  For all of them the question begs to be asked, "Why?"  Many of these children may survive long enough to ask the question, but not long enough to learn an answer.  Those children that can survive their circumstances have an opportunity to learn from the horrors of their life.  They will have an opportunity to foster change and to assist others.  Those that don't live still serve an unfortunate purpose of giving those that have lived, a cause for doing so.  They have only to recognize the purpose and take action.  Sounds simple, just don't die.

"There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why...
I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?

-- Robert F. Kennedy (1925-1968), Senator

In life, there must be death.  There must always be the yin and yang, the two halves that together complete wholeness; the balance that must always be struck for reality to exist.  If you could go back in time to prevent a death, a death would still occur, the balance somehow maintained.  It would be nice if we could end famine, suffering, and death.  If we could accomplish this, there would be overcrowding; close quarters is a fertile culture for the spread of contagion; contagion is reason for antibiotics; antibiotics reduce our ability to fight off disease.  Millions will still die.  Thus is the balance of life.  For earth to abide, a balance must exist.  In the whole of creation, the balance must exist.

When people see things as beautiful,
ugliness is created.
When people see things as good,
evil is created.
Being and non-being produce each other.
Difficult and easy complement each other.
Long and short define each other.
High and low oppose each other.
Fore and aft follow each other.

-- Lao Tsu (604-531 B.C.), Chinese philosopher, poet

Those that survive to adulthood may find the answer to why they were born.  The sad reality is, many will simply go about their daily grind trying to better their situation or just "keep up with the Joneses."  These people may never find an answer to why they are here, if they ever consider asking the question.  There are the rare few who find they were born for accidental greatness; to land the crippled aircraft with three hundred people on board, or pull a family from a burning building, or save a small child that has stopped breathing by administering CPR which they just learned a few days ago.  And they might ask, "Is being a hero enough?"  Is this "why" they were put here years ago?  What makes them special, other than being heroes?  And then, what of the survivors?  Many survivors will experience "survivor guilt."  They will ask why they were spared when others may have died around them.  

What if, among all the lives saved, there is that one special life?  What if one of these is, or will be the mother or father of, or grandparent of, some person that will change our world for the better?  What if saving a particular life sets off a chain reaction we need to survive?  What if the life saved is an essential player in the second coming of Christ?  What if everyone is put here for a reason and it is up to us to learn our own answer as to why?  What if we will only know it when it happens?  What if we only find the answer by asking, "Why?" 

"Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the one who asked why."

-- Bernard M. Baruch

I have questioned my existence for most of my life.  This question of existence becomes significantly more important when one survives several encounters with death, surviving through no fault of their own, or anyone else's.  The hand of fate seemingly drops in to pluck them from the jaws of death, and each time they are left with that nagging question of, "Why?"

As I turned sixty I looked back on my own encounters with death as a young man, and considered the question once again.  For twenty-two years, during my military career and the Cold War, we managed to keep the world in one piece through nuclear deterrence, and we watched the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the Soviet Union.  I have two wonderful children and two beautiful grandchildren, and I still have my health.  I have to wonder if I was plucked from death for reasons yet to come, or have I already accomplished the task I was set on my path to achieve.  Is it my blog that is my purpose, or was it my children or grandchildren that are meant to be here; is it their path that becomes important at this point, and what or who are they supposed to affect?  Am I finished, or is there more in store for me further along my path?

As I look back at my life, though. I realize that I am tired.  I realize my questions have put me on the path to where I am, and it has been a good path.  As I look into what future I have left in this life, I realize it is important to understand for what purpose I am here, and I find the answer is very simple.  I am here, for a purpose.  That I know the purpose is not as important as realizing there is a purpose.  Understanding this simple fact, I look to the future with less concern as to "Why?" and with more interest in, "Why not?"  I have found this question easier to answer.

"For as long as there's anyone to ask 'Why?'
the answer will always be, 'Why not?"

-- Vera Nazarian, "The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration"

Since you took your first breath of air you have been on a path.  Where that path has taken you, or will take you, depends entirely on the decisions you make for your life.  No one else can accept responsibility for your life, unless you allow them to.  The choice is always yours for any decision you make.  To blame others is just misplaced anger at you for being a dumbass.  Better to accept responsibility for your actions, pick yourself up, and move down the path having learned from the experience and hopefully able to mentor others as a way of giving the mistake some value.

Realize that your path will continue until you reach your destination.  It may continue through this life, into the next, and beyond.  It is truly not about the destination, and in realizing this one can understand why rushing through life is counterproductive to that life.  You will miss so much beauty along the way.  You will find too late that children grow up too fast, loved ones die with words left unsaid, untended love slips away, and friendships fail for stupid reasons.

"Slow down and enjoy life.  It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why?

-- Eddie Cantor (1892-1964), comedian, singer, actor, et al

Note from Pastor Tony, the founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance, as well as the author and editor of "The Path," the Congregation's official blogsite:  

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.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion and debate in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth.  After over twenty years as a military intelligence analyst, planner, and briefer, 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 do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.
  

Frank Anthony Villari, Pastor

XX (POST BEFORE JAN 15) - Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Destruction of a Dream (Updated from 1/4/2015)

"But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force."

-- Martin Luther King, Jr., August 28, 1963

I keep harping on the fact that we do not learn from history.  I also continually berate the education system of this country for tainting that history they do teach with personal and political agenda.  We are struggling with racial division again in this country.  It once again it seems to be a political agenda.  Some would say it is fostered by a racist administration, which seems hell bent on keeping the back man down, and by the personal agenda of rioters, looters, and violent protesters, that have forgotten the words of Reverend King, one of the greatest men in the fight for equal rights.  They have all either forgotten or never been taught, and if they were never taught these words, shame on the parents, ministers and leaders of the black communities.

"In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds."

--MLK

Al Sharpton and other "leaders" seem to foster racism and hatred for their own profit.  Shame on them that dare to mention Reverend King's name in their divisive diatribe, and shame on those daring to preface your name with "Reverend," for there is certainly nothing to revere about the hatred and violence they preach to those ignorant masses that would follow.  They have become the KKK of the black community.  They have literally met the enemy, and it is them.

"Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred."

-- MLK

Today we witness protests against the rule of law which Dr. King had so much hope for.  We watch as a city burns because of a black criminal, a bully that had no respect for human rights or the law.; a bully and a thief that fought a police officer for a gun and ended up dead for his effort.  Is the hero black culture now worships?  A city burns and the black community is poorer for it.

"We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline."

-- MLK

We listen on the news to chants, cries for the killing of police officers, regardless of color.  We watch as two officers, an Asian and a Latino are gunned down while sitting in their cruiser.  We watch as they are buried by grieving family.  Innocent police officers that put their lives at risk daily for ALL of our citizens must now be on high alert for cowardly assassins that are so much worse than the police they seek to punish.  And to what end?  What is gained for the shameful actions of cowards?

"We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence."

-- MLK

The black community, the rich black culture in America, backslides fifty years, and the dream of a great man burns with the community, at the hands of his own people.  Where is the justice in this?  Where is the justice when all people of color are once again judged by not only the color of their skin, but for their condoning of violence against innocence?  Where is the justice when they are judged as condoning the blatant ignoring of our country's laws which were put in place for the express purpose of protecting people of all color?  Where, now, is the justice and equality dreamt of by this great man?  Why is his dream for everyone being destroyed by the very people he sought to help?  History is repeating and it would seem some are content to change the color of the sheets.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

-- MLK

I have a dream.  I dream that people like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson will fade in our memory.  I have a dream that our politicians will stop using the "race card" at every turn.  I have a dream that we will all start taking responsibility for our own lives and stop blaming others for our shortcomings and our inability to move forward and to grow.  I have a dream that we will stop using race as an excuse for violence, ignorance, unemployment, welfare, entitlements, and financial status.  I have a dream that all people of color will stop listening to other people of color just because of their color, and start listening to them because they make some damned sense. 

January 19 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  How about we do something novel and actually discuss what he was all about?  How about we try practicing some of what he preached?  How about we talk to our children and get them involved on the computer?  How about having them pull up some research on this man and talk with them about what they find?  How about we start shunning racists of ALL colors for the hatred they preach?  How about we try to move forward again and stop listening to those that would move us all back to a darker time?

God Bless Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., all he stood for, and all he tried to accomplish.  Bless his family for standing firm to his philosophies while confronting those who would use his name for their own selfish agenda.  Shame on those that are purposefully destroying his dream for a nation in order to fill their own pockets and forward their own careers, and shame on those people of color who have shown short memories, and on those that failed to teach their children and grandchildren the words of a great man who died winning them a chance at something better.

Maybe it is time to march on Washington again, lest we all forget history and what strides have been made peacefully toward liberty and racial equality.  Perhaps it is time to refresh everyone's memory.  In the words of Thomas Jefferson:

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.  It is its natural manure."

Today all we smell is the stench of divisive bullshit; the rotting corpse of racism that is better left buried.  I think liberty must also be refreshed by reminding everyone what has been fought for, and won, at great loss of life.  Racial equality has cost all of us the lives of three great men, and many lesser foot soldiers, black and white.  Now some dare to throw that which was so very expensive to win, in the very face of the man that led his people to victory.  Three assassinations of great men it has cost this country in the past and, today, mob violence demands the assassination of innocent police officers to satiate the ignorant bloodlust of vengeance in misplaced honor of two criminals who should have done what they were told to do.  Instead, these two "men" chose the low road and paid the price for not respecting the laws we all have to live by, while I'm accused of having "white privilege" by some entitlement junkie that might make something of themselves if they'd stop whining about all the free crap we give them for nothing in return.  Maybe if we all acted equal we might find some common ground.  But then, maybe it's just me.

Where does the insanity stop?

I think Reverend King would be heartbroken at how far the faithful have fallen, at how little we have learned, and how much of what he preached has been forgotten.

But, this is all just my humble opinion.  I could be wrong.

"Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical with soul force."

-- MLK

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 view any more right or wrong than the other. Opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form their own opinions, 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 an alternate viewpoint.

I fervently hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning those opinions offered. After twenty-three years of military intelligence, I believe that engaging each other in this manner, and in this arena, is a 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 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Following his service career, he spent 17 years working with the premier and world-renowned Western Institutional Review Board, helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. He also served 8 years on the Board of Directors for the Angela J. Bowen Foundation.

Ordained in 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As a weapon for his war on intolerance, he chose the pen. He wages 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 personal, spiritual path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony at: tolerantpastor@gmail.com

Sunday Thought, January 4, 2015: An Excuse for Godlessness?

"I know of no wars started by anyone to impose lack of religion on someone else.  We have lethal Sunni v Shia, Catholic against Protestant, but no agnostic suicide bombers attack crowded atheist pubs."

-- Simon Hoggart (1946-2014), English journalist and broadcaster

Mr. Hoggart attended King's College, Cambridge, where he excelled at history and English.  Far be it from me to speak ill of the dead, but Simon would seem to have faked his way through the history classes.  As an Englishman one would think he would recall Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union and their distaste for religion being, as Karl Marx put it, "the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions.  It is the opium of the people."  Religion was viewed as a crutch that holds back human development.  The Nazi atheists weren't satisfied killing the Jews and the Christians, they had to go and attack the Soviets.  I would define this as "atheist against atheist" even though the Soviet religious minority was said to have thrown their lot in with the government against the encroaching Nazi war machine.  And what of Chinese communists and their war on religion, which continues to this day?  

It would seem to me, Mr. Hoggart's attempt to rewrite history to suit an agenda was probably a product of education rife with questionable facts and personal opinion, which our own educational system also suffers far too much from.  Unlike mathematics and other disciplines guided by rules and theorems, history and religion are all too easily subjected to personal opinion and political whim.  We tend to gloss over the facts of world history and rely on stories with questionable origin and accuracy as a basis for our many religions.  We tend to take it all on "faith."

"Doubt is part of all religion.  All religious thinkers were doubters"

-- Isaac Bashevis Singer (1902-1991), Jewish-American author

But, is Mr. Hoggart's statement to be construed as an excuse for Godlessness?  I sincerely hope not.  If Godlessness means we have to revisit the Nazi "final solution" or the Soviet work camps of Siberia, I think I'll take my chances with God, thank you very much.

Does religion have its problems?  Absolutely, but it would also seem that agnostics and atheists are not immune to problematic philosophy.  Hopefully we all learn from history and correct our errors in judgment.  Karl Marx was absolutely correct in his analysis that religion is "the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions."  It may very well retard our growth, but at least we will grow.  I'd like to think the slow pace of our growth would allow us the time to reflect on past mistakes so we might avoid them in future.  I'd like to think we will plod along with the dignity of tolerance and respect for each other and our varied peaceful beliefs.

"I love you when you bow in your mosque, kneel in your temple, pray in your church.  For you and I are sons of one religion, and it is the spirit."

-- Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931), Lebanese artist, poet, writer

Albert Einstein was said to be an atheist, yet never used the word to describe his own thoughts on religion.  He viewed God as a word used by people to describe a concept which was beyond man's grasp and their descriptions as a collection of childish stories.  But was this an admission of a lack of faith, or a great mind seeing beyond the limitations of man's concept in order to embrace a loftier consideration?  I think he was saying what I have always thought.  How do you define the indefinable, or describe the indescribable?  Do we dare try, or is best left a personal concept for each of us to wrestle with on our own?  Can we all just agree that there is "something," an energy that gives the universe rules?  With those rules we get creation, destruction, and balance.  We learn to understand that the mere concept of nothing is itself a confirmation of something.

"Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind."

-- Albert Einstein (1879-1955), physicist, philosopher 

I do not care to imagine my world without the many peaceful spiritual philosophies and religions which give us so much interesting diversity.  This Sunday maybe we could put our chosen faith aside for a moment and consider a world without diverse religious thought.  Has religion really retarded our growth?  We must remember which religions contributed to the roots of medicine, mathematics, engineering, physics, and the arts.  Our growth was retarded by faith?  

I think not.



Note from Pastor Tony, the founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance, as well as the author and editor of "The Path," the Congregation's official blogsite:  

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.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion and debate in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth.  After over twenty years as a military intelligence analyst, planner, and briefer, 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 do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.
  

Frank Anthony Villari, Pastor

2015? Be Colorful in Life!

I love watching elderly people as much as I love watching children.  Children look at the world with a sense of wonder and discovery; older folks rediscover the world with a sense of wonder and discovery.  We tend to look at the world through the eyes of the child we once were.

Every New Year that goes by, one undeniable truth affects all of us... we are not getting any younger.  Most of us old farts struggle to make through to midnight on New Year's Eve, so we can waggle our finger in the air, and mumble "whoopee" to no one in particular.  Another year gone, knock wood.  

The New Year makes us think of what lies ahead as our friends begin to drop like flies around us.  Resolutions become not as important as what life has in store.  As one reaches sixty it becomes almost counterproductive to resolve to do much other than wake up in the morning and squeeze as much out of life as possible, and if that means wearing loud, brightly colored clothing that draws attention to us and our pasty white flesh, so be it.  We have earned the right, and could really give a fig what others think.  We're out to have some freaking fun!

I was never much of a wall flower.  I always tried to have fun in my life.  But, as I get older, I think back on how little I actually did and how much more I could have done with little extra effort.  Most of these are things I would be hard pressed to do now, primarily because I have the wisdom of age and have lost the stupidity of youth.  For instance, I thought about participating in the 2015 Biloxi Beach Bull Run.  For $65 I get to outrun the guy next to me, and the bulls behind all of us, for a bandana and a ticket to the PCA Rodeo Finals where I can drink expensive event beer and watch wannabe cowgirls in tight jeans.  I thought about it.  Headline:  Dumbass Trips - Trampled By Bulls.  I might exercise my lecherous side, though, and buy a ticket to the rodeo finals.

In 2015, as with any new year, we should be less concerned with resolutions to do what we know we should, like get healthier, and more concerned with living life to the fullest.  If you're 18, you might not live to celebrate 19.  As you get older the odds do not get better.  Live for today, love for today, and praise God for today.  Go out of this life the same way you came in - loudly. Or, being spanked, or both, I leave that up to you.  

Make each and every day the "next to the last day" of the rest of your life... and dance!

Note from Pastor Tony, the founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance, as well as the author and editor of "The Path," the Congregation's official blogsite:  

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.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion and debate in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth.  After over twenty years as a military intelligence analyst, planner, and briefer, 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 do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.
  

Frank Anthony Villari, Pastor