Jesus | Aging Capriciously

Autobiographies from the Dead — Jesus Christ the Martyr

13 May 2018 3 Comments

by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: beatitudes, christians, compassion., fake christians, hungry, Jesus, justice, love, meekness, mercy, needy, peace, poor, Pride, sick

black jesus

I am adding a few new autobiographies to my series. I had stopped with seven, but it seems appropriate to add several more. Thus, I really should not have said that this series will end since so many “dead” people still have stories to tell. If you have not read my other “Autobiographies,” I strongly urge you to do so and add your comments or thoughts to their stories. I know many of the “dead” will appreciate your perspectives.

38000-christian-denominations-good-luck-choosing-the-right-one This week, you will hear from one Jesus of Nazareth. He has been called by many names including: Messiah, Emmanuel, Christ, Lord, Master, Logos (the Word), Son of God and by himself more often The Son of Man. He is often credited with being the founder or perhaps foundation for a popular religion called Christianity. Today, it is difficult to see the link between the teachings of Jesus and many of these so-called Christian religions. I have it on good authority that Jesus never ever preached killing anyone and yet many of these so-called Christian religions are continually waving a banner of mayhem and destruction at those who think differently than they do. Anyway, it is time to let Jesus speak for himself.

Jesus Christ the Martyr

I never thought it would end like this. Where are my followers? Where are my disciples? Only my mother, my sister and Mary watched me die. All the rest – gone – all have deserted me. The crowds I taught, the people I healed, yet they chose me to die over a thief and a murderer.

Jesus or Barabbas

I repeat: My God, My God, why did thou forsake me?

What did I do to deserve this? Toward the end, I could see it coming. I wanted to have it pass by me, but I could not deny my beliefs or still my voice. They were constantly trying to silence me. Finally, they arrested me on “Trumped” up charges of sedition and blasphemy. It was called blasphemy to try and tell the truth to people. It was called sedition to try and address unjust laws. The rulers of my time incited the people with lies against me and turned many of my followers into haters.

Jesus-being-flogged

Who would have ever thought that I, a man of peace and tolerance, would be stripped, beaten, tortured and nailed to a cross to die. It was a painful death. The thirst, the suffocation, the spear piercing my body were unbearable. I cried out in vain:

Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani!

The crowds laughed at me. The soldiers mocked me. My close family looked on while my followers hid in the shadows and in their homes. I felt abandoned by all. All my good works. All my thoughts and ideas. All that I preached and dreamed and hoped for now seemed in vain.

Jesus with Mary at the cross

I started my mission for those who were forgotten or persecuted. I taught the sick, the poor and the outcasts that they were truly loved. Our leaders despised and looked down on these people. I taught them what would later be called the Eight Beatitudes. My principles of life were all summed up in these Eight Beatitudes. I never denied the Ten Commandments, but the Eight Beatitudes are my legacy to the world. They represent the sum of my teachings and the goals of my life. deny god by your actions

Everywhere I look today, I see my principles torn and shredded by tyrants, by demagogues and even by people who profess to be my followers. I have yet to see my Beatitudes enshrined in bronze as is so often the case with Moses and the Ten Commandments. Why have they forgotten my most important teachings? When will my teachings be placed in courtyards and on billboards? Why are they anathema to so many people?

Let me explain what each of the Eight Beatitudes mean. My body and soul will not depart this world until I have accomplished this task and until humanity embraces the ideas I gave my life for.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

christ says help the needy. I am talking about greed here. I am talking about wanting more and more regardless of the effects it has on the earth. I am telling you that happiness does not come from having more of things. The only true happiness comes from helping others. It is better to share with others who are needy than to amass a fortune that you cannot take with you. Those who berate the tax collector and call him a sinner and cheat are no better than the tax collector. Indeed, those who refuse to pay their fair share for the life they are given are worse than the tax collector.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

god told me to hate you I am talking about sin here. I am talking about grieving your mistakes and injustices towards others. No one can walk in this world without hurting others either deliberately or by mistake. But the people who will be comforted in the next world are those who regret their mistakes and injustices and ask for forgiveness. They are the people who acknowledge their sins and mistakes and try to make amends. I was not perfect, and no one born of this world is perfect. The good and just man admits his vices and tries to overcome them. The good and just man tries to make amends to the people he has hurt or abused.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

child-for-hours-simply-because-hes-a-muslim-youre-not-13669022 The narcissist and the man full of hubris will do injustice to all they meet. The narcissist thinks that the world revolves around his needs, wants and desires, and is content to ignore the needs and wants and desires of others. The man of hubris is overly prideful and arrogant and thinks that he has earned the right to have more than others. Both feel that everyone else is there to serve their needs and that their needs come before the needs of anyone else. The injustice done by these beliefs amounts to a mountain of intolerance and discrimination towards anyone who is perceived as inferior or beneath their consideration. For this reason, I say “Do not look upon yourself as being better than others. Remember that there but for the grace of God, would you go.”

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

The righteous man looks for justice. The righteous man looks for what is good in the confucious on good thoughts world. No one who is not seeking righteousness and justice can expect to find peace. I say that your task is to look for justice where there is injustice. To look for goodness where there is wickedness. You can never complete your search. Your hunger will never be sated. Your thirst will never be quenched. Each generation must take up the search because evil is in our own hearts. Only by looking to replace evil with justice and righteousness can the evil that is within us be banished. We are all born with original sin, but the righteous man is the one who overcomes their sinfulness by replacing it with a goodness that transcends earthly needs and desires.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

christians and gays Those who show mercy towards others will have mercy shown towards them. I lived in a time when lepers, Samaritans, non-Jews and many others were thought to be unworthy of mercy. Mercy was always for those in our own tribe. This meant mercy for Jews if you were a Jew. Mercy for Romans if you were a Roman. No mercy was to be shown to the poor for they were lazy. No mercy was to be shown to the sick because they were sinners. No mercy was to be shown to those of other religions because they were “non-believers.”

I say that those who only show mercy to those of their own tribe, only to those who are like them, will never have mercy shown towards themselves. I have said before that:

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.

fakechristians I say to you that the pure of heart are those with integrity and character. They are without selfishness and seek primarily to do good for others regardless of the cost to themselves. They are not opportunists who try to squeeze the most for themselves at every turn of events. Neither are they sycophants who yield their ideas and actions to others so they can creat more profit for themselves. The pure of heart are not greedy. They are not profit driven. They are not out for fame and fortune. The pure of heart care only about the good they can do for others. Others include the entire human race and not simply those who belong to their tribe or religion or country. Those who put humanity above patriotism, humanity above family, humanity above friendships and humanity above self will surely see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.

peacemakers Rage, jealousy, ingratitude, intolerance, bigotry and fear are the enemies of peace. Those who want peace must be willing to beat their swords into plowshares. If you follow my Beatitude, you will disarm yourself. You will throw down your guns. You will deactivate your nuclear weapons. You will turn your armies for war into armies for education. There is no peace possible in aggression. There is no peace possible in hatred. There is no peace possible in defensiveness. The only path to peace is to turn the other cheek. How many times have I said you must do this to find peace?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.”

I will someday be extolled for giving my life so that others may be saved. It will be said about me that “He gave his body and blood so that they may have eternal life.” Yet, I see a world now where people are so afraid of each other that they carry concealed weapons, where they lock people up for the slightest offenses and where they have weapons to destroy the entire planet many times over. I do not see a peaceful people. I do not see peaceful governments. I do not see peaceful leaders. I do not even see peaceful Christian churches.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Martin_Luther_King_1872702i Actions speak louder than words. All those who cry out “Lord, lord” will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. What good is the salt if it has lost its taste? Those who speak beautiful words will not enter my kingdom without beautiful deeds to match their words. I spoke out my ideas and thoughts. I challenged the powers that were corrupt. I was taken up to the mountain and promised fame and fortune and power by Satan if I renounced my beliefs, but I remained steadfast. I was persecuted and crucified, but I never renounced my beliefs. How then do you think you will be saved by being nice to others and by silencing your thoughts in the face of evil? No one who speaks my name should expect to escape persecution. There is no change without struggle and oppression.

These are my Eight Beatitudes. These are my meanings for each of them. If you want to follow me, follow my teachings. Do not say “I am a Christian and follower of Christ” when you reject any one of these Beatitudes.

I must leave this this place now. I cannot rest in peace. My body has been stolen and taken to some hidden place. But my body is only temporal. It is my soul that now cries out for justice. But it is not the justice of revenge or the justice of retribution, it is the justice of love.

They believe I will come again. I hear their words praying for the Second Coming of Christ. It is impossible. I cannot come back to a people who practice hate and vengeance and violence in my name. My soul will roam this planet for all eternity if my name continues to be blasphemed by the hypocrisies of those who say, “Lord Lord” or “Jesus is my Savior.”

Jesus looking at the earth

I go now, but I go to ask my Father “why?” What was this all for? Is there some difference on earth that I do not see or was it all in vain? Please Father, help me to understand.

Time for Questions:

Are you a Christian? Why or why not? If you follow Christ, what difference have you made in the world? How are you helping the poor, the sick and the needy? Do you have to be a Christian to help others? Have you read the “Parable of the Good Samaritan?” Who was his brother? Who are you brother or sister to? Who do you hate? Why? What would Jesus say?

Life is just beginning.

A prayer of St. Francis of Assisi:

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.”

“O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” Amen.

The Secret Plan the Republicans Have to Help the Poor!

03 Dec 2017 4 Comments

by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: democracy, elitism, Jesus, poor, poverty, republicans, rich, Social Darwinism, Taxes, trump, wealth

The Republicans have a secret plan for eliminating poverty. The basis of this plan is that if you eliminate the unfit you will not have any more poverty. This strategy derives from theories first formulated in the middle of the nineteenth century. These theories were subsequently labeled as “Social Darwinism.” The online encyclopedia Britannica gives the following definition of Social Darwinism:

“Social Darwinism, the theory that human groups and races are subject to the same laws of natural selection as Charles Darwin had perceived in plants and animals in nature. According to the theory, which was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the weak were diminished and their cultures delimited while the strong grew in power and in cultural influence over the weak. Social Darwinists held that the life of humans in society was a struggle for existence ruled by “survival of the fittest,” a phrase proposed by the British philosopher and scientist Herbert Spencer.”

There have been many theories proposed for the policies held by Trump and his Republican supporters. They include “Greed Theory.” The Republicans are held to be greedier than most people and only want to accumulate as much money as they can. Another is “Hate Theory.” This theory holds that since most Republicans are White European in ancestry, they loath and detest any people who are different then they are. This includes Asians, Blacks, Indians, Latinos and any immigrants not from Europe.

The final theory proposed is what I call “Fear Theory.” This theory holds that the motivation behind Republican policies stem from their innate fear that everything they have will be taken away by those who are less privileged. Thus, we find Republicans building big houses behind big walls and in gated communities protected by private security police. In addition, with the help of their friends in the NRA, they stockpile vast array of weapons in case of home invasion or an all-out assault by the underclass of America.

The above theories assume a very pejorative and negative rationale for the actions of Trump and his allies in Congress. I have come to a different conclusion. Why is my conclusion and theory important? Most of all because it does not ascribe any negative motivations to the Republicans. My theory assumes that current Republican theory is derived from a set of basic assumptions first formulated in the late 1800’s. Thus, Republicans are not greedy or hateful or fearful as much as they are misguided and misinformed. I came to realize this fact through the intersection of two quite different events. Here is how it happened.

Four or five times per week, I go for a run. Down here in Arizona, I have been running in the Casa Grande mountains. I usually get up in the mountains about the time of sunrise. My runs are over hilly, twisty, rocky, mountainous and desert terrain. My only companions this early are the cacti and numerous birds that populate the desert. Occasionally, I see a coyote, javelina or long eared jack rabbit but mostly it is peaceful and quiet. As the sun rises over the mountains, the blue sky is colored with red and yellow hues that create a pastiche of colors which are simply breathtaking. It is hard not to think that I am in heaven when I am running in the mountains in the morning.

I was on such a run about two weeks ago when I was struck with an inspiration. I suddenly realized that everything the Republicans have been doing is based on one simple idea. They want to create a system whereby the “elite” have the benefits of their status as superior beings. Thus, healthcare should be for the elite and the poor can go to the emergency ward because they will not be able to afford insurance. More of the poor will die but that is consistent with Social Darwinism.

“Their disappearance from the human family would be no great loss to the world.”
― Henry Clay

Education will become an elite system. The poor will go to inner city public schools deprived of money and resources where they will be treated more like prisoners than learners and security guards will make sure they behave. The rich will go to well-funded private academies where they will learn to take high paying jobs as captains of industry.

Social Security will be replaced by an elite system of stocks and bonds whereby the rich can use financial advisers to double and triple their contributions. The poor with little knowledge or skills in the stock market will lose what they have contributed and soon find they have no retirement money. More prisons will be built (and ironically will be government funded) to protect the rich and lock up any dissidents who dare to complain or who become public nuisances.

“The forces which are working out the great scheme of perfect happiness, taking no account of incidental suffering, exterminate such sections of mankind as stand in their way, with the same sternness that they exterminate beasts of prey and herds of useless ruminants.” ― Herbert Spencer,

As much as I liked the above scenario, since it seemed to provide a good fit for the current Trump and Republican policies, there was still something missing. I could not quite put my hand on it, but it still cast the Republicans as “bad guys” with evil motives. Why should the Republicans be any more evil than the Democrats? My theory did not explain this.

About a week later, I was substitute teaching in a Casa Grande High School. I drew an eleventh-grade social studies class. The teacher had left an assignment wherein the students had to find certain terms and concepts associated with the second industrial revolution and write definitions for each of them. Included among such terms as: robber barons, corporations, patents and trusts was the term “Social Darwinism.” One of the students asked me to explain it beyond the simple definition she found on line. I tried to recall my ideas relating to this concept from many years ago. I gave her my explanation and then later I looked up the definition at Wikipedia. I was struck at how well my memory had served me. It was at that point that the proverbial light bulb or blinding light of inspiration hit me. I suddenly realized that the Republican Party was not just trying to create elite systems but they were also trying to build on the theories of Herbert Spencer. The following excerpt explains this theory very well as it applies to many current concepts such as: trickle down theory, privatization, corporate welfare and tax reform.

“Social Darwinists took up the language of evolution to frame an understanding of the growing gulf between the rich and the poor as well as the many differences between cultures all over the world. The explanation they arrived at was that businessmen and others who were economically and socially successful were so because they were biologically and socially “naturally” the fittest. Conversely, they reasoned that the poor were “naturally” weak and unfit and it would be an error to allow the weak of the species to continue to breed. They believed that the dictum “survival of the fittest” (a term coined not by Charles Darwin but by sociologist Herbert Spencer) meant that only the fittest should survive.” – Social Darwinism in the Gilded Age

So, there you have it. Trump and the Republican Party are not greedy, hateful or fearful of others, they simply do not believe that you have a right to anything unless you are also rich and successful and White like they are. Based on the concepts of Social Darwinism, they have the right to whatever you have if they can find a way to take it away from you. If you cannot keep it, that means you are inferior. If you are inferior, you have no right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. According to Social Darwinism, the elite will eventually Trump the poor because they are stronger, smarter and more fit. This will eventually result in a society wherein everyone is fit, and everyone is trying to screw everyone else.

“Truly, this earth is a trophy cup for the industrious man. And this rightly so, in the service of natural selection. He who does not possess the force to secure his Lebensraum in this world, and, if necessary, to enlarge it, does not deserve to possess the necessities of life. He must step aside and allow stronger peoples to pass him by.”
― Adolf Hitler

Today we have a Fake President, Fake News, Fake Christians and a divide in this country that rivals the divide that we had prior to the civil war. We have a nation that has forgotten its roots and that has succumbed to the vilest theory to ever afflict humanity.

Time for Questions:

Do you think it would be better if the poor would just die and save us all the trouble of taking care of them? What do you think we should do with the disabled and mentally challenged? Should we start a eugenics program to get rid of them? Who should help the poor, refugees, immigrants, hungry, sick? What would Jesus do?

Life is just beginning.

“They said ‘specialist children’s wards,’
But they meant children-killing centers.
They said ‘final medical assistance’
But they meant murder.” ― Ann Clare LeZotte, T4

Joy to the World

19 Dec 2016 Leave a comment

by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: charity, Christmas, dickens, gospel, happiness, hate, Holidays, hope, Jesus, joy, joy to the world, kindness, love, message of Jesus, peace, scrooge

joy-to-the-world

Tis the season to be jolly, but for many people there might seem little to be jolly about. In one of the most famous holiday stories of all time, the central character Ebenezer Scrooge gave what has become an iconic line about the holiday season. Scrooge said:

“What’s Christmas but a time for finding yourself a year older and not a day richer? There’s nothing merry in that. If I could work my will, nephew, every idiot who goes about with “Merry Christmas” on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding and buried with a stake of holly through his heart.” — A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Not exactly a fan of Christmas, Scrooge may have echoed sentiments that lie dormant in many of us. Over the years, it seems the holiday season starts earlier and earlier. There is more pressure than ever to buy the right gifts and to spend increased amounts of hard earned money on presents for friends and loved ones. The airwaves and pulpits bemoan the crass commercialism that accompanies so much of the holiday season while at the same time making sure that all commercial breaks are properly inserted between the “holiday messages.”

Our churches are full of giving trees, toy drives and Christmas shoes boxes. Perhaps giving more at Christmas to some mysteriously perceived needy children in dire need of more toys will make us feel better about ourselves for ignoring the poor and needy for the rest of the year. Even at church, the message that Jesus meant for us gets diluted with the drive to fill the toy box. Do we even know any more what message Jesus wanted us to hear?

the-gospel Jesus talked about the three classes of good people. The first class hears his message but has little time to do anything about it. The second class hears the message and when convenient they try to help others and spread the message of Jesus. The third class commits their body and soul to sharing Jesus’s message. The third class of men/women make a commitment to doing this year round and 24/7. For the third class, it is not a onetime thing or something to be done when they have time or are not busy. It is a lifetime commitment to share his message with the world.

“The title, Three Classes of Men, stands for three kinds of persons in any walk of life. They might be three classes of religious or priests, husbands or wives, workers or professional men. However, classified, they represent three levels of volitional disposition to sacrifice whatever is less than God and stands in the way of His more perfect service and love. Viewed from another aspect, they are three states of spiritual detachment which in ascending degree dispose a man for the reception of divine grace. Implicit in the meditation is the belief that no matter how entangled in secular pursuits and impeded in the way of perfection, a person can rise above this condition if he takes the trouble to recognize these impediments and is humble enough to pray for help to overcome them.” — Three Classes of Men by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.

Most of us will watch at least a few moving holiday stories before December 25^th. From Miracle on 34 Street to the story of the Christmas Truce during the fighting of WWI, we will hear many heartwarming tales of kindness and love. Most of these stories are similar in theme to the Christmas Carol. An individual who has utter contempt or callousness for the Christmas message somehow finds redemption through the love and compassion of others.

quote-the-life-of-jesus-christ-is-a-message-of-hope-a-message-of-mercy-a-message-of-life-in-max-lucado-90-79-19 The Joy of Christmas is a state of fulfillment, contentment and gratitude. Through the love of others who give selflessly of themselves, we can all be free to experience a Joy that cannot be bought or traded. It is one of the reasons that giving and not receiving is said to be the true path to happiness. During the holidays, we are excited about the chance to give to others. And nowhere is that feeling of giving more delightful than in watching the face of a young child receive something that we know they really wanted. However, Joy to the World should mean more than just giving toys to tots. There are physical gifts which we can give but there are also emotional and spiritual gifts as well.

thank-you-father I am frequently critical of all the toy drives that I see going on at Christmastime. Not just because I think most kids in America have more toys than they know what to do with, but because of the message that this sends. Why not I ask, have a “books for tots” drive? Why not give books for a present? Why is it always about toys? We become so narrowly focused that we lose sight of the larger picture.

Christmas is about Joy. But Joy does not just come from toys. Joy comes from learning. Joy comes from sharing. Joy comes from helping others. Joy comes from being present when needed by others. Joy is not just a physical phenomenon; it is a spiritual and emotional phenomenon. The Message of Joy that Jesus wanted to bring into the world was a message about peace and love.

I see a lot of talk these days about putting the Ten Commandments up on scrolls and even billboards. Here in Arizona City, they have erected a billboard with the Ten Commandments printed on it. To the best of my knowledge, Jesus said

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 5:17-20

acts-kindness-inspiremore Thus, Jesus did not come to replace the commandments but he did come to go beyond the commandments. God brought the commandments to Moses but the message that Jesus brought to us is in addition to the commandments. Jesus extended the Ten Commandments with a list that has come to be known as the Eight Beatitudes. A beatitude is something that gives one both happiness and blessedness. Jesus gave these Eight during his famous Sermon on the Mount:

THE EIGHT BEATITUDES OF JESUS

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Gospel of St. Matthew 5:3-10

message-to-the-world I am continually surprised by so-called Christians who seem to revel in the Ten Commandments but treat the Eight Beatitudes as though they were bastard children of Satan. When was the last time you heard anyone wanting to put up a statue or sculpture or sign with the Eight Beatitudes on it? The Message of Christmas is the Eight Beatitudes. The Joy that Jesus wanted to bring to the world can only come by following the Eight Beatitudes. If you call yourself a Christian but you do not practice these in you daily life, then you are not spreading the Gospel of Jesus.

In this present climate of fear, bigotry and uncertainty engendered by the recent US Presidential race and outcome, the message of Jesus needs to be repeated and spread as never before. If there was no Joy in Muddville when Casey struck out, there certainly will not be any Joy in the World until all of us, Christian, Buddhist, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Mormon, Baha’i and others start believing in and following the Eight Beatitudes. I am not saying this to try to convince anyone to be a Christian. The kindness-quotes1 words of the Beatitudes go beyond any one religion. They speak to a way of being in the world and a way of treating other human beings. Just as I have found valuable teachings in other religions, I think more Christians should be willing to share the Message of Jesus in the Eight Beatitudes. Keep in mind though, that sharing this message will never work unless you also live by the message. You must be the change you want to see in others. Do you know what the famous Indian Chief Sitting Bull said when asked what he thought of Christianity? Chief Sitting Bull replied: “I have read your Bible and the religion seems good but I do not see many White people practicing it.”

Time for Questions:

When we denigrate people on welfare and refuse to support the poor and needy what Beatitude are we ignoring?
When we want to wage war on other countries to support our lifestyle, what Beatitude are we breaking?
When we have no time for immigrants and refuse to shelter those needing respite from tyranny and injustice, what Beatitude speaks to this?
When we practice racism and discrimination towards those who are different from us in thoughts, words or deeds, what Beatitude are we not following?
When we fail to speak out against bigotry and hatred, what Beatitude would challenge our behavior?
When we fail to treat others with honesty and integrity, what Beatitude are we disdaining?
When we fail to give compassion and comfort to those in need, what Beatitude should we be thinking more of?
When we practice narcissism and think we are better than others, what Beatitude would Jesus tell us to look at more closely?
Which “Class” of people do you belong to?

Life is just beginning.

“The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of love and of generosity and of goodness. It illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world’s busy life and become more interested in people than in things.” — Thomas S. Monson
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Jesus Got Fired Today!

24 Oct 2016 3 Comments

by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: compassion., Jesus, needy, poor

Production Manager: Jesus Christ, you are fired. I have told you repeatedly that your job is to help us make a profit, not to take care of the sick and needy. I am sorry but I am going to have to let you go. I wish I could give you a good reference but you just don’t belong in the business world.

CIA Office Head: Jesus Christ, you are fired. What did I tell you about the need for secrecy and clandestine activities? You just cannot get it through your head that we are all about lying and cheating and not about trying to help our fellow human beings. I will have to let you go. (Aside: “I may have to kill you as well because of what you know.”) You just don’t have what it takes to be a good spy.

Head Pastor: Jesus Christ, you are fired. I kept telling you to stay away from talking about war and the foreign policy of the USA. I also told you repeatedly that parishioners would not appreciate your lecturing to them on humility and charity. You just don’t have what it takes to make a good preacher. I suggest you find some other type of work.

Advertising Manager: Jesus Christ, you are fired. You can’t tell people the truth about our client’s products. Your job was to make this stuff look good. But no, you kept telling people the truth. You are too honest and you will never make a good marketing person. I suggest you find another outlet for your talents.

Government Bureaucrat: Jesus Christ, you are suspended pending your union hearing. This was your third warning about being creative and working too hard. We had too many complaints from your fellow workers that instead of taking it easy, you were always looking for something to do. You made the other workers in the division look bad. You can’t work in the government because you don’t know how to fit in.

1 Week Later:

Employment Counselor: It says here Jesus that you were fired from your last five jobs and that no one would recommend or rehire you. It does not sound like much of a job record. What do you have to say for yourself?

Jesus: Well, I have always tried to do the best I can, help my fellow human beings and take care of the sick and needy.

Employment Counselor: Do you have any experience in medicine or health care? I don’t see any kind of a medical degree or anything that would qualify you to help others.

Jesus: No, I never went to medical school. My family was poor and we had no connections so I got rejected by all the schools that I applied to.

Employment Counselor: Look Jesus, you may have pretentions to be a doctor or nurse, but you can’t go around helping other people without a degree or at least a certificate.

Jesus: But my Father always told me that “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” — Luke 4:43

Employment Counselor: Look Jesus, I can appreciate that you want to help others, but take it from me, that will not put bread on the table.

Jesus: “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” — Matthew 4:4

Employment Counselor: Okay, let’s not get into religion. That’s not going to help you to get a job. Do you have any useful job skills or specific abilities that would help you to gain employment?

Jesus: Well, my earthly father was a carpenter and I used to help him in the shop when I was young.

Employment Counselor: Do you have a union card in carpentry or belong to the union local?

Jesus: No.

Employment Counselor: Well, you can’t get a decent paying job in town here without a union affiliation.

Employment Counselor: Have you ever done any cooking or cleaning?

Jesus: Just to help my mom out once in a while with cleaning but my sisters always helped with the cooking.

Employment Counselor: Well, maybe we could get you a job as a janitor’s assistant. Do you have any physical problems with bending or climbing?

Jesus: No, I have been in perfect health, but I don’t think I will be around much longer.

Employment Counselor: What do you mean by that? You must remember that employers are looking for workers who will stay and be loyal to the company until they are fired or let go.

Jesus: I have to sacrifice myself for others and I don’t have much time left. I cannot promise that I will be around for say much more than three more years.

Employment Counselor: Well, Jesus, if you were asked about your future plans and what you wanted to aspire to, could you maybe forget about the sacrifice thing and just talk about how hard you can work?

Jesus: I would not tell a lie if I were asked.

Employment Counselor: No, of course not. Just don’t bring the subject up okay? You do want to get a job don’t you?

Jesus: “My kingdom is not of this world.” — John 18:36

Employment Counselor: Jesus, you can have your kingdom wherever you want it but as long as you are looking for a job you have to be practical.

Jesus: I have always taught my followers to be practical.

Employment Counselor: Good, that is all I ask Jesus. Well, let’s see. I think they have an opening at ACME Janitorial Services for a hard working cleaning assistant. We can send you out for an interview tomorrow if that is all right?

Jesus: But tomorrow is the Sabbath!

Employment Counselor: Jesus, I thought you said you could be practical?

Jesus: I am not supposed to do work on the Sabbath. — Exodus 34:21

Employment Counselor: Well, how about coming back to see me next week then Jesus. I think we may need a little more time for your case.

Jesus: Ok, I will come back next week. Goodbye. (Jesus leaves the office)

Employment Counselor: (To no one in particular) whew, am I glad that guy is gone. I hope he does not come back. What a pain. He will really hurt my job placement figures this week.

Jesus Christ: (Walking out of the building) “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” — Luke 23:34

Time for Questions:

Would you hire Jesus? Why? Would you hire him as your mentor or “Rabbi?” Why? If you were an employment counselor, what would you suggest Jesus do? Do you think there is a place for Jesus in today’s world? Do people really understand the message of Jesus or his “Good News?” How many people follow this message? Are you one of them? Here is a quiz to see if you are:

Are you against capital punishment?
Do you condemn war as a means of diplomacy?
Do you turn the other cheek when someone does you wrong?
Do you think criminals deserve forgiveness too?
Are you willing to have society help the poor and needy?
Do you personally help the poor and needy?
Do you condemn greed and the other seven deadly sins?
Do you practice the 8 Beatitudes?

Life is just beginning:

“Want to keep Christ in Christmas? Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, forgive the guilty, welcome the unwanted, care for the ill, love your enemies, and do unto others as you would have done unto you.” — Steve Maraboli

The Tragic Deaths of Ananias and Sapphira: What This Story Tells Us about the Decline and Fall of Religion.

15 Jun 2015 3 Comments

by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: church, death, dues, God, hypocrites, Jesus, money, obligations, religion, Sin, sinners, tithes

In the Acts of the Apostles (part of the New Testament) Chapter 5, there is the story of two members of the early Christian church which was thought important enough to merit inclusion in the Bible. To summarize the story: these two members (Ananias and Sapphira) sold some property which they owned and instead of contributing 100 percent of the proceeds, they elected to keep some of it aside for themselves. This may have been in violation of a sense of community and common property that the early Church was fostering since the story seemed important enough to put down in text. (You may enjoy listening to the following song while reading this blog “The Ballad of Ananias and Sapphira”)

After being confronted by the apostle Peter, both Ananias and his wife Sapphira died on the spot. What I find most interesting about this story is the significance and interpretation that is given by many Christian leaders to this event. I think these interpretations may tell us more about religion and why people are backing away from churches then any of the more common reasons given for the decreasing numbers of people who now belong to an organized church. For instance, many theorists say that the lack of religion today is due to or at least correlated with a more highly educated work force. Others say, the lack of religious affiliation has to do with the sexual emancipation of men and women, thus freeing them from the demands and control of an organized church. I think there are more fundamental reasons and this story illustrates them very well. I would like to contrast my “heretical” view of what this story means with a common view espoused by one religious leader in an article called “5 THINGS GOD TEACHES US IN THE TRAGIC DEATHS OF ANANIAS & SAPPHIRA” by Pastor J.D. on November 20, 2013

Pastor J.D.

In the church, there are two kinds of people, and it’s nearly impossible to distinguish them from the outside.

On the outside, Ananias and Sapphira look just like another church member named Barnabas (introduced in Acts 4). Barnabas had just sold his property and brought the money to the apostles, and to the casual observer, Ananias and Sapphira were doing the same thing.

But deep in their heart lingered a love of money and a desire for people’s praise. So they conspired together to present a portion of their money while passing it off as the entire amount. This is worlds apart from the attitude of Barnabas, but looks very similar.

John’s Interpretation:

You mean that there are only two kinds of people in church? One good and the other bad? Why are the bad people going to church anyway if they are bad? How is the church helping these “bad” people? People who have a love of money and a desire for praise are bad? That means about 95 percent of the human race are bad. If all that religion can do is condemn “bad” people, why bother to go to church? To be “Good,” you must tithe, build churches, give large donations and upon your death leave large grants to your church.

Pastor J.D.

We cannot hide from God.

It may be difficult for us to distinguish between a truly repentant heart and a seasoned faker, but nothing is hidden from God. The Holy Spirit knows our thoughts as if they were being played through a loudspeaker or being displayed on a screen.

That is why despite fooling everyone else, Ananias and Sapphira were still found out. There are no locked doors or hidden closets for the Holy Spirit.

John’s Interpretation:

God is even worse than big brother. Big brother can be hacked and still has blind spots in his/her surveillance techniques. God sees all and knows all. Do not try to hide anything from God. God has nothing to do but spy on us night and day. 24/7 God is spying. Do not do anything that would offend God or he/she will know and your secrets will be shared with the universe. Since your church is your organized representative of God on earth, you should not try to hide anything from your church. Be sure to send copies of your annual tax returns to your local parish or pastor.

Pastor J.D.

The closer we are to grace, the greater the offense of sin.

Not everyone who lies gets struck down immediately for their sin. So why did Ananias and Sapphira? A couple of reasons:

First, their deaths—like much in Acts—serve as a sign. God takes something that is true in the kingdom of God and puts it on physical display. We see this most often through the healing miracles, but it is equally true of this judgment.

God doesn’t do this with everyone who lies to the Holy Spirit today. But that should not cover up the fact that this death is a picture of how God feels about it. It is a glimpse of the future judgment for all who share in the heart of Ananias and Sapphira.

Second, Ananias and Sapphira had seen the activity of the Holy Spirit so closely that the seriousness of the sin increased. Think of it like the temple: the closer you are to the holy place, the more significant is every blemish.[1]

These people had seen the mercy of God firsthand. Ananias’ name, in fact, means, “God is merciful.” They had likely been witness to the death of Christ itself! And yet despite being recipients of such great grace, they spurned it for the praise of men. Do not take holy things lightly!

John’s Interpretation:

Don’t bother trying to be better; you can never be good enough. Furthermore, it is worse to screw up if you are better than if you had not even tried. Whatever happened to forgiveness of sin? In this story, it seems there is no room for repentance. Tolerance is non-existent. No one mourns the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira. Where is the compassion and forgiveness that Jesus preached? It would seem that even at this early date, the newly formed Christian church has soon forgotten the key messages of Jesus.

Pastor J.D.

Fear is a part of worship.

Unsurprisingly, these dramatic deaths caused a great deal of fear (Acts 5:5, 11). But we may be shocked to see that even in light of this, “more and more people believed in the Lord” (Acts 5:14). Fear is an integral part of worship.

For those of us familiar with the idea of an infinitely loving God, this is a jarring realization. But God’s love only makes sense when we know the magnificence of his glory and the might of his power. That is why John Newton wrote, “Tis grace that taught my heart to fear.” As the fear of God increases, so does the sense of his love, because we understand more fully what we have been saved from.

My favorite definition of the fear of God is awe mixed with intimacy. We are invited into the closest possible relationship with God, but this intimacy must never overshadow the majesty of who God is.

John’s Interpretation:

Wow, this is really hard to understand much less accept. Fear is a part of God? God wants us to be afraid of him/her because we are more likely to be saved if we are afraid? As I am more afraid of God, he will love me more? What kind of crazy mixed up logic is this? Where did Jesus preach this or say anything close to this? What is it we will be saved from if only we are afraid? Maybe, this is why psychopaths commit crimes that are so heinous? They have no fear so why should they give a damn? If you are fearless, you have no problem with God. This sounds like a good prescription for a fascist dictatorship. Just keep the people scared and they will stay in line. God and fascism according to the Christian church must have a lot in common. No wonder most religions hate communism so much. Ironic, that so many communist regimes have also used fear to keep people in line. What ever happened to the saying that “You catch more flies with honey then you do with vinegar?” What many religions seem to be saying is that if you scare people to death, they will donate more to the church.

Pastor J.D.

Sin is a deadly serious matter to God.

If we’re honest, many of us find God’s actions here offensive—but that merely reveals our ignorance of our sin and God’s holiness. We shouldn’t ask the question, “Why did they die?” Instead we should wonder, “Why do we remain alive?”

Yes, God is patient with us and slow to anger. But as R.C. Sproul says, we forget that God’s patience is designed to lead us to repentance, not to become bolder in our sin. If Jesus really went through the tormenting hell of the cross to redeem us, and we neglect that in pursuit of our sin, what will it be like to stand before God? “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?”(Hebrews 2:3)

John’s Interpretation:

God hates sin and hate sinners? In this case, he/she hated sin enough to kill two members of the church whose sin was keeping back some of their money and lying about it. Wow, this is really scary. If God can just strike any of us dead for such a trivial offense, imagine what he/she will do to most of us for the daily offenses we make. When you think of the Ten Commandments or Eight Beatitudes, you should be really scared. Any second now, most of the human race will be struck dead for failing to comply or live up to these standards. When you think about how many people covet their neighbor’s property, commit adultery, or lack humility or charity, you may wonder that anyone on earth is still alive.

Conclusions:

Well, you may and will draw your own conclusions but my conclusions are to ask why anyone would belong to any organized religion that subscribed to a single one of the beliefs that were noted by Pastor J. D. If you want to look for reasons why people are less church going or less religious today, you have simply to look at these five beliefs about God and sin that Pastor J.D. has noted. Who in their right mind, would want to belong to any group that felt this way about humanity and sin?

By the way, these five beliefs noted are not atypical or unique. When I was researching the symbolism and meaning of the story of Ananias and Sapphira, I found many similar interpretations by other religious leaders. (See Dan Stevers – The Grim Tale of Ananias & Sapphira)

Most of the interpretations support the idea of an intolerance that was in the early Christian church from the very beginning. This is not to say that all religions do not share similar intolerances. My best guess is that any system of organized belief is by its very nature “intolerant” of competing or contradictory belief systems. One can only hope that we are not all killed instantly for our failures to comply with whatever belief system we are associated with. Most systems other than religion find it more expedient to kill by innuendo and ostracism then to have God strike you dead immediately. You lose less members that way.

Time for Questions:

What is sin? Who are the real sinners in the world? Do you know any sinners? Are you a sinner? What do you do to atone or repent for your sins? There are three things we must do for forgiveness:

Sincerely admit, apologize and show regret for our sins
Listen to the pain and misery that our sins have caused.
Make appropriate amends for our sins to the victims.

Life is just beginning.

If you think that anything under the sun is new, you have only to compare the story of Ananias and Sapphira to this recent headline about churches that plunder their parishioners:

“How passing the plate becomes the ‘Sunday morning stickup’” by John Blake, CNN, June, 14, 2015

Who the Hell is Haroon Moghul?

11 May 2015 Leave a comment

by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: arabs, christian, extremists, fanatics, hate, hitler, intolerance, Jesus, jihad, jihadist, muhammed, muslim, predudice, racism, right wing, zealots

Now I am going to confess that I do not know Mr. Moghul. I have never talked to Mr. Moghul. I have never emailed Mr. Moghul. I have never even seen Mr. Moghul until this morning when I found some comments he made on line about the shooting last week in Texas at the cartoon contest for caricatures of Muhammed. Here are the comments that Mr. Moghul made:

I am Muslim, and after attacks like these, folks always ask, “Do you condemn terrorism?” Or they throw up their hands and say, “Where are the Muslims!” Well, to be blunt: Not at the event. In fact, every major mosque in the Garland, Texas, area not only shrugged off the anti-Islam event happening in their backyard, but also declined to exercise their equal right to peacefully protest it. It appears from early reports that the suspects were not currently involved with a mosque. This is because American Muslims — our mosques and our leadership — reject radicalism out of hand. — (Don’t be fooled by Pamela Geller By Haroon Moghul)

Pamela Geller as you may or may not know is the radical anti-Islamist from the East Coast who sponsored the “Free Speech” shindig in Texas. What could be more American than a free speech contest? Who could be more American than someone wanting to uphold our First Amendment rights? Where else in the world would you find a contest proving to the world that Americans are willing to denigrate the beliefs of a large religious following except in Texas? And I am not talking about the beliefs of Baptists either.

Of course the followers of Ms. Geller immediately launched a reply to Mr. Moghul some of which is as follows:

The clearest indication that Haroon Moghul is a jihad terror-enabling charlatan is the fact that after jihadis attempt to commit mass murder at a free speech event, he doesn’t write a piece defending free speech and explaining why Muslims must accept it, or a piece condemning the Islamic jihadis and explaining why Islam’s death penalty for blasphemy must not be carried out in the modern age, or a piece calling for reform of the teachings and doctrines that Islamic jihadis use to justify violence and supremacism. – (Don’t be fooled by Haroon Moghul by Robert Spencer)

Who do I believe? Whose logic do I choose: The Jihadist Moghul or the Pro-American anti-Islamist Pam Geller? This is a tough choice. My background does not help. I grew up as a Roman Catholic in an Italian neighborhood in New York. Jews were evil because they killed Christ. Protestants were misguided because they rejected the Pope and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Muslims were bad because they killed a lot of Christians during the Holy Wars and because they thought Muhammed was a better prophet then Jesus. Hindus were weird because they had too many gods and Buddhists did not believe in God so they could not even be counted as a real religion. I grew up with a father who was a WW II decorated combat veteran and who hated communists. The French were not much better than communists to my dad since De Gaulle kicked us out of France shortly after the war was over. Thus, my religious world was divided into good and bad. Good= Roman Catholic. Bad= All other religions or quasi-religions including kooky sects with make believe TV ministers.

So now we are in this “War on Terror” started by the evil Jihadists. A war that Europe and America had no responsibility for since all we wanted from the Arabs=Jihadists=Bad, was their oil and a place to send the Jews after the war so that we could expunge our guilt from having let so many of them die in Hitler’s ovens. Ironic that so much of the Right Wing in America which proclaims to be against Islam also loves the Nazi swastika and anything connected with Heir Adolph. This is a conundrum. Nevertheless, I fear the Arabs, or Jihadists putting a bomb on the next plane I take or worse attacking my village in Frederic Wisconsin. Despite the prevalence of 2^nd Amendment rights people up here we might not have adequate munitions to ward off a full scale Islamist attack. And besides that, we have enough laws already without my having to learn Sharia law.

Thus, I found myself wondering how great the possibility of another 911 was. How much did I have to fortify my home? How many rifles, pistols and RPG’s did I need to protect my turf from the evil Arabs? There were other voices telling me that my fears were misguided. Indeed, some were saying that I had more to worry about from the Pamela Gellers of the world than from the Ayatollahs. The Southern Poverty Law center in their recent report on terrorism and hate groups cited the following study in their report in which they seconded the conclusion:

A survey last year of state and local law enforcement officers listed sovereign citizen terrorists, ahead of foreign Islamists, and domestic militia groups as the top domestic terror threat. The survey was part of a study produced by the University of Maryland’s National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. [CNN, 2/20/15]

As you know, a study of history is often the best way to understand the current problems we face. As the great philosopher Santayana said “Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it.” I therefore decided to undertake some historical research into the present animosity that we seem to have toward Arabs and Muslims in this country. I wanted to see if Mr. Moghul was right or if Ms. Geller was right. Is it simply a matter of “Free Speech” which those evil Arabs do not understand or is there a larger issue at play here.

On the matter of “Free Speech”, it has been noted by some that all speech is not really free. Some examples of proscribed free speech would include the classic “yelling fire in a crowded theater” but also such examples as burning a cross in your Black neighbor’s yard, telling your attractive co-worker how nice her boobs were, calling 911 on a joke or telling the Judge to go “F” herself. Nevertheless, it is remarkable that Pam Geller has the guts to stick it to those evil Arabs by ridiculing their holy patriarch. Somewhat ironic, since the religious right has never been a big supporter of free speech particularly when it comes to anti-war protests or criticizing Christianity.

“Usually, defending free speech rights is much more of a lonely task. For instance, the day before the Paris murders, I wrote an article about multiple cases where Muslims are being prosecuted and even imprisoned by western governments for their online political speech – assaults that have provoked relatively little protest, including from those free speech champions who have been so vocal this week.” — In Solidarity with a Free Press: More Blasphemous Cartoons, by Glenn Greenwald

A source of my information was a book by Edward W. Said published in 1981 titled “Covering Islam: How the Media and the Experts Determine How We See the Rest of the World.” This book was published nineteen years before 911 and eight years before the first Gulf war. At this point in American history, most of us did not even know any evil Arabs and there was no War on Terror since it would be 8 years or so before the War on Godless Communists would end with the fall of the Berlin Wall. We had plenty of other evil people to deal with and did not have to have any evil Arabs. Most of us had never even had any falafel, hummus or baklava.

So I presumed that what Mr. Said said about the evil Arabs in 1981 might be a somewhat unbiased and as yet uncontaminated view of how Americans viewed Arabs way back over thirty years ago. Here is what Mr. Said had to say about America’s view of Arabs in 1981:

The modern Western media, says Said, does not want people to know that in Islam both men and women are equal; that Islam is tough on crime and the causes of crime; that Islam is a religion of knowledge par excellence; that Islam is a religion of strong ethical principles and a firm moral code; that socially Islam stands for equality and brotherhood; that politically Islam stands for unity and humane governance; that economically Islam stands for justice and fairness; and that Islam is at once a profoundly spiritual and a very practical religion. Said claims in his book that untruth and falsehood about Islam and the Muslim world are consistently propagated in the media, in the name of objectivity, liberalism, freedom, democracy and progress. – This summary is from Wikipedia.

I was startled and amazed by his conclusions. The evil Arab portrayed in the press in 1981 is the same Evil Arab=Muslim=Jihadist portrayed in the American press today. Fox News (Sic) commentator Lt. Col Ralph Peter has made the following comments about Islam:

“We do not have an Islamophobia problem in the United States; we have an Islamophilia problem – which places Islam above all criticism. And until we hold Islam to the same standards as every other religion, ethically and behaviorally, terrorism wins.”

Salon Magazine commenting recently about the role of Fox News in promoting Anti-Arab sentiment in America had this to say about the treatment of Arabs and Islam:

“The Islamophobia industry also goes to great lengths to sell its message to the public. The difference, though, is that in many cases the very networks that spread their product are themselves participants in the ruse to whip up public fear of Muslims. This is not a relationship of buyer and seller, where various characters that peddle panic purchase slots on major television networks to plug their merchandise. Rather, it is a relationship of mutual benefit, where ideologies and political proclivities converge to advance the same agenda.

Fox News, the American television station that brands itself as “fair and balanced,” is the epitome of this relationship. It has been, for the better part of the last decade, at the heart of the public scare-mongering about Islam, and has become the home for a slew of right-wing activists who regularly inhabit its airwaves to distort the truth to push stereotypes about Muslims.” — www.salon.com

The comment in Salon was made in 2012 nearly thirty years after Said noted that there was a major effort in the US News to distort the teaching and canons of Islam. Of course there will be those who note the following:

Islamic beheadings
Stoning of women guilty of adultery
Islamic persecutions of Christians in Arab countries
Islamic persecutions of Jews and other minorities

When these problems and atrocities are faithfully reported and repeated ad nausea in the news, it has the effect of distorting and even hiding the threats from other terrorists particularly Right-Wing and religious fanatics. We see or hear of one Muslim related terror attack such as the Charlie Hebdo killings and we hear of news related items to this event for over two weeks. In the meantime, other atrocities not related to Islam go unreported and virtually ignored. Nevertheless,

A Homeland Security report produced in coordination with the FBI in 2014 counts 24 violent sovereign citizen-related attacks across the U.S. since 2010. The government says these are extremists who believe that they can ignore laws and that their individual rights are under attack in routine daily instances such as a traffic stop or being required to obey a court order. — DHS Intelligence Report

So let us return to the Patriot or Evil Jihadist (depending on your perspective) Mr. Moghul. Here was a man who would apparently agree with Mr. Said. Muslims are not evil people nor are all Muslims good people. That’s right. There are “Bad” Muslims. There are also many evil Christians but no one disparages all Christianity even though few people seem to actually practice the teachings of Jesus Christ.

In my home town, the religious right has managed to put up a billboard with the Ten Commandments on it. I fail to see how this billboard promotes Christianity. Christ gave us the Eight Beatitudes not the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments are Old Testament. The Eight Beatitudes are Christian through and through. I have asked many people why they did not put the Beatitudes up and why they put the Ten Commandments up. I had much rather see Christians follow the Eight Beatitudes today and say they are for Compassion and Love. Instead, I see too many so-called Christians who are for Hate and Intolerance. Where did Jesus ever call for Hate or Intolerance?

“At the exhibition ‘Caricatura VI – The Comic Art – analog, digital, international’ in Kassel in Germany, a cartoon created by cartoonist Mario Lars has been removed after protests that it hurt people’s religious feelings. The drawing depicts Jesus suffering on the cross and a speech bubble, which apparently contains words from God, who says: “Ey… you… I fucked your mother.” The caricature was displayed not only in the exhibition itself, but was also reproduced on a large advertising poster outside the building of Caricatura Gallery. Barbara Heinrich, the city dean of the Evangelical Church in Kassel, said the caricature crossed a line of what is acceptable.” — Arts Freedom, August 29, 2012.

I may not like your religion. I may not like your Gods or your prophets. But as long as your religion respects the rights of others, I will respect your religion. I do not see the vast majority of Muslims as a threat to my way of life. I see Muslim extremists as dangerous and misguided but I view them the same as I view Christian extremists. Both categories include narrow minded zealots who pose a threat to other people because of their failure to deal with adversity through kindness and love.

Thus, I say that those who profess to be Christians and follow the word of Jesus have no precedent to denigrate, humiliate or ridicule the teachings of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists or any other religion that they do not agree with. Jesus would not have ridiculed or persecuted anyone. Can you imagine Jesus holding a contest to see who could create the best caricature of a prophet named Muhammed?

Time for Questions:

Are you a Christian? Do you understand and support the rights of other religions to practice their faiths? Do you stand up to bullies and zealots who would ridicule and malign other religions? What will it take for America to become a country that truly is a melting pot and tolerates racial and religious diversity?

Life is just beginning.

“Think for yourself and let others enjoy the privilege of doing so too.” ― Voltaire

“Christian, Jew, Muslim, shaman, Zoroastrian, stone, ground, mountain, river, each has a secret way of being with the mystery, unique and not to be judged” ― Rumi

God, Guns and Gays

06 Apr 2015 6 Comments

by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: bigots, evangleicals. christians, fags, gays, God, guns, homophobic, homosexuals, Jesus, john persico, lesbians, right wing, sexists, zealots

Have you noticed the increase in guns in the USA? The increase in concealed carry laws and the increase in handguns sold seems to be paralleled by the increase in Gay marriage laws and the increase in Gay rights. I bet most of you did not notice this fact. I think it suggests something very obvious: Gays are pushing for more guns on the streets because “Handguns lead to more Gay rights.” That’s right folks, those people pushing for more permissive gun laws are the same people pushing for more Gay rights. Fags want guns so that we will become powerless when they take over the USA. (Listen to “Probably Gay, the Homophobia Song”)

“Any person 21 years of age or older, who is not prohibited possessor, may carry a weapon openly or concealed without the need for a license….A political subdivision may not enact any ordinance, rule or tax affecting the ownership, transportation, possession, purchase, transfer or use of firearms or ammunition. In addition, a political subdivision of this state shall not require or maintain a record, list or database containing the personally identifying information of the person who buys, sells, leaves for repair or consignment or leaves for temporary storage, any weapon owned by that person.” —- Arizona Gun Law — NRA -ILA

That’s right! It’s a plot by homosexuals (people who have only one sex) to subvert the USA and turn us into a country dominated by Gays who will have all the guns. I will bet you did not notice that the guy you just saw walking around with the big Glock strapped to his belt was a Fag! I have noticed that down here in Arizona with the most permissive gun laws in the USA that Gay men all have guns. I am worried that I will be forced to suck cock by a Gay male with a big gun and thereby turned into a raving homosexual. It is really scary. I no longer feel safe on the street at night. And did you know that it is all because of the religious right?

1 Corinthians 6:9-11
“Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people-none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.”

That’s right! The religious right is behind Gay rights. The religious right have created this problem with all their pompous ravings about God hating fags. Now all the fags are getting guns to protect themselves from Gay hating gun toting Christians. “When guns are allowed only Gays will have guns.” More and more we keep hearing about how God has condemned Gays to a barren-less existence. Gays cannot go to heaven. Gays will be punished. Gays cannot propagate. Gays cannot spread the word of God or at least create more Gays or something like that.

After thinking and worrying about this problem for some time, I have decided to go right to the source of the problem. That’s right, God! If my pastor, priest, rabbi, swami, minister, shaman, or imam all say that God hates Fags, then I am going to find out why. What has got God’s drawers all wadded up about Gays? Was God molested by a Fag when he was young? Or is God a closet Fag who has a subliminal hatred towards Gays because he/she (God just might be a Lesbian Fag) cannot admit his own sexuality. Which way does God roll? I have invited God down for an interview. She/he graciously accepted. The following is our conversation.

John: Thank you God for accepting my invitation to come down and talk to us today.

God: No problem John. I was just creating a few more universes. Something I do in my spare time.

John: Sounds like fun. I will bet that keeps you really busy.

God: Not as busy as you might think. It only takes about six days and then I rest on the seventh.

John: Well, I invited you here today to clarify a few points. The major point is about homosexuals, fags, lesbians and Gays.

God: Happy to answer any questions you have John.

John: Well, there are many people who believe that the Bible is your word and in the Bible are many references to your hatred and animosity towards Gay people.

God: Look John, I don’t deny that I gave some guidance to you people down here when it came to how to live a proper life, but you know as well as I do how screwed up communication can get. “He said, she said, I said” and before you know it “God is against Gays.” This Bible you talk about is not a very consistent book and much of what is in there is folklore or comes from your own twisted human interpretations of what I told the prophets.

John: Let me give you a quote directly from the Bible:

“If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltness is upon them.” — Lev. 20:13

God: Did not your prophet Jesus say that I was a God of Love? Why would I want anyone to be put to death? You people down here have a penchant for killing. I gave you all free will and you use it to maim, attack, hurt, malign, and murder with any number of rationales for your actions. I created some people who are Gay and some who are straight. Do you not think that I who have the power to create Heaven and Earth could have simply not created Gay people?

John: Do you mean to say God that you could have just created all straight people and not put any Gay people on the planet Earth?

God: What do you think John? I have created stars, galaxies, planets and universes beyond your imagination. I created the first plants, animals and humans. Could I not have simply created a planet with all Gay people or all straight people? Did I need to let you have sex organs to populate your small planet? Could I not have simply created six billion humans with no penchant or ability for sexual activity?

John: Ah! I am glad you raised the issue of sexuality. Can you tell me “why did you make us sexual creatures?”

God: Isn’t the answer obvious John? Look at all the fun you have with sex! Sex is your biggest recreational activity. And sometimes you get children out of these unions and sometimes you don’t. Sex is fun anyway. It says in your Bible that sex is for procreation but millions of you have sex every night with no intention of procreation. In fact, from where I view the Earth, millions of you have sex every night with people whom you are not even married to and this when many of you are already married.

John: Why create the possibility of recreating ourselves? You could have simply made us immortal or simply replaced each of us as we died. This would have saved a lot of problems for the human race.

God: Have you not noticed how many of you love children? I wanted to make life interesting for you. What would your lives be without the children that many of you have? Your children make you into mini-gods. Parents are the gods to their children, like I am the parent to you. I am your God and I am your parent. But I never said that everybody would have children nor that there would not be many children without parents. There are good parents and bad parents. That is the free will that I created for humanity.

John: Well, Gays cannot have children through the natural birth process.

God: So what! Are there not many people who give up their children or children who do not have parents? Many of you humans are not fit to be parents.

John: Sounds like you are saying that you don’t have anything against homosexuality.

God: I created homosexuals, bisexuals, heterosexuals, asexuals and many other kinds of sexuals. These are all my creations. What is it your Bible says about God’s Creations?

“He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime.”— Ecclesiastes 3:11

I did not say I made anything ugly or anything without a purpose. You might never understand my reasons or purposes because they are beyond human understanding.

John: Well God, we have a lot of people down here speaking in your name that are preaching hatred for Gays as well as preaching many other types of hatreds.

God: I sent Jesus to straighten this all out but you simply crucified him. Nailed him to a cross.

John: Could you send someone else down to tell all these would be Christians to leave Gay people alone and let them live their own lives?

God: Look around and you will see that I already have. You humans have hard hearts unless of course one of your own is Gay and then that seems to change everything. I may have made a mistake when I gave you all free will because you seem to use it mostly for doing evil rather than doing good.

John: Would you send another flood or perhaps a large earthquake or meteor to destroy the world and start over?

God: Perhaps, but only if I thought things were so hopeless here and that everything you were doing was evil. I still see a great deal of potential in humanity. There are many good people among you who spread love and not hate. Many of you who are not Gay haters or religious bigots or racists or zealots. I would never destroy your world when there are so many good people trying to make my world a better place.

John: Then to summarize. You don’t hate Gays?

God: I have no concept of the word “hate.” You are all my creatures. Everything that crawls, digs, walks, swims or flies is something that I created and something that I love.

John: Thank you God for taking the time to meet with us today and give us your thoughts.

Time for Questions:

Do you hate Gays? Why? Do you think Gays should not be allowed to marry? Why? If you do not hate Gays, what do you do to help them in their fight against prejudice and discrimination? You cannot sit on the fence and do nothing.

Life is just beginning.

“Perhaps we should worry less about judging people for being Mormon or Baptist or Muslim or gay or straight or black or white or Latino or by their religious or political brands and worry more about electing thoughtful, serious and ethical politicians on both sides of the political isle who are willing to work together for progress.” —- Charity Sunshine Tillemann-Dick

“I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. I am not in favor of gay marriage. But when you start playing around with constitutions, just to prohibit somebody who cares about another person, it just seems to me that’s not what America’s about. Usually, our constitutions expand liberties, they don’t contract them.” —- Barack Obama

December 30th 2014

30 Dec 2014 2 Comments

by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: children, end of the world, heaven, hell, Jesus, time

Are we getting close to the “end of time” or just the end of this year? Will the universe and everything in it end on December 31^st, 2014 this year? Are you ready if it does? Have you ever really thought about when time will end? Will time end only when the world and the universe end? Or maybe time will just quit, like a watch that stops running. Some religions believe that time ends on judgment day. Do you think that there are any clocks in Heaven? What about Hell? Does the Devil track time for us? What about in Purgatory? (Click to hear The End of Time by Beyoncé) Do you think we will get to hear Beyoncé dance and sing for free in Heaven?

“Purgatory (Lat., “purgare”, to make clean, to purify) in accordance with Catholic teaching is a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God’s grace, are, not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions.” (New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12575a.htm ).

The Catholic Church teaches that we need to spend time in Purgatory only for certain offenses. If you are really bad, Purgatory is not an option. It is only for those who screw up but not really in a very bad way. You screw up really bad, you go to Hell. Thus Purgatory would be a stopping point for just about everyone in the human race who is not going to Hell. Since the punishment is temporal and not eternal, do you suppose they have clocks in Purgatory? Who do you suppose winds them up? Can you imagine spending 500 years in Purgatory and watching the clock until you are released?

Perhaps, time will simply wear out when we get tired of keeping time. People have been thinking about and tracking time since the first human beings walked the earth. Time seems to be part of the human psyche. If humans did not have time, they would certainly have created it. It is hard to imagine any place where we would not mark time. Heaven qualifies as one place though where there would seem to be no reason to mark time. Why keep track of time when everything is eternal and unchanging? Heaven should be a place where there are no goals, no accomplishments, no meetings, no places to get to, no tasks to complete, no projects due, no emails to answer and no shortage of time. If any of these things existed in heaven, then we would need to track time.

So what do we do in Heaven? We all seem to want to get there, but what do we do with our “time” when we are there? I guess we just play all day since play does not require us to track time. Play is by definition devoid of timeliness. You do not have to be on time to play. Little children would not have invented time. Children do not seem to worry about time anywhere near as much as adults. Maybe that is why Jesus said you must be like little children to enter into heaven. Adults would be bored in heaven in less than a day. As adults we become more and more fixed on the idea of time and the limitations that time places on our lives. Perhaps if we could just play all day, then time would end and we would all have less stress in our lives.

Maybe we should create a “holiday” each year where time stops. A day when you do not have to keep track of time or when time does not matter. It is difficult to think of living a single day when we are not keeping track of time. I guess we will just have to wait until we get to heaven for time to stop. Do you suppose anyone wears watches in heaven?

Time for Questions:

What if we played more and worked less? Could we cut time down some? Can you “end time” when it is just play time? When was the last time, you were able to forget about time? How long did it last? What does it take for you to forget about time?

Life is just beginning.

“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.” — Hal Borland

What the Hell Do We Need Morality For?

15 Dec 2014 6 Comments

by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: America, buddha, crime, damnation, death, ethics, Fortune, friends, friendship, happiness, heaven, hell, Jesus, justice, life, love, morality, morals, peace, religion, safety, scruples, Sin, success, vice

This blog is about the subject of morality. Once upon a time, they taught morality in school and in church. The first system of morality that many older Americans were exposed to was probably the “Ten Commandments.” This was a code of rules given to the Israelites by Moses on Mount Sinai. I have always thought it ironic that a set of morals from the “Old Testament” was supposed to be the foundation for a Christian America. Even today, advocates of this code of morality want to hang it in town halls, schools, courts and government centers. This is a part of the Bible that promoted an “eye for an eye” and stoning adulterers.

Jesus did say “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). Jesus added at least one commandment to all others that was even more valuable than the ten Moses gave. Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John: 13:34). I would be much more in favor of seeing this posted in my neighborhood than the Ten Commandments.

Perhaps even more importantly in terms of a system of morality, Jesus gave a sermon where he proposed what has been called: The Eight Beatitudes: (Click here to hear the The Beatitudes Song)

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. —- Gospel of St. Matthew 5:3-10

It is my opinion that the Eight Beatitudes constitute one of the greatest systems of morality to come out of the Bible. I would rather see these taught (if we are going to teach a system of morality) than the Ten Commandments. I would also not mind these being posted in schools and other public places whereas I am sick and tired of those who want to post the Ten Commandments.

I noted that once upon a time, we taught morality in schools and churches. Actually, we not only taught morality but morality was also imbued in our social fabric by many traditional stories and the media. Children from an early age were exposed to Fairy tales, Uncle Remus stories, Aesop Fables, and Tales of the Arabian Nights. These stories were full of morals on how to live and behave properly. Early TV was also full of morality tales. Shows like Father Knows Best, Leave It to Beaver and Andy Griffith each week clearly conveyed stories of morality and what was right and what was not right in terms of behavior.

Someplace along the way, we started losing our sense of morality. Some have blamed it on becoming a multi-cultural environment. Some have blamed it on the decline of religion and church going. Some have blamed education while still others have blamed progress and a business culture that has no room for strict morality. I am not sure what the actual cause was. I am more concerned that it did happen. Studies have shown that our culture has become more amoral than moral and that narcissism now plays an increasing role in our society. People are less moral and more self-centered than ever before in the history of this country. A book by Joel Marks (Ethics without Morals: In Defense of Amorality -Routledge Studies in Ethics and Moral Theory, 2012) is one of several that makes an argument for amorality:

“In clear, plainspoken, engaging prose, Joel Marks presents the case for abandoning belief in morality. Anyone who wants to defend the practice of making moral judgments will have to confront the issues Marks raises, and the alternative to morality he proposes.” – Mitchell Silver, University of Massachusetts, Boston, USA

In the book “The Moral Fool: A Case for Amorality (2009)” the author Hans-George Moeller advances the following case for amorality:

“Justice, equality, and righteousness—these are some of our greatest moral convictions. Yet in times of social conflict, morals can become rigid, making religious war, ethnic cleansing, and political purges possible. Morality, therefore, can be viewed as a pathology—a rhetorical, psychological, and social tool that is used and abused like a weapon.”

In an article “Why Is Narcissism Increasing Among Young Americans?” by Peter Gray in Freedom to Learn (2014), Gray notes the following:

“For the past three decades or a little more, researchers have been assessing both narcissism and empathy using questionnaires developed in the late 1970s. Many research studies have shown that scores on these questionnaires correlate reliably with real-world behavior and with other people’s ratings of the individuals. For example, those who score high in narcissism have been found to overrate their own abilities, to lash out angrily in response to criticism, and to commit white-collar crimes at higher rates than the general population.[1] Those who score low in empathy are more likely than the average person to engage in bullying and less likely to volunteer to help people in need.[2.]

Over the years, these questionnaires have been administered to many samples of college students, and analyses that bring all of the data together reveal that the average narcissism score has been steadily increasing and the average empathy score has been steadily decreasing ever since the questionnaires were developed [3.] The changes are highly significant statistically and sufficiently large that approximately 70 percent of students today score higher on narcissism and lower on empathy than did the average student thirty years ago.

What accounts for this historical rise in narcissism and decline in empathy? There is no way to know for sure, based on the data, but there are lots of grounds for speculation.”

I think we have thrown the proverbial baby out with the bath water. I agree we need to keep the State separate from the Church. I also agree that we don’t need the Ten Commandments as the foundation for moral thought in America. Nevertheless, I do believe that we all need a code of morality to live by. Whether it be Christian, Buddhist, Confucian, Agnostic, Atheist, Islamic, Jewish, Hindu, Baha’i, or other, we need a set of morals as a template and foundation for our behavior. We need a baseline that each of us can start from so that we can assess what is good and what is right. We need to have some system of ideas about what is correct behavior and how we should live in a socially interconnected world.

When I was a kid, (somewhere along the way) I was taught the Seven Deadly Sins. Sometimes they were called the Seven Deadly Vices or the Seven Cardinal Sins. I assume that since I attended a Catholic school, it went along with the teaching. The Seven Deadly Sins included the following:

Lust
Gluttony
Greed
Sloth
Wrath
Envy
Pride

7 deadly sins

Some of you might think that this list is old fashioned or out of date. How could this set of implicit moral values make a difference in our society? They are so old; do they really have any relevance anymore?

Take a close look around you at the world. You have only to look for a few minutes to persuade yourself that these “sins” are at the top of the list of major problems. Greed, envy, gluttony and lust appear pervasive in our culture. (See my series on Gandhi’s Seven Social Sins) TV shows, movies, magazines, radio, supermarkets, superstars, sports, credit services, escort services, pornography, Las Vegas all portray an American brand of materialism that is nothing short of sick. Get it now, get it fast, and get more and more. More is better! Bigger is better! Shop till you drop! He who has the most toys wins!

“If necessity is the mother of invention, then surely greed must be the father. Children of this odd couple are named: Laziness, Envy, Greed, Jr., Gluttony, Lust, Anger and Pride.” ― John R Dallas Jr.

Black Friday ( The day after Thanksgiving in the USA) is only a small manifestation of the greed, lust and sloth that has infected our society. How many Americans have a regular exercise schedule? How many obese citizens can you count on the street each day? How many Americans spend more each week then they earn? How many Americans will go in debt this Holiday Season to spend money that they don’t have on gifts and toys? Where is the self-restraint that is necessary to push oneself away from the table or shut the TV off and say “Enough.” It barely seems to exist. Is it any wonder that so many countries have a very negative stereotype of the “average” American? We appear to be a group of people who have lost our moral compass.

ARTICLE 29 — The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

You have a responsibility to the place you live and the people around you-we all do. Only by watching out for each other can we each become our individual best.

At this point, you well may be asking “What right does he have to be so damn moralistic?” Didn’t Jesus say “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone?” “Are you so perfect that you have a right to look down on other people?” “Who does he think he is, Jonathan Edwards?” “I don’t need anyone telling me my faults.” “I get enough negativity from work without having to get it from you.”

Please allow me to clarify a few misconceptions. In some religious circles we are all sinners. Since I am agnostic, I don’t subscribe to a religious view of sin. My use of the terminology is borrowed from the religious sphere since I think that the concept of sin has a very useful connotation if we can free it from some of the pejorative and negative associations with which it is fettered. First of all, I do not believe that you will go to hell for committing these Seven Sins. Second, you will not be a bad or evil person because of them. Third and accentuating the positive, you may be happier and healthier if you are more aware of these “sins” and can do a better job of examining the role that they play in your life. My bringing these “sins” out is to help us all become more aware of the morality that we have allowed to become obscured in our daily lives.

There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting. —-Buddha

We have had a decline in morality that started over one hundred years ago and it still seems to be declining. More people are worried about their taxes increasing then the poverty facing many people in this country. More people are worried about their security then the number of people going to jail every day for victimless crimes. More people are worried about the price of gasoline then the pollution we send into the atmosphere every day. Self-centeredness has become a dominant fixture of the American landscape. “Greed is Good” says Ivan Boesky and everyone applauds.

If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair. — C. S. Lewis

Why do I think we should care about morality?

Without morality, we are not even as good as animals. Animals eat, drink, sleep, procreate and fight when they have to. They do not do it simply to hurt other animals or to wage war against groups or individuals that they cannot tolerate. Animals care for their young and exhibit many characteristics of moral behavior. In captivity, animals may display much more aggressive behavior. For instance, Orcas in the wild have never been observed to kill other Orcas. This is not the case for Orcas in captivity. There is no such thing as civilization without a commitment to moral and ethical behavior. Even animal societies are proof of this.

“I am Envy, begotten of a chimney-sweeper and an oyster-wife. I cannot read, and therefore wish all books were burnt; I am lean with seeing others eat – O that there would come a famine through all the world, that all might die, and I live alone; then thou should’st see how fat I would be! But must thou sit and I stand? Come down, with a vengeance!” ― Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus

Without morality, we have no compass to define what is good behavior and what is bad behavior. We are reduced to the level of opportunists willing to take advantage of anyone and anything that suits our ends. Listen to the current debate on the use of torture and the recent CIA report and you will find numerous “experts” advocating that the “ends justify the means.” One man on NPR noted that he thought we should ask the victims of the Twin Trade Towers what they thought about the use of torture to capture Osama Bin Laden. John McCain (May he Rest in Peace) once said it best when he opined in Congress (12-9-14) that “”Our enemies act without conscience. We must not.” Nevertheless, he was opposed by his own party in his opposition to torture and in fact to even releasing the CIA Tort morality ure Report.

Many Republicans argued against releasing the report, especially as the threat of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria grew and U.S. intelligence officials had warned that its release could cause backlash from nations and groups hostile towards the nation. American embassies in the Middle East had been put on heightened security alert for its release.

McCain replied that “This report strengthens self-government and, ultimately, I believe, America’s security and stature in the world.” (CNN 12-9-14)

Finally, without morality, there is no way to transmit values from one generation to another. A lack of morality has led to the increase in amorality that is now symptomatic of our society. Amorality is a set of beliefs which deny the value of morality or at best are indifferent to morality. A rock is amoral. It is neither good (moral) or bad (immoral) but may be used for either purpose. Anything or anyone without a conscience is amoral. It is a fine line and one that is very easy to trespass between amoral and immoral. Many people today may think their behaviors are amoral when actually they could better be described as immoral. Harken back to the Seven Deadly Sins and ask yourself, how many of these vices are amoral? Are greed, gluttony, lust and wrath amoral? Can anyone with a good conscience say it is okay to partake in these vices?

“Seven deadly sins,
seven ways to win,
seven holy paths to hell,
and your trip begins

Seven downward slopes
seven bloodied hopes
seven are your burning fires,
seven your desires…”
― Iron Maiden

Time for Questions:

What is your moral code? What are the three most important morals in your life? Do you think everyone should have an explicit moral code? Why or why not? Do you know many amoral people? What do you think about amorality? When is it justified? What do you think the world would be like if everyone was amoral? Would it be a better world or worse? Why?

Life is just beginning.

“Remember tonight… for it is the beginning of always” ― Dante Alighieri

The Eleventh Greatest Mystery of All Time: Where is the Arc of the Covenant?

03 Nov 2014 Leave a comment

by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: Fame, Fortune, God, gold, Jesus, love, moses, myths

The Arc of the Covenant is the repository for the commandments given by Yahweh to Moses on Mount Sinai. Precise descriptions for the repository were given by Yahweh to Moses. The Book of Exodus gives detailed instructions on how the Ark is to be constructed. (Listen to the Arc of the Covenant Song by the Congos)

Ark of the Covenant from Exodus 25:10-22 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹⁰“They shall construct an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. ¹¹You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and you shall make a gold molding around it.¹²You shall cast four gold rings for it and fasten them on its four feet, and two rings shall be on one side of it and two rings on the other side of it. ¹³You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. ¹⁴You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the ark with them. ¹⁵The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be removed from it. ¹⁶You shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you.

¹⁷“You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide. ¹⁸You shall make two cherubim of gold and make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat. ¹⁹Make one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at its two ends. ²⁰The cherubim shall have their wings spread upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings and facing one another; the faces of the cherubim are to be turned toward the mercy seat. ²¹You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony which I will give to you. ²²There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel.

The precision of the construction of the Arc is remarkable. Those who dispute the Bible as a historically accurate document should read it more carefully. No doubt there are many historical inaccuracies in the Bible but only a fool could ignore the incredible detail that is contained in many Biblical narratives. The Arc disappeared sometime after the destruction of Solomon’s temple and there are numerous claims as to what happened to it and where it is now located.

8 Alleged Resting Places of the Ark of the Covenant

To date there is no evidence that any of the present claims have any veracity. If you think about it, the potential presence of the Arc is a powerful tool for bringing followers to whatever brand of theocracy one is selling. It makes sense to keep the memory of the Arc alive and in good shape. To many of the Jewish faith it is a sacred icon with enormous religious significance. The possibility that it exists has profound implications for many of the more conservative religious faithful throughout the world. As they say, “hope springs eternal in the human breast.”

Unfortunately, history provides many unpalatable lessons. One lesson is the amount of grave robbing, tomb destruction and artifact desecration that has gone on since before written records. This has taken place both in the name of greed and in the pursuit of fame. Tomb robbers have been mainly motivated by greed while scientists have been mainly motivated by fame. Imagine being the man or woman who finds the “Lost Arc” or the “Treasure of King Solomon” or Noah’s Arc?

“You and I are very much alike. Archeology is our religion, yet we have both fallen from the pure faith. Our methods have not differed as much as you pretend. I am a shadowy reflection of you. And it would take only a nudge to make you like me, to push you out of the light.” — From Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Arc.”

Nevertheless, up until present times, archeology (if you can call it that) was dominated by tomb raiders. For a tomb raider, the question is not fame, but how much money can the artifact bring. As it relates to the Arc of the Covenant, this is the sad part. Sad, because the gold and cherubim were undoubtedly worth a great deal more melted down then they would have been still attached to the Arc. The wood most likely rotted away centuries ago and the gold would have been the only thing of value left. The two stone tablets with the Ten Commandments inscribed on them were probably indecipherable to the tomb raiders and most likely became part of a rock pile.

Conclusion:

Don’t waste your time looking for the Arc of the Covenant. It no longer exists. The gold in your earrings or wedding ring or coins may be part of the original Arc. The rocks in your back yard may have some Hebrew inscriptions which if you look closely at are actually letters from the original Ten Commandments. Fortunately, we have the remarkable description of the Arc that has been passed down in the Bible for over 5500 years now to describe what it once looked like.

Plato was right in that ideals never die. Forms, structures, buildings will all eventually decay and wither away, but the ideas, beliefs, hopes and aspirations of humanity will go on as long as there is one person alive to remember them. The Arc of the Covenant represents the hopes of a people for a system of law and morality that was created twenty seven hundred years before the Magna Carta and one thousand years before the Law of the Twelve Tables. Based as it were on a set of religious beliefs, the Ten Commandments provided a set of ideas and principles for living with others in peace and harmony.

Time for Questions:

Where do you think the lost Arc is? Do you agree with my conclusions? Why are why not?

Life is just beginning.

“Nothing is predestined. The obstacles of your past can become the gateways that lead to new beginnings.” ― Ralph H. Blum

Aging Capriciously

Autobiographies from the Dead — Jesus Christ the Martyr

Joy to the World

Jesus Got Fired Today!

The Tragic Deaths of Ananias and Sapphira: What This Story Tells Us about the Decline and Fall of Religion.

Who the Hell is Haroon Moghul?

God, Guns and Gays

December 30th 2014

What the Hell Do We Need Morality For?

The Eleventh Greatest Mystery of All Time: Where is the Arc of the Covenant?

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