Test of Faith.Psalms
Serve God with fear or
A. your nights will be long
B. you’ll suddenly die
The righteous are joyful to
A. do what is right
B. wade through the blood of the wicked
Happy are those that take babies and
A. teach them the ways of the LORD
B. smash their heads against rocks
Psalm 2:11, 58:10, 137:9
“In some of the Psalms the spirit of hatred which strikes us in the face is like the heat from a furnace mouth. In others the same spirit ceases to be frightful only by becoming (to a modern mind) almost comic in its naivety.
“Examples of the first can be found all over the Psalter, but perhaps the worst is in 109. The poet prays that an ungodly man may rule over his enemy and that “Satan” may stand at his right hand (5). This probably does not mean what a Christian reader naturally supposes. The “Satan” is an accuser, perhaps an informer. When the enemy is tried, let him be convicted and sentenced, “and let his prayer be turned into sin” (6). This again means, I think, not his prayers to God, but his supplications to a human judge, which are to make things all the hotter for him (double the sentence because he begged for it to be halved). May his days be few, may his job be given to someone else (7). When he is dead may his orphans be beggars (9). May he look in vain for anyone in the world to pity him (11). Let God always remember against him the sins of his parents (13). Even more devilish in one verse is the, otherwise beautiful, 137 where a blessing is pronounced on anyone who will snatch up a babylonian baby and beat its brains out against the pavement (9). And we get the refinement of malice in 69, 23, “Let their table be made a snare to take themselves withal; and let the things that should have been for their wealth be unto them an occassion of falling.
“The examples which (in me at any rate) can hardly fail to produce a smile may occur most disquietingly in Psalms we love; 143, after proceeding for eleven verses in a strain that brings tears to the eyes, adds in the twelfth, almost like an after-thought “and of thy goodness slay mine enemies”. Even more naively, almost childishly, 139, in the middle of its hymn of praise throws in (19) (Wilt thou slay the wicked, O God?”—as if it were surprising that such a simple remedy for human ills had not occurred to the Almighty. Worst of all in “The Lord is my shepherd” (23), after the green pasture, the waters of comfort, the sure confidence in the valley of the shadow, we suddenly run across (5) “Thou shalt prepare a table for me against them that trouble me”—or, as Dr. Moffatt translates it, Thou art my host, spreading a feast for me while my enemies look on.” … This may not be as diabolical as the passages I have quoted above; but the pettiness and vulgarity of it, especially in such surroundings, are hard to endure.”
~ C.S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms, pg 20-21
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
thought of the day.198
God & Gays
“There is...a widely accepted mentality that if the Bible is opposed, the idea must be wrong. That is little more than nonsensical fundamentalism. The rise of democracy was contrary to the "clear teaching of the Bible," as the debate over the forced signing of the Magna Carta by King John of England in 1215 revealed. The Bible was quoted to prove that Galileo was wrong; that Darwin was wrong; that Freud was wrong; that allowing women to be educated, to vote, to enter the professions and to be ordained was wrong. So the fact that the Bible is quoted to prove that homosexuality is evil and to be condemned is hardly a strong argument, given the history of how many times the Bible has been wrong. I believe that most bishops know this but the Episcopal Church has some fundamentalist bishops and a few who are "fellow travelers" with fundamentalists.
“The Bible was written between the years 1000 B.C.E. and 135 C.E. Our knowledge of almost everything has increased exponentially since that time. It is the height of ignorance to continue using the Bible as an encyclopedia of knowledge to keep dying prejudices intact. The media seems to cooperate in perpetuating that long ago abandoned biblical attitude.
“That is not surprising since the religious people keep quoting it to justify their continued state of unenlightenment. That attitude is hardly worthy of the time it takes to engage it. I do not debate with members of the flat earth society either. Prejudices all die. The first sign that death is imminent comes when the prejudice is debated publicly. The tragedy is that church leaders back the wrong side of the conflict, which is happening today from the Pope to the Archbishop of Canterbury to the current crop of Evangelical leaders. That too will pass and the debate on homosexuality will be just one more embarrassment in Christian history.”
~ John Shelby Spong
“There is...a widely accepted mentality that if the Bible is opposed, the idea must be wrong. That is little more than nonsensical fundamentalism. The rise of democracy was contrary to the "clear teaching of the Bible," as the debate over the forced signing of the Magna Carta by King John of England in 1215 revealed. The Bible was quoted to prove that Galileo was wrong; that Darwin was wrong; that Freud was wrong; that allowing women to be educated, to vote, to enter the professions and to be ordained was wrong. So the fact that the Bible is quoted to prove that homosexuality is evil and to be condemned is hardly a strong argument, given the history of how many times the Bible has been wrong. I believe that most bishops know this but the Episcopal Church has some fundamentalist bishops and a few who are "fellow travelers" with fundamentalists.
“The Bible was written between the years 1000 B.C.E. and 135 C.E. Our knowledge of almost everything has increased exponentially since that time. It is the height of ignorance to continue using the Bible as an encyclopedia of knowledge to keep dying prejudices intact. The media seems to cooperate in perpetuating that long ago abandoned biblical attitude.
“That is not surprising since the religious people keep quoting it to justify their continued state of unenlightenment. That attitude is hardly worthy of the time it takes to engage it. I do not debate with members of the flat earth society either. Prejudices all die. The first sign that death is imminent comes when the prejudice is debated publicly. The tragedy is that church leaders back the wrong side of the conflict, which is happening today from the Pope to the Archbishop of Canterbury to the current crop of Evangelical leaders. That too will pass and the debate on homosexuality will be just one more embarrassment in Christian history.”
~ John Shelby Spong
Thursday, January 29, 2009
thought of the day.197
Creatures Great and Small
Ghandi said “the greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Immanuel Kant voiced the similar sentiment that “we can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.” So what can be said about the morality of ancient Israel and the heart of its God?
This God seemed quite devoid of empathy for the suffering of animals. He sent swirling holy water to swallow the flailing and terrified. He followed this slaughter of all slaughters with massive fish and frog kills and visited suffering and deadly diseases upon horses, camels, sheep and the like. He has animals cower and die under holy hail and heaven sent fire and brimstone.
He also commands man to kill in his name—to stone animals, break the necks of calves and donkeys and to twist the heads off of doves. He likes his bull’s throats slit, their blood drained and thrown against his red stained altar, their skin peeled off, their body cut into pieces, their organs washed, their heads burned. And since this God’s taste for barbeque was not easily satisfied, he ordered such brutality to continue forever.
Kant made the connection that those who are cruel to animals are likewise hard in their dealings with men. In his book, In Defense of Animals, Peter Singer writes, “In an earlier stage of our development most human groups held to a tribal ethic. Members of the tribe were protected, but people of other tribes could be robbed or killed as one pleased. Gradually the circle of protection expanded, but as recently as 150 years ago we did not include blacks. So African human beings could be captured, shipped to America and sold. In Australia white settlers regarded Aborigines as a pest and hunted them down, much as kangaroos are hunted down today. Just as we have progressed beyond the blatantly racist ethic of the era of slavery and colonialism, so we must now progress beyond the speciesist ethic of the era of factory farming, of the use of animals as mere research tools, of whaling, seal hunting, kangaroo slaughter and the destruction of wilderness. We must take the final step in expanding the circle of ethics.”
Ghandi said “the greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Immanuel Kant voiced the similar sentiment that “we can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.” So what can be said about the morality of ancient Israel and the heart of its God?
This God seemed quite devoid of empathy for the suffering of animals. He sent swirling holy water to swallow the flailing and terrified. He followed this slaughter of all slaughters with massive fish and frog kills and visited suffering and deadly diseases upon horses, camels, sheep and the like. He has animals cower and die under holy hail and heaven sent fire and brimstone.
He also commands man to kill in his name—to stone animals, break the necks of calves and donkeys and to twist the heads off of doves. He likes his bull’s throats slit, their blood drained and thrown against his red stained altar, their skin peeled off, their body cut into pieces, their organs washed, their heads burned. And since this God’s taste for barbeque was not easily satisfied, he ordered such brutality to continue forever.
Kant made the connection that those who are cruel to animals are likewise hard in their dealings with men. In his book, In Defense of Animals, Peter Singer writes, “In an earlier stage of our development most human groups held to a tribal ethic. Members of the tribe were protected, but people of other tribes could be robbed or killed as one pleased. Gradually the circle of protection expanded, but as recently as 150 years ago we did not include blacks. So African human beings could be captured, shipped to America and sold. In Australia white settlers regarded Aborigines as a pest and hunted them down, much as kangaroos are hunted down today. Just as we have progressed beyond the blatantly racist ethic of the era of slavery and colonialism, so we must now progress beyond the speciesist ethic of the era of factory farming, of the use of animals as mere research tools, of whaling, seal hunting, kangaroo slaughter and the destruction of wilderness. We must take the final step in expanding the circle of ethics.”
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
thought of the day.195
The God of Christianity is a God of Contradiction.
This God makes killing sinners The Law (Lv 20:10). Then contradicts himself by chastising the Law-abiding and pardoning the Lawless (Jn 8:1-1). To add to the confusion, despite breaking his own Law, he says The Law is to remain in effect unto the end of time (Mt 5:17-20). Huh?
This God makes killing sinners The Law (Lv 20:10). Then contradicts himself by chastising the Law-abiding and pardoning the Lawless (Jn 8:1-1). To add to the confusion, despite breaking his own Law, he says The Law is to remain in effect unto the end of time (Mt 5:17-20). Huh?
Monday, January 26, 2009
thought of the day.194
Speaking for God
The LORD’s first priests enjoyed a priveledged lifestyle as his ordained messengers. They dressed in magnificent priestly garments that included embroidered robes, shirts, turbans and sashes of colored wool and fine linen. They ornamented themselves with gold, diamonds and other precious stones and perfumed themselves with their own private cologne made from the finest spices. Everything in Israel that was unconditionally dedicated to the LORD belonged to the priests. They took the choicest cuts of meat from the offerings and the greater portions of flour and oil, baked breads and wine. They issued fines and collected tithes, taxes, fees and “protection” money from their people to ensure the LORD watched over them. When a field was released in the Jubilee, it became the property of the priests. They accumulated booty including young virgins from vanquished enemies. It was very good to be a priest.
The priests wrote in their holy books that the LORD was Jealous. But it wasn’t the LORD who was jealous of other gods but the priests, who’s lifestyles were threatened by the competition. And it wasn’t the LORD that was all powerful but his spokesmen. Thomas Paine said organized religion was “set up to terrify and enslave” and to “monopolize power and profit” and this is exactly what we see in the bible. Less interested in advancing the human condition than maintaining their power, they ruled with an iron fist. In fact, violence was the priest’s solution to most every problem. Those failing to obey their decisions, walking too close to Yahweh’s Tent, performing priestly functions or touching sacred objects were all killed. Prophets speaking false messages (anything that undermined the priests’ authority) were seized and their own parents were commanded to stab them to death. Priests wrote laws permitting a man to sell his daughter into slavery, stone his son and chop off his wife’s hand. They burned their own daughters for promiscuity and brides unable to prove their virginity were ordered to be stoned to death by all the men of the city. The entire community was commanded to partake in the killing of any man’s brother, child, wife or friend who suggested worshipping other gods. Anyone thinking or acting outside the priest’s narrow boundaries was cast out or killed. The priests made intolerance a holy duty and sanctified violence in the home, community and on the battlefield as well.
Thankfully, the power of religious leaders has been restrained by secular laws. And though most surely mean well, those that speak authoritatively about unknowable things—about the Islamic Paradise and awaiting virgins, the Christian Hell and flesh eating worms or the Scientologist’s Xenu and his alien interventions—mislead people and for that reason are a menace to clear and rational thought.
Lv 21:9, 7:31-34, 27:21, Nu 31:32-46, 3:10, Zec 13:2-3, Ex 30:12,15-16, 21:7, Dt 25:11-12, 22:20-21, 13:6-10 21:18-21, 17:12,
The LORD’s first priests enjoyed a priveledged lifestyle as his ordained messengers. They dressed in magnificent priestly garments that included embroidered robes, shirts, turbans and sashes of colored wool and fine linen. They ornamented themselves with gold, diamonds and other precious stones and perfumed themselves with their own private cologne made from the finest spices. Everything in Israel that was unconditionally dedicated to the LORD belonged to the priests. They took the choicest cuts of meat from the offerings and the greater portions of flour and oil, baked breads and wine. They issued fines and collected tithes, taxes, fees and “protection” money from their people to ensure the LORD watched over them. When a field was released in the Jubilee, it became the property of the priests. They accumulated booty including young virgins from vanquished enemies. It was very good to be a priest.
The priests wrote in their holy books that the LORD was Jealous. But it wasn’t the LORD who was jealous of other gods but the priests, who’s lifestyles were threatened by the competition. And it wasn’t the LORD that was all powerful but his spokesmen. Thomas Paine said organized religion was “set up to terrify and enslave” and to “monopolize power and profit” and this is exactly what we see in the bible. Less interested in advancing the human condition than maintaining their power, they ruled with an iron fist. In fact, violence was the priest’s solution to most every problem. Those failing to obey their decisions, walking too close to Yahweh’s Tent, performing priestly functions or touching sacred objects were all killed. Prophets speaking false messages (anything that undermined the priests’ authority) were seized and their own parents were commanded to stab them to death. Priests wrote laws permitting a man to sell his daughter into slavery, stone his son and chop off his wife’s hand. They burned their own daughters for promiscuity and brides unable to prove their virginity were ordered to be stoned to death by all the men of the city. The entire community was commanded to partake in the killing of any man’s brother, child, wife or friend who suggested worshipping other gods. Anyone thinking or acting outside the priest’s narrow boundaries was cast out or killed. The priests made intolerance a holy duty and sanctified violence in the home, community and on the battlefield as well.
Thankfully, the power of religious leaders has been restrained by secular laws. And though most surely mean well, those that speak authoritatively about unknowable things—about the Islamic Paradise and awaiting virgins, the Christian Hell and flesh eating worms or the Scientologist’s Xenu and his alien interventions—mislead people and for that reason are a menace to clear and rational thought.
Lv 21:9, 7:31-34, 27:21, Nu 31:32-46, 3:10, Zec 13:2-3, Ex 30:12,15-16, 21:7, Dt 25:11-12, 22:20-21, 13:6-10 21:18-21, 17:12,
Sunday, January 25, 2009
thought of the day.193
Being spiritual needn’t have anything to do with belief in invisible beings. The word spirit comes from the Latin "spiritus" which means "to breath," to be alive. We are spiritual to the extent we are full of life—full of joy and wonder, full of spirit.
Friday, January 23, 2009
thought of the day.192
Anti-Intellectualism
Jesus praised God for hiding his message “from the wise and intelligent” and revealing it to the uneducated or those with minds he likened to an infant’s or small child’s. And he said it is not those possessing the mind of an adult but only those with child-like ones that will enter heaven.
St. Bernard of Clairvaux, the most influential Christian of his time, thought the pursuit of knowledge was “vile” unless “sanctified by a holy mission” and St. Augustine described “curiosity” as a “disease.” He said, “it is this which drives us to discover the secrets of nature, these secrets which are beyond our understanding, which can avail us nothing and which man should not wish to learn.” Imagine if Plato, Galileo, Pasteur, Darwin, Edison, Einstein and all the countless men and women who have conquered diseases and improved our lives with their thoughts, discoveries, and inventions would have embraced such an anti-intellectual position! Arthur Schopenhauer said it well, “All religions promise a reward for excellences of the will or heart, but none for excellences of the head or understanding.” And H.L. Mencken said, “Not by accident does Genesis III make the father of knowledge a serpent—slimy, sneaking and abominable. Since the earliest days the church as an organization has thrown itself violently against every effort to liberate the body and mind of man. It has been, at all times and everywhere, the habitual and incorrigible defender of bad governments, bad laws, bad social theories, bad institutions. It was, for centuries, an apologist for slavery, as it was an apologist for the divine right of kings.”
Lk 10:21, Mt 18:3
Jesus praised God for hiding his message “from the wise and intelligent” and revealing it to the uneducated or those with minds he likened to an infant’s or small child’s. And he said it is not those possessing the mind of an adult but only those with child-like ones that will enter heaven.
St. Bernard of Clairvaux, the most influential Christian of his time, thought the pursuit of knowledge was “vile” unless “sanctified by a holy mission” and St. Augustine described “curiosity” as a “disease.” He said, “it is this which drives us to discover the secrets of nature, these secrets which are beyond our understanding, which can avail us nothing and which man should not wish to learn.” Imagine if Plato, Galileo, Pasteur, Darwin, Edison, Einstein and all the countless men and women who have conquered diseases and improved our lives with their thoughts, discoveries, and inventions would have embraced such an anti-intellectual position! Arthur Schopenhauer said it well, “All religions promise a reward for excellences of the will or heart, but none for excellences of the head or understanding.” And H.L. Mencken said, “Not by accident does Genesis III make the father of knowledge a serpent—slimy, sneaking and abominable. Since the earliest days the church as an organization has thrown itself violently against every effort to liberate the body and mind of man. It has been, at all times and everywhere, the habitual and incorrigible defender of bad governments, bad laws, bad social theories, bad institutions. It was, for centuries, an apologist for slavery, as it was an apologist for the divine right of kings.”
Lk 10:21, Mt 18:3
thought of the day.191
Test of Faith. Isaiah
Horrible, painful diseases are something
A. Satan sent to cause great suffering
B. God sent to cause great suffering
God sent armies of men to
A. feed the hungry and rebuild Jerusalem after the Great Earthquake
B. stab people, bash babies and rape wives in front of their husbands
God says the world will know he is LORD by making people
A. love each other
B. kill each other
Isaiah 10:16, 13:14-18, 50:26
Horrible, painful diseases are something
A. Satan sent to cause great suffering
B. God sent to cause great suffering
God sent armies of men to
A. feed the hungry and rebuild Jerusalem after the Great Earthquake
B. stab people, bash babies and rape wives in front of their husbands
God says the world will know he is LORD by making people
A. love each other
B. kill each other
Isaiah 10:16, 13:14-18, 50:26
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
thought of the day.189
“Biblical Morality”
The phrase “biblical morality” is an oxymoron—absurd as the phrase “immoral morality.” That is unless one thinks it moral to beat a child with a rod, offer a child as a sacrifice or drown every child in the world; moral to stone sons to a lifeless bloody pulp, roast daughters over a raging fire or sell them as sex slaves to the horny old man down the road; moral to kill homosexuals, kill “witches” and kill one’s own family and friends who pray to the wrong god; moral to take young girls as “wives” after butchering their families and torching their homes; moral to plunder towns of all their valuables, burn books, cripple horses, commit genocide, chop off the hands and feet and heads of foes and cut fetuses out of their mother’s bellies; and moral to keep people alive beyond the grave with the sole intent of inflicting unimaginable suffering upon them forever and ever and ever...
The phrase “biblical morality” is an oxymoron—absurd as the phrase “immoral morality.” That is unless one thinks it moral to beat a child with a rod, offer a child as a sacrifice or drown every child in the world; moral to stone sons to a lifeless bloody pulp, roast daughters over a raging fire or sell them as sex slaves to the horny old man down the road; moral to kill homosexuals, kill “witches” and kill one’s own family and friends who pray to the wrong god; moral to take young girls as “wives” after butchering their families and torching their homes; moral to plunder towns of all their valuables, burn books, cripple horses, commit genocide, chop off the hands and feet and heads of foes and cut fetuses out of their mother’s bellies; and moral to keep people alive beyond the grave with the sole intent of inflicting unimaginable suffering upon them forever and ever and ever...
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
thought of the day.188
Inauguration Day
When Barack Obama is sworn into office today it will be a truly historic moment worthy of unbridled celebration. The unfortunate part of the ceremony will be the mixing of church and state through the use of a bible and prayers uttered by religious leaders. These symbols unnecessarily alienate and divide us, leaving many tens of millions of citizens with different religious beliefs or none at all, feeling like we don’t quite belong. Someday a President will have the courage and common sense to break with these unjust traditions and begin new traditions that exclude no one on the basis of their belief or non-belief in invisible beings in the sky.
When Barack Obama is sworn into office today it will be a truly historic moment worthy of unbridled celebration. The unfortunate part of the ceremony will be the mixing of church and state through the use of a bible and prayers uttered by religious leaders. These symbols unnecessarily alienate and divide us, leaving many tens of millions of citizens with different religious beliefs or none at all, feeling like we don’t quite belong. Someday a President will have the courage and common sense to break with these unjust traditions and begin new traditions that exclude no one on the basis of their belief or non-belief in invisible beings in the sky.
Monday, January 19, 2009
thought of the day.186
Happy MLK Day!
“There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.”
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
“There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.”
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
thought of the day.185
“It took me years, but letting go of religion has been the most profound wake up of my life. I feel I now look at the world not as a child, but as an adult. I see what's bad and it’s really bad. But I also see what is beautiful, what is wonderful. And I feel so deeply appreciative that I am alive. How dare the religious use the term ‘born again.’ That truly describes freethinkers who’ve thrown off the shackles of religion so much better!”
~ Julia Sweeney
www.juliasweeney.com/letting_go_mini/
~ Julia Sweeney
www.juliasweeney.com/letting_go_mini/
Saturday, January 17, 2009
thought of the day.184
The Stoning of Soraya M.
There are times I get so beaten down by reading the bible I could almost cry. Sometimes its wickedness literally makes me sick to my stomach. Try reading the following verse and imagining the “damsel” to be your mother, daughter, sister or friend, or perhaps yourself.
“But if... the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die...” Dt 22:20-21
My guess is your natural sense of decency won’t allow yourself to fully picture the horror of such a scene. The bloodthirstiness of the men, the self righteousness of the community, the fear and suffering of the young woman. Let me help you. Fereydoune Sahebjam, who recently died at the age of 75, was a respected journalist and war correspondent. He had been condemned to death by the Khomeini regime for his writings, which included the book, “The Stoning of Soraya M.”, a true story of a modern Iranian woman wrongly accused of a crime and stoned to death. It offers a glimpse into the barbaric life of the ancient Israelites by bringing to life all too vividly the “holy” scripture above. And shows how the belief in the Abrahamic God continues to cause incredible suffering throughout the world today.
“The mayor took a stone and handed it to Soraya’s father: “It is to you,” he said, “that befalls the honor of throwing the first stone....” The old man set his cane down on the ground and took the large stone in his hand. He gave thanks to God, drew his arm back and, as he threw the stone with all his might in the direction of his daughter, he shouted: “Allah be praised!.... There, whore, take that!” ....Then it was Ghorban-Ali's turn. He had rolled up his sleeves and had four rocks neatly piled next to his feet. He waited for the mayor's signal. “Your turn, my boy,” the mayor said to him affectionately, “and may God guide your arm.” ....The crowd was screaming hysterically now, and there were ripples of applause from the men. The shadow of a smile flitted across Ghorban-Ali's face; he picked up another stone, aimed more carefully, and threw it as hard as he could. This time the stone struck the woman on the forehead, just at the hairline. The skin burst open, blood began to trickle down her face, as Soraya's head jerked violently backward.... Now the stones were flying thick and fast, piling up on the ground around them. And there, only a few feet in front of them, was a head whose face they never saw, a head that kept bobbing to and fro in time to the stones that were striking it....Finally it was Sheik Hassan's turn. He put his Qur'an in his left hand and, with his right, picked up a large stone. But before he threw he turned back to the crowd and said with great bombast: “I am not the one who is throwing this stone....It is God who is guiding my arm....It is he who commands me…“I shall throw as many stones as it takes to kill this bitch” ....In the center of the circle, Soraya was slowly expiring. Her head and chest were little more than a shapeless mass of bloody flesh. The noisy crowd, completely out of control, broke ranks and moved in even closer, ready for the kill. Her scalp was nothing more than a gaping wound; her jaw had exploded; her eyes and nose burst open. Her head drooped at a grotesque angle, like some bizarre carnival mask, over what remained of her right shoulder. In the front row, Hassan, his robe spattered with blood, raised his arm and called for silence. “My dear friends....I believe that God has done his work. I believe that his will has been done. Would someone like to check and make certain the harlot is dead?” Several men raised their hands. Hassan picked Said the well digger. The man lay down on the ground right next to the victim and put his ear close to Soraya's open mouth. “She's still alive....The bitch still hasn't croaked,”…
The book is currently being made into a movie. www.thestoning.com/trailer.html
There are times I get so beaten down by reading the bible I could almost cry. Sometimes its wickedness literally makes me sick to my stomach. Try reading the following verse and imagining the “damsel” to be your mother, daughter, sister or friend, or perhaps yourself.
“But if... the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die...” Dt 22:20-21
My guess is your natural sense of decency won’t allow yourself to fully picture the horror of such a scene. The bloodthirstiness of the men, the self righteousness of the community, the fear and suffering of the young woman. Let me help you. Fereydoune Sahebjam, who recently died at the age of 75, was a respected journalist and war correspondent. He had been condemned to death by the Khomeini regime for his writings, which included the book, “The Stoning of Soraya M.”, a true story of a modern Iranian woman wrongly accused of a crime and stoned to death. It offers a glimpse into the barbaric life of the ancient Israelites by bringing to life all too vividly the “holy” scripture above. And shows how the belief in the Abrahamic God continues to cause incredible suffering throughout the world today.
“The mayor took a stone and handed it to Soraya’s father: “It is to you,” he said, “that befalls the honor of throwing the first stone....” The old man set his cane down on the ground and took the large stone in his hand. He gave thanks to God, drew his arm back and, as he threw the stone with all his might in the direction of his daughter, he shouted: “Allah be praised!.... There, whore, take that!” ....Then it was Ghorban-Ali's turn. He had rolled up his sleeves and had four rocks neatly piled next to his feet. He waited for the mayor's signal. “Your turn, my boy,” the mayor said to him affectionately, “and may God guide your arm.” ....The crowd was screaming hysterically now, and there were ripples of applause from the men. The shadow of a smile flitted across Ghorban-Ali's face; he picked up another stone, aimed more carefully, and threw it as hard as he could. This time the stone struck the woman on the forehead, just at the hairline. The skin burst open, blood began to trickle down her face, as Soraya's head jerked violently backward.... Now the stones were flying thick and fast, piling up on the ground around them. And there, only a few feet in front of them, was a head whose face they never saw, a head that kept bobbing to and fro in time to the stones that were striking it....Finally it was Sheik Hassan's turn. He put his Qur'an in his left hand and, with his right, picked up a large stone. But before he threw he turned back to the crowd and said with great bombast: “I am not the one who is throwing this stone....It is God who is guiding my arm....It is he who commands me…“I shall throw as many stones as it takes to kill this bitch” ....In the center of the circle, Soraya was slowly expiring. Her head and chest were little more than a shapeless mass of bloody flesh. The noisy crowd, completely out of control, broke ranks and moved in even closer, ready for the kill. Her scalp was nothing more than a gaping wound; her jaw had exploded; her eyes and nose burst open. Her head drooped at a grotesque angle, like some bizarre carnival mask, over what remained of her right shoulder. In the front row, Hassan, his robe spattered with blood, raised his arm and called for silence. “My dear friends....I believe that God has done his work. I believe that his will has been done. Would someone like to check and make certain the harlot is dead?” Several men raised their hands. Hassan picked Said the well digger. The man lay down on the ground right next to the victim and put his ear close to Soraya's open mouth. “She's still alive....The bitch still hasn't croaked,”…
The book is currently being made into a movie. www.thestoning.com/trailer.html
Friday, January 16, 2009
thought of the day.183
Miracles
To me there are two kinds of miracles. One kind are those fantastic stories of holy scripture—disembodied hands that write on walls, talking donkeys and fireballs from heaven that burn young and old to a crisp. The other kind is the miracle of reality—the miracle of blue skies, sex, chocolate, beer, children’s laughter, love...
To me there are two kinds of miracles. One kind are those fantastic stories of holy scripture—disembodied hands that write on walls, talking donkeys and fireballs from heaven that burn young and old to a crisp. The other kind is the miracle of reality—the miracle of blue skies, sex, chocolate, beer, children’s laughter, love...
Thursday, January 15, 2009
thought of the day.182
Life & Death
Living fully requires living fearlessly. This makes coming to terms with death one of the most important things we can do. Christianity would have us fear death, fear Satan and Jesus himself tells us to “fear God, who, after killing, has the authority to throw into hell. Believe me, he is the one you must fear!” These primitive toxic notions poison life.
But there is no need to fear death. No need to fear what cannot touch us. Epicurus said it best, “Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist.” And Mark Twain expressed the same sentiment like only he could: “I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born, and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it.”
Another way to look at death is to recognize our connection to all that exists. Science tells us that atoms are so fantastically durable that it’s thought they can last nearly forever. This means we are made of practically indestructible eternal stuff. In his wonderful book, A Short History of Nearly Everything, Bill Bryson writes, “Because they are so long lived, atoms really get around. Every atom you possess has almost certainly passed through several stars and been part of millions of organisms on its way of becoming you. We are so atomically numerous and so vigorously recycled at death that a significant number of our atoms—up to a billion for each of us, it has been suggested—probably once belonged to Shakespeare. A billion more came from Buddha and Genghis Khan and Beethoven, and any other historical figure you name. (The personages have to be historical, apparently, as it takes the atoms some decades to become thoroughly redistributed; however much you may wish it, you are not yet one with Elvis Presley.)”
So though our consciousness most likely ceases upon death, in a sense, our journey will continue beyond our wildest imaginations.
Living fully requires living fearlessly. This makes coming to terms with death one of the most important things we can do. Christianity would have us fear death, fear Satan and Jesus himself tells us to “fear God, who, after killing, has the authority to throw into hell. Believe me, he is the one you must fear!” These primitive toxic notions poison life.
But there is no need to fear death. No need to fear what cannot touch us. Epicurus said it best, “Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist.” And Mark Twain expressed the same sentiment like only he could: “I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born, and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it.”
Another way to look at death is to recognize our connection to all that exists. Science tells us that atoms are so fantastically durable that it’s thought they can last nearly forever. This means we are made of practically indestructible eternal stuff. In his wonderful book, A Short History of Nearly Everything, Bill Bryson writes, “Because they are so long lived, atoms really get around. Every atom you possess has almost certainly passed through several stars and been part of millions of organisms on its way of becoming you. We are so atomically numerous and so vigorously recycled at death that a significant number of our atoms—up to a billion for each of us, it has been suggested—probably once belonged to Shakespeare. A billion more came from Buddha and Genghis Khan and Beethoven, and any other historical figure you name. (The personages have to be historical, apparently, as it takes the atoms some decades to become thoroughly redistributed; however much you may wish it, you are not yet one with Elvis Presley.)”
So though our consciousness most likely ceases upon death, in a sense, our journey will continue beyond our wildest imaginations.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
thought of the day.184
Test of Faith.Hosea
God told his people he would
A. surround them with love and blessings
B. attack them like a lion and tear them to pieces
God told his people he would
A. nurture their beloved children
B. kill their beloved children
God’s punishments include
A. 40 days of fasting and bible study
B. having babies heads smashed and pregnant women ripped open
Hosea 5:14, 9:15-16, 13:16
God told his people he would
A. surround them with love and blessings
B. attack them like a lion and tear them to pieces
God told his people he would
A. nurture their beloved children
B. kill their beloved children
God’s punishments include
A. 40 days of fasting and bible study
B. having babies heads smashed and pregnant women ripped open
Hosea 5:14, 9:15-16, 13:16
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
thought of the day.183
Evil, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.
Smashing a mosquito can produce such a sense of satisfaction—joy even—that we’ve rid the world of a blood-sucking, disease-carrying demon. Of course, to the mosquito, we’re the demon.
Smashing a mosquito can produce such a sense of satisfaction—joy even—that we’ve rid the world of a blood-sucking, disease-carrying demon. Of course, to the mosquito, we’re the demon.
Monday, January 12, 2009
thought of the day.182
“Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify, simplify! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumbnail.”
~ Henry David Thoreau
~ Henry David Thoreau
Saturday, January 10, 2009
thought of the day.181
What’s more likely?
We can say nothing of the heart and mind nor even existence of invisible things—of sprites and fairies and goblins and gods, but we are all too familiar with the heart and mind of man. So let us simply ask ourselves what is most reasonable to believe about the bible.
When the married couple, Ananias and Sapphira, dared keep a portion of the money garnered from a private sale rather than giving every cent to the church they were immediately killed in Peter’s office. The writer would have us believe an invisible hand from heaven struck down this couple, but is it not more likely it was the hand of man—that perhaps Peter himself acted out in anger? (Acts 5:1-10) Or knowing Paul’s penchant for zealot religious persecution, is it more likely an invisible holy spirit blinded Elymas or that an incensed Paul who had just demonized Elymas as "a child of the devil” did so? (Acts 13:10-11)
Is it more likely that an invisible being told Moses to “kill your brothers, your friends, and your neighbors” for the crime of worshipping another god or that Moses did so to strengthen his position of power as Yahweh’s spokesman? (Ex 32:25-29)
Is it more likely that an invisible being deemed selling daughters into life-long slavery acceptable or that men did? And is it more likely that an invisible being repeatedly rained suffering upon humans with all manner of disasters and diseases or that the writers of such stories were simply ignorant of the workings of nature? (Dt 28:58-59, Zec 14:12, 2 S 24:15)
Is it more likely the often vengeful, bigoted, misogynistic, ignorant, slave-happy and a million other ways bloodthirsty and superstitious stories found in the bible are the revelations of a perfect, all-knowing, all-powerful, benevolent invisible being which we have absolutely no evidence of, or the ramblings of primitive men?
We can say nothing of the heart and mind nor even existence of invisible things—of sprites and fairies and goblins and gods, but we are all too familiar with the heart and mind of man. So let us simply ask ourselves what is most reasonable to believe about the bible.
When the married couple, Ananias and Sapphira, dared keep a portion of the money garnered from a private sale rather than giving every cent to the church they were immediately killed in Peter’s office. The writer would have us believe an invisible hand from heaven struck down this couple, but is it not more likely it was the hand of man—that perhaps Peter himself acted out in anger? (Acts 5:1-10) Or knowing Paul’s penchant for zealot religious persecution, is it more likely an invisible holy spirit blinded Elymas or that an incensed Paul who had just demonized Elymas as "a child of the devil” did so? (Acts 13:10-11)
Is it more likely that an invisible being told Moses to “kill your brothers, your friends, and your neighbors” for the crime of worshipping another god or that Moses did so to strengthen his position of power as Yahweh’s spokesman? (Ex 32:25-29)
Is it more likely that an invisible being deemed selling daughters into life-long slavery acceptable or that men did? And is it more likely that an invisible being repeatedly rained suffering upon humans with all manner of disasters and diseases or that the writers of such stories were simply ignorant of the workings of nature? (Dt 28:58-59, Zec 14:12, 2 S 24:15)
Is it more likely the often vengeful, bigoted, misogynistic, ignorant, slave-happy and a million other ways bloodthirsty and superstitious stories found in the bible are the revelations of a perfect, all-knowing, all-powerful, benevolent invisible being which we have absolutely no evidence of, or the ramblings of primitive men?
thought of the day.180
“I do understand what love is, and that is one of the reasons I can never again be a Christian. Love is not self denial. Love is not blood and suffering. Love is not murdering your son to appease your own vanity. Love is not hatred or wrath, consigning billions of people to eternal torture because they have offended your ego or disobeyed your rules. Love is not obedience, conformity, or submission. It is a counterfeit love that is contingent upon authority, punishment, or reward. True love is respect and admiration, compassion and kindness, freely given by a healthy, unafraid human being...
“I have something to say to the religionist who feels atheists never say anything positive: You are an intelligent human being. Your life is valuable for its own sake. You are not second-class in the universe, deriving meaning and purpose from some other mind. You are not inherently evil--you are inherently human, possessing the positive rational potential to help make this a world of morality, peace and joy. Trust yourself.”
~Dan Barker
Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist
“I have something to say to the religionist who feels atheists never say anything positive: You are an intelligent human being. Your life is valuable for its own sake. You are not second-class in the universe, deriving meaning and purpose from some other mind. You are not inherently evil--you are inherently human, possessing the positive rational potential to help make this a world of morality, peace and joy. Trust yourself.”
~Dan Barker
Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist
Friday, January 9, 2009
thought of the day.179
“I think now, that death is our natural state, it’s where most of us are, most of the time, libraries, cemeteries, memories are filled with our dead….but being alive…the power of that on this earth, the power of living beings—makes me think the earth is some fairy dusted kingdom to house such a thing as life. The next time I go see ‘my’ patient, I am comfortably captivated by her presence and my being there. I read a Dylan Thomas poem not about that whole not going gently into the dying light…no, no…just a poem about live things, like the sea and birds and grasses and fishermen…the light of day, the end of summer…the stillness of winter, the coming Spring…”
~ Words from my wise and wonderful sister, Sandi Fish, inspired by her first official hospice assignment last week.
~ Words from my wise and wonderful sister, Sandi Fish, inspired by her first official hospice assignment last week.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
thought of the day.178
We will only become fully human—fully humane— when we overcome our primitive instinct to divide the world, when there’s no longer a “them”, no “other”—just “we”.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
thought of the day.177
First and Last Words
According to the bible, Mary and Joseph knew that they were to be the parents of God’s child —and according to Christian doctrine—God himself. Think about it. Parents of God. Wow! You would think they would’ve recorded each and every baby God word, every toddler God word and every teenage God word—well maybe not all the teenage God words.
But surely we know exactly what Jesus said before dying on the cross. And anyway, these words from the mouth of an adult God would seem even more important than words uttered from a baby God. Let us turn to his “inerrant” Word.
Both the Gospels of Matthew and Mark tell us that Jesus’ last words were, “My God, my God, why did you abandon me?” (How exactly God abandoned himself is not explained).
The Gospel of Luke says Jesus’ last words before dying were, “Father! In your hands I place my spirit!” Not only completely different words but totally opposite notions as well. In the one story, Jesus is alone, actually abandoned by God. In the other story, Jesus and God are involved in the most intimate of transactions.
The Gospel of John casts yet more doubt on the reliability of the scriptures as he writes that Jesus’ last words were “It is finished!”
Add to these inconsistencies the fact the bible contradicts itself on the year Jesus was born, the fact the five different accounts of the supposed resurrection defy harmonization and the fact we do not even know who wrote the gospels and we are left not with consistent reasonable historical accounts from respected historians but a mishmash of contradictions from anonymous authors.
According to the bible, Mary and Joseph knew that they were to be the parents of God’s child —and according to Christian doctrine—God himself. Think about it. Parents of God. Wow! You would think they would’ve recorded each and every baby God word, every toddler God word and every teenage God word—well maybe not all the teenage God words.
But surely we know exactly what Jesus said before dying on the cross. And anyway, these words from the mouth of an adult God would seem even more important than words uttered from a baby God. Let us turn to his “inerrant” Word.
Both the Gospels of Matthew and Mark tell us that Jesus’ last words were, “My God, my God, why did you abandon me?” (How exactly God abandoned himself is not explained).
The Gospel of Luke says Jesus’ last words before dying were, “Father! In your hands I place my spirit!” Not only completely different words but totally opposite notions as well. In the one story, Jesus is alone, actually abandoned by God. In the other story, Jesus and God are involved in the most intimate of transactions.
The Gospel of John casts yet more doubt on the reliability of the scriptures as he writes that Jesus’ last words were “It is finished!”
Add to these inconsistencies the fact the bible contradicts itself on the year Jesus was born, the fact the five different accounts of the supposed resurrection defy harmonization and the fact we do not even know who wrote the gospels and we are left not with consistent reasonable historical accounts from respected historians but a mishmash of contradictions from anonymous authors.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
thought of the day.176
Christianity asserts we are so inherently wretched as to be deserving of unimaginable torture forever and ever. In stark contrast, science shows we are not fallen but risen—not children of a jealous and bloodthirsty god, but children of the stars and inextricably connected to all that exists.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Thought of the day.175
Christians often argue that atheism is a religion. It is not. Atheists do not necessarily have one thought in common with another other than lack of belief in a god or gods.
If atheism is a religion than everyone is a member of countless religions sharing a lack of belief in such things as invisible pink unicorns and polka dotted moon monkeys.
If atheism is a religion than everyone is a member of countless religions sharing a lack of belief in such things as invisible pink unicorns and polka dotted moon monkeys.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
thought of the day.174
Shouldn’t we question the intelligence of a god who deems incest the best way to populate a world?
Saturday, January 3, 2009
thought of the day.173
Come, Lord Jesus, come!
Every Christian I have asked unhesitatingly answers that they can’t wait for Jesus to return. Most seem positively giddy about the idea. I would suggest these believers have either not read their bible very carefully or else have little compassion for others.
Jesus’ revelations include images of people being pummeled by 100 pound hail stones, poisoned by bitter water, crushed by falling buildings, tortured for months on end by grotesque creatures, burned with fire, killed by war, famine, disease and wild animals. The “King of kings and Lord of lords” returns wearing a robe covered with blood and wielding an iron rod. Blood is spilled in the streets and rains from the sky. There are rivers of blood, a sea of blood filled with dead creatures and a flood of blood pouring out of the wine press of his father’s furious anger. D.H. Lawrence describes the writer’s lust for blood and destruction in the second half of Revelation as “flamboyant hate.” Come, Lord Jesus, come!
Even if we ignore the psychotic ravings of Revelation that promise a slaughter of over two billion men, women and children if Jesus returned today and focus on the Gospels, we see a horrifying vision of the return of the “Prince of Peace.” Jesus says when he comes again it will be just like in the time of Noah when the flood came and “killed them all.” And like the time of Lot when fire and sulphur rained down from heaven and “killed them all.” “That” says sweet Jesus, is how it will be when he returns (Lk 17:22-30). Come, Lord Jesus, come!
Rather than uniting humanity, Christianity divides us to such a degree that believers gladly accept the suffering of others—actually look forward to it— as long as they hold a ticket to heaven. Come, Lord Jesus, come!
Every Christian I have asked unhesitatingly answers that they can’t wait for Jesus to return. Most seem positively giddy about the idea. I would suggest these believers have either not read their bible very carefully or else have little compassion for others.
Jesus’ revelations include images of people being pummeled by 100 pound hail stones, poisoned by bitter water, crushed by falling buildings, tortured for months on end by grotesque creatures, burned with fire, killed by war, famine, disease and wild animals. The “King of kings and Lord of lords” returns wearing a robe covered with blood and wielding an iron rod. Blood is spilled in the streets and rains from the sky. There are rivers of blood, a sea of blood filled with dead creatures and a flood of blood pouring out of the wine press of his father’s furious anger. D.H. Lawrence describes the writer’s lust for blood and destruction in the second half of Revelation as “flamboyant hate.” Come, Lord Jesus, come!
Even if we ignore the psychotic ravings of Revelation that promise a slaughter of over two billion men, women and children if Jesus returned today and focus on the Gospels, we see a horrifying vision of the return of the “Prince of Peace.” Jesus says when he comes again it will be just like in the time of Noah when the flood came and “killed them all.” And like the time of Lot when fire and sulphur rained down from heaven and “killed them all.” “That” says sweet Jesus, is how it will be when he returns (Lk 17:22-30). Come, Lord Jesus, come!
Rather than uniting humanity, Christianity divides us to such a degree that believers gladly accept the suffering of others—actually look forward to it— as long as they hold a ticket to heaven. Come, Lord Jesus, come!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Thought of the day.172
Not a single historian alive at the time that Jesus is said to have lived records his existence. Not one. This is because the Jesus of the bible was a character of the imagination built upon mythological themes that long predated the Christian stories.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
thought of the day.171
Atheist Spirituality
“The business of human beings is to be alive. Death is not our affair. Our job is to learn, grow, dance, sing, have sex, play with, enjoy and teach our children and grandchildren, and to love one another--especially love one another. Love is the finest thing we do. When we are loving we are doing the best thing human beings can do. It is greater than all our other human accomplishments. Our love is more beautiful than the Mona Lisa, stronger than steel cables, older than the pyramids and more impressive than gods, governments, monuments or the entire contents of the Encyclopedia Britanica....
“I'd like to make it clear that I do not equate religion with spirituality. I think religion has often been a great evil in the world. If you look up the meaning of the phrase "auto-da-fe" you will see that it means literally "act of faith." This faith act, however, is tying a living person to a stake, piling wood around their feet and burning them to death. Before anybody protests the good things religion has done--The Salvation Army, Feed the Children, The Friends and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committees, etc.--I contend that faith in the unseen does not make us different people from who we already are. Good people do good things, bad people to bad things and both have, in the past, invoked religion and belief in God as the motivation for their behavior.
“I think that spirituality is extremely important. A healthy spiritual life is important to our development as human beings. Healthy spirituality is as important as good self esteem or good relationships, but I separate spirituality from religion. I don't think it has much to do with divine revelation or worship of the unseen.
“That brings us to the sticky subject of a definition for spirituality. If spirituality doesn't have much to do with gods or divine inspiration, what the heck is it? I've read a lot on this subject and talked to a lot of people about it. The answer is clear--we're going to have to live with ambiguity. There's no single definition. Everyone must find the answer for themselves. Naturally I've come up with a definition for myself and I'll offer it to you, not as the final answer--because I don't believe there is one--but to give you something to think about, or maybe a starting point for your own definition.
“So what is spirituality? What are we doing when we are "being" spiritual? For me spirituality is not a state, but an activity. In my humble opinion spirituality is practice. I can't stress that enough. Traditional Asian sitting meditation is a practice--and a difficult one--even though it looks like doing nothing. Spirituality is not striking a virtuous pose. It's not waiting for a swell of emotion. Usually the spiritual practice is something which is repetitive and which serves to disengage the wandering ever-busy mental processes and allow them to come to rest. When the restless mind quiets we can form an intimacy with ourselves. When that happens we also forge a connection between ourselves and the web of existence. We make a carefully considered, nourishing and replenishing connection with life itself. Spirituality is forming an intimate and loving connection with ourselves and with everything in life.
“What constitutes spiritual practice? What do you do? Some practices are obvious. Meditation is one, an important one. Another traditional practice is contemplation and prayer--whether you pray to someone or not, whether you contemplate the divine or the universe in all its splendor. I dance. I play the drum. I chant and I participate in rituals. But also, I know several people who garden, who paint--both pictures and houses, who work wood or metal, who sew, who jog, who bake bread. Phil Jackson in the book Sacred Hoops finds basketball to be a spiritual practice. There are many ways to celebrate these important spiritual connections and allow ourselves to be nourished by them....
“Ultimately Kuan Yin and Bertrand Russell are telling us the same thing: Be compassionate toward one another. Love one another. Endure the happiness of your neighbors, because their happiness is inextricably bound to your own. And for the sake of your own happiness, forge an intimate connection with yourself and between yourself and everything that is in life, celebrate those connections and be nourished by them.
~ Susan Brassfield, Kuan Yin, Bertrand Russell and Why Atheist Spirituality is Not An Oxymoron
“The business of human beings is to be alive. Death is not our affair. Our job is to learn, grow, dance, sing, have sex, play with, enjoy and teach our children and grandchildren, and to love one another--especially love one another. Love is the finest thing we do. When we are loving we are doing the best thing human beings can do. It is greater than all our other human accomplishments. Our love is more beautiful than the Mona Lisa, stronger than steel cables, older than the pyramids and more impressive than gods, governments, monuments or the entire contents of the Encyclopedia Britanica....
“I'd like to make it clear that I do not equate religion with spirituality. I think religion has often been a great evil in the world. If you look up the meaning of the phrase "auto-da-fe" you will see that it means literally "act of faith." This faith act, however, is tying a living person to a stake, piling wood around their feet and burning them to death. Before anybody protests the good things religion has done--The Salvation Army, Feed the Children, The Friends and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committees, etc.--I contend that faith in the unseen does not make us different people from who we already are. Good people do good things, bad people to bad things and both have, in the past, invoked religion and belief in God as the motivation for their behavior.
“I think that spirituality is extremely important. A healthy spiritual life is important to our development as human beings. Healthy spirituality is as important as good self esteem or good relationships, but I separate spirituality from religion. I don't think it has much to do with divine revelation or worship of the unseen.
“That brings us to the sticky subject of a definition for spirituality. If spirituality doesn't have much to do with gods or divine inspiration, what the heck is it? I've read a lot on this subject and talked to a lot of people about it. The answer is clear--we're going to have to live with ambiguity. There's no single definition. Everyone must find the answer for themselves. Naturally I've come up with a definition for myself and I'll offer it to you, not as the final answer--because I don't believe there is one--but to give you something to think about, or maybe a starting point for your own definition.
“So what is spirituality? What are we doing when we are "being" spiritual? For me spirituality is not a state, but an activity. In my humble opinion spirituality is practice. I can't stress that enough. Traditional Asian sitting meditation is a practice--and a difficult one--even though it looks like doing nothing. Spirituality is not striking a virtuous pose. It's not waiting for a swell of emotion. Usually the spiritual practice is something which is repetitive and which serves to disengage the wandering ever-busy mental processes and allow them to come to rest. When the restless mind quiets we can form an intimacy with ourselves. When that happens we also forge a connection between ourselves and the web of existence. We make a carefully considered, nourishing and replenishing connection with life itself. Spirituality is forming an intimate and loving connection with ourselves and with everything in life.
“What constitutes spiritual practice? What do you do? Some practices are obvious. Meditation is one, an important one. Another traditional practice is contemplation and prayer--whether you pray to someone or not, whether you contemplate the divine or the universe in all its splendor. I dance. I play the drum. I chant and I participate in rituals. But also, I know several people who garden, who paint--both pictures and houses, who work wood or metal, who sew, who jog, who bake bread. Phil Jackson in the book Sacred Hoops finds basketball to be a spiritual practice. There are many ways to celebrate these important spiritual connections and allow ourselves to be nourished by them....
“Ultimately Kuan Yin and Bertrand Russell are telling us the same thing: Be compassionate toward one another. Love one another. Endure the happiness of your neighbors, because their happiness is inextricably bound to your own. And for the sake of your own happiness, forge an intimate connection with yourself and between yourself and everything that is in life, celebrate those connections and be nourished by them.
~ Susan Brassfield, Kuan Yin, Bertrand Russell and Why Atheist Spirituality is Not An Oxymoron
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