Friday, April 30, 2010

RELIGION or POLITICS - Can we talk??--A bit of politics today, O boy.

Good morning on this lovely TGIF day, from Paradise (Florida),

I hope you are a Glenn Beck listener,  because then you are getting all the inside poop that every person in America should know about and be listening to. If not, then you must not be a lover of America and Freedom, OR, you just don't give a damn one way or the other, which is worse.

WAKE UP, AMERICA IS ON FIRE. THE FAR LEFT IS CONTROLLING OUR GOVERNMENT, AND THEY WANT TO TRANSFORM OUR CONSTITUTION,  BIG GOVERNMENT - POWER - CONTROL.



The best way to do that? Tie up the voting power of illegals and the entitlement receivers, especially the illegals, unions, and Blacks and Latinos. If anyone apposes this goal, they are called racists, and it doesn't matter if they aren't racists. Split America. Why do you think the borders were never seriously addressed in the last few administratons? Politicians didn't want to stick there necks out and then cut off with being RACISTS.

They are now working on a plan to trick Puerta Rico into becoming a State, even though they voted THREE times NOOOOOO. If you speak against the plot you are a racist.

Then there is Cap and Trade. True disaster for America!!!!

How are they doing it.?

They have established the Chicago Climate Exchange on the Chicago Board of Trade. Who is in on that? Obama. Need I tell you what that is all about. How about C and T. Oh, hey, and there is an outfit called The Tides and who owns that, Why Mr. Soros. and then money also went to the Joyce Foundation, Mr. Soros???? and they funded Chicago Climate Exchange. Round and around she goes.

Then it goes around further to a company in England and who do you think is big there, why Mr. Al Gore, their 5th biggest investor, and they also own a piece of CCX. Obama sure fits well there, don't you think?

Then you can follow the money with a company called Enterprise, who is designed to form different groups to hide certain actions in the process and they are there to push money around to each other.

Just watch all this unfold, folks if you can, but you have to watch close, and keep score as you go so you can also follow the players. And Listen to Glenn Beck

For today., from Paradise.   CJ     email:    cjb.sgi@gmail.com

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

RELIGION or POLITICS - Can we talk??....Jesus' father???? continued.

Greetings on hump day, y'all,

I had an interesting response from a cousin of mine, who was a new looker of my blog, Bob Brehme, a Professor retired from Wake Forest University. As you might remember,  I posed a question "Who was Jesus' father?", and what led to such a question being asked.

Now, Bob goes into quite some detail explaining the legitimacy of WHO and WHY. You will find it pretty thought provoking, I think. So come on, weigh in on these subject matters. Your opinions yea or nay are welcome. So onward: 

One important point: The Immaculate Conception refers to the conception


of Mary, not of Jesus. The Catholic Church holds that in order to keep the

blood of Jesus free of the taint of Original Sin incurred by Adam and Eve,

Mary had to have blood that was free of this taint. The Church did know

until modern times that the blood of the mother does not pass through the

placenta to become the blood of the child. It did not know when the concept

of the IC was conceived that Jesus' blood did not arise from Mary's blood.

One other point: Semen was thought of as seed until modern times, when

it was realized that semen contained sperm that joined with the egg to form

a human. Before this time, semen was thought to be like a real seed which

contained all the hereditary information of the father This seed during

conception was planted in the woman's body which nourished it the way the

earth nourishes the plant. Thus the blood of the fetus was like the water

of the earth. A child was like its mother only from this connection.

Otherwise the child inherited all from the father. Hence, since God was

Jesus' father, Jesus was divine.

Modern science has shown all this to be false. As I noted in the

earlier email, God had to invent a human male parent for Jesus to make Jesus

human in all ways. The question then must be asked: Who was this male

parent?
 
Bob earlier said he thought the father was Joseph, but no proof.
 
Cheerio for today, see you soon.   CJ

Monday, April 26, 2010

RELIGION or POLITICS - Can we talk??....Jesus' father????

Good morning visitors, and looking for a great new week.....how about you?

To get started, I ran into this a few days ago, brought up by some radio commentator, he posed the unanswerable question: Who was Jesus' father????

Then he went on to explain, that in those early days of humanity, they knew nothing about the human body as it pertains to conception, and all it's details etc., leading up to conception, though they certainly must have just naturally understood the act of conception, but not what it could ultimately lead to, like Sex as we know it today, and that it is the act that leads to conception and ultimate birth of a new citizen.

Now, as I rolled all this around in my mind, I found it a bit hard to accept the premise as to why they didn't understand the process, which if true, would explain why the story of Jesus' birth was the "Immaculate Conception" got started and spread around ever since.

However, as was explained, it is none the less true, that such a conception could not have happened without a real live man involved with Mary somewhere along the line, no matter their sex stupidity. It just could not have happened any other way, but it was because of this stupidity is why the Immaculate Con-ception story got started. BUT. there just HAD to be a human father involved.

So, Who was Jesus" father???

But then I got to thinking about Adam and Eve????? Where did they come from??? Hmmmm?

Gosh, I don't know. Anyone out there who can jump in on this?  Anybody???

Cheers.    CJ

Friday, April 23, 2010

Politics and some Eastern Wisdom for YOU

Greetings again, friends, and I sure hope I will have a bunch of you shortly. Good things Happen, you know!!!! AND RIGHT HERE, SO KEEP VISITING, HUH?

EASTERN WISDOM FOR TODAY!

                                                 IGNORANCE BREEDS FEAR

                                                  FEAR BREEDS HATE

                                                   HATE BREEDS VIOLENCE.

Now, if you are up on the incredible history and political information that Glenn Beck espouses five days a week, the maybe you need a wake up call, and hopefully smart enough to recognize that America is heading on a disastrous road to ruin, and at warp speed. If you don't believe this, then I'd hate to be in your shoes, especially if you believe in the real America as it was and as designed by our Constitution AND SOMEHOW NOT KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING. You must stand up and be counted especially come vote time.

For now though, join a fast growing list of those who are:

                                                            NOT RACIST

                                                             NOT VIOLENT

                                                               NO LONGER WILL WE BE SILENT!!!!

SO, SPEAK UP WITH THE TRUTH.................AND PASS THIS DECLARATION ON!

Cheers, y'all.    CJ

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

RELIGION or POLITICS - Can we talk??

Good morning on this glorious "hump" day, (from Florida (Paradise) where else?)

Years ago in my earlier life, there was a saying, ' A man is only as good as his word'. And actually, then, it was true, and widely depended on in dealing with each other.

Today, I bring you a thought provoking column written by Matthew Emerzian of McClatchy Newspapers.
The Headline was "NO MORE MEANINGLES WORDS, PLEASE".

It was a vent brought on by some of his day to day experiences dealing with people and their words.

He said quote;  I am sick and tired of people who have completely no regard for the importance of keeping their word. He questions, Why don't people care about honoring their word? Is integrity just not important any more in today's society? Then, are we so wrapped up in our own worlds that our narcissism always wins the day? I just don't get it!

Matthew went on to cite situations that occured in his day to day associations, that exemplifies his topical headline.

Like, he was supposed to have an important lunch meeting, the day before he wrote this column, which was planned two days earlier. On this lunch day, he emailed for confirmation - no response. So he sent a text messge - no response. He then called and left a message - no response. So no lunch. A couple days later he spoke to the person. There was no acknowledgement of this person being remiss or any attempt to apologize or taking responsibility.

Then, one  of Matthew's clients was long overdue in emailing him a new contract. He called the chap and felt good about their phone call. This was on a monday. Tuesday came and went. So did Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Nothing but questions by this time, of course. (He intimated that he'd keep the column reader posted) . He went on to share other such happenings, all in the same vein, and all in the same week, though he did explain that none had a negative impact on his life.

He then posed some serious questions in regard to this seemingly rampant conduct in our society today.

  • What happened to self respect and respecting other people?
  • What happened to integrity and meaning what you say?
  • What happened to common courtesy and honoring your fellow man?
Why is this acceptable conduct? Is it because we are all stressed out and over worked? Or is it the economy getting us down? Or is flat-out lying just acceptable? Who knows?

Matthew thinks we (I agree) should get back to basics. (I inject here, that this idea of getting back to basics, applies to our government, as well).

Matthew observes that "basics" means things like emotion, integrity, truth, meaning, respect, friendship, honor, character,  which are human traits that keeps us separate from animals.

So, dear friends, I join him in this thought too, that, if you can't keep your word, then what else might you be having problems with in communicating with others?

Let's get back to basics by, when giving your word, keep it. If you are going to call a friend, or a parent you haven't called lately, do make these calls while the thought is there. If you have a meeting, get there 5-10 minutes early. Don't make promises you can't keep!!!

Now, for today, words matter, integrity matters. Let's not forget.

If you are reading my blog for the first time, WELCOME. If more than once, you are appreciated, please come back and get in the game, I want your thoughts and ideas too, even if I don't agree with you. Dialogue is GOOD.   Cheers       CJ 

Monday, April 19, 2010

RELIGION or POLITICS - Can we talk??

Good morning, friends, and a great new week ahead for all. I have so ordained. Ta Da!

Eastern Wisdom :
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The True mission of religion is to help people manifest the POWER within themselves, to overcome their difficulties, and be HAPPY.

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I am picking up from my last blog where I explained my early life, with a tyrannical father, who was a Presbyterian Minister, and who died when I was 14 years of age.

Then, after continuing to attend a church for a couple years after his death, I decided I had too many questions regarding religion, and no answers, so I just quit going to any church for many years after that.

As is in my previous mentions, I have been married 5 times, and of course religion was sort of active or inactive in each. But collectively they led up to my being a Nichiren Buddhist today.

I am not particularly proud of the numbers of marriages, but as my life pursued itself, they just happened, and I can't give an easy explanation of why so many. 

 My first marriage of some 14 years, was to an RN, who I met while selling magazines, door to door, and traveling from city to city, with a group of guys, doing the same.  

I won't go into any details of this marriage, which happened in 1937, but each marriage has it's own story, or, as I have said, "I had five lives, as well as wives". Two sons, born 9 years apart. The only mention of religion in this marriage, was that this first wife thought after the first son was born that we should do some church going for the first son's sake. We did attend one church for awhile but with my lack of enthusiasm, it just sort of petered out.

In marriage #2, with also 2 sons, it was me that suggested going to a church, which we did, two of them. The last one I even wound up being ordained a Deacon. However, neither the marriage or the church going lasted, with a divorce after 14 years. 

My third marriage was to a Canadian lady, and church was never a topic of discussion. We spent some summers in Canada and winters in Florida. However, I, for some inner reason, desired some spiritual connection, and searched for a church or religion that was somewhat different. I found it in the Unity movement, suggested to me by a golfing friend.

At the time, the Unity beliefs and philosophy appealed to me greatly and I enjoyed attending. This wife attended with me for a time, but we ran out of reasons to stay married, so after some 13 years, I initiated a divorce. 

I continued to attend church, and being single, I also attended a number of singles gatherings. Since I did not prefer being single, I finally met wife # 4. 

Fortunately, having been a sort of Catholic, she liked attending Unity with me, and we became active, both serving as ushers, and I Head Usher for many years. I also served a 3 year term on the church Board.

Again, I won't go into marriage details, but this marriage too, burnt out after about 14 years. I initiated a divorce here too with #4. I cannot, nor will not. put all the blame of my wives. I do believe, much of the faults were mine. Oh yes, and the thread through all these marriages was that in none were there any normal family signs of affection.   

Wife #5 came about, by a sort of co-incident, though I don't really believe in them. But it happened and this wife turned out to be a treasure and we are in our 25th year as of May 3rd., next.

Now, I am very close to my first two sons, and we keep in constant contact with them and with all the hugging and kissing that goes with normal human relationships. Doris, my present wife has taken to them and they, she, and it has been good all around. Not perfect, but good.

This wife also took to Unity and we had some happy years there, until one day, I saw a picture of a home meeting of what was called a Nichiren Buddhist meeting, and invited inquiries. I called a number expressing my curiousity, and was invited to attend a meeting. We did.

Well, chanting is a big part of Buddhism, and I enjoyed it though I knew nothing about it etc. After the chanting, they discussed certain points on human relations within the Buddhist membership, along with anyone who might wish to relate a benefit received as a result of practice and study. Each meeting has a different venue, and are held in private homes, once a week. Their is also daily practice, with study or reading involved , twice a day, in the morning and evening, with chanting being the regular part of both.

Well, when our first meeting was over, along with the after meeting chatting, my wife and I were about to leave when the husband host, said to me "CJ, if you chant 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening, your life will do a 180 degree change". As it so happened my wife were having severe financial problems, and me at 83, so I did what the man said and indeed, I chanted, and lo and behold, my life and our lives did change completely. In truth, the practice proved itself. I got a job within that 30 days, and it has been better and better ever since for us.

I will say in closing today's blog, that my wife did not take to the practice as I did, and being basically a serious Christian, she decided to stay with Christianity. She tried it, more to her credit, but in our differences we support each other.

Now, the basis for this blog was supposed to be on affection in families. Showing affection is part of this Buddhist practice and now, we and they, have lots of it. My wife will agree that I have changed much for the better because of my turning to Nichiren Buddhism, and good things continue.

If anyone in my future blogs, whether it be in religion or politics, has any desire to have dialogue on differences in religions, and get into why I love and enjoy this Buddhism, then I will be happy to share thoughts and ideas.     Cheers.  Back soon.     CJ 

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Greetings friends--TGIF huh?


1. Well, today I am going to repeat some background of my life from a religious perspective, so when we get active within the blog dialogue, you will know why I chose the subject matter, and what it has meant to my life, which has been a long one.

As I mentioned in my first blog, I was born a Presbyterian Minister's son. He was crippled when he was young, from Infantile Paralysis, and as an adult, had a badly shriveled left leg and walked with a cane.

I recall that he was considered a very good Preacher, and he patterned his sermons and delivery after the well know Billy Sunday, an Evangelist of his day, and a pulpit pounder.

He was, in my mind, not a particulatly good father. Very strict, and there was no display of affection by either parent. He also never spared the rod and his favorite punishment tool as a razor strop. Men in those days used a straight razor and needed the strop for sharpening. Let me say, the use and the threat of use of the strop was a sure method to create fear in a kid.

I had one sister, 2 years younger, a red head, and I doubt we ever got along very well. You know, Dad liked her best, thing.?

Mom was a sort of passive mother, though she had her moments of discipline, which most kids need, one time or another. I was no exception, but really, I don't remember ever being, what could be called, a bad kid. A ministers son, you know. I was born a sensitive person of the Cancer sign. My sister was born under the more aggressive Leo sign. My parents were both Geminis. Not a good mixture for a laid back Cancerite.

Mom, though, was an excellent pianist, and fitted very well with the ministry, playing for all church functions. Dad had a great tenor voice, and very good for leading the singing, always vigorous with his voice leadership.

Right here, I make note that Dad died when I was 14. Truth be told, I never felt the least sadness. I sort of faked crying when I was told about his passing. I know that is not a good thing the way I felt, but in defense, if you grow up in a home without affection and hard discipline, you tend not to worry about how you feel about such things. Especially at an immature age as I was at 14, and not aware yet of the fact that kids need affection and uderstanding, plus, Mom and Dad used to have some pretty hot arguments. Altogether, this home atmosphere affected my relationships later, in other marriages, (five, phew!!).

To close this family page, Mom passed at 73 and my sister passed at 68. I have outlived them all.

Now, to get back to the religous impact and my interest in it. After Dad died, I attended church out of habit and the fact that at the time I played violin at a different church I then attended. This lasted about 2 years when I just decided to quit church altogether. I had so many unanswered questions regarding religion, with no answers. Plus mom had very little control over my sister and me. Yes, even so, we were pretty good kids, and she was busy trying to survive as a widow. We both got into trouble later, however, but that is for another time.
 
Geez, I think I could write a book on my life, as memories keep popping up, you know, growing up in the worst depression in memory, And, oh yes, I just recalled that in 1918 I got caught in the flu epidemic that killed millions around the world. I was one of the rare ones who survived, so maybe I was destined to live a long life for a reason, not yet determined. Do you think my dad being a Minister made the difference???
(In a future blog, perhaps we can put that sort of thought on the table for discussion, huh?)
 
This is getting long and don't want to take up more of your time today, so I am going to close for now and continue the first of the week next.    Cheers for a great weekend.      CJ

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

RELIGION or POLITICS - Can we talk??

Good Morning friends, (do I have any out there yet?) Come on, a difference of opinions is good for you!
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Eastern Wisdom:  Everything people say or do is inevitably rooted in the belief that those 

actions will lead to Happiness......... (Lots of disappointment there, ya think?)
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Anyway, in my last blog I discussed a column by Leonard Pitts of a Miami newspaper entitled "Christian Terrorism is here", basically stating that we in America are conditioned to the idea that terrorism is isolated to the Islamic religion, and their violence done by men with long beards who jabber in weird languages, with the religion itself teaching them to kill and destroy all infidels (whites). 

Then Pitts went on to site cases of Christian type terrorism, one group in Michigan, called Hutaree, and cited its alleged plan to kill in the name of God, the aim to motivate a move against our government. Then observing that Christians and whites in general have held a hard, immutable line between Us and Them, but that that line is quite possibly, thinner than you think.

Well, that Pitts column came home to roost here in Bradenton, Fl., where I live, when today, three opinions came out today in the local newspaper, in the Letters to the Editor section of the Opinion Page. One headed with "Leonard Pitts violence against truth evident", the writer observing that the so-called Christian evil doers may not be Christians at all, and that if they were by some stretch, they would receive strong public condemnation from real Christians.

By contrast, he points out that when Muslim terrorists ply their grisly trade, the silence from "mainstream" Muslims is deafening. Then he closes with "but then Leonard Pitts is not famous for his love of facts. 

The SECOND contributor heads his opinions with "Christian terrorists violate the Bible, Koran backs violence". He points out The Christian Terrorsits loons violate the Commands of Christ, like "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, but I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also".

OR, "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your father in Heaven". .........(Now how do you feel about that??????)

Then the writer cites this about the case with Islamic terrorists who have the following Koranic verses to back their actions. "Fight and slay the pagans wherever you find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every strategem".

OR, Take NOT the Jews and the Christians as friends, they are but friends with each other.

This writer closes with this opinion....During the cold war, liberals were constantly trying to find moral equivalents between the U.S. and the Soviets. Now they are doing the same thing between Islam and Christianity. Then finally, Mr. Pitts once again reminds us why it is so dangerous to allow the Left to Govern.

The THIRD writer headed his contribution with "Pitts' terrorist column offensive to Christians". Continues with, "We are not allowed to say Muslim terrorist (even if the terrorist is a Muslim". We don't say Islam terrorist so why do we think it important to label Christians as terrorists?

Then asks, would it not be more appropriate to label terrorists as terrorists with no other description? Adding, that "I am a Christian and I am offended by the remarks". (Ummmm, what's the point?")

I am always amazed at Letters to the Editor and the things that people get riled up over and then feel so strongly as to get their, sometimes, rediculously biased opinions in print. You could start a war in the section if you would allow it. Oh well, everyone is entitled, so come on people get with me here and let;s get some controversy, huh?    Cheers.     CJ
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People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. (Think about it)

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Monday, April 12, 2010

RELIGION or POLITICS - Can we talk??

Greetings friends, hope you all had a good weekend. I did.

******************************************************************************************
Eastern Wisdom.....

THE CHOICES WE MAKE IN THOUGHTS, WORDS AND DEEDS, WILL

INEVITABLY RETURN IN KIND.

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In my last blog I discussed an article written by Leonard Pitts of the Miami Herald. It was entitled "Christian terrorism is here". (Check my archive)

The jist of the story was, that we are sort of trained by the media to think of the Islamic state as the home of terrorism and of course we are familiar with this history, and I think they have earned the reputation since Islam religion teaches of the white infidels and the need to destroy them for the good of their world.

However, Pitts sites a series of cases of white terrorism (previous blog), the most recent was the report of an outfit named Hutaree, a self-styled Christian militia in Michigan, 9 members of which were arrested and accused of plotting to kill police officers in hopes of sparking an anti-government uprising. Hmph, as if our present admin weren't already giving us reasons to uprise. But certainly not a violent one.

Anyway, midway through the article Pitts suggests that it would seem that there is still a hard immutable line between Us And Them.

To go on, Pitts writes, that, consider Hutaree and its alleged plan to kill in the name of God, and that this similarity to those bearded ones is proof enough that we have been led to believe erroneously about Islamic terrorists, so we could sleep better at night. Well, I don't know about that. He points out our worst "terror act" was done by Tim McVeigh who destroyed a federal building, killing 168 people. That is a far cry from the nearly 3000 in the 9/11 attack. But I suppose one could say terrorism is terrorism no matter the destruction and deaths. What do YOU think?

To proceed in Pitts reference to the Hutaree, who said on their Web site, quote, "Preparing for the end time battles to, "keep the testimony of Jesus Christ alive".

He suggests that it makes you wonder: who is this Jesus they worship, and in what Bible is he found?

Why does he not resemble the Jesus others find in their Bibles? The Jesus who said when someone hits you on your right cheek, offer him your left. Or if someone forces you to walk one mile with him, go two. Or who said "love your enemies"?

And, why do Hutarees think their Jesus needs the help of men in camo fatigues with guns and bombs? So, is this not just like the Allah for whom certain Muslims blow up marketplaces and crowded buses?

Pitts finally reasons that the only thing that keeps us from becoming, say, like Afghanistan, is a strong central goverment and a diverse population with a robust tradition of Free speech.

The thinking that there is something more is at present enhanced by a sense of cultural dislocation and economic uncertainty. That combination unfailingly moves people out to the fringes where they seek out scapegoats and embrace that feeble God that seems to need the fanatics help.

Pitts is not really siding in, asking to overlook Islam since we have the rabids too, but does suggest this fine line is "thinner that you think".

So what do YOU think? Come on, get in the game and bring your thoughts and words to the table. I'll keep pushing buttons until some body responds. Cheers, CJ

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More Eastern Wisdom....."What would your current frustrations look like from the vantage point of the final days of your life?????

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Saturday, April 10, 2010

RELIGION or POLITICS - Can we talk??

Greetings friends,

I trust everyone has had a good week. I did.

I had a check-up group of tests done a few weeks ago, and yesterday went in to get a report. After looking through the numbers etc., Doc turned and said "these are like for a man 35", congratulations! Needless to say, I was surprised, happy, and grateful. I will add to you, reader, only that I am much, much older than 35.

My last blog was on politics, and I, as is in my premise, am trying to mix these blogs up between religions and politics so we can have interesting and a variety of discussions on both, as the tide of news dictates. A carry over, do listen and get acquainted with Glenn Beck, if you haven't already. The more I listen to his TV program 5 p.m. EDT, the more I admire his talents, his knowledge, and his leadership toward saving America from its present trend to Marxism and Socialism. He, in my opinion, will go down in history as the biggest factor in awakening the country to its present dangers, and getting America back in line with what the founders of this country had in mind when they formed its Constitution, a guide which led to our greatness..

Anyway, today, I am reverting back to religion, for as readers know or will know, that it is my opinion that "religions are our weakest link", the subject matter of which I want to throw up for discussion from time to time.

Now, to go on, I was piqued by an article by Leonard Pitts of the Miami Herald, the title of which was; "Christian terrorism" is here.

This rather jarring head line would stir most people, like me, who pretty much believe that religious terrorism is of Islamic origin. He calls this a self-deluding fallacy, and that it should have been apparent to anyone who is paying attention.

He went on to point out the record of Christian terrorism.

Like, Eric Rudolph bombing the Atlantic Olympics, a gay night club and two abortion clinics.

Then to Phineas Priests who bombed banks, a newspaper and a Planned Parenthood Office in Spokane.

Then from, Matt Hale soliciting the murder of a federal judge in Chicago, to Scott Roeder's assas-ination of abortion provider, Dr. George Tiller.

From brothers Matthew and Tyler Williams murdering a gay couple near Redding, CA., to Timothy McVeigh destroying a federal building and 168 lives in Oklahoma City, and that we have seen no shortage of "Christians" who believe Jesus requires--or at least allows--them to commit murder.

One more. If federal officials are correct, there is Hutaree, a self-styled Christian militia in Michi-gan, nine members of which have been arrested and accused of plotting to kill police officers in hope is sparking an inti-government uprising.

It is suggested that many of us would probably resist referring to plots like these as Christian terrorism, feeling it is unfair to tar the great body of Christendom with the actions of its fringe radicals. Well, how about the Muslims who might raise their on eyebrows in protest.

Right here Pitts suggests that there is a larger moral to this story that it has to do less with ter-minologies than similarities.

You see, we are conditioned to think of terror wrought by Islamic fundamentalists as strange and alien. It is the violence of men with long beards who jabber in weird languages and kill for mysterious reasons, while worshipping God in ways that seem outlandish to middle America sensibilities.

That this strange way of practicing such a religion, leads us to believe there is a hard. immutable line between us and Them.

Now, readers, my time is up for now, so please hang in there with me and I will complete this interesting take in my next blog. I so appreciate you, you and YOU, so do come back and please feel free to express your opinions too. Or comments. Debate and dialogue is good for those who like to think and believe there is always two sides to a discussion. Cheers CJ

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

RELIGION or POLITICS - Can we talk??

Greetings friends,

Well, I just want to complete the Model Separation Agreement I started a couple days ago. It is so well written by a college Law student and very appropo.

And it was addressed to American Liberals, Leftists, Social Progressives, Socialists, Marxists, and Obama Supporters et al:


You can make nice with Iran and Palestine and we'll retain the right to invade and hammer places that threaten us. You can have the Peaceniks and war protesters. When our allies or our way of life is under assault, we'll help provide them security.

We'll keep our Judeo-Christian values... you are welcome to Islam, Scientology, Humanism, and Shirley McClain. You can also have the U.N., but we will no longer be paying the bill.

We'll keep the SUV's, pickup trucks and oversized luxury cars. You can take every Subaru station wagon you can find.

You can give everyone healthcare if you can find any practicing doctors. We''ll continue to believe healthcare is a luxury and not a Right. We'll keep the Battle Hymn of the Republic and the National Anthem. I'm sure you'll be happy to substitute Imagine, I'd like to Teach the World to Sing, and Kum Ba Ya or We are the World.

We'll practice trickle down economics and you can give trickle up poverty your best shot. Since it often so offends you, we'll keep our History, our Name and Flag.

Would you agree to this? If so, please pass it along to other like minded liberal and conservative patriots and if you do not Agree, just hit delete. In the spirit of friendly parting, I'll bet you which one of us will need help in 15 years.

Sincerely,
John J. Wall
Law Student and an American

P.S. Also, please take Ted Turner, Sean Penn, Martin Sheen, Barbara Streisand & Jane Fonda with you.

P.S.S. And we won't have to press 1 for English.


So now, my friends, since this Divorce Agreement will never get to the courts, we can only emphasize that we must stay alert and active in the political arena, because Obama's whole life has been in the company of Marxist thinkers from childhood, and even now, his main advisers in government, the most recent being Jim Wallace, are hard Marxists. On top of that his whole religous connections have been as a member of Marxist churches, like in Rev. Wright.

Even in Obama's speeches and his actions as President have been in support of Fundamentally Transforming America to one we neither recognize nor want. Again folks, like him or not, you would do well to listen to Glenn Beck and his TV program at 5 p.m. each afternoon, 5 days a week. He not only makes his claims emphatically, but he backs each one with proof.

Anyway for those with any sense, and who have an interest in religion and/or politics and like controversy, stay tuned. In my very first blog, I gave a bit of my background and why I dabble here in these topics. I am going to give specific background shortly and you'll understand why I have long thought that "Religions are our Weakest Link".

I welcome responses and opposite opinions and thoughts. Bring 'em to the table folds and let's kick 'em around. Cheers CJ

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

RELIGION or POLITICS - Can we talk??

Hello friends,

I am sorry, but yesterday I blogged out an article written by a college Law Student, which was terrific if you are an up-right American citizen, who loves this country of ours, and I left out an important paragraph from right in the beginning so please give it a look.

You will remember it started out addressed to:

AMERICAN LIBERALS, LEFTISTS, SOCIAL PROGRESSIVES, SOCIALISTS, MARXISTS, and OBAMA LOVERS, et al:

(This is the paragraph I left out)

We have stuck together since the late 1950's, but the whole of this latest election process has made me realize that I want a divorce......

I know we tolerated each other for many years for the sake of future generations, but sadly, this relationship has run its course. Our two ideological sides of America cannot and will not ever agree on what is right, so let's just end it on friendly terms. WE can smile and chalk it up to irreconcilabable differences and go our own way.


And the article went on from there by presenting the writer's MODEL SEPERATION AGREEMENT. If this is your first visit check my blog for 4/6/10 yesterday and get in on the rest of it. For the right thinking people, it is not to be missed, so check it out.

Oh, and I apologize for not finishing the whole article yesterday, and will later on today or early tomorrow. Cheers CJ

Monday, April 5, 2010

RELIGION or POLITICS - Can we talk??

Happy new week, everyone...........

My blog today is back in the realm of politics and it is a dinger, especially if you happen to be a conservative, a dissatisfied Democrat or Republican, and/or just plain fed up to your nose with this administration. I know there is a big move to stop what is going on, that will surely impact the next election so, keep the faith. Now, if you are too dumb to listen to Glenn Beck, you will wake up one day and find this country is gone, as it was designed to be, a Republic, and as such built itself into the greatest country in the world. AMERICANS like it that way, so WAKE UP!!

I cannot even begin to fathom what sort of person, born into this country, who now wants to wreck it. Why????????? It is JUST plain NUTS. Hey if the shoe fits, wear it and use it to take a hike to Europe, China or wherever you think is better.



Here we go! This article was sent to me a couple days ago, and the guy who wrote it, difinitely "HIT A HOME RUN". The only bad thing is we can only wish it were possible. The chap who wrote it, is a young Law student and destined to be politician of note in the future, or a damned good lawyer.

Anyway, he wants a divorce from everyone in Congress and the administration, and here is his DIVORCE AGREEMENT.




This is to: AMERICAN LIBERALS, LEFTISTS, SOCIAL PROGRESSIVES, SOCIALISTS,
MARXISTS, and OBAMA SUPPORTERS, et al:


HERE IS THE MODEL SEPARTION AGREEMENT

Our two groups can equitably divide up the country by landmass each taking a portion. That will be the difficult part, but I am sure our two sides can come to a friendly agreement. After that, it should be relatively easy! Our representatives can effortlessly divide other assets since both sides have such a distinct and disparate tastes.


We don't like redistributive taxes so you can keep them. You are welcome to the liberal judges and the ACLU. Since you hate guns and War, we'll take our firearms, the cops, the NRA and the military. "YOU can keep Oprah, Michael Moore and Rosie O'Donnell. You are, however, respon-sible for finding a bio-diesel vehicle big enough to move all three of them".



We'll keep the capitalism, greedy corporations, pharmaceutical companies, Wal-Mart, and Wall Street. .......... YOU can have your beloved Homeless, homeboys, hippies, and illegal aliens. We keep the hot Alaska hocky moms, greedy CEO's and rednecks. We'll keep the Bibles and give you NBC and Hollywood.



My friend, this is not the end of this article, but I will finish it in my next blog. Please copy this part so you tie it all together so you can spread it around. We need to keep up the heat.

Cheerio, be back within 48 hours. You will love the final paragraphs CJ

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Saturday, April 3, 2010

RELIGION or POLITICS - Can we talk??

Happy Saturday y'all.

A couple days ago, I started my blog, but didn't finish, so will do so today. To recap, if you had happened on to my blog, you will remember the title of it as "When religious zeal displaces the truth from history books". This was initiated by a comment from a caller on a conservative radio show, hosted that day by a Mark Davis. The caller, of course, was a listener responding to a comment by a previous caller. It was the latter who stated that Buddhism was older than Christianity.

The second caller was offended, and stated that Christianity was the oldest. Then despite the fact that Davis tried to explain that Buddhism dates between the 4th and 6th century, B.C. (before Christ), still the offended caller insisted that the Creator was a "Christian God" from the very beginning of the world, and thus, Christianity had been in existence since creation, therefore, absolutely no religion is older.

As a matter of fact, Buddhism is, I think, the 3rd oldest behind Confucious and Hinduism, though I am not completely sure about the first two, but Christianity is not in the grouping.

Anyway, you get the picture and so we go on. The writer of the article arrived home still puzzled by what had brought on such an tense discussion. He turned on his computer and his TV almost simultaneously, and came upon the Tiger Woods confession of his adultery. Now, if that wasn't bad enough, Tiger also had to mention his Buddhist faith. Well, those who were already jumping on Tiger for his adulteress escapades, questioned, how, on top of that, could Tiger believe in any religion other than Christianity. Hmmmph! Let's hang him!!!

It was the writer, a Christian, who wondered "what makes religious people, especially Christians, so arrogant, and frankly, so bigoted. That is the sort of thing that led me to think and say, in my opinion, religions are our weakest link. I suppose it is a human thing, to be a Presbyterian, say, and believe that they are better than a Methodist or Baptist. In any case, it is a type of separation that remains constant, and leads to bad feelings and biased judgements.

As Sanders, the writer said " Even within the faith, depending on one's denomination, there are those who are ready to proclaim your place in hell", and if you don't believe what I believe, Christian or not, hell is definitely reserved for you.

Yeah, religion and politics don't mix, but if you think of the politicians and the fact that those we have in office right now, who think they know better what is good and best for you, which doesn't sound much different than the separation in religions. But no matter how you twist it, separation is not good and with so much of it, the chance for peace and happiness with the populace is out the window. And that, my friends, is what the politicians want, keep the citizenry split, and we can control them.

Getting back to religion, why is it so hard for so many to find it impossible to respect other people's beliefs. Do you think it is because there is so much distrust today in about every field of human endeavor. Even neighbors don't speak to each other. I live in a small community of, mainly seniors, and many whom you meet in a walk around won't speak or give any indication of friendliness. Today, people are really afraid of the future. And if. as a Buddhist, I dare ask, where are the ministry leaders of the variety of religions on sunday, where they ought to collectively be aware of this separation and try to convince people this condition is not Christianity and get the religions to blend their memberships into accepting differences as a means of easing this "separation". They could try the many principles of Buddhism like,--seeking wisdom, respecting others, and leading a moral life.

I believe as does Sanders the writer, that so-called Christians act like feuding children, bragging about whose God is the biggest, oldest, boldest, with each denomination's own religious teachings more divine, and whose faith will get them to heaven. It is almost like they think each have their own private heaven, like a country club, maybe. Do YOU think, if you are a Christian, that your God would be pleased with this kind of childish bickering?

I close this blog now, with this thought. When I was a Christian, I often wondered, since one tends to think this way, that this God, who looks like Jesus or you or me, a human figure anyway, how can any one person or figure hear me, you, and millions of others all at the same time, and then have time to think, I'll help this person, but not that person. Or I think I will let this person live to a ripe age, but I let these kids die. Or, the only time this persons seeks my help does he/she come to me in prayer. Oh well, guess I'll help them anyway, or not.

To me, that leads people-worshipers to be dependent on this God figure way out there somewhere, and it is taught that way So, like, if HE doesn't help me I can't do it. And then you ask "Why me".

I leave a lot of room for dialogue and differences of opinion, and so I leave for just a short this segment of "Religions Or Politics"? Will continue shortly. so come on, comment.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

RELIGION or POLITICS - Can we talk??

Hello friends.

For today just a little change of pace. As my title indicates, my first two posts were on politics, so now a bit of religion. Don't let that scare you off if you are not religious, because almost everyone is aware of their spirituality, so I think you will find it interesting and worth while, especially if you disagree. I enjoy controversy in honest and friendly dialogue.

Anyway, I was reading an article commentary by Bob Ray Sanders. I don't know him. The title of his article was "When religious zeal displaces the truth from history books".

On his way to work one day Sanders was listening to his car radio to a local conservative talk show. There was a caller who called to correct the Host of the show Mark Davis, who had offended the listener by implying or saying that Buddhism was older than Christianity. During the pursuing dailogue the caller continued to insist--as the Host attempted to interrupt--there was no religion older than Christianity.

The writer thought as he listened, "Surely he doesn't believe this".

Davis went on to delicately explain that Buddhism dates to between the 4th and 6th century B.C., as in before Christ and obviously a religion that preceded Christianity.

As the writer turned into his garage the last words he heard were from the caller, who vigorously explained, that the Creator was a "Christian God" from the very beginning of the world, and thus, Christianity had been in existence since creation, therefore, no other religion was older. As Davis headed into his office, he said he had to wonder what brought on such an intense conversation.

Being a Buddhist, I of course, knew all this about who was truly the oldest of the two, and I too wondered how the caller could be so misinformed. But, it is a good example of why I think religions actually cause separation between members. There are always fanatics in all of them and some can get pretty over wrought on the subject.

Now my friend I have to go somewhere shortly, so I will have to close for today. However, there is more to the commentary and it gets even better, so I will finish the story my next blog..

My email is: cjbnammyoho@gmail.com . Comments welcome. CJ