Whoa. What? Yeah, no, it's pagan. Kind of ironic, eh?
Some examples from history…
Christmas; pagan.
Easter; pagan.
Hell; pagan.
Crosses; pagan.
Virgin mothers...also, pagan.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying a man named Jesus didn’t walk the earth, but I think we can all agree, the folks who’ve been preachin’ his “good news” for nearly 1800 years didn’t get it right.
One might say they deviated a bit from the "words in red" in their good book.
E.g., the Christ they profess to worship and adore said:
Judge not ... omg. need i say more? it seems to me Christians spend a lot of time pointing their fingers at others peoples' "sins", and little time focusing on their own. maybe they convince themselves that because their "hearts are right with God" (an invented phrase not found in their bible. [sacrilege!]) that they can safely condemn another to hell? I was recently informed that “there’s a list” in their book of Revelation citing all those who are going to “burn in the lake of fire for all eternity”, so apparently, the guy who wrote that supercedes their forgiving Christ. Jesus was so soft.
Love your enemies… they appear to be convinced they must kill their enemies before their enemies kill them. it's like they're afraid to die, as if they’re not quite sure where they’d end up. hm. of course, they’re not afraid to send their enemy straight to hell, in a loving manner, i guess.
Do unto others… I guess Christians must like to be belittled, criticized, and sentenced to eternal damnation and then sent there, asap, “cuz you never know what them crazy sinners are gonna do. better just put ‘em out of their misery.” but, seriously, do unto most Christians as they just did unto you, and beware, honey, they just might praise the lord and pass the ammunition your way, if you get my drift.
Also funny is that the wars are all righteous wars and everyone is fighting for their respective, loving God (capital G, of course!).
But the weirdest, most ironic thing of all is:
In their good book (in Revelations, again), there is a story about “Mystery Babylon, Mother of Harlots,” which some modern-day “Protesant” churches believe is the Catholic Church. They believe this church will come to ruin in the “last days” because of its evil. And isn't it? Now, I’m not one to judge, but if an organization can’t follow its own rules, why would anyone listening to its teachings? I’m guessing fear of authority and control of the masses are two phrases destined to be worked into this conversation. After all, the formerly mentioned entity has a particularly long and bloody history. Enter the protestants who condemn the old way and condone the new, right way to believe in and be saved by THE ONE TRUE GOD, or burn in hell. Well, they are not unlike their “mother” the “harlot” (a quote about fruits and trees comes to mind, here).
They’re reading a book compiled by men, for a specific purpose, 200 years after their Christ lived. Since then, many lost gospels and other writings have been found which were omitted from their perfect word of god. And since it’s perfect, who can refute anything quoted from it? (Isn’t that a nice little, built-in argument winner?) And, even if the book is directly breathed from god's mouth into the writers’ ears, who decided how to interpret its meaning? Of course, they and they’re pastor prayed about it, so their version must be right. (I think I just quoted myself. Heh heh.) Can anyone else see a pattern of indoctrination and abuse of power? Not to mention deception, murder, molestation, genocide, infanticide…
So, Alanis, this is ironic! The guys who’ve all along been preaching/legislating righteousness aren’t, never were, don’t care, just want you to be a good, quiet little mouse and eat your government cheese, and be glad, and if you don’t you might find a big mousetrap outside your front door.
Oh, and tithe.
Yours,
D
P.S. and I believe all that "end of days" death and destruction will probably happen at their hands… a little too ironic...and way too soon.
P.P.S. From Paul’s 1st letter to the Corinthians, chapter 13, Holy Bible:
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
how i'm gw, etc. pt 2. (why i returned to the p.o.)
If you read my profile, you'll see I was raised Catholic, and went through various stages of protestantism, to become a devoted pantheist. Thank me. So, it might not surprise you to learn that, for years, I felt a "call" to be a missionary in Africa. I have always wanted to go there and suspect, once I go, I'll want to stay.
That being said, I was sitting at work, a few years back, processing images of mail on my computer screen, thinking about what a wonderfully well-paying and secure job I had, and pondering how many years I had worked many horrific jobs (and some not too bad ones), and how blessed I felt at that moment. As I was relishing how far I'd come, and pondering where the future might take me, the thought came into my head, "You're going to have to give this all up, someday."
To which another voice retorted, "oh, yeah?"
The first voice continued, "yes, one day, you'll just have to take a leap of faith."
And at the precise moment the word "leap" popped into my head, the word "leap" popped up on my computer screen, on the next envelope I was to process. Right there, in the upper left corner, where most people put their return address (who wouldn't put it there? and why not? [helpful postal hint]) was the single word, "leap!"
Needlesstosay, I would have soiled my undies, had I been wearing any. (jk, I usually wear something between me and my jeans.) But, wouldn't you want to crap yourself? So, the voices in my head argued back and forth for a bit, until the voice I'll call "me" said, "Omg, ok. I'll do it, but you'll have to tell me when, and I better know it's you, 'God.'"
Of course, this is all part of why I quit, when I decided I was God and I didn't need no job (see previous blog). I had recently had several dreams in which I took a flying leap only to have the softest of landings. So, when I decided to quit, I just didn't show up the next day (you could be fired for that, immediately, you know. they'll do it.), and, a day later, walked into my bosses office, handed him my badge, and said, "it's been nice working with ya."
He surprised me by saying, "I figured you'd say that to me one day," and a bunch o' other cool stuff that left me confident I had made the correct choice.
Of course, once people started finding out, some went ballistic and lectured me (Come on, guys, I'm an adult) and others just gently asked the story and made sure I knew what I was doing, and just suggested I reconsider. Aaaaah. I listened whole-heartedly to them all, but respectfully disagreed.
So, let's recap. We got the birthday/anniversary/wisconsin/george-washington-look-a-like mask thing and the whole "who needs a job", and the soft landings...
So, of course, as I realize, I might get hungry without my fat paycheck, I go online and lookup overseas jobs. Now, everyone, and I mean, everyone has told me not to quit my postal job, to keep my insurance and my security, (and visit africa, first, and then later, maybe go there longer, etc,) but I am sure that, being God, I'll survive without it. And I was expecting that soft landing, but I didn't expect to type in the words "overseas jobs" and have the first hit to pop up be "united states postal service". Ccome on! And, of course, as I looked at the wedsites that listed jobs, I realized I might have trouble finding a position with no degree, and only clerical experience. So, I started looking at volunteering, but they all require that you have your own health insurance. Um, I was like, ok, I wonder if my soft landing of the dreams was the cushy job I already have, and since, "if a man doesn't work, he shall not eat," sounds reasonable, I might as well keep the fine job I already had.
I went back the day before my resignation would have taken effect and the h.r. lady about cried telling me how glad she was I came back. (Well, her husband had recently died, so she related how she had wished all the folks who praised him at his funeral had been able to tell him those things to his face. I almost cried, too.)
Now wasn't that was an adventure? And now, two years later, I have to find employment elsewhere, whether I like it or not. My worksite is closing. It'll be cool to see where I land this time. Don't worry, I'll keep you posted.
Yours,
D
P.S. Thanks for your patience and comments. :]
That being said, I was sitting at work, a few years back, processing images of mail on my computer screen, thinking about what a wonderfully well-paying and secure job I had, and pondering how many years I had worked many horrific jobs (and some not too bad ones), and how blessed I felt at that moment. As I was relishing how far I'd come, and pondering where the future might take me, the thought came into my head, "You're going to have to give this all up, someday."
To which another voice retorted, "oh, yeah?"
The first voice continued, "yes, one day, you'll just have to take a leap of faith."
And at the precise moment the word "leap" popped into my head, the word "leap" popped up on my computer screen, on the next envelope I was to process. Right there, in the upper left corner, where most people put their return address (who wouldn't put it there? and why not? [helpful postal hint]) was the single word, "leap!"
Needlesstosay, I would have soiled my undies, had I been wearing any. (jk, I usually wear something between me and my jeans.) But, wouldn't you want to crap yourself? So, the voices in my head argued back and forth for a bit, until the voice I'll call "me" said, "Omg, ok. I'll do it, but you'll have to tell me when, and I better know it's you, 'God.'"
Of course, this is all part of why I quit, when I decided I was God and I didn't need no job (see previous blog). I had recently had several dreams in which I took a flying leap only to have the softest of landings. So, when I decided to quit, I just didn't show up the next day (you could be fired for that, immediately, you know. they'll do it.), and, a day later, walked into my bosses office, handed him my badge, and said, "it's been nice working with ya."
He surprised me by saying, "I figured you'd say that to me one day," and a bunch o' other cool stuff that left me confident I had made the correct choice.
Of course, once people started finding out, some went ballistic and lectured me (Come on, guys, I'm an adult) and others just gently asked the story and made sure I knew what I was doing, and just suggested I reconsider. Aaaaah. I listened whole-heartedly to them all, but respectfully disagreed.
So, let's recap. We got the birthday/anniversary/wisconsin/george-washington-look-a-like mask thing and the whole "who needs a job", and the soft landings...
So, of course, as I realize, I might get hungry without my fat paycheck, I go online and lookup overseas jobs. Now, everyone, and I mean, everyone has told me not to quit my postal job, to keep my insurance and my security, (and visit africa, first, and then later, maybe go there longer, etc,) but I am sure that, being God, I'll survive without it. And I was expecting that soft landing, but I didn't expect to type in the words "overseas jobs" and have the first hit to pop up be "united states postal service". Ccome on! And, of course, as I looked at the wedsites that listed jobs, I realized I might have trouble finding a position with no degree, and only clerical experience. So, I started looking at volunteering, but they all require that you have your own health insurance. Um, I was like, ok, I wonder if my soft landing of the dreams was the cushy job I already have, and since, "if a man doesn't work, he shall not eat," sounds reasonable, I might as well keep the fine job I already had.
I went back the day before my resignation would have taken effect and the h.r. lady about cried telling me how glad she was I came back. (Well, her husband had recently died, so she related how she had wished all the folks who praised him at his funeral had been able to tell him those things to his face. I almost cried, too.)
Now wasn't that was an adventure? And now, two years later, I have to find employment elsewhere, whether I like it or not. My worksite is closing. It'll be cool to see where I land this time. Don't worry, I'll keep you posted.
Yours,
D
P.S. Thanks for your patience and comments. :]
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