My Beliefs Are Mine, So Leave Em Alone!

I've been reading a lot lately about this New Apostlolic Reformation, and boy is my head spinning. First of all, I'm trying to figure out how I somehow was transported from the comfort of my 21st century living room to the superstitous Dark Ages without realizing it. Some of the things the folks associated with this movement spout are the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. I realize that, not being a Christian, I just wouldn't understand. However, even when I was a Christian, there is no way I would have swallowed this crap.

They claim that natural disasters are caused because the people in those areas have sinned against their god. Really? Ok, first off, natural disasters are, well, NATURAL. Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, volcano eruptions...they are like poo, because it happens. Not to mention the fact that there has been lots of nasty weather recently in areas that are decidely Christian. So what is their excuse for that?

One of their members has even claimed that there is a conspiracy afoot in law enforcement departments across this nation to cover up the ritual sacrifice of babies by their cultist parents. Umm, sure. Another ridiculous claim by said gentleman is that Hilter was sent by god to drive the Jews to Palestine, where god wanted them to be. Really? To the tune of over 6 million DEAD? News flash, you crazy right-wing-nut, Hilter wasn't driving the Jews anywhere, except to the grave. Holy crap on a cracker Batman, with a dude like god helping you out, sounds like you don't need any enemies.

Another thing that confuses me is how some people talk about their god being all about love and forgiveness, but in the same breath, can be easily pissed off, acts like a jealous child denied a toy, and then will rain hellfire and brimstone down on you. Either I'm missing something, or god is seriously bi-polar. I guess I just have a very difficult time wrapping my black-and-white mind around the duality of it all. I've never felt that my goddess would punish me if I were gay, or didn't give money to her church, or made an offering to another goddess or god for a particular reason.

With that being said, I think Jesus was an awesome guy, and very possibly an ascended master. It concerns me that some people take all the great things he taught, and have twisted them to fit into their superstitious, narrow-minded world view. And that is truly a shame. Its almost as if those few people have taken the "terminator" of the old testament and tried to morph it with the gentle teachings of love and tolerance of the new. And to my mind, the experiment failed horribly.

What this group believes, as it comes across to me, is that Jesus loves you and everything is beautiful, but if you don't do things the way we say, his daddy is gonna be sooooo mad at you, and he is gonna send terrible weather patterns and Christian militants to straighten your ass up. And they believe this so hard, they want to "infiltrate" the government (our collective government, mind you) and force this entire country to do things their way. WITH COMPLETE DISREGARD TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT. You know, that amendment that not only allows all of us to believe as we choose, or not to as the case may be, but also allows them to believe that their god sends tsunamis, AIDS, and all kinds of suffering because of belief in other goddesses/gods, same-sex marriage and welfare programs. Do I agree with these beliefs? Obviously not. Do I feel they have the right to believe this way? Absolutely.

What I don't believe is that they have any justification or license to demand that I believe the same way they do. Just like I don't feel I have any right to tell them they have to think the way I do.

Another thing I find almost comical is that these folks seem to think that unless you believe the same way they do, there is no possible way you can be a functioning, productive, moral member of society. That is truly laughable. My mama never took me to church when I was growing up. She believed in god, but we never had any deep theological discussion about religion. But she taught me right from wrong. I knew to be kind to people, and help those that needed help, and learned compassion at her knee, through the example she set for me. Never once did she tell me god would cause bad things to happen if I was bad. And guess what? I've never done anything more illegal than break the speed limit. I know that to kill another person is wrong, unless they were trying their hardest to kill me first. That's not immoral, that's self-defense. I know that to steal is wrong. I have taken things back into a store to pay for them if I got outside and realized that something didn't make it out of the cart at the checkout. And I know that honesty is one of the most important virtues a person can have. My mama taught me all these things, which I now try to teach my children, without the threat of some invisible policeman spying on me and ready to send retribution not only to me, but the entire world if I took one mis-step.

I'm not saying Christianity is wrong, all I'm saying is it is not the path for me, and I believe there is a path for everybody. And the thing that concerns me about groups that try to shove what they believe on others (and Christians have not cornered the market on fundamentalism), is that some of them do attempt to "infiltrate" the government, and they can sometimes fly in under the radar and succeed. By then, it is too late too fight for our rights, because they already will have been stripped.

All I can say is, be kind to each other whenever you can, agree to disagree, live and let live, but also be vigilant about losing the rights that our fore-mothers and -fathers fought so hard to win for us. This is their legacy, and to truly honor and pay tribute to their sacrifices, we must keep that legacy alive.



That is all:)

Your Group Persecuted My Group, So Now My Group Is Going To Persecute You Back, and Persecute Some Other Groups....HUH?

I have never understood the desire to "do unto others as you have been done unto".  Ok, maybe I can sort of understand the whole payback thing, you know, you did something mean to me so now I'm going to do something mean to you.  No, that's not right, but I understand that part.  On an individual basis, of course.

So is it just human nature to generalize?  I mean, why do so many people in this world think its the right thing to be hateful to an entire group just because one or two people of that group have done something to them, or their group in the past?

I was reading an article that urges Christians to pray for the safety of other Christians who may be in Muslim-majority areas during the season of Ramadan.  Ok, I can get with the idea of being concerned for other people, I think that's great.  But that got me thinking about a lot of things.

First of all, although I may not personally agree with enforcing religion on people, I have to respect the idea that if I go to a different country where one religion is it, and that country has laws to uphold the observance of that religion, then I should be respectful of their practices, and also understand that if I were to blantantly disregard that country's laws, I would be punished.  No, it's not right, or humane, in my opinion.  That's why I stay right here, where my right to worship as I please is protected, for the time being that is (which will bring me to another point further down).

Point number two:  Many people have been persecuted for their religious beliefs since the beginning of time, whether they are Pagan, Christian, Muslim, Buddist, Jewish, etc.  So if Christians were fed to the Lions by the Romans, Christians burned witches at the stake and perpetrated "Holy Wars" against Muslims, Muslims perpetrate their own "Holy Wars", Jews were annihilated by the millions, and so on and so on, how exactly does it work to keep fighting each other?  I'm totally on board with the idea that we all need to protect ourselves, but at what point do these religious leaders take a minute and use the brains that their respective goddesses/gods gave them?  When do we all stop and say, hey, maybe I don't agree with what you believe in, but all this fighting and bickering for thousands of years has not gotten us anywhere?  Has any side of the religious debate truly been successful?  Do we all believe the same thing?  No, we don't.  And so what?  So why keep doing it?

My third point, how can a group be persecuted, then turn around and do it to other groups?  Its almost as if the mentality is "well since members of my group are being beaten, tortured and murdered, I'm just going to be hateful to other groups".  Where the hell is the logic in that?  Haven't they heard two wrongs don't make a right?  Somebody, somewhere in this world is going to disagree with you.  And you with them.  Not a problem.  But when you start shoving yourself into somebody else's life, that's crossing the line.  As an example, there is a group of people planning to wage "spriritual warfare" during the Samhain season this year, and they seem to think they can infiltrate the government and dictate how people of this country worship.  How is that any different than the way things work in the Middle East?  It's not, except the deity in question has a different name.

I realize that even though we generalize (as humans, we have some weird compulsion to group things and give them labels) not every single person believes exactly the same thing as someone else in the very same group.  And I truly think that's the way it should be.  So enjoy the fellowship with like-minded individuals, and identify with a group if you want.  But don't be a sheep.  Don't blindly follow along with hatred, just because that's what your group or leaders or whatever says that you should do.  Don't think in terms of "that's wrong", but in terms of "that's wrong because it will actually hurt another person".

Is this really so difficult?

That is all:)

What Really Goes On In Kids' Heads?

I've thought about this quite a few times, and this morning I got to wondering again.  Bean, my youngest daughter, was telling me about a dream she had, where a she and a friend of hers from school went to my cousin's house to hang out with my cousin's kids.  Apparently the friend and my cousin's kids didn't like each other, so the friend tied my cousin's kids up with a rope, and there was a fire under them.  Bean said she saved them.  This makes me wonder what kind of fears she has, under the surface, that maybe she doesn't even realize.  How do I address that?  In the waking hours of daylight, all my kids seem like they have a pretty good handle on things, and they don't walk through the day timid and scared. 

I remember as a child being scared of the big bad world; so much so that as a senior in high school, I had unexplained panic attacks.  Of course, I didn't realize it then; the lens of adulthood and hindsight sharpened that focus.

It makes me realize that there is such a fine line between nurturing your children and making them feel secure and confident, and smothering and protecting them too much to where they fear even living life.  I want to protect them and keep them safe, but I also want them to be strong and sure in their abilities.  I worry that i shelter them too much, so I ease off a little, then I worry that by backing off, I'm throwing them to the wolves!

I've heard it said that if you worry that you are doing the right thing with your kids, then you are doing the right things.  I sure hope so!

That is all:)

Since When Did Animals Become Human, and Subject to Our Rules?

In the county where I live, there was a recent case where a 6 month old child was left alone in a room with a dog.  All the adults in the house at the time, including the child's mother, were in another room.  The dog bit the child on the head, and the poor baby died.  The whole situation is just horrible.  My heart breaks for the baby.  And for the mother.  Granted, I really don't think I would leave my baby in another room with any animal, no matter how well-behaved and domesticated it may be.  But that doesn't mean that we don't all make mistakes at some point or another, and I can't imagine the pain she has to suffer with every day of her life, always thinking to herself, "If only I didn't leave him in there, even for a second".

Now, I'm not exactly a card-carrying member of PETA, but I do have feelings for animals (except for spiders, they are icky!).  I guess that's why I'm surprised that so many people seem to think that putting the dog down was the right thing to do in this situation.  First of all, this dog was an animal.  Animals are part of the NATURAL world.  In other words, they aren't human, and they do what is natural to them.  I think that people in general are very presumptuious in assuming that just because they bring an animal into their home, and love it, and feed it, and take care of it, that their "pet" is just another human roaming around the house.  They aren't.  Animals can be very companionable, and loving, and even so protective of their human companions that they would lay down their lives.  But they are still "natural" beings.  Second of all, although the dog in question was rescued from an abusive home, he had never shown any sign of being aggressive.  He was also deaf, which may have played a part.  Unfortunately, no one will ever know for sure.

So was it right to put him down?  Part of me says no; based on the fact that there were no prior incidents, perhaps there could have been another alternative.  But the other part of me, the one that would kill anything with her bare hands should her children be in danger, says that I'm just not sure.  I'm just thinking that us humans have tried to control Nature for so long, we expect everything in nature to adhere to our rules.  And I think that is a mistake.  

A comment on an article discussing this case is what got me thinking about all this.  In the comment (we'll just say it was written by Bob to make things easy), Bob states that if a human being had killed the baby, they would be charged with murder.  Well, according to Bob, even though the dog carried out the evil deed, it is still murder, and the doggie got his just desserts.  Wow.  Really?  I know dogs are really smart, they learn all kinds of stuff, and can even be trained, but honestly, I think that the belief that a dog understands what murder is, and that it is wrong, is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard in my life!  What next, are we going to put the snakes on trial for killing and eating the mice?!

That is all.

Guns Dont Kill People, People Kill Other People With the Use of Guns (and Knives, Cars, Bombs, Poison....)

I've been reading some things lately concerning our right to bear arms in the United States, and I have to say, it's all been a real head-scratcher.  I'm trying to figure out how restricting my right to own a gun is going to stop terrorists and criminals from doing their thing.  When people want to do something wrong, they will find a way to do it.  I mean, come on folks, they are already doing illegal shit to begin with.  Do you really think that more gun control laws will put them out of business?  These folks apparently lack any respect for common decency, as well as the lives of decent people who are just trying to live their lives.  So what makes the gun control advocates think that changing the laws will have any kind of impact on the criminals?  That they will just retreat with their tails between their legs, change their ways, and become hardworking, productive members of society?  Yeah, ok.  When rainbows start shooting out of my butt!

Another thing that makes me scratch my head is the opinion of Garry McCarthy, Superintendent of Chicago Police.  Apparently, he recently made a speech that suggested that the government is perpetuating racism by not having stronger and more restrictive laws for gun control.  What the hell is that supposed to mean?  Maybe I'm looking at this wrong, but if I were a black person, that statement would completely piss me off.  To me, this guy is saying that black people are no more discerning than children, and that they need the government to tell them what is right and what is wrong.  That maybe they can't handle the heady rush of freedom and power over their own lives.  What a crock of shit!

Well, all that being said, I'll leave with this little tidbit:  Maybe it's about time people started learning how to be responsible, and the government started learning how to make each individual accountable for their actions.  Taking freedoms away from all just because a few dumbasses don't know how to behave doesn't work.  It will just leave the law-abiding citizens vulnerable, and the dumbasses will still be up to their criminal, no-good ways.

That is all:)

Gay Marriage, or, Don't People Have Enough to Concentrate On in Their Own Lives Without Sticking Their Noses in Other Peoples Business

Yes, I've been reading a few articles today on this subject.  And once again, I thought to myself "why are so many people in an uproar over this?"  Ok, I understand that to people on certain spiritual paths, homosexuality is a giant no-no.  That's cool, if your code book says hey that's bad, and you've thought it out for yourself and you feel it's not right, then great.  But does that mean that's not right for someone else?  And why should it bother you?  Granted, if somebody put a gun in your face and told you that you had to be a homosexual when you aren't and it's not the right thing for you personally, then yeah, be pissed.  Otherwise, how is it hurting you that someone else is living their life by their own code, when they aren't forcing anyone else to do something they don't want to do?

Not to minimize the issue, but think of it this way.  I absolutely hate liver.  If someone came up to me and said, you have to eat that liver or die, I really might would consider the dying part.  Honestly, is it hurting that person that I refuse to eat liver?  Nope.  So what's the damn problem here? 

I would like for someone to give me one, just one, rational argument to how gay marriage is going to ruin everybody else's quality of life.  How it is going to completely damage the lives of us heterosexual folks.  I have yet to run across that arguement, and I'm still searching.  I guess because it doesn't exist.  If folks think that a homosexual person is going to hell because of that, well fine, because everybody has an opinion.  But here is a news flash for ya:  IT'S NOT YOUR CALL, EVEN IF THAT WERE TRUE.  If I'm not mistaken, it even says something like that in the code books.

Chill out folks, and worry about the important stuff.  Being happy, nurturing your children, supporting your spouse with love, helping our fellow brothers and sisters in our communities.  Basically, spend a little more time concerning yourself with yourself.  Trust me, you will be happier, and a lot less stressed.

That is all:)

New Beginnings

I am new to this blogging thing, and I figured I'd give it a try.  Obviously, by looking at the page, I'm not the most computer savvy person on the planet:)  But I'm hoping that not only will I have the opportunity to put my thoughts into writing, but this blog will give me the chance to connect with, and learn from, so many other people.  This will certainly be a work in progress, as I learn new things and try to improve my page along the way.