Cellar Heat Test Blog
This blog is to test the Cellar Heat template in Blogger with various types of posts.
See the template bottom for copyrights and credits; this version of Cellar Heat was created by Jimmy Oh - Great Stuff eh?
..enjoy, it's a beautiful template, I think..
..the Jman..
See the template bottom for copyrights and credits; this version of Cellar Heat was created by Jimmy Oh - Great Stuff eh?
..enjoy, it's a beautiful template, I think..
..the Jman..
Common Sense Capitalism or Am I Nuts?
National Rage Blog
..I'm listening to the Republican reaction to President Obama's speech to Congress. I'm amazed at how they never really say anything new, but "lower taxes, stimulate the economy" and "we need less government" - naturally.
Well, we just had less government in the form of deregulation of banking, look at the result. We may as well have handed all those executives blank checks in the name of their companies, "here's billions to play with, and no federal oversight - go stimulate the economy". Of course, a lot of the money went overseas, stimulating other economies at the expense of our own. Call it "outsourcing", or simply investments in emerging economies, the simple fact is our money flowed out, not much came back.
If we leave it all up to capitalists, the results would have been even worse, and quicker. We have public committee oversight of utilities to keep them from making mistakes with energy we all need to survive. Why NOT the same for the banking industry? We act like they must be responsible fiscally, they have business or economic degrees. Well, the federal reserve had 1600 economists (with degrees) working full-time before this crisis occurred, and it still happened.
One side blames Congress, the other the President, but the simple fact for decades has been that the Republicans argue for more and more de-regulation and when they get it, it simply fails. They tried in England, and Prime Minister Thatcher had to end de-regulation after U.S. corporations raised water and utility rates 200-300% and go back to basically nationalization of the utilities. They tried it in Argentina, through pressure from the IMF and World Bank who was refusing that government loans unless they went with de-regulation, let U.S. corporations in and concurrently cut the average wages by 25%. Argentina gave in, got the loan, the result was massive demonstrations, rioting, martial law, death squads, and the 'disappeared'.
The facts have always proven out that capitalists will always seek the most profit for the least cost, and the public pays. Ironic, because the corporations need the public as consumers, else no sales, no profits, no corporations over time. They need to realize a healthy, well-paid consumer equates to successful sales and profits, and capitalism succeeds.
This means, higher costs paid to workers would benefit them overall, but no one company wants to raise wages. Less taxes for workers, more taxes for corporations would also increase consumerism, but how many do you hear say that works. Corporations say they pass on the taxes to consumers, so you're raising prices on them, but how about they simply make less money per year, instead of more and more? A healthy but sustainable profit is more valuable over time than ridiculously high profits that bankrupt everyone, such as when oil was $145 per barrel.
They can't charge us more and more annually for the same stuff and think that a six-hundred dollar rebate makes up for the daily gouging we go through on both sides: higher prices and wages that don't keep up. This is the real root of the problem, the system as it is operating doesn't work over time, more of the wealth produced has to be given to the working class, the consumers that pay for all the profits with purchases.
Having a few more millionaires buying expensive boats doesn't stimulate the overall economy, it's time we gave up that ridiculous pipe dream: most of us will never get wealthy from capitalism, we'll simply work for a wage all our lives and hope to live comfortably, and that should be enough.
..I'm listening to the Republican reaction to President Obama's speech to Congress. I'm amazed at how they never really say anything new, but "lower taxes, stimulate the economy" and "we need less government" - naturally.
Well, we just had less government in the form of deregulation of banking, look at the result. We may as well have handed all those executives blank checks in the name of their companies, "here's billions to play with, and no federal oversight - go stimulate the economy". Of course, a lot of the money went overseas, stimulating other economies at the expense of our own. Call it "outsourcing", or simply investments in emerging economies, the simple fact is our money flowed out, not much came back.
If we leave it all up to capitalists, the results would have been even worse, and quicker. We have public committee oversight of utilities to keep them from making mistakes with energy we all need to survive. Why NOT the same for the banking industry? We act like they must be responsible fiscally, they have business or economic degrees. Well, the federal reserve had 1600 economists (with degrees) working full-time before this crisis occurred, and it still happened.
One side blames Congress, the other the President, but the simple fact for decades has been that the Republicans argue for more and more de-regulation and when they get it, it simply fails. They tried in England, and Prime Minister Thatcher had to end de-regulation after U.S. corporations raised water and utility rates 200-300% and go back to basically nationalization of the utilities. They tried it in Argentina, through pressure from the IMF and World Bank who was refusing that government loans unless they went with de-regulation, let U.S. corporations in and concurrently cut the average wages by 25%. Argentina gave in, got the loan, the result was massive demonstrations, rioting, martial law, death squads, and the 'disappeared'.
The facts have always proven out that capitalists will always seek the most profit for the least cost, and the public pays. Ironic, because the corporations need the public as consumers, else no sales, no profits, no corporations over time. They need to realize a healthy, well-paid consumer equates to successful sales and profits, and capitalism succeeds.
This means, higher costs paid to workers would benefit them overall, but no one company wants to raise wages. Less taxes for workers, more taxes for corporations would also increase consumerism, but how many do you hear say that works. Corporations say they pass on the taxes to consumers, so you're raising prices on them, but how about they simply make less money per year, instead of more and more? A healthy but sustainable profit is more valuable over time than ridiculously high profits that bankrupt everyone, such as when oil was $145 per barrel.
They can't charge us more and more annually for the same stuff and think that a six-hundred dollar rebate makes up for the daily gouging we go through on both sides: higher prices and wages that don't keep up. This is the real root of the problem, the system as it is operating doesn't work over time, more of the wealth produced has to be given to the working class, the consumers that pay for all the profits with purchases.
Having a few more millionaires buying expensive boats doesn't stimulate the overall economy, it's time we gave up that ridiculous pipe dream: most of us will never get wealthy from capitalism, we'll simply work for a wage all our lives and hope to live comfortably, and that should be enough.
U.S. Capitalism is Done
National Rage Blog
Capitalism as we know and abuse it is simply "done" - put a fork in it.
As we're seeing, give these jokers bailout money to save the biz and they simply take it home, put it in their overseas bank and the money disappears - just like wages sent overseas and all our other corporate welfare breaks.
The US's wealth has been smuggled to foreign banks with secrecy laws (which is a legal loophole that Congressmen abuse else they would eliminate it), just like the Nazis did in WW2 with money stolen from Jews. Most went into Switzerland, who later returned about 50 BILLION of this money to Israel, but decades later (and likely under international pressure).
What they don't tell us: wealth transfers between nations are what make them poor or wealthy, and the US got 60% of the world's gold from 1912-1933 in exchange for ARMS we exported to all sides in both wars!
NOW we'll have to see if the fascist wealth owners can complete a dictatorship by the autocracy (if they haven't already) or if the people will fight for freedom once again and change the system.
From 30 Rock:
"..this is our party's ongoing war against the poor" ('GE executive' Baldwin)
"don't you mean 'war against poverty?'" (Tina Fey)
"whatever... " (Baldwin)
This is sad but true, they're trying genocide on poor people once again.
In France, remember that they simply killed the wealthy, (18,000 of em with no discretion, they even killed supporters, incl. the inventor of the guillotine itself!); in Cuba they just kicked the U.S. out, took back the corporate property, and divided up the wealth and every man, woman, and child got free education, healthcare, housing, (even 'basic food'! this was on NPR about 2 wks ago, you don't even pay for bread, rice, milk, etc - so NO ONE goes hungry) - and four acres of land.
So who cares about free speech or even needs it? (do we have it when corporations own all the media anyway?) That doesn't pay for my appendectomy or my mom's nursing home. WE'll NEVER get all that here, the corporations will show enough losses that NO ONE below them can ever get ahead now - WE'VE BEEN HAD, they've figured out a way to STEAL OUR FUTURE WEALTH as well.
Sometimes we think we have freedom, but if stuck without a job or money, how free are we? So I'm free to think or criticize the system, whoopee! It's a false freedom anyway, advocate revolution (changing the system that has failed) then it's "sedition" and suddenly a crime!
Today they'd have to lock up Thomas Jefferson, he advocated a new revolution every twenty years, "by each new generation", lest "the government become tyrcannical and unresponsive to the people."
..
Capitalism as we know and abuse it is simply "done" - put a fork in it.
As we're seeing, give these jokers bailout money to save the biz and they simply take it home, put it in their overseas bank and the money disappears - just like wages sent overseas and all our other corporate welfare breaks.
The US's wealth has been smuggled to foreign banks with secrecy laws (which is a legal loophole that Congressmen abuse else they would eliminate it), just like the Nazis did in WW2 with money stolen from Jews. Most went into Switzerland, who later returned about 50 BILLION of this money to Israel, but decades later (and likely under international pressure).
What they don't tell us: wealth transfers between nations are what make them poor or wealthy, and the US got 60% of the world's gold from 1912-1933 in exchange for ARMS we exported to all sides in both wars!
NOW we'll have to see if the fascist wealth owners can complete a dictatorship by the autocracy (if they haven't already) or if the people will fight for freedom once again and change the system.
From 30 Rock:
"..this is our party's ongoing war against the poor" ('GE executive' Baldwin)
"don't you mean 'war against poverty?'" (Tina Fey)
"whatever... " (Baldwin)
This is sad but true, they're trying genocide on poor people once again.
In France, remember that they simply killed the wealthy, (18,000 of em with no discretion, they even killed supporters, incl. the inventor of the guillotine itself!); in Cuba they just kicked the U.S. out, took back the corporate property, and divided up the wealth and every man, woman, and child got free education, healthcare, housing, (even 'basic food'! this was on NPR about 2 wks ago, you don't even pay for bread, rice, milk, etc - so NO ONE goes hungry) - and four acres of land.
So who cares about free speech or even needs it? (do we have it when corporations own all the media anyway?) That doesn't pay for my appendectomy or my mom's nursing home. WE'll NEVER get all that here, the corporations will show enough losses that NO ONE below them can ever get ahead now - WE'VE BEEN HAD, they've figured out a way to STEAL OUR FUTURE WEALTH as well.
Sometimes we think we have freedom, but if stuck without a job or money, how free are we? So I'm free to think or criticize the system, whoopee! It's a false freedom anyway, advocate revolution (changing the system that has failed) then it's "sedition" and suddenly a crime!
Today they'd have to lock up Thomas Jefferson, he advocated a new revolution every twenty years, "by each new generation", lest "the government become tyrcannical and unresponsive to the people."
Computers Missing at Nuclear Weapons Labs
It now appears there are at least 67 computers missing from the nation's nuclear weapons labs. Of course, they like to stress "nothing classified is missing", which means that it's highly likely there has been a theft of classified info. We'll only know after the fact, like 911, how our security and intelligence failed us again.
Here's the story at USA Today: Missing Computers
Marlon Brando [Film God 1]
Film Goddess Blog..
Brando burst into film and gave acting a new style (method) for the next half a century. He seemed to embody smoldering angst, threatening to burst open at any moment in a volcano of emotion, yet on the surface he appeared confident enough that he 'had the world on a string'. He became an icon to the nation in the biker movie The Wild One (1953), photo rt. and dig the high-heels, as leader of a motorcycle gang that takes over Hollister, Ca. 
When a local asks, "Hey, son, what are you rebelling against?", Brando replies "what cha got?". He then dazzled everyone in A Streetcar Named Desire, yet was the only cast member of four to NOT win an Oscar, which he got a couple of years later for On the Waterfront ("I coulda been a contenda.")
He aged quite well for awhile, as his next Oscar winning role in Frances Coppola's The Godfather (1972) proved. After that he became the unofficial taster for Haagen-Daas, and showed up for Apocalypse Now! in 1979 so overweight that Coppola had to shoot him at night and mostly just head shots. He did make a film comeback as a parody of his godfather role in The Freshman, a comedy in which he played a mafia don to Matthew Broderick's title role.
You get one actor of this magnitude in your lifetime, and you don't realize it until there's just no one as 'large' half a century later. It's almost as if he escaped from the big screen and descended into our lives like the characters in Woody's Purple Rose of Cairo, becoming part of the cultural lexicon. I suppose a lot of Brando's strength came from his good looks, and not from his script selection as his early career was never matched again for the power of those films.
He even did a musical about gangsters, Guys and Dolls (above rt.), with Frank Sinatra, and his singing wasn't too bad; then a pedestrian remake of Mutiny on the Bounty, which featured his Polynesian wife as his romance in the movie (see below).
He later OD'd by "hoggin the daas" (as Apu said in the Simpsons), ate about two gallons of Haagen Daas and had to have his stomach pumped; said Brando, "I'm beyond my art, and sex, all I have left is my gluttony."
The photo left is from The Godfather, during which Brando stuck marbles in his cheeks to help make that voice. The photo right is from his early days as an acting student in New York at Actor's Studio.
[After seeing the early Brando pictures, I decided to not ignore male beauty on this blogsite in spite of its title, so expect more film gods: Paul Newman, Burt Lancaster, Brad Pitt, Hrithik Roshan from India, maybe even Valentino!]
Brando burst into film and gave acting a new style (method) for the next half a century. He seemed to embody smoldering angst, threatening to burst open at any moment in a volcano of emotion, yet on the surface he appeared confident enough that he 'had the world on a string'. He became an icon to the nation in the biker movie The Wild One (1953), photo rt. and dig the high-heels, as leader of a motorcycle gang that takes over Hollister, Ca. 
When a local asks, "Hey, son, what are you rebelling against?", Brando replies "what cha got?". He then dazzled everyone in A Streetcar Named Desire, yet was the only cast member of four to NOT win an Oscar, which he got a couple of years later for On the Waterfront ("I coulda been a contenda.")
He aged quite well for awhile, as his next Oscar winning role in Frances Coppola's The Godfather (1972) proved. After that he became the unofficial taster for Haagen-Daas, and showed up for Apocalypse Now! in 1979 so overweight that Coppola had to shoot him at night and mostly just head shots. He did make a film comeback as a parody of his godfather role in The Freshman, a comedy in which he played a mafia don to Matthew Broderick's title role.
You get one actor of this magnitude in your lifetime, and you don't realize it until there's just no one as 'large' half a century later. It's almost as if he escaped from the big screen and descended into our lives like the characters in Woody's Purple Rose of Cairo, becoming part of the cultural lexicon. I suppose a lot of Brando's strength came from his good looks, and not from his script selection as his early career was never matched again for the power of those films.
He even did a musical about gangsters, Guys and Dolls (above rt.), with Frank Sinatra, and his singing wasn't too bad; then a pedestrian remake of Mutiny on the Bounty, which featured his Polynesian wife as his romance in the movie (see below).
He later OD'd by "hoggin the daas" (as Apu said in the Simpsons), ate about two gallons of Haagen Daas and had to have his stomach pumped; said Brando, "I'm beyond my art, and sex, all I have left is my gluttony."
The photo left is from The Godfather, during which Brando stuck marbles in his cheeks to help make that voice. The photo right is from his early days as an acting student in New York at Actor's Studio.
[After seeing the early Brando pictures, I decided to not ignore male beauty on this blogsite in spite of its title, so expect more film gods: Paul Newman, Burt Lancaster, Brad Pitt, Hrithik Roshan from India, maybe even Valentino!]
Candice Bergen
Film Goddess Blog..
One of the most photogenic models ever, Candice easily made the transition to films in Mike Nichols' Carnal Knowledge, and made everyone's fantasies by cheating on boyfriend Art Garfunkel with his roommate, a very young Jack Nicholson. 
Candice's famous father was Edgar Bergen, a popular ventriloquist whose dummy Charlie McCarthy was just as well known as its creator, and became the most popular character of that lost art. 
Candice later played photographer Margaret Bourke-White in Gandhi (right), and Margaret never looked so good! She actually had more success later in TV, winning Emmys for her popular liberal reporter, Murphy Brown. 
She's still beautiful today in her 60's as a lawyer in Boston Legal (btm.rt), with glasses and silver-blonde hair. 
Eye Candice indeed, and we've been lucky enough to watch her gracefully grow for half a century now.
One of the most photogenic models ever, Candice easily made the transition to films in Mike Nichols' Carnal Knowledge, and made everyone's fantasies by cheating on boyfriend Art Garfunkel with his roommate, a very young Jack Nicholson. 
Candice's famous father was Edgar Bergen, a popular ventriloquist whose dummy Charlie McCarthy was just as well known as its creator, and became the most popular character of that lost art. 
Candice later played photographer Margaret Bourke-White in Gandhi (right), and Margaret never looked so good! She actually had more success later in TV, winning Emmys for her popular liberal reporter, Murphy Brown. 
She's still beautiful today in her 60's as a lawyer in Boston Legal (btm.rt), with glasses and silver-blonde hair. 
Eye Candice indeed, and we've been lucky enough to watch her gracefully grow for half a century now.
Jennifer Connelly
Film Goddess Blog..
Timeless beauty! Black haired, green-eyed Jennifer first caught my eye as a 12 yr old ballerina in Once Upon a Time in America, and has since grown into a dazzlingly beautiful and talented actress, with an Oscar for A Beautiful Mind, and ‘girl next door’ appeal. She must keep a low profile, for you never hear her mentioned with the other film sirens, yet she’s obviously one of the most beautiful actresses of our lifetime.
I know she’s a mother, so her family must take precedence over her career. Look at fanpix for her pictures, for they have over 500 there, some near nudes that show her ample assets, and believe me, they are worth checking out! Let’s hope she keeps making films and gets at least another Oscar.
Timeless beauty! Black haired, green-eyed Jennifer first caught my eye as a 12 yr old ballerina in Once Upon a Time in America, and has since grown into a dazzlingly beautiful and talented actress, with an Oscar for A Beautiful Mind, and ‘girl next door’ appeal. She must keep a low profile, for you never hear her mentioned with the other film sirens, yet she’s obviously one of the most beautiful actresses of our lifetime.
I know she’s a mother, so her family must take precedence over her career. Look at fanpix for her pictures, for they have over 500 there, some near nudes that show her ample assets, and believe me, they are worth checking out! Let’s hope she keeps making films and gets at least another Oscar.
Ann-Margret
Film Goddess Blog..
Ann-Margret is not only a gorgeous and sexy redhead, but a great all–around entertainer: singer, dancer, actress, author. At home with comedy (Grumpy Old Men), drama (Oscar nomination for Carnal Knowledge, definitely check that out), or musicals (Bye Bye Birdie, Viva Las Vegas). She’s been in films for over four decades, still does her musical act to sold out audiences, and is still beautiful!
Even though born in Sweden, for some reason she seems like the perfect American girl (self-confidently and independent?), holding her own and in Viva Las Vegas, drawing attention away from even Elvis, the King himself, and the world noticed; the film drags when she's not onscreen. I'm not sure I've ever forgiven husband Roger Smith for taking her from all of us!
She has made herself accessible on the internet, so check out her site, filmography, and eMail her:
Ann-Margret's Official Website
Ann-Margret is not only a gorgeous and sexy redhead, but a great all–around entertainer: singer, dancer, actress, author. At home with comedy (Grumpy Old Men), drama (Oscar nomination for Carnal Knowledge, definitely check that out), or musicals (Bye Bye Birdie, Viva Las Vegas). She’s been in films for over four decades, still does her musical act to sold out audiences, and is still beautiful!
Even though born in Sweden, for some reason she seems like the perfect American girl (self-confidently and independent?), holding her own and in Viva Las Vegas, drawing attention away from even Elvis, the King himself, and the world noticed; the film drags when she's not onscreen. I'm not sure I've ever forgiven husband Roger Smith for taking her from all of us!
She has made herself accessible on the internet, so check out her site, filmography, and eMail her:
Ann-Margret's Official Website
The Meaning of the Virgin Birth
Photo: John Cocking
The Bible Decoded
The meaning of a virgin birth is that it is not a corporal birth, such as a human or animal experiences. It represents the birth of the spiritual self, hence it is often called a "second birth" or a re-birth. (NO, it doesn't mean that you're a 'Christian again' and decided to go to church regularly!) All animals have a corporal birth, but it is generally believed that only humans can experience a spiritual birth. Some say this is the "Holy Ghost", but that concept is problematic and debatable; many would say this term represents the soul which gives life to the inanimate matter (the earth or clay) that was used to form the human body. This concept is not only not unique to Christianity, but has been a common motif in much religious mythology, as it does not represent a 'miraculous human conception' at all, but an individual's awakening as a spiritual being, a concept not unique to any one culture, hence it often falls under the general term of "perennial wisdom", or universal truths common to most religions or philosophies.
In the Christian version, the acceptance of this awakening leads to the baptism, or holy cleansing of one's soul, when the individual now devotes him or herself to the mission of following a life of selfless spirituality. In ancient Israel, some sects, such as Essenes, both men and women, did the ritual baptism every day at midday as a constant daily affirmation of the spiritual cleansing.
Historically, there have been numerous corporal virgin births documented, including a famous one in the Civil War, when a soldier was shot and the ball continued into a house and impregnated a virgin teenager; when the soldier found out, he saw this as 'providence', and married the woman and they had several more children together. However, none of the other virgin births became anyone more famous than this incident.
If you think this represents a material, historical accuracy, then it's nothing unique when compared to other religions, and you'll have to find a meaning to the story that includes why it would be retold or common to various religions and cultures.
Penelope Cruz
Film Goddess Blog..
The greatest Spanish export since the guitar, Penelope always brings a zest for life into her performance, and has rarely done a film you can’t enjoy. Classic Mediterranean dark looks, pouty lips, terrific body she doesn’t mind exposing, she’s become one of the sexiest film stars alive – just ask former bf Tom Cruise and current bf Oscar-winner Javier Bardem. Most first saw her with Cruise in the Cameron Crowe film Vanilla Sky, but this was a remake of the Spanish film Open Your Eyes that she starred in; the first actress to play the same part in a remake? I saw her earlier as the youngest daughter in Like Water for Chocolate (1993). 
However, I like her more (so do the critics) in the films of Pedro Almodovar, notably her Oscar-nominated role in Volver; and she did a great dance to Kung Fu Fighting in Don’t Tempt Me, so check out all her Spanish films as well. Let’s hope she gets the Oscar this year for Woody's Vicky Christina Barcelona.
The greatest Spanish export since the guitar, Penelope always brings a zest for life into her performance, and has rarely done a film you can’t enjoy. Classic Mediterranean dark looks, pouty lips, terrific body she doesn’t mind exposing, she’s become one of the sexiest film stars alive – just ask former bf Tom Cruise and current bf Oscar-winner Javier Bardem. Most first saw her with Cruise in the Cameron Crowe film Vanilla Sky, but this was a remake of the Spanish film Open Your Eyes that she starred in; the first actress to play the same part in a remake? I saw her earlier as the youngest daughter in Like Water for Chocolate (1993). 
However, I like her more (so do the critics) in the films of Pedro Almodovar, notably her Oscar-nominated role in Volver; and she did a great dance to Kung Fu Fighting in Don’t Tempt Me, so check out all her Spanish films as well. Let’s hope she gets the Oscar this year for Woody's Vicky Christina Barcelona.
The Riddle of the Virgin
The Bible Decoded
"The servant is not greater than the master; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him." - John 13:16
[Note: this is not the metaphysical meaning of the Virgin parable, just the likely general origin of the allegory it presents; the metaphysical teachings are much deeper and complex than this. I'm presenting the simplest explanation first, so people can begin to see the underlying thinking of these authors, which was NOT to confuse everyone, but provide metaphors for the hidden spiritual realm that they could understand, we're talking about primitive, uneducated people here.]
The Riddle of the Sphinx
This story is from Greek mythology. The Sphinx would accost all travelers, and ask this riddle, and the visitor would either be allowed to pass by or would be killed.
The riddle:
What goes on four legs in the morning, on two legs at noon, and on three legs in the evening?
The answer:
Man – who crawls on all fours as a baby, walks on two legs once grown, and walks with a cane or walking stick in old age. Oedipus answered this correctly, and the Sphinx destroyed itself.
OK, so this last part is a stretch – most elderly people I’ve known either still walked fine, or were in a wheelchair or walker, few used a cane. I sometimes use ‘hiking stick’ when hiking, especially in the mountains, where the “third leg” provides more stability, especially when going down steep slopes.
I must be stupid, I still don’t get the point of this parable – when you answer correctly, what have you learned, if anything; where is the spiritual teaching? This is almost like a child’s game riddle: what’s black and white, and ‘red’ all over? This is based on a misspelling, becoming a phonetic riddle only, you can’t write it down without giving away the answer: “read all over”, which they say is “a newspaper”, but why not a book, or even the Bible?
The Riddle of the Virgin
The riddle:
What brings forth life without sexual procreation?
The answer:
The earth. Without anything but the sun, the earth gives life to all the life we’ve discovered thus far in the entire universe: cellular organisms, plants, animals, mankind – all exist only because the sun shines on the earth. The earth does nothing but receive the life force, which is considered a feminine aspect, while the male aspect provides the life-giving seed that the feminine receives. Therefore, the model for the Virgin Mary story is “Mother Earth”, which, even as Gaia, the earth-based philosophy, is always feminine, never masculine.
Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed the correlation between “sun” and “Son”, of God? The Son gives us “life everlasting”, and the sun gives constant life to the earth. Sun worship not only preceded most religions, but the Emperor Constantine, who is given credit for the compromises that allowed Christianity to succeed, was himself a sun god, or Sol Invictus, worshipper, he only confessed to Christianity on his death bed, just in case. His flag had Sol Invictus on it, and later the cross was added to the other side to appease the Christians in the Holy Roman Empire, who threatened to destroy the empire by having it split into religious factions.
Remember that in Biblical times people weren’t reading anything, there were no books available to the public, so all this was passed on orally, Socratic discourse (question and answer) taught people the meanings, and people were more savvy back then about parables, metaphors, hidden meanings. Nowdays, we’re so spiritually illiterate and rooted in the material world that we need everything spelled out for us, and we think that if it’s written down, it represents a real life event that actually happened in history. I doubt that the public at large can even define “metaphor” or “allegory”, much less understand all these in scripture. Can God have really intended that scripture be so confusing, so obscure in meaning, so baffling to the common man?
The earliest 'deity' we've discovered is Woman - about 50,000 yrs ago, cave paintings were made that show a woman, an arrow pointing to the moon, then a pregnant woman, then a woman and her baby. This was seen as "the creator of life", so women were worshipped first, and the cave painters obviously understood the cycles, controlled by the moon's phases. It's unclear if the painting is homage to a goddess, or simply an observation about nature being 'explained in pictures'. As the only female object of worship in the west, it seems likely that the Virgin Mary is a tribute to or holdover from this concept. Later, the bear emerged as a "god", likely from nomadic hunter-carnivores, who saw the bear as king of his realm, with no formidable opponent. Sun worship came after all of these, and was the religion of Egypt before the exodus. Now we worship the "Son of God", rather than the creator of the universe.
"I go unto the Father, for the Father is greater than I" - John 14:28
The Riddle of the Sphinx
This story is from Greek mythology. The Sphinx would accost all travelers, and ask this riddle, and the visitor would either be allowed to pass by or would be killed.
The riddle:
What goes on four legs in the morning, on two legs at noon, and on three legs in the evening?
The answer:
Man – who crawls on all fours as a baby, walks on two legs once grown, and walks with a cane or walking stick in old age. Oedipus answered this correctly, and the Sphinx destroyed itself.
OK, so this last part is a stretch – most elderly people I’ve known either still walked fine, or were in a wheelchair or walker, few used a cane. I sometimes use ‘hiking stick’ when hiking, especially in the mountains, where the “third leg” provides more stability, especially when going down steep slopes.
I must be stupid, I still don’t get the point of this parable – when you answer correctly, what have you learned, if anything; where is the spiritual teaching? This is almost like a child’s game riddle: what’s black and white, and ‘red’ all over? This is based on a misspelling, becoming a phonetic riddle only, you can’t write it down without giving away the answer: “read all over”, which they say is “a newspaper”, but why not a book, or even the Bible?
The Riddle of the Virgin
The riddle:
What brings forth life without sexual procreation?
The answer:
The earth. Without anything but the sun, the earth gives life to all the life we’ve discovered thus far in the entire universe: cellular organisms, plants, animals, mankind – all exist only because the sun shines on the earth. The earth does nothing but receive the life force, which is considered a feminine aspect, while the male aspect provides the life-giving seed that the feminine receives. Therefore, the model for the Virgin Mary story is “Mother Earth”, which, even as Gaia, the earth-based philosophy, is always feminine, never masculine.
Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed the correlation between “sun” and “Son”, of God? The Son gives us “life everlasting”, and the sun gives constant life to the earth. Sun worship not only preceded most religions, but the Emperor Constantine, who is given credit for the compromises that allowed Christianity to succeed, was himself a sun god, or Sol Invictus, worshipper, he only confessed to Christianity on his death bed, just in case. His flag had Sol Invictus on it, and later the cross was added to the other side to appease the Christians in the Holy Roman Empire, who threatened to destroy the empire by having it split into religious factions.
Remember that in Biblical times people weren’t reading anything, there were no books available to the public, so all this was passed on orally, Socratic discourse (question and answer) taught people the meanings, and people were more savvy back then about parables, metaphors, hidden meanings. Nowdays, we’re so spiritually illiterate and rooted in the material world that we need everything spelled out for us, and we think that if it’s written down, it represents a real life event that actually happened in history. I doubt that the public at large can even define “metaphor” or “allegory”, much less understand all these in scripture. Can God have really intended that scripture be so confusing, so obscure in meaning, so baffling to the common man?
The earliest 'deity' we've discovered is Woman - about 50,000 yrs ago, cave paintings were made that show a woman, an arrow pointing to the moon, then a pregnant woman, then a woman and her baby. This was seen as "the creator of life", so women were worshipped first, and the cave painters obviously understood the cycles, controlled by the moon's phases. It's unclear if the painting is homage to a goddess, or simply an observation about nature being 'explained in pictures'. As the only female object of worship in the west, it seems likely that the Virgin Mary is a tribute to or holdover from this concept. Later, the bear emerged as a "god", likely from nomadic hunter-carnivores, who saw the bear as king of his realm, with no formidable opponent. Sun worship came after all of these, and was the religion of Egypt before the exodus. Now we worship the "Son of God", rather than the creator of the universe.
"I go unto the Father, for the Father is greater than I" - John 14:28
"The servant is not greater than the master; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him." - John 13:16
Aishwarya Rai
Film Goddess Blog..
Indian actress "Ash" as she's called on the net, could be the most beautiful actress in the world right now. I think a billion fans would agree. She can also sing and dance, often tours worldwide, and some of her best movies are musicals, like Bride and Prejudice (2004), or historical epics that include music, like Jodhaa Akbar (2007).
Here's a shot from Jodhaa Akbar from her wedding night.
Everything about her is gorgeous, sometimes her eyes are blue, sometimes green; but her hair is almost always long. Here's the best hair portrait I could find, the photographer's name is Chotia.
Gee, do you think this is someone you'd like to know? I have a feeling this is really her natural style when relaxing..
PS - It's pronounced "eye-eesh-wa-rye-a rye", for us western illiterates! and, yes, she is currently married... and Richard Gere was burned in effigy in India for kissing her on the cheek in public, that devil!
Indian actress "Ash" as she's called on the net, could be the most beautiful actress in the world right now. I think a billion fans would agree. She can also sing and dance, often tours worldwide, and some of her best movies are musicals, like Bride and Prejudice (2004), or historical epics that include music, like Jodhaa Akbar (2007).Here's a shot from Jodhaa Akbar from her wedding night.
Everything about her is gorgeous, sometimes her eyes are blue, sometimes green; but her hair is almost always long. Here's the best hair portrait I could find, the photographer's name is Chotia.
Gee, do you think this is someone you'd like to know? I have a feeling this is really her natural style when relaxing..
PS - It's pronounced "eye-eesh-wa-rye-a rye", for us western illiterates! and, yes, she is currently married... and Richard Gere was burned in effigy in India for kissing her on the cheek in public, that devil!
Salma Hayak
Film Goddess Blog..
Salma started as a Mexican soap opera actress on tv, where they are allowed to be topless! She's not only a gorgeous Latina with jet black hair (and a Lebanese father), but knows how to fill out a dress like the classic film sirens of the 40’s and 50’s. She also will unabashedly get naked on screen, usually tastefully as well, as a skinny-dipping frolic in the waves in After the Dust showed. Most first noticed her near naked dance for George Clooney in From Dusk Til Dawn, the terrible Tarentino vampire film, when Clooney drank tequila off her toes that Salma was pouring down her body.
Salma was nominated for a best actress Oscar for her incredible performance as artist Frida Kahlo, in Frida, which she co-produced, as wife of Mexican socialist muralist Diego Rivera, one of the century’s best painters, and last of the great muralists.
Recently, Salma has guest-starred on Ugly Betty (which she produces), and 30 Rock, as Baldwin's (Donaghy) girlfriend.
Salma started as a Mexican soap opera actress on tv, where they are allowed to be topless! She's not only a gorgeous Latina with jet black hair (and a Lebanese father), but knows how to fill out a dress like the classic film sirens of the 40’s and 50’s. She also will unabashedly get naked on screen, usually tastefully as well, as a skinny-dipping frolic in the waves in After the Dust showed. Most first noticed her near naked dance for George Clooney in From Dusk Til Dawn, the terrible Tarentino vampire film, when Clooney drank tequila off her toes that Salma was pouring down her body.
Salma was nominated for a best actress Oscar for her incredible performance as artist Frida Kahlo, in Frida, which she co-produced, as wife of Mexican socialist muralist Diego Rivera, one of the century’s best painters, and last of the great muralists.
Recently, Salma has guest-starred on Ugly Betty (which she produces), and 30 Rock, as Baldwin's (Donaghy) girlfriend.
The Star of David
The Bible Decoded..
or, Seal of Solomon
Solomon saw an ancient Tibetan symbol he liked and was impressed enough by it that he chose it as his official seal, it became the symbol for Israel, now called The Star of David.
The symbol is two interlocking isoceles (equal-sided) triangles. Each triangle represents the trinity, one triangle is the spiritual, the other is the material. The symbol means, simply "as above, so below - the spiritual realm is mirrored by the material." Westerners say on earth as it is in heaven. They are interlocked because they are connected in reality, yet still separate aspects of life.
The trinity in man represents body, mind, and soul. One is not a whole being without any of these.
At the center of the Tibetan symbol was the swastika, which simply meant the four cardinal directions of the world (north, south, east, west), always rotating; it was also said to represent the four seasons, with each one changing into the next one. In other words, within the trinity is the world, always in motion.
I'm sure you've noticed that from any side, a pyramid is a triangle, and of course, the overall structure is four triangles, leaning toward each other coming together at the apex, or topmost point.
or, Seal of Solomon
Solomon saw an ancient Tibetan symbol he liked and was impressed enough by it that he chose it as his official seal, it became the symbol for Israel, now called The Star of David.
The symbol is two interlocking isoceles (equal-sided) triangles. Each triangle represents the trinity, one triangle is the spiritual, the other is the material. The symbol means, simply "as above, so below - the spiritual realm is mirrored by the material." Westerners say on earth as it is in heaven. They are interlocked because they are connected in reality, yet still separate aspects of life.The trinity in man represents body, mind, and soul. One is not a whole being without any of these.
At the center of the Tibetan symbol was the swastika, which simply meant the four cardinal directions of the world (north, south, east, west), always rotating; it was also said to represent the four seasons, with each one changing into the next one. In other words, within the trinity is the world, always in motion.
I'm sure you've noticed that from any side, a pyramid is a triangle, and of course, the overall structure is four triangles, leaning toward each other coming together at the apex, or topmost point.
Armageddon
The Bible Decoded..
The prophecies of the Day of Judgment, or Armageddon, are named for a mountainous region of Israel called Har Megiddes where several major battles were fought, and were intended to be prophecies of the end of Israel, not the entire world.
In fact, the final days of Israel, whose rebellion was finally smashed by the Roman Empire in 73 AD, which ended at Masata and with it biblical Israel, were not even the end of the Roman Empire, nor any surrounding nations. The Roman Empire became the Holy Roman Empire (basically the Catholic Church in Rome), began conquering neighboring lands with its own army, eventually resulting in the medieval era (the Dark Ages), and the plague, which drained the manpower from both the fields and the churches; the church lost most of its support (and attendance) by burning scientists and others disagreeing that the plague was caused by "sin and unrighteousness", rather than a transmitted disease we could cure. This was actually closer to a real extinction, as 75% of Europeans died.
Israel was not a nation again until after World War II, established again in 1948 by the United Nations, and at the suggestion of England, was given the land of the biblical Hebrews.
The Book of Revelations is not about the "Day of Judgment" at all. It was written by John, a political dissident, exiled to the Greek isle of Patmos, who used symbolism understood by scholars of the day to criticize several empires, such as the Babylonian and Assyrian, and historical rulers in the Middle East.
So Armageddon did happen, but for biblical Israel and is now history. People will keep the idea going just to write books and sell tv shows, but its been reduced to an income generator by modern capitalism.
The prophecies of the Day of Judgment, or Armageddon, are named for a mountainous region of Israel called Har Megiddes where several major battles were fought, and were intended to be prophecies of the end of Israel, not the entire world.
In fact, the final days of Israel, whose rebellion was finally smashed by the Roman Empire in 73 AD, which ended at Masata and with it biblical Israel, were not even the end of the Roman Empire, nor any surrounding nations. The Roman Empire became the Holy Roman Empire (basically the Catholic Church in Rome), began conquering neighboring lands with its own army, eventually resulting in the medieval era (the Dark Ages), and the plague, which drained the manpower from both the fields and the churches; the church lost most of its support (and attendance) by burning scientists and others disagreeing that the plague was caused by "sin and unrighteousness", rather than a transmitted disease we could cure. This was actually closer to a real extinction, as 75% of Europeans died.
Israel was not a nation again until after World War II, established again in 1948 by the United Nations, and at the suggestion of England, was given the land of the biblical Hebrews.
The Book of Revelations is not about the "Day of Judgment" at all. It was written by John, a political dissident, exiled to the Greek isle of Patmos, who used symbolism understood by scholars of the day to criticize several empires, such as the Babylonian and Assyrian, and historical rulers in the Middle East.
So Armageddon did happen, but for biblical Israel and is now history. People will keep the idea going just to write books and sell tv shows, but its been reduced to an income generator by modern capitalism.
The Eye of the Needle
The Bible Decoded..
Jerusalem was surrounded on all sides by walls for defense from numerous enemies, like a fort, with various gates for entry from outside, most narrow enough to provide an easy defense. The narrowest of all these gates was called "The Needle", due to its extremely narrow size and length. In order for camels to pass through he Needle gate (usually called "eye of the needle" for the parable, since "passing through a needle" would make no sense to us), they had to remove all baggage and everything from the camels, then they could get through the gate. Those caravans with heavy freight surely chose a wider gate for entrance, but hence the saying.
It's easier for a camel to give up its goods and continue passage to the Holy City, or Jerusalem, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, which involves being willing to give up everything in the material world to enter. Most people think "give up worldly possessions", but it means leaving family behind too, also part of the material world - so it's most likely a reference to death. It's a spiritual quest, so you have to be willing to leave the material realm and your physical body.
The implication of mentioning a "rich man" is that the wealthy may be stronger bound to their possessions than someone poor, and less willing to leave the material world behind.
Jerusalem was surrounded on all sides by walls for defense from numerous enemies, like a fort, with various gates for entry from outside, most narrow enough to provide an easy defense. The narrowest of all these gates was called "The Needle", due to its extremely narrow size and length. In order for camels to pass through he Needle gate (usually called "eye of the needle" for the parable, since "passing through a needle" would make no sense to us), they had to remove all baggage and everything from the camels, then they could get through the gate. Those caravans with heavy freight surely chose a wider gate for entrance, but hence the saying.
It's easier for a camel to give up its goods and continue passage to the Holy City, or Jerusalem, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, which involves being willing to give up everything in the material world to enter. Most people think "give up worldly possessions", but it means leaving family behind too, also part of the material world - so it's most likely a reference to death. It's a spiritual quest, so you have to be willing to leave the material realm and your physical body.
The implication of mentioning a "rich man" is that the wealthy may be stronger bound to their possessions than someone poor, and less willing to leave the material world behind.
Walking on Water
The Bible Decoded..
Water is used in the Bible to represent many things. It can be a vital source of life, as all living things on land need fresh water for survival. It also represents purification, used for both bodily cleansing and spiritual healing, such as baptism. In a negative sense, troubled waters represent the tribulations of the material world and the negative thoughts that keep us from a more spiritually realized life.
In the walking on water parable, Jesus represents the fully realized spiritual self, which is untouched by concerns of the material realm. No matter what happens to the physical body, the purified and spiritually centered soul rises above the negativity of the material and remains uncorrupted.
Peter, from the Greek word petra, meaning “earth”, represents the physical body. In this parable, the physical self can try to rise above the troubled waters and become spiritual, but will always be connected to the material realm by its very nature – the physical body requires constant care and nourishment, food and water, and will be unable to walk above the waters like the spiritually realized self. It’s possible to become so immersed in negativity that the individual can be “drowned in the waters”.
No matter how hard we may try, eventually the physical body will grow old and die, this is the reality of life, but our spiritually connected souls will remain untouched.
Water is used in the Bible to represent many things. It can be a vital source of life, as all living things on land need fresh water for survival. It also represents purification, used for both bodily cleansing and spiritual healing, such as baptism. In a negative sense, troubled waters represent the tribulations of the material world and the negative thoughts that keep us from a more spiritually realized life.
In the walking on water parable, Jesus represents the fully realized spiritual self, which is untouched by concerns of the material realm. No matter what happens to the physical body, the purified and spiritually centered soul rises above the negativity of the material and remains uncorrupted.
Peter, from the Greek word petra, meaning “earth”, represents the physical body. In this parable, the physical self can try to rise above the troubled waters and become spiritual, but will always be connected to the material realm by its very nature – the physical body requires constant care and nourishment, food and water, and will be unable to walk above the waters like the spiritually realized self. It’s possible to become so immersed in negativity that the individual can be “drowned in the waters”.
No matter how hard we may try, eventually the physical body will grow old and die, this is the reality of life, but our spiritually connected souls will remain untouched.
Loaves and Fishes
The Bible Decoded..
How can a multitude be fed with such little food and be content?
Why are fish throughout the Bible? They represent the fecundity, the multiplication of life but specifically the wealth of new ideas with the possibility of increase. Jesus taught about the realm of spiritual ideas, the inexhaustible abundance both above and below (on earth, the material, as it is in heaven, the spiritual). Passages of Jesus and others eating fish symbolize the appropriation of ideas, they were talking about the mental level, not the physical. Jesus did not attract a multitude that was hungry for food, they were hungry for his words of wisdom, his new ideas. How often have you gone to a church service seeking real food?
Loaves and bread represent spiritual substance (Bethelehem in Hebrew means maker of bread), food for the soul. Any real food eaten is consumed and gone by the next day, but ideas and wisdom of spiritual substance are with you for a lifetime. The multitudes came and heard new ideas, ideas of deep wisdom and spiritual meaning (substance), and were thus blessed and content.
For many, this story increases their agnosticism and skepticism, for others, yet another physical miracle; it’s because many do not understand symbolism, metaphors, or parables. It is for this reason that most (the masses hence the term Mass) are told to just take it on faith, and not to question; unfortunately they may never really understand. Jesus was not a magician and did not need to dazzle people; these stories have another meaning. Even Jesus’ disciples asked, “Master, why do you so often speak in parables.” The reply was that the truly spiritual, those with pure intentions, honestly seeking God, would understand the true meaning.
How can a multitude be fed with such little food and be content?
Why are fish throughout the Bible? They represent the fecundity, the multiplication of life but specifically the wealth of new ideas with the possibility of increase. Jesus taught about the realm of spiritual ideas, the inexhaustible abundance both above and below (on earth, the material, as it is in heaven, the spiritual). Passages of Jesus and others eating fish symbolize the appropriation of ideas, they were talking about the mental level, not the physical. Jesus did not attract a multitude that was hungry for food, they were hungry for his words of wisdom, his new ideas. How often have you gone to a church service seeking real food?
Loaves and bread represent spiritual substance (Bethelehem in Hebrew means maker of bread), food for the soul. Any real food eaten is consumed and gone by the next day, but ideas and wisdom of spiritual substance are with you for a lifetime. The multitudes came and heard new ideas, ideas of deep wisdom and spiritual meaning (substance), and were thus blessed and content.
For many, this story increases their agnosticism and skepticism, for others, yet another physical miracle; it’s because many do not understand symbolism, metaphors, or parables. It is for this reason that most (the masses hence the term Mass) are told to just take it on faith, and not to question; unfortunately they may never really understand. Jesus was not a magician and did not need to dazzle people; these stories have another meaning. Even Jesus’ disciples asked, “Master, why do you so often speak in parables.” The reply was that the truly spiritual, those with pure intentions, honestly seeking God, would understand the true meaning.
David and Goliath
The Bible Decoded..
The Philistines were opposed to spiritual discipline. Here they represent foreign thoughts or deviations from a true course, non-spiritual concerns related to the five senses; these detract a person from their spiritual consciousness. These desires must be controlled for spirituality to grow in the soul. You might say the spiritual has to overcome the material, or that “truth must overcome errors in living”.
Goliath the giant represents a major obstacle keeping the spiritual self from growth. David, the spiritual side, must overcome this obstacle in order to control the errant sensory thoughts (Philistines). The rock he uses represents spiritual truth and faith, which when used properly (with the sling of assurance and self-confidence) can overcome the major obstacles to growth.
The material side is more evident and at first exerts a stronger pull than the spiritual, hence the giant in the parable. People may be addicted to money, food, power, violence, sensuality, any number of things of a non-spiritual nature; once something becomes a habit, it takes much spiritual assurance, confidence, and faith to overcome it.
The Philistines were opposed to spiritual discipline. Here they represent foreign thoughts or deviations from a true course, non-spiritual concerns related to the five senses; these detract a person from their spiritual consciousness. These desires must be controlled for spirituality to grow in the soul. You might say the spiritual has to overcome the material, or that “truth must overcome errors in living”.
Goliath the giant represents a major obstacle keeping the spiritual self from growth. David, the spiritual side, must overcome this obstacle in order to control the errant sensory thoughts (Philistines). The rock he uses represents spiritual truth and faith, which when used properly (with the sling of assurance and self-confidence) can overcome the major obstacles to growth.
The material side is more evident and at first exerts a stronger pull than the spiritual, hence the giant in the parable. People may be addicted to money, food, power, violence, sensuality, any number of things of a non-spiritual nature; once something becomes a habit, it takes much spiritual assurance, confidence, and faith to overcome it.
The Search for a Deeper Meaning
The Bible Decoded..
The Bible obviously exists on two levels. One is the material realm, where it provides a rich history of Israel, its beginning, its laws and ethics, its wars, the story of its patriarchs and its prophets, and a collection of the local wisdom, songs, poety, mythology, literature, folklore, and legends.
The other level is the much deeper, more obscure level: the metaphysical teachings, which deal with the spiritual realm. In Bible symbology, the search for this knowledge is called fishing in deep waters (Joyce Myers has an excellent sermon on this, available on CD), which yields the true meaning of the teachings, often called the perennial wisdom throughout the world, or those truths taken to be universal and that cannot be denied philosophically.
In order to teach about this hidden, inwardly experienced part of life, the authors had to use everyday metaphors, often worked into parables, or simple stories which yielded a deeper meaning. The quest for knowledge or wisdom often means an understanding of these deeper mysteries, as expressed in the quote 'seek and ye shall find'.
This is life-long education for me, the 'way of the initiate'. I've had theology courses in college, several years of theology classes beyond that (was a year away from a degree, from being a Reverend!), also courses in meditation, yoga, and healing. Growing up, I was in the choir and eventually got the God and Country award in scouting for church work and bible knowledge (it had to be read cover to cover, we had to know the books in order, and be able to recite major passages by memory like the 23rd Psalm and Lord's Prayer). I actually read it completely twice, and now have not only several versions, but numerous books on its origins, the removed books, the Dead Sea scrolls translations, a concordance, a metaphysical dictionary, a biography of all those mentioned, a comparison to history - you name it: it found me and entered my consciousness.
Recently Biblical scholars, using history, archaeology, linguistics, and comparative theology, have discovered and revealed much more about its origins and influences, and the fact that it was originally much larger, with much of the material having been removed from scripture over centuries of debate and organized censorship to solidify certain points of view, or just for political expediency, to appease some part of the Holy Roman Empire. Gone now are the books of Enoch about the bonds between men and angels, gone are more books of Eden, numerous more gospels, even the story of Mary and her birth. Protestants even removed the last chapter of the Book of Daniel (its still IN the Catholic Bible) because it warns the people to 'not support the priesthood with money or food' (orders of the King, who beheaded the priests), that they had a direct line to God themselves and were being taken advantage of for the financial benefit of the priests and their families!
It's pointless (and lazy) to just read passages back to people who can read it for themselves, in private, and then call that a sermon; unfortunately I experience this too often when I visit churches, not to mention preachers emphasizing the unimportant or downright innacurate. One recent Easter service I had to listen to this lie that the church seems intent on perpetuating: "Mary was a prostitute, Jesus was the first that didn't want her body"; to what purpose is this repeated, other than to heap more denigration on women, in this case an original disciple, and one perhaps even more important than the others? In the synoptic gospels, Jesus appears first to Mary in two of the four after the Resurrection; the Catholic church said "this was irrelevant since she wasn't a disciple"; Jesus' reappearance to Mary wasn't important? Then WHY is it a major scene in two gospels?
We may only need 'just faith' (Paul), but our innate thirst and curiosity for knowledge drives us to seek more understanding, to exercise our minds, to enrich our spiritual side, to enlighten or illuminate the darkness or the unknown, the part of us inexperienced in this realm. Do we ever feel we have truly found wisdom, and quit seeking it?
The goal of this blog will be to talk about the symbology used for the metaphysical side, sometimes called occult, meaning hidden, called the Cabbala in Judaism, called the secret teachings in the gospels, given only to the disciples, and to reveal what was meant by certain metaphors (bread=spiritual sustenance), to give people new ideas to consider (fish=new ideas), and hopefully provide a richer experience of certain sections, and maybe you'll find meaning or clarity (clairvoyance=clear vision) for yourself.
This is the true meaning of teaching a man to fish, to go beyond the superficial (shallow waters) for the deeper meaning.
The Bible obviously exists on two levels. One is the material realm, where it provides a rich history of Israel, its beginning, its laws and ethics, its wars, the story of its patriarchs and its prophets, and a collection of the local wisdom, songs, poety, mythology, literature, folklore, and legends.
The other level is the much deeper, more obscure level: the metaphysical teachings, which deal with the spiritual realm. In Bible symbology, the search for this knowledge is called fishing in deep waters (Joyce Myers has an excellent sermon on this, available on CD), which yields the true meaning of the teachings, often called the perennial wisdom throughout the world, or those truths taken to be universal and that cannot be denied philosophically.
In order to teach about this hidden, inwardly experienced part of life, the authors had to use everyday metaphors, often worked into parables, or simple stories which yielded a deeper meaning. The quest for knowledge or wisdom often means an understanding of these deeper mysteries, as expressed in the quote 'seek and ye shall find'.
This is life-long education for me, the 'way of the initiate'. I've had theology courses in college, several years of theology classes beyond that (was a year away from a degree, from being a Reverend!), also courses in meditation, yoga, and healing. Growing up, I was in the choir and eventually got the God and Country award in scouting for church work and bible knowledge (it had to be read cover to cover, we had to know the books in order, and be able to recite major passages by memory like the 23rd Psalm and Lord's Prayer). I actually read it completely twice, and now have not only several versions, but numerous books on its origins, the removed books, the Dead Sea scrolls translations, a concordance, a metaphysical dictionary, a biography of all those mentioned, a comparison to history - you name it: it found me and entered my consciousness.
Recently Biblical scholars, using history, archaeology, linguistics, and comparative theology, have discovered and revealed much more about its origins and influences, and the fact that it was originally much larger, with much of the material having been removed from scripture over centuries of debate and organized censorship to solidify certain points of view, or just for political expediency, to appease some part of the Holy Roman Empire. Gone now are the books of Enoch about the bonds between men and angels, gone are more books of Eden, numerous more gospels, even the story of Mary and her birth. Protestants even removed the last chapter of the Book of Daniel (its still IN the Catholic Bible) because it warns the people to 'not support the priesthood with money or food' (orders of the King, who beheaded the priests), that they had a direct line to God themselves and were being taken advantage of for the financial benefit of the priests and their families!
It's pointless (and lazy) to just read passages back to people who can read it for themselves, in private, and then call that a sermon; unfortunately I experience this too often when I visit churches, not to mention preachers emphasizing the unimportant or downright innacurate. One recent Easter service I had to listen to this lie that the church seems intent on perpetuating: "Mary was a prostitute, Jesus was the first that didn't want her body"; to what purpose is this repeated, other than to heap more denigration on women, in this case an original disciple, and one perhaps even more important than the others? In the synoptic gospels, Jesus appears first to Mary in two of the four after the Resurrection; the Catholic church said "this was irrelevant since she wasn't a disciple"; Jesus' reappearance to Mary wasn't important? Then WHY is it a major scene in two gospels?
We may only need 'just faith' (Paul), but our innate thirst and curiosity for knowledge drives us to seek more understanding, to exercise our minds, to enrich our spiritual side, to enlighten or illuminate the darkness or the unknown, the part of us inexperienced in this realm. Do we ever feel we have truly found wisdom, and quit seeking it?
The goal of this blog will be to talk about the symbology used for the metaphysical side, sometimes called occult, meaning hidden, called the Cabbala in Judaism, called the secret teachings in the gospels, given only to the disciples, and to reveal what was meant by certain metaphors (bread=spiritual sustenance), to give people new ideas to consider (fish=new ideas), and hopefully provide a richer experience of certain sections, and maybe you'll find meaning or clarity (clairvoyance=clear vision) for yourself.
This is the true meaning of teaching a man to fish, to go beyond the superficial (shallow waters) for the deeper meaning.
Pick Our Leaders at Random, Like a Jury
National Rage Blog..
Recently in an interview with a female voter after the vice-Presidential debate, a woman on the street said: "I liked Sarah Palin, she's like someone I'd have over for dinner and I think we could talk together about kids and school." (Important qualities in a President?)
PEOPLE: Voting for "beer buddies" has gotten us Clinton and Bush and Reagan and Carter and LBJ. What happened the days when we'd vote for someone SMARTER than ourselves, like JFK and FDR and Lincoln?? Good grief, I don't want me and my beer buddies or cousins RUNNING this country and the free world!
The voters in this so-called democracy are the best argument I've heard yet for something else, like maybe a monarchy. In fact, some current monarchies claim it's better to have a king than to let their illiterate citizens try to pick the right people!
Now that's a bit extreme, but I like the U.S. JURY system idea: just pick some average folks at random, let THEM serve in Congress, pay them enough that they aren't corrupt and can afford to miss their job, and let THEM pick the President among those they've served four years with, and he's now Prez for the next four years, with a NEW Congress chosen at random.... WHenever someone kicks the bucket or is sent to prison for corruption, just take another citizen at random to replace them... I guess we'll end up with some beer buddies (but they won't already be corrupt, not having any corporate or political ties); it can't be any worse than what we get now, basically a bunch of corrupt lawyers easily bought by corporate lobbyists.
If its good enough for juries, life vs death vs prison situations, it ought to be good enough for Congress, and certainly can't be any more corrupt or inept than the current situation.
Time for the old joke: If Pro is the opposite of Con, is congress the opposite of progress?
Recently in an interview with a female voter after the vice-Presidential debate, a woman on the street said: "I liked Sarah Palin, she's like someone I'd have over for dinner and I think we could talk together about kids and school." (Important qualities in a President?)
PEOPLE: Voting for "beer buddies" has gotten us Clinton and Bush and Reagan and Carter and LBJ. What happened the days when we'd vote for someone SMARTER than ourselves, like JFK and FDR and Lincoln?? Good grief, I don't want me and my beer buddies or cousins RUNNING this country and the free world!
The voters in this so-called democracy are the best argument I've heard yet for something else, like maybe a monarchy. In fact, some current monarchies claim it's better to have a king than to let their illiterate citizens try to pick the right people!
Now that's a bit extreme, but I like the U.S. JURY system idea: just pick some average folks at random, let THEM serve in Congress, pay them enough that they aren't corrupt and can afford to miss their job, and let THEM pick the President among those they've served four years with, and he's now Prez for the next four years, with a NEW Congress chosen at random.... WHenever someone kicks the bucket or is sent to prison for corruption, just take another citizen at random to replace them... I guess we'll end up with some beer buddies (but they won't already be corrupt, not having any corporate or political ties); it can't be any worse than what we get now, basically a bunch of corrupt lawyers easily bought by corporate lobbyists.
If its good enough for juries, life vs death vs prison situations, it ought to be good enough for Congress, and certainly can't be any more corrupt or inept than the current situation.
Time for the old joke: If Pro is the opposite of Con, is congress the opposite of progress?
A Modern Parable
[I'm sharing this incisive eMail sent to me with all of you - Jman]
A Japanese company (Toyota) and an American company Ford Motor) decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri River. Both teams practiced long and hard to reach their peak performance before the race.
On the big day, the Japanese won by a mile. The Americans, very discouraged and depressed, decided to investigate the reason for the crushing defeat. A management team made up of senior management was formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action. Their conclusion was the Japanese had 8 people rowing and 1 person steering, while the American team had 7 people steering and 2 people rowing.
Feeling a deeper study was in order; American management hired a consulting company and paid them a large amount of money for a second opinion. They advised, of course, that too many people were steering the boat, while not enough people were rowing.
Not sure of how to utilize that information, but wanting to prevent another loss to the Japanese, the rowing team's management structure was totally reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 2 area steering superintendents and 1 assistant superintendent steering manager. They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 2 people rowing the boat greater incentive to work harder. It was called the 'Rowing Team Quality First Program,' with meetings, dinners and free pens for the rowers. There was discussion of getting new paddles, canoes and other equipment, extra vacation days for practices and bonuses. The pension program was trimmed to 'equal the competition' and some of the resultant savings were channeled into morale boosting programs and teamwork posters.
The next year the Japanese won by two miles. Humiliated, the American management laid-off one rower, halted development of a new canoe, sold all the paddles, and canceled all capital investments for new equipment. The money saved was distributed to the Senior Executives as bonuses.
The next year, try as he might, the lone designated rower was unable to even finish the race (having no paddles,) so he was laid off for unacceptable performance, all canoe equipment was sold and the next year's racing team was out-sourced to India.
Sadly, THE END
Here's something else to think about: Ford has spent the last thirty years moving all its factories out of the US, claiming they can't make money paying American wages. TOYOTA has spent the last thirty years building more than a dozen plantsinside the US.
The last quarter's results: TOYOTA makes 4 billion in profits while Ford racked up 9 billion in losses. Ford folks are still scratching their heads, and collecting bonuses...
IF THIS WEREN'T SO TRUE IT MIGHT BE FUNNY
PS - Author's note: I'm reminded of the space program, when the U.S. spent 6 million developing an "anti-gravity" ink pen so the astronauts could write in zero gravity. The Russians simply used pencils!
A Japanese company (Toyota) and an American company Ford Motor) decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri River. Both teams practiced long and hard to reach their peak performance before the race.
On the big day, the Japanese won by a mile. The Americans, very discouraged and depressed, decided to investigate the reason for the crushing defeat. A management team made up of senior management was formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action. Their conclusion was the Japanese had 8 people rowing and 1 person steering, while the American team had 7 people steering and 2 people rowing.
Feeling a deeper study was in order; American management hired a consulting company and paid them a large amount of money for a second opinion. They advised, of course, that too many people were steering the boat, while not enough people were rowing.
Not sure of how to utilize that information, but wanting to prevent another loss to the Japanese, the rowing team's management structure was totally reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 2 area steering superintendents and 1 assistant superintendent steering manager. They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 2 people rowing the boat greater incentive to work harder. It was called the 'Rowing Team Quality First Program,' with meetings, dinners and free pens for the rowers. There was discussion of getting new paddles, canoes and other equipment, extra vacation days for practices and bonuses. The pension program was trimmed to 'equal the competition' and some of the resultant savings were channeled into morale boosting programs and teamwork posters.
The next year the Japanese won by two miles. Humiliated, the American management laid-off one rower, halted development of a new canoe, sold all the paddles, and canceled all capital investments for new equipment. The money saved was distributed to the Senior Executives as bonuses.
The next year, try as he might, the lone designated rower was unable to even finish the race (having no paddles,) so he was laid off for unacceptable performance, all canoe equipment was sold and the next year's racing team was out-sourced to India.
Sadly, THE END
Here's something else to think about: Ford has spent the last thirty years moving all its factories out of the US, claiming they can't make money paying American wages. TOYOTA has spent the last thirty years building more than a dozen plantsinside the US.
The last quarter's results: TOYOTA makes 4 billion in profits while Ford racked up 9 billion in losses. Ford folks are still scratching their heads, and collecting bonuses...
IF THIS WEREN'T SO TRUE IT MIGHT BE FUNNY
PS - Author's note: I'm reminded of the space program, when the U.S. spent 6 million developing an "anti-gravity" ink pen so the astronauts could write in zero gravity. The Russians simply used pencils!
Anyone Can Be President
To be President, all you need is foresight and a clear vision of America's place in the world.
Subject: Bush-speak
"The vast majority of our imports come from outside the country."
-George W. Bush
"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure."
-George W. Bush
"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it."
-George W. Bush
"One word sums up probably the responsibility of any Governor, and that one word is 'to be prepared'."
-George W. Bush
"I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future."
-George W. Bush
"The future will be better tomorrow."
-George W. Bush
"We're going to have the best educated American people in the world."
-George W. Bush
"We have a firm commitment to NATO, we are a part of NATO. We have a firm commitment to Europe. We are a part of Europe."
-George W. Bush
"I stand by all the misstatements that I've made."
-George W. Bush
"A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls."
-George W. Bush
"We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur."
-George W. Bush
"For NASA, space is still a high priority."
-George W. Bush
"Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our children."
-George W. Bush
"It's time for the human race to enter the solar system."
-George W. Bush
Protect the Planet
National Rage Blog..
The beginning of a list of sites that will help the planet survive.
Natural Resources Defense Council
Center for Arms Control
Brian Laks has some terrific planet saving sites and links to every technology you need:
Brian Laks.Com
The beginning of a list of sites that will help the planet survive.
Natural Resources Defense Council
Center for Arms Control
Brian Laks has some terrific planet saving sites and links to every technology you need:
Brian Laks.Com
Income and Bond Funds
Domestic and Global Income
AGG = Agressive bond
BIL = 1-3 Month T-Bills
BWX = Int'l Treasury Bonds
CSY = Lehman 1-3 yr
DVY = Dow Select Dividend
GHI = Global High Income
GIF = Global Income Fund
HYG = High yield corporate bond
IEI = Lehman 3-7 yr
IEF = Lehman 7-10 yr
IPE = TIPS
ITE = Intermediate term treasury
LAG = Agressive Bond
MUB = National Muni Bond
PCY = Emrg Mkts Sovereign Debt
PFF = U.S. Preferred Stock
SDY = Dividend
TIP = Treasury Inflation Protected
TLH = Lehman 10-20 yr
TLO = Long-term treasury (20 yr+)
AGG = Agressive bond
BIL = 1-3 Month T-Bills
BWX = Int'l Treasury Bonds
CSY = Lehman 1-3 yr
DVY = Dow Select Dividend
GHI = Global High Income
GIF = Global Income Fund
HYG = High yield corporate bond
IEI = Lehman 3-7 yr
IEF = Lehman 7-10 yr
IPE = TIPS
ITE = Intermediate term treasury
LAG = Agressive Bond
MUB = National Muni Bond
PCY = Emrg Mkts Sovereign Debt
PFF = U.S. Preferred Stock
SDY = Dividend
TIP = Treasury Inflation Protected
TLH = Lehman 10-20 yr
TLO = Long-term treasury (20 yr+)
The Greg Palast Site
Journalist Greg Palast is a former corporate fraud investigator for the insurance industry; he became a journalist to write about all the corporate and government corruption he uncovered. He had to move to England to get anything published, since the U.S. media is owned by the corporations he was exposing.
His books include The Best Democracy Money Can Buy, Armed Madhouse, and From the Big Easy to the Big Empty. This is a terrific site.
Greg Palast (Journalist/Watchdog)
His books include The Best Democracy Money Can Buy, Armed Madhouse, and From the Big Easy to the Big Empty. This is a terrific site.
Greg Palast (Journalist/Watchdog)
The Best Democracy Money Can Buy
The Center for Responsive Politics:
Open Secrets
Chuck Lewis' Center for Public Integrity:
Public Integrity
For real info on the war on terror:
National Security News Service
America and the Islamic Bomb
Globalization Watchdogs
Citizens Network on Essential Services
Center for Economic and Policy Research
Global Trade Watch
International Forum on Globalization
Puppet "President" Pinochet and Henry Kissinger
National Security Archives, George Washington U.
Open Secrets
Chuck Lewis' Center for Public Integrity:
Public Integrity
For real info on the war on terror:
National Security News Service
America and the Islamic Bomb
Globalization Watchdogs
Citizens Network on Essential Services
Center for Economic and Policy Research
Global Trade Watch
International Forum on Globalization
Puppet "President" Pinochet and Henry Kissinger
National Security Archives, George Washington U.
Internet Media Organizations of Intelligence
Check out these internet Media Organizations:
Digby's Blogs
DIGBY'S POLITICAL BLOG LIST
[These came from Digby's Hullabaloo site: Hullabaloo ]
Blog-o-rama
The Big Con
American Street
Eschaton
Demosthenes
James Wolcott
Ezra Klein
D-Day
Matthew Yglesias
Political Animal
Sisyphus Shrugged
Glenn Greenwald
Rick Perlstein
Firedoglake
Martini Revolution
The Unapologetic Mexican
Taylor Marsh
Spocko's Brain
Big Brass Blog
Rsspect
Talk Left
Donkey Rising
Suburban Guerrilla
Paperweight's Fair Shot
corrente
Pacific Views
Echidne
TAPPED
Talking Points Memo
pandagon
Daily Kos
MyDD
Electrolite
Americablog
Group News Blog
Tom Tomorrow
Jon Swift
Left Coaster
Angry Bear
Dr Biobrain
Rooks Rant
The Poorman
Seeing the Forest
Cathie From Canada
Max Speaks
Majikthis
Brad DeLong
The Sideshow
Liberal Oasis
BartCop
War and Piece
Juan Cole
Mark Kleiman
Rising Hegemon
alicublog
Orcinus
Unqualified Offerings
Martin Wisse
Mad Kane
Blah3.com
Off the Kuff
Public Nuisance
Nathan Newman
Alas, A Blog
Fanatical Apathy
RogerAiles
Lean Left
Oliver Willis
Ruminate This
skippy the bush kangaroo
Slacktivist
uggabugga
Crooked Timber
discourse.net
Amygdala
the talking dog
David E's Fablog
Prometheus 6
busybusybusy
A Level Gaze
dr limerick
Into the Breach
Prometheus Speaks
longstoryshortpier
hellblazer
Democratic Veteran
Gail Online
mfinley
Liberal Desert
Cobb the Blog
Pen-Elayne
A Brooklyn Bridge
The Agonist
Dratfink
Wampum Blog
Tom Moody
Nobody Knows Anything
Common Sense
Byzantium's Shores
[These came from Digby's Hullabaloo site: Hullabaloo ]
Blog-o-rama
The Big Con
American Street
Eschaton
Demosthenes
James Wolcott
Ezra Klein
D-Day
Matthew Yglesias
Political Animal
Sisyphus Shrugged
Glenn Greenwald
Rick Perlstein
Firedoglake
Martini Revolution
The Unapologetic Mexican
Taylor Marsh
Spocko's Brain
Big Brass Blog
Rsspect
Talk Left
Donkey Rising
Suburban Guerrilla
Paperweight's Fair Shot
corrente
Pacific Views
Echidne
TAPPED
Talking Points Memo
pandagon
Daily Kos
MyDD
Electrolite
Americablog
Group News Blog
Tom Tomorrow
Jon Swift
Left Coaster
Angry Bear
Dr Biobrain
Rooks Rant
The Poorman
Seeing the Forest
Cathie From Canada
Max Speaks
Majikthis
Brad DeLong
The Sideshow
Liberal Oasis
BartCop
War and Piece
Juan Cole
Mark Kleiman
Rising Hegemon
alicublog
Orcinus
Unqualified Offerings
Martin Wisse
Mad Kane
Blah3.com
Off the Kuff
Public Nuisance
Nathan Newman
Alas, A Blog
Fanatical Apathy
RogerAiles
Lean Left
Oliver Willis
Ruminate This
skippy the bush kangaroo
Slacktivist
uggabugga
Crooked Timber
discourse.net
Amygdala
the talking dog
David E's Fablog
Prometheus 6
busybusybusy
A Level Gaze
dr limerick
Into the Breach
Prometheus Speaks
longstoryshortpier
hellblazer
Democratic Veteran
Gail Online
mfinley
Liberal Desert
Cobb the Blog
Pen-Elayne
A Brooklyn Bridge
The Agonist
Dratfink
Wampum Blog
Tom Moody
Nobody Knows Anything
Common Sense
Byzantium's Shores
