Thursday, January 20, 2011
Quote of the Day
“We observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom -- symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning -- signifying renewal, as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago.
The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe -- the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.
We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans -- born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world....
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty.
This much we pledge -- and more....
United there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided there is little we can do -- for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder....
So let us begin anew -- remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate.
Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us....
Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce.
Let both sides unite to heed, in all corners of the earth, the command of Isaiah -- to "undo the heavy burdens, and [to] let the oppressed go free."
And, if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavor -- not a new balance of power, but a new world of law -- where the strong are just, and the weak secure, and the peace preserved....
In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.
Now the trumpet summons us again -- not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need -- not as a call to battle, though embattled we are -- but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation," a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself....
In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility -- I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it. And the glow from that fire can truly light the world.
And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.
My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.
Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.”
--John F. Kennedy
35th President of the United States
Inaugural Address
20 January 1961
Monday, January 24, 2011
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Losing My Religion, Part 1
I recently stumbled across a website called, Jesus Religion. It's about a book written by Louis Charles, a husband and father, who examines the validity and insanity of organized religion. It is a look at the person of Jesus, who he prefers to call "Yeshua" which is the Hebrew/Aramaic name of Jesus. It means "one who saves."
I went through a period earlier this year where I began to question my religion (Catholic) and started to feel estranged and disheartened by it. I have been doing a lot of reading lately on the internet, and once again I am plagued by doubts about organized religion of every kind, including my own. There are many people who write that organized religion is bad for you; that it is the source of many of the world's problems. Organized religion takes away our ability to think and reason on our own; instead we are taught what doctrines/dogma/beliefs we are supposed to follow; we are taught how to act; we are taught what is right and wrong based on a set of beliefs and religious dogmas; we are taught how to pray and what to say; we are told that if we want to get to heaven that we should act this way and avoid certain behaviors/sins, or else we know where we might end up! We are told that sexuality is bad and so are condoms/birth control. We must confess our "sins" to another human being who is also a sinner in order to receive "absolution." We are not to question what the bible teaches and many of the doctrines are not even in the bible in the first place. Much of the doctrines of a particular religion are man-made and enforced by men. The bottom line is, we are controlled and pretty much enslaved by organized religion. We are also brainwashed! Sounds good, doesn't it?
My six year old (God Bless her) doesn't like to go to church, probably because she does not get anything out of it (how many 6 year olds do?). I don't blame her, because at 42, there are times that I don't get much out of it either, and I have been working at this much longer than my daughter has!
I want to buy and read the book by Louis Charles. He has peaked my interest and stimulated my curiosity. He challenges what organized religions teach and what Jesus/Yeshua really stood for. When you think about it, Jesus was against organized religion; yet men have created religion in the name of Jesus that is as oppressive and degrading as the Pharisees were in the time of Jesus. The Pharisees and Sanhedrin in the gospels place unnecessary burdens on people in the name of religion. They took away their inherit dignity and freedom as sons and daughters of God, while they in their arrogance did whatever they wanted. Sound familiar? Jesus challenged the Pharisees many times and even got angry with them. He came to transcend the laws, not to impose or enforce them. And since when is it okay to molest young children in the name of God and there is nothing wrong with it? I grew up Catholic and went to parochial schools and even the seminary, because I thought God was calling me to be a priest, until I found out that priests were molesting children. I was never abused, but I knew priests who have abused children and that disheartens me.
I went through a period earlier this year where I began to question my religion (Catholic) and started to feel estranged and disheartened by it. I have been doing a lot of reading lately on the internet, and once again I am plagued by doubts about organized religion of every kind, including my own. There are many people who write that organized religion is bad for you; that it is the source of many of the world's problems. Organized religion takes away our ability to think and reason on our own; instead we are taught what doctrines/dogma/beliefs we are supposed to follow; we are taught how to act; we are taught what is right and wrong based on a set of beliefs and religious dogmas; we are taught how to pray and what to say; we are told that if we want to get to heaven that we should act this way and avoid certain behaviors/sins, or else we know where we might end up! We are told that sexuality is bad and so are condoms/birth control. We must confess our "sins" to another human being who is also a sinner in order to receive "absolution." We are not to question what the bible teaches and many of the doctrines are not even in the bible in the first place. Much of the doctrines of a particular religion are man-made and enforced by men. The bottom line is, we are controlled and pretty much enslaved by organized religion. We are also brainwashed! Sounds good, doesn't it?
My six year old (God Bless her) doesn't like to go to church, probably because she does not get anything out of it (how many 6 year olds do?). I don't blame her, because at 42, there are times that I don't get much out of it either, and I have been working at this much longer than my daughter has!
I want to buy and read the book by Louis Charles. He has peaked my interest and stimulated my curiosity. He challenges what organized religions teach and what Jesus/Yeshua really stood for. When you think about it, Jesus was against organized religion; yet men have created religion in the name of Jesus that is as oppressive and degrading as the Pharisees were in the time of Jesus. The Pharisees and Sanhedrin in the gospels place unnecessary burdens on people in the name of religion. They took away their inherit dignity and freedom as sons and daughters of God, while they in their arrogance did whatever they wanted. Sound familiar? Jesus challenged the Pharisees many times and even got angry with them. He came to transcend the laws, not to impose or enforce them. And since when is it okay to molest young children in the name of God and there is nothing wrong with it? I grew up Catholic and went to parochial schools and even the seminary, because I thought God was calling me to be a priest, until I found out that priests were molesting children. I was never abused, but I knew priests who have abused children and that disheartens me.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Persistence, Even When It Is Not Easy
I have to admit that in the past several months, I have been struggling with many things. In the midst of my struggles, I have not been devoting much time and energy to the spiritual life, and I have found that I am reaping the fruits of my neglect. Why should God be faithful, when I am not? Why should I or the rest of America for that matter expect to receive God's blessings when we have turned our backs on Him? The further we sink into the pit of sin and lull our consciences into a deep coma, the more difficult it is to get out. We begin to make excuses for our behavior and actions (or inaction); we begin to justify everything that we do, whether good or evil.
It is no joke that our country is slipping further and further into the dung heap. Our political leaders don't care if they run this country into the ground or run up the deficit into the trillions of dollars. It does not matter that 14 million people are still unemployed or underemployed; it does not matter that many are losing their homes while the banks get a hand out from the government and continue with business as usual, so that the CEO's can get their millions in bonuses at the end of the year. It does not matter that in the wealthiest country, many more are falling into poverty.
I know that the time has come to turn my life around and I must begin by asking God's mercy for my own weaknesses and sins. Then I must begin to live my life for God and God alone. And I must begin to pray and develop a relationship of prayer not just when I feel like it or when it is convenient, but everyday! I know it will not be easy, but it can be done; it must be done. My life and my soul depend upon it! O God, come to my assistance. Lord, make haste to help me!
It is no joke that our country is slipping further and further into the dung heap. Our political leaders don't care if they run this country into the ground or run up the deficit into the trillions of dollars. It does not matter that 14 million people are still unemployed or underemployed; it does not matter that many are losing their homes while the banks get a hand out from the government and continue with business as usual, so that the CEO's can get their millions in bonuses at the end of the year. It does not matter that in the wealthiest country, many more are falling into poverty.
I know that the time has come to turn my life around and I must begin by asking God's mercy for my own weaknesses and sins. Then I must begin to live my life for God and God alone. And I must begin to pray and develop a relationship of prayer not just when I feel like it or when it is convenient, but everyday! I know it will not be easy, but it can be done; it must be done. My life and my soul depend upon it! O God, come to my assistance. Lord, make haste to help me!
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