How Rude is Crude ?

 

List of characters

  Old Man  

  Old Man’s Wife

  Son

  Son’s mom

  Daughter-in-law

  Daughter-in law's mom                                            

  Daughter-in-law's dad                                            

Old Man and his wife rescued Son from his depression, no job, apartment in disarray.  They spent the day cleaning his apartment so that he could get his deposit, then invited him to live with them.  After a year, and finding a good paying job, the Son successfully ‘flew the coup”.

Old Man, his wife, and wife’s mom at the Wedding Reception were seated at the last table next to the kitchen.  One would think that a generous monetary wedding gift would rate a better seating, at least a seating for the honor of being parents.

Also at the Wedding Reception party, Son's mother-in-law confronted Son's Uncle, saying "What are you doing here?  You were not invited. Please leave." After the Son's Uncle gave a $200 gift.  How low can a person go?

“Well Old Man, you have a business degree so you must know about Amortization Tables”. said Daughter-in-law’s mom sarcastically. 

The Visitor Baton was passed between the two friends of Daughter-in-law “ok, it’s my turn” as this game went on for quite a while as they waited to see mother and child. Daughter-in-law mom sat there and watched this charade.

With their newly purchased house, they came over to help clean and were completely shunned by daughter-in-law mom, her husband, and all of their friends.

They pulled into the driveway for the diner invitation, and as they walked up the sidewalk, they noticed daughter-in-law mom and husband jump from their parked car to rush ahead of them saying nothing but giving a dirty look.

While sitting in the waiting room at the hospital, daughter-in-law mom sat there knitting, and when Old Man asked about her husband, she scornfully said “you know that my husband does not like hospitals!”

They attended the baby’s baptism and were motioned to sit with family, but were shunned by daughter-in-law mom since they  took her seat.  “Well Old Man, since you’re in my spot, heres my camera, you’re in charge of taking pictures…”

As Old Man stood in her driveway smoking his cigarette, daughter-in-law drove up, got out of her car, and while approaching Old Man he gave congratulations on the Baptism. She gave the Old Man smart aleck remark “Piff”. 

The Old Man and his wife gave his son their three year old refrigerator, which they gladly accepted for use in the garage.  After a bitter winter's use, the moister tubes in the refrigerator busted.  The daughter-in-law's dad claimed that the Old Man gave away a bum refrigerator.  

Old Man’s wife to Daughter-in-law: maybe your husbands mom could take care of your child while you work.  Daughter-in-law responded:  “i don’t want that fuc**** cripple taking care of my child.” as her husband sat in chair saying nothing.

They heard that the baby was sick, throwing up, fever.  Old Man’s wife, RN, talked on the telephone to recommended pedialyte, and absolutely no milk.  Daughter-in-law mom interceded and said to give the baby lots of milk.

Old Man’s wife’s mom died and Son did not acknowledge even though she loved him like a grandchild.

Old Man and his wife were not notified of the birth of their second grandchild of Son. Heard about it thru the grape vine a week later.

The Old Man and his wife agreed that obviously one can’t choose family, but what’s the excuse for disrespect bordering on hatred? 

Beyond Rude, Absurd

List of characters:

  Old Man

  Old Man’s Wife

  Son

  Son’s mom

  Daughter-in-law

  Daughter-in law's mom                                            

  Daughter-in-law's dad                                            

Old Man and his wife rescued Son from his depression, no job, apartment in disarray.  They spent the day cleaning his apartment so that he could get his deposit, then invited him to live with them.  After a year, and finding a good paying job, the Son successfully ‘flew the coup”.

Old Man, his wife, and wife’s mom at the Wedding Reception were seated at the last table next to the kitchen.  One would think that a generous monetary wedding gift would rate a better seating, at least a seating for the honor of being parents.

Also at the Wedding Reception party, Son's mother-in-law confronted Son's Uncle, saying "What are you doing here?  You were not invited. Please leave." After the Son's Uncle gave a $200 gift.  How low can a person go?

“Well Old Man, you have a business degree so you must know about Amortization Tables”. said Daughter-in-law’s mom sarcastically. 

The Visitor Baton was passed between the two friends of Daughter-in-law “ok, it’s my turn” as this game went on for quite a while as they waited to see mother and child. Daughter-in-law mom sat there and watched this charade.

With their newly purchased house, they came over to help clean and were completely shunned by daughter-in-law mom, her husband, and all of their friends.

They pulled into the driveway for the diner invitation, and as they walked up the sidewalk, they noticed daughter-in-law mom and husband jump from their parked car to rush ahead of them saying nothing but giving a dirty look.

While sitting in the waiting room at the hospital, daughter-in-law mom sat there knitting, and when Old Man asked about her husband, she scornfully said “you know that my husband does not like hospitals!”

They attended the baby’s baptism and were motioned to sit with family, but were shunned by daughter-in-law mom since they  took her seat.  “Well Old Man, since you’re in my spot, heres my camera, you’re in charge of taking pictures…”

As Old Man stood in her driveway smoking his cigarette, daughter-in-law drove up, got out of her car, and while approaching Old Man he gave congratulations on the Baptism. She gave the Old Man smart aleck remark “Piff”. 

The Old Man and his wife gave his son their three year old refrigerator, which they gladly accepted for use in the garage.  After a bitter winter's use, the moister tubes in the refrigerator busted.  The daughter-in-law's dad claimed that the Old Man gave away a bum refrigerator.  

Old Man’s wife to Daughter-in-law: maybe your husbands mom could take care of your child while you work.  Daughter-in-law responded:  “i don’t want that fuc**** cripple taking care of my child.” as her husband sat in chair saying nothing.

They heard that the baby was sick, throwing up, fever.  Old Man’s wife, RN, talked on the telephone to recommended pedialyte, and absolutely no milk.  Daughter-in-law mom interceded and said to give the baby lots of milk.

Old Man’s wife’s mom died and Son did not acknowledge even though she loved him like a grandchild.

Old Man and his wife were not notified of the birth of their second grandchild of Son. Heard about it thru the grape vine a week later.

The Old Man and his wife agreed that obviously one can’t choose family, but what’s the excuse for disrespect bordering on hatred? 

The Religious Right Is Wrong

    (my camera at Apostle John's Tomb, Ephesus)

James Madison, fourth President of the United States, in his Federalist Papers No. 10 explained that factions, alliances, were the natural state of man, that the like minded would form in groups.  But he warned of the inherent danger when these Factions tuned political to the detriment of the public interest. 

The adherents of the Religious Right focus on the “me” society rather than the “we” society.  Therein lies a major conflict with the Bible: Matthew 25:45 “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.”  

The Republican Administration canceling 500 tons of emergency food aid, enough to fee 1.5 million malnourished children, and having it incinerated instead is a great anthesis to Matthew 25: "feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, invite in the stranger, clothes the needed, tend to the sick, do for this least of these."

A big difference between the members of the Religious Right and mainstream Christian Churches is the former are political, and Republican.  Moreover, these gospel grifter groups claim to be Christian by taking passages out of context from the Bible and twist the meaning to further their agenda.

There are many issues with so-called Religious Right Christian views.  They justify their hate, as evidenced to me by a religiosity weirdo making disparaging remarks about Jews, and others, including me, which gives me the creeps.

In his acceptance of the Ecumenical Council of 1960-1965, Vatican II, Pope John Paul II asserted that as a descendent to the throne of St. Peter, the true message of Jesus was all inclusive, that all people of the world were saved.  I believe all main-stream Christian Churches believe the true message of Jesus was love for all religious communities since all mainstream religions believe and practice the same love. 

Former President Jimmy Carter, who in 2000 officially severed ties with the Southern Baptist Convention after the SBC declared its opposition to female pastors and reiterated its calls “for wives to be submissive to their husbands.”   He condemned the mistreatment of women by religious leaders, writing: “the words of God do not justify cruelty to women.”

In an opinion piece published “Losing my Religion for Equality.”  President Carter said that a “twisted interpretation of the word of God” taught by male religious leaders has been used to justify the oppression of women:  “The truth is that male religious leaders have had — and still have — an option to interpret holy teachings either to exalt or subjugate women. They have, for their own selfish ends, overwhelmingly chosen the latter.”

Here's a quote from an Evangelical non-denominational Christian: "Matthew 25 is great, but He did not say that it is the way to get to heaven. These verses speak of the evidence and fruit of someone who is already saved."

Matthew 25 Jesus explicitly said the only way to heaven is to help the poor. "Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Here is James 2:14-17 "What good is it my brothers and sister, if someone claims to have faith but has no deed?  Can such faith save them?  Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food, 16 If one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 in the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

Judging by results, these Right Wing Evangelical Christians non-denominational will pick and choose scripture, then tell you what Jesus really meant.  Scary, isn't it !

There are phrases in the Bible that exalt women and here is just a sample of many:  Romans 16:1New International Version (NIV) Personal Greetings 16 “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae”; Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”; Romans 2:11 “For God shows no partiality”; Ephesians 5:21 “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ”.

And, they want to turn our country into a theocracy.  The Christian Right’s plan is simple: dominate the courts, state legislatures, and push their twisted morality on all of us.

Their world is wrong.  A world where men are superior, where women are

subordinate, controlled, and relegated to birth mothers.  In fact, abortions are not only illegal, but criminal for all involved, even the taxi driver. American comedian, television host on The View said "If men could get pregnant, abortions would be sold in vending machines."

A living reminder that the Christian faith is not about chasing novelty, but about being anchored in something older and bigger than us.  For centuries and many, many millions cleaved to distinct religious bodies, strengthened by clergy devoted to studies requiring college degrees and Synodical degrees to warn and free the followers from gospel grifters.

What’s right is Apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthians: 1 Corinthians 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.  

K.I.S.S., Me

I remember as a child my father taking me for a ride in his car.  It was getting dark, driving to a relative's home.  A child does not know the word controversy.  It was one relative of one faith marrying one of the other faith.  

"Even children have an innate sense of morality, knowing right from wrong," from his story of children playing game of marbles, a game of simple rules "The Righteous Mind" by Jonathan Haidt

As the title of my article suggests, I'm keeping my argument simple; my marbles revolve around a few findings in reading and observations in life.

“Religion is belief in someone else’s experience. Spirituality is having your own experience.” Deepak Chopra

We’re all born to this world with individual wonderment of the same universe. Life is an individual journey and sharing gives life to that wonderment.  I'm reminded of Abraham Joshua Heschel saying “Everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually. To be spiritual is to be amazed.”

From a Native American, their religion is not faith based but real, breathing the air, drinking clean water, seeing the sun, feeling and smelling the earth, living plants and animals in harmony - living, loving, sharing

Adding to confusion, the Bible has many controversies.  Over centuries, Scribes upon Scribes, upon more Scribes rewriting lead to distortions. Maybe one Scribe had a bad day with his wife relegating her to “Sit Down & Be Quiet” lol

Imagine trying to read script with no spaces or punctuation?

imaginescriptwithnospacesorpunctuation

Charlemagne, 8th century, created Carolingian Minuscule, a calligraphic standard: Upper Lower cases, spaces between words, and punctuation. I'm reminded of the importance of a Sentence Comma: Junior High vs Junior, High (emotions)

I’ve not only read the entire bible, along with audio cd's, but inspired further study with courses through The Great Courses: “Comparative Religion” Dr. Charles Kimball, University of Oklahoma,“The Old Testament” Amy-Jill Levine, also  “The New Testament” Amy-Jill Levine, “Great Figures of the New Testament” Amy-Jill Levine Vanderbilt University.

Paul's writings dealt with the struggles of the early churches, and Luke's Acts gives testimony to the struggles of the Apostles.  I want to skip the Epistles, except for one quote in my ending, and share what feeds Dr. Heschel's words of living is amazing.  

The wisdom and harmony of Gleaners, Leviticus 19:9-10. 'Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, leave for the poor" and Jubilee, the forgiveness of debt  Leviticus 25:1–4, 8–10 and Matthew 25 "invite the stranger, tend to the sick, give food to the hungry", and Matthew 5 Sermon on the Mount giving moral instructions, all giving strength to Dr. Heschel's wish.

I'm sure that we all have favorite scripture sayings, and my favorite which gives summary is 1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now these three remain "faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love."

A Wider Window To Life

 We’re all born to this world with individual wonderment of the same universe. Life is an individual journey, and sharing gives life to that wonderment. Human nature is revealed on the face of an innocent child where love comes first, shown with a smile. Life is an individual journey.

“The Nature of Reality in the Conscious Mind is thru Stories.“ said Deepak Chopra.

What better excitement of your finding the beautiful flower, smelling it’s unique aroma, adding to the joy by telling a friend who delights in your story?

A fundamental question of Life’s adventure, when and where is the line drawn on the depth of Parenthood?  I find it difficult to share life with adult children who are distant. The sharing of life’s wonderment goes beyond a calendar.

As parents, we went through the stage in life and had the ‘Baby Thing’.  Our children grew up, but as adults they decided to be distant. That’s their choice.  We did the ‘Baby Thing’ by raising our children with love and a bundle of care.

The gateway to happiness is held in the hands of Humanity with the Key of Love. Let Love keep us at the top of this tapestry of humanity.

I find wonderment in life with the love of animals.  Watching the little creatures keeps life simple. Sniff, look, feel, hear, taste, all reminded about what’s important, and gives us a wider window to life.  

What motivates us? Remember, life is an individual adventure. Some grow up with a competitive effort to conquer the same universe that they were born to and cleave to greed, while others are grounded in sharing, love.  

“The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life.” - Tagore

 A reflection from a spoken Native American, which harmonizes with this theme of wonderment, saying their religion is not Faith Based but real. You can feel it, taste it, breathing the air, drinking clean water, seeing the sun, feeling and smelling  the earth, living plants and animals in harmony - living, loving, sharing.

“One is responsible for life: It is the small beacon in that terrifying darkness from which we come and to which we shall return.” - James Baldwin 

“We are all tourists, God is our travel agent who already made our itineraries, bookings and destinations...Trust him and enjoy LIFE.  Life is just a journey! Live today!”- Charles Chaplin

We sit in awe of the wonderment of the miracles of Nature. My wife Bobbi grows butterflies, from picking itsy bitsy caterpillars on dill from the backyard garden, placing them in a cage, feeding them dill / parsley until they’re big enough to form chrysalis. Then 7 to 10 days when they emerge as butterflies is a miracle.  

Further mystery is the time when the chrysalis stops evolving at Fall Equinox, waits through winter to then emerge in the Spring as Butterflies.   It’s Life’s Wonderment.

I'm reminded of Rumi who said:  "Wear gratitude like a cloak, and it will feed every corner of your life."

A Book Review - My Thoughts

 

We’re all born to this world with individual wonderment of the same universe. Life is an individual journey and sharing gives life to that wonderment.  And, how we mature gives wonder to that wonderment. 

"Even children have an innate sense of morality, knowing right from wrong," from his story of children playing game of marbles, a game of simple rules

- "The Righteous Mind" Jonathan Haidt

James Madison, fourth President of the United States, in his Federalist Papers No. 10 explained that factions, alliances, were the natural state of man, that the like minded would form in groups.  But he warned of the inherent danger when these Factions turned political to the detriment of the public interest. 

I found this book "The Righteous Mind" by Jonathan Haidt profound.  He broke down these Factions into Six Moral Foundations, and obviously they are not mutually exclusive:

• Care
• Liberty
• Fairness
• Loyalty
• Authority
• Sanctity

Some people cleave strongly to one of the foundations which can define that person.  For example, within the Sanctity Foundation is Religiosity which is the state of intense, excessive devotion of being religious.  

 

An example of combined Care, Fairness, Authority:  "One morning he discovered his young child was allergic to "must".You "must "get up for school, you must eat your breakfast, you must etc... but the child reacted differently, positively, with "can you get up for school, would you like breakfast, can you ..."

We can deduce the hazards of falling heavily into one over the other Foundations.  “Racism is a grown-up disease and we must stop using our children to spread it.” said Ruby Bridges  "A child does not question the wrongs of adults,  he suffers them" said Chief Dan George 

Jonathan Haidt explains the downside of the Six Foundations when they become political, or filled with adverse thoughts and actions.  Religiosity is fine when living in a way that shows to be good or moral and sincere.  But when displayed with disparaging remarks about Jews, and others including me is ugly. 

The author explains the political side of the 6 Moral Foundations.  I'm reminded of James Madison warning of the inherent danger of Factions. Like-minded groups, when standing alone are benign, but when aligned with other factions are dangerous when the uniting cancer is hate, coupled with fear and prejudice. 

I highly recommend "The Righteous Mind" by Jonathan Haidt.  It gave me valuable insight as to why people act the way they do.  

 

Creepy Cults And High Priests

What is the nature of a man who considers himself a Christian and High Priest of his family, relegating his wife to subordinate status? What kind of church does this man subscribe to? What drives a person to seek a life’s position other than equal, and more importantly, what is his message?

This man is not part of the main stream churches, although President Jimmy Carter left the Southern Baptist Church because of their failing to promote women as pastors of the church. Moreover, Jimmy Carter said that the leaders of the SBC choose to interpret the bible phrases that subjugate women rather than exalt women.

This defining oneself as High Priest is clearly a case of self-adulation! Where does one get support for his Priest Hood? The main-stream Christian churches do not support this sacrilege. He would have to search for a cult religion, where they twist the interpretation of scripture to meet their selfish ways.

A “Purity Ball” is an example of a cult. It is a sacrilege where the father swears an oath as High Priest of the family before god to protect his daughter’s virginity. Likewise, the daughter swears an oath to be faithful to her father and remain “Pure”.

The “Purity Ball” is sick, creepy, and a sacrilege thus violating Matthew 5:34 “But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne;” and James 5:12 “But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.” The idea of “Purity” should be discussed in the privacy of the home and not put on public display with a cult ritual!

The New Testament clearly teaches that all believers regardless of gender, are joint heirs with Christ, and wives are not junior partners in the marriage. Men are not the High Priest and women are not subordinate. Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

The High Priest uses the Bible as a tool to further his gain and justify his behavior using twisted scripture to get his way. He thinks that he holds the keys and locks out those who do not agree with him, and joins groups that think like him. Salvation is the tool that gives him the power to divide and shut out family members who do not worship his twisted scripture.  And we know where the Jews stand with his outspoken beliefs. 

The creepy cults focus on the “me” society rather than the “we” society. Therein lies a major conflict with the Bible: Matthew 25:45 “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.”

The basis for their entire thinking revolves around 1st John 5:5 "only those who believe in Jesus are saved."  They wear the "Jesus Blinders" proudly, placing the "Jesus Name" over the Jesus Message as their creed.

The Book of James tells the relationship between faith and works.  James 2:14-17 "What good is it ...  if someone claims to have faith but has no deed?  Can such faith save them? ... faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

The High Priest believes that if you are rich, it must be because God loves you. If you are poor, it is of your own sinful doing. The High Priest singles out one or two needy people to help thus fulfilling Matthew 25 and not costing him too much money or effort, but still justifying his “me” society.

There are many back-yard, barn yard churches with their self-ordained ministers and cult church followers that the High Priest can seek out. The High Priest seeks out the cult church where he can join to influence and be an active part of the ministry, solidifying his High Priest knowledgeable status.

The High Priest’s thinking would not be complete without home schooling, which completes full circle the living in a 'cloud' where he holds the keys. After all, the earth is 6,000 years old, dinosaurs were on Noah’s Ark, and homosexuals are going to hell!

The religious intolerance of this group is repulsive, including their social behavior and lack of humanitarianism, and qualifies as a cesspool congregation.

 I believe in Dr. Kimball’s phrase from his course “Comparative Religion” regarding the similarities of the 5 basic religions, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, the “human capacity for self transcendence” transcends all religions. This religious creepy cult group is excluded!