A jot here, a title there

As long as i did a post on Christianity, wanna do one more. The American Taliban (i.e. the politically right wing Christians) Support the rule of sharia biblical law over secular law in America, and eventually, across the world.

This would mean of course, Deuteronomy and Leviticus, among other parts. Now granted those books have been a goldmine for comedians, but to the religious right of all the Abrahamic Faiths they are the frigin word of almighty God. 

In fact , in 1 AD they were the law in Judea (except where it was preempted by those comparatively liberal, soft on crime etc. Romans...). They are at the center of Mosaic, Sharia, and middle ages Canon Law. 

Mainline Christianity was housebroken by the Enlightenment/Age of Reason and its components of "humanist" values.
So here is a fun one for your friends who are liberal Christians, (the ones who will "...suffer a witch to live" :) ):

What would Jesus do?

Well, hmmm, Matthew 5 ,17:

"Do not think that i am come to destroy the law or the prophets.

 I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil."

The Vulgate Bible, Vol. VI Douay-Reims Translation, page 21 (2013).

Let me just say i am aware of the reams of Christian apologetica* on this, so you can skip the emails...As well as the positions of dispentationalism and hyper-dispensationalism yada yada.

But hey, dems da words....


As in "apology"; something that is said or written to defend something that other people criticize. See here

The Christians have a mandela too

A Mandela/Mandala (Sanskrit: मण्डल Maṇḍala, 'circle') is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism. But Christians have one also. The Shield of the Trinity

Known from the time of the Middle Ages in Europe,but probably of early origin, possibly not long after the concept of the Trinity was made dogma in 325 AD, at the First Council of Nicaea. 
Karen Armstrong and other scholars of Christianity have written that such a symbol was carved on the walls of the earliest monasteries which would serve as a point of concentration for novitiates. While starring at it they would pray/chant the words incessantly until achieving "a loss of self into the oneness of God". 

Satori anyone?

The Shield and its chant/prayer would probably work quite well in this use. If there is only a single god, it illustrates a non-logical/irrational concept, an "impossibility" language-wise, (i.e. Zen's What is the sound of one hand clapping?). Therefore, perfect for mystical contemplation.

A clever one liner

Chris Hedges during today's On Point radio program:
"Clinton drove the Democrats into being Republicans, and drove the Republicans into insanity."

A generation of swine

“In a generation of swine, the one-eyed pig is king.” 
Hunter S. Thompson, Generation of Swine: Tales of Shame and Degradation in the '80's

“There are times, however, and this is one of them, when even being right feels wrong. What do you say, for instance, about a generation that has been taught that rain is poison and sex is death? If making love might be fatal and if a cool spring breeze on any summer afternoon can turn a crystal blue lake into a puddle of black poison right in front of your eyes, there is not much left except TV and relentless masturbation. It's a strange world. Some people get rich and others eat shit and die.” 
Ibid

Disclaimer
As usual, everything herein is the viewpoint of this writer. It has nothing to do, and is totally not  the views, opinions, mutterings, brain states of any other human being, including but not limited to; friends, relatives, acquaintances, ex-spouses, co-workers, all employers past/present/future, clients, and for those listed above that are humans, their respective inner and skin surface flora & fauna, parasites & hyper parasites. 

Meanwhile, in Short Attention Span Theater...

I think an event this week in Wisconsin political news is providing an interesting chance to observe the difference between the types of thinking you find in a plutocracy vs a republic. 
The revenue shortfall facing the elected lickspittles and catspaws in state government this time (some would say created by both their policies and revenue cutting in the last budget cycle, but i digress...) is being met with a flow of crocodile tears about the cutting of services that is "necessary". It appears that this  plutocratic/producerist Kool -Aid is also being happily drunk down by Newstainment, and hence the general populace of lickspittles and catspaws, who have endured 35 years of tax bad, business good.
In a republic, where the duty of both citizen and elected official is to the "general welfare" and "public good" when acting on things shared in common (res publica... get it?). Would be, from any faction the populace juudged competent enough that it actually held office: "We do not know what percent or fraction of a percent taxes will go up , we will work that out."
(for the modern reaction to someone saying that now this, click here )

“Who knows? If there is in fact, a heaven and a hell, all we know for sure is that hell will be a viciously overcrowded version of Phoenix — a clean well lighted place full of sunshine and bromides and fast cars where almost everybody seems vaguely happy, except those who know in their hearts what is missing... And being driven slowly and quietly into the kind of terminal craziness that comes with finally understanding that the one thing you want is not there. Missing. Back-ordered...."
Ibid

OK, my language above is probably a tad harsh, pejorative. But, you gotta understand, i am one of those guys who has watched this movie a dozen or more times.* Most of the viewings were when i was a sprout. In a way, i am being just some old curmudgeon.  In our New Order, wherein wealth is the outward sign of an inward grace is not this change proper? The Neoliberal and American Producerism mind share is triumphant. Consider how there was apparently not a general outcry when an incumbent U.S. Senator recently suggested that look to the days of help from the churches for the little help they still get from government. If you listen carefully, you might hear a faint wrrrrr as T. Jefferson spins in his grave.

Back to the future i guess.


* the whole movie