Culture of Fear

The other thing is the "piling on" effect -- traffic sucks, the job market sucks, there is no affordable housing (rental or buy), there is very little green space --

To which I have to say to the media, uh no shit -- and stop it with the creating anxiety about it -- too bad you don't have anything to report on anyone in power trying to do something about it, but sheesh stop it already, we know

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So I was thinking this morning while I was icing my knee and watching the coverage of the announcement of the new pontiff -- okay, so all churches spun off of this one ... also, that 265 pontiffs is pretty amazing in terms of the longevity of the institution

I know there's the whole Da Vinci/Holy Grail line of dubious thinking that places more importance on the attempts of people to hide secrets rather than pass on the gospel -- and I can think of nothing that is more contrary to the MANY evangelical passages in the Bible

So enough about that ... I was thinking okay, so who has it right? -- I know that a vast number of Protestant sects believe that the Big C church is somehow apostate and at times heretical ... in fact some cite passages out of the last chapter in the Bible to "prove" this

Okay, so if we track back history -- we have a break at the point where some believers thought that the Big C was becoming too ritualistic, too big, too indulgent of sinful nature, that worship was placed oddly, after saints, after the holy mother, etc. -- and that the man in the big hat had too much status, and questionable ability to intercede with God

As a person with much exposure to the Protestant side -- I found that as in many things, you get only one side of the story -- essentially you get the we don't need a man in the $5000 pointy hat argument; the whole belief is stronger than a ritual process; the whole confess to God, not man; etc.

Ultimately, to me I thought the separation was due to a process of man, in other words -- people who teach Xtianity teach it according to how they were taught it -- but at some point, someone made decisions as to what would be done, how people would worship, etc.

I know there are some that believe that you should follow what it says of how to worship in the Big B book -- ironically I believe it only says things such as the gathering of two or three -- there is no big hats, there is no laser light show, no jokes, it is just sincere worship

Sure, the other things may be comforting psychologically -- a gathering of a mass of believers, entertaining presentation that incorporates entertainment concepts (e.g., music, jokes, dance, plays, etc.) -- to me, at the end of the day, if there is a new covenant, the direct line is open to large G

That also means that much like the Xtians of old, it is equally valid to gather together in small groups -- fellowship and pray -- and this doesn't necessarily require a building, a mass of people you know and don't, etc. -- it is a personal and sincere express of religious belief

In other words, humble prayer and living a simple compassionate life

So, for the new pontiff, Benedict X,V,I for our Roman friends -- do well for others, for there are many that rely on you for spiritual care and feeding

As for me, it was an interesting time between crunches of Life cereal