Most people know him as the man who, according to the Gospels, donated his own prepared tomb for the burial of Jesus after Jesus was crucified. Joseph of Arimathea is venerated as a saint by the Catholic, Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox and some Anglican churches. But, let’s look, as Paul Harvey says, “at the rest of the story”. Let’s talk “Uncle Joe”. Continue reading ‘Joseph of Arimathea’
Monthly Archive for December, 2007
It’s been said that one of the interesting traits of mammals is their curiosity. So, with homo sapien sapiens being at the top of that food chain, you’d think we’d THINK!. But sociologists are finding fewer and fewer people with questions. When it comes to the depths of religion and spirituality that should even be a greater area wherein ideas and questions flourish. But, it seems that the church has put a lid on spiritual exploration and maybe that’s why so many are leaving the church in America. Continue reading ‘Random Curiosity’
The over emphasis about who is going to heaven and who is not (as though anyone knew) is about as much a waste of time and arrogance as are the “ideas about heaven“. Of coruse on the otehr side of the coin driving people to heaven is the fear of hell. What ever happened to the love of God concept and living in the NOW? What about heaven and hell on earth (as it is in heaven)? Continue reading ‘Going To Heaven?’
If you’re a Christian or one who embraces the New Testament, you will find a phrase (depending of course on which translation you have in your possession) that’s reported to have been spoken by Jesus and written by Paul- maybe others. That phrase is found in I Thes. 5:5, Eph. 5:8, Luke 16:8, and particularly in John 12:36. The phrase? Children of light! Continue reading ‘Children Of Light (Part #1)’
News flash! God didn’t wind up this watch called our planet, galaxy, or universe and then let it go. The eighteenth century “watchmaker diety” was man’s attempt at understanding God (s though we could)- two to three hundred years ago! That was then, but guess what is now! Continue reading ‘The Blind Watchmaker’
I am sure that you have heard of them. They went by the names of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, and Appollo to name a few. The Greek mythology is rich in amazing gods. Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the Ancient Greeks concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices.So, we shouldn’t be surprised that much of what we see and interpret in the historical Jesus has taken on the same characteristics as the Greek Gods. Continue reading ‘Greek Gods’
Depending upon which Bible translation you choose, the phrase “children of light” appears many times throughout scripture. But what does that mean? On December 14th, we’ll take a look at the word, “CHILDREN” and then on the 21st, the word, “LIGHT”. We truly are “children of light”.
Was there a specific season or era when those whom called themselves Christians, quit following the man Jesus, the Christ and instead started following the doctrine and dogma of man’s egoic intellectualization. It seems that there’s no end to the fragmentation and divisiveness that man can create and embrace. Worst of all, it seems that there is no hatred unworthy of doing in those that disagree with our position. Continue reading ‘Christian Dogma’
The imagined paradise by so many religious followers is simply going to be a disappearing mirage whether Christian, Muslim, or others. American churches have too often, consciously or not, created a country-club heaven. Streets are made of gold and mansions are enormous out there in the midst of celestial clouds. This depiction of a “physical heavenly realm” is enormously false. Continue reading ‘Club Paradise’
Children of Light (Part #2)
The first part of this three-part commentary dealt with the “children“. Now on to the “light“, which will need to be done in two parts. So, one more commentary will follow. On numerous occasions the Bible speks of us as being “children of light” and the question is how do we interpret this? Is this a metaphorical statement or do we follow the literal fundamentalists? Interestingly, you might even find some literalists who would hedge on the literal meaning, just when I would not. Continue reading ‘Children of Light (Part #2)’