Yahweh is a deity within the religion of Militarism. He is the fictional War Lord deity invented by Hebrew War Lords. Yahweh sanctifies Old Testament rulers who dominate over the people. Yahweh cannot be compared to the historical peacemaker Jesus of Nazareth in the Gospel. Attempts to connect the two, however, are sometimes made. One … Continue reading “God as Father”
Category: Military-Dominion
Strange Bedfellows
Jesus’ description of himself as the Good Shepherd is matched by his periodic description of people as sheep. At times the animals, and therefore people, are described as faithful and innocent and at other times a bit gullible, if not stupid. This Sunday, sheep are described as faithfully hearing their shepherd’s voice calling out to … Continue reading “Strange Bedfellows”
Moses, Elijah, and Muhammad; Not Jesus
Similar to a previous peacemaker, Gautama Buddha, Christ Jesus creates a seismic shift in human history. This Sunday’s Transfiguration is one expression of that shift. Its seismic nature however is not appreciated by Biblical fundamentalists who write commentaries on the event. They diminish both Jesus and the Transfiguration. They do so by interpreting both as … Continue reading “Moses, Elijah, and Muhammad; Not Jesus”
Deal with the Devil
“Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert and tempted by the devil.” While the word devil conjures up monstrous images its original meaning is less horrific. Devil is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word Satan which is defined as “adversary” and means someone or something that acts ‘against’ – against us, against … Continue reading “Deal with the Devil”
Politically Correct
When members of the supremacist class, Pharisees, invite Jesus to a meal they are not being politically correct. Being politically correct is supremacists correctly honoring members of their own political class. Why then do the Pharisees bestow the honor of sharing a meal with them upon a dishonorable commoner? The invitation is actually meant to … Continue reading “Politically Correct”
Our Place
When Jesus returns to his native place, as this Sunday’s Gospel relates, he is a different man than the boy who left. He is especially noteworthy as a healer. He is different from the tribe that helped shape him, that thinks it knows him and has beliefs about who he should be. For the tribe, … Continue reading “Our Place”
Rule
Believers in the devil, some of whom call themselves Christian, think the creature has dominion over the earth. This Sunday’s Gospel proves such a belief is not Christian/Christ-like. Jesus says, “now the ruler of this world will be driven out.” If errant christians think the devil, sometimes called Satan, rules over earth then Jesus driving … Continue reading “Rule”
Facing Our Demons
If we are fortunate, we will, like Jesus, be led by the Spirit into the desert. There, amidst all that seems barren, we will bloom. For it is in desert places that the externals we’ve built up and hide behind can be removed; status, privileges, ideologies, defenses. We are inclined to cling to these externals … Continue reading “Facing Our Demons”
Sacred and Profane
Jesus cleanses the Temple in today’s Gospel reading. The Temple represents a division instituted by religion, specifically the division between Divinity and the natural world. Gods were once believed synonymous with the forces of nature. Those forces could be deadly and were feared. So too the gods assigned to the forces were deadly and feared, … Continue reading “Sacred and Profane”
Models of Authority
One model of authority is to rule over people. It is the military model of domination. A rather clear sign of such authority is the threat of or use of a weapon. The weapon might be a fist or a gun. It could be a knife or a tongue sharpened like one. Whatever its shape, … Continue reading “Models of Authority”