A Frightening Trend in Thought

 

Article Six of the United States Constitution  forbids a religious test as a requirement for holding a governmental position.

Adolf Hitler blamed for Germany's problems on Jews, Communists, Freemasons, Socialists, Liberals, Pacifists, Gays, Czechs, anyone who was believed to not be Aryan.

Throughout history there are those who have risen to power by blaming societal problems on others. They create what has become known as "scapegoats." When we here rhetoric claiming that Muslims, Mexicans, Syrians, those from South America or the Middle East are responsible for our ills, beware. Remember Senator McCarthy and the "Red Scare?"

Unthinking masses are prone to accept the premise that they are not the cause problems. It lets them off the hook, relieves them from responsibility, and places blame squarely on the shoulder of "them." The them being those who think, look, dress and talk differently. This is dangerous and frightening thinking. It gives rise to dictators, atrocities, genocide, and the loss of freedom.

When election time comes around, a clear message needs to be sent to the hate mongers that No, this is not the way we think. No, we will not fall prey to hate. No, we will not blame others as we are all responsible for our actions, our successes and our failures. No, we will not build ourselves up on the fall of others.

SOME KUDOS FOR LIBYAN PEOPLE

You may have seen this story in the Huffington Post:

Libya Embassy Attack: Libyan President Orders 'Illegitimate' Militias Disbanding 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/23/libya-embassy-attack_n_1907252.html?utm_hp_ref=world

But perhaps of greater importance is the following:

"The assault on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, which left Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans dead, has sparked an angry backlash among many Libyans against the myriad of armed factions that continue to run rampant across the nation nearly a year after the end of the country's civil war.
On Friday, residents of Benghazi – the cradle of the Libyan revolution last year that toppled dictator Moammar Gadhafi – staged a mass demonstration against the militias before storming the compounds of several armed groups in the city in an unprecedented protest to demand the militias dissolve."

Here we have the average citizen, REAL MUSLIMS, saying no to violence. One Muslim business leader on NPR said that the killing of innocent people is much more of an affront to Islam than "any video or silly cartoon." Clearly a voice of reason and clearly one who follows the teachings and not radicals seeking to create and spread hate and fear.

Thank you people of Benghazi!

ALL THINGS THAT MATTER PRESS NEW RELEASES

ALL THINGS THAT MATTER PRESS is proud to announce the release of many new titles in time for your holiday shopping. These titles are on Amazon.com, Mobipocket and are available as Kindle Editions. You can also order direct at http://allthingsthatmatterpress.com

THE PUNJABI'S WIFE
BY
LARA LYONS
During changing American social conditions in 1968, a naïve nineteen year old Midwestern girl marries an older Pakistani man and moves to Lahore where she lives as a Muslim wife for almost two years. This young girl does not realize that her new husband married her to gain American citizenship and return to the United States. Her life in Pakistan is filled with adventures shopping bazaars, dancing girls, an Islamic red light district, historical Moghal architecture and social turmoil. Slowly these Pakistani real life experience begin to teach this girl how Muslims control and mistreat their women. The danger of fanatic Shiite religious practices and exciting road travel are all balanced with her status as a blond American woman in a foreign land at the mercy of her Muslim husband. This true story unveils an informed observation of Muslim women’s status in Pakistani society. The Punjabi’s Wife is a book that asserts itself as a true American odyssey, a brave young woman’s adventure story and lessons for western women contemplating relationships with any Muslim man.

THE GRACE NOTE
BY
BRIAN L. DOE
Alexander Brogan, New York Philharmonic violinist and Julliard instructor, could not have imagined that his fiancée Charlotte would be murdered at Lincoln Center, nor could he have fathomed abandoning his elite Manhattan lifestyle and retreating to a small town in upstate, New York. Determined to fade away into a quiet, isolated existence as a high school music teacher, he encounters a wily ten-year-old violin prodigy named Kelly, whom he vainly tries to ignore. But through the arm-twisting antics of her straight-shooting, Louisiana-born grandmother, he agrees to teach the child. Ultimately, the experience forces him not only to rediscover his passion for the violin and music, but also to realize that love may very well linger in a heart that only Kelly’s beautiful Aunt Grace can open.

HAIKU SMILES
BY
NANCY LEE SHRADER
Haiku is a poetic form and a type of poetry from the Japanese culture. Haiku combines form, content, and language in a meaningful, yet compact form. Haiku poets write about everyday things. Many themes include nature, feelings, or experiences. Usually they use simple wordsand grammar. The most common form for Haiku is three short lines. The first line usually contains five (5) syllables. Haiku doesn’t rhyme. A Haiku must paint a mental image in the reader’s mind. This is the challenge of Haiku – to put the poem’s meaning and imagery in the reader’s mind in ONLY 17 SYLLABLES over just three (3) lines of poetry!


WHERE THE FENCELINE RUNS
BY
DAVE BARBER
A collection of poetry related to life and living that was written over several years. I've poured my heart into these pieces - so many of them are about raising a daughter in this age.

NO MORE LOSERS
BY
LINDA WALKER
This is a testimonial along with a proposed plan for getting to know yourself and why you are unhappy with your body. If weight problems stem from emotional distress, of eating disorders that are emotional in nature there is hope in understanding why. Only as you understand yourself can you correct the mental cues that cause over eating.
Linda further recommends a positive thought approach to building a strong future of weight reduction and control. Not to deprive but reward in a way that is acceptable. Not counting calories, following food plans and all the other short term fixes but to find a balance in life and in food that nourishes without guilt. In effect it is respecting and loving yourself enough to do what is best for your body, mind and soul.


RAMBLINGS THROUGH THE ATTIC OF THOUGHT
BY
E. JOYCE MOORE
There are always at least two sides to every story. Somewhere in between is where the truth is hidden. Those who seek the truth, even when it is not what they want to hear, will live the most genuine life. Your decisions may be the same, but they will be based upon an unadulterated integrity. If there is a small voice inside you whispering questions, have the courage to seek the answers, lest your personal truth becomes counterfeit by omission. Decisions made, actions taken, judgments ruled -- sans listening to every faction with as much objectivity as humanly possible -- will always be based upon warped evidence, ultimately causing those who continue stand upon such flawed reality, to fall.

KATHRYN'S BEACH
BY
NADINE LAMAN
Five years after her last child abuse investigation, emotionally bankrupt Kathryn abruptly ends her self-imposed exile and returns to Los Angeles to reclaim her life. Relationships weave into the tapestry of Kathryn’s life, expanding her reclusive world. Her friends and a cryptic letter written by a powerful man push Kathryn to reconcile the past. Who says, “You can’t go home again?” Sometimes that is exactly what must be done. But is it worth it?

SECOND CHANCE
BY
JOY COLLINS
Everyone deserves a second chance - or do they?
Sara Weber has always felt she was married to two people – her husband Paul and his ex-wife Mona. Suddenly, Sara's marriage is turned upside down when Mona demands money from Paul for their college-bound daughter Claudia. Paul's response? He wants Claudia to move across the country to Arizona, live with him and Sara, and attend the local university.
When Claudia is in a car accident, Mona swoops in and attempts to re-kindle a relationship with Paul. Devastated, Sara turns to the last person she ever thought could help her – her own stepmother.
Surprises await you in Second Chance - a story about marriage and forgiveness and a second chance at love.

THE LOST BOOK OF NOSTRADAMUS: THEY HAVE IT ALL WRONG! PART I

“The Lost Book of Nostradamus” was recently aired on the History Channel. They got it all wrong! While sensationalism sells and controversy attracts listeners, the History Channel should have done more to balance the commentary on this newly discovered manuscript. While their was a hint of mystical inference in some of the commentary, most so called ‘experts’ greatly missed the mark in the interpretation of the text and images in The Prophecies by this well known seer.

In a multi-part series of articles it is my intent to show that the current popular interpretations of the symbols presented in the “Lost Book” are sadly lacking in efficacy. In doing so, the current buzz around this book will have done Nostradamus and humanity a great disservice. It is important to keep in mind that current interpretations are geared to a comparison of the text to Christian ideology, mytghs and scriptures. By spending most of the analysis comparing Nostradamus, prophecies to the Bible in general, and revelations in particular, the effort becomes self-serving and self-fulfilling.

Nostradamus was a mystic with ties to several secret societies, most notably, the Rose Cross. In this context, new levels of observation come to light when viewing the images contained in the text. As a matter of fact, if one examines The Secret Symbols of the Rosicrucian’s, it will be clear that there is more than meets the eye with respect to the intent and meaning of the Nostradamus prophecies. Further, while the commentators on the show made mention of tarot symbols, it is clear that their understanding is not at the esoteric levels. In my co-authored novel, “Waking God,” the concept of a Tarot Code was introduced. The book is a mystical treatise in the guise of a spiritual thriller and states that the tarot has hits roots in imagery that preceded the Assyrian Empire and has been carried forth into the modern era. These symbols provide a pictorial history of human evolution as well as clues, or prophecies regarding our future. These symbols are found in almost every civilization and yet are understood by only a few.

Contrary to information and suppositions made in the History Channel’s broadcast, the symbols of Nostradamus transcend those images often touted by biblical scholars as messages of doom and world’s end. Perhaps the only real accurate statement on the show that was symbol related is that the prophecies give clues as to the Apocalypse. But even here, it is important to remember that the term ‘apocalypse’ does not mean the end of the world. The word means ‘revelation, to uncover, knowledge revealed’ and not Armageddon or the destruction of the physical world. The term apocalypse has been hijacked by religious dogma to frighten unsuspecting followers into believing that all prophecies that deal with the word apocalypse support their notion that one day, deity will destroy its creation and only the faithful will survive. The apocalypse of Nostradamus deals with the ‘end of lies, not the end of times.’

While more details will be presented in subsequent articles, it should be understood that the true and inner meaning behind the words of Nostradamus concerns humanity’s spiritual awakening. The prophecies are a light post aimed at leading humanity into a new era of spirituality that is devoid of dogma and founded upon the notion of personal spiritual enlightenment. The same can be said for the much misunderstood Book of Revelations. The accuracy of his predictions serves to underscore the fact that he knew the benchmarks that would be achieved as humanity travels on its path of evolution. He was showing people that tough choices must be made if we, in fact, ever hope to prevent our own self-destruction. He was alerting humanity to the ideas that our choices are leading to such things as environmental, social and political collapse if we do not change our way of thinking. His warnings were meant to divert us from catastrophe rather than suggesting that such catastrophe is inevitable. The goal a person telling you not to go down a certain road because the bridge has collapsed is not to foretell of your death; it is meant to prevent your death.

In future articles I will show that the serpents and dragons in the images of Nostradamus are representative of evil or the devil. The female images are not about women trying to become Pope. The Tower of destruction is not about the end of the world. The images of apparent clashes between Muslims and Christians do not predict inevitable religious wars. The symbols of Nostradamus and the Tarot are not about an anti-Christ. Throughout religious history biblical texts, taken out of context, have been used to justify all manner of crime and injustice. The prophecies of Nostradamus are another voice crying out in the wilderness of human history urging us to change our ways and enter a period of great enlightenment. It is incumbent upon modern interpreters of these messages not to fall into the age old religious trap and of using these words of wisdom to frighten humanity into a set of self-fulfilling prophecies.

CNN'S GOD'S WARRIORS

“God’s Warriors,” produced and recently aired by CNN should serve as a wake-up call to anyone wondering why the world is in such a state of political, social and religious turmoil. Based upon interviews conducted by Christiane Amanpour who traveled the globe to talk to Jewish, Muslim and Christian “warriors,” the documentary exposes why organized religions are one of the major divisive forces on the planet.

As the show stated, in their drive to save the world, these religions have caused deep divisions. While emphasis was placed upon the fundamentalist elements of these faiths, it is clear that even the mainstream is just as responsible for the great religious divide. According to Amanpour, fundamentalists in these various faiths have become a political force with the aim of re-making society in their own image and to bring God back into power over the affairs of man. With a campaign against the “evils’ modern secularism, their activities have created unprecedented fear and division.

The basic questions raised are obvious. If God does not impose its will upon humanity, what makes these people think they should do it for God? If each is acting according to some divine will, then why are they killing and condemning each other? Is there more than one divine will? In his review of the novel, “Waking God,” Christopher Friesen of BookPleasures.com asked, “What if every Truth you had ever been told was really a mosaic of falsehoods? What if every religious institution that preached salvation was actually an agent of oppression?” These topics are the focal point of that novel and they are the focal point of Amanpour’s reporting in “God’s Warriors.” It is taught that you cannot take heaven by force, yet, that is exactly what fundamentalists seem to be preaching.

What about the mainstream faithful? In each religion extremism is denounced by religious leaders. They say that they abhor the violence. While the words of denouncement come easy, you can certainly know them by their deeds. What are religious leaders doing to stop the violence and hatred? It would seem that very little is being done. If Muslim leaders condemned extremists’ actions and threatened to remove those guilty of such actions from the faith I would imagine we would see a great reduction in terrorism. If evangelical ministers proclaimed violent actions a sin and actively condemned such actions, perhaps there would be a little less hate. The problem is that both Christian and Muslim leaders are seeking to spread their ideas and impose their version of moral authority on the rest of the world. Judaism departs from the others in this category. In an essential elitist fashion, Jews do not seek to convert others or to spread their faith. They really just want to be left alone to live in peace in what they claim to be their Holy Land. Yes, they commit violent acts but not with the intent of converting the world to their faith.

In a book titled, “When the Church Leaves the Building,” by David Frederickson we see that there is a growing movement from those who are spiritually oriented to abandon the religions of their fathers. It is asked on their web site, familyroommedia.com “Is it possible that the Church Christ promised to build looks different than much of what we call 'church' today?” It is estimated that millions of former churchgoers have left the building in search of a more meaningful and personal relationship with their God. The growing disdain for the violence perpetuated by extremists and the lack of action to prevent such action by religious leaders may one day be their undoing.

Amanpour says that we must take note of the actions of religious extremists because they have infiltrated and in many cases control the political debate in many nations. In my mind, there is no question that she is right. These institutions are pitting brother against brother in a power struggle aimed at molding the world in their image. Their actions and words imply that Divine Intelligence is incapable of dealing with the affairs of man or that they are the arm of that Intelligence as “God’s Warriors.” What kind of God needs warriors? What kind of God would sanction car bombing women and children or blowing up health clinics? And, which God is right: the God of the Jews or the God of the Muslims? It makes no sense.

Bestselling author and inspirational speaker, Dr. John Demartini, in an interview printed in the new book, “Jesus Taught It, Too: The Early Roots of the Law of Attraction” had the following to say about religions: “When we subordinate ourselves to the religious system, we basically stop opening our religious heart. If there is a divine order, divine intelligence and divine love and divine wisdom and beauty in everything, then where is God not?” It is clear that “God’s Warriors” do not ascribe to this philosophy. Their passion for violence, hatred and contempt for those of differing opinions are typified in their actions and deeds. It is clear that we need to listen to the message that was contained in the CNN report. These people want and have power and will do anything to spread and impose their views on others. As a major character in the novel, “Waking God” says, “It is not about saving humanity and never has been.” What is required is a ‘great awakening’ where humanity begins to take responsibility for the world in which we live.

ARREST ME NOW! GUEST BLOG BY SHANNON EVANS

Arrest me now. I may not be Arab, Muslim, or male but I do fit the profile of the two schmucks currently being much maligned by the FBI and the local papers for their “suspicious activities.” You see, I once lived in a fundamentalist Muslim country and was married to a Palestinian. I grew up in a small southern town where the tallest building was the Merchants and Farmer’s Bank and so I often stare up at the buildings in Seattle and any other large city I happen to be wandering. I was a civil engineer in my previous career and find myself fascinated by bridges, viaducts, railroad bridges, locks, dams, and other key pieces of urban infrastructure. I sometimes go on line to study architectural drawings. I have even been known to photograph these critical pieces as well as churches, mosques, and even the airplanes on the tarmac at SEATAC. I live on an island and yet I am still fascinated by the roar of the engines and the speed of the water as it rushes beneath me on the ferry. I still take pictures of the skyline, the Colman Docks, the stern, the bow, the galley, and other urban places that interest me on the ferries that come and go from our bucolic little island port. I once took a picture of the cute little coast guard fellow on the ramp leading to the boat because he was just cute as hell in his battle dress. I feel guilty as hell for all my subversive activities! Where do I turn myself in and to whom? The FBI? The Port Authority? Screw that! Send me the hotties from the Coast Guard!
There are more subversives in my family to arrest as well. Consider my son who is a commissioned officer in the US military currently training at a prestigious flight school sponsored by Uncle Sam. Seems to me he should be an object of great concern. Could he, an Irish/Cherokee/ Scottish/Arab American, be a deeply embedded covert Al Qaeda operative? Due to his deep-seated ancestral roots steeped in carnage and jihadist tribal behaviors could this red-blooded Arab American boy turn? Could he possibly be pre-programmed from infancy to ride his aircraft into a large building all in the name of Allah? Why else would he have gone to university to study to be an aviator? Why else would he have joined the military? He has to be a mole for Osama and the Boys!
How did the Arabs become the bad guys? When did we become so steeped in this new brand of ignorant isolationist bigotry? Islam, Muslim, Arab, Jihad. These words strike fear into the hearts of the ignorant masses of our country. FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, Patriot Act. These are the words that should strike fear in our hearts. They are the weapons of Mass Destruction. Being scared all the time and spying on my neighbors doesn't seem to be a real productive way to live one's life. Less than a century ago some of the finest men in the world fought against this same oppressive behavior in places called Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches along the coast of Normandy. Have we as a nation forgotten the nationalistic behaviors of the Germans as they sought to rid themselves of their Jewish population? Jews were different looking and accused of manipulating the world monetary institutions thus causing the great depression so they could profit and grow their ambitions. The NAZI party was a small but vocal group that instituted a system to spy on and seek out subversives who were Jewish or Jewish-looking. Photos and drawings were circulated to help the common folks identify potential suspects. Watched, photographed, and finally the leadership, knowing what was best for the “real” Germans, instituted a plan to take care of their “Jewish threat.” Their initial solution? Isolated “work camps” in other countries where Jews and non-conformist others (gays, lesbians, jazz musicians, gypsies, the mentally handicapped, and pacifist clergy to name a few) were sent for further interrogation and evaluation. This was all done in the best interest of the German people by their government.

Need we forget our own colorful past rampant with bigotry? I am a child of the south and frankly, I do remember White only/colored only washrooms, drinking fountains, and theatres. I lived through the hangings, the cross burnings, integration and George Wallace. I can remember a hot August when the local sheriff was up for re-election and all the local kids white and black were at the market getting an ice cream. One of the white kids stole a piece of penny bubble gum and slipped it in the shirt pocket of one of the “colored” boys. The minute the black children left the store the kid who planted the evidence said, “Mister, that nigger stole some gum and stuck it in his pocket!” The store owner ran out, confronted the boy, and held him until a deputy showed up. Cuffed, searched, and crammed in the back seat of the squad car he was driven away. The next day the headlines of the local paper screams, “BLACKS RESPONSIBLE FOR SMALL TOWN CRIME WAVE!” The arrest of an 8 year old child sparked near riots in the black community. There were those in the white community who called for a hanging but the prompt gun wielding riot gear clad sheriff’s response quashed the uprising. The grateful white population promptly re-elected the overweight tobacco chewing uneducated bigoted lawman.

If our reason for profiling is to stem terrorism then we better expand the list! Guantanamo will have to be enlarged to house our home grown redneck militia members who have attacked such auspicious government and private sites as the Oklahoma City federal court house, abortion and Planned Parenthood clinics. We should also create a special section on the base for the members of ELF who target the EPA and other environmentally linked facilities.

In the interest of saving the rest of the world from terrorism we better round up and tag all South American communists, Basques, Japanese Cult members, and Irish people. They have a propensity for blowing cars, buses, and trains up as well as carefully placing biological agents. Maybe these are all Al Qaeda satellite organizations that act as cells or Mastermind groups for the mass destruction of those who do not follow Sharia!

So, the next time you are on the Washington State Ferry and notice a skinny, red haired fellow with bad teeth and an Irish accent taking photos, detain him! Notify the authorities! You will only be doing your civic duty and saving us from the Celtic arm of Al Qaeda!



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THE END OF FALWELL IDEOLOGY?

While I regret the loss of anyone I do not regret the loss of the Falwell ideology. I find the basic philosophy of the fundamentalist movement of any religion essentially divisive and far removed from the teachings they claim to champion. Movements such as the Moral Majority can be equated with the similar Muslim movements that are plaguing Iraq, Palestine, Iran, Somalia and other Middle Eastern nations. The god may be called by a different name but these movements all preach one thing, hatred.

Jerry Falwell began the Moral majority in 1979 to fight abortion rights. This group is largely attributed with the success of the Reagan campaign and began the rise of Christian conservatism. Condemning everyone who differed with their ideology, this group condemned homosexuality, abortion, Muslims and anyone who did not live up to their standards of morality. Evangelists such as Falwell and Jim Baker soaked millions from those who bought into their causes and violated the basic tenets of the inner teachings of scripture.

I find little difference between groups such as the now defunct Moral Majority and the plague of Muslim fundamentalism sweeping the East. A philosophy that treats all as sinners except those that follow their dogma does nothing but divide humanity into warring religious factions as they battle to glorify themselves, not the beliefs of the great spiritual Avatars. These kinds of groups seek money and power by demonizing those that oppose them and their actions go contrary to the humanitarian concepts upon which they are supposedly based.

The history of organized religions is written in the blood of their followers and those innocent people who simply seek to live a happy and peaceful life. While not negating the good works and intentions of the followers of such institutions, the facts remain that most religious institutions have become self serving and more concerned with self-preservation and dominance than with creating a world of tolerance, brotherly love and peace. Even the recent comments by the Pope regarding the evil Muslims and his depiction of Native Americans wanting and waiting to be proselytized by their conquerors are further examples of this destructive and institutionalized ego.

The Crusades, the Inquisition, and even wholesale genocides have their basis in fundamentalist ideas and concepts. The West colonized Africa to assuage the “white man’s” burden. We destroyed Native American spiritual thought in order to save the “heathen.” We burn the Pagan at the stake because if they are not Christian, they must worship the devil. We kill because you are Sunni or because you are Shiite, even though you are both Muslim. The Muslims attack the Hindu’s and the Hindu’s the Muslims. In all of these tragedies the name of some god is evoked.

To me, all of this is insanity. Those who are considered the spiritual teachers of this world never condoned such violence and yet fundamental movements are said to be based upon their teachings. While I offer my regrets to Mr. Falwell’s family for their loss, it is my sincere hope that no one rises to take his place.