Friday, January 20, 2012

Fundamentalism

Jewish

Zionism –Goals
1.     Unity of all Jews
2.     Ingathering of all Jews in Israel.
3.     Israel = promise to Moses
4.     Strong state of Israel
5.     Preservation of Jewish identity through Hebrew education, spiritual and cultural values.
6.     Pure actions by Jews
7.     Rebuild the Temple

Anger against Jews who do not agree

Islam


1.     Islamic State = world
2.     Jihad –personal struggle
3.     All Muslims obey Koran
4.     Resist plural societies
5.     Free the holy city of Jerusalem


Anger against Muslims who do not agree 




Christian/American


1.     Restore right Belief in the Bible
2.     Bible = Word of God literally
3.     Repeal Separation of church & state
4.     Prayer in school
5.     Majority of right wing Christians in the congress.
6.     World Evangelism
7.     Prepare for the Rapture
8.     Destroy Liberalism
9.     Pro Christian Family
10.   Stop Abortions
11.   Stop Gays


Anger against  so-called-Christians who do not agree

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Lucifer ???

Lucifer is a name frequently given to Satan/devil in Christian belief. This usage stems from a particular interpretation, as a reference to a fallen angel, in Isaiah 14:3-20, that speaks of someone who is given the name of "Day Star" or "Morning Star" the word in Latin for “Day Star” is Lucifer. The same Latin word is used of the morning star in second Peter 1:19 and elsewhere with no relation to Satan. But Satan is called Lucifer in many writings later than the Bible, notably in Milton's Paradise Lost.” In Latin the word Lucifer means Light Bringer and is a name for the planet Venus in its dawn appearance.


The use of Lucifer as a name for Satan was popularized in Dante’s “Inferno” and Melton’s Paradise Lost.”  The word “Day Star” in Isaiah 14  refers to the King of Babylon and in Ezekiel 28 regarding the king of Tyre.  


 Most modern English versions of the Bible (including the NRSV, NIV, NASB, NJB, and ESV) render the Hebrew word as "day star", "morning star" or something similar, and never as "Lucifer", a word that in English is now very rarely used in the sense of the original word in Hebrew, though in Latin "Lucifer" was a literal translation.  


The Lucifer myth was transferred to Satan already in the pre-Christian century Jewish books of Enoch and the Life of Adam and Eve. In them Lucifer is described as having been one of the archangels. Because he contrived "to make his throne higher than the clouds over the earth and resemble 'My power' on high", Satan was hurled down, with his hosts of angels, and since then he has been flying in the air continually above the abyss.


However, it was among Christian writers that the identification of "Lucifer" with Satan had its greatest fortune. Tertullian ("Contra Marrionem," v. 11, 17), Origen ("Ezekiel Opera," iii. 356), and others, identify Lucifer with Satan, who also is represented as being "cast down from heaven."

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

The Act of Apologizing

I like watching the TV show NCIS. I guess it is the US Navy sailor in me that enjoys that show.


On the show Gibbs has a rule that one should never apologize as it is a sign of weakness. I disagree! I think it takes a strong person to apologize. It takes someone who cares about integrity and value in their relationships. Apologizing does not always indicate that you are wrong and the other person is correct. It may indicate that you recognize hurt feelings and perhaps it was the way something was said or done that caused it.


When I see that I have made an error, and I make my share of them, I do not mind apologizing. I see it as a desire to make a relationship right again. 

Monday, January 16, 2012

Have you been to these places?

   
I have been in many places, but I've never been in Cahoots. Apparently, you can't go alone. You have to be in Cahoots with someone.

I've also never been in Cognito. I hear no one recognizes you there.
I have, however, been in Sane. They don't have an airport; you have to be driven there. I have made several trips there, thanks to my friends, family and work.
...
I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump, and I'm not too much on physical activity anymore.
I have also been in Doubt. That is a sad place to go, and I try not to visit there too often.

I've been in Flexible, but only when it was very important to stand firm.

Sometimes I'm in Capable, and I go there more often as I'm getting older.

One of my favorite places to be is in Suspense! It really gets the adrenalin flowing and pumps up the old heart! At my age I need all the stimuli I can get!

I may have been in Continent, and I don't remember what country I was in.
It's an age thing.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Toothpaste Ads

Toothpaste????

Last night I was watching TV and during a very long run of ads I watched three toothpaste ads. I contemplated the competing ads and recognized that they had one interesting thing in common. In each one I observed the application of the toothpaste on the brush. The toothpaste over lapped each end of the brush in all three ads. There was an over abundance of product displayed.


I discovered a long time ago that it only takes a little dab of toothpaste on my brush to do the job. I once experimented with the minimum amount that would work for me. It does not take much, not much more than a dot of paste and it is enough.


I think the toothpaste companies are trying to get us to use a lot more of their product than is necessary.   Well that is the nature of business to sell as much as possible. All advertizing has that aim. Our aim need to evaluate what we do not based on the ads but on what works for us.