A Christmas Thought

A Christmas Thought

At Christmas time, we celebrate that Christ came into our time and our space, fully God and fully Man, to take on the ultimate darkness of all time.  He came to demonstrate sacrificial, redemptive love for us, hopeless humankind.

For all the glory he did for us, we, all of us, still fight with darkness in our lives.   Many of us during this holiday season will find ourselves singing or say joy to the world or other song or statements of joy and happiness.  But, underneath this we are dealing with one of the two darkness’s that Hemen, an author of Psalms 39 and 88 speaks to: outward darkness due to difficult circumstances in out life or inward darkness, due to having no sense of God’s presence. 

Hemen was not the typical Psalm writers of the laments.  It appears to me all the rest ended their Laments end in hope.  Hemen’s are the exception.  He takes off the gloves so to speak and giving God his honest unfiltered thoughts and feelings in these psalms.   He even ends Psalm 88 with the last word “darkness” This is a man that is God fearing, God loving and devout.   But he had a cry of darkness he had to express.

There is a lining to these Psalms’.  They give us four points of hope in times of darkness.  They are in there, you just have to look, you will find them.

1.        Darkness can last a long time. It will not matter what you do to end it;

2.       These are often the places to uniquely learn about God’s grace;

3.       These are times that sometimes can be the best situation for you to grow into your greatness

4.       They can be framed or reframed to lead us into a deeper and more spiritual self

Least we not forget, even Christ had his own cry in darkness: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  Matthew 27:45-46

Have a great holiday, and Merry Christmas and remember out of the darkness good things can come.

Mark Schmidt, Th.D

A conversation to remember

So, I had this conversation with God in what I can only called a forced vision.  For me it was really weird as I expected bright white and a voice that was deity like.   It was a soft blueish aura with a human like figure that I can best describe as an energy type figure.  So, I asked why me, and he said, you have a question and said you wanted to hear from me. I asked him why so many peoples life is so fucked up.  Yes, that is how I asked it.   His response was:

"I gave humanity free will. You get to make any choice you want on anything you want.  I gave you my son to absolve you of the sins of you fathers and yourself.   (Then I swear the energy glowing figure shrug what should have been shoulders) So it seems to me that humanity is making choices that bring about their own suffering and as you said fucking things up.  If mankind would even follow half of the guidance, I have given them and left for them to find, these fucked up things would be reduced to nothing.   Mankind chose to follow other guidance and other rules made by man as they are easier and quicker rewards."

I laughed and responded yeah you have kinda describe life in my world.  Each for themselves to enrich themselves as much and as fast as they can.  But we do have the priest and ministers that are worse than the common person and don't get me started on politicians.

His voice softens to barely a whisper: "All those that have abandon me and my core guidance will pay when they pass over to me.  I will welcome the atheist that lived a good life and was an honest person over the pious man whose piety was only to serve themselves.   I have answered your questions."

At this point I felt like I was in a counter clockwise spiral as the aura vanished and the voice disappeared.   My head throbbed and I was wide awake already.    I hurried wrote this down.

Not sure whether this was real or all in my head, well yeah that is where it happened, but I meant imaged all in my head.  It was way to real not to believe it was a real conversation.  I felt blessed and honored afterwards.

BOOK REVIEW: The life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth

BOOK REVIEW

Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth

Author:  Reza Aslan

This book was recommended to me from two sources, a Methodist Minister friend and from an acquaintance that found it to be an interesting book.  Both warned me to read it with an open mind and prepare to learn something.   I would repeat that warning to those reading this book.  It is not a book a Christian fanatic will enjoy or someone with a closed mind would find value in reading, even though this maybe the very book they should read.  Those readers that are schooled in religious studies will also have issues with this book.

There has been many different Jesus’ constructed over the last two centuries or more.   Most of these have always been created on faith, religious needs and the current popular beliefs.   You will find few works where the author undertook the task of looking at Jesus from a historical personage view point.  In Zealot the Author does just that, he looks at the Jesus that lived, rebelled against the Romans, against the status quo in the Jewish religion, the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin. 

Mr. Aslan’s book has garnered some controversy from writing this book.  There are conservative Christians that are offended that a Muslim scholar dare right about the Christ.   Also, you will find some that are offended by the premise that Jesus was anything but the son of God.  This is not the case amount religious scholars, especially of those of early Christianity.  I have had friends that have read this book before I did that was offended a distinction is made between Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus the Christ.   They are unwilling to accept that Jesus is seen as two distinctly different people historically.  I have one minister friend that was so offended and upset with this book he thought the Christian communities should ban it. 

So, let’s look at the book itself. Mr. Aslan Jesus that he introduces us to is born in Nazareth. He grew up as a poor laborer.  He becomes a discipline of John the Baptist until John is arrested.  He continues the same teachings of John the Baptist after the arrest.  Jesus, like John before him, preached the imminent arrival of the Kingdom of God.   As I understand this author, this Kingdom was to be an earthly political state ruled by God or his messiah.  This was controversial then as it is still today.  As you read deeper into the book you become aware that Jesus never intended to find a church or a religion.  His intent was to reform the one that already existed for the Jews.  Jesus was loyal to the Mosaic Law as he had interpreted it.  This led Jesus to oppose the Roman overlords, their puppet representatives, the Temple priests, the wealthy Jewish aristocracy and the Herodian elite according to Mr. Aslan. 

As we all know, and expressed in this book also, Jesus went to Jerusalem.  It was here he provoked the Romans through his actions at the temple and against the temple officials.  But that is not where Mr. Aslan leaves it.  He takes the time to break down the actual events.   One part that was new to me and will bring further investigation on my part, was Pilates overall hatred of the Jews and the way he dealt with them.  He is shown in this book to be ruthless and uncaring about any background.    It is even suggestion that most likely there was no long conversation at all between Jesus and Pilate.  So, being handed over to Pilate was almost a guaranteed death sentence since he was a Jew being accused by Jew’s.  As we know, Jesus was crucified after his meeting with the Roman Governor.   But he was not crucified for his temple actions, but for him claiming to be King of the Jews. This was considered sedation by the Romans.  Naming a King for the Jews was reserved only for the Roman Emperor to appoint. 

Mr. Aslan thesis is not new, unique or startling.   His detractors say his theory is outlandish or that a Muslim has no rights to write such a book or doesn’t understand.   It is none of these.  You need to accept that the audience he wrote to is not the Christian Theologians or Clergy, nor is it be an exacting academic study.  It strikes me as written to those that have questions, want to read a different view point or just want to say “see I told you so” moment to some friends.  It is a new look at old theories and ideas on who Jesus was, this does not relieve him of some minor errors he makes throughout the book.   The first reading through for me I found where he accepts and examines some statements that have been refuted and the scholars have agreed are no longer accurate assessments.  The one dealing with single Jewish men in Judea is the most glaring statement that has been refuted.  He also had minor mis-statement like claiming the sea of Galilee is salt water when it is fresh water sea.   All these are minor points that do not distract from its overall readability.

 

In the end I have to say this is a good read.  It presents a very plausible alternative of the life of Jesus.  I learned a few things and was given some food for thought.  I have a few things to look further into.  Just keep in mind do not take this as a good scholarly book on Judaism, Christianity and Jesus; It is what it is meant to be is the best I can say on this:  A new examination of Jesus the person and not Jesus the Christ.  I recommend this book for anyone that wants a non-academic look into Jesus.

What is a Prayer

What is a prayer?  Five decades of searching for an answer.

BY Mark Schmidt, Th.D.

Many moons ago I was playing croquet in my neighbors’ backyard.  He was a retired minister for the local Brethren Church.   He had built a regulation packed clay croquet field in his back yard.   What little I remember of why had to do with a church mission to India he was on and left-over British croquet fields that were on the church’s property.  His group had permission to use these fields as part of some type of outreach to the common people there (This was during the 1915 to 1920 period of British Empire Occupation).  He brought the love of the game back and when he retired he built the court in his back yard.

So, I spent allot of the summer evening playing this game and chatting with him on anything and everything.   He was in his 80’s at the time and was somewhat grumpy and had a level of intolerance for ignorance.  I one time asked him: what is a prayer?  That is going to be the topic of this paper.  His response has stuck with me still to this day.  It was the basis for a later question in my religious studies.  His response was simple in the fact he answered my question with his own.   He asked back if I knew if I was asking from a faith view, a theological view or purely academic view.   When I just shrugged he told me when I knew which he could answer me properly.  I dropped it then.

I asked this very same question in a Christian religion class while getting my bachelor’s degree.  Dr. Crawford’s answer was straight forward.  He said it is either a request or a plea to deity.  That was it, no more, no less, no discussion or explanation beyond that.  I was still left empty thinking back on two times of asking.   My next attempt was when I asked the Priest at the Catholic church my wife attended, and I went to frequently also.  Father Licktieg was both a priest and a very knowledgeable theologian. 

Father Licktieg response was very informative.  He said to think of it as a short one-sided conversation with God or deity if not Christian.  This conversation is a chance to ask forgiveness for things we errored in, ask for help and strength, and to ask blessing for those we love or have concerns over.   But prayers can be short sweet statements anytime and anyplace.   So, I now had me a working description.  I still had not got the answer I was seeking of what it is.

My next shot at it came after I asked a friend attending a local seminary to become a minister.  Her answer was as vague as it came:  It is what you make it.  That was the answer she gave me.   While it is a reasonable answer.  But more accurately, it was not an answer to the question.   So, I held the question in abeyance till I found someone else to ask.

I stumbled into that person at of all places the VA, Veterans Affairs Hospital.   When you talk to God, don’t believe he does not answer in some fashion, you just have to look and listen for that answer in ways you will not expect.  This was one of those cases. 

I was sitting waiting for my turn in the radiology lab.   Next to me in the waiting room was a Vet that had to be in his late 80’s to early 90’s.  He was in a talkative mode also.  I was busy using my smart phone to actually look up some information on the minor prophets.   He looked over at my phone and said that was a waste of time looking at the old-world prophets.   Look for the unknown modern prophets.  Look for the little to unknown prophets and religious philosophers of the 1940’s to 1970’s.   I admit I kind of blew him off. 

He reached over and touch my arm gently and said “Son, I was an Army Chaplain and a theologian through Korea, Vietnam and an instructor well into my 70’s, I think I kind of have an idea what I speak of.  I might be on the last years of my time here, but I am still sharp as a tack.”

I contemplated then and reply: “good then can you answer what a prayer is?”  He smiled.  His answer was amazing to me.  “It is a personal moment with God.  It comes from your heart, your mind, your spirit, your very soul.  It belongs to you and only you and it is also defined by you and only you.”   He then thought for a moment.  Then he explained something further.   He took a pocket bible out and noted that there is only one prayer in this book, and it is not really meant as a prayer but was meant as a lesson on how to pray.  So, if you want an academic answer, a prayer is an opening salutation like holy father heavenly father.  This is followed by a praise of some type.  He said he had heard about everything here from in you mighty name, in you comforting arms and the like.  Then you go to the meat and potatoes, the body of your prayer.  The part where you ask things, state things, confess things.  This is the conversation, your intimate moment in time.   Once you are done with that he told me it was time to give God your plea.  Ask for his help, his forgiveness his action, support or just a simple sign, but it is your plea none the less.   Then you close it with the most common – Amen.  Now Amen wasn’t always used he went on. At one time So mote it be was common, then the masons got that one and it fell out of favor.  There was also the simple thank you lord closing.  He even chuckled an said he was in one country where they ended prayers in really old world fashion with “So let it be said, so let it be heard” 

After all that he smiled, so there is my answer to your question he said.   I had sat spell bound for 20 minutes listening to him.  I had not interrupted or lost interest.  I had even shut off my phone and put it away.  I had found two completely different answers, one academic in nature and one that was spiritual, that fit perfectly into what I had sought, both answering the question in their own right.  All from one grizzled looking combat Chaplain. 

I hope now I get to see him again next time I am sitting with time on my hands at the VA and we can have a conversation about something else.  I need to learn more from this man. I hope there is something that you learned from this whether you agree with what was said or not.    

So my answer to my question – What is a prayer? – is “It is a personal moment with God.  It comes from your heart, your mind, your spirit, your very soul.  It belongs to you and only you and it is also defined by you and only you.”

All of these thoughts are coming from continued reading and discussions and our thoughts and observations.  If they offend you, I am sorry.

In my studies, reading, and thinking on the subject of modern Christianity.  I have decided that for it to survive and be relevant into the future the based root theology of Christianity need some reformation, more truth to it.

Let me give my perspective.  In my reading and studies, Jesus of Nazareth was a prophet type, a healer, and an exorcist.  All common occurrences in his time.  He did not want are feel it need to share his messages and teaching with anyone not Jewish.  His goal was to change his religion and free them from Roman control.   He was a failure at his goal.   He never called himself a messiah, nor the son of God.  However, he did on at least two recorded occasions call himself the son of man.  That the division after his death inside his followers seems to have been the roots for different paths to belief patterns inside of Christianity.

I think the path Paul took led to what became the Orthodox and Coptic Churches and James and Peter became the Catholic.  But none of it every affected the one church he wanted to and lived his life trying to change.  Further, he was apocalyptic in his approaches, preaching the end of the Sanhedrin and priests class stranglehold on his people's ability to connect to God.

The problem came when those keeping his message going had to change it to keep it going.  Suddenly he was resurrected, he was Son of God and they started ignore his failures.   The obfuscated the truth or just totally ignored it.

So all of this is leading me to believe a theology based on the truths of what Jesus was and not who his followers made him,  or better yet, change it to reflect that it was based on the teachings and interpretation of the  Paul and Peter.  Then you can build from there.

Well, these are my opening thoughts.

What if we re-wrote Christian Dogma and Ritual

What is needed is a restatement of the religion found on the principles of Jesus of Nazareth and the deity of Jesus the Christ as invented by Saint Peter and Saint Paul in a more modern simpler, clear and concise manner.  Not a new religion, a New Theology to combine with a restatement so to speak.

Just a musing thought came to me recently.  What if someone or a group of people took the time to re-write Christian dogma and ritual to reflect the actual philosophy of the main three architects of what has become modern Christianity.  If you take the known teachings and philosophy of Jesus of Nazareth and his two main followers that became the foundation of the dogma and ritual - Paul and Peter.  Then, you can use this re-write as the tools to teach and guide and begin the rebirth of what appears to be a dying belief pattern and still use the main religious tome - The Bible as the guide for faith. 

Just a thought and musing.

Another thought to keep in mind. If someone under took this adventure of re-writing, every person has a religion of some type and if they have this type of a belief pattern they will have a theology.  However, keep in mind you can have a theology without a specific religion or belief, but you can not have a specific belief without a theology.   So that means your dogma and ritual would have to be generic enough it would be easily acceptable to any believer.

Again, just a further thought and musing.

Religion and Philosophy - Why?

Okay recently I had the privilege of completing a doctorate in theology through a seminary that took a modern approach to education life experiences and religions.  The question I kept coming back to is Why; Why did the two disciplines of religion and philosophy become so intertwined?  Why are so many philosophizers so impacted by the religion of their times, still to this day?  This connection bothers me and intrigues me both. 

The first point that bothers me is that so many of the philosophers throughout histories words have impacted society, and their relationship with religion shaped their viewpoints.  What confused me more is that some of these viewpoints seemed to be in contradiction to their behavior and/or personal beliefs.

The next thing that struck me was the difference in the east and the west philosophies and how they impact the religions of the regions they are in.   What I noticed is the direct impact on the governments or rulers in the west verses the indirect influence in the east.  There is so many more questions then answers. I guess that is why it is philosophy.

So if there is any readers of this blog out there want to add helpful thoughts, I would be interested in them before I continue on my Why phase.

So I had this weird dream and it stimulated a thought thread on religions.

Religions are like two or more bicycles riding close to each other in parallel lines.   The lanes are well defined by a bright line the provided the bicycles with their limits. As long as every one of the bicycles stay on course there is no issues.  But if you look at the linear timeline of history every time the bicycles cross over out of the lane they are assigned, there is an event, good or bad there is an event of some type.  Of course I m applying this to the Abrahamic based religions, especially the big three - Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Let me provide a little bit of a commentary on this thought.  If we look at our worlds history we have had very few times in history without conflict of some time.  A colonel I served under once told me these conflicts can be broken in to a few major categories: Women, Land, Wealth and Religion.  He further noted if you boil it down wealth and religion seem to be the most prevalent of these four.  Now, back to the timeline and the bicycle.  In Christian Europe the Pope was facing the dilemma of  knights fighting other knights for no real reason other than boredom.  They knew they could never be Kings or the like as they had older siblings, so what did they do challenge others.  He need to keep the peace for without it there would be a drop in the wealth flowing into the treasury.  Fortunately to him came the news of the lose of control of safe routes for the pilgrims to the holy city.  He called for a crusade. 

Now look into your minds eye and see the bicycle in its lane and it is November 1095 CE.  The Bicycle that represents the Christian beliefs is now starting it swerve towards Islams lane of existence.  Once that bike crosses the dividing line we are at conflict.  You can the time to look at a timeline and see this happen over and over.  This is just one example.  So many of them exists I could write a long entry just reviewing all the times this has happened.

So we have set a mental image now.  Let us jump forward to this time in history.  Think of the present status of the lanes and the image comes to mind of all three bikes swerve all over each others lanes while still trying to move forward.   From my experiences in riding a bike that is a waste of time and energy to have to ride that way.   It seems this is a lesson lost on many generations of leaders.   The sad thing is there has been periods of time that all of these religions co-existed and got along.  The Holy City was even an open city at times.   Now we use our religions to kill our fellow man. 

Of course this is just my humble opinion and observation based on the limited memory of a weird dream.

A thought from today

So just a thought; Our countries christian religion are being slowly rearranged via polticomorphism due to members in government hijacking religion as a political tool. This is slowly moving us towards henothemism and away from the monotheism we were founded on. Just an opinion.

Self agrandizing

I am waiting for it to arrive, I have been told I have completed all the requirements to be award a Th.D. that is religious philosophies.  Not sure if this means anything to anyone other than me.  To be completely honest, I took the easy route to this degree.  I found a seminary that had an online program that would take into account life experiences, prior education, and had a test out on a cou0le course and did not require a formal dissertation.  Instead, I had to do an exegesis paper on a single topic related to religion.  While I am really more of a religious studies type person, more so then a theologian, this gave me a Doctorate.  Kinda cool in my own mind, maybe not to others.  I am sure I will have more than a few people question it and demand I not use the title of ThD, but screw them I am too old and tired of attitudes to care.