Tag: religion

A strange result in some research:Religious people were more likely to lie for financial gain

Angels i n church window...Mike Flemming

http://www.salon.com/2013/10/22/study_religious_more_likely_to_lie_for_financial_gain_partner/

I think it’s not so surprising amongst Christians because Jesus came to save sinners and so more sinners go to Church…They need salvation but it must take time!That’s why we have Confession/Or maybe people who go to Church are from lower social classes and so are short of cash?I always found rich people avoid tax and so on regardless of religion.

Maybe “trying “to be good is counterproductive!

I’m not sure about Jews….I knew a lot at work and they were all more than honest.Also they seem more intelligent…. after all they invented the alphabet writing,story telling,ethics,morals,poetry…..God!Why should they steal?

Now don’t blame me…read the research!

Related articles

For all ,Cat licked every tear…

cat-pen-and-flower-collage2

Ray Queers cat’s in parquet.
They are waiting for our partitions.
Say but the word and my sole shall be heeled.
Guarded the angels from seven sodomites.
Hail glorious St Hat Trick.
Lord, it’s hearsay.
Lord, I’m worser
Forgive all dear trespassers.
Blessed is the foot of thy broom.
Pay for us now and the whore at our death.
I believe in none,God.
The communion of taints.
But Joseph had a bee.
Jesus wants me for his bathroom.
The Ten Demanding Torments are here.
Have you paid your wrecks yet?
For all the saints who laboured at their tests
For all the painted ghosts
Remember man thy tart is bust
Ash to ash,dust if you must
For give us an hour’s trespassing and we shall be in heaven already.
Please do as you would have fun by

A new choice of original sin:Murder of a brother

As I was thinking about original sin and its definition which is defined. the sin of Eve tempting Adam to eat the apple and thus they reached maturity and made love,worked and produced children.That doesn’t seen sinfull except they were disobeying God.

To me the murder of Abel by Cain was the first real act of wickedness.And family and national feuds still occur in our world.The children are  jealous of each other.Some parents can deal with this,but many can’t.They may punish the older child but not let them talk about how they feel.

I don’t think sexual desire in innately sinful; what counts is how we treat other people.Sex can be exploitative or loving or greedy..Nature means for us to reproduce as if  we don’t our race will die out;and with the current political problems the world may end anyway and we will all be like Cain.

Sex and the Christian religion

Quotation-Mehmet-Murat-Ildan-fear-friend-Meetville-Quotes-166754

http://www.cybercollege.com/history.htm

" It’s regrettable that St. Augustine’s influence and the negative appraisal of sexuality, based on his own struggles to be chaste has so impacted negatively with Christian tradition.

" It has been alleged that the early Church made illicit sex a grave sin, and even at one point made married sex a sin in the majority of circumstances, because they knew most people would still have sex and they would then have to depend on the church for forgiveness and paid indulgences."

.

Father Thomas Raush, Chair of
Theological Studies, Loyola Marymount University

right bar

Unknowing

http://life.nationalpost.com/2013/06/22/embracing-the-cloud-of-unknowing-an-artists-journey-from-ultra-orthodox-to-jewish-mystic

I was familiar with  Christian mysticism and the Cloud of Unknowing then I came across a beautiful article about a Jewish man’s discovery of mysticism and enlightenment.The article is not very hard to read.

Struggling through life

Stan in hell

  • Bright lake

    Stan was standing on the patio when a sudden downpour drenched him all over.
    This is like a monsoon,he murmured to Emile who was also wet.
    A head appeared over the fence.
    I’m awfully sorry,old boy.A pipe has burst in Annie’s loft.
    I don’t believe it.You are Stan Brown.It must be 50 years since I saw you as a student… you were hopeless at logic too.
    Stan was hiding his surprise at seeing Rudolf Hairnet,his former  tutor at an ancient foundation of learning and sin, in the garden of Annie,Stan’s beloved once more [now he has swept out his sacred space and put a bolt on the door.]
    Why not pop in Rudolf,he said.I’ll leave the door open and go upstairs to change my clothes.Be with you in a moment.
    Stan went upstairs and removed his clothes.His body was now as thin as when he reached his full height of 6 ft 6 inches but alas it had less muscle and more fat..He gazed into his wife’s mirror.
    To his surprise he saw Satan looking out.Although he knew this was possible for Catholics he had never met Satan before.
    How do you get behind the mirror,he asked gently.
    God only knows,said Satan morosely.
    Why not ask him?
    I’m too proud,the poor devil replied in a bleak voice.
    Well,we all have our pride,Stan told him,though no doubt yours is the biggest  size in the universe.
    Yes,indeed,Satan answered.
    Are you here for any special purpose,Stan enquired.
    Yes,your home seems more intriguing than most and I like to watch you in bed with that flame haired woman.
    I see,said Stan,You are a voyeur.
    That’s one way of describing me,Satan said,no woman will come to bed with me so I am trapped here behind every mirror in the world.I can see it all but never take part.
    You must be very lonely,said Stan
    Yes,the dark spirit muttered.
    Are there no she-devils about who might oblige you?
    I don’t seem to fancy them so much.They are all as bad a me,I want kindness and tenderness not just lust.After all,one might satisfy that with a vibrator… we have them in hell you know!Free/
    Why,you are beginning to sound almost human,Stan told him.That’s what we want too.If only you would apologise to God I am sure he would forgive you and let you come into the real world of others instead of being trapped in there
    Stan heard a noise.He turned round displaying his bony frame and his organs to Rudolf.
    Are you ok?I was worried that the drenching had knocked you off balance.I have put your kettle on the fire to make you a hot drink and phoned 999 for aid.
    But we don’t have a fire,Stan responded.
    Well,you do now said Rudolf,so let’s enjoy the flames while we can.
    To whom were you talking in there?
    I was on my mobile,said Standefensively.
    But where was it?You had nothing on ?
    On second thoughts,please don’t tell me.I’ve heard some strange stories but arsing about with a why,hi phone is not one I wish to dwell on.
    That’s logicians for you.No interest in the wilder shores of life ,Stan told himself as he went downstairs and joined Rudolf in a good cup of tea with sugar and biscuits
    And that is what I need to recover from writing down this very odd tail…
    And so does Dave the poor young paramedic

    Kindly refrain from reblogging or re- tweeting as amusement often offends.

    Please read with baited breath.You may catch something.

    Do not email you comments to me at :kitswits@hellsangels..co.uk

    nor at  :cleverlady@hotmail.hell.com

My scruples and other thoughts

Image

Pray Father,give me a Dressing.It is five Tweets since my last Depression
So what have you done now?
Well,as I’ve done nothing wrong today I am suffering from Pride.
You seem to think about yourself too much…maybe
How much is too much,Uncle?
Well,when we are happy and doing something we enjoy,we forget ourselves entirely.
and that is the best way to be.
But first we need some security.How can I get that.
You need a spam guard for your mind!At the moment you are on automatic which is the default setting of your brain to act like a reptile…
Thanks very much,Father,I never knew I was a reptile.Did they have scruples..
It was kill or be killed.Don’t you see the scruples are an attack on yourself?The reptile is attacking you… as you have frightening thoughts it’s annoyed.
So how do I rebutt these? thoughts
Say,Alright if I’m the most wicked man in the city,smite me and do your worst.I am not afraid any more..I have done my best and if it’s not good enough strike me dead now or forever give me peace,
And what will happen after that?
Well,we shall see.But you have to face this thing head on.Bring it to a head.Lance the boil.
So if God does smite me dead?
Well, do you really think you are so wicked because you stole a half penny from the charity box fifty years ago?
I see it’s a sort of pride… a theatrical display of guilt.
Yes, quite right.Anyway, if you survive your ordeal let me know and I’ll give it a try.
Why,don’t say you have scruples too?
Yes,I have scruples about giving advice to people.If they follow it and it’s no good… it worries me….
Why don’t we do or die together,Father?
I’ll give you a buzz.
Meanwhile am I absolved?
Yes, dear boy.Sometimes I wish I could be dissolved..
Why is that?
I’d like to lose myself.
Why not try reading a good book…I recommend Nicholas Freeling.
But I feel guilty reading.
Now look here,Father,God helps those who help themselves….give yourself a break…
A good novel, a cup of tea and a pussy on your knee,you’ll be transformed.
Thank you,my child.
Don’t mention it,Father.
Don’t mention what?
They never say.
It’s just a phrase or is it a phase?
It’s all Greek to me.
I know some very sweet Greeks or are they geeks?
Just one letter can make such a difference..
Write soon.

Related articles

Well,Jesus had no cassock!

Pray Father,give me your guessing.

My guessing!Don’t you mean my blessing.

Oh,probably.Possibly..who knows.

So have you any sins to tell me?

Yes,I broke a glass jug.

Whose was it?

It was mine,Father.

Surely it’s not a sin to break your own jug?

It is if you hit yourself on the head with it!

What made you do that?

I was angry with myself…I had been committing effrontery.

Do you mean adultery?Your main problem seems to be bad language.

No,Father I never say” Fuck”

You just did.

Well I had to do.I had no choice!

That’s what they all say…if only I heard some original sin I’d find life more interesting.

Well,it’s hard to think of anything original to do especially if it has to be a sin too.

You are just not using your creativity.

All right Father,Put your hands up.i’ve got a gun.

Where did you find that?

In my wife’s handbag.

Now we are getting somewhere.. that’s threatening a priest,interfering in your wife’s privacy and stealing a gun.Any other sins?

I could shoot you,I suppose.

No.no!That is going too far.

Shall I slap you?

No… just say something rude to me.

Your sermons are the most boring I have ever heard.

Well,that’s enough…I’ve never been so insulted in my life.

You have been very lucky then… you should hear what people say to me!

Well,you are both ugly and unintelligent.I don’t know how you had the nerve to marry.

I had no choice.She forced me.But I gave in quickly in case she changed her mind.

And you have seven children.

No, they are not all mine,And they are Jewish.

How can they be Jewish.

My wife is Jewish!

I thought she was just a lapsed Catholic.

No,she’s Jewish but not even an arranged marriage could be arranged for her so she used her imagination and decided an overweight ugly Catholic would be grateful for her love,

And are you grateful?

Yes, and so are all her lovers!

Who are they?

The curate is one of them and has two children .. they look just like him too.

And does she want them raised as Jews?

She just let’s them rise naturally and go with the flow.

Do they have to wear hats?

Only in the Synagogue!

Are you Jewish too.

Yes,it’s quite handy as we have Sabbath on Saturday and then we have Sunday on Sunday if you see what I mean.

I never met anyone who practised two religions before.;

Well,I figured it would double my chance of salvation!

Well. I must speak to the Rabbi.For your penance you must give £50 to Homeless at Xmas.

Am I absolved.

If you stay any longer you’ll be dissolved!

Thank you,Father.

And take that gun away.I don’t want it.

I can get you a good price for your cassock.

Why,thank you,my child but I need it.

Well,Jesus had no cassock!

Well, he was a  Jew…I am a Catholic.

Now,that makes me think.

Think what?

About the Vatican…

Let’s not go there,

Shalom

Anthropomorphic ideas and further thoughts about living

From here
An·thro·po·morph·ic /ˌænθrəpəˈmoɚfɪk/ adjective
1 : described or thought of as being like human beings in appearance, behavior, etc.
▪ a story in which the characters are anthropomorphic animals

2 : considering animals, objects, etc., as having human qualities
▪ anthropomorphic beliefs about nature

The reason I have posted this is that I know as a child I saw chairs and tables and houses a living beings.And the windows were eyes,the door a mouth.When I was looking up where the word “door” originated it came  a thousand years ago from the word for mouth.So human beings did see the way I used to see….and no doubt further back that’s why they saw trees inhabited by living spirits for example.Everything was alive and had a personal quality.That could be frightening if you saw storms and gales that way.Maybe at some level we do still think that way and ascribe motives to the beings in the storm who want to harm us

Some people still believe in demons but I don’t.Epileptics were regarded ad possessed by demons until quite recently.

I prefer different language…. it’s a way  of attacking other people saying they are possessed by demons, which I object to.

And it creates problems .by saying that you push afflicted people away.Some folk say that because demons are mentioned in the Bible they must exist.Well,remember much of what was written was explained in ways accepted then as they knew nothing of the medical science we know now.Even great prophets can only use the concepts which exist  in the era in which they live.And also translations alter the meaning inadvertently.The Bible was not written originally in English.

The problem of evil and whether there is an evil principle as an opponent of God is very complex  and wondering about does not to my mind help me to live better .I trust in God whatever that means.

Unshakable Hope | “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

Unshakable Hope | “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13).

This is really heart warming and moving

I think being curious is better than not being interested

Photo0261 2

A canal

Maybe this is a rationalization but I believe it’s a good thing to look into other people’s houses,after all that’s why windows were invented.. so people could see in.That’s what  my mother told me and who am I to contradict her?

Yes,who am I?Someone who looks into windows.Once I had a boyfriend who was very handsome.. only once,but there we go.As we were out walking by a canal.. so romantic.. we passed the back of some houses and he told me it was a crime to look into a woman’s bedroom and watch her undressing.

But unless you were very tall,how could you look into her bedroom and anyway how would  you know which one it was

Would you ring the bell and say,

Excuse me,.madam,which room do you sleep in?

And she might say.

Who are you,the KGB?

And pour a pan of water over his head or maybe some ink….

..come to think of it,that would explain a  lot. about his appearance!

I guess,reading between the lines, he wanted to watch me undress but I kept quiet.Another time we got caught in heavy rain riding our bikes [yes,no cars thenm] When we got back to his place,he was so kind.He said,

Your trousers look wet.I don’t mind if you take them off.

. but a little bird warned me not to…I only had the one pair and maybe he wanted them for himself!

He never took me out for a meal  but he was extremely good looking.. dark hair,brown eyes and  pale creamy skin… on his face.. I never saw his body as we broke up before long and I was a virgin in those days although I did use Tampax which was forbidden by the Bishop..

Can you believe it?A  Bishop  should never have heard of Tampax.. they were all celibate then.I thought before it meant celebrate but I realised later it was nothing to celebrate.

Anyway,I guess after using those super large ones I was not a virgin and it was easier than finding another handsome boyfriend..no point sleeping with an ugly one unless you are extremely kind which I am not….I’m just fairly kind and selfish in the usual way..I want my own way.

Blimey,what was I going to say?

Oh,yes,don’t draw the curtains as I am painting them tomorrow..And then I shall draw them or was it the other way round?

Where has Sunday gone?

Sunday evening is a time when in the UK those who have jobs get ready to go into work [unless they are on shifts].Children prepare their school bags… the weekkend is coming to an end

How different though is the earlier part of Sunday from what is was in my youth.In those days the shops were closed and we would visit relatives after we had been to Church in the morning.We would have the traditional English breakfast of eggs and bacon with delicious fried bread.. [after Mass if we had fasted in order to receive Holy Communion]

In the summer during the afternoon we were often taken out by bus into the countryside.Sometimes relatives would come.Otherwise we had no phone and  would just go round unannounced and be given tea.There was a special quiet calm feeling on Sunday.

After the  special Sunday dinner,mothers would do little cooking later on..So it was a bit of a rest for them.Men would relax,smoke a cigarette and discuss politics or football.Women would knit as they chatted and children roamed free  in the streets and parks.

Now,Sunday is almost like any other day.Many people work to keep shops open..Instead of Church it’s Starbucks or Costa Coffee.Children even of secondary school age are supervised all the time and roaming free is no longer possible.There is a feeling of fear in the air..there were always paedophiles and  fear has escalated.We have too many news programmes so if someome in Florida dies in a fire we hear it here in the UK…we need boundaries,

And the most important fact is we cannot now call in on anyone because now Sunday is not a day when everyone will be at home.Indeed a roast Sunday dinner is a rare event… more likely it will be horsemeat burgers abd frozen chips.The fridge is full and each person can pick a meal and heat it in the microwave.Some children come to school who have never eaten at a table or used cutlery.Some are not toilet trained at five!

A free day for personal and social life,as well as the time for religious activities,mediation or conversation… that has almost gone…and what a loss it is.We could drive  out to visit friends as  it was the only day traffic was low… but now we just can’t do that.Every day we have delivery lorries and other heavy traffic.

Mostly the loss is that day when apart from religious sevices there was the freedom to socialise and meet people knowing they were not in a hurry.We were allowed to play but women did not do washing,ironing or heavy work..so they could be with their husband and enjoy watching their children play

The one advantage is that now many old people live alone and so to have the shops and Library open is very nice for them…but the loss is something irreparable.

Some write,some have rites and some have OCD

Photo0274

I may have put a jokey title but I know OCD is nothing to joke about…… it is  hard for sufferers and their families

Yet all rites and rituals are cousins to OCD.I suppose the distinction may  come  if you find that you grow fearful and distraught when, by some chance, you cannot carry out your usual rites and rituals like washing your hands ten times or avoiding cracks in the sidewalk or pavement……many children fear that but most forget as they grow more confident

I certainly hate to see my early morning tea if it’s in the wrong cup but not enough to stop me from drinking 5 mugfuls of it.I am a tea lady ..one drink I cannot live without

Religion has, as one important aspect, a way of attempting to create order in a frightening world.We make offerings to placate the gods who cause storms and fires and epidemic diseases.Though by now we ourselves  have created even worse darker gods, like nuclear bombs

I think the value of rellgion is the coming together and getting strength through that.

It unites people in a helpful way [ except for the other people who have different rites.]

People with OCD often have rituals which are private… and if they can’t do them they are agitated  almost beyond endurance…But if they can do them they feel safer… And sometimes they can  take  over  a life and then the person needs help or courage to face the hidden fear and outface it.

The same way,if your religion takes over your life  I think you need help.Religion is to encourage you live a better life not cause you excessive misery and pain… or not too much…we all do wrong,we all make mistakes… we do penance.We are forgiven,we forgive….  some people don’t, so avoid such people if you can.They even frighten God!

Whatever God is. he accepts us…. that’s my firm belief.. and ….if He won’t accept me then I won’t accept Him or Her

Does God have a body…does he have a mind?

I guess we cannot conceive what God may be or not in discursive language at any rate

Do you mind,Lord?

No,not at all.. I am listening

Thank  you,God

My pleasure.

We are here, waiting patiently, despite all the trials.and the troubles..ready to listen