Terror Texts
Weblog April 20, 2008
By Chris DiGiorgio
No one can dispute that many of the world religions have what I term terror texts. These texts show a vengeful GOD destroying “evil doers” or they condemn whole groups of people who may not embrace a religious philosophy. As someone who believes in a loving GOD these texts challenge me to find a more peaceful meaning to these texts. Here are two examples one from the Jewish tradition and one from the Christian tradition.
Passover is a religious holiday celebrated by Jews all around the world celebrating the liberation from slavery by the Egyptians. I recently reviewed the story of the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. According to the texts, Moses warned the Pharaoh that GOD would send a different plague or pest to Egypt. The ten plagues included: the Nile turns into blood, frogs, lice/fleas, flies, death to livestock, boils, hailstorms, locusts, darkness and lastly death to first newborns both livestock and human.
Passover arrives at the last plague, when the Israelites were to take the blood of a lamb place the blood at the door posts of their homes so that no death would come to that home. They were to roast the lamb and eat it with Matzoh bread. All other homes would find death of the first born and the first born live stock. So after, this event with all the death that the Egyptians endured, the Pharaoh relented and let the Jewish slaves free. The Egyptians even gave the Israelites caravans to hasten their exodus.
From the Christian tradition, the text of terror I want to point out is John Chapter 14. This text has been used to persecute and murder many non-Christians. It is a condemning Jesus saying that the only way to GOD is through him. Firstly, I believe Jesus probably did not say that. Remember John was written at least 80 years after Jesus death. Second, as a Christian I do not believe there is only one path to GOD, though others in my faith believe that. Some churches still use this passage in religious services and specific Christian holidays, which further alienates non-Christians.
So what do I do with these texts of terror? First I believe texts that do not serve me, or harm others; I have no obligation to believe in them. Second, I believe it is important I let people know from other faith traditions that I have difficulty with these texts and that these texts are not my views. I also must challenge others in my faith to take a different point of view. Third, I must forgive the writer of these texts and I must ask forgiveness to those who have been harmed by these texts. Sometimes these texts do celebrate an important event, the exodus from Egypt is an inspiring event for any people because it shows us that people that were enslaved are now free. However, I must always question the violence or fear mongering that certain texts have. Celebrate the texts in your faith that inspire and question the ones that produce fear. The ones that inspire fear are the one’s we need to wonder are they truly the motives of a loving GOD.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Angels
Weblog April 13, 2008
By Chris DiGiorgio
Do you believe in Angels? I do. Angels are messengers of GOD, they serve as a bridge between GOD and the physical material world. Angel comes from the Greek root angelos which means messenger. It is unclear where angelic tradition and lore began on the earth, historians do know that as early as the civilizations of Sumeria, Persia, Egypt and India recognized messengers from GOD. Angels are noted in the Torah, Bible and Koran. Interestingly, names of angels are not often mentioned in the Bible. There is debate over which angels are in what part of heaven and the different order of angels and types. Commonly, here are the types of angels: angels, archangels, thrones, principalities, cherubim, seraphim, might, dominations and powers. Angels are commonly thought of as living in the seven heavens. All angels primary role is to serve GOD except for fallen angels. It is believed each one of us has one or more guardian angels, these angels come to your aid if you ask for the help. It is believed angels will only do constructive things that are within the overall good of the universe, therefore if you ask for example harm to others angels will not come to one’s aid for that.
The exception it is believed by some that fallen angels will use negative influence to create evil or temptation.
In my personal experience, I have connected with angels through my meditation. It is always a good idea to be in a meditative or prayerful mood when asking angels for help. Here are some angels and there spheres of influence.
Archangel Michael- empowerment, protection, strength and truth
Archangel Jophiel- wisdom, illumination and energy renewal
Archangel Rafael- healing and science
Archangel Haniel- clarity, communication and group energy
Archangel Chamuel- relationship, love, beauty and compassion
Information for this weblog came from the Angel Bible by Hazel Raven, publisher Sterling c. 2006
Weblog April 13, 2008
By Chris DiGiorgio
Do you believe in Angels? I do. Angels are messengers of GOD, they serve as a bridge between GOD and the physical material world. Angel comes from the Greek root angelos which means messenger. It is unclear where angelic tradition and lore began on the earth, historians do know that as early as the civilizations of Sumeria, Persia, Egypt and India recognized messengers from GOD. Angels are noted in the Torah, Bible and Koran. Interestingly, names of angels are not often mentioned in the Bible. There is debate over which angels are in what part of heaven and the different order of angels and types. Commonly, here are the types of angels: angels, archangels, thrones, principalities, cherubim, seraphim, might, dominations and powers. Angels are commonly thought of as living in the seven heavens. All angels primary role is to serve GOD except for fallen angels. It is believed each one of us has one or more guardian angels, these angels come to your aid if you ask for the help. It is believed angels will only do constructive things that are within the overall good of the universe, therefore if you ask for example harm to others angels will not come to one’s aid for that.
The exception it is believed by some that fallen angels will use negative influence to create evil or temptation.
In my personal experience, I have connected with angels through my meditation. It is always a good idea to be in a meditative or prayerful mood when asking angels for help. Here are some angels and there spheres of influence.
Archangel Michael- empowerment, protection, strength and truth
Archangel Jophiel- wisdom, illumination and energy renewal
Archangel Rafael- healing and science
Archangel Haniel- clarity, communication and group energy
Archangel Chamuel- relationship, love, beauty and compassion
Information for this weblog came from the Angel Bible by Hazel Raven, publisher Sterling c. 2006
Friday, April 4, 2008
Karma
Weblog April 3, 2008
By Chris DiGiorgio
Last night I attended a Zen Buddhist meditation service, after meditation the Buddhist priest talked about Karma. She started to talk about two primary Buddhist teachings that of impermanence and interdependency. Impermanence is the belief the universe or life is always changing. Interdependency is that all things are connected in some way. Now taking those two concepts, Karma is like cause and effect. She used an interesting metaphor that a Chinese Buddhist teacher used. If we take a fishing net and at each knot we have it encrusted with a diamond, then we move the diamond the surrounding net moves. This is like what Karma is. That for every action, there is a cause and effect. You move the net, the surrounding net moves.
In my life, this is an important concept because in my job as a Doctor, I deal with people. Dealing with a variety of people is a challenge and sometimes people can rub you the wrong way. Pema Chödron calls this phenomenon Shempa; she defines it as those actions from others that bother you or hook you. It has great relevance to me because of my spiritual disciple, I do every day. I ask myself all the spiritual work I do with my spiritual teachers and my daily meditation, how is it I get hooked? Why is it that I can so easily be bothered? Karma is the answer. When I do spiritual practice, if I am getting to the point in the practice when I can look at myself outside of my body, and be the observer of my actions instead of reacting to it that is the goal. So in Zen Buddhism, I am sitting in a specific posture and discomfort comes can I withstand that discomfort and look beyond that and actually see what the discomfort is. If I can do that, then the next time a person rubs me the wrong way I can be aware of that Shempa and react differently to the situation. Look at your actions and see if you can see beyond that initial moment.
Weblog April 3, 2008
By Chris DiGiorgio
Last night I attended a Zen Buddhist meditation service, after meditation the Buddhist priest talked about Karma. She started to talk about two primary Buddhist teachings that of impermanence and interdependency. Impermanence is the belief the universe or life is always changing. Interdependency is that all things are connected in some way. Now taking those two concepts, Karma is like cause and effect. She used an interesting metaphor that a Chinese Buddhist teacher used. If we take a fishing net and at each knot we have it encrusted with a diamond, then we move the diamond the surrounding net moves. This is like what Karma is. That for every action, there is a cause and effect. You move the net, the surrounding net moves.
In my life, this is an important concept because in my job as a Doctor, I deal with people. Dealing with a variety of people is a challenge and sometimes people can rub you the wrong way. Pema Chödron calls this phenomenon Shempa; she defines it as those actions from others that bother you or hook you. It has great relevance to me because of my spiritual disciple, I do every day. I ask myself all the spiritual work I do with my spiritual teachers and my daily meditation, how is it I get hooked? Why is it that I can so easily be bothered? Karma is the answer. When I do spiritual practice, if I am getting to the point in the practice when I can look at myself outside of my body, and be the observer of my actions instead of reacting to it that is the goal. So in Zen Buddhism, I am sitting in a specific posture and discomfort comes can I withstand that discomfort and look beyond that and actually see what the discomfort is. If I can do that, then the next time a person rubs me the wrong way I can be aware of that Shempa and react differently to the situation. Look at your actions and see if you can see beyond that initial moment.
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