Chinese media: 'crush' Tibet protests

Notice? We are only hearing from the "Chinese media". Apparently, they are using videos of the violence to post photos of rioters on TV. People are then supposed to turn in their friends and family members. Doesn't that sound like a good time?

China is officially an atheist country. Your loyalty is supposed to be towards the State, not some "non-existent" deity or religion. Tibet, with a government that is officially "Tibetan Buddhist", which is a distinct form of Buddhism which evolved specifically in Tibet, is considered "feudal" and "medieval" by the "progressive" Chinese. From the Chinese point of view, they are helping Tibet. Tibet has tons of mineral resources on their land that would be just going to waste (from the Chinese point of view) if they were left to their own devices. The Chinese want to utilize those resources, and, in return, they want to "modernize" Tibet. Of course, Tibet didn't really agree that that needed modernization, any more than the Native Americans in this country did, but that is besides the point.

It is important, too, to realize that even though China is officially atheist, there are several religions that are practiced there, including Confucianism, Ancestor worship, Taoism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Indigenous religions, and new religious movements such as Xiantianism and Falun Gong. There are also the remnants of Heaven Worship, Manichaeism and Zoroastrianism. With so much religious diversity, it is easy to see why the government may want to remain officially atheist.

The overwhelming attitude, though, is Confucsianism, with its emphasis on social order and personal responsibility to maintain it. Chaos is abhorrent and embarrassing, and China is no doubt mortified over the current conflict in Tibet. Under Confucsianism, the individual's responsibility is to maintain a peaceful and harmonious society. Hence, actions taken by the Chinese governement which may seem horrendous to us, may be accepted as necessary to maintain order to most Chinese. It is always important to realize that different people have different value systems.

The Religious Right Has Already Lost (And They Don't Even Know It)

This is an interesting blog entry from Street Prophets dated March 19, 2008 by pastordan, who believes that the Religious Right's power in the country is on the decline. He has made a survey of several influential conservative bloggers and quoted them to make his point. I agree with him in that I do think that the so called "Religious Right" is in a period of change, but I think they are a long way from being out.

At any rate, it is interesting to see all the different viewpoints on Barack Obama's recent racism speech from a Conservative point of view.

Early Lent puts fasting on fast track

The author uses the fact that Easter falls unusually early this year to make a statement about the rich cultural diversity of Los Angeles. The story is about the Christian tradition of Lent. It is also, about one ritual practiced by many different denominations and cultures. The article not only explains the tradition of Lent, where it comes from, and how it is celebrated, but it talks about how the date of Easter is determined and where the word Lent comes from. It also makes a point of mentioning many different denominations as well as quoting people of differently ethnically identified names. Therefore, even though it is about religion, it is also about diversity and finding commonality.

Here are the people who are quoted: Rev. Ken Fong, senior pastor of Evergreen Baptist Church-L.A, Rev. Guillermo Garcia, pastor of St. Gertrude Catholic Church in Bell Gardens, Rev. Mark Nakagawa, senior pastor of the one of the oldest Japanese American churches in California, Rev. Charles G. Robertson Jr., pastor of Wilshire Presbyterian Church (who does not celebrate Lent, by the way), Gailen L. Reevers, pastor of Lincoln Memorial United Church of Christ in the Crenshaw district. (The people who live in Los Angeles would identify the last church as an African American church by virtue of its location in the Crenshaw district).

I liked this story because it says something about so many different things. Not only did it tell me something about the tradition of Lent in Christianity, (which I would not have know about had it not been for my time here at SU) but it also showed me how the sharing of that tradition crosses cultural boundaries in a highly diverse area such as Los Angeles.

Accused witch gives birth in tree

It is hard to believe that this is still going on anywhere in the world, but apparently it is.

Papua New Guinea is largely Christianize today, with several different denominations. However, the pre-Christian animist roots are still very prevalent. This incident could possibly be a result of what American Pagans might call a "witch war". In other words, two groups with a long standing disputes, each using traditional magic against the other. The one that was losing decides to resort to more direct violence.

Bishop fined in gay discrimination case

This is an example of a power struggle between religion & secular government. The gay-rights issue is only the latest incarnation of it.

CURRENTS / Religion gets personal

This was so interesting! This is an article from the Daily Yomiuri about new innovations in funerary customs in Japan.

"Buddhism came to play a big part in funeral services in Japan in the late Edo period (1603-1867) at the politically motivated instruction of the shogunate. Before that, community leaders had conducted rituals in accordance with Shinto-influenced customs when a member of their community died.

In an attempt to stamp out Christianity, the shogunate required all families to register with a temple and placed the Buddhist institution in charge of ritual care of the dead. With the funeral being such an important Christian rite, the shogunate could deduce that anyone who did not follow the Buddhist service after death was likely to be a Christian."

I had no idea that there was this much tension between the Shogun and the Christians in the 1600s, but it makes sense.

Dispute Over Salary Survey of Christian Ministries

Jack Siegel, a Chicago lawyer, says that "Mr. Dehler is playing the role of “armchair compensation expert” and may be condemning Christian leaders for perfectly acceptable pay levels given their workload and successes". I don't know. Is $465,000 in combined compensation a little much? I wonder what the Office Coordinator makes?

Christian author has problem with conservatives

Unfortunately, every it is getting so that when one thinks "Christian", Jerry Falwell, or, Goddess forbid, Fred Phelps springs to mind. However, this is only because the people who make the most noise get the most attention.

There are plenty of liberal Christians out there who are reasonable, loving... dare I say it... Christian Christians out there who are not spewing hate. Here is one of them.

Galileo protest halts pope's visit

Apparently, Pope Benedict, when he was still Cardinal Ratzinger, called the trial of Galileo "reasonable and just"

Click on the title to read the whole article

Christianity's actual tenets don't resemble those of radical sects - Opinion

In keeping with my point about Christianity, here is an article published last April by the Protestant Chaplain at Syracuse University.

Christianity's actual tenets don't resemble those of radical sects - Opinion

Articles Of Faith: Media's portrayal of religion skews to the right

Here is one of my pet peeves. This article, which can be accessed by clicking the link above, is about how conservative right-wing Christians get TONS more media attention that the group that actually comprises MOST American Christians. That group is the moderate - progressive Christians.

One of the first things that I had to come to grips with when I came to work in the Chapel of this liberal Northeastern private university was that I had to throw out the prejudices that I had against Christians. The people that I now work for and with are nearly all Christians, and in this environment, it is not the "don't talk about religion" environment of a corporation. Religion is everywhere, and everyone here has to deal with it all the time.

When I first saw my job posted, I saw that it was one that I am immanently qualified for, except for the fact that it was for a Protestant ministry. Instead of just dismissing the experience out of hand, I went right to the Protestant minister and said, "Hi, I am extremely qualified for the job that you posted, but you have to know right off, I am a Lesbian Pagan."

"Fine", he responded, "we don't discriminate on the basis of religion." He didn't even mention the "Lesbian" part of my declaration, because, as I was eventually to discover, the Protestant ministry here has a very high percentage of LGBT people as active members.

Far from the being the judgmental, Bible-thumping lunatics that are normally portrayed in the media, the Christians that I am surrounded by are caring, supportive, and emotionally available. There is always food here to share, people are always willing to help, or to offer rides, or just listen when I am having a rough day. And, the best thing yet, is that everyone knows that I am a Pagan, everyone knows that I am a Lesbian, everyone knows my partner, and everyone treats us both with all the honor and respect that they would treat anyone else.

While the media has told me one thing, my own observations have told me something else entirely. It is easy to see why many LGBT people as well as many Pagans believe that there is only one kind of Christian, and that is the late Jerry Falwell. In reality, that is no more true than the belief that all Muslims are crazed suicide bombers waiting for the next opportunity to blow up a bunch of college students in a cafe.

Cambodia Bans Evangelism; Accuses Christians of 'Disrupting Society'

As always, click on title to see original article.

On the surface, this headline seems pretty funny. If you happen to be an Evangelical Christian, you might find it outrageous, but if you happen to be one of the rest of the majority of Americans and are of other faith (which includes everything from Pagan to Protestant), then you are probably chuckling.

Fact is, though, this is not all that extreme. In fact, I happen to work at an interfaith chapel on a private university campus, and in order to preserve the religious freedom of all of the students of the campus, there is a strict "non-proselytizing" rule. In essence, it is to prevent "disruption".

BRITISH MUSEUM MAKES IMPORTANT BREAKTHROUGH IN BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY

In case you are new to Blogger technology, you can find the original article by clicking on the title above.

This is exciting stuff! The passage in the Tanakh (which most people in this country call the Old Testament) that is referenced here is:

"When Jerusalem was taken, all the officials of the king of Babylon came and sat in the middle gate: Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim the Rabsaris, Nergal-sharezer the Rabmag, with all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon." (This is from the New Revised Standard Version, Angicized Edition). "Sarsechim" is the name, and "Rabsaris" is the title "Chief Officer" or, alternatively "Chief of Eunuchs". The event to which is refers is the story of the fall of Jerusalem's first Jewish Temple, commonly called Solomon's Temple.

It is very unusual to find ANY new direct sources for this period, and pretty much, scholars that work on that period spend their time studying over and over the same material.

What is cool about Jewish scripture though (aka, Old Testament), is that the ancient Jews were EXTREMELY careful about the accuracy of the copies. The Dead Sea Scrolls included much older copies of many of the books, and these copies are virtually identical to newer copies, even when separated in age by hundred of years.

The only thing is, most people read these books as "religious texts" rather than "historic documents" (contrary to what they may claim). Reading them as historic documents, in my mind, is MUCH more exciting than as religious texts. The story they tell is amazing