How about the implications of a dualistic versus and hierarchical universe?

It all started with one of those comments you post on Facebook:

I wrote:Ron is pondering his next blog post. Any thoughts on what you'd like to pick my brain about? (fair warning, be careful what you ask for I just might write it!)

My friend Carl replied:How about the implications of a dualistic versus and hierarchical universe?

I don't think Carl thought I'd do it ... but here goes:

Readers Digest version of what Carl is talking about:

The following is quoted from Kheper.net:

Dualism assumes the existence of two distinct principles of being in the universe: spirit and matter, or soul and body. This was the basic understanding behind the teachings of Plato, according to which the physical world of sense phenomena is but a poor reflection or image of the true spiritual world; sense things being mere shadows of the eternal spiritual things or "Ideas". The goal of the philosopher was thus the elevation of consciousness, and the contemplation of these pure spiritual forms. Hence philosophy in its origin was a much more mystical or spiritual thing than it is today

Descartes Mind-Body Dualism in the current philosophical understanding of the term originates from one man, the seventeenth century French philosopher Rene Descartes. It was Descartes who gave the world that much quoted utterance "I think, therefore I am". He was also the one who popularised the idea of reality as a dichotomy of matter (extended or spatial substance) and spirit (thinking substance, including God). This form of mind-body dualism became known as "Cartesian Dualism", after the Latin pronunciation of Descartes (Cartes)

Translation: Dualism is the view of the universe (you, me, humanity, the cosmos and everything that can be found within it) that we are made up of the "spiritual" and the "physical." This view, while in some regards CAN include some tenets of Christian theology (God is after all spiritual, but he is also physical, in the form of Jesus) I personally feel the Dualistic view is much too broad and intended to offer the option of "God as you understand him", be it Hindu, Bhuddist, Muslim, Taoist, Wiccan, Celtic or Native American. We can all agree that there is the physical universe, its the spiritual aspect which the Christian needs to understand more clearly.

This next quotation is taken from the website of the Armagh Observatory which was founded in 1790. It is taken from a lecture by noted astronomer Ernst J. Öpik.

I intend to say a few words about communication and isolation in our hierarchical universe. Hierarchic means that the universe is built in stages; various solid bodies, the planets, the quite solid suns. Then the solar systems are joined into stellar systems, stellar systems make up galaxies and so forth, and this happens by interposition of so-called "empty space" - actually a background space which may, or may not, be filled uniformly with something else. Because interposition of this space. To the layman the strange thing is that higher order systems are always of lower density. It is self evident that it must be this because we put nothing in between. And this goes on from stage to stage and the big question, not solved yet, is "where does it end?"

I think, though he doesn't mention it in the text of this article, while Professor Öpik speaks of the building blocks of the larger universe, that the theory holds true when you turn away from the telescope and turn to the microscope, that our world is made up of building blocks as well, just much smaller ones.

The feel however, that I got from both pieces was an exclusion of the (pardon the PC terminology) an Intelligent Creator. To me, it feels a bit like "Well, we've got this all figured out how we think it should be, but what do we do with this extra bit? This IC? Trim it off? Right-O!" And off God goes to the scrap heap.

True, the Dualistic view does allow for something greater than ourselves, but it still leaves soooooooo many questions unanswered, while at the same time giving so many answers without asking questions about where they came from.

The point I want you, my friend, to take away from this is: Yes, the universe has a spiritual as well as a physical aspect. The physical, we see around us every day. We can see the spiritual as well, but we need to understand what that spiritual aspect is. And for those of you that know me, I think you know where I'm going with this, but I will say it anyway.

This spiritual aspect of which I speak, the Intelligent Creator, the "thinking substance", the King of kings and Lord of lords are all one and the same. It was God who created the building blocks of the hierarchical universe, and it was God who made us both physical and spiritual, and He did this all for His glory.

The Difference Between Dog Theology and Cat Theology

I'm sure you've likely heard the joke:

Question: What is the difference between a dog's theology and a cat's theology?

Answer: A dog perceives that you are the one who feeds them, takes care of them, grooms them and gives them a home, so they believe that you must be god! A cat on the other hand, sees that you feed them, take care of them, groom them and give them a home ... because THEY must be god.

Yes, my friends will see that this is indeed a joke in line with my taste in jokes. But for me, this one goes a bit deeper.

The dogs are those who completely trust that what you tell them is truth. This is how we should be!

[Jesus said to his disciples] "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." John 14:1

I know, there are times when its mighty hard to trust in someone you don't see standing right in front of you, here in this place we mistakenly call "reality". Those of you with dogs, have you ever noticed how without seeing you coming, they know that you ARE coming? My wife and I have a dog named Rosie. Rosie isn't exactly the sharpest crayon in the doggy crayola box.

She is strong however. In the ten years we've owned Rosie, she's broken two chains and slipped out of her collar so many times I can't recall. If she does this during the day when I'm at work, when I come home in the evening, she's sitting at the end of our driveway waiting for me. If she does this in the night when we're sleeping, when I come out in the morning to feed her, she's sitting at the front door looking up like "Here I am! Ready to face the day!" I finally bought a chain that can also be used for things like towing cars and a collar I'm fairly sure could double as a safety harness for circus performers, so Rosie hasn't slipped out of these ... yet. (I would have included a .jpg of the wiley beast, but I realized that I don't have that one in my photobucket account)

Rosie also likes to do something I find interesting. I'll come out to feed her, I'll put the food and water in their respective dishes, and I'll move out of the way so she can get to them. But, Rosie won't go to her food until I have taken a moment to pet her. So, I'll give her ears a tossing and pat her sides, and she'll be happy as a clam and turn to her food. This only proves a problem when its wet out and I'm in my work clothes. I've had a couple of occasions where an overly joyful dog has forced a wardrobe change.

Cats on the other hand, are in it for what they get out of it. So, if you're going to witness to someone who is cat-like, you need to show them the value of what you are offering.

"In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you....And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." John 14:2,3

Not just that God will provide a place for us, but that He loves us so much that he wants to!

Growing up, my Mom had a small menagerie of cats. At one point, we had ten of the furry critters living in our house. One of the oldest cats was an old tom Mom had named Sam. Mom had found Sam in downtown Indianapolis one evening as she was getting off work. Back in that day, there were very few residential buildings in downtown Indy. So it was not a question that this dark gray ball of fuzz, who at the time was a barely weened kitten, was most likely abandoned by someone.

Now Mom used to ride the bus to and from work, and it was against their regulations for you to bring any pets on board. Thankfully, my Mother was the sort of woman who carried a purse that you could feed third world nations out of. Mom decided she would simply slip the kitten inside her purse and pray that it would stay quiet for the 40 minute ride home. As if he understood what was going on, as soon as Mom put Sam in her purse, he settled right in. In amongst Mom's make-up, tissues, and sundry purse stuff, little Sam wrapped himself into a little ball and went fast to sleep.

Once Mom had Sam home however, there were issues. Sam was a small kitten, and Mom had two other cats (Foggy and Mittens) and a big slobbery cocker spaniel. (yeah I know, cockers are small dogs ... but to Sam, Godfrey was HUGE) So, Sam would hide under the kitchen sink. It took weeks for Mom to coax Sam out to eat food. But with time, Sam came out. Because my Mom showed Sam that all she wanted to do was to love him (granted, the dog would always be a problem, but Sam learned many tricks to deal with Godfrey).

So this is how we all are with God. We're either dogs who immediately accept the love of our Father, or we're cats who need to be shown God's love in such a way, that we're willing to trust Him, no matter how loud the dog's barking in the other room.

On the death of Martin Bell

It is with deep sadness that I mark the passing of a dear family friend, Fr. Martin Bell. Fr. Bell was an Episcopal priest (as well as author, musician and even a former private investigator!) who passed through my family's life when I was a boy.

Martin showed me that some things were not always as they appeared. In the mid 1970's and early 1980's, when every Episcopal priest I knew was fairly conservative, Martin always seemed to have a more relaxed attitude. His was the first church service I'd attended where an instrument OTHER than an organ was used in the service, he played guitar, along with his son Mark -- and quite well I might add!

It is from one of Martin's stories that I have taken my online persona of Hatfield. The Legend of Hatfield tells the story of a martial arts master and his trials against Jennings and his minions. To me, the story is an allegory of the Christian's walk, and our trials against Satan and his minions. The story also depicts God as a great silver wolf whom Hatfield is in the process of seeking. Hatfield learns that finding God is not a destination in itself, it is how we live our lives ... and God then finds US.

Rest in Peace my dear friend. And say Hello to the Wolf for me!

Belief + Choice = Situation

There are times in all of our lives when we make bad choices. Invariably, these choices are based in our beliefs, and the two affect our situation.

Not sure what I mean? I'm sure we all know someone like "Walter". Walter finds the woman of his dreams, and he's so excited to have her in his life that he up and marries her at the first chance he gets! They run off to Vegas and get a quickie wedding at one of those cheesy drive-through chapels and go off to live their life of marital bliss. The problem is, apparently his happy bride isn't quite all that happy for some reason Walter cannot figure out. They fight about the same things Walter fought about with his last wife, and so (not so surprisingly) Walter decides that it just wasn't meant to be and he divorces her.

Walter seems to think that if he can find just the perfect woman to marry, that he will be happy. There's only one real problem with Walter's thinking. Yes ladies, I can hear you all the way over here ... Walter is still in the marriage!

Walter is making choices thinking that that alone will affect his situation. Every time he doesn't like his situation, he makes another choice expecting a different outcome. But he's not getting the picture is he? His belief that he is the sole person to decide his happiness leads to his choices of mates; which in turn leads to his situation of getting divorced.

I'm sure we're all familiar with Proverbs 3:5-6 which tells us:
Proverbs 3:5-6: 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

You have to understand what it is that you believe before you can make any changes in the choices that you make, and in turn the situation you find yourself in.

Lets look at another fictional person. I'll call her "Marie". Marie grew up in a household where she was never shown any sort of caring. Her father abused her emotionally and told her that no one would ever want to love her. Sadly, Marie bought it hook, line and sinker. So, when in school a classmate showed her any small amount of interest, Marie was smitten. "See Daddy!" she'd say to herself, "They love me!" And Marie would do whatever it took to feel loved. But, as the book title says, He's just not that into you, and the classmate would be gone.

The problem is, each time this happens, we develop scars. Walter has scars, Marie has scars, I have scars, and I'm sure that many reading this out there do too.

Jesus teaches us that He loves us, and will never leave us. No matter what our situation, whether you're a Walter or a Marie, Jesus loves you no matter what you have been told. You ARE lovable! So, if you change what you believe, and see that you are worthy of being loved, then you will be able to truly love someone as Christ would have you love them. And changing your belief will change your choices and your situation

Also, if your beliefs are out of whack, it can have as much of an impact as your choices. If you look at King Solomon (think its in 1st Kings?) we read how God had commanded the Children of Israel not to marry outside of their faith. The intent was because these pagans would draw the Israelites away from their faith. But King Solomon believed that he knew better. He believed that if, as king, he married the daughters of other kings, he could protect his people. After all, if you have a treaty with a kingdom because you've taken one of their daughters into your household, they wouldn't attack you because that would be attacking their child!

So, thinking this way, King Solomon took 700 brides from the kingdoms surrounding Israel. (as well as like 300 concubines and other hangers-on... but I digress) He believed that he knew better than God. And this was Solomon, who was blessed by God to be the wisest man in history!

Sadly, it didn't work out as Solomon had planned. Eventually, there was civil war within Israel. The thousands that Solomon had intended to protect from the hands of pagans died at the hands of their own people. With the people weakened by this, it became easy for the other kingdoms to attack Israel and take them away into bondage.

I wonder how it might have been if Solomon had used the wisdom that God had blessed him with, and listened to his own words:
Proverbs 3:5-6: 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Not even sure what title to give this ...

Where do I begin?

Okay, I didn't watch all of the Oscars the other night. But part of what I did see I really need to comment on.

For those who saw even less of what I saw of the Oscars, actor Sean Penn accepted the Best Actor award for portrayal of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politician in California. During his acceptance speech, Mr. Penn commented about a group of protesters who were outside the ceremony protesting Hollywood's portrayal of homosexuals in films such as Milk. Mr. Penn seemed to verbally shake his fist at Christians as if to tell us that whether we liked it or not, homosexuals were going to get equal recognition under the law.

Speaking only from my own perspective, I have never had an issue with homosexuals expecting equal rights (as far as things like health coverage from employers, insurance rates ... whatever). As citizens of the United States (or other countries as far as their laws will allow), they deserve things like knowing that those they care about are taken care of if they need to be.

BUT...

(and here I am trying to think carefully before I type; I know what I will say is likely to offend someone, but I wish to make it as LEAST offensive as possible. I just know that isn't likely to happen)

My views are from the Christian Right (in this case 'right' referring to conservative beliefs, not that I think we're correct about everything). Contrary to what the protesters outside the Oscars may have said, God loves everyone. Christians, Jews, Muslims, and yes, Homosexuals. God doesn't hate anybody. He hates the sin we all have in our lives. But no matter how you try to sugar coat it, no matter how you try to make it seem like something that it is not, homosexuality goes against everything we as Christians are expected to hold dear.

Human sexuality, within the relationship of a heterosexual marriage is one of the most beautiful expressions of God's love for us. But outside of that relationship whether it is a heterosexual couple who are not married, or it is a homosexual couple, there's no other way to say it: That relationship is sin in God's eyes.

I don't hate homosexuals. Three men whom I respect and love as brothers are very open about their preferences. They are gay. This doesn't mean that I love them any less. It does mean that I am very sad. When I've tried to speak to any of them, the general response is along the lines of "Well that's fine for you. But this is what's right for me." The problem is, its not an issue of it being right or wrong for US. Its what is right or wrong for God.

These three are not the only gay men I know. These three are simply the only three that I would consider friends. Or more to the point, friends who's opinions I care about. One of them is a supervisor in my workplace. He's a fun goofy man, a HUGE "Trekkie" and just the type of person that no matter your orientation, he's just easy to get along with.

The other two were in a committed relationship with each other, but because the state where they live does not recognize homosexual unions, as far as the state was concerned, they were just roommates sharing a house. I'll call them "T" and "J". Together, T and J owned a small business. T was the more somber quiet sort. If he liked you, he could talk your ear off. But otherwise he could be very business like. J was the more flamboyant 'stereotype'. Used expansive gestures, spoke with a lilt to his voice. Sadly, I found out from my Mother a couple of years ago that J, who had contracted HIV several years prior had died from complications of HIV/AIDS. T wound up losing the house they had purchased together, because the state didn't recognize their relationship and so gave proceeds for J's insurances to his blood family.

There are those among the Christian community who do not want ANY sort of recognition by the state for any sort of homosexual union. While I do agree that MARRIAGE is a union that is reserved for ONE man and ONE woman. I believe that marriage was not intended to be an institution of the state for the disposition of financial rights and familial responsibilities. Marriage is a union set for by God for the raising of children and sharing the loving relationship between a man and woman that most closely models God's relationship with US, his children.

I myself would have no problems if gay couples had (for lack of a better description) a civil union. A contract recognized by the state which would allow for things like the distribution of properties or the imparting of things like Powers of Attorney in legal affairs. I mean, given my "druthers", I don't see the need for it. Legally, you can empower whomever you choose to handle your legal affairs, even a stranger you meet on the street outside your lawyer's office. For things like distribution of properties (like the example of T and J's house) its a simple matter of having the purchase agreement list both names and have it stipulated in your "Will" how you wish for such issues to be handled.

I do not hold with the idea that some people are just "born that way." I have friends who were abused as children. Statistics tell us that abused kids will more likely grow up to become abusers themselves. That doesn't mean that they have no choice. There are options for those in the homosexual lifestyle if they choose to leave that life. Exodus International helps thousands leave that lifestyle. There are choices.

God does not hate Gays. God does not hate Lesbians. God does not hate heterosexuals-who-don't-do-what-HE-leads-us-to-do. God loves all of us. He wants ALL of us to live our lives following Him. But we keep trying to pick and choose how we're going to do that. But we can't do that. Its His way, or not at all.

Sadly, many will choose not at all.

Salt and Light (a look at Matthew 5:13-16)

Matthew 5:13 'Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men.'

These days, most of us know salt as a condiment, something to add flavor to cooking. But in the time Matthew wrote this, salt was extremely valuable. Kings paid armies in salt, it was used to preserve foods. So Jesus saying, 'Ye are the salt of the earth ...' he was saying that you are something of high value, not to be wasted. But if something happens to you that destroys your value (your saltiness) how are you to be made salty again? So we are to PRESERVE our relationship with Jesus, and not let it be wasted by things we might do trying to pursue other 'savours'.

Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Have you ever been driving along at night, and see those search light type lights sweeping across the sky? The kind that are used for things like store grand openings or to draw your attention to some event like a movie premiere. This light is saying to you, "Come look and see! This is something you don't want to miss! Hey you! COME HERE!!!" Jesus is telling his disciples that we are to be the light that draws others to Him. We are to draw others' attention to Christ. As a child, I read verse 14 of this part and thought to myself, "Well of COURSE you can't hide a city on a hill!" I completely misunderstood the point. Jesus was pointing out that a city wants to be where it is easy to see. Granted, it can often times draw those wishing to attack the city, but more importantly, it draws those seeking the city. Merchants, travelers, farmers with crops to sell in the city's market place. A city needs to be seen. And while candles get less and less use these days, I think an accurate translation of verse 15 might say something like, 'if you want to use your lamp, don't leave it unplugged. Plug it in and put it on the table where everyone will be able to see it.'

Like the spotlight, Jesus wants us to draw others to Him. Shine the light for others to see, live your life in such a way that not only do people know that you are a Christian, they see by your life that being a Christian is something that (if they aren't already themselves) they would find Truth in.

Yes, we know that it is by Grace through which we are saved, and that our works cannot get US into heaven. But by our actions, we can attract others to the message that we offer! Something I've said for a number of years is that while it is very true that "faith without works is dead, but works without faith doesn't really do all that much either."

There are also Christians out there that will take their spotlight, and rather than try to use it to draw others to Jesus, will use it to shine their light on what others are doing wrong. We aren't supposed to compare others to ourselves. After all, compared to Jesus, we're ALL as sinful as the worst resident of Sodom. There's just no way that our own actions can justify our passing judgement on others. So, we are to use our lives as a beacon drawing others to Christ.

This should offend someone ...

I originally posted this on the message boards on AotC MUD, and thought to share it here. It was originally written when inspired by a message about the Reverend Billy Graham on the occasion of his 90th birthday.

In honor of the Reverend Billy Graham's 90th birthday today, I'd like to share some thoughts that came to me when his son, the Reverend Franklin Graham was being interviewed on the radio program Primetime America on the Moody Broadcasting Network.

They were interviewing Franklin on the occasion of his Dad's 90th birthday, and having been asked what one thing would Billy say about today's church (Christianity as a collective whole) that was not true back when he started preaching in the 1950's.

Franklin only hesitated a brief minute before responding that the church today was too fearful of causing offense among those who come for services. People who feel that they can get to heaven by doing the most volunteer work for the poor, or can support a church financially don't want to hear that it is not by our WORKS that we are saved, but by God's grace through Jesus Christ.
Today, people want to come to church to hear a topical sermon, something to tickle the ears and that has 'relevance' to their situation and lives. They don't want to ponder the fact that we are all sinners in need of a Savior's love.

The problem is, we ARE all sinners in need of a Savior. The struggle doesn't end when you say the Sinner's prayer. Each day of our lives, for as long as we live, we deal with the imperfections of our human bodies. We must daily depend on the grace of a God that loves us more than it is possible for us to love ourselves or others.
The love of a Savior who left the Father's side, and came down here on earth and took our likeness, and did the one thing we could not do for ourselves. He died for us.

There's no way we could WORK hard enough.
There's no way we could spend enough money.
There's no way we could pray enough prayers till the heavens rang with our utterances.
There is only one way.

Romans 10:9-10 tells us 'If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus,and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead,thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.'

The NRV (New Ronald Version) would read that If you believe it in your heart, and tell everyone around you; and if you confess to Jesus that you are a sinner and wish to be forgiven, then you will receive forgiveness. Because if you accept your sin, and admit it to God, He will forgive you.

Yeah, I know. We don't like having to admit that we're not the greatest thing since sliced bread. We want to think that we're really cool. Or that at least, we're cooler than that bunch over there. But we're no better or no worse than they are. We are all sinners in need of a Savior. But do you want to know the REALLY cool part? Jesus loves us so much, that he's ready to be that Savior!

And Reverend Graham has been telling people the secret for over 50 years. And if you didn't already know it, I've just shared it with you too!