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Vatican regrets female bishops decision
how do you feel about this?
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Animated Rapture Video
The interview today is with artist and animator Robert McCoy. I stumbled across Robert’s animated film short “Everyday Life” which is a stunning depiction of the rapture. See it for yourself, then check out our interview... The interview today is with artist and animator Robert McCoy. I stumbled across Robert’s animated film short “Everyday Life” which is ... more
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Your G-spot will bring you closer to God
Sex In Crisis, a new book by Dagmar Herzog, explores how religious conservatives are hijacking liberal rhetoric - the idea that orgasms are actually rather good, for example - to preach ideas on sexuality that are anything BUT liberal.
According to Herzog, the conservative right are using the (literally) touchy feely language of sex-positivism to demonstrate how much they 'value' and 'respect' women, and acknowledge that sex is a vital (and maybe even fun!) part of relationships... as long as its not DIRTY AND SINFUL.
In conservative right-speak, "prostitution demeans the value of women" equals "so lets withdraw AIDS outreach efforts to prostitutes in developing countries, cos they shouldn't be doing it anyway."
Exploring your G-spot (with no-one but your husband, of course) will bring you closer to God according to evangelical sexologists (now there's a combination of words you weren't expecting to hear this morning).
And as long as you ONLY have sex within marriage, a lifetime of 'soulgasms' (ick) is yours for the taking.
Homosexuality can be cured by Christ (phew! I was tiring of my deviant attraction to women anyway) and best of all is the news that good wives who put out wherever, whenever (and whatever time of the month) will protect their husband's spiritual purity by preventing any 'need' for porn or masturbation.
She'll wear sexy lingerie and keep herself shaved and showered at all times, ready to *ahem* drop everything the moment her man wants some.
"Ellen", an ideal wife, explains, "[My husband's] purity is extremely important to me, so I try to meet his needs so that he goes out each day with his cup full. During the earlier years, with much energy going into childcare and with my monthly cycle, it was a lot more difficult for me to do that. There weren't too many 'ideal times' when everything was just right. But that's life, and I did it anyway."
So that's that. Man's satisfied, woman's satisfied, God's satisfied - and Jesus is coming again.
A happy outcome for us all, eh?
Sex In Crisis, a new book by Dagmar Herzog, explores how religious conservatives are hijacking liberal rhetoric - the idea that orgasm... more -
Was Jesus' Resurrection a Sequel?
A 3-ft.-high tablet romantically dubbed "Gabriel's Revelation" could challenge the uniqueness of the idea of the Christian Resurrection. The tablet appears to date authentically to the years just before the birth of Jesus and yet — at least according to one Israeli scholar — it announces the raising of a messiah after three days in the grave. If true, this could mean that Jesus' followers had access to a well-established paradigm when they decreed that Christ himself rose on the third day — and it might even hint that they they could have applied it in their grief after their master was crucified. However, such a contentious reading of the 87-line tablet depends on creative interpretation of a smudged passage, making it the latest entry in the woulda/coulda/shoulda category of possible New Testament artifacts; they are useful to prove less-spectacular points and to stir discussion on the big ones, but probably not to settle them nor shake anyone's faith.
The ink-on-stone document, which is owned by a Swiss-Israeli antiques collector and reportedly came to light about a decade ago, has been dated by manuscript and chemical experts to a period just before Jesus' birth. Some scholars think it may originally have been part of the Dead Sea Scrolls, a trove of religious texts found in caves on the West Bank that were possibly associated with John the Baptist. The tablet is written in the form of an end-of-the-world prediction in the voice of the angel Gabriel; one line, for instance, predicts that "in three days you will know evil will be defeated by justice."
Such "apocalypses," often featuring a triumphant military figure called a messiah (literally, anointed one), were not uncommon in the religious and politically tumultuous Jewish world of 1st century B.C. Palestine. But what may make the Gabriel tablet unique is its 80th line, which begins with the words "In three days" and includes some form of the verb "to live." Israel Knohl, an expert in Talmudic and biblical language at Jerusalem's Hebrew University who was not involved in the first research on the artifact, claims that it refers to a historic 1st-century Jewish rebel named Simon who was killed by the Romans in 4 B.C., and should read "In three days, you shall live. I Gabriel command you." If so, Jesus-era Judaism had begun to explore the idea of a three-day resurrection before Jesus was born.
This, in turn, undermines one of the strongest literary arguments employed by Christians over centuries to support the historicity of the Resurrection (in which they believe on faith): the specificity and novelty of the idea that the Messiah would die on a Friday and rise on a Sunday. Who could make such stuff up? But, as Knohl told TIME, maybe the Christians had a model to work from. The idea of a "dying and rising messiah appears in some Jewish texts, but until now, everyone thought that was the impact of Christianity on Judaism," he says. "But for the first time, we have proof that it was the other way around. The concept was there before Jesus." If so, he goes on, "this should shake our basic view of Christianity. ... What happens in the New Testament [could have been] adopted by Jesus and his followers based on an earlier messiah story." A 3-ft.-high tablet romantically dubbed "Gabriel's Revelation" could challenge the uniqueness of the idea of the Christian Resurrectio... more -
Tablet ignites debate on Messiah and resurrection
A three-foot-tall tablet with 87 lines of Hebrew that scholars believe dates from the decades just before the birth of Jesus is causing a quiet stir in biblical and archaeological circles, especially because it may speak of a messiah who will rise from the dead after three days.
If such a messianic description really is there, it will contribute to a developing re-evaluation of both popular and scholarly views of Jesus, since it suggests that the story of his death and resurrection was not unique but part of a recognized Jewish tradition at the time.
The tablet, probably found near the Dead Sea in Jordan according to some scholars who have studied it, is a rare example of a stone with ink writings from that era — in essence, a Dead Sea Scroll on stone.
It is written, not engraved, across two neat columns, similar to columns in a Torah. But the stone is broken, and some of the text is faded, meaning that much of what it says is open to debate.
Still, its authenticity has so far faced no challenge, so its role in helping to understand the roots of Christianity in the devastating political crisis faced by the Jews of the time seems likely to increase.
Daniel Boyarin, a professor of Talmudic culture at the University of California at Berkeley, said that the stone was part of a growing body of evidence suggesting that Jesus could be best understood through a close reading of the Jewish history of his day.
“Some Christians will find it shocking — a challenge to the uniqueness of their theology — while others will be comforted by the idea of it being a traditional part of Judaism,” Mr. Boyarin said.
Given the highly charged atmosphere surrounding all Jesus-era artifacts and writings, both in the general public and in the fractured and fiercely competitive scholarly community, as well as the concern over forgery and charlatanism, it will probably be some time before the tablet’s contribution is fully assessed. It has been around 60 years since the Dead Sea Scrolls were uncovered, and they continue to generate enormous controversy regarding their authors and meaning.
Much of the text, a vision of the apocalypse transmitted by the angel Gabriel, draws on the Old Testament, especially the prophets Daniel, Zechariah and Haggai.
In Mr. Knohl’s interpretation, the specific messianic figure embodied on the stone could be a man named Simon who was slain by a commander in the Herodian army, according to the first-century historian Josephus. The writers of the stone’s passages were probably Simon’s followers.
The slaying of Simon, or any case of the suffering messiah, is seen as a necessary step toward national salvation, he says, pointing to lines 19 through 21 of the tablet — “In three days you will know that evil will be defeated by justice” — and other lines that speak of blood and slaughter as pathways to justice.
Two more hard-to-read words come later, and Mr. Knohl said he believed that he had deciphered them as well, so that the line reads, “In three days you shall live, I, Gabriel, command you.”
To whom is the archangel speaking? The next line says “Sar hasarin,” or prince of princes. Since the Book of Daniel, one of the primary sources for the Gabriel text, speaks of Gabriel and of “a prince of princes,” Mr. Knohl contends that the stone’s writings are about the death of a leader of the Jews who will be resurrected in three days.
He says further that such a suffering messiah is very different from the traditional Jewish image of the messiah as a triumphal, powerful descendant of King David.
“This should shake our basic view of Christianity,” he said. “Resurrection after three days becomes a motif developed before Jesus, which runs contrary to nearly all scholarship. What happens in the New Testament was adopted by Jesus and his followers based on an earlier messiah story.” A three-foot-tall tablet with 87 lines of Hebrew that scholars believe dates from the decades just before the birth of Jesus is causin... more -
5 Steps Toward Artists Knowing and Completing the Will of God
This is a continuation of a post I wrote a while back for Artists and Designers. It's a basic and simple method of knowing how to move ahead with a God –given assignment:
This is a continuation of a post I wrote a while back for Artists and Designers. It's a basic and simple method of knowing how to move... more -
Evangelical movement touts 'Jesus for President'
PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- They're spiritual misfits. Rabble-rousers. They packed the shell of the old Baptist church on Negley Avenue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to hear author, Christian activist and fellow misfit Shane Claiborne stump on the campaign for a third party candidate, Jesus.
The dreadlocked Christian activist from Philadelphia and his team parked a black school bus around the back. The hand-painted gold letters on the side read "Jesus for President."
The bus runs on vegetable oil and, yes, it's a political statement.
"It'll be a long time before we fight a war over used veggie oil," says Claiborne with a sly smile.
Claiborne is touring the country, packing churches and community centers, in support of the book he and Chris Haw co-authored, "Jesus for President."
"This whole project is about the political imagination of what it means to follow after Jesus," Claiborne said. "The language of Jesus as Lord and savior is just as radical as it would be to say 'Jesus as our commander in chief' today."
Young evangelicals represent an important swing-voting bloc. They're not a lock for Republicans as their parents were. Their feet are firmly planted on issues dear to both parties. Traditional family values are, as they have been in the past, an important issue.
But these voters say views on abortion and homosexuality won't define them in November. The environment and social justice are moving to the forefront of their discussions.
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About 26 percent of the United States identifies itself as evangelical Christians in the Protestant tradition, according to the latest U.S. Religious Landscape study by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. In 2004, more than 75 percent of evangelicals cast their vote for George W. Bush.
"They delivered for him in some key states, like Ohio, without which he could not have won," said CNN's Bill Schneider, senior political analyst. "It was the rallying of the evangelical base that Karl Rove developed as a strategy, maximizing turnout among your base voters, not worrying about independents or swing voters."
----more at story at link---- PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- They're spiritual misfits. Rabble-rousers. They packed the shell of the old Baptist church on Negle... more -
Should Christian Visual Artists Create Tattoos?
Tattooing has allowed it ’s artists to go from being backroom Picassos to MTV celebrities.
But is this art form for the Christian Visual artist?
I bounced this off of our "Art Lessons from God!" Online Community to see what the thoughts were about the subject.
Peek in on the conversation. Post your comments as well and give us your take on it. Tattooing has allowed it ’s artists to go from being backroom Picassos to MTV celebrities. ... more -
Muslim Morocco using Music as a bridge between world faiths?
As Saudi Arabia held its first ever conference on interfaith dialogue Morocco is hosting its 14th festival of World Sacred Music.
The president of the festival, Mohamed Kabbaj, said:
"Religion is too important to leave to clerics alone"
There was even a Christians & Muslims performing together which was shown on France24 on its 'Culture' Magazine.
Other performers from across the globe include a Christian singing in Syriac related to Aramaic the language of Jesus (pbuh) & Indian Madhup Mudgal who will sing in Hindustani (classical Indian) even using Hindu scriptures like the Vedas. A Greek Othordox choir & other Muslim sufi perfomers also performed.
The city of Fez has been the spiritual & cultural capital of Morocco & has ties with Europe such as Andulusia, (modern day Spain) as it use to be part of the Islamic Empire where Muslims, Christians & Jews use to live & coexist peacefully. As Saudi Arabia held its first ever conference on interfaith dialogue Morocco is hosting its 14th festival of World Sacred Music. ... more -
Mormons enters gay marriage fight in California
The LDS Church will work with a coalition of churches and other conservative groups that put the Californai Marriage protection act on November 4 ballot to assure its passage
There are more than 750.000 mormons in California according to a church almanac.
In a letter sent to Mormon Bishops and signed by church president Thomas S. Monson and his two top counselors calls on Mormons to donate "means and time" to the ballot measure
"We ask that you do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment........."
"Our best efforts are required to preserve the sacred institution of marriage."
Now, we need all Muslims, Boudhists, Indus, all people of faith to join the coalition.
The LDS Church will work with a coalition of churches and other conservative groups that put the Californai Marriage protection act on... more -
Artists In Action: Painter Charlene Rice & Her Use of Video & her Art
My interview today is with painter Charlene Rice. Charlene does a great job using video and the web to document the creative experience with her work. Pay special attention to her answer to question #3...
My interview today is with painter Charlene Rice. Charlene does a great job using video and the web to document the creative experienc... more -
Witches, Christian Porn, & Prayer-God Loves ME Best! - Vol 2
Extended promo for the new TV series God Loves ME Best! in which the cast members get to know each other a little bit. Volume 2 of the God Loves ME Best! series. The roomies become acquainted. The Wiccan explains Witchcraft, The Christian covers his porn with a bible, The ladies discuss the sexual potential of their male counterparts, and the guys argue over prayer space and spiritual practices.
http://www.godlovesmebest.com
http://www.youtube.com/godlovesmebest Extended promo for the new TV series God Loves ME Best! in which the cast members get to know each other a little bit. Volume 2 of th... more -
Transvestite Belly Dancing Muslim Extremist - God Loves ME Best! - Volume 4
Extended trailer for the new TV series God Loves ME Best! featuring a belly-dancing transvestite Muslim extremist. In this volume, The Wiccan attempts to woo the Buddhist with home-made pizza while the Atheist makes a frightening discovery about her Muslim roommate. Starring Allegra Cohen, Khrystyne Haje, Eric Kirchberger, Nasry Malak, Michelle Maryk, Ron McClary, Ann Scobie, and Sam Rodd.
http://www.youtube.com/godlovesmebest
http://www.godlovesmebest.com Extended trailer for the new TV series God Loves ME Best! featuring a belly-dancing transvestite Muslim extremist. In this volume, The... more -
Old Testament God Jehovah is not the Father of Jesus
I. The Creator God and the Supreme God
For an evil tree bringeth forth not good fruit; neither does a good tree bring forth evil fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. Luke 6:43,44a
I am the Lord, and there is none else; I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil...
Isaiah 45:6,7
I create evil - This god is the author of evil - there must be another God, after the analogy of the good tree producing its good fruit. In Christ is found a different disposition, one of a simple and pure benevolence - which differs from the Creator.
In Christ a new God is revealed.
The Creator God is judicial, harsh, and mighty in war.
The Supreme God is gentle and simply good and excellent.
The title "God" is a vague one, and applied to other Beings as well; as it is written, " He standeth in the congregation of the mighty"; "He judgeth among the gods" (Psalm 82:1,6), "Ye are gods". Thus as the attribute of supremacy would be inappropriate to these, although they be called gods, so it is to the Creator.
Jesus Christ and none else revealed a new God, who, in the Old world and in the Old time and under the Old God was unknown and unheard of ; Whom is accounted by no one through long centuries back, and ancient in men's very ignorance of Him - even in ancient names He was unknown and concealed. He had remained unknown by any works from the beginning. Even the Creator was unaware of the Supreme God being above himself, Who, although He did not manifest Himself from the beginning and by means of the creation, has yet revealed Himself in Christ Jesus.
To be sure, this world is a grand work, worthy of a god. Yet the Supreme God has a creation of His own, and His own world, and His own sky. One work is sufficient for our God: He has delivered man by His supreme and most excellent goodness, which is preferable to the creation of all the locusts. A primary and perfect goodness is shed voluntarily and freely upon strangers without any obligation of friendship, on the principle that we are bidden to love our enemies, who as such on that very account are strangers to us.
The Supreme God is susceptible to no feeling of rivalry, or anger, or damage, or injury . He inflicts no punishment and takes no offence, and is not feared, as a good being ought not to be an object of fear, as a judicial being, in whom resides the grounds for fear - anger, severity, judgements, vengence, and condemnation. I. The Creator God and the Supreme God ... more -
A Genius Outside the Academy
The Hip Hop Caucus tour featuring Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. Yearwood is a minister, community activist, military chaplain, and one of the most influential people in Hip Hop. A powerful and fiery orator. The Hip Hop Caucus tour featuring Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. Yearwood is a minister, community activist, military chaplain, and one of ... more
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McCain rejects endorsement from talking Jesus head
Senator McCain rejected yet another religious endorsement, today, this time from a battery-operated, talking Jesus head. Purchased by McCain for 29.95, “The Submissive Jesus” speaks 100 random phrases, such as, “Just wait ‘til your heavenly father gets home” and “Don’t make me mad, you wouldn’t like me when I’m mad.” [more]
-- TheRepublicant.org Senator McCain rejected yet another religious endorsement, today, this time from a battery-operated, talking Jesus head. Purchased by ... more -
Dr. Rick Strassman
Rick Strassman was born in Los Angeles, California in 1952. He attended public schools in southern California's San Fernando Valley, and graduated from Ulysses S. Grant High School in Van Nuys in 1969. As an undergraduate, he majored in zoology at Pomona College in Claremont California for two years before transferring to Stanford University, where he graduated with departmental honors in biological sciences in 1973. During summers in college he worked for RedKen Laboratories, developing cosmetics and a line of hair dyes, and also performed laboratory research at Stanford, on the development of the chicken embryo's nervous system. He attended the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University in the Bronx, New York, where he obtained his medical degree with honors in 1977.
Dr. Strassman took his internship and general psychiatry residency at the University of California, Davis, Medical Center in Sacramento, and received the Sandoz Award for outstanding graduating resident in 1981. After graduating, he worked for a year in Fairbanks, Alaska in community mental health and private psychiatric practice. From 1982-1983, he obtained fellowship training in clinical psychopharmacology research at the University of California, San Diego's Veteran's Administration Medical Center. He then served on the clinical faculty in the department of psychiatry at UC Davis Medical Center, before taking a full-time academic position in the department of psychiatry at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque in 1984. Rick Strassman was born in Los Angeles, California in 1952. He attended public schools in southern California's San Fernando Valley, a... more -
Drugs Porn And Puppets - On The Next God Loves ME Best!
A look at the future of God Loves ME Best! Starring Allegra Cohen, Khrystyne Haje, Eric Kirchberger, Nasry Malak, Michelle Maryk, Ron McClary, Ann Scobie, and Sam Rodd.
http://www.youtube.com/godlovesmebest
http://www.godlovesmebest.com A look at the future of God Loves ME Best! Starring Allegra Cohen, Khrystyne Haje, Eric Kirchberger, Nasry Malak, Michelle Maryk, Ron ... more -
God Speaks to His Artists and Designers
Many of my online community have let me know that one thing that they desire is to hear from God on what He wants them to do with their gift.
The method of receiving the answer is easy, following through and doing it is what I’ve always found to be the challenge: Your one-on-one quiet time alone with God is the key to hearing His voice: Many of my online community have let me know that one thing that they desire is to hear from God on what He wants them to do with thei... more -
Florida Gathering Lasts Two Months
Thousands of people from across the globe have been flocking to Lakeland, Florida to witness so-called "supernatural healings." After people started proclaiming marvelous miracles had happened to their bodies early last April, the worship meetings led by Todd Bentley have been continuing for two months now. The event has changed locations several times to host the massive crowds, and several popular news sources have reported on the phenomena (including MSNBC). As seen on the film of this event, many testifying of having received a miracle bring medical documentation to try and back their claims. Thousands of people from across the globe have been flocking to Lakeland, Florida to witness so-called "supernatural healings." After ... more
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