-May 14, 2002-

What Are They Up To?

Mysterious Dr. X

 

Reacting to a letter in the Terrace Standard had me wonder just what organized religion is up to. The writer of the letter had compared witchcraft to having the power to do unnatural things, to cast spells, curses & incantations with the aid of evil spirits & Satan. If the facts were checked out, the writer would have found out that witchcraft, properly known as Wicca, is a fertility/nature based religion.

 

Not to deny that evil exists, every faith gives warning to it, but to say organized religion is free of sin & evil is to forget about the Inquistions, Salem Witchcraft trails & the Crusades. There have been priests who have been little more than pedophiles protected by the church, transferred to another diocese instead of being defrocked & made to face charges.

 

Just after the bombing of the WTC in New York City, some said America got what she deserved. I want to retch when I hear this, considering the number of innocent lives lost. Does this mean we can declare open season on any group of people because of the actions of a few?

 

Sunera Thobani accused the USA of being "the most dangerous & the most powerful global force unleashing horrific levels of violence." An interesting quote from someone whose homeland treats women as little more as property. I wonder if Thobani realizes how lucky she is to be living in a country that has freedom of speech. But with that freedom comes responsibilites.

 

No one faith is the truth, way & life. The Catholic Church is not the sole guardian of morality. Heresy is easily found in it as anywhere esle. If one studies the history of the Catholic Church, they will find that many Catholic saints are adaptations of pagan dieties that Catholics found when they moved into an area Was it done to gain acceptance of the local populance?

 

To say people rebel against God is a moot point. The truth is that people need different perspectives of looking at things. If you can't find what you're looking for in one religion, a person should be able, without guilt, look into another one. It is unhealthy for a heriachy of priests or anyone else, to be dictating peoples belief systems. Spiritual seekers should not be content to be force fed "facts" but to get out & test their beliefs & compare notes with other seekers. They develop the ability to learn how to think instead of being told what to think.

 

Who is to say who will enter Heaven or who will be excluded? If we were to sit at mid-field of a football game between "Heaven" & "Hell", we might be surprised on who is on each teams roster.

 

People need to learn about the history of the religion they belong to. They just might find out that the teachings of Jesus, Buddha & others are quite similar. It is wise to learn & understand various viewpoints so those who want to control what others see, hear & think don't misguide one.