From my Armchair

Eclectic musings on religion and spirituality…


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What Does the Bible Say about Homosexuality?

The most common response that I get from most Christians on this topic is, “What is there to discuss? The Bible is quite clear on the issue.” But the way I see things, the Bible is only clear for those who have already decided the answer. Already, you are probably thinking of a number of verses from the Bible, and in particular from Leviticus and Romans. And I will discuss these here in general way.

Kiss of Judas * Giotto di Bondone

What about Leviticus? The anti-homosexual texts in Leviticus appear in the same chapters as the dietary laws: no pork or shellfish. Now I would ask why someone would condemn homosexuality based on Leviticus on their way home from a nice shrimp dinner. I cannot think of any objective reason to pick one and discard the other prohibition. So, the Bible is clear only if the matter had already been decided.

In Romans, some practice (which is sometimes translated “homosexuality”) is described as “degrading” and associated with idolatry. Don’t Christians follow the New Testament? Actually, most Christians follow the New Testament selectively. For example, most Christian denominations (even in the face of a “clear” teaching from Jesus himself) allow divorced members to remarry; and that same Greek word, translated “degrading”, is also used by St. Paul to describe long hair on a man, something which is not discussed in most churches. That is, Christians have seen the Gospel as requiring us to recognize the needs of the divorced person, and the cultural “accident” by which long hair is condemned. Again, the New Testament is “clear” only if one has decided in advance what to enforce, and what to leave to grace.

The fact of the matter is that the New Testament only discusses homosexual practice (presuming the translation) in the context of lust and idolatry and going against one’s nature. Scripture never touches on the issue of loving, committed same-sex relationships between those whose nature is homosexual. So the application of any “homosexual” text in the Bible broadly to all homosexual practice is taking the scripture out of context.

Genesis says: “it is not good for the man to be alone”. Should someone be denied company just because by their very nature, they would seek after those of their own gender?

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What Does the Bible Say about Homosexuality? was published on February 8th, 2010, with the tags , , , under the Religion category. There are currently no comments on this article so far.

Bumper Sticker Philosophy

Just a collection of sayings found on bumper stickers. Enjoy.

  • The one who dies with the most toys, still dies.
  • I’m not driving He is, talk to Him.
  • Focus on your own damn family.
  • St. Jude Pray for me. I drive Cerillos Road.
  • Follow your Bliss
  • My Boss is a Jewish Carpenter
  • God will take care of you (one way or another)
  • HONK if anything falls off
  • My other car is a broom
  • Fundamentalism stops a thinking child
  • Your Kid’s an Honor Student, but you are a moron
  • My Kid beat up your Honor Student
  • I’m not deaf, I’m just ingoring you
  • Don’t blame me, I voted for me
  • Visualize Whirled Peas
  • Visualize your turn signals
  • UFO’s are real (the Air Force doesn’t exist)
  • Do Not Meddle in the Affairs of Dragons — For thou art crunchy and good with ketchup.

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Bumper Sticker Philosophy was published on February 7th, 2010, with the tags , , under the Armchair category. There are currently no comments on this article so far.

Questions on NeoPaganism from Yahoo. Part 1

Q: Is it possible that while still believing in the God and Goddess, I can be somewhat Monotheistic in that I believe they are both parts of a whole (as in the One God or Supreme Spirit) that is of no gender?

A: For many Neopagans, there is an entity commonly referred to as The One that is above all things. They also believe that The One may be honored in both male and female aspects, mostly known as The God and The Goddess.

Q: Do Neopagans still respect others’ beliefs? As in, they do not preach or convert like in Christianity?

A: Yes, we respect everyone’s right to their own beliefs and we do not try and convert people like other faiths might. I, however, cannot promise that we will not preach. This blog contains much that could be considered preaching. So, do not expect me to bring you around to my way of thinking because I think it is the only way to view spiritual things; on the contrary, I want you to look for yourself at the concepts I present and judge for yourself how relevant they are.

Q: Neopagans do animal sacrifices? I thought they were against animal cruelty and were ‘one’ with nature?

A: NeoPaganism is an umbrella term much like Christianity is. There are many denominations, if you will, that make up NeoPaganism. As in other religions, not all sects under the heading of NeoPaganism will agree on what is right and wrong in worshipping The Divine. That said, you will encounter some sects that do practice animal sacrifice and others that find no use for it. The ones that carry out animal sacrifice do so in a humane and sacred manner and do not seek to use it as the soul means of worship or practice.

Q: Do you have to be vegetarian to be a Neopagan?

A: No, you do not have to be a vegetarian to be a NeoPagan.

Q: Do Neopagans believe that things such as trees and rocks have spirits inside them?

A: Some may well believe that trees and rocks have spirits inside them. I, personally, don’t think rocks do because they have never been alive. Trees are living things and it is highly possible that they may contain some sort of spirits; yet these spirits should not be confused with those of animals or man. Man and Animals tend to have higher forms of spirits than those of trees and plants.

Is it possible that while still believing in the God and Goddess, I can be somewhat Monotheistic in that I believe they are both parts of a whole (as in the One God or Supreme Spirit) that is of no gender?

For many Neopagans, there is an entity commonly referred to as The One the is above all things. They also believe that The One may be honored in both male and female aspects, mostly known as The God and The Goddess.

2. Do Neopagans still respect others’ beliefs? As in, they do not preach or convert like in Christianity?

Yes, we respect everyone’s right to their own beliefs and we do not try and convert people like other faiths might. I, however, cannot promise that we will not preach. This blog contains much that could be considered preaching. So, do not expect me to bring you around to my way of thinking because I think it is the only way to view spiritual things; on the contrary, I want you to look for yourself at the concepts I present and judge for yourself how relevant they are.

3. Do Neopagans do animal sacrifices? I thought they were against animal cruelty and were ‘one’ with nature?

NeoPaganism is an umbrella term much like Christianity is. There are many denominations, if you will, that make up NeoPaganism. As in other religions, not all sects under the heading of NeoPaganism will agree on what is right and wrong in worshipping The Divine. That said, you will encounter some sects that do practice animal sacrifice and others that find no use for it. The ones that carry out animal sacrifice do so in a humane and sacred manner and do not seek to use it as the soul means of worship or practice.

4. Do you have to be vegetarian to be a Neopagan?

No, you do not have to be a vegetarian to be a NeoPagan.

5. Do Neopagans believe that things such as trees and rocks have spirits inside them?

Some may well believe that trees and rocks have spirits inside them. I, personally, don’t think rocks do because they have never been alive. Trees are living things and it is highly possible that they may contain some sort of spirits; yet these spirits should not be confused with those of animals or man. Man and Animals tend to have higher forms of spirits than those of trees and plants.

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Questions on NeoPaganism from Yahoo. Part 1 was published on February 3rd, 2010, with the tags , , , , under the Religion category. There are currently no comments on this article so far.

The Tanakh vs. The Old Testament

The Jewish and Christian Bibles do not contain the same books and they are not arranged in the same order. There is a different “canon,” a different listing of the biblical books in the collections that Jews call Tanakh (, after the first letters of its three parts in the Jewish tradition)  and Christians call the Old Testament. The Tanakh is the same books as the Protestant Old Testament, but in a different order, and with books such as 1&2 Kings, Chronicles and Samuel being in one book. So, while there are 24 books in the Hebrew Bible to the Old Testament’s 39, they are, in fact all there.

  • Torah, the Teachings of Moses: The Books of Genesis (Bereshit), Exodus (Shemot), Leviticus (Vayikrah), Numbers (Bamidbar) and Deuteronomy (Devarim).
  • Nevi’im, the books of the Prophets: The Books of Joshua, Judges, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habukkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. (The last twelve are sometimes grouped together as “Trei Asar” ["Twelve"].)
  • Ketuvim, for the Writings, which include psalms and wisdom literature: The Books of Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel , Ezra and Nehemiah, I Chronicles, and II Chronicles.

T-N-Kh

The major thing in terms of differences is not simply numbers of books, but the ordering. So that Tanakh ends with second book of Chronicles, it ends with a historical book. Christians end the Old Testament with a prophetic book. And there’s a real theological point to that. It has been argued that the Bible of the church is more or less the same thing as the Bible of the synagogue – at least the church’s Bible: part one, the Old Testament. But that doesn’t seem to be the case.

The two texts have different orders, with the church’s canon, at least the Old Testament part of it, ending with the prophet Malachi, predicting the return of Elijah, which gives you a very nice segue into John Baptist in the Elijah role. The synagogue’s canon ends with Second Chronicles, the Edict of King Cyrus of Persia saying, “okay, you Jews who were in Babylon: go back home to Judea, let whoever among you is able go up. Let him make aliyah [return up to Israel] and then go build a temple to God.”

By contrasting final books in the Jewish Tanakh and the Christian Old Testament it can be shown that a significant difference in perspective exists. Christian readers of the Old Testament are directed to the coming of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Matthew, the next book in the Christian Bible.

“But also look ahead: I’m sending Elijah the prophet to clear the way for the Big Day of God—the decisive Judgment Day! He will convince parents to look after their children and children to look up to their parents. If they refuse, I’ll come and put the land under a curse.” (Malachi 4:5-6).

On the other hand, Jewish readers of the Tanakh conclude their Bible with the hopeful news of reestablishment and renewal in the land of Israel.

“In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia—this fulfilled the message of God preached by Jeremiah—God moved Cyrus king of Persia to make an official announcement throughout his kingdom; he wrote it out as follows: “From Cyrus king of Persia a proclamation: God, the God of the heavens, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has also assigned me to build him a Temple of worship at Jerusalem in Judah. All who belong to God’s people are urged to return—and may your God be with you! Move forward!”" (2 Chronicles 36:22-23).

As you can plainly see, the ordering of scriptures becomes important as to the interpretation thereof. A simple change in ordering has resulted in a whole new meaning to the same passages.

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The Tanakh vs. The Old Testament was published on January 27th, 2010, with the tags , , , under the Religion category. There are currently no comments on this article so far.

Never Again the Burning

Whenever you encounter Pagans, in particular Wiccans, you will hear them talk about The Burning Times . Yes, there was a period in our history that one could be tortured to death through burning at the stake. This occurred between 1275 and 1727 CE. The number of people put to death for the crime of witchcraft is estimated conservatively to be around 500,000, though there are some that say this number should be closer to 9 million. Today, most think it was the smaller number, though we may never know exactly how many were slain for this so called crime. The first execution took place in France and the last was in Scotland. Not all accused of witchcraft were slain by fire, in England and the American Colonies, hanging was the punishment exacted.

During these times of religious persecution, Pagans were not the only targets. The Roman Catholic Church was behind many of these charges, therefore many of the charges were leveled against heretics, schism groups, as well as Jews and Gypsies. Others were targeted for purely political purposes. When a governing body of any kind issues an edict that proclaims some ethnic, religious, or other group of people to be subject to punishment unto death, others will fall victim as well. Yes, the Burning Times affected witches, but anyone else that people wanted to get rid of.

Today when someone mentions the possibility of a return to the Burning Times, they usually mean a reawakening of religious persecutions as in the past. In this mindset, pagans are not alone; many Christians believe that this possibility exists from them as well. So, never forget what happened in the past and pray it never happens again. As can be seen in documented court cases it can still happen today. Our freedom to worship as we wish is always under pressure. So, I say, Never Again the Burning!

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Never Again the Burning was published on January 5th, 2010, with the tags , , under the Religion category. There are currently no comments on this article so far.

Power Through Knowledge

Whenever embarking on a spiritual journey, part of that journey is obtaining new knowledge. There is not a day that goes by that we should not be learning something. Finding everything we possibly can on a given subject along our journey is how we grow spiritually. Through what we learn, we gain power. This is not necessarily esoteric power, but something with a deeper meaning. With each lesson we gain abilities we did not posses before; these powers could be cognitive or physical, it doesn’t matter.

Since the main focus of this forum is theology with a slightly pagan bent, some things should be addressed at this point on that subject. Whileexploring the vast wealth of writings on Neo-Paganism, one of the skills we should learn is to detect whether something we read is accurate or not. This is a skill that cannot be taught, but is slowly acquired through experience. When reading books or websites on this topic, it does not take long for a person to realize that some of the content is nothing but bunk. Then again, sometimes there is some wheat among the chaff, and this is where being able to tell the two apart comes in handy.

Along your walk through spirituality, you may encounter adversity. This usually comes in the form of an attack on what you believe. When this happens, it is time to decide if you want to defend your beliefs or just ignore the attack. Unless it has something to do with your work or threatens your family in any way, you should ignore these types of attacks. Most likely, you are dealing with someone who is misinformed about your path or feels they need to save you from your chosen path. However, if you are dealing with something that impacts your family or your career, do not be afraid to seek help. There are organizations around that will help you in these situations. Learning when to fight and when to run is a valuable lesson and helps us grow in knowledge.

Sources of knowledge are all around us; all we have to do is look and listen. Those who have gone before us have a wealth of knowledge to share if we but ask. Reading the works of vetted authors or listening to the wisdom of trusted elders. Even seeking out groups of like minded individuals is a great way to expand our knowledge along the spiritual path. If you cannot find any elders in your area, seek them out online or through publications, they are out there waiting to help those who want to learn.

Our power comes through knowledge; all we need to do is be willing to seek it out. We are strengthened through learning, so it should be our goal to be lifelong students. Even if we are teachers, we can always find something new we have not learned yet. Lillian Smith once said, “When you stop learning, stop listening, stop looking and asking questions, always new questions, then it is time to die.”

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Power Through Knowledge was published on January 3rd, 2010, with the tags , , , under the Spirituality category. There are currently no comments on this article so far.

What is Faith?

One of the most complicated aspects to understand in any religion is the concept of faith. To many people find it hard to believe in something without concrete support underlying that belief. To think that someone or something outside the physical realm even has a hand in fate is totally out of character for most. One may even go so far as to say that faith does not even have to come into play in religion.

There are varying degrees of faith. The most common is most often called blind faith. This is where someone takes it as given that a higher power exists without a single shred of supporting evidence. For them, belief is part of their everyday life. They live and breathe their faith. There is not a single waking moment that goes by that they see something that reminds them of their spiritual walk.

Then there are those that faith only comes into play in moments of thanksgiving or sorrow. Some only lean on faith when trials and tribulations come their way. To these, faith is a way of handling a given situation.  Those that only think of things of a spiritual nature once or twice of year could fall into this category. To them, their walk of faith is not a major part of their life and they do not feel a need to explore religion to that extent.

Then there are those who fall somewhere in the middle or go through transitions throughout their lives. Sometimes finding comfort in faith while other times totally emerged in their spiritual walk. One might even consider someone who has just discovered their path to have their ups and downs when it comes to faith, but in the end they settle into where their faith is a healthy part of life.

And last of all, there are those who do not see a need to have faith in something beyond themselves. There is no hand of fate, no spiritual entity they feel they need to answer to. They are happy to walk through life, never treading a spiritual path. And they do not understand other people’s need to have that aspect in their lives.

There is no true answer as to what faith is. Every single person has the freedom to look at faith as they see fit. Faith is what we make of it. We may not understand it, but is a valid part of any religion.

One of the most complicated aspects to understand in any religion is the concept of faith. To many people find it hard to believe in something without concrete support underlying that belief. To think that someone or something outside the physical realm even has a hand in fate is totally out of character for most. One may even go so far as to say that faith does not even have to come into play in religion.

There are varying degrees of faith. The most common is most often called blind faith. This is where someone takes it as given that a higher power exists without a single shred of supporting evidence. For them, belief is part of their everyday life. They live and breathe their faith. There is not a single waking moment that goes by that they see something that reminds them of their spiritual walk.

Then there are those that faith only comes into play in moments of thanksgiving or sorrow. Some only lean on faith when trials and tribulations come their way. To these, faith is a way of handling a given situation. Those that only think of things of a spiritual nature once or twice of year could fall into this category. To them, their walk of faith is not a major part of their life and they do not feel a need to explore religion to that extent.

Then there are those who fall somewhere in the middle or go through transitions throughout their lives. Sometimes finding comfort in faith while other times totally emerged in their spiritual walk. One might even consider someone who has just discovered their path to have their ups and downs when it comes to faith, but in the end they settle into where their faith is a healthy part of life.

And last of all, there are those who do not see a need to have faith in something beyond themselves. There is no hand of fate, no spiritual entity they feel they need to answer to. They are happy to walk through life, never treading a spiritual path. And they do not understand other people’s need to have that aspect in their lives.

There is no true answer as to what faith is. Every single person has the freedom to look at faith as they see fit. Faith is what we make of it. We may not understand it, but is a valid part of any religion.

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What is Faith? was published on January 3rd, 2010, with the tags , under the Spirituality category. There are currently no comments on this article so far.

Nine Questions Answered

I was looking at the Christian Apologetics And Research Ministry website today and came across nine questions that they suggest asking Wiccans. So, I thought I would give it a go and see if I could answer their questions in a logical manner. Some of the questions I might ask a follow up question that I would like to have them answer.

  1. Do the gods and goddesses of Wicca actually exist?
    To each practitioner of any faith, their deities exist. The same question can be asked of a Christian. There is no imperial answer to this question. In matters of faith, there are no concrete answers.
  2. If they actually exist, how do you know they exist?
    See answer to question 1.
  3. If your tradition contradicts the tradition of another Wiccan, can they both be objectively true?
    Just as there are many different flavors of Christianity there are many different varieties of Wicca or Neo-Paganism for that matter. Just because we do not agree on our path to The One it does not make our path less valid.
  4. How do you feel about believing in the religious system where you cater your religion to your desires?
    There are differing basis of beliefs in Christianity as well. No two branches of Christianity agree on the principles of baptism, the nature of the Godhead, and what will happen at the second coming. Instead, each group chooses to interpret the scriptures so that they fit into what their tradition believes.
  5. If you cater/construct your religion according to our desires, then isn’t it nothing more than your own invention?
    No, because we follow the guidance of The One or the God and Goddess when deciding what should be included in our belief system. Just as a Christian may say that they follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Lady speak to us and guide us as well.
  6. Is Wicca able to be shown to be false or is it all non-verifiable ideas?
    Can any belief system be proven to be true beyond a shadow of a doubt? Could it not be possible that there is no person on this earth that has a clue as to what the Creator had in mind when s/he created the universe? I think it is a distinct possibility, so I do not entertain that my religious path is verifiable.
  7. If your spells and incantations produce results, how do you know that the power behind the results is good or not?
    One of the tests that can say if something acts of good or ill is that it has a positive, lasting impact on a situation.  In every case where I have used a spell or incantation to achieve a positive goal, it has become manifest and lasting. A spell is little different than prayer, save for the props.
  8. How do you know that there is not something more sinister behind Wicca?
    Evil is as evil does. There is nothing sinister about Wicca unless you perceive it as such. Perception clouds truth.
  9. Why do you think that rituals dealing with candles, knives, and such are able to affect nature?
    The physical objects only allow for a focus, the same rituals can be done without the props and have the same affects. So, I do not think that the objects mentioned are needed when performing rites.

All these questions can be flipped back at the questioner with only a few minor alterations. In matters of faith, there are no single answers, fi there were, we would not have as many competing faiths trying to claim souls to their cause. The One knows the answers and just wants us to learn as we go so that we can answer when we stand before the judgement, “what have you learned?”

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Nine Questions Answered was published on December 31st, 2009, with the tags , , , , under the Thoughts and Reflections category. There are currently 1 comment on this article so far.

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Technorati Verify was published on December 9th, 2009, under the Uncategorized category. There are currently no comments on this article so far.

Some Wisdom

knowing others is intelligence
knowing yourself is true wisdom
mastering others is strength
mastering yourself is true power

if you realize that you have enough
you are truly rich
if you stay in the center
and embrace death with your whole heart
you will endure forever

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Some Wisdom was published on December 8th, 2009, with the tags , , under the Spirituality category. There are currently 2 comments on this article so far.

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