tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71192882024-03-08T14:16:19.838-05:00Peace JournalThis web log is written by Jefferson Glassie, author of Peace and Forgiveness, published by Peace Evolutions, LLC.Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119288.post-55767412576537198952008-07-26T15:22:00.001-04:002008-07-26T15:25:06.952-04:00Liberals Love; Conservatives FearI’d like to talk with you a little bit about love and fear, and about liberal and conservative principles. Many have recognized that there are only two basic aspects of life: love and fear. That is one of the core principles of A Course in Miracles, and of writers such as Jerry Jampolsky. In my book, Peace and Forgiveness (which is not a religious, but a metaphysical book), I state that there is only love and fear, and that all emotions are either love based or fear based. Peace, joy, gratitude, friendliness, acceptance, etc. are all loved based. Love is oneness, or you might think of it as the perception of oneness; but, really, everything is one and interdependent. Love is the energy of life, it is all there is. Love is the Universe. <br />Fear is simply the perception of separation. The feeling that we, or you, are separate from the energy, from the Universe, and from love. Of course, we are all the energy; at our core, at the level of soul, we are the energy, so we are love. Perceptions of separateness, that is, fear, give rise to fear based acts and emotions, such as anger, hate, racism, war, rape, discrimination, and everything that are is not love based is fear based. It’s just the way it is.<br />Let’s talk about these concepts in terms of political ideology. Basically, liberal values, more generally espoused by Democrats in the United States, are love based, and, conversely, conservative principles, typically trumpeted by Republicans, are fear based. It doesn’t mean that either is right or wrong; there is no right or wrong from the perspective of the Universe, from the level of the energy that is the all encompassing love. But it’s important, very important, to recognize what people’s beliefs actually are.<br />So, let’s look a few quick examples; war, taxes and the role of government, health care, religion, and abortion. <br />You would never fight or kill if you were not afraid of the other person, or person. This is always true. Why would you punch someone or shoot them if you weren’t afraid in some way? You may be afraid that they will take something away from you or just afraid that you will be less happy or feel less about yourself; that your self esteem will be damaged. Certainly, fighting and killing and murder are not loved based. A good example of collective fear leading to war is obviously Iraq. Some saw Saddam Hussein as a threat; what is a threat? Of course, when one is afraid of what someone will do, that’s fear based. While both Democrats and Republicans were caught up in the fear at the time, I believe it is also fair to say that those in favor of the war, those still supporting the war, are conservatives and Republicans. Liberals certainly want to stop the war. Liberals are not sure what will happen after that, but they want to stop the war. Conservatives see the war as an us versus them exercise, and thus by perceiving separateness act out of fear. Liberals see more of the oneness and interdependence and sameness of all people. In other words, love.<br />Think about taxes now. What are taxes? I would say contributions that we make theoretically to help us all be able to live better, happier, healthier, and peaceful lives. If you say government is mostly there just to provide for security, which I believe conservatives are more likely to claim, then you are focusing on the fear side. What is a desire for security if not wanting to be safe from attacks by other humans? Well certainly also wanting to be safe from floods, and bears, and disease, but national security is all about erecting defenses because of fear of other people. Liberals tend to see government more as the embodiment of us all, and that government’s role is to help us all in as many ways as government can; education, health care, infrastructure, housing, etc. All for one and one for all; in other words, oneness. <br />Regardless of the primacy of the population’s need for government, however, there is no question that taxes are to contribute to the health and welfare of the citizenry, in other words, to contribute to our own collective wellbeing. If your belief is that it is your money, and government has no right to your money, and you condemn any proposals for social improvements that involve raising taxes, then that perceives the separateness, rather than the oneness. (I will say as an aside that money and the financial system of the world operated by humans are essentially fear based in the first place, but that’s another discussion.) Conservatives and Republicans are more likely to fight taxes than liberals and Democrats, who believe we must all pay our fair share, and the more affluent must simply pay more, because we are all in it together.<br />Next, health care. As I just indicated, believing that we must provide health care for all Americans (and, indeed, everyone on the planet, which would truly be universal health care coverage) is love based, and contending otherwise simply is not. Again, liberals and Democrats tend to be in favor of such universal health coverage - ensuring adequate preventative and sick care for everyone, even those who can’t pay - and conservatives and Republicans are not. Nuff said on that, I believe.<br /> Religion. Believe it or not, though religions presumably should be love based institutions and do have many precepts that ostensibly teach love, the essence of most religions is fear. When one perceives his or her god as an entity outside and different, that is a perception of separateness. When one sees good and evil as the nature of some people versus others, that is similarly fear based separation, again. Many Christians believe that humans can not get to god - get to be with god forever - except through a mythical Jesus Christ, and also believe they are not worthy, good, or divine compared to god. And, if you break religious rules, then you go to hell, to be separate forever. This belief simply underscores an enormous perception of separation, i.e., fear. Believing that we are actually all divine, worthy, and equivalent is to understand oneness. Once more, it seems to me that conservatives and Republicans tend to be more god-fearing, if you will, than liberals and Democrats. <br /><br /> As our last example, let’s look at abortion. I don’t truly believe that anyone is really for abortion. But liberals and Democrats tend to view a person’s right to choose to have an abortion (usually early in a pregnancy) as predominate over the right of the unborn. I am one who actually believes Roe v. Wade was a very good and accurate judicial holding based on Supreme Court precedent, which is based on an analysis of an individual’s rights against compelling needs of the state. When the latter are not proportionately compelling versus the individual’s rights, then the individual’s rights prevail. I am going to surprise you now and say that I believe being pro-choice - the more likely position of liberals and Democrats - is fear based, and that being against abortion is love based. <br /><br /> Certainly, as humans, we all ought to be able to figure out how to take care of any children that are not, shall we say, planned for. To destroy incipient life is simply not love based. To be afraid of the consequences of having children, to the point of killing them, is fear based. This time, liberals and Democrats act out of fear, and conservatives and Republicans act of out of love; of course, for many, they also act out of allegiance to god’s rules (which actually are made up by men) and also do not approve of sex education because of a silly fear of sex. I do believe that the most loved based approach is to teach our children about this most common and elemental aspect of humanity, and to protect against unwanted pregnancies, but also not to allow abortion to the extent possible.<br /><br /> So, as you can see, liberals and Democrats tend to hold beliefs generally more from a love perspective, and conservatives and Republicans usually more form a fear perspective. This is not always the case, as I have also indicated in my example about abortion. It also is true that most issues have elements of both love and fear based thought, as clearly with abortion.<br /><br /> I say this all only to demonstrate what is actually behind much of the thoughts and positions people have. I don’t believe one position is ultimately right or wrong, because the facts can change the outcome, and I just don’t think there is any right or wrong ultimately in the universe. I mean, some positions seem right to me, and some wrong, but that is just my perspective, not from the perspectiveless universe. But it is very important to understand whether thoughts, acts, and emotions are fear based or loved based. I always try to choose love.Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119288.post-24661828724599125672007-05-02T20:08:00.000-04:002007-05-02T20:56:19.755-04:00The Sun of GodMay 2007<br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Many Christians don’t really understand the history of their religion.<span style=""> </span>They don’t know anything about the horrors of the centuries long inquisition, how the popes countenanced torture of non-Christians, or really any of the truth of the origins of Christianity.<span style=""> </span>The truth is this; there were many christs before Jesus, with many of the same mythological features.<span style=""> </span>They were pagan gods, like Zeus, Apollo, or Neptune.<span style=""> </span>That is what Jesus is, too, a pagan god, or false god if you will.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>This will come to a shock to those who have had an intimate and personal relationship with Jesus, or Mary perhaps, all their lives.<span style=""> </span>There is no historical reference to a Jesus other than in the Bible.<span style=""> </span>But there are many stories of mythical god-men, including Osiris/Horus in Egypt, Dionysus in Greece, Attis in Asia, Adonis in Syria, Bacchus in Italy, Krishna in India, Mithras in Persia, and even Buddha. <span style=""> </span>They had many similar characteristics: born of a virgin on December 25, turned water into wine and performed other miracles, crucified or killed, descended into hell, rose from the dead, etc. If you don’t believe it, just do your own research; there are lots of scholarly books out there, including <span style="font-style: italic;">The Jesus Mysteries</span> by Freke and Gandy and <span style="font-style: italic;">The Christ Conspiracy </span>by Acharya S.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">But what really pulls it all together is the knowledge that the pagan religions and the origins of Christianity were based in astrology.<span style=""> </span>Yes, that’s right, astrology.<span style=""> </span>The ancients watched the skies and were deeply influenced by the sun, moon, and stars.<span style=""> </span>God was the sun; that makes sense, because the sun is the most obvious giver of life that we can observe.<span style=""> </span>In the Bible, stars are called sons of god, thus, as Acharya says, “<span style="font-style: italic;">the son of god is the sun of god</span>.”<span style=""> </span>To the ancients, the sun annually goes southward until December 21, the winter solstice, when it “dies” and seems not to move for three days, and then “rises again,”<span style=""> </span>This was celebrated on December 25<sup>th</sup>.<span style=""> </span>Further:</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The sun of god was born of a virgin, which refers to the new or virgin moon; </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The sun is at its zenith at noon, and is then “most high;”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The sun’s birth is attended by three kings, the three stars on Orion’s belt;</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The sun enters each sign of the zodiac at 30 degrees, i.e, at the “age” of 30;</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The sun’s followers are the 12 signs of the zodiac, the 12 “disciples;”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The sun “changes water into wine,” by creating rain, which grows the grapes for wine;</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The sun “walks on water” referring to its reflection; </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The sun wears a corona, “crown of thorns,” or halo; and</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The sun is the “light of the world.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Humans have been believing in these sorts of myths for eons.<span style=""> </span>That’s OK, because there is spiritual value in the stories.<span style=""> </span>But when beliefs in mythical figures affect the way humans interact, and lead to killing and war as they have over the centuries, then it is finally time to say that the emperor has no clothes and it is time to find a new faith.<span style=""> </span>When most of the people on earth believe that the creator of the universe wrote a book, as Sam Harris says, then it is time to evaluate our beliefs.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">My faith is in us; you and me.<span style=""> </span>I believe that we all can learn love and that fear causes all hate, ware, anger, and everything else that separates human beings.<span style=""> </span>I believe in true love, and also that humans can recognize the effects of the myths of the past and learn to live in peace.</p>Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119288.post-16194708650195376112007-03-05T22:01:00.000-05:002007-03-05T22:03:45.746-05:00If There Never Was A Jesus ....March 2007<br /><br /><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: 0in;">There Never Was a Jesus.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: 0in;">What if that were true?<span style=""> </span>It is, of course.<span style=""> </span>There never was a son of god who walked on water, cured the sick, or died and rose again.<span style=""> </span>No virgin mother, either.<span style=""> </span>If that’s heresy to you, could you please indulge me for a moment and just hypothetically assume it true?<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: 0in;">So, then, what would you believe in?</p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: 0in;">If there were no saints, or sinners, heaven or hell, what would your life be about?<span style=""> </span>What would the god of your prior beliefs want you to believe?</p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: 0in;">Would a god want you to think this life was miserable, and this earth he created simply the stage for some morality play to test us?<span style=""> </span>Would a god want you to believe that he was going to reward some people with unending bliss, but consume others in perpetual fire?<span style=""> </span>Would he even want you to determine how to act based on fear of that fire?</p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: 0in;">So you think that god would really countenance people killing other people or blowing themselves up in the hopes of living in a better place?<span style=""> </span>Would that god want some humans to have more wealth than they could ever use and others to live with nothing, in abject poverty?<span style=""> </span>Would he really care who you had sex with?</p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: 0in;">Would that god have been proud of his beings enslaving others of his creation?<span style=""> </span>Would he think it grand that people living in different “nations” hated one another, or that some people felt superior to others based on the color of their skin or what they thought about him?</p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: 0in;">My answer to these questions is a resounding no.<span style=""> </span>But a belief in false mythical images of god, or Jesus, <st1:place st="on">Krishna</st1:place>, Allah, Buddha, often leads people to answer yes to these questions.<span style=""> </span>The so called great religions of the world are truthfully more like idolatrous cults, with beliefs based on fear and separation from god.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: 0in;">Wouldn’t that god image really want people to love one another?<span style=""> </span>Wouldn’t he want them to appreciate - truly appreciate - this earth?<span style=""> </span>Wouldn’t he want us to absolutely enjoy each moment of the brief light of our existence on this planet? Wouldn’t he want us to rejoice in his handiwork, rather than worship him?<span style=""> </span>Why would such a god have a psychological need to be worshipped in the first place?<span style=""> </span>Wouldn’t he want us to believe that this heaven some seek is right here, right now?<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: 0in;">It is time for the primitive fear based religious thought pervasive among humans to be washed away.<span style=""> </span>It is now the moment in history when we collectively say, “Enough, how could we have been so silly?”<span style=""> </span>We must change the perspective of the human race, in order to continue on the path of life.<span style=""> </span>And it’s really all very simple; we just need to understand love.<span style=""> </span>Oneness is love.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: 0in;">When we understand our unity with everything, then our world will change and be that perfect heaven we seek.<span style=""> </span>We can go on from here facing the challenges of living with love for everyone.<span style=""> </span>Our lives should presume love for all on the planet, not be asphyxiated in perpetual fear of other people or their ideas.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: 0in;">While others may place their faith in myths, false gods, or some sort of life after death, my ultimate faith is in love, here and now, and that we will come to understand it.</p>Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119288.post-1167490156375946852006-12-30T09:48:00.000-05:002006-12-30T09:49:16.386-05:00The Gift of ChristmasDecember 2006<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">If there never was a Jesus, </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Where would that leave us?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Some scholars say, he never was,</p> <p class="MsoNormal">A pagan myth, believed because</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We hope so much for love and grace</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And, upon our deaths, an eternal place.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Yet the spirit of Christmas is clear.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We’re with family, and friends most dear.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We feel love, and joy, and peace,</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And from our day jobs, we get some release.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Most important, though, at least to me,</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Is the spirit of Oneness, the truth that we</p> <p class="MsoNormal">All are given this glorious life;</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Warm home, loving children, a wonderful wife.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But also the birds that swoop through the sky,</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The river that rushes, the clouds up so high,,</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And the ability to know: we get what we give.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">When we understand this, we begin to live.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And if we give love, I truly believe.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Then that is what we all will receive.</p>Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119288.post-1114739997346127752005-04-28T21:11:00.000-04:002006-10-19T20:08:01.046-04:00What is a relationship with god?<span style="font-weight: bold;">April 2005</span><br /><br />What does it mean to have a relationship with god? Certainly, it means having a connection or communication with the divine.<br /><br />How is this relationship actualized? Through prayer to the divine?<br /><br />What is a prayer? Isn't prayer simply directing our thoughts in a certain direction? If we think that god is outside of us, and we pray to god, then we direct our thoughts to some being outside. This may sound like, "Dear god, please help me with my job." "Dear lord, please help the poor." "Dearest god, I want to do well in [fill in the blank]."<br /><br />But do our thoughts change depending on where we direct them? Are the mechanics of a thought different if you think, "I have to do this project," "That's funny," or "Dear Great Pumpkin, please help me"?<br /><br />The direction we give to a thought is only were we "think" it is going, but one thought is actually no different than another.<br /><br />In other words, when we pray to god, we are simply directing a thought. Thoughts are powerful, and thoughts also reflect our intentions. So, the way we direct the thoughts - to what we want to achieve, for example - are the steps we take to create and fulfill intentions. When we pray, we exert powerful intentions.<br /><br />Fundamentally, when we pray, we simply communicate with ourselves. Actually, we communicate with our inner divinity, which is the same as and interconnected with all the rest of divinity everywhere. The divinity is the Universe, the energy that is everything, which you can think of as god. if you'd like.<br /><br />Therefore, having a relationship with god really means having a relationship with yourself, your divine self, which is the energy of the Universe.Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119288.post-1158110842583491972006-09-12T20:57:00.000-04:002006-09-12T21:27:22.600-04:00Inconvenient TruthsSpetember 2006<br /><br />I recently saw Al Gore's movie 'An Inconvenient Truth.' It is one of the most important films ever. He explains clearly that human behavior is causing global warming, which if not arrested will result in a rise in sea levels of twenty feet or more and hundreds of millions of refugees around the world trying to escape the oceans. <br /><br />He also very clearly says that we can halt global waming. If we all were conscious of it and understood the consequences of our collective actions, together we could change the projected outcome of the greatest threat to human life (which only somewhat ironically is caused by humans).<br /><br />But people don't seem interested. They are more concerned with making sure they have nice cars and humongous homes, prestigious jobs and fancy clothes. In other words, they are more afraid to be subjected to a lifestyle they may not find comfortable or emotionally self-aggrandizing than they are of the consequences of their actions. The fear of not having enough money, or that our country would - heaven forbid - not lead the world in key economic indicators, is more acute than having one's home be under the ocean.<br /><br />Humans are essentially blinded by their limited perception of the world. They do not see our ultimate oneness with everything. They do not see how we are all literally connected, on the level of physics and on the global level Gore discusses. They see separation. <br /><br />Love is oneness, and fear is the perception of separation. Fear causes all war, attack, hate, anger, and everything else that is not love. That's an inconvenient truth, too. Because if one believes it's true, then one has to acknowledge that all his or her comfortable hates, angers, religous beliefs, and phobias are really fear based and primitive.<br /><br />In the movie, Gore quotes Mark Twain:<br /><br /><h1 style="margin: 0pt; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold;">“It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so.”</h1><br />If people continue to believe in angry judgmental gods, which is fear based because no one wants to go to hell, then our world will continue to experience collective terror (isn't the war on terror just about trying to kill and terrorize some other people?).<br /><br />But people don't understand all this, anymore than they understand the climate crisis; I mean really understand the climate crisis. Once we do all understand these inconvenient truths, then we can have a new world, and the old divisive way of thinking will evaporate as if it were never there. And then we won't have global warming or war. If you don't believe that can be true, then it can't.Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119288.post-1153272912662217102006-07-18T21:07:00.000-04:002006-07-18T21:35:13.176-04:00The Fear of Not Being Loved Causes People to Kill<p class="MsoNormal">July 2006</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">War wages in the <st1:place st="on">Middle East</st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>Human against human.<span style=""> </span>People shake their heads and wonder why.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>It’s easy really.<span style=""> </span>The ultimate fear of not being loved causes humans to kill one another.<span style=""> </span>Oh, there are lots of other ostensible reasons: hate, anger, national or tribal feuds (the same thing, really), religion, etc.<span style=""> </span>But these all arise directly from the fundamental fear of not being loved, which can also be interpreted as not being able to have the peace of the Universe, or by some as not being with god in love.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Here is a case in point.<span style=""> </span>On April 20, 1999, <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Columbine</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">High School</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed a dozen of their classmates and one teacher, and then themselves.<span style=""> </span>Everyone wondered why.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The sheriff in Jefferson County Colorado recently released documents taken from the boys’ homes that provide the answer.<o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“I hate you people for leaving me out of so many things,” Eric wrote.<span style=""> </span>“You had my phone #, and I asked you and all, but no, no no don’t let that weird looking Eric kid come along ….<span style=""> </span>I HATE PEOPLE and they better [bleeping] fear me.”<o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Eric’s hate for his classmates clearly was based on his perception that they didn’t like him.<span style=""> </span>In words, he was afraid he wasn’t popular or wasn’t worthy.<span style=""> </span>All of these feelings and emotions come down to one thing; he was afraid that he wasn’t loved. <span style=""> </span>That is, he had a fear that he could not have love.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Love is oneness.<span style=""> </span>Fear is the perception of separateness.<span style=""> </span>Eric perceived that he was separate or different.<span style=""> </span>So, his fear led him to hate. <span style=""> </span>Listen now to what Dylan wrote:<o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“I know that I am different.<span style=""> </span>As I look for love, i feel i can’t find it, ever.”<o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">He was afraid – that is, he had a fear – that he could not have love, so he hated and killed.<span style=""> </span>It really is that simple.<o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We should be able to understand the role that fear plays in our world and, once we recognize it, we should be able to let it go and appreciate the oneness that is all of creation.<span style=""> </span>We should be able to see that we humans are all the same, living a glorious life on our perfect earth home.<span style=""> </span>We can change our minds and our perceptions and see this.<span style=""> </span>I’m sorry Eric and Dylan couldn’t see it; I’m sorry that those who fight and hate and kill can’t see it.<span style=""> </span>I look forward to the day humans can see it, and then we’ll know peace.</p>Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119288.post-1145196816131872192006-04-16T09:55:00.000-04:002006-04-21T14:35:03.386-04:00True Christians Cannot Support WarApril 2006<br /><br />This was written on a beautiful Easter Sunday, when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. It is a wonderful day, with the thought that death can be conquered and that there is hope. Of course, it is not true that Jesus actually rose from the dead. The story is based on an old pagan myth. Yet so many people take an obviously untrue story and make it the centerpiece of their religious belief. That's why they call it faith, because no one could believe it otherwise.<br /><br />Raised a Catholic, I understand faith and how people can believe things that make no sense whatsoever. The entire jihad against Americans and the west makes no sense, unless one understands that they see us as a threat, i.e., they fear us. The actions of the terrorists are based on fear, not love. (Of course, attacking Iraq made no sense and was also based on fear.) No god could ever countenance such actions. Idolatry lives on in so many ways.<br /><br />But here I want to focus on the real center of religious faith. That is the belief in love. If one believes in Jesus and is a Christian, he or she knows the greatest commandment: love one another. Love your enemies as yourself. Turn the other cheek. Forgiveness is a crucial part of this love. Forgive them and you can love them, and see them - and all people - as blameless and lovable.<br /><br />This is the true core concept in Christianity, and it is the key to peace in our lives and in our world. But if you believe in war, you don't really understand love.<br /><br />Love one another does not mean kill one another. Absolutely not. It doesn't mean only love us, or some of us, but not them. For love is oneness and unity, and means seeing us all - and everything - as one. The perception of separateness is fear, and fear and love are not compatible. No one would make war or kill another person if they were not afraid, or had not judged someone to be different or separate from god.<br /><br />So, it is puzzling. People who profess a Christian faith support killing other people in war. No one who supports any war, including the war in Iraq, can also be a true Christian. If a person truly knows and understands love, he or she cannot support war.<br /><br />How have we come to a point where Christians profess love and act in war? It is a sad perversion of the true teachings of the religion. And in concert with the principle of love, we can only love them and forgive them, and see them as blameless; they know not what they do.<br /><br />But if we attack them and judge them, we fall prey to the same fear and judgment, and demonstrate a lack of love, too.Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119288.post-1143163261124629652006-03-23T20:14:00.000-05:002006-03-23T20:28:05.516-05:00Many Religions are Based on Fear<div>February 2006<br /></div> <div> </div> <div>We all want to believe that our own religion is based on goodness, truth, unity, and love. That is what most religions ostensibly teach. However, this message is undermined by the fact that most religions are actually based on fear.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>How could this be true? you ask. My religion preaches "love your neighbor" and "forgive," you say. But underlying these religions is the ultimate fear: that you are separate from god and that you may be separated from him forever if you don't obey his laws. This is the essential problem with religion, and the reason why we don't have peace in the world, even though it is dominated by religions. Let's look at this more closely.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>If a religion teaches that we are unworthy, like the christion religions do, that is essentially saying that we are separate from god. God presumably is not unworthy; so, if we are told we are unworthy, that could only mean we are separate from god. The christian religions also teach that Jesus is a savior. That begs the question; what do we need to be saved from? The only answer is, we need to be saved in order to be with god. Again, this means we are inherently separate from god.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>The christian religions also teach that we will go to hell if we don't lead good lives, i.e, if we don't obey god's laws. So, the ultimate threat - and therefore the primary purpose - in our lives becomes avoiding hell, where we would be separated forever from god, that is, from love.</div> <div> </div> <div>If you don't think religions are based on fear, then how would one understand the prescription in Islamic law providing the death penalty for converting from islam to some other religion? Being forced to believe in the principles of a religion or face death is very much fear based, obviously.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>This central fallacy of religion that teaches we are separate from god then leads to all killing, war, and division among humans. For if we are separate from god, and he has chosen some people and made heathens of others, then surely humans are separate from other humans. If god chose you, and didn't chose them, then of course logically you can kill them, because they are not good like you. It is very peculiar that people believe others worship false gods, but don't see that their own worship is idolatrous as well.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>In truth, if christians believe the central tenets of their religion - love you neighbor, forgive, turn the other cheek - then no real christian could ever support war in any fashion. Given that the United States is a christian nation - despite our wall between church and state, we do have Christmas as a national holiday, and more and more christian influence in the government - it is certainly inconsistent with any teaching of love to participate in war in any way.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>A religion based on love would teach that we are one with the Universe, or with god, if you prefer. This oneness is love; unity is love. Such a religion would never teach that we are or could be separate from god or the Universe. Indeed, we are not separate; we are love, peace, perfection, and part of the oneness that is.</div>Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119288.post-1139969468502599392006-01-14T20:04:00.000-05:002006-02-14T21:18:12.430-05:00The Long Term Effects of Fear - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder<p style="font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal">January 2006</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>American troops come home from the war in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place>, many with shrapnel wounds and lost limbs.<span style=""> </span>But in many ways a more significant injury is called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (“PTSD”).<span style=""> </span>The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has a <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">National</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Center</st1:placetype></st1:place> for PTSD, which says on its website:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or violent personal assaults like rape. People who suffer from PTSD often relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, have difficulty sleeping, and feel detached or estranged, and these symptoms can be severe enough and last long enough to significantly impair the person's daily life.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">PTSD is marked by clear biological changes as well as psychological symptoms. PTSD is complicated by the fact that it frequently occurs in conjunction with related disorders such as depression, substance abuse, problems of memory and cognition, and other problems of physical and mental health. The disorder is also associated with impairment of the person's ability to function in social or family life, including occupational instability, marital problems and divorces, family discord, and difficulties in parenting.<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">PTSD is not only a problem for veterans, however. Although there are unique cultural- and gender-based aspects of the disorder, it occurs in men and women, adults and children, Western and non-Western cultural groups, and all socioeconomic strata. A national study of American civilians conducted in 1995 estimated that the lifetime prevalence of PTSD was 5% in men and 10% in women.<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Most people who are exposed to a traumatic, stressful event experience some of the symptoms of PTSD in the days and weeks following exposure. Available data suggest that about 8% of men and 20% of women go on to develop PTSD, and roughly 30% of these individuals develop a chronic form that persists throughout their lifetimes.<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">What causes PTSD?<span style=""> </span>Here is what the Department says:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">The most frequently experienced traumas were: <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=""> </span>* Witnessing someone being badly injured or killed<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=""> </span>* Being involved in a fire, flood, or natural disaster<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=""> </span>* Being involved in a life-threatening accident<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=""> </span>* Combat exposure<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">The traumatic events most often associated with PTSD in men were rape, combat exposure, childhood neglect, and childhood physical abuse. For women, the most common events were rape, sexual molestation, physical attack, being threatened with a weapon, and childhood physical abuse. <span style=""> </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, it seems that such life threatening incidents can give rise to a symptom that may have serious lifetime effects.<span style=""> </span>Yet there is no further analysis to try to determine more deeply the root cause of this condition.<span style=""> </span>Sometimes, it is hard to see the forest for the trees.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>It is clear to me that <b style="">fear</b> is the basic source of PTSD.<span style=""> </span>That’s it, fear.<span style=""> </span>A “life-threatening event” is inherently one that would give rise to an acute fear for one’s life.<span style=""> </span>Fear is the common thread in all of the situations that lead to PTSD.<span style=""> </span>Fear can have debilitating physiological and even physical effects lasting a lifetime.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We tend to worry about the veterans, but what about the civilians of war torn countries that see neighbors and friends blown up each day and fear desperately for their lives?<span style=""> </span>Do wars create populations destined to have a measure of dysfunction simply because of the fear they are exposed to?<span style=""> </span>The answer is yes.<span style=""> </span>If we understand this, we can finally appreciate the devastating effects of humans pitting themselves against one another, which itself is based on the fear of other humans.<span style=""> </span><br /><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Fear in all its forms and progeny takes people away from the love and peace that are their natural state.<span style=""> </span>A terrifying fear is actually no different than an otherwise relatively benign fear of something like spiders or close spaces.<span style=""> </span>Fear is totally irrational, but can be chronic and addictive, as demonstrated by PTSD. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">If we can understand what fear does and how powerful it really is, we can abolish fear.<span style=""> </span>We have to understand fear first, though.<span style=""> </span>Then, we can learn how to relieve the effects of fear.<span style=""> </span>Just as it is completely obvious that fear causes PTSD, it is also absolutely clear that letting go of fear – forgiveness – leads to peace.<span style=""> </span>I believe our world will be learning this soon.<br /><br /></p>Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119288.post-1135715257444106592005-12-27T15:26:00.000-05:002005-12-27T15:28:29.056-05:00Pure Life<b style=""><o:p></o:p>December 2005<o:p></o:p></b> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>They have a saying in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Costa Rica</st1:place></st1:country-region>: “Pura Vida.”<span style=""> </span>Pure Life.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">This does not mean good or bad life, or holy or evil life. It does not mean religious or atheistic life.<span style=""> </span>It does not judge life.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Pure Life just means: enjoy this life in all its richness.<span style=""> </span>It may be hot, or rainy.<span style=""> </span>Enjoy it. <span style=""> </span>The wind may blow or not.<span style=""> </span>It might be cold and icy, with snow-showers.<span style=""> </span>Revel in the magic of life as it is created around you.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">A wonderful friend living in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">land</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename st="on">Pure Life</st1:placename></st1:place> recounts, “People said, ‘I’m looking for magic and passion in my life.’<span style=""> </span>I ask, ‘How much magic and passion can you stand?’”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The magic and passion of each moment no matter where you are.<span style=""> </span>Flowers, trees, and rivers.<span style=""> </span>The warm mist of breath on a cold day.<span style=""> </span>Clouds that portray every hue of the rainbow as the sun sets.<span style=""> </span>Birds that dart effortlessly this way and that.<span style=""> </span>The miracle of life in each person and each second.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the Gnostic gospel of Thomas, it is said his disciples asked him, "When will the Kingdom come?" Jesus said, "It will not come by waiting for it. It will not be a matter of saying 'Here it is' or 'There it it is.' Rather the Kingdom of the Father is spread out upon the earth, and men do not see it."</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It is so easy to see, but apparently difficult to appreciate and understand.<span style=""> </span>Such appreciation is made more difficult because our vision is clouded by human perspectives and priorities.<span style=""> </span>Our jobs, traffic, homes, and the web of human interaction on this planet make it hard to see the Pure Life and the magic and passion.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It is there to see.<span style=""> </span>It only takes thinking about this moment.<span style=""> </span>The realization that we are all one – ‘we’ meaning everything there is – makes it all come clear. From the subatomic level to infinity, we are all one in perfection.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, during this holiday period, let us all simply ponder “Pure Life” and the rest will take care of itself. </p>Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119288.post-1130462100468039572005-10-27T21:11:00.000-04:002005-10-27T21:15:39.953-04:00Fear Causes All Conflict Among Humans<span style="font-weight: bold;">October 2005</span><o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><br /></o:p> <p class="MsoNormal">Nature has dealt us many tough blows recently.<span style=""> </span>Hurricanes killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands of both our human kin and animal friends.<span style=""> </span>A devastating earthquake in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region> obliterated towns and killed tens of thousands in one fell swoop.<span style=""> </span>Mudslides in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Guatemala</st1:place></st1:country-region> killed hundreds.<span style=""> </span><o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">With all this going on, we don’t need to kill each other.<o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Yet, humans continue to make war and murder each other at staggering rates.<span style=""> </span>In the Twentieth Century, it’s reported that we killed one hundred million of us.<span style=""> </span>Those murders didn’t happen because of natural disasters.<span style=""> </span>It was humans bombing, shooting, gassing, and beating people just like them.<span style=""> </span>So, what causes humans to kill; what causes this primitive conduct?<o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The answer is always fear, plain and simple.<span style=""> </span>We would not kill, attack, maim, and blow up other people if we weren’t afraid of them.<span style=""> </span>And why is it important to know this?<span style=""> </span>Because if we could just finally understand it’s fear that causes all anger, hate, war, murder, rape, abuse and everything else that isn’t love, then we can determine how to stop or at least drastically minimize all those archaic behaviors.<o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This is how it is.<span style=""> </span>Humans are here on this planet. <span style=""> </span>It’s not important to know why; we don’t have the capacity to really know.<span style=""> </span>We’re just here.<span style=""> </span>But we need the proper perspective.<span style=""> </span>If we look around at the darkness of space or imagine nothingness, i.e., non-existence, this earth seems pretty darn wonderful, doesn’t it?<span style=""> </span>In fact, it is a paradise.<span style=""> </span>Teeming oceans, snow covered mountain tops, lakes and streams, soaring birds, gorgeous flowers, you name it.<span style=""> </span>Every little thing on this planet is amazing.<span style=""> </span>Unique in every way.<span style=""> </span>Indeed, since we’re all here only a short time, this is our perfection.<o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We are literally family to everything we can see and know.<span style=""> </span>We have some sort of divine energy – life – in us.<span style=""> </span>Again, it’s not really important to know what that energy is; maybe someday scientists can tell us.<span style=""> </span>Now, they only know that most of it seems to be some kind of dark energy and dark matter, whatever that is.<span style=""> </span>Nonetheless, we’re all the same from the perspective of the Universe, simply manifestations of that energy.<span style=""> </span>We’re all doing the exact same thing here - just being and living day to day, trying to do the best we can. <span style=""> </span><o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We should be able to live together in peace. There is no reason present in the environment around us that would cause conflict among humans.<span style=""> </span>Just the fact that we’re here for such a short time, incapable of truly knowing where we go after life, should be enough reason to see all this around us as precious and to appreciate this opportunity of existence.<span style=""> </span><o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The religions preach the golden rules – love one another, don’t judge, forgive.<span style=""> </span>But many also say we’re separate from god, ignoring that our essence is truly divine.<span style=""> </span>And they threaten that – if we don’t act right – we’ll be separated from god -- forever.<span style=""> </span>If we don’t do “what god wants,” we’re going to hell.<o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Of course, no one really knows what god wants.<span style=""> </span>Neale Donald Walsch points this out clearly in his recent book entitled, appropriately, “What God Wants.”<span style=""> </span>He says god doesn’t want anything.<span style=""> </span>But, if there is a god who did want, wouldn’t it want us to enjoy this planet, love one another, and not kill each other in the name of arcane principles of government and social conduct?<span style=""> </span>I would think so.<o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But humans insist on making rules for salvation and deciding what people should believe and how they should act.<span style=""> </span>So much of the way man acts out is based on fear.<span style=""> </span>Let’s look at some examples, but understand as you read, that whenever one is “afraid” of something, that is a fear.<span style=""> </span><o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Osama Bin Laden, the Islamic extremists, and terrorists are <i style="">afraid</i> of the influence of the West and also that the heathen ideas of our culture will destroy their religion and their view of a proper life according to the Koran.<span style=""> </span><o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">George Bush and many American people are <i style="">afraid</i> of the terrorists and many were afraid of Saddam Hussein. <span style=""> </span>He was a “threat” (meaning we were <i style="">afraid</i>, of course) and they took him out.<span style=""><br /></span><o:p></o:p><br />Conservatives are <i style="">afraid</i> of a lack of order and new ideas.<span style=""> </span>Liberals are <i style="">afraid</i> of conservatives.<span style=""> </span><o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Christians are <i style="">afraid</i> that god’s laws will be broken.<span style=""> </span>Agnostics and atheists are <i style="">afraid</i> that the Christians will take over and limit free expression and restrict individual rights.<o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">A rapist is <i style="">afraid</i> that he can’t be happy or feel love the way he is, but needs control to feel worthy or special.<span style=""> </span>A murderer is <i style="">afraid</i> of the person he kills, or the things that person represents.<span style=""> </span>Why would anyone rape or kill if they loved?<o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I am <i style="">afraid</i> that people won’t understand who we are; that we are love, peace, and divinity at our core.<span style=""> </span>I’m <i style="">afraid</i> humans won’t understand the true nature of life; that this is our perfection.<span style=""> </span>I’m <i style="">afraid</i> people won’t understand that all separation among humans – through race, religion, or national boundaries – is based on fear.<span style=""> </span>I’m <i style="">afraid</i> people will not learn that judgment and anger are based on fear.<span style=""> </span>I’m <i style="">afraid</i> people won’t learn that we can all forgive fear, recognize our unity and sameness, and erase these primitive thoughts that control our global societies.<o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">All of the conflicts that humans experience in society are based on fear, not love.<span style=""> </span>If our society can learn to recognize the fear, let go of the fear – forgive, then we can finally have peace in this world.<span style=""> </span>If we can just realize that we are all in the same boat, literally all on the same planet, and that we are family, we can let go of the things that divide us.<span style=""> </span>We don’t need to fight one another.<span style=""> </span>We should use the collective energies and wonderful talents we possess to help one another, not fight with one another over meaningless fears.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>We have enough challenges with hurricanes, disease, and the other things the Mother Earth presents to us to stop killing and hating one another.<span style=""> </span>Hate, anger, and everything else based on fear are worthless and divide us.<span style=""> </span>Another way to think of it is that anything separating us is based on fear; our unity and similarity spring from love.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It’s time to change our minds and our lives.<span style=""> </span>We just have to learn that fear causes our separation and self-destructive behavior.<span style=""> </span>We can know love, but letting go of the fears that have controlled us, by forgiving the past and all those fears.<span style=""> </span>We can love one another.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119288.post-1125945724048574062005-08-31T14:02:00.000-04:002005-09-05T14:42:04.076-04:00Love, from KatrinaAugust 2005<br /><br />The images of Katrina's visit to the United States southern shore are staggering. The power of nature is infinite. Yet, the same energy in Katrina is in us. So, our energy is also infinite. <br /><br />The energy manifests itself in countless ways in our world, on this planet, constantly. The results of such manifestations are many, but they are not inherently good or bad. <br /><br />From the perspective of the Universe, Katrina was simply an energy form that had effects on our planet. We are the same; we have staggering effects on our planet. And the consequences of this energy on the particular area known as the Gulfcoast, including New Orleans, are vast and continuing.<br /><br />Nature created an alluvial delta there. It flooded and receded from its river source. Wetlands and swamps resulted. Man straightened the river and in numerous ways eradicated the vast wetlands. Man populated and polluted the river and the delta. Katrina came along and changed much of what man had done. Many people have died and the particular lives of millions have now changed. None of this is good or bad; it just is.<br /><br />Was it a good idea to change the topography for economic gain and human activity? We do live here; we must do what we have to do. Might we do what we do with less adverse effect on the planet we inhabit? Certainly. We are all here together - man, rivers, the fish in the sea, and Katrina, everything we see. Could we strive for more harmony, given our common short existence? Yes, of course. <br /><br />While the images of Katrina's effects on man and his things are sad and horrifying, and we do mourn our losses, I believe there is another perspective.<br /><br />We of the energy on this planet can learn to see our commonality and interrelatedness. This connectedness is love, in its broadest truest sense. When we separate because of fear, we do not take advantage of this love. We see the separation clearly in the images of Katrina's wake, not only in terms of human misery (which is fear based), but also how our activities have separated us from what Nature provided in that alluvial system. <br /><br />We can use these images to drive home the fact that we are all here doing the same thing, and we should not be fighting and killing and afraid of one another. We can have peace and love, and in this way, knowing Katrina can help us have additional insights into the love of the energy that unites us.Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119288.post-1122946945858626242005-07-28T21:11:00.000-04:002005-08-01T21:42:25.866-04:00What does it Mean to Believe in God?<p style="font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal">July 2005</p> <p style="font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>What does it Mean to Believe in God?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Do you believe in god?<span style=""> </span>What does that mean, really?<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>I was asked a question at a recent presentation, and the point of the question was that references to god may offend some people.<span style=""> </span>I had been under the impression that my habit of <b style="">not</b> referring to god might offend people (although, truthfully, there is never anything to be offended about).<span style=""> </span>So, when I refer to the energy of the Universe, the life force, the creator, the absolute, source of all creativity, I often also add: “or god, if you like.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">But some people do not believe in god.<span style=""> </span>They are called atheists, but I don’t really know much about what they believe.<span style=""> </span>I assume they believe we are just here, and there is no creator in charge.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">There are many other people who believe in a god.<span style=""> </span>The major monotheistic religions believe there is one god.<span style=""> </span>Many religions believe there are many gods. <span style=""> </span>Presumably the one god or even the many gods are believed to be distinct entities.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>In the christian religions, god is a father, but with two other parts, a son and a holy spirit.<span style=""> </span>This god, and the god of the old testament, seems to have a personality; he gets angry and turns some people into pillars of salt if they don’t obey him.<span style=""> </span>If people do not obey the laws he purportedly gave them, then they can be separated from him forever.<span style=""> </span>But he does love us very much and forgives our sins, and sent his son to save us.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">There are many other beliefs people have, including agnostics, who believe that the ultimate life force is unknowable by man.<span style=""> </span>I suppose this is distinct from believing that god is just like a grandfather.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>The answer I gave at the presentation was something like this: </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>I think the question, do you believe in god? is very suspect.<span style=""> </span>It begs the question, how do you define god.<span style=""> </span>If god is a humanoid personality that has emotions, needs to be worshipped, and picks some groups of people over others as favorites, then I think the atheists have a point.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>But, I said, how can anyone deny that there is life.<span style=""> </span>There is a life force.<span style=""> </span>It is in all of us.<span style=""> </span>To paraphrase Descarte, “I am, therefore there is.”<span style=""> </span>We know there is an energy of some sort.<span style=""> </span>To deny that energy is to deny one’s own existence.<span style=""> </span>If some people want to call that energy god, that makes sense.<span style=""> </span>I choose to use a more neutral term, Universe, because it does not proclaim any unprovable features or characteristics about god.<span style=""> </span>It simply proclaims there is a life force that is the essence of us all and of everything there is.<span style=""> </span>It does not shirk from announcing, “I don’t know what it is.”<span style=""> </span>It allows me to state unequivocally, “It is the ultimate, it is love and peace.”<span style=""> </span></p>Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119288.post-1120613827730965792005-06-29T21:29:00.000-04:002005-07-05T22:04:01.716-04:00Time to Arise<p class="MsoNormal">June 2005<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br />Are the following statements true or false?<span style=""> </span>Moses talked with God in a burning bush.<span style=""> </span>Jesus rose from the dead. <span style=""> </span>Joseph Smith received many visions from an angel.<span style=""> </span>Mohammed also received a vision from an angel.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>In fact, each of the statements is false. These stories are myths.<span style=""> </span>People nowadays understand that the Greek gods - Zeus, Venus, Neptune, et al. - were mythological; same with the Native American spirits.<span style=""> </span>Why do people not also see the mythological aspects of their own religions, while often missing the main tenets of the spiritual teachings?<span style=""> </span>And why do people become uncomfortable or angry if their myths are challenged?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now, consider another statement:<span style=""> </span>God wants us to obey him; if we do not, that’s a sin.<span style=""> </span>This statement is not true, either.<span style=""> </span>The creator does not set rules for us, and does not tell us when to pray or what kind of food to eat.<span style=""> </span>These rules are set by man to create obedience. <span style=""> </span>There is no sin from the perspective of the Universe. Trying to make the divine energy of all life into a being who gets angry, exacts punishment, and demands worship testifies to man’s inability to understand the complexity and enormity of the Universe.<span style=""> </span>Creating an anthropomorphic image of god may be easier to grasp, but inevitably demeans the all-ness of god.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Of course, anyone can believe whatever they want.<span style=""> </span>People can believe in the Easter Bunny, Santa Clause, or the Angel Gabriel.<span style=""> </span>They can believe they are separate from god, or that they will go to a heaven after this life, maybe to a palace with many virgins.<span style=""> </span>That’s fine, no problem.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">But what people tend to ignore are the basic spiritual teachings of the various religions.<span style=""> </span>Here are the most basic concepts:<span style=""> </span>Love one another.<span style=""> </span>Judge not.<span style=""> </span>Forgive.<span style=""> </span>If people devoted as much credence and allegiance to these concepts, we would have peace in our world.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Love one another</span>.<span style=""> </span>The teaching is not: love some people but not others, or love some people some of the time, or love only a few people.<span style=""> </span>It means love everyone, even your enemies, all the time.<span style=""> </span>Why do so many people find so many ways to condition, limit, or justify their dismissal of this most basic precept?<span style=""> </span>Love one another also doesn’t mean make war on others, or abuse, hate, or rape them.<span style=""> </span>How can anyone who truly loves also make war?<span style=""> </span>Doesn’t killing other people fall short of love?<span style=""> </span>If we simply loved one another, then we see and know the love we all share.<span style=""> </span>If we give love, we receive love.<span style=""> </span>The energy of the Universe - god if you like - is love and peace.<span style=""> </span>And we – everything there is – are love.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Judge not</span>.<span style=""> </span>Since we are all the same in love, if we judge another, we really judge ourselves. If we make war, we make war on ourselves.<span style=""> </span>Isn’t murdering one other simply humanity killing itself?<span style=""> Judging another person based on their race, creed, sex, sexual orientation, or even their hair style is still judgment that is based on fear and takes us away from love. </span><o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Forgive</span>.<span style=""> </span>This just means, let go.<span style=""> </span>Let go of the perceived wrongs, injustices, or other fears one may have.<span style=""> </span>It doesn’t mean confess your sins to a man who will forgive you on behalf of god; the Universe and god have already forgiven you.<span style=""> </span>All ultimately is past and forgiven.<span style=""> </span>There is no right or wrong, no evil or sin, in the Universe.<span style=""> </span>Again, those are man made concepts.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, if you assume for just a moment that these are the basic spiritual teachings, and that each person is capable of loving, not judging, and forgiving, then what’s the problem?<span style=""> </span>Why do people seem so greedy, deceitful, judgmental, war-mongering, hateful, and angry?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The answer is always and only fear.<span style=""> </span>People are afraid of not having that love they crave.<span style=""> </span>They’re afraid of dying.<span style=""> </span>They’re afraid of the future.<span style=""> </span>They’re afraid of not having enough money, food, or sex.<span style=""> </span>They’re afraid of what other people will do.<span style=""> </span>They’re afraid of people destroying their vision of life and what god wants.<span style=""> People are even afraid that people will think they're afraid, but we all have fears. </span><br /><o:p> </o:p><br />Would some people, or a nation, attack another if they weren’t afraid of something?<span style=""> </span>No, it simply would not happen.<span style=""> </span>A person would not be angry if he or she was not afraid of something. <span style=""></span>Why would people be defensive or angry at someone who questioned a belief unless they were afraid the belief was wrong?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The key point here is not that people believe in myths.<span style=""> </span>That is important to understand, of course.<span style=""> </span>It’s time for people to stop rigidly structuring their lives based on falsehoods.<span style=""> </span>It’s time to say the emperor has no clothes.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The key point is that all of the spiritual concepts that can lead us to a peaceful world have been taught for centuries.<span style=""> </span>If we all choose to love, not judge, and forgive, peace would be ours.<span style=""> </span>But we humans have a disease called fear.<span style=""> </span>If we could just let go of fear and love one another the way the masters taught us, that would be all we’d need.<span style=""> </span>And we wouldn’t need myths to rely on.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119288.post-1117494764966672312005-05-30T19:08:00.000-04:002005-05-30T19:18:33.940-04:00The Basics of Love, Fear and Forgiveness<span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;" >May 2005<br /></span><b style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:11;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Peace is possible.<span style=""> </span>Human life on earth can change and we can have love, not war.<span style=""> </span>Fear can be recognized as the disability that it is.<span style=""> </span>I believe we are all one, in perfection.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style="">LOVE. <span style=""> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">We – all things - are manifestations of the same energy of the Universe.<span style=""> </span>That energy is love.<span style=""> </span>That energy is peace.<span style=""> </span>Unity and connectivity are love.<span style=""> </span>Truth is love.<span style=""> </span>Art is love.<span style=""> </span>Some may call the energy “god,” but humanizing the energy does not do justice to its all-ness.<span style=""> </span>Love is literally all around us, in each moment.<span style=""> </span>We are these physical manifestions only for a short time, so this life also is our perfection.<span style=""> </span>This life on earth is paradise.<span style=""> </span>Heaven <i style="">is</i> everywhere.<span style=""> </span>We only need to see it.<o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">FEAR.<span style=""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Humans have limited perception</span><span style="font-size:100%;">, not unlike puppy dogs or fruit flies.<span style=""> </span>So, we have fears.<span style=""> </span>The most basic fear is not having love; some might say not being with god.<span style=""> </span>This fear presents itself as the fear of dying and of the future.<span style=""> </span>All things that are not love-based are fear-based.<span style=""> </span>All anger, war, hate, depression, rape, defensiveness, rage, separation, greed, lying, judgment, murder, attack, racism, sexism, low self-esteem, addiction, religious fundamentalism, and everything that is not love is based on fear.<span style=""> </span>There is no evil or sin; these are man-made concepts designed to control others.<span style=""> </span>There is no right or wrong in the Universe.<span style=""> </span>There is really nothing to fear, ever.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">FORGIVENESS.<span style=""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Forgiving is simply letting go, letting go of fear.<span style=""> </span>Forgiveness means releasing the past and the future and accepting the present.<span style=""> </span>Forgiving does not mean confessing sins or require a long process of atonement.<span style=""> </span>Forgiving is not limited to releasing a wrongdoing or wrongdoer.<span style=""> </span>Forgiveness of oneself is the most important of all.<span style=""> </span>Forgiving releases fear and leads to peace; not forgiving retains the fear.<span style=""> </span>Those who do not forgive bear the burden of fear and do not have peace.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">PEACE.<span style=""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Peace of mind – the most enduring happiness – and peace in our world are present now.<span style=""> </span>We only need to remove the blinder of fear that prevents us from having love and peace all the time.<span style=""> </span>Fear causes us to hate, attack, make war, and separate ourselves from each other by nation, religion, and race.<span style=""> </span>Since we are all the same, when we judge, condemn, and kill, we actually judge, condemn, and kill ourselves.<span style=""> </span>When we make war, we make war on our own peace.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><o:p> </o:p>If we could only see the love and perfection, we’d have peace.</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >If we’d understand our fear, we’d have peace.</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Like the Berlin Wall, our fear can crumble and disappear.</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >We can change our global mind, one person at a time, and change the paradigm of human existence.</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >It can happen in an instant if we want it.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119288.post-1112240550359605362005-03-30T22:34:00.000-05:002005-03-30T22:46:30.146-05:00Love, Fear and Social Security<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Garamond;" ></span></b></span></p><span style="font-weight: bold;">March 2005</span><br /><br />The current dialogue about Social Security reflects much more about distinct metaphysical and spiritual beliefs than financial or budgetary analysis. Those who favor the status quo for this grandfather of social experiments reflect love-based thinking, while those who want to privatize it engage in fear-based rationalizations. <br /><br />First, take a moment to understand the underlying principles from my book, <span style="font-style: italic;">Peace and Forgiveness</span>. Humans are essentially a divine energy at their core, which they (we) share with all other living and even inanimate things in the universe. We are all the same in this energy – you may call it god, the ether, the creator, whatever; it is essentially peace. It is perpetual, without fear. It is also love.<br /><br />Humans are limited in the ability to understand it; we’re relatively like puppy dogs or fruit flies to the everythingness of this ultimate creative energy. So, we have fears; the fear of not having love, of dying, and of the future. All anger, hate, war, attack, greed, and everything not based on love is based on fear. Example, Sadam Hussein was a threat; we were afraid of what he might do. So, we attacked his country. Another one, greed is when you’re afraid you don’t have enough. And so on.<br /><br />Social Security was established to provide independence for those who grow older and might not be able to support themselves. We as society say, we are all in this together, we are all one. We don’t need all our money, we set some aside for the elderly so they don’t have to end up in poor houses like they used to, and hopefully we get some support when we get there. In other words, we’re all in the same boat and help each other out. That’s love based behavior.<br /><br />The current proposals to privatize Social Security stress that people should have control of their own money and not have to give it to the government. In other words, individual ownership is more important than contributing to the health of the whole. Why? Because many are afraid and distrustful of the government on principle. That’s fear based behavior.<br /><br />Loved based thinking says, “We are all one on this planet. We can’t take it with us. We share. We should bond together, across party lines and even national boundaries.” This is not socialism, and there is nothing inherently wrong with that anyway. (Isn’t that most fundamental unit of society, the family, socialist? You know, from each according to his skills to each according to his needs?) The other side says, “It’s my money and I don’t want you to have it.” This is based on the theory that we are separate and distinct from one another. Not in the same boat.<br /><br />Conservative are afraid of change. Distrustful of others who might infringe on their rights. Skeptical of the goodness of humanity in general. Religious conservatism is the same. Extremely fearful of changes or threats to the ancient myths.<br /><br />Liberals are generally less afraid of admitting we’re all together; recognizing that we’re just fellow travelers on this lonely spaceship earth. More willing to pay taxes to support the society, for example. Less afraid of losing financial or social status. Of course, liberals have their own fears; often, they’re fearful of conservatives trampling on the rights of others in society. <br /><br />I don’t necessarily like that fact that I might pay into Social Security for literally decades, and the benefits might not be what had been bargained for. But, you know what, I’ll be OK. I’m not going to starve to death. I’d rather promote love in my society, than fear having a few less dollars. The major parties can decide which approach to take. I’m for love based principles every time.<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-family:Garamond;font-size:14;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119288.post-1109645021318317862005-02-28T21:15:00.000-05:002005-02-28T21:43:41.320-05:00Why is all this Fear stuff Important?<span style="font-weight: bold;">February 2005<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>Do you wonder why people kill other people? The answer is fear, always fear.<br /><br />Why do you think people get so angry? Yep, fear.<br /><br />Why are people greedy? Why do they lie? Why are folks so afraid they won't have enough money, or power, or love? The answer is fear.<br /><br />Whenever you say "I'm afraid of ..." or "They're afraid of ..." something, that is fear. Being afraid is fear. Fear is not love. Fear is caused by our limited human condition, by our limitations in what we can perceive. We are afraid of not having love, of not being with god, of dying. Fear arises when we don't know what will happen. <br /><br />It is not fear when we realize we are all one, when we recognize and understand the unity of all things. That is love, that is peace. <br /><br />It is when people think they are better than others, or separate from them, that there is fear. When humans love one another, they don't fear. When people fear, they become angry, and start wars. Why would someone be angry if they weren't afraid? People think it is strong to make war, to dominate others. But all these things - these fear based actions and emotions - are weak, not strong. Love is strong. Fear is not.<br /><br />So, if a county is afraid, and thinks another country or a man is a "threat," isn't that fear based? Of course, it is. If you perceive a threat, you are afraid of something. Even the way nations bind together in defense is fear based. The history of the world is premised on the fear people have for one another. They fight against one another, attack and kill one another. All because of fear. It is completely insane.<br /><br />The human race believes it is advanced, but here we are - perhaps the only denizens of the Universe - on this tiny planet. If we really saw our common humanity, if we perceived our connection, if we understood peace and love, there would be no war. <br /><br />That's why it's important to understand what fear is, because it can help us understand what love is.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></span>Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119288.post-1107225594524062082005-01-31T21:36:00.000-05:002005-01-31T21:39:54.523-05:00Peace is Ours if We Want It<span style="font-weight: bold;">January 2005</span>
<br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>I don’t think it should be so hard to have peace in our world.<span style=""> </span>Many people believe, or at least accept, that war is inevitable.<span style=""> </span>That’s just a self-fulfilling prophesy.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Throughout history, the human race has believed things that weren’t true, or assumed some things weren’t possible.<span style=""> </span>Everyone thought the earth was flat; they sure were wrong.<span style=""> </span>I don’t think the Founding Fathers could ever have imagined one might travel across the land in a metal machine on wheels and easily go 6o miles in an hour.<span style=""> </span>And certainly they wouldn’t have considered it possible to fly in the sky like the birds, much less go to the moon.<span style=""> </span>My mother never would have thought she could watch live action thousands of miles away on television, or talk to someone that far away on a phone without wires.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Some refused to believe these things were impossible.<span style=""> </span>Now, we all believe almost anything is possible.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But, what about peace?<span style=""> </span>People don’t seem to think they can have peace of mind.<span style=""> </span>They’re so used to being stressed and full of anxiety all the time.<span style=""> </span>They assume life’s a bitch and then you die.<span style=""> </span>And so many presume insane thugs will always be around to prevent peace.<span style=""> </span>They assume humans are bad and evil.<span style=""> </span>Not me.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I believe that you, me, and everything are made of the life force, the energy of the Universe, and that energy is ultimately peace.<span style=""> </span>That peace is pure love.<span style=""> </span>So, that’s what we really are, too.<span style=""> </span>Love.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And this crazy mixed up world is perfect.<span style=""> </span>We’re here only a short time, so this is our perfection. Heaven is everywhere.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Yet, because of our limited perceptions, most don’t see this.<span style=""> </span>Instead, they have fears.<span style=""> </span>Ultimately, the fear of not having love or being with god, and the fear of dying.<span style=""> </span>All anger, war, hate, attack, depression, rape, murder, control, and everything that is not based on love is rooted in these fears.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">If you think of it, people are afraid of so many things, it often defines them.<span style=""> </span>They are afraid of not having enough money.<span style=""> </span>Afraid other people won’t respect them.<span style=""> </span>And very often afraid that their religion or way of life is under assault.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Man would not attack if he wasn’t afraid; would not kill if he wasn’t afraid.<span style=""> </span>One would not lie if not afraid of the truth, and would not steal if not afraid of want.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">People don’t need fear.<span style=""> </span>We just have to learn to let it go, to forgive.<span style=""> </span>In the end, everything is past and released.<span style=""> </span>The past and the future can not harm you, unless you let them.<span style=""> </span>The Universe forgives; don’t fight the Universe.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It will only take a paradigm shift to transform a world in which humans killed one hundred million other humans in the twentieth century alone. All because of fear.<span style=""> </span>We don’t need to do that.<span style=""> </span>We can learn to do better.</p> Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119288.post-1104438236652557082004-12-30T13:16:00.000-05:002004-12-30T15:23:56.653-05:00The Holiday Spirit<strong>December 2004</strong>
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<br />It is so nice around the holidays, during the Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and similar celebrations. We look forward to fellowship, family, friends, and feelings of love.
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<br />But many people get depressed during the holidays, even though they want to have that love.
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<br />Why?
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<br />The holiday spirit is one we certainly would like to have all the time. We do feel generous, and close to others. Our common humanity shines through. We celebrate birth, renewal, and unity.
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<br />Of course, there is nothing truly different about this time of year than any other, except how we look at things. We believe the holidays are a time of sharing and compassion, and we expect to feel that love.
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<br />So, if we believed that every day of the year was a time of sharing and compassion, and we expected love, then could we not have that same spirit all the time? Does it not only depend at how we look at things?
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<br />Some have beliefs that the holidays are about family and wonderful parties and presents, and their expectations mirror those beliefs. Then, if the reality does not match the expectations, or <em>if the people are afraid it won't</em>, they become depressed. And isn't that depression also entirely based on how they look at things?
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<br />We can have the holiday spirit all the time, all of us can. It only depends on how we look at things.
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<br />If we know and believe in our common love and that this life is our perfection, then we can have that peace. If we see evil, hate, anger, war, separation, and attack as real, then that is what we get, too.
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<br />The choice is ours.
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<br />Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119288.post-1101401922574909812004-11-25T11:30:00.000-05:002004-11-25T11:58:42.573-05:00Happy Thanksgiving!<strong>November 2004</strong>
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<br />There is so much to be thankful for; the energy of the Universe, this wonderful planet, all living things, our families and friends. Thankfulness is a "love-based" emotion. When we are thankful, ultimately we are appreciative of the love and peace we have in this life.
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<br />Would it not also be nice if we could be thankful for these things:
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<br />That there were no wars anymore.
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<br />That there were no killings, or beheadings, or executions.
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<br />That there were no rapes, or sexual predation, or hate crimes.
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<br />That people were not afraid of one another.
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<br />That people realized how insane some of their "fear-based" behavior really is, and that they did not need to judge one another any more.
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<br />Do you believe war is inevitable? Do you believe man is evil? Do you believe your god roots for you or your country over others?
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<br />If you do, then the reason we cannot yet be thankful for these things I mention is because of your beliefs, your surrender to fear.
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<br />I believe in peace, and today, on Thanksgiving Day 2004, I am thankful for for that belief and for the peace I know we can all have.
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<br />Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119288.post-1096423096019785492004-09-28T21:20:00.000-04:002004-10-23T16:00:40.186-04:00The Family of Humans<strong>September 2004</strong>
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<br />You know that your mother and father, your sister and brother, and your children are part of your family. They are the same race, often the same religion, and probably have similar basic beliefs.
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<br />We also tend to think of the folks next door as similar to us, or the people we work or go to school or church with. Humans seem to develop significant bonds with people in the same region or country where they live. They wave the same flag and sing the same national anthem. They find comfort and security in people who believe in the same deity. They say, "God bless us."
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<br />We're afraid, however, of people who look or talk differently, live in other countries, or believe in different deities.
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<br />But what's really the difference between us? Might it not be only our pasts and our beliefs? Our pasts being our individual histories, birthplaces, and events that happened in our lives. Our beliefs being things like the kinds of governments we prefer and which religions we chose to follow.
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<br />Consider, however: if I grew up across the street from you, how does that really differ from living across the country or on the other side of the ocean? Isn't that only placing our feet on different soil? How would that ever make us different, except perhaps in our customs or traditions?
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<br />If I believe there is no god, and you believe there is a god, how does that really make us any different; how does that separate us from our essential humanity? Aren't we still the same?
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<br />If he thinks they are evil, and they think he is evil, aren't they just the same? Doesn't that prove they are just the same; both just making the same misguided judgments?
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<br />If they worship one god, and the others believe they worship a false idol, and if the others worship one god and they believe the others worship a false idol, are they not both correct?
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<br />Why can't we see that we're all truly part of the same family?
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<br />May we all be blessed with peace.
<br />Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119288.post-1098561269958609062004-10-23T14:55:00.000-04:002004-10-23T15:59:20.970-04:00The Upcoming Elections; Why are We So Afraid?<strong>October 2004</strong>
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<br />The elections are upon us. Both candidates try to make us afraid so we'll vote for them. And, of course, we have plenty to be afraid of: the terrorists, a jobless economy, high taxes, poor health care, rising oil prices, the right to choose life, ineffective alliances, the high cost of many unnecessary drugs, lagging education, gay marriage, the inability to use guns, etc.
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<br />Is there anything we're not afraid of? Aren't we even afraid of not being afraid of something?
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<br />Although many blame the candidates for fear mongering - and they certainly are - the real issue is the people. It is the people of this country who are so afraid. Americans think they are the best, smartest, most creative, hardest working, best looking, most athletic, richest and most blessed humans on the planet, and therefore the most entitled. We have about the highest standard of living in the world, so we're really afraid of losing what we have, aren't we?
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<br />Why? Do all these material things - cell phones, DVD's, mp3's, fancy cars - make us happy?
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<br />It seems we're also afraid of having to pay for all the things we collectively through the government provide to ourselves; no one wants to pay more taxes, but shouldn't we be more than glad to contribute our share of support for all the people of the country and, actually, of the world?
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<br />Sometimes it seems that we're the most afraid of just accepting who we are, that we're the same as other people, and realizing that any god would love us <strong>all</strong>. And we're afraid of forgiving, because then we wouldn't have anything to be afraid of, would we?
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<br />Wouldn't it be nice if we could vote on the basis of love and peace for all, rather than our perceived differences and fears?
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<br />Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119288.post-1094002828134245972004-08-31T21:13:00.000-04:002004-09-28T21:20:25.383-04:00The Olympics are a good example that we're the same<strong>August 2004
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<br />What did you notice about the Olympics? Did you see how the swimmers looked all alike and swam at almost the same speed? Did you see the synchronized divers? How about the runners racing around the track?
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<br />Even though the athletes were from all over the planet, from every corner of the earth, there was a distinct similarity. Same as the spectators, too. People from every nation, culture, and religion are the same when you get right down to it. When you watch the Olympics, it's easy to see that we're all the same.
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<br />Sure, there was fierce competition. Every one of them was trying to be the best, to win the gold. That's what we humans do; we strive to achieve perfection. We want the peace that means we have done well, that we are loved.
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<br />And this competition happened without violence. Men and women performed as best as they could at these various human defined contests without killing and dismembering one another. Some won, and some lost. And then they went home.
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<br />So, why can't we do that in life? Why can't we all compete and do the best we can within society's protocols, and then just let it go? Why can't the insurgents in Iraq or the Janjawid in Sudan let it go and just go home?
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<br />The answer is fear; the cause behind all anger, war, attack, rape, and abuse is fear; and being afraid to forgive for fear that would vindicate their enemies.
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<br />The Olympics are such a good example that we are all the same, competing on this earth for all sorts of ultimately mundane and insignificant things, but being able to do so peacefully. The world does not have to be filled with hate, and anger, and war, and rape. We simply have to change our minds and learn the true lessons of peace and forgiveness.
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<br />Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119288.post-1091670263757169382004-07-26T21:16:00.000-04:002004-09-28T21:18:40.536-04:00What about Sudan, for instance ...<strong>July 2004</strong>
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<br />The genocide, aka "ethnic cleansing," in Sudan provides a good study in what this is all about.
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<br />Friends say, "there must be evil, look at what is happening in Sudan." It's so easy to ascribe dastardly deeds to evil; to say that acts we can't explain are caused by the devil.
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<br />But it is also too simple. Blaming rape and killing on evil is a cop out. Saying man is inherently bad is simply a judgment based on one's own limited point of view.
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<br />The truth is that the crisis in Sudan is the result of fear. The perpetrators are afraid that their way of life, their beliefs, their religion, their view of the world, are subject to attack or defeat by others. They think they're different than the ones they rape and kill. They want to make babies with their blood, their genes, to weaken the humanity of those they feel are inferior.
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<br />Why? Because they are afraid to be the same. They're afraid to live in peace. They are afraid that their view of the world and their religion will not survive and some historical perspective will be tarnished.
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<br />No one would kill another person if they were happy and at peace. No one would rape if they loved. No one would kill unless they were deeply afraid of something. Being afraid of something is succumbing to fear.
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<br />Others in the world say, "too bad about Sudan." We think it is not our problem.
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<br />In reality, any expression of fear in our world adversely affects all of us. We are all connected to the energy of the Universe. We are all the same creatures of the Universe, no matter what we look like or believe. We are the same as all things, living and non-living. When we exacerbate our perceived separateness, we give in to fear and do not see our unity in peace and love.
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<br />Can't you imagine a world where all people do see one another as brothers and sisters? Where we recognize our common humanity, and not just our "god given" right to make as much money as we can and to have what we want at the expense of the other members of our family. In such a world, there would be no such slaughter as now in Sudan. It's time to take off the blinders and see peace.
<br />Jefferson Glassiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13488128875982066259noreply@blogger.com