Seeing the Dead

The article starts off with this story: 

As the preacher-man got up to leave, the widow put her hand on his arm, saying, "Don't go, I got one more thing." The kitchen quieted. Her boy said, "Ma, don't tell him." The preacher-man said, "Don't tell me what?" Ma whispered, "Last night, 'bout midnight, I heard a noise in this here kitchen, and so I come in to take a look around. I flicked on the overhead light, and right there front of the sink, right there, standing looking right at me, big as life -- was my dead Stan, the love of my life. He always washed the dishes after supper. I know he's dead, but it was him. He was looking at me with those lovin' eyes, and smiling, like he was telling me he was OK. That's the warm feeling I got -- that he's OK. He's OK. Isn't he? Preacher? He was smiling so sweetly, and I felt loved and good. My kids think I was either dreaming or crazy. Sadness can make you crazy. I read that. I ain't never seen nothin' like that, preacher. Nothin'."The preacher-man stilled himself and said, "No, you're not crazy, Mrs. Kolinsky. Can't tell you how many times I've heard similar stories on days like today, sitting around kitchen tables just like this, talking about death and funerals. What you saw happens to many people, all types of people, only people don't talk about their experiences publicly, except to folks like me, because it sounds crazy, but it's common. It's a gift, Mrs. Kolinsky. Stan was telling you he's OK. And so are you."

The author of the article was the preacher-man. He has also come into contact with his deceased family members as well. His dad once saw his Grandmother sitting at the foot of his bed, and ran over to her house and found out that she had died. These occurrences happen frequently, but are rarely said to anyone besides a preacher or their close family because they are afraid they will be seen as crazy. The preacher says it's amazing to see the look on the people's faces when they see their loved ones and they know that it is ok and really start to believe for the first time that there is an afterlife. The preacher says he now knows that the soul is as real as any physical part of the body, but it's up to you to decide whether it is fact or fiction. 

Youcef Nadarkhani, Iranian Pastor, May Face Execution For 'Apostasy From Islam'

In 2010, Youcef Nadarkhani was found guilty of apostasy and sentenced to be executed because he refused to give up his Christian faith. In Iran, the national religion is Muslim, and over 98% of the population is in practice of this religion. Youcef has been practicing Christianity since he was a teenager and is now being persecuted for it. Now he is one step closer to being executed. "A death sentence that has been sent for implementation by the judiciary would suggest the person is at imminent risk of execution. If it has been sent to the implementation department, that is very troubling." The United States is in full support of stopping this hatful execution and there is now even a Facebook support group trying to get as many members as it can to help stop this horrible execution. To join the Facebook group click the link below. 

http://www.facebook.com/groups/nadarkhani/

Grief Without God Is A Challenge For Atheists

In times of pain, especially death, religion is the sole support people need to get through their grief. So what happens if you don't follow a religion? What happens to Atheists who grieve? It is hard for someone who doesn't believe in a higher power to be told "You will see your loved one once more" or "You will be able to hold your loved one soon" because to Atheists, they don't believe this is the truth and these words can seem like they are down playing their lost. Now there are websites and support groups in the Agnostic and Atheists community that can help people with their loses through other ways than religion. These websites come with some guidelines though. Anyone is welcome to share their grief or look for support, but any start of a religions (or nonreligious) debate is unacceptable. One woman writes about the website "It has given some meaning for me to the death of my son. I certainly don't believe there is anyone out there with a plan, or that everything happens for the best. But I do believe it is possible to create meaning from tragedy."

Darrell Gilyard Controversy: Church Hires Convicted Sex Offender, No Kids Allowed At Sermons

Darrell Gilyard, who plead guilty to molesting two young girls and served three years in prison, is now preaching at the Christ Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. Because he is a registered sex offender, the church is not allowing children under eighteen years old to attend Sunday services. Though children are not allowed, attendance at the Christ Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church has spiked since Gilyard began preaching in January, less than two months after he was released from prison. 

Priest Responds to Jefferson Bethke's Video

This was a video response from a Catholic Priest to the video "Why I hate Religion, but Love Jesus." This video is called "Why I love Religion, and love Jesus." It's a different perspective on how the Church is either beneficial or corrupt.

Religion and Health

 According to a recent survey, religion may play a part in your health. On average, when a person was told to evaluate themselves on their mental, physical and overall health, people who identified as very religious often ranked themselves higher on this health scale. There isn’t really a precise reason why, but it may be because religious people have a defined state of being and that importance in life makes them an overall happy and healthy person. Church attendance leads to more personal interactions with people and thus builds strong friendship. Religion involves meditation toward a higher power and this in turn has been proven to lower stress, reduce depression and promote a happy life. 

Who Am I? Bodies, Souls and Identities

           What makes you you and not somebody else? Scientists, philosophers and theologians are trying to figure out the same thing. Memories can become lost over time or through traumatic experiences such as an aneurism or stroke, maybe even a specific event. So are you who you remember yourself to be? This can’t be true if these events take away memories. We change, grow and become different people and forget who we once were before these times of change. Personality couldn’t be the only determinate of whom we identify ourselves as.

            So is our “spirit” the source of who we are? Most of society would agree to this, that there is a soul trapped within our bodily flesh. Science, theology and philosophy don’t support this vast theory. Bodies have to matter to God. Jesus was born into flesh and dealt with events that every body must encounter. Paul points out that bodies matter because matter matters and perishable bodies are raised as spiritual bodies. Jesus identified himself through his bodily identity and who he was revealed how he was. Who he was as a body extended on into eternity.

            Our identity is not something that is functioned by brain chemistry or our soul trapped in our body, it is everything we have done in our bodily encounters that will move forward into eternity. We are our story. 

Controversy About Proxy Baptism

When a researcher dedicating his life to the practice of proxy baptism was looking at a Mormon genealogy website and discovered that some Mormons decided to perform a proxy baptism on someone who was still alive, and someone who is also a Noble Peace Prize winner, author, and Holocaust survivor with the name of Elie Wiesel. His father and grandfather were also selected for this ritual. By Monday, the records had changed. A spokesman for the Mormon Church told reporters that the names were entered into a genealogical database and that the process of selecting someone for proxy baptism is a completely different process. As for someone alive being on that site, he says that the name had been mistakenly entered.

            There has been much debate about proxy baptism of Jews and Jewish leaders are outraged. Many Jews were forced to convert to Christianity against their will and murdered or kicked out of countries if they did not. There is definitely a good reason why this would make them upset.

            An agreement in 1995 was made between Mormon and Jewish leaders to stop this proxy baptism, but research shows they have failed to keep up with this statement.

            Wiesel did not directly comment about this situation, but in the past he has said this about the practice of proxy baptism: 'Let them change their religion.' Which in turn really means nobody has the right to involve other people’s families in their religion. 

Religious Online Dating (because it's Valentine's Day)

First of all...HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

We all know that online dating is getting more popular every year. Lately a new trend is starting with websites like Christian Mingle, where the profile matches are based on how close in faith you are. This new type of Religious online dating might have you thinking that that can't be the only factor in a healthy relationship, but actually statisticians crunched out the numbers and found that religion is one of the most important factors in a relationship, especially when it comes to marriage. People who marry interfaith have a higher divorce rate than those who marry within the same religion. Users of these sites also agree that "faith matters and to let God be our matchmaker." I think that this makes a lot of sense. Most people are adamant about standing behind their religion and how much it means to them. To have a person in your life with that same passion for God sounds like a perfect match to me. These sites are not only for Christian, but just about every religion out there now.

Is Atheism a Religion?

Comedian and Talk Show Host, Bill Maher, is known for his atheist outlook and humor that borders offensive. I found this video browsing YouTube and I thought it was an interesting approach to the debate whether Atheism is a religion or not. I thought it could be because if you think of the definition of religion, its a group of people who share the same beliefs as well as practice those beliefs. Bill Maher thinks a little differently and I agree with some of the points he makes. I warn you before you watch it, it could be offensive. 

Jersey Shore's Vinny Gets a Religious Tattoo. Who Honestly Cares?

I read an article on Huffington Post this morning about Jersey Shore's Vinny getting a new tattoo that may have some religious meaning. The words he got are "Let Go Let God" which could have some religious meaning (obviously if it has the word God in it) or it could be part of the 12 step program they use in Alcoholics Anonymous. My first question is "Who cares?" and my second question is "Why don't they just ask him instead of trying to analyze it and make it some big deal?" Maybe it's important because Christianity can become further popularized by someone so well known. The article also goes into another star, Kim Kardashian, becoming religious as well. Turning Christianity into a fad is one way it got started and it could continue to make it one of the biggest religions of the world.

To see the rest of this ridiculous article CLICK HERE.

Boycotting Starbucks? No Thank You.

Evangelical pastor Steven Andrews called for a boycott on Starbucks last Tuesday because of the company's recent support of the bill to legalized gay marriage in Washington state. Even some USA Ministries are asking to not serve Starbucks brand coffee at their services and telling their members not to buy from the brand. It's not only Starbucks that is supporting this particular bill. Nearly a hundred other firms are in support. If the bill passes, Washington will be the seventh state to allow same sex marriage. 

Click Here to read the full article.

The War on Christianity

In this article provided by the Huffington Post, is yet another example of tying politics with religion. I think this article has the same  underlying tone as my last article regarding Huffington Post except this time it's not only talking about Republicans not meeting their religious bar, but the Government in itself. The author, Rev G. Jude Geiger, takes note of a few themes of the bible and jots them down like so:

1. Feed the hungry.
2. Clothe the naked.
3. Care for the sick.
4. Visit those in prison.
5. Shelter the homeless.


Then he makes another list (clearly about the U.S. Government and the way they are running things) as this set of bullet points:

1. Those on welfare deserve their fate and should simply go out and find a job. Then their families won't go hungry.

2. Healthcare is not a right. It should be tied to employment. And you should be allowed to opt out. And your health isn't my concern.

3. It's fine to have folks work long hours, for poor pay, in unhealthy conditions so long as the designer clothes they make reach lucrative markets -- oh, and they do not get access to those designer clothes themselves.

4. Luxury housing is better for the tax base. Affordable housing is middle class welfare. Section 8 housing credits are expiring all around us as a sign of the healthier economy -- look, people just want to move back in, so we don't have to fund the poor to live here now that the neighborhoods are getting cleaned up.

5. Prison systems are designed to be punitive, not redemptive. The fuller they are, the more efficient they remain. The prison industrial complex is fine and appropriate.

So Geiger is saying that the Government is not living up to the moral standings that it should. It is supposedly teaching Christians that the concern of others is not their concern. I think this is an extremely biased way of looking into things and brings up the topic of Church and State. It's my understanding that they are supposed to be separated. Although I believe that the Government should always take into consideration the best outcome for America as a whole and should be governed with moral fiber, I still don't think it should be affiliated with any particular religion, and should keep to what our founding fathers set up for us. 


Click HERE to read the full article on Huffington Post. 

Creed: Christian Rock

I remember as a kid growing up always listening to the band Creed, and I never took into consideration that they were a Christian affiliated rock band. I mean the name says it all right? I guess I just never noticed. If you're not listening to the lyrics and are just going along with the songs, it's easy to miss. I thought that that was kind of a unique feature to have. They are grammy award winners and the have one of their albums deemed a Diamond Album. It's so interesting to see a band become so popular with everyone and it have religious meaning.

My Sacrifice- Creed

Hello my friend, we meet again

It's been awhile, where should we begin?

Feels like forever

Within my heart are memories

Of perfect love that you gave to me

Oh, I remember

When you are with me, I'm free

I'm careless, I believe

Above all the others we'll fly

This brings tears to my eyes

My sacrifice

We've seen our share of ups and downs

Oh how quickly life can turn around

In an instant

It feels so good to reunite

Within yourself and within your mind

Let's find peace there

When you are with me, I'm free

I'm careless, I believe

Above all the others we'll fly

This brings tears to my eyes

My sacrifice

I just want to say hello again

I just want to say hello again

When you are with me I'm free

I'm careless, I believe

Above all the others we'll fly

This brings tears to my eyes

Cause when you are with me I am free

I'm careless, I believe

Above all the others we'll fly

This brings tears to my eyes

My sacrifice, My sacrifice

I just want to say hello again

I just want to say hello again

My sacrifice.

Searching for the Common Good in Political Discourse

I read an article in the religious section of Huffington Post about the Republican contenders and their religious affiliations. Gingrich, Romney and Santorum each identify with some Christian religion ( Gingrich a Roman Catholic, Romney a Mormon, and Santorum a evangelical Roman Catholic). The author of this article, Frank G. Kirkpatrick, believes that despite their affiliations with these Christian religions they lack the root of any religion which Kirkpatrick says is "the theme of common good." Being Republican means lowering taxes and has a theme centralized around individual wealth. Kirkpatrick thinks that this theme is unchristian like. In every christian religion there is the message of sharing your wealth with everyone. The church supposedly expects political and economical powers of religious backgrounds to use a more democratic approach and make sure that everyone in the United States is taken care of. He even goes as far as saying "Christianity has no notion that the only way for people to get what they need for a humane and fulfilling life is by earning it on their own." 

I think that this article was written from a very biased perspective. Just because someone is running Republican and they think lowering taxes would help our country, doesn't mean that they have forgotten the religious root in their hearts. I think that this is another example of how religion can be abused and flipped for the advocacy of a political party. It's a bold statement to make that being integrated with Republicanism means not following the practices of Christian tradition, but I believe that's exactly what Frank G. Kirkpatrick is trying to say.


Click HERE to read the full article.