Archive for the ‘Corruption’ Category
If there is one thing you can say about ‘paleontologists’ is that they have more imagination than avant garde artists!
For example; from mere impressions in well worn seaside rocks they can visualize entire species and families of living sub-human creatures! Amazing isn’t it, reminds you of the attempts to justify a theory of evolution by fashioning pieces of bone together and naming it ‘Piltdown man’, which has been long since been ‘debunked’!
Like those who perpetrated that particular myth, no doubt the objective of many in this field is to, shall we say, gain recognition and credit for great discoveries. However objective examination of real facts simply do not support the ‘thousands of years’ they hypothesize, regardless of exercising very (modern) human imagination!
Even if the so-called rock impressions vaguely resemble human impressions, which is extreme conjecture, the age of the rocks themselves is completely unknown and undetermined!
So-called carbon dating etc, which by the way they don’t even bother to offer as evidence for making bold statements about the age of said rocks(?), continues to be a highly unreliable method as experts will confirm. No, even those dating methods simply do not provide reliable evidence for the formation of rocks, bones, and vegetation – much less provide support for belief humans existed millions of years ago!
Still high-priests of evolution will continue to promote and advocate some animalistic forms of human existence long before ‘modern man’, based on such things as mere well worn rock impressions. Impressions which by the way are well known to be created by ocean tides and currents to mention just a few ‘natural’ processes.
But sadly, similar to TV evangelists, science based glory seekers will continue to exert their imagination, creating illusions for a Nieve public, often well supported and misguided by news media, unfortunately.
The popular concept that Christmas is based on the birth of the most significant human to have ever lived is actually an ‘anti-Christian belief… how can this be so?
There’s no better explanation than that the principal religions of Christendom have themselves been party to the misinformation guiding their flocks into this amazing dilution. Why this was undertaken could be summed up in one word; politics.
Whether we agree or disagree about the reasons, shortly after the last of the faithful followers of Christ died, there was a major secular movement to incorporate pagan religion into the actual teaching of Christ, and it has been highly successful.
Indeed, the majority of Church-goers today are taught the outrageous untruth that Christmas is based on the birth of Christ. How sad that is!
Please note: the following information is only for truth seekers!
A Historical Timeline of Christmas celebration;
1513 BCE – 60 CE (1600 years of recorded Bible History)
Period of inspired Biblical writings and prophecies, many concerning Jesus Christ. No mention of his date of birth; nor its being celebrated by his 12 apostles.
No mention of Christmas. No mention of any holy person celebrating a birthday – only sinners (like Pharaoh and Herod). (Gen. 40:20; Matt. 14:6; Mark 6:21-28; John 18:36)
2269-2030 B.C.E.
History of Sun worship. Began in ancient Babylonia by worshiping the sun god Shamash & Nimrod – parallels exist between Babylonian New Years & Christmas celebrations. (historian Pimlott in ‘The Englishman’s Christmas‘).
500 BCE
Celtic Druids used mistletoe winter solstice celebrations due to it being viewed as magical, mysterious, and sacred.
150 BCE
Romans began celebrating Saturnalia (where many Christmas traditions find
their origin)
45 BCE
Julius Caesar introduced the Julian Calendar making December 25 (not today’s 21 or 22) the date of the winter solstice (shortest day of the year).
33 CE
Jesus was Killed. The Apostle Paul warned Timothy that “wicked men & impostors” would slip into the congregation and mislead many. (2 Timothy 3:1
Josephus popular 1st Century Jewish Historian reported that Jews did not celebrate birthdays, 1st century Christians (former Jews) continued the tradition of NOT celebrating them.
The foretold apostasy began after the death of the apostles (Acts 20:29, 30)
A period where Mithraism (syncratic Hellenistic mystery religion) was practiced in the Roman Empire. Mithras was a Roman soldiers god whose legendary birth (as some stories go) resembles the birth of Christ (being born of a virgin in the presence of shepherds). Devotees of Mithra (says the Catholic Encyclopedia) celebrated the birthday of the invincible sun (dies natalis Solis Invicti) on December 25. L.M. Wright, author of “Christianity, Astrology, And Myth” 2002; suggests that the early Christian Church was influenced by much of the myth and symbolism of Mithraism. The cult of Sol Invictius was the Roman Empire’s leading official cult of the fourth century – (Wikipedia)
4th Century
Christmas began being celebrated as Christ’s Birthday. Early Catholic Church Fathers banned the use of Mistletoe in Christmas celebrations due to their pagan origin. Origen & Tertullian Catholic ecclesiastical writers of the 2nd & 3rd centuries spoke against Birthday celebrations. Tertullian made no mention of Christmas in his thorough lists of celebrations.
218 – 222
Roman Emperor Elagabalus introduced the holiday of Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, “birthday of the unconquered sun” was to be celebrated on Dec. 25 (where many Christmas traditions find their origin), and promoted it empire-wide when it reached its height in popularity.
Pope Gregory I wrote to Mellitus, his missionary in England, telling him “not to stop such ancient pagan festivities, but to adapt them to the rites of the Church, only changing the reason of them from a heathen to a Christian impulse.” Thus reports Arthur Weigall, who once was inspector general of antiquities for the Egyptian government.
313
All religions, even Christianity were legalized in Roman
territory.
325
In the 1st counsel of Nicaea, Roman Emperor Constantine standardized Christian beliefs. According to the Catholic Church, Catholics began adopting pagan customs into Christianity. By the end of the century, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire.
336 CE
1st historical record of December 25 as the assigned date of Jesus Birth
All Religions (including formerly persecuted Christianity) in Roman territory were legalized. It took nearly the entire 4th century for the Roman empire to transition State Religion from pagan cults to Christianity. The Merging of cultic tradition with Christianity greatly assisted in this transition.
567
The Council of Tours “proclaimed the 12 days from Christmas to Epiphany as
a sacred and festive season.”—The Catholic Encyclopedia for School and
Home.
10th Century
Christmas, along with Christianity, spread to Russia, where it became fused with the winter celebration of the ancient Slavs, honoring the spirits of the ancestors. (The Great Soviet Encyclopedia)
16th Century
Christmas traditions spread to branches of Protestants during the
Protestant Reformation.
1644
In England, Parliament discouraged Christmas feasting due to its heathen origin
1652
Parliament banned Christmas by law
1659 – 1681
In North America, Massachusetts Bay Colony banned Christmas n which violators were subject to fine.
1772
The Baptist Church of Newport [Rhode Island] observed Christmas for the
first time. This was about 130 years after the founding of the first Baptist church in New England.
1836
Alabama became 1st U.S. state to legalize Christmas
1843
Commercialism revived Christmas, Charles Dickens wrote “A Christmas Carol” and Christmas Cards originated in London.
1907
Oklahoma became the last U.S. state to legalize Christmas.
1927
Jehovah’s Witnesses abandoned Christmas celebrations after learning of its pagan origins.
Summary:
An overwhelming majority of sources agree that Christmas was almost entirely influenced by pre-Christian pagan celebrations.
There was no mention of Christmas nor any celebration of Christ’s birthday for hundreds of years after Jesus & his apostles died. The book Sacred Origins of Profound Things states: “For two centuries after Christ’s birth, no one knew, and few people cared, exactly when he was born.” Thus birthday celebrations, even of gods and leaders, were condemned as far as the late third century even by Roman Catholic leaders.
I’ve written about many subjects on this blog but there is none that equals the significance of this one considering the uncounted millions of human lives lost in the 20th and now the 21st Century!
Very often we hear the expression ‘they made the supreme sacrifice’, usually meaning humans have sacrificed their life for some political objective as determined by government’s led by emperor, dictator, monarch, president, prime minister, etc., etc, elected or not.
I suggest this scenario is little changed throughout thousands of years of human history, i.e. the projection of a nations power, or defense, via the sacrifice of their human population! *
Therefore the question that I believe may fairly be asked then is this; Are such human sacrifices not in reality ‘religious perversion’?!
For example; historian’s well discern that in the Mayan culture human sacrifices were often made to ensure the success of crops or other untold various interests. Interestingly, in our day, those ancient human sacrifices, be they men, women, or children, are often regarded as atrocities, perverted abuses of the populace by their rulers, supported by their religious representatives, in other words the ruling elements of their society!
“politics and nationalism…exalted the state as divine…or identified it with the march of God in history.” For some, the “worship of the state as the personification of the spirit of the nation was essential for realization of the national destiny.” (Ideas in Conflict, Edward Burns) *
My question is; what has changed today? Modern day governments may regard themselves as well informed and progressive, but doesn’t the sacrifice of human lives for one national purpose or another simply reflect all those ancient sacrifices made in the Mayan culture, or in hundreds of other cultures throughout thousands of years of human history?
When young men and women are encouraged, even trained, to make the ‘ultimate sacrifice’ of their lives for some national, or dare I say ‘cultural’ cause, what difference is there to all those ancient societies? Societies that interestingly no longer exist in spite of those sacrifices.
How can it be said that ‘modern’ man is any more advanced in his thinking than historically significant societies like the Mayan’s and countless others?
The reality is that mankind is in darkness spiritually speaking. No amount of technological advances can overcome this fact. No matter how it may be couched in glowing terms, human sacrifice is still a common practice after thousands of years. In other words there has been no progress spiritually for the nations of mankind, in fact the scale of human lives lost in national conflicts is ever increasing, aided and abetted by religious elements as always. “Kill one man and you’re a murderer, kill a million and you’re a conqueror.” (Jean Rostand quote)
Why can’t it be understood that ‘God wants mercy and not sacrifice’? (Matt. 9:13) Make no mistake about it; sacrificing human lives for any national purpose is in no way the ‘will of God’! They have not and will not receive his blessing for doing so. On the contrary, they are condemned by him for doing so.
As the BeeGee’s song of decades ago said it… ‘the answer my friends is blowing on the wind’, the ‘scriptural wind’ imho.
* “Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind.”
(Albert Einstein)
This article by Neil Macdonald seems like it has not received the attention it should have. This link to the published article still works; https://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/grand-jury-report-1.4798291
Here is a slightly edited version and PLEASE NOTE: HORRIFIC DOCUMENTED CASES OF CHILD ABUSE IN THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS REPRINT.
By secular standards, the Catholic Church is a corrupt organization and
Federal authorities should treat it like one!
Neil Macdonald · CBC News · Posted: Aug 26, 2018 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: August 26, 2018
WARNING: This column contains disturbing details
Imagine for a moment that a big, admired multinational corporation, one selling a beloved product, was employing large numbers of male pedophiles and rapists, operating in rings all over the world, and that their crimes had been uncovered in Australia, Ireland, Canada, the Philippines, Belgium, France, Austria, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, Britain, Germany and the United States, and, further, that senior executives had systematically covered up and suppressed evidence, transferring and enabling hundreds of predators, betraying thousands of victims.
What would happen to the company is not terribly difficult to imagine.
At a minimum, the U.S. government would likely use its Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law to go after not only the rapists and molesters, but also the company’s executives, up to and including its CEO if possible, seizing the company’s assets and seeking the harshest possible prison terms. That’s the sort of thing RICO was invented for. The company would almost certainly collapse. But of course no company’s warranty guarantees everlasting life, and no company maintains that its CEO is chosen by God.
Grand jury report: (continued) The Roman Catholic church does, which is the only explanation for why, after the release of a grand jury report that detailed more than 1,000 cases of sexual abuse in Pennsylvania over several decades by more than 300 predators in clerical collars, many of whom are still alive, millions of American Catholics continued to attend mass.
(DISGUSTING GRAPHIC DOCUMENTED CASES ARE DELETED FROM THIS REPRINTING HERE)
‘We showed no care for the little ones’: Pope’s letter vows to end sex abuse, coverups
Pennsylvania’s attorney general, Josh Shapiro, told reporters last week that high church officials “routinely and purposefully described the abuse as ‘horseplay’ and ‘wrestling,'” choosing to transfer the pedophiles to other congregations (where they’d have a whole new selection of horseplay partners), or send them away for prayerful reflection before returning to duty.
Unfortunately, though, Shapiro said, the statute of limitations has run out in most of the cases, or the priests involved had died. Pity, Shapiro was implying, because if they could, authorities would vigorously pursue and prosecute and imprison not only the perpetrators, but their enablers and protectors. Or not. Actually, probably not. Inevitably, that scale of prosecution – we are talking about inflicting severe damage to the Catholic Church in the United States – would require steadfast political will, and seriously, what politician seeking re-election wants to alienate 24 per cent of Americans, many of whom, despite clear evidence of the church’s moral rot, insist on believing it is infallible? Pope Francis released an open letter to the world’s Catholics after the Pennsylvania revelations, basically repeating the company line. (Alessandra Tarantino/Associated Press)
The same goes elsewhere. Revelations of horrors in all the above-mentioned Western countries (here in Canada, there was documented abuse in Quebec, British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, where the church’s Mount Cashel orphanage was operated as sort of a prison for child sex slaves resulted in dismissals of some church officials, some lawsuits and a handful of criminal convictions, but not much more than that.)
Each time, the Pope or one of his high subalterns would lament human frailty, and drone on about the sacred duty to protect the most vulnerable, while privately fighting to thwart civil suits or conspiring to keep facts from investigating authorities.
Pope Francis, who enjoys the most saintly reputation of any recent pope (except for John Paul II, who was actually made a saint, despite all the ugly revelations on his watch) released an open letter to the world’s Catholics after the Pennsylvania revelations, basically repeating the company line: gosh, sorry, that was terrible, we must do better, God bless you all, go in peace.
Noting first that “most of these cases belong to the past,” (don’t all cases belong to the past?) the Pope banged on for 2,000 words about feeling the pain of the vulnerable, and the necessity of ensuring it doesn’t happen again (and again and again and again), but his central theme was expressed right off the top in a line from Corinthians: “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it.”
Yes. Of course. Let’s compare the spiritual suffering the Pope claims the revelations have caused him to that of a child being sodomized by an adult stalker in a clerical collar, a monster the boy probably doesn’t think he’s even allowed to complain about.
Resisting change
The right thing for the Pope to do would be to waive his sovereign privilege (he is a sitting head of state), and invite criminal authorities to freely and fully access church records worldwide, and drain the holy swamp. He might also consider at this stage ordaining women, because women are God’s creatures too, perfectly able to spiritually guide the faithful, and, umm, don’t tend to rape children.
But the privileged old men who run the church aren’t going to allow any of that. They’re a bit like gun control opponents, opposing an obvious solution on doctrinaire grounds.
There actually have been a few attempts to use the RICO statute against priests, notably in Cleveland, but jurors did not convict
When former Oklahoma governor and former federal prosecutor Frank Keating, a practicing Catholic, compared the church’s obsession with secrecy to the Mafia’s, Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles demanded his ouster from a church board examining clerical abuse. Keating resigned from the panel.
Mahony, who covered up sexual abuse by priests in California, according to church records, retired peacefully at age 75. Only after a court order compelled the Los Angeles archdiocese to open its files on abuse was Mahony gently rebuked by the church.
The National (news cast)
Pope Francis condemns priestly sexual abuse.
Pope Francis condemned priestly sexual abuse and its cover-up by the Catholic Church, in a public letter. In addition to demanding accountability, Francis begged forgiveness for the pain suffered by victims and said Catholics must be involved in any effort to root out abuse.
By any secular standard, the Catholic Church is a corrupt organization. It in fact sets the standard for impunity.
Cardinal Bernard Law, who presided over the coverup of the church’s famous Boston sex abuse scandals, was plucked and brought to Rome by Pope John Paul II, where he resided until he died at the Vatican, beyond the reach of American prosecutors.
Earlier this year, after Bishop Juan Barros of Chile was accused of covering up clerical abuse, Pope Francis denounced the accusers’ “calumny.” When it turned out that there was merit to the accusations, and that the Vatican had been informed of the problem, Francis claimed he’d been misinformed. A few weeks later, all 34 of Chile’s bishops tendered their resignations. Francis eventually accepted three of them.
And now, Catholic activist Susan Reynolds has gathered thousands of signatures on a letter demanding the resignation of all American bishops. It would be the right thing to do, but at a guess, the very notion amuses America’s bishopry, comfortable in their armour of piety.
RICO, aggressively deployed by federal prosecutors using wiretaps, search warrants and informants, would be far more effective. They can’t all flee to Rome.
This column is part of CBC’s Opinion section. For more information about this section, please read this editor’s blog and our FAQ.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neil Macdonald
Opinion Columnist
Neil Macdonald is an opinion columnist for CBC News, based in Ottawa. Prior to that he was the CBC’s Washington correspondent for 12 years, and before that he spent five years reporting from the Middle East. He also had a previous career in newspapers, and speaks English and French fluently, and some Arabic.
More by Neil Macdonald
CBC’s Journalistic Standards and Practices|About CBC News
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As said in my intro page; I will try to be honest about revealing my experiences both good and bad. So here is a shameful one.
Around 9 years old I admitted a few local kids into my secret summer place; namely the attic of our family garage. I had constructed a wall ladder to gain access to an ‘inviting’ trap door I’d spotted. Of course it was a very dirty, dusty space, but definitely my secret place when dad took his dodge to work.
Determining we needed to celebrate but having no money to do so, I shamefully set out a plan to ‘steal’ a cake from a very small family store on Fraser Street a couple of blocks away that only sold bakery products, probably made in house.
Indeed there was splendid cake located on a table close to the door. So one or two of the ‘gang’ were instructed to distract the owner at the rear counter. It was a highly ‘successful’ operation, possibly because of our perceived innocence!
Back at the secret place we more or less gorged ourselves, hand to mouth, having no cutlery. Yes it was shameful, no doubt about it. And I did pay a price! While building a dam along side the road in front of our house, an extremely irate European immigrant single parent approached me with her daughter in hand, one of the ‘gang’ no less!
Her daughter had confessed her sin, and her mother, rightly, acted like I was the evil boy responsible for this stain. She had actually gone and compensated the store owner beforehand.
After her tongue lashing my conscience did kick in. So I knocked on her door and apologized Only reluctantly did she accept, ordering me to have no contact with her (cherished) daughter. It was a good lesson I’ve never forgotten.
Imagine a stealthy entity able to enter your cerebral cortex through your eyes, ears, even your mouth. Subtly it both stimulates and damages your brain cells.
Indeed there is such a worldwide plague even now equally infecting humans from infancy to adulthood!
This destructive entity goes undetected at first, but as time goes on it is transforming. Soon it begins to shape your very personality by altering, influencing, possibly even subtly directing your thoughts and conduct.
Breaking free from it and reversing the negative damage is extremely difficult, similar to addictions like smoking and drugs. And like those addictions its unhealthy effects can be long lasting. In many cases it may have caused loss of objectivity; individuality; balanced perspective; even morality, and reasoning ability!
I submit this is a very real existing global epidemic throughout society today. It could well be described as ‘smart phone neurosis’!
Reality check; never mind ‘Covid-19 fatigue’, how about ‘TV fatigue’!?
Their is no denying TV is a big part of normal 21st century life for a vast majority of mankind. My question is; how many times are we willing to be exposed to the portrayal of gun violence; gross dead bodies; and devious police interviews, to name a few; add nauzeum!
Ok ok, I admit it, some of these well-acted, well-used, format are entertaining, there’s no denying it, assuming you have the desire and patience to watch them that is.
However doesn’t it seem to you that such often repeated programs have become the predominant format producers are ready and willing to embrace for TV production?
Is it because like most current movie productions; some level of ’emotional shock value‘, is the primary goal? How disappointing is it that a majority of TV feature murder and gross violence, repeated over and over again!?
With few exceptions, such as mindless sitcom comedies, uplifting plots are nearly non-existent. Old movies also contain violence, but not to the exclusion of all else! For example…
….whether you’re old enough to remember; ‘Gone with the Wind’; ‘Black beauty’; ‘The Ten Commandments’; ‘The Wizard of Oz’; ‘Driving Miss Daisy’, Look Who’s Coming to Dinner’; and other quality movies, movies that actually encourage some degree of morality, perhaps even a positive outlook on life! It’s my contention such movies and particularly TV shows are real exceptions today. Of course these are merely arbitrary choices, I apologize for that.
Today, positive TV entertainment is most often ‘missing in action’, replaced by degrading immorality, or in many cases fake spirituality. Are such low-brow movies having a debilitating effect on society?
Indeed the result of such so-called ‘entertainment’ may well be contributing to mental issues, suicides, and youth violence, not to mention a general decline in morality!
If parents take their responsibility seriously, they must first set an example for their children. They have their work cut out for them to oversee children’s access to degrading TV programs, including those from internet sources. A serious effort is required to protect them from the wicked influences spewing out of those portrayals.
Many will agree a much needed change to societies ‘norms’ is critical. According to a careful analysis of scripture that complete change and reversal is, in fact, coming very soon! It was and is clearly outlined in the inspired word of God…for example….
‘Do not be upset because of evil men, or be envious of wrongdoers’; ‘The righteous will possess the earth, and they will live forever on it.’ (Psalms 37:1,29)
For much more such real, positive information including video’s, please visit: JW.org
