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Scientology Opens Record Number of New Churches Around the World in 2010

Scientology Opens Record Number of New Churches Around the World in 2010











On April 24th, the new Ideal Org of Los Angeles opened its doors


Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) January 28, 2011

In 2010, major Churches of Scientology opened across Europe, North America and Africa.

These new Churches are the realization of Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard’s vision, where he prescribed the standard and model for all Churches of Scientology to aspire to in becoming what he called an Ideal Organization (Org). Ideal Orgs are built to provide all services of the Scientology religion while also serving as a home for the community at large for the cooperative advancement of the underprivileged and forsaken of every ethnic and denomination. Ideal Orgs are made possible by the contributions of Scientology parishioners dedicated to uplifting their communities and helping their fellow man.

New Church Grand Openings are attended by thousands of parishioners, guests and dignitaries from across the social spectrum.


    The first new Ideal Org opened in 2010 was the Brussels branch of the Churches of Scientology for Europe, on the 23rd of January. Thousands of guests were on hand from across Europe to cut the ribbon on an 88,000-square-foot historic structure along Boulevard de Waterloo. Among the distinguished guests was the Honorable Hugo Coveliers, Senator in the Belgian Parliament, who addressed those gathered: “This new Church in the capital city of Europe stands as a beautiful testament to your help, and you can be certain of my continued support. You care for people, and this Church is such an example of this attitude.” Since opening, dignitaries from across the European community have visited the Church and toured its massive Public Information Center, comprising hundreds of multimedia presentations illustrating Scientology beliefs (19), the life and legacy of Founder L. Ron Hubbard, and the full array of Church-sponsored social betterment and community outreach programs. (Watch the video: Churches of Scientology for Europe Grand Opening.)

    One week later, on the 30th of January, Scientologists and their guests assembled in Quebec, at the heart of the Nouvo Saint-Roch district to open a new Ideal Org for that city. Many dignitaries participated in the dedication, including the Honorable Pamela Appelt, from the International Center for Human Rights and Democratic Development, who declared: “It has been my privilege to work alongside the Church of Scientology for 25 years. Whatever the issue, you have answers that are useful to anyone in public service.” (Watch the video: Church of Scientology of Quebec Grand Opening.)

    The following week, on the 6th of February, came the Grand Opening of the new Church of Scientology and Celebrity Centre of Las Vegas. Thousands of Scientologists and community leaders gathered to dedicate the new Ideal Org designed to serve those who work in the entertainment capital of the world. Those taking the podium for the ceremony included United States Congresswoman Shelley Berkley and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, who stated: “As the Mayor of the fastest-growing city, I look forward to partnering with you, as the fastest-growing religion.” (Watch the video: Church of Scientology and Celebrity Centre of Las Vegas Grand Opening.)

    On the 26th of March, a new Scientology Life Improvement Centre opened in Johannesburg, South Africa, directly adjacent to the nation’s university. Joining Scientologists for the dedication ceremony were university students, community leaders and government officials. The welcoming address was delivered by Ms. Phumzile Zuma, daughter of the nation’s president. (Watch the video: Johannesburg Scientology Life Improvement Centre Grand Opening.)

    On April 24th, the new Ideal Org of Los Angeles opened its doors. More than 6,000 parishioners and guests celebrated the opening of this Church which stands at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and L. Ron Hubbard Way. Formally welcoming the Church were a host of local and state officials, including State Assembly Member Karen Bass and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, who spoke to the Church’s social betterment programs in his address: “Your drug education means everything to the safety of our schools and neighborhoods. That is why we trained a corps of our own deputies in the use of your unbeatable program. So I want to thank each and every one of you for everything you do in helping me do my job.” (Watch the video:Church of Scientology of Los Angeles Grand Opening.)

    On the 10th of July, the National Scientology Organization opened in Mexico City. More than 7,000 Scientologists and guests attended the dedication of this first Scientology Ideal Org in Latin America, in a fully restored cultural landmark that stands near Mexico’s National Fine Arts Palace and the Supreme Court. Here, too, officials took the opportunity to recognize the Church and its social betterment programs. Ms. Laura Chapa from the Federal Ministry of Education addressed the gathering by stating: “I believe that with the opening of this new Organization, leaders of all sectors of society will have the same realization I had: that you have the solution. And so I also believe that what will come from this new Organization is a turning point for our nation.” (Watch the video: National Scientology Organization for Mexico Grand Opening.)

    On the 17th of July, an assemblage of 4,200 parishioners and guests filled the streets to inaugurate the new Church of Scientology of Pasadena. The heritage of the 58,000-square-foot historic Victorian landmark is preserved in the fully restored structure, including the classic four-story atrium galleria, and the interior Chapel featuring Tiffany-inspired stained glass windows as a backdrop for Scientology religious services and community gatherings. Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard was among the notable guests who participated in the dedication ceremonies: “With this beautifully restored structure in Old Pasadena, the Church of Scientology represents not only a growing religion, but an important factor in the future of this city.” (Watch the video: Church of Scientology of Pasadena Grand Opening.)

    On the 24th of July, parishioners and their guests congregated just blocks from the Seattle Center and Space Needle for the opening of the new Church of Scientology of Washington State. Among those welcoming the new Church was State Supreme Court Justice Richard Sanders, with whom the Church has partnered in the field of human rights for 35 years: “There is nothing more important in life than being true to yourself and standing up for what you believe. That is freedom, and that is what makes life worth living. And that, to me, is what you represent.” (Watch the video: Church of Scientology of Washington State Grand Opening.)
____________________

In the last five years, the implementation of Mr. Hubbard’s vision for Ideal Orgs has resulted in 22 new Churches. An additional 60 buildings are currently under construction or renovation to house Ideal Orgs scheduled to open over the next two years.

____________________

The Scientology religion was founded by author and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard. The first Church of Scientology was formed in the United States in 1954 and has today expanded to more than 9,000 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups, with millions of members in 165 countries.

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Posted on November 22, 2011 by , Reply

Churches of Scientology Surgut, Moscow and Nizhnekamsk Successfully Fight Anti-Religious Extremism in Russia

Churches of Scientology Surgut, Moscow and Nizhnekamsk Successfully Fight Anti-Religious Extremism in Russia














Los Angeles, CA (Vocus) April 22, 2010

In March 2010, a milestone judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of religious associations of the Church of Scientology in Surgut (application #76836/01) and Nizhnekamsk (application #32782/03) became final.

This judgment follows a 2007 ruling of the same court in favor of the Church of Scientology Moscow, requiring the Russian government to register the church as a religious organization (application #18147/02).

The judgment of the European Court — dated October 1, 2009, final since March 8, 2010 – found a violation of rights of the applicants by the Russian Federation, in particular, violation of the provisions of Article 9 of the Convention (freedom of thought, conscience and religion) in the light of Article 11 (freedom of assembly and association).

The court found that “the restricted status afforded to religious groups under the Religions Act did not allow members of such a group to enjoy effectively their right to freedom of religion, rendering such a right illusory and theoretical rather than practical and effective, as required by the Convention.

“The applications for registration as a religious organization submitted by the first and second applicants as founders of their respective groups… were denied by reference to the insufficient period of the groups’ existence. Finally, the restricted status of a religious group for which they qualified and in which the third applicant existed conveyed no practical or effective benefits to them as such a group was deprived of legal personality, property rights and the legal capacity to protect the interests of its members and was also severely hampered in the fundamental aspects of its religious functions.

“In the instant case the Russian Government did not identify any pressing social need which the impugned restriction served or any relevant and sufficient reasons which could justify the lengthy waiting period that a religious organization had to endure prior to obtaining legal personality.”

President of the Church of Scientology of Nizhnekamsk, Mr. Emir Ramazanov, stated, “The judgment of the European Court not only raises the standards of the protection of freedom of conscience and freedom of association to a new level in Russia and in Europe, but also confirms that the European standards guarantee the protection even when injustice comes from national laws.”

The Scientology religion was founded by author and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard. Scientologists believe that Man is an immortal spiritual being and basically good, and that the spiritual potential of Man can be restored (i.e., man can be salvaged) within one lifetime. The first church was opened in the United States in 1954. Now Scientology has over 8,500 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups and millions of members in 165 countries. In Russia there are over 40 churches and Mission of Scientology, from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok.

Contact: Karin Pouw

Phone: (323) 960-3500

Fax: (323) 960-3508

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Posted on December 16, 2010 by , Reply

A Challenge to the Churches

A Challenge to the Churches

By Punkerslut

I offer a challenge to the churches… I challenge that they
release their mentality, that they must deal with matters wholly
supernatural, and that they offer knowledge with actual
relevance to the physical world. That I may go into a church
without hearing talk of how the gods see us, what we must do to
save our souls, or the thoughts which the immortals have at the
moment, to avoid hearing such manifestations of superstition, is
one of my challenges to the churches. That they may offer
guidance to people in matters of their lives and how they live,
instead of condemning and praising, instead of preachery and
oratory — I challenge that the churches serve the people in
ways that help the people. That they base their foundation in
offering moral support of the people, that they may live and
work in a way that benefits themselves and their community in
the greatest manner. To have services that conform to the needs
of the people, instead of trying to conform the people to some
divine mandate beyond the reach of any mortal; to hold the
belief that a person’s innate nature can never be their own
blame; to hold the belief that individuals must travel their own
path in life to achieve the happiness they desire — to
understand that a person is not just another two needs bent on a
pew, this is what I desire of the church.

I challenge that the churches offer sympathy and kindliness to
all people, whether they worships a different god, many gods, or
no god at all. Had I been given power to write the constitution
of the hearts of the clergy, I would have the first article
dictate that all men are their brothers, that there is no crime
that can be committed that would grant them a writ of cruelty to
the criminal, that they will close their doors to no man, deny
refuge to no soul, hold in contempt any spirit that reaches
towards the sanctuary of the inner heart, and the result of
inner peace. A man can believe in whatever he wishes, whatever
insane ideologies or obscure myths, and he may refer to my own
dedicated beliefs in the same manner: they will say it is
ridiculous to refrain from eating meat, they will claim it is an
absurdity to deny the existence of god, they will state that sex
outside of a committed relationship is outlandish. Their opinion
is their own, and they have a right to it. Whatever that opinion
is, it must be understand that this opinion is held by a person
— it is held by a conscious being, one that is not unknown to
the torments of misery, one that is not beyond the understanding
of happiness, one that knows and feels conflict and suffering,
joy and ecstacy. I have known many Christian men who have said
that if you take away the beliefs of a man, you have nothing
left! Such a creed is founded on the unconventional orthodoxy of
religion. I say this: that a person is a person, and no matter
what beliefs they have formed about the universe, that they
should form them by their own mind’s inquiry and investigation,
and that no matter what conclusions they come to, they are to be
regarded in a manner that takes into consideration that they are
still persons, capable of emotion, just as much as any person. I
would have this: that the churches accept and honor every man
and woman, regardless of their beliefs.

If a person were to sit in the pews of a church and listen to
the sermon, for every one hundred words spoken on religion and
matters of the unseen, they will hear one word on how to treat
their fellow men like their brothers. For every one thousand
times the preacher touches upon the topic of how we must respect
our father who resides in heaven, he will touch upon once the
obligation that we have to respect our brothers and sisters —
our family of humanity — who reside on this planet. There are
ten less times that a preacher will speak on behalf of those who
are mortal than those who are immortal, and one hundred fewer
times a preacher will claim our duty to the unseen than to the
living and breathing mass of creatures on this planet. I make
this challenge to the churches: that instead of being burdens on
the community, to become a benefit to their lives. Instead of
exerting their energy in such a directionless manner as to
demand prayer, do not demand anything; instead, only make pleas
with them that they are humane in all their dealings with their
fellow men, that they do not destroy the lives of those around
them, that to plant flowers of joy on this planet is the
greatest of duties. Churches, if you have one humane sentiment,
then express it with every manner you have at disposal! That is
my challenge to the churches: that they place more emphasis on
being humane than being religious.

In travelling the United States, my friends and I have seen
many glorious churches and temples, but we all confess that
there is nothing so enchanting to our soul than that of the
cathedral of nature. For every dollar the church puts towards
its architectural impressiveness, I challenge that they put ten
dollars to feeding the hungry and housing the homeless, that
their deeds should impress my heart rather than their buildings
sicken my mind. Instead of purchasing another stone, that the
height of the tallest church may be increased by just one foot,
I challenge the church and all the clergy, that the money goes
to buying ten meals, that the unfortunate, neglected, and
abandoned may have food for today. Without filling their pockets
with the coin of pew-fillers, I challenge the church to reach
out to every downtrodden individual, to every oppressed mass,
and give them the necessities, so that their existence is not
without aid. I challenge the church to do this: to treat the
world as its cathedral and spread the wealth, and to abandon its
current doctrine, that the world is its cemetery, where things
unwanted are to be placed. Before the sun rises and sets again,
over a million will still be yearning for the basic needs of
life, and over a million will be refused. Instead of preaching
on the goodness of god, I demand the churches to call upon the
goodness of man, and to show respect and charity to those who
have little to live for in this life. Give them not the Bible,
but give them food. Teach not of the divine, but teach with
actions. I challenge the churches to help end poverty instead of
expanding their cathedrals and temples.

The world is emerging from a time where societies have become
industrial, where a worker is regarded no more than the cogs in
the machine he runs, where living has been reduced to the
economy of space. For thousands of years, different forms of
tyrannies have slowly been overcome, different revolutions have
occured in the hearts and minds of men, and slowly as
Humanitarian ideals spread, we have struggled to reach the
shores of our lives. I challenge the churches this: that no
injustice will be overlooked, that there should be a light for
those who must presside in the dark, that cruelty and malice are
forever to be considered a weakness and not a strength, a vice
and not a virtue. I challenge the churches to aid the workers of
the world in their struggle to liberate themselves, to give
support to Animal Rights and Human Rights activists as they work
patiently for the conclusion of Democracy and liberty, to not
ask people to reform themselves but to ask them to take part in
the reform of society, and reform themselves only insomuch that
a better society may be the result of it. That is my challenge
to the churches, no matter what nation they hail from, or what
people attend it. Unless this challenge is met and bested, I
only remain at my conclusion: that a world without churches, is
a world with one more virtue.

www.punkerslut.com

For Life, Punkerslu

Punkerslut (or Andy Carloff) has been writing essays and poetry
on social issues which have caught his attention for several
years. His website www.punkerslut.com provides a complete list
of all of these writings. His life experience includes
homelessness, squating in New Orleans and LA, dropping out of
high school, getting expelled from college for “subversive
activities,” and a myriad of other revolutionary actions.

Posted on September 6, 2010 by , Reply

Financing Religious Use Property – Churches are Businesses Which Also Need Financing

Financing Houses of God

Church lending can be intimidating even to the most seasoned loan officer or loan originator. However, financing a church and its dreams are not too difficult to master. The church loan or loan for religious use are not ordinary by any stretch of the imagination. Yet they can be rewarding and you can even make some money in the process.

Lending Fears

There are a few basic fears that keep most from lending on Churches.

Foreclosure. Foreclosing on a ‘House of God’ and ridding a community of it’s place of worship turns a majority of lenders off from the get go (not us, we love church loans).

Single Use-Special Use Property Type.The uniqueness of most church properties is another turn off for most lenders. What do you do with a building that has a steeple, choir loft, stained glass, naives, aspy’s, altars, pews for 300? What kind of resale market is there? How long will it take to sell? What if grounds also contain a cemetery? Now what?

Qualifying. Churches are not-for-profit organizations. So, they don’t have tax returns nor do they have traditional methods of determining income for qualifying. So, again most lenders will steer away from anything that is not traditional.

Lending is simple on Churches

When lending on a church the first criteria is to determine the denomination. Yep, denomination. Reason being that not all loan programs will lend to just any denomination. A statistic I picked up from the US State Department, is that there are 565 organized and recognized religions in the world. From mainstream to off beat, they exist. Since loan funds are derived from various sources or pools of funds, it is important to match the correct denomination with the correct sources. For example, you wouldn’t want to seek financing for a Temple or Shrine from a Christian Pastoral Retirement Trust Fund. These practices are not congruent in their belief systems with each other. The end game may be the same for all, however the path and practices to get there are very different and can be offensive to each other.

The next item is responsibility for the proposed loan. You need to determine if personal guarantees are going to be an issue with the religious organization. If not, you have just openned the door for sources to finance the church. However, over 85% of the time personal guarantees will be a big deal to the church and the sources that want the guarantee are out of the picture.

The third issue is banking business requirements. Some sources require the church to move most or all of its banking business to the institution that is writing the loan. About 50% of Churches don’t like this covenant either.

What is the basic information that you will need?

Church Questionnaire (a form of application)

Church’s Statement of Faith

Church’s Organizational Documents with a statement of Good Standing from the state of organization

3-yrs financials (e.g. Quick Books) + YTD profit and loss

Pastor’s or Church Leader’s Resume

Use of funds letter

Authorization to Lend Letter

Evidence of tax exempt status

Color Digital Photos of church property

Primary church contact or liaison person(s)

Although there are many additional items and steps, with these basics you are well on your way of being able to professionally present a package to a lender.

Rates, Fees, Making an Income

I almost forgot these key items. Church loans current have rates in the 6.50% to 9.50% range, with fees running in the 3-6% of loan amount.  This is the norm and is most typical. I know that there are times when Church’s obtain financing outside these norms, but that has to do with hundreds of variables specific to that organization.

As far as making income–in you think you are going to be earning 2-3 pts. on the deal…Stop. Not going to happen. Church loan sources are very strict about what you can earn, so if you get 1/2 to 1 pt on the deal, be grateful. When you do a great job for a church, Pastors, Deacons, Bishops, and other leaders talk–word gets out you treat them fairly, more deals will come your way.

By the way, if you missed it, we love church loans and we’d love to be of assistance. I can be reached via cfrgroup@att.net or visit our web site at www.mycommerciallendingpro.com

 

Gregg S Cochran, President of CFR Mortgage Group, Inc. a wholesale commercial lender based in Tustin, CA.

Posted on August 29, 2010 by , Reply

A Greater Awakening: 21st Century Letter to the Churches in the Usa

The Editor-in-Chief of SOJOURNERS Magazine, the Evangelical Jim Wallis has released a new book, The Great Awakening, written with hope to wake up American institutionalized Christians to be a part of the rebirth and renewal to heal, mend and transform “the biblical scandal of poverty around the globe and here at home, the crisis of environmental degradation and climate change that pose a threat to God’s creation, and to the multiple assaults on human life and dignity that shame our world.” [Page 12, Feb. 2008, SOJOURNERS]

Jim’s seeking revival, but this non-institutional Christian of The Beatitudes, is calling for a revolution and it begins with common sense and goes retro; back to the voices of wisdom that founded this nation.

“Soon after I had published the pamphlet “Common Sense” [on Feb. 14, 1776] in America, I saw the exceeding probability that a revolution in the system of government would be followed by a revolution in the system of religion… The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.”-Tom Paine

Wallis proposes Seven Principals and Rules of Engagement for Christian political involvement in the world:

1. God hates injustice.

2. The kingdom of God is a new order.

3. The church is an alternative community

4. The kingdom of God transforms the world by addressing the specifics of injustice.

5. The church is the conscience of the state, holding it accountable for upholding justice and restraining its violence.

6. Take a global perspective.

7. Seek the common good.

All seven points are well and good and I wish Jim luck and pray he does indeed arouse the sleeping Christians for the western institutions have failed at its commission. Too many churches in the USA have become places to socialize and be entertained and to be patted on the back just for doing the minimum of what is required if one claims to be a Christian; and churches have become business’s that maintain the status quo and not so much about the social gospel.

The gospel-which means good news, that Jesus preached, was very political and a direct challenge to the politically powerful and the arrogant, self-satisfied, self-righteous teachers of the law.

Two thousand years ago the Cross had NO symbolic religious meaning and was not a piece of jewelry. When Jesus said: “Pick up your cross and follow me,” everyone back then understood he was issuing a POLITICAL statement, for the main roads in Jerusalem were lined with crucified agitators, rebels, dissidents and any others who disturbed the status quo of the Roman Occupying Forces.

In the latter days of Nero’s reign [54-68 A.S.] through the domination of Domitian [ 81-96] Christians were persecuted for following the nonviolent, loving and forgiving Jesus. That Jesus was first left behind when Augustine penned the Just War Theory.

Before Emperor Constantine brought Christianity into the mainstream, all the early Church Fathers taught that Christians should not serve in the army but instead willingly suffer rather than inflict harm on any other. St. Augustine was the first Church Father to consider the concept of a Just War and within 100 years after Constantine, the Empire required that all soldiers in the army must be baptized Christians and thus, the decline of Christianity began in earnest.

With the justification of war and violence supplied by Augustine’s Just War Theory, wrong became right. Nothing much has changed in two millennia, for in today’s Orwellian world politicians claim the way to peace is through war and that nuclear weapons provide protection. American money claims ‘In God we Trust’ but the truth is America’s faith is in an out of control Military Industrial Complex that seeks domination, power and control over any who would defy and challenge the American status quo. Eisenhower warned America not to bind our economy to the Industrial Military Complex and like most prophets, he was ignored.

In 313 AD, Emperor Constantine legitimized Christianity and thus, those who had been considered rebels and outlaws began to enjoy political power and prestige. Jesus’ other name is The Prince of Peace, and with the marriage of church and state, his true teachings were reinterpreted. The justification of warfare and the use of state sponsored violence corrupted what Christ modeled and taught. Jesus was always on about WAKE UP! The Divine already indwells you and all others. Christ taught that to follow him requires that one must love ones enemies; one must forgive those who hate, curse and revile them, without even a thought of payback.

Christ lived a life that proved evil can be opposed without being mirrored, and that the cycle of a “tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye”, will never bring peace and justice. Before Emperor Constantine brought Christianity into the mainstream, all the early Church Fathers taught –and all Christians never served in the army but instead willingly suffered rather than inflict harm on any other.

The term Christianity was not coined until three decades after Christ walked the earth. Until the day of Paul, followers of Christ were called members of The Way; the way being what he taught!

Christ was never a Christian, but he was a social justice, radical revolutionary Palestinian devout Jewish road warrior who rose up [intifada in Arabic] for he challenged the job security of the Temple authorities by teaching the people they did NOT need to pay the priests for ritual baths or sacrificing livestock to be OK with God; for God already LOVED them just as they were: sinners, poor, diseased, outcasts, widows, orphans, refugees and prisoners all living under Roman Military Occupation.

What got Jesus crucified was disturbing the status quo of the Roman Occupying Forces of his time, by teaching the subversive concept that Caesar only had power because God allowed it and that God preferred the humble sinner, the poor, diseased, outcasts, widows, orphans, refugees and prisoners all living under Roman Occupation above the elite and arrogant!

Clement, Tertillian, Polycarp and every other early Church Father taught that violence was a contradiction of what Christ was all about. There have always been those Christians who spoke out against this corruption of scripture and they have been ignored, reviled, rejected, mocked, persecuted and maligned throughout time. There have always been Christians who have never abandoned the true teachings, such as the Quakers, Mennonites, some Catholics and Protestants who have been faithful witnesses to Christ by denouncing violence and caring for the poor. There have also always been Jews, Muslims, atheists, anarchists, secularists, rebels and revolutionaries have lived lives that embody the message of Christ; have in fact done what he actually said, which was most revolutionary.

Christ, you know it ain’t easy

You know how hard it can be

The way things are going

They’re gonna crucify me-John Lennon

The institutionalized Christians may crucify me for claiming that many who attend 21st century American churches have re-crucified and maligned Jesus, for they worship an institution and pages in the Bible. All institutions are man made and the Bible was not FAXED in from heaven, it was written down after centuries of the oral history being passed down. When ever stories are retold, they change, and we all know this if we ever played the childhood game of telephone. Scribes were imperfect human who made many mistakes as they recopied texts; many also added their own point of view and some even left out what they chose to.

The most decisive event in the history of Christendom occurred when Emperor Constantine accepted the Christian faith, for those who had once been persecuted were now protected by an earthly king. Both a patriarchal monarchical state and church were formed at the same time. Power struggles and debates were common among the early Christians. Individual churches determined which texts were read, and they all had their favorites. Constantine sought to unite his empire, and uniting the church was a savvy political move. He announced he would pay for fifty illuminated copies of scripture to be bound, and thus the biblical canon was established and sealed. There was fierce debate among the bishops about what should be included and what left out.

The proto-orthodox, who had now become the dominant voice, determined what was heretical for everyone. The proto-orthodox demanded much-loved scripture to be burned, usually because it did not fit their understanding of God. We know more today about how diverse Christianity had once been with the discovery of the Nag´ Hammâdi Library. [Refer to Part One is this series for more information]

I may get crucified for this, but I contend that there is a cult within The Body of Christ in the USA that worships the institution and pages in the Bible, and it is a cult of the dead. Just because the canon was sealed, does not mean that God stopped talking to his creation and we can all hear Him/She/? in the voice of our own conscience, as well as in the voices of open vessels such as poets, musicians, critics, dissidents and rebels throughout history.

Just because I no longer do church, I am still connected to the mystical Body of Christ and the most rigid of fundamentalists are my sisters and brothers. St. Paul, who never failed to express his freedom of speech, warned the followers of Christ, NOT to judge the unbeliever but to provoke the believer onto good works. My hope and prayer is to mend, heal and repair the flabby Body of Christ in the west by reconnecting it to its very roots in the land where Jesus walked and taught that it is the peacemakers who are the children of God; not those that starve, bomb, torture or occupy others.

The Christian EXODUS from the Holy land-which is in pieces; Bantustans, has rendered their numbers from 20% of the total to less than 1.3% since 1948, and it is NOT because of Islam, but because of a brutal, inhumane military occupation which denies them human rights and ignores international law aided and abetted by the American government and its citizens hard earned tax dollars.

Every individual Christian is but one cell in the cosmic Body of Christ. “So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” -Romans 12:4

“Its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part [of The Body] suffers, every part suffers with it.”-1 Corinthians 12:25-26

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and all the prophets said, “You will recognize the believers in their having Mercy for one another, and in their Love for one another, and in their Kindness towards one another; like the body, when one member of it hurts, the entire body hurts.”

John Lennon penned The Wedding Ballad Of John & Yoko a few weeks after their 1969 marriage and then held a bed-in for peace to awaken the world via a media event to the abomination of the war in Vietnam. Using the global stage John said, “Yoko and I are quite willing to be the world’s clowns; if by doing it we do some good…And I’m saying peace…The struggle is in the mind. We must bury our own monsters and stop condemning people. We are all Christ and Hitler. We want Christ to win. We’re trying to make Christ’s message contemporary. What would he have done if he had advertisements, records, films, TV and newspapers! Christ made miracles to tell his message. Well, the miracle today is communications, so let’s use it.”

That battle rages on to make Christ contemporary and in this ongoing series I will be utilizing the World Wide Web.

The above was Part Four in the Series: “We have it in our power to begin the world again”-Tom Paine

Part 1 in this series: “We have it in our power to begin the world again”-Tom Paine

http://wearewideawake.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=759&Itemid=184

Part 2 in this series: The Stages of the Soul and How Religiosity/Fundamentalism is holding up Evolution

http://www.wearewideawake.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=775&Itemid=184

Part 3 in this series: Prophets, Doors, Walls: MLK, X, Lennon, Gaza and Thee

http://www.wearewideawake.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=778&Itemid=184

Eileen Fleming,

Reporter and Editor WAWA:

http://www.wearewideawake.org/

Author “Keep Hope Alive” and “Memoirs of a Nice Irish American ‘Girl’s’ Life in Occupied Territory”

Producer “30 Minutes With Vanunu”

Posted on May 21, 2010 by , Reply