Conjectures of a recovering dilettante --- Welcome to Pizzaonia! Reflections from a different perspective --- Diverti Mento, John Frank Giovanni, Frank John Franco, Vera V. Veronica and all of the Pizza digogo DiVinci family invite you to join us - We discuss and share ideas that are relevant to our new emerging world. A division of the Pizzaonian Newsertainment Network
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Like it or not, within each of us is the seed of authenticity. For most, it remains a seed. Harsh – perhaps, but how many of us have the opportunity or the courage to become our real self.
This does beg the question” What or who is our real self? That self would be the person free of ego and the need for affirmation. Until we are free to be who we are, all of our actions, no matter how seemingly noble are tainted by self-centered ego.
Consider your own person. If it is possible for you to be honest with yourself? How much of whom you really are is allowed to show consistently to everyone.
Here is an exercise that may help. Take two sheets of paper. On the first, write in detail who you really are. This paper will be destroyed as soon as you are finished.
On the second sheet of paper again write the same thing - only this time the paper will be kept for posterity for all to see. Do the papers match? If they do your authentic self is emerging in a very healthy way.
If they don’t, you need to spend the rest of your life getting them to match. That is the true work of a lifetime.
Random thoughts while moving west: A funny thing happened on the way to Utopia
You have to wonder how thoughtless our politicians must think we are. On the other hand, since much of the absurdities, half-truths and outright lies they tell us everyday seem to work, you have to wonder if they are right.
What else could account for the circus that has become the American political system?* Our founding fathers created a system to protect us from an over bearing government. Unfortunately, they did not give us a system that protects us from ourselves.
So as you watch the 2016 national elections unfold, and you ask yourself "where did we go wrong?" Go look in the mirror. You will see the answer staring back at you.
Abe Surdity, reporting from Pizzaonia for the “The Pizzaonian,” a division of the Pizzaonian Newsertainment Network.
* If you have any doubts have you listened to talk radio or watched cable news lately?
View from Chapel Window, Pizzaonian Monasteries, Pizzaonia
Sometimes when you have nothing to say, you say the best things. I wonder why that is? I suspect it happens because of low expectations.
When we take the pressure off of ourselves, our minds are free to do their best. Unfortunately, this is not what the hero or heroine is about in our modern cultures - we are impressed when people perform well under great stress. We secretly wish we could be like that.
Now here is when it becomes counter intuitive. When you see someone doing and saying great things under pressure it is because they don’t feel any pressure at all. Hard to believe, but true.
Again, we should ask, “why is that?’ I suspect it is because so much of our assumptions and belief systems in the modern digital world we live in are, in a word, baloney. Think about it. How much time do we spend considering what assumptions we act on every day when, in fact, they were never true to begin with? If you are honest with yourself, you are probably acting on obsolete belief systems that should have been rethought years ago.
The insecure have all left me at this point - few dare to question their core beliefs. To do so would force us to change our lives. However, for the sake of our discussion, let's keep it simple and stick with people doing great things under pressure – a pressure that I say does not exist.
“Look how effortless it is for him.” “She is so natural; she is so relaxed when she performs.” Comments like this are very common when listening to people talking about great performances. Why can some people perform so well under pressure? And, we always presume that if we were in the same place, we could not do what they do – and you are probably right, but there is a reason for it.
Let’s take it at face value. These super performers, in fact, do not feel pressure, or they would not be able to do what they are doing. One reason should be obvious. They are so good at what they do their experience and untold hours of practice allows them to know intrinsically how good they are, and they no longer have to worry about it. That’s the trick.
Now, all you have to do is know what you are good at and work hard to bring it into being. Easy to say, you say! Indeed, it is, but if you're going to keep using excuses to avoid the obvious, at least, stop kidding yourself.
Brother Franco. Commenting from Pizzaonia for “The Pizzaonian”
It seems that many of us Christians spend a great deal of our time looking for historical certainty as a means of reinforcing our belief in the Christ of the Bible.
It doesn’t take long to realize the futility of this pursuit. Certainly, there are some historical references to Jesus and the disciples, and they can all be questioned as to their recorded accuracy. Again, we come full circle to the same place - in order to accept Jesus as the son of the living God, the Christ, we have to make a complete act of faith in his existence and in his teachings.
A major part of that act of faith is to accept the writings of the New Testament as the word of God. We could argue into infinity as to whether we should accept the teaching of the New Testament literally, or as often is the case in our modern evolution of consciousness, metaphorically.
However, even here, we must come to our own conclusions. It is clear to me some of the words of the New Testament can be accepted literally, other passages since we now live in different times are more understood metaphorically. Neither approach changes the truth of the Word itself. However, we are still left with an act of faith.
Rather than argue over how many angels can sit on the head of a pin, which I consider most of these types of arguments to be; we can speculate on what we might have done if we were going to create a religion that would attract many believers. This is a good exercise since most of our atheist brothers, and sisters believe Christianity is a myth at best, or, at worst, a diabolically conceived plot of ancient Machiavellian types seeking power.
Let’s presume they are right. How would we go about making up a religion?
First off I were going to make up a religion, especially a religion that I wanted everyone to believe so I could use it as a means of power, I would have to give some thought as to what type of faith we would need to create. It might be a good idea first to create a representative of our invented God, rather than someone who claimed to be God. This could be tricky and I would have to come up with ways that would be convincing.
I might even claim this person is related directly to God and as a result would also have authority over all of life that could be demonstrated through miracles and shows of strength that would dazzle virtually everyone. As a matter of faith, we could say that they were actually the same person in two forms.
It seems logical to assume our created, representative of God on earth would be quite majestic, and one with a great deal of obvious power. Then to make the sale, I would promise to give the same qualities to anyone who chose to accept and follow our imaginary God and his likeness on earth.
This means we would have to promise to potential believers that their faith would allow them to lead a pleasant life, where they would have wealth, power and presumably excellent health to enjoy it all. This would appeal to a lot of people, and I would need to give some real thought about how to do this convincingly.
Certainly if I did nothing else, our created representative of this God on earth would have to be a person of obvious political power. Our invented God would show how believing in him would allow you to share in his power. This would attract followers by promising them a good life. I would think that would be virtually a certainty for most people trying to create a religion.
Now let’s consider a few things that I probably would not do. I certainly wouldn’t create a god out of modest beginnings, from a village that most people had never heard of other than those in the immediate vicinity. And if for some reason, in my more vivid periods of creativity, if the God I chose to create came from poor beginnings, I would find a way for him to become powerful very quickly in ways that could be demonstrated to all.
Another thing I don’t think I would do is create a God that was vulnerable and could be harmed by virtually anyone who chose to hurt him, particularly as an infant or child. I doubt seriously if anyone would believe in a religion that came from such humble beginnings.
At the very least once he started to grow up; he would have to be a person with great ambition, and possess the ability to get things done. And for most of us to believe in him, he would have to be able to demonstrate notable achievements like leading an army, or creating substantial wealth, and certainly demonstrate clearly supernatural powers. I think to be plausible he would have to at least do this much.
I surely wouldn’t make him a man who seemed totally powerless. I certainly wouldn’t want to create a God who would respond to violence with some obscure saying as “turn the other cheek.” I would not have him be the kind of person who would say, “If someone takes your coat, then give them your shirt too,” or something like that. Who would believe it?
Let’s consider some other things I might not do. I would most likely not make him an unemployed carpenter. I would in all likelihood not make him a man who simply wandered around talking in parables. Certainly, I would not make him a man who attracted followers who were very ragtag and ordinary in both appearance and ambition.
Let’s think of some other things I most likely wouldn’t do. I probably wouldn’t tell everyone who followed our God that they could expect to be persecuted, maybe tortured, and at the worst die a violent death, all because they believed in me. That doesn’t seem to be the kind of message that would attract too many followers.
One thing for sure when asking what I need to do to a become a follower of our created god, I would not say, “Sell everything and follow me.” I don’t think this would be good marketing – better leave that one alone.
I certainly would not create a God that died an ignoble death upon the cross, the worst form of humiliating execution in existence at the time. I doubt seriously if that would attract many followers.
Last of all I wouldn’t pick a bunch of followers who had very little standing in the community and who would run in fear and terror after the death of their so-called leader. Who would follow a God like that? I would think we would want a God, who would have a little more discernment with the type of folks he left behind to carry on his mission, regardless of the manner of his death.
Let’s not forget the premise of all these musings. Our plan was to start a fake religion that would be followed by people all over the world. If you were one of these devious types trying to invent a fictitious religion, what kind of God would you have created?
I have often wondered how Jesus related to the rest of his family. Again, we have very little to go on and much of what we presume to know is speculation on the part of bible historians. I am going to presume it wasn’t always easy. He had a job to do and this must have caused some strain on those whom he loved and loved him.
We always take for granted that once they were aware of his mission, they assumed their God obedient roles and supported him. This may have been the outcome, but what was it like on the way to their final realization.
There also seems to be some discrepancy regarding who his family*was. We know he had brothers since one of them, James, became the head of the Christian community in Jerusalem after the death of Jesus.
Again, we can learn a lot from every situation if we put ourselves in the same place. While it was a different time, imagine how you would feel if someone you loved, came and told you they were going to leave and do God’s will. Furthermore, imagine the strain this would put on everyone if that person was partly responsible for the family’s income and survival. It is unlikely they all accepted this without hesitation and concern.
Some bible historians suggest his mission was not fully accepted by some members of his immediate family until after his death and resurrection. It is easy to imagine this was the case since it would be consistent with how many of us would react.
One more consideration of the family’s feelings has to be the fact that during his last days, Jesus was seen by most in Jerusalem as a common criminal facing the worst of all possible executions, crucifixion.
By any standard of any time, this had to be an excruciating time for his family and those who loved him. Add to this that many of his closest followers were ready to abandon him. The full impact of what they were dealing with had to be terrifying.
When did Jesus fully grasp the fullness of his relationship with his heavenly father?
What gets lost in the discussion of when did Jesus know he was the son of God, is that he did know sometime before his death. This is the relevant point. He did know. After that, when and how become discussion points and little else.
As important as Jesus knowing he was the son of God is that after his death, his apostles considered him as such. The changed attitude of the apostles from a band of weak and disorganized men to martyrs who willing sacrificed their lives for the expansion of the Christian church is considered one of the true miracles of this era.
What was his vision for a Church? **
Where you end up on this one depends on which Christian church you choose to belong. The Roman church clearly believes Jesus created a hierarchical church with authority that starts at the top with the Pope and works its way down.
If you prefer to accept the orthodoxy of Protestant Christianity, Jesus left an invisible church that becomes his presence on earth. These brief explanations are obviously oversimplified, but you get the point.
The question: What is the significant point? What is material is who believes and lives according to the “Way” that Jesus taught and lived by the example of his life. This is not an easy road. What has fascinated people through the ages is the message Jesus left for us to follow.
“Love your God, love your neighbor as you would love yourself” - “Turn the other cheek.” Pray for your enemies and wish them no harm” - and the toughest one of all: Sacrifice for each other, even if it means giving up your life.
This is a hardly what was expected of a Messiah - especially by those living under Roman oppression in Jerusalem. They expected a hero with sword and armies ready to smite once and for all the enemy.
Instead, they got love and sacrifice as the true path to a loving God. The world is still trying to deal with this and obviously not very well.
So Jesus remains the Christian Messiah, mysterious and elusive as ever.
None of what I have shared with you in these four parts is to be considered anything other than my opinions on the subject. I would like to consider this an opening act to the real show – your continued exploration of this extraordinary man called Jesus.
How does one make a life commitment to a set of religious principles based on the life and teachings of one man who claims to be “the son of God” or for that matter, on the life and teachings of any prophet who claims a divine relationship?
If you are trying to work this out on a rational basis you are going to come to the inevitable abyss that can only be crossed by an act of faith. So proceed with a warning and with caution.
Within every religious tradition, you find an oral history that was told to each succeeding generation until the means to transcribe that history on a permanent basis became available. And since humans were involved in this endeavor, there has always been within each tradition conflicting versions of which oral history was authentic, creating more confusion as to which written history is valid.
We are left with the inevitable conclusion that one of the most important realities a believer accepts as their primary motivation for living a life of “faith” is purely a matter of personal belief and little else. Since this is a rational and reasonable conclusion, why then is there so much intolerance for accepting other religious traditions when no one can rationally prove they have the "Truth.” Or is the answer obviously avaiable within the question?
When one chooses to live a life based on assumptions that cannot be proven and then is confronted with the rational notion that what you believe may not be true, it is logical to presume you are going to see the effect that is created when these two conflicting realities meet. Unfortunately, history has shown us how violent and tragic these reactions can be.
What are we left with? Can there be a rational basis for faith or is the idea an oxymoron? Every person of faith must first face this question alone, and then with their God.