Vices.

Cupidity, avarice, lying, dishonesty, stealing, violence, intimidation, extortion, exploitation, hate.....

All these things are vices.

Not because they are wrong.

But because they cause human suffering.

They are aspects of selfishness.

And they are inspired by fear.

So look at the fear that underlies this behavior.

And have faith that God can remove it.

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The Blame.

Right-wing Fundamentalist Christians believe they are in a war against evil.

But they invariably blame the wrong people.

They blame Liberals instead of Satanists.

They blame Hippies and Baby-Boomers instead of rock musicians.

And they blame Gays and Lesbians instead of their stars.

Hippies and Baby-Boomers don't even believe that their rock legends are secretly Satanic, so how can they be perpetrators of Satanism?

They are its victims at worst.

 

And Gays and Lesbians are scapegoats for Satanists in our popular culture, but Gays and Lesbians are not evil.

Fundamentalist Christians use the concept of Satan to demonize their political enemies and that is why their efforts continue to fail.

They are blaming the wrong people.

Satanism in rock music and popular culture is thriving because they exploit the weaknesses of Conservatives who scapegoat Liberals and Gays for political purposes.

And the true agents of evil escape unscathed.

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The Nature of God.

God is not angry.

God is not a dictator.

God does not punish us.

God does not judge us.

The Bhagavad-Gita states that God's inmost nature is Love.

And to love is to know God.

The Bible says: "God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them."  1 John 4:16 (NRSV)

Think of your mother's love for you and multiply it.

God will never abandon you, nor will He forget you.

Speak to Him.

He will answer.

And show you His Salvation.

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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Fear.

There are only two things in the universe:

Fear and Love.

Fear is the cause of all the problems in our world.

Fear causes: violence, prejudice, lies, murder, stealing, avarice, force, and hate.

Fear inspired the judgemental theology of the Church.

And fear makes them impose it.

But God is Love.

Love removes our fears.

And when fear is gone 

there is only Love.

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So What Can We Do?

It may be possible to find a Church that is compatible with your own beliefs.

There are (relatively) progressive Churches like the Uniting Church in Australia and the Episcopal Church in the United States.

But you may find old theology and obstruction even there.

Jesus said: "'But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.'"  Matthew 6:6 (NRSV)

You can pray at home in the solitude of your own room.

You might be surprised!

 

"'And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father - the one in heaven.'"  Matthew 23:9 (NRSV)

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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Popular Culture.

It comes as a surprise to some when I say that there is Satanism in our popular culture.

Satanism is hidden in rock music, sports, and entertainment.

And so it is not sufficient merely to reject the teachings of religion because then we are vulnerable to the evil influence of Satanism in our popular culture.

This manifests as: hedonism, violence, vice, selfishness, materialism, cupidity, hate, and evil.....

But most of this is hidden behind a mask of glamour and popularity.

Their intention is to encourage sin which (they believe) will lead to death* and damnation.

This is the work they do for their master.

I do not believe that there is a literal devil in reality.

But the damage they do in his name remains.

There are Satanic temples like the Temple of Set in California.

And the priests and priestesses of these temples instruct people in Satanic magic.

Rock musicians in particular like to reference Aleister Crowley who was an early 20th Century black magician and Satanist.

He left instructions on how to make a pact with the devil.

But this is not widely known. 

And their influence is subtle and subterfuge.

So if you have rejected religion in favor of a secular life you will find that this subtle sabotage leads you into further suffering.

And nothing seems to work.

(*This is death to God as claimed by St. Paul.)  

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Life on Earth.

The reason that life on earth seems so confusing and hopeless is simple:

The authorities in our churches, our synagogues, our mosques, and our temples do not know God.

And therefore their teachings are false.

They teach a carrot and stick style theology which is designed to control sin.

And most of them have a negative attitude towards sexuality.

This results in the situation where the devil seems more appealing to some than God who is seen by them as an insane dictator.

And so we are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.

Between evil and a false god.

Is it any wonder that nothing seems to work?

This is why the prophets and Jesus are so critical of the shepherds - the religious authorities. 

Because they divert people away from the true God who is Mercy and Love.

And they inspire a hatred of God that results in evil.

How many times has God sent a messenger to reform religion but they were not willing.

And now, again, as we enter the Age of Aquarius God is sending a message:

Fear not!  I bring tidings of great joy! 

And good news to the poor.

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