“Ye of Little Faith!”
People have preached to me about Armageddon, yet I do not explain my own faith. I find the idea of Armageddon repulsive and demonstrates a lack of faith in God. My grandmother would often say, when I lacked any faith: “Ye of little faith!” Presumably this derives from a book in the library called, “Bible.” My grandmother also would repeat, “judge not lest ye be judged.”
The book of Revelation, where Armageddon is discussed, was hotly disputed as to whether it should be part of the “Christian” canon. Yet, there it is with all it’s nastiness and hate.
The idea of Armageddon, “dooms day,” and day of wrath is about our OWN judgment day. In the faith I gained while growing up, we were told to be responsible for our own actions, lest that day would be upon us. My mother would often say, “you have enough to worry about with your own stuff, so don’t worry about what others are doing.” Mothers are correct. “God helps those who help themselves,” was another quotation floated around me while growing up.
My grandfather was a friend of [Dr.] Norman Vincent Peale during Peale’s undergraduate years in college. My family believed in the power of “positive thinking.” “The glass is half full, not half empty.” There are times it is difficult to be positive. There are times it is difficult to remain positive without appearing to have “wishful thinking.” Positive thinking is NOT about “wishful thinking.” Those who attack ideas of “positive thinking” attack it with false attacks of “wishful thinking.” They don’t understand, nor do they attempt to understand.
My ideas are written here for people to freely choose to read. I do not force these ideas upon others, unless asked. I do not give these ideas unsolicited.
But many judgmental people will force their ideas about “dooms day” upon me. I find this to be irritating, annoying, downright nasty, and most of all – harassment. The USA Prohibition era was a time of nastiness, forcing judgment upon the entire population, in a fascist manner. My grandmother, in her younger college-age years was part of the movement to prohibit alcohol. So why, in later years, did she tell me to “judge not lest you be judged?” Because my grandmother learned something which Diana Butler Bass reminds us about in her book, Christianity for the Rest of Us: “seek wisdom, not certainty.” Others who knew of her aversion to alcohol and her days as a “prohibitionist” might find her to be a hypocrite while repeating, “judge not lest you be judged.” But they fail to realize there was a huge crisis and event in her life which taught her wisdom. Why does it take such catastrophic events to teach wisdom? Why can we not learn wisdom from what others do to teach about it? Good questions. The ones who are loudmouths harass me with their negative vibes of “dooms day,” but fail to pursue ideas and LEARN from others who might have more wisdom.
The point of Diana Butler Bass’s book is about spirituality. The notion of spirituality is lost upon those who embrace “dooms day” theology. “Dooms day” theology promotes negative “spirituality” based on fear and intimidation. Therefore, one can say this is an evil spirituality. But go ahead, point the finger at me and say the same thing about positive thinking. The day of judgment is upon you, as two fingers point back at you, too. Precisely the reason a wise old woman said to me, “judge not lest you be judged!”
Douglas Cornwell
Tioga Herald
Tioga Herald 
Dana Loesch
Dana Loesch needs to be challenged and I am one ready for the debate. But will anyone allow that, or do we have to continue to listen to only one side of every issue without considering there might be some other facts and issues overlooked?
Dana Loesch: “the godless left.”
Dana, you ignorant slut. First, you point your finger at a group of people – in stubborn ignorance. Remember, there are several fingers pointing back at you.
Godless left. Let’s see. Some of us supposed “left” believe in the gospels of Jesus Christ and believe that the words of the gospels trump (whoops! I don’t want to use that word!) – er – negate – negate the words of Paul when there is a conflict.
Conflict! Conflict! Conflict! Paul says “bad associations spoil useful habits.” Jesus spent a great deal of his time with the dregs of society – “bad association.” He never would have convinced the hated tax collector, Matthew, to join with Jesus, had Jesus NOT spent time with “bad associations” and remained strong in faith. Christ was criticized for spending time with Samaritans and lepers and what not. Today, those with AIDS are considered by pompous people who CALL themselves right wing christians to be, “bad associations.” Same with transgendered and gay people. Considered by pompous self-righteous right-wing religionists to be “bad associations,” transgendered and gay people are being attacked – by the likes of Dana Loesch, too. Dana – you ignorant slut. You stubbornly ignorant slut because you REFUSE to discuss the issues and do what is basic to our society – synthesize facts which just might not measure up to your own mis-guided interpretations of life.
Conflict! Conflict! Conflict! Paul said something about men with the same sex. Jesus Christ never said a word condemning Jonathan’s love of David and Naomi and Ruth. Jesus also chose NOT to quote the same Hebrew texts which Paul quoted. And if Jesus Christ quoted Sodom and Gomorrah, it was to inform us that God does not like building walls against aliens – strangers – because God does not tolerate the raping of men AND women in violent acts which put to shame those who visited Sodom and Gomorrah – the “strangers” … the “immigrants.” If Jesus Christ had quoted from Genesis 19, he was telling us that God hates violent acts of rape. Period. Compare Genesis 19 to Judges 19. In Judges 19, a rape REALLY occurs. Rape is THREATENED at Genesis, but it does not occur. And, so. Tell me, Ms. Right Wing ignorant slut, that God approves of raping and killing women – because GOD never intervened in the story at Judges 19, where a woman was raped and murdered. It makes no sense to me that God would interfere in an act at Sodom and Gomorrah where rape was only THREATENED, but not at the story at Judges 19. Makes no sense, Ms. ignorant slut.
And, Ms. Ignorant Slut, Dana Loesch. Tell me. Do you support the once-enforced Dixie Jim Crow Laws (until the Federal government stepped in) when a white MAJORITY subjected a black MINORITY to lynchings and unequal treatment? People voted for those laws – except the minority. And when a black person wanted services at a restaurant or other business, they were denied, according to the Jim Crow laws. Because if you support a baker who denies service to a gay couple getting married, you support Jim Crow Laws. And stubbornly ignorant folks used the Bible to justify those laws, which are false interpretations. Deceit and being false against the word of God. That’s blasphemy. But it’s preached, along with hate based on STUBBORN IGNORANCE, in right-wing churches.
I ask. Who really are the “godless” ones? I see left-wing people who reject religious organizations which don’t preach the truth. But they don’t reject God. Amen and Allelujah! So, Ms. Ignorant Slut, Dana Loesch, be careful what you preach because you might be struck by lightning.
Bibsinger
Speaking for a PROGRESSIVE AMERICA and HUMANITY AND CIVILIZATION, not stubborn ignorance which leads to hatred and a fascist government of the mob, not the people.
Category:
New Comments
Tagged with: