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 
“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
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Political Commentary, Religion
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