Merry Christmas 2011

Regardless of what ANYONE tells you, there is only one reason for Christmas.


Christ Mass. It is a time we have set aside to remember and honor the Birth of THE Christ, Jesus.

1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

3When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
Matthew 2

8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2

MERRY CHRISTMAS! To all of you and to your families. May you have a Happy and Healthy Holiday.
Peter

‘Keep Christ In Christmas’ Sign Stirs Controversy

So to Pitman NJ.

Hey folks,


Lets spend some time in Pitman NJ. A little Town of like 14,000 people. It's Christmas time. There is a Sign that the Knights Of Columbus has put up for 45 years. No one complained. Now? It's an Issue? Because some Moron in Wisconsin says it is? Here is the Story.

CBS Philly - ‘Keep Christ In Christmas’ Sign Stirs Controversy In South Jersey Town December 13, 2011 5:52 PM By Robin Rieger

PITMAN, N.J. (CBS) – Some residents of a South Jersey town are calling a Knights of Columbus banner that hangs over Broadway in Pitman, a sign of the season.

It reads “Keep Christ in Christmas.”

“I think it’s wonderful, Christ is Christmas,” said Maria Marandino of Vineland.

Some unnamed residents who live in Pitman and who believe the sign that hangs across Main Street violates the Constitution, contacted the Freedom from Religion Foundation in Wisconsin that promotes separation of church and state. The group’s consultant told Eyewitness News by phone that they've asked the town to remove the sign.

“It’s a group endorsing religion over a public right of way,” said Andrew Seidel, the group’s constitutional consultant.

The town’s mayor says the sign is attached to private property and hanging over a county road.

“I think it’s a sad state of affairs that our country, we kowtow to the minority and not the majority of people who like that sort of thing to stay,” said Mayor Michael Batten.

Some residents say a nativity scene was removed from a Christmas display because the park it was displayed in is Pitman’s property.

The Freedom from Religion Foundation says they will look for private property in Pitman now to hang their sign, which reads:

“At this season of the Winter Solstice, may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds,” said Seidel.

Anna Dora Shipley said the sign has been hung every Christmas in the 45 years she’s been here. She doesn’t like the Foundation’s sign but says they have a right to put it up.

“Just don’t take mine down,” said Shipley.

Now we will be spending some time on this. But this is completely ridiculous. This is another clear case of those Idiots that feel they have the right to dictate to everyone else how they should live. A Religious Bigot, Hate filled, Ignorant Moron, THINKS that he has a right to tell a Town in another State what Sign they should display. I'm glad that the Mayor is NOT going to listen to this Fool. He has no reason to. If someone in Pitman is not happy, let them speak up for themselves. This Moron in Wisconsin doesn't like it, don't go to Pitman. Something tells me he would not be that welcomed anyway.
Peter

Sources:
CBS Philly - ‘Keep Christ In Christmas’ Sign Stirs Controversy In South Jersey Town

IWA For Sunday 121811

Can you explain to me what Christmas means?

Hey folks

Christ - Mass The day we have set aside to Remember Jesus the Christ. Period. To Worship the Birth of Our Lord Jesus THE Christ. Christmas IS a Holy Day. Can someone tell me what the Holiday Christmas is? The Commercialization of Christmas. The Holiday Season is, in essence, the hijacking of the Holy Day Christmas. Jesus turned into Santa. A Tree replaced the Cross. We decided that going out and spending ourselves into debt to spoil those we love during this Season is a GOOD thing.

So? Businesses took advantage of all this. This is why you go into Box Stores and Malls following Thanksgiving, you hear Jiggle Bells and see Christmas Decorations all over the place. It's all about MONEY.

This reminds me of a Conversation I had on the Radio with Rich Stevens of, well, The Conversation with Rich Stevens over at 850 WFTL. He was upset that in the Station, all he saw everywhere he looked was Christmas Decorations. Problem as he sees it, is that like 90 percent of the People who work in the Studio Building are Jewish, and all that they had up was one Menorah in the Lobby. I called in and told him he should feel too bad about it. They just haven't found a way to Commercialize Hanukkah yet. When they do, then he will see Hanukkah stuff all over the place as well. My point was that it really is not a compliment, or promotion of Jesus, it's GREED. At lease most see Hanukkah for what it is still. They leave it alone to those who observe it.

But even with all this, we can not forget that the WHOLE reason for the Season IS Christ. There would be no Holy, aka, Holiday Christmas, if it were NOT for Jesus THE Christ. So for those of us who WILL continue to Celebrate the HOLY Day Christmas, and share with some that may not even understand the REASON for it, the TRUE Meaning, we WILL keep Christ in Christmas.

Herein lays the problem for those of little Minds. They just can't allow others to see things different than them. The Ignorance of these imbeciles and close minded Fools are on full Display, shining as brightly as the White House Christmas Tree, every year, this time of year.

Today's Idiot of the Week is no different. He is Andrew Seidel, of the Freedom from Religion Foundation in Wisconsin. What is his issue in Wisconsin? Uh, nothing. His issue is with a little Town in NJ called Pitman. Now I told you this story, I'm sure some of you had little doubt that this was our Winner this Week. It's not even in his town. Or State even. Here is a reminder who this Idiot is.

Some unnamed residents who live in Pitman and who believe the sign that hangs across Main Street violates the Constitution, contacted the Freedom from Religion Foundation in Wisconsin that promotes separation of church and state. The group’s consultant told Eyewitness News by phone that they've asked the town to remove the sign.

Sorry, in my opinion, this is complete BS. If someone doesn't like the sign that has been there for like 45 years, they THEY should speak up and make themselves known. THEY can explain to the MAJORITY of Residence of Pitman who have no problem with it, what the damage and or harm it is causing them.

We will leave aside the FACT that the CONSTITUTION does NOT prevent ANYONE from ANYWHERE from practicing their FREEDOM OF Religion. That actually includes STATES that CHOSE to allow Religious Symbols from being displayed. The Constitution PREVENTS the FEDERAL Government from interfering in STATES RIGHTS and FREEDOM OF not FROM, Religion. But of course this Idiot probably believes it does contain the Wall of Separation. {Sigh}

“It’s a group endorsing religion over a public right of way,” said Andrew Seidel, the group’s constitutional consultant.

That has no clue what the Constitution actually SAYS.

The Freedom from Religion Foundation says they will look for private property in Pitman now to hang their sign, which reads:

“At this season of the Winter Solstice, may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds,” said Seidel.

Why not ask one of those "unnamed Residents" permission to post the Sign on THEIR Property. I actually hope that you DO get permission to put up your Religiously Bigoted, Hate filled, Ignorant Sign. It will show people just how ignorant YOU and People LIKE you truly are. I agree with...

Anna Dora Shipley said the sign has been hung every Christmas in the 45 years she’s been here. She doesn’t like the Foundation’s sign but says they have a right to put it up.

“Just don’t take mine down,” said Shipley.

Hey if we are going to be honest, and tell people the TRUTH and share the Reason for the Season, then lets be honest and tell people the TRUTH that there really are Ignorant Little Minded People out there that HATE other People's Freedoms.

Congratulations Andrew Seidel, you are without a doubt, the Idiot of the Week. Just another in the long line of Idiots that THINK they are more Intelligent than anyone else and that others should actually CARE what you think. May I be the first to say to you Sir, well, I doubt I'm the first, SCREW OFF. Oh, and Merry Christmas. {Smile}
Peter

Sources:
CBS Philly - ‘Keep Christ In Christmas’ Sign Stirs Controversy In South Jersey Town
December 13, 2011 5:52 PM By Robin Rieger

Faith or Religion, Which is More Important?

Faith outranks Religion, any day of the week.

Hey folks,

OK. Back on Sunday, September 04, 2011 I Posted THIS, OPNTalk - It Is NOT a Crime To Be a Christian Politician I said this.

Getting really tired of the complete BS and outright attacks from the Left on Christians. I really am. It is ALWAYS an Open Season on Christians. The Press openly attack us. The Left attack us. Jokes are made at our expense. Our President calls us Bitter Clingers. We are called Stupid. We are called Racists. We are called Chauvinistic, Homophobes. Jews are not too far behind us.

Yet? Ask a question about Islam? Can't do that. There are laws against it. There are laws against attacking ANYONE'S Religious Views. Ask questions about ANY Religion, other than Christianity, you will be held accountable. Christianity? ALWAYS Open Season. Forget the laws. Forget even imagined decorum. Just let it rip. Question them about their Faith and why they feel they do. Denounce their beliefs. Quiz them on what you may INCORRECTLY see as Biblical Inconsistencies or Contradictions. There are none. I repeat, NONE. Simply a lack of understanding. However, ask a Muslim why they feel it necessary to strap a bomb to themselves and blow up innocent people? COMPLETELY OFF LIMITS. YOU RACIST! How dare you ask that question. Right?

Why do Catholic worship Mary, kneel before the Pope, and have IDOLS, when the Bible says there is but ONE mediator between you and God, and he is IN you. Have no other Gods before God, and do not worship IDOLS. Yet? Just asking those questions, I will be called Anti-Catholic. A Sinner and a heathen. Right?

If I asks why Jews do not believe in Jesus, who was a Jew, called King of the Jews, HONESTLY asking why, I'm called an Anti-Semite. If I ask how anyone can believe in Reincarnation, I must be Racist. I do not accept Hinduism, Jainism, or Sikhism. I must HATE Indian people. Right?

Hell, if I tell the TRUTH, that Evolution MINUS God, is Scientifically IMPOSSIBLE, I'm called stupid, hateful, and closed minded. Something can not come from Nothing. It really is just that simple. Then if you get past that, how can Cold Blooded, Warm Blooded, everything from Trees to Mosquitoes all come from ONE Cell? They CAN'T. But yet, I'm stupid. I'm Insane. Yet, there are some who spend their ENTIRE Life fighting against something they do not even believes Exists, God. Who's Crazy?

Now I'm not advocating the denouncing of, or the attacking of, ANYONE'S Religion. I do not advocate the RESTRICTION on ANYONE'S First Amendment RIGHT of Freedom OF Religion. As long, of course, that does not include MURDERING Innocent People. There is NO WALL. We ALL have a RIGHT to Practice our Faith ANYWHERE and at any time we choose to. To this day, Congress is started with a Prayer. The Ten Commandments hang on the Wall of the Supreme Court, this is NOT a Secular Nation. We are a Nation to begin with for Religious Freedom. Now Atheists have done a pretty good job at rewriting the First Amendment, and American History, but that doesn't make it true.

It went on a bit, but it initiated a few Emails and three comments on the Comment section. One, and some similar in the Emails, I want to deal with here today. I have talked about this before, actually a few times, but it is one of those things that need to be repeated from time to time for those that may be new here, or just getting to know me. I do this in the attempt to help you understand better my perspective on these matters.

Some of you know that in the early years of my life I was on a quest. A quest for the Truth. Still am. Always. In my late Teens and early Twenties, I started looking into Faith and Religion. Back then, I examined in detail Judaism, Catholicism, Christianity, Many different denominations of all three. Hinduism, Buddhism, some of the more the mystical Faiths.

Some I can conceive. Some are a bit out there for me. I understand that there is Truth in many. Problem with many, is that you have to wade through a bunch of man-made Traditions, which in some cases, nullifies the Truth, to get to the Truth. Jesus himself warned us of this.

6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:

11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;

13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. Mark 7:6-13

Many other places Jesus points out the Difference between Faith and Traditions of Men, Matthew 7:21-23, John 8:31&32 /37-59, Romans 8, Just to name a few. I found this to be true, by actually spending time in various forms of Religion.

Now I know that I'm trying to cram a Lifetime of reasoning into a couple of paragraphs here, but I'm doing this for a reason. I want you to understand that the ONLY thing God cares about, is YOU. Your one on one relationship with HIM. He doesn't care if you eat meat on Fridays, wash your hands, abstain from Alcohol, or how many feet you walk on the Sabbath {2,000 cubits or about 1,000 yards} He doesn't care how many Sundays you miss of Church. He cares about YOU and HIM. He also Condemns NO ONE to Hell.

Not kidding. Hell first comes into being for Lucifer and a third of the Angels that chose to follow him. Hell, was never intended for Mankind. "But what about the story of the Rich Man?" I'll get to that in a second.

So you have God. Creates the Heavens and the Earth. Creates all that is on the Earth. Creates Mankind. Gives the Earth TO Mankind. Mankind chose to follow the works of Lucifer, and the Heart of man becomes evil continuously. God nearly wipes out all his creation save one Man found favor. Because of Noah, Mankind is spared. Then God so loved the World, Mankind, that he gave us his only begotten Son so that we may cry Abba Father. Translated? Daddy. Through the adoption of the Spirit. That's it? It really is that simple.

You ask. You receive. Accept what Jesus did for you. You are washed clean. You are saved. But the CHOICE is yours. You see. THAT is the key. You CHOOSE. We are all Sinners. We all are worthy of death. We can NEVER be good enough to go to Heaven on our own. God knows that. Jesus is the answer to this. His blood for your blood. His death for your death. His Resurrection for your eternal life. Nowhere in the Bible, including the Rich Man, does it say God simply condemns you. As a matter of fact, Romans 8:33 & 34

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

God is not some hate filled old fart sitting on a throne waiting to throw you in Hell if you disobey him. He tells us this. He is not one that keeps a tally of the Rules and Regulations you may violate of YOUR Chosen Religion. Traditions of men matter not to Him.

Then the Word, or Bible, also tells us about the White Throne Judgement. This tells us that those that are in Hell, the unbelievers, are then cast out and placed before God. Hell is temporary. He will then Judge those. I feel, MY OPINION, is that you will have one last chance at this time to accept Christ's Sacrifice. God told us the truth.

“… I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days …” Deuteronomy 30:19.

The Rich man chose Money. He chose the best worldly things in life over God. The Poor man had nothing more than Faith. The Rich Man stored up his treasures here. The poor Man his treasures in Heaven. He got the reward. All a matter of choice.

You can CHOOSE to reject God. You can CHOOSE to not believe in Him. But none of that matters. Like Gravity, God IS. You can choose to accept Gravity, or reject it. You can choose not to believe it exists. But Gravity doesn't care who you are. It doesn't care WHAT you are. It doesn't care where you come from, how much money you got. It treats EVERYONE equally. Go up to a high place and step off? You will fall to your death. Did Gravity kill you because you rejected it? No. YOU did. You condemned yourself for not believing in it.

God is the same. He doesn't care who you are. He doesn't care WHAT you are. He doesn't care where you come from, how much money you got. He treats EVERYONE equally. It's all up to you. YOU have the key. It is FAITH. YOU have to have faith in Him and His Word, Faith in the Truth. Faith that it IS the Truth.

Religion is GREAT. Do not get me wrong here. The Hungry get fed. The Homeless find Shelter. The Naked get Clothed. People of like Mind and Faith come together and strengthen each other. I have no problem with any of that. But if you ask me which is more important, Faith or Religion, Faith outranks Religion, any day of the Week.
Peter

Sources:
OPNTalk - It Is NOT a Crime To Be a Christian Politician
OPNTalk - Mayflower Compact and Other Founding Documents
OPNTalk - IWA For Sunday 051610

Federal District Judge Lynn Hughes Says Jesus Is OK

Preview for Sunday 052911

Hey folks,

WELCOME to the Big Sunday Edition of the OPNTalk Blog. It's been a while. What is it Three Week? Two. Two weeks? Anyway, seems like it's been forever since I got to sit in The Chair and bring to you the Big Sunday Edition. The good news is that it seems that the folks over at Google and Blogspot.com are working out all the problems they have been having. It gets a little better every day. Lets hope we can make it through the Sunday Edition with everything working the way it should. Or at least close to the way it should.

Glad you could stop by. You can also find me over on Twitter, Facebook, and occasionally on the Tom Sullivan Facebook Page. As Always, if YOU want to be a part of the OPNTalk Blog, the Email is opntalk@gmail.com.

So coming right up today?

Obama Parties, Some Not Happy
Signs Of Alzheimer's
DLA For Sunday 052911
IWA for Sunday 052911

All that as we move along. First up though, did you catch this? Texas Federal District Judge Lynn Hughes says the name Jesus is OK to use in a Memorial Day Prayer. I kid you not. A Federal Judge had to say it's OK. Not that the Government can say it's NOT. According to the Huston Chronicle: VA agrees not to interfere with holiday prayers Agency backs down after losing court fight over pastor's mention of Jesus in Memorial Day invocation at Houston cemetery By TERRI LANGFORD HOUSTON CHRONICLE

The nation's agency for military veterans has agreed to stay out of religious refereeing for now, backing down from its attempt to tell a minister how to craft a prayer for a Memorial Day invocation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred Hindrichs told federal District Judge Lynn Hughes that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will not demand that Memorial Day prayers at Houston National Cemetery Monday be as non-denominational as possible.

"(The agency) will let the prayer go on this Monday," Hindrichs told Hughes.

The change of heart came one day after the judge granted the Rev. Scott Rainey a temporary restraining order against the agency after officials told the pastor to edit his prayer to make it as general and non-denominational as possible. Rainey's prayer, submitted for review at the agency's request included the recitation of the Lord's Prayer and thanked Jesus Christ, the Christian savior, in closing.

"The ... prayer/message is specific to one belief," wrote Arleen Ocasio, director of the Houston National Cemetery.

"I've never said a prayer in my life that didn't end with Jesus Christ," Rainey said after Friday's hearing. "It was unrealistic expectation for me not to include the name of Jesus Christ."

Veterans Affairs officials informed Rainey that if he wanted to give the invocation, he would have to keep the language in his prayer "general" and "non-denominational."

Rainey filed a lawsuit against the agency Thursday, claiming the government was censoring his speech and asked the judge to stop the agency from doing so.

Judge warns agency

Hughes granted a temporary restraining order which will stay in place through Monday's Memorial Day. The judge said that while he was not doubting the government's word, he was "an experienced optimist" who didn't want to leave room for the government to change its mind before Monday.

Yesterday, the judge warned the agency it had stepped too far, saying officials were essentially "decreeing how citizens honor their veterans."

"The government cannot gag citizens when it says it is in the interest of national security, and it cannot do it in some bureaucrat's notion of cultural homogeneity," Hughes wrote.

Way to go Judge. Folks, the Constitution says that we can practice our Faith ANYWHERE and ANYWAY we chose and the Federal Government can NOT "prohibit the free exercise" of Religion. Sorry Fred. Sorry Arleen. There is no room for Political Correctness here. The LAW is not on your side. Maybe you should attend. A little Prayer in your life may be good for ya.

Alright folks, going to fill my cup. Be right back.
Peter

Sources:
Huston Chronicle: VA agrees not to interfere with holiday prayers

Exploration Into Religion

If one comes to an area near ME, I'll go.

Hey folks,

I'm actually really sorry that due to reason Illnesses and Events, I'm NOT going to be able to make the trip. I would love to be there. To my friends in New York, I HIGHLY encourage you to go to this.

You all know that I'm a Christian. Some of you know that in the early years of my life I was on a quest. A quest for the Truth. In my late Teens and early Twenties, I started looking into Faith and Religion. I examined in detail Judaism, Catholicism, Christianity, Many different denominations of all three. Hinduism, Buddhism, some of the more the mystical Faiths.

Some I can conceive. Some are a bit out there for me. I understand that there is Truth in many. Problem with many, is that you have to wade through a bunch of man-made Traditions, in some cases, nullifies the Truth, to get to the Truth. Jesus himself warned us of this.

6He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

7Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

8For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

9And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

10For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:

11But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

12And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;

13Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

Mark 7:6-13 Many other places Jesus points out the Difference between Faith and Traditions of Men, Matthew 7:21-23, John 8:31&32 /37-59, Romans 8, Just to name a few. I found this to be true, by actually spending time in various forms of Religion.

Now I know that I'm trying to cram a Lifetime of reasoning into a couple of paragraphs here, but I'm doing this for a reason. I have also been extremely open about my growing doubt of Islam. All we keep hearing, contrary to all the evidence, is that it is a peaceful Religion hijacked by a few radicles that want to twist it into authorization to commit genocide. To MURDER anyone that fails to believe as they. So like I have always done, I have started to look into Islam more in depth.

So anytime I see something like this, I HIGHLY encourage you, whatever your belief, to take the time and USE this valuable tool for your OWN understanding. What I'm talking about is this.

Coexist Foundation Sponsors Major Three Faiths Exhibit at New York Public Library
PR Newswire

NEW YORK, Oct. 14

“Three Faiths” Displays Magnificent Collection of Jewish, Christian and Muslim Manuscripts

NEW YORK, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Coexist Foundation announced today it is co-sponsoring a major new exhibition at the New York Public Library -- “Three Faiths.” The four month exhibit includes rare and treasured Jewish, Christian and Muslim manuscripts and sacred texts. “Three Faiths” also includes over 100 different educational programs across 80 different branches of the New York Public Library network, with the idea of creating a better understanding of these faith traditions in a globalized world.

“Coexist” is a non-profit foundation working around the world to promote, encourage and support engagement between Jews, Christians and Muslims. The foundation says it hopes “Three Faiths” will inform the discussion between these religious traditions and wider society by showing texts inspired by millenia of spiritual history. Three Faiths is on view from October 22, 2010 through February 27, 2011: some two hundred of the Library’s most inspiring sacred texts will be on display.

“Coexist is delighted to be sponsoring Three Faiths at the New York Public Library,” says James Kidner, Director of Coexist. “This unique exhibition will enable visitors not only to see this great institution’s magnificent collection of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim treasures, but also to explore the ways in which the history, culture, art, and theology of these three religions have influenced one another through the ages. This is a wonderful opportunity to take a journey into these faith traditions and learn how they can coexist in society today.”

The exhibition will showcase materials drawn entirely from the collections of The New York Public Library. Three Faiths illustrates the most important threads which run between the three: a belief in one, all-powerful God; the importance of the Prophets – notably Abraham; Divine Revelation; and the central role of Scripture. After introducing the key figures in these faith traditions, the exhibition explores the scriptures they produced or inspired, and the ways in which those texts have been used, for so many centuries, in the daily lives of ordinary people.

Alongside the exhibition, Coexist will also be supporting the NYPL's large-scale series of education programs for teachers, school-children, public sector workers and others to promote better understanding of these three religious traditions, their commonalities and their differences. And Coexist will be bringing in another of its partner organizations, Prince Charles’s School of Traditional Arts, to show how the artistic traditions of these three faiths have intertwined and influenced each other over the centuries.

About Coexist

Coexist works to promote, encourage and support engagement between Jews, Christians and Muslims, and between these communities and others, through education, dialogue and research. Founded in 2006, Coexist is an operational foundation which works around the world to forge new partnerships and programs aimed at helping people to understand what it means to be Jewish or Christian or Muslim today. It facilitates the building of bridges between these communities, and funds initiatives which inspire the wider public to understand faith better in twenty-first century society. They have included projects in the United States, England, India and Iraq. For information please visit the webiste: www.coexistfoundation.net

SOURCE Coexist Foundation I do truly wish I could make this. I can not. But if any of you are in the area, check it out. It may help you have a better understanding as to why you believe what you do. It make also open your eyes to a bigger reality.
Peter

Scientology Religion or Cult

I say Cult.

Hey folks,

We're back. OK. I have always had a problem with Scientology. I have always thought of it as a Cult. So when I saw this interview. I had to share it. Read it for yourself, and draw your own conclusions.

Ex-Scientologist Reveals Details Behind 'Dangerous Cult,' Tom Cruise in New Book

Most people know very little about Scientology aside from the fact that Tom Cruise, John Travolta and other celebrities are a part of it, and that it's had its fair share of controversy over the years. A new book is looking to pull back the curtain on the mysterious religion founded by L. Ron Hubbard, and the author certainly knows her stuff. Amy Scobee is a former Scientologist who was in the church for more than two decades, and worked in the all-important Celebrity Centers portion of the organization. In her just-released book, 'Scientology: Abuse at the Top,' Scobee details all of the troubling things she saw that made her flee what she once called her trusted religion, but now refers to as a "dangerous cult." Scobee spoke exclusively to PopEater over e-mail about her shocking book, her time with Tom Cruise and other Scientology bigwigs, and the (her words) brainwashing, systematic violence and slave labor camps she saw during her 27 years there. Her terrifying claims.

Could you explain your role within the Church of Scientology?

I worked in the upper management of Scientology for two decades. For a good portion of that time, I was responsible for the international network of Celebrity Centers, which service people in the field of the arts, government and sports -- people with high profiles in the world who are capable of creating a lot of influence on the population.

You were a member for 27 years. What was the spark plug for your departure?

I became less and less tolerant of the abuse that I witnessed as it got more and more harsh. People were very unhappy, family members were being separated, David Miscavige [the current "leader" of Scientology] committed assault and battery on my friends on numerous occasions. I could not justify continuing to support such an organization bent on threats and severe human rights violations, which were a dichotomy of the stated goals and reason I joined in the first place. I wanted to help people and create a better world based on love and compassion for mankind.

Why is there such a big push to recruit celebrities to Scientology?

A strategic priority for Scientology is to bring in big-name celebrities as they can influence whole populations. If they endorse Scientology, then masses will want to join, as well. That means expansion, more money, more members who in turn bring in others. The stated goal for Celebrity Center is to make celebrities into "walking success stories" of Scientology so they promote their success and attribute it to what they learned in Scientology.

In the press, there's often articles that are negative towards the Church. Why would they want to attract more celebrities, and in turn, more attention?

They think that any negative press is just a result of "disgruntled ex-members" and should be ignored.

Tom Cruise is by far the most known Scientologist. What types of interaction did you have with him during your time there, and what can you say about him as a person?

I met Tom Cruise and members of his family. I did a project to locate Scientologists for him to hire in order to fill specific positions in his household -- such as executive housekeeper, maid, cook, nanny. Personally, I do not have much respect for Tom at all for a few very important reasons. First of all, I think he has abused his "power" as a well-known figure to gain special favors from Scientology. I know of several examples of this, including the fact that I was personally assigned to select his personal entourage, which had nothing to do with my job at the time. I was a full-time staff member in the Sea Organization. I did not get paid for that service, I did not get thanked for that service. I was at the International Management base in Hemet when he came to do Scientology services for an extended period of time. The staff members there were not set up to service a celebrity at that property. People were pulled off their own jobs to cater to him. I knew of people [Sea org members] doing his laundry, supervising him in the course room, supervising his counseling, the music studio conference room was converted to a course room for him, many staff members were utilized to establish audio-visual facilities in his home. Many staff members had to stay up day and night, because on the 500 acre property there were some brown patches on the lawns -- it's in the middle of the desert in Hemet. Those brown patches could be seen by helicopter per David Miscavige, and Cruise was going to arrive via helicopter, so we laid sod for days -- night and day.

The other factor is that Tom Cruise has proclaimed David Miscavige to be a "LEADER OF LEADERS" and announced to all Scientologists attending the International Association of Scientologists Event in 2004 that David Miscavige was the best leader and said that he should know "because I've met them ALL." That's an arrogant statement, plus David Miscavige viciously beats his staff members. So to give Miscavige all this praise puts in concrete to Scientology followers to listen to this "leader" who has NO BUSINESS being in that position because he's DANGEROUS.

Recently, reports surfaced claiming that David Miscavige played Tom Cruise's confession tapes -- which are meant to be private -- to fellow church members for a laugh over drinks. Does that seem like something he'd do, or have you known this to be true?

Yes -- David Miscavige talked about people's private confidential information. I witnessed this myself. I included some specifics of this in my book regarding another celebrity. He also did it to staff -- snickering about things that came up in their confessionals and TELLING the specifics to whoever was at the meeting with him at the time. He did that to me. And he did that to many, many others. Including calling all-base staff briefings and reporting embarrassing details about supposed transgressions in order to intimidate people. One of my friends told me how Miscavige and he were standing outside when staff were walking between buildings -- like for lunch break or something -- and he pointed to random people giving "tid-bits" on each one as they passed, to "prove" how much "in the know" he is. It's a complete violation of the priest-penitent privilege and a total invasion of privacy.

What was the Church's reaction to his showdown with Matt Lauer?

I was already out of Scientology when that happened. I saw the show and thought Tom was being very arrogant towards Matt Lauer. I don't know what the Church response was because I wasn't there, but I presume they would have patted Tom on the back for "standing up" to Lauer and telling the world how bad psychiatric drugs are for people.

Scientology often gets criticized for mobilizing when there's a tragedy (9/11, the Haiti earthquake) as people feel they're trying to recruit. What can you share on that?

They ARE trying to recruit and create good PR for Scientology -- "good works, well publicized" is the goal, so as to become more accepted in society and to bring in new members. People are instructed to video [tape] their actions and get media if they can so this can then be shown at their very frequent PR events to "prove" to their members how much they are accepted and expanding and doing good for the world.

Do you think more and more celebrities will lean towards Scientology as time goes on, or has it hit its high point star-wise?

No. Scientology celebrities are already beginning to turn away and have publicly resigned their membership. Award-winning writer/director Paul Haggis, actor Jason Beghe and actor Larry Anderson are a few recent examples. I think more celebrities will walk away as they discover the truth and cease turning a blind eye to the blatant human rights violations so many people are exposing inside Scientology.

During an interview with ABC, you detail your experience with Scientology's purification treatment. You eventually began taking massive amounts of niacin, which led to some side effects. Could you detail that?

The purification program is supposed to be relatively short, where you exercise for a period of time per day and then sweat in the sauna in order to rid the body of any residual drugs and toxins. Miscavige decided that executives in International Management were "incompetent" as they were "dead heads" due to past drug histories being "unhandled." So he decided to create a weird variation of the purification program where many of us were put in the sauna 5 hours per day for MONTHS at a time. I was on it for 8 months and I know of several others who were on even longer. You take high dosages of niacin -- 5000 mg per day -- while on this program. I got freaked out that my body was being damaged. I had gray matter coming out of my pores and I asked if it could please be checked into by the lab or doctor, which was never done. This is the point when I started to plan my escape from that place. I felt trapped, and at risk both physically and mentally. And it didn't help to have an abusive and nasty leader dictating our lives at that point either. I was sent to Florida and I left from there in March 2005.

What good things are there that Scientology does that people may not know about?

I believe that the study technology has really helped people because I've read many rave success stories -- where people who could not learn before obtained simple tools to be able to read and learn and increase their competence as a result. One doesn't have to be a Scientologist to apply the basic tools of study, such as using a dictionary to clear words and terms one doesn't understand in order to obtain a conceptual understanding of what you are reading and to study a subject on a gradient and to balance the significance with the actual mass of what you're learning -- such as LOOK at the piece of equipment while reading the manual!

Scientology believes that one is a spiritual being that has lived before and will continue to live. This is not unique to Scientology, but a basis of a lot of religions. They do promote a moral code of love and compassion and following the laws of the land, which is helpful to those who will actually apply those concepts.

What are some of the worst things?

-- Family disconnection and their manipulation, blackmail and control through the threat of being cut off from family, which has devastating effects, and being denied your "only road to salvation as a spiritual being."

-- The Rehabilitation Project Force, which I cover in detail in my book. This is a slave labor camp within the Sea Organization where people who have supposedly messed up get sent for sometimes years and years. They are separated from family, segregated from the rest of the group, made to run everywhere, put on hard manual physical work and paid 1/4 the regular staff pay -- about $12 per WEEK. I've known several people on that program for over a decade for minor offenses. It's inhumane and that "program" should be shut down.

-- The way Scientology goes after critics. It's their policy to utterly annihilate the credibility of anyone speaking out against the "church." They have done brutal things in the past along these lines and are still pulling these stunts currently. I've been followed by private investigators – sometimes several at a time, my family's house watched, they've tried to get my in-laws (never even in Scientology) to kick me out of the family, which they refused and dismissed as a completely insane and evil proposal. They put out publications with vicious false and defamatory information about me to hopefully make the readers think I was incapable of accurately reporting on my observations with regards to their illegal activities.

-- Another key thing is INFORMATION CONTROL. This is a form of mind control. If one controls what you can and can not see or hear, one is unable to make a rational decision about that matter. Scientology specializes in information control -- one is banned from upper levels of "spiritual enlightenment' if it is discovered that you read anything negative about Scientology or talked to someone about it. People are put in for routine confessionals to find out if you "committed this sin." So you are careful to avoid any contact with the media when it comes to Scientology or to read about any exposure about what is going on at the highest echelons. If the general public knew, they would stop supporting Scientology. They would walk away. They'd have the INFORMATION to be able to make that decision. Instead, all they hear is what the head of Scientology (Miscavige) reports at their frequent PR events -- how the expansion is better than ever and popularity of Scientology is at an all-time high, etc. They applaud, thinking it's all wonderful and donate a lot of money for the cause to "keep the expansion going." It's very sad. I want people to have the truth. When I informed a family member of mine, who had been a dedicated Scientologist for about 30 years, what was really going on at the top of his church, he chose to walk away and he has officially resigned. That's the logical thing to do. He still believes the technology itself is beneficial, but will no longer support that organization – in fact he has also now requested all of his money back.

Something dangerous about Scientology is that they truly believe that they are the "only salvation" for mankind. They therefore consider they can do all sorts of things -- even if it breaks the law -- because it's "the greatest good" and forwards their overall mission to ensure everyone's future eternity. Crush a critic into silence, lie on national television, beat a staff member who is not behaving as you'd like, blackmail people using family disconnection and other threats to keep them in line, use personal information obtained on people to smear their name, keep people on the RPF for years, force staff to work around the clock for almost no pay, hide evidence that could be damning if it were discovered -- on and on. They are fanatics about being the ONLY salvation and the end justifies the means.

Germany recently declared Scientology a cult. Do you think that's an accurate definition?

Yes -- I believe Scientology is actually a dangerous cult. By definition, a "destructive cult" is a religion or other group which has caused or has a high probability of causing harm to its own members or to others. Some researchers define "harm" in this case with a narrow focus, specifically groups which have deliberately physically injured or killed other individuals, while others define the term more broadly and include emotional abuse among the types of harm inflicted. Both physical and spiritual/mental abuse has occurred, and from what I understand is continuing to occur, within Scientology -- at its highest ranks. I observed quite a bit of such destructive action and this is detailed in my new book.

Is there a single most-shocking incident or occasion that stands out in your mind from your time in Scientology?

Yes -- my realization that I had just spent 27 years of my life supporting what I now realize is a dangerous and destructive cult -- a so-called "religion" that hides behind its status as a "church" to cover up crimes and major human rights violations. My own personal integrity is intact and I am determined to expose the abuse to hopefully put it to an end.

Amy Scobee spent YEARS in it. So is she a disgruntled ex member, or someone that know what she is talking about. I'll let you decide.
Peter

MERRY CHRISTMAS

The REAL Reason for the Season.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
To all of you and to your families.
May you have a Happy and Healthy Holiday.
Peter