THE MODERN FREEMASONIC JOURNAL

NEW EVIDENCE REGARDING THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS

2006-08-16T20:02:00.000-04:00

New archaeological evidence is raising more questions about the conventional interpretation linking the desolate ruins of an ancient settlement known as Qumran with the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were found in nearby caves in one of the sensational discoveries of the last century.

After early excavations at the site, on a promontory above the western shore of the Dead Sea, scholars concluded that members of a strict Jewish sect, the Essenes, had lived there in a monastery and presumably wrote the scrolls in the first centuries B.C. and A.D. Many of the texts describe religious practices and doctrine in ancient Israel.

But two Israeli archaeologists who have excavated the site on and off for more than 10 years now assert that Qumran had nothing to do with the Essenes or a monastery or the scrolls. It had been a pottery factory.

The archaeologists, Yizhak Magen and Yuval Peleg of the Israel Antiquities Authority, reported in a book and a related magazine article that their extensive excavations turned up pottery kilns, whole vessels, production rejects and thousands of clay fragments. Derelict water reservoirs held thick deposits of fine potters' clay.

Magen and Peleg said that, indeed, the elaborate water system at Qumran appeared to be designed to bring the clay-laced water into the site for the purposes of the pottery industry. No other site in the region has been found to have such a water system.

By the time the Romans destroyed Qumran in A.D. 68 in the Jewish revolt, the archaeologists concluded, the settlement had been a center of the pottery industry for at least a century. Before that, the site apparently was an outpost in a chain of fortresses along the Israelites' eastern frontier.

"The association between Qumran, the caves and the scrolls is, thus, a hypothesis lacking any factual archaeological basis," Magen said in an article in the current issue of Biblical Archaeology Review. He and Peleg wrote a more detailed report of their research in "The Site of the Dead Sea Scrolls: Archaeological Interpretations and Debates," published this year.

This is by no means the first challenge to the Essene hypothesis originally advanced by Roland de Vaux, a French priest and archaeologist who was an early interpreter of the scrolls after their discovery almost 60 years ago. Other scholars have suggested that Qumran was a fortified manor house or a villa, possibly an agricultural community or a commercial entrepôt.

Norman Golb, a professor of Near Eastern languages and civilization at the University of Chicago who is a longtime critic of the Essene link, said he was impressed by the new findings and the pottery-factory interpretation.

"Magen's a very seasoned archaeologist and scholar, and many of his views are cogent," Golb said in a telephone interview. "A pottery factory? That could well be the case."

Golb said that, of course, Qumran could have been both a monastery and a pottery factory. Yet, he added: "There is not an iota of evidence that it was a monastery. We have come to see it as a secular site, not one of pronounced religious orientation."

For years, Golb has argued that the multiplicity of Jewish religious ideas and practices recorded in the scrolls made it unlikely that they were the work of a single sect like the Essenes.

The scrolls in the caves were probably written by many different groups, Golb surmised, and were removed from Jerusalem libraries by refugees in the Roman war. Fleeing to the east, the refugees may well have deposited the scrolls for safekeeping in the many caves near Qumran.

The new research appears to support this view. As Magen noted, Qumran in those days was at a major crossroads of traffic to and from Jerusalem and along the Dead Sea.

Magen also cited documents showing that refugees in another revolt against the Romans in the next century had fled to the same caves. He said they were "the last spot they could hide the scrolls before descending to the shore" of the Dead Sea.

In the magazine article, Magen said the jars in which most of the scrolls were stored had probably come from the pottery factory. If so, this may prove to be the only established connection between the Qumran settlement and the scrolls.

New archaeological evidence is raising more questions about the conventional interpretation linking the desolate ruins of an ancient settlement known as Qumran with the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were found in nearby caves in one of the sensational discoveries of the last century.

After early excavations at the site, on a promontory above the western shore of the Dead Sea, scholars concluded that members of a strict Jewish sect, the Essenes, had lived there in a monastery and presumably wrote the scrolls in the first centuries B.C. and A.D. Many of the texts describe religious practices and doctrine in ancient Israel.

But two Israeli archaeologists who have excavated the site on and off for more than 10 years now assert that Qumran had nothing to do with the Essenes or a monastery or the scrolls. It had been a pottery factory.

The archaeologists, Yizhak Magen and Yuval Peleg of the Israel Antiquities Authority, reported in a book and a related magazine article that their extensive excavations turned up pottery kilns, whole vessels, production rejects and thousands of clay fragments. Derelict water reservoirs held thick deposits of fine potters' clay.

Magen and Peleg said that, indeed, the elaborate water system at Qumran appeared to be designed to bring the clay-laced water into the site for the purposes of the pottery industry. No other site in the region has been found to have such a water system.

By the time the Romans destroyed Qumran in A.D. 68 in the Jewish revolt, the archaeologists concluded, the settlement had been a center of the pottery industry for at least a century. Before that, the site apparently was an outpost in a chain of fortresses along the Israelites' eastern frontier.

"The association between Qumran, the caves and the scrolls is, thus, a hypothesis lacking any factual archaeological basis," Magen said in an article in the current issue of Biblical Archaeology Review. He and Peleg wrote a more detailed report of their research in "The Site of the Dead Sea Scrolls: Archaeological Interpretations and Debates," published this year.

This is by no means the first challenge to the Essene hypothesis originally advanced by Roland de Vaux, a French priest and archaeologist who was an early interpreter of the scrolls after their discovery almost 60 years ago. Other scholars have suggested that Qumran was a fortified manor house or a villa, possibly an agricultural community or a commercial entrepôt.

Norman Golb, a professor of Near Eastern languages and civilization at the University of Chicago who is a longtime critic of the Essene link, said he was impressed by the new findings and the pottery-factory interpretation.

"Magen's a very seasoned archaeologist and scholar, and many of his views are cogent," Golb said in a telephone interview. "A pottery factory? That could well be the case."

Golb said that, of course, Qumran could have been both a monastery and a pottery factory. Yet, he added: "There is not an iota of evidence that it was a monastery. We have come to see it as a secular site, not one of pronounced religious orientation."

For years, Golb has argued that the multiplicity of Jewish religious ideas and practices recorded in the scrolls made it unlikely that they were the work of a single sect like the Essenes.

The scrolls in the caves were probably written by many different groups, Golb surmised, and were removed from Jerusalem libraries by refugees in the Roman war. Fleeing to the east, the refugees may well have deposited the scrolls for safekeeping in the many caves near Qumran.

The new research appears to support this view. As Magen noted, Qumran in those days was at a major crossroads of traffic to and from Jerusalem and along the Dead Sea.

Magen also cited documents showing that refugees in another revolt against the Romans in the next century had fled to the same caves. He said they were "the last spot they could hide the scrolls before descending to the shore" of the Dead Sea.

In the magazine article, Magen said the jars in which most of the scrolls were stored had probably come from the pottery factory. If so, this may prove to be the only established connection between the Qumran settlement and the scrolls.

New archaeological evidence is raising more questions about the conventional interpretation linking the desolate ruins of an ancient settlement known as Qumran with the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were found in nearby caves in one of the sensational discoveries of the last century.

After early excavations at the site, on a promontory above the western shore of the Dead Sea, scholars concluded that members of a strict Jewish sect, the Essenes, had lived there in a monastery and presumably wrote the scrolls in the first centuries B.C. and A.D. Many of the texts describe religious practices and doctrine in ancient Israel.

But two Israeli archaeologists who have excavated the site on and off for more than 10 years now assert that Qumran had nothing to do with the Essenes or a monastery or the scrolls. It had been a pottery factory.

The archaeologists, Yizhak Magen and Yuval Peleg of the Israel Antiquities Authority, reported in a book and a related magazine article that their extensive excavations turned up pottery kilns, whole vessels, production rejects and thousands of clay fragments. Derelict water reservoirs held thick deposits of fine potters' clay.

Magen and Peleg said that, indeed, the elaborate water system at Qumran appeared to be designed to bring the clay-laced water into the site for the purposes of the pottery industry. No other site in the region has been found to have such a water system.

By the time the Romans destroyed Qumran in A.D. 68 in the Jewish revolt, the archaeologists concluded, the settlement had been a center of the pottery industry for at least a century. Before that, the site apparently was an outpost in a chain of fortresses along the Israelites' eastern frontier.

"The association between Qumran, the caves and the scrolls is, thus, a hypothesis lacking any factual archaeological basis," Magen said in an article in the current issue of Biblical Archaeology Review. He and Peleg wrote a more detailed report of their research in "The Site of the Dead Sea Scrolls: Archaeological Interpretations and Debates," published this year.

This is by no means the first challenge to the Essene hypothesis originally advanced by Roland de Vaux, a French priest and archaeologist who was an early interpreter of the scrolls after their discovery almost 60 years ago. Other scholars have suggested that Qumran was a fortified manor house or a villa, possibly an agricultural community or a commercial entrepôt.

Norman Golb, a professor of Near Eastern languages and civilization at the University of Chicago who is a longtime critic of the Essene link, said he was impressed by the new findings and the pottery-factory interpretation.

"Magen's a very seasoned archaeologist and scholar, and many of his views are cogent," Golb said in a telephone interview. "A pottery factory? That could well be the case."

Golb said that, of course, Qumran could have been both a monastery and a pottery factory. Yet, he added: "There is not an iota of evidence that it was a monastery. We have come to see it as a secular site, not one of pronounced religious orientation."

For years, Golb has argued that the multiplicity of Jewish religious ideas and practices recorded in the scrolls made it unlikely that they were the work of a single sect like the Essenes.

The scrolls in the caves were probably written by many different groups, Golb surmised, and were removed from Jerusalem libraries by refugees in the Roman war. Fleeing to the east, the refugees may well have deposited the scrolls for safekeeping in the many caves near Qumran.

The new research appears to support this view. As Magen noted, Qumran in those days was at a major crossroads of traffic to and from Jerusalem and along the Dead Sea.

Magen also cited documents showing that refugees in another revolt against the Romans in the next century had fled to the same caves. He said they were "the last spot they could hide the scrolls before descending to the shore" of the Dead Sea.

In the magazine article, Magen said the jars in which most of the scrolls were stored had probably come from the pottery factory. If so, this may prove to be the only established connection between the Qumran settlement and the scrolls.

Reprinted from the International Herald Tribune by John Noble Wilford, The New York Times

Published: August 16, 2006

Shriners Behaving Badly Pt. 7

2006-08-16T07:02:00.000-04:00

(*Once again we see the good old boys doin what they do best in this saga of corruption and greed. Sandy has done a remarkable job connecting all the dots! Darren)

Unanswered Questions -
Shriners: Part 7
By Cassandra 'Sandy' Frost
8-15-6

This story began unfolding four months ago, after Vernon Hill, a
Shriners whistleblower, tried to find an investigative journalist willing to
look into his allegations that the top echelon of the Shriners
Hospitals for Children, a 501c3 non profit charitable group, was corrupt. To
date, six investigative articles have been written. Here is Part 7.

What Does "Non-Profit" Mean?

Imagine if you will, a box labeled "Fraternal, 501c10, Shriners
Temples" and another box labeled "Charitable 501c3, Shriners Hospitals for
Children." The first group oversees the individual temples of which
Shriners are members and, according to their articles of incorporation,
oversees and controls the second group, the Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Both have very distinct non profit classifications per the IRS. As
such, each group is supposed to function separate from the other, though in
this case, it appears that the fraternal controls the charitable.

Non profit status confers the following benefits on both groups:

(1) exemption from federal and state income tax (2) ability of certain
non-profits to make purchases without paying state sales tax (3)
ability for certain non-profits to receive tax-deductible contributions

Non profit groups have strict disclosure guidelines, especially when it
comes to their taxes. Certain questions on the IRS non profit 990 tax
return forms provide important indications of how a group is doing. Or
tell who the group is affiliated with. Or answer if they lobbied or if
they had real estate transactions between the corporation and directors,
officers or employees. Or if they amended their governing documents.

Article Highlights

Here are the highlights of the previous six articles. A comparison of
similar questions asked by this writer, the General Accounting Office
(GAO) and Senator Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Committee on
Finance, follows.

1) A series of investigative articles published by the Orlando Sentinel
in 1986 reported that in 1985 the Shriners kept 71 percent of the $21.7
million raised to pay for clubhouse expenses, including the upkeep of
private bars, restaurants, golf courses, conventions, travel,
entertainment and fund raising. Less than 2 percent, or $346,251, went to the
medical care of the children.

2) Shriners whistleblower, Vernon Hill, has worked with a former IRS
agent and accountant, Paul Dolnier, for the past year and a half. They
ordered and analyzed thousands of pages of Shriners tax returns which led
to Dolnier presenting evidence of alleged charity fraud to the chief
investigator, auditor and counsel for Pennsylvania's Charitable Special
Investigation unit during a six hour meeting in spring of 2006.

3) Non profit watchdogs like Give.org (non profit arm of the Better
Business Bureau) and American Institute of Philanthropy are howling about
how the Shriners Hospitals for Children seem to be "hoarding" money
that could be used on the medical needs of more sick children. The
Shriners control over $9.5 billion dollars, which is eleven times their
current operating budget.

4) After corporate corruption cases like Enron and Worldcom, business
experts emphasize the importance of conflict of interest policies for a
corporation's board of directors, officers and trustees. In the case of
the Shriners, there have been years of 100% overlap between those on
both the Shriners' 501c10 fraternal board also sitting on the Shriners'
501c3 charitable board. There have also been years when hospital
officers sat on both boards.

5) The lack of disclosure on the Shriners' tax returns of real estate
transactions involving Lewis Molnar, recently retired CEO of Shriners
Hospitals for Children, Charles Cumpstone, recently retired executive
vice president and Donald W. Peirce, a recently deceased employee. The
last real estate transaction took place in 2003 and was not reported to
the IRS.

6) On October 17, 2000, a Resolution was filed with the Polk County
Clerk, Florida, that grants the Shriners' top echelon unlimited power to
execute all types of financial transactions without accountability to or
oversight by internal governance committees. This change in governing
documents was not reported to the IRS.

7) In 1998, the Shriners had a beginning cash balance of $354 million.
By the end of the year, they lost over $351 million or 99.1% of what
they started with. In 2001, they lost $614 million in investments. And in
2002, the Shriners lost nearly 16% of their investments, down by $1+
billion dollars or $1,045,760,830.

8) Fraternal Articles of Incorporation state that "The objects and
purposes of this corporation and business to be transacted by it areto
maintain, control, conduct and superintend any and all charities,
benevolences and hospitals now established, maintained and controlled by the
Imperial council and to create and maintain a charitable and educational
fundfor the purchase, erection, operation and maintenance of Shriners
Hospitals for Children." This does not match what the fraternal
organization states as their purpose on their tax returns.

9) Over the past three years, Hill and others have asked Shriners
leaders questions like "Where does all the money go?" Instead of receiving
any answers, these Shriners have been ignored, kicked out, removed from
committees and in the case of Hill, sent a "cease and desist" email
from Shriners corporate attorney. Is there further punishment for such
actions? According to Shriners ritual, the punishment is "In willful
violation whereof may I incur the fearful penalty of having my eyeballs
pierced to the centre with a three-edged blade, my feet flayed, and I be
forced to walk the hot sands upon the sterile shores of the Red Sea until
the flaming sun shall strike me with livid plague, and may Allah, the
god of Arab, Moslem and Mohammedan, the god of our fathers, support me
to the entire fulfillment of the same. Amen. Amen. Amen." (1)

10) It appears that the "Cease and desist" email sent by the Shriners
corporate attorney to Hill violated the "Whistle blower Protection"
provided by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. In July, 2003, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
was signed into law after corporations like Enron were caught illegally
pursuing annual profits rather than maintaining sound business
practices. The law calls for new standards for governance, financial
transactions and audit procedures. It calls for the establishment of an
independent audit committee, policies that address insider trading and conflicts
of interest, spells out the responsibilities of auditors, requires
certified financial statements, mandates the disclosure of tax returns in
an "easily accessible way," provides whistle blower protection and
addresses document destruction so as to prevent criminal obstruction.

Unanswered Questions

Two sets of questions have been emailed to the Shriners Director of
Public Relations; the first sent on 7/11/06, over a month ago and the
second sent on 7/28/06, nearly three weeks ago. To date, both remain
unanswered.

The first email asked about the Shriners hiring a lobbyist named
Hershel Gober, former Director of Veterans Affairs for the Clinton
administration. These questions included "Why was this relationship reported to
the U.S. Senate but not disclosed on the 2005 tax returns?" and "Why
would Gober, as confirmed by Gober himself, lobby against the
Sarbanes-Oxley act on behalf of the Shriners Hospitals for Children?" Other
questions include:

1) Specifically, what are the points of Sarbanes-Oxley that the
Shriners lobbied against? 2) What did the Shriners hope to accomplish by
lobbying against Sarbanes-Oxley? 3) Who was involved with the meetings set
up by Mr. Gober? 4) Who is currently lobbying on behalf of the Shriners?
5) Are the Shriners still lobbying against Sarbanes-Oxley?

Are these issues that address non profit transparency and
accountability important? The General Accounting Office and Senator Chuck Grassley,
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, seem to think so. The
second email sent to the Shriners asked questions similar to those asked by
a July 28, 2006 General Accounting Office (GAO) survey and by Senator
Grassley.

According to the GAO survey cover letter:

"As a part of Congress's continuing efforts to oversee the activities
of the nonprofit sector, you asked us to review executive compensation
issues at selected private, nonprofit hospital systems to gain an
understanding of the policies and practices related to the salaries,
benefits, travel, gifts, and entertainment expenses paid by these hospital
systems. Our study's key questions were as follows:

· What corporate governance structure do selected hospital systems
report as having in place over executive compensation?

· What is the basis for the compensation and benefits earned by,
awarded to, or paid to the executives as reported by selected hospital
systems?

· What internal controls do selected hospital systems report as having
in place over the approval, payment, and monitoring of executive travel
and entertainment expenses, gifts, and other perquisites?"

Senator Grassley had this to say about the study:

"We need to insure that charitable assets benefit those who need them
most rather than those who need them leastIn my experience reviewing
charities that have failed their mission, poor board governance unites
them all. When the board members fail to understand the gravity of the
task before them, charities sufferIn 17 percent of the cases, the CEO or
other top paid executives were voting members of the executive
compensation body. In essence, they were voting to give themselves their
salaries and benefits. Critical audits of personal entertainment expenses,
spousal travel, automobile expenses, and social club dues are not being
performed on a regular basis"

On May 25, 2005, Senator Grassley sent out his own set of questions,
asking non profit hospitals to account for activities related to their
non profit status. "The Congress is considering the issues of tax-exempt
organizations and particularly the duties and requirements of public
charities in relation to the billions of dollars in tax benefits that
tax-exempt organizations receive at the federal, state and local level,"
he wrote.

Here are some of the unanswered questions emailed to Shriners Hospitals
for Children. Those in common with the GAO and/or Senator Grassley are
marked as such.

1) Is there a conflict of interest policy or other disclosure mechanism
for Board Members, Officers, Trustees and others in high level
positions for both the fraternal and charitable organizations to disclose any
investments or others interests in companies or organizations who have
patent licenses/agreements/contracts with Shriners Hospitals or that are
the result of research done at any of the Shriners Hospitals or on
behalf of Shriners Hospitals or by anyone associated with Shriners
Hospitals? (Q7, Grassley)

2) None of the tax returns list expenses or expense accounts for any of
the Officers, Directors, Trustees or Key Employees for either the
charitable or fraternal organizations. Please provide the last three years
of expense reports or other accounting information for these
individuals. (Q21, Grassley. Q36, Q37, GAO)

3) Are there annual performance audits of the Board members, Trustees
and Officers of both the charitable and fraternal organizations? (Q18,
GAO)

4) When the officers, Directors and trustees serve on both the
charitable and fraternal boards, are their expenses paid for in both
capacities? (Q36, GAO)

5) Will you please provide a list of the board meetings for the past
three years for both the fraternal and charitable organizations, to
include date, location, who attended as well as expense reports or
accounting for each of those who attended as well as for costs paid for by both
organizations? (Q36, Q41, GAO)

Here are some of the unanswered questions raised in previous articles
that were also asked by the GAO.

1) Does your hospital system make loans to its CEO or any of the other
top four executives? (Q30, GAO)

2) Since January 1, 2004, has your hospital system made loans to its
CEO or any of the other top four executives for the following purposes,
specifically real estate? (Q 31, GAO)

On Monday, July 31, a call was placed to Shriners Headquarters to
determine if Alicia Argiz-Lyons, the Shriners Corporate Director of Public
Relations had received the emailed questions. She answered the phone and
confirmed that the emailed questions had been received.

When asked about the conflicts of interest of real estate transactions
between Shriners Hospitals for Children and Lewis Molnar (recently
retired hospital CEO), Donald Peirce (IT employee who recently died) and
Charles Cumpstone (recently retired executive vice president),
Argiz-Lyons answered "One is dead and the two others are not here any more. And
besides, they happened when the Shriners moved their headquarters."

I then suggested that Argiz-Lyons answer did not negate the fact that
these transactions happened and I suggested that she search the public
records to locate the real estate records in question. I told her that
the real estate transactions had not been reported to the IRS.
Argiz-Lyons said that the IRS had "been down there for 18 months and found
nothing wrong."

She then asked me if I'd been to a Shriners Hospital for Children? I
said no, I had not and certainly, the good that was being done on behalf
of the sick and crippled children was commendable.

She then said "If you really want to help the children, you'll stop
spending all your time asking questions."

As a professional courtesy and as the "fact checking" process I've used
for the past five years, an email was sent to Argiz-Lyons on Friday,
August 4, to provide her the opportunity to confirm or deny what had been
said during our July, 31 conversation. To date, this, and the previous
two emails, remains unanswered.

These unanswered emails seem to follow the Shriners Hospitals for
Children pattern of stonewalling questions about their finances. The
questions that need to be asked now are "Why do they refuse to answer the
questions?" and "What might they be hiding?"

(1) The Encyclopedia of Fraternities, by Albert Stevens

All copies of material reprinted or duplicated from "by Sandy Frost"
must include the following credit line: From
http://sandyfrost.newsvine.com/ Copyright © 2006 by Sandy Frost. Used
by permission.

Visit me at:

http://sandyfrost.newsvine.com/
http://thecassandrafrostcollection.blogspot.com/

The Burning Taper: Grand Lodge of Georgia violates own rules by promoting sectarian Christianity

2006-08-15T18:20:00.000-04:00

The Burning Taper: Grand Lodge of Georgia violates own rules by promoting sectarian Christianity

The Grand lodge of Georgia has once again proven that it is absolutely the most despotic regime to exist since the Vatican.

Was Cancer "Cured" in the 1930's??!!

2006-08-10T22:33:00.000-04:00

Royal Raymond Rife

Imagine, for a moment, that you have spent more than two decades in painfully laborious research-- that you have discovered an incredibly simple, electronic approach to curing literally every disease on the planet caused by viruses and bacteria . Indeed, it is a discovery that would end the pain and suffering of countless millions and change life on Earth forever. Certainly, the medical world would rush to embrace you with every imaginable accolade and financial reward imaginable. You would think so, wouldnt you?

Unfortunately, arguably the greatest medical genius in all recorded history suffered a fate literally the opposite of the foregoing logical scenario. In fact, the history of medicine is replete with stories of genius betrayed by backward thought and jealously, but most pathetically, by greed and money.

In the nineteenth century, Semmelweiss struggled mightily to convince surgeons that it was a good idea to sterilize their instruments and use sterile surgical procedures. Pasteur was ridiculed for years for his theory that germs could cause disease.
Scores of other medical visionaries went through hell for simply challenging the medical status quo of day, including such legends as Roentgen and his X-rays, Morton for promoting the 'absurd' idea of anaesthesia, Harvey for his theory of the circulation of blood, and many others in recent decades including: W.F. Koch, Revici, Burzynski, Naessens, Priore, Livingston-Wheeler, and Hoxsey.

Orthodox big-money medicine resents and seeks to neutralize and/or destroy those who challenge its beliefs. Often, the visionary who challenges it pays a heavy price for his 'heresy.'

So, you have just discovered a new therapy which can eradicate any microbial disease but, so far, you and your amazing cure aren't very popular. What do you do next? Well, certainly the research foundations and teaching institutions would welcome news of your astounding discovery. Won't they be thrilled to learn you have a cure for the very same diseases they are receiving hundreds of millions of dollars per year to investigate? Maybe not, if it means the end of the gravy train. These people have mortgages to pay and families to support. On second thought, forget the research foundations.

Perhaps you should take your discovery to the pharmaceutical industry; certainly it would be of great interest to those protectors of humanity, right? But remember, you have developed a universal cure which makes drugs obsolete, so the pharmaceutical industry just might be less than thrilled to hear about your work. In fact, the bigshots might even make it certain that your human disease-ending technology never sees the light of day, by preventing it from becoming licensed by the regulatory agencies.

Now, assuming your amazing cure is an electronic instrument, the only cost of using it is electricity. And it is absolutely harmless to patients, who can recover without losing their hair, the family home, and their life savings. So, with your technology, there is no longer any reason for people with cancer to pay over $300,000 per patient -- to become deathly ill from chemotherapy, radiation treatments, and the mutilation of surgery. It sounds like you won't find many friends and support among practicing oncologists, radiologists, and surgeons, doesnt it?

You might try the hospitals and big clinics. But how thrilled are they going to be about a therapy administered in any doctor's office; which reverses illness before the patient has to be hospitalized? Thanks to you, the staffs of these institutions will essentially be out of work.

Well then, how about the insurance companies? Surely, they would be delighted to save the expense of hospitalization - at least the companies which haven't invested in hospitals, where the staff is now sitting around waiting for someone to break a leg or be in a car accident...and the ones who don't lose policyholders as a result of your invention...and the companies which aren't trying to divest their pharmaceutical stock. Oh well, forget the insurance companies, too.

It looks like you just might have a little problem with the medical establishment, no?

Probably the only friends you'll have will be the patients and those progressive doctors who see change as an opportunity, rather than a threat to their established money-making monopoly. Those people will love you. But they don't call the shots.

What follows, now, is the story of exactly such a sensational therapy and what happened to it. In one of the blackest episodes in recorded history, this remarkable electronic therapy was sabotaged and buried by a ruthless group of men. It has re-emerged in the underground medical/alternative health world only since the mid-80's. This is the story of Royal Raymond Rife and his fabulous discoveries and electronic instruments.

If you have never heard of Rife before, prepare to be angered and incredulous at what this great man achieved for all of us only to have it practically driven from the face of the planet. But, reserve your final judgement and decision until after you have read this.

Of course, some may regard this as just an amusing piece of fiction. However, for those who are willing to do some investigating on their own, there will be mentioned several highly-respected doctors and medical authorities who worked with Rife as well as some of the remarkable technical aspects of his creation.

However, in the final analysis, the only real way to determine if such a revolutionary therapy exists is to experience it yourself. The medical literature is full of rigged 'double-blind' clinical research tests, the results of which are often determined in advance by the vested corporate interests involved.

If FDA and other regulatory and licensing procedures and guidelines are observed, it is your privilege to experiment with this harmless therapy. So let's now turn to the story of the most amazing medical pioneer of our century.

Royal Raymond Rife was a brilliant scientist born in 1888 and died in 1971. After studying at Johns Hopkins, Rife developed technology which is still commonly used today in the fields of optics, electronics, radiochemistry, biochemistry, ballistics, and aviation. It is a fair statement that Rife practically developed bioelectric medicine himself.

He received 14 major awards and honors and was given an honorary Doctorate by the University of Heidelberg for his work. During the 66 years that Rife spent designing and building medical instruments, he worked for Zeiss Optics, the U.S. Government, and several private benefactors. Most notable was millionaire Henry Timkin, of Timkin roller bearing fame.

Because Rife was self-educated in so many different fields, he intuitively looked for his answers in areas beyond the rigid scientific structure of his day. He had mastered so many different disciplines that he literally had, at his intellectual disposal, the skills and knowledge of an entire team of scientists and technicians from a number of different scientific fields. So, whenever new technology was needed to perform a new task, Rife simply invented and then built it himself.

Rife's inventions include a heterodyning ultraviolet microscope, a microdissector, and a micromanipulator. When you thoroughly understand Rife's achievements, you may well decide that he has the most gifted, versatile, scientific mind in human history.

By 1920, Rife had finished building the world's first virus microscope. By 1933, he had perfected that technology and had constructed the incredibly complex Universal Microscope, which had nearly 6,000 different parts and was capable of magnifying objects 60,000 times their normal size. With this incredible microscope, Rife became the first human being to actually see a live virus, and until quite recently, the Universal Microscope was the only one which was able view live viruses.

Modern electron microscopes instantly kill everything beneath them, viewing only the mummified remains and debris. What the Rife microscope can see is the bustling activity of living viruses as they change form to accommodate changes in environment, replicate rapidly in response to carcinogens, and transform normal cells into tumor cells.

But how was Rife able to accomplish this, in an age when electronics and medicine were still just evolving? Here are a few technical details to placate the skeptics...
Rife painstakingly identified the individual spectroscopic signature of each microbe, using a slit spectroscope attachment. Then, he slowly rotated block quartz prisms to focus light of a single wavelength upon the microorganism he was examining. This wavelength was selected because it resonated with the spectroscopic signature frequency of the microbe based on the now-established fact that every molecule oscillates at its own distinct frequency.

The atoms that come together to form a molecule are held together in that molecular configuration with a covalent energy bond which both emits and absorbs its own specific electromagnetic frequency. No two species of molecule have the same electromagnetic oscillations or energetic signature. Resonance amplifies light in the same way two ocean waves intensify each other when they merge together.

The result of using a resonant wavelength is that micro-organisms which are invisible in white light suddenly become visible in a brilliant flash of light when they are exposed to the color frequency that resonates with their own distinct spectroscopic signature. Rife was thus able to see these otherwise invisible organisms and watch them actively invading tissues cultures. Rife's discovery enabled him to view organisms that no one else could see with ordinary microscopes.

More than 75% of the organisms Rife could see with his Universal Microscope are only visible with ultra-violet light. But ultraviolet light is outside the range of human vision, it is 'invisible' to us. Rife's brilliance allowed him to overcome this limitation by heterodyning, a technique which became popular in early radio broadcasting. He illuminated the microbe (usually a virus or bacteria) with two different wavelengths of the same ultraviolet light frequency which resonated with the spectral signature of the microbe. These two wavelengths produced interference where they merged. This interference was, in effect, a third, longer wave which fell into the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. This was how Rife made invisible microbes visible without killing them, a feat which today's electron microscopes cannot duplicate.

By this time, Rife was so far ahead of his colleagues of the 1930's(!), that they could not comprehend what he was doing without actually traveling to San Diego to Rife's laboratory to look through his Virus Microscope for themselves. And many did exactly that.

One was Virginia Livingston. She eventually moved from New Jersey to Rife's Point Loma (San Diego) neighborhood and became a frequent visitor to his lab. Virginia Livingston is now often given the credit for identifying the organism which causes human cancer, beginning with research papers she began publishing in 1948.

In reality, Royal Rife had identified the human cancer virus first...in 1920! Rife then made over 20,000 unsuccessful attempts to transform normal cells into tumor cells. He finally succeeded when he irradiated the cancer virus, passed it through a cell-catching ultra-fine porcelain filter, and injected it into lab animals. Not content to prove this virus would cause one tumor, Rife then created 400 tumors in succession from the same culture. He documented everything with film, photographs, and meticulous records. He named the cancer virus 'Cryptocides primordiales.'

Virginia Livingston, in her papers, renamed it Progenitor Cryptocides. Royal Rife was never even mentioned in her papers. In fact, Rife seldom got credit for his monumental discoveries. He was a quiet, unassuming scientist, dedicated to expanding his discoveries rather than to ambition, fame, and glory. His distaste for medical politics (which he could afford to ignore thanks to generous trusts set up by private benefactors) left him at a disadvantage later, when powerful forces attacked him. Coupled with the influence of the pharmaceutical industry in purging his papers from medical journals, it is hardly surprising that few heave heard of Rife today.

Meanwhile, debate raged between those who had seen viruses changing into different forms beneath Rife's microscopes, and those who had not. Those who condemned without investigation, such as the influential Dr. Thomas Rivers, claimed these forms didn't exist.
Because his microscope did not reveal them, Rivers argued that there was "no logical basis for belief in this theory." The same argument is used today in evaluating many other 'alternative' medical treatments; if there is no precedent, then it must not be valid. Nothing can convince a closed mind. Most had never actually looked though the San Diego microscopes...air travel in the 1930's was uncomfortable, primitive, and rather risky. So, the debate about the life cycle of viruses was resolved in favor of those who never saw it (even modern electron microscopes show frozen images, not the life cycle of viruses in process).

Nevertheless, many scientists and doctors have since confirmed Rife's discovery of the cancer virus and its pleomorphic nature, using darkfield techniques, the Naessens microscope, and laboratory experiments. Rife also worked with the top scientists and doctors of his day who also confirmed or endorsed various areas of his work. They included: E.C. Rosenow, Sr. (longtime Chief of Bacteriology, Mayo Clinic); Arthur Kendall (Director, Northwestern Medical School); Dr. George Dock (internationally-renowned); Alvin Foord (famous pathologist); Rufus Klein-Schmidt (President of USC); R.T. Hamer (Superintendent, Paradise Valley Sanitarium; Dr. Milbank Johnson (Director of the Southern California AMA); Whalen Morrison (Chief Surgeon, Santa Fe Railway); George Fischer (Childrens Hospital, N.Y.); Edward Kopps (Metabolic Clinic, La Jolla); Karl Meyer (Hooper Foundation, S.F.); M. Zite (Chicago University); and many others.

Rife ignored the debate, preferring to concentrate on refining his method of destroying these tiny killer viruses. He used the same principle to kill them, which made them visible: resonance.

By increasing the intensity of a frequency which resonated naturally with these microbes, Rife increased their natural oscillations until they distorted and disintegrated from structural stresses. Rife called this frequency 'the mortal oscillatory rate,' or 'MOR', and it did no harm whatsoever to the surrounding tissues.

Today's Rife instruments use harmonics of the frequencies shown on the display screen. The wavelength of the actual frequency shown (770hz, 880hz, etc.) is too long to do the job.

This principle can be illustrated by using an intense musical note to shatter a wine glass: the molecules of the glass are already oscillating at some harmonic (multiple) of that musical note; they are in resonance with it. Because everything else has a different resonant frequency, nothing but the glass is destroyed. There are literally hundreds of trillions of different resonant frequencies, and every species and molecule has its very own.

It took Rife many years, working 48 hours at a time, until he discovered the frequencies which specifically destroyed herpes, polio, spinal meningitis, tetanus, influenza, and an immense number of other dangerous disease organisms.

In 1934, the University of Southern California appointed a Special Medical Research Committee to bring terminal cancer patients from Pasadena County Hospital to Rife's San Diego Laboratory and clinic for treatment. The team included doctors and pathologists assigned to examine the patients - if still alive - in 90 days.

After the 90 days of treatment, the Committee concluded that 86.5% of the patients had been completely cured. The treatment was then adjusted and the remaining 13.5% of the patients also responded within the next four weeks. The total recovery rate using Rife's technology was 100%.

On November 20, 1931, forty-four of the nation's most respected medical authorities honored Royal Rife with a banquet billed as The End To All Diseases at the Pasadena estate of Dr. Milbank Johnson.

But by 1939, almost all of these distinguished doctors and scientists were denying that they had ever met Rife. What happened to make so many brilliant men have complete memory lapses? It seems that news of Rife's miracles with terminal patients had reached other ears. Remember our hypothetical question at the beginning of this report: What would happen if you discovered a cure for everything? You are now about to find out....

At first, a token attempt was made to buy out Rife. Morris Fishbein, who had acquired the entire stock of the American Medical Association by 1934, sent an attorney to Rife with 'an offer you can't refuse.' Rife refused. We many never know the exact terms of this offer. But we do know the terms of the offer Fishbein made to Harry Hoxsey for control of his herbal cancer remedy. Fishbein's associates would receive all profits for nine years and Hoxey would receive nothing. Then, if they were satisfied that it worked, Hoxsey would begin to receive 10% of the profits. Hoxsey decided that he would rather continue to make all the profits himself. When Hoxsey turned Fishbein down, Fishbein used his immensely powerful political connections to have Hoxsey arrested 125 times in a period of 16 months. The charges (based on practice without a license) were always thrown out of court, but the harassment drove Hoxsey insane.

But Fishbein must have realized that this strategy would backfire with Rife. First, Rife could not be arrested like Hoxsey for practising without a license. A trial on trumped-up charges would mean that testimony supporting Rife would be introduced by prominent medical authorities working with Rife. And the defense would undoubtedly take the opportunity to introduce evidence such as the 1934 medical study done with USC. The last thing in the world that the pharmaceutical industry wanted was a public trial about a painless therapy that cured 100% of the terminal cancer patients and cost nothing to use but a little electricity. It might give people the idea that they didn't need drugs.

And finally, Rife had spent decades accumulating meticulous evidence of his work, including film and stop-motion photographs. No, different tactics were needed...

The first incident was the gradual pilfering of components, photographs, film, and written records from Rife's lab. The culprit was never caught.

Then, while Rife struggled to reproduce his missing data (in a day when photocopies and computers were not available), someone vandalized his precious virus microscopes. Pieces of the 5,682 piece Universal microscope were stolen. Earlier, an arson fire had destroyed the multi-million dollar Burnett Lab in New Jersey, just as the scientists there were preparing to announce confirmation of Rife's work. But the final blow came later, when police illegally confiscated the remainder of Rife's 50 years of research.

Then in 1939, agents of a family which controlled the drug industry assisted Philip Hoyland in a frivolous lawsuit against his own partners in the Beam Ray Corporation. This was the only company manufacturing Rife's frequency instruments (Rife was not a partner). Hoyland lost, but his assisted legal assault had the desired effect: the company was bankrupted by legal expenses. And during the Great Depression, this meant that commercial production of Rife's frequency instruments ceased completely.

And remember what a universal cure meant to hospitals and research foundations? Doctors who tried to defend Rife lost their foundations grants and hospital privileges.

On the other hand, big money was spent ensuring that doctors who had seen Rife's therapy would forget what they saw. Almost no price was too much to suppress it. Remember that, today, treatment of a single cancer patient averages over $300,000. It's BIG business.

Thus, Arthur Kendall, the Director of the Northwestern School of Medicine who worked with Rife on the cancer virus, accepted almost a quarter of a million dollars to suddenly 'retire' in Mexico. That was an exorbitant amount of money in the Depression.
Dr. George Dock, another prominent figure who collaborated with Rife, was silenced with an enormous grant, along with the highest honors the AMA could bestow. Between the carrots and the sticks, everyone except Dr. Couche and Dr. Milbank Johnson gave up Rife's work and went back to prescribing drugs.

To finish the job, the medical journals, support almost entirely by drug company revenues and controlled by the AMA, refused to publish any paper by anyone on Rife's therapy. Therefore, an entire generation of medical students graduated into practice without ever once hearing of Rife's breakthroughs in medicine.

The magnitude of such an insane crime eclipses every mass murder in history. Cancer picks us off quietly...but by 1960 the casualties from this tiny virus exceeded the carnage of all the wars America ever fought. In 1989, it was estimated that 40% of us will experience cancer at some time in our lives.

In Rife's lifetime, he had witnessed the progress of civilization from horse-and-buggy travel to jet planes. In that same time, he saw the epidemic of cancer increase from 1 in 24 Americans in 1905 to 1 in 3 in 1971 when Rife died.

He also witnessed the phenomenal growth of the American Cancer Society, the Salk Foundation, and many others collecting hundreds of millions of dollars for diseases that were cured long before in his own San Diego laboratories. In one period, 176,500 cancer drugs were submitted for approval. Any that showed 'favorable' results in only one-sixth of one percent of the cases being studied could be licensed. Some of these drugs had a mortality rate of 14-17%. When death came from the drug, not the cancer, the case was recorded as a 'complete' or 'partial remission' because the patient didn't actually die from the cancer. In reality, it was a race to see which would kill the patient first: the drug or the disease.

The inevitable conclusion reached by Rife was that his life-long labor and discoveries had not only been ignored but probably would be buried with him. At that point, he ceased to produce much of anything and spent the last third of his life seeking oblivion in alcohol. It dulled the pain and his acute awareness of half a century of wasted effort - ignored - while the unnecessary suffering of millions continued so that a vested few might profit. And profit they did, and profit they do.

In 1971, Royal Rife died from a combination of valium and alcohol at the age of 83. Perhaps his continual exposure to his own Rife frequencies helped his body endure abuse for so many years.

Fortunately, his death was not the end of his electronic therapy. A few humanitarian doctors and engineers reconstructed his frequency instruments and kept his genius alive. Rife technology became public knowledge again in 1986 with the publication of The Cancer Cure That Worked, by Barry Lynes, and other material about Royal Rife and his monumental work.

There is wide variation in the cost, design, and quality of the modern portable Rife frequency research instruments available. Costs vary from about $1200 to $3600 with price being no legitimate indicator of the technical competence in the design of the instrument or performance of the instruent. Some of the most expensive units have serious technical limitations and are essentially a waste of money. At the other extreme, some researchers do get crude results from inexpensive simple, unmodified frequency generators, but this is just as misguided as spending too much money. Without the proper modifications, the basic frequency generator gives only minimal and inconsistent results. Please recall that the actual destruction of the viruses and bacteria, etc. is not accomplished by the frequency displayed on these cheap generators, but by certain shorter harmonics of that particular frequency which are often blocked by the crudity of a cheap and rudimentary instrument itself.

This very problem led Rife to ultimately abandon the 'ray tube' design in favor of today's version. The newer technology applies the frequencies and their harmonics to the body through the use of hand-held, footplate, or stick-on electrodes. Proper frequency exposure and flushing of the body with large amounts of clean, pure water is critical to achieve the kind of results Rife got. These procedures are fully explained in the manuals of the best units on the market.

So, unless you would be satisfied with sporadic results for minor conditions, it is suggested you use only the highest quality equipment and only the proper, proven procedures in your personal research. If you do, you may discover that nothing can approach what can be achieved through the application of these safe, time-tested frequencies (many for over 65 years)- and all without drugs, surgery, or radiation.

One day, the name of Royal Raymond Rife may ascend to its rightful place as the giant of modern medical science. Until that time, his fabulous technology remains available only to the people who have the interest to seek it out. While perfectly legal for veterinarians to use to save the lives of animals, Rife's brilliant frequency therapy remains taboo to orthodox mainstream medicine because of the continuing threat it poses to the international pharmaceutical medical monopoly that controls the lives - and deaths - of the vast majority of the people on this planet.

This story can be found at : www.rense.com

WHAT GOD IS & WHAT THE WORD RELIGION SIGNIFIES, AND HOW AND WHY SUCH A GREAT NUMBER HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED IN THE WORLD

2006-08-08T23:55:00.000-04:00

This EXCELLENT post was found on TUBALCAIN420 and I just had to post it here! Thanks to the folks at Tubalcain420 for letting me do so!

Until now we have fought the popular idea concerning the Divinity, but we have not yet said what God is, and if we were asked, we should say that the word represents to us an Infinite Being, of whom one of his attributes is to be a substance of extent and consequently eternal and infinite. The extent or the quantity not being finite or divisible, it may be imagined that the matter was everywhere the same, our understanding not distinguishing parts. For example, water, as much as water is imagined, is divisible, and its parts separable from one another, though as much as a corporeal substance it is nether separable nor divisible. [So of water, however, it may be subject to generation and corruption, as long as it is substance it is not subject to separation and division.] Thus neither matter or quantity have anything unworthy of God, for if all is God, and all comes surely from his essence, it follows quite absolutely that He is all that he contains, since it is incomprehensible that Beings quite material should be contained in a Being who is not. That we may not think that this is a new opinion, Terlullian, one of the foremost men among the Christians, has pronounced against Apelles, that, "that which is not matter is nothing," and against Praxias, that "all substance is matter," without having this doctrine condemned in the four first Councils of the Christian Church, ecumenical and general. [The four first Councils were 1. That of Nice in the year 345, under the Emperor Constantine the Great, and under Pope Sylvester I.; 2. That of Constantinople in the year 381, under the Emperors Gratian, Valentinian and Theodore and the Pope Damase I.; 3. That of Ephesus in the year 431, under the Emperor Theodore, the younger, and Valentinian and under the Pope Celestin; 4. That of Chalcedon in the year 451, under Valentinian and Martian, and under Pope Leo I.]

These sentiments are plain and the only ones that good and sound judgment can form of God. However, there are but few who are satisfied with such simplicity. Boorish people, who are accustomed to adulation of opinion, demand a God who resembles earthly kings. The pomp and circumstance surrounding them so fascinates, that to take away all hope of going after death to increase the number of heavenly courtiers enjoying the same pleasure which attaches to the Court of Kings, is to take away the consolation and the only things which prevent them from going to despair over the miseries of life. They want a just and avenging God, who rewards and punishes after the manner of kings, a God susceptible of all human passions and weaknesses. They give him feet, hands, and ears, and yet they do not regard a God so constituted as material. They say that man is his masterpiece, and even his own image, but do not allow that the copy is like the original. In a word, the God of the people of today is subject to as many forms as Jupiter of the Pagans, and what is still more strange, these follies contradict each other and shock good sense. The vulgar reverence them because they firmly believe what the Prophets have said, although these visionaries among the Hebrews, were the same as the augurs and the diviners among the pagans. [These, among us, are the Astrologers and Fanatics.] They consult the Bible as if God or nature was therein expounded to them in a special manner, however this book is only a rhapsody of fragments, gathered at various times, selected by several persons, and given to the people according to the fancy of the Robbins, who did not publish them until after approving some, and rejecting others, and seeing if they were conformable or opposed to the Law of Moses. [the Talmud remarks that the Robbins deliberated whether they should omit the Book of Proverbs and that of Ecclesiastes from the number of canonicals, and would have done so had they not found in several places that they eulogized the Mosaic law. They would have done the same with the prophecies of Ezekiel had not a certain Chananias undertook to harmonize them with the same law.] Yes, such is the malice and stupidity of men that they prefer to pass their lives disputing with one another, and worshipping a book received from ignorant people; a book with little order or method, which everyone admits as confused and badly conceived, only serving to foment divisions.

Christians would rather adore this phantom than listen to the law of Nature which God -- that is to say, Nature, which is the active principle -- has written in the heart of man. All other laws are but human fictions, and pure illusions forged, not by Demons or evil spirits, which are fanciful ideas, but by the skill of Princes and Ecclesiastics to give the former more warrant for their authority, and to enrich the latter by the traffic in an infinity of chimeras which sell to the ignorant at a good price.

All other laws are not supported save on the authority of the Bible, in the original of which appear a thousand instances of extraordinary and impossible things, [The versions that we have differ greatly in a thousand places, one with another, until the end of the book.] and which speaks only of recompenses or punishments for good or bad actions, but which are wisely deferred for a future life, relying that the trick will not be discovered in this, no one having returned from the other to tell the news. Thus, men kept ever wavering between hope and fear, are held to their duty by the belief they aver that God has created man only to render him eternally happy or unhappy, and which has given rise to the infinity of religions which are about to be discussed.

WHAT THE WORD RELIGION SIGNIFIES, AND HOW AND WHY SUCH A GREAT NUMBER HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED IN THE WORLD.

Before the word Religion was introduced in the world mankind was only obliged to follow natural laws and to conform to common sense. This instinct alone was the tie by which men were united, and so very simple was this bond of unity, that nothing among them was more rare than dissensions. But when fear created a suspicion that there were Gods, and invisible powers, they raised altars to these imaginary beings, so that in putting off the yoke of Nature and Reason, which are the sources of true life, they subjected themselves by vain ceremonies and superstitious worship to frivolous phantoms of the imagination, and that is whence arose this word Religion which makes so much noise in the world.

Men having admitted invisible forces which were all-powerful over them, they worshipped them to appease them, and further imagined that Nature was a being subordinate to this power, thence they had the idea that it was a great mace that threatened, or a slave that acted only by the order that such power gave him. Since this false idea had broken their will they had only scorn for Nature, and respect only for those pretended beings that they called their Gods. Thence came the ignorance in which mankind was plunged, and from which the well-informed, however deep the abyss, could have rescued them, if their zeal had not been extinguished by those who led them blindly, and who lived by imposture. But though there was but little appearance of success in the enterprise, it was not necessary to abandon the party of truth, and only in consideration of those who were afflicted with the symptoms of so great an evil, were generous souls available to represent matters as they were.

Fear which created Gods, made also Religion, and when men imbibed the notion that there were invisible agencies which were the cause of their good and bad fortune, they lost their good sense and reason substituting for their chimeras so many Divinities who had care of their conduct.

After having forged these Gods they were curious to know of what matter they consisted, and finally imagined that they should be of the same substance as the soul. Then being persuaded that the latter resembled the shadows which appear in a mirror, or during sleep, they believed that some Gods were real substances but so thin and subtle that to distinguish them from bodies they called them Spirits. So that bodies and spirits were in effect the same thing, and differed neither more nor less, and to be both corporeal and incorporeal is a most incomprehensible thing. The reason given is that each spirit has a proper form, and is included within some limit, that is to say that it has some boundaries, and consequently must be a body however thin and subtle it might be. [See Tertullian ante, also Hobbes' Leviathan, C. 12, p. 56.]

The ignorant, that is, the greater part of mankind having settled in this manner the substance of their Gods, tried also to determine by what methods these invisible powers produced their effects. Not being able to do this definitely by reason of their ignorance, they put faith in their conjectures, blindly judging the future by the past, while seeing neither cohesion nor dependence.

In all that they undertook they saw but the past, and foretold good or evil for the future according as the same enterprise had at another time turned out either good or bad. Phormion having defeated the Lacedemonians at the battle of Naupacte, the Athenians, after his death, chose another general of the same name: Hannibal having succumbed to the arms of Scipio Africanus, the Romans, remembering this great success, sent another Scipio to the same country against Caesar, which acts gained nothing for either the Athenians or the Romans. So after two or three experiences, good or bad fortune is made synonymous with certain names or places; others make use of certain words called enchantments, which they believe to be efficacious; some cause trees to speak, create man from a morsel of bread, and transform anything that may appear before them. (Hobbes' Leviatlian de homine. Cap. 12, p. 56-57.)

Invisible powers being established in this way, straightway men revere them only as they do their rulers, that is to say, by tokens of submission and respect, as witness offerings, prayers, and similar things, I say at first, for nature has not yet learned to use on such occasions sacrifices of blood, which have only been instituted for the benefit of the sacrificers and the ministers called to the service of these beautiful Gods.

These causes of Religion, that is, Hope and Fear, leaving out the passions, judgments and various resolutions of mankind, have produced the great number of extravagant beliefs which have caused so much evil, and the many revolutions which have convulsed the nations.

The honor and revenue which attaches to the priesthood, and which has since been accorded to the ministry of the Gods, and those having ecclesiastical charges, inflame the ambition and the avarice of cunning individuals who profit by the stupidity of the people, who readily submit in their weakness, and we know how insensibly is caused the easy habit of encouraging falsehood and hating truth.

The empire of falsehood being established, and the ambitious ones encouraged by the advantage of being above their fellows, the latter endeavor to gain repute by a pretense of being friendly with the invisible Gods whom the vulgar fear. For better success, each schemes in his own way, and multiplies deities so that they are met at every turn.

The formless matter of the world they term the god Chaos, and the same honor is accorded to heaven, earth, the sea, the wind, and the planets, and they are made both male and female. Further on we find birds, reptiles, the crocodile, the calf, the dog, the lamb, the serpent, the hog, and in fact all kinds of animals and plants constitute the better part. Each river and fountain bears the name of a God, each house had its own, each man his genius; in fact all space above and beneath the earth was occupied by spirits, shades and demons. It was not sufficient to maintain a Divinity in all imaginable places, but they feared to offend time, day, night, concord, love, peace, victory, contention, mildew, honor, virtue, fever, and health, or to insult these charming divinities whom they always imagined ready to discharge lightning on the heads of men, provided temples and altars were not erected to them.

As a sequel, man commenced to fear his own special genius, whom some invoked under the name of Muses, and others under the name of Fortune adored their own ignorance. The latter sanctified their debauches in the name of Cupid, their rage in the name of Furies, and their natural parts under the name of Priapus, in a word, there was nothing which did not bear the name of a God or a Demon. (Hobbes' de homine, Chap. 12, p. 58.)

The founders of Religion having based their impostures on the ignorance of the people, took great care to maintain them by the adoration of images which they pretended were inhabited by the Gods, and this caused a flood of gold and benefactions called holy things, to pour into the coffers of the priests. These gifts were regarded as sacred, and designed for the use of these holy ministers, and none were so audacious as to pretend to their office, or even to touch them. To allure the people more successfully, these priests made prophecies and pretended to penetrate the future by the commerce which they boasted of having with the Gods. There is nothing so natural as to know destiny. These impostors were too well informed to omit any circumstance so advantageous for their designs. Some were established at Delos, others at Delphos and elsewhere, where by ambiguous oracles they replied to the demands made of them. Women even were engaged in these impostures, and the Romans in their great Calamities had recourse to the Sibylline books; fools and lunatics passed for enthusiasts, and those who pretended to converse with the dead were called necromancers.

Others read the future by the flight of birds, or by the entrails of beasts. Indeed the eyes, the hands, the face, or an extraordinary object, all seemed to them to possess a good or bad omen, so it is true that the ignorant will receive any desired impression when the secret of their wish is found. (Hobbes' de homine, Chap. 12, pp. 58-59.)

2nd Communication from Newly Elected UGLA GM

2006-08-08T10:42:00.000-04:00

For Immediate Release

Grand Master’s Statement

To the Glory of the Great Architect of the Universe and under the auspices of the United Grand Lodge of America, greetings from the Grand East.

The Bill of Rights of the United Grand Lodge, as modified at our Annual Grand Lodge Communication on the 5th day of the month of August 2006 is posted below.

Fraternally,

S. Aaron Peavy

Grand Master

United Grand Lodge of America

Grand Lodge Bill of Rights

I. The Grand Lodge shall have the power to collect per-capita fees from the Lodges for its normal operations. The Grand Lodge shall provide financial statements of its activities at its regular communications.

II. The Grand Lodge shall return all unused funding back to the Lodges on a per-capita basis for the previous year after the collection of per-capita taxes.

III. The Grand Lodge is prohibited from owning, leasing or acquiring real estate.

IV. The Grand Lodge is prohibited from receiving or acquiring any monies or assets except through the collection of its annual per-capita fees.

V. No Grand Lodge Officer or any Representative from any of the Lodges shall receive any compensation for their services, other than reimbursable expenses covered by the Tax Code of the United States of America.

VI. No Free-Mason or close relation of a Free-Mason shall be hired by the Grand Lodge to provide any product or service to the Grand Lodge.

VII. The Grand Lodge shall be the sole authority over all Masonic Rites and Appendant Bodies and no Rite or Appendant Body shall form independent governing Bodies.

VIII. The various Masonic Rites will provide the educational curriculum relevant to their specific Order.

IX. The Grand Master is prohibited from issuing Edicts.

X. The Grand Master has the power and authority to temporarily suspend the Charter of any Lodge or any member, but only when the action is necessitated by an action of the Government or a Criminal Court.

XI. Any elected representative of a Lodge (Master or Warden) can introduce new legislation before the Grand Lodge, and the Grand Lodge shall not pass any law prohibiting this nor causing the same to be subject to the approval of any person or persons.

XII. Any elected representative of a Lodge (Master or Warden) can speak before the Grand Lodge about any issue concerning Free-Masonry, and the Grand Lodge shall not pass any law prohibiting this nor causing the same to be subject to the approval of any person or persons.

As amended by the members of the United Grand Lodge of America on 08/05/06
Attested by the Grand Secretary

G. David Cooksey

United Grand Lodge of America

Renting Out Shrine for Rock Concerts & Selling Beer on Premises

2006-08-08T08:06:00.000-04:00

Yet, another Shrine arrogating it's own interests over Masonic Law... DS
By JACI WEBB Of The Billings Gazette Staff

Frank Glasgow figured he hit the mother lode in 2000 when Bob Dylan performed for 2,500 people at the Shrine Auditorium. "That was the first show that put us on the map," said Glasgow, the rental manager for the Shrine, located at 1125 Broadwater Ave. Glasgow concedes that he and the volunteers who run beer concessions and take tickets were rookies back then. They've since learned a lot. "We learned from Bravo how to be a venue," Glasgow said. "I remember for that Dylan show we didn't even realize that you don't sell cans of beer at a concert." Sometimes shows get a little rowdy and concertgoers throw things - it hurts more to be hit by a can than by a plastic cup. Thus, the ban on canned beer.

Bravo Entertainment, a Boise, Idaho-based promotion company, brings many of the shows to the Shrine, including Dylan's concert. Since 2000, there have been dozens of concerts, from hip-hop acts like the Ying Yang Twins and Ludacris to blues legend B.B. King, country stars like Willie Nelson and Big and Rich, and lately, a rash of metal shows starting with Godsmack in 2004 and leading into the trio of hard rock shows over the next week, beginning with tonight's Rob Zombie concert and including shows by Billy Idol and Alice Cooper.

Glasgow said he occasionally takes heat from community members about the types of shows performed at the Shrine, but he points out that legally when a private facility is rented to the public it becomes a public venue and he can't discriminate. As long as potential renters have a $1 million liability insurance policy, the rental fee of $950 plus a $250 cleaning deposit, the building is theirs for the night.

"Once in a while, we get a call, 'How can you have an act like that? Have you heard their record?' Some are more disgusting than others. Alice Cooper and Billy Idol were pretty disgusting in their day." Glasgow said he took the most grief for the Joan Baez, Indigo Girls and Bonnie Raitt concert back in 2000 because it was to help raise money and awareness for the Save the Yellowstone Buffalo Coalition.

Part of the charm of the building, which has 16,000 square feet of space on each of two levels, is that it feels like a high school gym. And, indeed, that was the idea when the building was constructed in 1950 - to put in an all-purpose gym for the community. The hardwood floor was designed to give with the weight of the crowd, giving it a bouncy feel during packed shows. "It can be a bit disconcerting when you're in the basement making cotton candy and the elephants are tromping around upstairs," Glasgow said. Glasgow, a trumpet player in school at West High, remembers Al Hirt playing a show there in the 1960s and, even further back, Louis Armstrong performing. The venue was used throughout the '50s and '60s for concerts, basketball tournaments and the Shrine Circus.

"For years it was a civic hub," Glasgow said. "But with the advent of the Metra, they stopped using it. It sat here from the 1970s to until 1998, and it was used only for meetings and occasional craft shows." Erecting a building to benefit the community is par for the course for the Shrine organization, a nonsectarian men's service group that raises money for ailing children treated at the Shrine hospitals. The local group, Al Bedoo, formed in Billings in 1922, held meetings in the Masonic Hall on North Broadway and Second Avenue North, across the street from the Alberta Bair Theater. The local organization has about 1,000 members, an aging population that is sometimes startled by Glasgow's ideas.

Glasgow joined the Al Bedoo Shrine organization in 1994, about the same time group leaders were wondering what to do with the building. At one time it was going to be put up for sale because it wasn't being used and needed repairs. Glasgow convinced his fellow Shriners first of all to bring back the Shrine Circus. The concerts came later.

"We have all kinds of folks who are here helping out. We have a rugby team that loves to sell beer in exchange for practice space in the winter. We have Boy Scouts and other group selling concessions. Of our 1,000-odd members we can count on 50 to help us out."

UGLA Grand Master's Statement

2006-08-07T12:54:00.000-04:00

S. Aaron Peavy
UGLA Grand Master

For Immediate Release:

From the Office of the Grand Secretary G. David Cooksey:

Grand Master’s Statement

To the Glory of the Great Architect of the Universe and under the auspices of the United Grand Lodge of America, greetings from the East.

August 5, 2006 was a momentous day for Modern Free-Masons worldwide. The United Grand Lodge of America met to form its governing Grand Lodge body. Many items were discussed at length and many resolutions and items of great importance were completed. The three principle officers were elected and a compliment of Grand Lodge officers was appointed.

The cornerstone of our Grand Lodge was set into place at this meeting and we are now heading towards the ultimate goal of our basic principles:

1. Brotherhood of Humankind under the all-seeing eye of Deity

2. All Masons are on the same level

Thanks goes to Free-Masons from across the nation who met in Peace, Virtue, Truth, Brotherhood, and Fraternal union at our first Grand Lodge Communication. I will be issuing our plans for the future of our Brotherhood as Free-Masonry has been forged for the next generation. Let this new Grand Lodge be a beacon of the universal Light that was and always will be Free-Masonry.

Fraternally,

S. Aaron Peavy

Grand Master

United Grand Lodge of America

The Tao of Masonry: The Real Freemasonry

2006-08-06T19:06:00.000-04:00

The Tao of Masonry: The Real Freemasonry

An Excellent article from Bro. Tom Acousti, with a great lesson behind it. Sit with it for awhile.

Darren

"Atlantis" Under Antarctica??!!

2006-08-06T17:09:00.000-04:00

Special thanks to PRAVDA for this story!

After WW II, scientists started to pay close attention to the issue of a supposedly once-existing civilization in Antarctica. The hypothesis is confirmed by some medieval maps and research of paleogeologists and glaciologists.
In January of 1820, Lieutenant of Russian Empire Fleet Mikhail Lazarev discovered a new continent. In the beginning of 20th century, a Russian encyclopaedia, while adducing the approximate square milage of south pole continent, reported that it was insufficiently explored and there was no flora and fauna. The author of the article also mentioned the richness of the algae and sea life.

Twenty years later, the director of the Istanbul National Museum, Khalil Edkhem, was sorting out a library of the Byzantine emperors in an old palace. He found an ancient map made on gazelle skin. On the map, there were the shores of western and southern Africa, as well as the northern shores of Antarctica. Khalil could not believe hiseyes: the shores of the Queen Mod Land, to the south of the 70th parallel, was free of ice. An ancient cartographer marked a mountain chain there. The name of the cartographer was known: an admiral of the Ottoman Empire fleet, Piri Reis, who lived in the first half of 16th century.

The map’s authenticity was without doubt. Graphology examinations of the notes on the margin confirmed that they belonged to the admiral.

In 1949, a combined British and Swedish expedition conducted intensive seismic measurements of the South Pole through the ice cap. According to the commander of 8th Technical Investigation Squadron of the US Armed Force Strategic Command, Colonel Harold Olmayer, “ the geographical details of the bottom part of the map (the shore of Antarctica) correspond with the results of the seismic measurements. We cannot correlate these data with the supposed level of geography in 1513.”

In his notes on the map’s margin, made in the early 16th century, Piri Reis explained that he was not responsible for the cartography and that the map was based on earlier sources. Some of these “earlier sources” belong to his contemporaries (for example, to Christopher Columbus), while others could be dated to the 4th century B. C. Not later, because one of these sources belonged to Alexander the Great.

Of course, professional historians who specialize in ancient history could say the following: “This is only one more hypothesis. What about documentary and, what is more desirable, trust-worthy sources? The opinion of the Turkish admiral and notes on a margin… You know, it is too disputable!”

Therefore, I would like to present the position of the late historian and professor of Keene College in New Hampshire, USA, Charles H. Hapgood. In the late 1959, he found in the Washington Congressional Library a map created by Orontheus Phynius in 1531. Orontheus Phynius depicted Antarctica with mountains and rivers, without glaciers. The relief of the continent’s center was not marked, which, according to Hapgood, could mean that there had been an ice cap in that area.

In the early 1960s, Phynius’ map was studied by Doctor Richard Stratchen of the Massachusetts Technology Institute together with Hapgood. Both scientists concluded that Phynius had indeed depicted Antarctica free of ice. The characteristics depicted were very close to the information that was obtained in 1958 by specialists from different countries.

Gerard Cremer, known in the world as Mercator, also trusted Orontheus’ evidence. He included the Phynius map into his atlas, in which several maps of Antarctica by Mercator himself were also included. There is one interesting feature: on Mercator’s map of 1569, the west shore of South America is pictured less accurately than on the earlier map of Mercator from 1538. The reasons for this contradiction are the following: while working at the earlier map, the cartographer of 16th century proceeded from ancient sources, which were not kept for our time, and while working at the later map, he proceeded from observations of the first Spanish explorers to South America. Gerard Mercato’s mistake can be excused. In the 16th century, there were no precise methods to measure longitude: as a rule, an error could have been hundreds of kilometers!

Finally, we come to Philippe Boiche, full member of the French Academy of Science. In 1737, he published his map of Antarctica. Boiche presented a precise picture of Antarctica of the time when the continent was free of ice. On his map, the under-ice topography of the continent is presented, about which our civilization had no clear idea until 1958. Moreover, based on now-lost sources, the French academician depicted in the middle of the South Pole a body of water dividing it into two sub-continents, which were situated to the west and to the east from the line, where the Trans-Antarctic Mountains are now marked. According to the investigation in the framework of International Geophysical Year (1958), Antarctic is in fact an archipelago of large islands covered with 1.5-kilometers of ice.

Medieval maps show Antarctica without an ice cap or partially covered with ice. The precision of the 16th century cartographers was very high and even surprising. Their data surpassed the technical possibilities even of the late Middle Ages (for example, the determination of the longitude of a relief within one minute). This level was reached by mankind in the late 18th century, while in some cases, the 20th.

Scientists cannot comment on the high scientific level of medieval cartography. Information from almost 2000-year-old primary sources is supposed to be not well-founded.

Orthodox geology claimed that the age of the Antarctica ice cap was at least 25 million years; however, recently, it has been reduced to six million years.

Therefore, we should notice the following feature of the Reis map: the shore of the continent was free of ice. On the Phynius map, made 18 years after the Reis map, there is an ice cap around the South Pole within the limits of 80th and the 75th parallels. Two hundred years later, academician Boiche depicted Antarctica with glaciers.

The conclusion is obvious: we can see the process of the spreading of glaciers on the southern continent.

In 1949, Admiral Baird’s expedition bore holes into the Ross Sea in three spots, where Orontheus Phynius marked river-beds. In the cuts, fine-grained layers were found, obviously brought to the sea with rivers, whose sources were situated in temperate latitudes (i.e. free of glaciers).

While using the nuclear dating method of doctor U. Oury from the Karnegy Institute in Washington, scientists discovered that Antarctica’s rivers, which were sources of fine-dyspersated deposits, were flowing as depicted on the Phynius map, about 6,000 years ago. About 4000 years B. C., glacial sediments started to accumulate on the bottom of Ross Sea. Kernels show that before this, there was a long warm period.

Therefore, the maps of Reis, Phynius, and Mercator present Antarctica when the ancient Egyptian and Shumer civilizations were newborn. This point of view is excluded by almost all professional historians and could be regarded as an operating hypothesis that cannot be verified. Any historian would say that there were no civilization of the kind in the late 5th millenium B. C. According to Doctor Jacob Hock from Illinois University, the deposits in-question could be 6 to 12 thousand years old.

In September 1991, US and Egyptian archaeologists discovered at a distance of 13 km from Nile River, in Abidos, 12 large boats that belonged to Pharaohs of First Dynasty. The age of the boats is about 5,000 years. They are believed to be the most ancient vessels in the world, the leader of the expedition, D. O’Connor far, the find is estimated to be aimed for religious rites.

According to Herodotus, ancient Egyptians tracked stars more than 10,000 years ago. This statement of the “father of history” is supposed to be esoteric and, therefore, not true. However, land nations seldom produced astronomers. The fact that ancient Egyptians were interested in astronomy may indicate that they inherited some knowledge from an unknown civilization of navigators.

Workers of US technical intelligence determined the projection center of the Piri Reis map, whose data belongs to 4000 year B. C. The projection center was supposedly situated near today’s Cairo. At that time, according to most historians, all then-existing nations were at a very low level of development.

Between the 5th and 10th milleniums B. C., there was a civilization on Earth that possessed great knowledge in the field of navigation, cartography, and astronomy, which was no less advanced than that that of the 18th century.

This civilization preceded our civilization, and it was not an extraterrestrial one. Its age could be several thousands years, while its location was probably on the northern shore of the most southern continent, or archipelago: Antarctica. Later, this civilization may have resettled to the north-east of Africa.

The reason for the death of the civilization was the covering of Antarctica with glaciers. This process started no earlier not than in 10th millenium B. C. It cannot be excluded that there were also large-scale floods, which were regular and cause long-term local deluges (this is confirmed by archaeologists). These disasters could have destroyed most of the civilization’s cultural objects. However, some fragments might be found in the future under the thickness of ice. It can also be assumed that the survivors of Antarctica kept and handed down knowledge to the ancient Egyptians.

Therefore, if there will ever be an extensive exploration of Antarctica, mankind will most likely be surprised with the results.

Translated by Vera Solovieva

[Ed. Note: By the way... the NSA and the CIA are in the process of some furious activity at Lake Vostok and communications have quite recently gone silent. University of Honolulu is involved in the research and ties of CIA money have been discovered as the backing force of the research. Satellite imaging and magnetic anomalies seem to indicate that "something" is there under all that ice and that it's not "natural" in origin. If the NSA and the CIA get involved in covering something up... you can bet there's something to the story!]

Darren

EVENT OF HISTORIC SIGNIFIGANCE

2006-08-06T15:51:00.000-04:00

Multi-State Council of Delegates at the United Grand Lodge of America Headquarters
in Atlanta, Georgia
Photo Credits: The Burning Taper Blog

This just in! An event of historic signifigance has just taken place! All Grand Lodges of Freemasonry are advised of the following:

____________________________________________________________

New Grand Lodge Formation

To the Glory of the Great Architect of the Universe and under the auspices of the United Grand Lodge of America. The Brethren assembled on the 5th day of the month of August in the year 2006. met in the city of Atlanta in the state of Georgia, under the sun where Peace, Virtue, Truth, Brotherhood and Fraternal Union prevailed.

The Brethren Met for the purpose of forming a regular Grand Lodge and to elect Grand Lodge Officers;

To that end the Brethren assembled voted in their first election of officers who are as follows:

S. Aaron Peavy- Grand Master
G. David Cooksey- Grand Secretary
Brian P. Roper- Grand Treasurer

Other officers are appointed by the Grand Master

Grand Secretary
G. David Cooksey
United Grand Lodge of America

Sunken City Found Of Coast of India!

2006-08-04T22:44:00.000-04:00

Archaeologists are absolutely amazed at the discovery of a "sunken city" off of the coast of Surat, India. They're not so surprised that they found the city or even that it's where it is. What they're all surprised by is it's apparent age.

Carbon-dating of organic materials at the site indicate that the city is at least 9,500 years old! That would place it at the end of the last known ice age and older than the Sumerian, Egyptian, and Chinese cultures.

Below, we've reprinted an article courtesy of Linda Moulton Howe from www.earthfiles.com.

_________________________________________________________

Sunken City Off India Coast - 7500 B. C.?

by Linda Moulton Howe

The underwater archaeological site that could be more than 9,000 years old
is about 30 miles west of Surat in the Gulf of Khambhat (Cambay) in northwestern India.

Surat, India - A month ago in mid-January, marine scientists in India announced they had sonar images of square and rectangular shapes about 130 feet down off the northwestern coast of India in the Gulf of Khambhat (Cambay). Not only are their sonar shapes with 90-degree angles, the Indian Minister of Science and Technology ordered that the site be dredged. What was found has surprised archaeologists around the world and was the subject of a private meeting two weeks ago attended by the Indian Minister in charge of investigating the underwater site about thirty miles off the coast from Surat.

An American who traveled to that private meeting was Michael Cremo, researcher in the history of archaeology for the Bhakti Vedanta Institute in India and author of the book Forbidden Archaeology. I talked with him today in India about the dredging operation, what the ocean engineers found and the implications of first carbon dating of artifacts at more than 9,000 years.

Interview

Michael Cremo, Researcher of Ancient Archaeology and Author, Forbidden Archaeology: "Within the past few months, the engineers began some dredging operations there and they pulled up human fossil bones, fossil wood, stone tools, pieces of pottery and many other things that indicated that it indeed was a human habitation site that they had. And they were able to do more intensive sonar work there and were able to identify more structures. They appeared to have been laid out on the bank of a river that had been flowing from the Indian subcontinent out into that area.

According to the news releases, they have done a radiocarbon testing on a piece of wood from the underwater site that is now yielding an age of 9,500 years which would place it near the end of the last Ice Age.

Yes, those are the indications that are coming. There were actually two radiocarbon dates: one about 7500 years old and another about 9500 years old. The 9500 year old one seems to be the strongest one. That's the one they are going with. This was announced by Minister Joshi (Murli Manohar Joshi is Indian Minister for Ocean Technology) at this meeting I attended in Hyderabad, India. He said there is going to be more work going on. It's difficult because it's very difficult to see down there. There is a very swift current. So, it's going to have to be a pretty massive effort, but he said the government of India is willing to put the resources behind it to do whatever it takes to further confirm these discoveries.

I also spoke in Hyderabad with an independent archaeologist not connected with the Indian government, but who has a deep interest in these discoveries and he says they are still going to have to send divers down there. Up to this point, they have not sent divers down. The information they have is based on the sonar readings and the dredging they have done. Eventually, they are going to have to find a way to get people down there to take a closer look at this. I think this effort is going to go on.

Now, another American archaeologist, Richard Meadows of Harvard University, is proposing there should be an international effort here. On the surface that sounds like a good idea, but it also may be an effort of American archaeologists and others to control the project. I don't think they want to see a civilization being as old as it appears to be according to these new finds at 9500 years ago. So, I would hope the Indian archaeologists and government would be very cautious about letting outsiders in there who might have a different agenda and who might try to control what gets let out about this very important discovery. It could be quite revolutionary.

Cultural Background of People At Underwater Site?

Even if we don't know what the cultural background of the people is, if it does happen to be a city that is 9500 years old, that is older than the Sumerian civilization by several thousand years. It is older than the Egyptian, older than the Chinese. So it would radically affect our whole picture of the development of urban civilization on this planet.

Now, if it further happens that additional research is able to identify the culture of the people who lived in that city that's now underwater. If it turns out they are a Vedic people - which I think is quite probable given the location of this off the coast of India - I think that would radically change the whole picture of Indian history which has basically been written by western archaeologists.

India's Vedic Culture - Was It Really Older Than 3500 Years?

The most archaic Sanskrit (Devanagari) is that of the Vedas, multiple books written in thousands
of hymns and verses arranged in song cycles. The Vedas say that "God-men" brought Sanskrit to
Earth men as a language of musical tones.

Sources: The New Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15th Edition © 1993
and Sanskrit Keys to the Wisdom Religion © 1968 by Judith Tyberg.

Ever since the 19th Century, there has been a huge debate about the actual history of India. When the Europeans first came there, they noticed that the people in India who had the Sanskrit language as the main language of their literature - they noticed that the European languages were similar (in word concepts), so that meant the Europeans and East Indians had to be related. The 19th Century scientists also noticed that the Sanskrit culture or Vedic culture, as it is sometimes called after the ancient Indian literature, Vedas, which means knowledge. So sometimes the ancient Indian culture is called the Vedic culture or Vedic civilization. The literature is called the Vedic literature. So, the scientists noticed that it appeared to be older than the European cultures. Since the European languages were related to the Indian language Sanskrit of the Vedas that could only mean that the European peoples had to have come out of India somehow and then gone to Europe with their languages that differentiated into Russian, English, Spanish, German and the rest of them. The European investigators didn't like that idea because it would have given the Vedic culture a position superior to their own. So, these early cities in the Indus Valley like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro have been identified by archaeologists such as Richard Meadows and others as being non-Vedic. They think the Vedic culture came into India maybe 3500 years ago.

Isn't that inconsistent with the concept of the Vedas of the Krishna character who comes and says the universe is teeming with life and appears to have knowledge about other habitations in the cosmos and is talking from an age that would go back at least 9,500 years?

Oh, absolutely, Linda. In these ancient Sanskrit writings, there is no hint at all that the culture came from anywhere else.

And if they are the prime source and if the Vedic literature can be taken literally, then it implies that there were cities there inhabited at least several thousand years ago.

Yes, and there has been other research going on in that area. For example, the Rg Veda, which is one of the earliest Vedic literatures, talks about a mighty river called the Saraswati that flowed from the Himalayan mountains down to the Arabian Sea, down in that area of northwestern India. And such a river doesn't exist there today. So, what happened is that people thought therefore the Rg Veda cannot be talking about India. It has to be talking about some other place outside of India where there was some kind of river.

But what happened that is quite interesting a few years ago is that archaeologists in India started studying the satellite photographs from American satellites like LANDSAT had been providing and they noticed there was a dry river channel that began up in the Himalayas, a huge river that went down almost to that Bay of Khambaht (Cambay) we are talking about (the location of the underwater city site). And then later, they found that on the banks of that river there were 800 to 1000 urban sites, archaeological sites.

So, it does appear that what the Rg Veda was talking about, a mighty river lined with cities in India over 5,000 years ago - that has to be true. The last time that river had water in it was over 5,000 years ago?

Is there a possibility that there could have been some sort of non-human co-habitation on the continent of India let's say 50,000 years ago that could explain all of the Vedas?

Yes. In Kashmir, the valley of Kashmir, it appears it was many years ago a lake. Now, there is an ancient Sanskrit manuscript that tells of a lake that existed in that area, so that account is there in some ancient writings. Now, according to modern geological reporting, about 40,000 years ago Kashmir was indeed a lake in the valley of Kashmir in northern India. It was covered by a huge lake and it was blocked on the southern end by a little range of mountains. And at a certain point, something happened and it broke open and the lake drained out. That happened about 40,000 to 50,000 years ago. So, it is interesting that you've got this ancient historical record that talks about this lake. And if it is to be taken literally, then it means that somebody must have seen this lake as it existed 50,000 years ago and wrote about it."

More Information
Harappan Civilization (ca. 3000 - 1500 B.C.)

Until the recent Bay of Khambaht discovery, one of the oldest, advanced urban centers in India investigated by archaeologists is Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro in present day Pakistan along the Indus River. Will anything in the Bay of Khambaht discovery resemble the structures of the very ancient and mysterious Harappan Civilization?

Harappa archaeology dig in Indus River valley showing heights and depths of structures,
many built on mounds 3500 years ago. Source: North Park University, Chicago, Illinois.

Excavated walls of a Harappan urban city, one of the most mysterious cultures
of the ancient Indian world more than 3,000 years ago. The people were literate and used
the Dravidian Sanskrit language, only part of which has been deciphered today. The artifacts from
Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro in the Indus Valley of Pakistan are extraordinary in beauty and detail.
Source: North Park University, Chicago, Illinois.

Freedom of Speech & Social Responsibility

2006-08-04T00:57:00.000-04:00

After reading a comment posted to the previous article regarding Mel Gibson; I feel compelled to point something out. Mr. Anonymous made a comment about the berating of Mel Gibson because of his drunken, anti-semetic tirade that has recently made the news. He asked if Mel Gibson lived in a Communist country? It seemed that he was inferring that freedom of speech meant that you could say whatever you want without fear of social backlash or dissenting opinion.

Something I pointed out to Mr. Anonymous was that freedom of speech is a two-edged sword. If you express an opinion in public... you have the right to do so... but you must also deal with others excercising their freedom of speech rights by expressing counter opinions and their views over your character, because we all know that what a person thinks says a lot about what kind of person he or she is. In this respect, the old Biblical admonishment is true;

"For it is not what goes into a man's mouth that defiles him, but what issues forth..." Mr. Gibson is not the victim of the suppression of his right to speak freely. In fact, it is quite evident that he exercised that right to it's fullest extent! Mr. Gibson, if anything, is the victim of his lack of accountability in making these comments. Comments which he now regrets in the cold, harsh light of sobriety. What I am saying is that if you're going to put forth an opinion in the public realm, BE ACCOUNTABLE! Make sure that you can deal with those who will disagree. Take ownership of what you say! Vocal dissent over a person's or a group's opinion over ANY issue is not only the right, but the duty of every American citizen.

There are those that feel that you should be able to say whatever you want to publicly and somehow be shielded or protected from verbal backlash or anger.

This is an endorsement of censorship at it's most basic form.

Where does the rationale of this idea stop? All things being equal, if you can't express disdain over someone else's opinion being vocalized publicly; then you take away the fundamental right that the original person had to vocalize their original opinion in the first place!

There would be no such thing as dissent, opinion, or free speech!

Freedom of Speech = Freedom of Expression, Freedom to Disagree, Freedom to Agree, Freedom to Boycott, Freedom of Religious Expression, Freedom of Political Affiliation, Freedom to be successful, Freedom to Fail, Freedom to Live, Freedom to Die...Freedom...Just Freedom

No, Mr. Anonymous... Freedom of Speech IS alive and well. It is social and personal responsibility and accountability that is in danger of disappearing. But... That's just MY opinion that I'm expressing freely.

Thank you,

Darren Simpson

The Burning Taper: Mel Gibson can't help being anti-Semitic — it's part of Christian culture, pagan historian says...

2006-08-02T14:05:00.000-04:00

The Burning Taper: Mel Gibson can't help being anti-Semitic — it's part of Christian culture, pagan historian says... <--- Click link for the whole story

"By now everyone knows that Mel Gibson is an anti-Semite, at least when he's drinking.On Sunday the Pagan Temple blogged:"

(Thanks to the folks at The Burning taper!)

The New View Over "Melchizedek"

2006-08-01T21:08:00.000-04:00

Those who study the Christian Bible, the Zohar, the Talmud, and the Nag Hammadi scripts will recognize the name "Melchizedek". This mysterious "priest-king" of "Salem" (now known as Jerusalem") has been a pivotal figure in the annals of Freemasonry as well; however, many in the Blue Lodge has forgotten the real signifigance of the Master Mason Degree and it's links to Melchizedek...the Canaanite link to the Hiram Abiff story...and the inexorable link to the Messianic legacy of Jesus Christ. I've included some different angles on Melchizedek, taken from different texts and viewpoints. Perhaps, when the real story comes to light about this shadowy figure from the distant past... History will look very different, indeed.

Melchizedek in Rabbinic Lore & the Zohar

Melchizedek is a character in the Old Testament who appeared in Genesis to the patriarch Abraham. He is called "king of Salem" (believed to be ancient Jerusalem) and "priest of the most high God" in Genesis 14:18.

In the Tanakh, Melchizedek brought bread and wine to Abraham (then called Abram) after Abraham's victory over the four kings who had besieged Sodom and Gomorrah and had taken his nephew Lot prisoner (described in Genesis 14). (Gen. 14:18.) Melchizedek blessed Abraham in the name of ³God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.² (Gen. 14:19.) In return, Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth, a tithe, of the spoils gained from the battle. (Gen. 14:20.)

In some translations, Psalm 110:4 names Melchizedek as representative of the priestly line through which a future king of Israel's Davidic line was ordained. Alternatively, the term in Psalm 110:4 can be read ³rightful king.² (E.g., New JPS Tanakh.)

In Rabbinic interpretationIn the Midrash, the Rabbis identified Melchizedek with Shem son of Noah. (E.g., B. Talmud Nedarim 32b; Genesis Rabbah 46:7; Genesis Rabbah 56:10; Leviticus Rabbah 25:6; Numbers Rabbah 4:8.) Rabbi Isaac the Babylonian said that Melchizedek was born circumcised.

(Genesis Rabbah 43:6.) Melchizedek called Jerusalem 'Salem.' (Genesis Rabbah 56:10.)

The Rabbis said that Melchizedek instructed Abraham in the Torah. (Genesis Rabbah 43:6.)

Rabbi Eleazar said that Melchizedek's school was one of three places where the Holy Spirit manifested itself. (B. Talmud Makkot 23b.)

The Rabbis taught that Melchizedek acted as a priest and handed down Adam¹s robes to Abraham. (Numbers Rabbah 4:8.)

Rabbi Zechariah said on Rabbi Ishmael's authority that God intended to bring forth the priesthood through Melchizedek¹s descendants, but because Melchizedek blessed Abraham before he blessed God (in Gen. 14:19-20), God brought the priesthood forth from Abraham¹s descendants. (B. Talmud Nedarim 32b.)

Rabbi Judah said in Rabbi Nehorai's name that Melchizedek¹s blessing yielded prosperity for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Genesis Rabbah 43:8.) Ephraim Miksha'ah the disciple of Rabbi Meir said in the latter's name that Tamar descended from Melchizedek. (Genesis Rabbah 85:10.)Rabbi Hana bar Bizna citing Rabbi Simeon Hasida identified Melchizedek as one of the four craftsmen of whom Zechariah wrote in Zechariah 2:3. (B. Talmud Sukkah 52b; see also Song of Songs Rabbah 2:33 (crediting Rabbi Berekiah in the name of Rabbi Isaac).

The Talmud teaches that David wrote the Book of Psalms, including in it the work of the elders, including Melchizedek (in Psalm 110). (B. Talmud Baba Batra 14b-15a.)

The Zohar finds in 'Melchizedek king of Salem' a reference to 'the King Who rules with complete sovereignty,' or according to another explanation, that 'Melchizedek' alludes to the lower world and 'king of Salem' to the upper world. (Zohar, Bereshit, 1:86b-87a)

(Source:http://www.crystalinks.com/melchizedek.html)

Jesus Christ as Melchizedek Reincarnated

Another incarnation of Jesus is the Old Testament figure known as Melchizedek, the High Priest and King of Salem. It is clear from the Book of Hebrews that Melchizedek was not an ordinary man, assuming he even was a man. A careful examination of the evidence concerning the existence of Melchizedek reveals him to be a previous reincarnation of Jesus. There are strong parallels between Melchizedek and Jesus: both are the Son of God, priest of the Order of Melchizedek, King of Righteous, King of Peace, the Messiah, appointed by God, eternal priesthood, and preexistent. Besides the Biblical evidence, there exists evidence from the discoveries of early Christian texts in 1945 and the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947. There is also extra-Biblical revelations that support this Melchizedek-Jesus connection.

Identical Characteristics of Melchizedek and Jesus
Both are:
(1) Sons of God
(2) High Priests of God
(3) Kings of Righteousness
(4) Appointed by God
(5) Kings of Peace
(6) Eternal ones
(7) Priests (8) Pre-existent ones
(9) Association with Abraham
(10) Rituals of bread and wine
(11) Anointed ones

Identical Sonship: "Son of God"

(A) In the Bible, the only individuals who have the title of the "Son of God" are Jesus, Adam and Melchizedek.
Adam: "the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God." (Luke 3:38)

Melchizedek: "Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever." (Heb. 7:3)
Jesus: "The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God." (Mark 1:1)

(B) The Bible also states that Melchizedek was made in the image or likeness of the Son of God. This could be taken as the image of the son of God (the second in the trinity) or as the image of the begotten son of God, when the Lord took on a fleshly body. But they are one and the same.
Jesus: "the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." (2 Cor. 4:4)
Jesus: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." (Heb. 5:6)

Definition of "order": Greek "aphomoioo" (a) A facsimile (b) An exact copy or exact reproduction (c) A duplicate

Jesus: "And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears." (Heb. 7:15)

Definition of "another priest like": Greek "kata ten homoioteta" (a) in every respect (b) after the similitude of (c) according to the likeness of (d) a thing so like another as to be indistinguishable from it.

Identical Order of Priesthood: Priest of the God Most High of the Order of Melchizedek

(A) Melchizedek and Jesus have identical priesthoods.
Melchizedek: "He was priest of God Most High." (Gen 14:18)
Messiah: "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." (Psalm 110:4)
Jesus: "You are a priest forever, in the order [facsimile] of Melchizedek." (Heb. 5:6)
Definition of "facsimile": (a) an exact copy or exact reproduction (b) duplicate

(B) Notice also that Paul has a mystery concerning Jesus and Melchizedek but is reluctant to tell the uninitiated:

"[Jesus] was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." (Heb. 5:10-14)

(C) Paul indicates the Priest(s) of order of Melchizedek were to last forever and that the system of priests through the tribe of Levi would eventually come to an end. These men were chosen by God for the office. They would give sacrifice to God which symbolically atoned, or paid for the people's sins. We see this principle at work very early in the story of Job:
"After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite:

"I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has."

So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job's prayer." (Job 42:7-9)

Identical Symbol of Rule: "King of Righteousness"

(A) Melchizedek as the King of Righteousness:

"To whom Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being by interpretation “King of Righteousness“ and after that also King of Salem, which is “King of Peace.” (Heb. 7:2)

(B) Jesus as the King of Righteousness:

"The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land." (Jer. 23:5)

(C) Melchizedek, as the King of Righteousness, fulfilled this scepter promise:

"The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his." (Gen. 49:10)

(D) Jesus, as the King of Righteousness, fulfilled this scepter promise:

"But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom." (Heb. 1:8)

Identical Right to Rule: Appointed by God

(A) Jesus and Melchizedek's priesthoods are similar because they did not depend upon genealogy as the Aaronic priesthood did. The human lineage of Jesus was from Judah - a tribe that Moses did not associate with the priesthood.

"For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests." (Heb. 7:14)

(B) Jesus Christ is a priest after the order of Melchizedek, not because he came from the right line, but because he comes as one who has indestructible life - the only one who can be an eternal priest! The priesthood of both is a royal priesthood. The priesthood of both is based on personality, not legality. Both are universal priesthoods for Gentile and Jew because the priesthood of Melchizedek was before the Law was given. Melchizedek illustrates an eternal priesthood of which the Jesus is the reality.

Identical Title: "King of Peace"

(A) Melchizedek and Jesus are the Kings of Peace.

Melchizedek: "First, his name means "King of Righteousness"; then also, "King of Salem" means "King of Peace." (Heb. 7:2)

Jesus: "And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

(B) Melchizedek is the "King of Peace" and Jesus is the "Prince of Peace". Who could be King of Peace over Jesus?

Identical Term of Priesthood: Eternal

(A) Melchizedek and Jesus are eternal priests.
Melchizedek: "like the Son of God he remains a priest forever." (Heb. 7:3)
Jesus: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." (Heb. 5:6)

(B) Melchizedek and Jesus are priests forever with an unchangeable priesthood. This indicates they are the same priest - just different times.

Identical in Likeness: Priest

(A) Melchizedek and Jesus are priests of God.
Melchizedek: "He was priest of God Most High." (Gen 14:18)

Jesus: "And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest who has come." (Heb 7:15-16)
The word "likeness" is translated homoios: (a) "after the similitude of"

Note: Heb. 7:15-16 does not mean Jesus is "similar to Melchizedek." In context, it means "Jesus is Melchizedek."
Proof: Another Biblical example of "homoios" meaning "likeness."

"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." (Phil. 2:6-7)
Point 1: Jesus was human: The Word became flesh (John 1:14)

Point 2:

And Jesus had a human nature: "The gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David." (Rom. 1:2-4)

Conclusion: Jesus was more than just the likeness of Melchizedek.

Jesus was Melchizedek.

(B) Why would Jesus be compared to Melchizedek if his status was not equal to or greater than Jesus? He certainly would not be compared to anyone lesser than himself. This suggests that both Melchizedek and Jesus were of the same nature and of similar purpose and, therefore, the same person.

Identical Age: Pre-existent

(A) Both Melchizedek and Jesus are pre-existent (i.e. they existed before birth).

Melchizedek: "Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever." (Heb. 7:3)

Jesus: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." (Micah 5:2)

Jesus: "The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began. When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water ... Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind." (Prov. 8:22-31)

Identical Association with: Abraham

(A) Both Melchizedek and Jesus were both associated with Abraham:

Melchizedek: "Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abraham, saying, "Blessed be Abraham by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth." (Gen. 14:18-19)

Jesus: "Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.
"You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham?"
"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" (John 8:56-59)

(B) Melchizedek and Jesus are one spirit who incarnated many times and who transcended death. They could enter and leave the world at will without having to go through birth and death.

"Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood." (Heb. 7:23)

Identical Use of Ritualistic Symbols: Bread and Wine

(A) Melchizedek's offering of bread and wine to Abraham is the first incidence where bread and wine appear in the Scripture. Melchizedek provided a priesthood which gave the symbols of bread and wine. Jesus also provided a priesthood which gave the symbols of bread and wine.

Melchizedek: "And Melchizedek King of Salem brought forth bread and wine..." (Gen. 14:18)

Jesus: "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom." (Matt. 26:26-29)

Jesus: "I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

"Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"

"Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." (John 6:48-59)

Identical Title: Anointed One, the "Messiah"

(A) Melchizedek is the "anointed one":

Melchizedek: "You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." (Heb. 1:9)

(B) Jesus is the "anointed one":

Jesus: "Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his anointed one." (Acts 4:25-26)

Note: The word translated "anointed" is the Greek chrio which refers to contact between the one being anointed and the one doing the anointing. The Greek word "Christos", translated "Christ" is derived from "chrio".

Christian Gnostic Scriptures Discovered in 1945 Affirm Melchizedek and Jesus to be Different Incarnations of the Same Soul

On December, 1945, in Upper Egypt, ancient texts revealing that the early Christians and Jews believed that Melchizedek was a previous reincarnation of Jesus the Messiah.

These long lost texts were discovered by an Arab peasant was digging in the ground in search of fertilizer when he discovered large jars containing books which have been buried since around 390 A.D. These books where hidden by monks from a nearby monastery to escape destruction under the order of the emerging orthodox Church in its violent expunging of all heresy. These texts were one of the greatest archeological discovery ever discovered. It was only eclipsed by the Dead Sea Scroll discovery in Israel two years later in 1947. It is a strange coincidence that these ancient discoveries containing valuable information of early Jewish and Christian theology and history should appear around the same time.

This immensely important discovery in Egypt includes a large number of Christian Gnostic scriptures -- texts once thought to have been entirely destroyed. Some of the scriptures discovered were the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Philip, and the Gospel of Truth.

One of the Christian Gnostic texts discovered is entitled "Melchizedek". The following quote is from this text. [...] indicates missing fragments or illegible wording.

"And you crucified me from the third hour of the Sabbath - eve until the ninth hour. And after these things I arose from the dead. My body came out of the tomb to me. [...] They did not find anyone greeted me [...] They said to me, Be strong, Melchizedek, great High Priest of God Most High"

There is little doubt that this quote attributed to Melchizedek refers to him being crucified and resurrected. Commenting on the above text, noted authority Birger A. Pearson states:

"Furthermore, the tractate's apparent identification of Melchizedek with Jesus Christ ... is also documented elsewhere in early Christianity, particularly in Egypt. We are drawn to the conclusion that, in the revelation which the priest Melchizedek has received, he has seen that he himself will have a redemptive role to play as the suffering, dying, resurrected and triumphant Savior, Jesus Christ! ... From what we read ... it seems that the victory of Jesus Christ is the victory of Melchizedek and that, in fact, they are one and the same."

"I did and do understand the text of the first tractate to imply that Melchizedek was prophesied to return again, as Jesus."

Dead Sea Scroll Discovery of 1947 Revealed the Messiah to be a Reincarnation of Melchizedek

In 1947, scrolls from the Jewish Essenes were discovered which affirmed that they believed Melchizedek would reincarnate as the Messiah.

These ancient scrolls of profound importance were discovered by young Bedouin shepherds, searching for a stray goat around the Dead Sea in Israel entered an undiscovered cave and found jars filled with ancient scrolls. The Dead Sea Scrolls were scrolls from a monastic group known as the Essenes, dated to be about two thousand years old. The Essenes were an apocalyptic Jewish sect who withdrew from society and established a monastery on the shores of the Dead Sea. It is believed that sometime during the Roman-Jewish war of 66-70 A.D. the Essenes hid their sacred writings.

The Essenes believed in the doctrine of pre-existence and reincarnation and appeared to have been influenced by Gnosticism. The Dead Sea Scrolls prove that the Jewish mystical tradition of divine union went back to the first, perhaps even the third, century B.C.

Biblical scholars were not disturbed by what they found in the Dead Sea Scrolls because they had known all along that the origin of Christianity was not what was commonly supposed to have been.

The first-century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus stated that the Pharisees were believers in reincarnation. Josephus has several long passages dealing with the reincarnation beliefs of both the Essenes and the Pharisees. Josephus writes that the Jews in their secret or esoteric doctrines called the Kabbalah taught reincarnation openly.

The caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found yielded a series of thirteen fragments on Melchizedek which identifies Melchizedek as the one who will carry out the vengeance of God's judgments and the one who delivers the people from the hand of Belial and the spirits of his lot.

The belief that Melchizedek was the Messiah was a strongly held conviction among the Qumran community, as well as among some other Jewish and Gnostic sects in the first century A.D. This becomes apparent in the text entitled "The Last Jubilee" (Dead Sea Scroll: 11Q13, Column 2) about the coming of Melchizedek as the Messiah.

"The Last Jubilee" is a sermon within the "Melchizedek Texts" (also known as "I IQ Melchizedek Text" or " I I Q Melchizedek"). The following is a summary of this sermon:

The Last Jubilee text refers in messianic terms to a future King of Righteousness. In the text, this King of Righteousness is described as passing judgment on Belial [Satan] and his followers. After the judgment in heaven comes the destruction of those who have followed Belial rather than God. The text states that "the one designed, by God's favor, for the King of Righteousness (which is what, by his very name, Melchizedek prefigures) will come into his dominion." The time of his coming "into his dominion" is identified as the period which Isaiah termed the year of favor or "acceptable year of the Lord"

The Biblical reference for this can be found in Isaiah 61:1-2:

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted, he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captive, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn ..." (Isaiah 61:1-2)

Jesus made his first appearance in Nazareth and spoke at the synagogue there, and the book of Isaiah was handed to him. Luke 4:17-19 records that he then found and read the two verses quoted above but stopped after the phrase "acceptable year of the Lord." Bible scholars concluded that by suspending reading without referring to God's day of vengeance, Jesus was distinguishing between his present ministry of grace and the second advent when he would carry out God's judgments. On the other hand, his stopping after that phrase may have been for the purpose of emphasis, for it truly was the "year of the Lord."

After Jesus had concluded his reading, verse 21 adds:

"And he began to say unto them, 'Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.'" (Luke 4:21)

Thus in Luke 4:21, Jesus seems to identify himself as the one promised by Isaiah "to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" when he said, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." And the Melchizedek Texts from the Dead Sea Scrolls identify Melchizedek as the person who will fulfill that prophecy.

In the text "Commentary on the Book of Habakkuk," the "Teacher of Righteousness" is referred to as one "to whom God has made known all the mysteries of His servants the prophets." This Teacher of Righteousness was expected to return and usher in the Messianic Age and according to Jewish tradition to be Elijah or Phinehas or Melchizedek.

At least one respected Dead Sea Scroll authority stated that Jesus in these documents "appears in many respects as an astonishing reincarnation of the Teacher of Righteousness."

The Qumran "Melchizedek Texts" contain several comments which seem clearly to identify the so-called "King of Righteousness," a title referring to Melchizedek, as the promised Messiah. They discuss the role of this future King in overthrowing Belial and executing God's avenging judgment and clearly state that this King will be "Melchizedek redivivus" (reincarnated). One scholar has summarized the document thusly:

"In this fragment, written in Hebrew, Melchizedek appears as an eschatological savior who has a heritage. His mission is to bring back at the end of days the exiles to announce to them their liberation ... and the expiation of their sins."

Near-Death Experience Revelations of Edgar Cayce Reveals Melchizedek and Jesus to be Different Incarnations of the Same Soul

Edgar Cayce received volumes of information from his near-death experiences from a heavenly so-called "Hall of Records." Much of the revelations he received concerned Jesus and his many incarnations including Adam and Melchizedek. Cayce received these revelations years before the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Christian Gnostic find. These discoveries agree with the Cayce revelations concerning Adam, Melchizedek and Jesus.

This parallel between Melchizedek and other incarnations from the ancient Christian Gnostic texts also supports the Cayce revelations that Enoch and Melchizedek were the same spirit. Cayce also provided the interesting revelation that the Dead Sea Essenes grew out of the teachings of Melchizedek as propagated by prophets, such as Elijah, Elisha, and Samuel. Cayce also identified Melchizedek as a previous incarnation of Jesus.

According to Cayce, it was necessary that the very advanced spirit of Melchizedek reincarnate in order to reach Christhood as Jesus. The Cayce revelations show us why the Master spirit again incarnated after the experience as Melchizedek:

The Christ spirit incarnated as Adam, Enoch, Melchizedek, then took on flesh to teach and lead. After several more incarnations such as Joseph (prince of Egypt), the Christ spirit realized it was necessary to set a pattern for humanity and to show the way back to God. Thus, the Master spirit assumed the mission of through his final incarnation as Jesus. By resurrecting his body, he made the Jesus-Melchizedek priesthood eternal.

This priesthood, according to the Encyclopedia Judaica's interpretation of Hebrews, "is excellent, superior to that of Abraham's descent, and transcends all human, imperfect orders."

In view of such evidence found in the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, the Christian Gnostic texts, the Dead Sea Scrolls and extra-Biblical sources such as Cayce, the early Christian veneration of Melchizedek and the rich Messianic tradition about him, Christians should in no way find it demeaning to link the soul of Melchizedek with that of Jesus. Certainly both individuals were important instruments of God, and each life marks an historic step in the spiritual evolution of humanity.

"His followers said to him, 'When will the rest for the dead take place, and when will the new world come?'

"He said to them, 'What you look for has come, but you do not know it.'" - Jesus, the Gospel of Thomas, saying 51

The Nag Hammadi Texts Concerning Melchizedek <- Click Here for the text in English

Melchizedek In the Urantia Book

PAPER 95 THE MELCHIZEDEK TEACHINGS IN THE LEVANT

95:0.1 AS INDIA gave rise to many of the religions and philosophies of eastern Asia, so the Levant was the homeland of the faiths of the Occidental world. The Salem missionaries spread out all over southwestern Asia, through Palestine, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Iran, and Arabia, everywhere proclaiming the good news of the gospel of Machiventa Melchizedek. In some of these lands their teachings bore fruit; in others they met with varying success. Sometimes their failures were due to lack of wisdom, sometimes to circumstances beyond their control...

Click HERE for more

Source for the above text has been referenced beneath corresponding text or otherwise, linked to their original source sites.

What I Believe

2006-07-30T18:26:00.000-04:00

Many of you who have read this BLOG of mine have noticed the aggressive tone I have taken regarding fundamentalist exponents of Christianity. You may have also noticed that I have often taken up arguments that supported a less-than-divine explanation for biblical going-ons and miracles. My arguments come from a point of view that I have developed over many years of research, trials, and tribulations.

It is because of this that you will probably believe that I am an atheist or an agnostic at worst, or an esotericist at best. You would probably be surprised to know that neither case is true!

It is because of this that I wish to clear the air.

Here is what I believe:

1) I believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ, as the only incarnate son of God and author of my spiritual salvation. I believe in the Trinitarian view of the deity as is described in the Nicene and the Apostle's Creeds. I also believe that people have the right to disagree and to follow their own path. I don't think that all who are of different faiths are destined for a "fiery" afterlife. I believe that variety is the spice of life and to study how different people pray and believe, is to become familiar with the divinity that is within our very selves as humans.

2) I believe that those who use religion to intimidate and to garner control over other's consciences are indeed, the most diabolically evil beings on the face of the planet Earth. They would surely face a very unpleasant afterlife if I were in charge of that aspect.

3) I believe in the veracity of the Bible, so far as it has been translated. I believe that it is divinely inspired; however, imperfectly understood. I also believe that God has had his hand in the inspiration of other sacred texts of inate wisdom and revelation. I believe that it is Man that stands in the way of perfect communication of the divine. It is, indeed, Man that separates himself from his brother and the divine.

4) I believe that there is much to be learned from the study of the world through the discipline of science. I believe that all science is inspired by the desire to understand and contemplate the face and the hand of God. Heaven, often has use of even those who do not love it's ways. Truth is truth. To deny the manifestation of undoubtable truth is to deny creation...and God.

5) I believe that the Church should never have a say in the passing of laws in the temporal realm. If Churches are to have a say in politics...then I believe they should pay taxes. I also believe that people should be free to express freely whatever religious belief they believe in, so long as it does not deny other's of their freedom of such expression. Freedom OF religion should be the norm... Not freedom FROM religion. I do not believe people have a right not to be exposed to the religious practices of others. I also believe that those who have no religious belief should be accorded the same right to practice their agnosticism in the open and freely without encroachment. I believe that people have the right to disagree, but not physically-harmfully so.

6) I believe that Freemasonry is an honorable and a valuable institution of good and a force for building moral and honest men and women. I believe it should be open to all races and to women from all faiths. I believe that those theologians who discredit and vilify Freemasonry speak from a view where they are truly in the dark over the true intent of the fraternity. ( This is well and good for the arts, parts and points of Freemasonry ARE NOT for the general public!) Many who seek to destroy Freemasonry are the weak-minded individuals who should NOT know those secrets that are concealed by the keepers of the craft.

7) Finally, I believe that one day, all people of all faiths will be able to communicate and live in harmony with mutual respect for each other. When we decide that instead of separating us...the ultimate lesson of true religion is to unite mankind to one another...and eventually... to the Divine.

It is for these reasons that I will no longer engage in arguments with fundamentalists and those of closed minds and dispositions. I will not allow myself to be exposed to those attitudes that originally pushed me away from my faith before.

Thank you,

Darren Simpson

Irish 'Dead Sea Scroll' Found in a Bog

2006-07-28T23:50:00.000-04:00

This in from the Universe Catholic News. DS

July 29, 2006

By The Universe: Fragments of an ancient early Christian manuscript, possibly more than 1,000-years-old, have been uncovered in a bog in Ireland.

The discovery of the Psalter or Book of Psalms in a County Offaly bog has already been hailed by experts as one of the greatest ecclesiastical finds from a European bog. The find is said to be one of the most significant discoveries in European and World archaeology in decades and has been likened to the Irish equivalent of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Specialists from the National Museum of Ireland have said it is impossible to know how the manuscript ended up in the bog, but believe they may have been lost in transit or dumped after a raid possibly one thousand to twelve hundred years ago.

"It is not so much the fragments themselves, but what they represent, that is of such staggering importance," said Dr Pat Wallace, Museum Director.

"In my wildest hopes, I could only have dreamed of a discovery as fragile and rare as this. It testifies to the incredible richness of the Early Christian civilisation of this island and to the greatness of ancient Ireland."

According to Dr Wallace the extensive fragments appear to be of an Irish Early Christian Psalter, written on vellum. Recovered from the bog by a bulldozer the manuscripts were transported to the National Museum`s conservation laboratory the following day.

The pages appear to be those of a slim, large format book with a wraparound vellum or leather cover from which the book block has slipped. Raghnall O Floinn, Head of Collections at the museum, estimates that there are about 45 letters per line and a maximum of 40 lines per page. While part of Psalm 83 is legible, the extent to which other Psalms or additional texts are preserved will only be determined by painstaking work by a team of invited experts probably operating over a long time in the museum laboratory according to Mr O’Floinn.

Sturgis 2006 Schedule of Events

2006-07-28T23:28:00.000-04:00

To all those bikers out there, It's that time of year again and STURGIS; the Mecca of motorcyclists everywhere is set to begin! I've included a link to let you know the schedule of events that will be happening. Harley Davidson will be out in force with their 2007 model bikes and a lot of incentives to buy at GREAT savings before the fall and winter seasons.

CLICK HERE

RIDE ON!!!

Calling Masons Satanic is Folly

2006-07-25T22:19:00.000-04:00

I found this post on a site called "On the Level" and it is a great article on what fundamentalists and anti-masonic hacks claim is a connection between Freemasonry and Satanism. The author of this post puts it together more eloquently than I could ever hope for. Many thanks to the Bro. Ken for allowing us to post this and you might want to click over to his site for many other articles of insight and "Light". Many thanks! Darren _____________________________

Calling Masons Satanic is Folly
by Paul Harasim

If Dr. James Holly of Beaumont is right, George Washington, the father of our country, was a devil worshiper. Marvin Zindler has to be one, too. Ditto for Sam Houston and Presidents James Monroe, William McKinley, Teddy Roosevelt, William Taft, Warren Harding, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Gerald Ford. To take Holly's argument to its logical conclusion, Irvin Berling was under the influence of Satan when he wrote "White Christmas." So was John Wayne when he played in TRUE GRIT on the silver screen. And astronaut Buzz Aldrin did devil's work when he flew to the moon. What makes these people satanic?

Well Holly says, its because they're Masons, members of the most widely known fraternity in the world--a fraternal group that spends $250 million each year in the United States on charities, including free treatment of children at its network of 22 Shriners hospitals. Now if we start thinking Holly's way -- that Masonry "springs from the pits of hell and from the father of lies, Lucifer" because the fraternity accepts people from different religious groups as brothers -- chances are our friends would suggest we get our heads examined. But when Holly the Baptist wrote a tract arguing that Masonry is satanic, the Southern Baptist Convention decided a study should be undertaken to determine whether membership in a Masonic Lodge conflicts with its beliefs.

It was not called Holly's Folly. It should have been. Too many people had too much time on their hands. If they had become Masons, like one million other Baptists, they could have found people to help. In Saturday's POST you probably read that Masons are breaking their tradition of keeping silent when criticized. They've realized ignorance isn't bliss. They worry that a negative finding against their 4 million member organization by the 15.3 million-member Southern Baptist Convention when it meets in June could cost membership.

That should worry all of us who care about children. The Shriners hospitals alone have helped more than 500,000 children at no cost. It's a shame that the Rev. Ed Young, the brilliant preacher at Second Baptist Church and the president of the Southern Baptist Convention hasn't used his position as a bully pulpit against this nonsense. With Americas charities hurting badly, as has been evidence by United Way's problems, this isn't the time for him to utilize a "don't make waves" leadership style. Something tells me he understands the five-pointed star sometimes used as a Masonic symbol is not a symbol of witchcraft by the oldest symbol of man--the five points refer to the head, the hands and the feet.

Holly tries to argue Masonry is a religion. The Rev. Norman Vincent Peale, himself a Mason, says no way. " Freemasonry has no dogma or theology," he says. "It teaches that it is important for every man to have a religion of his choice and to be faithful to it...A good Mason is made even more faithful to the tenets of his faith by membership. " Toleration, according to Holly, is Masonry's blackest sin -- a definite link to the devil. Masonic leader Allan D. Large has a memorable response to the charge. "When you consider," he says, "what intolerance has produced -- the Inquisition, the massacre of the inhabitants of Jerusalem by the Crusaders, the burning of Protestants at the stake, the horrors of Hitler, the mass murders of Stalin, the killing fields of Cambodia -- it is hard to believe that toleration springs from the devil.

Oh, by the way, I'm not a Mason.

Blue Lodge Masons Under Anti-Terror Surveillance After UDA Infiltrates Scottish Lodges

2006-07-25T11:24:00.000-04:00

Blue Lodge Masons Under Anti-Terror Surveillance After UDA Infiltrates Scottish Lodges

By Neil Mackay (Sunday Herald, Scotland)

MASONIC halls throughout Scotland are under covert surveillance by anti-terror police after the outlawed loyalist paramilitary group, the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) successfully infiltrated the controversial secret society.
David Begg, the grand secretary of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, told the Sunday Herald that Freemasons have been advised by police that lodges throughout the country – particularly in the west of Scotland – are under surveillance by officers targeting the UDA. One Fife lodge has been penetrated by loyalist terrorists who used the premises for fund-raising and operational planning. For more than 18 months, UDA member Steven Moffat used the St Kenneth Lodge in Kennoway as a cover for loyalist paramilitary activity.

The UDA is one of Ulster’s most brutal paramilitary organisations. Using the cover-name the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) it waged a campaign of sectarian assassination against Northern Ireland’s Catholics. One of its most notorious “brigadiers”, Johnny “Mad Dog” Adair, fled to Ayrshire after his expulsion from Belfast following an internecine loyalist feud.

Moffat is serving five years in jail after being imprisoned by the High Court in Edinburgh earlier this month under the Terrorism Act 2000 for membership of a proscribed organisation and possession of firearms.

He was found with a Browning 9mm automatic pistol and ammunition at his home. Police also discovered flags, balaclavas and other paramilitary regalia, including documents detailing the UDA’s initiation ceremonies.

Police and prosecutors believed the items “were for the preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism”. Moffat joined the UDA in Belfast at least three years ago.

The Mason’s Fife and Kinross provincial grand master, David Wishart, said Moffat had used the Masonic Lodge in Kennoway for UDA meetings for at least 18 months. A member of the lodge who was also in the Orange Order had arranged for Moffat and his loyalist associates to hold meetings in the Kennoway lodge. Wishart insisted that no other members knew the true nature of Moffat’s activities.

Once Moffat’s actions were discovered, the Mason and Orange Order member who assisted him resigned after being threatened with expulsion from the Masons.

“I was horrified to find out that this had been going on,” said Wishart.

Moffat, who was not a Freemason but often drank in the St Kenneth Lodge’s bar, used the Kennoway Masonic Hall for two types of meetings. Firstly, regular private “strategy” meetings with Moffat and 10 other men occurred over 18 months. The UDA members discussed their plans in a closed room while lodge members drank at the Mason’s bar in the same building.

The second type of meeting was fund-raising events for loyalist causes in Northern Ireland. Up to 70 people attended three fundraisers held at the Masonic Hall over an 18-month period.

Wishart said: “The UDA infiltrated and used us for their illegal purposes. These people are very clever. We were trusting; they gained our confidence and then we were manipulated.”

Kennoway Masonic Hall was closed for eight weeks for an internal Masonic inquiry following police raids in the area in connection with Moffat’s activities.

At the time of his arrest, Moffat was planning to hold an initiation ceremony for Scottish UDA recruits at the Masonic hall. Wishart has since altered hall letting procedures and leasing now has to be cleared by a committee and a lodge member must vouch for those letting the premises. The Orange Order has been banned from using the Kennoway lodge’s premises. Previously, Orangemen regularly hired out the hall.

“Due to rogue members of the lodge linked to the Orange Order and the UDA we took the decision to no longer allow them the use of the premises,” said Wishart.

Senior police officers told Wishart that they were “mounting similar surveillance operations in the west of Scotland” against Masonic lodges which might have been infiltrated by loyalist terrorists.

“I can’t say if there is or isn’t a risk elsewhere,” said Wishart, pointing out that members of some of the 49 Fife lodges under his command were also in the Orange Order. One other lodge in Fife also allows the Orange Order to rent its premises for functions.

David Begg, the grand master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, said if any lodges were involved in supporting the UDA they would be closed. He has warned Scotland’s 32 provincial masters to be extra vigilant but cannot compel lodges to introduce committee-led hall letting procedures similar to those adopted by Kennoway.

“We can’t tell lodges what to do. It is up to the trustees of each lodge but we will be producing general guidance in the near future,” he said.

Beauty Pageants, Hypocrisy, and the Baptist Church

2006-07-25T00:04:00.000-04:00

Our friends at the SACRED FEMS Blog posted this and allowed us to cross-post it here.

Way back in 1926, the Southern Baptist Convention urged its members to "just say no" to beauty pageants.
WHEREAS, The purity and sanctity of the home depends upon a proper respect for and safeguarding of our girls; and

WHEREAS, "Beauty contests" and so-called "bathing revues" are evil and evil only, and tend to lower true and genuine respect for womanhood, emphasizing and displaying only purely physical charm above spiritual and intellectual attainments,

THEREFORE, We, the Southern Baptist Convention do deplore and condemn all such contests and revues.
It's never been revoked. Apparently it's one of those sins still on the Baptist books, along with alcohol use and homosexuality.

In May, 2006 Lakewood Baptist Church of Gainesville, Georgia, a Southern Baptist Convention member church, according to Founders.org, held a beauty pageant for women of all ages, from Ms. Infant Miss (6-12 months) to Senior Ms. (age 55 and up), called the Hall County Queens for C.A.R.E. Pageant, to benefit the Hall County (Ga.) Relay for Life.

Contestants were judged "in 4 categories, each on a scale of 1-10. 1) natural beauty, 2) presentation (grace/modeling), 3) personality (smile, eye contact, introduction), and 4) over all appearance (hairstyle, dress color, fit, length, age appropriateness)"... in other words, it "[was] evil and evil only, and tend[ed] to lower true and genuine respect for womanhood, emphasizing and displaying only purely physical charm above spiritual and intellectual attainments." Or so the Southern Baptists said....

Peering a little deeper into their website we find there's a whole franchise set up to do these pageants, called Miss Christian Atlanta. Apparently it's run by two little sisters, ages 7 and 9 (shades of Jon Benet!), who between them hold the titles of 2005 Young Jr. Miss Atlanta Christian, 2005 Little Miss Gilmer County Forestry, 2005 Junior Miss Sweetheart of Georgia, 2005 Young Miss Mountain Laurel, 2004 Miss Georgia Junior Pre Teen National American Miss, 2005 Supreme Miss Atlanta Christian, 2005 Supreme Georgia Peach Princess, 2005 Little Miss Mountain Laurel, and a National title as 2005 All American Princess for National American Miss.

How great thou art!

Image: Lakewood Baptist Church beauty pageant, May 2006

The Farting Preacher

2006-07-24T23:37:00.000-04:00

I just thought I'd digress from the usual fare of the site and present you folks with a bit of humor and frivolity. As we like to poke fun at that "old-time religion", Click on the link below for something that will make you pee your pants! ENJOY!!!

Darren

----------------->CLICK HERE<------------------

New Fossil Finds Shed New Light on "Cuddly" Marsupials

2006-07-23T22:40:00.000-04:00

Thu Jul 13, 8:12 PM ET (Reprinted from Yahoo News...)

SYDNEY, Australia - Before there were cuddly koalas, hoards of flesh-eating kangaroos, "demon ducks," and marsupial lions roamed Australia's Outback, according to recent fossil discoveries by paleontologists.

A team of researchers from the University of New South Wales working in the eastern state of Queensland made the discoveries in three new fossil deposits during a recent two-week dig.

Many of the fossils are older than 24 million years; one of the deposits is thought to contain fossils up to 500 million years old, according to Prof. Mike Archer, the university's dean of science.

A saber-toothed kangaroo and a giant 10-foot-tall, 881-pound bird scientists nicknamed the "demon duck of doom" were among the largely unknown species uncovered in the dig, Archer told reporters Wednesday.

"They were galloping kangaroos, they didn't hop," Archer said. "They were also far more muscly than the kangaroos we know, with sharp saber-like incisors and powerful forelimbs to help rip and tear their prey."

The remains of ancient tree-climbing crocodiles and marsupial lions were also uncovered in the rocks.

Archer said many of the animals were similar or related to others elsewhere in the world, but had evolved uniquely in Australia. Hundreds have no living representative.

"They are that bizarre. There are literally, probably in the order of about 500 extinct creatures in these rocks," he said.

Archer said a detailed study of the fossils was expected to provide answers about the evolution of climate and creatures in the past, as well as about the directions they might follow over thousands of years to come.

"The biggest excitement is what's going to happen over the next year in the labs as the rocks dissolve and the treasure inside emerges," he said.

A Message From the Grand Master Of York

2006-07-23T00:12:00.000-04:00

"Our good friends at Alabama-Free-Mason-Blog has just released this breaking news and we are posting it here as well. Heart-felt thanks to the good brothers at Alabama-Free-Mason for breaking this story!"

Darren

Grand Lodge of All England

"Brethren, this day The Grand Lodge of All England has been duly and properly formed, armed with a constitution that remains true to its predecessors, and fit for the 21st Century and beyond.

The reponement, or rebirth of our illustrious institution here in York, which dates back to time immemorial, has produced a great surge of interest and activity since our historic meeting last year. Indeed, apart from ongoing developments in Yorkshire, we are now fully committed to the inauguration, within the next six months, of a second operative Lodge, to meet regularly in London. Brethren, this and much more will come to pass.

I am also pleased to announce that negotiations are at an advanced stage with The United Grand Lodge of America. We expect to agree terms for a formal Agreement of Amity before our next meeting in December.

We send them our fraternal greetings, together with our support and best wishes for the future of Craft Masonry throughout the United States of America. They have taken on a difficult task with great fortitude, resilience and determination and, although they are a "new" Grand Lodge, they carefully and in every respect uphold the principles and purposes of Ancient Freemasonry. Not least, they provide us all with a freshness, vitality and renewed enthusiasm.

Unfortunately however, but not unexpectedly, some of the interest expressed in the Grand Lodge of All England has been malign. I am sorry to have to announce that we have found it necessary to suspend the "Latest News" section of our very successful website. This is due to the actions of a small minority in misusing the information provided in order to disrupt our lawful activities, including this very meeting of Grand Lodge. We wish to make it quite clear, of course, that we do not place any blame directly on any other Grand Lodge. The guilt lies with a few sad and misguided individuals perhaps more needful of our prayers than our disapprobation.

Brethren, this is most unfortunate. It is also unhelpful to those interested in monitoring our progress and who wish to keep up to date with the development of Craft Masonry in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and elsewhere. However, the purile actions of such delinquents cannot interrupt or delay our inevitable progress. We will continue to give out as much information as we possibly can to Freemasons and the general public alike without detriment to ourselves or connections.

In such circumstances it is perhaps timely to clarify what we in this Grand Lodge understand by true and genuine Freemasonry. In this we can best start by considering the aims and aspirations for our Brethren and candidates.

An initiate into Freemasonry first enters a Lodge unknowing, and untutored in the Craft: a so-called rough ashlar (building block). But, if he is joining for a valid reason, he anticipates that his life is about to be fundamentally changed by the experience.

Thenceforward it is his duty, and the purpose of true and genuine Freemasonry, to develop his character and knowledge to such a degree that he figuratively evolves into a perfect ashlar (a carefully measured and prepared stone), thereby ensuring that he becomes fit and ready for the challenges of citizenship, and prepared for his inevitable destiny in this life, and in the hereafter.
However, many illustrious Brethren, not least our late Brother Walter Wilmshurst, have pointed out how a Mason's understanding of the Craft often remains at an early and undeveloped stage. Whilst the literal, superficial value of our teachings is gained through ceremony in the Lodge room and through memorising of ritual, this is merely the first part of the journey.

Unfortunately, the great majority of Brethren are unable to take further steps towards a deeper understanding.

They choose instead to remain at a level of knowledge whereby the Craft is regarded as a social, quasi-secret club to which it is agreeable, and possibly advantageous to belong to in terms of the external, materialistic world.

Aspirations at this stage are often for office and apron. The ability to perform proficient ceremonial and to parrot catechism are regarded the pinnacle of Masonic endeavour. Other matters, such as the conviviality of the festive board or the amount of charitable monies raised in order to purchase public approbation regarded as more fundamental than the work itself. But such sentiments are the uncrafted, rough ashlar stage of Masonic understanding.

What then do we in our own Grand Lodge consider to be true and genuine Freemasonry?
Curiously, any such attempt at a working definition is absent from many works on the Craft. It is all very well to talk with somewhat archaic usage of "a peculiar system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols", but does this really explain very much? Should we, in any event, restrict our understanding of Freemasonry to that system which has grown up since speculative Masonry was organised into its currently recognisable structure, or should we raise our eyes to a much wider vista?

Brethren, allow me to offer something of my own fallible understanding. I see an initiatory order based upon a treasury of ancient truths and values enshrined in human experience, and resonating with the underlying philosophies of many religions. A system of spiritual alchemy based on a symbology free of dogma, doctrine, crafted to guide and assist individuals in realising their full potential in their life-journey towards self-knowledge.

Freemasonry, on this definition, or anything like it, represents a serious internal, intellectual and spiritual journey far beyond the concerns of the external, profane, uninitiated world. True and genuine Freemasonry thus represents the precise and absolute opposite of the mafia of the mediocre of popular imagination.

It is thus crucial to the survival of the true Craft, that those men humbly soliciting to be admitted to the mysteries and privileges of Ancient Freemasonry are in actual fact, and not just in empty words, first prepared to become a Freemason, in their hearts. Without such heartfelt fervency and zeal they will always remain at best as rough ashlars, and the spiritual temple of Freemasonry bereft of its living stones.

Brethren, we are engaged upon weighty matters. We could not have come so far without your support, committment and perseverance in the face of adversity. Thank you for taking the time to attend Grand Lodge today. I look forward with confidence and enthusiasm to our next Convocation in December, and offer my good wishes to you all for an enjoyable and reinvigorating Summer break.

Most Worshipful Brother John Gordon Graves, Grand-Master Mason

( Saturday, 01 July 2006 )

Tutankhamun's Gems Hint at Massive Space Impact

2006-07-22T22:09:00.000-04:00

"This story was an intriguing one from the BBC. It seems that one of King Tutankhamun's gemstones in his breats mantle was actually glass. Glass that is older than the Egyptian civilization appears to be. Glass that is still being found in large chunks in the Sahara Desert. One mainstream theory is the one proposed in this news story. Read on through to the end and I'll give you a link or two pointing at another, more intriguing explanation."

Darren

In 1996 in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Italian mineralogist Vincenzo de Michele spotted an unusual yellow-green gem in the middle of one of Tutankhamun's necklaces.

The jewel was tested and found to be glass, but intriguingly it is older than the earliest Egyptian civilisation.

Working with Egyptian geologist Aly Barakat, they traced its origins to unexplained chunks of glass found scattered in the sand in a remote region of the Sahara Desert.

But the glass is itself a scientific enigma. How did it get to be there and who or what made it?

Thursday's BBC Horizon programme reports an extraordinary new theory linking Tutankhamun's gem with a meteor.

Sky of fire

An Austrian astrochemist Christian Koeberl had established that the glass had been formed at a temperature so hot that there could be only one known cause: a meteorite impacting with Earth. And yet there were no signs of an impact crater, even in satellite images.

American geophysicist John Wasson is another scientist interested in the origins of the glass. He suggested a solution that came directly from the forests of Siberia.

"When the thought came to me that it required a hot sky, I thought immediately of the Tunguska event," he tells Horizon.

In 1908, a massive explosion flattened 80 million trees in Tunguska, Siberia.

Although there was no sign of a meteorite impact, scientists now think an extraterrestrial object of some kind must have exploded above Tunguska. Wasson wondered if a similar aerial burst could have produced enough heat to turn the ground to glass in the Egyptian desert.

Jupiter clue

The first atomic bomb detonation, at the Trinity site in New Mexico in 1945, created a thin layer of glass on the sand. But the area of glass in the Egyptian desert is vastly bigger.

Whatever happened in Egypt must have been much more powerful than an atomic bomb.

Impact simulation
A natural airburst of that magnitude was unheard of until, in 1994, scientists watched as comet Shoemaker-Levy collided with Jupiter. It exploded in the Jovian atmosphere, and the Hubble telescope recorded the largest incandescent fireball ever witnessed rising over Jupiter's horizon.

Mark Boslough, who specialises in modelling large impacts on supercomputers, created a simulation of a similar impact on Earth.

The simulation revealed that an impactor could indeed generate a blistering atmospheric fireball, creating surface temperatures of 1,800C, and leaving behind a field of glass.

"What I want to emphasise is that it is hugely bigger in energy than the atomic tests," says Boslough. "Ten thousand times more powerful."

Defence lessons

The more fragile the incoming object, the more likely these airborne explosions are to happen.

In Southeast Asia, John Wasson has unearthed the remains of an event 800,000 years ago that was even more powerful and damaging than the one in the Egyptian desert; one which produced multiple fireballs and left glass over three hundred thousand square miles, with no sign of a crater.

"Within this region, certainly all of the humans would have been killed. There would be no hope for anything to survive," he says.

Dr Aly Barakat with desert glass in hand (TV6/BBC) ----------->
Barakat holds up one of the many, huge chunks of glass in the desert

According to Boslough and Wasson, events similar to Tunguska could happen as frequently as every 100 years, and the effect of even a small airburst would be comparable to many Hiroshima bombs.

Attempting to blow up an incoming asteroid, Hollywood style, could well make things worse by increasing the number of devastating airbursts.

"There are hundreds of times more of these smaller asteroids than there are the big ones the astronomers track," says Mark Boslough. "There will be another impact on the earth. It's just a matter of when."
"Now, I promised you an alternative theory...Keep Reading DS":

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Ancient Nuclear War?
by Manuel Sancho

Ancient Nuclear War? There is evidence that the Rama empire (now India) was devastated by nuclear war. The Indus valley is now the Thar desert, and the site of the radioactive ash found west of Jodhpur is around there. Consider these verses from the ancient (6500 BC at the latest) Mahabharata: ...a single projectile Charged with all the power of the Universe. An incandescent column of smoke and flame As bright as the thousand suns Rose in all its splendour... a perpendicular explosion with its... Click Here for the Full Story

Why is Ed King So Damn Angry?

2006-07-21T08:05:00.000-04:00

This just in ... First, a little frame of reference for those of you who are new to the blog. ED KING is a self-proclaimed "expert" on all things masonic. He runs a a few ill conceived websites and a blog (that doesn't allow folks to comment) where he gets up on his soapbox and makes asinine comments on whatever is on his mind. He is, in mine and many others opinions, a propaganda minister for the Blue Lodge and he uses his blogs and websites to earn "brownie points" from his Grand Lodge. Mr. King is symbolic of what is wrong with the Blue Lodge today. I've interjected my own "musings" here as we cannot comment to Mr. King directly. His ego seems to be incapable of supporting dissenting opinion or "fact", for that matter. He considers his opinion as inviolate and if you do start a dialogue with him, all he returns are sputtering insults and childish forays of demeaning rhetoric. We've posted examples of it before.

Enjoy

Darren Simpson
*(All text in black is Ed King. My responses are in blue italics.)

{He wrote in his blog MUSINGS BY ME on EDKING.COM (what an ego!) at http://www.edking.com/blog/ recently:

"Welcome to Brother Jack Roberts whose blog, 'Freemasonry - A Worthy Path', should certainly be added to your blogroll! He's just starting it but based on what he's written so far, this will be a definate must read. There's a lot of foolishness splattered about the blogsphere by a mere three disgruntled, expelled Masons hiding behind a half-dozen or more different blogs."

- Editor's Note: There are quite a few more than three "disgruntled masons". There are a vast many more that you are probably not aware of, and we're not disgruntled. We're quite jovial folks. We're just publishing the poor choices and mis-steps of folks in certain Grand Lodges and in the Shriners. Let's at least put that FACT out there. DS

"They'd like to convince others that Freemasonry (except the abberation THEY are touting) is dead. Look around!"

- Editor's Note: Yeah Ed, look around! The Shriners are in trouble with the IRS for alledged fraud, Blue Lodge membership is declining at an alarming rate (numbers don't lie...), and there is about to be a national news piece released about the problems of fraud and racism in certain southern districts. The truth is Ed, your guys are doing a good job at convincing "others" that your brand of Freemasonry is in it's death-throes. We're just sitting back and watching. DS

"Arriving late in this venue, we're now seeing the start of a trend with more and more REAL Masons accentuating the positive."

- Editor's Note: Ed's "Real" mason comment shows his ignorance of the situations he babbles about. We are made Masons, first in our hearts; then in a lodge of regular masons. We were all raised in the Blue Lodge. I am not hiding behind a blog, Mr. King. My face and my profile are available for the world to see. I never received a "repent or be erased" letter like some did when they joined the Rite of the Rose Cross of Gold. The new members we have received into our organization have joined because we do accentuate the positive and we rule by majority vote...not by draconian edict as has been demonstrated by the Grand Lodges of Georgia and Alabama. DS

"It's easy to destroy but it's FAR harder to build. I joined Masonry to be a BUILDER - and my Brothers on my links did so too. This is a trend that's worth expanding."

- Editor's Note: Well, for once we are in agreement. But I don't know what you are intent on building. Your foundation is flawed, masonically and ethically. Instead of spouting off about subjects you know nothing of... why don't you try to research your subjects a bit more rather than taking your marching orders from higher ups and publishing THEIR opinions? DS

"Die, heretic scum!"

2006-07-20T16:33:00.000-04:00

I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said, "Stop! Don't do it!"

"Why shouldn't I?" he said.

I said, "Well, there's so much to live for!"

He said, "Like what?"

I said, "Well...are you religious or atheist?"

He said, "Religious."

I said, "Me too! Are you Christian or Buddhist?"

He said, "Christian."

I said, "Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?"

He said, "Protestant."

I said, "Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?"

He said, "Baptist!"

I said, "Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?"

He said, "Baptist Church of God!"

I said, "Me too! Are you original Baptist Church of God, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?"

He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of God!"

I said, "Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915?"

He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915!"

I said, "Die, heretic scum!" and pushed him off.

[This email does not reflect the beliefs of the Modern Freemasonic Journal, but is posted to humorously show how the smallest differences in religious beliefs can anger some people.]

Can a Christian be a good American?

2006-07-20T12:03:00.000-04:00

"I have reposted this from the comments page of the former post because I did not want it to become lost. It is an EXCELLENT observation made by the owner of the TUBALCAIN Blog site.

It would be well worth the time it takes to read it."

Darren

Can a Christian be a good American?

Theologically, no, because his allegiance is to Yahweh, the ancient Hebrew god.

Scripturally, no, because his allegiance is to Christianity and the bible.

Geographically, no, because his allegiance is to Israel, the home of "god's chosen people".

Socially, no, because his allegiance to Christianity forbids him to make friends with Muslims or Jews.

Politically, no, because he must submit to his spiritual leaders, who teach annihilation of all who do not share their faith.

Domestically, no, because he is encouraged to take slaves and beat them if they are disobedient.

Religiously, no, because no other religion is accepted by his Yahweh except Christianity - intolerance.

Intellectually, no, because he cannot accept the separation of church and state - a founding principle of the USA.

Philosophically, no, because Christianity, Yahweh, and the bible do not allow freedom of religion and expression.

Democratically, no, because Christianity and democracy cannot coexist.

Spiritually, no, because the Christian god is neither loving nor kind.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Point by point explanation
Theologically, no, because his allegiance is to Yahweh, the ancient Hebrew god.

Explanation: the first commandment (commanding worship of Yahweh and forbidding worship of false idols) instructs Christians to hold Yahweh in the highest regard. In the event of conflict between Yahweh's commandments and local (human) law, the Christian would have no choice but to disregard local law in favour of Yahweh's orders. This means that a Christian's loyalty is to his god first, and his country second. See Exodus 20:2-6.

Scripturally, no, because his allegiance is to Christianity and the bible.

Explanation: again, the first commandment instructs Christians to hold their loyalty to Yahweh in higher regard than anything here on Earth.

Geographically, no, because his allegiance is to Israel, the home of "god's chosen people".

Explanation: a common interpretation of the book of Revelations is that world war III will take place in Israel and will herald the second coming of Christ. See Revelations. Israel is held in particularly high regard by Christianity not just because of its historical significance, but also because it is the home of the descendants of Jacob, to whom Yahweh allegedly gave the holy land. See Leviticus 20:24. Also see Numbers 24:8-9. The United States of America has no biblical significance and is never once referenced by the bible, meaning there is no particular reason for any Christian to hold the United States in higher regard than Israel.

Socially, no, because his allegiance to Christianity forbids him to make friends with Muslims or Jews.

Explanation: Christianity holds people of other religions in extremely low regard, and the bible goes so far as to advocate violence and death towards non-Christians. See Deuteronomy 13:6-18, also see 2 Chronicles 15:13, also see Mark 16:16

Politically, no, because he must submit to his spiritual leaders, who teach annihilation of all who do not share their faith.

Explanation: see previous point.

Domestically, no, because he is encouraged to take slaves and beat them if they are disobedient.

Explanation: Slavery is an example of conflict between Yahweh's laws and local (human) laws. Slavery was abolished in the USA long ago, yet the bible clearly states on numerous occasions that slavery is perfectly acceptable, and even provides guidelines for master/slave interaction. See Leviticus 25:44, also see 1 Peter 2:18. The bible also clearly states that it is acceptable for a master to beat the slave (provided the slave doesn't die as the result of the beating), even though under US law such a beating would be forbidden. See Exodus 21:20-21.

Religiously, no, because no other religion is accepted by his Yahweh except Christianity - intolerance.

Explanation: See the first commandment (Exodus 20:2-6).

Intellectually, no, because he cannot accept the separation of church and state - a founding principle of the USA.

Explanation: A commonly held misconception among Christians is that the USA was founded as a Christian nation and somehow became secular over time. These Christians wish to remove the separation between church and state, and convert the US into a theocracy. The public school system in particular is a hotly contested battleground, with Christians arguing that religion (their religion only, of course) should be taught as fact. After all, the bible warns against learning things outside of the church (see Colossians 2:8).

Philosophically, no, because Christianity, Yahweh, and the bible do not allow freedom of religion and expression.

Explanation: Actually, Christianity does allow free expression, just as long as everything you say is in perfect agreement with their teachings. If you choose to speak out against Christianity, say, by encouraging people to investigate other religions, then you have crossed the line and should be put to death (Exodus 22:20). Freedom of religion is also allowed, just as long as you choose the Christian religion. Choosing any other religion is forbidden (See the first commandment). True freedom of expression and true freedom of religion both run counter to the fundamental guiding principles of Christianity.

Democratically, no, because Christianity and democracy cannot coexist.

Explanation: Democracy only works if ALL citizens are held in equal regard. The US Declaration of Independence states that "all men are created equal", yet this is in direct contradiction to the bible, which states that non-believers are inferior (see Exodus 22:20 or 2 Chronicles 15:13). Therefore, why should the Christian accept non-Christians as his equal? And in a Christian-run democracy, how long would it be before a law is passed forbidding non-Christians from participating in the democratic process? That isn't democracy - it's theocracy.

Spiritually, no, because the Christian god is neither loving nor kind.

Explanation: See Numbers 11:1, Exodus 15:7, Deuteronomy 5:9, Exodus 4:11, Ezekial 4:15, Leviticus 26:27-35, and many other passages too numerous to list here.

Fundamentalist Preacher EXPOSED For What He Truly is.

2006-07-19T17:51:00.000-04:00

Now folks...you get to see a fundamentalist preacher implode! What a bastion of love and Christian-like brotherhood you will see in this post. When they can't answer your question or confuse the issue...then they just "implode" and "sputter" rhetoric. Here it is in it's complete glory for the whole world to see.

Darren

Josh Buice said...
Just what I thought ---- Freemasons get angry when heresy is uncovered! Freemasons love heresy ---- isn't that strange? Shows their inner character!

Keep spreading heresy - talking lies - and saying evil things about great men like Chip and expect others to bring that “barf bag” to your site - or maybe your readership has built up their immune system by now?

Speaking about weekend religious people - what would you consider yourself? A full time immature conspiracy theorist heresy junkie?

BTW - I have attended Bro. Chip's church - no snakes! He is a marvelous gospel preacher. In fact, he is preaching for my congregation this Sunday.

Rev. Josh Buice
Speaking truth rather than heresy or conspiracy theory!

Wed Jul 19, 04:33:35 PM

Mary and the Widow's Son said...
Josh is back, making stuff up again.

I wrote nothing "evil" about Chip. I quoted Chip, called his writing "predictable," and then warned that while reading his fan-fiction addendum to "The Da Vinci Code" one's stomach might rebel.

His writing is banal. Cheesy. He imparted a small bit of interesting information in early parts of his article on your site, but his finale, frankly, is ridiculous. Ooh, ooh, the poor dead epileptic student is speaking to Langdon's conscience.

You, sir, are the one with no inner character. You've recently deleted my polite posts on your site regarding DVC issues, and actually deleted whole threads from your anti-Mason area and locked out any new comments, trying to keep your pristine site lily-white pure by banning any posts that disagree with your worldview, but yet you feel no qualms about coming over to this blog and taking a big stinking dump.

— W.S.

Wed Jul 19, 05:07:42 PM

Darren Simpson said...
WS-
I agree whole-heartedly. Ummmm, I was the one that posted the picture of the snake-handlers over at The Baptist Heresy".

Let me ask a question...Is it really so bad to be branded heretical by heretics? (Regarding Josh calling us heretics...)

Rev. Josh Now Censors his site against the "hard questions"

2006-07-19T16:28:00.000-04:00

It looks like we have sent Rev. Buice to moderating comments on his blog "Practical Theology Discussions". He spouts out scripture and off topic responses to any time I ask about the origins of the creation myth. Why is he so afraid to answer??? Could it be that the truth is not in step with the Baptist Goose-step? I guess we will never know.

NOW HE CAN APPEAR TO WIN EVERY THEOLOGICAL DEBATE HE HAS ON HIS BLOG WITH HIS GROUP OF SHEEP GOADING HIM ALONG THE WAY. This is the exact reason why the Baptist view is laughable and heretical. This will be the downfall of many a Christian.

Darren Simpson

Teaching Religious Intolerance In Our Schools

2006-07-19T00:40:00.000-04:00

"This was brought to my attention by my good friend at Burning Taper. Thanks for the heads up!!!"

Darren

Christian fundamentalist textbooks display a breathtakingly arrogant attitude toward other religions.

By Frances Patterson

To say that Christian fundamentalist textbooks portray Roman Catholicism and non-Western religions in a negative way is to understate the case by several orders of magnitude. All the texts are imbued with an arrogance and hostility toward non-Western religions that is truly breathtaking.

This animus toward other religions is intimately tied to the theological roots of fundamentalist Christian perspectives. As researchers Gaddy, Hall, and Maranzo have noted, because Christian fundamentalists believe that truth can only be found in “God's infallible, literal Word revealed in the Bible, religious tolerance toward others with different values and different world views must be rejected.” 1

Criticism of other religions and Christian denominations frequently revolve around the issue of salvation by faith alone versus salvation by good works. Indeed, this was and remains one of the primary differences between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism (with Catholics upholding the importance of good works). As one booklet notes, “Only Christianity requires simple faith rather than good works. Only in Christianity is salvation provided through a person rather than through good works.” 2

In looking at the treatment of religion, I again studied three major textbook publishers for fundamentalist Christian schools and home-schoolers: A Beka Press, Bob Jones University Press, and School of Tomorrow/Accelerated Christian Education. I drew on a wider range of the textbooks and materials than in my discussion of politics and included substantially more material from world history and geography textbooks and, in some instances, from English literature texts.

Materials from the three publishers have a recurring theme: that the lack of material progress in various Third World countries and among indigenous peoples can be attributed to their religious beliefs. The publishers also share a tremendous emphasis on conservative Protestant missionary activity; approving passages abound about individual missionaries and Christian converts and the need for both historical and contemporary evangelism.

In one textbook's discussion of India, for example, students are asked how Hinduism contributed “to this country's sad fate.” Students are then encouraged to contrast India with the United States and told, “If we refused to kill disease-carrying insects, allowed filthy animals to roam around in public places, and refused to eat meat for nourishment, do you think we would be as prosperous as we are?” 3

A great majority of material in the books and literature studied are unobjectionable: map studies, discussions of Revolutionary War battles, information about the kings and queens of England, facts about the invention of the cotton gin, and so forth. Nevertheless, many statements related to non-Western religions raise serious issues that should be part of the public debate over the use of public funding for sectarian education and the use of these materials for home schooling.

Following is a brief summary of how the materials studied describe religions that differ from fundamentalist Christian Protestantism.

AFRICAN RELIGIONS
In general, A Beka's history textbooks emphasize Africa's need for Christian evangelism. 4 In addition to derogatory comments about the religious beliefs of non-Christian Africans, the textbooks assert that their religious beliefs have been the major cause of the continent's lack of cultural and material progress and political instability and repression.

In A Beka's fifth-grade text, students read that traditional African religions were “false religious beliefs.” 5 In one text box, students are introduced to a Christian convert, Chief Khama, who successfully ruled his people even though the “land was ruled by witchcraft” and the people drank their traditional corn beer which made them “lazy and wicked.” 6 While discussing the work of Scottish missionary Mary Slessor, the text uses the term “savage” on three separate occasions.7 The text also notes that “ The witch doctors used many evil and cruel practices. Some of the people were cannibals.” 8

Oppressive governments are ascribed solely to the influence of traditional African religions: “In countries where the people are still held in fear by witchcraft and spirit worship, [postcolonial] self-government soon turned into dictatorship.” 9 A Beka's senior high text ascribes southern Africa's economic problems to the absence of Christianity: “For over a thousand years, there was no clear Christian witness in the vast heartland of Africa; the fear, idolatry, superstition, and witchcraft associated with animism (the belief that natural objects and forces are inhabited by mostly malignant spirits) prevented most Africans from learning how to use nature for man's benefit and thus develop a high culture like that of the other African empires.” 10

Bob Jones' seventh-grade text takes a particularly strong stance regarding the spiritual error of traditional African religions: “This religion, like all false religions, is based on works and cannot give blessing or salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). The strong influence of magic and demonism on African religion made much of African life unhappy and savage. Satan's strong hold on these people kept them worshiping him rather than the true God.” 11

Teachers are advised to “emphasize that African religion was one of superstition and demonism. This kind of religion is growing today in the West, and Christian students must be prepared to stand against it. Satanism is especially prevalent in contemporary music ... .” 12

ISLAM
In A Beka's elementary world history text, fifth graders read that Islam is “a false religion.” 13 Seventh graders read that although “over 500 people saw the resurrected Jesus Christ, no one witnessed Mohammed's supposed encounters with the angels.” 14

According to A Beka's senior high school textbook, Muhammad “combined elements of a corrupted and distorted Christianity in a legalistic religion.” 15 Islam itself is described as “a fanatically anti-Christian faith” that has resisted the efforts of Protestant missionaries.16

The authors' theological difference with Islam is similar to one of their primary criticisms of Roman Catholicism. Because Catholics and Muslims both believe salvation can be achieved by the activities of human beings, (as opposed to salvation by grace alone), it falls short of Christian salvation: “External requirements,” such as prayer, fasting, giving alms, and making pilgrimages “involve no true repentance or miraculous regeneration as does Biblical salvation.” 17

Bob Jones' world history text for sixth graders emphasizes the need for conversion of non-Protestants. Thus, after a fairly straightforward description of Muhammad and the origins of Islam, students read that “the darkness of Islamic religion keeps the people of Turkey from Jesus Christ as their savior.” 18

HINDUISUM
Hinduism comes in for, perhaps, the strongest antipathy. In A Beka's texts, the term “pagan” is frequently used to describe the Hindu religion and the beliefs of its adherents. 19 The term “evil” is also used. 20

Its fifth-grade history textbook emphasizes what it considers to be the negative effects of Hinduism on India: “The effects of Hinduism have been devastating to India's history.” 21

The seventh grade text quotes an unidentified scholar arguing that the Hindus are “incapable of writing history [because] all that happens is dissipated in their minds into confused dreams. What we call historical truth and veracity - intelligent, thoughtful comprehension of events, and fidelity in representing them - nothing of this sort can be looked for among the Hindus.” 22

BUDDHISM
Buddhism, like Islam, traces its origins to a particular individual and Buddha, like Muhammad, is denigrated in Christian school texts. Fifth graders reading A Beka's history textbook learn that Buddha's search for enlightenment involved “leav[ing] his wife and newborn son” and engaging in unsuccessful “self-torture.” 23 The students are reminded that “we serve a living Savior, not a dead teacher.” 24

For sixth graders using one text published by Bob Jones University Press, each mention of Buddhism is accompanied by a brief passage comparing Buddhism's deficiencies with the true religion of Christianity. For example, students read that “although these [Burmese] Buddhists are sincerely trying to live a good life and do good deeds, they will never receive the peace they seek. These people need to know the Savior.” 25

The School of Tomorrow/Accelerated Christian Education materials describe Buddhism's nirvana as “a type of heaven” and students read that “it is very important to note that Buddha's nirvana was in direct contrast with what the Bible teaches about heaven.” 26 Later, the text states: “Hinayana Buddhism has retained Buddha's belief in a lifeless heaven where people would have no knowledge of being alive. Jesus Christ directly opposed this belief in John 3:15-17 and many other passages.” 27

ROMAN CATHOLICISM
Anti-Catholic bias is most prevalent in books published by A Beka. One particularly striking aspect of the texts is the sense that theological battles of the Protestant Reformation continue unabated to the present day. In the texts, bias against Roman Catholics and the Catholic Church is exclusively theological rather than socio-cultural.

Descriptions of contemporary life in European countries that are primarily Roman Catholic frequently include derogatory statements about the Church: “Almost all the children of [the Republic of] Ireland grow up believing in the traditions of the Roman Catholic church without knowing of God's free salvation.” 28

A Beka's seventh grade world history book, for example, describes the early Roman church (before 500 A.D.) as “a monstrous distortion of Biblical Christianity.” 29 Speaking of the Crusades, the text speculates that “if Christendom had succeeded with its crusades, distorted Christianity might have been imposed on all mankind.” 30 In the chapter titled “The Age of Darkness,” which is subtitled “Distorted Christianity, Holy Roman Empire, Renaissance,” the author writes, “The papacy had always distorted Christianity. …” 31

In all, the seventh grade book uses the term “distorted” or its variants 28 times in the six chapters in which its discussions of the Roman Catholic faith are most concentrated.

Tenth graders using A Beka books are taught that “the doctrines and practices of the Roman church had digressed so far from Scripture that the church was compelled to keep its members from reading the Bible and discovering the truth.” 32

COMMENTS
The materials' attitude toward Roman Catholicism and non-Western religions raises serious issues that should be part of the public debate over the use of public funding for sectarian education. Two of the many questions raised:

How much respect for the rights of members of minority religions could ordinary citizens, elected representatives, and government employees, including judges, have if their educational background included a school curriculum based on these textbooks?

Is it fair to use the coercive power of the state to collect tax revenues that are then used to support educational institutions that malign the religion of the taxpayer? It is one thing to say, “This is what I believe.” It is something else to say, “Your religion is in error.”
It is surely far removed from the spirit of religious tolerance, however imperfectly applied in our nation, to make statements that encourage American children to despise the religion of their fellow citizens.

This is why Baptists and others like them are a real threat to the institution of religious tolerance in America today.

Darren

"The Nation Of Islam and the Freemasons"

2006-07-18T12:12:00.000-04:00

"Here, you'll find the finest example of nut-ball, cornball rhetoric that you'll ever find! In fact, it even rivals Baptist Pseudo-scholarship in many ways. Just an example that cultural illiteracy runs deep." Darren

"The Nation Of Islam
And The Freemasons"
By David Livingstone
7-18-06

I've been taking a closer look at the writings of Wesley Williams, and
I am shocked. I had no idea the Nation of Islam was so enmeshed with
Freemasonry. Enmeshed is an understatement, the two are basically one
and the same.

Looking at his "The Book of God", he basically sets the history of the
occult in reverse, where it is the "true Islam". Everything is there.
The "Sons of God" or Nephilim, also the Fallen Angels, are God, a man,
and his council. They have been guiding the select of humanity ever
since. He even places them in "Shamballah" in the Gobi desert, being
the same as the "Great White Brotherhood", or the "Hidden Chiefs" of
"Hidden Masters" of the occult.

The entire history of the occult is co-opted to his version of Islam,
including Gnosticism, the Templars and Cathars, and the Holy Grail. He
invokes Masonic historian Manly P. Hall as a source, and also
Blavatsky, an avowed Satanist. He even has a chapter about the "Masonic
secret", which he correctly explains is that "Man is God".

That explains why the creed he expounds is that of anthropomorphism,
because it is a hidden method of preparing the unsuspecting masses for
the acceptance of the god-man Messiah of the Kabbalah.

So evidently, at the higher levels of the Nation of Islam, like all
other occult fronts, Lucifer is recognized as "true God". I wouldn't be
surprised if this were the belief of Mr. Williams, or that he would deny
it.

Satanism does seem to be the original cult of the NOI, as its founder
was accused of instigating ritual murder. That was Wallace Fard, who,
according to the FBI, had as many as 27 different aliases, and was a
sometime petty criminal. Fard initially joined the Moorish Science
Temple, a quasi-Masonic and pseudo-Islamic organization, and seems to have
been involved in a conspiracy to usurp leadership of that order, by
having its leader, Noble Drew Ali, killed.

Fard finally got in trouble when one of his followers committed murder
to, in his own words, "bring himself closer to Allah." He had quoted
from Fard's booklet titled Secret Rituals of the Lost-Found Nation of
Islam. Although not charged with any crime, Fard was asked to leave
Detroit in early 1933 and to never return. He finally disappeared without a
trace in 1934.

But he had already initiated a devoted follower, Elijah Mohammed, to
whom he taught Masonic superstitions dressed in Islamic themes, and who
went on found the Nation of Islam, and claimed that Fard was God. We
already know of the corruption that was discovered by Malcolm X. And I
fear too about Louis Farrakhan, who too is listed as being a Freemason.

What a gang of criminals. I wonder what their relationship is with
their higher-ups, and how conscious they are about the purpose they serve.

If you want to peek through the "Book of God" of Mr. Williams, it's
online here: http://www.theblackgod.com/theblackgodpage2_.htm

Thanks TCO9@cox.net

TWO BLUE LODGES BREAK AWAY FROM THEIR GRAND LODGES!!!

2006-07-13T22:01:00.000-04:00

This just in from Tubalcain's Blog site! It looks as if the egg-shell is beginning to crack and that this is just the start of more secessions from the Grand Old Lodge System of the Blue Lodge. Here's the reason WHY they left:

1) disappearing funds that were collected and earmarked for destitute brothers

2) no help from Grand Lodge when requested

3) voting irregularities that served to keep same people in GL offices

Sounds familiar if you happen to live in Alabama, Georgia, or other southern states...

It is indeed good to see men led by conscience making courageous progress forward!!! Good luck, brothers!!!

Dear MW Sirs, RW Sirs, VW Sirs, Worshipful Sirs and Brethren,

Please allow us to post in your website the Declaration of Independence of
the two Masonic Districts comprising of nine Lodges of the Most Worshipful
Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, to wit:

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

WE, the officers and members of the Masonic Blue Lodges herein
jointly assembled, do hereby DECLARE that:

Freemasonry is, and has always been, a progressive science whose
growth, throughout the ages, has been borne on the wings of change. From
its inception in the early 17th century, the Fraternity has spread and in
the unrelenting pursuit of light, new Grand Lodges were constituted which
process of continuous regeneration is the very life blood and binding
force of the Craft.

WE hold the following ancient Masonic landmarks as the rule and
guide of the craft by which all masons must abide by and comply with:

That all Freemasons are obligated only in so far as that
obligation will not interfere with the duty that they owe to God, their
country, their neighbors or to themselves. That the Craft is a peculiar
system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols and its
aim has been, and will always be, the brotherhood of man under the
fatherhood of God. And, that Grand Lodges are instituted among
Freemasons and derive its just powers only from and with the consent of

the governed.
WE hold it to be true that all Masons are created equal, endowed
with certain unalienable rights such as to assemble in lodges, elect
officers to govern their affairs, make new Masons according to the ancient
traditions and landmarks of the Craft, visit lodges, celebrate fellowship
at festive boards and engage in all activities that traditional Lodges of
Freemasonry, since time immemorial, have practiced in the pursuit of
happiness.

However, human frailties is the enemy of all human institutions
and through the passage of time, philosophical ideals are enshrined into
rigid rules and practices that eventually become destructive to the aims
of the original principles upon which they are based.

It is at this juncture that all institutions should be altered and NEW
ONES INSTITUTED based upon the original principles and ancient landmarks
of the Craft in order to effect and protect the HONOR, INTEGRITY and
GENERAL WELFARE of those who are subject to them.

WE acknowledge that among all human beings, Freemasons willingly
capacitate themselves to practice the virtue to await a time with patience
and know fully well that the change in the system of government in
Freemasonry should not be enacted without due cause.

But the reality and in the course of the past and present events, it has
become inevitably necessary for us to dissolve the political bond which
have connected us with The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and
Accepted Masons of the Philippines and assume the powers of Freemasonry,
that is, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and
that of the Great Architect has entitled us.

The geographical situation of the country hinders the efficient and
regular official visitation by the Grand Lodge of subordinate lodges which
is the important duty to maintain and improve harmonious relations among
brethren and that management thereof has been outgrown by its present
size.

In the light of these due causes, WE are now compelled to assert our
rights, as freemen and masons, to abolish our former system of Masonic
government and institute a new one based and founded upon the original
principles and ancient landmarks of the Craft.

Thus, WE, the Freemasons herein jointly assembled hereby do ordain and
unanimously declare our independence and institute and constitute THE MOST
WORSHIPFUL UNITED GRAND LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF PHILIPPINES.

Done in the City of Tacloban, Leyte , Philippines, in the 8 th day of the
month of July, in the year of our Lord 2006.

Signed:

The Worshipful Masters, Senior Wardens, Junior Warden and Brethren of :
Masonic District RVIII-B
1. Makabugwas Lodge No. 47
2. Tacloban Lodge No. 221
3. Santiago Chua Lodge No. 336
4. Ormoc Lodge No. 234
5. Sogod Bay Lodge No. 337
6. Biliran Lodge No. 337
Masonic District RVIII-A
1. Mt. Huraw Lodge No. 98
2. Northern Samar Lodge No. 211
3. East Gate Lodge No. 232

Bro. Nicolas C. Risos, PDGL
Secretary - Makabugwas Lodge No. 47
Tacloban City, Leyte, Philippines

A little "Lite" humor...

2006-07-12T19:50:00.000-04:00

Reprinted from the Freemason Chronicles. Thanks Bro. Jeremiah Torres!

Darren

Masonic Brew

It was a humid, hot summer night in an Irish lodge in the Far East and the air-conditioner in the temple had broken down.

After sweating their way through the first part of the ritual, the W:. M:. addressed the new candidate, asking him that at this point of the ritual, what he most desired.

"A beer...." gasped the candidate.

"Light! light!" whispered his conductor frantically into his ear.

"Oh yes...." exclaimed the candidate, "A lite beer!"

----

Cathechism for the Investiture of the Steward

Q. How were you prepared to be made a Steward?
A. My shirt sleeves were rolled up and a corkscrew placed in my hand.

Q. What is a corkscrew?
A. An instrument fashioned like winding stairs, which our ancient brethren ascended to receive their beer.

Q. Where did they receive it?
A. In a convenient room above the chamber.

Q. How did they receive it?
A. In half-tankards and tankards.

Q. Why in this perculiar manner?
A. In half-tankards, well knowing they could be replenished, and in tankards, from the great reliance they placed in the mildness of the brew in those days.

Q. Name the two great advertisements which hung at the door of the chamber?
A. That on the right , CARLTON, and that on the left, VIC.

Q. Why are there separate and conjoint significations?
A. The former denotes XXX and the later No.1, and when mixed together instability occurs.

Q. What is Beer?
A. A perculiar product of chemistry, veiled in mystery and illustrated by labels.

Q. How is it depicted?
A. By a couple of hops near a barrel of water.

---

Three Cheers for Freemasonry!

As Promised....A REAL GOOD Email to American Mason...

2006-07-12T18:44:00.000-04:00

This just in from a highly respected brother of mine in the UGLA! A really good discourse between two masons on the state of affairs of Blue Lodge Masonry today. The names and dates have been omitted for the protection of the poster.

As Promised....A REAL GOOD Email to American Mason...
By:Wor. Bro. Elliot Burns

I just received this email from a masonic brother who had, in my
opinion, a very compelling question for American Mason. But I will not print
his name or email address. After all, I am a "beacon" of discretion,
right? Other than deleting the sender's personal info, I have reprinted
his email verbatim as I have received it:

Q. I was raised and made an obligated Master Mason on xx/xx in 2005 in
XXXX Lodge. I have but one question.

Being from the South, in every essence, we are behind the times. I have
been informed that the Free & Accepted (masonic) Lodges in the north
USA are integrated. Is this true? And if so, why not in the south?

Several brothers who have been Master Masons for more than 40 years
have informed me that the day they sit in lodge with someone who is not
white is the last day they will be a mason. Please help me out with this
question. Thank you.

A. Sad to say, old habits die hard, no?

To answer your question, most lodges in the north (USA) are, in fact,
fully integrated. My masonic lodge in New York is fully integrated in
terms of both race & religion and the sublime spirit of friendship and
brotherly love is everything that a mason could possibly hope for. But
enough of my boasting.

It's hard for me to point an accusing finger at another masonic lodge.
But I gotta' tell ya, in this case I certainly don't hesitate!

I don't get how a mason could seriously take his "Solemn Obligation" to
love and honor all mankind and, at the same time, harbor racism and
predjudice in his heart. This truly baffles me. If someone is a racist,
why bother to become a freemason? It's a perfect contradiction in
philosophy and mindset.

My only guess is that the members of your southern lodge use masonry as
a social club to benefit each other rather than use masonry to broaden
their outlook and better themselves through the masonic principles. But
it's not just the south that has this problem.

I am sorry to say that I have personally heard the same remarks
(privately whispered) in a another lodge in New York! It's real rare, but
apparently it still exsists. I find all of this racism abhorrant and
loathesome and I never want to associate with these morons on ANY level....
let alone the Masonic level. They are not "brothers" to me!

Good luck to you and I believe that since you do have a problem with
your lodge's racism, you should seriously look into affiliating with
another lodge that is closer to your heart and mind and ideals of our
honorable craft

Best Fraternal Regards,
Elliot

Bible Myths for Josh the Baptist Pt. 1

2006-07-10T00:26:00.000-04:00

Biblical innerrancy takes a brutal blow in this post to Rev. Buice's "Practical Theology Discussions" blog... Enjoy!

Darren
______________________

Dear Rev. Buice,

I have a bone to pick with you regarding your views of Biblical veracity. There appears to be some inconsistencies...
Lets take the creation myth for instance:

The Myth-
In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form; and void ; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
(Genesis 1:1-2)

The Reality-
Genesis uses the Hermopolitan Creation scheme to describe the condition of the universe before creation took place. The 4 male deities have been omitted from the story but their essential characteristics have been retained.

The first 2 sentences of Genesis describe the state of things prior to the Hebrew god initiating creation. In the beginning, it says, God created the heaven and the earth., but we know from a later passage that the heaven and the earth were submerged within the "deep" at this early stage, waiting to be lifted out and transformed into physicality.

The words translated as "without form" and "void" appear in the original Hebrew as "tohu" and "bohu", and these 2 words sometimes appear in popular writing as an idiomatic way of expressing chaos or disorder, as in "all was tohu and bohu". The sense of the text makes it sound as if all was a vast empty space, a desolate area.

The word translated as "spirit" in the phrase "spirit of God" appears in the original Hebrew as "ruach", and it doesn't mean "spirit". It signifies "wind" or "violent exhalation". By translating "ruach" as "spirit", biblical interpreters have attempted to translate it in a manner consistent with their theological understanding of the biblical text, but without regard to it's true meaning and original context. Let's substitute "wind" for "spirit"...

The opening verses describe 4 things:
1. An earth and heaven that took up space but had no form or content.
2. Darkness
3. A watery deep, within which the unformed space existed; and
4. A "wind" (i.e-"spirit" of god)hovering upon the face of the waters.

The 4 elements constitute what biblical scholars believed to be the 4 basic components of the pre-creation universe, one of which, the wind, was identified with the Hebrew god. They correspond precisely with what Egyptian priests in Thebes and Hermopolis believed to be the 4 primary components of the universe at the beginning of creation. The Egyptians identified each of these 4 elements with a pair of male and female deities, something that was taboo in Hebrew theology. That the Hebrews adopted the Egyptian scheme of things can be seen from the following description of the first 4 Egyptian deities and their elemental attributes:

1. Huh & Hauhet- unformed space
2. Kuk & Kauket- darkness upon the deep
3. Nun & Naunet- Primeval "deep"
4. Amen & Amenet- invisible wind upon the deep.

The Hebrews adopted the Egyptian and primarily the Theban creation myth, but exchanged the Egyptian god, "Amen" for the Hebrew name "Elohim" and described him as "ruach", the wind.

If one really looks at Genesis, he'll see how closely it matches the Egyptian story.

So... Why would the Hebrew Bible "plagarize" the Egyptian creation stories but change the names to hide the source? Infallible word of God? I think not! More like human invention. There is sooo much more also!

Darren

Omnipotence & the Existence of Evil

2006-07-09T08:48:00.000-04:00

I have reposted an exchange from another blog in which I have now jumped into the fray. The Blog is owned by one Rev. Josh Buice, a fundamentalist Baptist minister with a penchant for spreading his literalist doctrine like manure over a freshly plowed field, hoping for mushrooms (*ie-weak-minded "sheep") to pop up so he can harvest them and constrict their lives and aspirations in the name of "Ga-waad" and "Jee-zus" (God and Jesus). I say this with absolute certainty that there is folly in the fundamentalist Christian doctrine and folks need to be very careful of who they follow.

By the way, the Baptist doctrine, along with most Protestant sects, are considered "heretical" by established and legitimate churches of apostolic succession (Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Coptic, Greek Orthodox, etc...) and those that are involved in these sects are "outside" of the communion of Christ.
___________
Josh Buice said-
"As far as you possessing a sense of morality that has kept you from murder - has it kept you from committing ALL sin? James 2:10 says that if you keep the whole law and yet offend in one point you are guilty of all. Therefore, just because you have not committed murder, does not mean you stand righteous before God. All people are sinners [Romans 3:10, 23; and 5:12] and all sinners must receive the GRACE of God [Ephesians 2:8-9] in order to be saved from the wrath of God [Romans 1:18; 6:23]."

Darren says-
"So... your God is a wrathful God? This is the one who sent his Son into the world to point folks to Him? The whole concept doesn't really make sense." The whole cosmogeny of Christian theology is inherently illogical. If God created all and wants everyone to repent and come to him...then all those who died before Christ came being damned to Hell just because they "knew Him not" smacks of folly. This is where the whole Christian story unravels. So all who came before...went to Hell... Oh, except for the few prophets who worked directly for the Boss. Hmmm...sounds like God changed the rules."

Josh said-
"BTW -- God cannot create a rock that is so big that He could not lift it - that would mean that He would violate His omnipotence - and He will never violate His own omnipotence."

Darren says-
"If God cannot make a stone so large that He couldn't move it, then God is truly NOT omnipotent. The existence of evil proves that God is not omnipotent because it is a force that is reputedly "separate" from God. Evil being described as the complete absence of God... This shows that God is not omnipotent. The very fact that God has to "fight" against the force of evil proves once again He is not omnipotent. For if He was... then he wouldnt have to fight against anything. In other words...If God was omnipotent, then he created evil.
If you refute this and say that God is all good and is not the author of evil...Then you would either be refuting the existence of evil, or saying that God is not omnipotent, for evil would be "separate" from God...and we all know that to be omnipotent, THERE WOULD BE NO PLACE THAT IS SEPARATE FROM AN OMNIPOTENT GOD.

"So...GOD IS EITHER NOT ALL "GOOD"; OR HE IS NOT OMNIPOTENT... the existence of evil proves this."

For the Glory of Humanity,

Darren

The one TRUE Religion!!! PT. 1

2006-07-07T18:48:00.000-04:00

In the many years I have walked upon this earth, I have seen much evil perpetrated in the name of "God". There have been entire wars fought, cities, populations, technology destroyed because these poor infidels didn't believe in the God or gods of a conquering majority.

You might think that I am talking about things that have happened in the distant past, but you would be WRONG. I speak of what is happening now! What is happening in some churches, synagogues, mosques, etc., etc... ad nauseatum!

We see that whatever spark of truth exists, it is rapidly snuffed out and hidden under a bushel by the human hand. The design of organized religion constitutes the "dumbing-down" of the populace in order to create a harvest of submissive "sheep" ripe for harvesting. That harvest most often consists of money, control of conscience, control of relationships, control of individual freedoms. This is the inherent downfall of organized religion. If a Devil exists, he sits at the reins of power over all of the world's organized religions.

So, why must we continue to follow such practices? Why can't God or Goddess speak to individuals on a personal basis? Why must we believe that the only fountainhead of the divine is the Church? Does God need an intermediary? Does God need a long distance company to communicate with us? I think it's time we "fire" our "long-distance service provider" (i.e- the Church). It is time for people to get back to TRUE religion. Back to self-gnosis.

If we don't agree about the path to Heaven, Nirvana, etc..., so what!! We can, at least celebrate this diversity of opinion! The ONE TRUE FAITH is that which is assembled from all of the various masks of God/Goddess/Spirit/Gnosis... etc...etc... The ONE TRUE CHURCH is the whole cathedral of the heavens. The sky, earth, and all things in between! There is the spark of truth in all the faiths that affirm the good of humanity and the absence of malice toward all beings. The attributes of the divine principle is an amalgam of all that is known of humanity and it's various expressions of devout "faith". I think that God reveals Himself in ways that are appropriate to the people He is making Himself known to. There is no need to fear eternal damnation just because you chose the wrong path. This is a scare tactic used by certain faiths as a hammer to make the populace malleable and usable to perpetuate false doctrine for greed's sake.

My opinion is that true religion is that which one finds after truly discovering the sacredness of the self. The old addage that we reflect divinity is because we are all divine rings true. It is through the mundane circumstances of life that we forget our higher nature and revert to our old fears and insecurities. We "sin" because of fear and insecurity. This is the nature of the temporal world . The divine is the absence of those temporal factors.

Organized religion plays on our fears and insecurities to enslave us into submission to bad doctrine. True religion liberates the mind, body, and spirit.

(To Be Continued...)

The Shrine's IRS Disclosure

2006-07-07T18:14:00.000-04:00

Disclosure - Shriners Part 6
By Cassandra 'Sandy' Frost
7-6-6

"Disclaimer: This article is a real yawner. Unless you get super excited
about non profit disclosure, the Shriners or what non profit experts
have to say, you probably won't make it past the first few sentences.
It's long, technical, dry and detailed. If you want to read something
interesting, go to my blog. You have been so warned!

The Tampa Tribune published a story on 2 July 2006 about charity
watchdog groups who have questioned the Shriners' $9.5 billion endowment. The
Chronicle of Philanthropy reported late last month that Senator Charles
Grassley, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, is moving towards
stricter non profit regulations. "

READ THE WHOLE STORY HERE:

http://sandyfrost.newsvine.com/
http://thecassandrafrostcollection.blogspot.com/

Many thanks to the sterling investigative journalism of reporter Sandy Frost.

The Grand Lodge of Georgia Lashes Out Again!!! The Witch Trials Begin ANEW!!!

2006-07-02T17:44:00.000-04:00

Well... Here we are again bringing you another installment of who the GLofGA is gonna strike out at and intimidate next. This time, their paranoia leads them to the Order of the Eastern Star! The Grand Lodge of Georgia has now pressured the OES of Georgia into issuing a new draconian edict (*note- the Grand Lodge of Georgia seems to be ruling by edict rather than representative democracy lately...) that I have included here below:

"BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, that the Grand Chapter of the Order of the EasternStar, State of Georgia, does hereby state, avert and affirm that no member of its Grand or Subordinate Chapters in the State of Georgia can be a memberof any Masonic organization that is not recognized by the Most WorshipfulGrand Lodge of Georgia, F.A.&M."

Now, many in the Blue Lodge thought that things were not as bad as Jeff Peace, co-founder of the Modern Freemasonic Movement, said that they were. People didn't believe him when he said that membership was in sharp decline as a direct result of the greed, fear, and parnoia that have infiltrated the Grand Lodge of Georgia. Now it looks like the OES in Georgia is following suit and it appears that some masonic brethern are replying with the typical disrespect and vitriol that has characterized their knee-jerk, irresponsible remarks made towards the formation of the United Grand Lodge of America. Please see below:

Bad news for women masons/OES members
Posted by: "B L Thames" blthames@Removed eo_mason
Sat Jul 1, 2006 4:47 pm (PST)

Brethren,I know that a number of you thought that Jeff Peace was exaggerating about conditions within the GL of GA; however, those same conditions/persons have now pressured the Grand Chapter of the OES of GA into passing the followingresolution:

"BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, that the Grand Chapter of the Order of the EasternStar, State of Georgia, does hereby state, avert and affirm that no memberof its Grand or Subordinate Chapters in the State of Georgia can be a memberof any Masonic organization that is not recognized by the Most WorshipfulGrand Lodge of Georgia, F.A.&M."

So in spite of the fact that my OES membership was based on my father's Masonic membership (certainly not mine) I can no longer be a member. And if the OES thinks that I will choose it over Masonry, they're sadly wrong. All of the women Masons in Georgia that I know are in the process of resigning from the OES.

Fraternally,
Barb
Bro. Barbara L. Thames, IPM Atlanta Lodge #21Eastern Order of Int'l Co-Freemasonry

(Now the vitriol begins anew...)

" Dear Barb,

This is not unusual for a Grand Lodge or Grand Chapter, It also has nothing to do with Jeff's opinion or interpretation of things regarding Masonry in Georgia. Please explain why a Grand Lodge or Grand Chapter should accept a person being a member of a Masonic or Star Body that is not Recognized by them? We all have choices and sometimes we come to a point in the road that we have to take one or the other. Those that are members of Lady Masonry and OES in that state can now choose which avenue they would like to take.

I mean no disrespect. I just do not see anything wrong with the decision made by Georgia OES. When a man joins a Lodge and is a member of a Mainstream Jurisdiction he cannot in conjunction be a member of an un-Recognized Grand Jurisdiction or club, regardless of what that other group might say.

In California there is a group which Grand Lodge has denounced. They have instructed members that they cannot be members of our Masonic Jurisdiction if they choose to join or remain members of this group. I am not quite sure of the exact name but it is similar to "Order of the Snakes." Someone on the list might know the exact name. We have rules and regulations and they should be followed.

Forgive me for disagreeing as I am not seeking an argument but giving my opinion.
The members of OES that choose to leave for Lady Masonry will no doubt make their Lodges stronger as their leaving will also make the Chapter stronger.
Just an opinion...

Sincerely & Respectfully,
Manny Blanco,
PM Moreno Valley Masonic Lodge # 804Moreno Valley, CA
Grand Lodge of California

(...and yet again in another vitriolic response thinly veiled as "opinion"...)

I think time will tell which avenue they decide to take and if it will effect OES in Georgia or OES in general.

Sincerely,Bro. Manny Blanco,
PM Moreno Valley Lodge # 804Moreno Valley, CA
Jurisdiction of Grand Lodge of California

(...At least Barb get's the final death-blow in... I dig this woman of Freemasonry!!!)

Posted by: "B L Thames" blthames@removed eo_mason
Sun Jul 2, 2006 5:52 am (PST)

Bro. Manny,I was a member of OES for 30 years based on my father's Masonic membership.As I have said, my OES membership had absolutely nothing to do with myMasonic work.

The OES had known for several years that some of us also belonged to anunrecognized order of Masonry and had done nothing to limit our membershipin OES. What I'm angry about is that the GL interfered with the GCh which was not going to pass any legislation on the issue until the GM intervened.

BTW, Bro. Manny, I find a couple of things in your response offensive: First, I do have a Masonic title which others on this list use in responses to me; and, second, the comment that my leaving OES will make my chapter stronger; offensive.

Fraternally,
Barb

SHRINERS Ripping off The Children!!! Part 5

2006-06-30T22:59:00.000-04:00

Follow the Money: Shriners Part 5

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What would you think of a charity group that lost over 99% of its cash assets in one year? In 1998, the Shriners Hospitals for Children started the year with a cash asset balance of $354 million. By the end of the year, they were down by $351 million. They lost 99.1% of what they started with. If you had started the year with, say, $30,000, you’d have lost $29,730 and be left with only $270.

Let’s talk about money.

According to Guidestar.org, an online non profit resource, Shriners Hospitals for Children’s assets are valued at $9,500,000,000. That’s over $9.5 billion. Melissa Data also lists Shriners trusts and affiliated organizations whose assets are dedicated to Shriners hospitals. This adds up to $10,000,917,629 or over $10 billion dollars.

How can we wrap our heads around these numbers?

Let’s compare the $10 billion figure to the Gross National Product of some countries. The GNP is a measure of a country’s economic performance, or what its citizens produced like goods and services and whether they produced these items within its borders.

Angola has a GNP of $10.1 billion. Ivory Coast has a GNP of $10.1 billion. Tanzania has a GNP of $9.87 billion. The combined GNP of Afghanistan, $4.63 billion, and Zimbabwe, $5.53 billion, comes to $10.1 billion.

Let’s look at it another way.

If the Shriners assets were distributed per capita:

Each of China’s 1.3 billion people would get $7.95.

Each of the United States’ 298 million people would get $34.70.

Each of the U.K.’s 60 million people would get $172.34.

Each of Australia’s 20 million people would get $517.

Each of Palau’s 20,500 people would get $504,428.

Guidestar also offers non profit financial data for the years 1998 to 2004. This is sorted according to what is taken in as revenue, what is spent as expenses and what is left over at the end of the year as net gain/loss. The data also tracks areas such as investments and cash assets.

Net Gains/Losses

For the years 1998, 1999 and 2000, the Shriners Hospitals for Children had net gains of $233 million, $246 million and $317 million. The next three years, though, they lost a lot of money. In 2001, the Shriners lost or spent $183 million more than they took in. In 2002, they lost or spent $406 million more than what they took in. And in 2003, they lost or spent $40 million more than they took in.

Investments

For the years 1998 and 1999, the Shriners saw investment gains of $1.274 billion and $545 million. However, in 2000, they lost $234 million in investments. In 2001, they lost $614 million in investments. And in 2002, the Shriners lost nearly 16% of their investments, down by over a whopping $1+ billion dollars or $1,045,760,830. If you have a monthly income of $2,500, this would be like losing $430 a month or like losing $5,160 a year.

Cash Assets

In 1998, the Shriners had a beginning cash balance of $354 million. By the end of the year, they lost over $351 million or 99.1% of what they started with. Again, if you started the year with $30,000 cash, you’d have lost $29,730 and be left with only $270. In 1999, they posted an $8 million cash gain. In 2000, they lost nearly $2.5 million in cash assets. In 2001, they lost $1.1 million. And in 2002, they lost $5.5 million in cash assets.

Why should anyone wrap their head around these numbers? Once the public understands these gains and losses, questions such as these can be asked:

Why was so much money lost in 2000, 2001 and 2002?

Why did 99.1% or $351 million in cash assets disappear in 1998?

Why did cash assets disappear for four out of seven years and where did this money go?

What caused the Shriners to overspend in 2001, 2002 and 2003?

What happened in 2002 to cause Shriners to lose $1.1 billion in investments, to lose over $1.1 billion in the fund balance and to lose $5.5 million in their cash assets?

In this day and age, non profit transparency and accountability matter to the American public. A recent Harris poll revealed that 30% of Americans think that charity groups are headed in the wrong direction. This is why financial disclosure is so important. If it looks like a charity isn’t doing right by their volunteers and donors, they, and everyone else, has the right to know.

To their credit, the rank and file Shriners pay over $2 million a year in dues, volunteer their time and work hard to raise money to help support the hospitals that provide free medical care to sick and needy children. Many trusting donors include the Shriners in their wills to pass on their estates, establish trusts and make bequests to also support the much needed free medical services. Both the Shriners and the donors trust that their time, energy and donations will be well managed instead of mismanaged as some of the data seems to indicate.

The Shriners have been criticized by non profit watch dog groups such as Give.org and the American Institute of Philanthropy for “hoarding” more than three times their operating costs. This is a standard bench mark used by Give.org they include in their standards for charity accountability.

The Shriners are sitting on $9.5 billion. Plus that which is dedicated by the trusts. In 2004, their expenses for program services was reported as $456 million, so the Shriners assets are twenty times more than what is needed to operate their hospitals. For this reason, in 2004, KOBTV reported that the Shriners Hospitals for Children took second place on the world’s worst charity list.

Back to the importance of non profit groups making their finances public, especially when today, they can post their tax returns and associated financial documents online so everyone can see how they are managing their finances.

The Shriners do not do this.

Remember what Deep throat told Woodward and Bernstein.

Follow the money.

Especially if it looks like it’s going down the drain.

From http://sandyfrost.newsvine.com/ Copyright © 2006 by Sandy Frost. Used by permission. For more information, contact SandyLeeFrost@yahoo.com.

More on "CROOKED SHRINERS"

2006-06-29T11:30:00.000-04:00

"More on those crazy, crooked Shriners!!!"

Darren

Shriners - Part 4
Florida Bar Investigating Complaint Against Corporate Attorney
By Cassandra 'Sandy' Frost
6-27-6

Shriner Whistleblower Vernon Hill has called on the Florida Bar
Association to take action against Shriners corporate attorney Jay Fleisher.
In a four page complaint, Hill accuses Fleisher of misrepresentation,
intimidation, violating IRS disclosure law, unwarranted censorship,
chilling free speech and violating John Doe cyber space protections.

According to the office of staff attorney Jodi Thompson of the Florida
Bar Association, Tampa branch, the fact finding process begins by
sending a copy of the complaint to Fleisher, who then has 15 days to
respond. Thompson then has four months to gather information to decide if the
complaint has merit, and if so, whether to send the file to a grievance
committee or to a staff investigator.

"I hope the Florida Bar's rules on lawyer conduct will be enforced,"
Hill said. "I am just one person yet I wonder how many other honest,
hardworking Shriners have been treated the same way that I have. I've found
that there is a pattern of disregard and punishment by Shriners
officers and officials designed to attack anyone who challenges them.
Fleisher's actions are the latest in a long history of heavy handed tactics and
violations of Shriners rights. It is now time for the Florida Bar to
enforce the rules and to take action against those who misrepresent,
intimidate and censor."

Fleisher had no comment.

For years, Hill drove sick and crippled children to their medical
appointments at Shriners hospitals and while waiting with other volunteer
drivers, heard them describe how money they raised for the hospitals was
squandered on good times for temple officers or misspent on temple
expenses. Hill then spent the next four years asking all levels of Shriners
leadership about the money. Along the way, he discovered that twenty
years ago the Orlando Sentinel had investigated the Shriners and exposed
their bait and switch tactics of using sick and crippled children to
raise millions for the hospitals that, in reality, was spent on things
like entertainment, meals, travel and ceremonies.

"In 1985, the newspaper found that out of $23 million raised, only
$340,000 went to the hospitals," Hill explained. "I've asked the leadership
'Where does all the money go?' and no one has given me a straight
answer. Instead, I've been kicked off my committees and now, their attorney,
Jay Fleisher, is sending me 'cease and desist' emails."

Eighteen months ago, Hill was introduced to a Florida tax specialist
and former IRS agent, Paul Dolnier and they've been working together ever
since.

"I've got no axe to grind," Dolnier explained. "But the Shriners
accounting practices are certainly irregular and indicate that what the
Orlando Sentinel discovered in 1986 may be happening again."

Hill and Dolnier began by ordering Shriner tax returns from the IRS.
Dolnier then worked for six months analyzing thousands of pages and
zeroed in on the returns filed by Shriners' groups in Pennsylvania. He
contacted Pennsylvania state investigators who just happened have other
business in Florida. They met in Ft. Lauderdale for six hours as Dolnier
presented evidence that the Shriners might be violating Pennsylvania
charity law because the paper work showed that less than 50% of the net
proceeds from fundraising were being sent to the hospitals. Dolnier also
began working on the Charity Watch website where he's posted analysis of
tax returns from the Shriners temples in the states of Florida,
California, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Texas as well as
Pennsylvania.

The website states that:

"Attorney General's Office Charitable Registration for the State of PA
is looking at this group as a matter of "great interest" concerning
past and current charity fundraising policies and procedures throughout
the entire State of PA which includes ALL Shrine Temples and Groups &
Clubs."

In yet another attempt to get answers, Hill emailed Fleisher and asked
him to take a look at the Charity Watch website and alleged that
Pennsylvania officials were investigating the Shriners. Fleisher then sent
both Hill and Dolnier "cease and desist" emails stating that he'd spoken
with Pennsylvania officials who had told him there was no such
investigation, which, according to state of Pennsylvania officials, is not what
he was told.

If Fleisher is found guilty of any of the charges, the bar can impose
sanctions for "making false statements, fraud and misrepresentation and
improper communications with individuals in the legal system that cause
injury or potential injury to a client, the public, or the legal
system."

Hill hopes the Florida Bar will find enough evidence to take action
against Fleisher.

"Good hearted donors and volunteers should question a system that is
increasingly secretive and not forthcoming about their finances," Hill
concluded. "Charity laws apply to everyone and the Shriners should stop
acting as if they are above the law."

All copies of material reprinted or duplicated from "by Sandy Frost"
must include the following credit line: From
http://sandyfrost.newsvine.com/ Copyright © 2006 by Sandy Frost. Used
by permission.

http://sandyfrost.newsvine.com/
http://thecassandrafrostcollection.blogspot.com/

The Heresy of Protestant Faiths (i.e- Baptist, Methodist, etc., etc...)

2006-06-27T00:17:00.000-04:00

The movement generally called "The Reformation" deserves a place apart in the story of the great heresies; and that for the following reasons:
1. It was not a particular movement but a general one, i.e., it did not propound a particular heresy which could be debated and exploded, condemned by the authority of the Church, as had hitherto been every other heresy or heretical movement. Nor did it, after the various heretical propositions had been condemned, set up (as had Mohammedanism or the Albigensian movement) a separate religion over against the old orthodoxy. Rather did it create a certain separate which we still call "Protestantism." It produced indeed a crop of heresies, but not one heresy_and its characteristic was that all its heresies attained and prolonged a common savour: that which we call "Protestantism" today.

Read the whole treatise here at:

http://www.catholicapologetics.info/apologetics/protestantism/protesy.htm

BEWARE of CHRISTIAN TERRORISM!!!

2006-06-26T23:32:00.000-04:00

Ok folks! It's finally surfacing. Christian fundamentalism is threatening to to squelch free-speech and free thought. The INQUISITION is beginning anew and the gallows and burning posts are soon to follow!

We are seeing it in India and lesser developed countries where governments are not powerful enough to fend off large, well-funded religious "nutso" fringe groups and we are seeing large, ultra-right-wing Christian conservative organizations maneuvering to usurp YOUR freedom of expression and freedom of conscience here in North America.

LET ME MAKE ONE THING PERFECTLY CLEAR!!! CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALISTS HAVE AN AGENDA THAT IS CENTERED AROUND ESTABLISHING THEIR BELIEFS AS THE "ONLY" RELIGION ON EARTH!!! THEY WANT TO IMPOSE THEIR BELIEFS ON YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN!!! EVEN IF YOU ARE CHRISTIAN, YOU ARE NOT SAFE FROM THEIR VENDETTA TO CLEANSE THE EARTH OF ALL OTHER VIEWS EXCEPT THEIR OWN!!!

READ THE FOLLOWING:

Friday, June 23rd, 2006

Hyderabad, India

The screening of controversial Hollywood movie ‘The Da Vinci Code’ was suspended at a theatre here after a group of Christians, protesting against the release of the film, ransacked the theatre.
The movie was to be released at Prasad Imax following a direction by the Andhra Pradesh High Court, quashing the state government’s order to ban its screening.
However, dozens of activists under the banner of the Christian United Front raided the theatre and damaged the property extensively forcing the management to suspend the film’s screening.
The protesters, who were carrying banners and placards describing the film as ‘Devil’s Code’, barged in to the theatre located near the Hussain Sagar lake in the heart of the city even as hundreds of people eager to watch the movie were standing in queues for the tickets of the first show of the movie.

Police said the mob shattered the glass panes and damaged furniture and ticket counters. The protesters also raised slogans against the court’s order lifting the ban imposed by the state government on the film.

Prasad Imax was the only theatre in the state, where the film was scheduled to be released Friday.
The court, on petitions by the film’s distributors, Wednesday quashed the June 1 government order banning the screening of the movie in the state. The movie was to be released in the state June 2.
The government move came following protests by various Christian and Muslim groups that said the movie would hurt religious sentiments. The government, in its order, contended that the film might lead to law and order problems.

Following the court order, the distributors had announced plans to release the English and Hindi versions of the movie next week.

The movie, based on Dan Brown’s bestseller with the same title, remains banned in several Indian states.

An Answer To Christians bashing Freemasonry

2006-06-23T12:57:00.000-04:00

It has recently come to my attention that there is a diaspora of christian fringe personalities outside of Freemasonry that are attempting to cause a big enough "stink" to win over public opinion to their view that Freemasonry is "evil" and unsuitable to exist in today's society.

There are; likewise, individuals inside Freemasonry that are trying to convince their peers and anyone that would listen that Freemasonry is inherently Christian to the core.

I would like to clear up both issues for the benefit of those in the public who are being exposed to this diatribe and a what I believe to be a gross example of "lack of knowledge" of Freemasonry on both sides of the discussion table.

1. Christian fundamentalists and the Roman Catholic church are the most vociferous opponents of Freemasonry. They claim their facts come from "former masons" who have since recanted of their "sins" and are just wanting to warn unsuspecting folks who might be "trapped" into joining the lodge.
They claim that these recanters have let them know "all-about" the rituals and secret demonic practices that are done in lodges across the nation. They cite bible verse after bible verse that they feel condemn Freemasonry.
In doing this, to the master mason, they only prove their own lack of knowledge into the rituals of Freemasonry and even prove that their "masonic recanters" are probably having a laugh at their expense. The rituals that they quote from are quite foreign from actual masonic ritual. The phrases and descriptions of practices are actually quite foreign and far removed from what master masons know of.
the Roman Catholic church is full of naysayers that are out to destroy Freemasonry because they fear that it threatens the church's autonomy over people's consciences and pocketbooks. There is still a vendetta being waged against masonry that extends all the way to the new Pope. (This is the same Pope that wears designer label underwear and handmade Italian leather shoes) "Would Jesus wear Prada??" Just a thought.

2. Those that are in Freemasonry that are trying to convince people that Freemasonry is a Christian charitable organization are in reality trying to destroy the Lodge from within. They would reduce Freemasonry to something as silly as the "Knights of Columbus", or "Promise-keepers". their view of Freemasonry is simply a pulpit that they can overlay their own mis-guided fantasies about what the lodge really is.
These men are simply the product of the current blue lodge's LACK of masonic education at the home lodge level. In the 1920's, most of what was esoteric in the ritual was removed and editted out. This left strange symbolism and imagery with no deeper explanation other than what would appear on the surface.
This latter ommission of facts and denial of the esoteric heritage of the craft is most damaging and is the bigger of the lies I have expounded on here. It is so destructive because it threatens to snuff out what remaining light there is to be gleaned. A watered down Freemasonry is worse than no Freemasonry at all.

Our ancestors developed Freemasonry working on the great churches in Europe but they had nothing to do with what was going on inside those churches. There remains a sub-current of Gnostic thought that has remained underground since the council of Nicea occurred under the reign of Constantine. In the 1700's and 1800's many of these Gnostic elements consolidated under the banner of Rosicrucianism and other lesser known esoteric groups.

Freemasonry carries on these traditions; gleaning gnostic truths from Rosicrucian and other mystery religions to form the tenets of Freemasonry. These are the tenets that we derived our democratic system of government in the United States. Masonic ideals are those that were used as the framework for the ethics and basic human rights of all people under the United States Constitution. This is a fact that can be found in any serious study of the founding fathers. (Many of whom were Freemasons...)

So... Why the big conspiracy to destroy Freemasonry? I believe that it has to do with a fundamental flaw in the human condition that compels some people to want to know exactly what their neighbor is doing. If that neighbor belongs to something that is closed to others...then they feel slighted and become vindictive. They formulate all of these delusions and conspiracy theories about what this neighbor or this group is doing. They rationalize that anything that is kept secret can't be all that good. It must be evil!

So how do Freemasons combat these foes to their traditions? The enemies we are really combatting are FEAR and "MASONIC ILLITERACY".

Fear is the motivating factor behind Christian attacks on Freemasonry. The fear is held in the hearts of the preachers, priests, and reverends of the various denominations of Christianity. They fear that we are out to subvert the masses. That we will turn their flocks against them. That we will infiltrate the church at the highest levels and replace Christian doctrine with Gnostic or even Satanic worship. You can't convince many fundamentalists that there is no connection between Lucifer and Satan. That connection was the result of some medieval scribe with a bone to pick with the Cathars of his time. Hence, Lucifer has been associated with Ha-Satan of the Torah and then the Christian bible.

Within Freemasonry, many of the blue lodges suffer from inadequate or unevenly dispersed masonic education. When you take men with open minds and teach them some rubbish that passes for masonic education in some of these lodges; you open a can of worms that we will still be dealing with for generations down the line. It is a problem that spreads like a cancer!
The only lodges I have found that are turning the tide against Masonic Illiteracy are a few well-run lodges of research, Esoteric lodges, and the Modern Freemasonic movement lodges that have popped up recently. Many of the so-called "clandestine" lodges appear to put more research into masonic history and symbology than many of the blue lodges.

So... What is the cure? Two-fold answer: Return to the roots of Freemasonry! Don't be afraid of proclaiming what your theological beliefs are to the world. Answer the Christians by stating that Freemasonry is a non-Christian organization that does not discriminate between Christian, Jew, Buddhis, Gnostic, or Pagan alike. Let them rant and rave damnation and hell-fire... So what! Those that believe in such childish admonitions are probably not meant to be Freemasons. So, what is the loss? Get about the business of the Craft!

Darren Simpson
aka F. Roy Dean Schlipp

Greed and Shady Land Deals of the Northern Masonic District (or...the REAL Future of Masonry)

2006-06-22T22:42:00.000-04:00

There is a none too subtle movement in the NMJ (Northern Masonic
Jurisdiction) to force Valley's to sell their buildings and instead
have "virtual valleys" only. Some of us think that this is just a
preparatory
step to the NMJ Supreme Council's true plan: consolidation (seizure)
of all assets of member valleys - it is much easier to seize money than
bricks and mortar. We suspect that this is part of a long range plan
to merge with the SMJ(Southern Masonic Jurisdiction) (which is doing
the same thing) and create a multi-billion dollar fund that a few big
(purple) wigs will then "oversee" on behalf of us poor slobs who
don't know how to handle money.

At this point, they won't need new members to survive, as they will
have plenty of money to support themselves indefinitely (once they have
divested themselves of the real estate drain). And we think that
they are so stupid. WRONG! They know exactly what they are doing and it
is nothing less than brilliant when viewed from the perspective of a
self-interested elite cadre of old men looking out solely for their
own selfish interests. They know that they are doomed, that membership
numbers are falling off a cliff, and that consolidation is the
single smartest thing that they can do to secure their future. Their plan
will leave them with billions at their disposal and absolutely no one
will be left to hold them accountable!

We should not be surprised by any of this. It is a natural result of
a system based on entrenched autocratic unelected unaccountable
leaders. Absolute power corrupts absolutely - even Masons. Their actions are
evil, but perfectly rationale and predictable given the circumstances.

I hope not!

(Reprinted from a protected source)

Response to Fundamentalist Circle Logic

2006-06-22T09:23:00.000-04:00

Rev. Buice,

Regarding this whole discussion regarding freemasonry and Christianity. The last respondent stated that we Masons have mainly responded with personal attacks. Yet he responds with a personal attack of his own using the bible to do it. He calls us "dogs" and "swine" as in the scripture. Amazing insight into "Christian Compassion". It's all pretty much par for the course, though. This is exactly the treatment that anyone gets who disagrees with the "lock-step" of the Church's view.
Well, I am going to make your day! Here is a statement that will allow you to point out to your flock as a vindication to all that you've preached about.

"Freemasonry is quantifiably NOT a christian organization."

Many would want it to be so as there are many fundamentalists who belong to the order. However; Freemasonry is not a Christian organization and will never be if we have anything to do with it. That's not to say that christians can't belong to the organization. They can and are welcome. We accept people from all theological backgrounds. Freemasonry is a non sectarian organization that, in it's purest form, recognizes the validity of all faiths.
Folks, such as yourself, who strictly forbid association with and tolerance of people of other faiths can never understand our views.
Please, no threats of hell and damnation! I am tired of hearing the old comical lines. Only God can damn me. I am not worried about that nor your opinion of us masons. Neither do I care for your afterlife plans.
Your whole argument has been based on your premise that the bible is inerrant fact and all of your "proof" has been from scripture interpretations. None of these "facts" that you've brought up regarding eschatological viewpoints are "provable". You have to die to find out if there is a Heaven or hell. So, when you argue the validity of your points, it's really a circle logic argument with a fatal disconnect... Your facts are unverifiable outside of the realm of your own "faith" or belief. Yes, there are many "historical" truths in the bible and there is a great possibility that the eschatological views presented are fact as well. However; empirically, we are left to wonder.
You appear to have great faith in the veracity of the bible. This is laudable. There are many such as yourself and that's great. There are many such as me who believe in the varacity of other "revalations" and texts as well with just as strong a conviction.
We're not out to lead away any of your flock. We don't teach them other views if they don't want to hear them either. But we won't refrain from sharing our theological views if the other person requests to know more. Something you said before was that people make a choice regarding christian salvation. We believe that too.
Of course; if it's not that literal view, by your belief, we are damned to hell. Well... That's what separates us. If I were admitted to Heaven before you came to the gates...I'd let you in. By your own statements; using the circle logic of inerrancy of the bible, I believe you wouldn't do the same. :)

Sincerely,
Darren Simpson
United Grand Lodge of America & Modern Freemason

(Rev. Buice is a Baptist Minister and runs the Practical Theology Discussions Blog)

Taxation Without Representation

2006-06-22T08:34:00.000-04:00

The Grand Master's of the Alabama Grand Lodge are treated like members of the Royal Bloodline. The Alabama Scottish Rite S.G.I.G. Karl F. Reed will bestow (upon those whom he believes will best help him) the ever coveted White Hat of the Thirty-Third Degree. The S.G.I.G. helps with his influence to acquire the funds from "heavy hitters" of the Scottish Rite to buy the Grand Masters car. Then the Grand Master is invested with the gold bling, bling of the Grand Lodge.

He is then called the MOST Worshipful Grand Master hence forward and ever more. He then travels the country as the Grand Masa at the Grand Lodges expense. Membership is declining each year and has since 1963. Yet the membership is now being hit with the payment of a car and expenses. Should those in the line to be Grand Master be expected to buy their own car? Why so much secrecy about this car fund. The members of the Grand Lodge of Alabama here three or four versions of how the money will be administered.

If the Grand Lodges were set up as a stock held company these CEO'S and Board members would have been fired years ago for their inability to turn the declines around.

So the Grand "Masa" rides around as a Potentate of Arabia at the members expense.

(Reprinted from the "Alabama Grand Lodge Facts" Blog)

Conflicts of Interest? Shriners: Part III

2006-06-18T18:12:00.000-04:00

Conflicts of Interest? Shriners: Part 3
By Cassandra 'Sandy' Frost
6-17-06
(*Editor's Note: Looks like The Shriners are at it again! Thanks Sandy!- Darren aka FRDS)

It's hard to write a lively story about technical things like conflict of interest for boards of directors and group oversight. What's important is that the technical is presented in an easy to read, easy to understand format.

To recap, twenty years ago, the Orlando Sentinel discovered that the Shriners were exploiting sick and crippled children to raise money that didn't find its way to the hospitals. Whistle blower Vernon Hill, himself a Shriner, had heard similar rumblings as he spent time in Shriner Hospital waiting rooms after driving children for treatment. He has spent the past four years asking similar questions and, a year and a half ago, he met and joined forces with Paul Dolnier, a former IRS revenue agent and accountant with a Master's Degree in taxation. Dolnier spent six months analyzing Shriners' tax returns that are now posted and grouped by state on the Charity Watch website at http://www.help-page-nonprofit.org/. Dolnier's analysis revealed that the same thing might be happening again. When he had the opportunity, he reported his documented findings to three special investigators from the State of Pennsylvania.

Today, corporate governance and in particular, how boards of directors function, is in the spotlight after companies like Enron and WorldCom were caught committing white collar crime and defrauding investors, clients and employees out of millions. Consequently, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 became law. It calls for both for profit and non profit corporations to establish and enforce, among other things, conflict of interest policies for their boards. Remember, there are two groups; the Shriners Hospitals for Children, the charitable 501c3 group, and the Shriners Temples, the fraternal 501c10 group. The two are supposed to, per IRS regulations, operate separately and be independent.

The fraternal group is incorporated in Iowa; the charitable hospital group is incorporated in Colorado. Both groups have a board of directors; the charitable hospital group also has officers. For the year 2004 2005, both boards had the same 14 men on them. Six of the seven hospital officers also sat on both boards.

A call to Shriners headquarters indicated that the board/s of directors' policies are not available to the public.

According to the Colorado Revised Nonprofit Corporation Act, 7-1228-501, Colorado Revised Statues, a "conflicting interest transaction" is a contract or transaction between two (nonprofit) entities that have the same people serving directors or officers. The Charities Review Council defines conflict of interest as: "Outside interests: a contract or transaction between the organization and an entity in which such person is a director, officer, etc. Outside activities: the responsible person's serving as a director, officer, for an entity that competes with the organization in the provision of services or in any other contract or transaction with a third party." The remedy, according to the Charities Review Council, is that the person with the conflict of interest shall not be counted for the purposes of a vote; the person with the conflict of interest may not vote on the contract or transaction and shall not be present in the meeting room when the vote is taken unless it is a secret vote." The answer to the question "Do those on both boards have a conflict of interest?" seems obvious.

Maybe the real question is "What are the Shriners doing to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to avoid the appearance of conflict of interest among their common board members and officers?" Additionally, the Shriners (charitable) claim to maintain a separate legal and financial identity from the Shrine temples (fraternal). This "separation" qualifies both for their individual tax-exempt statuses from the IRS. Yet, according to annual reports filed with the Iowa Secretary of State in June of 1995 and 1996, the fraternal group's nature of activities engaged in during the past year was described as: "Fraternal order operating under the lodge system for the exclusive benefits of its members for the purpose of maintaining, controlling and supervising any and all charities, benevolence and charitable hospitals, including Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children, maintained and controlled by the Imperial Council of the Ancient Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for North America which may be it hereafter established. Signed, Jack H. Jones as Secretary"

This supervision and control by the fraternal over the charitable was formalized in the group's restated Articles of Incorporation that were filed with the Secretary of State in September, 1996. Article III includes items:

"3. To maintain, control, conduct and superintend any and all charities, benevolences and hospitals now established, maintained and controlled by The Imperial Council.

5. To create and maintain a charitable and educational fund, a representative fund, a library fund, an Imperial Council fund, a fund for the purchase, erection, operation and maintenance of Shriners Hospitals for Children, and other benevolences, and any other fund or trust necessary or convenient in carrying out any of the purposes, benevolences or charities now established, or which may be hereafter authorized by the Imperial Council."

Does this mean that the Shriners temples (fraternal) now control the Shriners Hospitals (charitable) $9 billion in assets? These questions might be left to others as they look into these two red flag issues. There are more inconsistencies that will be explored in the next few articles but for now the question appears to be:

Are these two standards of governance as they seem?
All copies of material reprinted or duplicated from "by Sandy Frost" must include the following credit line: Copyright © 2006 by Sandy Frost. Used by permission.

http://sandyfrost.newsvine.com/

http://thecassandrafrostcollection.blogspot.com/

RRCG #1 Starting public Series of Seminars About Modern Freemasonry

2006-06-16T21:48:00.000-04:00

Rose Cross of Gold Lodge No. 1 meets every Sunday night at the Alpharetta Starbucks at Barnes and Noble for socializing and meeting with others interested in Freemasonry. It's a great opportunity to make new friends and learn more about the world's oldest fraternity: Freemasonry.

Everyone arrives around 7:30 PM and stays until whenever.

Alpharetta Barnes & Noble
7660 North Point ParkwaySuite 200Alpharetta, GA 30022

770-998-2846

From the RRCG Website

Former AASR Leader Sentenced for Pocketing Funds!!!

2006-06-16T15:26:00.000-04:00

Former leader of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite sentenced
Saturday, July 30, 2005
By BRENDAN KIRBY

Staff ReporterA federal judge sentenced the former leader of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Mobile on Friday to 18 months in prison as members of the organization sat stone-faced.William Curtis Havens, a former funeral home director, served the Scottish Rite with distinction for three decades. He rose to personal representative of the sovereign grand inspector general for Alabama, overseeing about 4,000 members in southern Alabama.Then, by his own admission, he pocketed $213,461 in funds from the organization."The Scottish Rite has been betrayed by someone it honored in the highest way possible," said Frank Anderson, a member and an attorney who has led the fight against Havens in Bankruptcy Court. "He was the most honored and trusted and respected member of the fraternity in this part of the state."The 50-year-old Mobile resident's legal troubles are far from over. He faces theft charges in Mobile County Circuit Court, and a bankruptcy judge has ordered him to pay $315,000 to the Scottish Rite.As part of a plea bargain with federal prosecutors, Havens pleaded guilty in February to filing a false tax return. He admitted that he failed to report and pay taxes on money he had taken from the fraternity between 1998 and 2002.The plea bargain called for a prison term of one year, the low end of advisory sentencing guidelines. Instead, Havens agreed to a sentence at the high end. Assistant Federal Defender Lyn Hillman said that ought to allow him to serve any prison time he gets on the theft charge concurrent with the federal sentence.Hillman said the Scottish Rite insisted that her client serve time in prison. Had he been given probation, she said, he might have been in a position to pay off part of his debt."I have never seen a group of such vindictive victims in my life," she said. "These guys are so out for blood, they're working counterproductive to their own interests."Court papers estimated that Havens should have paid $49,735 in taxes on the money he failed to report, although a judge later will determine the exact amount he owes.Yep! Making good men better!!! That's the ticket!!!FRDS

WAIT!!! There's More!!! >

Mobile Man Sentenced on Income Tax ChargesAugust 2, 2005FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDavid P. York, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama, and James D. Vickery, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation announce that William Curtis Havens, 50, of Mobile, Alabama was sentenced today by United States District Judge William H. Steele, on charges of subscribing to a false federal income tax return. According to York:Havens was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, a one year term of supervised release after he serves his prison sentence, and a $100.00 special assessment. Havens pled guilty to this charge on February 11, 2005.Havens failed to report approximately $213,000 in income on his 1998 through 2002 income tax returns that he took from the Mobile Scottish Rite Temple while he served as its personal representative.This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michel Nicrosi.-From the Dept. of Justice, Southern District

Ed King Being typical Ed King

2006-06-14T16:27:00.000-04:00

Here is an example of what the Blue Lodge calls, "Making good men Better". This is a series of email correspondences that have taken place between me and a Mr. Ed King. My responses are in blue. Truly sad that people sitting in the Blue Lodge have to sit with a person of this demeanor. I can only hope that he finds the truth some day. The person responsible for the open displays of unmasonic behavior is one "ED KING". He is the self-proclaimed fountain of truth for all things masonic. The prophet of freemasonry- holding the line against those pesky modern masons! If you don't believe that, then ask him. He'll tell you. He is, unfortunately, a freemason. I have long believed that he is a puppet for his own grand lodge and, as you can tell, a freemason in name only. He is the reason that free-thinking individuals in the Blue Lodge should be afraid to speak their minds, as any other opinion other than his (...or the opinion that has been dictated to him) is wrong and damnable. If you sat in lodge with this guy, you'd probably conceal your real name too. (...I had to inform him that F. Roy Dean Schlipp is an anagram.) That is, if you wanted to keep from having your character assassinated as well.

FRDS
____________________

Date:
Wed, 14 Jun 2006 13:03:53 -0700 (PDT)
From:
"F. Roy Dean Schlipp"
Subject:
Re: Your article regarding the UGLA
To:
"Webmaster" (ED KING)

You are a prime example of why the blue lodge is declining in membership. Characteristic though, judging from your other correspondences. You have no right to be talking about God or Man. Your vitriol is incompatible to the just ways of both.
I was raised in the Blue Lodge...Shall I syllable the "word" for proof? You are so full of venom that you cannot see beyond your own nose.
My wife has seen how people such as you are ruining the Blue Lodge. She hopes for the Blue Lodge's sake that there are fewer people such as you there.
As for sock puppets...The UGLA knows your rituals...your "word", your "magic" handshakes...So you're saying that to get the "magic jellybeans", one has to belong to the Blue Lodge??? That is such a narrowminded view. I have news for you... The common man who spends time in the library or book store knows all of the secrets that the Blue Lodge purports to conceal.
Does your attitude towards me and others exemplify the depths of your moral training in the Lodge? Are you a good man made better by Freemasonry? Is this how you show the world your enlightenment?
My use of a nom de pleur is due to the persecution I and others have received at the hands of some folks in the Blue Lodge. Not all in the Blue Lodge are to blame. But I will give my true name when that threat is removed from the picture or I choose to demit.

Sorrowfully,
FRDS
______________________________
Webmaster wrote:
In article 20060614031952.23832.qmail@web55503.mail.re4.yahoo.com,

It is regrettable you feel the way you do.

Perhaps the word "inconvenient" was more the emotion you wished to convey?

I have done nothing to be ashamed of.

AH! So THAT'S why you hide your identity, right?
You're just so proud of everything that you need to cower in the shadows.... Yep: nothing to be ashamed of! That's SO comical coming from a sock puppet. If only you knew how childishly ridiculous that sounds."Hey, I'm proud of what I do - but please don't ask my name 'cause I don't want anyone to know I'm doing it."

You have cajoled others into arguing with you.

Quite the contrary: I've stated facts and there seem to be a LOT of sock puppets who take great exception to that. Some folks - probably because those facts are the truth - take great exception with it and try to 'divert the discourse'.

It shall not be the case with me.

Well, that's good: it's always nice to find an exception to the rule. I don't like arguments, you see: what I do find grossly objectionable is that internet identities claiming to be Masons don't have the intestinal fortitude to even identify themselves. It is to laugh. The cowardly lion....

I have nothing against you.Great. >

Your views are your views. Mine are mine.That's profound.

Are your sock puppet views the same as your real-life views? There used to be an anti-Mason in one of the newsgroups who claimed that his several online identities could have totally separate and distinct opinions from those which he held. He asserted, for example, that while one of his online identities could support David Duke, he himself didn't have to. More than a bit warped....So, Sybil: what do YOU have to say about that?>

I just happen to feel you are wrong about many points.

Uh-huh. Like the fact that men who aren't ashamed of what they're doing shouldn't have to hide behind online sock puppets? Do you think I'm wrong about that?

I pray to the Great Architect that you will someday find common ground with those that you have so piously persecuted on your site.

It's laughable that you find a recitation of FACTS to be so troublesome. That whine, however, is not unlike the person who makes obscene phone calls and then hangs up so their puerile act won't be seen.

Those in the UGLA have welcomed all with open arms and hearts. That "all" means you as well.

Ah. Now I KNOW you don't represent the UGLA. I'd be the very LAST person they'd want to 'welcome'. It's quite inconvenient for the Emperor to have someone like me standing around constantly commenting about his lack of clothing.

Enjoy your tree house fantasy - and IF you ever attend a REAL lodge, I hope that you'll realize just what an embarassment your behavior is before God and Man!

PS - Have you told your new wife that you lie about things like your identity? That nasty little trait might be something she'd be most interested in....Ed King, Webmasterhttp://www.masonicinfo.com Anti-Masonry: Points of View

F. Roy Dean Schlipp" Subject:
Re: Your article regarding the UGLA
To:
"Webmaster"

Ive told no lie. I do not conceal the fact that I go under a nom de pleur. It is unfortunate that you had to be told that and you failed to arrive at the signifigance of it's anagram. And that is the fact.
I was raised at Hickory Flat Lodge, Canton, Georgia in 2000. You are the one spreading hatred. Your attacks on my character simply prove my point that hate is the only way that you know. You are so self-convinced that you are right and everyone else is wrong. Pitiable for you.
You have already shown yourself to be incapable of extracting your cranium from the dark hole it is already in, It is of no use to converse with you further. As Yeshua said about casting pearls before the swine... You are too far gone it seems for reason.

Webmaster wrote:
In article 20060614200353.50390.qmail@web55508.mail.re4.yahoo.com,
You are a prime example of why the blue lodge is declining in> membership.

Really? Because you don't like being called a liar and a coward - as you are?It is nice to blame things on others though, isn't it? It's never YOUR fault but always that of someone else. Much easier that way....>
Characteristic though, judging from your other correspondences.

Unlike those of the couple of people in your canoe club, huh?>

You have no right to be talking about God or Man.

You have the exclusive on that perhaps? You, the person who lies about his identity, have the moral high ground? Give me a break!>

Your vitriol is incompatible to the just ways of both. No vitriol whatsoever: simple facts. You say that you're proud of what you do but you don't want anyone to find about about it and you hide behind secret identities. Such a BIG man! WOW.>

I was raised in the Blue Lodge... Yeah, right. That claim made by many other frauds throughout the centuries is about worth what I've paid for it.>

Shall I syllable the "word" for proof?

Golly gee: somebody found an online expose. Yep, very impressive.>

You are so full of venom that you cannot see beyond your own> nose. No, it's just that if you're so darn proud of what you're doing, then it seems pretty bizarre that you'd need to hide your identity, don't you think?And if you think just saying that is "vitriolic", then it's clear that you've been completely brainwashed in the tree-house mindset. Anyone who points out FACTS is "attacking" or "judgemental". We've seen that whine so often in the past. It's just all so comical.>

My wife has seen how people such as you are ruining the> Blue Lodge.

Really? Did you tell her that you've been hiding behind fake identities to solve the problem? Guess "honor" in the ceremony probably didn't mean things like telling the truth at all times and in all places, huh?>

She hopes for the Blue Lodge's sake that there are> fewer people such as you there.

So now you speak for her too? Is she impressed that you'd LIE to your Brothers?Does she think that it will never happen to her?Hmmmmm.....So hey: how many OTHER identities do you have? I bet there's more than one....!!!!!>

As for sock puppets...The UGLA knows your rituals...your "word",> your "magic" handshakes...So you're saying that to get the "magic> jellybeans", one has to belong to the Blue Lodge??? Do you have any idea what you're writing here - or how foolish this sounds to a REAL Mason? >

That is such a narrowminded view. I have news for you... The common > man who spends time in the library or book store knows all of the > secrets that the Blue Lodge purports to conceal. Naw: they get the words, grips, etc. but they don't get the REAL secrets of Freemasonry - and neither have you.Moreover, just that paragraph seems to prove beyond much doubt that you're not a Mason as you pretend to be. You sound just like the whiney, argumentative religious intolerants who write to me claiming that they know "all about" Masonry - when they don't know squat. > Does your attitude towards me and others exemplify the depths of your > moral training in the Lodge?If you're asking does Masonry despise deceit, I'd probably suggest that it does.> Are you a good man made better by Freemasonry?Well, at least Freemasonry doesn't teach people to lie like you are doing....Oh, wait: it's all a little kiddie game of 'let's pretend we're someone else', right? Did you think that Freemasonry taught that?> Is this how you show the world your enlightenment?Enlightenment is sullied by lies and deceit. Building a foundation on the sands of deception is a prescription for failure. Growth through lies is NOT enlightenment, despite your apparent belief that it is.> My use of a nom de pleur is due to the persecution I and others have> received at the hands of some folks in the Blue Lodge. So it's ok to lie to fellow Masons when it's convenient for you, right? The mean ol' Masons make you cry, do they? It's ok to hide in the shadows and besmirch others' reputations because, after all, no one will know who you are, right? Yep, great logic there Rocky!> Not all in the Blue Lodge are to blame. But I will give my true name > when that threat is removed from the picture or I choose to demit.So you want to have your cake and eat it too, huh? You can't stand the horrid people at the Blue Lodge but you're too much of a wimp to stand up and say so. You'd rather just hide your identity and go "Nyah-Nyah" behind their backs. Yes, you're quite the man of character!It's all so darn impressive. A man of his convictions, fer sure!Oh, please tell your wife that the evil Masons won't bother you when you finally have the manhood to come out from under the sink. But you might give some thought to why - after this little fraud of yours - that somewhere down the road she won't totally believe that you're telling HER the truth. A life built on a constantly expanding lie: you must be SO proud!
With pity for your foolishness,
Ed King,
Webmasterhttp://www.masonicinfo.com Anti-Masonry: Points of View

(Note from F. Roy- For the reader's benefit, I was raised in the Blue Lodge in Hickory Flat, Georgia under the tenure of Sonny Roper. My catechist was Randy Stith. My name is Darren Simpson and I have done what many others have done and left the blue lodge and joined the UGLA. My use of F. Roy Dean Schlipp as a literary publishing name is no longer needed. As Mr. King is only capable of biased hate-speech, I no longer feel any threat from him, nor others. My background conceals no hidden skeletons. Mr. King has a limited intellect and is symbolic of what is wrong with Freemasonry today. He is a little man in a little pond and has to shout and denigrate others to make himself feel good about himself. ) FRDS

The Union of Diversity

2006-06-13T16:56:00.000-04:00

The Union of Diversity
by Bro. Jeff Peace

Freemasonry is perhaps one of the most beautiful and enlightened ideas ever conceived by man — a brotherhood based on tolerance, reason and the spirit of humanity. In many ways it was ahead of its time in 1717 and foresaw the coming of modernity by two hundred years. The value of its message to mankind is greater now that at any other point in its long history. It gives to us a peculiar system of morality based on reason alone that leads to a profound sense of happiness and contentedness. What we choose to do with this will determine how favorably or unfavorably that history looks back on us and our generation. We have before us the opportunity to unite people from all walks of life, to demonstrate to them the value of community and brother/sisterhood, to teach that human beings are more than just mere laborers struggling to survive in an ever competitive world, to show that we have a higher purpose and value in the whole of the creation. To accomplish these things we must begin by tearing down the many barriers that we have created between one another and bring to Light the unity of all things. Freemasons from all of the various Orders, Jurisdictions, and Lodges must come together for the higher and more noble purpose of serving mankind. Our ability to rise above our own petty differences will lead the way for others to follow. We can no longer afford to feed our selfish desires and egos. We must lead by example. Any Masonic body that sets itself above the rest is not Masonic. It acts only to preserve itself and further divide mankind. We, as Freemasons, must bring to an end the demands for conformity within our beloved fraternity and open our hearts and minds to the great diversity that is humanity. Tolerance has always been a key element of our philosophy; an aspect that is almost sacred due to its ability to heal the gaping wounds within society. When we demand conformity we murder the creative nature of the soul, and lower ourselves to the same fundamentalist doctrines that drove the Spanish Inquisition. Let today be the day that we declare our independence from the doctrines of conformity and once again raise the flag of a brotherhood based on tolerance that forms the sacred union of diversity.

— Bro. Jeff Peace
(Reprinted from the Burning Taper BLOG)

Just What Is the UNITED GRAND LODGE OF AMERICA All About???

2006-06-13T13:19:00.000-04:00

There was a communication from the the United Grand lodge of America recently that is starting to ruffle the feathers of some members of freemasonry (Blue Lodge, that is...).

There have been a few misguided, or perhaps, "guided" individuals out there in Blue Lodge-Land that have been trying to stir up a good fight with members of the UGLA in the hopes of being able to portray the UGLA as just a group of upstarts that got angry with the way things were going in their lodges and "took their toys and went home". When the UGLA responded to the negativity with positive and affirming replies, these individuals started posting "bogus" emails and posts that they tried to make look as if they had been sent by Mr. Peace. They tried to make it look as if he was a ranting and raving madman.

I recently had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Peace, and I can assure you that he is no madman. My assessment of him is that he is one of the most genuine people I have ever met. We spoke at length regarding the organization he helped found. We talked about all the money he has made from the UGLA (* HE HAS MADE NOT ONE RED CENT IN PROFIT AND IS ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTING HIS OWN MONEY INTO THE ORGANIZATION...)
If George Washington and Ben Franklin were to make the acquaintence of Mr. Peace, I believe the term "PATRIOT" would be used in their assessment of Mr. Peace and his actions.

Anyway, I have received this communication and I have chosen to post it here for your perusal.
______________________________

What is the Grand Lodge of America?
by Bro. Jeff Peace

As of late many Masons and non-Masons alike have been asking the question: "What is the difference between the United Grand Lodge of America and other forms of Freemasonry?" It is the purpose of this paper to answer the question and to clarify the position of the United Grand Lodge of America regarding the 'Antient' state Grand Lodges.

Let's begin by looking at some key distinctions that set the United Grand Lodge of America apart from the "Antient" state Grand Lodges.

Its stated mission is the brotherhood of all mankind under theAll-Seeing Eye of Deity as opposed to simply making good men better
It is a union of diversity as opposed to a union of conformity
Its charities are directly related to its stated mission as opposed to charities for the sake of being charitable
It is a confederation of sovereign lodges as opposed to a federation of lodges under a sovereign grand lodge
Its lodges meet and work on the first degree (Entered Apprentice) so all members can participate as opposed to working and meeting on the Master's degree
Its lodges work the rituals of the "Moderns" of 1735 as opposed to those of the "Antients" of 1751
Its lodges are free to choose between either the Blue or Red symbolic degrees as opposed to being forced to work only the blue
It does not restrict what other organizations its members can belong to as opposed to restricting and controlling what other organizations one may choose to join
It is open to working with all Freemasons as opposed to recognizing only some Masons through segregation based on either sex or race
Its Grand Master is elected to serve for only the day the Grand Lodge is in session as opposed to one (sometimes two) year terms where he governs over the lodges and the Craft

The United Grand Lodge of America is about establishing a true and meaningful brotherhood within the Craft and then extending the same throughout the world. This begins with tolerance and equality in our lodges. It is our belief that Freemasons must lead by example and that ideals alone are without quantifiable value.

It is a common misunderstanding that the United Grand Lodge of America is opposed to our "Antient" brethren from the state Grand Lodges. We are not in any way opposed to these good brothers and hold them in the highest esteem. They are always welcome in any of our lodges. It is the injustice, racism, segregation and intolerance of some of their Grand Lodges which we find offensive and deplorable. These Grand Lodges bring shame upon their members as well as all of Freemasonry. There are, however, many good and honorable Grand Lodges within the "Antient" system and it would be unjust of us to lump them together with those who are of lesser merit. State Grand Lodges such as Vermont, Idaho, Kansas, Washington, D.C., and Wisconsin are beautiful examples of how Grand Lodges should conduct themselves, and the happiness and contentedness of their members speaks more directly to this than anything else.

When attempting to understand Freemasonry and its various Grand Lodges it is important to understand that there are many differences, and that taking the time to understand these differences will be important to your future happiness within Freemasonry. These differences exist because people are different and have many diverse ideas, wants and needs. It would be difficult for any one organization to meet the needs of such diversity because it is extremely difficult to be all things to all people. Many people enjoy working with their spouses and Co-Masonry provides a means to do that. Some enjoy working in a predefined environment where conformity to the group mentality makes them feel a part of something greater than themselves. Then there are those who enjoy diversity and find strength of character through working with people who bring new and unique ideas into their organization. None of these Freemasons are right or wrong; they are just different.

The United Grand Lodge of America, because it is a union of diversity, is open to working with all of them while remaining true to its mission. It is my sincere hope that I have been able to shed some light upon the differences that make the United Grand Lodge of America what it is, and clarified any misunderstandings that you may have had.

As we go forward let all Freemasons join in the noble quest for the brotherhood of man under the All-Seeing Eye of Deity.

— Bro. Jeff Peace

The Luciferian Heresy

2006-06-11T23:36:00.000-04:00

I was asked by a gentleman just entering masonry if freemasons worshipped the Devil? Well... I found some info on it for him and I thought that I would post it here for the benefit of all.
No! We do not worship or serve the "Devil"! Please read below regarding the Luciferian Heresy.

Author: Czarnecki P.
Title: LUCIFERIANISM IN THE 13TH CENTURY - A FORGOTTEN OFF-SHOOT OF CATHARISM
Source: Studia Historyczne (Historical Studies) year: 2004, vol: 47, number: 1(185), pages: 3-19
Language: POLISH

The Luciferian heresy appeared for the first time in the 13th century in the area round Cologne, Mainz and Trier in the Rheinland. Contemporary records suggest that its followers believed Lucifer to be a benevolent deity, unjustly banished from his heavenly kingdom. They looked forward to the moment when he would eventually reclaim his rightful position and believed that it could be hastened by their fasts and ascetic practices. So far students of medieval heresies have been sceptical about the actual existence of Luciferianism and regarded it as a fiction invented by the Inquisition to smear and utterly discredit some heterodox Christians. The view that the Luciferian heresy was no more than perfidious mud-slinging is based primarily on the records of investigations by Conrad of Marburg and his collaborators, an inquisitorial team notorious for extricating self-incriminating evidence from innocent suspects.The aim of this paper is, first, to challenge the view that Luciferianism was a mere invention of the inquisitors and, second, to find out what its characteristic traits may reveal about its origins as well as affinities and links with other heretical movements of the Middle Ages. A careful analysis of a broader range of sources - especially Pope Gregory IX's bull 'Vox in Rama', the testimony of a heretic named Lepzet, and several entries in German chronicles - reveals significant similarities between Luciferianism and Provençal Catharism on the level of doctrine, ritual and organization of the community. As in the case of Catharism, the beliefs ascribed to the Luciferians seem to represent a clear continuation of the legacy of Gnosticism. In consequence, the view that Luciferianism was but a figment of the inquisitorial imagination needs to be revised.

Here you'll find the infamous quote from Albert Pike that many conservative Christian groups use to confirm their belief that Masons are devil worshippers. Please note the use of the name "Lucifer" and not "Satan-il". Satan, Ha-Satan, and Satan-il are the original translations of the evil one used in the Bible. Lucifer has no Jewish or Aramaic equivalent and is actually attributed to Gnosticism.

"If Lucifer were not God, would Adonay (The God of the Christians) whose deeds prove his cruelty, perfidy and hatred of man, barbarism and repulsion for science, would Adonay and his priests, calumniate him?
"Yes, Lucifer is God, and unfortunately Adonay is also god. For the eternal law is that there is no light without shade, no beauty without ugliness, no white without black, for the absolute can only exist as two gods: darkness being necessary for light to serve as its foil as the pedestal is necessary to the statue, and the brake to the locomotive. "

"Thus, the doctrine of Satanism is a heresy; and the true and pure philosophical religion is the belief in Lucifer, the equal of Adonay; but Lucifer, God of Light and God of Good, is struggling for humanity against Adonay, the God of Darkness and Evil."

(Instructions to the 23 Supreme Councils of the World, Albert Pike, Grand Commander, Sovereign Pontiff of Universal Freemasonry, July 14, 1889. Recorded by A.C. De La Rive, La Femme et l'Enfant dans la Franc-Maconnerie Universelle, page 588)

Now many a fundamentalist will point out the following verse from Isaiah to prove that "Lucifer" is one and the same as Satan. This is the result of a Medieval error; whether intentional or accidental...It is an error according to the actual Greek and Hebrew texts.

Isaiah 14:12
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! Isa 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
Isa 14:14
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Isa 14:15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. Isa 14:16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;

And now, from the 32nd Royal arch degree of the Scottish Rite...I give you this which you will see notations when the names of deities from other faiths appear or when the ritual indicates the addition of a "hodge-podge" of deities and philosophies from different faiths are found:

You are not doing an idle thing to learn the Royal Secret. The Aryan kinsmen of our ancestors .... so worshipping their Deities, and creating Light, what should ascend to the skies to invigorate and replenish INDRA, the universal light, the planets and stars that had once been men, their ancestors. (*Ed. Note: INDRA is also a Hindu Deity)

The symbols of Free Masonry conceal , even in the Master's Lodge, the Holy Doctrine and the Royal Secret.
As kinsmen of our Aryan ancestors sacrificed in Indra and Ahura, sacrifice thou with an offering of incense to the God in whom thou doest put thy trust. In the 14th degree the seeker of the Royal Secret was Baptized and hailed a
Soldier of the Truth of Ahura-Mazda, one of Lucifer's many names and counterfeits of the True God. In the 32nd degree, Now you desire to become Priest and King. The 32nd degree gives the Royal Secret and make the initiate a Priest and King of Ahura-Mazda, one of Lucifer's many names. The Irano-Aryans sacrificed before dawn to Mitra, the morning star. As the kinsmen of our Aryan ancestors sacrificed to Serpenta Mainyu, the divine wisdom, sacrifice thou with an offering of incense to the God in whom thou doest put thy trust. Yes, the 32nd degree seekers of the Royal Secret of freemasonry offer incense to the Serpent god, Serpenta Manyu. Serpenta Mainyu is another of Lucifer's many names. (*Ed. Note: AHURA MAZDA & SERPENTA MAINYU are Zoroastrian principles. AHURA MAZDA is the True principle of good and light. Angra Mainyu is the evil one. Serpenta Mainyu... can't remember him right now but I believe he was the essence of wisdom.)

After offering more incense to Lucifer, the seeker of the Royal Secret, in his 32nd degree ritual makes more vows before he gets the Luciferian baptism of the 32nd degree. He vows:I do most solemnly vow and promise, that I will be until I die the implacable enemy of all spiritual tyranny, (i.e.. conformity to the Authorized scriptures), over souls and consciences of men, resisting all claims of church, synagogue, and mosque to outlaw free conscience and enslave thought and opinion, and compel men to believe what it may prescribe.

Then the seeker of the Royal Secret in the 32nd degree ritual receives the following pronouncement as he gets this Luciferian baptism of the 32nd degree:

As kinsmen of our Aryan ancestors were sanctified with the Zaothra, ( Zoroastrian religion is the same as the Luciferian polytheistic religion of Mazdaism, with its chief god being Lucifer going by his alias Ahura-Mazda), or consecrated water, and there-by devoted to the service of Ahura.
It is a baptism and consecration to the service of Ahura, Lucifer. The Royal Secret is that the 32nd degree freemason has been baptized and consecrated to the service of Lucifer, whether he knows it or not. If he has shown sufficient interest in the occult in his pursuit of the degrees, one in 20, or 5%, of the 32nd degree freemasons are invited to pursue their service to Lucifer in the Illuminati.
After this Luciferian baptism and consecration, the 32nd degree seeker of the Royal Secret is questioned as follows:
If you are ready to bind yourself to the strict, punctual, unremitting performance at all points, in every place, and at all times your duties as Perfect Elu, Prince of Jeru, Knight of Rose Croix, Knight of the Sun, St. Andrew and Kodosh and Master of the Royal Secret, as these have been declared you, go and stand at the west side of the Altar of Obligation facing the east.
The seeker of the Royal Secret in the 32nd degree thus position takes his 4 th vow of allegiance to this Luciferian religion. He then is voted OK by the other Masters of the Royal Secret, and is led to:
Kneel at the altar, laying thy left hand upon the book of constitutions and the symbol of Deity. (Lights go down and voices are heard saying)
One is three, three is one, Agni, Ushas, Mitra.
One is three, three is one, Ahura, Mazda, Cepenta, Mainyu, Vohu-mano. (*Ed. Note: VOHU-MANO was Zoroastrian ADAM or first being.)

Then the seeker of the Royal Secret of freemasonry in the 32nd degree ritual is told:
It will be explained to thee when thou shalt become entitled to the explanation. The voices thou hast heard, give thee the key of interpretation.
He then receives the emblems of his 32nd degree, the dark cordon and the Teutonic Cross of gold the jewel of the order. He is then told:
You now know the holy doctrine, and have the Royal Secret. If the mind, reason, intellect and intelligence of man is a part of the universal supreme mind, intellect, intelligence he may well have lofty aspirations and high ambition for he is capable of great things.

This was obtained from a fundamentalist, anti-masonic, Christian site. Thanks guys!

And Lastly...This from a very interesting and well-read site:
http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com

Lucifer

Christians mistakenly believe Lucifer is the name of a fallen angel cast out of Heaven by God to become an evil red devil called Satan.There is nothing in the historical record, or even in the Bible, to substantiate this story.

For example, the name Lucifer is a Latin word that comes to us from the Roman astronomers. They referred to the planet Venus as the morning star because it appears in the sky just before dawn and heralds the rising sun.

The name Lucifer first appears in the King James Version, Fourteenth Chapter of the Old Testament Book of Isaiah. It reads: How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!"
The problem with that text is that it is Latin. A search of the original Hebrew text reveals that there is no reference to Lucifer or Satan in that same verse. It is a story about a fall of an ancient Babylonian king. Somebody, possibly a scribe or other angelically possessed religious scholar, took it upon himself to embellish the story.The question: why would the angels go to such lengths to insert this story into the Bible text?

Aaron C. Donahues interpretation of early events, derived through a technique he calls the acquisition and practical application of non-historical data (PAN), suddenly makes sense. Donahue believes Lucifer is a reference to an alien being, or civilization, that manipulated the genes of Earth primates to create humans. He says this manipulation began thousands of years ago and may have continued until quite recently. Consequently, he says it is proper to consider Lucifer as the father of the human race, rather than the evil ruler of Hell as depicted by the church. The purpose of this genetic experiment, by a race of high-tech and ultra intelligent creatures from another planet and perhaps even another dimension, was to create a third-dimensional information system. All humans are information gatherers. We are like individual electrical transmission towers, sending brain signals of everything we see and learn into a common matrix of data known as the collective consciousness.

Character Assassination of Mr. Peace

2006-06-11T12:32:00.000-04:00

In returning from my vacation, I found a lot of troubling things popping up. It seems that some folks that are attached to mainstream masonic groups have been trying to pick fights. When Jeff Peace would not participate in the pitiful display of "Character bashing" that were taking place on other websites...Someone started posting replies AS JEFF PEACE! In other words... They were trying to make it look as if Jeff Peace was posting the same negative vitriol that they have been dishing out for years now. I can only call this act for what it is...despicable!
Mr. Peace has issued this official statement as an answer to the fraudulent posts...

_________________________________________

"Official Statement from Jeff Peace, June 5, 2006"

Brethren,

Please be aware that many rumors are being circulated about me that are entirely false. Also, I have heard that people are posting to news groups as me. These posts are either bogus or copies of material taken from the Rose Cross of Gold forums.

Ed King and others are up to their old tricks of skullduggery. They are now spreading a rumor that I am the Grand Master of the United Grand Lode of America.

This is a lie and an attempt to misinform other Freemasons. First of all, the United Grand Lodge of America will not hold officer elections until June 24, 2006. At the present time the United Grand Lodge of America is controlled by its Constitutional Committee.

Secondly, I am not running for the office of Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of America or any other office within the organization. I am writing a book on Freemasonry and don't have time to serve in any official capacity.

While Manny and others may take their delights in painting me as some sort of Masonic devil, the reality is far less romantic: I'm a simple historian who spends most of his time in a library conducting research.

Fraternally,

Jeff Peace

_____________________________________

Here is an example that I discovered of the kind of negativity that has been spewed out. The author asserts that Mr. Peace did not answer his questions... This is incorrect and is pretty much par for the course from what I have found...

> hazben2000 wrote:>>
Richard,>>
I figured I'd hear from you over Jeff's "piece" (pun intended .)> He makes a good argument about "what's wrong with current Masonry" -> that takes little skill. My objection is two-fold: his methodology> and his character.>
As to the methodology, is it not better to work from inside and> correct the problems rather than wipe away 200+ years of history> & tradition and start something anew? The timing of this "new"> venture to coincide with the current "DaVinci Code" claptrap and> its being spread all over the internet raises serious doubts in my> mind as to this "UGLA's" legitimacy to start with. I don't see> you starting a rival Grand Lodge in Ohio just because you object> to the actions of the present one.
Also, the UGLA makes claims> that are not (and probably cannot) be substantiated. I suggest you> follow the link to MasonicInfo and read the commentary on this bunch.> Now as to character, I've followed Jeff Peace's 3 other "bogus"> groups and I judge him to be a man whose veracity I question.> The "cash grab" aspect of these, linked with the "unknown superiors"> aspect of these ventures reminds me of the "degree peddlers" of a by-> gone age. Jeff Peace has presided in no legitimate body that I know> of. In these ventures, he is now the "Grand Hoo-Doo" and moving> force. I find that to be suspicious as well.> This current sham will die a slow death undoubtedly. I posted it> on OLR-CC to inform the brethren to avoid this "Masonic trap".> It "sounds" good..... but like "Golden Dancer" in "Gone With the> Wind" - it is rotten inside!> You are at liberty to talk to Jeff. If you do, ask lots of pointed> questions (who, where, when, how, etc.) and see if you can get a> straight answer from him. I NEVER have!>>
Caveat Emptor!>>
Pat>> *********************************>>

And reply from UGLA supporter:

Caveat emptor is always good advice!
A couple of things to set the record straight, however.>>

1. Jeff Peace is not their Grand Master. In fact, no one is, they have not > elected one yet and when they do it won't be Jeff.

2. The UGLA is not peddling degrees for cash any more than we are in our own lodges. Whatever may have been the case with the Memphis org, in this case I think that the "cash grab" criticism is not supportable.

3. I have seen our own Masonic bodies salivate over the p/r boost of The DaVinci Code. My bet is that the timing is coincidental, or at best, incidental.

4. I have read the masonicinfo comments; so does Ed King now have the power to declare what is and is not Freemasonry? Does anyone for that > matter? Perhaps UGLE, but I would argue that the only person who truly has > this power is a potential candidate.

5. Sham? Do you mean that they are only in it for the money? I don't think so. So if they are not in it for the money, then what's their game? Just out to raise hell? Seems like too much effort for nothing more than a big joke. Maybe they really are all about what they say they are all about: reforming Freemasonry in America.
Fact is, if I were any organization and a competing organization started up and threatened my constituency, I might very well respond by smearing the new competing organization as being corrupt, illegitimate, sleazy, bogus, shady and just in it for the money. I very well might just do or say just about anything to protect my market. Despicable tactics, yes, but sadly it happens all the time in business.

_____________________________________________

Reprinted from private posts...

F. Roy Dean Schlipp

The Knights of the Rose Cross of Gold Motorcycle Group

2006-06-11T12:14:00.000-04:00

TIME TO RIDE!!!
It's time to slide on your leathers and pull your bike out of winter storage because the Rite of the Rose Cross of Gold (part of the United Grand Lodge of America) has formed the Knights of the Rose Cross Motorcycle group! It's open to all persons; Mason and non-Mason alike!
So if you've read that UGLA/RRCG members all have horns growing out of their head and eat their first born...here's your chance to find out for yourselves. I've included the link to their website and I've joined myself! Hope to see you on the road.

http://www.rrcg.org/krcgmc/home.htm

F. Roy Dean Schlipp

Solace & True Nature

2006-06-01T00:10:00.000-04:00

In "solace", some people think of that term to describe an almost "sympathetic" response or that a person is running "to" that condition from an external world. My use of the word solace is purely for lack of a better term to express the satisfaction one finds when they determine a proper course of action. The question is resolved when we answer a fundamental dilemma..."Is the mind perceiving the "outside" world through the senses, or is the mind "creating" the world in every instant?"
Gnosis implies that one can discover the innate nature of divinity. Realization that that divinity flows within and without one's self without hinderance can bring about a "letting-go" of the delusion that there is a separation between the divine and the profane. Acceptance is simply seeing things in their "as-it-is-ness".
There is no such thing as a "static" state of being or state of mind because all things are ever changing. The only changeless thing is change itself. We are ever different from year to year, hour to hour, moment to moment, instant to instant. As we tread the river, we can foolishly try to step on the same piece of water twice...only to find it an excercise in futility.
My solace is in the journey with these myriad personalities here that reflect enlightenment. This journey is the sweeping of the path with the sun at my back; casting my shadow before me. As I sweep away the detritus of the mind I hope one day, to eventually sweep this shadow away as well...

FRDS
Mere reflection in the pond