I can clearly remember when, at around age 9, I started questioning organized religion.
It was during my first experience with holy communion (bread/wine) with my Grandma.
It went something like this:
Q: What's that big cracker for?
A: It's not a cracker dear, it's bread.
2/
Q: It looks like a cracker. Does it taste like one?
A: Yes, but it's unleavened bread.
Me: I think it's a cracker.
Q: What's that?
A: Grape juice.
Q: The Preacher said it was wine that's like blood. Why is it juice?
A: Christians don't drink.
Me: Ok, but wait...
👇
3/
Q: Doesn't the Bible say Jesus drank wine?
A: Yes
Q: Then how come Christians don't drink?
A: They just don't honey, now hush.
Q: Since it's just crackers and juice, can I have some?
A: No just Christians get it.
Q: So, I'm not a Christian?
A: Not yet honey, shhh.
👇
4/
Q: Does that mean I go to Hell if I die then?
A: No, you're too young to understand all of this.
Me: You're right about that.
Q: So, if I don't go to Hell, I must go to Heaven, right?
A: That's right honey, but you gotta be quiet now.
👇
5/
Q: But you said only Christians go to Heaven, right?
A: (Clearly out of patience, I got a rather loud & firm) YES!
With that came looks from many in the church pews and the Preacher paused briefly prompting a quick exit to another room in the Church for me and Grandma.
6/
I still remember that my feet only touched the floor two or three times during that trip. 😁
We had many more discussions over the years, but one thing became clear . . . To be a Christian one has to check logic at the front door of the Church.
7/
During this single ritual Christians were made to feel "special" and non-Christians were excluded.
I've heard of many examples where people had the Lord's Supper passed around them, for various biased and judgmental reasons, including race.
8/
I wanted to believe in a higher power - I was just never able to accept the arguments made from the position of blind faith.
If I'm wrong and logic has led me astray, well I suppose It would be God's gift of logic that will be my downfall, and I can live & die with that.
9/
But this much I know...
There isn't a Christian alive, (and I assume this is true of all religions), that doesn't see and overlook hypocrisy in order to maintain faith.
I just can't do it.
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He that striketh his bondman or bondwoman with a rod, and they die under his hands, shall be guilty of the crime.
But if the party remain alive a day or two, he shall not be subject to the punishment, because it is his money.—Exodus 21:20–21
Non-Virgin before marriage:
They shall cast her out of the doors of her father’s house, and the men of the city shall stone her to death, and she shall die: because she hath done a wicked thing in Israel, to play the whore in her father’s houself.
—Deuteronomy 22:20–21
In cases of Rape:
Thou shalt bring them both out to the gate of that city, and they shall be stoned: the damsel, because she cried not out, being in the city: the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour’s wife.
—Deuteronomy 22:23–24
Short Thread - My Closing Statement on the 2020 Election
2 Minute Read
Let's compare what we've been living through these past 4 years to the Preamble to the Constitution.
The overall objective:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union . . .
The goals of the document:
. . . establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity . . .
The action taken:
. . . do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
So how are we doing?
Our Union is far from perfect. In fact, it is the most divided it has been since April 12, 1861.
Establish Justice? Trump/Barr have undermined Justice.
To restart our economy, without killing 1000's more Americans, we will need a logical plan.
1. Test/Categorize Americans into 3 distinct categories:
A) Home/Isolated/High Risk/Infected
B) Workers/At Risk
C) Workers/Immune/Antibodies Present (Donors)
It's pretty easy to understand how Groups A & C will function moving forward. We're seeing those groups emerge now & function successfully, so we will focus on group B here.
2. Protect Group B, (Workers/At Risk):
A) Develop free disposable self-tests & require daily testing.
B) Develop an app to monitor testing & contact tracing that includes an "exposure alert system."
C) Develop detailed PPE & workplace protective equipment, and put the onus for providing them on employers. (PPE purchased by Gov., in bulk, sold at cost to employers).
Single best thing you can do to improve your Twitter experence.
1. Identify the top 10 to 20 accounts you like to comment on or Retweet most.
2. Go to Settings/Privacy, Notifications, Push Notifications, & TURN ON Push Notifications.
Wait there's more👇
3. Search/select those accounts you identified on step #1 and turn on that account's notifications (the little bell and + sign usually). Select "All Tweets." Repeat for all the accounts you've want notifications from.
Of course, my account should be on your list! 😃👇
4. Now, go back to Settings and Privacy and TURN OFF push notifications.
Ok - You will not get annoying alerts every time someone on your list tweets, (you probably got some while completing this process), but you will get a handy list of their tweets.
I've been following & resisting this mess since Trump announced in 2015. Here's my theory:
1. Trump is a Russian asset. 2. GOP emails were stolen, by Russia, when the DNC was hacked. 3. The emails details Russian coordination & $ flow to the DT/GOP via the NRA & straw donors.
4. It's been made clear to the GOP members that the repercussions of exposing the Trump/Russia alliance would include major political, legal, and even personal/family welfare concerns. 5. We are in the midst of a clandestine war with Russia. An attack decades in the making.
The racism, lies, divisive rhetoric, the gradual but persistent adjustments & acceptance of increasingly outrageous behavior and events, (including blatant and transparent corruption) . . . are all tools used by Hiltler's Germany & perfected by Putin & the USSR's KGB.