I have two books sitting here - one either side of the computer. One is Velikovsky’s ‘Worlds in Collision’ - there for re-reading - the other - Barbara Thiering’s ‘Jesus the Man.’ which I’ve just read.
Education is ongoing throughout life. Now I understand why miracles weren’t important to me as a child or as an adult. Now I understand why I felt some sympathy for Judas. If Jesus knew that he’d be betrayed and crucified and that these events had to occur then Judas perhaps had little choice but to carry out his role and, therefore, didn’t deserve the hatred and revulsion with which his name has been associated throughout the centuries - or so my teenaged mind saw it.
Now I understand why I’ve felt that neither Christ nor Mohammed came to start a religion but that both pointed the way to a personal relationship with the Divine. Now I understand why I’ve instinctively felt that there’s no need for intermediaries between Man and God. That said - this isn’t to diminish the value of group worship in which the familiar ceremony allows us to, at least, momentarily lose our ego- centred selves.
Does this diminish Christ or His importance in world affairs? Not for me. While I’ve heard it said that the idea of God sending his beloved son into the world to be crucified is incomprehensible to most in the Islamic faith, my understanding was that it was precisely to point out that blood sacrifices aren’t needed anymore that those events occurred.
Now I more easily understand why Jesus would be considered a false messiah by the Jewish faith. Now I understand why my yoga teacher had so little to say about religion. ‘Belief’ is a strange and wondrous thing.
In ‘Through the Looking-Glass’, Alice meets the White Queen and the following discourse takes place.
By this time it was getting light. “The crow must have flown away, I think,” said Alice: “I’m so glad it’s gone. I thought it was the night coming on.”
“I wish I could manage to be glad!” the Queen said. “Only I can never remember the rule. You must be very happy, living in this wood, and being glad whenever you like!”
“Only it is so very lonely here!” Alice said in a melancholy voice; and at the thought of her loneliness two large tears came rolling down her cheeks.
“Oh don’t go on like that!” cried the poor Queen, wringing her hands in despair. “Consider what a great girl you are. Consider what a long way you’ve come today. Consider what o’clock it is. Consider anything, only don’t cry!”
Alice could not help laughing at this, even in the midst of her tears. “Can you keep from crying by considering things?” she asked.
“That’s the way it’s done,” the Queen said with great decision: “ nobody can do two things at once, you know. Let’s consider your age to begin with - how old are you?”
“I’m seven and a half exactly.”
“You needn’t say ‘exactually’ ” the Queen remarked: “I can believe it without that. Now I’ll give you something to believe. I’m just one hundred and one, five months and a day.”
“I can’t believe that!” said Alice.
“Can’t you?” the Queen said in a pitying tone. “Try again: draw a long breath and shut your eyes.”
Alice laughed. “There’s no use trying,” she said: “ one can’t believe impossible things.”
“I dare say you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I believed in six impossible things before breakfast...”
Most of us would like enlightenment or at least a greater understanding of “What’s it all about?” and my experience will mirror that of most of humanity. It doesn’t come in a flash. It’s incremental and depends upon the work of those who have gone before us. Desire may be strong but, of itself, it isn’t enough to reach the goal. Sincerity of purpose may help us to avoid the most dangerous pitfalls but, ultimately, we need both time and space and, for that to occur, it helps to lead a ‘virtuous’ life. By that, I mean - avoid extreme positions, help your fellow man where you can and don’t go looking for conflict - that will arise of its own accord.
Meanwhile , in the ‘real’ economy....... does this term mean that the ‘other’ economy - by implication - is a fake?
“Er ... yes” say I. There’s a lot to be said for an Islamic type of banking system which frowns upon usury. Of course this change would mean that people actually have to work for a living and that the parasitic share market be seen for the game of monopoly that it actually is.
While the Islamic model may have frowned upon usary, I really don't know if it actually operates with that principle.
In my low ebb moments, I remind myself that life's a bucket of shit but at least you get to keep the bucket.
The next cd progresses painfully slowly however I can only hold to the view that the end result will make the wait worthwhile. I have ten songs - preproduction - to listen to and enjoy and I hope to put them on the table for you ....‘soon’.