Mayor Carolyn Risher of Inglis, Florida has officially declared war on Satan, pronouncing Satan "powerless, no longer ruling over, or influencing our citizens." The ACLU promptly threatened a lawsuit since the proclamation graced city stationary. Her actions were compelled by the vision of a local pastor. "I know God led me to do it," she said.
A retired farmer complained,"... the whole town is a laughing stock" for the attention it has received. The town's previous claim to fame was as the film location in 1961 for Elvis Presley's "Follow That Dream." (The Orlando Sentinel, 4-5-02)
The "breathing" of the earth is marked by the solstices and equinoxes. These times can shift our focus from "survival or diversion" to connection to "a phenomenal tapestry of life that includes everything from the sand to the stars." Modern physics is confirming this connection.
The Archangel Michael is described in Jewish, Chris¬tian and Moslem traditions.
In a war in Heaven, Michael "cast out the dragon into the Earth." That dragon, according to Rudolph Steiner, was understood to be Ahriman, the Persian name for the Lord of Darkness, the one which denies spirit in favor of the material world.
According to Steiner, Ahrimanic forces are seen in financial systems which make the few wealthy while impoverishing the many, in medicine which treats the body as a machine, in psychology which ignores the soul, in economic culture geared toward indulgence as fulfillment and in the science of reductionist or mechanistic thought.
Ahrimanic forces hinder the human induction of spirit and the function of free will. Steiner called Michael "The Fiery Thought King of the Universe." Michael's in¬fluence allows humans to comprehend the spirit world and to sense Spirit in all things. But humans must act of their own free will and courage.
Michaelmas occurs Sept. 29, about one week after fall equinox and celebrates humans claiming their inheritance as children of Great Spirit. Interestingly, it is neglected by institutional commerce and religions. (Steven McFadden, Chiron Communications, 2001)
Almost 80 percent of Americans surveyed said lack of respect and courtesy is a serious problem in American society. Poor customer service, cellular phone behavior and driving aggressively were cited. Many admitted to their own rude behavior. A woman in Texas blamed Elvis for shaking his hips which has led to seeing whole naked bodies. Elvis "was the beginning of what we have today." (Associated Press, 4-3-02)
Psychologist Fred Luskin has written "Forgive for Good" encouraging people to learn to practice forgiveness every day. "To forgive is good for our health, while holding a grudge damages it." It can take 4-6 hours to reduce the body's stress response to 5 minutes of anger. Tips include deep breathing, not expecting things others are not willing to give, and living a life that looks for love, beauty and kindness. (The Orange County Register, 4-28-02)
A priest who recently committed suicide left a letter explaining his deep depression and inability to accept love, even from God. He admitted to years of a "good facade" as though he was "always happy... cool, calm, and collected.. . when inside I was always dying." Friends spoke of his "tireless self-giving and patience" and his thoughtfulness to others. Said one,"... I think it should make us more aware of people who are having problems." (The Morning News, 4-5-02)
Hinduism's philosophical foundation is Vedanta which holds all religious traditions equal, that people's true nature is divine with no one needing to be saved, and our true nature is realized through selfless work and devotion to God. The highest level of Hinduism is to see God in everything. Looking deep into our own hearts reveals "we are all one." Religion should "not cause more conflict." (Associated Press, 6-22-01)
Buddhist philosophy teaches time has no beginning and no end; every moment is created by the one before it. Humans were not created by a higher power for any specific purpose but should still strive to spread compassion and love because cultivating compassion "is the only way to be happy."
Everything considered real, like bodies and objects, are only illusion, only appearing to exist. Universal truth, Dharma, is void of true existence since all that appears to exist is only illusion. The real truth cannot ap¬pear, cannot be seen. (The Morning News, 6-22-01)
KillingtheBuddha.com, which has been called one of 15 sites "that could shake up the world," invites people to question a broad range of spiritual traditions. The site addresses the "deep spiritual hunger" of "emerging generations" who find conventional religions "unappetizing or unpalatable."
The site's name is based on a teaching story that the Buddha too easily found is only "an expression of your longing" and must be destroyed to move past "the complacency of belief to struggle honestly with the idea of God. Jeffrey Sharlet and friends seek to help readers "get smarter about the vastness and depth of religious tradi¬tions" in order to "pursue an informed, scrutinizing faith of their own." (Knight Ridder Newspapers, 8-10-01)
The Rev. John Spong feels the church will die if it clings to fundamentalism. The Bible was written in a context vastly different from present reality, much of it to ensure human survival. We must "get out" of survival mentality or we are doomed. "All cultures must learn to be accepting of others." Hating the victim of your prejudice or denigrating others leaves little time to be human. "You do not elevate your god by spitting on what others call holy."
"Only the power of God can lift us above all that... If God is the source of love, then the only way I can worship Gid is to love wastefully . . . You give love away." (The Morning News, 4-26-02)
This column summarizes the highlights of the Community Access Television show of the same name which airs Mondays at 9:30pm in Fayetteville.