John 14:6 was God, whom Jesus is part and parcel of. It was God saying, "No one gets to God but through God." If we ca believe in a trinity, why can't we believe in a polynity? Jesus's death was the final atonement, the final sacrifice, the final need for any sort of enlightenment. Prophesy will still remain, but new religions will pass away. I need to find biblical evidence for that one.
Religious boundaries make sense in the context of human life. We cannot fathom something without boudnaries. We write in paragraphs, end our sentences with periods. We live in countries and are afraid of supposed aliens.
Thus, closed religious thought follows suit to all we live.
But doesn't God transcend all we live...?
I hate to come back to inclusionistic thinking, but that's how it goes, I guess...
Friday, September 29, 2006
Volume 1 a huge success! Gearing up for Winter!
By popular demand, work has started on Winter and All, 2006! That's the new issue to come out in the Winter of We are all Serial Killers!
We've had great feedback! It's a hit! They love us!
We've had great feedback! It's a hit! They love us!
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Air1's Response
Dear Friend,
We appreciate the time you took to share your perspective with us. I'll
pass on your message to Programming.
May God bless you in a special way today.
Laurie Davidson
Correspondence Assistant to Programming
--
I wonder if programming will send me something...?
We appreciate the time you took to share your perspective with us. I'll
pass on your message to Programming.
May God bless you in a special way today.
Laurie Davidson
Correspondence Assistant to Programming
--
I wonder if programming will send me something...?
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Message sent to Air1, regarding my previous essay.
In 2004, I was an avid listener to Air1, absorbing all its messages, all its factions, all of its often-conservative push and lean and pull.
The drug-related testimonies really dug into me like a dull blade, creating a gash that was tattered around the edges and orange with contempt--Can we not have God without the drugs? Are we allowed a Christ which we are led to without the negative influence shoving us into his loving arms? Why didn't I ever hear that?
I stopped listening, though, around December, 2004. The station has become a joke since then--turn it on to hear the same old songs from 2004, with a marginal chance of hearing something new.
Your music's message has grown stagnant: A homogenous faith that is naught but what one person believes it to be. One view, one mind, one God. But the one God can be interpreted an infinite amount of ways. He is God, we are human. And my faith has grown away from Air1, from your message--not because it's blasphemy, but because it's stale.
You may choose to retort with the fact that bands have yet to release a new album in a few years (Like Barlow Girl). But then I also bring up FM Static's song "Crazy Mary" which was just recently played this morning [9\26\06 2:00 AM], according to your recent plays list. It was played despite the fact that there are 12 new songs from their Album "Critically Ashamed" to be played.
Sure, other radio stations have repetition, but at least it's indicative of what's current, what's new. There's an ebb and flow to Christianity, there's an ebb and flow to music, there's relativity to everything...
Except, seemingly, Air1, who stubbornly stays put with their old songs and their same-old message. Yes, Jesus died on the cross. Yes, I want a faith like that, to see the dead rise, etcetera. But what about the effects of faith on life? What about the struggles, the doubts of the infallibility, what about the trite, collective, "I'm sorrys" that often come with lulls in Christians as they all, in conjunction, realize their faults, and have their doubts.
Where are your doubts, Air1?
--
They apparently get 5000 emails a month, so I may have to wait awhile for a response. But I'll definitely post their response once I receive it. And I will get one... Unlike the emails I sent to Ray Comfort, the renowned Christian Evangelist. I had so many questions, that only he could answer, because those were his beliefs, and yet he never responded to me. But if I do get a response, I'll make damn sure to post that one too.
No response, no feedback, no discussion--just one person, on his soap box, speechifying, expecting everyone in the arena to be in agreeance... When most are in grievance.
No big Church.
The drug-related testimonies really dug into me like a dull blade, creating a gash that was tattered around the edges and orange with contempt--Can we not have God without the drugs? Are we allowed a Christ which we are led to without the negative influence shoving us into his loving arms? Why didn't I ever hear that?
I stopped listening, though, around December, 2004. The station has become a joke since then--turn it on to hear the same old songs from 2004, with a marginal chance of hearing something new.
Your music's message has grown stagnant: A homogenous faith that is naught but what one person believes it to be. One view, one mind, one God. But the one God can be interpreted an infinite amount of ways. He is God, we are human. And my faith has grown away from Air1, from your message--not because it's blasphemy, but because it's stale.
You may choose to retort with the fact that bands have yet to release a new album in a few years (Like Barlow Girl). But then I also bring up FM Static's song "Crazy Mary" which was just recently played this morning [9\26\06 2:00 AM], according to your recent plays list. It was played despite the fact that there are 12 new songs from their Album "Critically Ashamed" to be played.
Sure, other radio stations have repetition, but at least it's indicative of what's current, what's new. There's an ebb and flow to Christianity, there's an ebb and flow to music, there's relativity to everything...
Except, seemingly, Air1, who stubbornly stays put with their old songs and their same-old message. Yes, Jesus died on the cross. Yes, I want a faith like that, to see the dead rise, etcetera. But what about the effects of faith on life? What about the struggles, the doubts of the infallibility, what about the trite, collective, "I'm sorrys" that often come with lulls in Christians as they all, in conjunction, realize their faults, and have their doubts.
Where are your doubts, Air1?
--
They apparently get 5000 emails a month, so I may have to wait awhile for a response. But I'll definitely post their response once I receive it. And I will get one... Unlike the emails I sent to Ray Comfort, the renowned Christian Evangelist. I had so many questions, that only he could answer, because those were his beliefs, and yet he never responded to me. But if I do get a response, I'll make damn sure to post that one too.
No response, no feedback, no discussion--just one person, on his soap box, speechifying, expecting everyone in the arena to be in agreeance... When most are in grievance.
No big Church.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
The Truth Belongs to God, the mistakes were Mine
It's been said that there are often moments in our life where all our thought, all our energy is suddenly transmuted down the channel towards our soul. All the thickets of education pushed away, and drifting down and into ourselves we go...
On Broadway and 19th, SSE of Dodger Stadium.
Los Angeles. 2006.
A small Mexican Restaurant, hailed by my father and escalated to greatness. With a yellow and red patio, and a small kitchen, we were contextually misplaced--far too white.
We order, we wait. We take pictures, we feel like tourists. The small parking lot is splayed with farm-animal murals. Cows, chickens, pigs.
Carnitas Burrito.
The horse is fast. 17 to one.
In this dinginess, in this bum-sorrow of half-way poverty, I see it: my soul. Sifting down the cement LA River, I see myself, within myself... I see the empty beds: drought and sorrow. I see the small weeds, shooting through the walls, I see the movies filming with lights and smoke and tenacity just about the Ten Freeway.
Dingy, and dank, and the burrito is delicious.
Out of the gate, the trumpet is sounding the Charge.
I bite in and see all this for seconds, and it disappears--everything disappears into meat and beans and rice and rivers of dreams deferred and controlled and winding South through the city's organic landscape on trial for depravity.
So trivial, so lost!
Drifting down, drifting down, I am caught up in the current--going down Moses towards the bathing woman who will adopt and love me. A wife, a lover, a home, a finale.
Oh Caveat of Gambling against all those odds to see within!
On Broadway and 19th, SSE of Dodger Stadium.
Los Angeles. 2006.
A small Mexican Restaurant, hailed by my father and escalated to greatness. With a yellow and red patio, and a small kitchen, we were contextually misplaced--far too white.
We order, we wait. We take pictures, we feel like tourists. The small parking lot is splayed with farm-animal murals. Cows, chickens, pigs.
Carnitas Burrito.
The horse is fast. 17 to one.
In this dinginess, in this bum-sorrow of half-way poverty, I see it: my soul. Sifting down the cement LA River, I see myself, within myself... I see the empty beds: drought and sorrow. I see the small weeds, shooting through the walls, I see the movies filming with lights and smoke and tenacity just about the Ten Freeway.
Dingy, and dank, and the burrito is delicious.
Out of the gate, the trumpet is sounding the Charge.
I bite in and see all this for seconds, and it disappears--everything disappears into meat and beans and rice and rivers of dreams deferred and controlled and winding South through the city's organic landscape on trial for depravity.
So trivial, so lost!
Drifting down, drifting down, I am caught up in the current--going down Moses towards the bathing woman who will adopt and love me. A wife, a lover, a home, a finale.
Oh Caveat of Gambling against all those odds to see within!
Thursday, September 21, 2006
1\5th to the Commonwealth, and the Rest to the Track!
In Southern California, and across the nation, there is a Christian radio station poignantly called "Air1 Radio." They are a radio-station run by the donations of customers (who probably feel that they can tithe to this corporation instead of their local church), and one that has brought up a point to me concerning Christian culture.
In 2004, I listened to this radio station with vigor, trying to be a good Christian boy. Sure, some of the songs got old, but I figured it would change, and it was not like it was the only radio station. However, by the end of that year, when I had realized that all the music was not very good, and that it all had the same homogenous faith in Jesus message (but faith is relative to the person, ye naysayers!), I stopped listening to this station. It got old, plain and simple. It got to be overbearing, bland, and downright silly. I took them out of my programmed radio stations, and have not listened to them much since.
What has happened though, is that, now, two years later, I can change to that station at any given time and, 9 times out of 10, hear one of the same songs I heard in 2004, as if there need not be new music since there is not a new bible, not a new message, not a new struggle--one faith under God. With songs that have been playing out their welcome for two years, with the same ideals being passed around, with the same voices being heard and new ideas not being acknowledged, the problem has pronounced itself:
There is stagnancy in the Christian church. The waves have stopped crashing against the sand, the undercurrent of thought has slowed to breaking.
Our faith is supposed to be living, it is supposed to be growing as we ask and seek and knock. The only reason Paul thanks God for the Thessalonians is because their faith was growing, not because their faith had grown and plateaued. It is true, yes, that faith does often plateau, but it is still supposed to be that we are to escape this mesa, and turn it back into a mountain.
But how are we to turn flat into angled when all life reflects society?
I guess it's time to call them out on this type of bullshit. No movement, no current, no waves, no truth.
In 2004, I listened to this radio station with vigor, trying to be a good Christian boy. Sure, some of the songs got old, but I figured it would change, and it was not like it was the only radio station. However, by the end of that year, when I had realized that all the music was not very good, and that it all had the same homogenous faith in Jesus message (but faith is relative to the person, ye naysayers!), I stopped listening to this station. It got old, plain and simple. It got to be overbearing, bland, and downright silly. I took them out of my programmed radio stations, and have not listened to them much since.
What has happened though, is that, now, two years later, I can change to that station at any given time and, 9 times out of 10, hear one of the same songs I heard in 2004, as if there need not be new music since there is not a new bible, not a new message, not a new struggle--one faith under God. With songs that have been playing out their welcome for two years, with the same ideals being passed around, with the same voices being heard and new ideas not being acknowledged, the problem has pronounced itself:
There is stagnancy in the Christian church. The waves have stopped crashing against the sand, the undercurrent of thought has slowed to breaking.
Our faith is supposed to be living, it is supposed to be growing as we ask and seek and knock. The only reason Paul thanks God for the Thessalonians is because their faith was growing, not because their faith had grown and plateaued. It is true, yes, that faith does often plateau, but it is still supposed to be that we are to escape this mesa, and turn it back into a mountain.
But how are we to turn flat into angled when all life reflects society?
I guess it's time to call them out on this type of bullshit. No movement, no current, no waves, no truth.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Lost in the Rain in Juarez, and it's Eastertime, too.
There should be no need for bumperstickers of WWJD, no bracelets, nothing to pronounce your faith. No ticket stubs from new FoxFaith movies soon to be debuting. Christian faith is supposed to be the inside glowing out from every pore of your body, not an adornment on your body or on your car...
All those crosses, all those shirts, all those John 3:16 posters, all those amusements that loudly proclaim that "I have Jesus, and, if you did too, you could legitimately wear this kind-of-badass T-Shirt," all those things are just a ploy for the piety that the Bible calls us against. We're supposed to be humble like Jesus Christ, as Christians who are supposed to be Christ-like--humble even in the way we represent our faith. What starts as a whisper, often gains steam and becomes movement, but a shout often echoes off the canyons and dies away, much like a fad, much like The Passion of the Christ.
All those crosses, all those shirts, all those John 3:16 posters, all those amusements that loudly proclaim that "I have Jesus, and, if you did too, you could legitimately wear this kind-of-badass T-Shirt," all those things are just a ploy for the piety that the Bible calls us against. We're supposed to be humble like Jesus Christ, as Christians who are supposed to be Christ-like--humble even in the way we represent our faith. What starts as a whisper, often gains steam and becomes movement, but a shout often echoes off the canyons and dies away, much like a fad, much like The Passion of the Christ.
Syllogistic Reasoning for the Existence of God
If love is real, and if God is love*, then God is real.
*1 John 4:8
*1 John 4:8
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Success!
The first issue (of hopefully many) of We are all Serial Killers has been released for $5.99. Available through Lulu.com, the topics covered in this issue include politics and leftist theosophy (as well as premature ejaculation for all you lovers out there!)
The cover image is below!
I know the title is bleak, but it's true. If all sins are equal, then we have all committed murder: murder of people's dreams, murder of people's hearts, etc. We all kill though we are all called to love. We all are running from something (serial killers from the police, from our "dreams deferred"), and now you can no longer run from BUYING THE FIRST ISSUE!
The cover image is below!
I know the title is bleak, but it's true. If all sins are equal, then we have all committed murder: murder of people's dreams, murder of people's hearts, etc. We all kill though we are all called to love. We all are running from something (serial killers from the police, from our "dreams deferred"), and now you can no longer run from BUYING THE FIRST ISSUE!
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
A Certain Type of Madness
On the day that I write this essay, August 24, 2006, the United States of America is currently involved in a non-war: Operation Iraqi Freedom. We have been involved in this war for three and a half years and suddenly all the proponents are tiring. They were expecting a short war--since that is what operation insinuates: that whatever we doing under that euphemism will be quick, to the point, and we will have ejaculated, far removed and asleep by 2006.
But that has not been the case.
The case is that we are stuck in the mire, fighting for our own American freedom. Or at least that's what many supporters of the war--ahem, operation--have stated. We are fighting for all our liberties because these terrorists can take them away, we are fighting for Nationalist convictions.
A conviction that is often perceived as a religion.
It takes a nation, makes it sovereign, as a god, as an idol and compels its citizens to believe in its cause, be it strong as in the 1940's or weak as in our times. Nationalism is the true religion of a nation, making it to be supreme over all people, all laws, all decisions, all wills, all life.
The moment in our history when this type of National Sovereignty was the most evident was when, in 2001, the Patriot Act was passed which was, admittedly, a good move for the nation during a time of crisis, to keep the terrorists down via terrorism, but not a good move for the individual citizen since it collapsed many aspects of our rights for a period of time. At this point, Congress and the Senate had a lapse and forgot that each person matters just as much as national security--this was the reason why the Bill of Rights was created: to protect the individual rights before the state's protection, before the state’s rights.
When the Constitution was created, the emphasis because our Founding Fathers had come from backgrounds of monarchal oppression and saw how it destroyed the citizens and the individuals.
Nationalism does this same thing: it creates a godhead for everyone to worship, much like a metaphysical emperor. In that manner, then, nationalism is nothing but regressing back to the tyrannical days of the dictator and forgetting all we know about democracy.
In that vain, we come to religion. In Christianity, one of the underlying principles is the inerrancy of both the Bible and God--that both are without errors and holistically perfect--and nationalism and patriotism hold this same philosophy: that the government can do no wrong, that the nation can do no wrong, that everything done in Washington D.C. is completely God-bred and God-given.
What this point of view fails to realize is that the nation is nothing but a group of individuals comprised to think of the best for the soil and for its people, two different subjects. And since it is individuals coming together, there is always room for the human element, the human error, the accident.
Everything is for a reason, but an accident must create the purpose first.
Nationalists believe that the Nation, as in this group in Washington D.C., is without any sort of human error, any sort of fault--inerrant. As a result, religion must be removed from politics.
Now, it is obvious that secularity is an aspect of communism, but it is also one aspect that worked; without religion, there is no bias, no prejudice, no guilt about WWJD. Without religion in the government, there would be a furthering of stem-cell research and we would not begin to be surpassed by Singapore and China in this now-vital aspect of science.
There would be abortion, the allowance for the woman to say, "It's my vagina, let me make the decision."
But, even without religion, we would have ethics, and, apparently, ethics tells us that this is murder, that killing a second-trimester child is murder, that the child has no decision and therefore should not be allowed when in all reality, to flip the tables, a parent has no choice concerning whether or not their child will commit suicide. So should suicide be outlawed?
But that has not been the case.
The case is that we are stuck in the mire, fighting for our own American freedom. Or at least that's what many supporters of the war--ahem, operation--have stated. We are fighting for all our liberties because these terrorists can take them away, we are fighting for Nationalist convictions.
A conviction that is often perceived as a religion.
It takes a nation, makes it sovereign, as a god, as an idol and compels its citizens to believe in its cause, be it strong as in the 1940's or weak as in our times. Nationalism is the true religion of a nation, making it to be supreme over all people, all laws, all decisions, all wills, all life.
The moment in our history when this type of National Sovereignty was the most evident was when, in 2001, the Patriot Act was passed which was, admittedly, a good move for the nation during a time of crisis, to keep the terrorists down via terrorism, but not a good move for the individual citizen since it collapsed many aspects of our rights for a period of time. At this point, Congress and the Senate had a lapse and forgot that each person matters just as much as national security--this was the reason why the Bill of Rights was created: to protect the individual rights before the state's protection, before the state’s rights.
When the Constitution was created, the emphasis because our Founding Fathers had come from backgrounds of monarchal oppression and saw how it destroyed the citizens and the individuals.
Nationalism does this same thing: it creates a godhead for everyone to worship, much like a metaphysical emperor. In that manner, then, nationalism is nothing but regressing back to the tyrannical days of the dictator and forgetting all we know about democracy.
In that vain, we come to religion. In Christianity, one of the underlying principles is the inerrancy of both the Bible and God--that both are without errors and holistically perfect--and nationalism and patriotism hold this same philosophy: that the government can do no wrong, that the nation can do no wrong, that everything done in Washington D.C. is completely God-bred and God-given.
What this point of view fails to realize is that the nation is nothing but a group of individuals comprised to think of the best for the soil and for its people, two different subjects. And since it is individuals coming together, there is always room for the human element, the human error, the accident.
Everything is for a reason, but an accident must create the purpose first.
Nationalists believe that the Nation, as in this group in Washington D.C., is without any sort of human error, any sort of fault--inerrant. As a result, religion must be removed from politics.
Now, it is obvious that secularity is an aspect of communism, but it is also one aspect that worked; without religion, there is no bias, no prejudice, no guilt about WWJD. Without religion in the government, there would be a furthering of stem-cell research and we would not begin to be surpassed by Singapore and China in this now-vital aspect of science.
There would be abortion, the allowance for the woman to say, "It's my vagina, let me make the decision."
But, even without religion, we would have ethics, and, apparently, ethics tells us that this is murder, that killing a second-trimester child is murder, that the child has no decision and therefore should not be allowed when in all reality, to flip the tables, a parent has no choice concerning whether or not their child will commit suicide. So should suicide be outlawed?
What if a woman wants to abort her baby at home with a wire coat-hangar and claim still-birth, Is that illegal? It's her vagina, her choice.
With a secular government, we would more and more be furthering the individual's rights because we would not be conscious of any sort of command by God in the Congress, which in and of itself, is absurd. God has no part in politics. He was on both sides of World War II, remember?
And if God is all about the individual, the personal relationships, should not politics be the same way, especially if it is constantly emulating God himself and sovereignty...? If God is all about the individual, why have we killed between 40 and 45,000 civilian Militiamen in Iraq?
In perspective, the only thing any sort of Middle Eastern terrorist has done recently (failed attacks and deserved shootings aside) is kill 3,000 in New York on September 11 of 2001, the most in any recent terrorist attack. 3,000 people and two collapsed buildings reminiscent of Henry Cameron's Dana Tower are the reason for the United States and its Affiliate companies killing in Iraq while only a meager 2,692 Americans have been killed. Therefore, taking the minimum of 40,000 Iraqis, we have a 37,000 death deficit. We have killed 37,000 more than anyone has in that region, 40,000 more than any Iraqi killed on "that fateful day." And, on top of that, almost 3,000 volunteers have died serving the country. The death tolls do not match up, and neither does the reason for being there:
No WMD's;
No act of God;
No Holy War;
No loss of freedom because of them.
All this nationalism has created an American Government’s pet project to spread its influence into that region of the world so that they can wear Tommy Hilfiger jeans and eat McDonald's hamburgers.
Just a capitalistic need hindered by a heavily unbalanced death count. Death for profit! Death to Capitalism!
(But if not capitalism, then what? If not greed and business and white-collar crime and scandal, then what? Communism failed. Fascism failed. Dictatorial systems failed. All other systems have failed. We cannot completely revamp John Locke. Perhaps we could tone it down, and vamp up another New Deal with Socialistic Programs to help the poor since when the poor get money they have to spend it somewhere. And then, in turn, we will continue the capitalistic attack on this Earth but with better intentions. But I digress.)
So, then, it must be the American Government that has removed our liberties that we are fighting to keep. Ahhh, yes—you knew we would reach this point: The Patriot Act: the most controversial legislation passed since Roe v. Wade was gaveled. Free-range, warrant-free wiretaps and record searches all done in secrecy.
Searching and wiretapping and stalking because of the fear of subversion.
Removing our liberties because it is war time, which is nothing new... But removing our liberties during an Operation that is built around protecting our liberties?
Oh my how paradoxical it all becomes!
...But not paradoxical all at the same time since it wouldn’t be paradoxical if we acknowledged, openly, that we were fighting for entrepreneurial gain in the region. If we finally admitted that it were for OPEC or for Coca-Cola or for Burger King, I would finally be okay with this war.
But, like the beginning of the Civil War, our president has to hide behind false idioms and reasons because not every Northerner wanted to free the slaves. Not every American wants the country at war.
Why can't the President just state Operation Iraqi Freedom is for the abolition of slavery?
Oh, wait. That is why we brought down Saddam Hussein...or was it paternal vindication...or was it oil...or was it corporate...or was it terrorists...or was it...
Friday, September 08, 2006
These Next Few Years
Currently pursuing this life plan:
Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy with the emphasis in Religious Studies
MA in Theology
Make Children\Procreate
Doctorate in Theology.
Make Money.
The Christian Existentialist's dream is quickly becoming a reality.
Kierkegaard, you're gonna have a run for your money.
Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy with the emphasis in Religious Studies
MA in Theology
Make Children\Procreate
Doctorate in Theology.
Make Money.
The Christian Existentialist's dream is quickly becoming a reality.
Kierkegaard, you're gonna have a run for your money.
Monday, September 04, 2006
What new mystery is this?
First in a month
Here I sit,
at a computer that is brand new,
one which I barely know...
Off to college!
Had to get one!
Oh bullshit,
it's a computer I don't really need,
and I know that... paper would have
and always has
sufficed.
But then again,
I'm a horrible
or
ga
ni
zer
and so maybe this can help me
make that
grade
that everyone
has their butt-cheeks squeezed taut over.
I'm not sure, though,
maybe I should have waited a week to determine the workload,
taken a day off?
no, not this early in the semester,
although this is when it’d be the simplest.
Get a syllabus,
do the work,
fuck'em.
Use Mordecai
(Maybe he shoulda been named ICHIRO!!! since it's branded Japanese.)
and live.
Get to seminary,
make some cash money
anally raping people out of theirs
at a consumer electronics store...
And finally reading the Fucking Sound and the Fury
Oh Faulkner.
Faulkner it all indeed.
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