The Myth of Redemptive Violence.

Spiritual Warfare seeks to destroy evil.

It may lead to killing evil people.

But the perception of evil in our world is highly subjective and this may lead to killing innocent people.

Our culture is saturated with The Myth Of Redemptive Violence - that is the idea that there is Good and there is Evil and Good wins by killing Evil.

It is the basis of powerful modern mythology in movies like Star Wars and Lord of the Rings.

It appears in fairytales and ancient mythology.

It inspired two World Wars and it completes the Bible with the Book of Revelation. 

But The Myth of Redemptive Violence is not true.

Violence is never the answer.

It just leads to more violence.

And this myth is in direct contrast to the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus said: "'You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth."  But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer.  But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also.'"  Matthew 5:38,39 (NRSV)

And: "'You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy."  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven,'"  Matthew 5:43-45 (NRSV)

Not only does Jesus recommend non-violent love as a response to evil but he suggests that this is the nature of God Himself.

Jesus' parables are full of examples of the King writing off debts.

This is fortunate for us because we all make mistakes.

And we all need forgiveness.

So do not seek to kill and destroy evil.

Seek to redeem evil through Love.

(N.B. The term The Myth of Redemptive Violence was coined by Walter Wink in his book Engaging the Powers.)

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Life!

In ancient Egypt the Ankh was the symbol of Life!

It was often held to the nose to represent the Breath of Life.

It had none of the modern connotations of sexual promiscuity.

It was also shown in the afterlife to indicate life after death.

So we can look upon the Egyptians as worshippers of Life.

And know that they have their share in Eternal Life!

Photo Credit: alphacoders.

Love Life!

Seek the Light.

Look up!

Breathe.

Praise Heaven.

And Love Life!

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Too Much Power.

An investigation into the CEO of a major corporation concluded that he had been given too much power.

At last we are beginning to see what has happened in our world.

The corporate bosses have been given too much power.

They have ruled like gods over us.

But power corrupts as we have seen in the Royal Commission into the Banks in Australia.

Too much power and no regulation leads to corruption and crime.

It has resulted in the huge disparity between rich and poor in our world.

And it has led to oppression and war.

But because we had no power to stop them the corporate plutocrats ruled.

The time has come to roll back some of the power that deregulation has given to the corporations.

It is up to new leaders to re-regulate the economy to save them from themselves.

But it is not just a matter of swinging wildly from one extreme to the other.

A sensible approach to re-regulation must take into account other economic factors.

But tax avoidance and greed should be wound back.

So that we may live in a more just, more humane world.     

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Woke.

The Force Awoke.

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The Living God.

"Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living."  

Luke 20:38 (NRSV)

{Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

Photo Credit: Paidela.

AIDS is Over.

Although they may not admit it many people, especially religious people, were afraid of AIDS.

They were afraid of sickness and death.

And this was the basis of social and religious objections to homosexuality.

It was moral panic.

But now that AIDS is virtually cured their objections are no longer valid.

Doctors can stop HIV from developing into AIDS and when treated HIV is undetectable which means that you cannot pass it on to your partner.

Also there is PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) which is a pill that can help prevent you catching HIV.

So gay sex is safe again.

But people's minds are stuck back in the 1980s.

  

They think that gay sex is deadly.

And this justifies their homophobia.

But these are now in the minority.

And it is up to us to educate them.

The new reality is that gay sex is no more dangerous than straight sex.

And so their homophobia is no longer justified.

Photo Credit: Lyst.