Christian Myths

Modern Christianity is plagued by misconceptions and myths such as the vision of God the father as a old man in the clouds, literal translation of the Bible, or even the common phrase 'go up to heaven.' All of these are departures from the orthodox traditions. Despite the artist Michael depiction of the father as a bearded man in the clouds who touches Adam's finger, God is everywehre and in all things. The father is not human is not bound to a human body. Many groups of people today tend to literally translate the bible. Although, considered the holy book of all Christians and given to mankind by God, the Bible was in fact written by men. Men inspired by God or in the case of the New Testament writer, John, companions of Christ, but men nonetheless. As such the stories and the morality behind the Bible maybe true, but the way it is said or the chronological order may very well be out of place. Going up to heaven is what everyone wants, but what is heaven? Is it a place in the clouds where you can sit with the angels and saints? Heaven is not a place, it is a state of being and therefore, you cannot 'go up to heaven.' You can enter into heaven or draw closer to heaven and God, but you can never walk into heaven.

Changing the Constitution

When the constitution was first formulated and accepted. It was specifically stated that income tax was forbidden. However, since then the constitution has been revised to, so that the income tax can be used. Income tax when first attempted to be put into use as a 2% tax on all incomes over $3000 was rejected by the supreme court as unconstitutional. Ironically, the tax that now crushes the nation was first intended as a tax to reduce the power of the rich.

Eli's Questions

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal."

Bible, 1 Corinthians 13:1

Angels do have a tongue of their own.

Julius Caesar's Report

"Veni, vidi, vici" (I came, I saw, I conquered)

-Julies Caesar

Bionics

Jesse Sullivan, a man without arms, is now using the new prosthetic arm which now is used by electrical signals from the brain. The arm's computer is designed to respond to eletrical signals from shoulder muscles graphed onto the pectoral muscles. Through these, Jesse can even "feel" the arm, and can move it in four ways. Not quite the 22 that a normal arm has, but good enough to climb ladders, mow the lawn, do the garbage, and use a fork.

Time

"Time the devourer of everything."

-Ovid

Road to Damascus

Many know Damscus, as the place where Paul or Saul as he was called then, was traveling when Christ appeared to him on the road, blinding and turning Saul away from his persecution of the Christians. However, the city Damascus was original founded almost 3000 years earlier and was made rich by the trade caravans that constantly traveled nearby. It was unable to stay independent and was conquered first by Assyrians then Babylonians then Persians. It did not stay in Persian hands for long as it was soon conquered by Alexander the Great as he passed through on his quest to defeat Persia. When Alexander died and his generals carved up his empire, Damascus was for a while controlled by Selucid, until the Romans conquered it. Although, the inhabitants of Damascus spoke Aramaic, the city itself became a center of learning, beauty, and culture.

The Two Cities

In Plato's book, the Republic, Socrates attempts to construct a city in order to find justice in the city, and as a consequence in those who live in the city. One of the cities, the one that Socrates suggests, has no luxury or meat or wars. However, Glaucon insists that a city must have meat, and so Socrates adds meat and luxuries to the city. According to Socrates reasoning, a city with meat in it will need to have more land and thus will go to war with its neighbors. In addition, the luxury that the second city gives will produce beggars and those who will not work. If Socrates is believed, then the second city is indeed a city of corruption and war, a place that most would shun in comparison to the first city.

Doing Your Best

"It is not enough to do your best; you must know what to do, and THEN do your best."

-W. Edwards Deming