Mages – Magi in the Bible

Moses the Mage ordained Egyptian and Hebrew priest doing healing magic to save his peopleOne of our Eternal Order of the Magi members, Kareena, wrote about Mages (aka Magi) in the Hebrew Bible. In a future assignment, I believe we ask members to write about New Testament magi, such as the famed Simon Magus…But here is her list of mages in the Old Testament.
Biblical MagesI decided to write on Biblical mages and blithely started googling. [Nothing came up]. Then I looked for Biblical prophets. [They turned out to be mages.] What I found often was pretty far out stuff…There seem to be two groups of prophets: those [with and without miracles]. ..those who proclaimed God’s words without associated miracles documented… In this group one might include Amos, maybe Isaiah, Samuel. And those prophets in which numerous records of miraculous feats appear such as Moses, Elijah, Elisha, Daniel, and Ezekiel.

One immediate truth stands out from the second group: they were close to God and doing His Will when they performed their magic. They grew in knowledge as they matured and seemed to grow in power. Their works were similar to what we know of some of the other mages of that time in Egypt and Babylon.

Some examples of their works are as follows: (From Easton’s Bible Dictionary)

Moses
He was educated in the Egyptian courts and may have been a skilled general in Egypt based on a history recorded by Josephus as stated in Easton’s Bible Dictionary. In Acts 7:22 it is stated : Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds. Based on this passage, it is probable that he had at least basic training in magic. When he was 40, he fled Egypt and was in the home of a Midean priest for 40 years where one might suppose his education continued in not only religion but the magic powers. In Exodus we find numerous examples of his power: turning a staff into a serpent, turning water into blood, causing plagues in one part of the country but leaving a specific area alone, parting the Red Sea. Those same abilities were used to bring water, food and healing as the tribes roamed the desert heading toward Canaan during which journeys many other examples of magical powers are recorded. In at least one instance, he struck a rock to release water after God had told him to tell the rock to release its water (Num 20: 8-12). God was angry with him because of his striking the rock — but the water was released. I suggest this is an example that proves Moses was able to use the forces of the universe and did not simply depend on God to perform the miracle.
Elijah
He lived during the period 874BC to 852BC beginning during the reign of Ahab and continuing into that of Ahaziah. His works are written about in 1 Kings 17 through 2 Kings 2. He did numerous miraculous works such as providing flour and oil for a widow, bringing a widow’s son back to life, confronting the prophets of Baal and miraculously burning the sacrifice he prepared. He declared there would be draught in the land until he gave the word for rain to return and then produced rain from a small cloud to relieve the major draught. He was fed by ravens at one time and by an angel at another. He did not die but was translated into Heaven after bequeathing his power to Elisha. It is no where stated his educational background and where he learned to use the forces of the universe — was he born with natural talent, did he learn from priests, or was he instructed directly from God?Events Recorded for Elijah:
Prophecy re draught 1 Kings 17:1
Feeding by Ravens 1 Kings 17:4-7
Flour and oil for the widow 1 Kings 17: 9-16
Widows son: 1 Kings 17:17-24
Confrontation with the Prophets of Baal 1 Kings 18: 17-42
Rain from a small cloud seen by servant 1 Kings 18: 41-46
Fed by an angel 1 Kings 19: 5-9
The still small voice 1 Kings 19: 7-14
Fire from Heaven 2 Kings 1: 9-15
Elijah is translated 2 Kings 2: 1-11Elisha

Elisha worked from 852 to 872BC during reign of King Johoash. The Bible is clear that he was picked by Elijah and educated by him. Also it is stated that when Elijah was taken into heaven, Elisha received his power — but doubled. Elisha performs many miracles written about in 2 Kings.Events recorded for Elisha:
Water for army 2 Kings 3 : 16-20
Makes stew edible 2 Kings 4:38-42
Provides oil from a pitcher for a poor widow 2 Kings 4: 1-7
Shunnammite’s son brought back to life 2 Kings 4:23-37
Shows his servant the power of God 2 Kings 6:15-17
Feeds a hundred 2 Kings 4:42-44
Rebukes the children that insult him 2 Kings 2:23-25
His bones bring life 2 Kings 13: 20-21
Heals the waters of Jerico 2Kings 19:19-21
Heals a Syrian general 2 Kings 5:1-19
Attached leprosy to Gehazi 2 Kings 5:20-27
Makes an axe head float 2 Kings 6: 1-7
Defeats Syrian army 2 Kings 6: 8-23
Prophesies end of siege of Samaria 2 Kings 7:1-20
Predicts Syrian atrocities 2 Kings 8 7-15
Prophesies defeat of Syria 2 Kings 13:14-19Solomon

There are many references to Solomon being a great mage in the occult literature. Certainly he requested wisdom and received it from God and was renowned for his wisdom. In Wikipedia the sources for many of the legends surrounding him are discussed. Because of the fact that all that really remains is in the mythical literature, it is difficult to discern what is accurate and reveals him as a true mage and what is based on myths to explain his great power and wisdom. It is true that some of the legend comes from the Rabbinical literature such as his being given control over the angels and demons and able to have them do his bidding.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SolomonDaniel
In Daniel 2:48, it is stated that the king made him prefect over all the wisemen of Babylon. To have been placed in that position, he would have had to have been considered a mage. Daniel was captured as a young men by the Babylonians and educated along with some of his friends under the sponsorship of the king. Thus he would have received an education in all things magic taught at the time in the Babylonian kingdom. His major talent appears to have been in interpretation of dreams. But he also was able to know the dream that the king had without being told. Daniel 2. He became a very prominent administrator in Babylon. But there are also events recorded such as his displeasing the king and being thrown in with lions but not eaten saying that their mouths were closed by an angel of the Lord.In summary, obviously the three magi could be mentioned who brought gifts for Jesus and I am certain many other examples. However, I believe these examples show that some of God’s prophets, did possess knowledge of the occult sciences and God used their abilities to further his ends. And, at times, I suspect God sent in a little element of His own miracle making to supplement their efforts.References:
http://www.dabhand.org/Essays/OT511%20Elijah%20and%20Elisha.htm (This paper compares and contrasts Elijah and Elisha).
http://gnosticteachings.org/the-teachings-of-gnosis/lectures-by-sam…
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon
New American Standard Bible.

Ordained Married Priest Hospital Chaplain and ministers 2 churches

Newly ordained married Catholic priest – Vatican approved!

Newly Ordained Married Priest blesses his wife and children
Photo by Bob Ocken of the Arkansas Catholic

Married Catholic Priest George Sanders blesses his wife and children on his ordination day

From Arkansas Catholic:

On his ordination day Aug. 3, Father George Sanders reflected on his journey that got him to Christ the King Church in Little Rock kneeling before Bishop Anthony B. Taylor.

As the bishop laid hands on him, as he prostrated himself during the Litany of Saints and had his hands anointed with chrism oil, he thought back on his life.

At 14, he first heard the calling to become a priest.

At 27 he got married.

When he was 39 years old, the El Dorado native joined the Charismatic Episcopal Church and served as a priest in that church for three years. When he left the church in 2001 he was told he could never become a Catholic priest.

When he was 47 years old, he and his wife Brenda joined the Catholic Church.

Four years later, he finally began his studies for the Catholic priesthood. It was initially believed that Sanders would be able to be ordained in 2011, but it took another two years of training and patiently waiting for the ordination date to be set.

Now at 57 years old, he is looking at a new journey as a hospital chaplain and administrator at St. Patrick and St. Mary churches in North Little Rock.

“I remembered all the ups and downs and remembered the journey. My greatest thought is that this journey has come to end and my new journey is just beginning. I am really excited to get out and work in God’s kingdom.”

Sanders’ youngest son Eric, said, “It’s about time. … It seemed like a lot of doors were closed to him, but I guess God just kept leading him.”

Eric, 27, is attending law school at the University of California in Hastings and is spending time this year at a Chinese law firm and taking courses for his degree.

Doors initially seem closed to Sanders because he is married. The Vatican has a special provision for Catholics who were previously ordained ministers to request to be ordained Catholic priests. Then-Bishop J. Peter Sartain made the initial request in 2004, and Sanders began his studies through St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana in 2007.

Sanders’ other son, Gregg, said, “It’s something we have been waiting for a long time. It was the pinnacle of the mountain (today). It is hard to describe all the emotions. It was a long, hard journey and finally arriving at home. It is unbelievable.”

Gregg, 29, recently finished his master’s degree at the University of Dallas and will begin teaching English in Lancaster, Texas, this fall. Gregg was a seminarian for the Diocese of Little Rock for four years shortly after he and his brother joined the Church in 2001.

Father Sanders is the second diocesan priest who is married. Father Alan Rosenau of Hot Springs was ordained 25 years ago after serving as an Anglican priest.

“George is a first for me,” Bishop Taylor said, “because he is the first married priest that will be ordained during my time here. I am so grateful to Brenda and how she has been a constant support through all the years with much patience and encouragement. And, of course, Eric and Gregg and the whole family.”

– Read the rest and see tons more photos at: http://www.arkansas-catholic.org/news/article/3572/Newly-ordained-priest-grateful-doors-were-open-to-him#sthash.nJ7kpBqy.dpuf

 

Women Deacons are technically Ordained Ministers

Women Deacons link all the way back to Phoebe, a female deacon in the New Testament. Phoebe was mentioned by name, and there were countless other female deacons just after the time of Jesus. A Deacon is the same as an ordained minister since they can officiate marriages, perform wedding ceremonies, and other clergy functions in which ordination is required. Deacons are actually ordained in an ordination ceremony. Below is a photo of women deacons being ordained in Armenia, near where the first Christians (such as Phoebe) lived. Asia Minor / Turkey is considered the cradle of Christianity (Israel the birthplace) and Armenia, a land full of the descendants of those ancient Christians, is right next to Turkey. They still ordain women. Very cool.

The Women Deacons of the Armenian Church

July 6, 2013 By 

Hours after this story broke, about the head of the CDF’s remarks on women deacons, the item below popped up in my Google newsfeed. I think it opens a window to a part of the Christian world many of us in the Latin church don’t know about.

The story recounts a talk given last month in Illinois by the historian Knarik O. Meneshian, who gave some of the background behind women deacons in the Armenian Apostolic Church:

“Women deacons, an ordained ministry, have served the Armenian Church for centuries. In the Haykazian Dictionary, based on evidence from the 5th-century Armenian translations, the word deaconess is defined as a ‘female worshipper or virgin servant active in the church and superior or head of a nunnery.’ Other pertinent references to women deacons in the Armenian Church are included in the ‘Mashdots Matenadarn collection of manuscripts from the period between the fall of the Cilician kingdom (1375) and the end of the 16th century, which contain the ordination rite for women deacons.’

“The diaconate is one of the major orders in the Armenian Church. The word deacon means to serve ‘with humility’ and to assist. The Armenian deaconesses historically have been called sargavak or deacon. They were also referred to as deaconess sister or deaconess nun. The other major orders of the church are bishop and priest. The deaconesses, like the bishops and monks, are celibate. Their convents are usually described as anabad, meaning, in this case, not a ‘desert’ as the word implies, but rather ‘an isolated location where monastics live away from populated areas.’ Anabads differ from monasteries in their totally secluded life style. In convents and monasteries, Armenian women have served as nuns, scribes, subdeacons, deacons, and archdeacons (‘first among equals’), as a result not only giving of themselves, but enriching and contributing much to our nation and church. In the 17th century, for example, the scribe and deaconess known as Hustianeh had written ‘a devotional collection of prayers and lives of the fathers, and a manuscript titled Book of Hours, dated 1653.’

…To appreciate more fully the role of the deaconess in the church, Father Abel Oghlukian’s book, The Deaconess In The Armenian Church, refers to Fr. Hagop Tashian’s bookVardapetutiun Arakelots… (Teachings of the Apostles…), Vienna, 1896, and Kanonagirk Hayots(Book of Canons) edited by V. Hakobyan, Yerevan, 1964, in which a most striking thought is expressed:

If the bishop represents God the Father and the priest Christ, then the deaconess, by her calling, symbolizes the presence of the Holy Spirit, in consequence of which one should accord her fitting respect.

“Over the centuries, in some instances, the mission of the Armenian deaconesses was educating, caring for orphans and the elderly, assisting the indigent, comforting the bereaved, and addressing women’s issues. They served in convents and cathedrals, and the general population…

“Mkhitar Gosh (l130-1213), who was a priest, public figure, scholar, thinker, and writer, ‘defended the practice of ordaining women to the diaconate,’ Ervine writes, and she adds that in his law book titled, On Clerical Orders and the Royal Family, Gosh  described women deacons and their specific usefulness in the following words:

There are also women ordained as deacons, called deaconesses for the sake of preaching to women and reading the Gospel. This makes it unnecessary for a man to enter the convent or for a nun to leave it.

When priests perform baptism on mature women, the deaconesses approach the font to wash the women with the water of atonement behind the curtain.

Their vestments are exactly like those of nuns or sisters, except that on their forehead they have a cross; their stole hangs from over the right shoulder.

Do not consider this new and unprecedented as we learn it from the tradition of the holy apostles: For Paul says, ‘I entrust to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon of the church.’

Read more.

Religion in America in 1776

Religion in America in 1776

July 4, 2013 By 

An interesting look back: 

When the Declaration of Independence was drafted on July 4, 1776, religious practice in the 13 colonies of the United States was colorful and varied. The quest for independence — as well as loyalist resistance to the cause — permeated church life and teachings across denominational lines. Patriots argued that their fight was God-ordained, while many Anglican clergy were bound by oath to pray for the King and the royal family.

Benjamin Franklin depicts God’s role in the revolution in his design for the Great Seal of the United States. Circling an image of Moses parting the Red Sea and leading the Israelites out of Egypt is the inscription, “Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God.” Cast in 1752 in Philadelphia, the Liberty Bell bears the words of Lev. 25:10, “Proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all inhabitants thereof.” And the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence cite God as the author of the quest for freedom: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Around the time of the Revolutionary War, most American Christians belonged to Anglican, Congregationalist, or Presbyterian groups. In 1776, there were also around 2,000 Jews (mostly Sephardic) and five synagogues in the colonies. The average size of a church congregation was around seventy-five members, and religious adherence amounted to only 17 percent of the total population.

The effect of the struggle for independence on religious practice was most visible in Anglican parishes. Since Anglican priests pledged loyalty to the King as a part of their ordination vows, many remained faithful to the British and continued with liturgical prayers for the monarchy. Boston’s King’s Chapel was a thriving Anglican congregation during this time, with “box pews,” or small enclosures owned and even decorated by wealthy families, on the main floor, and “unboxed pews” for black or poor church members on the second floor. King’s Chapel was the first church in New England to incorporate music into its services, having both a choir and an organ. Popular at the time was the hymn, “Old 100th,” commonly sung today as a doxology (“Praise God from whom all blessings flow”).

Led by a Loyalist priest, King’s Chapel closed its doors after the British retreat on Evacuation Day (March 17, 1776) rather than allow the patriots to take over. Other Anglican congregations aligned themselves with the revolutionary cause and chose to change the liturgy rather than abandon it entirely. The rector of Christ Church in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, pasted strips of paper with prayers for the Continental Congress over the prayers for the King in the Book of Common Prayer. At a vestry meeting on July 4, 1776, Philadelphia’s Christ Church made a similar move, replacing the prayers for the King with a prayer for the wisdom of the new government: “That it may please thee to endue the Congress of the United States & all others in Authority, legislative, executive, & judicial with grace, wisdom & understanding, to execute Justice and to maintain Truth.”

Rev. Peter Muhlenberg made a bold display of patriotism before his Anglican congregation in Woodstock, Va. At the conclusion of a sermon in January 1776, he threw off his clerical robes to reveal his Virginia military uniform. During the struggle for independence, a number of ministers left their congregations to work as chaplains or take up arms, even some Quakers who felt that the cause of independence superseded their commitment to pacifism.

Read the rest. 

Atheism Monument Bench proves Creator Exists?

Here’s a nice little ontological argument piece based on the atheism monument bench installed in Florida next to a 10 Commandments monument. Yes, this short piece is based on the “intelligent design” argument, but I have always found that compelling. It did it for great minds Thomas Aquinas, so who am I to feel superior? Hah. Wholeheartedly agree with the author that listing Old Testament punishments do not express the tenets of atheism. It’s really just Judaism-Christianity-bashing, not Atheism-glorifying. But I love the ironic twist regarding the bench itself being a nice sleek design. I’ve actually visited the town where this atheism bench was installed. Makes me wanna go and try it out.

Atheists Argue Against Themselves With New Monument

C. S. Lewis said: “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

Let’s say you are walking down the street, and someone comes up to you, stopping you dead in your tracks. They hold out their arm, around which a watch is strapped, and they tell you that the watch was designed and manufactured by Timex. You examine the watch, observe its hands ticking, and see the Timex label etched on the back. Would you believe them? You would have no reason not too.

Now suppose the same person came up to you, and told you that the watch they were wearing had just appeared one day on their arm; where before, there was nothing. The watch carries the exact same complexities, but lacks any designer label. Would you believe them? Obviously not. Simply seeing the complexities of the watch, one immediately; instinctually knows that something that is that complex must have been designed by an intelligence.

This will be relevant; I promise. But for now, I’m going to change the subject. According to the Associated Press: “A group of atheists unveiled a monument to their nonbelief in God on Saturday to sit alongside a granite slab that lists the Ten Commandments in front of the Bradford County courthouse.”

David Silverman, President of American Atheists, said: “When you look at this monument, the first thing you will notice is that it has a function. Atheists are about the real and the physical, so we selected to place this monument in the form of a bench.”

Being that we live in a free society, people have the right to believe whatever they want to believe; or not believe, as the case may be. But what interests me the most about this bench of non-belief is the statement it is unintentionally making. One of the features of the bench is a carved out list of punishments from the Old Testament. This is clearly intended to mock believers. The inclusion of this feature is an aggressive act.

Atheists have within them an aggression; an aggression toward anything and anyone who believes in God. They will deny it, of course. They will say that religion is the great aggressor. But in the end, it is atheists who—in their mockery and disdain of belief and believers—position themselves as the agitator.

The unintended statement that this bench is making is that of an obnoxious child, trying to assert himself to his parents. He sees what his parents believe, and he wants to be different. The problem is, he doesn’t know why he wants to be different; or how to actualize his want. So, rather than create something new, he takes what already exists, and rejects it. His actions are a negative. He looks at a complex piece of machinery—like a wrist watch—and despite instinctually knowing that it cannot have come from nowhere, out of nothing, by chance; the need he feels to deviate from his parents drives him to reject common sense, in favor of absurdity.

Within the heart of every human being is the understanding that we were created. The atheists cannot remove that etching in our metal, so they cover it over. The problem is: hiding something is not the same as removing it. What is hidden still exists, whether or not we want it to.

That is what this non-belief bench represents: a vacuum. It represents the rejection of the actual, in favor of an empty space. The funny thing is, by its very nature as a designed and constructed piece of architecture (so that it may “function,” as David Silverman intended), the atheist bench is a contradiction of atheism. Anyone looking at the bench will know, due to its complexity, that an intelligence had to have created it. They will look at the bench and think: “I wonder who the designer was?” Indeed.

http://lastresistance.com/2520/atheists-argue-against-themselves-with-new-monument/

Goddess Sophia Version Psalm 111

When poet Wynn Manners writes these luminous Sophia versions of the Psalms, they always inspire me…  He usually posts them to our GoddessChristians forum, below is his latest post. [To read other Sophia prayers and see gorgeous Sophia art, visit our Sophia page]

Sophia Psalm 111

Gratefulness To Goddess

1. How wonderful You are, Living Goddess, Who ARE Divine Love, Yourself. All loving originates in You and returns to You. If You did not exist, how could we love You with our own heartwholeness?

2. All wonders that exist originated from You and in You! Wonder of wonders that *we* exist, to be aware, to think, to *feel*… and that You take pleasure in us as we come to take fullest measure of pleasure in You!

3. Measureless are the joys in knowing You, experiencing the awesomeness of Your Works across all of time & space; blessed are we with Your Living Presence.

4. The Seeds of Immortality that have been sown into the deepest depths of our very souls are seeds of *You* as VeryEssence of our own being; and in You we are becoming all that we *can* be.

5. The very food we eat to sustain our lives is loving sustenance *You* have provided from Your Body of the Living Earth. When we partake of the meaning of the land, we partake of our Divine Mother.

6. You are the Tree of Eternal Life; You are the boundless Sky of our infinite potential; and all that can *be* eternal is Eternal in Thee.

7. None of us avoids the path of sorrow, the path of pain — that we be more intensely *deepened* in You. In Your Wisdom You know that these are *necessary* for us to *attain* wisdom in You. Love of You is the beginning of true wisdom dawning into our lives.

8. From You, the healing within. And ever, in You, new surprises! You mystify and You delight us; You provide all that makes our lives worth the living.

9. In You the sheer wonder of our awareness recurrently unfolds like
flowerpetals to the morning sun. You are the Living Light Who feeds our growth & illuminates us from within.

10. The priceless Pearl, the Treasure of treasures You are, to us, Beloved; & in Your Love for us You recognize & value *us* as the treasures *we* are, to *You*, too!

~~wynn manners
29.November.2011.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Praise for God’s Wonderful Works

Psalm 111

1 Praise the LORD. I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.

2 Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who have pleasure in them.

3 Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures for ever.

4 He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful.

5 He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant.

6 He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations.

7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy,

8 they are established for ever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.

9 He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant for ever. Holy and terrible is his name!

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who practice it. His praise endures for ever!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Psalm 111

The works of Good are great
and are the praise of creation.
Good is not inward and not outward. It is both
but it is more. It is higher.
It is joined and whole. It is holy, and therefore Good.
Good is creative and the children of the Light of Good
become known in that light when they allow creation.
So get going with great praise and be creative.
All works become creative when they are re-creational and loving.
It is not what you are doing that matters
but what you are feeling about it as you do it.
Every act can be mindful, prayerful, and playful.
Then it becomes not just outward
or not just inward but whole and sacred and a Good work.
So praise the art of living
and whatever you do, make it creative.
Nothing is so small or trivial that it cannot be a prayer,
a creative act of your goodness.
Then it is no longer a duel between inner and outer
but a harmony of oneness expressing itself through Good*s idea.
Religion is not a doctrine or code of law.
Religion is a recreational playfulness of spirit.
People are not born into religion but into the game of creative choice.
People are bliss-beings that praise creativity in every way.
People are soul-spaces of infinite spiritual creativity.
They move infinity around and make it more.
Mostly they move ideas around as fun things to do with Good.
Their vocation is their vacation
and their prayers fun things to do with the consenting Universe.
Then they do not get stuck in the inside subjectively
or on the outside objectively.
They flow recreationally as holy beings
and masterminds of good-idea waves of playful choice-prayers.
Choice-prayers are magical-movements of praise
allowed to be made real. They join inward thought-forms
to the outward form-thoughts of the seen.
They allow the Idea to be shaped by desire
as fun ways of being what you are:
creative bliss-beings of light.
So take pleasure in the creative, no matter what way it happens
and creation will become your recreational playtime.
All will be a praise-prayer and Light-work of movement
created for fun by the light-worker within your Good.
Choice-prayers are the motivational magic of miracles.
They are the art of love-saints who have got it going on.
Everything comes to those who choose,
who are steadfast in their Good.
Good things are made with playful thought-fingers
and good hearts that are handy with light arrangements of reality.
Light-working love-saints write their own commandments of Yes
and only say no to hopelessness.
Their covenant is to Good and they have fun being fun.
Fear is the beginning of poor choice
but wisdom is the choice to be free.
When freedom allows love to guide it,
wisdom shines out.
Good understands and overcomes all fear
and states its goodness into reality-blossoms.
Manifestations of miraculous thoughts
that are flower-arrangements of good pleasure-forms,
and they see that as perfectly Good.
They know that Light is the love-commandment of Good
and, knowing this, they shine.

love

eric

Copyright by Eric Ashford December 2003.

Man of Steel movie supposedly full of Christian Jewish References

I definitely want to take my older kids and go see the new Superman movie, but I am not so sure the makers of Man of Steel filled it with Christian references. Just because Superman holds his arms out (in flying position?) it resembles a crucifix…? The other so-called Christian references are reaching too, imo, such as his father Jor-EL appearing as a ghost resembles the Holy Spirit and / or God-the-Father and God-the-Son working as a Trinity.

The article is very interesting though, especially intriguing is the reminder that the original Superman creators were young Jews. They chose names with -El endings for Superman and his father, El being the Jewish god’s name (and thus the Christian god’s name) and appearing in popular names Micha-EL, Gabri-EL and girls’ names EL-izabeth, Rach-EL etc.

Neil Cavuto on Fox News Business just mentioned another Christian “similarity” not listed in this article. Someone didn’t like the moviemakers switching Clark Kent from a reporter to a fisherman. Neil Cavuto humorously said, “Hey. It worked for the Apostles…”

Either way, the esoteric references will be fun to try to spot. Gotta see this flick soon.

‘Man of Steel’ filled with Jesus, Christianity references
By Justin Craig
Published June 14, 2013

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/06/14/man-steel-filled-with-jesus-christianity-references/#ixzz2WEtE8MOF

It’s a bird. It’s a plane. No, it’s … Jesus?

When Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created their iconic comic book hero Superman in 1938, their character wasn’t just a representation of “Truth, Justice and the American Way,” but for many, a metaphor for Jewish immigrants in 1930s America. Created by two young Jewish men, Superman was an allusion to the Jewish faith and history, from his baby Moses-like origins to his golem-esque invincibility, to his outcast status and his ultimate struggle to assimilate in a new land.

But somewhere along his journey since 1938, Kal-El converted to Christianity, which is no more evident than in Zack Snyder’s current “Man of Steel.”

Snyder and his “Steel” co-creators Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer have layered this latest incarnation with quite a few allusions to Jesus Christ. Here are a few:

While there isn’t a miraculous birth per se, Kal-El’s (Henry Cavill) father Jor-El (Russell Crowe) claims that his son is the first “natural” birth in centuries. All children on Krypton are genetically engineered to a pre-determined purpose and thus artificially inseminated. Not Kal-El. Jor-El and his wife Lara had some legitimate baby making going on.

There is some Christ-like imagery planted throughout “Man of Steel.” One blaring symbol occurs during a climactic battle: Superman jumps from General Zod’s (Michael Shannon) ship and hovers in the sky with his arms out-stretched like the crucifix. Freeze-frame it and you can have your own Superman prayer card.

Kal-El says he is 33, a not-too-subtle reference to the same age as Jesus Christ when he was crucified.
The Passion of Superman. Kal-El is more than willing to sacrifice himself to save the people of Earth. Originally reluctant to reveal his identity and powers to the world, Supes decides to turn himself over to Zod to save humanity from annihilation.

When things get tough, Clark Kent seeks advice from a priest. Visible in the background is a large painting of Jesus so you can see Supes and Christ side-by-side.

Superman is a non-violent being. Even though people everywhere seem to want to beat up on Clark Kent, he never returns the favor, always opting to keep the peace.

Jonathan Kent (Kevin Costner), Clark’s adoptive father, is somewhat like Jesus’ adoptive dad, Joseph. Both are tradesmen: Joseph a carpenter, Jonathan a farmer. Superman’s ship (or manger, if you will) is even kept in the Kent’s stable.

And finally, don’t forget the Holy Trinity. Jor-El returns to Kal-El on Earth as a ghost, guiding his budding superhero son on his journey to salvation. Before Jor-El sends his son off to Earth baby Moses-style, he tells his wife that, like Jesus, “He’ll be a god to them.”

With Superman’s seemingly invincible powers, he is.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/06/14/man-steel-filled-with-jesus-christianity-references/#ixzz2WEszZsFK

Pure Vision: The Magdalene Revelation

Has anyone read this intriguing sounding new book, Pure Vision: The Magdalene Revelation?

“By weaving myth, history and international intrigue, my novel PURE VISION: The Magdalene Revelation addresses the Middle East imbroglio through the eyes of a woman determined to discover the truth.

NEW YORK TIMES reporter Maggie Seline has written an explosive book that offers a controversial solution to the Middle East crisis. During a live radio interview, a kidnapping attempt is made and Maggie vanishes. Her disappearance sets in motion a worldwide women’s march toward Jerusalem that threatens the status quo and parallels a frantic race to possess ancient talismans.”

I found the book description above after reading a cool article with nifty illustrations,

The Cyrus Cylinder, Eleanor Roosevelt & The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The Cyrus Cylinder was an ancient kind of Bill of Rights — Cyrus the Persian is in the Bible and pre-dates Christianity. Our Constitution was probably influenced by Cyrus’ earliest “Bill of Rights” since Thomas Jefferson and other founding fathers studied it extensively. In the article linked just above, there are many keywords that resonate with me (and our work here at the seminary) such as Multi-faith and Interfaith, Metaphysical. What a surprise to see Magdalene’s name in a book title by the same author.

Just ordered a copy, the kindle version is less than three dollars, even though I don’t have much time to read novels any more these days! After the DaVinci Code several years ago I haven’t read but one or two.

Pure Vision: The Magdalene Revelation

“A thrill ride in the vein of The Da Vinci Code but with a much larger vision for all of us. The alchemy is part historic fiction, part spiritual adventure, and a variety of interfaith metaphysics that metamorphosize into a golden vision of world peace . . . a page turner.”
— Paul Hertel, Whole Living

“Presents a fascinating story full of intrigue and history. Birney’s fiction seamlessly blends science and religion into a tale worthy of Indiana Jones . . . The book left this reader confident that idealism is not dead and that, sometimes, it can be the road map by which we might save ourselves.”
–Cynthia Warren, Daily Freeman

“Birney infuses this epic novel with feminine echoes of The Da Vinci Code and The Red Tent, with her eyes on the prize of world peace. Reporter Maggie Seline courts controversy by championing an international Jerusalem…when she disappears, women around the globe march for peace…powerful men vie for two ancient artifacts.”
– Chronogram

Magdalene Anointing Jesus during Easter Holy Week, Sacred Marriage

Become an Ordained Minister
Mary Magdalene and Jesus depicted in Sacred Marriage. Stained glass window in Scotland church

Joan Norton wrote about Sacred Marriage this week on our discussion forum:

Sacred marriage is a mechanism of enlightenment, in my view. It is the psychological principle by which growth of the mind and heart happens on our path with God… through intimacy between people and through an intimate relationship with one’s own psyche/soul/heart/mind. The soul speaks through dreams and the story metaphors used are based on nature’s processes of intimacy, birth, growth and death. In my experience, people grow towards God-realization through intimate encounter with other people or through their own inner life. That intimacy is what is sacred about partnership, sacred marriage. I don’t know how there could be an effective religion without a story of intimacy. There has to be a model for loving intricacy of care other than the mother-child model. I love all images of the archetypal mother but they are not psychologically the same as images of two people –or gods–in love and creating life together. If loving intimacy is seen only in the Madonna/child story it becomes incestuous. It sets up a longing for a kind of immersion in an unquestioning love that doesn’t always encourage growth. Mary Magdalene requests things of Jesus and she cries adult-woman tears that change his course of action.
     Everything I know about the historical likelihood of  sacred marriage being the very heart of our Christian story I have learned from Margaret Starbird’s books and some others; but the real strength of my convictions about it came from inside myself. I’ve met a number of woman who’ve told me that when they were little girls looking at the stained glass window stories of Christianity they just knew that Mary Magdalene was Jesus’ girlfriend. It’s like that.
In Their Name,
Joan
Margaret Starbird writes:
Thanks for your wonderful remarks about the importance of the Sacred Marriage in the psyche, Joan.  Carl Jung says that the “Self” is often “imaged as a Divine or Royal couple” … :  )

Although the canonical Gospels do not agree as to the date, all four evangelists tell the story of the anointing of Jesus by the woman with the alabaster jar, confirming that this event was one of great importance to the earliest Christians.  Why? There are only a handful of stories that occur in all four Gospels, and this is one of them.  The others are:

1) the Baptism of Jesus by his cousin John
2) mulitplication of loaves and fishes
3) overturning the money changers’ tables in the Temple
4) the Crucifixion.
That should give us some idea as to the importance of the “Anointing at Bethany.”
In researching the background for the anointing of the Messiah by a woman, I discovered that this anointing of Christ in the Gospels is reminiscent of an ancient marriage rite  of “Hieros gamos” in indigenous to fertility cults in the Middle East.  The royal bride chose her consort from among the available bachelors and anointed him ceremonially as a prefiguring of the “anointing” during the marriage act in the bridal chamber.  After the consummation of the marriage, the couple was feted with a nuptial banquet–sometimes lasting for days–and the joy from the “bridal chamber” spread out into their domain, blessing the crops and herds.
Later in the liturgical season, the Bridegroom King was arrested–tortured, mutilated and executed–and laid in a tomb.  On the third day, the Bride went to the tomb to mourn the death of her Bridegroom and was overjoyed to find him resurrected in the Garden!  The ancient cults of “hieros gamos” celebrate the eternal return of Life at the time of the spring equinox…  Even the name of our East er celebration hints of these ancient roots in the “sacred marriage” festival honoring Astarte (later “Oestare”),  “Bride of the Easter Mysteries” in Canaan.
This week, “a few days before the Passover,” we read the Gospel story of the anointing of Jesus by Mary, the sister of Lazarus (John 11:2 and 12:3-5).  When Judas complained about the wasted perfume, valued at a man’s year’s wage, Jesus said, “Let her keep it for the day of my burial.”  The Mary who is present in all four Gospels and both cross and tomb is Mary Magdalene, the Bride who embraces her Beloved in the Garden on Easter morning, re-enacting the ancient mythology of the “Sacred Marriage.”  I believe that Mary Magdalene and Jesus embody the “hieros gamos” of the archetypal “Holy Bride” and “Sacred Bridegroom” with which the peoples of the ancient Near East were well familiar.
The “fragrance of the Bride”–her “precious nard”–is mentioned in the Gospel narratives.  The only other place in the Hebrew Scriptures where “nard” is mentioned is in the “Song of Songs” (aka “Song of Solomon”) where the fragrance of the Bride wafts around the Bridegroom as he reclines at the banquet table. In John’s Gospel, her fragrance “fills the house.”
Here are lines from the Song of Songs, a poem known to have derived from an ancient liturgy celebrating the “sacred marriage” of Osiris and Isis:
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!
For your love is better than wine.
Your oils have a pleasing fragrance;
your name spoken is a spreading perfume.
…
While the king was at his table

the fragrance of my nard wafted around him.

…
How much more delightful is your love than wine
And the fragrance of your oils than all spices!
*********
The Gospel of Philip (from the Nag Hammadi Gnostic library) mentions Jesus’ frequent kisses — which apparently made the Apostles jealous of Mary Magdalene. In that 2-3rd c. text, Mary is called the “koinonos” (“companion” or “consort”) of the Lord—
 
In memory of Her–
Margaret
“The Woman with the Alabaster Jar”
*************
For more on the esoteric meaning of Easter visit our Easter Cycle observances page

Is God rendered powerless by anatomy? – Women Priests

Just saw a young woman on the news who represents the Womens’ Ordination Conference. She is on her way to Rome to the Vatican. Geraldo Rivera’s brother Craig asked her if she is going to Rome “to send up a pink puff of smoke” during the Conclave to choose the new pope. She smiled and said well, sort of, but “The mission is to promote awareness that God calls women, too. And that God is not somehow rendered powerless by anatomy.”

I liked that last line… God is not rendered powerless by anatomy.

As a woman priest and bishop, (Independent Catholic — not recognized by Rome of course), I do know what she means — God calls women, too. There are thousands and thousands of female clergy in the world, their Call to service cannot be disputed. They are leading their congregations, their “flocks” just as male priests, pastors, ministers and rabbis do.

But there are no female clergy in the Roman Catholic Church, not even deacons.

As for married priests / clergy … In Judaism marriage is required to be a Rabbi. There are women Rabbis today. St Peter — the first “Pope” — was married because the Bible mentions his mother-in-law.

Also saw a news headline today that there’s a cardinal who proposes allowing women to become ordained deacons. Here’s a link to that article:

http://americamagazine.org/issue/kasper-proposes-women-deacons

Cardinal Kasper Proposes Women Deacons

SIGNS OF THE TIMES
March 11, 2013From CNS, Staff and other sources

A diaconate for women should be considered as a new role for women in the church. Cardinal Walter Kasper made this proposal during a study day discussing how to involve more women in church life, convened as part of the spring assembly of the German Bishops Conference in the city of Trier, in western Germany, on Feb. 21. Kasper spoke of a “deaconess” role that would be different from the classic deacon but could include pastoral, charitable, catechetical and special liturgical functions. The deaconess would not be designated through the sacrament of orders, but by a blessing. Many women already perform the functions of a deacon, he argued, so as a practical matter the possibility cannot be ignored. Cardinal Kasper noted that the female diaconate was foreseen in the church in the third and fourth centuries. Regarding the ordination of women, however, the cardinal said, “I do not think you could change anything in the fact that women cannot be ordained priests; it is the unbroken tradition of the Eastern Church as well as the West.”