Roar

Roar.
Roar for the poor.
Then roar some more.

Others,

The west hates itself when it looks at North Korea or Iran. Why? The media expression of aggression towards the development of nuclear power by these nations is defensive.

The west had used atomic weapons on non-combatants to “end” WWII with tyrannical oppression. The western coalition is the only alliance that has invaded foreign nations with military force since the end of WWII. High crime has been used to “win.” Now the victory shows itself as hollow; a loss pretending to be a win.

The only “bi-partisan” legislation passed in the US since the destruction of the World Trade Center towers has been made in concession to single party dominance by the party who endorsed the wars of aggression after the false flag event. 

So who bears the brunt of the indignation for single party domination? North Korea, Iran or some other single party government are presented in the western media as “threats” to human rights.

It has been bi-partisan legislation like the Patriot Act and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that has diminished civil and human rights in what had been representative government when social security was being shown adequate respect. These flawed laws have been nothing but concession to partisan aggression.

The next time you read a story about how North Korea or Iran is a threat to human rights, read it carefully. Read for facts. Watch out for propaganda. Remember, there is a need to protest flawed laws.

These laws degrade the value of social security. They undermine the authority of our welfare. We can’t entertain unlimited spending on national security and establish a balanced budget.

Joseon Hakkyo
N. Korean Schools in Japan
Chongyron organization
http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2013/06/economist-explains-18?fsrc=scn%2Fgp%2Fwl%2Fbl%2Fee%2Fnorthkorajapan
“Its schools (known as joseon hakkyo, or Joseon schools) are vestiges of Korea’s colonial history rather than true indoctrination camps. But Chongryon serves as North Korea’s de facto embassy in Japan.”

Single party government can posture as democracy. The “era of good feelings” chose to operate under the premise that all the people were united in whatever the party decided was right for the republic. It was one of the largest defaults from democracy to despotism in US history.

Many Republicans had to split from the party to encourage debate and competition. They came to be known as Democrats. Democracy has to have at least two parties in order to represent the diversity of interests among people.

When bi-partisan legislation is written to appease partisan aggression however, it is a return to de facto party dictatorship. It is better to entertain gridlock in passing legislation than it is to pass flawed law into “legal” existence.

Congress was the name applied to the US version of parliament. The intent for the name is that law will be debated and discussed until something can be passed into legislation that will not distort the representation of vested interest for the people in accord with the bill of rights. This agreement or congress has to take form in a balanced budget.

Congress means agreement. Legal agreement has to be formed in relation to the bill of rights with fairness in business and government practice.

--------------------------

“Freedom of Religion” in the Egyptian constitution had been slanted to favor the Muslim Brotherhood and Islamists. It implied a “democratic” claim to Islam as the state religion. Sectarian conflict will not be diminished unless people are allowed to participate in government without a state religion.

Egypt
Unified in Opposition to Sectarian Conflict
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2013/07/03/f-egypt-military.html?cmp=fbtl
“In April and May, Zogby Research polled over 5,000 Egyptian adults and found what they term "near universal confidence in the army." That level of confidence held across the political spectrum.”

Teaching morality is the public function for religion in a democratic society. The morality has to maintain ethical integrity if it is not to fall into the error of majority or minority tyranny. Elitism is the tyranny of the smallest minority that exploits the competition between majority and minority groups in the nation to maximize profit through industry.

The industry for war has been the largest exploitative device for elitists in history.  The following piece protests exploitation and celebrates joy with prosperity for the people.

Joy
Psalm 66 Isa.66 Gal.6 Lk. 10

Take more
from those who had
agreed to live with less?

You will hear a roar.
It is the roar for the poor.

The people say “No more.”
You will take no more
from us or the poor!

You will have
no more war
for aggression.

No more
graft for possession
by concession.

No more
deception by concession
to partisan transgression

No more
corruption by abduction
for the power of false functions.

No more
or we will show you the door
in order to restore
living for others
within reasonable means.

We will see the sun
rise to proclaim majesty
for the Author of existence!

Be joyful, all you lands.
Rejoice with peace where you live.
Be glad for all who love what you give
great Seer in the skies!

Sing for you.
Sing for me.

The earth receives seas
of light
from your shine
as you rise to the skies.
The wind finds delight
from the crushing rush
in the heat
from your bright
star’s light.

Storms find power
from the strength
of your change
by the hour.

Come now and see
the works for doing
what is right
in the living
of the good life!

We will not cease.
We will not tire.
We will work
for goodness.

We will reap
the joy of faith
in the harvest.

Be friendly.

Greet others with a smile.
Wish goodness for fortune
in life. Hope for the best.
Stay prepared for the worst.

Respect the right
to respect rights.

The love of God is with you.
When you are not welcomed
retain your protest against
domination with aggression.

 Walk with respect for faith.
Let the road meet your feet
with a gentle stride.

You will rejoice
with experience
for education
with what you learn
about yourself from others.

Bless God as LORD people!
Let the voice of your praise
be heard!

===================

Near Death Experience = NDE

NDE's provide evidence for life after death. The experience is limited to those who have had intimations of life after clinical death, but the main value appears to be the feeling that life is worth living when it is lived as worthwhile.

Bede pointed to the moment of death as life defining. If you can look back on your life with the conviction that you had done the best that you could with what you had been given, then you lived a good life. Others will remember you as an example for good living.

It becomes apparent upon reflection that ethical morality or living a good life is the practical value for faith. Morality retains ethical authenticity when the rights for an individual are earned by the representation of rights for others.

--------------------------------

When George Zimmerman pursued and killed Trayvon Martin, he threatened every law abiding person on the planet. He ignored probable cause to pursue somebody he judged to be “suspicious” because of skin color. Trayvon was not armed. He was walking home from the store with a bag of candy and an iced tea after having watched the NBA All Star game with his father.

No one in a neighborhood watch should report an incident without probable cause; much less pursue someone with a gun. When there is cause for suspicion, the police should be contacted. Hate speech with the possession of a lethal weapon constitute a valid reason for suspicion. If anyone needed to be investigated the night that Trayvon was killed, it was George Zimmerman.

The use of profanity against a group of people for having been born different with a different color and the statement “They get away with everything” shows an angry state of mind. The term ‘racist’ cannot be taken lightly in this context. The racism proved hostile intent. The pursuit proved disregard for the law.

Zimmerman gave law enforcement reason for investigating his behavior. He wasn’t even charged with murder until protest forced the state government to prosecute the charge to represent neighborhood security for people in Florida.

The corroboration of the audio tapes and the witness testimony demonstrate that George Zimmerman pursued Trayvon Martin without probable cause; that George caught Trayvon. There was a scuffle. Trayvon was pushed to the ground.

George outweighed Trayvon by 27 pounds. Anyone who knows about weight classes in sports knows that this is a significant difference. Trayvon’s DNA was found on the right sleeve of George’s jacket. The same hand that was cut on the back was used to grab the sleeve. Trayvon had grabbed George by the sleeve to stop him from punching. His hand was cut on the ground in the process.

The video at the police station shows that blood was brushed from the bottom of Zimmerman’s jacket. Blood was not sprayed all over as would have been the case had Trayvon been on top.

George Zimmerman’s claim of self defense was false; as was the testimony from Jonathon Good. The physician’s assistant testified that Zimmerman had told her that he was training in MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). Good used the terms “MMA style” and “ground pound” to describe the actions of the person on top, but he said that the darker skinned person was on top.  Good was testifying to protect Zimmerman’s claim; not to describe events as they occurred.

He was a confederate who had most likely trained in MMA with Zimmerman. It is likely that he punched Zimmerman in the nose after Trayvon had been shot to make it look like Trayvon had been the aggressor.

The chain of evidence shows that George Zimmerman is guilty of second degree murder. He had pursued Trayvon without cause. He had been the aggressor. He shot and killed an unarmed man, then used the claim of self defense to try to get away with the murder.

The NRA lobby is working to get Zimmerman acquitted because he owned a gun. The fact that he is the son of a judge only underscores the potential to cloud the issue to favor the gun owner as a legal citizen and disfavor public perception against the deceased as a delinquent teen. Justice is not a popularity contest. We are not supposed to form a judgment that defends the defendant because his skin is lighter in color than the deceased.

His membership in the majority group does not exonerate him from murder. Acquittal would send the message to gun owners that they can get away with murder if “self defense” is used for a justification. This message is not for the greater good of the public. The gun industry likes it because they believe that it will sell more of their product.

Sporting events like the NBA all star game show that people of different colors can play together well, when the rules are observed with respect for sportsmanship.

Killing for anything other than self-defense is murder. Moreover, deadly weapons can only be used in defense against lethal force. Trayvon was outweighed by 27 pounds. He was not on top doing a “ground pound” as Good had said.

George Zimmerman had the training.  He had the weight advantage. He was inflicting damage. Then he pulled out his gun and shot Trayvon in the chest. For what? We don’t know. We do know that George Zimmerman is trying to get away with murder, because that is what the evidence has shown. He needs to be convicted for the charge against him.

We need to use our taxpaying power to protest the violation of our rights by "law" in different areas of government.  We are a team that has to insure that the leadership is representing our interests. We have to join forces to oppose the elitism that seeks to set us in a perpetual life and death struggle against each other for their unending profit.

Any enterprise that has been set up to never lose, is not worth the support that had been given to it on paper.

Disney stars – Circle of Life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZeVPywKNcQ
Some say, eat or be eaten.
Some say, live and let live.
But all are agreed
as they join the stampede.
You should never take more than you give.

We need to roar for the poor; sing for goodness and joy; and celebrate our youth for truth. Hold your hand up high to testify. We believe that we need to proceed to achieve justice together for the goodness of living.

Steve K.

Wisdom

Others,

I used to say that the dichotomy between good and evil is false. We have better a polarity with 'good and bad.' Excellence is the opposition to evil. Now I see that good and evil are contrasted to propose that democracy is better than elitism.

Turn from evil. Do good. Work to resolve conflicts with reason.
http://bible.cc/psalms/34-14.htm

Evil is a controversial word, yet it is a key component in countless stories. The association with the homicidal impulse is so implicit, it hardly warrants expression. So what is the controversy?

President Ronald Reagan had used it to describe the empire promoted by the Soviet Union during the superpower competition. So? It presented a hypocritical dilemma. It is not “objective” to call another entity evil for doing the same thing as the accuser.

The US and the Soviet Union were guilty of sending in the troops to decide national issues for the people in the invaded nation. Invasion is an aggressive act. A war of aggression is unacceptable in international relations.

If the homicidal impulse is used to define evil at an individual or social level, then the genocidal motive describes it politically. Is there choice in the matter? Yes. Is it enough to point at authoritarian regimes to say that they do it, so NATO doesn’t have to worry about doing it? No. Has NATO been guilty of infraction? Yes. NATO negotiated two wars of aggression. The current policy of killing suspects as "militants" and non-combatants as "collateral damage" with drone missiles is genocidal.

Socialism is a flawed form of government. Whether it proclaims communism or implies fascism, the representation promotes industrial leadership as absolute power. Industrial leadership has displayed a lack of tolerance for protest. Protest is protected by the freedoms for speech and assembly.

Read the story for an example of fascism at work. The judgment against “Pussy Riot” suggested support for the establishment of religion.
 http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2012-08-17/pussy-riot-verdict/57109992/1

protected by the freedoms for speech and assembly. The judgment against "pussy riot" also expresses support for the establishment of religion.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2012-08-17/pussy-riot-verdict/57109992/1

What can be done to promote good? This argument will be controversial as well. It is the motivation to control others by unfair advantage that supports the use of genocide to oppress people in both foreign and domestic arenas of operation.

The bill of rights gives us freedom of speech to express opinions. It gives us the right to vote. In short, it gives us the right to participate in the political decision making process. Vote for the correction of the elitist advantage. Stand opposed to genocidal operations, nationally and internationally.

Live with care. Work with wisdom, not self-destruction.
http://bible.cc/ephesians/5-15.htm

It is difficult to live with care, when the burden for the economy has been placed on the middle class. The elitist advantage creates a sense of powerlessness in the people of a democratic republic. The bill of rights was added to the Constitution in insure that the people would be represented. When the wealthiest don’t pay for their share, the middle and lower classes suffer. It is difficult to make ends meet.

The money is in the hands of the wealthiest and the elite are paying to keep it that way. When there were programs for the people, money circulated through the economy. The public sector helped to support the private sector. Now there is not as much money available for the middle and lower classes to make ends meet. It is all too easy for those who don’t have enough to obtain provisions to let despair drive actions into self-destruction.

The wealthiest are not exempted from despair. The unfair advantage manifests as mania. Mania is a form of powerlessness over power. Powerlessness engenders despair during the crash from mania.

Living with care becomes even more important in an unstable economic structure. Many of us have had our shadow days. Things were done that were not beneficial for safety, health or social relations. Often enough, the cost for these actions was unaffordable. Repair becomes the name of the game in recovery. We need to live with care for repair.

What is the best way to live? The search for design in life helps each to find that answer for personal and social benefit.

Wisdom has built her house with seven pillars.
http://bible.cc/proverbs/9-1.htm

Consider the wisdom of Piceras, the seven fundamental parts of life.
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/295/5563/2215.fullerlessness in the people of a democratic republic. The bill of rights was added to the Constitution to insure that the people would be represented. When the wealthiest don't pay for their share of the deficit, the middle and lower classes suffer. It is difficult to make ends meet.

The money is in the hands of the wealthiest and the elite are paying to keep it that way. When there were programs for the people, money circulated through the economy. The public sector helped to support the private sector. Now it is all too easy to let despair drive actions into self-destruction. This is true for the wealthiest as well since the unfair advantage manifests as mania.

Living with care however becomes even more important in an unstable economic structure. Many of us have had our shadow days. Recovery becomes the name of the game. We need to live in repair.

Now look at this re-write for ancient writ.

cidal motive describes it politically. Is there choice in the matter? Yes. Is it enough to point at authoritarian regimes to say that they do it, so NATO doesn't have to worry about doing it? No.

What can be done? This argument will be controversial as well. It is the motivation to control others by unfair advantage that supports the use of genocide to oppress people in both foreign and domestic arenas of operation.

The bill of rights gives us freedom of speech to express opinions. It gives us the right to vote. In short, it gives us the right to participate in the political decision making process. Vote for the correction of the elitist advantage. Stand opposed to genocidal operations nationally and internationally.

"Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
there's still time to change the road you're on."

Wisdom
Ps34 Prov9

Please, give me an understanding mind
to love other people; to choose good;
to turn from evil; to complete the work
that has been set before me.

Fear fear;
too much or too little
causes harm..

Fear apathy;
that which takes caring
and concern from you.

Fear panic;
that which disables movement
when you need to move
or makes you run into harm
when moving elsewhere is safest.

Fear mania;
that which makes the destruction
of others the motivation for movement.

Young lions suffer hunger,
but those who save surplus,
conserve energy
and preserve resources,
respect providence.

Those who respect provision
from the Creator
lack nothing that is good.

Wisdom has built her house
with seven pillars. Each day
is part of the building.
Each week builds the month:
each month the year;
each year a decade;
each decade a life.

Wisdom has gathered her provisions.
She has prepared the meal
and mixed the wine with water.
The table has been set.
Invitations have been sent.

She says,
“Come. Taste my bread.
Drink my wine. Listen to me.

“Leave immaturity.
Turn from evil. Do good.
Seek peace. Pursue it.
Make decisions with insight.
Walk in the way of life.”

Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
Those who look for goodness will act
for the love of others as well as self.
Lessons will be learned in the process.
Understanding is built, torn down
and re-built.

=====================

Goodness is essential to the quality of life. The search for it is the goal for both government and religion. What does this mean? Goodness has objective properties. Survival is regarded as a good for the life of the species. Obtaining provisions for existence is something that is necessary for the survival of each. Goodness also has subjective properties. There are things that are simply a matter of taste. 

Find goodness. Share it when it’s right. Share that amount that is appropriate for the independence of any who are receiving it.

Dave Matthews - So Much to Say
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgJOjB8-e8w&feature=fvwrel

"I say my hell is the closet I’m stuck inside;
Can’t see the light.
And my heaven is a nice house in the sky.
Got central heating
and I’m alright…
Treading trodden trails for a long long time...
I find sometimes it's easy to be myself.
Sometimes, I find it better to be somebody else."

Look for goodness with faith. Find it. Enjoy it.
Share it when you can.

Steve K.

The Red Door

Others,

There was a red door. It was the cry for war. War however, was just a distraction for genocide.

Genocide is not an acceptable tool for government. The western coalition needs to look for who will be recognized to replace Assad when his regime falls.

The Syrian National Congress represents the Sunni majority. They will have to negotiate representation for the minority Christians and Alawites. This is where freedom of religion plays a part. This is where the other freedoms and rights of the constitution factor into play. Representation has to include minorities without making a minority interest the rule of law.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2012-07-14/syria-massacre/56221332/1

The following re-write celebrates the movement away from destruction as the basis for leadership.

Destruction
Ps24 Ps85 2Sam6  Eph1 Amos7

Our beloved had gathered
all the chosen from the competition.
They set out from the station
with the leaders of praise
to bring up the ark of the promise
with the wings of passage to life.
The workers of the earth
brought it from the house
on the hill of nobility.

The earth is our foundation;
the world and all who dwell therein
belong to the love for creation.
We are the workers of the earth.

It is the CREATOR who raised the land above the seas
and made it firm between the currents of the deep.

Who can ascend the hill of nobility
and dance before the ark of promise?
Those who have not pledged themselves
to destruction nor devoted themselves
to falsehood may rejoice with love.

Our beloved brought out the ark
to the city of peace with rejoicing.
Christ danced before the fulfillment of the promise
and made contributions to celebrate community
with dancing and sounds of joy.

Lift up your heads, O people;
lift them high as though you were raising gates.
You are the doors; the passage for truth.
You will become part of the fulfillment.

There is a plumb line
for constructing competition;
the location for derision
will be left desolate;
the sanctuaries for contempt
will be brought down.

Condemnation
by accusation
will be stopped.
Justice will be achieved
by scientific investigation
with due process of law.
We will win liberty
by respecting
our rights together.

I will listen to what the LORD God is saying.
Words of peace are being spoken to the faithful;
to those who turn their hearts to faith.

Salvation is near those who fear
the deception of perception;
Mercy and truth have met.
Righteousness and peace have kissed.

Integrity will spring up from the earth;
Glory will shine down from heaven.

Free will was pre-destined from before the beginning.
We were designed for adoption as children of God.
When you heard the word of truth, the gospel of salvation,
you were marked by the zeal of the seal with promise
in the Holy Spirit. This is the pledge of our inheritance:
we are being redeemed from destruction as God’s own people
to the praise of the greater glory.

The LORD will grant prosperity.
Our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before us.
The uncreated light will be a pathway
for our feet.

======================

The UN is managing intervention with fact finding missions in Syria.

The invasion of Afghanistan had circumvented the FBI investigation of suspected terrorist acts and UN investigation of claims regarding terrorist camps.

There was a red door. It was the cry for war. It was the claim that we were under attack by “terrorists” from training camps in Afghanistan. The claim was not investigated. The invasion was an act of aggession.

Like the destruction of the WTC towers, it was assumed that the officials who constructed the official story knew what had happened. The trouble is that they knew that they were moving the US around pre-cautions against military invasion. They knew that they had made the red door. They also knew that they were blaming it on “Arab terrorists” so they could force regime change in a neighbor to China and Iran.

The escalation of military action in Viet Nam had been justified by the claim that US vessels had been attacked. They failed to mention that the vessels were in North Vietnamese waters.

I see a red door.

Rolling Stones – Paint It Black
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InRDF_0lfHk&feature=related

I want to paint it black. I want to go back. The investigation into the destructive events in the US on 9/11/01 needs to be re-opened.

Steve K.

Correction

Others,

There isn’t a problem with the reference to “the Fall” in the bible as a myth, when it is used as a symbolic expression for truth with respect for faith. Profound truth is expressed by the myth. The truth refers to aspects of historical reality, but it is not a literal expression of history.

Biblical criticism has "unearthed" many historical frames of reference for the story of the Fall. It was written during the exile. It was written to contrast the creation account in the "Enuma Elish." It was written as an expression of Judaic monotheism. The promise for eternal life in the fruit of immortality was an allusion to the covenant as an expression of faith that God rules and slavery is not acceptable to the Torah.

The Serpent was Marduk, the Mesopotamian deity of fertility. The Gates of Ishtar show him as a serpent with legs.

The story about the Fall itself was a way of grappling with the loss of the kingdom of Judah and protesting the injustice inherent to the code of Hammurabi.

Monogamy is seen as an economic correlate with monotheism. The couple is responsible for the offspring that is produced by sexual reproduction.

The life of Judah as an independent kingdom was given up as a lost cause. This story was about accepting long term relations as a province of empire. Some compromises were made that took centuries to correct. The provision for democratic government and against cruel punishment in the English Bill of Rights (1689) was instrumental in making justice corrective, not destructive.

Slavery, torture and genocide would later come to be outlawed. When we read the bible, it has to be understood in terms of the progress that has taken place since it was recorded. Thus, the teleology of evolution corrects errant biblical as well as non-biblical metaphysics in relation to justice and government. The metaphysics of truth for liberty, justice and providence rule out obsession with aggression, destruction and death.

Correct the Concession

Ps 1 1Jhn5 Jhn 17

Those who have not advanced
the destructiveness of genocide;
nor the stagnation of slavery;
nor the destruction of the accused;
nor the torments of torture;
nor the amplification of aggression;
nor the dissent of depression
are happy.

Their delight is the law of the LORD.
They meditate on benefits for morality day and night.
They are like trees planted by a stream;
bearing fruit in season. Their leaves don’t wither.
They prosper in everything that they do.

It is not so with extremists.
They are like chaff blown by the wind.

Those dedicated to dictatorship
will be convicted when judgment comes;
Tyranny will not be allowed into the council of congress.

While human testimony can be
corroborated with physical evidence,
the testimony of God is greater.
The Father has testified for his Son.
Jesus is the Son.
Those who believe in Christ
have the evidence written in their hearts.
This is the word of truth for justice:
God gave us life
with the resurrection.

Jesus prayed, “The words that you gave to me,
I have passed to those whom you anointed.
All mine are yours.
Yours are mine.
I have been glorified in them.
Sanctify them in truth
with liberty, justice
and providence.
Your word is true.
As you sent me into the world,
I have sent them.
Let them prosper
with your sanctification.

===================

The US Sees Hopeful Signs in Talks with Iran
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/19/world/middleeast/officials-see-promising-signs-for-iran-nuclear-talks.html

The talks with Iran show progress with peril. The negotiations finally admit to hope for progress. There is a measurable substance (weapons grade uranium) that is being addressed, but the threat of military force is being used to oppress Iran.

The Iranian bill of rights is the main point of contention. There isn’t one. They need one. The west needs to insist on a bill of rights for Iran, Israel and every other nation that doesn’t have one.

The bill of rights needs to express respect for liberty, dedication to the correction of crime, acknowledgement of the need for providence and opposition to cruel and unusual punishment.

When we represent rights for people, international relations are improved. It is a one for all and all for one effort.

HS Musical2: All for One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Axv3bGOawx0

All for one! The heat of summer has begun!

Everybody! “One for all” and “all for one”!

Steve K.

Faith v. Fate

Others,

Syria is the US without the bill of rights. It has a constitution. It holds elections. Islam is not the state religion. It has a number of parties. It is modern. It is industrialized. It has an impact upon the world.

It does not however, respect freedom of speech as a human right. Protest is regarded as dissidence. Dissidents are terrorists. Non-violent protest is a prelude to armed rebellion. Consider the ramifications for not voting for the "president."

While Syria has a number of parties, the parties are subordinated to single party domination. The party is the majority party and the socialist republic. The republic is subjected to the rule of industry.

Freedom of speech requires that parties oppose each other with non-violent protest in debate. Parties must balance each other into representation. Representation is based on liberty and justice for all, not the abuse of majority rule.
There is no freedom of expression with “the party.” Just government requires balanced representation of the people. Party forces face each other in strength without violence.

Violence and Diplomacy in Syria (Wed. April 18, 2012)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uN52moXnL8U&feature=share

Asma Assad, the “President’s” Wife
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/17/asma-assad-video_n_1432102.html?

How is it that the western world whose political system evolved out of the Middle East has come to be so different? Freedom of religion established the ground for theism before it was officially recognized by government as a human right. Theism has affected a change in the standards for justice with the documentation of human rights.

The provision against cruel and unusual punishment stands against certainty of conviction based on the status of the accuser. It requires due process in criminal investigation for law enforcement. If the prosecution does not prove that the accused is guilty of the charge brought by the people, the accused is acquitted. The convicted are to be punished for correction.

Cruelty was aimed at the destruction of the convicted, not the correction of the offense. Now retribution requires restitution and correction.

Freedom of religion in Christianity started with the apostles. Most of the apostles did not have formal education. Matthew had enough training to qualify as a tax collector. Others were fishermen.

Jews and Christians were subordinated by the empire. Christians weren't even known as Christians. They were simply followers of Jesus, a Jew from Nazareth. Roman law was not much better than the code of Hammurabi. The death penalty was used all too liberally. There was a thief in addition to a murderer that hung on the cross like Jesus.

Jesus was not guilty of sedition. He turned over tables in the temple shortly before the crucifixion, but it was not worthy of the death penalty. Not everyone accepted the standards of cruelty for punishment as just.

Ezekiel had stated that God does not desire the death of a sinner. The desire is for the sinner to turn from his way and live. The way of the sinner is the path of destruction; the rule of death. Ezekiel had made the statement about redemption during the exile. Clearly, this statement would eventually help to establish the provision against cruel and unusual punishment in the English bill of rights (1689), but it took a long time to generate.

It took a long time for people to realize that the cruelty of the death penalty prohibited the correction of crimes lesser in offense than murder. Torture only inflicted alienation on the victim. Since violence and cruelty creates criminal behavior, torture only changes the way the crimes of the criminal are manifested.

The acceptance of death on the cross was a way of refusing to be intimidated into sedition or criminal behavior by threats of death. Empire was prone to make "statements" about the power to kill, maim or injure based on the refusal to burn incense to the emperor. The metaphysics of destruction was the rule of cruelty. Justice was not the primary concern of the law. Oppression was.

Reporting other people as the ones who weren't emperor worshipers was a way that some people avoided persecution. The issue about the lapsi after Christianity became "legal" was about the "Christians" who had reported the Christians who had refused to burn incense in public ceremony for the emperor. While prejudice against the Jews hadn't been eradicated, there were so-called Christians as well as so-called Jews and so-called citizens who had used the death penalty to have their competitors eliminated.

Meanwhile, the empire continued to make "statements" about the power of the state to oppress people with cruelty. Who was the real criminal? It was whoever believed that the metaphysics of destruction was necessary to rule over others. Citizens of the state could make criminals look like choir boys.

Beyond Within And Back Again fm Ps 4

Answer me when I call.
Defend me
Defender of my cause.
You set me free when
I am held captive.
“How long will you worship idols
and run after false gods?”

Know that the Wonderworker works wonders.
When you call, you will be heard.
Tremble with the earth.
Let your prayer explode
like a volcano.
Send the request
to heaven.

The answer will touch
down like a tornado.
You will be liberated
from captivity
to injustice.

Let your light shine
like that of the sun.
You will redeem the world
from slavery and cruelty.

Let the light of your countenance
rise up to reveal the new day.
Put your trust in the love of God.
Make offerings in accordance with your means.

You put gladness in my heart.
You bestow blessings upon me.
Many are saying, “Bless us with better times.”

See what love God has given us;
that we may be called children?
That is what we are.
We have been born again
with the resurrected Christ
into love for God.

We have been redeemed from cruelty.
We are directed from destruction.
We are aimed at justice.
We seek the correction of injustice.

Why do we wonder about the joy
and strength that we have been given?
The unemployed are given hope.
The lame are given the strength to walk.

The God of our ancestors
has glorified Jesus
who had been handed over to Pilate;
who had been rejected.
He had been delivered to torture;
handed over to death.
God raised him from the dead.

Everyone who commits sin
is guilty of lawlessness.
We had been lawless.
We had nailed him
to the cross.

We have confessed our sin.
Now the resurrected Christ is with us.
He abides with us as we eat.
He dwells in us through
every act of providence.

Christ says,
“Everything written about me in the law of Moses,
the prophets and the psalms had to be fulfilled.
The Messiah had to suffer to rise
from the dead on the third day.”

Forgiveness of sins will be given
to those who ask for it.
Restitution will be given
to achieve retribution.
Correction will be made
to restore the rule of law
with the people.

Proclaim the love of God to all nations.
You are witnesses to these things.
Peace be with you.

(Acts 3:12-19; Psalm 4; 1 John 3:1-7; Luke 24:36-48)

=========================

The bible doesn't say that scripture is to be placed first in decision making processes. Christian scriptures are highly valued as a document of literary and historical expressions about belief in monotheism as derived from the Judaic tradition. I agree with John Locke. Use reason with revelation to guide judgment.  We are new Jews too, if that is what we choose.

Political structures have improved. Social norms have evolved. The most important change is that regarding the use of law to affect correction as opposed to destroying the accused as "criminals."

Democracy had been tried for a short period of time by Athens prior to the documentation of the bible, but it was not the political standard for the time. The most important change in political norms is that regarding the use of law to affect redemption rather than the destruction of the "convicted." Cruelty has been reduced in the world. Crimes by the state have decreased in number and severity.

Bibliophiles maintain an important role in viewing recorded history. The literary expressions in the bible allow for participation in the scientific investigation that looks at evidence that preceded recorded history. That which is scientific about the theory of evolution is valuable to society.

Darwin however was wrong about some important things even in regards to scientific theory. He conflated monism with evolution. He asserted that humans are descended from monkeys; not after primates. The assertion adds unnecessary variables to the "theory" that makes it non-scientific.

His basic assumptions are such that certain species were developed by the crossbreeding of members from other species. It also assumes that other mutations in physical characteristics were induced by in-breeding. It was the "aristocratic" justification for in-breeding in different clothing.

The underlying implication is such that beastiality and incest are sanctioned as experiments. Aggression is the norm in this view of nature. The male dominates by forcing himself on any female irrespective of whether the female is in the species or in the family. The female dominates by deception.  Law is developed to support the domination. It is not an accident that social Darwinism came after Darwin.

I don't support Darwin. I argue with his followers. The most aggressive still argue as though he were a god. Others accept the monkey king as god with Darwin. Intelligent Design is an alternative to atheism, monkey god metaphysics or any other metaphysical interpretation of science.This said, I stand by the bill of rights. I won't promote ID as the only way to interpret evolution. If ID is limited to biblical interpretation, it is sectarian. It can be viewed as a form of establishment.

Science for theists allows for the expansion of theism in relation to evidence drawn from the scientific exploration of the world. It necessitates the participation of members from other religions (Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus) as well as that of atheists and agnostics.

American society had two parties that were operating within the rules of democracy during the Great Society. Now, the Democrats are working for democracy; the Republicans are pushing for more elitism. Elitism is not democratic. It makes democracy a sham; a scam for dictatorship. Elitism will destroy the US if it grows in strength. We will walk the plank with our eyes wide open.

Goyte – Eyes Wide Open
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyVJsg0XIIk&feature=relmfu

Occupy the rule of law in democracy.
Support a scientific society with respect for human rights.

Steve K.