Classic... But it looks like the band has only made it available for a limited time.
(During the holiday season, I guess). I believe I still have the original DVD somewhere. Should still be available to purchase online, I would think. Worth getting. It's brilliant. And of course, a definite Christmas Classic, for sure; for the whole family...
My own, latest holiday release...
A Psychologically Brilliant Christmas Meditation
"We do not detach ourselves from things in order to attach ourselves to God, but rather we become detached from ourselves in order to see and use all things in and for God. There is no evil in anything created by God, nor can anything of His be an obstacle to our union with Him. The obstacle is within our 'self', that is to say in the tenacious need to maintain our separate, external, egotistic will... It is then the false self that is our god, and we love everything, for the sake of this self. We use all things, so to speak, for the worship of this idol which is our imaginary self. In so doing we pervert and corrupt things, or rather we turn our relationship to them into a corrupt and 'sinful' relationship. We do not thereby make them evil, but we use them to increase our attachment to our illusory self...
Those who try to escape from this situation by treating the good things of God as if they were evils are only confirming themselves in a terrible illusion. They are like Adam blaming Eve and Eve blaming the serpent in Eden. 'Woman has tempted me. Wine has tempted me. Food has tempted me. Woman is pernicious, wine is poison, food is death. I must hate and revile them. By hating them I will please God...' These are the thoughts and attitudes of a baby, of a savage and of an idolater who seeks by magic incantations and spells to protect his egotistic self and placate the insatiable little god in his own heart. To take such an idol for God is the worst kind of self-deception. It turns a man into a fanatic, no longer capable of sustained contact with the truth, no longer capable of genuine love. In trying to believe in their ego as something 'holy' these fanatics look upon everything else as unholy...
Some men seem to think that a saint cannot possibly take a natural interest in anything created. They imagine that any form of spontaneity or enjoyment is a sinful gratification of 'fallen nature'. That to be 'supernatural' means obstructing all spontaneity with cliche's and arbitrary references to God. The purpose of these cliche's is, so to speak, to hold everything at arms length, to frustrate spontaneous reactions, to exorcise feelings of guilt. Or perhaps to cultivate such feelings! One wonders sometimes if such morality is not after all a love of guilt! They suppose that a life of a saint can never be anything but a perpetual dual with guilt...
A saint is capable of loving created things and enjoying the use of them and dealing with them in a perfectly simple, natural manner, making no formal references to God, drawing no attention to his own piety, and acting without any artificial rigidity at all. His gentleness and his sweetness are not pressed through the pores by the crushing restraint of a spiritual straight-jacket. They come from his direct docility to the light of truth and to the will of God. Hence a saint is capable of talking about the world without any explicit reference to God, in such a way that his statement gives greater glory to God and arouses a greater love of God then the observations of someone less holy, who has to strain himself to make an arbitrary connection between creatures and God through the medium of hackneyed analogies and metaphors that are so feeble that they make you think that there is something the matter with religion. The saint knows that the world and everything made by God is good, while those who are not saints either think that created things are unholy, or else they don't bother about the question one way or the other, because they are only interested in themselves...
To worship our false selves is to worship nothing. And the worship of 'nothing' is hell!"
-Thomas Merton
(Ironically, a brilliantly insightful and very wise Catholic Monk! and Mystic)
And this bastardization of Christianity (and Christmas) seems to have become just one result. And also (among other things) what is contemporarily (and politically) now known as 'Christian Nationalism'. And a great example as to why I strongly believe in The Separation of Church and State myself, as being wisely stated as a Civil Protection in The First Amendment of The Constitution, in relation to the dangers that otherwise could be the result, one way or the other (as we are now seeing) that seemed to be well known by the Founders of this Country, just from history itself...
Sound familiar? It should. A charlatan is a charlatan, no matter what stripe. (And using religion and faith to this end is one of the oldest and most disgusting tricks in the book). No further comment...
Disclaimer: The 'Christian Nationalism' article I reference above, seems to portray Marjorie Taylor Greene in a somewhat negative light. She has since expressed her own convictions about what she believes is the right thing to do. She has a right to vote in whatever way she believes (after all, she is, at least right now, still a Republican) but where it really counted, on behalf of those she believed have been treated unfairly, she has come through like a freakin' trooper, man! For that, I strongly commend and respect her. Same thing regarding North Carolina Senator: Thom Tillis. Even though I don't personally agree with ALL their political views, I was deeply moved (and impressed) when push came to shove, by their integrity. They do not betray the Christian faith they claim to profess, by sincerely following their conscience, doing the right thing, and acting justly. I am in awe of them. (And deeply respect them). This is what a true politician (and 'Public Servant') should be all about. (No matter what political affiliation they subscribe to). Everyone (from both sides) should take a lesson from them. Wow...
Crazy sh*t. But life back then must have been so hard to begin with. Makes you (or me at least) feel sorry for some of the people. (As life, and death, is hard enough as it is). And it still doesn't explain how we all got here, and what really ultimately created it all. (Although, the Jewish One God thing is probably the closest to reality, I would think.
In some way, shape, or form at least). Because, all we have right now, is mostly mythology to explain how it all got so fu**ed up. (Other then man's own free will). And why there is that contradiction. (And how man himself has, generally speaking, become such a flawed and fallen creature, in light of the brilliance of creation itself, and some kind of obviously apparent intelligent design). Some REALLY interesting (and enlightening) stuff here though, for sure. In the end really, its all about compassion. I can't stand people who (deliberately) do not have at least that much common sense. And isn't that what Christmas is really all about anyway? Or, what it has at least developed (and evolved) into, after all these centuries? I think, that at least, is a good thing. "Good will to all people" as the holiday saying goes. And in making this time here a little easier. And, anyone who uses religion in just the opposite way, is nothing but pure evil. I don't care who you are. If the story of Jesus is real in some way (despite all the contradictions in the Christian New Testament) then it would be a response to the suffering of humanity. In other words, the Creator saying: "I get it. You didn't ask to be born. Therefore, you didn't deserve to have a migraine headache as if your head was crowned with thorns. Or a leper, as if your flesh was unjustly torn from your body. I will do something no other strange god has done. I will take this suffering on myself, to show you that I do get it. And that I do understand. And that there is hope. And that there is an answer. And I will not turn away anyone who comes to me with an affliction, but will heal them all! To show you that I AM (unlike the false gods) real; and that I do care, and that I am a good God." That is the only answer, for God to be represented in Jesus. Everything else (as we can already see) is just contradiction. (Either a complete, or at least a partial contradiction). Therefore, if God is real and a personal God (who really wants to dwell among men) he doesn't need anyone to prove he is God, except himself. And anyone he uses to do that. Therefore, it wouldn't be just for God to ask Jesus to do what he did, unless God did it himself. So therefore, if there is any truth to the story at all (that the REAL God would take on the suffering of humanity itself, to show how much he really does love us and understands our suffering) then Jesus would have to be God himself. There could be NO OTHER WAY. (For him to really be, a just and a good God, who takes responsibility for his creation). And would have to, therefore, suffer death himself, but would also have to rise from the dead, to give the final proof that HE IS GOD! Jesus was just the body he needed to do these things, and experience these things himself. Just sayin'. (The ascension thing is another matter).
Yea, this is another one in relation to the contradiction thing, and its another BIG one!
And I agree, that these things are important to know, in relation to potentially making a decision about what you believe, and who you pray to. Especially, with all the (crazy) televangelists out there asking for your money. Crazy beliefs = crazy people. Not really knocking Christianity here though. (Of course, there are still good, sincere people who claim to be devout Christians as well). But, as I said, these things (in my opinion anyway) are extremely important to know, for what should be obvious reasons...
There's some crazy sh*t in the Old Testament as well. Yet, with all due respect to the Jewish people, there's some brilliant and positive things there too, but it's definitely not immune from contradictions itself. One has to just keep in mind that religion is not God!
And that is why you have more then just a few contradictions, like the passage in the Hebrew bible, where (allegedly) Moses states that God told him to tell the people to stone to death the man who was caught gathering sticks on the sabbath!!! Which, of course, makes Moses a murderer, not completely unlike Charles Manson himself!
(And maybe, that's really the reason he didn't make it into the promised land? I don't know. But its DEFINITELY strange though). And then, you have these comparatively positive, deeply compassionate and just passages like this one...
"How long will you judge unjustly and favor the cause of the wicked? Defend the lowly and fatherless; render justice to the afflicted and needy. Rescue the lowly and poor; deliver them from the hand of the wicked... Arise, O God, judge of the earth, for yours are all the nations." -Ps. 82: 2-4, 8.
Hmm? (Interesting). Just sayin'. (And something you'll just about never hear among the Christian Right). Wow. And that's a HUGE contradiction in itself. I don't get it?
Except, for the fact, that the bible DID have many different authors to begin with.
(And that DOES say ALLOT in itself, no matter what anybody tells you. I don't care who it is. It's right there in black and white. There's no refuting it). Whew. I mean, that's spiritually powerful stuff. It covers pretty much everything, including Karma...
In fact, they say that much of the brilliant and incredibly insightful wisdom stuff in the 'Wisdom' books of the Hebrew Bible was attributed to King Solomon, or those who wrote in his spirit. (And I believe, these works even surpass the writings of Lao Tzu and the Tao Te Ching). Another interesting fact, is that the Jewish authors themselves, had indicated in their writings, that most of the ancient Israelite kings were evil! Hmm? Though, Solomon, was considered to be one of the few wise and just Israelite Kings. Although, from what I understand, that even though most of the Book of Proverbs for instance, is a compilation of wisdom quotes attributed to Solomon, much of the preface was considered to have been added by another writer, to be taken as a warning to the King himself, because "he loved many women." Which is why it kind of seems out of place. Neither here nor there, but interestingly, both King David and King Solomon, actually had a harem! Which was actually considered to be perfectly acceptable in those days. (Once again, so much for those on the Christian Right, who consider the entire Bible to be the infallible and inerrant word of God). But anyway, yea, the ancient Wisdom Books of the Hebrew Bible (whether considered canonical or not) seem to be like a blueprint for a just society; inspired by King Solomon himself...
(And much of it seems to even contradict some of the negative stuff in other parts of the Hebrew scriptures, attributed to other writers). And out of much of this, also came the ancient mystical wisdom centered practice known as Kabbalah. I mention these things, so those (like myself) who ARE honest, and who sincerely want to know the truth (after seeing some of the videos here) would not despair. It's all just mostly critical thinking and objective reasoning, that I mostly posted here as a reference, for myself, if nothing else. (Although, the fool will deliberately reason as a fool). As there are so many bad things in this world to begin with, and allot of bad people with bad motives, and bad answers, that just do not add up. Because, as I stated before, religion is not God...
And true wisdom (like God) is really beyond (any man made) religion, and beyond Christian Fundamentalism (or any other fundamentalism) for that matter. Too deep...
"I always thought the great flood was the cause of "the Gods," because they were always in conflict with each other. One side giving humans knowledge, while the other side didn't want that. Right before the flood the Gods came to certain humans to tell them what's about to happen and to prepare. That's why Noah build a huge boat, in Turkey they build an insanely large underground tunnel system to survive for hundreds or thousands of years. Same shit in every continent on Earth about preparing for a catastrophic event." -YouTube Viewer
Excellent, and very informative discussion in relation to Christian Extremism and Christian Nationalism, covering some of the usual suspects and more; from someone who REALLY seems to know what he is talking about, from an insider perspective...
Just a different perspective on things, particularly, because it mentions the study of Kabbalah. But the theory does bring with it as many questions as answers. I personally believe myself (and what makes the most sense to me) is that we very well may be living on some kind of Prison Planet, which the beginning of the book of Genesis seems to hint at, in a mythological sense, but which really has a deeper meaning: that our ancestors were banned here (from a place of paradise, possibly from another planet) because of their destructive tendencies. (Hence, the UFO thing). This may also at least partly explain (for instance) why we always seem to get these evil rulers, who are extremely self-centered and destructive by their very nature to begin with. Vladimir Putin as just one excellent example. Our world could be a paradise, but there seems to be a deeper explanation as to why it isn't. And at the same time, there are those of us who do seem to have evolved past this primitive gene pool, regardless. Who do seem to get it. (And who are evident here and there, down thru the generations). And that could be where the future of this planet lies, unless mankind destroys itself in the meantime...
"When I was young, around 9 years, I used to think to myself, "What if this world is all but a dream?". Now I'm 20, and realize that it is, and I too have the responsibility to create heaven on earth now. Thank you." -YouTube Viewer
"I actually had gnostic beliefs as a child before I even knew what Gnosticism was."
-YouTube Viewer
Yea, this sorta goes to the previous video about the 2 different types of God thing, and the contradictions in the Old Testament that understandably make many question much of its validity in this regard to begin with. (Of course, there are contradictions in the New Testament as well, as has already been noted and proven). For, as we can see at the beginning of this video, (supposedly) God (allegedly) commands Saul thru the prophet Samuel to actually commit murder! (As there was actually a thing in the Old Testament called 'Putting Everything Under The Ban'. In other words, when there was a war for instance, it meant going into that city or town and deliberately killing everyone, including women and children!) And of course, that's REALLY bad, in more ways then one. Because, I myself (among many others) strongly believe that there are certain spiritual laws built into the very fabric of the Universe itself, that when you commit really grievace crimes such as this, it will have some pretty negative repercussions. (In somewhat of a spiritual sense). Like karma, if you will. (But I'm not going to go there).
Its really interesting stuff though, again, because it makes you question many of the things that we have been told, as really not being the truth, or questionable at best.
And that makes all the difference in the world. Because, once again, I definitely believe we need some kind of Paradigm Shift, in more ways then one, because the old models are just not working anymore, and really never did work. (And nothing ever really did change with the development of Christianity as we know it). Also, because, for the first time in human history, we have the nuclear capability of destroying the world many times over, and making it virtually uninhabitable...
"Thank you for your comment. You raise some interesting points. In Matthew 10:28 Jesus does not reference 'Hell' but 'Gehenna.' They are not the same thing. The verb apollumi indicates ruination, or destruction as a completed action, so nothing to do with "eternal torture." Matthew 23:33 also is about Gehenna. John 3:36 is more interesting. I think that you and I would both have a problem with that text What does the 'orge' of God mean? It can mean anger, fate, reckoning, or judgement. If we interpret it as "anger" in the sense of it being impossible ever to appease God's fury if we offend him by rejecting the son, this means we are describing a God who signally fails to live up to the morality which Jesus taught us. Indeed if that is the interpretation then this unforgiving God could hardly fail on a more dramatic scale! The illogic of that has to be called out. Health and Peace, Paul."
-Paul Wallis replying to a viewer's comment on YouTube.
Yea, that may be because, God may not really send individuals to hell (or even Heaven) to begin with. It very well may be more like a state of mind (a state of being, if you will). For instance (and this is kind of difficult to put into words, but I know what I mean) I worked with a pretty strange individual (if I can be frank) who had this REALLY hideous, seemingly demonic looking background image on his computer, that I found really disturbing, sick, and abhorrent. (Call me funny that way). But to me, it also spoke volumes in itself in relation to this person. Now, I kinda' hate to say it, but a guy with that kind of mentality, and fondness of such images, would more then likely not really like what is just the opposite of that image. Get me? So heaven would be like abhorrent to him, in a way. And if that is really what is in his soul (his spirit and mind) and what that image really represents, he may even contaminate such a place, ruining it for others. So, there would therefore, even have to be some kind of boundary line between him and those like him, so that one couldn't cross over to the other side. (Especially, if God is a just God). Same thing with someone who is a serial killer, for instance. (As an extreme example). Heaven would really be like Hell, to such a person, if you know what I mean? (And visa, versa). This also seems to be verified by some psychic-mediums for example, that this concept is really beyond religion. Some religions (particularly mainstream organized religions and beliefs like Christianity for instance) have just borrowed these beliefs (and Near Death Experiences, if you will) and incorporated it into their particular religion. However, there is a passage in the Hebrew scriptures (I believe it is in one of the Wisdom books) that seems to even go to this point in a way, for instance. It says: "The wicked are an abomination to the just, and the just are an abomination to the wicked"! Kind of the same premise, if you really think about it. (And VERY wise and brilliantly insightful, either way, if you ask me). Just like a serial killer, for instance, would be abhorrent to someone who has empathy. Just like empathy is abhorrent to a Serial Killer! (In fact, it is interesting to note, that it has been said, by experienced Exorcists and Shamans for example, and which seems to carry over to sociopathic human beings for example, that demonic spirits absolutely HATE empathy!) Duh. But just my two cents here, mind you, and something to think about...
By the way, I had to use this guy's computer at one point, while he was out, is why I mention this story. It's like they got off on me having to see this image every day, while I was using his computer. And I'm not even very religious (just a seeker of the truth, if you will) but some things are just so blatantly obvious, that it is hard (for any rational and sane person) to dismiss as being normal, in the true sense of the word. "Get some friggin' help man", was my thinkin'. But maybe, he felt he didn't have to, if you know what I mean? And that's where the whole thing of free will comes into play and all, but that is way deeper then where I wanted to go with this...
Well, sure, I would think there would be people within the Israelite community, who had a conscience, and who were really turned off by all the violence that came to be associated with much of their religion, like 'putting everything under the ban' practice I mentioned above, and those specific prophets who supported and promulgated these things, and thus sometimes became associated with the God, Yahweh. (Which basically just means: "I AM WHO AM"). So that very well may explain why they started fondly looking at the other so called 'gods', as written (and seemed to be discouraged) in certain passages of the Hebrew scriptures. (Also, the prophet Samuel does seem to be something of a contradictory character). Either way though, my belief is still, that whatever had a beginning had to ultimately come from something that has no beginning. In my opinion, it's the only thing that really makes any sense, regardless of the belief that there possibly may have been highly advanced extraterrestrials who had some kind of role in creating this planet. i.e. "And God said, let us make man in our image and after our likeness." -Genesis. And that would have to be the only explanation, if there is any truth to the Israelites being liberated from Egypt, and as to what (allegedly) transpired on Mount Sinai. Because, as I indicated above (with proof) that, if there is any truth to the character of Moses himself, he wasn't really a good man. And (with all due respect to the Rabbis who say otherwise) that's a problem. A BIG one. So there very well may have been something else going on there. It HAS TO BE one or the other. It can't be both. In my strong opinion anyway. Especially, if God (the Creator) is a just God, as acknowledged by King David, and his son, King Solomon for instance. With all this being said, when you look at animals such as the terrorist group Hamas for example, whose roots may really go back centuries, as being such a mortal, unjustified, brutal and violent enemy of the Jews, well that's another matter. But of course, that still does not justify the killing of innocent people (in 'The Ban' practice for instance) as a response to their atrocities. Therefore, I also have a problem with certain texts, where they speak in the name of God, to justify things that are obviously abhorrent and evil, and it is not acknowledged as such. Again, that's religion man. As we can see here, it is seriously flawed to begin with. In other words, if it doesn't add up, it cannot be of God. So there's a contradiction there. And we may never really know why, because it goes so far back, and we obviously did not live during that time, to even know if some of these characters (and stories) were real in the first place...
"I was born and raised in southeast Tennessee, where Christian fundamentalists rule. Even as a small child, I never felt comfortable or, in actuality, believed what we were taught. I had a NDE in 2012 (hemorrhage almost to death) and it changed my paradigm and helped me to lose my fear of reading the Bible in a more esoteric, and realistic manner. Thank you, Mr. Wallis, for helping so many of us open our minds to see things more clearly. Translation of the Bible’s many metaphors is key." -YouTube Viewer
"I'm 63 years old and finally I am able to begin understanding the Bible, I am so happy that in my lifetime the truth is finally being revealed. So much confusion and things just not making any sense is now being washed away...thanks to the creator for you."
"Judaism teaches that 'the righteous of all peoples have a share in the World to Come'. Non-Jews do not have to become Jews to become righteous. They only have to embrace the Seven Laws of Noah. According to Torah tradition, God gave Noah and his family seven commandments to observe when he saved them from the flood..."
"As a Noahide I thank you Rabbi. Hashem be with us all!" -See The Truth
Just uploaded a somewhat simple video on my YouTube channel, to the 'Sweet Little Jesus Boy' track, from my new 'And Then, Winter Came' EP, now available for sale on CD Baby. Check it out...
This music video is fantastic! I have been listening to Coldplay's VivaLaVida/Prospert's March CD at work. It's great, as well. Happened to therefore stumble upon this video on their website. Definately think it was worth posting, and sharing with everyone...
