Ancient Hebrew translation in Genesis has apparently been wrong .... ALL ALONG!!!

NEWS FLASH:

New light has been cast on an ancient text.  Apparently the Hebrew word for "be responsible" found in Genesis Chapter One (sometimes translated to subdue or tend) really means to:

"trash the place / stand on the backs of the oppressed and disenfranchised / and support unethical corporate greed and wanton pleasure"  

WOW.  

That makes so much more sense.  It also explains a lot.  

It explains why the three major Monotheistic Faiths have not screamed and hollered loudly about corporate greed, wealth-driven lobbyists, and have even denied that there is any truth to climate change, rather than establishing fasting and sackcloth and ashes as a way to go.

Most of the hyper-conservative organizations in those Faiths that allegedly love God so deeply, truly believe that it is ok to live the way we live in America - with no regard for the global picture, but only regard for ourselves.  They teach that they know so much about God and Heaven (which no one can see) but these same people cannot add up the facts right in front of their noses and on the very ground upon which they stand.  Really?  All these tornadoes are meaningless?  There is no climate change?

I challenge all of the American believers of ANY FAITH to collect their trash for one week and leave it on their front lawn.  Then save it for a month and leave that on your front lawn.  Does that seem like a reasonable amount of trash to you?  Now multiply a week's worth by 52.  What does that look like?  How about for your whole neighborhood for 52 weeks?  What does that look like to you?  Does that look like a gift you would give to the Father of Creation?

 Nice Gift!!!

That is just trash.  We still have to look at emissions, toxic waste, overcrowding, disease...on and on.

It is sad that the military is responding before the church...it says a lot: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/may/20/climate-change-climate-change-scepticism

God blessed them: "Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth." Genesis i, 28.

The Moral Outrage of Oil Consumption

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel wrote of the responsibility of all men in a free society (Heschel insisted that in a free society where some are guilty, all are responsible) in "The Moral Outrage of Vietnam".

"It is weird to wake up one morning and find that we have been placed in an insane asylum while asleep at night. It is even more weird to wake up and find that we have been involved in slaughter and destruction without knowing it."

The words may be about Vietnam, but there is a taste of crude oil in it when I hear it. There is a truth to the weight I feel when I wake up and remember that my need for fuel and energies of fuel has been responsible for the fuel leaking into the Gulf right now. I am the one responsible. We are all responsible.

People of faith - particularly the religious leaders - should be making more noise about this tragedy. Can't we see that the "waters are turning to blood" again. We have seen this before, this type of destruction and greed. We have allowed too much "fast technology" to tread in areas they obviously have no business treading.

There should have been a few - if not more - viable options on standby for such a hideous occurrence. Have we learned nothing from the Exxon Valdez incident.  This oil leak is not a spill, this is a horror. The religious leaders should be down on the Gulf calling people to fast and pray, begging for an answer and challenging people to put on sackcloth and ashes and call on God. There should be no silence.

Fast from one meal a day and call on God for an answer and a repairer of the rig. Pray the arterial surgeons would share how they stop arterial leaks with these oil hounds. Pray that people would be able to clean up the horrible affects of oil and for the countless people whose lives will be altered beyond recognition.

Fast and Pray because of this moral outrage - and don't sit still.  Get others involved.

Ciao!

TJM +

What If for Lent We Fasted From Selfishness

What if for Lent this year we saved one can of food each day.  And each week we took the bag to a shelter, a pantry, or dropped it off (anonymously) at the house of a person in need.  What if for Lent this year we baked fresh bread and took it to a nursing home or assisted living and shared it - with some butter and jam - with the residents, and sat with them for a bit.  What if for Lent we purchased a pair of socks, or some shirts each day and took them to a children's home and gave them to the staff to distribute.

What if this year during Lent we fasted from selfishness, jealous, and greed.  What if we gave up ignorance, sloth, and sin.  What if we longed for the greatest gift of all - the Holy Presence - and then we shared that with someone who is alone.

What if this year we really found Jesus.

On Fasting, by S. John Chrysostom - A GREAT READ!

Peace,

Tom +