The Christians see God as the father but it is an unfair way of looking at God. How can only a father-god produce children, animals and food. Mothers are the ones who produce children, and you can't have one gender without the other. They depend on each other in all reproduction. So I believe in the God and Goddess. So, I can not be a Christian because I believe in God as both a man and a woman. The Christians deny this fact and so their churches are patriarchal. Women have suffered for thousands of years under a patriach both as humans see god and in the society. It has denied women equality.
It is time for the return of the Goddess. Women have come so far in the last two centuries. To truly change a society we have to change how we see everything. Patriarchal society is misogynistic and women do not have the respect they deserve just as members of the human race.
Women don't take leadership at the expense of men. We rule the world as equals. Men and women need each other and their talents. I think when one gender is absent things become unbalanced and poison. It is like the yin-yang and it is balance to have men and women represented and we work together.
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Saturday, December 6, 2014
Selfishness
I find the word selfish an interesting world first of all due in part to its negative reputation. I pose the question what is wrong with selfishness?
Selfishness is an accusation by other people when one puts oneself first. To me, putting one's needs and interests first quite denotes a level of self-esteem. Once we are adults who is there other then oneself to put ones interest first?
Let us also consider the opposite to selfishness or selflessness. I immediately think of the Christian martyrs who all seemed to die horrific deaths at least in the past. I don't know about you but I have no desire to die a horrific death. Selflessness would be putting others interests before your own. There are places where this naturally occurs like in the field of parenthood. Psychologically speaking one cannot help others or even love others until they love and take care of oneself. Selfishness is not a term we use about ourselves but is an accusation made my others who have their own self interest at heart.
So lets say for a second I completely own selfishness. That I go about my morning doing only the things I like to do and the things that make me feel good. Let me cast off the expectations of others and do what suits me best. Let me be my own person through dress, language, occupation and hobbies. Let me realize my potential and celebrate me in all my gifts and worthiness. Let me cast off everyone elses opinion of me and not to care what others think of me. To me this isn't selfishness but self actualization. I would argue that so-called selfish people are the truly happy among us because in doing what is best for self life is good.
Selfishness is an accusation by other people when one puts oneself first. To me, putting one's needs and interests first quite denotes a level of self-esteem. Once we are adults who is there other then oneself to put ones interest first?
Let us also consider the opposite to selfishness or selflessness. I immediately think of the Christian martyrs who all seemed to die horrific deaths at least in the past. I don't know about you but I have no desire to die a horrific death. Selflessness would be putting others interests before your own. There are places where this naturally occurs like in the field of parenthood. Psychologically speaking one cannot help others or even love others until they love and take care of oneself. Selfishness is not a term we use about ourselves but is an accusation made my others who have their own self interest at heart.
So lets say for a second I completely own selfishness. That I go about my morning doing only the things I like to do and the things that make me feel good. Let me cast off the expectations of others and do what suits me best. Let me be my own person through dress, language, occupation and hobbies. Let me realize my potential and celebrate me in all my gifts and worthiness. Let me cast off everyone elses opinion of me and not to care what others think of me. To me this isn't selfishness but self actualization. I would argue that so-called selfish people are the truly happy among us because in doing what is best for self life is good.
The Church Together
I was reminded today of my childhood Sunday school and learning of the children's song, "I am the church, you are the church, we are the church together." So much is said in these words, in fact I think it would be a good mission statement for all churches. However, it is not true and that is why I no longer belong to a church.
After meeting many gay and lesbian people who are beautiful people, I cannot abide churches who do not allow gay and lesbians to fully participate in the church as leaders. It is obvious that being gay is a trait one is born with. No one would choose to be born gay in our society where gay people are treated as second class citizens.
In writing, in the Presbyterian church or the church of my childhood blacks and women fully participate in leadership. It wasn't so long ago an elder said upon finding his next preacher was a man, "Good finally a real preacher." Black people are disenfranchised in the church otherwise there wouldn't need to be an organization of Black Presbyterians and a committee called Racial and Ethnic Concerns,
It is interesting that Christians are so unloving when the Church at its inception was started by a social justice rabbi, who talked to Samaritans and prostitutes and ate dinner with tax collectors. Jesus taught us to love one another. He never spoke anything about gays in the four gospels and yet the church does not welcome gays with open arms. It seems the church forgets its real reason for being.
After meeting many gay and lesbian people who are beautiful people, I cannot abide churches who do not allow gay and lesbians to fully participate in the church as leaders. It is obvious that being gay is a trait one is born with. No one would choose to be born gay in our society where gay people are treated as second class citizens.
In writing, in the Presbyterian church or the church of my childhood blacks and women fully participate in leadership. It wasn't so long ago an elder said upon finding his next preacher was a man, "Good finally a real preacher." Black people are disenfranchised in the church otherwise there wouldn't need to be an organization of Black Presbyterians and a committee called Racial and Ethnic Concerns,
It is interesting that Christians are so unloving when the Church at its inception was started by a social justice rabbi, who talked to Samaritans and prostitutes and ate dinner with tax collectors. Jesus taught us to love one another. He never spoke anything about gays in the four gospels and yet the church does not welcome gays with open arms. It seems the church forgets its real reason for being.
50 Years of Peter, Paul & Mary
I got home from the Airline History Museum and turned on the TV and discovered a show on Peter, P.aul and Mary. Peter, Paul and Mary always makes me nostalgic. First off, Peter, Paul and Mary were the music of my childhood. One of my earliest memories was lying on my Mom and Dad's bed with the evening light reflecting on the wall through the curtains listening to Leavin' On A Jet Plane and then Puff the Magic Dragon. The record player was a gray stereo my Mom had since the time she was a teenager. Lying on that bed I felt the power of music and the sound of working for Justice. In my childhood I thought my destiny was to grow up to be a Gandhi or Martin Luther King, Jr. Certainly, my entire life I have always been aware of the work for social justice.
Tonight I sit in my parent's living room with the family Christmas tree lighted with Mike's 400 LED's and on the tree are over forty years of family memories made tangible through the collection of ornaments. So many of those ornaments represent my dear angel mother and I feel her spirit wrapped around the tree and I feel the poignancy of the memories of my mother. My mother was the true social justice worker in our family. She believed in social justice through education. She is the person that created me into a critical educator and a disciple of Paulo Friere whose Pedogogy of the Oppressed has changed so many of us. As teachers we really are head learners because by our students we are taught. Education is about hope and cultural capital to provide a way out of poverty and oppression. My mother taught me that we must respect the differences in people and celebrate diversity. My mother whose influence is in hundreds of classrooms did more with her life I feel then most politicians because she taught teachers how to teach all children. She taught students to teach for change and a better world. God I love that woman and she was my mother.
And then, after remembering I wonder what my role will be in the work for social justice because aren't I part of the change in the world? I am my mother's daughter, after all. People only knew her locally but my mom was a great woman and I am her daughter. She could be a hard mother to be a daughter of but she made me strong and beautiful. I like the person she helped to mold into the woman I am today. I hope she is in heaven sitting with Mary Travers and Pete Seeger singing all the old songs of social justice. I'd have it no other way. Love you, Mom!
Tonight I sit in my parent's living room with the family Christmas tree lighted with Mike's 400 LED's and on the tree are over forty years of family memories made tangible through the collection of ornaments. So many of those ornaments represent my dear angel mother and I feel her spirit wrapped around the tree and I feel the poignancy of the memories of my mother. My mother was the true social justice worker in our family. She believed in social justice through education. She is the person that created me into a critical educator and a disciple of Paulo Friere whose Pedogogy of the Oppressed has changed so many of us. As teachers we really are head learners because by our students we are taught. Education is about hope and cultural capital to provide a way out of poverty and oppression. My mother taught me that we must respect the differences in people and celebrate diversity. My mother whose influence is in hundreds of classrooms did more with her life I feel then most politicians because she taught teachers how to teach all children. She taught students to teach for change and a better world. God I love that woman and she was my mother.
And then, after remembering I wonder what my role will be in the work for social justice because aren't I part of the change in the world? I am my mother's daughter, after all. People only knew her locally but my mom was a great woman and I am her daughter. She could be a hard mother to be a daughter of but she made me strong and beautiful. I like the person she helped to mold into the woman I am today. I hope she is in heaven sitting with Mary Travers and Pete Seeger singing all the old songs of social justice. I'd have it no other way. Love you, Mom!
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