Quote From: trtleloveAlthough I've been quiet for a little while, this is one topic I think has more critical implications for our society than maybe any other, and probably not for the reasons many of you may be thinking.
First of all, I would encourage any person in this country who has been influenced by the our Judeo/Christian heritage to take the time to read Bloodline of the Holy Grail by Laurence Gardner. Although he covers some of the information "revealed" in Dan Brown's book, The DaVinci Code, with the primary emphasis being the possibility/probability of Mary Magdalene actually being Jesus' wife, Gardner's book predates Brown's by about 10 years, is "academic" rather than "dramatic" in its approach, and, I feel, accesses more credible resources to build its case.
What I learned from reading the book myself was, first and foremost, how language shapes our culture and our reality. When one word in one language is translated (or, as often happens, mis-translated, either intentionally or unintentionally) it can completely change the reality that the first word was trying to describe. For example, the difference between the Latin "virgo" and "virgo intacto". Guess what: "virgo" means simply "young woman". "Virgo intacto" means "virgin" in the sense that we understand it today. So, with respect to Mary the Mother of Jesus, as Gardner explains, "virgo" was (mis) translated as "virgo intacto", i.e. from "young woman" to "virgin".
Now think about it. How much emphasis is placed on the "virgin birth" of Jesus? How much of the current "doctrine" of Christianity depends on that interpretation?
There's really no denying that there is A LOT hanging on that one word.
So let's look at the word "revelation" and how that is different from a "prophecy".
From one on-line dictionary "revelation" means: Something revealed, especially a dramatic disclosure of something not previously known or realized. Whereas "prophecy" means: A prediction of the future, made under divine inspiration.
Of "Revelations" Gardener points out that, first of all, the intent of John's writing was just that, to "reveal" information about something that was already going on and using symbolic language that represented very specific "characters" and political powers that the people of the day would recognize. Keep in mind, the whole time Jesus is around, the Jews are under the rule of the Romans. And partly because of that, the Jews could not claim other "kings" as their own, or from their own population (i.e. Jesus was claimed to be "King of the Jews" and the Romans saw that as a threat to their own rule). Consequently, a considerable part of the "scriptures" were "coded" so that the Jewish people would "get the (hidden) message" but the Romans would see nothing but an "allegorical story" or "parable".
Second, hundreds of years later, the first compilers of the scriptures were being very deliberate in their own manipulation of the material to create a certain "mindset" in the masses. To suggest that John's "Revelations" were actually "prophecies" was a way of putting people in a place to seek "protection" and "salvation" before the "end time". And of course, they turned to the Church for that protection and salvation, often paying quite well for such services. Nevertheless, John, himself did not call them "prophecies". John called them "Revelations".
That being said, I have communicated over and over again through my posts, YOU BECOME WHAT YOU MEDITATE ON. I think this happens individually and collectively. We have had this "end time scenario" to "meditate on" for thousands of years, so why would it be so surprising that we would allow, and even to some degree encourage, wars that could very well bring about the "end" of this planet.
Why? Why? Why? Why are we just sitting back and ALLOWING this to happen?
I would say part of the reason is that we've all been "programmed" to believe we can't do anything about it. That it's all happening because that is "what is supposed to happen". So we're not even trying to live peacefully with one another. As long as there are enough people justifying war with one another, there will always be profits for those selling them the Weapons of War. And as long as one side or the other feels it is their "divine right" or "destiny" to "fight evil", there will be profits to be made by those selling them the Weapons of War to do it.
I'm telling you, on the whole, we have bought into this scheme pretty much hook, line and sinker for hundreds, even thousands of years now. Each time, the Real Powers in Charge have managed to stop us short of totally destroying the planet. However, steady fighting in one area of the world or another, means steady profits. Unfortunately, their control of the Weapons of War, especially nuclear weapons, is starting to slip through their fingers. No longer is it just a matter of one or two major super powers calling the shots, instead it can be a very determined, intelligent, and persevering "band" of fanatical terrorists in the position to hold the rest of the world "hostage".
The only way for things to really change, is for more people to actually take a stand against war as a solution to political conflicts. Period. However, as long as enough people in the world see all this as "inevitable" then that is what we will continue to experience. If that is our "meditation" then that is what we will continue to "become" and that is the legacy that we will pass on to the generations to come.
Trust me, the people at the very top of this pyramid, don't want to see the planet destroyed, because that means they will be destroyed with it. No, they just want to keep all the rest of us at each other's throats while they continue to profit from our addiction to war and our unwillingness to practice love instead. For the record, I'm not going to call them "evil", they're just making the best of a situation that we have agreed to, and keep agreeing to, individually and collectively.
The real battle has to be won INSIDE. That is where the "meditation" has to change and only then will we start to see something different manifesting in the world.
Sincerely In Peace, Love and Understanding,
Turtle Love
I read "The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail" twice. The first time through, the historical work hung together but the second time through I saw some major flaws in their proof. It was at least 10 years ago now because my Grandmother was alive and arguing with me about it :) I sure miss that old lady!
I don't think there is sufficient evidence regarding that bloodline of Christ theory, but it is pretty clear that the Magdaline had a very significant role in the early church as did Jesus' brother James.
BTW-I am a member of a masonic order and I can assure you we don't have those kinds of secrets. It is about doing charitable work in your community without the objects of the charity knowing that they are objects of charity. If there was a whopper of a story like protecting the decendants of Christ, I'd have heard it by now :)
I agree that war and violence are wrong and I am clear in my stand against any form of torture or killing. I can't tell you how chilling it is from an outsider's perspective to hear your president say that God told him to start a war. If he did, we have different gods.
