Religion Revisited

Lisa F left me a comment yesterday that I just had to repost!
"Well, now that you've asked (uh oh here she goes...)
Cornelius Tactitus (55-117AD), regarded as the greatest Roman historian, wrote about Jesus' death and his followers; Mara Bar-Serapion, a Syrian from the first century wrote a letter to his son about Jews who killed their King. The letter is in the British Museum; Josephus, a first-century Roman-Jewish historian, didn't believe Jesus was Christ, but recorded him in his history books anyway. Ludian (120-180 A.D.), a Greek satirist, affirmed that Christ and his followers were real, not fictitious. There is even a Roman document fragment that mentions Pilot and Jesus in the same sentence. These are just the tip of the iceberg on ancient texts documenting the life and death of Jesus outside of the bible. As for the parallel stories, there are explanations of the wheres and whys here (http://bit.ly/e0msZT"
 The link she left goes to a great argument about my post yesterday.  If you are at all interested, read it- It's contentions really do make me want to reread Timothy Freke, and see if he mentions if his insights came from dated material that were translated appropriately (much like the arguement of the English Bible not being translated exactly from the Hebrew version ie:Suffer not a witch to live)

So, if we can prove- which it appears that we surely can (This is what I've asked lots of people and no one could tell me- Thanks Lisa) that Jesus lived, and Moses lived- It is appropriate to teach the students that he was the man Christians consider the son of God, and that story has it Moses parted the sea- but I still maintain that the EE's phrasing in the books speaks as if the students all consider Jesus' Heavenly dad God.  They speak of God talking to Moses as fact.  They speak of Moses parting the sea in some, as fact.  They refer to the Christian God as God under the study of ancient places- but Zeus is Zeus under the study of ancient Myths.  See?  They still separate two religions into two categories:Truth and Myth.

Religion in the classroom?

I had some free time to read today while the 6th graders were away at PE.  I still have my cool symbol book and was reading about crosses.  It reminded me of the book by Timothy Freke "Is Jesus a Pagan God?"

Today's story in my book was about a cross, the symbol of a God.  Apparently, this guy was killed and resurrected.  Sound familiar?  Of course it does!  It's the symbol of the Sumerian sun God, Tammuz- no?  The Roman God Mithras?  what?  not him?  The Greek God Attis!  Oh you silly people- it sure it the symbol of these Gods, all of whom died and were resurrected for the sake of humanity!

This led to me thinking about a story of a baby- A cute little dude born to a virgin mommy.  God told her she was having his baby who would save the world!  That dude's name was Osiris.  His mommy was Ceres.  Yep.
"Maia, mother of Sakia and Yasoda of Chrishna; Celestine, mother of the crucified Zunis; Chimalman, mother of Quexalcote; Semele, mother of the Egyptian Bacchus, and Minerva, mother of the Grecian Bacchus; Prudence, mother of Hercules; Alcmene, mother of Alcides; Shing- Mon, mother of Yu, and Mayence, mother of Hesus, were all as confidently believed to be pure, holy and chaste virgins, while giving birth to these Gods, sons of God, Saviors and sin-atoning Mediators, as was Mary, mother of Jesus, and long before her time." (here)

This whole series of thinking strangely coincided with a student asking me "How can they teach god in the classroom?"  As she handed me her paper about Moses.
Yeah- How?

They (the education establishment) talk about Zeus and Athena by introducing them as mythos or Greek/Roman myths.  The EE  does not speak of them as if they are real and true God?ddesse/s.  Though I know of quite a few people who would.
However, the EE speaks about Moses as if he were a real and true man.  And he spoke to GOD in this story about Moses.  And he parted the red sea miraculously.
I can kind of see about talking about Moses being a real man- if there is documentation about him- maybe even talking about Jesus- if there was documentation about him.  (If you want to claim the Bible as documentation, then I would ask you to write about Hercules as a real man as well- speak of him as a real story rather than a myth- because his documentation would be a religious text as well).
Why does the EE teach the Christian story as fact, and not the others?  I get that Christianity is a cultural thing as well, as American is predominantly Christian - but we also are supposedly culturally sensitive.  The Buddhist kid in my class might not quite get why this God is real in the books and question what this bearded man might have to do with Nirvana.
Just like the EE teaches that trolls aren't real- and as you know, my ancestors would disagree.  Or that magic(K) isn't real- but a heck of a lot of you would disagree.
So, if you believe that there is no religion in the classroom (and have somehow forgotten that we force our kids to pledge to a flag and nation "under God"), then you are quite wrong.  The EE lies. They are lying liars who lie.  I'd like to either understand this, or change it.

things to come part deux

My birth father is now a devote Christian.  he has his minister's license and everything.  He has always been a religious person from what I remember- but it was more him being a theologian than a worshipper.  He used to read us the Bible at the kitchen table once a week- in Hebrew! and then he'd discuss it.  In later years, I'd find him in his car on friday nights listening to Jewish temple.  He explained a few details about Judaism to me.  The reason we sailed from New York to Florida on his boat was because he wanted to go to Israel- Israel was our initial destination but the boat pretty much quit in Florida.  It actually quit in New Jersey, but we gimped down to Florida without a mast and dealing with leaks, cold, and a bad motor.
My first introduction to paganism came through him.  He didn't know, and he'd be quite aghast if he knew now.  He is very upset at my choice for a religion.  I actually thought he'd be a good person to discuss it with when I started religious studies over 12 years ago- but he had found his God and was not happy with mine.
How'd he start my (bitter descent to hell) paganism studies?  He pointed out that when he read the Hebrew bible- it says "In the beginning, the GODS created the heavens and the earth"

Random friday

I have your comments sent to my email so I can get a giggle a few times a day.  I cracked up at Lynda B's "Asian escort spam is the reason for the season"- especially after reading all that escort spam crap! Thanks for that laugh!

LisaF, I think you were the lone Christian commenter- there are a few Christians who read this, most commented on the feed on Facebook.  The key to the "axial tilt is the reason for the season"  was theuse of the word SEASON- like winter, spring, summer, fall- axial tilt creates indirect sunrays hitting the earth-when the sun is the most indirect, it is the coldest, thus winter.  This is why it is summer in Australia while it is winter in America.
As for the other meaning- I just wanted to makenote that sooo many holidays share this time of year.  I hope that when I wish friends a happy time, that I take note of who they are,and wish my jewish friends Happy Hannukah rather that Feliz Navidad.  As for strangers- I think politically correct is better,but that is my opinion.  This is why I say Happy Holidays rather than Merry Yule or Festive Winter Solstice,which is what I celebrate. 
I really dig that LisaF gave us a nice history lesson- if you didn't read it, read the comment section of "I was gonna wait,but..." Lisa F sure knows her stuff! thanks!

I dyed my hair blonde again- or tried to- allI accomplished wash making it a duller grey dirty red.  So I did what any lazy person would do- I went and bought bright red dye and redyed it red.  It looks fabulous now! Like traffic stopping fabulous red!

The zentangle looks really intricate, but it's working with patterns in small parts,so it is relaxing and easy to do.  Mom, the lady who I made this for doesn't use a computer, that's why I put hers up there-she will never see it :)  I really think that everyone of you should try one zentangle- just one- to see how relaxing and easy it really is.  I have a linkto both the zentangle site and zentangle patterns in my sidebar->

I stillhave that darn cold.  It turned into a sinus infection and now has migrated down to a cough.  2weeksnow. I am tired of it.

15 days til I see my mommy :) yay!

TTYL!K

I was gonna wait, but

I was gonna wait for this- I was going to try to not even say this this year.  BUT I was on facebook and someone said it- I needed to retort in my blog so I wasn't sounding like a shit to her.
She said "Jesus is the reason for the season"
Nope- wrong.  Axial tilt is the reason for the season.  Seriously- it's a matter of science.
The reason for Christmas may be Christ.  Although Christ was not born in December.  Nope.
The reason Christmas is in December is because the powers that be were trying to encompass the pagan winter celebration in that month.  The winter celebration might be about a small child born to a virgin woman, or the child of the sun being reborn in the wheel of time.  Both are pagan mythos.  Neither are solely Christian.  Neither is the Easter story.  Timothy Freke writes about this in his book "Is Jesus a pagan god?"
Christians- I am happy to share this month with you, and Chanakah, and Kwanzaa, and festivus.  I am happy to see red and green decor out to celebrate (they are also pagan color schemes for the holiday).  I am happy to cut down a yule tree and burn a yule log.  You can cut down a Christmas tree and burn a yule log (lol).
BUT PLEASE- don't try for sole ownership of this upcoming month and holiday.  PLEASE don't insult me and the Jews and those who celebrate Kwanzaa.  Please don't get all pissy about me wishing to the Gods that you would embrace the saying happy holidays instead of merry Christmas.  The jews were around before Christ, as were the pagans (though I will concede we are all neo-pagans now and have no real link to the old), and we are willing to share and live together like the whos in Whosville.
So, before you start posting about Jesus being the reason and about how horrid it is that people want to say Happy Holidays- think about the rest of us.