Zion, IL
By A.B. Dada
—

I was browsing the web this morning, doing some casual searches for a few topics I’m interested in. I always do a search for Islamofascism, to try to see what confusion (and sometimes hatred) I come across. Today, I came across a blog that two of my searches hit: Ron Paul, and Islamofascist. That blog is titled UnderAgeThinker, and the post is titled Ron Paul Shoots Himself in the Foot and His Campaign in the Head.

From UAT’s post:

The Islamofascists are waging a holy war. Ron Paul doesn’t seem to get this. They truly have faith that what they are doing is the will of Allah and is therefore not only justified but obligatory. When they say that they are waging jihad it is not just rhetoric, they mean it. It is not difficult to see why they are fighting, it is not because we have a base in Saudi Arabia, it is because their religion tells them to.

I am a Christian, but I find that it is very important to understand all the world’s religions, not just to inform myself of what people believe, but also to see where the similarities are. When it comes to Islam, I truly do believe that Islam is mostly a religion of peace, just as one could say that Judeo-Christianity is mostly a religion of peace. Christianity, by itself, is not debatable in terms of its purpose: Christianity is solely a religion of peace. Augustine, and many Christian Thinkers after him, were wrong to believe in Just War Theory or any non-peaceful action as approved by Jesus Christ or God. Even the Muslims advocate Christ as a peacemaker, and bless His name by following it with the words “peace be upon Him.” In the Koran, Muslims believe that the “End Times” will occur with Christ returning to vanquish to foes of God. How funny that the Muslims that Christofascists hate are the ones who understand that Christ was purely peaceful, and the Christians are the ones who think that the Bible allows for any war by the faithful.

UAT quotes a much-maligned Surrah (”book”) of the Koran, which is Surrah 8:39. His quote is (wrongly) here:

So fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief ) and all submit to the religion of Allah alone

This is the quote most often used by the Christofascists to make Christians believe that Muslims want to come “over here” and kill us. They believe the Koran advocates murder of non-believers, but that is not the case. Here’s a short study on Surrah 8, and why it is important to not take any holy book out of context, including the Bible.

Surrah 8’s context is specific: how to handle war that comes to a Muslim area. This is not advocating that Muslims go to war, but it tells the Muslims how to handle a war that is waged on them. When you read Surrah 8, you immediately see the connection to the Middle East, the United States foreign policy there (for 60+ years), and why the anti-US Muslims are receiving more and more support. From the Koran that we have (we have all faith holy books for reference, sometimes in various translations) at home, the same verse of Surrah 8:39 is as follows:

And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere; but if they cease, verily Allah doth see all that they do.

As you can see from the verse I typed up, it does not say to fight everyone until all in the World agrees, it says to fight them until there is no more tumult or oppression. This is a key phrase within the Surrah, because it shows the advocation for fighting if you are oppressed. It does not say take the fight elsewhere. To understand this entire Surrah, I feel the need to open up the entire set of verses, which I will address one by one. For Christians who wonder why I would “defend” the Muslim holy book, I do so because often times Christianity is battled because someone focuses on one phrase out of context. It is my belief that many Christians take one verse out of context, which is why I am adamantly against the idea of preaching a sermon based on disparate verses rather than teaching a sermon focuses solely on the context of the Book, the people who are the topic of the book, and a view on multiple translations as well as comparisons to Old Testament Prophecy regarding the verses. Too many Christians are taught the Bible from Pastors and Preachers who jump around and don’t focus on context — it is important to READ what you believe, rather than just listen to opinion and interpretation. I am NOT defending the Koran as God’s Word, nor am I advocating support or detraction of it.

Koran, Surrah 8:1: They ask thee concerning spoils of war. Say: “These spoils are at the disposal of Allah and the Apostle: So fear Allah, and keep straight the relations between yourselves: Obey Allah and His Apostle, if ye do believe.”

Surrah 8 begins by addressing the topic: the spoils of war. Anything “earned” during a war is to be given to Allah (God) by the believers. They are told to fear God, and be good to one another. It says here, if you believe in God, obey God. It does not say to force obedience to non-believers. Christians also have the same advocation: believe in God, but don’t force that obedience on non-believers. Here, Muslims and Christians can agree.

Koran, Surrah 8:2: For, Believers are those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a tremor in their hearts, and when they hear His signs rehearsed, find their faith strengthened, and put their entire trust in their Lord;

This is a definition of what “believer” means. It is very similar to both the Judaic guidance and the Christian advocation: a Believer is someone who feels a tremor in their hearts when God is brought up, and they find their faith and trust strengthened when their lives correlate to God’s Word. Again, Muslims and Christians (and Jews) generally agree with these points.

Koran, Surrah 8:3: Who establish regular prayers and spend out of the gifts We have given them for sustenance:

A believer establishes regular prayer, and gives charity of what they receive. Again, Muslims, Christians and Jews agree to this point.

Koran, Surrah 8:4: Such in truth are the believers: they have grades of dignity with their Lord, and forgiveness, and generous sustenance:

Surprising to see the word “forgiveness” in the Koran regarding believers. This verse is debatable as to whether it means God’s forgiveness and sustenance for a believer, or a believer’s forgiveness for others. I know Muslims who accept both as their truth.

Koran, Surrah 8:5: Just as thy Lord ordered thee out of thy house in truth, even though a party among the Believers disliked it,

Remember, Surrah 8 relates to war. Muslims believe that they must be truthful when outside of their own, and even though there are Believers who don’t want to be truthful…

Koran, Surrah 8:6: Disputing with thee concerning the truth after it was made manifest, as if they were being driven to death and they did see it.

…there is no need to dispute the need.

Koran, Surrah 8:7: Behold! Allah promised you one of the two parties, that it should be yours: Ye wished that the one unarmed should be yours, but Allah willed to justify the Truth according to His words and to cut off the roots of the Unbelievers;

The Koran I have says that the Arabic word for “parties” above can also be “aggressors.” Basically, the Koran says that God gave the Muslims two aggressors, and that the Muslim may wish that his aggressor would be unarmed, but God will give the armed aggressor. This has a lot of prophetic meaning to the Muslim in the Middle East, who sees any Imperial force there as an aggressor. Remember, Muslims in the Middle East have had to deal with aggressors and Imperialists for hundreds of years. In recent times, they’ve dealt with the Ottoman Empire (Imperialists aggressing against Muslims), then the French (Imperialists), then the English (Imperialists) and now the United States (Imperialists). Taking a Surrah dealing with war and addressing it to modern times is something that Christians also mistakenly do. But yet, you can’t fault the Muslims for seeing prophetical context between this Surrah and the hundreds of years of Imperialism and murder against them. Still, the Koran here does not advocating spreading the battle outside of their land.

Koran, Surrah 8:8: That He might justify Truth and prove Falsehood false, distasteful though it be to those in guilt.

Here it shows that God will justify Truth in the non-believer, and it will be distasteful to the non-believer. It doesn’t advise the Muslim to show the non-believer the truth.

Koran, Surrah 8:9: Remember ye implored the assistance of your Lord, and He answered you: “I will assist you with a thousand of the angels, ranks on ranks.”

Just as in the Bible, the Koran shows that God will assist in the Spiritual Warfare through guidance of angels (jinn).

Koran, Surrah 8:10: Allah made it but a message of hope, and an assurance to your hearts: there is no help except from Allah: and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.

A confirmation to Muslims that all hope and assurance comes from God.

Koran, Surrah 8:11: Remember He covered you with a sort of drowsiness, to give you calm as from Himself, and he caused rain to descend on you from heaven, to clean you therewith, to remove from you the stain of Satan, to strengthen your hearts, and to plant your feet firmly therewith.

Here is a text that talks about location: therewith refers to where they are. It does not advocate taking their battle elsewhere.

Koran, Surrah 8:12: Remember thy Lord inspired the angels by saying: “I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instill terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them.”

Here we see the word terror, but it is a message to the angels, not to the believers. In this battle of spirtual warfare, God tells Muslims that he will tell the angels that he will smite the believers in the head and hands. This is contextually not a physical attack, but one that is repeated in the Koran over and over, dealing with his vengeance against those who attack non-believers. The Jewish Old Testament also deals with similar issues.

Koran, Surrah 8:13: Remember thy Lord inspired the angels by saying: “I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instil terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them.”

Again, we don’t see guidance for the believer to attack, but that God will do it for them. Just as in the Jewish Old Testament, God is the Warrior, not man.

Koran, Surrah 8:14: Thus saith: “Taste ye then of the punishment: for those who resist Allah, is the penalty of the Fire.”

Here again we see that the Muslim is told that God will punish others, for those who resist God. This is no different than what Jesus warned of for the end age of the old covenant.

Koran, Surrah 8:15: O ye who believe! when ye meet the Unbelievers in hostile array, never turn your backs to them.

Again, this Surrah regards war waged against Muslims, not a war that Muslims wage. It says that if an unbeliever wages war against a Muslim, the Muslim should not bow down or turn his back. This is similar to the Old Testament guidance that God gave the ancient Israelites.

Koran, Surrah 8:16: If any do turn his back to them on such a day - unless it be in a stratagem of war, or to retreat to a troop - he draws on himself the wrath of Allah, and his abode is Hell,- an evil refuge!

This is a warning to Muslims not to turn their back if they are attacked.

Koran, Surrah 8:17: It is not ye who slew them; it was Allah: when thou threwest dust, it was not thy act, but Allah’s: in order that He might test the Believers by a gracious trial from Himself: for Allah is He Who heareth and knoweth all.

Just like God the Warrior in the Jewish Old Testament, the Muslim God is also the warrior. When a Muslim must defend their home, it is God that wages the battle.

Koran, Surrah 8:18: That, and also because Allah is He Who makes feeble the plans and stratagem of the Unbelievers.

This is a powerful verse for Middle Easter Muslims. It is obvious to many, including U.S. troops, that the plans and strategies of the U.S. are feeble. By proposing this as a fulfillment of prophecy BEFORE military action came, it ended up coming true in the eyes of the Muslims. The Jewish Old Testament also has similar verses of prophecy.

Koran, Surrah 8:19: If ye unbelievers prayed for victory and judgment, now hath the judgment come to you: if ye desist from doing wrong, it will be best for you: if ye return an attack, so shall We. Not the least good will your forces be to you even if they were multiplied: for verily Allah is with those who believe!

This is a warning to those who wish to wage war against the Muslims: if you continue to do so, you will lose. If you stop, it will be best for you. Similar verses are within the Jewish Old Testament. Again, Muslims who knew of this verse before military action feel that prophecy was fulfilled.

Koran, Surrah 8:20: O ye who believe! Obey Allah and His Apostle, and turn not away from him when ye hear him.

This verse reminds Muslims to stay the course in defense, no matter what.

Koran, Surrah 8:21: Nor be like those who say, “We hear,” but listen not:

Jesus used this very same saying, to listen and mean it, just don’t say “we believe.” When Christians advocate open aggressive war, who is the one who didn’t listen to the Prince of Peace?

Koran, Surrah 8:22: For the worst of beasts in the sight of Allah are the deaf and the dumb,- those who understand not.

Again very connected to the Bible. God believes the worst are those who don’t understand His Commands.

Koran, Surrah 8:23: If Allah had found in them any good. He would indeed have made them listen: if He had made them listen, they would but have turned back and declined believing.

This is similar to many Old and New Testament verses. It basically gives God the power to Judge others.

Koran, Surrah 8:24: O ye who believe! give your response to Allah and His Apostle, when He calleth you to that which will give you life; and know that Allah cometh in between a man and his heart, and that it is He to Whom ye shall be gathered.

A verse of martyrdom which is similar to the verses of martyrdom in the Old and New Testament.

Koran, Surrah 8:25: And fear tumult or oppression, which affecteth not in particular those of you who do wrong: and know that Allah is strict in punishment.

This tells that God is the only one who can use tumult and oppression against others. It sets up another verse later.

Koran, Surrah 8:26: Call to mind when ye were a small group, despised through the land, and afraid that men might despoil and kidnap you; But He provided a safe asylum for you, strengthened you with His aid, and gave you Good things for sustenance: that ye might be grateful.

Another verse used to show fulfillment of prophecy. When the Muslims were a minority in the Middle East, they were despoiled and kidnapped. Muslims believe that God provided the asylum within the Middle East for them, and they’re to be grateful for it. This also shows that it is specific to the land they are on, not guidance to take the land of others.

Koran, Surrah 8:27: O ye that believe! betray not the trust of Allah and the Apostle, nor misappropriate knowingly things entrusted to you.

This speaks of not taking advantage of the things given to you by God. Reminds me of both Bible books.

Koran, Surrah 8:28: And know ye that your possessions and your progeny are but a trial; and that it is Allah with Whom lies your highest reward.

Material possession, even family, are merely a setup for the ultimate reward: God. Christians have similar verses to be guided by. Even Christ ignored his blood family when faith needs were present.

Koran, Surrah 8:29: O ye who believe! if ye fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion to decide between right and wrong, remove from you evil that may afflict you, and forgive you: for Allah is the Lord of grace unbounded.

Here we see that Muslims believe that God has given them the ability to see right and wrong, and be protected from evil. Many Christians believe they have the Holy Spirit to help in this case as well.

Koran, Surrah 8:30: Remember how the Unbelievers plotted against thee, to keep thee in bonds, or slay thee, or get thee out of thy home. They plot and plan, and Allah too plans; but the best of planners is Allah.

How can a Muslim ignore this verse? For hundreds of years, non-Muslims have tried to push them out of the Middle East, where they have been for 1200+ years. Time and again, they are not defeated. Again, this verse is used as prophecy for their reason to stay. It does not advocate pushing themselves to the world of unbelievers, but to be warned of unbelievers who attack them. “of thy home” is key here.

Koran, Surrah 8:31; When Our Signs are rehearsed to them, they say: “We have heard this before: if we wished, we could say words like these: these are nothing but tales of the ancients.”

Here is a verse that is also used as a prophecy fulfillment. Muslims have heard the words of non-Muslims as rescuers before over and over. The Muslims can respond by saying “We’ve heard what you’re saying since ancient time, and the words mean nothing.” Intriguing to me.

Koran, Surrah 8:32: Remember how they said: “O Allah if this is indeed the Truth from Thee, rain down on us a shower of stones from the sky, or send us a grievous penalty.”

This verse regards the older Imperialists who questioned Muslims by saying “If God exists, then let Him rain down a shower of stones.” Christ also was questioned by the Pharisees (the Imperialists of Judea) and responded by telling them not to test God. This verse is the same idea.

Koran, Surrah 8:33: But Allah was not going to send them a penalty whilst thou wast amongst them; nor was He going to send it whilst they could ask for pardon.

Muslims believe that God refused to send the stones from the sky, because Muslims were there. This again points to the verses on war dealing with the land they’re on, not foreign land they should attack.

Koran, Surrah 8:34: But what plea have they that Allah should not punish them, when they keep out unbelievers from the sacred Mosque - and they are not its guardians? No men can be its guardians except the righteous; but most of them do not understand.

Here’s the key verse of the Surrah: the sacred Mosque. This means the Middle East specifically. It doesn’t tell Muslims to go and conquer the world, but to defend the Middle East as their own, which they occupied for 1200+ years.

Koran, Surrah 8:35: Their prayer at the House of Allah is nothing but whistling and clapping of hands: Its only answer can be, “Taste ye the penalty because ye blasphemed.”

This also speaks of location: the House of Allah (Middle East Mosque). If the enemy is there, they’re making fun of the holy Mosque, and they’re blasphemers. Again, intriguing.

Koran, Surrah 8:36: The Unbelievers spend their wealth to hinder man from the path of Allah, and so will they continue to spend; but in the end they will have regrets and sighs; at length they will be overcome: and the Unbelievers will be gathered together to Hell;

This is also damning evidence against Christofascists. Muslims can see connection between this verse and modern Middle East. The Imperialists for ages have used their wealth to corrupt the leaders of the Middle East, and the Muslims believe this hindreds Islam and their path to God. Can you not see the connection?

Koran, Surrah 8:37: In order that Allah may separate the impure from the pure, put the impure, one on another, heap them together, and cast them into Hell. They will be the ones to have lost.

God is the Judge, according to Muslims (and Christians).

Koran, Surrah 8:38: Say to the Unbelievers, if they desist from not believing, their past would be forgiven them; but if they persist, the punishment of those before them is already a matter of warning for them.

A warning from God to believe. Christianity and Judaism have similar verses in warning.

Koran, Surrah 8:39: And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere; but if they cease, verily Allah doth see all that they do.

Here’s the verse that UAT quoted incorrectly, and out of context. The word for “everywhere” is a specific word not meaning World, but everywhere the Muslims are (in the Middle East, specifically). They are to defend their home against all tumult or oppression, until the unbelievers leave.

Koran, Surrah 8:40: If they refuse, be sure that Allah is your Protector - the best to protect and the best to help.

If the unbelievers refuse to leave, God will protect the Muslims. Judaism has similar verses. Christians are told to not resist force, though.

Koran, Surrah 8:41: And know that out of all the booty that ye may acquire in war, a fifth share is assigned to Allah,- and to the Apostle, and to near relatives, orphans, the needy, and the wayfarer,- if ye do believe in Allah and in the revelation We sent down to Our servant on the Day of Testing,- the Day of the meeting of the two forces. For Allah hath power over all things.

This speaks of the war of defense: if the believers collect anything (booty), they are to give a fifth to God. The Israelites also had similar verses. Christians, though, can not go to war, so they’d have no spoils of war.

Koran, Surrah 8:42: Remember ye were on the hither side of the valley, and they on the farther side, and the caravan on lower ground than ye. Even if ye had made a mutual appointment to meet, ye would certainly have failed in the appointment: But , that Allah might accomplish a matter already enacted; that those who died might die after a clear Sign, and those who lived might live after a Clear Sign. And verily Allah is He Who heareth and knoweth all.

This tells the Muslims that the unbeliever who comes to attack is the weak element. The Muslims are aware of their surroundings, and have the power of the same tactics than any defender would use in their home. It even warns Muslims that their enemy may make promises to meet, but they will break them. This has happened to Muslims in the Middle East for hundreds of years.

The Surrah continues for another few dozen verses, but I wanted to lead up to the point that UAT quoted. Out of context, and translated improperly, it looks very negative. Once you review the entire text, you see that the point is not made to go out and kill the unbelievers (although a VERY small minority of Muslims do believe that). Because these “prophecies” seem to be coming true in the Middle East, more and more Muslims are listening to the minority who is trying to get them to defend themselves against aggressors.

I am not agreeing with any Muslims, or detracting them. The Koran is not my holy book, but it is the holy book of billions of believers. If you do not review what they believe, you can not just pick a verse willy-nilly and say “This is what they believe.”

Ron Paul is right: it is the fascism of the United States Government that is building hatred towards the People. The People are not the aggressors, the government is, but we are being blamed for what we allow our government to do. As the war continues to fail, we will find ourselves against an “enemy” who feels that prophecy is being fulfilled. As a Christian, I can not kill another man, even an unbeliever. If Christians would end their fascist reign, they could be a beacon of peace, charity, love, forgiveness and sharing as Christ was.

Unfortunately, most Christofascists have the same beliefs that the Israelites did, as well as the aggressive minority Muslims. It is time to read your Bible yourself, and understand what Christ spoke — harm no one, love all.

Zion, IL
By A.B. Dada
—

For the past decade, I’ve been fairly anti-State philosophically. I’ll say philosophically because I do tend to look at the good and the bad of various State interventions, and try to ask people about what aspects of government they feel works. For a decade, I’ve found almost no incidents of where government actually works, except in rare accidental situations. Manuel Lora of Swamp Land Exile has a great OpEd piece regarding his shift in perspective about his shift in feelings on the police. It’s a worthwhile read even if you’re not anti-State.

Lately, though, my anti-State viewpoint has shifted dramatically, away from distrust government and towards the reason why government has become so authoritarian and anti-freedom. It is easy for us to quickly blame politicians, special interest groups, the bankers, Wall Street, and other government groups or pseudo-government groups. After much thinking, I’ve realized that I just can’t be angry that people are taking advantage of rules, policies, laws and regulations that make their lives better. If I had less moral drive, I’d be the first one in line for the handouts.

So who is on my list of people to distrust? It’s a fairly long list, and it doesn’t end just with these groups. I hope to convince you, kind reader, that there is a longer list that each of us can make, and put to the test in your daily lives.

In no particular order, here is my list:

People to Distrust #1: The Elderly
There are many elderly people in my life. From Church Pastors to neighbors to my own family, I rely on the older generations to give me insight into mistakes I’ve made, and even mistakes I continue to make. We all know how difficult it is for a young person to understand these insights, until they acquire them individually through making mistakes and finding the source of those mistakes: our own inability to judge our actions in the long term. From debt, to trusting others, to responsibility, my biggest mistakes in life could all have been prevented had I just listened. Why didn’t I, and why don’t I continue to listen? Old people have left a burden for me and my family, without asking, without convincing, and without caring.

I have family who receives Social Security payments even though their incomes in the past 10 years of their work lives exceed my next 10 years of work. That’s ridiculous, especially when you consider my own household’s needs. As they aged, they pushed harder for more government retirement involvement, to the point that they started to receive the benefits even though the costs would be pushed on beyond my work years. Morally, I do believe it is my responsibility to take care of those I love who are old and needy, but I just can’t do it. I don’t want to burden the next generation, but I also have no ability to extricate myself from the mess created by the Baby Boomers. When an elderly friend or family tries to give me advice, I am quick to ask them why they supported the system that is creating the hardships for me today — and letting them off the hook for their years of irresponsibility. The previous generation had almost no real cost for decades, but acquired “rights” to my income based on the so-called social contract. This is pure socialism, and there is absolutely no regard for how costly the benefits will be, and who will pay them.

People to Distrust #2: The Educators
Over the years, I’ve had a love/distrust relationship with most public educators, at all levels of education. Close friends of mine are educators, and they know that I’ve waxed and waned on the level of sheer disgust I’ve had for their employment choice. I don’t have children, yet I pay thousands of dollars a year to support the children of others. I don’t see any moral or charitable reason for this, since I can not hold the teachers, the students, nor the parents of the students accountable for the use of that money. Have you met teenagers today? Many of them are inept, unable to form simple sentences or calculate simple mathematical equations. I’ve received horrific resumes from college graduates at top level universities — resumes that I wouldn’t believe could be written so badly even by a 7th grader. I won’t even go deep into the inability of some 20-something cashier who can’t figure out that I should get $10.00 back if I pay $25.16 for a $15.16 bill. No, don’t get the calculator. No, don’t get the manager.

I was a D-level student all my life, repeatedly told that I am Learning-Disabled (I’m sure the school system would receive more money if I accepted that label). Teachers openly made fun of me because of my opinions. I was almost expelled from 7th grade for writing a report for a science class about disposable contact lenses: “They will never exist” I was told. I ran a popular BBS from 6th grade through part of High School, and was laughed at because I believed that email would replace the written letter. There were many parent-teacher conferences because of my refusal to pen what I could type faster. I even failed typing class (old typewriters that refused to keep up with my typing speed), even though I repeatedly asked if I could bring in a computer to prove I was able to type. The whole system is upsetting, not just from a financial perspective. Our educational system is a mess, thanks to the parents who force the non-parents to pay for basically “free” day-care. Take a walk over to MySpace and spend a few hours looking at the absolute destruction of society, primarily due to the lack of responsible parenting combined with the belief that it takes a village of bureaucrats to raise a child.

People to Distrust #3: The Church
I serve hundreds of congregations with my “free” church printing ministry. I don’t do this just because it is what I think should be done, I do it because it gives me an opportunity to “worship” creatively without singing, playing an instrument, or doing the group-think that I so abhor that has taken over not just society, but faith society.

In my many years of Bible (and other “Holy” Book) research, I see almost no connection between what I read and what I hear preached. When I tell a Pastor that I am anti-IRS, I am quoted a book in the Bible that is obviously not written for me, and especially not written for an organization corporation of faithful. When I ask why the corporation called “the Church” is free to ignore the same laws that I am forced to follow, I am told that it is because the laws allow for that ignorance. Sorry, that’s not a legal loophole, that’s hypocrisy, pure and simple. A congregation should abide by the same laws and rules that its members have to abide by, including the tax law. The funniest part of the idea of a 503/c incorporated congregation is that it falls directly under the licensing of the IRS in what it can preach and teach. How fulfilling do you think a faith organization can be if they must follow the rules of the government? Do you think that faith organization has ANY ability to prevent a tyrannical government from growing and blossoming if it is licensed by that same government in what it can say to the followers? I think not.

I’m also disheartened by the books I see on the shelves of so many Pastors. I’m not afraid to tell them what I think (and often do). James Dobson is not a good person if we compare him to Jesus. I’m not saying this in judgment, I am just making an appeal that Christians should stop straightlistening and start reading (and then listen). You’re not going to learn about God from a 1 hour sermon each week. The Pastor that I consider my Pastor is a Baptist, but he’s a real son-of-a-bitch when it comes to upsetting the status quo. I absolutely love his sermons when he goes outside the Evangelical box, and he does so often. I know he’s confused about some eschatological issues, but that’s OK to me because the times he hits the nail on the head, I can see the crowd shift. They’re uncomfortable, and that’s good — it opens their eyes to the need to READ the book they believe in, rather than have someone guide them in it. I love the Berean ideology of religion: read, discuss, debate, disagree, and then discover what faith means to you. We don’t see Bereans at most congregations today, not even the ones who throw the word “Berean” in their denominational title. It’s too bad, because I truly believe that an active and disciplined congregation can do more for the community than government can ever do.

My biggest distrust of the Church is when the very people in a leadership position escalate the need of more government in the community. “Let’s help the poor by taxing them.” “Let’s educate the dumb by taking away their choice in education.” “Let’s force the unfaithful to live by our rules.” It’s terrible. How can a Christian be a police officer, or a teacher, or a government official? When did Christ tell Christians to become part of a system of force, theft, and judgment? For what it’s worth, a few very close friends of mine are either members of the police force, the public school system, or the local government, or have family who are. They know of my distrust for their employment, and I do understand that there is nothing they can do to extricate themselves from their form of income. Where was the Church when they were growing up, warning them to stay away from the equivalent of the Whore of Babylon? Oh, the Church was supposed to be quiet on the issue of government, or they’d have to pay taxes. Heaven forbid.

People to Distrust #4: The Licensed Many
We fired our CPA for our corporations a few years ago, and it was good riddance. I stopped using Real Estate Agents and Lawyers for transactions, because I can read myself, and I can negotiate, too. I don’t want to have anything to do with most licensed individuals and businesses, unless I have no choice (i.e. doctors and dentists). In some cases, I prefer to travel overseas to an unlicensed practitioner than do business locally. Licensing has nothing to do with safety or protecting the masses — it has everything to do with creating a monopoly within a given market. Go and find a copy of the Real Estate licensing exam. Now try to find an Agent who really cares about the buyer’s needs. Good luck. Look at the mortgage brokerage business (a licensed occupation) and then look at how many people were duped into trusting that license. Licensing gives consumers one great disadvantage: trust. Because the city or state says a person is safe, or a building is safe, people trust them. I don’t. If I go to a restaurant or nightclub or business, and I see that it is more crowded that I feel is safe, I walk. The fire code license means nothing to me.

There are so many licenses for so many occupations, it is a wonder that anything gets done. “Continuing education” is a big market — a market that provides insight into new requirements, regulations, and licensing needs for that given market. It’s a cost passed on to the consumer in reduced supply of labor, and an increased barrier to industry. Good luck if you’re poor or lower middle class; the costs to get licensed can be enormous, and are rarely approachable for the masses because they don’t want to invest the time to learn a job AND learn what it takes to meet the requirements of the licensed. Our old CPA is proof of what a distrustful provider they were. Instead of focusing on the job of helping us run a profitable and clean business, they focused solely on taxes. What a terrible business to be in. And guess who lobbies for more confusing tax laws? It doesn’t take long to find the biggest CPA groups in line to extend, and obfuscate, the next tax laws. Thanks to licensing, they have a monopoly on their new job: charging huge bills to help someone navigate the very laws that were written by the guiding agent. In the old days, CPAs looked at general ledgers, profit and loss, and bank statements. Today, most of those items are handled by QuickBooks, so the CPAs found a way to avoid becoming the do-do.

People to Distrust #5: The Old Media
Where is the honest media, today? I love the blogosphere, because I can find 50 opinions within minutes. When I hit the mainstream media (TV, radio, newspaper), all I find is regurgitated news, sometimes without any re-editing. I respect the Associated Press for at least having reporters, but I have no trust for what they’re reporting. My “dream” news team would be a blogging co-operative where people who openly share links to opposing or different views. Writing about some new medical research? Link to an opposing article. Give the reader 1 or 2 or 10 opposing viewpoints to see your opinion. I’d love to do that myself, and I openly invite opposing viewpoints to link to me so I can link back. Even if you just write about how the Bears will get killed next Sunday, it is in your best interest to give your reader the opposite view, especially if you feel your opinion is stronger. If you don’t, you’re worthless in the grand scheme of news making.

In the old days, you had journalists who wrote, reporters who investigated, and opinion editors who told you what they thought. Today, there’s little left of this bifurcation of trust versus opinion, and you just don’t know if there are alternative opinions because the media shills for one side, usually. Give me the news in a Ebert and Roeper format: I especially like their movie reviews when they differ in which direction the thumb goes. I know that for most news writers, I have another finger that is up for them — and all the other shills who regurgitate the exact same viewpoint. The old media outlet that really offers two or three opinions on a matter will be the one who wins.

People to Distrust #6: The New Media
I distrust bloggers who don’t have open comments, and approve every non-spam comment written. It’s time for someone to make a Firefox Toolbar that lets you thumb up or thumb down blogs based on their open comment policy. Write a comment, and if it isn’t approved in an hour or a day, give them a thumbs down. Someone should write a plug-in that actively tracks if your comments appears on a page (it would be very easy, actually). Click in the comment box, click the Firefox Comment Tracker button, and type your comment into a new Firefox pop-up that records your comment, the website you posted at, and follows up if it is ever approved. Then, share the response with a central server. I’d love this, as I comment on hundreds of blogs in a week and not all have follow-up abilities. I need to add that ability here, but I am looking for a good system. I’d like a system where a comment writer can check a box to get e-mails on follow ups, but also get e-mails on when their comment is approved. It shouldn’t be that difficult.

If a blogger doesn’t have comments, I don’t bother with their site. It’s a waste of time, because you have ZERO opportunity to see alternative views of the readers. What’s the point of the blog if you can’t break free from the old media “we control it all” advantage? If you blog, spend time addressing your comments. Provide an RSS feed to your comments, and also provide an e-mail notification feature for people who visit rarely or just once. I definitely have spent 2 months looking for a perfect plug-in.

My title includes (or hate?) at the end because some people have said “Boy, you really hate so-and-so.” No, I don’t. I just don’t trust them. Some are close friends, family, clients, or collegues. They generally know it. I still hate the idea of the State, but my distrust falls to those who have implemented more government because it makes their life easier while harming my own. It is beyond unfair, it is immoral. If you’re anti-State, I’ve found that we have to be vocal against those who support the policies of the State, not just be anti-State. We must be anti-State-Supporter by voicing our disdain, abhorrence, and view towards the immorality of using force against individuals or groups. We must demand freedom by explaining to those who want less freedom as to why their views are a bad policy, and not just for others, but for themselves. For every policy you support that uses force, there are hundreds, maybe thousands, that work against you.

I’m just asking for fairness in opportunity based on the time, responsibility, and drive you put into acquiring a benefit from your investment. I’m not looking for all to be equally profitable, or everyone to have a fair share by harming someone else to give one person “more” fairness.

It’s isn’t hate; it’s distrust.