Other Side of the Street

Every night I go to sleep and so far I've arisen the next morning every time. I'm told that many of those nights my brain experiences dreams and often I remember having dreamt but have no recollection of the dream. When I do remember a dream, I think it is important to reflect on it.

It was night. Through the scene ran a road and on that road cars periodically passed. On my side of the road sat a graveyard and in that place I stood. Across the street from me was campus housing of some description. In the windows, students could be seen working on homework, talking with friends, and getting ready for bed. Where I stood, everyone had finished their earthly chores and would stir no more. As I observed this scene, it occured to me that there was a strong contrast between the two places and from this contrast came an important lesson.

It was as if I was looking through the eyes of those passed on as they observed young adults going throughout their day. I saw students staying busy as they focused on preparing themselves for tests and quizes and ultimately the world after college. Focused largely on themselves, most of the students were more likely to do what was better for them than to consider the feelings or well-being of others. Some probably claimed to be "in love" but most of the time in most of such relationships, the individuals motives and thoughts were most likely largely focused on themselves.

As I observed this scene, I began to wonder what those who had passed on might think of this scene. I tried to put myself in their position. If I was laying in one of those graves and could communicate with the living, what would I say. As I observed this scene, I was struck by the absurdity of most of our lives. We spend every day focused mostly on things that will help us the next day or at most in a few years. I wake up every morning and I work on and worry about school work, but when my time has come and I lay in a cemetary, what will that have meant? Doing well in school is not a bad thing, nor are most of the things we dedicate our time to. The problem is that we don't give any time to the things that matter. We dedicate very little time investing in others or helping them out.

After some time, I began to walk out of the grave yard and back onto the street, back into the world of the living and I wondered if anyone else felt the same way.

Evolution: How Science Managed to Discredit Itself

Evolution is essentially the process by which the gene pool of a species or population change. Until it is extrapolated to ancient times, evolution doesn't conflict with creationism, it just states the fact that as individuals of a population reproduce, over time, variations in genetic makeup begin to appear. By bringing evolution to light, scientists also illuminated the process by which their very profession came into existence.

Throughout human history, individuals have sought to understand and explain the world around them. First, we developed language in order to give us some way of expressing and comprehending the stimuli we encounter. Soon thereafter, humans set out to explore and explain their surroundings. Eventually, we invented the field of science. Since that day, scientists have busy proposing hypotheses and presenting theories that "explain" why or how things happen. When a theory seems to be irrefutable, it is considered fact until new evidence comes along and disproves it. This process has repeated itself countless times over the course of human history.

What reason then do we have to believe that science today is any more accurate than it was when the world was flat and the sun revolved around it? Scientists are quick to point out how much more advanced we are and how far we have come since those days of ignorance, but I wonder if they won't be saying the same thing in another thousand years.

I'm not saying that all of science is wrong; maybe none of it is and we really have come that far, but to me, science today seems to posess an arrogance that can only hinder further advances.

What should the free world do in the face of Islamist intimidation?

-=(This article was originally written by Robert Redeker, a 52 year-old writer and high school philosophy teacher. The article was first published in the newspaper Le Figaro. Since it's publication, Redeker has received countless death threats. There is even a website condemning him to death that includes a map to his house and pictures of him and his workplace. He is now living under police protection in France and is forced to move every two days. In a letter to a friend, Redeker said, "I'm a homeless person, I exercised a constitutional right, and I'm being punished for it right here on the territory of the Republic."

The version I have posted below was translated by Giraldus Cambrensis and posted at http://www.westernresistance.com/blog/archives/003001.html. A Time Magazine article discussing the article can be found at http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1541776,00.html?cnn=yes.)=-


The reactions caused by the analysis of Benoit XVI on Islam and violence highlight the underhanded maneuver carried out by the same Islam to stifle what the West has of more value than anything which exists in any Muslim country: the freedom to think and to express oneself.

Islam tries to impose on Europe its rules: opening of swimming pools at certain hours exclusively for women, prevention of caricaturing this religion, requirement of a particular dietary treatment for Muslim children in canteens, the battle to wear the veil at school, accusations of Islamophobia against free spirits.

How can one explain the ban on the wearing of thongs on Paris-Beaches*, this summer? The reasoning put forth was bizarre: the risk of "disturbing public order". Did this mean that bands of frustrated youths would become violent, faced with displays of beauty? Or were they scared of Islamist demonstrations by the brigades of virtue on the approaches to Paris-Beaches?

Moreover, the non-prohibition of the veil on the street is, by inviting complaints for upholding the oppression of women more properly "disturbing public order" than the wearing of a thong. It is not inappropriate to think that this ban represents an Islamization of sensibilities in France, a more or less conscious submission to the diktats of Islam. Or, at the very least, that it is the outcome of the insidious Muslim pressure on the senses: even those who protested the introduction of a "Jean Paul II Square" in Paris would not be opposed to the construction of mosques. Islam attempts to force Europe to yield to its vision of humanity.

As in the past with Communism, the West finds itself under ideological scrutiny. Islam presents itself, in the image of defunct Communism, as an alternative to the western world. In the manner of Communism before it, Islam, to conquer spirits, plays on a sensitive nerve. It prides itself on a legitimacy which troubles the western conscience, attentive to others: to be the voice of the oppressed of the planet. Yesterday, the voice of the poor claimed to come from Moscow, today it comes from Mecca! Today again, intellectuals express the views of the Koran, as they expressed the views of Moscow yesterday. They excommunicate people for Islamophobia, as yesterday they did for anti-communism.

In the opening up to others, specific to the West, a secularization of Christianity appears, whose bottom line is summarized as follows: the other person must always pass in front of me. The Westerner, the heir to Christianity, is to be the one to make his soul exposed. He runs the risk of passing himself off as weak. With the same ardor as Communism, Islam treats generosity, broadmindedness, tolerance, gentleness, freedom of women and of manners, democratic values, as signs of decadence.

These are the weaknesses that it seeks to exploit, by means of "useful idiots", those of good consciences imbued with fine sentiments, in order to impose the Koranic order on the Western world itself.

The Koran is a book of unparalleled violence. Maxime Rodinson states, in Encyclopedia Universalis, some truths that in France are as significant as they are taboo. On one hand: "Mohammed revealed in Medina unsuspected qualities as political leader and military chief (...) He resorted to private war, then the current institution in Arabia (....) Mohammed soon sent small groups of partisans to attack the Meccan caravans, thus punishing his unbelieving compatriots and simultaneously acquiring the booty of a wealthy man."

Additionally: "Mohammed profited from this success by eliminating from Medina, by means of massacre, the Jewish tribe which resided there, the Quarayza, whom he accused of suspect behaviour." Finally "After the death of Khadija, he married a widow, fine domestic, (called) Sawda, and also little Aisha, barely ten years old. His erotic predilections, held in check for a long time, led him to embark on ten marriages jointly."

The exaltation of violence; a merciless war chief, plunderer, slaughterer of Jews and a polygamist, such is the man revealed through the Koran.

In fact, the Catholic church is not above reproach. Its history is strewn with dark pages, for which it has made repentance. The Inquisition, the hounding of witches, the execution of the philosophers Bruno and Vanini, those wrong-thinking Epicureans, even well into the 18th century the (execution of the) knight of La Barre for impiety, do not plead in the church's favor. But what differentiates Christianity from Islam is apparent: it is always possible to bring forth the evangelical values, the mild personage of Jesus against the deviations of the Church.

None of the faults of the Church have their roots in the Gospel. Jesus is non-violent. Turning back to Jesus is turning against the excesses of the ecclesiastic institution. Turning to Mahomet, by contradiction, reinforces hate and violence. Jesus is a master of love, Mahomet is a master of hatred.

The stoning of Satan, each year at Mecca, is not just a superstitious phenomenon. It not only sets the scene for a rabble flirting with barbarity. Its scope is anthropological. Here in effect is a rite, which each Muslim is invited to submit himself to, emphasizing violence as a sacred duty in the heart of the believer.

This stoning, annually accompanied by the trampling to death of the faithful, sometimes in several hundreds, is a ritual which nurtures archaic violence.

Instead of getting rid of this archaic violence, in imitation of Judaism and Christianity, by neutralizing it (Judaism starts with the abandonment of human sacrifice, that is to say by entering into civilization, and Christianity transforms sacrifice in the Eucharist), Islam builds a nest for this violence, where it can be incubated. When Judaism and Christianity are the religions whose rites conjure violence, delegitimizing it, Islam is a religion which, even in its sacred text, as well as in its definingl rituals, exalts violence and hatred.

Hatred and violence inhabit the book with which every Muslim is brought up, the Koran. As in the Cold War, where violence and intimidation were the methods used by an ideology intent on forcing hegemony, so too does Islam, to place its leaden cloak over the world. Benedict XVI suffered a cruel experience. In these times, one must call the West the "free world" compared to the Muslim world, for in these times, the enemies of the "free world", zealous functionaries of the Koran's vision, are swarming at its center

Slightly More Complicated Than Checkers

I had been in Nairobi, Kenya for 10 days and the work portion of the trip was drawing to a close. For most of that time, we had been traveling throughout the Kiamumbi community and interacting with the people there: Christian and non-Christian alike. I was tired and really not interested in doing much work. For the entirety of the trip to that point, we had been walking the streets talking to people and after walking that much in that heat our endurance was quickly running out. That day wasn’t much different than the rest except that it was our last working day before heading to the game park where we were to end our trip with a two-day safari. Personally, I was looking forward to the safari and rather poorly focused on the task at hand. When we came to a street corner where a group was standing around, the decision was made to stop and disperse. Due to our out-of-place skin color and subsequent novelty, few were hesitant to talk with us. As I looked for someone to talk with, I noticed a couple of men sitting on boxes with something between them. As I drew near, it became apparent that they were playing chess but without traditional pieces. Instead, they had beer caps, writing up for one side and down for the other. For kings, they would just double up the pieces. Looking for some excuse to avoid anything too difficult, I asked the men if I could play one of them. Without hesitating, one man accepted my challenge and then proceeded to give me the toughest game of checkers I have ever played. To be honest, I was humbled by this uneducated and obviously impoverished man’s skill. Two games later, we were tied and mutually agreed to leave it at that. As I played a few more men, one man started to ask me questions about why we were there and what we were doing. I told him we were there to share the gospel and at that, he asked me what that meant. After I explained to him the meaning of our message, he said something I will never forget. “I know many people who on Sunday they go to the Baptist church or they go to the Catholic church or another one. They go and they sing their songs and praise their God and then the rest of the week, they drink and they beat their wives and they cheat people out of money you know. So what good does going to church do for them?” With that he summed up modern Christianity and the misinformation that accompanies it.

Allow me for a moment to explain my personal beliefs and the way I view Christianity. As a religion that has been around nearly 2000 years, Christianity has had more than enough time to allow for distortion. People often, as with any religion, use parts of Christian theology to serve their own purpose and twist others to their liking. Recently, the American church has tried to change the very basis of Christianity. Based on my personal study, I believe that Christianity is not about being a good person or being sure not to do anything too bad. Christ’s statement that “I am the way the truth and the light, no one comes to the father but through me,” says to me that simply being a good person is irrelevant. If it were enough, why would it have been necessary for him to die? The bible also says that many people will go come to judgment day saying that they did many good things for Christ but that he will say he never new them. It is amusing to me that many people who claim to be Christians will tell you that to get into heaven you have to live right or do good things.

Don’t get me wrong; I am not saying that Christians can just do whatever they want. In my opinion, when the bible talks about the way one should live, I think it is more advice than commands. Too many people confuse Old Testament law with our current situation. Before the birth of Christ, Jews were dependent on the law for their salvation. Essentially, they had a list of rules and as long as they did that and paid for any of their transgression with sacrifices, they were good to go for eternity. With the crucifixion of Christ however, that process was altered. Instead of having to pay the price in sacrificial animal blood, it was paid with his. From that point on, all that has been required is a relationship with Christ. Unfortunately, the modern church has done a terrible job of spreading this message. In the name of political correctness, the church has subtly shifted its message from one way and one god to the better-received attitude of acceptance and right living. Do not misunderstand me; I am not one of those bible-thumping idiots who think everyone else is a moron if they disagree. I think everyone comes to his or her own conclusions about the world and while I’m willing to share my opinion, I won’t try to force it on everyone.

The thing that angered me when the gentleman made his statement to me is the lack of maturity that seems to pervade the church throughout the world. Not only have we done an unacceptable job of explaining what it is we believe, but we seem to ignore the wealth of wisdom and advice available to us. Why are people claiming to be Christians drinking away the little money available to them or cheating? Why are they living in irresponsibility and stupidity? Simply reading the book of proverbs would provide most people with enough advice to focus on for the rest of their life. It is a huge discredit to the church that they live in such a way that they show others nothing worth pursuing. In my opinion, people ought to be drawn to the church because they respect and look up to the people who make it up. If Christians are to make a difference, they must first be respectable people.

My response the gentleman in Nairobi was that Christians, just like non-Christians lead terribly messed up lives. Unfortunately, for all the talk, no one has it all figured out and to be honest the church is probably just as screwed up as the rest of the world. I have personally seen my own church torn apart by conflict. What I told him was that we all suck at this thing called life but that as Christians we believe that we have forgiveness for our sins and that the condition of our hearts is more important that what we do. I challenged him to try give the church another shot realizing that the church is full of sinners some of whom are genuine and others who are nothing more than hypocrites. I have no idea what impact I left on his life, but I know that he left a sizeable one on me.

I would like to think that since that encounter, I’ve been changed. I don’t pretend to have it all together. On the contrary, I doubt I’m any better now at living right than I have ever been. What I believe has changed however is my maturity. Since then, I’ve been challenged to be someone other people will respect and want to emulate; not to bring glory to myself but to be a good ambassador of Christianity unlike so many others. I know that I screw up, and I am young enough to still be trying to figure out how I see some things. There are still a lot of issues I haven’t made up my mind about and some I’ve changed my mind on. In my opinion, what is most important is that I be honest, trustworthy, and humble that people might seek to find out what my secret is so that I can share it with them. I don’t believe that mass evangelism is terribly effective. Usually, it just offends or irritates people. I believe that people are most influenced by their friends. People that they trust and depend on. That is the kind of person I have sought to be since encountering that man at the checkers board in Nairobi, Kenya.