Asher Kelman
OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Popes no longer have armies that hold dominion over client states. Artists thoughout the Papal States in Italy no longer have to give their best paintings to the Vatican as a tax. The Vatican itself recognizes that other Churches are now Christian! That's impressive ecumenical progress. Hello? Why not this is the 21st Century? However, why the "Royal Head of State Treatment" for a Pontiff?
It's wonderful when religious leaders travel to dialog with other leaders. Who knows they might learn something from each other? Also out of respect to the feelings of millions of devotees and for security, a welcome is in order. But why the pomp and fuss? Surely the man that walked in Gallilee would be somewhat aghast?
What happens when the Archbishop of Canterbury or the Grand Imam from Turkey or the Chief Rabbi of Israel or the Head of the Armenian or other Orthodox Church or a Hindu spiritual leader lands here? (After all, in the latter case, there are 920 million Hindus!) Beyond security and some small welcoming committee, there's no fuss.
Have we gotten our priorities wrong encouraging the royalty of one or even any religious leader?
If we were to follow the words on the US Bank notes
Why not?
I for one believe that any God that's in the nature of the God of the Hebrew Bible, is not foolish enough to need or value any of this pomp. After all, don't we have more important jobs to do?
Now I do not blame the Pontiff for all this fuss. After all who doesn't like to be respected and held in high esteem. However, I do fault the media, drunk on a "Royalty Delusion" and a pandering to political correctness that has no place in the 21st Century.
Was there no missing child today? Did they stop driving up the price of food beyond the means of 100 million poor who now cannot afford basic grains diverted to "Green Fuel" and green dollar bills"?
I feel the same for Billy Graham or any other superhero figure with a jet plane and a radio station. At least with the earthly Batman TV heros or Madonna, we know they're just joking! However, princes who truly believe they alone have some special contact with divinity are different. They replace rational thought with the idea that "salvation" trumps the unique sufficient values of social and personal responsibility with freedom of thought. That's what's sad about this! It's one thing to show respect to a religious leader. It's another for that individual to be lauded and treated as above other people as if we still believed in royal divine rights!
I personally wish the Pontiff a great spiritual visit and insight. If the USA didn't seriously believe that they have a special God-guided mission and have the God' favor then I'd think this was totally just a rock-star event. However, this is a serious reaching out to spread the delusion of a heaven with just one front door and one key!
Asher
The symbols on the bank notes are equally interesting and from the same source:
The unfinished pyramid means that the United States will always grow, improve and build.
"All-Seeing Eye" In addition, the "All-Seeing Eye" located above the pyramid suggests the importance of divine guidance in favor of the American cause.
God Favors the USA: The inscription ANNUIT COEPTIS translates as "He (God) has favored our undertakings," and refers to the many instances of Divine Providence during our Government's formation.
NEW Order for The Ages: In addition, the inscription NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM translates as "A new order of the ages," and signifies a new American era.
It's wonderful when religious leaders travel to dialog with other leaders. Who knows they might learn something from each other? Also out of respect to the feelings of millions of devotees and for security, a welcome is in order. But why the pomp and fuss? Surely the man that walked in Gallilee would be somewhat aghast?
What happens when the Archbishop of Canterbury or the Grand Imam from Turkey or the Chief Rabbi of Israel or the Head of the Armenian or other Orthodox Church or a Hindu spiritual leader lands here? (After all, in the latter case, there are 920 million Hindus!) Beyond security and some small welcoming committee, there's no fuss.
Have we gotten our priorities wrong encouraging the royalty of one or even any religious leader?
If we were to follow the words on the US Bank notes
Why not?
I for one believe that any God that's in the nature of the God of the Hebrew Bible, is not foolish enough to need or value any of this pomp. After all, don't we have more important jobs to do?
Now I do not blame the Pontiff for all this fuss. After all who doesn't like to be respected and held in high esteem. However, I do fault the media, drunk on a "Royalty Delusion" and a pandering to political correctness that has no place in the 21st Century.
Was there no missing child today? Did they stop driving up the price of food beyond the means of 100 million poor who now cannot afford basic grains diverted to "Green Fuel" and green dollar bills"?
I feel the same for Billy Graham or any other superhero figure with a jet plane and a radio station. At least with the earthly Batman TV heros or Madonna, we know they're just joking! However, princes who truly believe they alone have some special contact with divinity are different. They replace rational thought with the idea that "salvation" trumps the unique sufficient values of social and personal responsibility with freedom of thought. That's what's sad about this! It's one thing to show respect to a religious leader. It's another for that individual to be lauded and treated as above other people as if we still believed in royal divine rights!
I personally wish the Pontiff a great spiritual visit and insight. If the USA didn't seriously believe that they have a special God-guided mission and have the God' favor then I'd think this was totally just a rock-star event. However, this is a serious reaching out to spread the delusion of a heaven with just one front door and one key!
Asher
*Fact Sheets: Currency & Coins
HISTORY OF 'IN GOD WE TRUST'
HISTORY OF 'IN GOD WE TRUST'
The motto
was placed on United States coins largely because of the increased religious sentiment existing during the Civil War. Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase received many appeals from devout persons throughout the country, urging that the United States recognize the Deity on United States coins. From Treasury Department records, it appears that the first such appeal came in a letter dated November 13, 1861. It was written to Secretary Chase by Rev. M. R. Watkinson, Minister of the Gospel from Ridleyville, Pennsylvania, and read:
Dear Sir: You are about to submit your annual report to the Congress respecting the affairs of the national finances.
One fact touching our currency has hitherto been seriously overlooked. I mean the recognition of the Almighty God in some form on our coins.
You are probably a Christian. What if our Republic were not shattered beyond reconstruction? Would not the antiquaries of succeeding centuries rightly reason from our past that we were a heathen nation? What I propose is that instead of the goddess of liberty we shall have next inside the 13 stars a ring inscribed with the words PERPETUAL UNION; within the ring the allseeing eye, crowned with a halo; beneath this eye the American flag, bearing in its field stars equal to the number of the States united; in the folds of the bars the words GOD, LIBERTY, LAW.
This would make a beautiful coin, to which no possible citizen could object. This would relieve us from the ignominy of heathenism. This would place us openly under the Divine protection we have personally claimed. From my hearth I have felt our national shame in disowning God as not the least of our present national disasters.
To you first I address a subject that must be agitated.
As a result, Secretary Chase instructed James Pollock, Director of the Mint at Philadelphia, to prepare a motto, in a letter dated November 20, 1861:
Dear Sir: No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins.
You will cause a device to be prepared without unnecessary delay with a motto expressing in the fewest and tersest words possible this national recognition.
Source
"IN GOD WE TRUST"
was placed on United States coins largely because of the increased religious sentiment existing during the Civil War. Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase received many appeals from devout persons throughout the country, urging that the United States recognize the Deity on United States coins. From Treasury Department records, it appears that the first such appeal came in a letter dated November 13, 1861. It was written to Secretary Chase by Rev. M. R. Watkinson, Minister of the Gospel from Ridleyville, Pennsylvania, and read:
Dear Sir: You are about to submit your annual report to the Congress respecting the affairs of the national finances.
One fact touching our currency has hitherto been seriously overlooked. I mean the recognition of the Almighty God in some form on our coins.
You are probably a Christian. What if our Republic were not shattered beyond reconstruction? Would not the antiquaries of succeeding centuries rightly reason from our past that we were a heathen nation? What I propose is that instead of the goddess of liberty we shall have next inside the 13 stars a ring inscribed with the words PERPETUAL UNION; within the ring the allseeing eye, crowned with a halo; beneath this eye the American flag, bearing in its field stars equal to the number of the States united; in the folds of the bars the words GOD, LIBERTY, LAW.
This would make a beautiful coin, to which no possible citizen could object. This would relieve us from the ignominy of heathenism. This would place us openly under the Divine protection we have personally claimed. From my hearth I have felt our national shame in disowning God as not the least of our present national disasters.
To you first I address a subject that must be agitated.
As a result, Secretary Chase instructed James Pollock, Director of the Mint at Philadelphia, to prepare a motto, in a letter dated November 20, 1861:
Dear Sir: No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins.
You will cause a device to be prepared without unnecessary delay with a motto expressing in the fewest and tersest words possible this national recognition.
Source
The symbols on the bank notes are equally interesting and from the same source:
The unfinished pyramid means that the United States will always grow, improve and build.
"All-Seeing Eye" In addition, the "All-Seeing Eye" located above the pyramid suggests the importance of divine guidance in favor of the American cause.
God Favors the USA: The inscription ANNUIT COEPTIS translates as "He (God) has favored our undertakings," and refers to the many instances of Divine Providence during our Government's formation.
NEW Order for The Ages: In addition, the inscription NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM translates as "A new order of the ages," and signifies a new American era.
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