Father Martin

I agree with Father Martin's assessment of World Religions. I think western religions, Catholicism, Islam and Judaism are 3 groups of hikers climbing a mountain. But it is a pitch black night and they don't know if they are climbing up, down or sideways. I think they know about the other climbers but they each think they have the fastest and possibly the only correct route to the top. And to get others to follow them to the top they make blind faith the cornerstone of the right path. These 3 religions tell us God only likes or speaks to Middle Eastern men. Thousands of years ago. Shouldn't God have sent the 600 laws to every continent, Why did Jesus live in the same part of the world. And what are the chances of Mohammad being born so close to Moses and Jesus. Sounds like God is playing favorites. How about a God who speaks now, and likes all humans. If he or she contacted us why not contact us consistently. The Bible,New Testament, and Koran all appear within couple of hundred miles, amazing.
I think the eastern religious leaders are going to be happier if they reach the top and most people are there. I think the Eastern Religions are more about people and less about dogma.

Nobody knows the path. Anyone who says they are sure they know the path. Must be listened to with a grain of salt. I hope they at least hope they are right.

Thanks for a Great Class. I learned a lot and had a lot of laughs.

Jesus and Martin Luther

I think Jesus would look around and have mixed emotions. There are so many wonderful people in this world. People who help the poor, the sick, the hungry. People who love unconditionally. People who get up early in the morning to deliver food to elderly people who have trouble getting out. People who help young kids who may be going down the wrong path.

People who give of themselves unconditionally. Things that Jesus spoke about, and did each day of his life.

Would anyone recognize Jesus if he returned today

But I think he would be disappointed with what is important to the 3 major religions today.

Jesus never spoke about the Immaculate Conception, Holy Spirit or His Ascension into Heaven

He spoke about things people could do to get into Heaven. Tangible things to be done every day.

Now we are to believe things happened, instead of do things

Martin Luther would be as confused today as he was during his lifetime. He was always questioning established beliefs. Things that made sense were acceptable things that did not were discarded. He changed his mind ofter during his lifetime. He would change it often now.

My Interview of Ji Xing

On Oct. 28 2007 I met with Rven. Ji Xing the President of The Buddhist Association of the US.
He entered the room and introduced himself. I explained the reasons for my visit. He asked my name and what school I attended.
He handed me a copy of What the Buddha Taught. Which is what we were learned in class.
He told me he was from Asia and returned there for 2 months every year.
He was leaving for Asia in 2 weeks
I decided instead of asking questions, I would let him show me the way
He said the goal of life is to live a Happy, Healthy, and Meaningful live. If you are not you are not wise
He said I will show you the way you must practice.
Suffering is caused by saying yes or no to soon or saying yes or no to late.
When you wake up in the morning you must activate every cell in your body with happiness and gratitude. Take a couple of deep breaths and smile for your gifts you have
Your health is everything
Eat only 70% of what you think you should eat.
Eat happily, carefully, and slowly. Chew your food completely concentrate on eating only think of eating while you eat. This will help the enzymes digest your food.
Do not eat sweet things
Drink water the same way. Small mouths full do not guzzle the water. Drink at least 4 cups of water a day
Do not drink sodas
Be healthy. Do you want to save money all your life to give your money to doctors and insurance companies, when you get older.
Do not let harmful chemicals into your body.
Do not use a microwave to cook your food. Unhealthy changes occur to the food
Plastic water bottles in the refrigerator leech Dioxin into the water and are harmful to the human body
Your Destiny is in your hands
No God can help you
At this point an assistant entered the room to tell Ji that the service was about to start.
He told me to come back at any time and he would continue the conversation.
He invited me to the Chanting Ritual which I attended.
He seemed very interested in Helping me through this life not in whatever happens after death

Rich's Video

What do you think

Why can't we leave sex out of it.

This church was doing so many good things. Ordaining women, admitting gays and blacks. But what happens.

We put our trust in people who can't even follow the 10 commandments. These holy people lied about this for 34 years. Can they believe in their own religion if they lied for so long about something so important. Are these stories the exception or the rule.

Sex scandal hits Atlanta-area megachurch

By DORIE TURNER, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 1 minute ago

DECATUR, Ga. - The 80-year-old leader of a suburban Atlanta megachurch is at the center of a sex scandal of biblical dimensions: He slept with his brother's wife and fathered a child by her.

Members of Archbishop Earl Paulk's family stood at the pulpit of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit at Chapel Hill Harvester Church a few Sundays ago and revealed the secret exposed by a recent court-ordered paternity test.

In truth, this is not the first — or even the second — sex scandal to engulf Paulk and the independent, charismatic church. But this time, he could be in trouble with the law for lying under oath about the affair.

The living proof of that lie is 34-year-old D.E. Paulk, who for years was known publicly as Earl Paulk's nephew.

"I am so very sorry for the collateral damage it's caused our family and the families hurt by the removing of the veil that hid our humanity and our sinfulness," said D.E. Paulk, who received the mantle of head pastor a year and a half ago.

D.E. Paulk said he did not learn the secret of his parentage until the paternity test. "I was disappointed, and I was surprised," he said.

Earl Paulk, his brother, Don, and his sister-in-law, Clariece, did not return calls for comment.

A judge ordered the test at the request of the Cobb County district attorney's office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which are investigating Earl Paulk for possible perjury and false-swearing charges stemming from a lawsuit.

The archbishop, his brother and the church are being sued by former church employee Mona Brewer, who says Earl Paulk manipulated her into an affair from 1989 to 2003 by telling her it was her only path to salvation. Earl Paulk admitted to the affair in front of the church last January.

In a 2006 deposition stemming from the lawsuit, the archbishop said under oath that the only woman he had ever had sex with outside of his marriage was Brewer. But the paternity test said otherwise.

So far no charges have been filed against Earl Paulk. District Attorney Pat Head and GBI spokesman John Bankhead would not comment.

The shocking results of the paternity test are speeding up a transformation already under way in the church after more than a decade of sex scandals and lawsuits involving the Paulks, D.E. Paulk said.

"It was a necessary evil to bring us back to a God-consciousness," said the younger Paulk, explaining that the church had become too personality-driven and prone to pastor worship.

The flashy megachurch began in 1960 with just a few dozen members in the Little Five Points neighborhood of Atlanta. Now, it is in the suburbs on a 100-acre expanse, a collection of buildings surrounding a neo-Gothic cathedral.

For years the church was at the forefront of many social movements — admitting black members in the 1960s, ordaining women and opening its doors to gays.

At its peak in the early 1990s, it claimed about 10,000 members and 24 pastors and was a media powerhouse. By soliciting tithes of 10 percent from each member's income, the church was able to build a Bible college, two schools, a worldwide TV ministry and a $12 million sanctuary the size of a fortress.

Today, though, membership is down to about 1,500, the church has 18 pastors, most of them volunteers, and the Bible college and TV ministry have shuttered — a downturn blamed largely on complaints about the alleged sexual transgressions of the elder Paulks.

In 1992, a church member claimed she was pressured into a sexual relationship with Don Paulk. Other women also claimed they had been coerced into sex with Earl Paulk and other members of the church's administration.

The church countered with a $24 million libel suit against seven former church members. The lawsuit was later dropped.

Jan Royston, who left the church in 1992, started an online support group for former members to discuss their crushed faith and hurt feelings.

"This is a cult. And you escape from a cult," she said. "We all escaped."

These days, Earl Paulk has a much-reduced role at the cathedral, giving 10-minute lectures as part of Sunday morning worship each week.

"My uncle is 100 percent guilty, but his accusers are guilty as well," D.E. Paulk said, declining to talk further about the lawsuits.

___

JUDAISM

Key Points of Judaism- Treat others as you wish to be treated. The Old Testament is the Word of God. The Messiah is coming. Moses and Abraham are the prophets. Adam and Eve started it all.

Orthodox Jews feel you must obey all the ancient rules and observances. Hebrew only may be spoken, women and children are separated from men during the services.

Conservative Jews believe you must obey most of the rules and observances. Hebrew and English may be spoken. Women and children may be separated during the services.

Reform Jews believe rules should match the times some of the rules can be relaxed. English can be spoken. The whole family can enjoy the service together.

A Chanting Ritual at the Chuang Monestary

On Oct 28 2007, I attended a chanting ritual at the Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel NY. I parked my car and begin the long walk up the wide path towards the Great Hall. The path was dotted on both sides with 6foot tall statues of Buddha. Some of the statues had flowers and candy, some had money and food. Still others had pictures in front of them. At the foot of the Great Hall were two large statues of elephants. I walked up the steps removed my shoes and entered the Great Hall. The Great Hall is also called the Hall of Ten Thousand Buddha's encircling Buddha Vairocana. Both names are very accurate. There are no pillars supporting the ceiling. The hall is a spacious unobstructed interior with a 37 foot statue of Buddha Vairocana. The largest Buddha statue in the western hemisphere. Surrounding the statue are10,000 small statues on a lotus terrace. The statue must have been placed here then the building erected around it. The hall was filled with the smell of incense. 10 ft tables with 3 chairs were placed on both sides of the hall. The middle was empty. A monk explained what we were going to perform. I think the monk said next time they would have something in English for the the one American.
The drum began to set the beat. Slow, steady, accented by a bell. The voices began in unison
the short syllables sounded wonderful with the steady beat. I had no idea what they were saying but it sounded beautiful. Everyone was singing without shame. Loud, strong, happy singing.
Every once in a while the bell would sound alerting us the next chant would start. Faster, slower, the chants changed back and forth. Some sentences would be repeated 4 or 5 times some said only once. When the ritual ended it was quick and precise. people said their good byes and slowly left the Great Hall. Rejuvenated, fulfilled, happy ready to live a happy, healthy, meaningful life.