I Grieve. I Vote.

This is not new. It is hardly news. Since Charles Whitman climbed the Texas Tower in 1966 and killed 18 people we have had mass shootings at schools. In fact, there have been school shootings as far back as 1840. It is not new that conservatives claim rights defined in the 2nd Amendment as the basis of opposing gun control legislation. It is not new that flag-waving right-wingers warn against any attempt to restrict the purchase of weapons or identify red flags that might prohibit individuals identified as disturbed from obtaining firearms. The discourse between those horrified by the ease of weapon possession in this country and those who somehow think it is a sacred right has boiled down to logic vs. belief, individual freedom vs. community well-being, gun manufacturers, vs. grieving family and community members. It is not different from the vaccinated vs. the anti-vaxers. In this nation will we allow individuals to exhibit behaviors that are harmful, nay terminal, to the group? So far, the answer is “yes.” And our children are dying. Adults are dying. And we remain content with a misread rule from 1791 designed by Madison to arm citizens if needed, against a tyrannical government. So sad that the attempts at tyranny have come from pro-guns groups.

This is not new. But one wonders when it will be enough.

Can we tell the good guys from the bad guys? No. So the notion that the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun is as nonsensical as saying the only way to stop someone with a gun is by someone else with a gun so give everyone a gun.

If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. Exactly. If heroin is outlawed only addicts and drug dealers will have heroin.

And here in Texas, we are going in the opposite direction. No license is needed to own or carry. Therefore, no surprise children are dying. If you are a gun-carrying conservative you should celebrate the deaths in Uvalde as it is an indicator of your freedom to carry a weapon rather than the freedom of the rest of us to live.

I grieve. I vote.

A New Raptura

The term “rapture” for evangelical and fundamentalist Christians is taken from ancient Latin “raptura” and means to be kidnapped, snatched away, or seized, a term very unlike modern associations of joy, and intense pleasure.  Nope, those who believe in the Biblical Rapture believe all previous believers will be called into the clouds to meet Jesus, then all current believers will be snatched away to join that group in the clouds.  The Bible does not mention the term rapture, but the current fundamentalist concept began to take hold in the late 1800s.

I have often thought of that event held dear in the hearts of some believers, as a horrible event.  2,000 years ago there were no automobiles, airliners, battleships, aircraft carriers, International Space Station, satellite operators, or even amusement park employees, so the snatching of believers might have left some sheep unguarded but would not likely cause much death and mayhem.  In the current high-tech society, the disappearance of a large number of people who are snatched away would result in multiple deaths and a huge amount of emotional pain.  So, if a loving God intends to do such a thing he does not seem very loving to me at all.

What further bothers me, assuming the perspective of a believer, is that those who are snatched are willing to be snatched, leaving family, friends, and loved ones behind.  How selfish is that?  Why not hang around and help?

The expression, “the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”  So, the long-range plan for humanity is to snatch up all the good men?  Duh.  That seems counterproductive.  Let’s leave all the nonbelievers, all the evildoers in charge while good folks consort in the clouds.

So, I propose a change in the way Christians view the rapture.  It should not be the seizure and elevation of believers but should be a casting down of the wicked.  God has done that before via the great flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, Pharaoh's army, etc., etc.  Why not at the end times?

If we believed that the day would come that all non-believers, all evildoers, all liars, all criminals, all those who grossly sinned against their fellow man by placing power and money above all else, should be cast down rather than all the good guys being sucked up.  Think of the ways we could improve the human condition!

Folks like Trump, McConnell, Greene, Boebert, McCarthy, Cruz, Abbott, Hawley, etc., etc. would be cast down and quickly disappear leaving the good solid people who understand the New Testament and the US Consitution in charge.  Then we would have the ability to establish heaven on earth where no one goes hungry, without shelter, in need of medical attention, or education, is shut out when seeking asylum, or belittles other humans because of race, ethnicity, gender, gender preference, or wealth.  Those who will say and do anything to achieve personal power would be the first to go, and I would say good riddance.

It may take a reverse rapture for the current supporters of the vile to realize they are on the wrong side and have been lied to and have had their fears and angers ignited by the accelerant of bigotry.  And, Biden could appoint 5 or 6 judges when the others disappear. 

Time for a new raptura. 

Closed Hearts, Closed Doors, Closed Minds

 As a former Methodist I was sad to hear that the Methodist Bishops have concluded there is no compromise available on the issue of non-heterosexual marriages and clergy so the church will split.  The conservative wing, those who will not support same-sex marriage and homosexual clergy, will establish a new Methodist Church known as the Global Methodists.  As I recover from my sadness I begin to laugh.  So much for the motto, “Open Hearts, Open Doors, Open Minds.”

In 1785 Methodists officially opposed slavery and called for emancipation.  Southern Methodists fought back and the church at first mollified its position, then reinforced the original position.  Members of the church who supported slavery, left the church.  In hindsight, it should be safe to say that bigotry drove the split.  Today is no different.  Those who not only do not recognize the existence of the LGBTQ community are splitting from a church that recognizes same-sex marriage and heterosexual clergy.  Geeze.  Some Methodists are slow learners and the new “global” church shall be scorned in years to come by those who continue to have imaginary friends.  For some, politics and religion are a sacrilegious mix worse than gays and straights.

(I would further suggest the moniker for the new churches should be "Provincial Methodists," as the term "global' implies a worldwide view and liberal thinking.)

As the new church begins its lobbying efforts to attract current Methodists to join them the issues will look like they are logistical:  what happens to church property?  What happens to established fund balances?  etc.  Moot as far as I am concerned.  The issue is bigotry versus love and acceptance as equals those humans who are different from the majority, the same issue present in discussions of racial bigotry.  Rejecting a person because of their race is the same process as rejecting someone because of their sexual preference. 

No doubt both sides will rail against the other side citing Bible verses and interpretations to sanctify their sanctimonious positions.  I find that equally laughable as the Bible is so full of conflicting statements that almost anyone can find a verse supporting their particular point of view.  I would simply point out that those who support inerrancy and the literal so-called truth of the Bible stand on shakey ground if they do not support stoning to death anyone who has premarital sex, anyone who commits adultery, anyone who gets a divorce, and anyone who disobeys their parents.  The 4,000year-old Bronze Age philosophy reflected in the Bible is simply not appropriate for the 21^st Century any more than the owner's manual for a Model T is useful for reference on a model Tesla.

It may not be immediately obvious, but I suspect this split will accelerate the growth of the fastest growing group in American religious categories:  The “None.”  As science advances, as fact replaces faith, in fact, faith only exists without facts, the number of people opting out of organized religion is escalating.  If facts confirmed Christianity everyone would be a Christian.  Or, if prayers were answered there would be no doctors.

Still, for mostly historical and sentimental reasons, I regret to see the split.  I have long held that there is no such thing as a conservative Christian and this split continues to prove my point.

Regardless of faith or lack thereof, I support Open Hears, Open Minds, and Open Doors.  Those who judge others by superficial characteristics and/or characteristics determined at birth, who would build walls against other people, who would exclude other people from a place at the table, and who would perceive that some humans are superior to others are not the people who will advance humanity in generations to come.  They represent roadblocks to improvement and to faith.