What Bill Cosby Thinks of the World and Why He's Glad He's Almost Done

(I found this posted to my Facebook page and thought it would be fun to share it here. Give it a read, see what you think--agree or disagree--and share your comments. Thanks.)

Bill Cosby says,  "I'm 83 and Tired."

Except for brief period in the 50's when I was doing my National Service, I've worked hard since I was 17. Except for some serious health challenges, I put in 50-hour weeks, and didn't call in sick in nearly 40 years. I made a reasonable salary, but I didn't inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, it looks as though retirement was a bad idea, and I'm tired. Very tired.

I'm tired of being told that I have to "spread the wealth" to people who don't have my work ethic. I'm tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it.

I'm tired of being told that Islam is a "Religion of Peace," when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family "honor"; of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren't "believers"; of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for "adultery"; of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur'an and Shari'a law tells them to.

I'm tired of being told that out of "tolerance for other cultures" we must let Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries use our oil money to fund mosques and Madrasa Islamic schools to preach hate in Australia, New Zealand, [the] UK, America, and Canada while no one from these countries [is] allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia or any other Arab country to teach love and tolerance.

I'm tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate.

I'm tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses or stick a needle in their arm while they tried to fight it off?

I'm tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of all parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I'm tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.

I'm really tired of people who don't take responsibility for their lives and actions. I'm tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination or big-whatever for their problems.

I'm also tired and fed up with seeing young men and women in their teens and early 20's bedeck themselves in tattoos and face studs, thereby making themselves unemployable and claiming money from the government.

Yes, I'm damn tired. But I'm also glad to be 83. Because, mostly, I'm not going to have to see the world these people are making. I'm just sorry for my granddaughter and their children.

Thank God I'm on the way out and not on the way in.

(Ed. Note: I agree with Mr. Cosby in principle on just about every issue he mentions here, except the one about being glad he's on his way out. I think there's still hope. I'd like to be around long enough to see what may happen. You?)

Holy Double Deity, Batman! The Many Gods Of The Bible

Psalms 82:1: “God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods…” and Psalms 86:8: “Among the gods [there is] none like unto thee, O Lord; neither [are there any works] like unto thy works.” KJV

Is there more than one god mentioned in the Bible? Seems the answer is a very loud YES! Here's a list. Now, don't call me a heretic or blasphemer or such. I'm just showing you what the Bible has to say on the subject. Ready? 

Thanks to The Atheist Foundation, Australia www.atheistfoundation.org.au/forums/showthread.php?t=878 

Adrammelech II Kings 17:31 Sepharvite God. Anammelech II Kings 17:31 Sepharvite God. Ashima II Kings 17:30 Samaritan Moon Goddess. Ashtoreth I Kings 11:05 Canaanite Goddess. Baal I Kings 18:19 Canaanite God ("Lord") of fertility, vegitation, and storms. Baal-berith Judges 8:33 A regional variation/aspect of Baal. Baal-peor Numbers 25:03 Moabite regional variation/aspect of Baal. Baal-zebub Luke 11:19 Philistine/Ekronian regional variation/aspect of Baal. Baalim I Kings 18:18 Canaanite Gods ("Lords"), a collective of the different aspects of Baa. Bel Isiah 46:01 Assyrian/Babylonian/Sumerian God ("Lord"). Chemosh I Kings 11:07 Moabite war God. Dagon I Samuel 05:02 Philistine/Ekronian/Babylonian God of agriculture. Diana of the Ephesians Acts 19:35 Ephesian moon and nature Goddess ("Divine/Brilliant"). Jehovah Exodus 6:03 Hebrew God Jupiter Acts 14:12 Roman God (possibly derived from 'Zeus-pater', Father Zeus). Lucifer Isiah 14:12 ("Light-Bearer") Mercurius Acts 14:12 Otherwise known as the Roman God Mercury, God of communication and travel, and messenger of the Gods...which is probably why Paul was called this at Lystra. Milcom I Kings 11:05 Ammonite God Molech I Kings 11:07 Ammonite God, also called Moloch, most probably Baal-Hammon of Carthage. Nebo Isiah 46:01 Assyrian/Babylonian/Chaldean God of wisdom and writing, also called Nabu. Nergal II Kings 17:30 Cuth/Assyrian/Babylonian war and underworld God, also called Meshlamthea. Nibhaz II Kings 17:31 Avites God Nisroch II Kings 19:37 Assyrian God Rimmon II Kings 05:18 Babylonian/Syrian storm God involved (as Ramman) with the Deluge, according to Hebrew texts; also known as Ramman/Rammon. Succoth-benoth II Kings 17:30 Babylonian fertility Goddess ("She Who Produces Seed"), also known as Zarpanitu/Zerpanitum. Tammuz Ezekial 8:14 Assyrian/Babylonian God Tartak II Kings 17:31 Avites God

Deep Hate and How to End It (Part II)

YOU hold the key...

So you think you have no real power in this world?

Think again. It's because of people like you that the world hasn't totally imploded. And you are needed now more than ever. Don't let your sense of smallness stop you from changing the world. Step into the role you've always known was yours to fulfill. Read on and save the world!

You play a major part in the healing of the world. In fact, without you, we may well go down the tubes. But you won't let that happen. You will take it upon yourself to help the world open its collective eyes, minds, and hearts. You won't do it by trying to shove your religious beliefs down our throats; rather, you will reach out your hand to us in love (respect) and a sincere desire to help. And you will do it in four simple steps. Again, not necessarily easy steps, but simple nonetheless.

First, you will take charge. You will quit listening to the voices of fear, apathy, and selfishness that tend to clap around your inner and outer ears, telling you that you can do nothing to help this useless species called Human. You’ll quit giving into the habits of laziness and sloth. Oh, you have those habits, if you're totally honest. But they don't have to be your dictators.

Second, you will take responsibility. You are a member of the human family. What happens to one happens to all. Pain, suffering, cruelty, no matter where they happen in the world, are part of your personal legacy. If you want them to stop, you must be willing to place yourself squarely in the middle of the fray. You are related to all of us.

Third, you will take action. This may be the simplest of all. If you knew how many organizations and groups of all sizes need your help, you would quit the excuse making and be out there everyday, literally saving the world. Everything—from environmental causes to political action groups—is clamoring for your attention. Raise your intellectual and emotional radar, and the right group will show itself. If you're already involved, intensify!

And finally, you will take heart. Remember, the world only seems to be falling apart.

Hear this: Currently (2013), the average age in the U.S. is 75-80 years. At the turn of the 20th century, it was less than 50. Today we have medicines and surgeries and psychological services that save many more lives than at any time in history. We know how to feed ourselves better. We are actually doing something about the environment. (It may not seem or sound like it, but the collective mind is opening.) Even the poorer nations of the world are getting more attention.

There's a long way to go, but that's why you're here. Mind you, nothing is yet perfected. Nothing is completely whole nor the work finished. We have much ahead of us. And we are up for the challenge, terrorism not withstanding.

One day, Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and even atheist will recognize our common humanity and end the conflicts that have kept us at each other's throats for millennia. We have it within our power right now, this minute, to create the world that the Mahatma Gandhi spoke of. And he also said that we must be the change we would see in the world. It rests upon our shoulders. Nothing else will do it for us. And each individual is essential.

Take it upon yourself to save the world. And I will, too. Together, we will make a real difference. Don't let doubt keep you from the task. The world needs you. You are the key. You are the one. If you’ve been called for anything, it is this. After all…

Who are you not to be great?

Deep Hate and How to End It (Part I)

Hate is a strong emotion--stronger than most when it goes deep. It can move individuals, groups, nations to carry out unimaginable destruction and grief. It already has, down through the centuries. It continues today--in the forms of terrorism, racism, sexism, homophobia, child abuse, gun abuse, and more.

Those of us who consider ourselves civilized have good reason to be scared. It seems as though there is nothing we can do to halt the growing menace. Our police seem weak, our governments impotent, our borders unprotected, and more and more 'unbalanced' individuals are armed with high powered weapons fit for the military. 

What hope is there?

There's more than hope. And in this two-part series, you’ll discover how you can help bring hatred to its knees. You can and must play a major role in bringing sanity back to an insane world. You have it within you and around you to save this planet and her people, her creatures, her resources. But will you? Or will you succumb to the fear? No need. You will now have the tools to turn on the light.

You probably live in a city or town that has community access TV channels. In my city, there are several.

The other night, I was flipping through the channels and happened upon a weird little program put on by the so-called Aryan Nation. This white guy, around 30, was spouting about how the White race is superior, how he hated Hispanics and Jews in particular, and what we needed to do to get rid of "the pests." He didn't come right out and advocate murder and terrorism, but it was definitely implied.

The guy claimed that the White race had given all its best stuff—technology, literature, music, art—to the inferior races of Asia, Africa and South America. And they had used it all against us.

What?

New World Day - December 22, 2012 - A Fresh Start!

From YouPresenting.com blog:

The world, according to some, will come to an end on Dec. 21, 2012. Not all are doomsdayers. Some say it will be a new consciousness, a new world order. Others think it will be knocked off its axis by a comet or asteroid. Still others think it will be due to some natural catastrophe, like an undersea volcano going off. Well...

Unless I get hit by lightning, a truck, or a coronary blast, I believe I will awaken bright eyed and bushy tailed on the morning of 12/22/12. You, too, more than likely. This is an opportunity to make a fresh start.

With that in mind, I highly recommend a new holiday--New World Day--which should in fact replace Christmas, a stolen pagan holiday, that can rightly be moved into the summer months. After all, it gets pretty chilly in the Judaean hills in December. Too chilly to have been born in a manger. Plus, shepherds were not keeping watch over their flocks by night in that month, either. Move it to June or July. Much more fitting, don't you think?

So, New World Day it is. A new respect, a new understanding, a new peace--politically, spiritually, personally. One more chance to make one more try.

The Mayans would be satisfied, I believe. I know I am.

Remembering Our Friends and Families On World AIDS Day - 2011

It was the early 1980s when the reality of AIDS hit my community in Denver. By the end of that decade, and into the early years of the 1990s, I had lost seven close friends, with more to follow by 1995.

This disease did not play favorites. Both straight and gay friends were its target. Today, though, we have medication that extends folks' lives way past what we thought was possible only a few years ago. My friend Michael is now 20 years past diagnosis. And I am very grateful.

Bruce, Dean, Don, Willy, Dave, Bob and Jimmy, Lois, Ann, and Paula: I still think of you. I love you. You helped to make me what I am today.

(This disease, though in check a bit, has not yet been eradicated. On behalf of friends, family, your community, and your world, please continue to support the effort to make AIDS a disease of the past.)

Get Ready for a Christian World!

Extra, Extra, Read All About It

I thought those of you who peruse this kind of stuff on a regular or semi-regular basis might find these stats interesting:

Posted: May 17, 2005 1:00 a.m. Eastern

2005 WorldNetDaily.com

Let's start off with the biggest unknown fact of our time: The world is rapidly becoming all-Christian.

That's not theology or wishful thinking, just statistics. And the numbers are shouting at me. A billion people are going to switch their loyalties to Jesus in the next 11 or 12 years and that may be just the beginning. As you might guess, this megashift could play hob with the citadels of Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism. They might even hit a crashpoint.

It could also virtually wipe out secular humanism, the clueless corps of New-Agers, and the doomed hordes of post-modernists now wandering aimlessly about the wasteland of non-referential abstraction.

How do I reach such far-out conclusions? Am I as fringy as I sound? Let's consult the hard numbers. I'll start with the 20th century:

An Open Letter to American Pastors on Uganda's Anti-Gay Bill by Soulforce Founder Mel White

(Vocus/PRWEB ) February 7, 2010 -- Rev. Mel White, founder of Soulforce, urges religious leaders to speak out against Uganda's pending anti-homosexual bill.


Open Letter from Soulforce to Jan and Paul Crouch, founders of the Trinity Broadcasting Network, and the Evangelical Christian broadcasters who are featured on Lighthouse Television, TBN’s affiliate in Uganda, including: Matthew Crouch, Joyce Meyer, Andrew Wommack, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Joel Osteen, T.D. Jakes, and Franklin Graham:


By now you are well aware of the anti-homosexual bill pending before the Parliament of Uganda. We urge you to denounce this bill. Use your personal friendships with President and Mrs. Museveni, with MP David Bahati (your Christian colleague who proposed this bill) and with Stephen Langa, (the Ugandan Christian organizer behind the bill) to take a public and passionate stand against it.

If You Consider Yourself Spiritually Progressive, You'll Want to Check This Out...

One of my favorite sites on the Web is The God Discussion, which I have listed in the left hand column of this blog. If you are an intelligent, thinking human and humane individual, you really want to read The God Discussion now and then. Here is a link to one of the pages with some recent and interesting headlines and reports:


http://www.goddiscussion.com/category/religious-news/

You won't be disappointed.

Now I'm a Liberal! Wow!

If you get the chance, read the comment I got about my Aug. 29 article. You'll find it on HubPages listed over to the left of this post. I love it when people don't agree with me. You might like my response as well.

I placed the article both here and on HubPages to generate more comment. It has started...

Rise of the Anti-Semites: So, What's New??

Once again, Jews are the Bad Guy!

i subscribe to an online news release website. With this morning's offerings came the following headline:

Author Gary Jouett II Releases New Book Detailing Shocking Evidence that Proves the Antichrist Will Be Jewish

After reading the entire news release, it became apparent that the author, even though claiming not to, was presenting another bash in the long history of anti-Jewish rhetoric.

Again, from the news release: According to Professor Jouett, the book took more than a year to research and write. "This book was definitely a work that I was inspired to write, given the current state of our world economy and the cry for New Light," he stated.

Christians have been accusing all kinds of people of being the antichrist over the last 15 or 16 centuries. Kings, popes, business leaders, Muslims, you name it. But the biggest suspect has always been a Jew.

Loving, caring Christians have been bashing Jews since the Early Church days. Many in America were glad to see the Nazis leading those death marches to the ovens and concentration camps before and during World War II. It appears not much has changed.

I recall members of my own family--all of them "good" Christians--back in the 1950s bitching about how the Jews were destroying America, how they had to be stopped, and how God had used Hitler to begin the process. The only reason Hitler didn't succeed, according to one of my relatives, was because he also killed too many good Allied Christians. God hated the Jews for not accepting Jesus as their Messiah. He intended to bring his wrath down upon them. I bought into it for a while (I was a kid, for God's sake!). Fortunately, not for long.

Most of the churches I attended as a young person also upheld the idea that God's worst wrath was being prepared for the un-Christianized Jews.

Rumor has it (you can find radical websites* about this all over the Internet so no big news, right?), there are currently groups of radical Christians who want to blow up the Dome of the Rock mosque in Jerusalem so the Jewish temple can be rebuilt, thus hastening the return of Jesus and the setting up of his earthly kingdom from that city. The belief is, no Second Coming until that temple is up and running. Of course, the Jewish leadership will be furious if the Dome goes up in smoke. (Talk about your international incident!) Out of that group of nasty Jews, according to some, will come, supposedly, the antichrist. And then, Apocalypse Now.

One more quote from the news release: Although the book claims to provide the strongest proof that the Antichrist has to be Jewish and what his literal name will be, the author assures the readers that there are no anti-Semitic motives behind the work.

Give me a break, Gary Jouett II. Your book is just another mean-spirited weapon in the Christian arsenal, aimed at the heart of Judaism, and ready to fire no matter the cost. You just can't--won't--let it go. And you are dead wrong on all counts.

I'm all for freedom of the press; you can write whatever drivel you want. It remains, however, that you and your ilk are the real danger in this world.

I say this without equivocation: Boycott Jouett's book.

*Click on title of this post to go to a great story in the Jerusalem Post on the rebuilding of the Third Temple.

The Truth about Marriage and the Bible: What You May Not Know and Will Not Like!

Here in the 21st century, is the Bible really the best guide for marriage?

"Let us be thankful for the fools; but for them the rest of us could not succeed." Mark Twain

You've heard it on TV and radio, you've read it in the papers. The former Republican administration made it clear that it wanted to set a Biblical standard for marriage, that is, the joining in holy and legal matrimony of one man and one woman. Fine. Then let's see what the Bible has to say about it.

 The following is from a U-U (Unitarian-Universalist) minister in Massachusetts:

 IN DEFENSE OF BIBLICAL MARRIAGE

The Presidential Prayer Team [of George W. Bush] is currently urging us to "Pray for the President as he seeks wisdom on how to legally codify the definition of marriage. Pray that it will be according to Biblical principles. With many forces insisting on variant definitions of marriage, pray that God's Word and His standards will be honored by our government."

Any good religious person believes prayer should be balanced by action. So here, in support of the Prayer Team's admirable goals, is a proposed Constitutional Amendment codifying marriage entirely on Biblical principles:

A. Marriage in the United States shall consist of a union between one man and one or more women (Genesis 29:17-28; II Samuel 3:2-5). 

B. Marriage shall not impede a man's right to take concubines in addition to his wife or wives (II Samuel 5:13; I Kings 11:3; II Chronicles 11:21). 

C. A marriage shall be considered valid only if the wife is a virgin. If the wife is not a virgin, she shall be executed (Deuteronomy 22:13-21). 

D. Marriage of a believer and a non-believer shall be forbidden (Genesis 24:3; Numbers 25:1-9; Ezra 9:12; Nehemiah 10:30).

E. Since marriage is for life, neither this Constitution nor the constitution of any state, nor any state or federal law, shall be construed to permit divorce (Deuteronomy 22:19; Mark 10:9).

 

F. If a married man dies without children, his brother shall marry the widow. If he refuses to marry his brother's widow or deliberately does not give her children, he shall pay a fine of one shoe and be otherwise punished in a manner to be determined by law (Genesis 38:6-10; Deuteronomy 25:5-10).

G. In lieu of marriage, if there are no acceptable men in your town, it is required that you get your father drunk and have sex with him (even if he previously offered you up as a sex toy to men young and old), tag-teaming with any sisters you may have. Of course, this rule applies only if you are female (Genesis 19:31-36). 

So, what do you think? Are you as convinced, after reading the above little treatise, that your views on marriage should remain the same? Are you as certain as ever that the Biblical way is the best way when it comes to marriage? If you are, that's OK. I simply request that you include these little injunctions in all of your future conversations—oral and written—about marriage. Be clear as to why you support the former president's prayer goals. Let others know about these interesting scriptures. And don't cop out by saying something like, "Well, that's Old Testament stuff. As Christians, we are not bound by that." Keep in mind that Jesus was a practicing Jew. He would not have disobeyed the Law. In fact, the Bible is clear: Jesus came to fulfill the Law, not to do away with it. Not one word of the Law shall EVER be eliminated. If you pick and choose which passages of scripture are valid for you, then allow the rest of us to do the same. Fair enough?

However, if you already hold an opposing view, you now have some interesting ammunition, do you not? All I ask is that you use it with care and discretion. The point here is not to hurt, but to educate. Treat each other with respect and equality. For all our sakes.

(Reminder: Different Christian denominations will have differing views, not only on the marriage passages, but on interpreting and using them in daily life. If you are looking for a firm interpretation, one that suits all Christians, chances are slim. There are nearly 20,000 Christian denominations, sects, and cults around the world. Of course, you are free to choose the one that suits you and your priorities best.)

Note: If you have found more of these great scriptures, let me know at RichardKentMatthews@gmail.com. Oh, and don't forget to leave your comment here, pro or con. Let's make this interesting. Many thanks.

Power Shopping: You Can Save the World After All!

“Almost the whole world is asleep. Everyone you know, everyone you see, everyone you talk to. [The few people who] are awake…live in constant amazement.”

(From Joe vs. The Volcano)

OK, so you can’t stop certain countries from developing nuclear weapons. Perhaps you’re not in a position to become mediator between warring religious factions. And more than likely, you won’t be the one who finally solves the “over-population vs. feed the hungry” challenge.

However…

When you go to buy, think, “Do I really need this?” Every time you make a purchase, you touch off a whole series of events that can help or hinder your community, your nation, your world, and your own life. What kind of packaging? Lots of plastic?* Non-recyclable materials? Long lists of unreadable ingredients? Made in ways that don’t contribute to sustainable agriculture? Lots of stuff to consider.

Keep in mind that the more you buy, the more likely it is you are exhausting the world’s non-renewable resources. Every little bag tie that you toss into the trash, all the throw away foodstuffs that you don’t turn into compost, the many corrosive chemicals you pour down your kitchen and bathroom drains almost everyday contribute to the erosion of the  elements that keep life thriving.

When you shop, simply pay attention. Paying attention is the way we as “small” individuals can begin cleaning up the damage we’ve been causing for generations. And none of us is exempt. We did it; it’s up to us to undo it.

Much of what you buy you don’t really need. If you can live without it, please do. We’re counting on you to be, as they say, part of the solution. You’re the key, whether you believe it or not.

Preachy? I hope so.

(*Sources say that it takes up to a thousand years for plastics to break down and become reabsorbed into the environment. That’s only a guess. It may be much shorter, but more likely much longer. Today, plastics are responsible for some of the most damaging pollution in the world, particularly in the oceans. The world’s largest garbage dump, full of plastics and other refuse, floats freely in the Pacific. It is almost the size of a small continent.

It does us well to ultimately eliminate purchases packaged in plastics. It’s a challenge. And essential.)