http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096410911


Zealotry: A growing danger to American freedom
Posted: May 12, 2005
by: Editors Report / Indian Country Today


When the spiritual love of Jesus turns into ''the dogma of Christ politicus,'' it is a dangerous moment for America. This is happening at an alarming rate and in weirder and weirder forms by the week. Somewhere along the line we hope the broader range of Christian open-minded and moderate thinking will prevail in the public discourse. The signs of the times, however, seem ominous and dark indeed.

Witness Rev. Chan Chandler of the East Waynesville Baptist Church in North Carolina, who kicked out nine members from his own congregation because they voted as Democrats and did not support George W. Bush for president. During last year's presidential campaign, Chandler told his congregation that those who would vote for Democratic Sen. John Kerry should repent or leave his church, according to one member who was forced out.

Witness the Baptist deacon of a California congregation who told the Lakota family of Muriel Waukazoo, who wanted a drum group to accompany their mother's funeral, that the traditional Indian songs could not be tolerated because ''drumming brings the demons.''

Witness Bush getting the nod from the Catholic Church hierarchy, which essentially endorsed him when it allowed then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, to urge bishops to consider the denial of Holy Communion to Catholic politicians (i.e. John Kerry) who endorsed a pro-choice position on abortion rights for women.

Witness the even more troubling case of an American Jesuit who respectfully and intelligently criticized the positions of the Catholic Church and is now ordered to resign as editor of the Catholic journal, America - forced out by no less an authority than the office of doctrinal enforcement, called the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, on an edict issued by - again - then-Cardinal Ratzinger, now pope.

One major issue to cause the resignation order involved the magazine's critique of the church's ''Dominus Iesus,'' a document directly insisting on the supremacy of Catholicism over all faiths. The church document had been issued by the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, resting on the dogma of infallibility of the pope, while the critique considered it a setback to more respectful interfaith relations.

The magazine also strove to present opposing views of issues of same-sex marriage and Catholic relations with Islam, as well as the pernicious issue of whether Catholic politicians who support freedom for women should be excommunicated. The ''Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith'' was previously known as the ''Office of the Inquisition'' in the Catholic Church.

Always throughout history, religious zealotry at the political helm leads to horrible injustices. Among the worst of many excesses of zealotry in Catholic history was the Inquisition, when tens of thousands of people were tortured, burned to death and expelled from their home countries and their properties confiscated on a ''religious'' basis.

American Indian people well remember how that institution would cause Indians throughout the Caribbean and Mesoamerica to be slowly burned while dangling from their hands, 13 at a time, to commemorate the holiness of Christ and his 12 apostles. In the Americas, the killing of Indians for supposed ''paganism'' was wanton and widespread. In Old Europe, the Inquisition's enforcers killed thousands of women healers and herbalists as ''witches,'' and in particular targeted heretics for torture and execution.

The concept of heresy as a cause for torture and death is particularly identified with the Catholic Church. It was a main reason for the rejection of the church among many populations who chose to disagree with the class of men-priests who ruled the institution and who wielded great and fearsome power.

Religious fervor that borders on zealotry, always suspect in a democratic society, is perhaps tolerable if encompassed in the much larger open-society discourse, bent on real goals of productivity and prosperity for all citizens of the nation. But this is not what is happening. A much darker form of religious zealotry has been ushered into all levels of American government. The objective is to break down the wall between religion and state, so long a revered and fundamental principle in America.

Freedom of religion has always also been freedom from religion; freedom from having arguments and issues completely taken on faith and framed in Biblical terms, wrapped up as ''the word of God'' to be interpreted and mouthed by preachers (and now politicians).

Ratzinger, as author Jane Kramer reported recently in The New Yorker, is well-known within the Catholic Church as a force against dissension or free thinking of any kind that might possibly question, much less contradict, Catholic dogma. A tough enforcer of the imperative by all Catholics - and by extension of a proselytizing faith, all human beings - to bow to the authority of the magistrate of the church, the new pope has alarmed many with his history of ultra-conservatism and zealous guardianship of dogmatic Catholic authority.

A number of commentaries on the cardinal's recent ascension pointed out that as Pope Benedict XVI, he might project a more tolerant attitude to other faiths and other points of view. We hope this will be so and we hope the force of reason and secular common sense will prevail over American politics.

But we can never forget the substantial collusion between the Church hierarchy and boy-rapers masquerading as spiritual men-priests, nor that it was precisely the office of Cardinal Ratzinger that imposed the transfer of sexual abuse cases - and all related evidence, in secret archives - to the Vatican's jurisdiction. Nor can we forget that in the same letter, the young victims are directed to keep the ''pontifical secret'' under threat of excommunication. The hiding of truth and the protection of the perpetrator rather than his victims characterize the action of the Catholic Church in this sordid affair.

There was a time when America's foreign and domestic policy was not dictated by the ignorant literal biblical interpretation of current affairs, when America's sense of the world was not dictated by a tunnel-minded ideological misunderstanding of other places, other major religions and cultures. Most Americans would also like to believe that there was a time when rapaciousness, greed and political spin had not completely replaced reality. But Indian country knows otherwise.

The problem with all this religiosity in our public life is that it introduces a whole new degree of manipulation of important voting blocks that will ultimately define national life in this country for decades to come. We tend to recoil from true-believing attitudes when it comes with dealing with the powerful, both in government and in private sector issues. It reeks of flimflam rather than of sincere illumination of problems and issues, for which the country has long enjoyed a useful working press and active academic research bases that could study and discern issues intelligently with many-sided analyses that will inform serious, long-term decisions.

Anybody willing to trade this most wonderful principle of American freedom - the guarantee of a free and independent intellectual tradition - for the strictures of theocratic institutional dictum needs to rethink their sense of the nation. To chose ignorance by free will may yet become the best working definition of social insanity.

Isn't it amazing with how long in the entire world's history in how the main factors that fuels zealotry in my opinion is ........ ignorance and jealousy/envy. Upon those two drivers, man will be aggressive and seek control over others.... causing much pain and sufferage. BushCons just happened along and added supreme greed to that mix. The best example of insanity in the works.

Solid post shawneedaughter!

shawneedaughter,

Thanks for sharing that post, and I'm glad the Native American communities are speaking out against religious zealots, it brought to mind someone else's signature I read on another thread "INSITE HOPE!"
Group by group we are joining forces to defeat the Theocrats

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/m...politan/3201751

Excellent posting Shawneedaughter,

Over the centuries, it has been religious zealots who have slaughtered many innocents.

Apparently the world does not learn from history.

My grandmother went through attempts to 'Christianize' her when she was a child....removal from the rez, cutting her hair, not being allowed to speak her language....she lived to 88 and was still defiant....

At this time, in the U S, so many carry the banner of Religion yet haven't a clue about humanity....in past times, Religion was used to decimate....my greatgrandmother was a Medicine woman, when I use practices taught to me, I am labeled a witch.

underbear1, there is an excellent '2 Spirit' article that I will look for and post.
****************

There is a story about my brother I am going to write about because I think it is important for people to hear and understand. If some chose to label me a witch for this, so be it.

My brother, last Oct. was in Intensive Care Unit at our hospital....he has Progressive Systemic Sclerosis, Scleroderma, Sclerodactyl and Polymyositis. As the doctors finally said, 'any one of these will kill him and together it is tragic'. For the first 4 days the docs weren't even sure what was wrong with him and in the Emergency Room they brought in a policeman because they were certain the rigidity of his body and the appearance of his skin, from Scleroderma, meant that he had a meth lab at home. LOL We finally got rid of the police.

On the 5th day a doctor came in from another hospital to look at my brother and realized what was wrong....this doctor was a cardiologist. At this point my brother's hands were locked into claw like position from the tightening of his skin. The doctor was telling me that my brother would never move his hands again, he also said that my brother would be dead soon and there was nothing they could do to help him....I started doing what my grandmother had taught me, some would call it Reiki and some would call it 'laying on of hands'....for me it was just moving my hands over his hands and calming the frenetic energy that I was feeling....within 5 minutes my brother was moving his hands. The cardiologist, watching all this take place, was sceptical about what he SAW. I told him the difference was that HE made a lot of money to TRY to help and I made no money but my method works.. The nurses started coming in to watch me working over my brother....soon they were asking to learn what I was doing....when they felt the static coming from the dis-eased parts of my brother's arms/legs and torso, they understood. My brother is making progress and for someone who was supposed to be dead 8 months ago, he gained 5 pounds this month.

The zealots would have me burned at the stake....they have to catch me first.

Until zealots realize that there are many things unexplained in this world....they will suffer.

Until zealots realize that Pure Love is the basis of everything....not a distorted myopic viewpoint that they embrace....they will never know Love.

http://republicanfreeamerica.blogspot.com/...ht-neocons.html

It's finally time to break the cycle of insanity propagated by religious zealots, false believers, and greedy leaders. The once dysfunctional family of humanity has reached a pivotal point in history and the lessons of the past are no longer swept away. The wisdom and knowledge and experiences of previous generations are now dispersed and accessible to the people of the whole world. We refuse to go down the path of darkness and fear again. It stops here and now with us. The information age of personal empowerment is upon humanity, the exploitation of ignorance and fear is obsolete.

Now wundermaus is on a mission! Power forth!

Batterrrrrr Up! Bill Frist, the GOP's leadoff hitter for the zealous GOP cause, now gets ready to knock the ball outta the park for his theocratic team!


http://www.onpointradio.org/shows/2005/04/...0425_a_main.asp

Bill Frist, God, and the GOP
Aired: Monday, April 25, 2005 7-8PM ET

The battle over federal judicial nominees reached nearly biblical proportions last weekend as conservative evangelical leaders gathered to proclaim their faith under attack. The event, dubbed "Justice Sunday: Stop the Filibuster Against People of the Faith," was broadcast across the country and speakers left no doubt about what they saw at stake.

But when the giant screen at Louisville's Highland Baptist Church lit up most prominently, it was not with a preacher, but with Republican Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist joining the fray. Dr. Frist isn't known for his religious zealotry, but he is known to be zealously interested in a 2008 bid for the U.S. presidency.

By appearing at the "Justice Sunday" event, Frist punched his ticket with the Religious Right. Conservative evangelical leaders say that's just the beginning of what they expect from the GOP. Critics charged Frist with fanning "religious war" and encouraging a Republican "theocracy."

shawneedaughter,
I enjoyed reading about your healing techniques used on your brother, and I have done some reading about twin spirited people, but would enjoy reading more.

Your family story and the heinous European religious responses to most Native people, caused me to think about my paternal grandmother's response to Natives of the Ojibiwaw tribe in Minnesota. This sweet woman who not only raised her children, she raised my brothers and myself while both my parents worked. She was a devout Lutheran and active in sewing circle "Dorcas", they crocheted all year afghans and gloves and scarves for Native children and then at Christmas the gifts were delivered. There was NO PREACHING at other people, there was just a group of women creating from their own hands clothing and blankets for cold conditions.

Thank you, underbear1. We are both blessed to have such wonderful teachers in our lives. When the women shared the articles they made they also shared Spirit and that is s true gift.

I remember my grandmother an dher friends making quilts and I have several quilts in my home that are made on rez.

I wrote this short story last year as a memory of my grandmother, some friends on the rez....I will now add your grandmother into this rememberance....life IS a tapestry.

************

"the giveaway quilt"

The two women sat with the small cast iron stove behind them. Huddled together, against the cold, they were using the meager amount of wood they had left for warmth. Their fingers were diligently piecing together the different colored scraps of cloth to make the Lakota Star Quilt. This quilt was to be an offering at the upcoming giveaway, as a show of honor and respect for the recipient. The eight points of the star each had their own significance. Respect, Truth, Honesty, Humility, Humor, Compassion, Wisdom and Love. For these women this was truly a labor of Love, tinged by the lost of a son and for the older woman a much beloved grandson.

A giveaway is a tradition, a memorial service held on the first anniversary of the death of a loved one. For these two women, Martha the Grandmother and Colleen, the Mother, the past nine months had been near unbearable. Their hopes for their child had been dashed by the chaos of a gang war in Rapid City that he had gotten caught in the middle of while driving through the city streets with his cousin. Their beloved son/grandson Tome had gone to school off the rez, sent to Connecticut to have the advantages of an education no one in his family had ever had. This was not one of the religious schools that generated horror tales of abuse but a very good school that had a wealthy benefactor sensitive to the needs of children of the rez. This was the person the quilt was intended for. This man was traveling from New York City, with his wife and family, to South Dakota for the giveaway. Martha and Colleen were determined to show their respect and gratitude with a fine quilt. Even through the sadness generated by such a senseless accident, they were going to honor their traditions and this kind man, as best they could.

When the commodities had been received over the past few months, they were used to make fry bread and other items easily eaten in the cars by the visitors to the rez. Tourists, who always came in the summers and fall, were happy to find the small stands set up on the road near Crazy Horse's Monument and the tiny cemetary where their cherished Tome lay. Colleen's beadwork was beautiful and always appreciated by the women who could never find earrings as finely crafted as those they bought on Pine Ridge. Martha's frybead, eaten with jam or as the Indian tacos she made of ground buffalo meat and lettuce, tomatoes and grated cheese was also welcomed by the hungery travellers. All the monies they made with these sales were used to buy the fabrics to make the treasured quilt. Even the wood pile was not as large this year, every available cent going to the giveaway. To the women this was necessary, they wanted all to see how their child was esteemed in their eyes. They were showing their respect to their community and they were expressing their love for Tome.

And so they sat that day, working on the quilt. A tear would stream down a cheek occasionally and a sob would be held back. There were soft whispers in the room between the two women and there were answers, in Spirit, from Tome. The quilt progressed and Tome watched them from above, his heart filled with Gratitude and Love.


Mourning Dove Caller©2004
*************************

Great story shawneedaughter, and we were both blessed with teachers.
If you haven't read Charles DeLint's fiction books you might enjoy SVaHa
it's set in the near future, the last Indian Wars take place in the courts, and Natives win back their lands, and construct a force field to protect them. SVaHa is selected to go outside the protected lands to see how the rest of civilization is progressing,
(it's a one way trip you can't cross the barrier again) Delint is a Canadian fantasy writer quite a lot of Native myths as well as music are woven through his stories.

thanks, I'll check those books out....this post has gotten about the most hits in the NA forum in awhile....guess it's good to come out about being a witch LOL

have a great day

When I look over my shoulder,
What do you think I see ?
Some other cat looking over
His shoulder at me
And he's strange, sure he's strange.
You've got to pick up every stitch,
You've got to pick up every stitch,
Beatniks are out to make it rich,
Oh no, must be the season of the witch,
Must be the season of the witch, yeah,
Must be the season of the witch.


Donovan

I LOVE that song

it is a shame that what is available and doesn't require a prescription is considered 'black magic' when the healing comes from a place of pure love....prescriptions are so toxic they make the person sicker but the pharmaceutical companies just want to make money, they don't care about the patient

[SIZE=7]Shawneedaughter
You are so eloquent in you post.
I have always said, the bigest inhumanity to man has always been in the name of religion in some manner.

Thank you....there are still people living in the aftermath of the 'eradicate the Indian' programs....sad