Week 1: Introduction ||
January
19, 2009 at 6:00pm
Greetings. I grew up along the Oklahoma / Texas border near Lake Texoma. I have always had a strong interest in both the weather and spirituality, so it would come as no surprise to discover that Meteorology became my career-path while mysticism & Mythology has become my life obsession. I spent a little over seven years in the US Navy as a weather observer / assistant forecaster. During this time, I completed a Bachelors of Science in Geosciences from Mississippi State University. I later separated from Military service in March 2005 in order to pursue a Bachelors of Science in Meteorology here at the University of Oklahoma. A series of outside distractions led me to postpone my Meteorological studies to first work towards a degree in Classics. So, today I am studying the ancient Greek language in order to not only only read biblical Greek for myself, but also the Church Fathers. I will study ecclesiastical Latin and biblical Hebrew later on, but for now Greek and Calculus is keeping me fairly busy given my more non-academic studies into religion and spirituality.
Speaking of which, I more or less raised myself as a Southern Baptist Christian with a dispensational and fundamentalist mindset. As I entered into my teenage years, I began to take a greater interest into messianic themes, but pentecostal and charismatic Christianity became my obsession in high school. I have always had a strong desire to restore the Church to a form of biblical Christianity, which I held in my heart, but constant confrontation with what I call churchanity has only brought more disillusionment. I spent many years exploring different Christian backgrounds, something that I liken to streams or tribes within the greater body of Christ worldwide. But shortly after entering into the military, I briefly backslide a little bit, only to then fall in love with a young lady who later became my wife. Her mother confronted me regarding some of my more charismatic or revival oriented beliefs. Long story short, her criticism of my background sent me on what has become a 10 year quest towards a complete understanding of who exactly is the Church and why she has fallen so far from the heights that she once knew. I formally entered into the Roman Catholic Church during Easter 2003, and have spent a lot of time studying various forms of mysticism, gnosticism, and alternative spiritualities since then.
As a result of all this, I have made it my life objective to become as unoffendable as I can be. My political views are primarily Libertarian in nature. That is to say, I am socially liberal and personally conservative. I would prefer that there is more power at the local and state level and less at the federal level, just as the United States Constitution envisioned. The liberals in California shouldn't be forcing their views on the "red states" nor should the conservative evangelicals be telling the gay and lesbian community what they can or can not do. So too should abortion be a state issue. If the majority of my state wants abortion to be legal, then it's up to me to either persuade my fellow citizens to choose life or else relocate to a state that is more in accordance with my own views. And so on it goes. As for an image, let me conclude with one that depicts a cosmology that closely mirrors my own idealism; as I am one who loves to work with paradoxes.
A modified Geocentric or Tychonian model of the Universe, Public Domain, Fastfission; Web source: Wikipedia
For more information, visit the following websites: Wikipedia: Tychonic System or Geocentricity.com
Week 1: Favorite
Storybooks:
Mythology || January 21, 2009 at 4:30pm
Storybook # 1: A Celebration of Wine and Festivity: Myths of Dionysus by Stephanie Weathers
I choose this one because I am interested in discovering how some of the Myths of the New Testament are modeled after Dionysus. Whether it's something related to Jesus turning water into Wine, or transforming wine into the Blood of the New Covenant, or the "inner intoxication" of knowing Christ in spite of the sobriety of lifestyle expected from those who follow Him. The initial main page is clean and organized fairly well. The introduction page is okay, but I personally find the differing font styles to be distracting. Otherwise, this storybook is a good example of something that I might want to do in the weeks ahead.
Storybook # 2: Aphrodite: Tales of the Greek Goddess by Courtney Rau
Like the previous storybook, this one interests me on account of it's possible influence on the New Testament. I don't have as much familiarity with Aphrodite and other related gods and goddesses of Love, but clearly the New Testament is all about the God of Love and the Son's desire to have all things drawn into the Beauty of Himself. Christ is often pictured as Sophia: the personification of Wisdom and a portrait of the divine feminine. It's along these and other lines that I feel a connection with the theme of this storybook. The author's main page is clean and organized well. Also, I like the font and the diary is a nice touch.
Storybook # 3: Success and Suffering: The Greco-Roman Hero by Jordan French
As before, this would make for an obvious choice. The suffering and overcoming hero is a dominant theme throughout the entire Bible and no where is that more clear than in the New Testament portrait of Jesus. The Son leaves behind all to enter into a world that is in an antagonistic relationship to Him. Little by little, the whole world is reconciled unto Himself in the form of a Bride who has become the enduring reward of His suffering. Overall, I like the presentation that the author gives to his storybook. It's clean and I like the mixture of font colors; though I would have preferred more consistency in web design.
Ultimately, I'm not totally certain as to what direction I will go with my own storybook. I offer these three as examples of some themes that interest me, but there are many other great examples in the archives. Themes concerning Aesop's Fables, Fairy Tales, Creation Myths, and other such things would also serve my purpose well. For now, I am simply looking forward to exploring these topics in greater depth as the semester goes along.
Week 1: Aesop's Fable: The
Cat-Maid || January 20, 2009 at 11:30am
The celestial kings of the earth gathered together in the Council of the Lord.
They wondered among themselves, "Can the sons of men become sons of God?"
The Father said "Yes" but the Mother of Desire said "No."
To settle the matter, the Father and the Mother of Desire turned a collection of sacred scrolls into a book. This book was then copied and multiplied throughout the entirety of the earth. King after king took this book and examined the contents therein. Some kings found the book to be pleasing to the eyes and desirable in its ability to impart sacred knowledge. Other kings moaned and bewailed that such a book even exists little lone that they should be subject to it. And still others set out to fashion different versions of the book, versions which appealed to their own wisdom and desires; that is, versions which were no longer imaged after the Father above but of themselves below.
Seeing all this, the Father says: "Behold, the sons of men are becoming sons of God. Observe their heavenly interests."
Laughing, the Mother of Desire says: "Let me show how much further these kings must travel in the way of life."
She took the revered book and exposed it to be nothing more than a collection of sacred scrolls written by and for the celestial kings of the Earth. Immediately, many began to behave as mere men once again; for they could not endure the reality that the venerable book was in fact written by and for themselves. One by one, they began to abandon the sacred knowledge contained therein; for they now understood that they themselves are responsible for the conduct of their own lives.
They reasoned amongst themselves: "How much easier it was to obey as the slaves of Pharaoh!"
Turning to the Father, the Mother of Desire says: "Only a king who honors his Mother can become your beloved Son."
Original story: Aesop's Fable: The Cat-Maid
Author's note: The original story is one about the possibility of transformation. What I did with the story is to partially veil the question of whether a family of nomadic Hebrews could be transformed from an animal sacrificing Temple cult into a walking embodiment of a Temple wherein the holy sacrifice is themselves. The verdict is thus far inconclusive, but the moral of the story offers a way forward for those who have understanding: Sonship is the perfect union of both Fatherhood and Motherhood.