Tag: religion

Are You Eating Jesus?

This title needs a little explanation. The other day at work, we got into a conversation about a study showing that different blood types may respond differently to the Coronavirus. In brief: if you have blood type “O”, you are less likely to suffer severe respiratory symptoms, but if you are type “A”, you are something like 35% more likely to suffer severe respiratory symptoms. Once again, I have to cringe, in that I am a type “A”…better watch out!

During this verbal exchange, the surgeon I was working with, stated that Jesus was a type “A”. “Huh”? I had to ask how he knew this. As a very devoted Catholic, he went on to explain that a recent study confirmed that transubstantiation is real, and that a test found DNA within the communion wafer corresponding to this blood type. They belief this is the actual blood of Christ, and therefore, he is an A. I have been thinking about this, so decided to Google this little gem.

I did not find any recent study on transubstantiation (the Catholic belief that the communion wafer and wine actually transform into the body and blood of Christ). The only thing I found is a study from 2014 completely refuting this belief. Entitled, “DNA analysis of consecrated sacramental bread refutes Catholic transubstantiation claim”, and produced by Scientific Raelian, the study found no change in the wafer during the ritual at a DNA level. So, I really don’t know where he is getting his information, but I can say that he believes this 100%.

Let me go on to say that I was raised as a Christian in the Protestant branch. We are the people that took up with Martin Luther back in the 1500’s and started questioning the authority of the Catholic church. There are many types of Protestants: Methodists, Lutherans, Baptists, Congregationalists, Episcopalians, and so on. We ALL take communion, and we all believe the words from the Bible that tell us Jesus proclaimed his body and blood are present in the communion ritual. Catholics just happen to take this literally.

There are Christians who believe in transubstantiation, and also Christians who believe in consubstantiation. This is the belief that somehow the substance we are ingesting is somehow “in union with” Christ. This belief is a heresy in the Catholic church.

The other thing I found is that up to 70% of today’s Catholics do not still hold the belief in transubstantiation. You can find that article here: catholicworldreport.com/2019/08/08/shocked-shocked-on-catholics-and-belief-in-the-real-presence/ This is stated as a problem from lack of religious education and other factors. Let’s face it, DNA and science weren’t exactly fully known at the time the original Christian church was formed..

The question is: do we now have less faith?, or is transubstantiation real only when you believe it, like the double-slit experiment shows that matter observed, will change its behavior? It is hard to know. Testing faith in a scientific way is probably very difficult.

I am not trying to start a war with Catholics. As a matter of fact, I think it is entirely possible that we are actually eating Christ. This is a religion with miracles, and mystery……so anything is possible in Christ, right? The next time you go to communion, have a thought about this. What is your personal belief? I would love to hear it.

Cheers, and have a great weekend, Deb

Don’t Be Ridiculous

This week, I happened upon a forwarded Facebook post which stated that, “American schools are forcing students to practice Buddhist meditation.” Now, I’m not sure where this particular bizarre rant originated, but it sure did piss me off.

Let me preface this by saying that after 20 years of yoga and meditation, trying to understand myself better and live with a more peaceful presence upon this crazy planet, I still can’t fathom why people don’t understand basic concepts…..so let me go on…..

Number 1: Buddhism is not “pushed” down people’s throats, in public school, or anywhere else. If you took the time to do a little research on comparative religion, you would find that Buddhism seeks to do the opposite. Buddhists are not pushing an “agenda”. They are peaceful, thoughtful people who encourage other people to take a path that makes sense to them. They could care less if you are a Buddhist. Actually, a Buddhist monk that spoke at a seminar I went to, distinctly stated that “Buddhism was never meant to be a religion.” So, take that into consideration.

Number 2: Meditation is not inherently Buddhist. Yes, Buddhists have perfected many paths that help the individual in meditational pursuits, but ALL religions on the Earth have, or do presently, practice meditation. Meditation is quite similar, if not equivalent to prayer. Let me just say here that prayer is NOT constantly asking a divine presence for intercession and help, at least that is not what prayer is supposed to be. Prayer is meant to be a communication between an individual and the central energy of the universe (some call this God, others do not). So, if you are a Christian, you may remember that Christ told us to “pray without ceasing”. That is meditation, as far as I am concerned.

Number 3: Being continually paranoid that your religion is not being followed, or is not gaining members is an internal problem that you need to work on. What is it inside of you pushing your agenda? Do you honestly want other people on the planet to be happy, joyful, and successful individuals? If the answer is “yes” (and, it should be), then you have to realize that not everyone is you. Actually, no one else is you. Therefore, logically speaking, all paths to enlightenment are different. If you are unable to accept that other acceptable paths exist, you have an ego issue.You can make suggestions, but in the end, the person works inside of themselves….at least we hope so. You see, you may have found a pathway, which could be a religion, a non-religion, or whatever came about for you. However, even the person on the most traditional pathway still has to do the work. Just because the path is in front of you, doesn’t mean someone else can walk it for you. That’s all you.

Number 4: Meditation has been scientifically proven to help children as well as adults not only mentally, but with physical health. Some studies indicate that a mindfulness practice helps children react with better behavior, reduce anxiety, and brings about self-awareness and empathy. https://mindfulnessinschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/MiSP-Research-Summary-2012.pdf Meditation, or mindfulness practice also helps with problem solving, memory skills, and enables kids to think in more innovative ways. I think most people would agree that the world could use a wider lens, with less paranoia and anxiety. We need a population of thinkers; people who will drive us into a more sustainable world.

Final thoughts. I don’t usually get my panties all in a bunch because of one knucklehead. This time, though, I had had enough. All that my practice for 20 years has done has led me to self-awareness, and the ability to see what needs to be fixed inside. I can’t make other people act with love or logic, I can only change my reaction to them.

So, If you don’t agree….I don’t really care that much. I have to just state my case. Go on believing things that feed your ego. Things that you really don’t know anything about, and are fearful of learning about. That is what makes you you….and I’m grateful everyday that I’m not you!

Sorry for the rant. Now I can get on with my meditation. Cheers, Deb

Miracle healing hands

Do you believe you can be healed of illness or chronic disease by a miracle? Do faith healers turn you off? I can imagine most of you are nodding your head “yes” to this right now. In the West, faith healing began in the Christian faith as a belief that through the holy spirit of Christ, some people can heal other people with the “laying on of hands”, or simply by prayer. People often pray for each other in an attempt to rid them of current conditions that are affecting them negatively. But, is faith healing just a Christian concept, or do other people and cultures around the world also believe in healing faith?

Last night I ran across a YouTube video about a guy who’s dad was so sick he could barely walk. He heard about an Indian man who practiced Ayurvedic medicine, and could apparently feel your pulse, diagnose you, and heal you. Anything was worth a try, so he dragged his father to this guy, and you guessed it….he diagnosed him, told him how to cure himself, and he is a healthy, happy camper today. You can watch the Ted Talk here:

Seeing this video about a master healer made me think about faith healers, and how the faith/skill ratio really works. In this case, the healer made recommendations, and the patient had to actively choose to be “healed”. In other words, no sudden event, just effort applied to the situation determined the outcome.

In religious application, there have been “miracles”, or sudden improvements in condition in all major religions. Jesus gets the most publicity, because believing in the powerful healing magic of Jesus is one of the tenants of Christianity. But why don’t we recognize other miraculous healers in other traditions? Probably because they don’t get the publicity. Take for example Paramahamsa Yogananda, who was an exceptional Yogi of modern India. You can read his story in “Autobiography of a Yogi”, which I am currently reading. Even if you don’t practice yoga, you will appreciate the unique experiences (some of which are miraculous) in this book. Recorded here are miraculous events from his teacher,  Sri Yukteswarji, who did a lot of cool stuff, like being in two places at once, dematerializing, and healing Paramahamsa Yogananda himself. Pretty awesome stuff.

I particularly love how the book merges yogic consciousness with Christ consciousness. In answer to why Jesus turned water into wine, P. Y. said, ” Jesus was able to command the vibrations of life energy to assume different forms”. He stated that once a person can surpass delusionary realms, he will enter the state of Unity and become Omnipotent. He had the idea that Saints suffer physically, because the fate of the body is unimportant to an enlightened individual who is “absorbed in the Lord”.

I guess what I am trying to convey is that I am convinced all people hold within themselves the power to overcome this “delusionary realm” and be healed to some extent. I’m not saying we all have Christ’s power over nature, but I feel that the root of his message was to emphasize that you have to embrace the Universal Consciousness, God, or Oneness that we are all a part of. His short time here on Earth should encourage us to meditate, or pray….to unite with the ultimate in order to place our inner selves a little bit before our outer selves. The message was about love, the power of love, and universal divinity of love. Love the Lord with all your heart and soul and mind. Be love and kindness, and embrace it above all the other trivial rules and regulations you might come up with. Love rules us all.

In the end, I do believe some people have conquered the minor physical restraints we experience as humans, and have become proficient in healing other people, if not with deeds, then also with words. When you hear about a faith healer, don’t immediately poo-poo the notion something miraculous might be going on. Miracles, or alterations in our understood physical realm, are possible. The thing you have to watch out for are people who use that as their only talent. In the words of P. Y, “Arouse in men the love of God. Don’t draw them to you by displays of unusual powers’. If I walked on fire and water, and filled every auditorium in the land with curiosity seekers, what good would come of it? See the stars, the clouds, and the ocean; see the mist on the grass. Can any miracle of man compare with these essentially inexplicable phenomena? Even so, few men are led through Nature to love God—the Miracle of all Miracles”.

Here’s to healing! Have a great weekend. Follow for more stuff! Cheers, Deb

Don’t Disturb the Fairy Forts

An Irish Fairy Fort

Last St. Patrick’s Day, while living in Seattle, I had the opportunity to pick up a small newspaper, published in Ireland. Interested, I started scanning through the articles until this one popped up, ” ‘Fairy curse’ behind dips in Irish road – Danny Healy-Rae”. Apparently, there is a stretch of new road between County Kerry and County Cork that is causing some bad luck due to disturbance of a “Fairy Fort”. What, you might ask….is a fairy fort?

A fairy fort is an earthen mound, a circular area surrounded by shrubbery, or trees that are now known as the remains of defensive outposts dating from the Iron age into the Medieval era. These circles have been considered sacred places for millenia. We know that Irish history is rich in folklore, and considered to be one of the great beds of wonderful storytelling, steeped in the supernatural. Most, if not all, people in Ireland believed in fairies until fairly recently.

The spirits of the “little people”, the “Gentry”, the “good people”, or the “Sioga”, have lived side by side with the Irish for as long as there has been storytelling. Water, tree and wood spirits were known to react certain ways depending on how you treated them. This is what we don’t understand; that because we have homes and technology, we can’t “commune” with nature the way people used to do. We don’t live in the woods or near the water 24/7. Isn’t it natural that ancient peoples believed the things surrounding them would have their own consciousness? Even as closely as a couple of decades ago (and as you can see, now, in some cases), Celtic people still believe in these spirits.

An article from 2018 reports that of 44% of British people claim to have seen fairies. 68% of these sightings have been with women; women who can provide detailed descriptions of the fairies and their activities. One woman reported not the tiny Tinkerbell type of fairy, but some people the size of a human dwarfs who danced to tribal drums all night in the woods. Okay…..maybe they’re just strange humans, but anyway….

The question remains, how do you and I react to such a belief system? Should we laugh and poo-poo the idea just because we now have technology? Does a belief system have to fail when science is involved? If you respond “yes”, then take this to heart: ALL belief systems will have to be discounted as well. If you can’t believe in fairies, then you can’t believe in evil spirits. If you can’t believe in evil, you can’t believe in goodness, saints, angels, the afterlife, or the mysteries of the great religions of the world.

I guess that what I want you to take from this is: what people believe is okay for them to believe. Believing fairies are funny, leaves you open to other people judging you about your beliefs. You can’t prove fairies are real, but you can’t disprove it either. I love the idea that there is still mystery and magic in this world; that just because we can calculate the distance of the next galaxy, does not mean we can’t believe in things we don’t know we don’t know. All things are possible, even if not probable.

Bring back the glorious days of oral storytelling (now blogging, etc.), which captures the heart and imagination. Isn’t that why we go to movies? Let your mind be free and open to the mysterious, magical things this world may have in it. And for heaven’s sake, DON’T MESS WITH THE FAIRY FORTS!

What do you think? Have you ever seen a fairy, or know someone who has? I’d like to hear your thoughts on the subject.

Cheers, Deb

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-40863737

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/fairy-forts-why-these-sacred-places-deserve-our-respect-1.3181259

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/9k8n9p/women-believe-fairies-real-study