EZEKIEL
and YHWH’s
Judgment
for the
Good News
PEOPLE
VOLUME XVI
Culture
EZEKIEL and YHWH’s
Judgment for the
Good News People
Volume XVI--Culture
by
an unworthy servant
And you shall know the truth,
and the truth will make you free.
(John 8:32)
Common Law Copyright, 2003 & 2005 CE, an unworthy servant, Calder, Idaho. The author claims his Right of exclusive ownership and control of this publication, the fruit of his labor, as a matter of Intellectual Property protected by the Laws of YHWH and as guaranteed by the US Constitution for the United States. Permission is granted to quote provided appropriate credit is cited together with the Publisher’s web site name and postal mailing address––WWW.AgeEnd.Com PO Box 473, Calder, ID 83808, USA.
Contents
Volume XVI--Culture
CHAPTER PAGE
- Cover Page 1
- Title Page 2
- Contents 3
- Publisher’s Preface 5
Part WW--Christian Culture
235 Modern Sun Worship Culture I 6
236 Modern Sun Worship Culture II 12
237 Modern Sun Worship Culture III 19
238 Modern Sun Worship Culture IV 33
239 Modern Sun Worship Culture V 45
240 Sun Worship Commercialism I 56
241 Sun Worship Commercialism II 69
242 Sun Worship Commercialism III 76
Part XX--Gender
243 Gender Separation 89
244 Men 96
245 Women 100
246 More on Sun Worship Men and Women 112
247 Sun Worship and Marriage 126
248 Divorce and Remarriage 142
249 Sun Worship and Children 156
SHEERIT YISRAEL
PO Box 473
Calder, Idaho 83808, USA
Publisher’s Preface
Greetings! The following presentation is volume sixteen of a 36-volume production of some 6,000 pages on “Ezekiel and YHWH’s Judgment for the Good News People,” all of which is on the Internet at the www.AgeEnd.com web site.
This overall effort provides an interpretation of the Good News message in the New Testament, its linkage to the book of Ezekiel, and an application of both to the age-end prophecies relating to certain nations and peoples now out in the world. In order for this single volume to be understood and comprehended, it is imperative that the study be read from its beginning--from page one of volume one.
Anyone trying to read this volume or the study’s 6,000 pages at any mid-point will end up in a state of confusion without having read and digested the preceding material. It is crucially important that this work be read in sequence from its beginning--otherwise, the reader will almost certainly end up missing the essence of the message!
The effort was originally set on a Macintosh computer with Microsoft Word 6.0.1. It was set in Helvetica, 12-point type (18 pt on chapter headings); single line spacings; and margins: left 1.2”, right 0.8”, top 0.7”, bottom 0.8” and footer 0.6” (for page numbers).
For further information on obtaining this study in 18 computer floppy disks (IBM-formatted, high density, 2HD, 1.44 MB, 3 1/2 inches); in a single CD-Rom; or in hard copies (when the Internet or a compatible computer is not available); please write the publisher at the above address and send a stamped, self-addressed, long (legal-size), return envelope.
With a CD-Rom or computer floppy disks, the study is readable on Macintosh (systems 5.0 and later) or IBM/compatible (with Microsoft Word-Windows) personal computers. May The Great CREATOR and SOVEREIGN OF THE UNIVERSE bless you as you study His word to learn His will and to obey Him. Shalom (peace) to you and yours!
an unworthy servant, Hanukkah 2003 CE
Chapter 235--Modern Sun Worship Culture I
The Christian Dilemma
Many students of the Word begin to realize, over time, that Christianity has an awful lot of the relics of sun worship present, as amply presented in this study.
Needless to say, Easter, Christmas, Christian holidays generally, pictures, images, symbols, words used in worship, ritual, theology, and on and on are all based on sun worship and not on the Scriptures. And surprisingly, this fact does grossly impact upon the question of the New Testament and the Good News.
Christianity and the Hebrew Civilization
To begin to approach some understanding about and appreciation for the reported problems in Christianity, as outlined in the former chapters, it is imperative to take a look at what all can be involved in a conceptual approach to the overall definition of Christianity and compare that definition with a similar overview of the word and idea of the Hebrew definition.
“Encyclopaedia Judaica” (v. 5, p. 505) sets the stage for comprehending the next several chapters in this production by defining Christianity as “A general term denoting the historic community deriving from the original followers of Jesus of Nazareth; the institutions, social and cultural patterns, and the beliefs and doctrines evolved by this community; and--in the widest sense--the forms of civilization which it created or influenced. (Thus many elements in modern secular, Western civilization are still, in one way or another called ‘Christian’ or attributed to ‘Christianity.’)...
“The vague character of the term provides this wide range of meaning.” Judaica’s concluding remark is certainly true and would not be argued by any informed people in the world today. Truly, Christianity is a very broad term.
In “Who Wrote the New Testament? The Making of the Christian Myth” (p. 310), Burton L. Mack correctly notes that there is no need to ponder about whether religions have cultural and social effect. Categorically, they do as it’s possible to see in our time in home and around the world. Of course, Mack is correct. Religions do affect the culture and social habits of both religious and secular people.
Earl Jones, Revisited
In the Mar-Apr 2001 “Intelligence Newsletter” (p. 2), Earl Jones commented upon Matthew 11:1-20 where YESHUA pronounced a curse of sorts upon certain cities in Palestine (which were inhabited with very evil people).
Jones wrote that The MESSIAH “was not chastising the morality of the believers in these cities for morality’s sake alone. The morality of those in control of the civil government of those cities, also controlled the culture which includes morality. Jesus was condemning them for not teaching and maintaining a righteous culture for the inhabitants of those cities.”
Jones then went on to quote Proverbs 29:2 which says that “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people mourn.” The point Jones was making was that the morality of the generic people is somewhat determined by the prevailing culture--which is subject to the existing human leaders. Good leadership can improve morality and vice versa.
The Essence Here
Of course, the just quoted observations are essentially, or at least partially, correct. Religion affects the prevailing culture; which, in turn, affects morality. Manifestly, in a democratic society, the prevailing culture selects and elects the governmental leadership; which, in turn, also affects the prevailing culture and morality.
Obviously, too, the prevailing religion and religious teachings by the religious authorities affect not only the culture and the general morality of the people; but importantly, the civil leadership (in a democracy). In other words, declines in morality and the culture can ultimately be traced to the existing religious leadership and theology.
The point is that a reference to Christianity or Christian is not necessarily just a matter of religion. It is a broader term with far more considerations and implications in the whole spectrum of the morality, culture and civilization ensuing in so-called Christian nations (like the US and other nations in the Christian West).
Actually, as will be developed hereafter throughout this publication, the same reasoning applies to the concept of the Hebrew religion (as communicated in the Scriptures). The word Hebrew is more than just the OT religion. It is a racial/ethnic people, and it includes not only their religion; but also, their whole culture and civilization, as ascertainable from the Scriptures.
Consequently, both terms (Christianity and Hebrew) imply and communicate something far more larger and vast than just religion. Throughout this production, this vastness is under discussion generally whenever either term is used. The next several chapters will devolve to cultural and social questions.
Sun Worship Customs
Hence, beyond the obvious religious issues of sun worship, described heretofore, there are also gross facets of sun worship present in the entire Western culture and civilization, as will be shortly established and proven conclusively.
While this reality is readily traceable to the Roman Empire culture of 2,000 years ago, it is also true that Rome got her culture and civilization from Greece, who got hers partially from the Medes/Persians, who got theirs from Babylon and who got hers from Egypt and ancient Mesopotamia.
All of these ancient peoples and nations were sun worshippers, not only in religion, but in their entire cultures, customs and civilizations as well. In short, sun worship was their way of living; and it extended to their entire lives.
To a great extent on this theme, the Book tells us about the various sun worship cultures in contact with YHWH’s peoples--such as those at Mesopotamia, Egypt, Babylon, Greece, Rome, etc.
Repeatedly, the followers of YHWH have been told not to practice the customs and cultures of these sun worshipping, heathen nations. In fact, the Torah has a mitzwah prohibiting the following of the customs of the Canaanites (Lev 20:23).
The earlier mentioned Christmas is a classic case on this theme where Yirmeyahu (Jer, 10th chapter) goes to some length to describe in detail the popular Christmas tree. Despite this clear and precise description and condemnation, Christians continue to delight in this idol and actually defend it and ridiculously try to argue against the text of Jeremiah 10.
Secular People As Well
Beyond the fact that religious Christians love, respect and adore the pagan Christmas and its manifestations, it must be observed that secular people generally in the entire Christian West exhibit the same love, respect and adoration for not only Christmas; but also, the other pagan, sun worship holidays (as pointed out in preceding comments).
Thus, Christmas and the other sun worship holidays are a part and parcel of the culture of secular people, as well as religious persons in Christian civilizations. So it isn’t only religious Christians who practice sun worship. Instead, it is almost everybody generally in a Christian nation who practice sun worship. Thus, sun worship is unconsciously practiced by secular people, as well as religious people.
Admittedly, non-religious (secular) people may not go to Christian sun worship church services on Sunday mornings. But otherwise, their secular lives are almost totally tied into sun worship for most of the rest of the week. In effect, what one finds in the Christian West is a devotion by both secular and religious people to the customs and culture of the prevailing sun worship society.
While some “few” religious Jews (perhaps Orthodox, Ultra Orthodox or true Messianic Jews) and a few other believers have tried to keep themselves separate and away from many of the evils and wretchedness of the contemporary, Western, Christian, sun worship society, most such persons have succumbed and joined into the depravity, along with the generic Christian sun worshippers.
Nissim Dahan
Nissim Dahan was the Israeli Minister of Health under the Ariel Sharon government in 2002 and early 2003. It just so happens that Dahan is a member of the Ultra Orthodox Shas sect in Israel (which will be described in some detail in later chapters). This means that he is a deeply religious Jew; or in the Jewish mentality, he is “observant.”
In Israel, the religious or observant Jews are in sharp contrast to the secular or non-observant Jews. Actually, there is quite a struggle among these two sharply divided Jewish factions. For years, the secular Jews have ruled supreme.
But here, in the early 21st century, observant Jews (Orthodox and Ultra Orthodox) are increasingly becoming better known in pushing their positions (based upon religion) upon the generic Israeli state.
Subsequent chapters herein will discuss the whole Israeli situation in some detail and particularly how the evil Amalekites have had political power over the nation. But as just noted, there is a motion underway where many of the religious Jews are beginning to flex their muscles and come out of the cocoons that they have been wrapped in for centuries.
Nissim Dahan and the Shas people are in this category (along with the highly respected and very religious Shas leader Ovadia Yosef, who will be more fully commented upon in the later chapters). Anyway, Dahan was in the spotlight in early January 2003 with some of his wisdom which deserves some comment now.
In a major political bombshell, in the modern Israeli state, Dahan was speaking to the international convention of Orthodox Jews in Jerusalem. He said that non-observant (non-religious) Jews should not immigrate to Israel (Jan 3, 2003, “Forward,” p. 4).
Prime Minister Sharon took the position that anyone wanting to be a Jew should be able to convert, suggesting that anyone converting to Judaism can come to Israel. Other government leaders spoke out and sharply condemned Dahan.
Eli Yishai
But in a follow-up to Dahan’s comments, Shas chairman, Interior Minister Eli Yishai, also spoke out on the same theme as Dahan (ibid, p. 4).
Yishai said that “If Israel is losing its Jewish character, and becoming a secular state (many Jews are pushing hard in this direction, as will be later addressed), should we bring here the Jews of the Diaspora, who keep the Torah in their communities in order for them to be assimilated in a place where churches are built?”
The Shas chairman added that “It is better to stay Jewish anywhere else, and not to come to Israel to assimilate” (ibid, p. 4). He went on to say that if religious Jews in the Diaspora had known that secular Jews (like Shinui head Yosef Lapid) would work with the Labor party (and its head Amram Mitzra) to form a secular state, they would have stayed in Morocco, Tunis and Iran in order to remain Jews.
However, the wisdom of Yishai and the Shas party really came out when Yishai again warned of a secular government by saying: “A secular government will bring, according to Sallai Meridor, hundreds or thousands of churches, will open more stores that sell pork, and in every city we will see Christmas trees. This is what Yosef Lapid and Amram Mitzra want” (ibid, p. 4).
Well, how can anyone improve upon the words of Yishai? The Shas leader has perceptively spoken words which generally are impossible to hear at the top levels of the Israeli government and certainly not among government leaders in the Christian West.
Yes, if a truly secular government takes over in Israel (as various people like Lapid and Mitzra are promoting), it will spell out pork, Christmas trees and Christian Churches.
There is no question about it. The sincerely religious people of the Israeli Shas party have a duty to speak out and warn the nation of what can happen with a secular government. But will the people listen to Shas?
The Point Is
Of course, the whole point of presenting these comments is to show that the relics of Christian sun worship (eating pork, observing Christmas and having Christmas trees, and building Christian Churches with their bell towers and phallic symbols) are synonymous with the world’s secular governments.
In other words, there is no semblance of the true Hebrew religion in the depraved secular governments found in the Western Christian culture and civilization.
The Culture of Evil Affects Everybody
In short, virtually everybody (both religious Christians and secular non-Christians) are culturally sun worshippers in the Christian West, with few, if any, exceptions (in Christian lands, nations and civilizations). Yes, almost everybody eats pork, observes Christmas and appreciates Christian Churches.
The Shas people in Israel clearly understand how far this evil can go.
To demonstrate how pervasive and far reaching sun worship is, in terms of the lives and beings of modern Christians in the present Western civilization and culture, this study will outline (in the following chapters) several illustrations of American culture that have their origins entirely in ancient sun worship societies.
Yet, Americans generally are totally ignorant of this linkage and most could care less one way or the other.
Chapter 236--Modern Sun Worship Culture II
Pets
Numerous American people have dogs and cats for pets. Many go to the extreme of not only letting these pets live in their homes, but frequently handle them and eat and sleep with them. Several (perhaps just a few) even copulate with their animals.
Some people go to the extreme of treating their pets as members of the family. A classic example of this was shown on July 28, 1998, during live television presentations at the US capitol memorial for slain capitol policemen John Gibson and Jacob J. (J. J.) Chestnut, who were killed in the line of duty on July 24th.
The memorial services included comments by President Slick Clinton, the Speaker of the House, the Majority Leader of the Senate and other important officials. It was held in the rotunda of the capitol which is normally reserved for presidents and other extremely important people. During the services, the ABC News camera panned to the Black family of officer Chestnut.
His grieving widow and children were present with a dog which must have been the family dog. The woman was hugging the dog (instead of her nearby small children), as an expression of her grief and sorrow over the loss of J. J. Apparently, she chose to bring the dog to the services on the pretext that the dog was part of the family.
While it might be routine and normal that an American (Black or White) family would own a family dog, it does remain curious that the woman would bring the dog to a memorial service for her dead husband in the rotunda of the US Capitol. In any case, it demonstrates the honor and esteem that a typical Western family places on dogs.
The Problem
So, what’s the problem with dogs and cats? Well, all of this is unscriptural (certainly, in the Word, dogs are pretty low life animals and the lowest of mongrel peoples are referred to as dogs, as noted elsewhere in this study). Too, the practice comes from the culture of ancient sun worshippers. Ancient Egyptian sun worshippers frequently had pet dogs and occasionally pet cats in their homes and families.
Of course, from the Book, these animals are unclean (Lev 11:1-47; Deut 14:3-20). Among other things, they can pass sickness and disease (especially worms) to their handlers. No believer would even touch them without washing or bathing afterwards. It would be unthinkable about having them in your home in close personal contact.
Tragically, Christian sun worshippers ignore the Word and often allow cats and dogs into their homes and even into their cars on automobile trips. Sometimes, these cats and dogs actually lick their masters and their masters’ children.
A news report in the March 1998 “Search the Scriptures” newsletter (p. 9) said that a nurse at an intensive care nursery in a NH hospital was responsible for causing an outbreak of a yeast infection that infected some 24 babies over a 15-month period in the unit. The nurse had failed to wash her hands after handling her infected dog.
Syro-Phoenician Woman, Revisited
Having condemned the Christian sun worship practice of allowing unclean dogs in Christian homes, mention must be made to an argument on this issue from a person wanting to justify the practice. The issue concerns YESHUA’s statement to the Syro-Phoenician woman and her reply--discussed earlier (Matt 15:26-27; Mk 7:27-28).
He called her a dog and said it was not right to throw the bread of the children (of the House of Yisrael) to the dogs. She replied yes, but even the dogs (under the table as Mark gives it) could eat of the crumbs which fall from the master’s table. In this context, the word “dogs” comes from the Greek “kunarion,” mentioned earlier, which refers to small, pet, house dogs (“Jewish New Testament Commentary,” p. 53).
This remark suggests that the Edomite woman and her Greek religion (indicated in Mk 7:26) allowed the owning of unclean house dogs as being culturally and religiously acceptable. The question surfacing then is it right to have pet dogs in one’s house in view of YESHUA’s supposed acceptance of her words when He granted her request.
Well, one might try to read that into the context, but such a conclusion does not have to be accepted or even allowed. True, the Greek, sun worshipping culture and religion of the Syro-Phoenician woman and multitudes of other peoples have had dogs in their houses (and under their tables)--just as is true today in sun worshipping Christendom. Nothing has changed in the last 2,000 years on this issue among sun worshippers.
But does that fact make it right for true Israelite believers? Of course not! YESHUA was not teaching, suggesting or implying that true believers should go against YHWH’s laws on clean and unclean animals simply because of a persistent woman bringing up the reality of “her” raising, culture and society.
No, the truth is quite clear. He chose to show her mercy and compassion--despite her evil, sun worship culture, life style and Greek religion which were probably attributable to her racial genes. He evidently showed her mercy because she was ignorant and persistent with apparently some humility and a good attitude (as suggested when she willingly acknowledged that she was a dog).
Possible Exceptions Justifying Pets
While the possession of pets offer questionable benefits, one exception may be with owning a cat. It “might” be proper to own a cat if a home has a mouse problem. Cats can be very useful in getting rid of rodents. But even here, there must be some care and discretion in allowing them indoors.
Seeing eye dogs for the blind could also be in a slightly different situation. This writer would not dare attempt to go on record in this instant. But even a blind person needs to be aware of the problem and take at least some measures to clean himself up periodically and limit contacts, particularly in doors and in non-essential usage.
How about horses and donkeys used for transportation? Yes, they are unclean as well. But modern sun worshippers do not typically try to house and feed them inside their homes, as they do with cats and dogs. Of course, the use of unclean horses and donkeys for “necessary” transportation outside the home is far different than having unclean cats and dogs “unnecessarily” in a home.
In any case, the persons in contact with unclean animals need to realize that they should wash their hands and/or bathe appropriately after contact with an unclean animal. One can be sure that YESHUA took a bath by evening after riding the donkey, as mentioned in the NT.
One Key Issue
One of the issues not addressed so far in this presentation is whether the usual or common Israelite believers can even own dogs, cats or other unclean animals (beyond the special cases where they serve a particular purpose, as pointed out above).
Evidently, the answer is yes--since YHWH has made them for a purpose. Dogs are good friends. And as noted in the above comments, cats are one of the best mouse catchers there is--providing they are not over fed.
A wise, old, Black man in the Southern mountains of Wilkes County, North Carolina once had a hunting dog named Queen. He never allowed her to get fat and sassy. He always maintained that “fat dogs ain’t no good fer huntin.” That’s also a good piece of advice for anyone wanting to own cats to catch mice.
The Right Approach
Now, back to the question of cats and dogs as pets. On this, things have to be put in the right perspective. Cats and dogs belong out of doors (in dog houses or out buildings or shelters during cold weather) and not inside living with Adamites. Thus, crumbs from their master’s table can be fed them--naturally, but out of doors!
By the way, this was the historic situation in early America. Dogs were kept out of doors and especially in rural areas and on farms. Many people were acutely aware of the fact that dogs were dirty and would have never allowed them inside their homes. In fact, most such dogs were so trained that they would never attempt to come inside a house, even when the door was left open for them to enter.
In many instances, dog owners did build or buy dog houses for their pet dogs to use in inclement weather. But times have changed. Modern sun worshipping Americans now typically have their pet dogs and cats living with them in their homes just like the ancient sun worshipping Egyptians and Syro-Phoenicians.
Incidentally, the Scriptures never seem to record an instance of unclean animals being in a house with religious Israelites (although YESHUA, because of necessity, was born in a stable). Again, it is well to note that dogs are referred to as one of the lowest forms of animals.
Moreover, the “Acts of the Torah,” found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, specifies an item number (9) which says that “Dogs are not to be brought into Jerusalem” (“Who Wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls,” p. 194). It seems abundantly clear that no believing Israelite family would have ever allowed unclean animals into their house for close association.
Finally, the student of truth might be interested in learning of an AP news item of December 13, 1998, which noted that in Communist Romania, and presumably in other Communist states, it was considered to be a “bourgeois habit” for city people to own or have a dog in town.
Whatever else can be said about the Communists, they were miles ahead of the Western, Christian, sun worship culture--at least, on the question of dogs. Tragically, Western, Christian, sun worship people love unclean animals and love to have them in their homes.
The Responsible Angle
In the owning of pets, the one thing that most people seem to overlook is the aspect of personal responsibility for their pets and what the pets do in terms of society. The situation with the NH nurse, cited above, is a classic illustration where this woman became guilty of bringing hurt upon a number of innocent people.
Clearly, she was responsible. But we can be sure that most of society will not look upon this question that way. Most people will conclude that it was just tough that she brought a yeast infection into the hospital. If she was prosecuted and sent to jail or made to pay restitution for the hurt she caused, the word would get out and more pet owners would get the message that they are responsible!
Bad Dogs in Idaho
In terms of responsibility, as just cited, one of the things that frequently happens with dogs is that they bite or attack some innocent person. And here, the issue is not over a dog attacking a burglar or trespasser in areas where they should not be present.
Uncontrolled or unrestrained dogs have attacked and even killed people. Several dogs in a pack have been known to attack small children. Pit bulldogs can be very dangerous.
The Dec 31, 2002, Idaho “Spokesman-Review” (p. A1) had a story by Susan Drumheller on “Pit bulls back home after attack.” The essence of this report concerned a couple named James and Cheryl Dunnington, near Bonners Ferry, Idaho, who just happen to have owned nine pit bulls.
In December 2002, a 50-year old jogger named Denise Dickison was running on the county road near the Drumheller’s place. Three of the pit bulls got out of the yard and attacked poor Denise and mauled her pretty badly before she was rescued by a neighbor woman named Ginny Napier and a neighbor man (named Rudy Byler) in a pick-up truck.
Byler and Napier were able to drag the injured woman into Byler’s pick-up before the dogs had killed her. Napier said that within another minute, the dogs would have killed Dickison.
Poor Denise was taken to the hospital with multiple bites and bruises. One dog was killed from a passing car and the other two dogs were quarantined for ten days to check for rabies.
The purpose of Drumheller’s story was to say that the dogs in quarantine had been released and sent back to the Dunnington home. Apparently, nothing from a criminal point will happen though the owners were charged with two counts of vicious dogs at large--a misdemeanor. Since this was a first offense by the dogs involved, Idaho law required that they be returned to their owner.
Local prosecutor Todd Reed says that that’s all the state can do based upon current state laws. Otherwise, poor Denise will be able to file a civil lawsuit against the Dunningtons which can drag on and on; and of course, make a lot of money for some local lawyers.
The bottom line on this story is that pet dogs are not something good--for many reasons. And in the case of pit bulls, one should be prepared to go to jail or suffer greatly otherwise from owning them.
A More Tragic Case
In early 2002, another woman named Marjorie Knoller was irresponsible with a dangerous dog which attacked an innocent woman named Diane Whipple in the hall of Diane’s apartment in San Francisco. Diane was killed. Of course, Marjorie said it wasn’t her fault. But she and her husband Robert Noel were tried (Apr 1, 2002, “US News & World Report,” p. 8).
Marjorie was found guilty of second degree murder and Robert was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. This is the way it should be. People are responsible and should be punished for not restraining their possibly dangerous animals. Per the Word, these people would have to flee to a city of refuge to avoid being killed by Diane’s next of kin. This is the way it should be.
In the Western mountains, the snow gets heavy in the winter. Deer find it hard to find food and even to walk or run in the deep snow (their feet sink in from the weight). Dogs have a much easier time on snow and thoroughly enjoy chasing and sometimes killing deer which cannot get away.
In early 2002, the state of Idaho announced that she would fine dog owners who let their dogs chase deer. This is the way it should be. The book should be thrown at these people. If it is illegal to kill a deer out of season, it is illegal for a dog to kill a deer out of season.
Other Pets As Well
While the above focus has been on “unclean” dogs and cats, it goes without saying that modern, stupid, Christian Israelites have all kinds of other “unclean” animals and birds as pets as well, although not as commonly found as dogs and cats. All of the above remarks on dogs and cats apply equally to all other unclean animals and birds.
It has become extremely popular today among some people to own snakes--including such dangerous reptiles as rattle snakes and pythons. While most snake owners are not apt to handle, play with and give the snakes the intimacy that dog and cat owners afford their pets, there still is a lot of contact with an unclean specie.
This pet snake phenomenon has a bad feature which can cause real problems (just as some pet, pit bulldogs can cause problems). For example, a stupid couple in rebellion against YHWH’s Torah owned a pet python in Centralia, Illinois. The python was about seven and a half feet long and presumably could be dangerous if it ever got out of its cage.
The rebellious and wicked couple had a two-year-old baby boy. Sure enough, on August 30, 1999, the python got out of its cage, killed the child (bit the boy and smothered him to death) and was preparing to eat the baby. Prosecutors in Centralia said that they would prosecute the parents for endangerment.
A similar event happened when a Pennsylvania couple stupidly owned several snakes and exotic lizards which they kept in their home with their children. Near August 25, 2001, per news reports, one of the pythons got out and proceeded to wrap itself around the throat of the couple’s eight-year old daughter, Amber.
By the time that the mother reached the child and got the snake pried loose, it was too late. The child died. In this case, of being careless and irresponsible, are the parents of this child guilty of murder or manslaughter? This possibility has been broached earlier and will receive some further attention in later comments on selfishness.
This is one of the fall-outs of owning dangerous pets. They are always susceptible of getting out of their cages and not only attacking and killing members of the owner’s family, but also neighbors, friends and others who may innocently come into contact with them (especially out of doors). Most or all of these varmints are unclean and have no business being pets inside the homes of the followers of YHWH YESHUA.
A Final Story
There is a final story from Spokane, Washington which deserves mention. This one concerns a man named Bob Hull and his, so-called, love of pets. Per the May 29, 2003, Spokane “Spokesman-Review” (p. B3), local county sheriff deputies visited his home in May 2003 for some unstated reason.
The deputies discovered that Hull had at least 32 live cats and dozens of live dogs at his home while a local county ordnance only allowed a person to have four cats and four dogs at one time. In looking around, officers made another amazing discovery. Hull was so devoted to his pets that he refused to part with them, and even after they were dead.
Hull had three large white freezers on the front porch of his house which contained the frozen carcasses of his dead pets since 1997. The freezers contained the bodies of 20 kittens, 15 adult cats, 18 dogs, one bird, four mice and a rabbit. Each animal was wrapped in an individual animal bag (that he had obtained from a veterinarian). Some of the bags reflected the name of the enclosed dead pet.
Question--is this absolute madness, stupidity or what?
Chapter 237--Modern Sun Worship Culture III
Sports and Athletic Events
Josephus, in his works of 2,000 years ago, wrote an extensive condemnation about athletic and sporting events. While he made it clear that such are against his religion, he did not quote precise Scriptures to condemn the practices.
Josephus did bring the issue up in connection with what the Greeks had done in the days of Antiochus Epiphanies (c168 BCE) when they built a gymnasium and did everything that they thought possible to force the Judean inhabitants to adopt the Grecian sun worship culture and practices. As pointed out earlier, I and II Maccabees describe this in detail.
In the late first century BCE, the Amalekite Herod the Great followed suit and did the same thing.
Herod introduced pagan games, promoted the Greek Olympic games and built a theater, a hippodrome and a large amphitheater in the area where chariot races and contests of various kinds took place, including men fighting animals (“Josephus, The Essential Writings,” p. 244, and “A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ,” v. I, p. 439).
Just as Second Temple Jews had little regard for sports, the same thing applies today among sincere religious Jews. For example, Rav Gabriel Kosover, principal at the Ultra Orthodox Derekh Tvunah Talmud Torah school in Jerusalem, eschews physical and sports education as “a waste of Torah study time and emblematic of gentile pursuits” (Apr 7, 2003, “Jerusalem Report,” p. 14).
The Main Problems
So, what then is the problem with sports and athletic events? After some thought, this writer offers these possibilities. First, the historical basis is clearly sun worshipping Greece and their games and sporting events. The original Greek Olympiad festival and games were in honor of the Greek gods (“What the Great Religions Teach,” p. 105). As a minimum, the periodic Olympics are called into serious question.
Another feature was brought out by Dr Emil Schurer in “A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ” (v. I, p. 23, division 2). Schurer noted that the “games were often closely connected with the religious rites” --in the context of the various sun worship cults and particularly those in Greece which favored sports so much.
In fact, writer Paula Fredriksen, in an article on “Paul at the Races,” appearing in the June 2002 “Bible Review” (p. 12), makes the case that athletics started as a religion. Fredriksen says that in the ancient Mediterranean culture (of Greece and Rome), activities like going to the theater, watching races (and other sporting events), convening a city council, etc were all part of the worship of the traditional gods.
Modern Christians have picked upon this religious linkage to some extent; because even today, many sporting events start with a prayer to the sun god. Religious schools in particular have religious rites and worship inter-connected to their athletic programs. Hence, there is a religious implication in many sporting events.
Eastern martial arts and contact sports are typically connected closely to the Eastern religions. One finds this especially in Judo, Karate, etc in Japan and similar practices in China and other parts of the East. Many of these human conflicts involve prayer and devotion to the Eastern gods. People in the Christian West, who pick upon these arts, usually pick upon the religious implications as well.
Next, there is no provision for sports and athletic events in the Scriptures, as Josephus correctly noted. Since they are not present for people in the Hebrew culture, should believers automatically assume that they can then be adopted and practiced? No, of course not!
More Reasons
Otherwise, there are several more reasons. The events instill idolatry (over the teams and players), pride, vanity and competitiveness in the participants and fans alike. In effect, competitiveness is a facet of pride which is condemned in the Book. Why would one do things to build up idolatry, pride and vanity?
This reality surfaces with regularity in sporting events all over the world. The Jan 21, 2002, “Time” (p. 67) carried the story of a hockey fan named Thomas Junta who murdered Michael Costin over a hockey game on July 5, 2000, in Reading, Massachusetts. Costin was the referee and Junta’s son was a player. Junta didn’t like the calls and beat Costin to death at the hockey stadium.
This same “Time” also outlined other American sporting events which illustrated the fantastic idolatry and utter fanaticism associated with sports. In 1999, a chunky football dad and youth league coach assaulted a nine year old player and a Virginia soccer mom attacked a referee. In 2000, a Staten Island father broke the nose of the coach of his ten-year old son and so it goes.
Moreover, sporting events also often involve public nudity which, of course, is unscriptural, as will be elaborated upon in some detail in comments to follow. This nudity and the events providing for it generally instill lust among both participants and fans alike.
Why would believers want to watch exposed people and develop passion and lust and particularly today when most of the athletes are Blacks and the fans are generally White. Yes, White girls lust after Negro athletes--especially in the nudity of basketball.
Some Really Dark Stuff
Furthermore, these events encourage gambling, drinking, drunkenness, partying and reveling among both participants and fans. Why would believers be involved in such questionable practices?
Not only are many of the competing athletes themselves heavily involved in drugs, adultery, and other immoral activities, they end up promoting these same qualities in today’s youth who look up to athletes as idols and gods. These athletes generally paint very sick pictures for young children to be devoted to and obsessed over because of their skills.
The next pathetic feature of sports is linked to the just mentioned reality of gambling. While the issue of gambling and betting on games primarily concerns the fans and spectators, it sometimes goes even beyond that feature to the players and participants.
For example, the famous baseball player Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds a few years ago was a well known gambling figure. It was never conclusively proven that he bet on his own games, but that possibility must be entertained. Rose apparently was one of the great baseball players of all time and ultimately lost out on many honors and recognitions simply because of his ties to the gambling world.
Routinely, in modern times, scandals seem to be erupting with regularity in most sporting activities. It seems to be common, routine and regular that athletes are caught using drugs and steroids of various kinds to supposedly help them in their performance. But that’s only the beginning of the corruption on-going in sporting events.
The Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah had several questionable things take place. Perhaps the most notorious scandal in Utah concerned the revelation by a French woman judge (Marie-Reine Le Gougne) that she had voted against the Canadians and for the Russians in a fix in the figure skating event (Feb 22, 2002, “The Week,” p. 13, 17).
Part of the problem that fueled this question to the revelation point was that the skaters performed before a world-wide audience, via live television. As the Feb 25, 2002, “Time” (p. 5) put it-- “a wobbly Russian routine took the gold and a flawless Canadian one the silver.” Obviously, something was wrong with the judging process. This prompted Marie to make her revelations.
It was largely unclear what all the motivations were that made Marie, as the swing voting judge, throw the outcome of the match. She said that French officials pressured her to give the victory to the Russians. Although there will remain speculation on this question, it is not difficult to allow that gambling or international politics were involved at a very high level.
Incidentally, the just quoted Feb 22, 2002, “The Week” (p. 17) had an article on this subject which was entitled “Skating scandal: Are the Olympics corrupt?” Well, the answer here is yes. All of the contemporary sporting events are corrupt to some extent. It would be a rarity today to find a major event without some corruption or scandal associated with it.
Although the February 25, 2002, “Time” magazine did not directly attempt an answer to the question of Olympic corruption, as posed by “The Week,” “Time” (p. 30) did review “A Century of Medal Disputes” --namely the 20th century.
The problems/questions/corruption started in 1908 in London when judges supposedly awarded the gold to the wrong person in a figure skating event (it turned out that one of the judges was a personal friend of the person awarded the medal). Similar issues/controversies surfaced in Stockholm in 1912, in Munich in 1972, in Barcelona in 1992, in Littlehammer in 1994 and in Nagano in 1998.
The only thing one can say about the question of Olympic corruption is that it seems to have become worse in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The future does not look good as Olympic corruption and dishonesty now seems to be largely in place.
Another Note
Last, a news broadcast on December 31, 1997, focused upon the then upcoming Rose Bowl football game. It revealed a most fascinating little fact. The news reporter talked about the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, California and mentioned that it was built in 1922, based upon a design from ancient Greece.
This writer is not very familiar with the architecture associated with the buildings and stadiums used by the ancient Greek sun worshippers, but it appears that modern sun worshippers copy them for their buildings and facilities.
Circuses, Theaters, TV and Movies
The subject of circuses, theaters, television and motion pictures is a little more complicated than the obvious outright problems with modern sports and athletic performances (with the religious implications, as noted above).
On the one hand, circuses generally and live theater performances frequently involve nudity, sexual depravity and/or other themes which make them totally unsuitable for watching. Idolatry is common when people begin to adore and revere their entertainment heroes as usually occurs.
Most of these live entertainment activities inevitably involve the integration and mixing of the sexes (and now, races in modern America) which is manifestly wrong, as will be established in succeeding chapters. Clearly the circuses and live theaters have their origins in the old sun worship cults.
Too, there is the reality that many theater performances are built on lies and fiction to such an extent that truth is badly imperiled. In telling about his movie career, actor Marlon Brando put out a video in 2002 entitled “Lying for a Living,” designed to teach young actors about the acting profession (Apr 19, 2002, “The Week,” p. 8). Of course, this message really hits home on the acting business.
Consequently, it is easy to write theaters, circuses and most live performances off as being bad and unscriptural. Perhaps some of these realities prompted Josephus to take a stand 2,000 years ago against theaters and amphitheaters, as well as sports and sporting arenas.
Josephus wrote that they were foreign practices to Jews and Judaism (quoted by Dr Emil Schurer in “A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ,” v. I, p. 33, division 2). Hence, the people of YHWH would not be in attendance at such depraved places.
Television
One can almost put television and the movies in the same category. There are a couple of differences though which might make “some” TV and “home” videos less questionable and a little more acceptable. First, these activities can be viewed in private in a home and under the supervision of a parent in the context of children.
Too, part of this stuff can be extremely educational and beneficial. For example, a TV news broadcast has merit to keep the elect informed on world affairs (as they are commanded to watch, to be later discussed).
There is a downside on TV, however, with the evidence of biased reporting and subliminal messages, to be later assessed. So while “some” television might have limited value and appeal, one must be very careful about viewing the tube.
Certainly, a loving parent would have to spend some time in prayer and thought before allowing children to watch most of this stuff, even if it is educational.
Actually, there are any number of radio news broadcasts and often one every hour on the hour. So it is possible to keep abreast of events without TV. Also, newspapers are available, although they are just as biased and slanted as radio and TV programs.
The Present Depravity
The present, Western, sun worship culture and civilization are absolutely depraved, wicked and sick beyond description. While there are several reasons for this utter depravity, assuredly much of the impetus has come from Hollywood which has been making extremely bad films for ages.
Not only is it true that many of the people involved in the entertainment industry are socially and morally sick, but the work they turn out is of the same caliber.
“Some” few home videos are possibly in a more acceptable position and particularly if they are older (with a less chance of subliminal messages and common vulgarity) and/or might be produced by a trustworthy agency (like the Prophecy Club). Many documentaries and indeed movies are extremely educational and hence valuable, although they must be addressed in the context of the above comments.
The Ultra Orthodox Jewish religious community in Mea Shearim in Jerusalem (to be addressed in some detail in later comments) has an interesting slant on the question of secular radio, television, books, papers, magazines, movies and entertainment.
This stuff is simply forbidden to its people. The elders warn the people that the outside world is nothing but “whores and thieves” (Dec 13, 1999, “Newsweek,” p. 52). While it would be possible that evil sun worshippers would look down upon and laugh at the Ultra Orthodox people and their teachings about the evils out in the secular world, there is much truth in what they say, in the generic sense.
Even in the modern Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York, the people in the Satmar Hassidic sect of the Ultra Orthodox do not own TV sets (Jul 6, 2001, “Jerusalem Post,” p. 27). Many of the children know only Hebrew or Yiddish (and no English, until they learn it in school). The “rabbis” say that they don’t need English.
Dancing
One of the approved cultural activities allowed in the Book is dancing. The Word is precise. Believers should praise and worship The ELOHIM in timbrels and dancing (Ps 149:3; 150:4).
Dancing was a fairly common cultural reaction in ancient Yisrael in the context of dances following military victories, at the harvest festivals and importantly at the commencement of the Sabbaths. Yirmeyahu wrote that the virgin should rejoice in dancing (Jer 31:4, 13). On occasion, groups of women danced, sang and played timbrels (Ex 15:20-21; Jud 11:34; I Sam 18:6). David danced (II Sam 6:14).
And on one of the rare times when men and women could apparently do some mixing in a social activity, dancing was seemingly proper at weddings (per “Soncino Books of the Bible,” translation and commentary at Ps 45:14-16 and S of S 7:1-2. See also I Macc 9:37-39).
While this writer cannot determine the exact form that these Scripturally approved dances should take, there is an absolute certainty that they were not ever sexually revealing or enticing.
They were expressions of praise, joy and happiness, without any presence of sexual overtures or even close personal contact among participants. Likely, they were Hebrew folk dances, involving groups of men or women or perhaps even some persons individually--like David.
One can assuredly bank on it that these Scriptural dances were a far cry from what is visible in the contemporary Christian sun worship culture. Much of modern dance is very vulgar and dirty with roots that go back to very primitive, Black, African dances promoting demonic trances and promiscuous sex. Whatever else may be said about Negroes, it is evident that they have natural rhythm and can dance.
Having mentioned the popularity and acceptability of dancing, there are some qualifications however. Shlomo put it all in the right perspective when he wrote that there is a particular time for dancing--just as there are times for other activities (Eccl 3:1-4).
Moreover, it is manifestly mandatory that any dancing done conform to YHWH’s laws and rules for men and women. The need for gender separation seems established and certainly women must be properly covered. These requirements will be assessed in a subsequent chapter.
Public or Private?
“Encyclopaedia Judaica” (v. 5, p. 1264) gives the historic Jewish position which is relevant to consider. The point is made that dancing in public was often forbidden by the “rabbis.” On this, one must understand that dancing at a marriage or Bar Mitzwot is hardly the same thing as dancing on Broadway or at a disco club in NY City.
Usually marriages and other family occasions are extremely private matters--limited to the families, a few friends and members of the religious fraternity. In this sense, it would be wrong to call them public, as evidently envisioned by the “rabbis.” They are a quasi-public function at best.
Music and Song
Later chapters will further address modern music and song in the context of the popular, secular culture and from different perspectives. There is no intent to really cover the subject in any detail at this time. But some attention is needed and particularly on rock n’ roll which has completely dominated the Christian West for 50 years.
Manifestly, rock n’ roll is essentially nothing but a demonic jungle beat from the jungles of Black Africa (later chapters herein will discuss at some length the use of drums in Black music to call down the demon gods--and that’s what black music is all about). All forms of it are bad.
Ferriday, Louisiana
For many long years now, Blacks have had essentially Black hang-outs which specialize in Black music, drinking, eating chitterlings or fired chicken, gambling (usually dice), knife fights, and plenty of copulating and fornicating. Remarks hereafter will discuss at length one of these African hang-outs in the Mississippi Delta.
Generally, White people did not and do not frequent these Negro hang-outs--other than a few White whore women who go there to get picked up and engage in interracial sex with the Africans.
The little town of Ferriday, Louisiana used to have (and probably still has) at least one of these popular Negro beer joints (similar White places are known as honky-tonks in the White culture).
Over the years, this one Black joint had everything the typical Negro could want--Black music (as a pianist would pound out some Black blues and what later would be called rock n’ roll), much eating (chitterlings, fried chicken and other soul food items), room to shoot craps and have knife fights, and of course, plenty of Black girls to copulate with, either on the dance floor or at some other convenient place.
As the demonic beat picked up, the dancing would become more vulgar, raunchy, and dirty. Of course, the Blacks simply loved it.
Women, with low cut dresses (which allowed their breasts to pop out) that were split down the sides (to show off their legs and equipment) would produce quite a sexually arousing display as they entered a demonic trance to shake, wiggle, hump and rock n’ roll with the black men (which inevitably led to mass fornication, either on the dance floor, in a nearby booth, a nearby car, outdoors in the woods or wherever).
Two White Boys
Back during WWII, there were two small White boys, actually cousins, who got quite a thrill, charge or something out of going down to this Black joint in Ferriday and watching the Blacks have their frolicking good time and fun. The boys had a peek place where they could secretly watch the proceedings from outside without actually being inside or detected and known by the Blacks.
One of the boys was interested in music and probably this was his motivation. Like Benny Goodman, Al Jolson and others mentioned earlier, many Whites have come to realize that Blacks have enormous talent in music and rhythm. Hence, persons interested in popular music inevitably have some desire to watch and listen to Negro performers.
Obviously, this one boy must have enjoyed the blues and rock n’ roll sounds put out by the Negro piano player. He was surely engrossed and fascinated by it.
The other White boy involved was a Christian boy who seems to have taken his Sunday School and other outright Christian pagan realities seriously. He was, what some would say, a classic prude. In any case, he went along with his cousin to watch the antics, frolicking, fornicating and carrying on by the Negroes at this drinking and fornicating place.
But to what extent the Christian boy enjoyed the wild sex and jungle manifestations going on in the Black joint (as the two boys would spy on the Negroes) probably is open to debate. However, the Christian boy did not like the music. He called it “the Devil’s music” (and actually, in a strange way, he was right; as will be proven in later chapters on the occult changes in Christianity).
However, other people had other words to describe the African jungle beat. Many American Whites, especially in the South, simply called it “Nigger music.” Other people, perhaps in Britain and parts of Europe, called it a “Savage Animal Rhythm.”
Success
The two boys were named Jimmy and Jerry. At some point in time, Jerry took up the piano and began playing it professionally (it was said that he had a “God given talent”).
This Negro music that Jerry had absorbed as a child must have impressed him and particularly as the rock n’ roll beat was propelled into America’s national music spotlight in the 1950s with the book (by Evan Hunter) and movie called “Blackboard Jungle.”
By 1956, Elvis Presley was on the scene with his blend of country, Black blues and Black rock n’ roll. Presley was an almost instant success as he would wiggle and move his hips while playing his guitar. The gullible, stupid, young, American girls simply loved the vulgar, demonic beat and sexual implications.
Since Jerry was quite proficient on the piano, he was able to pick upon the Negro music so much so that he too was immediately propelled into stardom. This came in late 1956 when Jerry and one of his cousin colleagues went into the record studio in Memphis, Tennessee which gave Presley his start (however, this producer sold his contract with Presley, worth millions, for a mere $35,000).
The Memphis record producer liked Jerry’s music and put out his first hit record (“Crazy Arms”) in late 1956. Soon, within the next year, Jerry had several top hits (including “Whole Lotta Shaking Goin On,” “Great Balls of Fire,” and “High School Confidential” which came out in a movie). In fact, Jerry’s “Great Balls of Fire” knocked Presley’s “Teddy Bear” out of first place on the popularity charts.
With Presley entering the US Army (from the draft) in early 1958, there was some belief among many that Jerry would become the King of Rock n’ Roll. He was in a position to be completely number one. He appeared on the Steve Allen Show and was raking in the money from his fantastic popularity in 1957.
But two events came in early 1958 which virtually destroyed Jerry. Whereas he was, in 1957, a number one American entertainer (who was pushing at Elvis Presley and ready to become the King of Rock n’ Roll); he quickly became a has been and no more (in other words, his telephone quit ringing).
Identifying Jerry
Jerry was, of course, the once famous Jerry Lee Lewis (called the “Killer” and the “Wild Man of Rock”). His story was told in a writing by his wife Myra, which was made into a movie called “Great Balls of Fire” --with Dennis Quaid, Winona Ryder (yes, the apparent Amalekitess who gained some fame in 2002 by shoplifting in California, as noted earlier) and Alec Baldwin.
The comments herein on Jerry and Jimmy (somewhat) come essentially from this biographical movie. In the movie, Baldwin plays the part of Jerry’s cousin Jimmy--who also gained enormous American popularity and fame in the 20th century in the religious business (of conning money from the Christian suckers).
Later chapters will tell more about Jimmy (in a discussion on hypocrites) and assess what happened in 1958 to virtually destroy Jerry Lee Lewis (in a presentation on the power of the US media to make or break people). But the point here is that rock n’ roll is effectively demonic Negro music from the jungles of Black Africa. It is not good!
Rock N’ Rap
In the early 21st century, there is something on the popular music scene called rock n’ rap (which is totally Black in origin and involving a blend of traditional rock and the new popular rap music). This stuff is totally and completely the Devil’s music (as Jimmy characterized it many years ago). It is very vulgar and demonic. A later chapter addressing the occult changes in Christianity will further assess it as a part of rock.
More On Music
Other than the modern demonic jungle music of Blacks (which now predominates in the Christian world, in the form of the various deviations of rock), this writer is not necessarily opposed to secular, cultural music, per se.
Certainly, much of it probably is bad, though some of it might be acceptable. Perhaps each individual selection or type of music or song must be evaluated upon its own merits. Many of the classical pieces are both inspiring and beautiful.