Counterculture part 2

      Let's go into theological law here for a second.  In a typical Christian church, there are twelve laws that all have to try to follow:

• Let God be your top priority (Exodus 20:3).
• Idolatry is very bad (Exodus 20:4).
• Deity is not to be mocked (Exodus 20:7).
• Worship God on the Sabbath (Exodus 20.8)
• Respect your parents (Exodus 20.12).
• Don't kill (Exodus 20:13).
• Don't canoodle with a woman that isn't your wife (Exodus 20:14).
• Thievery is condoned (Exodus 20:15).
• Lying is not good (Exodus 20:16).
• Acting upon jealousy is a sin (Exodus 20.17).
• Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind (Matthew 22:37).
• Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself (Matthew 22:39).

     Yet most people don't seem to follow them as well as they can.  Many other Abrahamic religions such as Judaism and Islam have a book of laws (i.e. Talmud and Sharia respectively) that govern life so that one can live to be the best Jewish person or the best Muslim person God may want them to live.  There are rules and aphorisms for many of us to think about and apply to our own lives-- to be the decent human beings that we are.

     "Bigoted."
  
     "Chauvinistic pigs."
  
   "Narrow-minded."

     People come to disrespect the law-- other religions' laws.  Many become ashamed of their faiths and go down the deep end toward disillusionment.  Intolerance is a culture molded from a deep misunderstanding of one's own faith.  Many give up the faith after not being up to par with the laws in place and the people who slander them.

     Anarchy.  This religion-lacking population topples down the theological laws that have been put in place since the dawn of time-- a set of laws that each faith believes have been set by God Himself that cannot be compromised.  With that comes a contrast in "conservatism" and then "reform" flourishes**.

     As democracy is slowly filled with these secular men and women, there is much neglect in the theological laws that are put into place and the laws voted upon by the people are mostly those to advance those without such goals to benefit mankind-- sure, it may look like it, but the strife too often see among the religionists and the seculars result in a stalemate or an unappeasing compromise. For both sides.  Therefore, this low tolerance leads to a degradation of the purpose of democracy in the first place-- productivity goes down the drain and bickering jumps to uncomfortable proportions.

     Without applied theological law, socio-ethical law begins to weather away, as its foundation came from the very laws God has given us.

     When the people care more about their rights than their responsibilities, then you know that we're in trouble.

     See this pattern today?  Scared?  Angry?  Guilty?

     Here in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we do believe, like any other religious denomination, the belief that obedience [to God] will bring blessings regardless of its outcome.  It's a hard thing to do, but it's do-able.  We have the choice between doing so and reaping the long-term rewards thereafter or not doing so and suffering the consequences.

     Now, God doesn't expect us to follow ALL His commandments at once, but He asks us to improve each passing day.

     "Exact obedience means trying your best," I heard someone say.  It's true.  Because we're not perfect, every day is a learning and improving experience!

     "To be religious in this day and age means you have to sacrifice a lot of freedom and be persecuted by all the intellectuals out in the world," I hear.

     I'd like to take the example of one thing that Jesus pointed out to do-- a LOT.  That is to "love thy neighbor."   Regardless of situation or background, this is the one thing that is universally preached by all religionists.  It's hard to love people* who have wronged you and are different from you; however, it's possible.  Done properly, even if the other party may not be particularly fond of you, you will find that optimism and hope springs forth from a world filled with cynicism.

     I say that a lot-- that the world is cynical and mean, but it doesn't all have to be if we can go back to our roots!  Without religion, the world will not be able to function correctly.  Without pure Christianity, the world will not be as bent in loving others but loving the individual.

     The world* isn't a perfect place by far; it doesn't have to be.  We just need to make the choice to obey what God has instructed us to do.  This law is more universal than anything political-- those come and go, but God's law stays the same.  It has been given to us in this imperfect state that we may find joy-- not immediately, but over time.  To obey the [celestial] law in an ideal world means having utopia on Earth.  To obey the [celestial] law in an imperfect world means being that much closer to having utopia in the soul.



 *: "the world" and the general term for "people" refers to an assumption to mean citizens of the United States of America.  Much other parts of the world is unknown in the perspective of this peculiar person due to a lack of information, therefore not much argument or support can be backed up for them and their situation.
**: I do believe that many civil reforms were necessary for the advancement of society (e.g. the civil rights movement, the child labor reformation, the Catholic reformation (excluding the Inquisition), and many more.)

I may not be as informed as the majority of the American population about current events, but this opinion has arose from what I have seen over the days.

Human Nature (Digression)

     If you challenge someone like an atheist to live life without faith as your motivation for hope-- without depending on the knowledge that you'll go someplace else after you die, they'll definitely take it.  However, I say to that accepter of that challenge that he is completely nuts.  He already has a seed somewhere in his heart of a particular faith.  He turned atheist because he just wasn't satisfied with religion.  That in and of itself is a faith with its own set of rules and principles.

     Religion--faith-- is a weird yet very necessary thing.  Even in the dawn of time, man has had religion.  We humans are very peculiar creatures who rely on a very invisible entity to guide and direct us.  We are a social animal.  We are also a worshipping animal.  Evidently, it's in our nature to have religion, whatever it may be. 

     When you have it in your mind, even if it's just the remotest little knowledge of faith, life becomes bearable and hope can be seen.  Even if you're Hindu, Moslem, Wiccan, or anything else that involves a belief in something that cannot be seen, there's always a doctrine tied to a certain one of those creeds.  Those creeds enable us to see what is beyond the biotic life that we live right now.  It also enables us to be the type of people who don't have to succumb to the urges and yearnings of our body.  Taboos and cultural customs all have developed as a result of religion.

     If there happens to be a time in your life where you lost a loved one, got divorced, or something traumatic and painful, you need more than something physical to rely on.  Sure, you have your therapist and your drugs, but there comes a point in your life where you need more than things/people you can hold in your hands.  You need some of that invisible good stuff that can heal your aching soul.  Faith, no matter how significant and no matter how unknown, is ingrained deep inside the human soul. 

     Despair brings out a side of you that needs worship; a hope that a power much greater than you will correct your wrongs and continue your existence.  It enables also the hope that your significant other may be alright and that restitution may be possible on your part.  There will be a time in your life where such feelings will exist (if it hasn't already).  Life is tough and it requires more than just what you can see and touch.  Belief.  It's absolutely instrumental.

     I strongly believe in the inherent power of belief.  It has gotten me through the thick of life.  With a spiritual foundation in something that cannot be seen but feel, the confirmations of truth burning at the bosom have never felt so real.  On multiple occasions, there have been times where a warm feeling has overcome my soul, telling me that all will be well-- civility will rule over an uncivilized world.  This wasn't something I could explain, but I just knew that the feeling from such belief in such came from something much higher than me.  Without anything to hold on to, without a moral compass to guide you on your way, we are no better than animals.  We are no better than the actions we commit.

     So no matter who you are and what your background is, you're going to have to put faith in something to get you through the trials of life.  From God to wealth, it's all there for you to believe in.  However, a belief in God, the Eternal Father of our souls will get you farther in life than you've ever dreamed of.  We have Jesus Christ and also Joseph Smith to thank for that.

Keeper

     On the other side of the country is my family-- a group of people I can call home.  Although they may be scattered about in the east, I cannot deny the fact that they have shaped me into the person who I am.

     Of course, in that family are siblings-- brothers or sisters, we all love, despise or even neglect for five years or more.  They're there, whether we like them or not, and society revolves around how we put them in the grand equation that amounds to our life.

     Recently, through social media, I had stumbled upon mine own sibling for the first time in a year.  It's been some time now since I've physically seen him in person and even longer since I've actually talked to him.  It may be that over a year ago I've changed a lot or he has, or both, but it was appalling some of the things I saw him post.  I know he's a better person that what he shares.  The contrast between where our lives have gone is quite interesting.

     So in a nutshell, I am one of two kids-- one who is around 11... years minutes "older" than I am.  I don't really understand/know why without putting me to blame, but that fraternal relationship has been nonexistent for the longest time.  Eight years of estrangement can take its toll on the human psyche.

     We've all been given a charge to love our brother's keeper.  My message here is to all who have broken or rusted bonds with siblings or relatives in any form you want to connect with again.  When you're estranged, it's extremely frightening to reconnect, even if you really want to.  The thought of further rejection, waywardness, and hostility makes us quake.

     So the first step to overcoming our demons and repairing these bonds come from being receptive.  Showing that desire to want to reconnect is the first big step to reparation.  It can be something like a pact to yourself that you won't hold any more ill will toward your estranged relative or even a message to the world that your doors of acceptance is now open.  At this part, perhaps your estranged relative wants to accept your offer of benevolence-- great!  Be receptive and kindly when they initiate the conversation!

     That's the easy part.  The real threshold that has to be crossed with the majority of us is that of taking action.  More likely than not, the other party may be thinking that you'll be the one who reaches them rather than vice versa.  It takes a real human being to go out and look for the person to make amends with!  A small private message on facebook, a twitter mention, or even a piece of correspondence (if you know his or her address) never hurt anyone!  Be proactive, even if it's the scariest thing you'll ever do in the distant future.  The return on investment is great, so far as I've been told.

     This is something I'm doing.  Right now, I'm working on the first part.  I have some time left before I'm able to actually reach out, but I know that we can exemplify the happiness of a strong, cohesive family with a message of reconnection.

     To my own kin, my doors are open, but my mouth cannot until this journey out west is finished.

Injustice (Tangent)

     In the midst of a library's computer lab, there was a young man, diligently working on a story that was to be published in a non-profit magazine in the coming weeks.  In this computer lab, there walks in a short, little woman-- thick glasses, a hanging lower lip, and a problem with her attitude.  She plops right down on a computer and plugs in her headphone, not minding what others around her have to say.  The unwanted voices of Justin Bieber and a variety of other pop singers are heard through the headphones, radiating a maxed-out volume that reverberates around the computer lab.  The cacophony of a squealing water bottle is heard every several minutes, piercing its sound to those nearby.  Day by day, this habit continues and many are afraid of telling this disabled woman that she's being a distraction.

     One day, as the persistence of the music and peculiar habits get the best of this young author, he approaches this woman, all 5-foot 2 of her, and firmly tells her that she is being a distraction to those around her.  With an un-understood look in her face, she turns her attention away from the man and continues forth with her habit, undeterred and non-compliant.  A look of puzzlement and frustration in the young man's face, he goes toward the information desk of the library to voice his complaint.  The librarian listens intently to what the man has told her and she goes forth and in a loving but authoritative charge, she sends this woman out of the computer lab, never able to come back again.  Many in the computer lab look to this man with a sign of relief and thankfulness as they all continue to do what they have been doing-- in peace, finally.

     As the days approached, there, the short, little woman is seen again but with two tall men, a business-dressed woman, and an official-looking envelope.  The business-dressed woman, who addressed herself as a "Nancy," a representative from the local disabilities advocacy group and she told this young man that the envelope the short, little woman was holding was a subpoena-- that they had filed a lawsuit against the young man and also the library for kicking out the woman-- who turns out to have down syndrome.  The two parties were to owe this woman $3.2 million dollars in lawsuit and reparation each.

     The young man had nothing like this happen to him in his life before.  He was at a loss of what to do.  He didn't and couldn't raise enough money to pay for the lawsuit, let alone hiring an attorney.  The library wasn't going to do much to help his case, either.  Devastated, he returned home, looking poorly in the prospects of his future.

     As the court date was approaching closer and closer, the advocacy group had broadcasted the incident on a national scale, making it known to mainstream media and other public figures and groups.

     "Man responsible for kicking out handicapped patron out of library"

     "Inhumane act of atrocity took place in computer lab"

     "Woman with down syndrome abused for being mentally challenged"

     "Insensitive bigot claims superiority over the disabled"

     "Hate crime?  We think so!"

     Such headlines had become such a ubiquitous sight that many had seen and vilified this young man as he walked the streets, entered various establishments, and even published his articles.  Words of anger and retribution lashed the back of this man wherever he was, and was not given a day of mercy to rest from what he had done.  Abuse, robbery, and shame had followed him like a shadow, wherever he was to be seen.  His magazine organization had fired him because of his image.  He was evicted from his apartment because of his inability to pay rent.  He couldn't get another job because his name was so notorious among the public opinion.

     The court date was coming in a few weeks.  This man, homeless and without support, now wandered the streets of the city slums, living off of the blind charity of the church soup kitchens.  With what little money he could muster up, the young man had gone to a local pawn shop and put in all that he had to purchase a cold, long barrel-- trigger attached.  He had put in another couple of dollars to buy five red, cylindrical tubes, brass for its base.

     In a location far from the incivility and vile mouths of man, he faced a brick wall-- a racing river right behind him, running from an impending storm-- and uttered a last, desperate prayer.  He picks up the cold steel of the metal-and-wood salvation and inserts the red cylinder in a hole at its side.  With a quiet-as-possible click, the cylinder goes deeper into the barrel.  The shiny, barren emptiness is pointed into the young man's mouth.  As he closes his eyes and voices a final good-bye, he swallows the red pill-- never again to see the remnants of his mind and his soul again.  He was set free from the world, its torment now at ease.

     "Man's guilt gets the best of him"

     "An unsung death of a cruel and vicious man"

     "Good riddance"