Going veggie - Were humans meant to eat meat?

Recent concerns about carbon emissions include the massive amount of methane produced by animals, of which there are several billion more than originally intended, due to many humans’ insatiable desire for meat. This article looks at the original diet intended for both humans and animals and will no doubt be good news for vegetarians and animal lovers alike.

      I must confess, I do like bacon. Not as enthusiastically, as some, I might add, and I’m rapidly fancying that rack of spare ribs a lot less than I used to, but I've certainly eaten my pound of flesh. So the following statement is not a pious, self-righteous attack on carnivores but an honest presentation of the facts:

       Humans were not designed to eat meat.  

       If, like me, you believe in creation you also have to believe God's words to Adam in Genesis chapter 1:29*. "Here I have given to you every seed-bearing plant that is on the earth and every tree with seed-bearing fruit."

       It doesn't end there. According to Genesis 1:30, even animals were vegetarian: "Let them serve as food to you. And to every wild animal of the earth and t every flying creature of the heavens and to everything moving on the earth in which there is life, I have given all green vegetation for food."

       Of course, we all know this idyll didn't last. Adam and Eve turned away from God and were turfed out of Eden to eat bread in the sweat of their faces until they returned to the ground (Genesis 3:19). The treacherous twosome lost their wonderful privilege of filling the earth with their perfect children, caring for the animals and turning the rest of the earth into a paradise.

       Even so, meat was not on the menu until after the flood+ when God gave Noah and his descendants permission to eat flesh. (Genesis 9:3,4) No doubt in consideration of the animals, he instilled in them a fear of humans instead of the trust they had enjoyed originally. (Genesis 9:2)

      The good news for animal lovers is that meat eating may one day be abolished. Certainly, animals in the new earth will be well cared for.  When the catastrophic results of Adam's rebellion are reversed, all living things will perhaps return to their original diet of seed-bearing fruit and vegetables, in line with Isaiah chapter 11:6-9: "The cow and the bear will feed together, and their young will lie down together. The lion will eat straw like the bull." 

 

* New World Translation

+ Putting life into words: Was there really a global flood? (jacybrean.blogspot.com)

 

 

The Trees Have Ears

So what do we do now?" Alice wondered. Miles frowned and they both fell silent again, their spirits sinking. Neither had a clue what course to take next. "The fire's going out," Alice remarked gloomily.

Then Miles had an idea. "I know!" he cried and leapt to his feet. Alice glanced up at him hopefully. "We can strip the bark from the trees! That'll save us having to go off looking for logs again."

"Is that the best you can think of?" snapped Alice. But Miles was too busy to listen. He opened his Swiss army knife Uncle Jeff had given him and began hacking into a nearby tree when......

There was a spine-chilling, piercing, blood-curdling scream!

The children shook with renewed terror. "What's that?" cried Alice.

"It's ME!" came a booming disembodied voice "I'm bleeding!"

"Who are you?" yelled Miles.

"I'm Larch," was the answer, and a man's head suddenly appeared from the high branches of the tree which Miles had started to strip. "When you cut me with a knife, I scream!" 

"I'm Beech," another head popped down from the tree," and if you steal my bark, I'll die!"

"And I'm Horse" said yet another head, "and if you hurt me, I will whinny and kick and bite you - hard!"

All at once, dozens of people started jumping out from all over the place; down from the trees and out from the enormous ferns that fringed the forest. At first, it was almost impossible to distinguish men from the women, as they all sported beads and smocks and dreadlocks, and their faces were smeared with greeny-brown gunge, and their makeshift clothes, dyed to blend into their surroundings, were decorated with assorted leaves and feathers.

Extract from "Flight from Fernilee"

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flight-Fernilee-Jacy-Brean/dp/1086551907

https://www.amazon.com/Flight-Fernilee-Jacy-Brean/dp/1086551907/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=flight+from+fernilee&qid=1632812832&sr=8-1

A perilous journey to Brindisi

A few years ago, my daughter went to Brindisi, a beautiful coastal town on the heel of Italy and a destination for thousands of migrants from north Africa and the middle east. Some of the migrants she met had left their homes for economic reasons, often sponsored by entire villages to travel to Europe where they imagined the streets would be paved with gold. Others were escaping from wars, famine and oppression, desperate people who felt they had no future in the country of their birth. 

Because of the heat, many migrants would escape the refuge centres, spending their days by cooling fountains in Brindisi's town square.  This is where my daughter talked to many of the travellers, some of whom had suffered greatly in their quest for the west.

No matter where they came from, they were forced to travel through Libya, a perilous journey. Not only were they prey to traffickers, but also to kidnappers, rapists, and crooked militia. Some unfortunate travellers were badly beaten and even killed if  a ransom couldn't be paid.

One man told a heartbreaking story. He began his journey with his wife and child who were both kidnapped and held to ransom. Having managed to secure their release, the family reached the coast where a rubber boat was waiting to ferry them to Italy, but there was only room for two of them, so the man stayed behind, waiting for another vessel. This second boat reached Brindisi safely. The first boat didn't. The man's family drowned.

Other migrants also suffered harrowing experiences, so much so, that on reaching their destination, and despite finding work as planned, they pleaded with the family and friends they'd left behind not to follow their example. No amount of prosperity was worth the dangers and unimaginable cruelty they had faced.

During her stay, my daughter heard many such stories, shattering her faith in humanity and her belief that most people in the world are basically good. Yet, one thing impressed her, something every migrant she met held in common.

Not one of them blamed God.

A perfect beach for holidaymakers

One of the camps for migrants

Brindisi at night

Flight from Fernilee - The First Escape

Extract: Miles and his sister Alice are being hunted by sinister agents. But why? What could MI6 or the CIA possibly want with ordinary kids like them?

 "Okay, Griswold," said his companion. Once his superior was out of sight, Skinner sat down on the trunk. He was easily the biggest of the men with an unbelievably wide bottom, and, as soon as he made contact with the fallen tree, it creaked ominously. All Miles and Alice could do was pray their hiding place would hold up under the strain. Moments later and to their great relief, they heard another shout.

"Oi! Skinner! Get off your fat behind and start searching! The boss ain't moving 'til we catch those brats!"

Skinner leapt up, but in doing so, the weight of his bottom dislodged the tree which jolted into motion and began to roll downhill - slowly at first, then gathering speed, flattening everything in its path as the hill dropped perilously towards the river that gushed through the gully below. Miles and Alice held their breath, unable to scream, helpless and stiff with terror. Being so tightly packed into the trunk helped brace their bodies against much of the impact, but it was still the most terrifying white-knuckle ride they‘d ever experienced!   

"This isn't doing my stomach any good at all" Miles thought to himself, as the hollow log continued to roll faster and faster downhill, stopping only when eventually, it hit the river with a tremendous splash. Instead of being spun head over heels, the children now felt themselves being thrust from side to side as the current swept them along. Miles could hear Alice hyperventilating and instinctively reached out a hand. "It's alright now," he said. At least they were safe from the men who, convinced their prey were still hiding in the wood, found sticks to probe the foliage inch by inch. Sometime later, Griswold had another bright idea. "Set fire to the place!" he yelled. "We'll smoke the beggars out!" But by this time, Miles and Alice were speeding down the river.

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flight-Fernilee-Jacy-Brean/dp/1086551907

US: https://www.amazon.com/Flight-Fernilee-Jacy-Brean-ebook/dp/B07K24G3GJ

 

The Felling of Fernilee

Destruction of one of High Peak's most glorious forests is a sad reminder that sometimes life can mirror art.

'Flight from Fernilee' features a sinister plot to take over the earth by infecting all plant life not controlled by the evil Elymas and his Global Order Brotherhood.  It's a matter of 'Rule or Ruin' - but pure fantasy, or so I thought. When drafting my story 20 years ago, never would I have guessed that the REAL Fernilee, which fringed our local reservoir so beautifully, would be struck by a devastating disease called Phytophthora Ramorum, resulting in most of its trees being chopped down.* 

Visiting the area for the first time since Fernilee's footpaths were closed for the felling, my daughter and I were shocked and deeply upset to see our favourite woodland walk virtually desolate!

Here's hoping the rest of the forests on this planet avoid the same fate!

* https://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/frequently-asked-questions/tree-felling-in-the-goyt-valleyphytophera

Before and after shots of Fernilee

 

 

Pontius Pilate, Priests and Politics

Every year it gets to me.

At Nisan 14, when Christians worldwide gather to commemorate Jesus' death, they will revisit his last supper, the agony in the garden of Gethsemane, the betrayal, his arrest, an illegal trial held secretly by religious leaders in the middle of the night and his appearance before Pontius Pilate.

And this is when the question arises yet again:

Why did Pilate wash his hands? 

The Roman governor knew the prisoner was innocent and he had already been warned by his wife to “have nothing to do with that righteous man” after her disturbing dream. Furthermore, he clearly recognised the hypocrisy and lies of Jesus' accusers who, despite the lack of evidence, hauled him before the unfortunate official in the middle of the night.

Instead of pitting Jesus against Barabbas for the crowd to choose which of them should die, or trying to appease the troublesome priests by having Jesus whipped, beaten and humiliated, why didn’t Pilate set Jesus free?

Now at last, I think I know the answer. It relates to a situation that began in Rome before Jesus was born; one that likely weighed against him in 33 C.E.

The knives came out

It was the Ides of March, 44 B.C.E. Julius Caesar was attending a meeting of the Senate at the Theatre of Pompey in Rome, when suddenly the knives came out.  Concerned that Caesar’s unprecedented power was undermining the Republic, over 60 senators had conspired to assassinate him, presenting the murder as tyrannicide. Chief amongst them were Marcus Brutus, Decimus Brutus and Gaius Cassius whose treachery led to Caesar being stabbed 23 times and the ultimate end of the Republic.

“Better a dead god than a live tyrant.”

No doubt to appease the people, in 42 B.C.E, Caesar was deified to Divus Iulius – so creating a godship for all future Emperors of Rome, beginning with his great-nephew and adopted son, Gaius Octavius Augustus. Octavius now became Divi Filius – “Son of the Divine” or “Son of God”, a title passed onto to his successor - Tiberius Claudius Nero.

"You are not a friend of Caesar!"

And herein lay the problem for Pontius Pilate. Tiberius was a brutal ruler; he did not tolerate rivals and thought nothing of throwing traitors (real or imagined) down the incredibly steep steps of the Temple of Jupiter where, according to historian Suetonius, “not a day passed without an execution.” High ranking officials, such as Roman Governors, got the 5-star treatment: A summons to the emperor’s cliffside retreat in Capri where they'd be toppled over the edge for any trace of treason!

No wonder Pilate was fearful; a factor cleverly exploited by the Jewish leaders, and one which doubtless contributed to his famous handwashing scene when Jesus – the true “Son of God” - appeared before him.

“If you release this man, you are not a friend of Caesar!” was the cry.

And Jesus’ fate was sealed.

See also:

Putting life into words: Seditious? The Lord's Prayer? (jacybrean.blogspot.com)

     

 

  

Seditious? The Lord's Prayer?

Since Jesus instituted the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father) almost 2,000 years ago, it has been recited by billions of people – sadly, often parrot-fashion with few supplicants really having grasped what this prayer means or how courageous early Christians were to adopt it. The Roman Empire which ruled when Christ walked the earth would surely have viewed it as seditious, right from its opening address: 

"Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified.” 

Caesar Augustus, who was in power when Jesus was born, was known as Augusto Patri Patrae, marking his role as Father of the Fatherland and, by extension, the entire Roman Empire including Judea and Jerusalem. Augustus was not his given name but a religious title that set him apart as someone exalted and sacred....’Sanctified’.

Jesus was certainly brave in his choice of language and never held back from speaking the truth. The next thing he asked his followers to pray for was even more contentious: 

“Let your Kingdom come.” 

Rome owned the entire ocean basin of the Mediterranean, known as Mare Nostrum - ‘Our Sea’ - and no one could forget it, largely thanks to the Empire’s incredible road network and an extremely clever propaganda campaign. Travellers couldn’t fail to realise who was responsible for this amazing step forward in human history. 

In the northern part of Rome is a heap of bricks, all that now remains of a golden milestone, erected to mark Point Zero where all roads would lead. Throughout the Empire, every mile of road had a similar marker providing 4 pieces of information: The name of the ruling Caesar; the distance from the last town; the distance to the next town; and the distance from the golden milestone in Rome. These inscriptions reinforced a clear message to allcomers - “We own you now!” 

“Give us our bread for this day.” 

All Christians are familiar with the miraculous feeding of the 5,000, reinforcing God and Jesus' roles as the ultimate providers. Feeding a great crowd from just 5 loaves and 2 fish eclipsed Rome’s initiative for its 55,000 citizens - free bread. Although Ceres was the official goddess of grain, it was the goddess Annona who got the credit, personifying the Emperor’s ability to supply food to the people. The bread was not particularly good - so gritty and sandy that it filed down the teeth of consumers - and there was no fish with it, but a free loaf every day was not to be sneezed at. Every April during seeding, the people showed their gratitude with a feast to the ‘Dole Annona’. 

Not everything ran smoothly, however. Mark Antony and Augustus tried to block the Dole Annona when merchants withheld grain from the emperor to create a shortage and inflate the price. Nothing has changed!

“Forgive us our debts.”

Now this was a real red light for anyone in Rome, especially at the temple of Mars Ultor. Ancient Rome had a pantheon of gods, adopting new foreign deities of captured tribes, yet there were 12 main gods – 6 male, 6 female. In Jesus’ day, Mars was a big wheel, outranked only by Jupiter, the big Daddy of them all. Mars was the father of Romulus, the Father of Rome and he had a planet named after him, because it was red – a colour that suited this angry god of war. From Mars we also get the month of March, martial law, martial arts, Field Marshalls, and the name Mark. In ancient times, Mars was depicted with a helmet/mask that strapped under the chin and sported wings of an eagle, the symbol of Rome – headgear remarkably like that worn by Marvel’s Captain America. Priests from the temple of Mars blessed all the weapons of war – a rite still practiced today.

Ultor means Avenger, an appropriate title, as Romans, far from being forgivers, were vengeful and fierce. In fact, they had a day dedicated to vengeance – the Ides of March (15th).  Not only was this an international day to Mars, but also the first day of debt collection. It was around this time of year, after the Passover, that Jesus introduced his model prayer, which put him in Jerusalem during or just after the Day of Vengeance.  

“Do not bring us into temptation.”

With 150 holy days each year, Romans had many temptations - overeating, over drinking and whatever other indulgences appealed at the time. This made life difficult for early Christians who were viewed as ‘man haters’ for not joining in these idolatrous revelries! 

Whatever resonance the Lord’s Prayer has today, it certainly addressed some of the big issues of the day and highlights Jesus' courage and that of his disciples in making it known.

Many thanks to researcher Jemison Jepson for his help with this article.

  

Sister Prism takes on Leviathan - Extract

                  Wisteria screamed as the crocodile scrambled over the edge of the pit and began chasing her round the hall. The rest of the nunjas, including Prism, fled towards the doors, slipping and sliding as they tried to elbow each other out of the way. First to the main door was Prism, of course, but when she twisted the handle, nothing happened. It was locked! She shrieked and immediately threw herself towards the back door at the other end of the hall, skidding as she went.

"That's right, Wisteria!" she cried, "Distract him!"

“I’m doing my best, Sister Prism!”  Wisteria certainly was! Running, leaping, dodging, weaving – anything to keep away from the crocodile’s jaws.

At the back door, Prism pulled the others out of her path and tried the handle. Locked!

She growled, more from rage than terror, then raced to where the so-called 'Divinity' stood in isolated splendour. She pulled it from its base and used it as a battering ram, charging again and again at the door, howling with frustration. But it was no use, the door wouldn't budge. Not an inch. All Prism and her fellow nunjas achieved were strained biceps and a few scratches on the woodwork. By now, the withdrawal symptoms were extremely unpleasant; Prism was so desperate for a brew, she was prepared to go to any lengths to get it. 

"Help! Help!" Wisteria cried, frantically zigzagging round the floor at 90 miles an hour to escape the crocodile.

"Aaaaaaarrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhh!" The bone piercing war cry came from Prism who, armed with her precious divinity, charged at the beast, her skirts flying. Whether disturbed by the noise or petrified at the sheer sight of this hellish being, Leviathan stopped chasing Wisteria and was knocked senseless by a zinging blow to the head.

"Is that any way to treat a poor dumb animal!?" Unnoticed by the nunjas, Gordon had climbed out of the pit and was standing with his rope in his hand.

"Well, well!" exclaimed Prism. "Just look what's crawled from the sewers! Get him, Sisters!"

'Flight from Fernilee' is available from Amazon and Smashword

Saints - should we pray to them?

The 'veneration' and proposed canonisation of Elizabeth Prout (aka Mother Mary Joseph), one of the the latest in a long line of people granted this privilege by Pope Francis - seems an appropriate time to explore ‘sainthood'.

According to the Tridentine profession of faith, saints are now (it is believed) living with Jesus in heaven and can be invoked as an intercessor between communicants and God, while their relics and images are venerated.

One case in point is the big toe of St Peter’s statue in Rome’s Basilica. Next to the papal ring, it is arguably Christendom’s most ‘kissable’ item, with millions bowing down to press their lips against it as they make their petitions! This toe-curling practice has not only added a shine to Peter’s foot but has doubtless spread many a tummy-bug to hapless worshipers!

Saints proliferate. There’s a saint for every occasion and activity you can think of. One of my favourites used to be St Genesius, patron saint of actors, lawyers, clowns, comedians, converts, dancers, musicians, printers, stenographers and victims of torture! A former thespian, he used the stage in ancient Rome to mock Christianity - until experiencing a sudden conversion mid-performance! I dare say many luvvies (who, with the possible exception of Ricky Gervais, are notoriously superstitious!) have ‘invoked’ Genesius’ help before that nerve-racking first night. Victims of torture indeed!

So why do we have saints? The answer lies with the Emperor Constantine, who supposedly converted to Christianity in the 4th century. With previous Roman Emperors having tried and failed to contain this vibrant new religion, Constantine used a subtler approach: He simply fused Jesus’ pure teachings with Rome’s polluting pagan beliefs and practices.

Believing Jesus to be the only mediator between God and humans (1 Tim 2:5, Matt. 6:9; John 14:6, 14), genuine Christians never prayed through other intercessors, nor does scripture allow prayer to be addressed to anyone except God Almighty to whom Jesus directed his own prayers, telling his followers to do the same.

Which left Constantine with a dilemma. If Christians worshiped and prayed to only one God - whom nobody could see - what would happen to the thousands of pagan gods? Were they to be made redundant? Would silversmiths and image makers lose their livelihoods?

The solution was to re-invent Rome’s existing deities with Christians and market them as ‘Saints’. Foremost to undergo this marketing ploy was Apollo who, with his handsome features, gold halo and sun-god attributes, made a very acceptable Christ! Jesus’ earthly mother Mary became a substitute for Juno, mother of the gods and wife of Jupiter. And there have been countless other deities now posing as saints under different names.

This tweak in understanding paved the way for the Vatican to fill its coffers, as members of the flock were encouraged to buy statues, icons and various relics of their favourite saint, totally ignoring the commandment: "You must not have any other gods besides me....You must not make for yourself a carved image...you must not bow down to them nor be enticed to serve them, for I, Jehovah your God, am a God who requires exclusive devotion." (Exodus 20:3-5)

Ninja Nuns and Nunjas

Extract from Flight from Fernilee

“One by one, they approached the golden dragon, raised their hands above their head and, with clenched fists, clicked both wrists together by way of a salute. The last to do so was Sister Prism who then clapped her hands as a signal for the chanting to stop, opened her arms wide and began to address the image. 

"Oh, mighty Babel! We come to offer our praise. Grant us power for the task you set before us."

"Power be upon us," murmured the rest of the women. Sister Prism turned to the congregation and announced, "Let our devotions begin!"

Suddenly, the whole atmosphere changed from one of hushed reverence to charged energy. Most of the Nunjas formed a circle which two of them entered. This couple bowed to each other, held up their staffs in a ritualistic salute and then, accompanied by ear-splitting shrieks, threw themselves into a frenzied bout of gravity-defying leaps, kicks and parries, using their staffs, their agility, and even their feet to gain an advantage over their partner. It was a truly mesmerising display, both women swirling and somersaulting with grace. Even their frumpy frocks seemed elegant, transformed to the exotic robes of Samurai warriors. 

"Wow!" exclaimed Joe. "They're like Ninjas!" 

"That's right!" Odi replied. "Ninja nuns! Nunjas! Just look at them go!" And he chuckled to himself, enjoying the display. Joe, however, felt more fear than at any time since his capture. It wasn't so much the Kung Fu that disturbed him, although the sight of shrieking women hurling themselves around was bad enough. No, it was the image of the dragon. His skin crawled whenever he looked at it. How he wished he could go home.

Worse was to come, however. Sister Prism had taken to the floor and her fellow nunjas stopped their own activities to watch in awed silence. After a series of amazing feats, she was halfway through a stunning mid-air pirouette when Odi, bloated from his recent gorging in the larder, burped. 

Loudly."

US:   

https://www.amazon.com/Flight-Fernilee-Jacy-Brean-ebook/dp/B07K24G3GJ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Flight+from+fernilee&qid=1609152010&sr=8-1

UK:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flight-Fernilee-Jacy-Brean/dp/1086551907/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Flight+from+fernilee&qid=1609152215&sr=8-1

Nature or Neutering

Ok, in the overall scheme of things, a cat's castration is not very high on the scale of earth-shattering events. Unless you're a cat, of course. Or its owner.

My family have always had cats. Dogs too, but they generally escape the enforced neutering ritual imposed on the feline species. So this blog is about my cat who, having played innocently enough with the cats  next-door for most of his young life, had begun to show amorous inclinations. It was obviously time to get him "done". 

This assumption that "getting done" was the done thing was quite a dilemma for me. My previous cat had been female and the thought of her having kittens was a definite no-no. I never stopped to consider whether she had the right to bear young. In fact, she-cats who have more than one unplanned litter are viewed as being abused. The male, however, is somehow expected to spread his seed and emasculation seems a drastic way to control him. Cruel and unnatural.

But is that because we tend to humanise animals? To credit them with reasoning way beyond their prospects. After all, a male cat is unlikely to find a mate for life; to get married and raise a family. Toms are led by instinct, by the scent of a female on heat that is becoming rarer and  increasingly difficult to track.    

A man I knew who was irresistibly drawn to women once compared his libido to a raging animal to which he was chained. A passing glance from a member of the fairer sex was enough to trigger the beast. Fortunately, this very intelligent man was (usually) able to control his urges, to reason things out. "The wife wouldn't like it" or "I haven't the time/money/energy to pursue her, and anyway I might catch Covid." Nicely under control, as expected from a sentient being who doesn't want to get arrested. 

Humans have a choice.

It's not the same with cats. All it takes is a whiff of a fertile female and that's it. Common sense out of the window, on the trail no matter how far. She doesn't even have to be good-looking! A tom cat will brave almost anything for a one-night stand; traffic, razor wire, rival males and irate gardeners. He may get lost, run over or run out of town. But so strong is his urge to mate, he really doesn't care.  

So, it's off to the vets. 

https://www.cats.org.uk/tenterden/feature-pages/why-neuter-your-cp

 

Time off Purgatory for following Pope Francis

       Reading this, I could hardly believe my eyes! Is the Roman Catholic Church STILL holding onto this medieval superstition?

"In the final analysis, the Catholic doctrine on purgatory is based on tradition, not Sacred Scripture” – New Catholic Encylopedia

       Not quite as bad as hell, an everlasting place of excruciating torment for the wicked and anyone guilty of mortal sin during their lifetime, purgatory is a halfway house for people who commit venial sins; people who, with sufficient prayers, masses, indulgences and, most important, the funds to pay the priests for all these vital little extras, may at some unspecified time in the future be paroled. Now it seems pressing the ‘Follow’ button on @Pontifex entitles you to extra time out from the fiery furnace. Heaven knows how many days you earn for a retweet or favourite, but I imagine the Pope will be sending out vouchers for every Extreme-unction - bringing centuries of extortion and fear-mongering bang up to date!

       But is there any basis for believing in Hell, Purgatory, or indeed the ‘after life’? In order to make the answers, we first need to trace the source of such beliefs, to find out whether there is any foundation for them. 

“The …..common view holds that ……..there is some positive 
punishment…..In the Latin Church it has been generally maintained that this pain is imposed through real fire.” – New Catholic Enyclopedia

        Cue Ancient Babylon, home of Nimrod and many uncanny practices still in use today. Fortune-telling, omen-spotting, entrail-reading, runes, star-gazing and communing with the dead all have their roots in this magic-obsessed city. Incidentally, Babylon also invented the fiscal system, which, considering recent history, some may regard as the ultimate nightmare!

        Ironically, atheists’ refusal to believe in a separate, invisible soul is backed up by scripture.  Here, death is clearly shown to be a state of total unconsciousness, a dreamless sleep from which, according to several Bible verses (particularly the Lazarus account) people will ‘awake’ to a physical resurrection when paradise is restored on earth.

“There is no dichotomy [division] of body and soul in the O[ld] T[estament]….The term nepeš [ne’phesh], though translated by our word soul, never means soul as distinct from the body or the individual person….The term [psy-khe’] is the N[ew] T[estament] word corresponding with nepeš. It can mean the principle of life, life itself, or the living being.” – New Catholic Enyclopedia

        The Mosaic Law did not allow for any form of spiritism whatsoever - in fact it was forbidden on pain of death for the nation of Israel - and it wasn’t until Greece began to stride the world stage that afterlife philosophies began to take root.

        In the fourth century CE, the Roman Emperor Constantine, unable to quell the rise of Christianity by other means and determined to unite his empire, cunningly  infused original gospel teachings with pagan beliefs such as the immortality of the soul, the trinity doctrine,  and – that most terrifying concept of all – eternal hellfire! The Biblical word rendered as ‘hell’ in many versions simply means ‘grave’ or  ‘death’. (Hebrew - sheol; Greek - Hades)

“The belief that the soul continues its existence after the dissolution of the body is a matter of philosophical or theological speculation rather than of simple faith, and is accordingly nowhere expressly taught in Holy Scripture.” – The Jewish Enyclopedia

        Constantine’s ‘miraculous conversion’ marked the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire from which the rest of Christendom developed, combining Bible accounts with Babylonish rites and practices while keeping generations of adherents in ignorance. The Dark Ages had truly begun and the Bible was unavailable to the majority of people until the 16^th century when William Tyndale translated the Bible from the Latin Vulgate into English. His aim - for ‘even a plowboy’ to understand scripture - was not appreciated by the church; hardly surprising as, from the Vatican to house churches, Christendom has done more than any other organisation to promote spiritistic practices. According to one spiritualist I met some years ago, “the church already preaches life after death – all mediums do is prove it!”

       What harm does it do? Well, for one thing, the whole concept of life after death is a cruel deception, especially for people who have lost a loved one. Believing they can communicate through a spiritualist medium can lead to all kinds of fraud and extortion; even if the medium is basically well-meaning, it can still open the floodgates to a very dangerous world. 

       As for the churches, keeping the flocks in fear of everlasting torture has proved very lucrative, with masses for the dead, plenary indulgences, prayers and various fetishes swelling their coffers over centuries. 

 “….The nether world…..is pictured as a place full of horrors, and is presided over by gods and demons of great strength and fierceness.” – The Religion of Babylonia and Assyria, Boston, 1998, Morris Jastrow, Jr)

              But the worst sin to my mind is the reproach beliefs such as hellfire and purgatory create towards the Creator. Would a loving Father, even a sinful human one, hold a child against a fire until he screamed in agony? Is being damned to everlasting torture even just for the amount of sinning humans can fit into their three-score years and ten?

        I doubt it. 

 

 

Ghosts, zombies, vampires....Is there life after death?

        With an unprecedented fascination for the occult over the last few years, spiritistic themes are providing juicy pickings for the film industry. Well, box office takings speak for themselves.  

       But is there any basis for believing in the ‘undead’ or the ‘after life’? Are films that feature spiritism in its myriad forms suitable for the young and impressionable? In order to find the answers, we first need to trace the source of such beliefs, to find out whether there is any foundation for them.

       Cue Ancient Babylon, home of Nimrod and many uncanny practices still in use today. Fortune-telling, omen-spotting, entrail-reading, runes, star-gazing and communing with the dead all have their roots in this magic-obsessed city. (Incidentally, Babylon also invented the fiscal system, which, considering recent history, some may regard as the ultimate nightmare!)

       Ironically, atheists’ refusal to believe in a separate, invisible soul is backed up by scripture.  Here, death is clearly shown to be a state of total unconsciousness, a dreamless sleep from which, according to several Bible verses (particularly the Lazarus account) people will ‘awake’ to a physical resurrection when paradise is restored on earth.

       The Mosaic Law did not allow for any form of spiritism whatsoever - in fact it was forbidden on pain of death for the nation of Israel - and it wasn’t until Greece began to stride the world stage that afterlife philosophies began to take root. 

       Unbelievably, considering their supposed Christan roots and reliance on the Bible, churches of every denomination have espoused and continue to promote the false teaching of a separate, immortal soul. This is in fact one of the greatest conspiracy against true teaching that has ever existed - Satan's original lie to Eve in the garden of Eden. (Gen 3:1-5)  

       In the fourth century CE, the Roman Emperor Constantine, unable to quell the rise of Christianity by other means and determined to unite his empire, cunningly  infused original gospel teachings with pagan beliefs such as the immortality of the soul, the trinity doctrine,  and – that most terrifying concept of all – eternal hellfire!+  

       Constantine’s ‘miraculous conversion’ marked the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire from which the rest of Christendom developed, combining Bible accounts with Babylonish rites and practices while keeping generations of adherents in ignorance. The Dark Ages had truly begun; and the Bible was unavailable to the majority of people until the 16^th century when William Tyndale translated the Bible from the Latin Vulgate into English. 

       Tyndale's aim - for ‘even a plowboy’ to understand scripture - was not appreciated by the church; hardly surprising as, from the Vatican to house churches, Christendom has done more than any other organisation to promote spiritistic practices. According to one spiritualist I met some years ago, “the church already preaches life after death – all mediums do is prove it!”

       What harm does it do? Well, for one thing, the whole concept of life after death is a cruel deception, especially for people who have lost a loved one. Believing they can communicate through a spiritualist medium can lead to all kinds of fraud and extortion; even if the medium is basically well-meaning, it can still open the floodgates to a very dangerous world.

       One particular form of spiritism – now available as a game! – is the Ouija board, regarded by many as a bit of harmless fun. Others, however, no longer share that view. While at university, John*, a relative of mine, was persuaded to attend several Ouija board séances by a neighbouring couple. At first, the spirit seemed friendly and jovial but over several weeks, it became more sinister, prompting John to avoid these sessions. He was reminded of them sometime later when watching a movie about demon possession: “The first scene showed people playing with a Ouija board,” he explains, “What really scared me was how closely the spirit portrayed in the film mirrored the one conjured up by the couple at my student digs! Afterwards, I couldn’t sleep for weeks thinking how close I’d come to having the same horrific experiences.  There’s no doubt the movie played on my mind and had a very negative, frightening effect.”

       Such negative feelings are common in those who dabble with spiritism, sometimes even resulting in serious mental illness as the unwary are drawn into darker and darker practices. (Apparently, John’s former friends eventually joined a coven).

       Fascinated with fortune-telling, Mary* began visiting a psychic to gain insight into the future. Dissatisfied with her safe but dull husband, she believed the psychic’s prediction that a special man would into her life – prompting her into a divorce, a disastrous love affair and a life of poverty for herself and two children. It was only after a particularly harrowing session to which she’d been invited that she finally came to her senses, realising how deep her obsession with the occult had become.

       Others are not so fortunate, developing paranoia or psychotic symptoms, hearing voices, and suffering night terrors with horrific dreams. In many countries, the occult is particularly rife with of voodoo priests and witches threatening curses or spells in order to bend others to their will. Fear of vengeful spirits has caused many to be forced into drugs, slavery and prostitution.

       So much suffering could be so easily avoided if only people knew the truth. That’s why care should be taken with the kind of entertainment we choose. If it promotes spiritism, it could create a chink for unwelcome and unwholesome forces.

*Not their real names

+The Biblical word rendered as ‘hell’ in many versions simply means ‘grave’ or  ‘death’. (Hebrew - sheol; Greek - Hades)

http://books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_Two_Babylons.html?id=OD_ATrB-g2gC&redir_esc=y

   

Hang-gliding - Hitting the Heights in the Peak

“Joe and the others held their breath, awaiting their awful fate but, suddenly, from out of the sky, four great shadows appeared, each with ten-foot wings. One by one, they whooshed down from above, snatched a child from the enemy's claws and ascended sharply back into the air. The women, now a hundred feet below, yelped with frustration, like hyenas cheated of their prey.”  - Extract from Flight from Fernilee.*

      Are they planes? Are they prehistoric birds? No, they’re hang-gliders, soaring into the skies like brightly-coloured and highly adventurous eagles.  Considered by enthusiasts to be the most demanding, yet exhilarating, of all free flight experiences, hang-gliding provides a wider scope than para-gliding, as pilots can climb faster and more freely in varying winds and weather conditions. Which no doubt explains why this thrilling activity is so popular in the Derbyshire Peak, where Pennines to the east and Welsh hills to the west create a climate as hard to predict as the next Derby winner.

      Take a hike up Mam Tor near Castleton on a bright, breezy day and you’re likely to see hang-gliders preparing for flight  -  that’s if they’re not too out-of-breath from hauling their gear up to the summit! Quite often, these intrepid birdmen and women seem to spend ages not really doing very much, but they’re actually waiting for the ideal conditions in which to take off, no doubt gauging the weather by means of a wind sock. Pilots also need to assess any hazards in the area and ensure maximum safety for themselves and others. 

      Accidents do happen, although these usually involve unqualified pilots who, having acquired the equipment, believe all they have to do is take a running jump from the nearest hilltop. Fortunately, most hang gliders have been thoroughly trained by a British Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association (BHPA) registered school, a course that normally takes about 10 days. Pupils learn how inspect their kit and assemble it safely, to assess the dangers, to read the weather, to take off and to land properly – ideally on their feet. However, in case landings go wrong, trainees also learn how to roll to minimise injuries. 

       When learning to fly, some gliders are ‘aero towed’, or hitched by winches to microlights, which pull them into the air. According to Airways Airsports, this is the easiest way to get airborne as it cuts out all the hassle of hill-climbing over and over again just to gain a few seconds of flight. Airways Airsports’ professional team - including three-times World Champion Judy Leden MBE and World record holder Chris Dawes -  provides tandem hang-gliding aerotow tuition for beginners, helping them spread their wings with 20-30 minutes in the air from their very first lesson. 

       Whether they could swoop down and rescue four adolescents and one hairy shot-putting Scotsman from the ground is open to debate but, for those who know what they’re doing, it’s an exhilarating experience like no other.

*Flight from Fernilee is available from Amazon and Smashwords

Christians in Ancient Rome - Why were they hated?

Child sacrifice, ritual drinking of human blood, sedition, brainwashing, breaking up families, hatred of men, intolerance...the list continues.

A satanic cult? The next horror movie? No, the above accusations were levelled against early Christians whom Jesus warned would be hated. Why? "Because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you." (John 15:9)

This hatred soon became manifest: Due to false allegations by religious leaders, Jesus was condemned to a tortuous, humiliating death; his followers were hounded and lies and persecution have persisted against them ever since. Here are a few examples of the difficulties Christians faced in the 1st and 2nd centuries CE.

Child sacrifice

 In Ancient Rome, detractors of this new religion - originally known as The Way - accused its followers of murdering children, despite the Christians' firm stand against abortion, a common practice at the time. And, ignoring the scriptural command to 'abstain from blood', enemies tried to force Christians to eat blood sausage while still alleging children's blood was consumed at Christian meetings - blissfully unaware of the obvious contradictions!

Hostile to the State

Far from conducting such monstrous practices, early Christians tried to live peaceably with their neighbours as far as their Godly principles would allow. Not an easy task, as the world at the time was grossly immoral and steeped in Greco-Roman idolatry, which included Emperor worship and presented severe problems for Christ's followers. Actually, Rome had no problem with new beliefs, even adopting foreign gods they took a shine to. However, the State's pagan religion was always expected to come first and people who rejected such worship - either Caesar or other deities - were declared as atheists, hostile to the State.

Oxford professor E.G. Hardy referred to Tertullian, who he claimed, "enumerates many things which were impossible for a conscientious Christian, as involving idolatry: e.g. oath usual at contracts; the illumination of doors at festivals, etc.; all Pagan religious ceremonies; the games and the circus; the profession of teaching secular [heathen classical] literature; military service; public offices." - Christianity and the Roman Government.

French Catholic author A. Hamman writes: "It was impossible to take a step without encountering a divinity. The Christian's position brought him daily problems; he lived on the edge of society...He faced recurring problems in the home, in the streets, at the market...in the street, whether a Roman citizen or not, a Christian should bare his head when passing a temple or statue. How could he refrain from doing so without arousing suspicion, yet how could he comply without committing an act of allegiance? If he was in business and needed to borrow money, he had to swear to the moneylender in the name of the gods...If he accepted public office, he was expected to offer a sacrifice. If enlisted, how could he avoid taking the oath and participating in the rites of military service?" - La vie quotidienne des premiers chretiens (Daily Life Among the Early Christians, 95-197 C.E.)

Spoken against everywhere

While the apostle Paul was awaiting trial in Rome - then under Emperor Nero - prominent Jews said of Christians: "Truly as regards this sect it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against." (Acts 28:22) Historians and religious scholars can certainly bear this out.

E.W. Barnes writes: "In its early authoritative documents, the Christian movement is represented as essentially moral and law-abiding. Its members desired to be good citizens and loyal subjects. They shunned the failings and vices of paganism. In private life, they sought to be peaceful neighbours and trustworthy friends. They were taught to be sober, industrious and clean-living. Amid prevailing corruption and licentiousness, they were, if loyal to their principles, honest and truthful. Their sexual standards were high: the marriage tie was respected, and family life was pure. With such virtues they could not, one would have thought, have been troublesome citizens. Yet they were for long despised, maligned and hated." - The Rise of Christianity

Haters of the human race - breaking up families

By refusing to bow down to the emperor and pagan divinities, Christians were blamed for any catastrophe, having supposedly angered the gods. By not watching immoral plays or bloody gladiatorial displays, they were considered antisocial - 'haters of the human race'. Amongst other accusations, this 'sect' was said to break up families, destabilising the social order - and Tertullian spoke of pagan husbands who would rather their wives were unfaithful than Christian.

Says Historian Kenneth Scott Latourette, "Still another set of charges held Christianity up to ridicule for its recent origin and contrasted it with the antiquity of its rivals [Judaism and the Greco-Roman pagan religions]." - A History of the Expansion of Christianity, Volume 1, page 131)

Robert M. Grant refers to 2nd century C.E. Roman historian Suetonius who called Christianity "a new and mischievous superstition." Officials of the Roman Empire certainly viewed Christians in a negative light. "The basic view was that Christianity was simplh an unnecessary, possibly a harmful, religion." Early Christianity and Society.

Aggressive proselytising 

Sorbonne Professor Jean Bernardi explains that "[Christians] were to go out and speak everywhere and to everyone. On the highways and in the cities, on the public squares and in the homes. Welcome or unwelcome. To the poor, and to the rich encumbered by their possessions. To the small and to the governors of the Roman provinces...They had to take to the road, board ships, and go to the ends of the earth." - Les premiers siecles de l'Eglise (The Early Centuries of the Church).

According to Professor Leon Homo, early Christians were generally disliked for their "ardent proselytism." Professor Latourette states that, while the Jews lost their zeal for proselytising, "Christians, on the other hand, were aggressively missionary and so aroused resentment."

Targeting the gullible

Roman philosopher Celsus also criticised the Christians' preaching methods, stating that Christianity was for the uneducated and that it could convince "only the stupid, slaves, women, and little children." Christians, he felt, were indoctrinating "gullible people," having them "believe without rational thought." He claimed new disciples were not to "ask questions; just believe." Yet, as Origen pointed out, Celsus had to admit that "it was not the simple alone who were led by the doctrine of Jesus to adopt His religion."

Intolerant

 Early Christians claimed to possess the truth of the one true God. They were not open to ecumenism, or interfaith. "Unlike most of the faiths of the time," claims Latourette, "[the Christians] were hostile to other religions...in contrast with the fairly broad tolerance which characterised other cults, they declared that they had final truth."

Law-breaking

In 202 C.E., Emperor Septimus Severus issued an edict forbidding the Christians to make converts. This however, did not stop them from witnessing about their faith. Says Latourette, "In its refusal to compromise with many of the social customs and moral practices of the times [early Christianity developed a coherence and an organisation which set it over against society. The very break required to join it gave to its adherents a conviction which constituted a source of strength against persecution and of zeal in winning converts."

No part of the world

The historical record speaks for itself. While trying to be good citizens and live peaceably with all men, early Christians refused to become "part of the world" as Jesus commanded. They respected the authorities but, in obedience "to God rather than men," kept on preaching even when forbidden. They refused to compromise on moral standards and rejected pagan idolatry. For this they were despised, maligned, hated, and persecuted - just as Christ foretold. (John 15:9)

“In the Blink of an Eye Reborn” - The Story of Locked-in Syndrome Sufferer Peter Coghlan

On 21st March 2011, Peter Coghlan suffered a massive brain stem stroke, leaving him totally paralysed except for vertical movement of his eyes. A classic case of Locked-in Syndrome (LIS), a rare condition from which sufferers were not expected to recover.

Peter was by no means a typical patient. At just 33 years old and having moved from the UK to Perth, Western Australia, he had wonderful prospects before him – a life in the sun, enjoyable work and marriage to his fiancée, Jade. Not even his devastating illness was going to prevent his dreams coming true. For weeks, he lay in hospital, afraid, helpless and unable to communicate. Initially, his prognosis was poor. Considering him to be brain-dead, doctors even discussed switching off his life support.

Fortunately, his fiancée Jade, who had been scouring through the internet for any information she could find on LIS, encouraged him to blink if he understood her. Then, with the help of an alphabet board he was able to communicate. One blink for ‘Yes’, two blinks for ‘No’. He also began to progress physically, becoming the world’s fastest recovering locked-in survivor.

Just 6 months and 1 day after his stroke, Peter walked out of hospital – weak and unsteady, yet nevertheless a free man. Written in the first person, the book begins with the onset of Peter’s illness, charting events as they occur to emphasise the sheer terror and confusion Pete experienced at the time, along with horrific hallucinations.

While locked-in, Peter reflects on his life, written in a series of flashbacks – his happy childhood, his adolescent pranks and brushes with the law, his meeting with Jade, and life in the army with all its dangers and abuses. During his tour of Northern Ireland, Pete was not only surrounded by mobs but also suffered bullying from older soldiers. His army career came to end when he was diagnosed with cancer - Hodgkins Lymphoma – which he overcame.

Refusing to accept that he would never walk or talk again, Pete used visualisation – imagining his hand was a lobster’s claw which he repeatedly tried to close. This technique eventually triggered the memory of his synapses, sending messages to his fingers, willing them to move. These efforts paid off, and it was with tears in his eyes he blinked out a message to Jade from his Alphabet Board: “LOOK AT MY HAND”. The movement was small but enough for his neurologist Professor David Blacker to refer Peter for physiotherapy. This decision was crucial to Pete’s astonishing recovery.

 The second part of the book tells of Peter’s fight to regain his life – his wedding to Jade, their move to Thailand where his father set them up in their own business – a small restaurant which failed dismally – and desperate but fruitless efforts to repair their relationship. Despite the heartache, after returning to Perth Peter continued to improve, eventually re-discovering his voice and qualifying to be a health care worker. And, throughout his trials, Peter kept, charting his experiences from the onset of his stroke to his current state of health.

Due to Pete’s colourful past, sheer determination and astonishing recovery, this story – though harrowing at times - is inspirational and life-affirming. Lying in his hospital bed, seemingly alone, Peter promised God that if he could only get well again, he’d do everything possible to help others in similar situations. This book is just one of the ways he intends to do that. Available on Amazon


 https://www.amazon.com/Blink-Eye-Reborn-PeterCoghlan/dp/1727145593/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1593787390&sr=8-1 UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blink-Eye-Reborn-Peter-Coghlan/dp/1727145593/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2CAIJA8FWLOBT&dchild=1&keywords=in+the+blink+of+an+eye+reborn&qid=1593787494&sprefix=in+the+blink+of+an+eye%2Caps%2C277&sr=8-1

The Purple Cave - Extract 'Flight from Fernilee'

Slowly and steadily, they continued along an underground river, the tunnel now so dark and narrow Odi began to hyperventilate again.

"Just what I need," he whined, "another bout of close-to-phobia!"

"Claustrophobia," Alice corrected him. "Seems pretty close to me!" replied Odi, for once unable to think of anything clever to say. To his great relief, they soon reached another, bigger cavern. So big, in fact, it resembled a magnificent palace, adorned with shafts of sunlight from above. As the Judith Mary approached its mooring, coming to rest on the banks of a crystal lagoon, all aboard gaped in astonishment.  Not only was the cavern wonderfully bright and airy, it was like no other they had ever seen before.

"It's purple!" Joe cried. "All purple and shiny!"

"We must be in the Blue John mines." Laurel suggested.

"But it's purple!" insisted Joe.

"Blue John IS purple, Silly," Alice tutted despairingly. "Don't you boys know anything?"

"Oh, so that's why it's called blue!" said Odi with a good dollop of sarcasm. "The stuff's purple, so naturally, you call it Blue. That's cool, and not at all confusing!" – Flight from Fernilee*

Samples of Blue John at Castleton Heritage Centre

No wonder Odi was confused. Despite its name, Blue John – a semi-precious stone from Castleton in Derbyshire – is generously threaded by bands of purple which tend to predominate.

However, there is also a yellow banded variety of this rare fluorite and one theory is that, during the reign of Louis XVI, it was exported for use by French ormolu workers who dubbed it ‘bleu-jeune’ (or ‘blue- yellow’ to Derbyshire folk like me!) Another source for the Blue John name may be miners drafted in from Cornwall. They referred to the stone as ‘bleujenn’, a Cornish term for a flower or blossom.

According to “Gem of the Peak” by 19^th century writer William Adam, Blue John was discovered by the Romans but, as no evidence has ever been found for such a claim, we might put it down to historical embroidery! What we DO know is that Blue John was a popular material for fireplace panels during the mid-18^th century. A Blue John plaque dated around 1760 can be seen in the Friary Hotel in Derby, while Robert Adam, the famous architect and interior designer used it to decorate nearby Kedlestone Hall.

At their 18^th century peak, the Blue John Cavern and Treak Cliff Cavern in Castleton (the only sites in the UK where Blue John is mined*) produced 20 tons per annum. By the late 19^th century, 3 tons per annum was mined, a figure further reduced to a mere half a ton today. Castleton is highly protective over its unique resource which is why all items made from Blue John, such as boxes, pots, vases and distinctive jewellery, are created by local craftsmen.

*The only other place where Blue John can be found is the Deqing Fluorite mine in the Zhejiang Province of China.

*Flight from Fernilee is available from Amazon

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flight-Fernilee-Jacy-Brean/dp/1086551907/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1593177572&sr=8-1

US: https://www.amazon.com/Flight-Fernilee-Jacy-Brean-ebook/dp/B07K24G3GJ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Flight+from+fernilee&qid=1593177877&sr=8-1