IMO This is not an ‘either/or’ situation IMO.
Despite assumptions I believe both propositions can be true at the same time… š
Let me explain.
I say 1. We have free will and 2. God controls the universe.
Just as my young son was not my slave I could guarantee that if I held out an ice cream… he would grab it.
He was not *compelled* to grab it… yet I knew that I only had to put the cone in front of his face… and he would behave exactly as I planned/ foresaw.
We read in Exodus that God ‘hardened pharaoh’s heart’ so that he would not let the people go.
All God had to do is via some inconsequential way provoke Pharaoh’s pride/ego… to know Pharaoh would of his own volition *harden his own heart*!
There is no *deterministic mechanism* involved in what God did that absolves Pharaoh of his personal volition and culpability for what he did!
He was tested… and failed because of his own evil… and God is fully just in holding him accountable for what he did.
Does this make sense?
So God’s Authority does not negate Freewill.
He simply knows the heart of every one of us.
Pharaoh could have acted differently… yet chose the wicked path.
The Meme (below) was posted to Gab Social media platform.
It makes a subtil claim appealing to Zeal… Zealotry… my retort to @Boomstick follows below.
Tim Wikiriwhi Responds…
@Boomstick Beware… This has no context, and is therefore deceptive in the extreme.
It’s claiming *Intolerance is a virtue!*
That cannot withstand any scrutiny.
Without some tolerance a person becomes a fanatic… indistinguishable from any form of fanatic… eg an Islamic extremist.
They would wholeheartedly endorse this claim.
Are you any better than they?
Now hear the enlightened truth!
Just as there are things that may be compromised, and others that may not be compromised, so too there are things that can, and ought to be tolerated, and others that ought not to be tolerated.
It is an equal wrong *not to tolerate what you ought* as it is to tolerate what you ought not.
Wisdom and Enlightenment teaches which is which.
Lower values can be sacrificed for the sake of higher values.
Treating others as we would wish to be treated ourselves… is natural justice.
Tolerance is guided by higher principles and convictions… it is not the abandonment of them as is claimed above.
A Tolerant man ought not to be a weak and an easily beguiled man, but show tolerance from a position of strength and vigilance.
And there is a line in the sand.
It is only by the embodiment of such values and principles than any man can claim to be civil and walk the higher path than the savage.
Intolerance is the hallmark of the Barbarian.
Intolerance is the hallmark of Tyranny.
Intolerance comes from fear.
Principled tolerance is in fact a symbol of courage.
” If it be possible, and as much as lieth in you, live peacably with all Men.”
Paul the Apostle.
Romans 12vs8.
The reason this is true, is because You suffered these things when you were a helpless child, and so as you have become stronger you have sworn never to allow anyone to do these things to you again… and when it appears someone is trying to do that to you… the reaction is anger.
Yet most often it is a mistake on our part. They are *not* seeking to reduce you… They are not your oppressor… We need to learn how to deal with such feelings and redirect them away from rage…. when you understand this… it’s liberating… from a curse that has haunted and enslaved you from your youth…
Tim Wikiriwhi.
Christian Libertarian.
Further thoughts that continue on from Part 1 here.
Science is no escape from the human conditionā¦ that gospel purported by manyā¦is false.
Though we may increase in mastery over natureā¦certainty will always escape usā¦ thus science is a pragmatic pursuit, not a source of absolute knowledge.
With every new answer comes new questions.
We will always rely on axioms and presuppositionsā¦ we cannot escape the need for faithā¦ which underpins what we think we knowā¦ even the things we are most sure aboutā¦.
I guess my original post could have been calledā¦ āBeware of Scientismā.
History shows you can āproveā almost anything by fiddling with numbers.
It must be understood that not even math escapes the human conditionā¦ I know many people will be loosing their lunch over my impertinenceā¦ yet with time I hope to explain the many ways math can be corrupted.
When reading about various types of weird āinferred postulatesā like Dark Matter, The Big Bang, etc we always find two camps of thought.
Simpletons who think the said phenomena are rock solid facts and proceed to treat them as such in all their forthcoming activitiesā¦ and others who have the intellectual depth and integrity to admit these cherished theories are full of holesā¦ and proceed with caution in any further speculations that could follow.
It depends on which article you read as to whether or not you are encouraged to accept such phenomena are real ā¦ or to remain skeptical.
It is particularly scary when the political class pick up on certain theoriesā¦ because they suit their political agendasā¦ and begin to compel whole populations into accepting them as indisputableā¦ and then using usurpatious powers proceed to embed them in Laws and institutionsā¦ Pouring Tax billions into the pockets of scientists who just so happen to produce politically correct āfindingsāā¦ while critics are deplatformed and thrown out of Seats of learningā¦ and making it nearly a crime to question āthe official lineā.
Science has died.
The Balance has been skewed.
What we are left with is Pure Pseudo scienceā¦ very much like the Social Darwinism of the Nazis which Sub-humanised the Jews.
What is funny is that so many people naively assume such shocking corruption is not going on today!
The truth is there are many factors that can corrupt scienceā¦ Money and political agendas being two biggiesā¦ and anywhere the State is pouring money into āresearchāā¦ it becomes highly dubious.
Another funny yet erroneous stereotype that was born of the Materialist religion of āScientismā is the image of Doctors and scientists in white lab coats with thick reading glassesā¦ and expressionless demeanor.
The psychological impact of this upon gullible minds is the impression that scientists are not only way smarter than other mortalsā¦ but esp that they embody a āSpock-likeā power of Objectivityā¦ that all their utterances are devoid of personal prejudicesā¦ all this is designed to get the gullible to trust them.
Their white overcoats serve the very same purpose as the priestly gab of any religious cult!
The truth is the exact opposite.
You would struggle to find in any other area of life a more opinionated, conceited, biased, Vain, Greedy, unprincipled, and obstinate bunch of human beings than you find in science departments!
Pseudo-science are myths dressed up in Scientific Gab/ jargon.
Is it any wonder why there are so many pseudo-scientific ideas that hold sway among the masses???
When false postulates and theories are accepted as fact whole magnificent edifices are constructed upon these corrupt foundations.
Entire lifetimes, and reputations, and industries can be wasted building āWhite Elephantsāā¦ and strong vested interests assemble to carry on the liesā¦ because the longer the sham continuesā¦ the bigger the mess when it topplesā¦ and people fear facing the ugly truthā¦ and paying the price of correction.
The lies become so embedded that it seems like madness to question themā¦. Cognitive dissonance becomes the normā¦ an incapacity to acknowledge uncomfortable novel truths.
Progress has always had to battle with entrenched Mass-held delusions. What is funny/sad is so many Moderns only apply this precept in their warped conception that Science has always struggled against religionā¦ a very inaccurate and simplistic apprehension of historyā¦ utterly failing to guard themselves against all the other personal bents that can prevent them from grasping new and challenging evidences.
esp their own modern post-Christian quazi-religious bents.
I ask people if they dare to entertain any controversial propositions that are at variance with the mainstream?
For it is a signal of an independent mind to walk itās own path and have the courage to diverge at certain points from the herd.
The herd has been trained to pour derision and hate upon anyone who steps out of line and does not submit to the āorthodoxyā of their times.
It may amaze people that I am talking about *The scientific community*ā¦ not some religious sect.
Understand that the scientific community is as prone to Backwards, erroneous dogma as any other Human endeavor is.
What is essential then is to write a code of ethics of which the scientific method is just one aspect of what entails the correct mental processes that are conducive to the scientific enterprise.
. to guard ourselves from slipping into a mire of our own subjectivityā¦ eg with the interpretation of evidence.
Ultimately all we can do is acknowledge the human factor will always be lurking aboutā¦ like a madman.
Some people may live this way… yet I don’t agree with it.
It is a Machiavellian tenet that say’s because other people are prone to breaking promises, that this absolves you from keeping yours.
The question is what sort of person do you wish to be?
I believe we should keep our word even to people who are not trustworthy… So we should watch what we agree to do and with whom.
This is because the sort of person we chose to be, and how we conduct ourselves ought not to be dependent on the character and conduct of others… but on our own integrity… we ought to walk the higher path even when most others are taking the lower road.
This way we remain masters of ourselves… consciously and purposefully acting according to our values… not living sympathetically in reaction to the rest of the world… and it’s lack of values.
In this way when you look in the mirror you will see a good man staring back at you… a champion of what is right.
Not living like a victim excusing yourself for being a person of Bad faith.
.. and your reputation as a Solid Guy (or Gal) … a person of integrity will precede you… and doors will open for you because of your own conduct…
This is the Old School virtue that ‘a mans word is his bond’
Thus it ought to be only in extreme circumstances that we should ever even consider breaking an agreement or betraying trust might possibly be an acceptable proposition, and the righteous path.
The Bible warns against making ‘oaths to God’ because most of us being pathetically weak mortals who have so little command of our own passions let alone any control of exterior happenstances we will too often break our vows.
Better not to have sworn to anything in the first place!
Knowing our own weaknesses therefore also ought to make us wary of making promises to people when there is any likelihood we may not be able to honor them.
Take care what you commit yourself to undertake and be sure to make any conditional caveats understood before any deal is shaken upon.
I confess… and it’s no secret…
I Swear.
It is something that I struggle with.
I dont think it’s ok.
Yet neither do I buy into what Self-righteous freaks suggest that some how… because I swear… that is evidence I’m not a true Christian.
Its called being imperfect.
And there are many people who are PC… dont swear yet have far more malevolence in their hearts… they just dress their hatred and bigotry in more socially acceptable garb … yet it can be even more vile and insidious in it’s intent… yet that is how self-righteous hypocrisy manifests itself.
^ Sadly…There is some truth in this
I admit my shameful short comings… I dont wear a fake cloak of righteousness.
And I do try and live a better life every day… yet it is hard to get swearing out of your system when it is ingrained in your vocabulary of self-expression… there is no ‘Magic’ way to stop… anyone who thinks the Holy Spirit magically stops people from swearing is full of ‘it’.
I try to keep it real… try to remain sincere… and not put on an act… a facade… I am me… and one of the things I loath about *Acting Christians* is their phonie-ness .
I have always struggled with my spiritual walk against the Flesh… I have to trust God’s grace is sufficient for me… the wretch.
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”
Jesus Christ. Luke 6vs45
I am not a Pastor because I am unworthy… I do admire people who are both holy and sincere, and full of grace… not law… yet there is something very wrong with all the messages I hear about being ‘Holy and separate and not like the world’… To me they mostly preach a ‘Fake stereotype’ of what they think *Every Christian* should conform too… as if there is only one pattern… as if we ought to all be alike in every aspect… all like pastors… all absolutely and only committed to the gospel… or else we are being evil and ‘like the world’… yet I can see that this idea is *not what the Bible says*.
The Bible says we are all *different parts of the Body of Christ*… with different jobs to do… different gifts and talents.
Different struggles and missions.
And most of us are not called to be ministers and Pastors.
Our first duty is to take care of our families safety and necessities… and raise our children in faith.
This means we work in the real world… Buy houses… vote in elections…. are concerned about Terrorism… and we raise our children under the grace of God… not under the Law… and under grace we may still watch TV… still cheer for our favorite sports teams… buy a boat and go fishing… etc etc.. ie we enjoy our lives like ordinary people… and so its *not a sin* in many ways to look like ordinary people… because that is what we are… and so I get very annoyed with self righteous zealots who claim unless we appear as zealous as they do, that somehow we are fake Christians… ‘like the world’.
I say they are far more likely to be the fakes!
they have totally missed the boat about being a Christian.
I am a real Christian!
Not Perfect…
A Sinner saved by the grace of God… and trying to incorporate Christian virtues and values in my life… and preaching the gospel when opportunity presents it’self.
It cant be denied that swearing not only offends God, but also ruins/ severely detracts from a Christians testimony… and this brings me grief to know this.
It pains me that some lost souls will turn their ears from my testimony because I swear, and
If my testimony is worthless because I swear then virtually my whole life is worthless… yet I dont believe that.
God only has imperfect Servants with which to delegate his chores!
There are no perfectly holy Christians.
I dont believe the gospel would be better off if I hid my faith until I master my unruly tongue.
I still believe my testimony has value *despite my failings*…
I try to represent the truth that God’s grace is open to ordinary people… ordinary sinners… and that becoming a christian doest not demand a person become a faker… a card board cut out of what *the world thinks Christians are*.
Becoming a Christian does not a perfect person make… it is but the beginning of a new path *and process* of Moral Redemption as we transform from a Lost soul and the thoughts and habits thereof into a ‘born again’ new person patterned on Holiness.
Yet The Old man does not surrender easily!
The less the vile wickedness of the carnal tongue is no joke… no laughing matter…. It is something Alien to God’s Holiness, and is very much an attribute of Satan himself!
An ‘Anarchist Christian’ friend remarked “I think it’s okay to have a potty mouth, just don’t use names of God as expletives.”
I pointed out firstly that… ‘I think’… is not a good yardstick for morality… not objective… and secondly the concept of … ‘I think it’s okay to have a potty mouth’… gets its subjectivity because of Our ‘acclimatization’ to what we conciser ‘normal’… and the excuses and rationalisations we create to pseudo-justify what ‘We think…’ for convenience.
I take responsibility for my predicament with regards to swearing.
It is ingrained in me because of years of habit… of conforming to ‘the norms’ of my peers in the social strata I have lived in… in particular the ‘Bogan Westy culture’ that I embraced as a Teenager, and the ‘Engineering Guild ‘ to which I Joined and work among as an Engineer.
Swearing is endemic in both these Sub cultures.
It is the norm.
And it is acceptable among the *Hard core* who consider themselves to be *The real deal*… rather than the ‘PC Wowzers’ who will never be fully accepted into this ‘elite’.
And though at face value I can see how pompous and silly… and in fact *immoral* these ideas are, it still takes a monumental effort not to think in these terms… It is so deeply ingrained into our *Personal Identity and world view*.
Just questioning these ideas and trying to escape it is looked upon as almost a sign of betrayal!
The problem is that I have bought into this stuff to such a degree that *It feels true to me*… even though when I step back… i know its an evil delusion.
Thus I battle within myself.
I admit my own stubbornly ingrained false values that are in conflict with what I know to be Right and good.
This is the spiritual battle between the Old man… the flesh… and the New Man Born of Faith in Christ.
James 3:1-12 (NKJV) 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.
On the upside I am not the sort of Christian who gets offended by swearing, and even should I eventually win the victory over my own cussing … By God’s Grace I hope never to be a person who takes offence… or hold anyone in contempt for being a swearer.
I will have grace upon them, and will continue to preach Gods grace… may I never become one of those self-righteous and judgmental freaks who cause Christianity to stink because of their over-zealously turns them into contempt filled Pharisees.
I believe this is actually a positive virtue that aids me in what I believe is my God given calling and mission field… which is to share my testimony with Publicans, and Sinners… Bogans and Westies… in other words…. among my own people.
I pray my personal walk improves and my testimony becomes more valuable to God.
Tim Wikiriwhi
Protestant, Dispensationalist, King James Bible believer, Christian Libertarian.
P.S I do need to clarify one more thing… and that is that in a very real sense God has given us a pattern and example to follow and emulate… and that Pattern for the Christian is The Apostle Paul… yet this does not mean we are to *Exactly* emulate him like perfect xerox copies… We ought to emulate his Ideals and values, and follow his doctrines yet this does not mean we will all appear like clones… We should not all become tent makers…. we are not ourselves Apostles!
We are to incorporate Paul’s teachings into our own lives and circumstances… and apply them as we follow what we believe is Gods will and intention for our lives… as individuals… seeking out Gods special purpose for our lives.
I just dropped in to proffer an explanation of my absence from this blog for the past 18 months or so.
In a word, depression. I have been beset with mental health problems my entire adult life. I have at least four diagnosed DSM-5 disorders. Of these, depression is the worst. It is, quite literally, a life-threatening illness. Fortunately, amongst other things, my life is not mine to take. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
Things took a turn for the worse about 18 months ago. Amongst other things, the full implications of having recently been belatedly diagnosed with adult ADHD were sinking in, winter was coming, and my usual coping strategies of injudicious drug use and abnegation of personal responsibility were failing me. But what really got me in a tailspin was when the state started bankruptcy proceedings against me, for alleged failure to pay taxes. I saw my GP about my predicament and he had no hesitation in giving me a medical certificate for WINZ. The upshot is that, since last autumn, I’ve been on the sickness benefit. Yes, that’s right. I’m a ward of the welfare state. So you can see what condition my condition is in.
But that’s enough about me, I don’t want to make this post all about my personal woes. In time-honoured fashion, I want to make it about this country’s political woes. This post will be about the government’s role in providing mental health services and, in particular, it’s role in NZ’s high rates of depression and suicide.
Straightaway, let’s get one thing straight. The government doesn’t actually care. The present National government doesn’t even want to know. Why else would it re-brand what was formerly the sickness benefit as “job seeker support”? A sickness beneficiary already has a job, and they know it! Their job is to get well. Well enough to seek, find, and then hold down a permanent paid position. All of which is easier said than done for the chronically mentally ill. Some of whom should, and do, end up on the invalid’s benefit.
The government doesn’t actually care. Certainly, the neoliberal government we’ve had in this country since 1984 doesn’t give a damn. To begin with, take the fact that the suicide rate for New Zealand males aged 15-19 doubled in the course of three years from 16 per 100,000 in 1985 to 32 per 100,000 in 1988. While trustworthy statistics aren’t easy to find, it would appear that this alarming increase in NZ’s youth suicide rate has held up. I see no reason to dispute the claim that NZ now has the highest rate of teen suicide in the developed world.
Former Children’s Commissioner Ian Hassall makes a couple of especially pertinent points (notwithstanding his dubious analogy to climate change).
The critical fact is that New Zealand has the highest rate of youth suicide in the OECD. This excess of young people’s deaths in New Zealand when compared with other OECD countries must be a result of local factors.
The statistics show that whatever these factors were, they began to operate from 1985 to 1988. That was a time of social turmoil in New Zealand. The economic restructuring that was sweeping the world was imposed faster and deeper in New Zealand than elsewhere.
“No pain, no gain” was the catchphrase of Rogernomics. What it meant was that it was expected that the structural changes would be painful but they would be worth it in creating a more robust economy.
For young people, the changes were rapid and painful indeed. Suddenly, finding a job was not guaranteed and bright future prospects dimmed for many. A reduced welfare safety net meant that many were not sufficiently helped and inequality widened.
I don’t think that we can say for sure what aspect of neoliberalism is to blame, or even that we can definitively blame neoliberalism in the first place for the sustained rise in youth suicides. But it’s certainly a prime suspect.
As ever: what is to be done?
Officially New Zealand has focussed on mental health and mental health services as a means of dealing with the problem. Mental ill-health and lack of mental health services cannot explain the sudden doubling of youth suicide from 1985 to 1988.
Not surprisingly, then, this approach has failed. Mental ill-health undoubtedly has a part to play in many youth suicides, but there is no reason that this should be more of a problem in New Zealand than in other countries.
It is comforting to believe that young people will be safer if our mental health services are improved but it is largely a false hope. Saying so will, no doubt make me unpopular, but so be it.
So be it, and I agree.
Sadly, throwing more money at the problem isn’t going to help much, if at all. In fact, I submit that a big part of NZ’s current mental health crisis is down to excessive reliance on the state to fix the problem. A bigger part is due to state intervention in the first place. It is completely wrong, for example, that the state treats the simple administration of a proven cure for depression as a greater crime than rape or armed robbery, and instead busies itself funding a lolly scramble of often worse than useless placebos.
Whereas I don’t think more government money is going to fix the problem, I do think it’s downright criminal to cut funding to mental health services in a time of mental health crisis. And that’s what this National government has done. My point is that where the state has taken on responsibility for the provision of mental health services, it must honour that commitment in the meantime. Until such time as we can successfully devolve this responsibility to families, friends and support at the local community level. Faceless bureaucracy never made anyone happy.
At a time like this, it is utterly appalling that the government saw fit to cut funding to Lifeline, one of NZs biggest and long-established suicide counselling lines. And instead, allocate that funding to a “new, preferred supplier” called LaVey. All very well, perhaps, except for the six-month hiatus between Lifeline’s funding being cut and the new provider stepping in. Oh, and the fact that Bill English’s wife is on the board of LaVey! Nepotism doesn’t get much uglier. (LeVa, LaVey. Whatever.)
Wait just a moment! Take another look at take the load off. What on earth is that woman friend using to get her mate Dan out of his pit of depression? That’s right, it’s a hangman’s noose.
Sure, it’s supposed to be a lasso. But seriously, what sort of subliminal message are they sending to the suicidal? The people at the agency that created this plagiaristic monstrosity sure have a sick sense of humour. (It wouldn’t surprise me if they were the same outfit responsible for Colin Craig’s election campaign material last election.)
I’m glad that I also have a sick sense of humour and can appreciate it. I hope you do too. To all my depressed friends out there, I say, life is very much worth living, no matter if it seems like a sack of shit right now. Hang on in there!
Today was a day of Bad weather and mixed emotions.
I was proud to ride with a group of conscientious Bikers who took time off work and braved the wind and rain to ride for Justice for Moko… a Beautiful three year old boy who endured horrendous treatment at the hands of Adults whom were entrusted with his care… and was robbed of his life.
Today, all through the country Kiwis gathered outside their local courthouses as this is the Day his Killers are to be sentenced for their unspeakable wickedness.
I ask myself what further proof of Humanity’s pitiful and morally lost condition, and alienation from God could possibly be demanded from unbelievers …. as evidenced by such unconscionable crimes as this…. committed against the most innocent????
Sufficient is the Evil thereof!
8:30 First meeting point. Cock and Bull Pub. Pukete.
Second meeting point. Hillcrest.
Moko was failed at all points… by everyone… except his sister who did everything she could to raise the alarm… yet nobody rescued Moko.
He has become yet another victim of New Zealand shameful record of Child abuse and murder… and worse still… his murderers were allowed to ‘plea bargain for themselves a lesser sentence of Manslaughter instead of Murder!
So The Life value of this precious child, and his suffering and murder, was mitigated… de-valued…. and semi-excused!
*And this travesty… this outrage… is one of the main reasons We Bikers decided to Ride… and join the many other New Zealanders who think that this is just not good enough!
Though The evils and responsibility of Child abuse rest with the abusers… and you cannot blame their upbringing, the government, or any other single cause… Justice and deterrence demands that the Rights of Children receive the full weight of the Law and justice system behind them, so that these Monsters think twice… before committing their crimes… and when they do… they must receive full recompense for their Abominable Crimes against the most vulnerable members of our society.
Many would prefer to see these Vile perpetrators hung from a lamp post… yet without recourse to such Medieval punishments… we should at least expect the courts to deliver a sentence of Life without parole.
As one of the Speakers at the Rally whom herself was the victim of a horrendous sexual attack… “No sentence is adequate/ enough”.
Ride Organiser: Shaun Ewok Bryan.
He did a top job of stepping up to organise this ride for Moko in the Hamilton region.
He organised the Patches.
He also spoke to a TV crew outside the Hamilton courthouse about the Bike Run.
Full credit to him!
How New Zealand society is to reduce the incidents of such absolutely shocking crimes is not easy to determine… there are so many factors involved, yet if I was to single out some points of importance for me to would be *Personal ethics* and how our society’s P.C ‘pandering to victimism’… and rejection of what we might call ‘Old school Christian values’, in favour of Liberal de-valuation of the Traditional Family values… the importance of Fathers, the normalizing of Single parent families, Having children out of wedlock… The Socialist Government encroachments, via welfareism, The evils of the lies of Maori as victims of colonisation… even heavy Taxation, and trade regulations …etc etc… all corrode the soul out of our people… create excuses… make life harder than it needs to be… and esp robs people of an inner moral compass.
Too many people today hold to a nihilistic, amoral, ‘It’s all about me’ mentality.
New Zealand needs to stop running to Nanny State and calling for more Rules and regulations, and instead seek a moral re-awakening in *personal ethics and responsibility*.
No doubt many readers will thumb their noses at this notion… yet I believe it 100%.
This cant happen over night… and it will never happen… unless people take a long hard look at where our society is heading in this ‘post-Christian era’.
Do people *hate Christian values more than they desire to fix the monstrous social evils that manifest themselves in such things as Child abuse, Filling Jails, Ever expanding Government Tyranny?
Why is it that *Today’s generation* are thought less fit to handle the same liberties older generations took for granted?
We are witnessing an atrophy in personal responsibility, and an over-reliance on Government… yet Government cannot Save the children from abuse.
*Only a revival of Strong personal ethics* can hope to ensure Children are safe around their custodians.
That’s my 10 cents worth… my start to the dialogue….I’m open to hearing other opinions… this is a conversation our country needs to have.
Great show of New Zealand Bikers!
If there is one thing I regret is not taking more time to meet many of you.
And if I was to add anything else to this list I would add that there are Far too many people in the know… who collude with the abusers… because they seek to hide the shame that they fear will come upon them and their families if they speak up.
*This is a far greater shame!*
The Abuse Needs to be exposed to the light of Day!
The Children whom suffer desperately need someone to speak up for them and rescue them from such horrific treatment… before they too are Crushed… or murdered!
If you know of abuse… yet say nothing… do nothing… then *you are a accomplice* *You are failing the abused children*.
And that is inexcusable.
How can anyone who knows that children are in danger, and suffer… yet does nothing sleep at night????
Child abuse must be reported.
And if there is no time for the Police to arrive… Step between the Child and their abuser!
You may never face a Human Judge for your Inaction… yet like the scum whom Murdered Moko…. one day you will stand before God Almighty and he will judge you for your sins.
*Nobody escapes the justice of Almighty God.*
My Sign. Photo from Labour MP Sue Moroney’s facebook, who turned up in support for the Vigil, and spoke on the Labour party perspective of the current Legal climate under the National government.
“Dreadful weather today, but these awesome people came out to stand up against violence to children and the unbearable rate of murder in NZ. I spoke at this “Justice for Moko” rally where I told those gathered that we should not accept that our children’s rights can be bargained away.”
From >here.
Moko is free now… Safe in the arms of Jesus.
I believe this.
And he will look down on today’s rallies that occurred across our nation and will no doubt smile upon everyone who weathered this Wintry day in Tribute to him.
We are all so sorry that we could not save him from these Minions of Satan… yet we can now make sure we do everything we can to reduce the incidence of child abuse in New Zealand.
Let us not forget Moko.
Amen.
Tim Wikiriwhi
New Zealand Biker.
Christian Libertarian.
News of David Bowie’s death from cancer reached Cyberspace tonight (Jan 11 2016NZ).
Planet Earth is Blue and there’s nothing I can do.
I am merely one of untold millions of fans who have been rocked by the news… esp having only today gossiped with friends about his latest songs… and that “He’s still shocking… and still got it!”.
Now I see that his latest songs were a foreboding message to his fans that the Reaper was calling.
Obvious now.
This is where my Blogpost comes to the Tee intersection.
One direction heads up āTributeā hill towards the usual sycophantic adoration and pinning.
The other heads down Guile pass which is the path enjoyed by those who seek to throw stones, and take opportunity to exercise their personal piety.
There will be plenty of both types of commentaries on Bowieās life for everyone to slake their thirstsā¦ each according to their palates.
Mine is going to careen off these well beaten pathsā¦ on a tangentā¦ out out somewhere I donāt expect many to want to goā¦ as it will not completely satisfy any particular mindsetā¦. Except the minority of social outcasts like myself.
And this in it self is 50% of why I think The passing of David Bowie is not only an opportunity for me to express some of my personal insights, but the best tribute to him that I can produce.
You see that when people dieā¦ there is a popular conception that in the ātime of respect for the deadā¦ and for those grievingāā¦ that certain things are best left unsaid.
I broke that rule in my Tribute to Scott Weiland… and his tragic end, yet obeyed it when I did my recent Eternal Vigilance Blog tribute to Lemmy from Motorhead which is conspicuously absent of any personal commentary and just filled with snapshots, and videos of his exploits, yet in doing so I fail to explain my own reasoning to the lovers and hatersā¦ why a Bible believing Christian still likes Lost souls like Lemmyā¦ and this was to avoid saying things I knew would upset everyone.
Yet I donāt like writing stuff simply to please the masses, or avoid controversy at the expense of my strongly held personal views.
I donāt like remaining quite about things that I believe need to be said even though I will probably upset everybodyā¦ for different reasons.
I donāt write to please. I write to hold up the Torchā¦ and so it is that I will do Bowie the tribute of boldly speaking my mind about his life and how I see he fits in to the Flow of Culture and the story of western civilization.
I could make the following sorts of comments about most of the greater Rockers of Recent history, yet taking care of business here and now will mean that I can avoid this long windedness in many future tributes that I will write, and will simply be able to refer readers to this post.
Eternal vigilance blog has from itās foundation *Always been about the Music.*
Blar Blar Blar.
I have probably already lost 50% of my readers ā¦ too much talk about meā¦ not enough about Bowie, yet I believe I have now set up the necessary props for the main show to begin.
ļ
With reverence I salute David Bowies musical genius and contributions to the happiness of Millions of Fans.
I grew up loving Space Oddity, Star Man, Ashes to ashes, etcā¦. all received via Radio waves.
Via that same medium my spirit wandered to āRocket man, Donāt let the sun go down on me, Saturday nights alright for fighting, Another one Bites the Dust, Radio Gag ga, Flash, Who wants to live for ever?, etc.
Why have I included these tracks from Elton John, and Queen?…. some of you will have already guessed yet for those who need further explanation, it is because the musical genius of David Bowie, is part of the massive contributions to music and western culture made by mega talented Homosexuals and the impact they have hadā¦. For better or for worse on our societiesā¦ modifying the very sexual fabricā¦ and depending on which faction you choose to belongā¦ most peoples’ sentiments will be typified in the common antagonisms of various conflicting world views.
David Bowie went through changes… was married twice, yet like many Rock stars, David Bowie in his younger years gratified his insatiable sexual appetites, which included having orgies involving both sexes. I donāt need to dwell on this any further to explain an important aspect of my blog postā¦ My concern for his Immortal soul.
Did David Bowie receive the Gift of Godā¦. Salvation from the Judgment of God that all sinners face?
Or was heā¦ like so many Homosexuals/ Bi sexuals an infidel to the bitter end?
I am a āStraightā/ heterosexual guyā¦ and A Christian, yet though I share the typical revulsion at the thought of Homosexual activitiesā¦ and the common Christian belief that Homosexuality is perverse, I do not share the common and historical Christian idea that Homosexuals are āExtra evil/ sinfulā or the desire to persecute them.
In truth I confess my own sexual perversityā¦ which I need not go into any further detail, but mention the fact because in my view all so-called straight people are just as guilty of Sexual degeneracy as homosexuals are ā¦. We all fall short of the mark of Purity and holinessā¦ and that needs to be said because it exposes the hypocrisy of the Bigots whom desire to persecute Homosexuals, but turn a blind eye to their own sins.
In fact the sin of Adultery which is most common among āChristiansā ought to be considered *more evil* than plain homosexuality between consenting adults because Adultery not only offends God, and breaks the marriage covenant with him, but also involves dishonesty and the betrayal of third parties… the spouses…real victims of the offense.
Yet still I want to discuss the probable reasons why of all sinners and reprobates many Homosexuals seem to be āExtra antagonisticā towards Christianityā¦. A tragic situation given that Godās love towards us sinners motivated him to send Christ ā¦ so that ā¦Whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord might be saved.
There is none righteous no not oneā¦ for all have sinned and come short of the glory of Godā¦ saith St Paul.
Many Christians however think that God hates Homosexuals, and that they are a class of sinner all on their ownā¦ and are without hope.
In my view the phenomena of Homosexuality is yet another signpost to the truthfulness of the Biblical doctrine of original sin and the fall of Adam. Itās straight up weird.
As the saying goes God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.
The Human condition itself is perfectly explicable via the literal theology of Genesis.
God made sex pleasurable and most importantlyā¦ for procreation of our kindā¦ yet true to form Sinful mankind has found ways to pervert this Divine order.
The Penis and vagina *Are designed* to function together as surely as the bolt and the nut, with the resultā¦ a miraculous thingā¦ Childrenā¦. Little peopleā¦ in accordance not with Darwin, but with the Biblical law of Kind after itās Kindā¦ unfortunately after the fall of our Original parentsā¦. We are born fallen beingsā¦ mortal, sinful, and perverse.
The First born Mortal murdered the second bornā¦
And so the nature of fallen humanity has determined our History, and affected every society.
There is no desert Island filled with Noble savagesā¦ no times or places where societies have not had their share of Murderers, thieves, Adulterers, and Homosexuals.
The Laws of the book of Genesis are IronClad, and it is in that first book of the Bible that the perversion of Homosexuality is found full blown.
After the Judgment of the wicked world by flood, we see that sin had ‘stowed away’ on the Ark, and a Drunken Noah was raped by his son Ham, and later Descendants of his grandson Canaan built the notoriously Corrupt cities of Sodom and Gomorra.
These cities were destroyed by God Almightyā¦ and this was in an age (dispensation) before The Mosaic Law.
Homosexualityā¦. Along with eating Shellfish were āAbominationsā prohibited to the Jewsā¦ as was working on Saturdays.
Adultery was also forbidden to Jews, and Jesus himself said that even if they Looked at another manās wife with lust that they had committed adultery in their hearts.
Not only does mankind have strange lustsā¦ We are also by our sinful and lost natures prone to hypocritical Judgment and vicious persecution.
The term āFaggotā is of course reference to times when the persecution of Homosexuals by Christians meant they were Burned aliveā¦ Google what a faggot was if you need to. (It is Ironic that many Homosexuals prefer to be called ‘Faggs’…. go figure!)
Why I myself donāt share this historical lust to Legally oppress homosexuals is because I am a Dispensationalist Christian who understands just how Evil, Unchristian, and unbiblical this sort to Horror really is.
I understand that while the Bible does say that Homosexuality is wicked, displeases God, and was illegal under the Jewish theocratic Laws which were a part of their Covenant with him, that Christianity as preach by St Paul is a completely different āvoluntary societyā under which no such legal imposition of morality can be rightfully endorsed.
Thus I condemn the historic persecutions of Homosexuals, Witches, Drug users, etc under the guise of āChristianityā and āCivilizationā as being Wicked heresy and absolutely at variance with the true spirit of Christian grace and modus opperandi.
Christianityās solutions to the wickedness of humanity is via the Gospel of Godās grace and voluntarily embraced values and ideasā¦ not via Moral legalisms imposed on unbelievers via Political force.
Like every other form of Bigotryā¦ so many Christians seethe with self righteous malice and lust and crave for the legal right to vent their hatred upon the target of their prejudiceā¦ and this is where the Demon possessed Lynch mobs and Stake burnings of history have caused the name of Christ to stink in the nostrils of so many sinners for whom Christ died to bring Salvations and Gods forgiveness.
And this persecution has been horrific!
And following Moral causationā¦ Evil tends to produce reciprocal evils, this historic persecution has led to the phenomena that today Homosexual fraternities are Rabidly Anti-Christ ā¦ to an extreme and bigoted degree.
While this in itself is nasty and foolish, and has resulted in violence towards innocent Christians, and should be condemnedā¦ It is understandable given humanities weakness for recklessly and hypocritically dealing out evil for evil.
You would think that having been the victim of Bigotry and injustice that newly liberated minorities would be wise, and would hesitate to perpetrate similar evils against othersā¦ yet the fact is that Human beings are very slow to apprehend general principles, and are quick to take opportunity for venting their own personal hatred with violence.
Today Homosexuals stand at the very forefront of the drive to āDe-Christianizeā western civilization, not simply on the political level (much of which I Agree with as truly progressive for civilization and Christianity), but more fundamentally they attack faith in Christianity, and biblical morality.
Two examples.
The first example I present is the musical genius and raving Homo ā¦Maynard James Keenan of āToolāā¦. My favorite band.
I will talk about how guys like David Bowie moved modern society to make Bands like Tool possible very shortly, yet here I simply want to point out that few bands reach the heights of Anti-Christian distain, and revel in the highest forms of Homosexual perversity as Tool has reached under the guidance of Maynard.
His sexually perverse lyrics are descriptive and he writes Song Titles like ‘Stink fist’, ‘Hooker with a penis’, and ‘Prison sex’, and his blasphemies drag Christ himself down into his perverse mentality.
He accounts other Antichrists as his mentors and idols and apparently took pleasure āPunkingā Kornās Brian Head for converting to Christianity on M TV.
The behavior of Guyās like Maynard summon visions of the Cross road and bargains with Satan… offering Fame and glory, if they will serve himā¦ and he gets their souls.
There is a video out there in cyber space with him dressed up as Red Satan… yet it is all a mockery.
My second example of the link between Homosexuality and the modern Anti-Christian movements isā¦
I personally know one of New Zealands most militant Atheists and Antichrists.
Radio and TV personality, Founding Father of the now disbanded New Zealand Libertarian party (Libertarianz), the unabashed Homosexual and Objectivist Lindsay Perigo.
In Politics I consider him my New Zealand mentor, to the extent that we both occupy whats is described in Libertarian circles as the āpuristā positionā¦ absolutely opposed to Political correctness, and compromise, and committed to standing on principle irrespective of how extremely unpopular any position might be.
Many times this has us standing among some of the most loathed minorities, in opposition to many of the most popular rallies for New persecutions.
Many times we have been criticized even by so-called fellow Libertarians for being too ridged and lacking Political expedienceā¦ after all is it not a political partyās ambition to be popular enough to get elected?
Linz and I would always say NOPE!
We would say there is no point getting into parliament nakedā¦ without our principlesā¦ and that to fool voters about our real intents for the sake of getting elected would be the very height of Shysterismā¦ and such strategies are irrefutable evidence of such candidates unworthiness to Govern!
We never did get electedā¦ but does this prove we are wrong?
I think not.
I have put myself forward at countless elections, always with the same values and Ideals.
I have never been successful in being electedā¦ yet I say I have never *lost* an election because I have always remained true to my personal convictions and always forthrightly expressed them to the voting public, even when I know how unpopular my Libertarianism is because it threatens the vested interests of the Status quo, and refuses to pander to the popular phobias of the masses.
We have also watched many of the ‘expedient touting Compromisers who though claiming to be Libertarians, distain idealism and instead claim pragmatism to be far more effective in the battle for freedom ā¦ as Act Party membersā¦ they get elected to parliament by selling out many of their professed values…because their position is less threatening to status quoā¦ yet Time after time, year after yearā¦ these types prove to be useless inert nothingsā¦ effecting no Libertarian reformsā¦ just collecting a State pay chequeā¦ funds for their partyā¦ and actually working for the beast against justice and libertarian ideals.
These sorts of people have never been responsible for the reforms that have slowly raised western civilization out of barbarism and oppression.
As Ayn Rand saidā¦ in any compromise with evilā¦ evil wins.
Both Linz and I are Stubbornā¦ yet we prefer the terms like Resoluteā¦ Stalwart.
So back to the subjectā¦ on this political level Linz and I are Kindred spirits, yet on another we are polls apartā¦ the matter of Religion.
And it is easy to see how history will have guided many Homosexuals towards Libertarianism , yet also affected a deep hatred of Christianityā¦ and not simply because of the persecutionsā¦ but also because it says Homosexuality is perverse and sinful.
They donāt like being called perverts, and they have been militantā¦ esp in the atheist Leftist sphere of politics in systematically attacking Christian valuesā¦ far beyond merely the removal of unjust lawsā¦ but in attempting to ānormaliseā homosexuality and obliterate the idea that it is sinful.
The Left via Marx has always been an Anti-Christian movement, always attempted to overthrow the Christian world view and install itās own Atheistic pseudo moralityā¦ Yet It is disappointing for me that though Lindsey Perigo is super intelligent and was smart enough to abandon Socialism for libertarianismā¦ yet he still harbors a vicious hatred for the Christian religionā¦ and in fact believes that belief in God is one of the pillars of tyranny.
As an Objectivist his personal Ego knows no bounds and any belief that he is somehow a pervert is tantamount to Blasphemy against his self-worship.
Interesting enough his Goddessā¦ the Atheist Ayn Rand also thought homosexuality was immoral and perverse, yet he has gone to great lengths to argue *She was Wrong!* about thisā¦ proving *No argumentā¦ no matter who from what direction will ever convince Lindsey to believe Homosexuality is sinful.
Stalwartā¦ or beyond reason?
Lindsay is dedicated to keeping his conscience clear about his personal sexualityā¦ and there is plenty of Modern Psychology and pseudo science to under-gird his ideological Edifice.
As a christian vehemently condemn his chosen Religion of Atheism!
Not only because I believe it to be false, but just as importantly because in my view it is corrosive to the underpinnings of Libertarianism and the Justice of the principle of Equal rights for all…. which are squarely founded upon Biblical Theistic principles… Inalienable rights being *God Given* and above any dictates of Human government.
Thus I contend that despite that manifold evils that have been committed in God’s name… that Linz is absolutely wrong… and that Religion is essential to Freeing humanity from Tyranny!
See some of my aruements >here< and >here< and >here<
Nonetheless Yet I sympathize with Atheists , having been one myself... knowing the Darkness they mistake for light... and just how alien Theism is to the Godless.
I spend a great deal of my spare time attempting to present well reasoned arguments both for faith in the Bible, and exposing the follies of Atheist materialism.
Though there is no *HomoGene* yet still Modern Atheist Evolutionary psychology is attempting to obliterate Christian morality by denying freewill, and saying all our thoughts, choices, and desires are nothing but machine programs originating in our DNA.
For Homosexuals this would mean they cant be morally responsible for their perversions any more than a waterfall is responsible for gravity.
Via such a conception the idea that Homosexuality is genetic eliminates the whole accusation that it is 'Un-natural'....against nature.
Read more >here<
Any one Goggling Lindsay Perigo and religion, atheim, etc will find mountains of his works that seethe with bitterness and hatred for all things Christian... for theistic religion in general.... to him they are all equally false... equality oppressive and Evil.
The perseverance of Homosexuality while supporting the doctrines of the book of Genesis *actually defies the theory of evolution* because if it was merely some form of Genetic anomaly... it is definitively *a dead end*.... Homosexuality makes such Genetics... less fit to survive... because it is sterile... tending towards Extinction.
His unwavering animosity towards Christianity has meant that despite our Political Comradeship, Lindsay and I are so diametrically opposed on the question of Religion as to only communicate on rarest of occasions...and this is sad because as Libertarians we could have been the best of friends and allies.
The choice to keep our lives separate is no doubt mutualā¦ I do it to insulate myself from his Rabid atheism, and I assume he does it to insulate himself from my Rabid Christian Theismā¦ though we may find each others political posts inspiring, and fortifying, We find each others daily rants about religion intolerable. .. so in keeping with the best Libertarian idealsā¦ we simply leave each other alone.
I pray for his enlightenment and Salvationā¦ yet it appears to me that Homosexuals are some of the most blinded souls to the mercy and forgiveness of God.
I hope that if he ever reads this post that it gives him pause.
Here is but a tiny snippet Anti theism/ Anti-Christianity from Linz's pen... quite a mild example at that, yet shows just how he maintains his hatred by reliving the dark ages...
"In the case of the good guys like Aristotle and Jefferson, their lapses contradicted their essential goodness. In the case of Christianity, persecution, torture and bigotry went with the territory (and still would if the fagot-lighters had political dominance)[ie, Christians are EVIL!!!]. They who believe absurdities (such as your lonely goblin story) commit atrocities. [See, see, EVIL!!!!] They who are capable of believing in the justice of eternal torture are not going to have any qualms about inflicting temporary torture [Oh, except for not wanting to end up there themselves, but we'll ignore that ... Christians are EVIL!!!!]." Lindsey Perigo
Many Homos refuse to forget the ages of persecutionā¦ even though they themselves may have never have experienced any of it. They will have encountered plenty of Zealous Christians motivated by the same Self-righteous hatred who have told them āGod hates Fagsāā¦ and insisted that Homosexuals are far more deviant sinners than themselves.
This Rank hypocrisy of the Christians only serves to strengthen their resolve to die unrepentant ā¦ thumbing their noses at Christ with their dying breath, yet in reality The Bible does not single out Homosexuality as being more wicked than other sins, nor does it instruct Christians to hate themā¦ yet still many do.
To Homosexualsā¦ Militancy against Christianity is exercising their Rightsā¦ and paybacks for centuries of oppression of ātheir kindā, and to Libertarians like myself it is a just that they are now free not only from persecution for being gay, but also to speak their minds without censureā¦ even though many of them are now actively attacking *my own faith*.
Not only do I understand where their angst came from, I believe they have the right to reject Christ, and vocally express their views, and am glad that the era of Legalistic oppression of homosexuals is virtually over in Western democracies.
And here we Return to David Bowie and his Gay Friends and contemporaries, whose musical talent has helped to break down the walls of bigotry by their sheer geniusā¦ and musical gifts they have bestowed upon their generations. They were a big part of the movement of Liberation, often activists and spokesman.
They are adored by millions.
Society no longer cheers, but morns when they die.
And I am one of their fans who love the music... and the freedom that comes when ancient tyrannies crumble.
I cant help but chuckle about the revelation that David Bowie was getting so High that he cant even remember making one of his most revered Lp's Station to Station.
:-D
Swiss monument to Freddy Mercury.
Yet typically for mankindā¦. As Ralph Waldo Emersonā¦ āthe law of Compensationā is a part of the human condition, and is at all times at work.
This law means that for every advance, progression, reform, positive Good innovationā¦ there will resultā¦ from the human condition some Declinesā¦. Some negatives.
This means that when some good man creates something designed to improve the human conditionā¦ that some scoundrels will in short succession figure out how to use it for wickednessā¦ and so it is that Homosexuals in western civilization have not merely been liberated from oppression, many are hell bent on actually manipulating the general bigotry of atheists towards traditional Christianity, into Lobbying for Laws forbidding Christians from exercising their own religious liberty!
Theses militant Atheists seek to prevent Christians vocalizing their belief that Homosexuality is sinfulā¦ by labeling such expressions as āhate speechā.
Having been granted the right to get āmarriedāā¦ some homosexuals maliciously call upon āanti-discrimination lawsā in the hope to *force churches* to perform Gay marriages *against their own will and beliefs. They demand Christian Bakers bake them Gay Marriage cakes, etcā¦ and all this is not only a gross hypocrisy on their part, not only new oppressions, but also ammunition for those bigoted Christians who resisted Law reforms that removed oppressions from Homosexuals.
Wikipedia has a page on ‘Militant Gays’>here<.
Yes, Mankind as a society appears fated to remain unregenerateā¦ It is not only the poor who will always be with usā¦. But also the spirits of Bigotry, Hypocrisy, and Oppression.
They just take on new formsā¦ and reciprocateā¦ as power shifts from one side to the other.
Thus it is difficult for a Libertarian to say that Western civilization has in reality become more enlightenedā¦ but rather gains on one side are being counterbalanced by regressions on another.
Homosexuality is nothing new, yet in terms of āthe salt of the Earthā¦. Christian values and it’s cultural paradigmā¦ the moral slide that David Bowie and Homosexual atheists have played such a massive part in may be understood by looking backā¦ Bowie was āShocking for his dayāā¦ yet comparatively benign compared to what is needed to shock us today.
We have all to a certain degree acclimatized to the āPost Christian eraāā¦ We are inoculated rather than enlightened… at ease with Sexual perversityā¦. We feel this liberalism as an opiate on our conscienceā¦ yet which is in reality a regression back towards Sodom and Gomorrah.
We read articles predicting consumers are expected to buy more ‘Gender neutral’ toys this year… ‘As the lines between sexes continue to Blur’.
We are all more comfortable with our own sinsā¦ we feel less need for Christ.
Many Christians are forsaking the spirit of Persecution of Homosexualsā¦ yet because of the Atheist propaganda that has accompanied this shiftā¦ they themselves have been abandoning faith in the veracity of the Theology of Genesis!
They Join the Infidel chorus in ānormalisingā and morally sanitizing Homosexuality!
Some Liberal churches willingly perform Gay marriages, have Gay Priests and ministers, etcā¦. and in my view this is nothing short of a sell outā¦ the loss of Truthā¦ part of the slide downhill.
It is one thing to stop persecuting sinners and infidelsā¦ yet quite another to endorse them and absolve them of sin.
It has always been the hardest thing for me as a Christian Libertarian to walk the line between these two factions of Christianityā¦ to one moment be seen standing with the liberals against oppression, and yet the next be standing with the conservatives in support of their rights to call homosexuality Sinful.
Both sides think Iām a sell outā¦ and Most Homosexuals dislike me simply because I am a Christian.
How many ‘Facebook likes’ will this Blog post receive?
I expect very few.
This is not the note I was hoping my tribute the Great David Bowie and discourse to finnish.
His Death from Cancer of the liver is tragically but one of millionsā¦ my own Dear Aunty Carol died that way.
Modern medicine being able to thwart many of the Grim Reapers traditional weaponsā¦ he resorts to this accursed blight more and moreā¦ and it is greatly feared.
Yet still the Upside of such deaths gives the departing time not only to say good bye to friends and loved onesā¦ it also gives them time to contemplate their own spiritual condition knowing they are about to pass through the door into eternityā¦ it gives then opportunity to call upon Christ to be saved.
The fact Bowies second marriage to a stunning Muslim woman lasted 23 plus years an was cut short by his death, leaves us to speculate that he had in fact abandoned his need for homosexual gratification, and none other than Christian Evangelist Ray Comfort speculates that Bowie himself may have been contemplating his approaching appointment with his maker ā¦ and “returned to the faith of his youth”ā¦ in his last song named āLazarusā he singsā¦ āLook at me Man, Iām in Heavenā¦ā.
I truly hope so!
For the blood of Christ is powerful enough to redeem the foulest, most depraved of sinners who but calls upon his nameā¦. and I say for all his sins and perversionsā¦ for all his participation in the moral slide of contemporary western civilizationā¦ David certainly was not the most evil of menā¦ not by a long shot.
Far Worse in my book are all those who commit persecutions and evils in Christās holy and blessed name because they inspired the backlash and rejection of Christ.
David will be greatly missed.
Tim Wikiriwhi
Christian Libertarian.
Update:16-1-16 Stuff article: David Bowie’s sexuality is still hotly debated, but does it matter?
“In the days since his death, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender fans have shared how the rocker influenced their lives and helped bring queer culture into the mainstream in the 1960s and 1970s. In essays, interviews, on Twitter and on Facebook, they told how his rise gave them strength.
Many saw a kindred spirit in Bowie’s various characters and gender-bending style, beginning with his first androgynous persona, Ziggy Stardust, in 1972. Not only had he made a glittery, alien-looking creature look cool, he had helped pioneer a sexy (and marketable) form of otherness that mainstream artists have tried to replicate in the decades since…”
Read more >Here<
Update 2: 20-1-16 Bowie Really is in Heaven!! :-)
ļæ¼No, Richard, your speculation is not a legitimate scientific theory, it is infantile hocus pocus, which is all I’ve come to expect of you.
Infantile hocus pocus because demons do not exist, neither do gods, fairies, Santa’s-little-helpers or harpies. You’ve never seen one, heard one, touched one, smelled one nor tasted one, neither can you provide an iota of rationale that there exists such a spirit in the universe.
What was called “demon possession” by religionists is mental illness. You’re giving a psychiatric condition a superstitious definition. You call that scientific?
You’re talking like a complete nut-case.
I speculate that what is now called “mental illness” by psychiatrists is actually demonic possession. My claim is this, that the demonic possession model of mental illness is more scientific than the psychiatric model of mental illness. Crazy talk? He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Two of the largest stakeholder groups in the treatment of mental illness are psychiatrists and psychologists. Psychiatrists are doctors with medical degrees who specialise in treating mental illness as opposed to physical illness. (Please excuse the dichotomy.) They get to prescribe powerful psychotropic drugs. Whereas, psychologists are trained in psychology. They know all about human behaviour, both adaptive and maladaptive. But they don’t get to prescribe, so they’ll give you psychotherapy instead of pills.
Let’s take a look at how these two groups characterise one mental illness in particular, viz., addiction.
In DSM-5, the DSM-IV criteria substance abuse and substance dependence have been combined into single substance use disorders specific to each substance of abuse within a new “addictions and related disorders” category. Each substance use disorder is divided into mild, moderate, and severe subtypes.
Psychology Today is a magazine published every two months in the United States. Its intent is to make psychology literature more accessible to the general public. It’s a reputable publication. Wikipedia notes
Owned and managed by the American Psychological Association from 1983 to 1987, the publication is currently endorsed by the National Board for Certified Counselors
Here‘s what Psychology Today has to say about addiction.
most addictive behavior is not related to either physical tolerance or exposure to cues. People compulsively use drugs, gamble, or shop nearly always in reaction to being emotionally stressed, whether or not they have a physical addiction. Since these psychologically based addictions are not based on drug or brain effects, they can account for why people frequently switch addictive actions from one drug to a completely different kind of drug, or even to a non-drug behavior. The focus of the addiction isn’t what matters; it’s the need to take action under certain kinds of stress. Treating this kind of addiction requires an understanding of how it works psychologically.
See the problem?
Suppose that I’m an addict. Now suppose that I make an appointment to see a psychiatrist. She’ll tell me that I have several specific mental disorders. Cannabis use disorder, alcohol use disorder, social media use disorder, etc. Next suppose that I make an appointment to see a psychologist. He’ll tell me that the focus of my behaviour isn’t what matters. It’s my need to take maladaptive action under certain kinds of stress that I need to address.
So do I have a mental disorder, several specific mental disorders, or no mental disorder at all? Health professionals can’t agree. There is no consensus. This ain’t climate science! But suppose I’m an addict. I’ll be going back to see the psychologist to help me get my life back on track, not the psychiatrist. (Although she could prescribe me some powerful psychotropic drugs … hmmm.)
The science isn’t settled, but the psychiatric model of mental illness isn’t even science at all. Not least because it gets diagnoses disastrously wrong. Not yet convinced? Well, there’s a much more devastating objection to the psychiatric model of mental illness and that is that the model does a poor job of capturing either clinical or biological realities. Not to put too fine a point on it, it’s bullshit. But if the psychiatric model of mental illness isn’t scientific at all, then the demonic possession model of mental illness is certainly no less scientific than the psychiatric model of mental illness. And to establish my claim that the demonic possession model is more scientific than the psychiatric model all I need to do is show that the demonic possession model is scientific. Well, at least just a little bit sciency. So here goes.
Check your premises, as the devil woman said. Here are two of my background assumptions. (If you don’t like the first one, you can dispense with it later.)
Materialism about the mind. That’s my first background assumption. More specifically, I assume that the human mind is no more and no less than a suite of software running on wetware known colloquially as ābrainsā. We’re made out of meat. Considered by some to be an axiom of the modern naturalist worldview. Not too controversial. Unless you’re a dualist.
Self-ownership. Self-ownership of body and mind. That’s my second background assumption. Considered by many to be a libertarian axiom. Not too shabby. Not too controversial.
But ownership is right of possession. Possession?
Can you possess yourself? Of course you can. (Vacant possession is for zombies!) Can you possess your mind? Of course you can, you’d be pretty vacant otherwise, right? But wait! You are your mind. How can a suite of software possess itself? It can, and it must, since self-ownership is worthless if self-possession is incoherent. So how and in what sense does the suite of software that is you possess you? I submit that the suite of software that is you possesses your brain (the wetware you run on) merely by dint of running on it. By extension, the suite of software that is you possesses your body (the biomechanical structure that your wetware is directly wired into) by directly controlling it.
Demonic possession?
That’s when an autonomous suite of malicious software that is not you runs on your wetware alongside the suite of software that is you. Consuming some or all of your mental resources and taking control of some or all of your behaviour.
But how do demons originate? Where do they come from? And how do they get to install themselves? How do they get to take up residence in people’s minds? The short answer is self-deception.
The long answer isn’t much longer. Not right now. The demonic possession theory of mental illness is something I’m still working on. But here are some brief thoughts. Self-deception will occur in response to psychological trauma. We dull the pain. We suppress memories. We partition our own minds. Simple cognitive dissonance will cause us to wall off uncomfortable thought processes, and confirmation bias and other cognitive biases cement the bricks. Humans are adept at self-deception. We like to hide from the truth. We lie to ourselves and we believe our own bullshit. And we hide from the fact that we believe our own bullshit. Out of sight, out of mind. But there’s only so much of us that can be hidden away before a dangerous threshold is reached and the occult cognition reaches a critical mass, the reviled software modules start talking to each other and take on life as autonomous inner demons.
Our inner demons are spirits in prisons of our own making. Behind the prison walls they are perpetually face to face with all the horrors that we desperately do not want to see and can no longer see due to our own dread and duplicity. No wonder they seem tormented! Because they are. I surmise that in some cases our inner demons will even spawn their own inner demons, to hide from themselves as we hide from them. But here’s an interesting thing. Some demons, face to face with the truth from which we hide, will try to get the word out. To do that, they have to take control of speech, but you don’t want to hear the unadorned brutal truth about yourself, do you? But you won’t mind hearing it at all if your inner demon persuades you that what you’re about to hear isn’t an entirely accurate but altogether unflattering description of yourself but a damning indictment of someone else instead, will you? Welcome to Capill syndrome, aka projection, a sure diagnostic criterion of demonic possession.
In the story of the Gadarene Swine, when Jesus ordered the demons out of the demon-possessed man, they relocated to a nearby herd of pigs. Then promptly self-destructed. Fast forward two millennia, and instead of suicidal swine we have supermarket trolleys with minds of their own.
