Went to see a live rehearsal of John Constables Southwark mysteries play at the Scoop on the Southbank on Saturday. I remember seeing a mysteries play on TV with Brian Glover playing God, it seems it is very important for mysteries plays to be made contemporary in some way and this one is a true post rave mysteries play.
I thought this was one of the most amazing plays I have ever seen. Being ex-christian the existential and spiritual drama really spoke to me as a thing of healing. Everyone was really well cast, especially Jesus and the Devil. Its a real shame the run at Southwark cathedral is sold out because heading down there afterwards with some of the cast it is obvious that it is going to be an epic, well done to all involved.
Southwark Mysteries blog here
Southwark Mysteries on Songs of Praise
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Showing posts with label god. Show all posts
Showing posts with label god. Show all posts
April 19, 2010
February 23, 2009
If you have ever wondered...
The Bible mentions four powerful drugs, three that are stronger than LSD. They are wormwood, hemlock, gall and myrrh. None are ever used to induce visions of the Bible God. No prophet of God ever used drugs to speak or listen to God in the Scriptures. Anything that takes away the conscious control of our minds or feelings is a sin against our souls. No one has a right to put himself at the mercy of a chemical that opens the door of the mind to the spirit world outside of Christ's loving protection. No true disciple of Jesus uses drugs. The use of drugs to put us into contact with the spirit world is something that God hates with a holy anger because it brings such deep spiritual damage to the souls He has entrusted to us. It is worth a note to see that Jesus was offered a drug mixture only once in His life - and He refused it....
alternatively:
The Bible does not directly address any form of illicit drug use. There are no express prohibitions against cocaine, heroin, ecstasy (MDMA), or methamphetamines (Meth). There is no mention of marijuana, peyote, magic mushrooms, or acid (LSD). Nothing is said about huffing, snorting, dropping, smoking, shooting, licking, or any other method of ingestion. This is not to say, however, that recreational drug use is permissible. On the contrary, there are several very clear biblical principles that place drug use well outside the realm of acceptable behavior...
..
alternatively:
The Bible does not directly address any form of illicit drug use. There are no express prohibitions against cocaine, heroin, ecstasy (MDMA), or methamphetamines (Meth). There is no mention of marijuana, peyote, magic mushrooms, or acid (LSD). Nothing is said about huffing, snorting, dropping, smoking, shooting, licking, or any other method of ingestion. This is not to say, however, that recreational drug use is permissible. On the contrary, there are several very clear biblical principles that place drug use well outside the realm of acceptable behavior...
..
November 14, 2008
GOD- THE TERRORIST IN THE DOCK
A judge has thrown out a case against God - as the Almighty doesn't have an official address and legal papers can't be served.
Nebraska State Senator Ernie Chambers filed the lawsuit last year seeking a permanent injunction against God who he said made terrorist threats against him and his Omaha constituents.
Additionally, he said God inspired fear and caused "widespread death, destruction and terrorisation of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants".
..
Nebraska State Senator Ernie Chambers filed the lawsuit last year seeking a permanent injunction against God who he said made terrorist threats against him and his Omaha constituents.
Additionally, he said God inspired fear and caused "widespread death, destruction and terrorisation of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants".
..
April 22, 2007
December 18, 2005
These are not the droids you are looking for...Move along.
Whats all this about then?
A citizen of Mosul's son is a Star from Mosul who is a very happy voter.
I opposed the war at the start and was proud of UK kids for trying to stop it. Now, reading the words of those American's who believe they are risking their lives to "free" this guy from tyranny is sobering. After Dictatorship, democracy has to look like a good idea, unless you are Islamic, in which case you've got a Christian invader on your hands which it is your duty to fight apparently.
I hold a lot less opinions since I've been experimenting with film, and generally over the last few years. I rarely make judgments anymore. I lean left but its not the whole story. That I know for a fact. When I first started I thought "The media are all controlled by government" etc. I felt a lot more "activist" but was hugely cynical in "activist" circles.
Filming the Finsbury park story was like an artistic rebellion against that sort of "pigeon holing." of "self". I can't stand in any group of any description for too long. I used to have much more of a "monkey" nature.
FIT squad: So what have you been filming?
Bones: I've got 45 hours from Finsbury park.
FIT squad: So what are you goin' to do wiv it then?
Bones: I'm going to make a bloody film with it.
Watching the process of news being made and then seeing it on TV later I'm a lot more convinced that it is all a big misunderstanding. That George and Tony are actually nice people who are just ill advised or maybe just "unaware of opportunities" for humanity maybe. There is a great investment in the status quo. It doesn't matter how many people suffer elsewhere as long as you can't see them. Those who would interest others in change run too quickly down the "protest" funnel and make themselves unable to communicate the change that they want to see.
To be fair to the FIT squad, suicidal versions of the protestors they used to see many, many years ago must have been the nightmare which went through their minds when they saw me. Thats fair enough I suppose. We all see in stereotypes. I wouldn't like to do their job all day. Making a mental leap between leery, ketamine and can of cider/squat protest culture and sober, pious fundamental Islam would HOPEFULLY be too difficult for anyone to invent.
I've kept this blog just in case anyone with the power to remove my freedom would try.
I can't see a God anywhere, or any obvious answers. I'd like there to be a benevolent God but I've watched nature programs on TV. How animals behave towards each other doesn't hint at a benevolent God to me. Quite the opposite, and those who teach their children about a benevolent God seem the most predesposed to justify killing.
I can see right and wrong but I'm afraid that this is what I think life is really all about. I can't justify myself in this theory either.
It does sober me though, to find Police on the ground so easily obsessed with public order problems they never see anymore when in reality we seem to be threatened by miniscule numbers of well behaved people who might explode.
A citizen of Mosul's son is a Star from Mosul who is a very happy voter.
I opposed the war at the start and was proud of UK kids for trying to stop it. Now, reading the words of those American's who believe they are risking their lives to "free" this guy from tyranny is sobering. After Dictatorship, democracy has to look like a good idea, unless you are Islamic, in which case you've got a Christian invader on your hands which it is your duty to fight apparently.
I hold a lot less opinions since I've been experimenting with film, and generally over the last few years. I rarely make judgments anymore. I lean left but its not the whole story. That I know for a fact. When I first started I thought "The media are all controlled by government" etc. I felt a lot more "activist" but was hugely cynical in "activist" circles.
Filming the Finsbury park story was like an artistic rebellion against that sort of "pigeon holing." of "self". I can't stand in any group of any description for too long. I used to have much more of a "monkey" nature.
FIT squad: So what have you been filming?
Bones: I've got 45 hours from Finsbury park.
FIT squad: So what are you goin' to do wiv it then?
Bones: I'm going to make a bloody film with it.
Watching the process of news being made and then seeing it on TV later I'm a lot more convinced that it is all a big misunderstanding. That George and Tony are actually nice people who are just ill advised or maybe just "unaware of opportunities" for humanity maybe. There is a great investment in the status quo. It doesn't matter how many people suffer elsewhere as long as you can't see them. Those who would interest others in change run too quickly down the "protest" funnel and make themselves unable to communicate the change that they want to see.
To be fair to the FIT squad, suicidal versions of the protestors they used to see many, many years ago must have been the nightmare which went through their minds when they saw me. Thats fair enough I suppose. We all see in stereotypes. I wouldn't like to do their job all day. Making a mental leap between leery, ketamine and can of cider/squat protest culture and sober, pious fundamental Islam would HOPEFULLY be too difficult for anyone to invent.
I've kept this blog just in case anyone with the power to remove my freedom would try.
I can't see a God anywhere, or any obvious answers. I'd like there to be a benevolent God but I've watched nature programs on TV. How animals behave towards each other doesn't hint at a benevolent God to me. Quite the opposite, and those who teach their children about a benevolent God seem the most predesposed to justify killing.
I can see right and wrong but I'm afraid that this is what I think life is really all about. I can't justify myself in this theory either.
It does sober me though, to find Police on the ground so easily obsessed with public order problems they never see anymore when in reality we seem to be threatened by miniscule numbers of well behaved people who might explode.
December 10, 2005
HAJJ'S PLACE
OK. I just got back from Hajj's place where I got to see Channel 4's dispatches programme on Extraordinary rendition. Very good stuff anchored by Andrew Gilligan. I also heard from Hajj that two ex-attendee's of Finsbury park mosque have been arrested. A couple of Algerians they want to deport but I'm still trying to work out which ones. He went into more detail about the centrality of his house to "fundamental" Islam.
"al-Faisal used to call this his second home."
Hamza had been round, all the neighbours know Hajj well.
"Meetings with these people and up to sixty people happened here all the time for years. This is a dawa house."
The Police have never, ever questioned Hajj once about anything.
"Someone drew the curtain once. I said brother why do you draw the curtain? My house is open, the door is open. Nothing in here is secret. If anyone has secrets, take them somewhere else."
After the film I watched Yvonne Ridley on the Islamic channel for a bit. I told Hajj I had met her once but she didn't seem to like me very much. He said that all of them had thought something bad about me when they had first seen me.
"What- you thought I was MI-5?"
"Worse."
"A Satan worshipper?"
"Worse. I don't want to say and insult you..."
"Ahhh... You thought I was gay because of the bones in my ears..."
"Yes. That was the discussion we had. Its not because of what you look like in itself..."
"And being gay is worse than worshipping Satan?"
"Do you think homosexuals are naturally born that way?"
"Yes. I think so." I said. "Although I am not gay myself, I agree with the rights of gays and lesbians who live here in peace. The world is over populated anyway..."
"So how would God make something that isn't perfect?"
It is hard talking to someone with a God concept when I don't have one. Its strange talking in such a peacable manner about such emotive things. Hajj has taken a step back from all things "fundamental" including, I fear further participation in my filming. If I could I'd have a camera on him 24/7 and it wouldn't be for security reasons. I want to film him on his step-machine.
"al-Faisal used to call this his second home."
Hamza had been round, all the neighbours know Hajj well.
"Meetings with these people and up to sixty people happened here all the time for years. This is a dawa house."
The Police have never, ever questioned Hajj once about anything.
"Someone drew the curtain once. I said brother why do you draw the curtain? My house is open, the door is open. Nothing in here is secret. If anyone has secrets, take them somewhere else."
After the film I watched Yvonne Ridley on the Islamic channel for a bit. I told Hajj I had met her once but she didn't seem to like me very much. He said that all of them had thought something bad about me when they had first seen me.
"What- you thought I was MI-5?"
"Worse."
"A Satan worshipper?"
"Worse. I don't want to say and insult you..."
"Ahhh... You thought I was gay because of the bones in my ears..."
"Yes. That was the discussion we had. Its not because of what you look like in itself..."
"And being gay is worse than worshipping Satan?"
"Do you think homosexuals are naturally born that way?"
"Yes. I think so." I said. "Although I am not gay myself, I agree with the rights of gays and lesbians who live here in peace. The world is over populated anyway..."
"So how would God make something that isn't perfect?"
It is hard talking to someone with a God concept when I don't have one. Its strange talking in such a peacable manner about such emotive things. Hajj has taken a step back from all things "fundamental" including, I fear further participation in my filming. If I could I'd have a camera on him 24/7 and it wouldn't be for security reasons. I want to film him on his step-machine.
October 30, 2005
GODBLOGS
via Angie at the QCA
What would Jesus blog?
That and other pressing questions drew 135 Christians to Southern California this weekend for a national conference billed as the first-ever for "God bloggers," a growing community of online writers who exchange information and analyze current events from a Christian perspective...
At one well-attended workshop -- "When Non-Christians Read Your Blog" -- Biola University professor Timothy Muehlhoff gave instructions on writing about faith without alienating nonbelievers. He stressed that God blogging has the potential to be a "train wreck" because done wrong it can reinforce stereotypes of evangelical Christians as angry and close-minded "pit bulls of the culture wars."
"As Christians today we are embroiled in the argument culture and we have forgotten this one thing: 'Blessed are the peacemakers.'," he said. "Wouldn't it be nice if we could say we brought a level of civility back to the conversation?"
I haven't met an angry or closed minded christian for a long while in real life or in cyberspace.
The article links to evangelicaloutpost.com and smartchristian.com
I had a look at evangelical outpost. It seems to be mainly concerned with investment advice. There is also a piece about whether christians should "take a stand against" Halloween.
I remember our pastor used to preach that people have "Forgotten the real meaning of Christmas." Its not true. Christmas was a totally pagan festival about eating, drinking and giving presents before christianity usurped it and it was usurped deliberately.
It has just returned to its original pre-christian flavour naturaly. Easter is the same. Not that I am against christians having their own festivals. If they really want to stand separate they should change the date of Christmas and Easter though. Thats what I would do.
What would Jesus blog?
That and other pressing questions drew 135 Christians to Southern California this weekend for a national conference billed as the first-ever for "God bloggers," a growing community of online writers who exchange information and analyze current events from a Christian perspective...
At one well-attended workshop -- "When Non-Christians Read Your Blog" -- Biola University professor Timothy Muehlhoff gave instructions on writing about faith without alienating nonbelievers. He stressed that God blogging has the potential to be a "train wreck" because done wrong it can reinforce stereotypes of evangelical Christians as angry and close-minded "pit bulls of the culture wars."
"As Christians today we are embroiled in the argument culture and we have forgotten this one thing: 'Blessed are the peacemakers.'," he said. "Wouldn't it be nice if we could say we brought a level of civility back to the conversation?"
I haven't met an angry or closed minded christian for a long while in real life or in cyberspace.
The article links to evangelicaloutpost.com and smartchristian.com
I had a look at evangelical outpost. It seems to be mainly concerned with investment advice. There is also a piece about whether christians should "take a stand against" Halloween.
I remember our pastor used to preach that people have "Forgotten the real meaning of Christmas." Its not true. Christmas was a totally pagan festival about eating, drinking and giving presents before christianity usurped it and it was usurped deliberately.
It has just returned to its original pre-christian flavour naturaly. Easter is the same. Not that I am against christians having their own festivals. If they really want to stand separate they should change the date of Christmas and Easter though. Thats what I would do.
July 08, 2005
ENLIGHTENMENT
Name and shame all the bastards who profited from terror yesterday! Fucking hotels doubling their prices. Wankers. Should be ashamed of themselves. I found it understandably difficult to get anyone to look after my bag outside the Old Bailey today.
The fucking Injuns in the Spar (small uk supermarket) wanted £5. I went back to the Italians for £2 but was honestly suprised anyone would take it in the circumstances. So happens a friend of mine walked past who works in nearby leather lane so I am sorted for next week.
I've found another link. La Stampa. Is that like, the La Stampa? As in the Italian national newspaper?
And what does
Qualcuno saputo delle accuse ad Al Qaeda parla di Abu Hamza.
mean?
Is it another person calling me a fucking terrorist lover?
I'm afraid I still can't tell you what is happening in court today. I've considered sending my notes to Republican bloggers to publish in America. Would that still be illegal? Don't want to piss the judge off. I've actually heard a couple of cases quoted which might be helpful to my squatting buddies.
I am a bit frustrated being a blogger who would like to scoop the big boys. (sorry I AM NOT A BLOGGER am I Matt drudge?) Suffice to say that if you know anything about this case the "legal arguments" taking place are BLEEDIN' OBVIOUS ones.
I wish I could post a picture of all the journalists on the press bench secretly reading their newspapers. Hamza's not interested, journalists not interested, that leaves me, the judge and two barristers! Fuck it, I'm going to blog about celebrities or reality TV instead.
Anyway, on to the title of this post-
If ever you get a chance to watch a film called What the bleep do we know? watch it. It is ENLIGHTENMENT IN A MOVIE. Fucking amazing. When I first saw fractals, and how for the first time a computer could really rival man as an artist I thought- Yes. That is the answer and the question rolled into one. Fractals are a huge influence on my own artwork.
I've heard of particle physicists and quantum mechanics (mechanicals?) getting excited about their shit in a "spiritual way" but this film is the first to explain to me how and why. Watch it, and when you do, stick a little comment up here if you have the time! I would be interested to know what you think, regardless what you think of me.
When it comes to religion I am a strange one. Those who read this blog may be surprised that I have never been tempted by Islam. I lost a very deeply held Christian faith at the age of 16 mainly because of sex drugs and rock and roll (although they came to me reverse order).
I certainly am not "anti-god concept" at all, and am wondering why I still have group membership to the quality control alliance. I am beginning to think that I am a pantheist, but that is probably only because a friend of mine who is an RE teacher left a book on pantheism around the house.
As a general rule when people ask me what I believe I always say that I don't believe in belief. There either is a God or there isn't one. What I believe makes no difference to that fact. Being a malung, Hinduism isn't far from my "pantheon". It is also to my knowledge, the only religion in recent times to have a genuine miracle reported internationally on television.
The fucking Injuns in the Spar (small uk supermarket) wanted £5. I went back to the Italians for £2 but was honestly suprised anyone would take it in the circumstances. So happens a friend of mine walked past who works in nearby leather lane so I am sorted for next week.
I've found another link. La Stampa. Is that like, the La Stampa? As in the Italian national newspaper?
And what does
Qualcuno saputo delle accuse ad Al Qaeda parla di Abu Hamza.
mean?
Is it another person calling me a fucking terrorist lover?
I'm afraid I still can't tell you what is happening in court today. I've considered sending my notes to Republican bloggers to publish in America. Would that still be illegal? Don't want to piss the judge off. I've actually heard a couple of cases quoted which might be helpful to my squatting buddies.
I am a bit frustrated being a blogger who would like to scoop the big boys. (sorry I AM NOT A BLOGGER am I Matt drudge?) Suffice to say that if you know anything about this case the "legal arguments" taking place are BLEEDIN' OBVIOUS ones.
I wish I could post a picture of all the journalists on the press bench secretly reading their newspapers. Hamza's not interested, journalists not interested, that leaves me, the judge and two barristers! Fuck it, I'm going to blog about celebrities or reality TV instead.
Anyway, on to the title of this post-
If ever you get a chance to watch a film called What the bleep do we know? watch it. It is ENLIGHTENMENT IN A MOVIE. Fucking amazing. When I first saw fractals, and how for the first time a computer could really rival man as an artist I thought- Yes. That is the answer and the question rolled into one. Fractals are a huge influence on my own artwork.
I've heard of particle physicists and quantum mechanics (mechanicals?) getting excited about their shit in a "spiritual way" but this film is the first to explain to me how and why. Watch it, and when you do, stick a little comment up here if you have the time! I would be interested to know what you think, regardless what you think of me.
When it comes to religion I am a strange one. Those who read this blog may be surprised that I have never been tempted by Islam. I lost a very deeply held Christian faith at the age of 16 mainly because of sex drugs and rock and roll (although they came to me reverse order).
I certainly am not "anti-god concept" at all, and am wondering why I still have group membership to the quality control alliance. I am beginning to think that I am a pantheist, but that is probably only because a friend of mine who is an RE teacher left a book on pantheism around the house.
As a general rule when people ask me what I believe I always say that I don't believe in belief. There either is a God or there isn't one. What I believe makes no difference to that fact. Being a malung, Hinduism isn't far from my "pantheon". It is also to my knowledge, the only religion in recent times to have a genuine miracle reported internationally on television.
May 14, 2004
GOD
In a years gonzo style film making I have always kept to the rule that I only disturbed Mr. Hamza, Abdullah, Hajj and friends when there were already camera’s about. I had no desire to join in the kangaroo court, I never felt very marsupial like. In a week when it was quiet Mr. Abdullah came up to me. He and Hajj asked me if what I had heard had any effect on me, meaning was I wavering towards becoming a Muslim. I said that I didn’t really want to discuss whether I thought there was a god or not in their mosque, and we made a tentative agreement to discuss this all with a camera in a café. The next week Muslims were arrested in Britain, allegedly with half a ton of fertiliser in a lock up.
To make any document of this mosque I’ve found it interesting to examine my own concept of god, and to be as honest as possible about it, especially to Mr. Abdullah. I suppose I have always been filming with the hope of a solution in mind. Being loosely attached to various groups who believe in social change, I’ve always felt more inclined to film in Finsbury Park, where the rights and wrongs are less clear to me than make any dogmatic film about how much better “we” are than “them". I don’t hate George Bush, I just feel sorry for him. I come from a loose group of people who believe there is going to be a global shift in consciousness, rather than any political or religious solution. I went to Finsbury Park to test the reality such a utopic view is up against. It worries me as a secular, spiritual person that there are so many Americans and so many Muslims locking us all into an Armageddon theory.
Being so close to the situation at Finsbury Park I wonder sometimes what sort of reception a TV documentary about Mr. Abdullah would get. I gave the same short I made for Idealworld to a lot of the younger guys at Finsbury Park to see what they made of it. I also gave it to Mr. Abdullah. The advantage of documentary making is that I can let the audience make the judgment. The safety of London is at stake. Its certainly been a bizarre journey. Why I do it I have still to work out. Maybe I should ask Abu Hamza.
Do I believe in God? I don't actually believe in belief. There either is one or there isn't one, and whatever I believe wont change that fact. I'm just trying to stay off cannabis and meditate.
Pro-Finsbury Park mosque:
http://www.supportersofshariah.org
Anti-Finsbury Park mosque
http://www.geocities.com/johnathanrgalt/SupportersOfShariah_com.html
To make any document of this mosque I’ve found it interesting to examine my own concept of god, and to be as honest as possible about it, especially to Mr. Abdullah. I suppose I have always been filming with the hope of a solution in mind. Being loosely attached to various groups who believe in social change, I’ve always felt more inclined to film in Finsbury Park, where the rights and wrongs are less clear to me than make any dogmatic film about how much better “we” are than “them". I don’t hate George Bush, I just feel sorry for him. I come from a loose group of people who believe there is going to be a global shift in consciousness, rather than any political or religious solution. I went to Finsbury Park to test the reality such a utopic view is up against. It worries me as a secular, spiritual person that there are so many Americans and so many Muslims locking us all into an Armageddon theory.
Being so close to the situation at Finsbury Park I wonder sometimes what sort of reception a TV documentary about Mr. Abdullah would get. I gave the same short I made for Idealworld to a lot of the younger guys at Finsbury Park to see what they made of it. I also gave it to Mr. Abdullah. The advantage of documentary making is that I can let the audience make the judgment. The safety of London is at stake. Its certainly been a bizarre journey. Why I do it I have still to work out. Maybe I should ask Abu Hamza.
Do I believe in God? I don't actually believe in belief. There either is one or there isn't one, and whatever I believe wont change that fact. I'm just trying to stay off cannabis and meditate.
Pro-Finsbury Park mosque:
http://www.supportersofshariah.org
Anti-Finsbury Park mosque
http://www.geocities.com/johnathanrgalt/SupportersOfShariah_com.html
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