Eddie 2Dogs "Monthly Eddie-Torial"

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Monthly "Eddie-Torial"

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To carry on from the June Eddie-Torial, the rest of 1999 will focus on our attitudes into the new millennium. This month we carry on in our dealings about the question of 'beliefs'. It has been approximately 2500 years since Gautama walked this earth, 2000 since Christ (discussed in the last two topics), 1400 since Mohammed. In the history of the world only these three brought us a personal introspective type of belief in a power which rules us. Before and since we have had religions of community, organization and surrender, but these three preached a spirit of belief which is inward looking and personal. But of course, transcribing someone's thoughts and deeds will always bring about the inevitable organization with it's rules and procedures (dogma). We will try to get to the bottom of the original teachings, hopefully to see how have we fallen into the trap of organizing these free spirits, these freedom fighters who were actually rebelling against any organization of personal convictions within the sphere of the soul. In their day religions were already organized with their priests, sacrifices, offerings, votaries, and all religions were extremely hierarchical. It will be plain throughout these Eddie-Torials that the melding of religious thought, influences from earlier times is also at work. Although these three people threw off the old ways of belief it is plain that theocrasia has played a large part in what our religions have become, as all religions have this in common. I am only going to touch on the historical aspects, not on anyone's personal belief.

Some of you may wonder why my urls have changed. Since the last Eddie-Torial I have had a major problem with some unwelcome emails. So to let you in on what has been going on and so I don't get asked again here is a summation to the 37 emails I have received from my best friends or those who show genuine concern. I imagine that there are lots more who need to understand that voicing one's opinion leaves one open to attack, and threats.
I was rather 'stalked' by the religious right wing, the gun in one hand-God bless America-bible in the other. One fellow sent me 60 email messages in just one day for my salvation, which went on for about 2 weeks. Another threatened to blow the editorial up in my face...and to expect some 'mail'. Another nasty called me a Christ killer and kike lover (this from a fundamental Christian)...go figure. I had to get to the point of being plain blunt and rude in my demand they stop. My ICQ as well now needs to be authorized. The mails I do get of the threatening type go to the police.
But it is over now and I've moved to a more tolerant place on the web. My first response was to quit the Eddie-Torials but I have received so many emails to persuade me to continue that I have had to give over. Yes, with that type of support how could I go wrong, except perhaps to ruin my own reputation as a thought-provoking dude. So I will continue, with your support.

A tongue-in-cheek look at our convictions in the new millennium
or
Religion is not what it appears to be.

Part 1...'The Eddie-Torial Lesson..Theo-histor-ology 101'.

What needs to be discussed here is the possibility that theology and history can be viewed as one subject, a need to think on two levels at once to be able to meld these concepts into a real understanding of our religious history (and future).

Historical Setting

The era starts about 600 AD. Christianity has established itself in Rome and Byzantium, the two churches were as yet combined. In the middle east things seem to have been on the decline. The Arabian desert people were nomadic, but a few constant settlements grew up around water holes. These semitic people consisted of Jews for the most part, with some Christians and Mithraists (the fundamentalists who had not been absorbed by the Christian sects). Palestine had always been the crossroads of the trading empires, and with this trade came the inevitable hybridizing of religious thought. Some strange influences can be seen to this day, literature and art and thought is most prominent. These lands have had Phoenician influences, Mede, Persian, Egyptian, Roman, Greek, and other sundry conglomerations of laws and rulers. That nothing pure is left in our age is of no wonder, much less purity of 'race'. So until the middle of the first millennium the arabs (of which we must also count the jews of that age) were at the whim of all and sundry surrounding empires. Even during these times the Jews themselves were very tribal and did not coalesce very well into a nation. Apart from sources of water, the desert itself was left unsettled except for the caravan routes of trade.
The more influential towns were Mecca and Medina. Mecca had about 20,000 Bedouin residents and Medina about 15,000 Yemenites. Both were trading centers somewhat away from the crossroads of civilization, but Mecca had something else of importance, the Kaaba. This sanctuary consisted of several black stones of very ancient date, of which one was a cornerstone of the temple. This meteorite was regarded as a God by the devout ruling the tribal gods of the Bedouin. This temple was but one of the many pilgrimage destinations. From time immemorial the devout declared a truce for months on end, a great number of people would pay homage to this God by marching around the Kaaba in ceremony, bowing, kissing the stone, which also brought great trade to the town. Mecca profited much. This 'paganism' had been affected greatly also by other religions, Judaism, Christianity, Mithraism, Zoroastrianism. It was therefore a great place of learning and discussion during the time of pilgrimage, an enlightening of the mind if one was to take away the proselytizing which was also rampant.
Medina on the other hand was greatly influenced by the Jewish faith, being in close quarters with several Jewish settlements. It was rather more 'sleepy' to a certain extent but also on a trade route south along the Red Sea. It was a bit on the poor side financially compared to Mecca, and some fierce rivalry existed in regards to attracting trade, and the inevitable wars took many lives. We must also remember that throughout this time in history Christianity had already evolved into sects and cults each one bent on proselytizing for converts by argument and the scabbard.
Now to recap again about truth and myth in religious history I am going to touch on the written word.

Questions: Is it true? Is it exact?

Can a novel be true? Yes, in the sense that you connect with it, but we know that it is a made up story. Yet it is a good reflection of life easily identified with. Did things happen exactly as is written? Perhaps, most likely not, but it doesn't really matter, for the meaning comes across in the way a lesson in school comes across. To make a point one might speak of a hypothetical situation, not true but could be. It gives us the power to debate, to come to a conclusion, to solve a problem. So is the Old Testament absolutely exact and historical? Of course not, but it could be true. (The sublime concept here needs to be understood to be able to understand the Books).

Muhammad (the man)

About the year 570 that Muhammad (Mohammed) was born in poverty. Even by desert standards he was uneducated, and stories abound that he could never read nor write. His father was believed to have been a shepherd, and during his youth he obtained a position as a servant to a rich widow (Kadija). This lady was rich thru trade, as it was the only industry, and he would have looked after the camels and traveled the route to help. These routes usually would take him from Yemen to Syria. This widowed lady married him, altho 'way below her standards. He was about twenty five years old at the time, and fostered some children by her, one in particular named Abd Manif (servant of the Meccan god Manif). It appears that he would have been a pagan at the time, worshipping the black meteorite god if he worshipped at all.
His life was uneventful until he reached his 40th birthday, living an undistinguished life, as a husband to a prosperous wife (of I am sure he became a partner more than a servant in trade). About his interests we know little, suffice it to say that he was of small intellect, fairly good looking, and a somewhat poor communicator. But he appeared to have been a good listener. But as most men do of any intellect, he thought deeply in his mid-life, rather what we all do when it is time to evaluate ourselves, our reason for being, a personal discovery journey. He was familiar with the Christian churches, and the Jewish law, and also his own pagan beliefs. What is unknown is how he came to realize in his own mind when and how the hundreds of minor gods which ruled from the Kaaba were replaced by the One True God.
At this time Muhammad started his discourses on the reality of this One True God, having 'inside' conversations and revelations he claimed to have been brought to him by an angel. He expounded on the universality of hell for the infidel (unbeliever), unrighteousness, of salvation for the believer in the One True One. An aside here from me that this would be nothing new as Christianity had been around for 600 years with the same doctrines. This however got him into a heap of problems with the pantheon of gods ruling over the Bedouin from Mecca. Muhammad claimed that the prophets who came before him, (just like Mani) such as Jesus and Abraham and all in the Old Books only confirmed him as the latest in a long line of God's prophets. One must also remember that this part of Arabia was traditionally cut off from the rest of the world. His profound wisdom (largely borrowed) was very attractive to one particular follower...Abu Bekr. It was thru him that these ideas gained a following, and at the urging of his friend and admirer Muhammad became more open, preaching (not teaching) much as our fire and brimstone preachers of Christianity preach today. Hellfire for the unbeliever, salvation for the follower. He had great effect tho, and it was thru Abu Bekr that this cult gained notoriety, or acceptance if you will. Meccans were torn, and many who were of the old established society saw their power slipping away. This man was gathering the discontented, people who were of the opinion that their local governments were evil, who would conspire at the overthrow of the liberalism of the age. Mecca had a long standing rule, it would not allow blood to be spilled within it's district. After all it was a place of pilgrimage to the gods of the stones.
About 10 years of his works in Mecca did not get his cause much sympathy, and the main reason Muhammad went unscathed was of his marital connections. During this time his wife Kadija had died, and he left Mecca for Tayf, a nearby town where he was stoned and driven out. Word had gone out to Medina regarding his preaching and there he was received a little better. A poorer town than Mecca, it had many more dissidents and was found fertile for sowing the seed. Slowly all his followers were sent to Medina from Mecca, so as not to put his own life in danger, and at last just himself and Abu Bekr made their way to their new lives, but not after a major scare and plot to murder him in his bed. This plot was cooked up by his enemies within Mecca, because he was a danger to their well-being. But when they surprised someone on his bed it wasn't Muhammad, but his son Ali. The flight to Medina (The Hegira) was not uneventful as he was followed for his blood. This Hegira actually took them to some caves south of Mecca and not north to Medina, so a great detour was affected. Once the danger was over Muhammad and Abu Bekr arrived triumphant in Medina it is recorded as September 622.

The Power of Words

The character of his time before the Hegira is a matter of speculation and a few documents. The main documents provided by Abu Bekr must be held suspect, as he was a myth-maker, an organizer of the new religion, and therefore always speaks of the prophet in glowing terms. However, getting back to the first few years of Muhammad's rule as the Prophet of Medina, it centered rather on the mundane but bloody raids on the caravans of Mecca. From this it is the Prophet's army of the One True God who first broke the truce of the Arab holy month of Rahab. These new Muslims attacked a caravan and killed a man on orders of the Prophet. This treachery could not be sanctioned by the Meccans and a force of 700 men had come from Mecca to provide protection for other caravans coming thru the area. A raiding party of the Prophet numbering about three hundred men got the better of the Meccans. The battle of Badr proved Muhammed the more powerful, who gave due homage to Allah for divine support, and forthwith went on an avenging spree in Medina, assassinating any and all who had disagreed with his prophetic claims. The main focus of this were the Jews who thought of him as a bit soft-headed for thinking that he was a prophet of God. In turn, Mecca was resolved to return the favor at the battle of Uhud and the prophet's defeat was decisive. There was much deserting among his followers, and the Meccans entered Medina without the bloodlust which would have been expected and the tattered army was left alone. It was a time of rallying, many followers did not return, and the Koran records the feelings of those days. From the orthodox translation..."you who believe! If you obey those who disbelieve, they will turn you back upon your heels....We will cast terror into the hearts who disbelieve, because they set up with Allah that for which He has sent down no authority, and their abode is fire, and evil the abode of the unjust..."
Now and for the next few years a bitter enmity between Medina and Mecca existed, one of political and theocratic worries. Mecca with the cult of the stones, Medina the stronghold now of the new Muslims. Because of the idea that Medina now laid claim to God's true people, and that bloodlust was so deeply imbedded into this culture it would be safe to say that the only truth became the sword. Allah and the sword at that time made good team-mates, and this attitude was in fact no different than the Christian view of the heretic. From about 500 AD to 1500 AD the world revolved around God and his winepress. The idea and prophesies of blood running bridle deep has been fulfilled countless times already. The ecstasy of bloodletting has a certain intoxication, ask any serial killer.

Truce, Treaty and Holy Places

Medina grew powerful, as powerful as Mecca from which a force of no less than 10,000 men, ready for desert battle, came upon Medina who found there a very disciplined force of fighters and a fortified city. Muhammad had walled himself in, allowing the usual raids on caravans and returning to the safety of his bunker. Needless to say, nothing happened and the advancing troops began their retreat. Betting on the most likely outcome of this battle was a settlement of Jews nearby, who were then slaughtered to a man (about 900 of them) and the women and children sold for slavery. This is the last recorded transgression in the name of Allah until....a treaty between the Meccans and Muhammad in return for peaceful co-existence. It was agreed that all men should face and pay homage to Mecca and the Kaaba, giving over that perhaps if Allah existed everywhere then He was also part of the Heavenly Meteorites. There may have been some more tension, but Muhammad in 629 came to Mecca to pay his respects and to pay homage to the Kaaba re-invented as a temple of the one and only Allah. The image of Manif after who his son was named was smashed at his feet. This truce between the two cities proved very profitable for both. Aah, but money talks.

Muhammad after the Hegira

The Prophet seemed to have been a faithful husband, but after his wife's death he married twice more, and also it is said kept a harem of several concubines. He was diplomatic at times, ruthless and treacherous at other times. There was really little spirituality in his nature. The visions or dreams are all interpreted by Abu Bekr as divinely inspired. Vanity, egoism and tyranny ruled his life, but that does not mean that he was undeserved of his memory as we know him today. He had believers, people who trusted him, his wife, his friend Abu Bekr, who stood by him faithfully. But Muhammad is now far removed from the present day Islam. A year before he died he made his last pilgrimage to Mecca, and there addressed a great crowd. It is here that he sweeps away his wanton bloodlust of the the early days, and here he preaches of the equality among men (not women). Here is some of what he said according to the writings.
"Ye people, hearken, for I know not whether I shall ever be amongst you again. Your lives and property are sacred and inviolable amongst one another until the end of time.
The Lord has ordained to every man the share of his inheritance; a testament is not lawful to the prejudice of heirs.
The child belongs to the parent; and the violator of wedlock shall be stoned.
Whoever claims falsely another for his father, or another for his master, the curse of God and the angels and of all mankind shall rest upon him.
People, you have rights demandable of your wives, and they have rights demandable of you. Upon them it is incumbent not to violate their conjugal faith nor commit any act of open impropriety; which things if they do, you have authority to shut them up in separate apartments and to beat them with stripes, yet not severely. But if they refrain therefrom, clothe them and feed them suitably. And treat your women well, for they are with you as captives and prisoners; and have not power over anything as regards themselves. And you have taken them on the security of God, and have made their persons lawful unto you by the words of God.
And your slaves, see that you feed them with such foods as you eat yourselves, and clothe them with the stuff you wear. And if they commit a fault which you are not inclined to forgive then sell them, for they are the servants of the Lord and are not to be tormented.
People, hear my speech and comprehend me. Know that every Moslem is the brother of every other Moslem, all of you are of the same equality.
About one year later he sickened and died of fever. It was Abu Bekr who was Caliph (Kalifa=successor). It was he who followed up the letters to all the rulers of the world which were sent by him and Muhammad about the one true God with armies. If one can't proselytize by the word, the sword in the name of God will do. Abu Bekr became the organizer of Islam, very much like Paul became the cornerstone of Christianity. Attemps at revisionism were made, and most devout Muslims disavow the history in the way I have recaptured it. But then, what are friends for..if not to show 'divinity' in it's best light.

Summation

My journey through our major 3 religions is about to come to an end. What has become clear enough in these past three months...that theorcrasia is alive and well. That men might be divinely inspired can also be true. But one cannot study the persons behind our belief systems without actually looking at the mortal being. That necessitates stripping myths, embellishments, and divinity away from them during the time that they lived with us. If we were to study them as divine while there were alive then it would have defeated their reason for being. One could go up and touch Gautama, Jesus, and Muhammad. That they all had their human follies and trials is clear enough.
What we, as followers have made of them is quite another story, one of divinity and holyness. For at least 1000 years, from about 500 AD to 1500 AD religion lived by the sword, and each in it's righteousness hacked each other into oblivion. The prophesies of blood running like rivers, bridle-high have been fulfilled many times in our history. The ecstasy brought on by this bloodlust is obvious, ask any serial killer. Muhammad's exhortation to slaughter and the Christian Crusades give us a history of unimaginable horrors, and yet we will do it all again. The mistrust even within the religions/sects/cults make us gather our weapons, set up our security and spy systems, and make us hide in our bunkers. We have bigger and better weapons, which give us bigger and better? ego's. And yes, dammit, we all think we are right, and in the name of God curse each other as heathens, infidels.
We will see mass slaughter again in our future...a call to arms in the name of God against the infidel, the heathen, the pagan, or anyone who even happens to be of the same religion but views it differently.
The God called El, or Elohim (ancient terms for Allah, Jehovah) is the same God, but it is in His name we defile it, and in so doing we defile ourselves, for everything we do we do, it is written, in His image, for his favor, for his unmentionable name.

I have this very queasy feeling that God has already condemned us all, just as we have condemned each other, and it is a shame that our children will never know any better.

Well, don't know if you agree or disagree, or just find this a bunch of bunk, feel free to respond on the The Eddie-Torial Message/Discussion Board
So until next month, play safe, surf wisely, and help yourself to a cookie
(make sure your dog gets one too).

*smiles*, Eddie

Previous Eddie-Torials
June, 1999
May, 1999
April, 1999
March, 1999
February, 1999
January, 1999
December, 1998
November, 1998
October, 1998
September, 1998
August, 1998

Eddie Dog²
Box 1353
150 Mile House, BC
Canada, V0K 2G0
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