Recently there was an Andy Griffith episode where your Don Knotts figure as Barney, along with Andy helped a nurse meet her vaccine quota by harassing a local farmer to take an unnecessary tetanus shot.
Media has been the tool for pharma for a long time.
Just for the record, an Iconoclast is a breaker of images, not idols. Most famous were the Byzantine Iconoclasts of the 4th Century or so. They wanted to the Jewish mode of thinking, which forbid the making of any "graven image" including a sculpture or portrait of any animal, or any composite image.
Also for the record, real Catholics worship neither the Virgin Mary nor the Saints. We esteem the saints because they lived demonstrably holy lives and were close to God, and we beg their intercession. Even Our Lord Jesus Christ played favorites. He wept over the death of Lazarus at the tomb before He raised him from the dead, and St Peter was jealous of the beloved disciple St John, and asked Our Lord condescendingly, "And what will this man do?" in the last chapter of St John's Gospel.
As for Our Lady... well, as the Church Fathers say, about Our Lady we can never say enough. The Sacred Heart beats out of love for us from the wood of the Holy Cross, while Our Lady's Immaculate Heart beats for us at the foot of the same. She was not worried about the death of Jesus. Nay, the Fathers say that had not the Romans crucified Our Lord, she would have pounded the nails into His hands and feet. Our Lady's sorrows are infinite and she weeps for us poor sinners. (That includes Protestants.) And given the current sorry state of the church, it is a wonder the Pieta does not have tears like that statue in Syracuse during the pathetic pontificate of Pius XII. We venerate Our Lady because she, subjected to all the temptations which assail us, remained not only free from sin, but even the least imperfection, hesitation, or culpable doubt. Our Lady is God's masterpiece.
But to clarify for Protestants, Catholics worship neither Our Lady nor the saints. We do not offer them sacrifices of propitiation or supplication, as we do to God at the Almighty Sacrifice of the Mass. (Actually, to be theologically precise, it is Our Lord Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, and Eternal Spotless Lamb and Victim, who offers the Mass. We "participate" in the Mass much less than the spectators do at a football game. Protestants are hopelessly confused about the Mass because they think it is a repetition, not a representation, of the Eternal Sacrifice of the Cross. And they think that Catholic priests are like the sons of Levi, offering victims over and over again. Nothing can be further from the truth. The Catholic Mass is merely a window, an extension of the Eternal Sacrifice to all times and places. It is the fulfillment of what the Prophet Malachi said: "For from the rising of the sun even to the going down, my name is great among the Gentiles, and in every place there is sacrifice, and there is offered to my name a clean oblation: for my name is great among the Gentiles, saith the Lord of hosts.")
Between Hellywood and the Major Leagues, it should be relabeled "Idols'R'Us." No man is an atheist. Every man has a religion. It might be a political party, a sports star, or his financial bottom line. But every man will worship something.
And praytell, exactly what are those things that are Caesars? Does he cause the rivers to flow or the winds to blow? Did he make the trees or the bees? Nah. All Caesar does is tax things and devour the savings of widows and orphans.
What Christ referred to as being Caesar's was a debased Roman coin. That is all that Caesar deserves in response to his demand for tribute, and that is the point that I take from Christ's admonition.
This is how I see it. 1 Caesar, a man, is juxtaposed to God, our heavenly father, 2. Caesar represents government, 3. Caesar represents Satan, ruler of this earth, god of the Synagogue of Satan, Revelations 3:9 those that call themselves Jews but are not and are liars.
So, if the Bible said render unto Satan that which is Satan's, what would you do?
I submit that if our heavenly father is our creator, and the creator of everything else, then what is of Caesar/ Satan/ government?
The Bible is for those that have ears to hear, with eyes to see, and a brain that functions.
The Bible says that you cannot have two masters for you will love the one and hate the other. Who will you serve? Will you have the faith, trust in Jesus your Savior, to stop paying all taxes/ licenses/ extortion, so as to be free, knowing that he has your back? Do you live to be with your heavenly father? Will you render your soul to Caesar or to your creator?
Idolatry is giving to the creature what belongs to God alone whether it be worship or divine power/attributes.
Such as Mary or the saints being Co Redemptrix or co mediators contra the one name given under heaven by which men can be saved Act 4:12.
The host actually becoming the body and blood of Christ and able to be re-sacrificed in the mass for the sins committed after baptism, contra Christ on the cross "It is finished" Jn.19:30.
The pope as the vice regent of Christ upon earth and infallible in way, Christ having rebuked the first "pope" and called him Satan Matt. 16:23
I know, latria and dulia.
IOW it's OK to call a dog a cat in order to avoid the leash law.
Kind of like how the Orthodox call images (two dimensional idols), icons in order to avoid the Second Commandment, which Romanism stuffs into the First Commandment along with the latria/dulia equivocation.
Son, behold thy Mother. Nobody can have God for his Father who does not have Our Lady for his mother. Our Lady is clothed with the Son, not the Son Himself. Learn to discern.
Don Knotts, loved him in The Incredible Mr. Limpett and The Ghost and Mr. Chicken. So gratifying to hear that he was a genuine nice man. Mom made the popcorn at home and we went to the drive-in for some cheap family entertainment, which is where I saw such films in the 60's. The Christian drive-in gave away a free soda pop, a rare treat in my family when I was little, and showed movies like Ben Hur. Ahh, the good old days when life was simple, most people went to church, and Satanism wasn't so in your face.
"Innocent" = the federal government was 1/100,000th as large and corrupt then contrasted to what it has become now as dictating to almost everone on almost anything you can name (perfect example, dictating from the District of Criminals/corruption, on the amount of water you can flush on your toilet), with the dividing line what you and thousands of others have investigated and despised what happened on Nov. 22, 1963! A day I'll never forget, and when the war-mongers (insiders in Pentagon/intel, LBJ who plotted it with his key allies in the government) won their 2 1/2-year war against newly-focused peace-seeker JFK after the scary Oct. 1962 incident with the USSR/Cuba!
Your first name epitomizes those better days, and what Disney was then, contrasted to now. I remember better times (pre-Nov. 22, 1963), when the war-mongers and the true big government goons took over from the moderate-conservative, and peace-seeker JFK. There was still silver in the coinage with the 'dollar' a mere name for an old silver coin that was common and known in Europe from the 1520s. No more silver coinage (1965; but the Kennedy Halves reduced from 90% to 40%, through 1970; afterwards, 0% silver) and no gold-dollar connection after Aug. 15, 1971, or any limits on the amount of paper emitted by the privately-owned Central Bank, the Federal Reserve banking cartel, which is the definition of inflation in the dictionary that results months later in price inflation! A DOLLAR in the Law: 371.25 grains of silver, or 0.77344 oz.
I had older siblings who watched The Mickey Mouse Club Show, when Annette Funicello was on. So they were a big influence in naming me. Yes, the culture was much more influenced by Christian values back then. People would not have tolerated the perversion that is so rampant in the entertainment industry today. Indeed we have been far too tolerant of too many outrageous abuses in our civic and cultural institutions. Young people probably have no concept as to have far and fast our society has fallen.
You can add Taylor Swift to the list of manufactured idols. I recently watched Miss Americana which is a documentary about her. It felt like a psy-op. Her song writing and piano skills are average, just like Justin Bieber, but apparently they are superstars with magnificent talent. Is the brainwashing of society complete?
Your mention of OJ brought to mind a comedy bit I saw years ago. It might have been SNL. In a fake news report, the anchorman mentions that OJ is going to spend millions looking for the killer. The comedian remarked "That's a pretty expensive mirror."
Don't you love people like me, that you can disagree with and know I won't hit the unsubscribe button. There are not many of us left in this "I find that offensive" world.
True on free speech is free speech. You can have all the free speech you want, but when it comes to hard-core facts, facts are stubborn things (John Adams) and a person can't have his own "facts." Such as the fact that the fed government (and its banksters allies and other key big government monopolies in the military-intel) have covered-up for over 60 years who was behind the JFK coup d'etat. It was LBJ, with the military-intel agencies, not the intel alone! That corrupted, power-seeking agency aligned with the Mob, and anti-Castro Cubans to do the coup, all instigated by the worst VP/Pres then, and maybe of all time, the power-mad, money-hungry LBJ. All through history, assassinations and next-in-line power men have been the first to be suspected of the coup in their time to seize power. Why is LBJ not more mentioned by the average person? Read: Phillip F. Nelson, "LBJ: The Mastermind of the JFK Assassination" (2nd ed., 2013) for his sordid, corrupt, bribery/blackmail (to become VP in Jul. 1960, instead of JFK's first pick, Sen. Stuart Symington (D-MO), before LBJ/J.E. Hoover of the FBI blackmailed JFK in Los Angeles to cancel Symington--who accepted and was writing his VP acceptance speech when told he was out, and LBJ was the new, second-pick by blackmail, VP nominee! All documented, so if you had to read ONE book on the topic, Phillip F. Nelson's masterpiece is the one to explain how LBJ steered the 1960s more than any other man after 11/21/63, wtih him and others on that Thu. night (with Nixon, Hoover) at oil baron's Clint Murchison's Dallas home, going over what they were going to say and do after the next day's BIG EVENT, as it was called by those evil plotters!
At least "so they say", Don. Look at Robbie Robertson, who claims the songwriting credits for every one of The Band's most frequently covered songs. The rest of The Band descended into obscurity after the group disbanded, while Robbie remained rich if not really famous. Imagine a Canadian mixed blood Mohawk writing "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down". I just can't even consider it, let alone imagine it.
I love The Band, Ed. Their music holds up exceptionally well. Levon Helm's memoir cast doubt on Robbie's sole songwriting credits. He claimed that the other band members contributed significantly, usually without getting co-songwriting credits. It is hard to imagine how a half-Jew, half Indian from Canada could create such convincing Americana. Thanks!
Most of these idol worshippers have no self esteem. When I see a sports star out in public at the most I feel mild curiosity at what makes them so exciting to other people. In my childhood the big jocks were for the most part either stuck up or outright bullies. A few of them got humbled by a rock to the head or a smash by a baseball bat when they tried throwing their weight around so they pretty much left the crazy kid alone. Most of them were bigger sissies than you would ever believe when confronted with the sight of their own blood. Being tough and respectable means getting up in the morning and doing for yourself and your family and neighbours without any fanfare. Being tough is respecting the girl that serves you at the restaurant or the man who fixes your car no matter what is going on in your personal life. They are the ones who are the real people in this world not some entertainment shill for whatever political agenda is on the table That is what truly matters to a real man. Thanks for letting me rant.
You might find my book "Bullyocracy" interesting, Peter. I detail the social hierarchy, which has long been centered around the popular jocks, and how it relates to bullying. Thanks!
Very familiar with that book, and its author, the late, great David McGowan. I quoted from his work quite a bit in my own "On Borrowed Fame." People have often compared the two of us, which I consider a great compliment. Thanks, Bard.
What about the idea of tithing (paying taxes) as you worship your gods that call themselves your government? Yes, that is exactly how they think of themselves, and you dutifully submit your tribute to them. How many of you question this idolatry?
My favorite character on Star Trek TOS was Spock, because I share his preference for logic, to a fault.
Back in the 70s, while I was at the votech 2 blocks away, I found out that Leonard Nimoy was appearing at Currigan Exhibition Hall as a side appearance. I walked over there and he was kneeling on the stage passing out autographs. As I approached the stage, he stopped the appearance and came down the stairs on the side of the stage. I fell into line behind him and spoke his name. He stopped, spun around and gave me a great big smile and said it was so nice to have someone call him by his real name instead of Spock. Unfortunately, all I had was a ticket stub for him to autograph, but he did so gratefully. Unfortunately I misplaced the stub long ago.
And as always, kudos for your column. My story is essentially the same as yours. I outgrew being star struck by the time I graduated high school. They put on their pants one leg at a time, but only one makes gold records. :-)
A lot of the idolatry is manufactured. It seems like TV wants us to believe that people go crazy over celebrities…. But in reality I can’t think of anyone that I know who would go crazy over anyone.
Of course. Even the Beatles- initially, they planted screaming girls in the crowds. But most people are followers, so they didn't need to do that for long. Thanks, AnnekeB.
Joe Theismann is from South River, just 15 minutes from my hometown in Zoo Jersey. When I was a senior in high school, we had a horrendous football team, lost every game. That year South River was undefeated and ranked number one in the state. We (New Brunswick) played them the last game of the season. They were slated to blow us out of the stadium. Our guys got sick of hearing how bad they were and how Theismann's crew was going to slaughter them. They played their hearts out like maniacs and in one of the biggest upsets in NJ high school football history, fought South River to a 7 to 7 tie. No one could believe it, least of all our head coach. He filmed the game and ecstatically showed it to us during gym class. Every play, our guys swarmed South River and Theismann like a nest of angry hornets. Bear in mind Drew Pearson was also on that South River team. He became an All-Pro, wide receiver with the Dallas Cowboys. Celebrity worship is a sick symptom of a dying culture and society. I remember during a baseball autograph signing event with Hall of Famer, Pete Rose, a father in line told Rose that his young son was dying of cancer and he really idolized him. The dad said he would be very grateful if Rose, along with his autograph, would write his son a personal message. Rose just scribbled his name and waved the guy away saying, "Nope. I'm just paid to sign my name. Next!" What a scumbag! I knew a local guy who died years ago who was the head of a lighting company that went on tour with some of the biggest acts of all time like Aerosmith and huge Rap groups. He told me after the concerts, it was also his job to monitor who went backstage for the post gig party. Naturally you needed a pass. He gloated saying very pretty teenage girls would beg him for one and he made it clear that for a backstage pass, they had to give him a blow job. He said not a single one ever refused, they all did it without hesitation. There is a video that has been scrubbed off the internet of a Bruce Springsteen concert in which during the show, Springsteen picked up an extremely attractive young girl from the front row and was carrying her back and forth across the stage to the screams and delight of the crowd. She looked about 12 or 13 years old. The guy that made the video slowed it down and did a close-up of Springsteen walking with the girl in his arms and you can clearly see one of his hands sliding up her leg (she was wearing leotards) past her thigh to her crotch and fondling her vagina as he is carrying her. She had to be there with a parent because of her age who had to be in the front row as well and could see what he was doing. I can just visualize the mom or dad or both bragging, "Look! My little girl is being molested by the great Bruce Springsteen! Isn't that fantastic!" By the way, the girl didn't seem to mind at all. By the expression on her face, she was enjoying it. I'm surprised he didn't copulate with her right on stage. I'm certain the crowd, including her parents, would have roared their approval like the plebes in an ancient Roman amphitheater. Loved this, Don, thank you.
I appreciate you sharing that, Hereticdrummer. I loved Theismann primarily because I loved Notre Dame. In my house, that's who we rooted for, because they were the Catholic powerhouse. Also loved Terry Hanratty, who didn't get a fair chance in the NFL. I'm firmly convinced he was a better QB than Terry Bradshaw, and with all that talent around him on the Steelers, would probably have led them to even more Super Bowl wins. Thanks.
You're welcome, Don. South River, NJ always fielded great football teams and put many guys into the pros over the decades. Their team with Theismann may have been their best of all time, which makes what happened even more incredible. Even though the game ended in a 7 to 7 tie, everyone, including the South River team and the folks in that town, knew it was a New Brunswick victory. I saw the savage tackle of Theismann by Lawrence Taylor, All-Pro linebacker of the NY Giants, that shattered his leg and prematurely ended his outstanding career. I remember Terry Hanratty well having been a "Fighting Irish" fan myself and I totally agree with you. I haven't been in South River in years even though it is very near here, but when I was a kid, traditionally South River was populated primarily by people of Russian and East European ancestry, a lot of Slavics. Of course the demographics there has changed for the worse, like it has all over the U.S. thanks to the designs of the evil, occupying, Iron Heel government. An interesting factoid about South River that I'm sure no longer holds as well. South River, NJ, had more bars and taverns per capita than any town in the entire U.S. I'm sure after that shocking upset game with New Brunswick, the bars and taverns there were filled with weeping drunks. Be well, my friend.
Pete Rose was more than a scumbag. He was the end of my romance with Major League Baseball. That guy, along with the ownership of the Philadelphia Phillies, was pond scum. He turned his back on his fans in Cincinnati and allowed himself to be wooed to the Phillies. He was the first player to sign a million dollar contract, and broke all sorts of baseball records while performing geriatrics in Veterans Stadium well past the peak of his career, pulling the Phillies into the pack with his mediocre play. But he drew the fans, who wanted to say "I saw Rose get his 4000th hit". I forget what year, but Rose had a hitting streak going that shattered records, and then when it was finally broken, by Gene Garber, I think- I really followed baseball in those days- Rose acted like a complete asshole, complaining that Garber was pitching "like it was the bottom of the ninth in the 7th game of the World Series". Well you're damn right, Pete. Every pitcher wants to go down in the lore as having broken your record.
About 1975 or so, my uncle, who was a Philly cop, got us press passes to the benches of both the Phillies and the St Louis Cardinals, my team back then. And on the elevator down, who got on but Harry Callis, the old radio voice of the Phillies. That was probably the most famous person I ever shook hands with. And my two brothers were in absolute hog heaven.
By the early '80's, I had become disenfranchised with baseball, and was more attuned to the NFL and the Philadelphia Eagles. But in the late '80's, I became totally disenfranchised with all the major leagues. It is all rigged. It is all fake and ghey.
You're right about Rose, WW. He was once my favorite player for a few years as a kid, but I too was repelled by his demeanor, which was best revealed during his hitting streak, as you note. But it is a travesty that he isn't in the Hall of Fame. Any Black player who had more hits than anyone who ever played the game would be have been inducted. Period. After an intense public relations campaign led by every sports "journalist," talking head on ESPN, comedians, etc. And as bad as he was (probably still is), there were worse. DiMaggio. Mantle. Mays. Roger Clemens. Mark McGwire. Barry Bonds, etc. Thanks.
They were probably all bad. Even the better ones. But I have not followed any sports for years and years. When I talk about the Washington Redskins and Houston Oilers, people look at me like I got green ears or whatever. I thought the Colorado Rockies was a minor league team. I don't even know the baseball divisions anymore...
As a fellow RC, I have never worshipped our Blessed Mother nor any saint. I honor them and entreat them to pray for me … and you … and the whole world. To Protestants who object, do you ever say to a friend, “Please pray for me”? Catholics and other apostolic churches simply see the veil between heaven and earth as more transparent.
Protestants have a weird theology where the soul dissolves after death, and will only be restored with the Body at the General Resurrection. So as far as they are concerned the saints cannot hear our prayers. That is why they complain we pray to "dead people".
These errors can be easily refuted from the Bible itself. Just look at what Our Lord said to St Dismas- "This day, you will be with me in paradise". Moreover, they forget the parable of Lazarus and Dives, and etc.
When you abandon the truth you lose the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and are open to every delusion and diabolical suggestion. That is why Our Lord said that "He who does not gather with me scatters." This is self-evident from the multiplicity of Protestant sects.
Saw a new commercial showing a lesbian looking female with a tattoo on her leg shaving her pubic hair. another commercial with an obese black woman saying not just my armpits smell. It’s over for us
Thank you, Donald. I do believe that was your most religious post, to date...and it was great. I hate that phrase: " I'm spiritual, not religious"... it's as if the person is really saying: "I'm not an atheist, but I'm not a judgemental, uptight, *******". One of the saddest truths I have learned in life, is that most folks hate and fear the truth. They will always chose a pretty lie over the hard and ugly (to them) truth.
I hate personality cults. I will watch a YouTube channel until the host starts acting like a celebrity...then I'm done. My heros are all people nobody else has ever heard of, for the most part. The Tavistock Institute has been controlling pop-culture since WWII (and maybe even before) so all those talentless people have been "installed". I recognize the names up until the eighties, after that, thankfully, the names bring nothing to mind.
So your wife worked at Farrell's? Did you know that ice cream parlor began in Portland OR? Back in the sixties going to Ferrell's was a rare treat... usually a bribe for behaving well through something unpleasant. They had a Gay Nineties decor; red velvet wallpaper with dark wood booths and paneling, and a black-and-white spooning Victorian couple logo, that was camp before anyone knew what camp was. Then they changed everything, and ruined Farrell's forever. That must have been when they began selling franchises. I think all the Farrell's are closed now. I haven't seen one in years
I appreciate the details about Farrell's, Kris. Yes, loved the Gay Nineties decor (when "gay" meant something entirely different). I don't think there are any Farrells left. Thanks!
Kris: There was a Farrell's ice cream parlor at the Northgate Mall in north Seattle. I took the kids there often. I had a girlfriend who named her daughter Farrell. Farrell is married, has kids, and lives in eastern Oregon now. Farrell and my son are still best friends.
I had a friend who worked at Farrell's. For birthdays, she was mortified that she had to race around the dining room, banging on a huge drum, and then announce (yelling): "Ladies and gentlemen, today is the birthday of _____. Lets all sing happy birthday". Do you remember the "Gibson Girl"? It was meant to be shared by a couple, but unsuspecting diners sometimes ordered it, and ended up looking like a pig eating a giant dish of ice cream, and being teased by their table mates.
That was one of the most distinctive things about Farrells- the servers singing "Happy Birthday," drawing the attention of everyone in the restaurant. Like many an introverted actor, my normally shy wife really shined in this ritual. Like every other server I saw there, she was very, very enthusiastic. Thanks, Kris!
They also had a pig's trough or something (forget the name), which you wouldn't have to pay for if you ate the entire thing. My wife never saw anyone able to finish it. Thanks.
Yes, now that you mention it, I remember that too. Thanks for the memory. These days, every time I get a little flashback to America 1.0, I am momentarily transported back to a happier time...and I'm m thinking...man, it REALLY was so different...and, as time goes, not so long ago. Yet nobody I know remembers these details. No wonder (((they))) can "get away with it". People with no memory, have no past. Btw Donald, you are one of my heros. You are Everyman for America 2.0. The modern version of the Jimmy Stewart characters that you so love.
Recently there was an Andy Griffith episode where your Don Knotts figure as Barney, along with Andy helped a nurse meet her vaccine quota by harassing a local farmer to take an unnecessary tetanus shot.
Media has been the tool for pharma for a long time.
I'm aware of that episode, Bard. Certainly not one of their best. Thanks.
Just for the record, an Iconoclast is a breaker of images, not idols. Most famous were the Byzantine Iconoclasts of the 4th Century or so. They wanted to the Jewish mode of thinking, which forbid the making of any "graven image" including a sculpture or portrait of any animal, or any composite image.
Also for the record, real Catholics worship neither the Virgin Mary nor the Saints. We esteem the saints because they lived demonstrably holy lives and were close to God, and we beg their intercession. Even Our Lord Jesus Christ played favorites. He wept over the death of Lazarus at the tomb before He raised him from the dead, and St Peter was jealous of the beloved disciple St John, and asked Our Lord condescendingly, "And what will this man do?" in the last chapter of St John's Gospel.
As for Our Lady... well, as the Church Fathers say, about Our Lady we can never say enough. The Sacred Heart beats out of love for us from the wood of the Holy Cross, while Our Lady's Immaculate Heart beats for us at the foot of the same. She was not worried about the death of Jesus. Nay, the Fathers say that had not the Romans crucified Our Lord, she would have pounded the nails into His hands and feet. Our Lady's sorrows are infinite and she weeps for us poor sinners. (That includes Protestants.) And given the current sorry state of the church, it is a wonder the Pieta does not have tears like that statue in Syracuse during the pathetic pontificate of Pius XII. We venerate Our Lady because she, subjected to all the temptations which assail us, remained not only free from sin, but even the least imperfection, hesitation, or culpable doubt. Our Lady is God's masterpiece.
But to clarify for Protestants, Catholics worship neither Our Lady nor the saints. We do not offer them sacrifices of propitiation or supplication, as we do to God at the Almighty Sacrifice of the Mass. (Actually, to be theologically precise, it is Our Lord Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, and Eternal Spotless Lamb and Victim, who offers the Mass. We "participate" in the Mass much less than the spectators do at a football game. Protestants are hopelessly confused about the Mass because they think it is a repetition, not a representation, of the Eternal Sacrifice of the Cross. And they think that Catholic priests are like the sons of Levi, offering victims over and over again. Nothing can be further from the truth. The Catholic Mass is merely a window, an extension of the Eternal Sacrifice to all times and places. It is the fulfillment of what the Prophet Malachi said: "For from the rising of the sun even to the going down, my name is great among the Gentiles, and in every place there is sacrifice, and there is offered to my name a clean oblation: for my name is great among the Gentiles, saith the Lord of hosts.")
Between Hellywood and the Major Leagues, it should be relabeled "Idols'R'Us." No man is an atheist. Every man has a religion. It might be a political party, a sports star, or his financial bottom line. But every man will worship something.
Wonderful summation that clarifies things, WW. Thanks!
"Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's
And to God, the things that are God's."
Simple.
And praytell, exactly what are those things that are Caesars? Does he cause the rivers to flow or the winds to blow? Did he make the trees or the bees? Nah. All Caesar does is tax things and devour the savings of widows and orphans.
What Christ referred to as being Caesar's was a debased Roman coin. That is all that Caesar deserves in response to his demand for tribute, and that is the point that I take from Christ's admonition.
This is how I see it. 1 Caesar, a man, is juxtaposed to God, our heavenly father, 2. Caesar represents government, 3. Caesar represents Satan, ruler of this earth, god of the Synagogue of Satan, Revelations 3:9 those that call themselves Jews but are not and are liars.
So, if the Bible said render unto Satan that which is Satan's, what would you do?
I submit that if our heavenly father is our creator, and the creator of everything else, then what is of Caesar/ Satan/ government?
The Bible is for those that have ears to hear, with eyes to see, and a brain that functions.
The Bible says that you cannot have two masters for you will love the one and hate the other. Who will you serve? Will you have the faith, trust in Jesus your Savior, to stop paying all taxes/ licenses/ extortion, so as to be free, knowing that he has your back? Do you live to be with your heavenly father? Will you render your soul to Caesar or to your creator?
Idolatry is giving to the creature what belongs to God alone whether it be worship or divine power/attributes.
Such as Mary or the saints being Co Redemptrix or co mediators contra the one name given under heaven by which men can be saved Act 4:12.
The host actually becoming the body and blood of Christ and able to be re-sacrificed in the mass for the sins committed after baptism, contra Christ on the cross "It is finished" Jn.19:30.
The pope as the vice regent of Christ upon earth and infallible in way, Christ having rebuked the first "pope" and called him Satan Matt. 16:23
I know, latria and dulia.
IOW it's OK to call a dog a cat in order to avoid the leash law.
Kind of like how the Orthodox call images (two dimensional idols), icons in order to avoid the Second Commandment, which Romanism stuffs into the First Commandment along with the latria/dulia equivocation.
Which is good, because I was worried.
But it's all ice cream.
AKA idolatry.
Not hatin', jus sayin'.
cheers,
Son, behold thy Mother. Nobody can have God for his Father who does not have Our Lady for his mother. Our Lady is clothed with the Son, not the Son Himself. Learn to discern.
Indeed, learn to discern.
When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. John 19:26,27.
Note well, Christ does not say Mary is his mother, but that the disciple John, should regard her as his mother.
Yet somehow this is supposed to mean that Mary aka the Roman church is indispensable to salvation?
IOW Rome does not honor Scripture other than with distorted and out of context drive bys.
WW: If you want to preach, get a church.
I'm not preaching, just stating the Deposit of Faith for the unenlightened.
WW: LOL. I'd be careful using the term "Deposit of Faith". Some might take that the wrong way.
Given that "Deposit of Faith" anagrams to 'do a shite tipoff' it is hardly surprising!
Don Knotts, loved him in The Incredible Mr. Limpett and The Ghost and Mr. Chicken. So gratifying to hear that he was a genuine nice man. Mom made the popcorn at home and we went to the drive-in for some cheap family entertainment, which is where I saw such films in the 60's. The Christian drive-in gave away a free soda pop, a rare treat in my family when I was little, and showed movies like Ben Hur. Ahh, the good old days when life was simple, most people went to church, and Satanism wasn't so in your face.
Hard to believe that things were once so simple and innocent, isn't it, Annette? Thanks!
"Innocent" = the federal government was 1/100,000th as large and corrupt then contrasted to what it has become now as dictating to almost everone on almost anything you can name (perfect example, dictating from the District of Criminals/corruption, on the amount of water you can flush on your toilet), with the dividing line what you and thousands of others have investigated and despised what happened on Nov. 22, 1963! A day I'll never forget, and when the war-mongers (insiders in Pentagon/intel, LBJ who plotted it with his key allies in the government) won their 2 1/2-year war against newly-focused peace-seeker JFK after the scary Oct. 1962 incident with the USSR/Cuba!
Your first name epitomizes those better days, and what Disney was then, contrasted to now. I remember better times (pre-Nov. 22, 1963), when the war-mongers and the true big government goons took over from the moderate-conservative, and peace-seeker JFK. There was still silver in the coinage with the 'dollar' a mere name for an old silver coin that was common and known in Europe from the 1520s. No more silver coinage (1965; but the Kennedy Halves reduced from 90% to 40%, through 1970; afterwards, 0% silver) and no gold-dollar connection after Aug. 15, 1971, or any limits on the amount of paper emitted by the privately-owned Central Bank, the Federal Reserve banking cartel, which is the definition of inflation in the dictionary that results months later in price inflation! A DOLLAR in the Law: 371.25 grains of silver, or 0.77344 oz.
I had older siblings who watched The Mickey Mouse Club Show, when Annette Funicello was on. So they were a big influence in naming me. Yes, the culture was much more influenced by Christian values back then. People would not have tolerated the perversion that is so rampant in the entertainment industry today. Indeed we have been far too tolerant of too many outrageous abuses in our civic and cultural institutions. Young people probably have no concept as to have far and fast our society has fallen.
You can add Taylor Swift to the list of manufactured idols. I recently watched Miss Americana which is a documentary about her. It felt like a psy-op. Her song writing and piano skills are average, just like Justin Bieber, but apparently they are superstars with magnificent talent. Is the brainwashing of society complete?
Your mention of OJ brought to mind a comedy bit I saw years ago. It might have been SNL. In a fake news report, the anchorman mentions that OJ is going to spend millions looking for the killer. The comedian remarked "That's a pretty expensive mirror."
I would argue that Swift is more talented than many of these modern day "artists," Gwaihir. At least she does write her own songs. Thanks.
Don't you love people like me, that you can disagree with and know I won't hit the unsubscribe button. There are not many of us left in this "I find that offensive" world.
I'm grateful for that, gwaihir. I'm a free speech purist. I won't get offended if people disagree with me. Free speech is free speech. Thanks.
True on free speech is free speech. You can have all the free speech you want, but when it comes to hard-core facts, facts are stubborn things (John Adams) and a person can't have his own "facts." Such as the fact that the fed government (and its banksters allies and other key big government monopolies in the military-intel) have covered-up for over 60 years who was behind the JFK coup d'etat. It was LBJ, with the military-intel agencies, not the intel alone! That corrupted, power-seeking agency aligned with the Mob, and anti-Castro Cubans to do the coup, all instigated by the worst VP/Pres then, and maybe of all time, the power-mad, money-hungry LBJ. All through history, assassinations and next-in-line power men have been the first to be suspected of the coup in their time to seize power. Why is LBJ not more mentioned by the average person? Read: Phillip F. Nelson, "LBJ: The Mastermind of the JFK Assassination" (2nd ed., 2013) for his sordid, corrupt, bribery/blackmail (to become VP in Jul. 1960, instead of JFK's first pick, Sen. Stuart Symington (D-MO), before LBJ/J.E. Hoover of the FBI blackmailed JFK in Los Angeles to cancel Symington--who accepted and was writing his VP acceptance speech when told he was out, and LBJ was the new, second-pick by blackmail, VP nominee! All documented, so if you had to read ONE book on the topic, Phillip F. Nelson's masterpiece is the one to explain how LBJ steered the 1960s more than any other man after 11/21/63, wtih him and others on that Thu. night (with Nixon, Hoover) at oil baron's Clint Murchison's Dallas home, going over what they were going to say and do after the next day's BIG EVENT, as it was called by those evil plotters!
Robert, Phil Nelson is a friend and reader of this Substack. Thanks!
At least "so they say", Don. Look at Robbie Robertson, who claims the songwriting credits for every one of The Band's most frequently covered songs. The rest of The Band descended into obscurity after the group disbanded, while Robbie remained rich if not really famous. Imagine a Canadian mixed blood Mohawk writing "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down". I just can't even consider it, let alone imagine it.
I love The Band, Ed. Their music holds up exceptionally well. Levon Helm's memoir cast doubt on Robbie's sole songwriting credits. He claimed that the other band members contributed significantly, usually without getting co-songwriting credits. It is hard to imagine how a half-Jew, half Indian from Canada could create such convincing Americana. Thanks!
Most of these idol worshippers have no self esteem. When I see a sports star out in public at the most I feel mild curiosity at what makes them so exciting to other people. In my childhood the big jocks were for the most part either stuck up or outright bullies. A few of them got humbled by a rock to the head or a smash by a baseball bat when they tried throwing their weight around so they pretty much left the crazy kid alone. Most of them were bigger sissies than you would ever believe when confronted with the sight of their own blood. Being tough and respectable means getting up in the morning and doing for yourself and your family and neighbours without any fanfare. Being tough is respecting the girl that serves you at the restaurant or the man who fixes your car no matter what is going on in your personal life. They are the ones who are the real people in this world not some entertainment shill for whatever political agenda is on the table That is what truly matters to a real man. Thanks for letting me rant.
You might find my book "Bullyocracy" interesting, Peter. I detail the social hierarchy, which has long been centered around the popular jocks, and how it relates to bullying. Thanks!
Excellent rant! I truly believe you see a person's character based on how they treat their server.
Hollywood has a wide assortment of demons and missing persons.
Check out the book
Weird Scenes Inside the Canyon.
Very familiar with that book, and its author, the late, great David McGowan. I quoted from his work quite a bit in my own "On Borrowed Fame." People have often compared the two of us, which I consider a great compliment. Thanks, Bard.
What about the idea of tithing (paying taxes) as you worship your gods that call themselves your government? Yes, that is exactly how they think of themselves, and you dutifully submit your tribute to them. How many of you question this idolatry?
Very true, Anticriminals. One could easily consider taxation idolatry. Thanks.
Most evangelicals share their worship of Jesus with their worship of Israel. And it is disgusting!
On a lighter note, you mentioned the wrong Elvis! 😄
Well, Robert, that's the Elvis I love lol. Good point about evangelical worship of Israel. Thanks.
My favorite character on Star Trek TOS was Spock, because I share his preference for logic, to a fault.
Back in the 70s, while I was at the votech 2 blocks away, I found out that Leonard Nimoy was appearing at Currigan Exhibition Hall as a side appearance. I walked over there and he was kneeling on the stage passing out autographs. As I approached the stage, he stopped the appearance and came down the stairs on the side of the stage. I fell into line behind him and spoke his name. He stopped, spun around and gave me a great big smile and said it was so nice to have someone call him by his real name instead of Spock. Unfortunately, all I had was a ticket stub for him to autograph, but he did so gratefully. Unfortunately I misplaced the stub long ago.
Good to hear, Vonu. William Shatner, unfortunately, has one of the worst reputations in the industry. Thanks.
William Shatner has one of the worst reputations in the industry for what?
He is on track to survive the rest of the crew.
Very difficult to deal with. He is usually a monster to fans. Thanks.
That is what made him such a great starship commander and police officer.
And as always, kudos for your column. My story is essentially the same as yours. I outgrew being star struck by the time I graduated high school. They put on their pants one leg at a time, but only one makes gold records. :-)
Thanks, G. Alan!
A lot of the idolatry is manufactured. It seems like TV wants us to believe that people go crazy over celebrities…. But in reality I can’t think of anyone that I know who would go crazy over anyone.
Of course. Even the Beatles- initially, they planted screaming girls in the crowds. But most people are followers, so they didn't need to do that for long. Thanks, AnnekeB.
I think the Beatles got sick of it all after a while. That's why they stopped performing live.
Very thought provoking and so interesting.
Just had to state for the record, we Catholics don't worship the Blessed Virgin, we venerate her. Only God is worshipped.
Point taken, Kathleen. Thanks!
Joe Theismann is from South River, just 15 minutes from my hometown in Zoo Jersey. When I was a senior in high school, we had a horrendous football team, lost every game. That year South River was undefeated and ranked number one in the state. We (New Brunswick) played them the last game of the season. They were slated to blow us out of the stadium. Our guys got sick of hearing how bad they were and how Theismann's crew was going to slaughter them. They played their hearts out like maniacs and in one of the biggest upsets in NJ high school football history, fought South River to a 7 to 7 tie. No one could believe it, least of all our head coach. He filmed the game and ecstatically showed it to us during gym class. Every play, our guys swarmed South River and Theismann like a nest of angry hornets. Bear in mind Drew Pearson was also on that South River team. He became an All-Pro, wide receiver with the Dallas Cowboys. Celebrity worship is a sick symptom of a dying culture and society. I remember during a baseball autograph signing event with Hall of Famer, Pete Rose, a father in line told Rose that his young son was dying of cancer and he really idolized him. The dad said he would be very grateful if Rose, along with his autograph, would write his son a personal message. Rose just scribbled his name and waved the guy away saying, "Nope. I'm just paid to sign my name. Next!" What a scumbag! I knew a local guy who died years ago who was the head of a lighting company that went on tour with some of the biggest acts of all time like Aerosmith and huge Rap groups. He told me after the concerts, it was also his job to monitor who went backstage for the post gig party. Naturally you needed a pass. He gloated saying very pretty teenage girls would beg him for one and he made it clear that for a backstage pass, they had to give him a blow job. He said not a single one ever refused, they all did it without hesitation. There is a video that has been scrubbed off the internet of a Bruce Springsteen concert in which during the show, Springsteen picked up an extremely attractive young girl from the front row and was carrying her back and forth across the stage to the screams and delight of the crowd. She looked about 12 or 13 years old. The guy that made the video slowed it down and did a close-up of Springsteen walking with the girl in his arms and you can clearly see one of his hands sliding up her leg (she was wearing leotards) past her thigh to her crotch and fondling her vagina as he is carrying her. She had to be there with a parent because of her age who had to be in the front row as well and could see what he was doing. I can just visualize the mom or dad or both bragging, "Look! My little girl is being molested by the great Bruce Springsteen! Isn't that fantastic!" By the way, the girl didn't seem to mind at all. By the expression on her face, she was enjoying it. I'm surprised he didn't copulate with her right on stage. I'm certain the crowd, including her parents, would have roared their approval like the plebes in an ancient Roman amphitheater. Loved this, Don, thank you.
I appreciate you sharing that, Hereticdrummer. I loved Theismann primarily because I loved Notre Dame. In my house, that's who we rooted for, because they were the Catholic powerhouse. Also loved Terry Hanratty, who didn't get a fair chance in the NFL. I'm firmly convinced he was a better QB than Terry Bradshaw, and with all that talent around him on the Steelers, would probably have led them to even more Super Bowl wins. Thanks.
You're welcome, Don. South River, NJ always fielded great football teams and put many guys into the pros over the decades. Their team with Theismann may have been their best of all time, which makes what happened even more incredible. Even though the game ended in a 7 to 7 tie, everyone, including the South River team and the folks in that town, knew it was a New Brunswick victory. I saw the savage tackle of Theismann by Lawrence Taylor, All-Pro linebacker of the NY Giants, that shattered his leg and prematurely ended his outstanding career. I remember Terry Hanratty well having been a "Fighting Irish" fan myself and I totally agree with you. I haven't been in South River in years even though it is very near here, but when I was a kid, traditionally South River was populated primarily by people of Russian and East European ancestry, a lot of Slavics. Of course the demographics there has changed for the worse, like it has all over the U.S. thanks to the designs of the evil, occupying, Iron Heel government. An interesting factoid about South River that I'm sure no longer holds as well. South River, NJ, had more bars and taverns per capita than any town in the entire U.S. I'm sure after that shocking upset game with New Brunswick, the bars and taverns there were filled with weeping drunks. Be well, my friend.
Pete Rose was more than a scumbag. He was the end of my romance with Major League Baseball. That guy, along with the ownership of the Philadelphia Phillies, was pond scum. He turned his back on his fans in Cincinnati and allowed himself to be wooed to the Phillies. He was the first player to sign a million dollar contract, and broke all sorts of baseball records while performing geriatrics in Veterans Stadium well past the peak of his career, pulling the Phillies into the pack with his mediocre play. But he drew the fans, who wanted to say "I saw Rose get his 4000th hit". I forget what year, but Rose had a hitting streak going that shattered records, and then when it was finally broken, by Gene Garber, I think- I really followed baseball in those days- Rose acted like a complete asshole, complaining that Garber was pitching "like it was the bottom of the ninth in the 7th game of the World Series". Well you're damn right, Pete. Every pitcher wants to go down in the lore as having broken your record.
About 1975 or so, my uncle, who was a Philly cop, got us press passes to the benches of both the Phillies and the St Louis Cardinals, my team back then. And on the elevator down, who got on but Harry Callis, the old radio voice of the Phillies. That was probably the most famous person I ever shook hands with. And my two brothers were in absolute hog heaven.
By the early '80's, I had become disenfranchised with baseball, and was more attuned to the NFL and the Philadelphia Eagles. But in the late '80's, I became totally disenfranchised with all the major leagues. It is all rigged. It is all fake and ghey.
You're right about Rose, WW. He was once my favorite player for a few years as a kid, but I too was repelled by his demeanor, which was best revealed during his hitting streak, as you note. But it is a travesty that he isn't in the Hall of Fame. Any Black player who had more hits than anyone who ever played the game would be have been inducted. Period. After an intense public relations campaign led by every sports "journalist," talking head on ESPN, comedians, etc. And as bad as he was (probably still is), there were worse. DiMaggio. Mantle. Mays. Roger Clemens. Mark McGwire. Barry Bonds, etc. Thanks.
They were probably all bad. Even the better ones. But I have not followed any sports for years and years. When I talk about the Washington Redskins and Houston Oilers, people look at me like I got green ears or whatever. I thought the Colorado Rockies was a minor league team. I don't even know the baseball divisions anymore...
NFL = Negro Felony League
And all owned by jews! You can't make this shit up!
As a fellow RC, I have never worshipped our Blessed Mother nor any saint. I honor them and entreat them to pray for me … and you … and the whole world. To Protestants who object, do you ever say to a friend, “Please pray for me”? Catholics and other apostolic churches simply see the veil between heaven and earth as more transparent.
Protestants have a weird theology where the soul dissolves after death, and will only be restored with the Body at the General Resurrection. So as far as they are concerned the saints cannot hear our prayers. That is why they complain we pray to "dead people".
These errors can be easily refuted from the Bible itself. Just look at what Our Lord said to St Dismas- "This day, you will be with me in paradise". Moreover, they forget the parable of Lazarus and Dives, and etc.
I didn't know that, WW. Thanks.
When you abandon the truth you lose the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and are open to every delusion and diabolical suggestion. That is why Our Lord said that "He who does not gather with me scatters." This is self-evident from the multiplicity of Protestant sects.
Didn't know that, though know Karaites and JWs take Ecc. 9:5 overliterally.
Good distinction, G. Alan. Thanks.
Saw a new commercial showing a lesbian looking female with a tattoo on her leg shaving her pubic hair. another commercial with an obese black woman saying not just my armpits smell. It’s over for us
I can't believe they think this disgusting stuff sells any products, Gregory. Thanks.
Thank you, Donald. I do believe that was your most religious post, to date...and it was great. I hate that phrase: " I'm spiritual, not religious"... it's as if the person is really saying: "I'm not an atheist, but I'm not a judgemental, uptight, *******". One of the saddest truths I have learned in life, is that most folks hate and fear the truth. They will always chose a pretty lie over the hard and ugly (to them) truth.
I hate personality cults. I will watch a YouTube channel until the host starts acting like a celebrity...then I'm done. My heros are all people nobody else has ever heard of, for the most part. The Tavistock Institute has been controlling pop-culture since WWII (and maybe even before) so all those talentless people have been "installed". I recognize the names up until the eighties, after that, thankfully, the names bring nothing to mind.
So your wife worked at Farrell's? Did you know that ice cream parlor began in Portland OR? Back in the sixties going to Ferrell's was a rare treat... usually a bribe for behaving well through something unpleasant. They had a Gay Nineties decor; red velvet wallpaper with dark wood booths and paneling, and a black-and-white spooning Victorian couple logo, that was camp before anyone knew what camp was. Then they changed everything, and ruined Farrell's forever. That must have been when they began selling franchises. I think all the Farrell's are closed now. I haven't seen one in years
I appreciate the details about Farrell's, Kris. Yes, loved the Gay Nineties decor (when "gay" meant something entirely different). I don't think there are any Farrells left. Thanks!
Kris: There was a Farrell's ice cream parlor at the Northgate Mall in north Seattle. I took the kids there often. I had a girlfriend who named her daughter Farrell. Farrell is married, has kids, and lives in eastern Oregon now. Farrell and my son are still best friends.
I had a friend who worked at Farrell's. For birthdays, she was mortified that she had to race around the dining room, banging on a huge drum, and then announce (yelling): "Ladies and gentlemen, today is the birthday of _____. Lets all sing happy birthday". Do you remember the "Gibson Girl"? It was meant to be shared by a couple, but unsuspecting diners sometimes ordered it, and ended up looking like a pig eating a giant dish of ice cream, and being teased by their table mates.
That was one of the most distinctive things about Farrells- the servers singing "Happy Birthday," drawing the attention of everyone in the restaurant. Like many an introverted actor, my normally shy wife really shined in this ritual. Like every other server I saw there, she was very, very enthusiastic. Thanks, Kris!
Kris: I don't remember the "Gibson Girl" at Farrell's or the drum and singing. Maybe Seattle is too Swedish and staid to be so demonstrative.
It was suppose to be at all Farrell's. The birthday thing was one of the core Farrell's traditions.
They also had a pig's trough or something (forget the name), which you wouldn't have to pay for if you ate the entire thing. My wife never saw anyone able to finish it. Thanks.
Yes, now that you mention it, I remember that too. Thanks for the memory. These days, every time I get a little flashback to America 1.0, I am momentarily transported back to a happier time...and I'm m thinking...man, it REALLY was so different...and, as time goes, not so long ago. Yet nobody I know remembers these details. No wonder (((they))) can "get away with it". People with no memory, have no past. Btw Donald, you are one of my heros. You are Everyman for America 2.0. The modern version of the Jimmy Stewart characters that you so love.
Kris: I suppose I just never saw it. I didn't see a lot of things back in the 1970s.