[Movers and Shakers] Lawbreakers, Shakers And Those That Didn’t Get It

Lawbreakers
Who	When	Crime	Sentence
Jeremiah	628BC	prophesying the fall of Jerusalem (think: modern day ‘Glorifying Terrorism’), and speaking out against leader of Jerusalem (think: modern day ‘Protest’).	Imprisoned, but later set free when Jerusalem fell.
Daniel	620BC	High ranking Babylonian official who refused to worship the Babylonian King when the new law was enacted.	Thrown to the lions den, but the lions seemed to have lost their appetite.
Maya Evans	2005AD	Unauthorised protest (reading names of the dead) in Parliament Square.	Convicted of a ‘Serious and Organised Crime’ and given a criminal record.
William Tyndale	16th Century AD	Translating the Bible into the English language.	Strangled and burned at the stake.
Puah and Shiphrah	Time of the Exodus BC	Disobeyed the authorities orders to execute all new-born male Hebrew children. Gave false statements to the authorities.	Escaped prosecution.
Natasha Lazareva	1970s AD	Publishing a Russian Christian underground magazine.	6 years in prison.
Rosa Parks	1955AD	Violating segregation laws (Refused to move out of what was lawfully a white mans seat on the bus).	Arrested, charged and fined.
Jesus Christ	33AD	Broke Pharasaic laws: Didn’t wash hands before eating, blasphemy, forgiving sin, healing lepers, healing on the Sabbath, plucking corn on the Sabbath, turning over tables in the temple.	Arrested, imprisoned, tried, tortured and publicly executed.
Pastor Lap Ma	1970s AD	Protesting against the expropriation of church buildings and estates.	Arrested and resettled many times, under surveillance.
Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego	605 BC – 562 BC	Refused to worship a gold image of the King.	Cast into a fiery furnace, but did not burn.
Students	2002AD	Handing out gospel tracts to high school students.	Arrested and charged with trespassing on school board property.
Khalid El-Masri	2003 AD	Innocent German citizen sharing the same name as a suspected Al-Qaeda operative.	Abducted and interrogated for several months by the American CIA. Allowed no contact with the outside world. Later released without charge.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer	1930s AD	Headed an illegal seminary (the confessing church), plotted to assassinate the German Chancellor.	Banned from preaching, teaching and public speaking, jailed and finally executed by hanging.
Daniel Scot	2003AD	Religious vilification (criticising Islam).	Convicted under ‘The Victorian Racial and Religious Vilification Act 2001’
Nelson Mandella	1964AD	Conspiracy, sabotage of government and military targets, involvement in armed action.	Sentenced to life imprisonment. Later released and pardoned.
Brother Yun	1997AD	Owned and distributed copies of the bible. Did not join the ‘Three-Self’ Patriotic Church (the government controlled church). Walked out of a maximum security prison, used a false passport (different photo) to fly to Germany without being stopped by guards or airport security.	Arrested, jailed and tortured many times.

Shakers
Who	When	Message/Action
Esther	479BC	At the risk of her own life, she convinced her husband King Ahasuerus to prevent his Prime Minister from committing a mass genocide of her people.
John the Baptist	30AD	Hermit who lived in the desert surviving on locusts and wild honey. Preached repentance from sin and baptised Jesus of Nazereth. Condemned King Herod for his adultery and was eventually imprisoned and beheaded.
William Wilberforce	1759-1833 AD	Introduced anti-slavery motions in Parliament which resulted in the abolishment of slavery. Also influenced reform of factory working conditions and other social reforms.
Nehemiah	446BC	Stirred by the plight of a desolate Jerusalem he gained the approval of the King to rebuild the walls and restore the city to its former glory.
Nathan	Around 1000BC	Spoke out against the sin of King David and caused the King to repent.
Steve Chalke	1985AD	Founder of The Oasis Trust (for homeless young people), Parentalk, Faithworks and other social action iniatives in the UK.
Clive Staples Lewis	1898-1963 AD	Proposer of the Jesus ‘Trilemma’, author of many apologetics and fictional allegories of the Christian Faith.
Amos	750BC	prophesied against the social exploitation of the poor, social injustice and hypocrisy.
Bono	1984-Present AD	Has constantly and consistently used his position of influence to highlight the plight of the third world poor.
Jesus Christ	33AD	His Death and resurrection set a defining point in history, turning ordinary, uneducated fishermen into wise men and apostles. Alive and active in the world today, his words have inspired reformers, leaders, scientists, doctors and many other professionals and ordinary people to extraordinary feats.
The Vatican	12/13th Centuries AD	Founded the first Universities in Europe as we know them. Educational institutions did exist before but not in the format which we are accustomed to in modern times. Almost all educational reform and influence has stemmed from Religion.
Martin Luther King, Jr.	1929-1968 AD	Fou nder of the civil rights movement, winning equal rights and voting rights for black people in the southern United States.
Aristotle	322BC	Greek philosopher who re-wrote Greek philosophy which became the foundations of Western philosophy as we know it. Studied every subject available in his time.
Charles Colson	1973AD	President Nixons right hand man, one of seven who took the fall for the Watergate Scandal. Converted to Christianity whilst in jail and went on to found Prison Fellowship- a prison ministry.
Jim Wallis	1948-Present AD	Christian writer an political activist for social justice and peace. Founder of Sojourners and oposer of the religious right fiscal and foreign policies.
Abraham	1900BC	When he found out God was to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness, he interceded. He asked God to spare the cities if there was just one good person living there.

Those That Didn’t Get It
Who	When	Comments
The Mainstream German Church	1935-39 AD	“Without doubt the chancellor lives in faith in God. He recognizes Christianity as the foundation of Western culture.” Cardinal Faulhaber 1936 “Today, after two thousand years, with deepest emotion I recognize more profoundly than ever before in the fact that it was for this that He had to shed His blood upon the Cross. As a Christian I have no duty to allow myself to be cheated, but I have the duty to be a fighter for truth and justice…. And if there is anything which could demonstrate that we are acting rightly it is the distress that daily grows. For as a Christian I have also a duty to my own people…. When I go out in the morning and see these men standing in their queues and look into their pinched faces, then I believe I would be no Christian, but a very devil if I felt no pity for them, if I did not, as did our Lord two thousand years ago, turn against those by whom to-day this poor people is plundered and exploited.” Adolf Hitler 1922
Pope Sixtus IV	1478AD	Consented to and established the Spanish Inquisition, whereby non-Catholics, Jews and Muslims were discriminated against and eventually persecuted and killed.
Christian Voice	2005 AD	Oppose tolerance, peace and friendship between people of different faiths. Believe the Queen to be the head of the Church in a ‘Christian’ state. Advocate the death penalty for murder and supported the war in Iraq. Whilst there are 3.4 million children in the UK living in low-income households, Government initiatives to remove our basic freedoms and detain without trial, CV protest against Jerry Springer – The Opera , released private family details of BBC execs and put pressure on at least one charity to refuse donations. They have claimed Hurricane Katrina was a result of Gods wrath for the city’s wickedness.
Saul	1050BC	Isreals first king, son of a peasant farmer appointed by Samuel and God, but corrupted by power and false military strength. Ultimately too impatient and unwise in his decisions. In his attempt to cling on to power he became intensely jealous of David, his best warrior. He attempting to kill David, murdered the High Priest, and sought the confidence of a sorceress before his downfall.
Michael Marcavage	2005AD	“Evangelist” who travels the US to preach against homosexuals. Has also claimed Hurricane Katrina was an act of Gods wrath for the city’s wickedness.
Pope Urban II	11th Century AD	Sanctioned the crusades to protect pilgrims and win back Europe and Jerusalem after the Peace and Truce of God movements broke down.
Jerry Falwell	1933 – Present AD	Falwell and his church have been the subject of many questionable practices and disreputable financial activities. He blamed the 911 attacks on abortionists and homosexuals. “His message of peace and reconciliation under almost all circumstances is simply incompatible with Christian teachings as I interpret them. This ‘turn the other cheek’ business is all well and good but it’s not what Jesus fought and died for. What we need to do is take the battle to the Muslim heathens and do unto them before they do unto us.” Falwell on President Jimmy Carter.
Three-Self Church	1951-Present AD	The official Chinese church, a puppet of the Chinese government and their attempt to keep Christians under control and remove foreign influences from the church. The real church of China are the illegal house-churches who have grown and not sold out during the years of ongoing persecution.
Pat Robertson	1930-Present AD	Claims to have used the power of prayer to steer hurricanes away from his companies, which have then gone on to wreak havoc and destruction in many states across the East Coast of the US. Another time a hurricane he prayed against, hit anyway. Supported the war criminal- ex-president of Liberia, Charles Taylor. There is a lot of controversy over his charity and African gold/diamond mines, which might explain why he also supported the dictator Mobutu Sese Seko. He has suggested one time that it would be a good idea to nuke the US State Department (foreign affairs). With regards to the Chinese policy of forcing abortions on parents of more than one child he claimed the were “doing what they had to do”. On Hugo Chavez: “I don’t know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he thinks we’re trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it. It’s a whole lot cheaper than starting a war, and I don’t think any oil shipments will stop.” On the city of Dover voting out Intelligent design supporters: “I’d like to say to the good citizens of Dover: if there is a disaster in your area, don’t turn to God, you just rejected Him from your city”.
Toader ArapaÅŸu	1915 – Present AD	Former monk who became puppet of the communists when they took power in Romania. Approved the destruction of 26 churches and linked with persecution of the Roman Catholic Church and other communist abuses.
Jimmy Swaggart	1935- Present AD	Along with other highly influential and popular televangelists in the sex scandals of the 1980s, Swaggart was discovered to be sleeping with prostitutes. He refused restorative discipline of the AoG, but made a tearful televised ‘confession’ for his sins. He later claimed they were down to demons and that another televangelist had cast out the demons in a telephone conversation. “…if one ever looks at me like that, I’m gonna kill him and tell God he died.” Swaggart commenting on homosexuals.
Pope Urban VIII	16th Century AD	Practiced nepotism on a grand scale. Had Galileo imprisoned and placed under house arrest for his scientific discoveries (that did not fit the Church belief at the time).
Paul Jennings Hill	1994AD	Terrorist/Anti-Abortion activist who murdered two doctors and was sentenced to death. He believed he would gain a great reward in Heaven.
Jim Bakker	1987AD	Paid off a former secretary to keep their affair secret, convicted of fraud, tax evasion and racketeering in 1989. Released from prison in 1993 and has since repented and works on the streets of Los Angeles with the poor.
Benny Hinn	1952-Present AD	Controversial televangelist who has been accused of unsound biblical doctrine, exploitation of the poor and tax fraud. He has been proved to have issued false prophecies on many occasions and made numerous false statements. Hinn says: “There is nine in the Trinity…” “I don’t need gold in heaven, I gotta have it now.” “The Spirit tells me – Fidel Castro will die – in the 90’s. Oooh my! Some will try to kill him and they will not succeed. But there will come a change in his physical health, and he will not stay in power, and Cuba will be visited of God.”

Most of the links here link to wikipedia, I chose this as it’s usually the most up-to-date, the link is unlikely to disappear and they usually link to further external sources. But I purposely have quoted some information not contained in the linked source. I encourage you to google any of these yourself for more information.

Tags: Abandon All Fear Lawbreakers Shakers Movers Hypocrites List Christian Politics Church Faith Protest

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[Herding Sheep] Dismissive Responses

Dismissive responses are intended to appeal to our sense of reason (I say ‘sense of’ since if it was a direct appeal to our reasoning then the dismissive response wouldn’t work). What the dismissive response is actually doing is appealing to our herd instinct. The ‘herd instinct’ basically protects us from free thought and the hard work of using our brains. So for example: Let’s say some verbally incontinent braggart is voicing a fact or opinion, and a counter-argument or plausible objection enters your head. You may even feel the urge to offer this thought up for the debate. So you speak what’s on your mind and immediately the pompous git dismisses your viewpoint with something that sounds like a reasonable explanation as to why your viewpoint is incorrect. In actual fact it’s simply a dismissive response to get you off the scent of their line of bullsh*t.

[Quotey] The Mind of Bush

“It’s ontologically difficult, like somebody telling you that in fact, the Third Law of Motion is not and has never been true, and then demonstrating this by flicking you on the nose, sending you flying through the wall and into the street. It doesn’t just hurt you, it hurts your actual universe.” – Rohan, Episode 11 – Where I try to understand the mind of George W. Bush

Rohan, on his blog I Heart Irony, commenting on George Bushs’ apparent lack of self-awareness and recent public criticism by Kofi Annan.

Tags: Dark Side of the Light Christian Satire

[Doublespeak] Inferred and Implied Meanings

We currently live in a time where our government, elected leaders and leaders of corporate world rely on constantly on the use of certain words and certain language to disclose the truth, but in a way which infers something quite different from the reality. Take the example provided by the BBC today.

The article refers to a recent letter sent to local traders of Bournemouth by some sputnik at Dorset Police Head Quarters. The letter informed them that they should not report shoplifting thefts worth less than £75 and that detaining a criminal would be against the Human Rights Act.
A Dorset Police rep. has apologised for the letter and are quoted as saying:

“I would like to apologise to retailers who were led to believe that we may have
changed our policy.”

And,

“While sent with the good intention of reducing crime, the letter… was a
mistake and incorrect”

OK, now back to your GCSE English classes. This exercise tests your powers of observation, reasoning and ability to recognise implied meaning. Circle A, B, or C:

Question 1. Dorset Police have apologised to retailers.
A: Yes
B: No
C: Cannot be certain

Question 2. Dorset Police want to apologise to retailers.
A: Yes
B: No
C: Cannot be certain

Question 3. If retailers had followed the instructions in the letter, crime would have been reduced.
A: Yes
B: No
C: Cannot be certain

The next exercise tests your lateral thinking, reasoning and ability to hypothesize. Answers in paragraph format:

Question 4. Dorset Police clearly “would like to” apologise to retailers who received the letters. What is stopping them?

2 points.

Question 5. The letter sent out was intended to “reduce crime”. How would not reporting crimes fitting certain criteria actually reduce crime overall?

4 points.

End of Test. How did you do?

Since this kind of inference plagues our leaders and politicians, I intend to point out more of my observations in the area of implied meaning.. be on the lookout!

Tags: Dark Side of the Light Christian Satire

[Fearism] Whom Shall I Fear?

“Our governments seem intent on reminding us daily, of the threat to our security from terrorists and immigrants.”

There have been very few occasions in my life where I’ve felt mortal fear, the kind of fear gets your endorphins pumping and gives you an adrenaline rush. It’s the good kind of fear. It motivates you to do something (or avoid something). I remember one time hiking Mount Olympus and the last quarter of a mile was traversing a 40-60% angle, rock-face to get to the peak. One foot wrong and it was a 1000ft drop straight down. I remember feeling my life in my own hands, it was an uncomfortable feeling. We live all the time entrusting our lives to others, the aircraft pilot, the taxi-driver, the electrician, road workers, those who prepare our food. We don’t give it a moments thought. Yet here I was, nothing but me and the mountain, fully in control of my own life and suddenly not so confident. When I finally reached the top, it was then I felt alive. I knew I had conquered the peak and could easily make it back down.

Most of us may have at some time had the experience of mortal fear, but generally we don’t get to face things like that everyday. Instead our lives are filled with the lesser fears, the duller ones which beat away in the back of our minds. Work, debts, property, family, and other personal problems. These fears don’t give us an endorphine rush, because they are often not confined to one physical action. Instead they are prolonged, delayed fears, that wear down our energy and in some cases, our health.

We live in a climate of fear, you only need to go out, buy a paper and read the latest headlines. Our governments seem intent on reminding us daily, of the threat to our security from terrorists and immigrants. Fear of these external threats creates bitterness and resentment. So we live our lives with these fears and resentments and simply accept it as our fate. These resentments build up and cause us to look at others, or people different from us, with suspicion and mistrust. Then there are others who are quite comfortable. They don’t climb mountains and they don’t step out of boats. Content that they’re not bad people and so there’s no need to fight any causes, or get involved in other peoples affairs. They look at people who protest and petition also with mistrust and sometimes resentment.

The whole problem is when we allow our fears or our comforts to dictate our lives, an injustice occurs. Whether it’s not wanting to disturb the status quo, even though it is a moral cause, or fear of retribution by authorities, even when the law is on our side. I believe we all have personal mountains to climb, some of us may be near the top, for others it is simply a constant uphill struggle with no end in sight, and others still, may be sitting at the bottom wanting to ignore it.

I believe in speaking out against social injustice and hypocrisy. I believe in speaking up for the poor and oppressed and I have added links to some different organisations and cause. My motivation behind the website and the blog is to encourage others to ‘abandon all fear’.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear?”

Tags: Abandon All Fear T-Shirts Social Justice Fear Politics Threat

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