A Lot of TRUTH In This

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in. My Best Regards.

Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein

I post this because this is so true but in the same sense if we worship God in schools and in government which god will that be? Then other religions will be ignored I beleive he brings up a good point but why cant we allow everyone 5 minutes out of there day wherever they are to worship whatever GOD they choose? Since this is the last class I hope people have been inspired as much as I have and really think about every word we speak, every action we take and how we are quick to blame others................. I really enjoyed this class it was great to meet you all !!!!!

Father John Martin

Father John Martin, the spiritual director of Shantivanam, a Christian ashram (learning community) in southeastern India that focuses on the relationship between Christianity and the religions of India (particularly Hinduism and Buddhism) asserts that all the major religions of the world can be compared to a group of hikers climbing up different sides of a high mountain. Each hiker (and religion) takes a unique route to the top. While they are climbing the mountain, they cannot necessarily see one another. They may not even be aware that those in the other climbing parties are also ascending the mountain. They think they are alone as they make the ascent. Yet when they reach the peak, the climbers are surprised to find one another. Think back over the religions studied this semester.

I think John Martin wanted everyone to see religions as being very similar and focus on the similarities rather than focus on the differences. This is so religious groups can focus on the comparisons and share rather than focus on negative. All religious groups reach the top of the mountain because all get what they are looking for within their religious group. Everyone's god may be different but they all have faith in something and if having that faith gets them through whatever obstacles they undure then basically all religions are similar just that they worship the same individual just call him different names and obide by different rules.

Hindu Service

The Hindu temple Chonte and I went to is called BAPS Shri Swaminharayan Mandir, located at 556 Yonkers Ave in Yonkers, NY. We didn’t know what to expect when we arrived it was a new building very nicely kept and very quiet. Once we entered we introduced ourselves to the clergy man Sudhil Patel. We were instructed that if we were to go into the temple we needed to take our shoes off.The temple was very vibrant, colorful, and quiet. Straight ahead were two statues of spirit gods, Lord Sami Nariyan and Bjatjumahraj they were dressed in bright yellow clothing, They are consider saints or guru’s and they are never associated with money or women. The other gods that are praised are Bhagatju Manharaj, Shashtriji Manharaj, Xogiji Manaraj, and the most important Pramukhswami Maharaj because he is still alive. We were informed he stayed in America for 120 days this year and showed in the temple in Yonkers.The clergyman also informed us that in the morning the saints get bathed, teeth brushed, clothing change and fed breakfast, lunch, and dinner they also get water every hour and offered fruits at 3:30pm everyday. On the stage where the saints were located were three individuals on the floor playing mini drums. They were chanting songs and chanting the gods names, the woman on the floor were bowing their heads and clapping in tune. The smells are calming like inscents burning and colorful flowers all over.Women are not allowed to sit with the men during a ritual or any kind of service. The men are located closest to the stage and the women sit behind them between a divider on the floor. While we spoke with the clergy the ritual was in process. He informed us that the priest lives in the temple and they have a service everyday one at 7am and one at 4:30pm. Inside the temple was like a mini community they had a convenient store, like a thrift shop that sold books, food, and clothing.What amazed me is when we were leaving the clergyman’s grand-daughter looked at us as if we were monsters and asked him what we were doing there. He stated to her we were there for a school project and wanted to know about Hindu religion. She asked him why we wanted to learn and ran off. I got a sense that this religion is very accepting but overall not many “outsiders” or people who look different are a part of this congregation.