first communion

06-17-04 No idea what (513.5) means now, but I began my BLOG today. First entry is titled, testo. My blog name is ADAN 300 and the title of my blog is Non Serviam. I have a lot to learn about blogging so I have been reading hundreds of blogs lately. Some of them are quite charming. Others are the usual nonsense. A few are quite professional. Tonight's notes are:
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Left Behind - carrot and stick religion
'Just stay quiet and you'll be okay.' - Mohammed Atta
Communion has changed
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I made the first note as I watched CNN which had an interview with the authors of the novel, Left Behind (Tim LaHaye and Jerry B Jenkins). The interviewer pointed out that it was obvious they were using fear of God as a motivation for practicing their 'religion' and they fessed up right away. They could hardly deny it. Fear is the primary motive of all Carrot and Stick religions. Greed is the secondary motive. Fear and greed in that order.
Fear and Greed are the two Original Sins. All normal children commit those two original sins because at the level of children they are not sins but behavioral guides. Fear and Greed become sins in adulthood. There comes a time in your adulthood when you must give up the ways of Fear and Greed and adopt new ways, ways of Courage and Economy. Failing that you become Evangelical Christians or the Jewish/Muslim versions thereof. You will in that case have lots of company, much fellowship. But if you travel the path of Courage and Economy you will find few fellow travelers because, 'strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth onto life, and few there be that find it (Matthew 7:14. My Booger Bible words it somewhat differently but the thought is the same.) I use the word, 'economy' because it is the best opposite to 'greed' that I can think up at the moment.
In the light of this analysis the Left Behind series is entertaining crap: fun reading perhaps but not a serious guide to life. (Lots of boom-boom from above as I wrote that last bit. The folks upstairs apparently do not like the word, 'crap' in religious criticism. This is nothing new.)
The next note by Mohammed Atta is somewhat related. It is the standard advice given to victims by predators. It is a lie, of course, but it often works because victims are in a state of denial. They find it difficult to believe what is happening to them. That lie fits with their denial; it is a perfect match. And so they believe, not realizing the danger.
The last note refers to my initial encounter with God. Today I saw a brief video (on tv) of people receiving Communion. The video was much different than my experience of Communion: the priest gave them the Host in their cupped hands. (Being gassed here. This is the first time I have been gassed while writing this stuff. I am coughing. My nose is running. Gassing is over after about a minute. I will now continue.)
The last time I received Communion the priest gave it to me on my tongue with the words (muttered in Latin), 'Body of Christ.' So things have changed in the Catholic Church since my last Communion.
This video reminded me of my very first encounter with God. I was a child. Six years old. I received my First Communion at Stella Maris (Star of the Sea) church on Sullivan's Island back in 1941 or thereabouts. I remember the occasion because they told me that although I could not eat breakfast because God wanted to be the first thing down my throat on Sunday morning, my hunger would be compensated by the sheer joy of imbibing God. They lied. After swallowing God I remained hungry. And no joy. I learned about 'religion' from that first encounter with 'God.' I also learned something about the people who taught 'religion.' These were unforgettable lessons to learn at the tender age of six. So I pass them on to you. End of notes.
Which brings up the question, 'How much of this stuff shall I beam up to my blog?'

The above is a fairly faithful representation of tonight's drog, excepting minor changes in punctuation and wording which do not change the meaning. I now consider my blog de-virginized.

(late entry on o6-20-04: I don't like the word, 'devastating' in the previous blog entry concerning Word Salad. A better word would be, 'disappointing.' Scratch 'devastating.' And by the way, I thought I had 'published' this 'draft' on Friday, but apparently not. I am beginning to think that booze, drogs and blogs do not mix well. I know that booze and drogs mix well; therefore booze and blogs ought to mix equally well. But obviously drogs and blogs don't mix.)