Letters to the Editor
Re: The Gnostic Jung
Dear Mr. Smith:
Upon reading your review of The Gnostic Jung, I came across this:
"The Catholic and other churches continue to torture* children with a sense of guilt because of sins of the flesh such as masturbation and, following what Moses is supposed to have received from the burning bush, adultery � as defined by religious authorities of course. Neither Christian, Jew nor Muslim may even look at a woman in a certain way without exposing himself to the pangs of hellfire.�
I was deeply saddened to find this sort of stereotyping in a literary context.
False stereotypes typically result when an observer encounters a small sample then leaps to the conclusion that his sample is representative of the entirety or the majority of the population. Such unwarranted conclusions are understandable because in the busy lives we all lead, the time to explore our assumptions is limited. I only ask that if you don't have the time to research, might you consider refraining from the promotion of false myths until you find the time to research them?
Unfortunately, anti-religious bigotry today is what ethnic bigotry once was. I've heard the old stories:� Jews have horns. Blacks are Uncle Toms. Women are dumb. The Irish are a distinct and filthy race. People used to accept these stereotypes as incontestable facts.
Since you may have strong beliefs about sex and religion, you might be interested in some fact finding. The encyclical on sex that Pope John Paul II wrote for Paul VI back when John Paul was a cardinal is highly recommended as representative of the official arm of the Catholic Church. I would also suggest that you talk to a wide array of Catholics, since the people ARE the Church - at least that is what is taught in Catholic religious instruction. The official stance is that the hierarchy of the Church can only guide. The individual is the ultimate owner of moral authority. You will find that Catholic beliefs range the full spectrum from left to right on almost every issue. Catholic congregations are equally diverse, each having its own culture. Or if you don't have time for that, you might want to read the research. So much is readily available on line these days.
With regard to masturbation I can tell that with regard to my own experiences (public grade school, Catholic high school, Protestant college, adult variety), it was not until I got to the Protestant Midwest that I met anyone, lay person or clergy, who had such restrictive beliefs about sex as the ones you describe. In those instances, the individuals were from isolated rural areas. I think class, culture, and geography have much more to do with sexual illnesses, such as that which you've described, than religious beliefs.
I've talked with a lot of different kinds of people, and I must say that acceptance of sexuality as a gift tends to go hand in hand with the beliefs of many religious persuasions. After all, true religion (as opposed to the political babblings of those who seek attention for pseudo-religious beliefs) tends to celebrate creation and all of its goodness. Guilt about the healthy forms of sex, on the other hand, seems to me to be most common in areas where men are threatened and therefore associate all sorts of bad things with women as competitor, enemy, and threat to the ego.
I digress. You may also be interested in visiting a few synagogues and mosques to learn more about attitudes of the vast majority of religious people who don't use false religious words to manipulate the press. Also, since you brought up hellfire, you may be interested in learning more about religious ideas about the concept of hell. I've noticed that people who make anti-religious statements often falsely believe that most religions hold that hell is a physical place that involves a separate after life. I find some humor in the fact that the non-religious take ancient metaphors so literally. Fundamentalist and atheists tend to think very much alike. Either Time or Newsweek had an article on religious teachings about hell a few years back (2000 or 2001 is my guess). You might find it interesting. For example, in the Catholic Church, hell is separation from the holy (or the whole if you prefer). In other words, hell is about fragmentation and alienation).
Of course, I realize that if you didn't have time to explore all this before, you may not have time to explore it now. If that's the case, would you mind refraining from perpetuating the insulting stereotypes until after you've had time to do some research?
Be well, connected, and blessed,
Kim Test
*This review, which appeared a few years ago, has elicited much interest (oveer 10,000 readers). Therefore it is republished in the current issue of SCR, with one change: �tortured� is replaced by �instill�. [Ed.]
Re: Fidel Castro, the First Super Delegate
Saw the piece on Castro, and it reminded me of an e-mail from part of a stillborn cop-book project:
I spent my last fifteen-hour tour of duty in connection with the United Nations 55th Anniversary Summit up in Harlem at Riverside Church last night. Am I glad this week is over...
The guest of honor was His Excellency, Fidel Castro.
We were joined by several thousand wingnuts, loose screws, 60's refugees wearing Che Guevara t-shirts and Columbia University students who apparently have lots of free time on their hands.� We were also joined by a pitiful handful of anti-Castro demonstrators who I had to escort away from the surprisingly pro-Castro crowds. The event was sponsored by the church in partnership with quite a few of my favorite groups, such as the American Communist Party, the Black Radical Congress, and also included a touching address by convicted cop-killer Mumia Jamal (AKA Wesley Cooke).
Fidel talked in Espa�ol with a female translator in syncopated rythym. The nonsensical speech was boomed over a loudspeaker for the benefit of all.� And he talked. And he talked. He talked for four hours and seventeen minutes.
FOUR HOURS AND SEVENTEEN MINUTES.
We figured out just how he's been able to hold on to power for forty years - stamina. Lawyer Ron Kuby couldn't hold out; he left a few hours into it. He saluted us as he walked by.� We didn't return his salute. Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan stayed till the bitter end, but he came two hours late.
Although Danny Glover's name was on the program, I didn't see him. Then again, we were up in Harlem.� Maybe he was afraid of getting mugged.
Venceremos,
Bob Cohen,
Retired NYPD
�
Re: Lost-Erla �sk's Ordeal at JFK
The betrayal of the human heart by the homeland security teams under the guise of security is an abomination of America's freedoms, which may yet be recovered? My sympathy to this person and I apologize for all of us. I too have been in jail, and told: we don't like your kind. I think what they mean is they don't like anyone who has dignity and makes normal human errors. Their intolerance is despicable. These are some very unhappy miserable people getting pleasure from intimidation. Bush doesn't deserve a pension when he leaves office, but will either Clinton or Obama change things?
The terrorists are getting what they want: terrible people of every ilk and country terrorizing others in the name of the law. It's so religious. Shades of the Inquisition! The fear you felt, Erla, is what they live with everyday in their own psyches. What hell. May they find love and forgiveness.(It would be such a blessing to us all). Where you were they are around all day. How horrible for them. Do them a favor? Go soak it all away in your beautiful country. Thank you for being here amongst us, and thank you for telling us of your ordeal. May it never ever occur again.
Gary Pagano
Re: Comments about the Erla Osk ordeal in SCR 58
"The trip took close to one hour and although I couldn�t see clearly outside the vehicle I knew that we had crossed over into New Jersey."
When the sedan did a crazy Louie and turned toward New York,� you should have calmly taken the gun hidden in the toilet of the Italian restaurant and shot the interrogators point blank. Michael would have been proud.
�
Yo.
Mike, Ohio��
�
Hi, I just stumbled across 'Southern Cross Review' when looking for Kipling's story 'Proofs of Holy Writ' and was amazed to find the whole thing.� So thank you for that and please allow me to subscribe.
In return you might be interested in the following:
'In 1610, when Shakespeare was 46, the final work was being done on the new (King James ) version of the bible. The authors consulted non-churchmen in some cases, for example the poetical books like Psalms and Song of Solomon were vetted by outsiders with experience in writing poetry. Nobody knows if Shakespeare was consulted (though a Kipling short story imagines such an event) but lines like:
'God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;'
...clearly weren't written by any old hack.
However there is a clue..in the wonderful Psalm 46. The forty-sixth word is 'shake' and the forty-sixth from the end (if you ignore the exclamatory 'Selah') is, you guessed it, 'spear'. I'm convinced!*
Best wishes
Graham Page
*So am I! [Ed.]
Hi there,
I am very disappointed about the fact that no British publisher has been willing to risk it [publish Tiziano Terzani's book]. I was wondering if and where I can get a copy of his book (in English).
Thank you for your time and kindness.
Lus
We sent this reader the book he was seeking. See the SCR Ebook Library
I really love your site and the contents, and I will try my best to give my support!
Qi Xiao,
China
Thanks. [Ed.]
Letters with comments (positive or negative) about Southern Cross Review and/or its contents are welcome. Please send them by email to: [email protected]
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