Phenomena-logical

'Phenomenological' is not any longer exactly the right way to describe the thing I wish to discuss with you all tonight (or, today; wherever you are...). This word now means a set of philosophical approaches to 'reality' or how humans are conscious of reality.

The way I was setting out to phrase it, might still apply though - and this is how I was going to say it:

'What is the phenomena-logic, of Mid-Eastern religions?'

For Muslims, it is going to be Ramadan on Monday 23 April.

And for Jews, it is going to be the Second Passover on April 26.

...There are two 'Passovers' as you know, for Jews.

Anyway, let's not beat around the bush for forty years - the question is, how many times, did Moses celebrate the Passover Lamb sacrifice, when he was wandering around the desert for forty years?

Answer - once.

Only one time.

And how is the sacrificed thing meant to be killed - if it is approved of by 'God?'

Now the overall telling of the 'Moses' story as it has been handed down through broad tradition - is BS, and we know it is BS because this 'God' either has no moral problem stealing the work of other people (Code of Hammurabi) and passing it off as His own (which calls into question what 'absolute morality' is and even why there should be a 'Law' at all if there isn't an absolute morality that God Himself doesn't even abide by for one thing...), or else, 'He' isn't really an actual 'God' at all, and then, that would make every thing else in the usual story make a bit more sense.

So I asked a number of genuine experts - Kosher certifying rabbis as well as Halal inspectors - well, but how exactly, was any 'sacrifice' designated functionally, to be actually approved by 'God?' ...In the actual literature.

A holy place, and a perfect 'offering.'

The answer is, a bunch of fire came down from Heaven and consumed the sacrifice completely.

Nobody cut a lamb's throat as the actual act of sanctification at all.

So - where are the phenomena of today's Jewish rituals, and Christian rituals...?

Do 'tongues of flame' descend down upon people in churches and cathedrals, or is it just someone lighting a few candles and stuff?

At least, you know, when those trees burned from the inside in California - had someone had the presence of mind to say they were doing a sacrifice out there, they could have had a few 'believers' follow them then on social media afterwards.

The Moses tradition is false, but the Elijah one is not: in the case of Elijah, a beam of fire from somewhere 'above' came down and 'consumed' the sacrifice.

You see - we have this whole thing totally screwed up.

What is the point of continually finding some 'perfect' living thing - Isaac, or some 'red heifer,' or a 'Passover Lamb' without 'blemish' and then have the thing disappear up some transporter beam?

Because, as you also know, the 'Bethlehem' where they raise 'Passover Lambs' is not the same exact spot as the 'town' of Bethlehem - but it is a place nearby, where shepherds raise these very special sheep, see, and when they are born they wrap them in a special covering to protect them from even scratching themselves...

...And what are we supposed to 'learn' from all of this?

A dove...? Iranian Islamic sacred image
of a 'peri-asteron.' By Mahmoud Farshchian.

So if - I dunno, four/five billion people on the planet tell you it's a 'dove' in the New Testament, and I tell you it's not a dove, who is right?

I know you - you want to see the fire consume the lamb, see the tongues of flame, see the something but not a dove.

And you're right!

The rest is just a show, theater.

Still I do think we all need to be a bit cautious of 'phenomena' too - especially in this day and age, where the technology allows some things that are a bit 'gee-whiz' too.

Trust me, if you think Jewish rabbinical authorities today (and I have it from pretty decent sources, I don't mind naming Rabbi Alon Anavar for one - that most of them are horrendously corrupt) are silly enough to just produce a red heifer sacrifice out at Jerusalem, then you have them underrated by a long way short of what and who they are.

They're going to produce a show for you, all right.