Xref: news.nzbot.com alt.fan.prettyboy:21755
Path: news.nzbot.com!spool1.sonic-news.com!pull-news.sonic-news.com!news.astraweb.com!border5.newsrouter.astraweb.com!not-for-mail
Subject: +*+*+*+ Solomon's Private File #396 "Nature Of Sin" +*+*+*+
Date: Sat, 04 Nov 2017 02:46:44 -0400
From: " +Grant. " <+Grant@grant.grant>
Newsgroups: alt.fan.prettyboy
Reply-To: +Grant.
Organization: .
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-transfer-encoding: 8bit
X-No-Archive: yes
Lines: 449
Message-ID: <59fd6255$0$29401$b1db1813$7c6b8ee7@news.astraweb.com>
NNTP-Posting-Host: 5e63636c.news.astraweb.com
X-Trace: DXC=RLHYCmo:aLUWIOATn\8amXL?0kYOcDh@Z>Dkf_QKcBJQo3ChWA?aJN]c2P_fEJTCcU^bMg:0hjj]U<mGn@G5lc3_NV<6Bf>hE\WT5KEQDAb1iQ
Solomon's Private File #396
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in the
1950's. Stephen wrote about his life in letters to a penpal, and then
in a secure blog, in case he lost his memory again, in the master
computer in his school for gifted students, which he started attending
in 2016 in a new incarnation, until his death. Now his son Solomon is
attending the same school, and is writing in his own secure blog for
his future incarnations.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Solomon is 33 in this story, in the Summer of 2059.
Solomon's Private File #396 "Nature Of Sin"
START Page
I said to the president of CNN, "Got an idea for a show. You really
shouldn't agree to it before I tell you." He chuckled. I said, "People
have been asking me to discuss this for a long time. My recent
statements on sexual activities have increased that." He nodded and
said, "A show on the nature of sin." I said, "Yes. And it's more
complicated than almost everybody allows themselves to think. Almost
all sins exist in opposition to other sins, and a lot of that is purely
a judgement call. For example, not saving a person's life when only you
can, is a sin. In a house fire, your father tells you to leave and save
said, "I see. Disobeying your parent is a sin. But you have to save
him. This is going to be interesting." I said, "Maybe not. Can't work
as a single talking head. Better to have different viewpoints debate
it. Philosophers, for one. And religions. Expert in ethics.
Sociologist. Psychologist." He said, "I understand. You need to be
quizzed so you can give opinions, not dictate from on high." I said,
"If for nothing else, to make it less boring."
I said, "I can get my sister." She said in the air, "If I let you." I
said, "Please?" She said, "Fine!" Grins. I said, "She wouldn't miss a
debate. Her Abbots would be scandalized." She said, "True." I said,
"Getting other religions is a problem. I can't order them, and they
really won't want to say anything I would disagree with on air. But I'm
going to try. Your job is to find willing experts in the other areas.
And at least one lawyer." He said, "Got it. Keep each other in the
loop?" I said, "Loopy it is!" Grins.
I said to the Baptist leader, "I'm making the rounds. You first, this
time." He said, "Wow! What an honor!" I said, "Well, we'll see. A show
on the nature of sin. Going to be a lot of experts, I hope. My part is
lassoing the religions." He said, "Interesting. Religions have
differing opinions on sin." I said, "That's the point of this. There
are different categories of sins, and that includes societal
differences. A sin in one religion, that is not harmful, and is not a
sin in another, is it a real sin, or only a sin for the religion it's
in? That's one kind of question I want to address." He said, "Example?"
I said, "Missing Catholic Mass on sunday is a sin, for Catholics. Not
for Jews." He said, "Got it! I want to be in it. Can I bring an
expert?" I said, "Isn't that why I'm asking?" Grins. We hugged.
I met with the Lutheran leader. I told him about it. He said, "We
should participate!" I said, "But not actually sinning." Grins and a
hug. I met with the Imam of Mecca. He said, "That will be interesting.
We believe it is a sin to insult the Prophet. Is it?" I said with a
grin, "You'll have to wait for the show to hear my view on that." He
said, "That's bad!" I said, "You know I like that. Here's a hint. Is it
a sin to insult ANY person?" He said, "That's made me think of more.
One of your shows. What is an insult is a matter of opinion. This makes
it complicated. I have to be there!" We grinned and hugged. I met with
the Grand Ayatollah, and told him about the show. He grinned, and said,
"One of my sons has been speaking on this issue. If he knew about this,
and I didn't offer it to him, I might know more about insults in a
personal way. From HIM. He's going. I'll tell him." We grinned and
hugged.
I met with the Church of England, and told him about the show. He
said, "Who's going?" I said, "I'm not telling, this time. You know some
are going to ask about that." He said, "Frustrating. I'll send an
expert." I said, "Good." He said, "Who are you going to see next?" I
said, "Did you expect that to work?" He grinned, and said, "No." I
said, "I'll give you one. My sister was the first I was going to ask.
She preempted it." He nodded, and said, "She wouldn't want to miss a
debate." I said, "Have you been peeking?" Chuckles. We hugged. I asked
the President of LDS. He said, "We don't actually have a specific
expert on that subject. Ideally, all of us are Saints, actually, and
are experts in knowing what sin is." I said, "And for the most part,
you are experts in that, but in a kind of dogmatic and restrictive
general way. We're going to get into specifics, in illustrating what
actually makes something a sin." He said, "It's a risk, but I want to
be there." I said, "You want to be seen agreeing with me." He laughed,
and said, "You knew!" We hugged.
I met with Pope Paolo, and told him about the show. He said, "We've
been debating this very issue." I said, "My rant about sexual things
has started a lot of that again." He said, "And well it should. Who
thought that causing unintended pregnancy should be an actual official
sin? Nobody, until you said it. It's obvious it is! Why didn't we
know?" I said, "Paternal religions don't think much about women's
issues." He said, "That could be why. I'll send one of our experts.
I'll brief him thoroughly." We grinned, and hugged.
We scheduled the two hour show show for Saturday evening at 9PM
Eastern, so the Rabbi could attend. Greg opened the show, and
introduced us. Then he said, "You know I'm going to have to ask this."
I said, "Don't. I'll say it. I didn't ask any to come. I told them what
the show would be about, and mentioned a few of the possible issues,
and they practically demanded to participate. Happy now?" Grins all
around. I said, "I did mention I was going to get my sister in on this,
but before I could ask her, she required I say please, and then said,
'Fine.' Monitoring isn't conducive to surprising somebody." More grins.
I said, "I have a question for our Rabbi, and the time of this meeting.
I ported you. You're from California. It's not after sundown there, as
it is here. So, which Sabbath is er, yours?"
He grinned, and said, "Good opening! A conditional sin, this may be.
If I were in my home time zone, I would be committing a sin by working
during the Sabbath, which extends until sundown on Saturday. But here,
it IS after sundown. I think those who established this rule in
interpreting God's Commandment didn't have any idea of instant
transportation, or even time zones. In this case, am I ruled by where
my home is, or where I am at the moment?" Priest said, "I see something
else. Is being ported actual work, to the person it's done for, as
riding in a car is for you?" Rabbi said, "Oy vey!" Chuckles. He said,
"Solomon, did you plan this?" Kam said, "He planned where to hold the
Japan-China hearing. What do you think?" Grins. I said, "Yes, I did.
So, we see now that it's not just the words of the sin that we need to
consider, but also the interpretation, and in that, the original intent
of the listed sin, to see if it's valid now, or how we can follow it if
it is, in today's world." Priest said, "We really need this!" Nods.
I looked at the Professor of Philosophy, and said, "What actually IS
a sin?" She said, "It's a ruling, a prohibition against doing something
usually considered harmful to people or the society, usually
promulgated by religions, where in secular society, they are laws. So,
sins are considered to be actions that are opposed by God or religious
authorities." I looked at Kam, and she said, "In some religions, such
as mine, it's believed that sins harm the soul of the person committing
them. In fact, we consider them sins BECAUSE of that, and they are
counted and seriously considered in our judgement after death." I said,
"And Buddhists believe that some sins in life, sometimes cause bad
things to happen to the perpetrator in retribution, while still in that
life. A kind of balancing." She said, "Karma." I said, "Yes, it
actually does happen. I can see it." She nodded. I said "This means
that for some, in practical reality, sins, and the concept of them, are
actually real, and a force in nature." Nods of increased awareness. I
called for a break.
Greg said to me, "I didn't realize how important this would be." I
said, "The only one here." They all grinned at him, and he was
embarrassed. Back from break, I said, "Anybody want me to rule on the
first discussed sin?" They all did. I said, "As it is currently
interpreted by the most Orthodox of Jews, the sin is against working on
the Sabbath. Getting into a car, and out of a car is that work. So is
driving it. Being a passenger itself, isn't work. But walking a mile
isn't work? Ha! Thoughts so far?" Rabbi said, "Interesting. I can see
no objections in logic, but in custom, maybe a little." Grins. I said,
"In porting, I do all the work, and who I port doesn't do any at all,
not even breathing. No work, no sin. Now to the time zones. You're not
sinning here, because its not the Sabbath. When you return, it will not
be the Sabbath. Some might say that you are doing work here. Do you
discuss sin in the Temple on Sabbath?" He said, "I do. Do you mean that
I can consider that this meeting is of a religious nature, based on
those of religion here, and on the subject?" I said, "Let us vote in
it. Hands for it?" All the religions raised them. I said, "So it is
determined." We all bowed to each other.
I said, "But there's more on this issue. It's a sin to work on the
Sabbath. What was the intent of that, and is the current interpretation
of it, from that, or different?" Silence. I said, "Oh, alright, I'll
say it. It was a job action. People shouldn't be required to work too
much. One day off a week, they should have as a minimum. It was not
about restricting the work people wanted to do, but what their
employers required them to do, and giving them time to worship. If you
want to drive a car to go to the Temple, that's really not an employer
demand, so it's not the intent of that Commandment that it be
forbidden, and the sins that were made from it. With the full original
intent, what you do that doesn't earn money or barter, or work as a
slave for your master, is not the work that was intended to be
prohibited." Rabbi said, "Other than the Orthodox believe that." I
said, "True. It's not a sin for them, but it is for you. How can this
be, that for the same thing, it can be a sin, or not a sin?" He said,
"It seems that some sins are of a different kind than others." I said,
"Do you disagree with what I said about it?" He said, "I can't. It's
known that was the original intent. We have added to it in our
beliefs." I said, "So it's a man created sin, as an addition to God's?"
He said, "I would not like to say that."
I said, "I have said it's a sin for a person to create a pregnancy by
deception. Is that in any of your religions as established by God?" It
wasn't. I said, "Any here deny that it's a sin?" They didn't. I said,
"Then we have established that man can label a sin, himself." I said to
the Rabbi, "Feel better now?" He grinned, and said, "I do. Thank you.
This is VERY interesting!" Murmurs of agreement. I said, "So, why
should it be a sin?" Priest said, "False testimony. That's not the full
of it, but one of the sources." Imam said, "Adultery could be a part of
it." I said, "Yes. This means we can build on major sins, to define
smaller sins that weren't enumerated. Any here think this sin is in
opposition to God?" They didn't. I said, "Basically, what harms a
person or a community is a sin. And a specific religious community?"
Rabbi shouted, "Thank you!" We grinned at his embarrassment. We went to
break.
Back from break, I said, "One more thing about the pregnancy
deception sin. It's also a sin against God, by involving The Creator in
the unjust creation of life." Priest said, "Yes! I should have thought
of that!" Kam said, "I think we all should have. You're in good
company. Ah, I'd like to think so." Nods, grins, and chuckles.
I said, "What of labeled sins that are harmful in an idea or
enforcement?" Ayatollah said, "Can you give us an example?" I said, "In
America in the past, for some churches, reflecting community views, it
was a sin for people of different races to marry each other, even if
they were of the same religion." He said, "What was the reason for
that?" I said, "There were official reasons, and REAL reasons, and
misuse of Biblical support regarding kind marrying their own kind."
Nods. I said, "Official, for causing unaccepted mixed race children.
Real reason was to maintain false racial purity, for reasons of
prejudice, discrimination, and just plain dominance. That was supported
in the culture and society of the time, in those places. And by parts
of both races, nationally." Baptist said, "BOTH races?" I said, "Yes.
Mixed race couples were condemned by parts of both sides. By blacks for
rocking the boat, so to speak, causing the whites to oppress them more
in retaliation. And a little envy and jealousy, too. And even now,
noticeably mixed race children can have a problem choosing a racial
identity, even being allowed to, and can face some rejection by both
races." He said, "Oh! I can understand that. Was it a sin, in that it
could cause hardship for others?" I said, "I have to say it, yes it
was. Those couples knew that, and did it anyway. Many were murdered.
They placed their own personal desires over the needs and safety of
their community, and their children. You didn't expect this, did you."
He said, "I did NOT. But I see it."
I said, "There's more to that. The couples, by their actions,
motivated the whites to commit more, and more serious, sins, against
them and other Black Americans, and they knew it would." Priest said,
"So committing a sin that causes others to commit worse sins, is a
greater sin?" I said, "It could be if known in advance. It would depend
on the circumstances of all the issues involved. But now let's move
forward and look at it from our current perspective. Look at what those
brave people who opposed the injustice of discrimination with their own
lives, risking their own people in doing that, have accomplished. As we
see it now, from the eventual good they helped to bring about with
their sins, can we really call it a sin?" LDS said, "Conditional sins.
You're saying that sins, and what they are, should be judged in their
proper context, and that what was a sin in that time and place, may not
be a sin in a different time and place." Lutheran said, "And what we
view of as a sin now, might not have been a sin in the past." I said,
"The Vatican ran a house of prostitution in the past, and used it.
Really not now." Chuckles.
I said, "In ancient times, slavery was a necessary part of the
cultures. Ask any Roman citizen of the time. It's still a part of us
now, and viewed by many as a sin." LDS said, "It is happening in many
parts of the world, but not labeled as such. Human trafficking, for
one." I said, "And it's legal, and in practice in government, including
in America." They stared at me. I said, "It's just about required in
politics that to keep doing what you want that you shouldn't, you just
rename it. Slavery in the South changed to contract labor and
sharecropping. And the prison system. Blacks were routinely rounded up
and arrested on false charges, to work in prison labor gangs. Inmates
are still forced to work, and for very little pay. Doing it inside a
prison, is no different in concept than doing it outside of it as a
slave, except it's more difficult to escape from it. In ancient times
you were made a slave as a punishment for committing a crime, or being
captured in war. How much has that changed?" There were a lot of wows.
We went to break. Greg said, "These are ideas we've never thought of
before." I said, "We take our cultures for granted, hardly ever
seriously discussing them as they really are. I know billions of
cultures. That makes me kind of an outsider, and knowing all, doesn't
make that less." Grins.
Back from break, I said, "We live in a world of sin. It's practically
impossible not to sin in some way, almost all the time. That comes from
how we view sins, and interpret them, and rank them in importance. Just
like laws, they are general rules that seldom fit the real world
perfectly, as much as we would wish otherwise." Nods. I said, "For
example, can anybody really succeed in almost anything in any society
on Earth, never telling a lie? What marriage could survive total truth?
And who would want to admit that where their spouse could hear it?"
Grins. Kam said, "But you and I don't lie. We survive." I said, "Those
you rule can see a lie in a person. It doesn't do any good to lie to
them. You can each feel what the other feels. That causes a different
kind of relationship, where total honesty can't be avoided, even if
never voiced. That's what a psionic culture causes; honesty, in self,
and with others. We experience what others see and feel of us, as we do
them. That just can't work with people who can't detect lies. From the
very beginning of their lives, they create a self delusion of who they
are. They lie to themselves, because they can, and it makes them feel
better. That enforces it, and that it can't be easily known, all the
more so. That makes total honesty almost impossible for most people,
because they can't actually know what to be fully honest about." C of E
said, "Wow! I think that could be what original sin could actually be!"
I sighed, said, "Anybody tell you you're too intelligent?" Chuckles.
He said, "You were going to use that? I'm sorry!" I said, "Don't be. My
sister loved that." Grins. She said, "So it wasn't the knowledge of
good and evil, but not knowing truth from lie?" I said, "There's a
difference?" She said, "Got me!" I said to all, "We grew up debating
everything. That hasn't stopped." More grins. I said, "If we were
is truth for fun." I said, "So to act with less than the full truth is
a sin. But so is hurting another person unjustly. A truth can do that.
It can even be insulting. You noticed something." Rabbi said, "I think
some of us did. My friends of Islam feel strongly about insults to The
Prophet and Islam. I DO understand the feeling!" They bowed to each
other.
I said to the Imams, "How did the Prophet feel about insults to him?"
One said, "It hasn't been stated." I said, "By an action, it was shown.
The Treaty of Mecca." The Imam of Mecca said, "I was hoping you
wouldn't use that. The rulers of Mecca refused to sign the treaty if
The Prophet was given the title of Messenger of God in it." I said,
"His people strongly objected to that perceived insult. He didn't care,
being a humble and generous man. He made Ali show him the words, so he
could cover them with ink. Well, he couldn't read. I was there. I know
this. They signed it, and there was peace. If that hadn't happened,
Islam would not exist today, all for one little insult. Actually,
insults, and reacting badly to them, was totally against his
philosophy. And his way of judging and ruling." Iran said, "How so?" I
said, "He was against the tribal society form, with the constant feuds,
and bloody revenge for the slightest insult against excessive pride. He
succeeded in stopping all that in all of Arabia. Less than a hundred
years after his death, it all came back, stronger than ever, and
hijacked Islam, and is now the root of the worst of Islamic society.
Islam is now strongest in tribal societies, which is the biggest cause
of them fighting each other and the world. Would The Prophet approve of
the followers of Islam fighting and killing each other, because of
differences in how they view his words? And worse, because of tribal
politics of hundreds of years ago? And worst of all, killing people
because of INSULTS? Just WORDS? You know he would NOT! You know he said
people should not be forced to believe, and God has said it in his
contacts. THAT is truth!" I forced a break.
I said, "Well, that was unexpected." Rabbi had to laugh. Kam visibly
tried not to. I said to the Imams, "You knew that would happen." Nods.
I said, "Dreaded it?" One said with a smile, "I refuse to say that."
Nods. I said, "He was a lot like Jesus." That surprised people. Back on
air, I said, "All who hear a lie are hurt by it. God is denied by it,
being Truth Himself." Baptist said, "How are people hurt by just
hearing it?" I said, "All we experience influences us, even if we
aren't aware of it. I think you knew that." He smiled, and said, "I
just wanted you to say it for us. You speak well." Kam laughed, and
said, "You stole his understatements!" Chuckles. Priest said, "So a lie
is the greatest insult, being that it denies God by its very nature." I
said, "He IS Nature. So, yes, well said." Smiles. I said, "But there is
a problem with that. Some lies are much worse than others, so to
determine how bad they are, we must consider how far they are from the
truth, and what the intent of them were, and what they actually
caused." Nods.
England said, "A social lie isn't as bad as a lie that causes a war."
I said, "Yes, lies have caused wars, including social lies. Often
politics can be very personal. No matter how we judge these things as
they happen, we can't really know what the damage will be into the
future, and we may never know. Even the smallest thing, can cause big
consequences. And lies are often used to make other sins worse." Nods.
I said, "Can the truth be an insult?" We looked at the Imams, and they
had to smile. Iran said, "What is truth to one, can be a lie to
another." I said, "Opinions are not always truth, but are often assumed
to be so, by the prideful." Nods. He sighed, and said, "That is true. I
think you are asking me to say it. Pride is also a great sin, because
it causes so many other sins." Kam said, "All the more a problem for
us, because it's a feeling, and not an action. We can hide it from
others, and use it to motivate horror." I said, "And even more, because
it's a lie. Those with the most dangerous pride, often have the least
to be proud of. And the least ability to see that." Priest said, "So
very true! Who here is not proud to be an authority in their religions?
Who fights a constant war against it?" All but Kam and I raised our
hands. I said, "Ah, in case you were wondering, the enlightened don't
have pride. And we're not proud of that." Kam grinned, and said, "Do
have humor!" Nods and smiles.
I said, "The Commandment to not kill. That actually means in the
original language, unjust killing, which is murder. Killing in legal
punishment and in war, was a very common practice then, and the
Israelites did it depressingly often." Nods. I said, "It's a very
serious sin, as it is only God's right to take a person's life. But if
prevent that." I said, "Not Kam and I. We aren't able to. Of those of
our group, some might be able do it, but would die themselves, and know
it. Still a valid point. Some sins we have to commit in this life. And
one reason is they are often opposed. Is not protecting the lives of
your family, a sin?" Nods. I said, "We have to balance what we do, the
sins we have to commit, against the consequences, and the greater good.
It's NOT easy! But the people of the world have us to help them in this
area. We should not sin, in guiding them wrongly." They all agreed
verbally. We went to break. I said to the Imams, "There is much you
want to know about The Prophet that you haven't asked. And my father
wasn't asked, when they could have. Some things I won't say until I'm
asked. You know what to do, when the time is right."
Back on air, I said, "In the matter of insults, to me only the untrue
ones are bad, as they relate to me. I am not allowed to let lies about
me stand uncorrected. Or lies about God. I may not correct them right
away, but it happens." Grins. I said, "A big problem with insults, is
determining if they are. Part of that is the intent. If the person
intends it to be a joke, fine. If it's meant to hurt or deceive, bad.
I've insulted people." Chuckles. I said, "Not without some hoped for
benefit for them." Priest said, "If we kill all the politicians, we
won't have anybody to blame for our problems." Grins. I said, "That was
actually crowd control, to keep them from panicking. But you know
saying something for only one reason is NOT my usual way." Grins. Kam
said, "I liked what you said to them when they pestered you to take
them to the moon. You mentioned your foot." Chuckles. She said, "And in
was a good one. The Hawk meter was VERY active." Chuckles.
I said, "A long time ago in what is now North Africa, a friend said
to me, ignoring translation issues, about another man, 'He's a dirty
dog!' I said, 'That's in insult to dogs!' So, what is an insult is also
of the opinion of who hears it. Some of Islam may feel I have insulted
The Prophet with what I said today. He wouldn't think so. But if I had,
he would have just smiled. I know, because he did, to me. He was about
respect and fairness to all. One time that hurt him terribly. Hmm, I
think some here might want to know about that." Nods. I said, "Those of
Mecca were about to attack Medina, where The Prophet lived and judged
as the leader. One tribe, of the groups of tribes there, was planning
to betray him. They didn't actually go through with it, and lent his
army their weapons to use, but it became known after that attack. In a
tribal society, loyalty is everything. The Prophet was the Judge of
Medina, but being the one who was betrayed, he felt he couldn't judge
the case, so he asked another to do it, not suspecting what that would
cause." Mecca said, "The penalty for treason is death." I said, "He
thought that because it didn't actually happen, and the loan of the
weapons, the punishment wouldn't be that severe. It was, and he was
horrified. All the men of that tribe were killed. He NEVER let that
happen again."
I said, "There is more to this, that still causes problems. That
tribe was of Jews. From that time onward, that incident was used to pit
Islamists against Jews. But it was false. Many of the other tribes in
the city were also Jewish, and fully supported The Prophet, even though
it hurt their trading with those of Mecca. And that was why one tribe
planned the betrayal. They thought it was the only way they could
survive. The Prophet would not have supported hatred of ANY kind, and
most so not against the Jews or Christians. If it hadn't been for them
in Medina, and their love and support, he wouldn't have survived what
his own people wanted and tried to do to him, many times, and neither
would have Islam."
END Page
--
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant
|
|