Shalom

pressure to step down

Pressure is rising for Sheik Al Halaly to step down as discussion continues  about his inflammatory comments on women.

He seems to me and probably to many others to have the matter totally upside down.  If the lack of a hijab on a woman is all that is needed to arouse lust in men, then he would do better to be teaching self control and restraint to the men.  I think that constantly criticising women's dress in this way, is really drawing emphasis to it and thereby continuing the possibility of rape.

I also think that his simile is poorly chosen when carried through.  He compared a woman without a hijab to uncovered meat left out for cats to prey on. 

I have three cats, now well into middle age.  I know that cats can be domesticated, but only as far as it suits them.  My three are all capable of hunting if they lose the bells from their collars.  They are quite capable of being opportunistic and jumping on the bench after anything I have forgotten to put away. Their feline instincts are still quite obvious, although they are well fed and looked after.  They are on the prowl constantly.

I suggest that this applies to the men the sheik mentions.   Is he suggesting that they are like cats and other members of the species?  Constantly on the prowl for whatever they can find? Unable to be totally trained and domesticated to live in society?  It certainly seems like it.  I suggest that these men are always on the lookout for prey.  Sickeningly sordid evidence from recent rape trials down here would seem to agree with this conclusion.

If this is the case, and I think it really could well be, at least for some men in the culture he comes from, then again he needs to address this.

Please note, I amnot branding all men fromthat culture as acting in this way.  However, to use this comparison,the sheik obviously knows that tehre are some who are like this.

ancient psalter found in Ireland

Here's an interesting article  on an archeological find in Ireland.  A copy of an ancient psalter was overturned by a tractor.

brethren

Here's   a link to an article in this morning's Sydney Morning Herald.  I've heard rumblings ofthis for quite a while now, so was interested to read the article. It is about  the interference in various politics and parties by senior members of the Exclusive Brethren.  I would call them Londoners and have had some experience with them.

I was never a member of their group, although the group I married into was quite close to them in many areas.   The paper calls them a sect and that is close to the mark.  They deny the eternal sonship of Christ and are Arian in outlook.  The women and children are easy to spot in the shops, long hair, only ever skirts, never trousers.  Most of the women wear scarves or headbands as a sign of submission. 

I was interested to see that the reporter mentioned no shared walls in business between one in fellowship with the local assembly and an outsider.  Of course, worldly contamination travels easily through walls.  (please note sarcasm.)  I know someone who ran a business in a large country town near one of the centres mentioned in the article.  He shared a porch/entranceway  with the business next door.  He was told to move and refused.  He came home from work one day to find all the locks on his home had been changed by other brethren and his family would have no contact with him.  With their financial clout behind them, they prevented him from access to his children and kept them out of the way.  His youngest child was developmentally  retarded and  missed his dad.  He was soon re-educated.  When his father was out shopping, the boy saw his father and called out that the wicked man was near.  That led to an order to stay away from the family.  This had been a purely chance encounter, certainly not planned.  On orders fromthe brethren, his wife divorced him.  If she hadn't she would have lost contact with her children and other family members.  Emotional blackmail is very strong.

So much of this article rings true.

It raises the question of involvement in politics when they are not allowed to vote themselves or be members of a union or any other group. The article mentions that they call it a "sin."  Surely encouraging others in their way of voting must also be a sin?  Politics is supposed to be a no-no as Christians are citizens of another place and have no part to play down here.  (Their ideas, not mine.)

Hales is mentioned as their leader.  Certainly their leaders are followed without question.   This follows a pattern from Raven about 100 years ago.  However, the teaching is that there are no pastors, all  MEN are able to take part in the meeting.   Hales  is almost like a pope  in his power.

<>

When my sons were at school,   there were London boys in their classes.  They were not allowed to use computers as the "man of sin" would use one.  Now that is dodgy exegesis to start with.  The Bible talks about antichrists in the plural.  How they found out that one would use a computer is amazing.  I can't find that verse anywhere! The group is totally dispensationalist in outlook as John Nelson Darby, the founder of brethren groups, was the one who recovered what was regarded as  long lost truth.  This is what Scofield based his commentary on.  Many of the brothers run highly successful businesses.  I wonder how many of them don't use computers in these ?  I also know for a fact that TV and radios are used.  They are just kept hidden in back rooms which are shut when other brethren come to visit. 

I notice the article mentions that alcohol is allowed.  It should perhaps say strongly encouraged.  Perhaps it is an outlet for those whose only diversions in life are frequent meetings or a drink.  My friend, mentioned above, had great difficulty in regulating intake of alcohol  as he was used to drinking much.

I believe that the attempt at influencing politics is probably based on self interest.  Many are businessmen and they have a vested interest in politics in keeping what is for them a favourable  government.

Having some inside knowledge of the group, I am surprised to such an article in the paper.  I know money has been spent in the past to counteract what they saw as poor publicity but which ws really the revelation of what was little less than brainwashing.  I know there are many people trapped in the group through fear of losing their family and friends.  Contact is cut immediately with those transgressing their regulations, even if it means husband/wife/children etc are disrupted.  No meals, no conversation, no gifts, no attendance at funerals even of close family members.  The group I was associated with did not belong to these people so myhusband's family still speak to us, but when we left, we were told we were going to Satan. 

easter is found on aisle 8

My husband needed new winter trousers, so we braved the Saturday shopping.  Unfortunately, I cannot leave himto buy clothes by himmself.  He has no understanding of fabrics and will come home with horrible shirts made entirely of synthetics and then wonder why he is hot.  Sometimes he buys trendy, totally unsuitable garments.  I wonder if he's trying to keep up with his sons who all have the figure and age to wear trendy clothes.  Whatever.  I hate shopping on a Saturday and a holiday Saturday is even worse.

We set out early and went to Birkenhead Point which has many clearance shops.  Instead of opening at 8:30 or 9:00 am, today they opened at 10:00. There are no other shops anywhere near them, so they can get away with this.  Nothing there except some extremely rude assistants in Spotlight.  They were rude to all.

We went to Burwood, the local big centre.  I think everyone else in the district was there too.  Shopping is not something I enjoy at the best of times, and I go as as little as possible.  I think most people had forgotten to buy their easter eggs.  Many of them had their arms full of boxes and some had at least twenty fancy eggs, rabbits etc in their trolleys.

KMart had 15% off everything in the store.  He found a pair of casual trousers and we headed for the checkouts.  The express lane twisted its way well back into the store.  Other checkouts were very busy with operators ringing up enormous purchases.  I wondered whether all this was credit card spending.  I would not have ready cash available to take advantageof  such a sale.

I needed milk which I had planned to buy at the local store.  As I was there, I went to Woolworths.  I passed Darell Lea, (confectionary manufacturer) and saw that their queue stretched outside the shop with at least 20 people standing on the walkway.  Again, Easter eggs.

Woolworths was packed and trolleys were piled high with groceries.  Years ago, shops here were shut on  the Easter break from Good Friday till the following Tuesday which was also a day off school for pupils.  Now we have late shopping at supermarkets every night.  Shops are open today, tomorrow and Monday.  There is no need for panic buying at all.

As I stood in the queue for the  express checkout, I was turning over in my mind what all this had to do with Easter.  I'm sure most of you can imagine my thoughts.

I looked up to find my thoughts summarised in a sign on the enquiry desk at Woolworths -

Easter is found on aisle 8.  Sadly, all too true.

Shrove Tuesday

Pancake Day, but no pancakes here as my husband would want lots of sweet stuff on them.  I do have butter and eggs in the fridge which would have been used up in the past on this day as a prelude to Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. 

Not only is tomorrow Ash Wednesday, but it's also St David's Day.  St David is the patron saint of Wales and Richard Hall in Swansea, Wales, tells of three different St David's Days at the connexion .  Perhaps I could have made pancakes and served them with a leek sauce in honour of the saint?   While you're at his site, check out his recipe for Welsh rarebit.

This Uniting Church site  has the readings for the Revised Common Lectionary.  I followed the lectionary readings for Advent and enjoyed it very much.  I'll be doing the same for Lent.

12 apostles gambling for a house?

Perhaps not really twelve apostles  but twelve finalists representing them will be added to other finalists selected over a year.   They will then be entered into a lottery to win a  house.

Link from Michael Main.

Unfortunately this sort of thing has also happened here in Australia.  In a link from signposts, reference is made to a church  giving away a car. (pdf document)