Watch the Birds

Woke early because the black crow outside my bedroom window happened to be in an argument with her suitor, this was a LOUD argument, only three meters from my ear, disturbing my quality dream of love and beautiful landscapes. Their argument finally moved away from my bedroom window, but it was too late, the day had begun.

Australia has a vast amount of crows. They are arrogant, cheeky and, for the most part, believe they rule the environment. This morning, for me at least, they certainly were manipulating my existence…

At my school, the crows have taken over. For example, attempting to teach something as basic as nouns, pronouns and verbs to a group of rambunctious Year Seven’s, is bloody hard enough, but when a large flock of black crows descend on the classroom window, squawking and performing like a pack of wild, starving dogs: the children amazed at the unusual sight of a flock of black crows outside on the window sill, disturbing the lesson, teaching, at that moment in time, literally has gone out the window.

Not long ago, around the time that grandmother passed away, my mother continued to go to her house, feed the cats, and, generally handle the business.

One particular morning, feeling the loss of her friend, a small bird began to flutter, hovering no more than a few feet before her eyes. A relationship had begun, because, from that time onward, the same little bird would arrive at the scheduled time, and hover above mum, singing, dancing and communicating.

During this time, my best friend, my mother, was not happy about anything in the world. When one’s mother passes away, the world is a different place, something in your heart is missing, and life is never the same and never will be.

Mother rang me on one of her scheduled visits because, as she told me, “I need a witness!”

It happened to be a Sunday and we arrived at the old house. Mum felt to be very nervous. She said, “I really want you to see this.”

I was not sceptical, but a little hint of doubt lingered.

We walked along the familiar walk towards the little house. Mum went about her business, feeding the old cats, etc, when, lighting a cigarette, a small bird flew down from the main tree, hovering no more than a meter away, chirping a mile a minute.

What was so cool, mum came outside at the exact second that the bird appeared; crying, tears falling down her old cheeks, she said, “I told you.”

The little winged one flew away and we left; but to see mum and the creature actually exchanging feelings of love and admiration for each other; an incredible sight to behold and see first hand, an event I’ll never forget.

Watch the birds.

A Beautiful Painting of a Christian Saint.

Rupert Bunny is a well known artist in Australia and other artistic circles.

This particular painting of St. Catherine, and the Christian legend behind the painting, has intrigued, frightened and awed my soul since a little boy.

From Alexandria, circa 1'st century, she refused to deny her conversion to the new religion, thus she was tortured on the Roman Wheel; a device to ensure the victims bones are broken and death would be entertaining for the crowds. Something went wrong during the execution. After the the third try, the wheel somehow broke into pieces. The executioner's, not wanting to lose face, untied her from the wheel and cut her head off...as legend goes, a strong wind, dust blinding the crowds, through the darkness, strangers appeared, wrapping her in a clean cloth, and carried her to her burial place on Mt. Sinai.

After the dust storm settled, the crowd travelled up the mountain to see a grave and headstone, claiming her love for God. Most went to their knees, while others felt disappointed that the execution was not more entertaining.

Despite the current Israeli and Arab bombs destroying one of the most holy places on earth, pilgrims continue their treks to the grave sight of St. Catherine.

This painting truly depicts the story.

Loneliness & Genius (A Story of a Gifted Lad)

He was a terribly sensitive lad, so inward-looking, so self conscious, that even rising out of bed in the morning required every ounce of courage he could muster. His mother understood her son, realizing early on that he was a special boy, a being with special gifts way beyond those of his peers. He too was aware of these gifts but felt ashamed because it distanced him from his classmates because they really believed he was a freak of nature. The boy’s gifts were indeed extraordinary, an insight and natural skill for drawing realist depictions of nature and writing brilliant essays on life and love.

The young man’s teachers were astounded at his stories, including myself, however a few superficial teachers believed the quiet boy plagiarized his writings, copied the words from the great masters because really, they could not even write half as well as the boy. These small hearted and malice teachers soon had to relent in their accusations because, one day a few years back, the lad was made to sit in a classroom alone, a test of his integrity, and asked to write on a particular subject. The topic was unfairly a first year philosophy subject, Existentialism: and for any average Year 9 student, this was an absurd task. He was given one hour, and the question read as follows:

“Explain why the philosophy of Existentialism had such a major impact in post WW2 France?”

To be fair, most educated adults would struggle with this obscure question.
What truly upset me at the time was the attitude of these “teachers”; out of their small and black hearts, they wanted the lad to fail, reveal some sort of fraud therefore appearing “right” to the rest of the world. Of course this is pathetic, but I felt worse as these were teachers, my apparent fellow educators, one of the last Noble Professions, and they were smearing its name across the boards; treating a special child with contempt, jealousy and spite – I felt embarrassed and mostly shame.

(This was not one of the high points of my career).

Needless to say, our quiet lad sat for the hour and turned in a hand written 3000 word essay. This had been the most sensitive, insightful and informed piece on existentialism that it has been my good fortune to read. (I still have the hand written essay in my study as evidence…)

He turned the paper in to the doubters, and out of denial, psychosis or extreme anti- social behaviour, would not believe the lad had written the piece.

This is the point that I jumped in and attempted to set the record straight.

“You people are truly a cancer in our profession. The lad was not given a clue what the subject of the essay would be; you, like true fascists, searched him for hidden microphones and receivers and found absolutely nothing. We all observed him throughout the hour writing his little heart out…and still you do not accept the boy’s gifts!”

The ugly, and most sarcastic of the three, Mr. B, a teacher that is hated by most students, (and he likes it!) piped up: “Mr. M… though we appreciate your unbounding enthusiasm, this boy is obviously a fraud and it is our job to prove the fact.”

This teacher was not in the profession to nurture young people but to rise to power in his little pond of influence: though a small fish a very nasty one.

“Mr. B, you have had the opportunity to prove that our student is a fraud and you have failed. What is your next port of call...torture, getting the boy to admit to cheating as he is electrocuted to the point of passing out from the pain!?”

Startlingly, the worm’s eyes looked up to the ceiling, revealing my suggestion might have some credence! His reptilian eyes came back to mine, squinting like a snake in the desert sun.

“Mr. M…we do believe your arguments have some value. Let the committee come back to you with our judgement.”

Mr. Reptile, after making this statement, disappeared out the back, his shrivelled, pathetic cronies following in tow.

Our young lad waited outside in the hall looking like the end of the world had actually arrived in his lifetime, pale like a sheet; eyes full of fear and as large as an owls…his right leg shook at top speed to the point where I thought the boy was on the brink of a Cardiac arrest!

“You did fine, son. C’mon mate, I’ll buy you a coke…what do you say?”
He seemed to relax, and agreed to the coke, but after that experience, he never, really trusted people again.

The lad’s school work duly followed this change in attitude, his marks plummeted. He just did not try anymore.

Mr. B. and his legion of snakes looked smug, happy with themselves that our lad was a fraud and they had revealed this fact to the school.

It was a few years later that our lad reached Year 12. To be fair, I had to fight the committee again to let him into VCE (Year 12 curriculum) and with a little blood and sweat…and a few tears, he was permitted entry.

What followed was nothing less than astounding!

Every test the boy sat for he aced: 100%, perfect. And the snake patrol could do nothing because he followed State protocols and won top marks every time.

It was mid year that the lad began to look more sick than usual, he began to miss class too much, particularly for VCE, as this is frowned upon and affects one’s overall grade.

I began to become aware that our lad was slowly shrinking from the world. He gradually began to literarily disappear, fading like an evaporating fog in winter. By July, however, he made his exit, passed away to the other side, faded into invisibility with an appreciative, lovely smile. I believe he died because of the harshness of life.

As I sit in my study and read those wonderful works of literature and poetry, gaze at his art folio and marvel at the realistic brilliance of his style, I continue to wonder where he is now, such a beautiful, gifted young soul.

A true pleasure to know and teach …

I miss this lonely genius...

A Book Review - The Scapegoat - Daphne du Maurier.

Psychological Realism at its Best

The theme of the living double or strange twin is not uncommon in literature. In Fyodor Dostoyevsky's, The Double, (1846) Mr. Golyadkin believes he sees himself on a train, haunted by this manifestation, he becomes obsessed with meeting himself, chasing this figure endlessly through the streets of St Petersburg. Many have commented that this nightmarish story is ultimately about the fear of confronting one's darker nature, the terrible "other", and if viewed in totality, could well lead to death.

In The Scapegoat, du Maurier explores a similar theme, where the protagonist, John, a very English and staid history lecturer of French culture, one evening meets his exact double in the train station at Le Mans. John is bored, searching for some connection to life, a meaning to his empty existence. Jean de Gue, however, has a full life, a member of an aristocratic family, a wife, child and a century's old business and the many problems that come with so many connections and responsibilities. He's not happy with this life and wants only to escape. Both men have dinner, drink too much, and John wakes up the next morning to find his cloths and belongings vanished, and Gaston, the driver and head servant, ready to drive him (John) back to the Chateau, St Giles. John decides to play the role of Jean de Gue's scapegoat, though in a few days, finds himself inextricably involved, emotionally and otherwise, in de Gue's affairs and family.

Du Maurier is an excellent writer. John's journey into the world of his double is strangely intriguing, as he narrates his deceptions and observations, and how easily he falls into the role. No one in the family suspects his masquerade, though he comes very close to revealing himself many times. The repressed emotions and history of du Gue's family runs deep and hold numerous dark secrets. I found myself rushing through the tale to discover these secrets and what John will do next. The plot sounds outlandish on the surface, but this is psychological realism at its best, causing this reader at least, to become obsessed with how the story finally resolves itself - and it is not disappointing.

These characters certainly come from another time and another place. Jean de Gue's daughter, Marie-Noel, is a deeply religious child who experiences visions and loves her father beyond words. My thought was that if any of the family would see through John's deceptions, it would be the child. This young child, through her innocence, is the only voice of truth in the house, and her antics and precocious dialogue speaks of another time - a truly unique and memorable character.

This is a masterful piece of literature, a unique thriller that will be just as fascinating and entertaining for readers a hundred years from now.

The Unfortunate & Courageous: Notes from my Teaching Days.

Courage is one of the major virtues.

Born in circumstances that will influence his place in the world, without proper guidance, this twelve year old boy doesn’t have a chance.

The boy's parents never give him the time of day.

When one’s mother and father have no interest in you, ignore your emotional & physical well being, because they cannot take care of themselves; this boy is considered damaged goods, his life at twelve, has no boundaries, fixing his own lunch everyday, and worrying about being late for school, because both his parents are asleep due, I expect, from their own self indulgences, lost in their self inflicted hell.

But the boy has courage.

While the twelve year old young man struggles to do the right thing everyday, he fights back with inappropriate behaviour: bad language, bullying all and sunder, struggling with his work. This boy is one who has fallen through the cracks of the system, nothing major like sexual cruelty or physical abuse, (as far as we know) just simple, silent… neglect.

This interesting student has moved through the system, undetected, the so-called professionals through out his school life, failed, not taking the time to help this bright though broken soul.

Thus the boy is now with us…and doing better.

We are focusing on his needs; a specialist school, perhaps, something that will help this soul realize the better angels of his nature". But he is a boy, and boys require boundaries; however the little bugger manages to avoid restraint, though restraint is what is absolutely required.

Needless to say, although illiterate and a tested low IQ, he is a charming lad, learning the basics as he goes along… but with a mouth of a drunken sailor.

These are the children that end up breaking my heart.

His parents are very aggressive, intimidating any teacher that rings to express their concern. We, the system, are the problem; they’re victims, believing the world is the cause of all their strife; while the young lad, cops it all…alone.

He fronts up everyday, open, funny, with no pen, paper or text book.

The little man has courage, a Front that gets him through the day, he needs to learn to read and write, practice restraint, and, perhaps, a good meal occasionally.

We all need to pay more attention...and have a little more compassion. 

PS. 

This particular boy was taken out of the school by the DHS, and I never saw him again.

Childhood, Philosophy, Music & Exile.

Is music part of our souls? Or is music’s magic, its transporting quality, something that we learn through others and living? Really, music touches every spirit, music can motivate men to war, to murder each other without conscience, or bring two lovers together in a tender embrace. Music transcends all other art forms and without it, as one philosopher has stated, life would not be worth living.

My first memory of music, ironically, was on a new invention, the television. 

The violin is a remarkable instrument. In the hands of a true genius, it can alter one’s state of mind; it can change one’s mood to whatever the music decides to take you. Even now I can hear certain sonatas that take me to lands and spaces only imagined. 

In our apartment in Toronto, Canada, before my sister came into the world, while my mother was pregnant with her, we lived in a small flat in the middle of the city. Interestingly, my memories of Toronto are much happier than Montreal. I remember the flat being dark, warm and smaller with a much happier atmosphere. Mother and I had an exclusive relationship. I did not have to share her with anyone. It was the end of the day, around dinnertime that the magic box was turned on to listen to the weekly concert on the then public channel. It was at that time I discovered music.

I cannot remember the composer or the artist but the actual live performance entered me in such a way that is difficult to translate. Music can be a private experience, and my experience with this particular classical solo changed everything. My father came home from work and I was duly sent to bed, the notes echoing in my mind. I knew that music was everything; it grounded everything, made everything good. 

The next morning despite my communication skills at a minimum, I was trying to tell mother that I wanted to play music. She seemed to understand.

These particular images are prevalent despite many years as they pushed my being; or more so thrust my soul into the harshness of reality, of the living.

The bright lights of the supermarket and the many colours it contains are always an exciting time for any child. Everything is for the taking: toys, candy, cereal and strange items that you just have to have…suddenly I looked up and saw a violin: the same exact instrument as the man on the television. I remember yelling instead of talking and pointing like a deaf-mute. Mother saw what I was pointing to and retrieved and purchased it even though the family could not afford the few dollars. I owned a violin and would play like a real classical musician. We would arrive home and father would get home and hear me play Beethoven, Hayden and Tchaikovsky. 

Mother asked me to not open the instrument until the concert came on the television. 

Father arrived home, and as I recall the scene, it somehow felt like a set up, something to amuse the adults. Finally the programme appeared and the violinist began his solo performance. Mother handed me my new instrument. Lifting it under my chin, placing the bow upon the strings, taking a deep breath, the performance began.

What was wrong? It did not sound anything like the man on the television. In fact, my attempt at playing sounded like a squawking goose. No matter how hard I tried, no matter how hard I closed my eyes imagining the virtuoso on the television, the music would not come forth. I felt devastated. Then, looking up at mother, I could see her attempting to hide a smile. I tried to play the toy instrument again to no avail. I was a failure, and never picked up a musical instrument until many, many years later. I cried and acted like a spoiled child. Let’s face it: I was a mere eighteen months, frustrated and terribly angry. 

This memory actually depicts the inner feelings that haunted me for many years. This planet is about struggle, striving against obstacles that will prevent you from attaining your wants and ultimate desires. Then again, in the right circumstance, the right context, would give everything…for pain and a price.

In bed that night, I imagined mother and father laughing about my failure as a violinist before falling to sleep. Again I lapsed slowly into a child’s sleep, wondering why I had been exiled, once again, from my home.

Trump's Neo con Administration Desire Regime Change, and it's Started.

Once Trump won the election in 2016, beginning his tenure as US president in 2017, the MSM has been pushing Russia-gate non stop...I can tell you with certainty, that this has been a distraction. What is quite disturbing, is the number of people, intelligent people, who have fallen into this unmitigated propaganda. One of the reasons I wanted to give Trump time before #resisting, was to see if, in fact, he would pull out of Afghanistan; leave Iraq to the Iraqis, and get the hell out of Syria. (As he said he would, once becoming president.) The clown lied. Trump sent more troops to Afghanistan, Iraq, and dropped bombs on Syria. Despite the democrats and the #resistance claiming that Trump is a stupid maniac, and should not have access to any nukes, voted unanimously to add billions to the US war budget – a little more than 40% added since the peak of the Iraq war. 40%!

Who's running this clown show? And should we be concerned?

Once you have studied the “neocon agenda”, Trump's administration’s words and actions over the last 18 months, makes absolute sense. Firstly, he opened a US embassy in Jerusalem. This is controversial for the obvious reasons. Jerusalem for the Palestinians is a city for not only Muslims, but Christians as well as Jews. The US placing their embassy in this Holy City was a strong message. “We are with Israel, and will not be stopped. We call the shots, so back down!” Since then Israeli terrorism has doubled down with thousands of Palestinian deaths. Since then, the US/UK backed Saudi Arabian slaughter of Yemen is nothing less than catastrophic. The biggest humanitarian crisis in our modern history...and the world remains silent.

Now we come to Syria.

I've written on this BLOG about this country, as there is more than what our MSM tell us. Syria is important to the Neocon agenda. Along with Saudi Arabia, the US/UK desire a natural pipeline to run through Syria to the Caspian sea. This is not available because Syria and Russia sell natural gas to the EU. The US is not in Syria, backing Al Quida and ISIS for the sake of the Syrian people. They are there for two reasons, $$$ (oil) and desiring Israel's dominance across the Middle East.

Now we come to Iran.

A common misunderstanding about Iran, is they're not Arabs – they are Persians. Before the religious revolution in Iran, led by the Ayatollah Khomeini, leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979, only came to power to over throw the Shaw of Iran, a puppet of the CIA/US. Before this “regime change”, Iran had a democratic elected PM Mohammed Mosaddegh, who wanted to act as an individual agent, selling oil to countries for the benefit of the Iranian people. The UK/US would not have any of this because a deal had been set with the Saudi's, hence the petrol dollar, the replacement for a gold-backed currency. The CIA through their known diabolical methods, assassinated Mosaddegh, replacing him with the Shah...now, the US/UK want a new PUPPET, hence the desire for regime change in Iran.

Russia?

The Russia hysteria, created by the “deep state”, and MSM, is to promote hate: Russia as an “enemy” of the Western world. They are not. The reason is that Russia backs Syria for purely economic concerns. US/UK/Israel dominance in the Middle East will simply not be tolerated from Russia, for the reasons stated above.

Once one understands that most wars come down to money/religion, the intentions of warmongers is obvious. 

Say no to WAR.

“The Old Guitarist” - Picasso.

This has to be one of my favourite paintings by the world renowned modernist artist, Pablo Picasso. (1881-1973)

What are we actually viewing here? An old man seemingly enraptured in his music, while playing his instrument, the classical guitar.

What draws me to this painting is Picasso’s use of colour, different shades of blue, monochromatic in tone (Known as Picasso’s Blue Period, 1900-1904) and the content, the subject matter – an old man playing music appearing lost in the notes he plays.

The old man’s fingers are almost too thin and long yet perfect for playing this particular instrument.

One could perhaps interpret the content depicting a dying man playing his last note of music before passing on. He is either in rapture or on the verge of death.

This is typical of Picasso’s overall distorted style as the old man’s torso is too elongated and reclining, and as mentioned above, the fingers are abnormally long and slender.

What is most curious about this painting is the mysterious presence of a woman’s portrait underneath as we can almost see her face and legs. Some art critics have proposed that it was an unfinished portrait, abandoned by Picasso and “The Old Guitarist” painted over it to save money as he was quite poor during his Blue Period, and not selling many paintings.

This painting is more than likely the most well-known of the artist’s Blue period.

“The old man guitarist” is an engaging and inspirational work as it has prompted poets like Wallace Stevens to write a poem about the painting and composers to write their music.

One of my all time favourites of Picasso’s entire body of work.

The Catholic Church’s Persecution of the Jews

Antisemitism precedes early Christianity - scholars reveal Jewish persecution in ancient Greco-Roman society. This does not in any way mitigate the fact that, the early Christian Church Fathers, unapologetically made their racist views known in their writing - mirroring the stated views of the founder of the Church, St. Paul. Gentile converts as early as the 2^nd century, reading the condemnation of the Jews in the New Testament, following the Word of the Church, and in most cases, never knowing or understanding the internal life of the Jewish community. As then, and as now, one never questions the dictates of the Church for fear of heresy accusations or excommunication.

Reflecting on the venomous tone of St Paul, claiming divine inspiration, writing the dogmas' of Original Sin and Atonement, slandered the Jewish people with the same lethal stroke of the pen, describing Jews as those who “displease God” destined to wander lost along the fringes of society; and they are “enemies of mankind” – while other Christian Fathers accuse them who worship Satan in their synagogues, rape their children and sacrifice infants in honour of the Prince of Darkness.

Jewish persecution magnified propelling into the medieval period in mass violence, committing unspeakable crimes, eerily leaning towards attempted genocide – an eerie prequel to the Holocaust – Nazi’s Final Solution. The many years of Christian antisemitism planted a diabolical seed, enabling the future popular success of Nazism. Many Christians embraced Hitler's fascist ideology, believing the Jews were the source their moral and economic downfall. Hence, one reason among others, thousands of Christians stood motionless on the sidelines in sustained silence, while millions of Jews were mercilessly exterminated. 

As said above, the final split between Jewish Christians (Paul used the pejorative term, Judizers and Gentile converts to Pauline Christianity by the 2^nd century, was the start of antisemitism in the Church. Again, the early Church Fathers, through their slanderous writings, fuelled the racist hatred amongst the Gentile converts.

We are perplexed, however, researching several theologians of various Christian denominations, that none have pointed out St Paul’s slanderous words against the Jews in Romans and Galatians, respectively. In chapter 3, we quoted many negative versus which Paul recorded. To substantiate our argument, these versus are worth repeating once again:

They (Jews) are all gone out of the way; they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of the asps is under their lips:

Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness?

Their feet are swift to shed blood;

Destruction and misery are in their ways:

And the way of peace have they not known;

There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law; that ‘every mouth may be stopped, and the world may become guilty before God. (Rom: 3: 12-19)

Reading these versus again, one can rightfully declare that these are slanderous accusations and judgments, which, James the Just directly responded to in writing:

Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law; but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy; who art thou that judgeth another? (James: 4:11-17)

To be sure, one could rightly point out that these versus are in a specific context, that is, Paul arguing that with faith comes salvation, and there is now no need for the Law. Even so, writing:

Destruction and misery are in their ways:

And the way of peace have they not known;

There is no fear of God before their eyes. (Romans 3: 12-19)

Take these lines to any corporate attorney worth their degree, and the law suits would be filed at once. These are words of a desperate man, lashing out because the Christian Jews refuse to accept his heresy, as he is attempting to break away from the “Judizers”, and start his new religion. Pauline doctrine in the second century was now Church dogma, therefore, the Church Fathers would have read these versus, and like the severe misogyny carried forward from Paul’s epistles to the Church Fathers, (See chapter 4) his antisemitism is carried forward as well. 

Scholars have dated the Gospel of John to have been written between 90-100CE. It was during this time that antisemitism amongst Gentile converts was well on the rise. John’s gospel is more anti-Jew than the other three gospels combined. It is certain the Church Father’s, including St Paul’s epistles, referred to John in all their anti-Semitic writings. It is agreed by a majority of theologians, both Catholic and in academic circles, that these words were not Jesus’ but John’s, who put them there…this verse caused millions of Jewish deaths during the next 2000 years of western civilization. It reads:

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John: 8: 44)

By the middle of the 2^nd century, Pauline Christianity (Gentile) slowly began to organize into what one would call a global church. Moving forward, anti-Jewish attitudes settled into mainstream doctrine, later becoming official doctrine of the church. As Pauline Christianity posits Jesus as the Son of God, this only further alienated Christian Jews, which, at this time, became a central motif in anti-Jewish doctrine in the church. The notion of Jews as “Christ-killers” infiltrated the mind-set in the majority of Christians. Jews as Christ-killers (Deicide) was the subject for most sermons for Bishops across the land. Deicide continues to be a held belief in other major churches – Orthodox - Russian, Greek, Serbian and Bulgarian churches. Add the other insipid inculcated notion that children of the devil flourishes throughout Jewish culture, the absolute destruction of the Jews as a race edged very close to reality, manifesting in the holocaust in the mid-20^th century.

Church Fathers’ Legacy of Hate

These Jews killed Jesus and the prophets and for that reason they displease God and are the enemies of all mankind. (Thessa: 2: 14-16)

Paul was known for his short temper and sudden emotional bursts of anger. That being said, Paul boasts to be the mouth piece, a direct conduit to the Son of God. As we argued, Paul was the source for the pathological misogyny, expressed by most of the Church Fathers. (See chapter 5) Paul’s anti-Semitism, too, quoted above is blatantly evident. Following the founders lead, listed below are examples of anti-Jewish writings from the early Fathers of the Church. Once more, it is apparent; Paul is the source for their venomous rants:

Tertullian (160-225) in his anti-Jewish discourse, De Oratain, writes: “Though Israel may wash every day, it is never clean. Its hands…are always stained, covered forever with the blood of the prophets and our Lord himself.”

Saint Gregory of Nyssa (331-396) It is plain to the reader that Gregory ensures he covers all his bases in his diatribe against the circumcised – Jews are: “…slayers of the Lord, murderers of the prophets, enemies of God, haters of God, adversaries of grace, enemies of their fathers’ faith, advocates of the devil, brood of vipers, slanderers, scoffers, men of dark minds, leaven of the Pharisees, congregation of demons, sinners, wicket men and haters of goodness.”

Origen (182-251) an Alexandrian educated theologian, more often an insightful interpreter of scripture, his comments on the Jews is arrogantly presumptuous: “…the blood of Jesus falls not only on the Jews of that time, but on all generations up to the end of the world…rejection of Jesus has resulted in their present calamity and exile…will never be restored to their former condition.”

 Saint Ephraim of Syrus (306-373) refers to the Jews as “circumcised dogs” and “circumcised      vagabonds.” “God’s punishment for the Jews for reviling Jesus is banishment from their lands, and is now condemned to wander over the whole face of the earth.”

Saint Cyphan (200-258) one of the first Church Fathers to call the Jews “Christ-Killers.” Adding to the list, he calls Jews hypocrites, villains, evil, and haters of God and rejected by Him. Jews are a “…sinful nation weighed down with guilt, breed of evil doers, lawless children.” He contends that the only way they can escape their curse is conversion.

 The conversion of Constantine I, leading to the canonization of Church doctrine through the Council of Nicaea, created a close link to government, thus opening certain legislation, promulgating persecution of the Jews under Roman Law. The Church Fathers slanderous propaganda of the Jews not only was embedded in doctrine, but the Church ensured the Roman Empire was on side - Christianity was now the State Religion, thus under these untenable circumstances, that is Church and State combined, the Jewish people had not a chance.

The fourth century saw Jewish persecution by the Church reach an unholy peak of suppression. Most scholars and biblical historians agree that the most influential and damaging of the anti-Jewish writings and sermons came from Saint John Chrysostom (347-407). He is considered by the Church to be one of the most important early Church Fathers, admired for his eloquent sermons. Given the title of Doctor of the Church, teacher of the faith, revered for his holiness, and his written Church doctrine, Pius X declared him the Patron of Preachers in 1901. These accolades and titles were honoured, despite his fanatical, scorching and hateful sermons against the Jews.  

There are Eight Homilies against the Jews by Chrysostom, which are so venomous and hateful, that they reach a level of the absurd. In these sermons, he wastes no time getting right to his subject: the despicable, animal-like nature of the Judaism. “…the Jewish people are driven by their drunkenness and plumpness to the ultimate evil.” He decrees that all Christians must avoid contact with Jews at all costs. “Their souls”, he writes, are where “demon souls dwell.” Moreover, he writes, their “synagogues are not only brothels but theatres…a den of robbers and lodgings for wild beasts.” He goes on to rant that these Jews sacrifice Christian children on their altars, and where “mothers ate their own children.”

Chrysostom tells the Jews that there is no hope for them at all. “Atonement” is certainly out of the question – the Jews are damned. These shocking sermons caused Christians to run out of their respective churches, having whipped his brethren into a mad frenzy, where at one stage, the rioting Christians destroyed the great synagogue of Antioch. He also accused Jews of “ritual murder”, bringing them to task. Chrysostom’s’ rhetorical skills are similar to that of Adolf Hitler, hypnotically manipulating his audience, inciting them to destruction and murder. He was later canonized as a saint. The greater irony is his sermons continue to be taught in seminaries today.

In 306 CE, the Council of Elvira decreed that Christians and Jews could not intermarry, have sexual intercourse, or eat together.

The Council of Nicaea (325) decreed that all conversation and fellowship with Jews was absolutely forbidden.

Saint Ambrose (340-397) Bishop of Milan, tradition records his famous hatred for Arianism.

His sermons, like Chrysostom, fostered madness, inciting Christians to murder the Jewish people -

Pillage and destroy their synagogues. He called synagogues, “a place of unbelief, a home of impiety,

a refuge of insanity, dammed by God himself.”

Rioting Christians in Callinicos, (388) a well populated town along the Euphrates, (ordered by the town Bishop) ransacked the Synagogue, burning it to the ground. Roman Emperor Theodosius hears of the crime, and orders those responsible to be severely punished. The Emperor orders the Bishop to re-build the Temple at the Bishops expense. St Ambrose writes the emperor – this infamous letter, a masterpiece of guile and persuasion, manipulates the Emperor; he then relents and condones the crime.

A Gang of Christian monks, (413) allegedly after reading the sermons of certain Church Father, run riot in the city of Palestine, burning torches in hand and chanting anti-Jewish slogans, destroyed several synagogues, and massacred Jews at the Western Wall. 

Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430) is one of the more influential and respected Fathers of the Catholic Church. He writes of the Jews: We contend that Augustine’s belief’s about the Jews is no different than that of Chrysostom in hype and racial vulgarity.

Augustine maintained the theological rational of the “Theory of Substitution”. That is, briefly, the New Israel of the church became a substitute of ancient Israel. He writes:

“…the house of Israel which God has cast off… are themselves the builders of destruction and rejecters of the cornerstone – Jesus the Lord Christ – distinguished between one’s and His Jewish enemies.”  (Emphasis mine)

In one of his more popular books, “City of God”, Augustine writes:

“Judaism, since Christ, is a corruption, indeed, Judas is the image of the Jewish People; their understanding of Scripture is carnal; they bear the guilt for the death of the saviour; for through their fathers they have killed Christ.”

The notion or crime of Deicide is used by the Church Fathers’ time and again. As said above, the central motif in most of these writings of persecution of the Jewish people focuses on them as “Christ-Killers.” This belief is still held by many in the Christian churches.

St Jerome (341-420) is one of the more popular of the Church Fathers; a Doctor of the Church, he held the same beliefs as most of these influential theologians. He writes:

“If you call a brothel, (synagogue) a devil of vice, the devil’s refuge, Satan’s fortress, a place to deprave the soul, an abyss of every conceivable disaster or whatever else you will, you are still saying less than it deserves.”

The Code of the Emperor Justinian (529-593) decrees that in Christian Byzantine society Jews cannot show themselves in the streets during Passover Week.

Agobard Archbishop of Lyons, (830) writes anti-Jewish Pamphlets in which he refers to Jews as “sons of darkness.”

Pope Leo VII (c.937) encourages his newly appointed archbishop of Mainz to expel all Jews who refuse to be baptised.

In Roven, Orleans, Limoges, Mainz, and probably Rome, (c.1010-1020) Jews are converted by force, massacred, or expelled.

Pope Gregory VII (c. 1081) writes to King Alphonso of Spain telling him that if he allows Jews to be lords over Christians, he is oppressing the Church and exalting “the Synagogue of Satan.”

Massacres of Jews (1096) this incident takes place in the First Crusade destroying entire Jewish communities in Mainz, Speyer, Worms, Cologne and other cities. The Jewish chronicler reports: “The enemies stripped them naked and dragged them off, granting quarter to none, save those few who accept baptism. The number of the slain was eight hundred in these two days.” The chronicler Guibert de Nogent reports that the Roven Crusaders said: “We desire to go and fight God’s enemies in the east; but we have before our eyes certain Jews, a race more inimical to God than any other.”

Jews are expelled from France; (1182) all their property is confiscated, and Christian’s debts to them are cancelled with payment of one-fifth of their value to the treasury.

The Fourth Lateran Council (1215), decrees that Jews are to wear distinctive clothing, and on the three days before Easter, they are not to go out in public.

The Council of Narbonne (1227) orders Jews to wear a round patch.

Thirty-four Jews (1235) are burned to death in Fulda on a blood-libel charge.

Note: “blood-libel” refers to a centuries old false allegation that Jews murder Christians – especially children – to use their blood for ritual purposes.

The Council of Albi (1254) orders Jews to wear a round patch.

The Council of Arles (1260) orders Jews to wear a round patch, but not when travelling.

St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) most respected of theologians in the Church. The churches most revered philosopher, known to have synthesised Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology. He writes that the Jews, sin is more in their unbelief, than the pagans, because they have abandoned the way of justice – “after knowing it in some way.”

Jews in France (1283) are forbidden to live in the countryside.

Jews are expelled (1290) from England and southern Italy.

The Jews of Rottingen (1298) are charged with profaning the Host, are massacred and burned down to the last one.

“The Shepherds Crusade” (1320) a Christian chronicler records: “The Shepherds laid siege to all the Jews who had come from all sides to take refuge…the Jews defended themselves heroically…but their resistance served no purpose, for the Shepherds slaughtered a great number of the besieged Jews by smoke and fire…the Jews, realizing that they would not escape alive, preferred to kill themselves…They chose one of their number (and) this man put some five hundred of them to death, with their consent. He then descended from the castle tower with a few Jewish children who still remained alive…They killed him by quartering. They spared the children, whom they made Catholics by baptism.

Jews (1421) are expelled from Austria.

Jews (1424) are expelled from Friburg and Zurich.

Cardinal Carafe (1553) instigates a public burning of the Talmud and other Jewish religious works in a square in Rome.

Pope Leo XII (1858) decrees: that Jews are to be confined to ghettos and their property is to be confiscated.

Pius VII (1858) so named the paedophile Pope, kidnapped 6 year old Edwardo, adopts the boy, keeping him in a monastery. He refuses to give the boy back to his parents because they will not convert to Catholicism. Despite leaders around the world pleading for the Pope to return the boy back to his parents, he refuses.

Pius XII (1942) Great Britain and The United States pressure the pope to condemn the Nazi treatment of Jews. He responds on his Christmas address without mentioning the Jews or the Nazis. The address is vague and hints of Darwinism.

Pius XII (1945) Addressing the College of Cardinals after the European war, the pope speaks of the hundreds of priests and religious who died in Nazi concentration camps, but makes no mention of the Jews.

The Second Vatican Council (1965) issues its Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions, “True, authorities of the Jews and those followed their lead pressed for the death of Christ; still, what happened in His passion cannot be blamed upon all Jews then living, without distinction, nor upon the Jews of today… The Jews should not be presented as repudiated or cursed God…The Church decries hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone.”

Comment:

In chapter five we discussed the pathological misogyny in the church, and its source, St. Paul. Following this line of argument, St. Paul revealed a deep-seated hatred for the Jews – again, this pathological hate and centuries of Jewish persecution, we believe, emanated from Christianity’s true founder, St. Paul.

For the early church, Judaism is the “father” religion in which Christianity spawned; and, from a vile premise, attacked the patriarch, forcing a terribly violent separation, therefore, so as to form an individual identity as a single religion. We can see this phenomenon in the Reformation to Calvinism and the fundamentalists of the 20^th and 21^st century. That is, generally, amidst the pain of separation, there is a knee-jerk attack against the “father” religion, in order to fully break ties, gaining its own individualism, identity and personality. Indeed, studying other religions – Islam, Hinduism, et al, we can observe this violent action through history in varying degrees.

In the four gospels of the New Testament, Jesus taught humility, peace and love. The history of the Catholic Church is the opposite: a past laden in prejudice, political machinations in the pursuit of power, unspeakable violence and an ocean of the blood of heretics, martyrs, women and the Jewish race. This is not the church of Jesus of Nazareth, but a religion so far removed from Our Lords Words, in which war, violence and confusion across populations reigns supreme. As a result of this false Christianity, we live our lives in a false reality. (See conclusion)

Our contention is that, building a major faith based on lies, false teachings, creates a false reality, where it is impossible to evolve spiritually. Further, as Jesus asked us to observe, “By their fruits you shall know them”; one’s analysis of the Catholic Church and its numerable sects, reveals fruits of a vile and wicked variety, rife with guile, racism, confusion, murder and violence on a grand scale. 

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In this chapter we have attempted to illustrate the Christian persecution of the Jewish people. The extent of the violence, in terms of cruelty and intense violence has no other match in world history. This hatred for Judaism over thousands of years is symptomatic of a collective, institutionalized, psychopathy. Almost 2000 years later, the Catholic Church did not “lay down their guns”, so to speak, until 1965, in the advent of Vatican II. For many, the “Declaration” from the church is “a little too late.”

Next we examine Church Tradition, at the beginning, making connections as to the reason(s) a false theology rather than the teachings of Jesus was appropriated and followed. We ask the question: what fruits does the church bare as a result of their works and actions over time? As stated above, the fruits born from the churches long history are rotten, languishing in filth and shrivelled beyond recognition.

Next we examine the connection between St Peter and St Paul. The church tradition, focusing on these poster boy’s for the Catholic Church. It was their over-arching influence from the start, that has given us “Christianity” – the Church we see today – the Church of Hate.

From: "He that Deceiveth the Whole World." (Work in progress)