by Frank Knight

Created on: August 22, 2008

Critcism should always be warranted and welcome.

I welcome it in my own book, now available on Amazon.com or through the book's website:

http://www.veilofeden.com

I agree with many of the other posts in that all of the Abrahamic religions need to really read their own religious works [Koran, Tanakh, Bible, etc.,...] before pushing their 'spiritualism'.

It's easy enough to do. For the minority of religious people who actually attend church, temple or synagogue, try reading on a little further when the religious leader snaps your attention up to his podium. With the notable exception of the four non-apocryphal gospels, you will find more 'dark material' in The Bible and other religious texts than anywhere else. Indeed, religious texts are not rated G. If religious books were made into movies, people would not take their children to see them.

Remember Charlton Heston's rage when he threw down the 10 Commandments? Well, if you read The Bible a little farther than what's prescribed by your religious leader, you'll find that Moses called the Levites [militaristic tribe of Israel] over at this point and told them go through the camp of Israel and slay their neighbors, friends and relatives and be consecrated by their blood:

ASV Exodus 32:25 And when Moses saw that the people were broken loose, (for Aaron had let them loose for a derision among their enemies,) 32:26 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Whoso is on Jehovah's side, let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. 32:27 And he said unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Put ye every man his sword upon his thigh, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor. 32:28 And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. 32:29 And Moses said, Consecrate yourselves to-day to Jehovah, yea, every man against his son, and against his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.

I don't know about you, but this is in no way to be deemed 'good' or a 'path to spiritual enlightenment'.

Having read most major religious works, I am appalled at the atrocities enshrined as holy within these same works. Don't believe me? I dare you to read your own religious book. Do your holy books contain the words and actions of a Good or Enlightened Being? Read it before you answer.

On a positive note, writers like Phil Pullman have emerged to point us away from the darkness that has permeated humanity's subconscious for far too long.

As for the criticism that Pullman is really an atheist rather than an agnostic: I think that Phil Pullman knows his beliefs better than anyone else.

As for the criticism that his work is destructive, well, please refer to any religious work. Most all contain a horrid massacre of humanity for its final chapter.

There has been an odd putsch by religious organizations to redefine the word 'cult' to include any religion except christianity. This has happened before, except the contention surrounded the words 'pagan' and 'infidel'. Even Moses knew that he was leader of a cult. The current denial by christians speaks volumes. The labeling of non-religious people as atheists is another propaganda putsch. It also shows a serious lack understanding of other beliefs and philosophies.

Criticism can only open new doors and ideas. In the world of spirituality, criticism wanes to irrelevancy without the element of introspection.

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