Religion-Be Honest About

LET US BE HONEST- AN ANSWER TO CHRIST AND INDIAN CULTURE

Second page in the article, “Christ and Indian Cultural heritage” who ever wrote this, states clearly  quote” My imagination is spreading its wings Man has set out his journey” I agree with this statement if man is separated from his imaginative powers there is no religion and there is no God as we think. Except basic necessities of man, most every thing we see around us are evolved from thinking and imagination. When Jesus lived there was no India as we know today and Asia as we know today, was known to very few travelers in the Middle East. In every civilization before Christ, there were people lived with noble virtues. In Greece, Aristotle and Socrates. In the East Buddha and Confucius and in Persia Zoroastrian. Historians will say all these people contributed so much wisdom for the man kind. We don’t know exactly from where Jesus got his noble wisdom. Jesus was not the first person preached kindness, forgiveness and love  for all.

Jesus said this several times “Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations…..” Teach what?  all about Roman Catholic Religion or his love for the man kind? ” teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” All religions have taken followers so far away from real truth of God, with their rituals and idol worship. Religion like Islam, the crudest in this respect will not allow members to think any thing out side that religion. Christians are afraid to think any thing new because the fear of a hell waiting for them after death. Spiritual death is the result of following each other like a flock of sheep. Death is the result of inaction. Be active; and wherever there is activity, there must be difference. Difference is the sauce of life; it is the beauty, it is the art of everything. Difference makes all beautiful here. It is variety that is the source of life, the sign of life. Why should we be afraid of it?

It is waste of time and effort for the writer to abuse great epics like Vedas, Upanishads to prove  Bible is much superior or Jesus is in those epics. People like Swami Vivekananda talked about the historic Jesus and his teachings not about the Jesus the Roman Catholic religion created. Vivekananda placed Jesus among great thinkers and teachers lived such as Buddha,  Confucius and Saurashtra.

This is one nature of man to create imaginary characters in his mind then tell or write stories.  Put words in the mouth of famous people they lived in the past, became an easy way to establish credibility for some ideas. Since not much recorded what they said when some of these famous people lived, polluting their sayings became an art.  There is a school of thought, believe that Jesus lived in India for several years before he started his public teachings. Jesus learned about love, peace, kindness and giving up all worldly gains from Buddhism and Vedic Gurus. This argument is more realistic than the speculations made by righteous evangelical Christians about the life and teachings of Jesus.

Commonsense and logic are not part of a religion. Man started to walk on this earth probably few hundred thousand years ago. Man’s imaginary power kept him unique and different from other living creatures. That imagination took man out of forests to all parts of the globe. His imaginations became creative. Tools were developed out of rocks and animal bones. Shelters were created to escape from natural calamities and other animal attacks. Communities were created for strength and protection. Fear of darkness made man love the light producing objects above. That object became his provider and protector. Imagination took him to create sounds to communicate each other. Eventually those sounds took shape of words. Imagination made his hands paint pictures on walls of caves and rocks. All evolved slowly nothing was accrued same time.

Blind faith is what most religions demand from followers. There is no problem with blind faith in a religion as long as that religion will not claim that God created that religion.  Especially Islam and Catholic religion claim that God personally made those religions and God is involved in the day to day management of their affairs.  In the past,  both Islam and the Catholics were engaged in wars to settle their differences and establish authority. Thousands of people were killed in those conflicts. Today only Islam is visibly militant in the religion business.

When he issued his ill-fated call to save Eastern Christendom from the Muslims around A.D. 1090, Pope Urban II unleashed what scholars across religious and ideological divides agree was one of history's biggest exercises in futility. Over the next 200 years, wave after wave of crusading knights wrecked havoc, death and destruction at the end of which, very little was gained.

Man was and is a story teller. Most writings we consider as ancient probably existed in its rudimentary form as stories several thousand years back. Before writing techniques were developed oral tradition was the norm. Stories told, retold, modified added from generations to generations. This oral tradition kept so many stories alive. When man invented alphabets, learned to write and found medium to put words some of the spoken stories got recorded. We see so many great books today that are based on imaginary characters and events. Most these characters are not entirely new creations from the authors.  We know, most epics evolved from story tellers.  Writings of  Homer, Walmeeki and  Kalidhasan are examples.

If some one say God inspired a person to write a book about him about 2000 years back, that make little or no sense. Why God waited all these years to reveal his story to man. Why God waited all that time to give rules and laws? Why God chose a small group of people as his chosen, even though he created all people on this earth? Is this a coincidence or not,  God got manifested in man once man developed  his speaking and writing capabilities? Telling the Old Testament as God inspired book is an insult to God. For example take Genesis. God created earth before light. Sun was rotating the earth. Earth was flat. This believe carried on for centauries. Galileo was a victim of the Catholic church for his believe that earth was round.

The important question to be asked to all Roman Catholics in this discussion, who was Jesus Christ and what is the relationship with Jesus and this Roman Catholic religion? Was Jesus a Roman Catholic? Was Jesus a Christian? Did Jesus know a thing about Roman Christianity? Did Jesus instructed  his disciples to start a new religion? Did Jesus give up his Jewish faith on the cross?

 Answers according to the history, Jesus was born in Judaea now the modern Israel from Jewish parents. He was circumcised and brought up as a Jewish person. He was different from others, so  was John the Baptist. John was killed for his revolutionary ideas and preaching.  Jesus followed the path of John and he got killed too.

It is a fact that Jesus did question so many rules in the Jewish bible and customs practiced by the community some times he ignored them. Jesus had followers just like the Baptist had .When Jesus lived all Judea was ruled by Romans.  Except the priestly community  in Judea, ordinary Jews hated the Roman rule over their life. They wanted some one to get the Romans out from their land. They thought Jesus might do that. Once they found out , Jesus was captured and tried for blasphemy they were disappointed. They thought Jesus might use miracle to get out and defeat Romans. That did not happened.

Jesus was killed by Romans,  to please those Jewish priests who thought Jesus was a threat to their control over the public. This is the end of the story. History will not say Jesus abandoned his religion before death. After death of Jesus his followers did not give up Jewish heritage or the bible. They gathered to remember their teacher and his teachings with in their Jewish faith. Original Jesus followers and leaders of the movement believed that,  to be a good Jesus believer must be a good Jew to begin with.

When Paul started his ministry based on Jesus teachings he started a revolution. Paul argued with leaders like James and Peter, that any one can be a Jesus follower no need to be circumcised or a Jew. Paul laid the foundation for the Christianity that we see today. Paul was an educated person and a thinker. His writings are older than Gospels. Paul was more interested in spreading Jesus movement with his stamp, out side Israel. Interesting to note that Paul and Jesus lived same time in Israel and he did not know Jesus or he paid little attention to Jesus’ teachings. How Paul became a Jesus believer, there are stories and speculations out there that is not important in this discussion.

Historians believe Mark wrote the first gospel some time 50 to 60 years after death of Jesus. All gospels are according to the name bearers Mark, Mathew, Luke and John  we have no idea who wrote and what were the names of those original authors. In addition to all this confusion none of the original documents exist today. The gospels we read today are copy of a copy of a copy. General consensus is that Jesus spoke Aramaic and gospels were written in Greek. Jesus did not write a thing and all his disciples were un educated. Obviously, most common people lived in Judea at that time were not literate in a language. Most documents were written at that time were in Greek. Greek was a much more advanced language and considered to be the language of the aristocrat.

So much we see in the gospels are rewritten several times from memories and fragments of original documents. Up until the printing press was invented all documents were written by hand one letter at a time. Writing skill was not common among people only few knew how to write. What ever a scribe record was considered to be authentic. Only another scribe could point out mistakes or authenticity. When Rome took over the Christianity, a massive revision took place in the shape and contend of all gospels.

The New Testament developed, or evolved, over the course of the first 250-300 years of Christian history. No one particular person made the decision. The decision was not made at a church council. The particular writings that became those of the New Testament gradually came into focus and became the most trusted and beneficial of all the early Christian writings. Several gospels were discarded as irrelevant such as gospel of Thomas and Judas. Later they got discovered from caves known as Nag Hammidi library.

All gospels tell a story about Jesus. There are similarities same time there are contradictions. Mark and John will not write about the birth of Jesus. Mathew and Luke got a narration but they contradict. Mathew says after birth of Jesus Joseph was told by god to take the baby and escape to Egypt. Luke says Jesus was taken to temple right after birth for religious rituals. In the genealogy of Jesus, Mathew says a Jacob is father of Joseph and Luke says Heli is father of Joseph. Who is correct no idea.  There is no Herod killing babies in Luke’s gospel either. If God inspired authors to write gospels then why all these contradictions different type of inspiration?

John’s gospel is entirely different. His gospel is a theological book written with Greek philosophical influence. John doesn’t say much about life of Jesus. He narrates more miracles than other three. He got the story of crucifixion very different from others. John says Jesus was crucified on the eve of the preparation day of the Passover. That means Jesus did not eat the Passover meal. John 19.14 “Now it was the preparation of the Passover”. This is a major contradiction from other gospels. According to john Jesus was crucified before Passover day started.

All Abramic religions have one starting point the Hebrew texts. All are like three children in a family come from same father and they will not get along.

To conclude my observation about Religions  all of them play a role in lives of most people. For some, religious gatherings are a social platform. For many, religion gives a false hope and security. For others a place for economic activities.

India the next Super Power: The issue with Italian Government, on the incident of shooting and killing two Indian unarmed fishermen on the coast of Kerala, suspecting as pirates, by Italian marines. these marines were working for a private shipping company as security guards.
To begin with, this shooting was uncalled for arrogant and stupid action by two over zealous marines. They did not follow the protocol, guidelines or common sense in this incident that took place in February 2012. First of all there were no known incident of piracy in the Indian waters by Indians. All world know that India will not tolerate piracy since Indian sailors are every day victims in piracy on the coast of Africa. Even on this Italian ship there were 19 Indian sailors.
After discharging more than twenty rounds of ammunition on a fishing boat that was more that 100 meeter away, the Italian ship simply sailed, as of nothing happened. Once the Coast guard and Navy of India found out two innocent fishermen were killed in this shooting, they chased after the Italian ship. Indian Navy forced the ship to alter the course and come to the port of Cochin for investigation.
During the course of the investigation government of India found out that shooting was unnecessary and the incident was not reported to any authority in Italy, including the owner of the ship.
More than one year after this incident, the case is still open because of the arrogance showed by the Government of Italy. They thought India can be pushed around and they expected support from other European nations and America in this matter. Italy was wrong no government came to support the Italian position as marines shot at a pirate vessel on the Indian coast.
Unfortunately, Indian courts were very slow in settling this matter. Italian government could have accepted the responsibility of what happened, since their marines killed two unarmed people on a fishing boat.
Even though, the Supreme court of India allowed these marines go home for Christmas and the second time to participate in the Italian elections as a good will. Second time when marines were in Italy, the government of Italy notified India that marines will not come back to India for the trial. Supreme court and the government of India demanded the marines must come back before the dead line given. At the end Government of Italy had no choice but to accept the demand of India. Marines are back in India to stand for trial.
The government of Italy did not fully realize the economic and the military power of India in this age. Today, for the rest of Europe and the US, India is more important as a partner in all aspects than the bankrupt looser Italy.

My opinion, Syro Malabar Catholic Church is nothing but an organization just like so many political parties, for the benefit of its leaders. I realized this fact several years back and left this organization. Few years back in Houston, I got involved with St. Joseph SMC, at that time the priest was Ligory Johnson. With sponsor ship of SMC, I organized a concert to help an orphanage in Kerala. Ligory and his gang agreed to give one third of the proceeds from the program to the orphanage and they said the rest of the amount will go to make a shrine for Mother Mary. I went along with all that.

The program generated almost $17000.00 after expenses the net was about $13000.00. When I asked the priest how much they will give to the orphanage he said $1500.00. I questioned that asked for complete accounting. Ligory and his parish council refused to show me the complete accounting. My answer was, don't bother to give any money for charity keep all and make a home for Mother Mary in your church. I think they were happy to hear that and did not give a single penny to the orphanage.

This incident oppend up my eyes and started to think and study about this organization and I came to the conclusion that I stated above. What is the purpose of this SMCC in the USA? To assist Malayalee Catholics to become better religious people or to give a forum every Sunday, for bunch of Malayalees could get together and BS? For some Malayalees this is a good stage to perform as parish council members. They buy these posts by contributing big amounts. Names of people make huge contributions are displayed at the entrance of the church.

For priests running big churches like Dallas and Houston, is a very rewarding job. These priests make at least $300 to $500 a week additional to their salaries and free accommodation, from house blessings and other activities in the community. These people are running a business by the the name of God and Jesus. They sell fear, holly mass, baptism and first communion. As long as most people are afraid to go to hell and they believe the priest and bishop will save them from hell these organizations will flourish for ever.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A RELIGION

If the purpose of a religion is to help people unite with God then in that attempt all religions have failed terribly. What Religions stands for today, separateness and selfishness. In the olden ages religions may have started to please punishing Gods in communities. At that time all occurrences in the nature like wind, thunder, rain were considered as Gods. To please these gods was important for the physical survival of man at that time.

In this modern age, religious leaders are still promoting a punishing God for the self preservation and keep their organizations important. Religions are not any different from other political and labour unions. All want to keep members in dark and play the mind control game. The foundation for all major religions were laid during the first seven centuries. A time there was no accepted understanding about the world or the universe. Most every thing in this world were wonders for man. People created stories based on imaginations. Religious beliefs evolved out of these mythical stories. Characters described in these stories became gods. A house built on and by speculators and story tellers.

Religions have succeeded in making people believe that there is a hell and heaven waiting for all after their death. Souls of all people have an eternal life after death and this everlasting life is what all people will get from churches, temples and Mosques. For most people religion has become a part of their body function, same as eating and breathing. People fight for food same way they will fight for their religion too.

Take the case of three major religions Christianity, Islam and Hinduism they all have god and gods. According to each faith, their god is the only real god and gods in other religions are false. Christianity condoms the Muslim, Hindus satirizes the the Christians and Muslims. Muslims hates all other religions. Catholics and Protestants are ceaselessly engaged in word warfare. The result, spirit of strife and hatred rules where peace and love should be.

Suppose all gods are real then we have mainly three gods, three heavens and three hells. If all gods were involved in the creation of our world and all living organisms, then why all men breath the same air and drink the same water. Did all gods copy each other in terms of creation or some gods got lazy?


Church and religion sellers are teaching the public that they are the spokes people for God and people can only find God through them and in their buildings. As I understand, Jesus never started a religion. When he wanted to pray he went to some secluded places not to a temple. He was born, raised and killed as a Jew. His disciples lived as Jews for several years after Jesus was gone. Judaism had several sects and Jesus movement became another sect that is all.

Take the case of Islam, nothing but a movement created by a self appointed man who learned religion making from Jews and Christians. Not only that he got lazy and copied most of the Jewish texts as his own inspired revelations. Most religions keep members in tact with hell and eternal punishment. But in Islam, for those unbelievers, punishment is sudden and in this world.

Idol worship, prominence for church leaders, and rituals are the corner stone for the Catholic Church today. Those practices hated by Jesus two thousand years ago. Jesus told us that everyone is equal in front of God and there is no master other than God. There is only one Father who is heaven do not call any one father but God. Jesus criticized those who prayed in public and loud. He told that when you want to pray go in to your closet and pray. Look at the crucified figure of Christ hanging above the alter in a church. Look at those bishops and priests standing under this naked and bruised body of Christ, wearing elegant clothes with princely looks what a contrast.
As a follower of Jesus I can only serve one master that is God.

This is my choice either fallow what ever going on in a church with a closed ear and eye with out a question. If I question a priest or rituals in a church then I will be called as a dis believer in God and an atheist. I don’t need a church or a priest telling me how to find God. Once people start the journey alone without being corrupted by religious leaders, everyone will find happiness and the world will become a peace full place to live.
Thanks John Kunthara

God and Religion

This is my question, do I need a religion to have a relation ship with God? My answer to that question a No. I am a Catholic by birth and started studying about religions in my spare time. What I found that there is no religion in this world created by God. What is shocking about all religions is that God has become a merchandise for religions to sell and establish organizations.
I have been reading the New Testament as carefuly as I can. I was looking for some indication that Jesus created this Catholic Religion. In fact Jesus said this in several times that I did not come to abolish the faith he was fallowing at that time but to reform it and make it easy for people to fallow.
Then I looked in to the history of disciples and what they did after the death of Jesus. There is no place I could find Peter organizing a church on the contrary it was James brother of Jesus wanted to organize groups to remember Jesus and keep his teachings alive. Not only James, Mary Magdalene was also a strong leader in that group. They never discussed about leaving Judaism. Judaism already had several sects at that time and the Jesus movement became another one that is all.
If you read letters of Paul to peter and others we will not find Paul addressing Peter as a leader of the Jesus movement. Paul always addressed every one brothers and sisters. If Paul is considered as one of the early leaders of the Catholic Church then why Paul never initiated the creation of this hierarchy we see in the church today and most of the rituals practiced by Catholics.
Early leaders of the Jesus movement wanted honestly spread the Good News and practice what Jesus taught them. They considered all members in the group as equal no master no priest. I wanted to know since when this hierarchy of Pope, bishop and priest started in Christianity. Apostle Paul or Peter never considered themselves infallible. They believed only the power worthy of calling Father or Holy the God who is in heaven. We can see that in the Bible, Jesus telling that there is only one Heavenly Father and people on earth are equal in front of God and there is no servant there is no master.
Christianity became as an organized religion under the Roman emperor Constantine some time in the third century several years after the death of Paul and Peter. Constantine was a follower of paganism. He was a clever politician too. He did see in Rome so many people converting in to the Jesus movement he knew that persecuting them will not work. What he did in order to control Christians he accepted Christianity as the official religion of Rome. To make other Romans happy and bring in to this new Christianity ,Constantine introduced so many customs from the pagan worship in to the Christianity.
Constantine knew that with out some form of hierarchy in the church he will not be able to control all Christians he wanted form Christianity in to another form of authoritarian system. If we look how Popes and bishops behaved in the 4th ,5th , and 6th centauries we can see so many ruthless and cruel Popes, wanted to exercise and keep power over others. One time popes acted like kings ordering elimination of enemies. Martin Luther left the church in protest of all corruptions were happening at that time.
I want know why do we need intermediaries like Mother Mary and other saints to approach God? Jesus always prayed to God in private and with out any help from others. Jesus never prayed from books or repeated what others said in the synagogue. According Mathew Jesus told people that when you pray go in to your closet and close the door and pray. Idol worship and public prayers were forbidden by Jesus. Jesus never believed in rituals that is why he said one time that Sabbath is for people and not the other way.
When I was growing up I never seen my grand parents or parents reading bible. We had so many prayer books in home but no bible. Prayer for my grand parents and parents was saying rosary and reading some prayer from a book written by some one. They knew Jesus, a Jesus given to them by priests. They never looked in to find God for themselves. I received my religious education same way from priests and nuns. They never told me to read bible only thing they wanted me to do was to learn how to say rosary and learn all the rituals in the church. There is no point in finding God by fallowing traditions given by parents because parents never received an accurate picture of God. Parents were accustomed to look at a stone or wood carving and think that is God.
John Kunthara