A Jewish homeland anniversary: 11-2-09

Today is the 92nd anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, which declared that the British government favored "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people."

I remind you of it on this anniversary as a way of discounting a widely held view -- particularly among some Arab and Islamic leaders who continue to oppose the existence of Israel -- that modern Israel was created simply because of the Holocaust.

This historically inaccurate view allows them to add fuel to the fire of their arguments that Israel is illegimate and that if the world wanted to apologize to the Jews for the Holocaust, it should have created a Jewish homeland in Europe, the source and site of the Holocaust.

You can find that kind of thinking permeates the assumptions of Iran's Holocaust-denying president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, as recorded in this interview.

Now, there are many legitimate areas of disagreement about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict that broke out as soon as modern Israel was created in 1948, and I'm not going to delve into all of that in this small space today. Rather, I just want to remind all of us that the desire of a modern Jewish homeland predates the Holocaust by (at least) decades and found its most prominent expression in the Zionist movement.

Remember, too, that the Balfour Declaration -- essentially a brief letter from British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour to Lord (Lionel Walter) Rothschild, head of the British Zionist Organization -- was written in the midst of World War I, as the Ottoman Empire was collapsing and as Europe and the MIddle East were in major upheaval.

Please note also in the Balfour letter to Rothschild that Balfour said British government officials "will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious' rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country."

Many people would suggest that a failure to carry out all of that in the creation of Israel in 1948 has been a major part of the struggle since.

But as for the historical desire for a Jewish homeland, no doubt one can argue that it goes back at least as far as the year 70 C.E., or A.D., when Rome destroyed Jerusalem and sent the Jewish people into yet another diaspora.

By the way, the best book on this subject I've read is The High Walls of Jerusalem: A History of the Balfour Declaration and the Birth of the British Mandate for Palestine, by Ronald Sanders. If you have another to suggest, let's hear it.

* * *

SOME TROUBLE IN SCIENTOLOGYLAND

My friend Eric Gorski, who now covers religion for the Associated Press, has written this new piece about the recent troubles in the Church of Scientology. As I've said before, I've never been quite sure what to make of Scientology -- whether it's a legitimate religion as its adherents say it is or whether it's just a scam business, as it's called by its harhest critics. Any Scientology followers out there who wish to speak up? Or any former Scientologists willing to tell us why you left?

Comments

[Dolores Lear]

Bill:
"I've never been quite sure what to make of Scientology -- whether it's a legitimate religion as its adherents say it is or whether it's just a scam business, as it's called by its harshest critics."

The Planet is Covered with New Religions, All Man-Made down through the Lifetime of Earth. What is the Characteristics of a Legitimate Religion? What was the First Legitimate Religion on Earth?

Was the Spirit God the First One God Religion? Was Worship of other Planets in our Solar System the First God Religion? Which Planet? Saturn or Jupiter? These became Pagan Religions, as New Religions were made by Humans.

Multiple Religions Worship Elohim, God/Us. Elohim, in Genesis, is Translated as a Group by Humans, and Translated as the One God/Creator of Life in the Universe, and Creator of Life on Earth.

The Abrahamic, Israelic, Jewish Man-Made One God Religion began. Since Jesus a Jew became the Son of God/Us, He became part of a New Man-Made Trinity Religion in Rome.

Three 'Persons' in One God Head, but Not like the Past Trinities of Father, Mother, and Son, but a Holy Spirit was added as a Person for the Mother. Mary was the Mother of God, so why was she omitted from the Godhead Person?

Humans Wrote Histories that became Scriptures. Down through Time, they were Translated into many Man-Made Religions. What are Legitimate Scriptures?

Religions taught Equality to All Humans, but their Lifestyle was Mouth Worship to a Supernatural God in Temples made by Human Hands, while they Killed Each Other and their Home Planet with their Hands

Christianity also became the Man-Made Protestant Religion, and other Religions began that use the Christian Bible.

The USA, is Called a Christian Country that Loves Jesus. With their Mouths, 'Praise Jesus' is a Common expression.

Continued.

[Dolores Lear]

Continued.

With their Hands American Christian Citizens, and other Religious God Citizens, are Killing Each Other and our Land Area with Pollution, and have the Most Weapons of Destruction and Nuclear Bombs.

Why? Is this the Fruits of Loving Jesus and God/Us?

The Whole Planet is Covered with Churches, Pollution and Nuclear Waste, with Weapons of Mass Destruction and Nuclear Bombs on land and sea.

Where is the Love of God/Us, and all the other Man-Made Gods?

Humans unknowingly have Made the Way, to Eliminate this Fallen Killing Species of Humans on their Home Planet, with an 'Arm'ageddon Planetary War. 'Praise God and Pass the Ammunition!', a phrase used in WW2.

Humans are Killing their Eco System, with their Pollution and Nuclear Waste, and setting up the Planetary Fire, while 'Worshiping' God on Sundays, instead of being the Caretakers of their Home Planet.

Killer Humans cannot Blame our God/Us Human Colonizing Ancestors, for this Coming Planetary Fire, like Humans Blamed God/Us for the High Tech Noah/Atlantis Planetary Flood.

Humans are Killing their Eco System and Ozone Canopy, and then Earth will be like Mars with No Atmosphere.

This Killing High Tech History today, is No Different, than it was for All the Countries and Man-Made Religions, established by the Noah/Atlantis Humans.

The USA, with the Majority of Believers in Jesus, The Prince of Peace, was the First Country with an Atom and Nuclear Bomb, and many Weapons of Mass Destruction. Where is the Love of Jesus?

NoThing is More Important to Eternal Life as we Know it, than Balanced High Tech Elements and a Clean Planet.

Eternal Physical Life is for Equal High Tech Birth, Male and Female Peace Human Clones, on Planets and and in Spaceships.

[KCFreeThinkers.org]

Here is a cartoon about the basic tenants of Scientology in cartoon form - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWytNISpvN8&feature=related

How this is different from Christianity's story beats me.

[KCFreeThinkers.org]

Here is another video with the CoS speokesman denying any aliens in their theology, but the "South Park" cartoon actually incorporates the voice of Ron L. Hubbard (the founder of Scientology) describing the actual "transfer" of the "evil souls/thetans/frozen aliens" to Earth on airplanes and putting them into the volcanoes of Hawaii. The souls were later collected and forced to watch "indoctrination" videos - including Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

These "demons" and "sins" is what Jesus was alledgedly excercising "for free" and this is what Christianity can do for you today for a "modest fee" or for "free" while others will be paying in your church.

Scientology charges for all levels (I think there are 6-8) about $300-400,000 over time or you can be a volunteer and go through the program at a slower pace but you have to work for the church.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7EEOMbBIO8&feature=related
-----------------
A few of us thought about going to the Church of Scientology in Kansas City MO and posing as prospective converts, asking questions, or maybe just stumble in to take their "free personality test".

There are at least 3-5 people who'd like to do it and then sit down and compare notes. Maybe we can also go deeper into the Church and become members to see how it goes?
_________________
I'd be curious to hear from a former Scientologist - there are many writeups online about the church and personal experiences. An interesting thing... I have yet to come across a reveiw of a former Scientlogist who says the church is not crooked.

[KCFreeThinkers.org]

This morning I called the Church of Scientology in Kansas City and asked them about Xenu. The lady on the phone (operator she said) was very well trained and said that I needed to to to the only source of truth - the web site of the Church of Scientology. When I asked if one can believe the voice of Ron L. Hubbard describing Xenu, evil spirits and brainwashing of the spirits with Christian doctrine as well as Mulsim and Jewish mythology by Xenu, she said the same thing. I asked her if she knew the "truth", she said "yes" but she would not share it and again directed me to the site. This continued for a couple of minutes with the same results. Wow!
______________________
A rather comprehensive write up on Scientology is at Wikipedia
Scientology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology
Xenu - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenu
Beliefs and Practices - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_beliefs_and_practices

Here is a 30 min video investigation into Scientology http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=07755A65BA9E43FE&search_query=kesq-tv+scientology+investigation

Also, there is a very detailed BBC Video broadcast on "Panorama" program - "Scientology and Me"

This is a very interesting video showing operatives of Church of Scientology following reporters.
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=E69BAD0B374DEF05&search_query=bbc+scientology+and+me

And to top the list -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_beliefs_and_practices

Have fun at the ferris wheel!

[Susan]

Iggy, you honestly can't see any differences between Scientology and Christianity? How about the fact that Scientology requires payment before you can learn how to get rid of the thetans?

I realize that some Christian preachers are scammers who go after people's money -- but this is certainly not the majority. It's true that most churches encourage members to tithe -- some are more hardline about it but others not so much -- but I've honestly never been part of a church that demanded monetary expenditures before I could get whatever kind of help I was seeking.

[Susan]

http://www.kcpt.org/schedule/index.shtml

Tomorrow (Tuesday) night at 7, KCPT Channel 19.1 will be showing the first part ("First Steps") of a Nova "3-part, 3-hour special -investigating explosive new discoveries that are transforming the picture of how we became human."

[Susan]

Also, has anyone ever heard of any Scientologists who were not rich?

[Susan]

Another try on that link from my 12:30 PM post --

http://www.kcpt.org/schedules/index.shtml

[Just Thinking]

It's troubling that Bill seems to offer "desire for a Jewish homeland" as a sort of excuse or reason for entitlement. A "desire for a Jewish homeland" is a completely irrelevant thing, except to point to how selfish motive is often used to justify/rationalize wrong behavior.

People who come to America should make America their homeland. You don't have to have some special place that your 'group' calls a homeland. That is perversion which causes no end of trouble. Besides, if you are religious, then your real homeland is somewhere else anyway. The Germans wanted their homeland back, and wanted the Jews gone from it. Now the Jews want their homeland back, and want the Palestinians gone from it. It's no different, except in degree. An us-them mentality just isn't healthy for the most part.

The same goes for the last post by KCFreeThinkers.org, who clearly views everything in us-them black-and-white thinking. Group thinking like that is dangerous, regardless of which side of the fence you're on. You can get easily get dragged into disasters because of those who view the world with an us-them mentality. Too often the haters will insist that you become another hater, or they'll turn you into the hated. That's why nobody is safe when thinking like that beings to prevail.

Demagogues always resort to the us-them method of recruiting irrational and angry mobs. And there's no way to talk reason to people who think that way, because, if you try, then they'll *instantly* shove you into the 'them' category to be hated. In fact, that's the only real litmus test those with us-them thinking: do you hate those whom they hate? It's usually that simple. And if you don't hate those whom they hate, then they'll hate *you* ... you can't win.

[KCFreeThinkers.org]

Susan, I meant "fables" of both religious dogmas and how there is "no evidence" in the "poetry" of both religions/cults, not the way the money is exchanged for "clearing demons/thetans/evil" out of your soul.

Both chruches claim ability to do so, yet of course, none has ever demonstrated anything remotely.
______________________
This link to a TV station report contained 5 original reports on Scientology.
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=07755A65BA9E43FE&search_query=kesq-tv+scientology+investigation

This one here contains all 12 reports by the same TV station with additional followup reports - a rather interesting expose... Makes Christianity look banine. All episodes are numbered but they are not in the proper order, though all of them are there.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=CasolaroProject++KESQ-TV+Scientology+Investigation+%23&search_type=&aq=f

[Chuck Lunney]

There are good things for many people in religion - a sense of community, a feeling of purpose, a connection to something larger than themselves, and above all, a meaning for their lives. But there is also the bad to counter it -- the group-think division, the reliance on dogma and doctrine, the discouragement of questioning and challenging the doctrine, etc.

Even you, JT, in the very post you attack KCF, use the same black-and-white thought process you accuse him of. Speaking of "haters", "demagogues", litmus tests, etc. Those are the words of separation and splitting.

There are no "evil" person in the world, and there are no purely "good" people. Everyone is a mix, and the shading and hues of personal ethics, morality, and humanity are a spectrum as diverse and expansive as the number of individual humans. Individuals may have a greater propensity towards good/evil/selfish/generous, but not even then is there any single person with only one trait.

[KCFreeThinkers.org]

Atheist Community of Topeka (ACT) is bringing Richard Carrier in February as a speaker.

Some info on Richard Carrier - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Carrier

Sense and Goodness without God: A Defense of Metaphysical Naturalism (AuthorHouse: 2005).

Not the Impossible Faith, (Lulu: 2009).

The Empty Tomb: Jesus Beyond The Grave (Prometheus: 2005), edited by Robert Price & Jeffery Jay Lowder.

[James Christensen]

Just Thining, it is troubling that the very idea of a Jewish Homeland is "troubling" to you.

The "desire for a Jewish Homeland" was neither an "excuse" nor completely irrelevant; it arose because the Jews had no where to go and did not always feel that "assimilation" was the best choice, even though such Vocal Atheists as Sam Harris says that they are to blame for their own "victimhood" because of their "refusal" to assimilate.

What about all the liberal talk of "diversity" and "cultural identity"? Why shouldn't the Jews be able to retain that?

But the worst thing is your posing some kind of "moral equivalence" between the Germans and the Jews. The Jews were faced with extermination, the Germans were not. And the Jews are not exterminating anybody, whatever propaganda anyone here tries to promote. To say that is it no different, except in degree, is base anti semitism. Name an Arab country where the Jews could becine citizens; Israel has over million Arab citizens. Want to show me an Arab country where a Million Jews could become citizens?

It does go back to the Balfour Declaration. But that was never honored, or acted on. In the thirties, the Jews TRIED to leave Germany; the United States would not take them. The British would not let them go to Palestine, which was undeveloped and had a low population.

It wasn't selfish, it was a desire to survive and your statements refect that you not only are ininformed but have a real problem with Jews.

The Jewish state was born in 1948 when the Arabs tried to eliminate the Jews once and for all, and failed. (Even during World War Two the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem aided the Nazis.) President Harry Truman was the first Head of State to recognize their independence.

Care to come out from behind you anonymity and debate it?

[Just Thinking]

Chuck, I address very specific behaviors such as hatred and demogoguery, and explained what it is about those behaviors which is dangerous.

You, on the other hand, have no specific point to make. If you think that I've said something which is incorrect, then you should be able to find one of my statements and refute it directly. If you cannot, Chuck, then your emotional impressions are not valid.

[Just Thinking]

Jim,

If the best that you can offer to excuse bad behavior is other bad behavior, then you're way off base.

If you can't see that the Jews have also pursued a tragic policy in dealing with the Palestinians, then you're not being honest. A proper standard of behavior is not supposed to be based in relativism, is it? Dishonest, abusive occupation techniques are not justified.

If you cannot conceive that a better solution is one where both Palestinians and Jews share, then there is nothing to debate whatsoever. Is there? What would be the point of such a debate, Jim? If you have your mind that there is entitlement to the land, then you have your mind made up. And it's not based in reality, unless of course you think we should give America back to the Indians. Do you?

[Susan]

Jim, I agree with you that there is no comparison between the Jews and the Germans. Whereas the Jews have been continually attacked in their homeland, they weren't attacking their German neighbors when they were in Germany.

The Jews were peaceful neighbors; it seems like the only reason anti-Judaism took over Germany, was that Hitler capitalized on the very human tendency for people who are unhappy with their life and their level of success, to resent those who are more successful.

And it's forever been a reality that immigrants tend to have more cohesive extended family-units and support networks, because they know this is the only way they will make it, especially if they don't speak the language. And these immigrant families don't expect anything to be handed to them. They tend to be willing to work longer hours -- and, like the immigrant families in my neighborhood, can often live pretty harmoniously with 2 or even 3 families sharing a house, which enables them to cut individual costs and also to share childcare responsibilities.

I've never heard any of my many immigrant neighbors getting into public fights -- whenever I've heard people screaming at each other, it has always been another American-born family like my own. Where, you know, they are the only family living in their house but for some reason they have to take the fight to the front yard ...

It makes me think that there's something to be said for going through times that make us all realize how much we really need one another. Maybe this recession will help us all find ways to get along better and work out minor differences so we can build up, and not tear down, our support systems. Then we (general we) can stop resenting all the newcomers to this country who seem to have mastered the art of getting along.

[Red Biddy]

I was also appalled at JT's anti-semitic rant of yesterday. His strange comment: "The Germans wanted their homeland back, and wanted the Jews gone from it" was a dead give away of where he's "coming from."
The Germans wanted their home land back ??? From whom ? Had they ever lost it ? What on earth did this comment mean except to echo the all too common accusation that Jews want to take over the world. Perhaps JT believes the accusations of a Jewish takeover as outlined in the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a document long known to have been perpetrated as a Russian hoax.
I think that many other groups of people in the world are entitled to their own "space" where they can feel safe as well as the Jewish people, but the Jews have been the only such group who were actually "dispersed" from the country of their origin, and are unique in having actually managed to get their country back !
Some examples
Armenians are still living in Turkey, although the Turks did try to get rid of them; the Kurds still live in Kurdistan and try to maintain some kind of autonomy even in the face of Turkish and Iraq incursions on their territory. The Basques in Spain are still fighting it out to try get their autonomy back. The Uighurs, a Chinese Moslem group, are resisting being "absorbed" into China apparently very unwillingly.
America fought a bloody civil war over the matter of secession. Other countries in the world are still having problems with the nationalist pretensions of their minorities.What's the solution to these on going conflicts ? I really don't know ....but I listened to Bartholomew, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Istanbul, being interviewed by Charlie Rose last night and he said the unless social justice can be applied world wide we will never have peace.