Superstition
Treichel opus 56
| 25 December 2022 1240 Hours | | Superstition, Linguistics, Politics |
"Ich möchte mit euch treicheln."
Perhaps bad German, but the intention is there.
"I wish with you (plural) to 'treichel' (march together ringing cowbells)."
This act is done on New Years to cleanse all the village houses.
Ghosts of Swiss villages are purged from human habitations--
The huge cowbells are rung steadily--once--as each leg steps
And the smaller ones are rhythmically shaken to fill the bass of the lower.
At 19 years, teaching in the Alps of Switzerland,
I was asked (honorably) to join the men.
After showing me the method to work a large bell,
I marched off to cleanse, into the darkened village, with the others.
A New Perspective on Santa opus 252
| 25 December 2023 2000 Hours | | Psychology, Behavior, Custom, Family, Grandson, Superstition, Youth |
This is a saga told to me by my son, Pierre.
Rowan, my grandson, was being initiated
Into the stories of Santa Claus and
From where some presents come.
After a few tales of initiation, Rowan became emotional--
Non-cooperative, crying, and with belligerent behavior.
Both parents were clueless as to why.
After a time, it was slowly revealed
That the concept of Santa coming down the chimney
Created a disturbing thought of a stranger-intruder.
This might be because of all the news
Of violence surrounding us?
This imagined intrusion outscored
The thought of incoming presents!
Oh, Dear Southern Alabama opus 310
| 23 February 2024 1830 Hours | | Superstition, Biology, Birth, Family, Law, Medical, Philosophy, Science, Technology |
Our Southern states maintain their infectious friendly cuisine and manners.
Sadly, they hold onto 19th century-thinking concerning several subjects.
Specifically, here, is the question, when is a human, really a human?
The Alabama Supreme Court has now ruled
That a frozen embryo (a fertilized egg) is a child!
Since when could we ever freeze a child?
Since when is a frozen, unattached embryo, (an 'extra uterine child'),
And not within a female uterus, ever be considered a human child?
One of the repercussions, of course, is that 'childless parents'
May no longer be enabled to have a child!
Blind religious edicts lead to human tragedy,
When juxtaposed with the present, technological world.
Science has been developed to yield a life more 'disease free',
As well as a life with reduced mindless toil.
Here, science has allowed human couples, unable to conceive,
To be able to have a possible and healthy pregnancy.
This certainly is a clash of modern technology and continual archaic thinking.
To a Celtic-Cuban opus 339
| 6 April 2024 2200 Hours | | Psychology, History, Poetry, Superstition |
Oh, you dear woman who struck me at my first moment's sight,
Merely perused on a Christmas card.
Fire emanating from you, with hot coals flowing down your shoulders.
You are what would be in a long time past--
A leader, on a gallant horse, leading troops of truth,
As did the mounted Boudicca, fighting for the celtic cause
Against the invading Romans.
I know little of your total accomplishments,
But you demonstrate the art of your place
And interpret for us the wonders of your environment.
Your Man, your wee one, and your physique
Tell me as a stranger, you are to be gently reckoned with.
I shall enter your place and environs with
Respectful trepidation and total honor for your traditions.
My horse and I kneel as we enter before you.
May we have mutual and continual understanding
For our earthly accomplishments,
To allow a beneficial environment for our offspring.
Bless you dear lady and I remain in perpetuity
Your servant in kind.
Just a Passing Thought opus 418
| 18 August 2024 1140 Hours | | Religion, History, Superstition |
Are you familiar with the (Thomas) Jefferson Bible?
It is housed in the Smithsonian Institution.
He literally cut and pasted the four Gospels into a 'Jefferson version'.
Many religious variations and reformations have occurred in history.
Judaism has branched into several 'denominations',
Including Orthodox, Conservative, Reform plus others!
Islam has yet to create a true religious reform--
But certainly has two orthodox forms.
(Perhaps a reformation will emerge from their American experience.)
Christianity, of course, has subdivided into many denominations,
Plus has experienced a very serious Reformation--Catholic to Protestant.
My thought is, why has there not been a modernization,
Dealing with the Christian Old Testament?
In 325 AD, The First Council of Nicaea (Iznik, Turkiye),
Guided the contents of the Old and New Testaments;
Other accounts were relegated to the Apocrypha.
For instance, might the Old Testament be edited for modern Christians
To modify or eliminate the Kosher laws (Deuteronomy 14:1--21);
Edit the two descriptions (Genesis 1 and 2) of the creation stories to one;
And eliminate Deuteronomy 13:1--18 which describes
The destruction of a complete village, along with all living things,
If those inhabitants have turned away from belief in the true god?
Of course much would remain for the modern Christian,
Such as the beautiful poetry of the Song of Psalms
And, naturally, the various prophecies and most of the histories.
This would be an interesting and perhaps important project,
Making the Christian Old Testament more modernized and relevant.
Read with a possible new viewpoint,
Realizing what conclusions you might consider.
Just a passing thought-----.