Monday, July 19, 2010

Man's Religious Constructions

Apocalyptic Angst
Part 1: Man’s Religious Constructions

The Book of Common Prayer reminds us that “there was never anything by the wit of man so well devised, or so sure established, which in continuance of time hath not been corrupted.”

This applies especially to man’s religious constructions, which blend reality with fanciful imaginations; truth with error. Last days speculation provides prime examples. For thousands of years, various cultures worldwide have contemplated earth’s looming end, the last judgment, and the hereafter.

Sources from which adherents draw their beliefs include the Mayan Code (Mesoamerican Long Count Calendar), the Qu’ran, the Zoroastrian Avesta, and prophetic passages from Old- and New- Testaments (e.g., Daniel, Revelation).

Mythological and Historical Eschatology
The term “eschatology” comes from Greek words meaning “last” and “the study of.” It references last days—specifically, the “close of the age” with respect to an historical period. Depending on its orientation, eschatology can be mythological or historical in nature.

In its grand cycles of the destruction and recreation of the universe, Hinduism advances mythological eschatology. Accordingly, Eastern mystics anticipate a new dawn once mankind takes a global leap to cosmic- or Christ- consciousness. In contrast, the three preeminent monotheistic world religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) view the last days historically in terms of God’s perfecting His creation and establishing His kingdom.

In the end, monotheistic religions look to janah (paradise for Muslims), gan’eden (heavenly abode for Jews), or the New Jerusalem, new heavens and new earth for Christians. Although most eschatological traditions agree on general time frame, key figures, and desired outcome, key doctrines vary significantly.

That said, the “moon god” (Allah) diverges dramatically from the God of the Bible, as do particulars of Islamic eschatology. For most faiths, judgment scenarios inspire awe, if not fear; yet, while a Muslim martyr expects to be greeted by a gaggle of virgins, a Christian, once “absent from body,” is “present with the Lord.”

End Time Imminence: Eastern Perspective
Albert Schweitzer once postulated: “As we acquire more knowledge, things do not become more comprehensible, but more mysterious.” Indeed, mystery shrouds Eastern eschatology. Core beliefs resurrect ancient Mithraic Mysteries (Zoroastrianism) and those of Osiris, Semiramis, and Eleusis from Egypt, Babylon, Greece and Rome, respectively.²

Ancient societies believed that in 2012 “the gods”—e.g., the feathered serpent god—would return to earth, judge its inhabitants, and usher in a new, pagan golden age. Starting at the Mayan Fifth Great Cycle, the Hindu calendar likewise predicts global earth changes around the year 2012.

21 December 2012 (or 13 Baktun) closes the 5,126-year, post-creation era in the Mayan Long Count Calendar. Similarly, "Cherokee Rattlesnake Prophecies" anticipate coming of the Pale One in 2012, when the Cherokee calendar ends.

Prophecies surrounding 2012 and the coming of Hiram appear repeatedly in Masonic literature, and the Jewish Kabala offers mystical commentary on the Pentateuch/Torah and sets 2012 as the date for Messiah’s appearing. St. Malachy fingers 2012 as relating to “the last Pope.”³

In contrast, the Bible offers no definitive date for end-of-time wrap up; however, by discerning signs, as indicated by changing seasons—e.g., spring blooms, blistering sunshine, falling leaves, the first frost—a Bible believer likewise heeds natural, spiritual, and social signs that signal Messiah’s coming.

End Time Imminence: Western Perspective
Typical Westerners may pooh-pooh doomsday mania, but few dismiss socio-spiritual impact of last-day markers. Even agnostics take note when learning that the Web Bot Project for making stock market predictions foretells global devastation for late December 2012; and a NASA report of the National Center for Atmospheric Research anticipates an apocalyptic geomagnetic solar storm to reach maximum in the year 2012.

Recall some years back, as Y2K fast approached. Many reliable sources warned that the much-publicized “millennium bug” threatened a worldwide economic depression. The scare featured embedded chips, billions of which are in service globally. “Unseen guardians of our lives,” these chips keep nuclear cores, intensive care units, military hardware, satellites, oil, gas, water, and electricity. For good reason, apocalyptic speculation abounded.

Should but one mission-critical failure occur, operations could halt altogether for agriculture, food processing, health care, education, air traffic control, and government services. Hollywood’s new batch of disaster films are likely triggered by “topical anxieties” relating to looming catastrophe (real, imagined, or manipulated), global unrest and violence, threat of financial ruin and deadly pandemics.6 When presented in tandem, scenarios as these prompt many otherwise rational Westerners to seek escape in alcohol, gluttony, and fantasy entertainment.

Fear: The Hook
Even as Mayans prophesied some agent of destruction bringing famine, drought, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, massive tidal waves, and polar reversal, Eastern mystics expect a cosmological “Dark Star” to cause deadly comets to bombard the earth. For Muslims, “major” and “minor” end-time signs include increased warfare and decreased godliness.

Among ten signs from the Sanhedrin 97B include Jews opposing Jews, heightened inflation, and youth hating the aged. Similarly, Christian eschatology features what the Bible describes as the beginning of birth pangs (some of which are listed above); full-force birth pangs involve persecution, rampant deception, and celestial disturbances of unprecedented magnitude.

While Allah’s judgment is arbitrary, offering no substantive assurances to Muslims, the God of the Bible tempers justice with mercy; salvation of His devotees is secure.

Key Figures
Most all religions recognize need for a savior. The role of each is similar—that being to overcome evil and establish good. Enemies of a promised golden age include un-awakened consciousness, Iblis (Muslim word for Satan), and antichrist.

Muslims believe a great destruction will precede the day of the resurrection (Yaum al-Qiyamah)9 when Jesus (Isa) will return, restore faith, usher in a perfect Islamic society, and institute Sharia law to govern all aspects of life on the planet.

In the Mayan tradition, shamans serve as messengers between the natural and spiritual worlds. Alleged reversal of earth’s magnetic field will accompany the Mayan Fifth Cycle. Distinguished by rediscovery of ancient wisdom, this cosmic cycle will transition the age of degeneration (Kali) to that of a golden age (Krita).

Eastern mystics look for a new avatar (incarnation) of Maitreya Buddha—in Zoroastrianism, it’s Saoshyant. While Judaism awaits the Messiah, Christians await the Messiah’s return. Even as the Jewish Messiah will defeat Gentile nations and restore the nation of Israel, Christians believe that Christ will come again to rescue Israel, defeat antichrist, judge the nations, and establish a messianic kingdom.10

Crucial to Christianity is the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus, for “there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.”11 No shaman, adept, avatar, “pale one,” or Maitreya will suffice.

Desired Outcome
Mayan wisdom recognizes seven ages of man in his journey from realizing his spiritual destiny, acknowledging the god within, and becoming spiritual to the point of exercising telepathy. By definition, nirvana is achieving enlightenment by absorption of the finite self into the infinite absolute. Through multiple, upward mobility reincarnations, mystics hope for nirvana in a “Pure Land Buddhism.”

Even as Muslims define seven levels of reward with emphasis on mutahsibir (sensual pleasure), Jews expect three levels of reward featuring restoration and fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel.

Christians are afforded degrees (not levels) of reward, first, in a millennial kingdom, then in a new heaven and new earth. Even as the brightness of the sun varies from that of the moon and stars, so it is with those bought back to right standing with the Father by the shed blood of Jesus and resurrection power.

Simply put: The closer to the Son, the brighter the reflected light.12

Part 2 follows.

1. 2 Corinthians 5:8.
2. Debra Rae, ABCs of Globalism: A Vigilant Christian’s Glossary (Lafayette, Louisiana: Huntington House Publishers, 1999), 50-58.
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baktun and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_phenomenon.
4. Matthew 24:36.
5. http://www.december212012.com/topical anx.
6. Romans 8:22.
7. Romans 8:30-31.
8. Jerry Rassamni, From Jihad to Jesus: An Ex-Militant’s Journey of Faith (Chattanooga, Tennessee: Living Ink Books), 216.
9. Ezekiel 39:22; Hosea 6:1-3; Zechariah 14:9; Matthew 25:31; Revelation 20:2-7.

Friday, July 2, 2010

Ta-ta Ta'a (Obediance to Islam)

A Grand Design Made to Order
Part III: Ta-ta Ta’a (Obedience to Islam)

By definition globalism is a collectivist one-world state that rejects the biblical worldview and ethic for enlightened group think distinguished by relative (as opposed to absolute) truth. Global citizens pledge allegiance to the world community, not to any specific nation-state.

In many respects, the Islamic Grand Design for world dominance fits the globalist model. Already, Islam is the world’s second largest religion after Christianity. While Pakistan is the only state explicitly established in the name of Islam, the Islamic impact on world culture is indisputable.

Its three-fold strategy of missions, presence, and force has left an indelible mark. Already, Muslims make up a majority in some seventy of 188 nations, and Islam has become the fastest growing religion in Europe.

Harmonization
To the globalist, harmonization is the elimination of state and national boundaries. Director of the London Muslim Institute, Dr. Kalim Siddique makes it abundantly clear that the objective of the modern Muslim movement is “to eliminate all authority other than Allah and his prophet; to eliminate nationalism in all its shapes and forms, in particular, the nation-state.”

According to Islam expert Dr. William Wagner, ever since Muhammad’s flight from Mecca to Medina in AD 622, Muslims have instigated what he calls the Four “C’s” of engagement—all of which serve this purpose.

The first “C” for contact enables large minorities to live in modern countries. Particularly in the West, Islam’s greatest increase in numbers is less by conversion, more by migration and growing Muslim families up to four times larger than non-Muslim ones. Gullible Western women are targeted baby factories. When a husband dies, the father’s uncle, not the mother, wins custody of the children, who are required to be raised as Muslims.

The second, conflict, is often violent, but can involve dialogue and/or debate. Since Islam claims dibs on every piece of ground that any Muslim has trod upon, it is no wonder that Islam expert Dr. Robert Morey tags this phenomenon “an Islamic invasion.”

Conquest implements the “lesser jihad” strategy of holy war. Until Muslims obtain each inch of land they insist Allah has given them, they will continue to wage jihad. Sadly, being awarded the title shaheed (or saint) for having strapped on and detonated a lethal bomb in the name of Allah is the highest hope a Muslim mother has for her offspring.

That said Islam is a complete way of life fusing together politics, economics, social norms, and religion. For the Muslim, there’s no clear distinction between church and state. Significantly, there’s also no Arabic word for “democracy.” Condescension to non-Muslims upholds, not the “rule of/by/for people,” but rather mandates Shariah Law.²

Dr. Wagner rightly fingers Iran as the clearest example of what could happen in the West should Islamists take control. When imposed beyond barriers of nation-states, universal Shariah law will not be optional. The more freedom lovers who wake up to this possibility, the less likely it will happen according to Islam’s prescription.

Concentrated Wealth, Power
In Tragedy and Hope (1966) Carroll Quigley elaborated on the powers of financial capitalism. Its far reaching aim, he noted, is “nothing less than to create a world system of financial control in private hands able to dominate the political system of each country and the economy of the world as a whole.”

Globalization speaks to redistribution of the world’s wealth and then concentrating that wealth, therefore power, into the hands of few who manage masses by international law. Enter, the oil-rich Gulf States. In Saudi Arabia alone, a minimum of eight million barrels of oil (commanding about seventy dollars per barrel) is produced daily. Imagine the astonishing revenues flowing into a country with only six million citizens. Consider, too, the power said wealth wields within the global marketplace.

Add to this the tribute poll tax (jiza) payable by subjugated People of the Book who do not accept Islam, and the figures become even more staggering. Already, there is a strong Islamic presence in Europe. If not Europe, some believe that Asia is destined to lead the global economy; and it’s Asia where most of the world’s Muslims live. Hui Muslims have commanding presence throughout East Asia, China specifically; but the story doesn’t end here.

Perception of Tolerance
Supported by Saudi Arabia, the World Islamic League plays a strategic role within the global community by framing Islam in rose-colored lighting. For example, in proclaiming a worldwide global state under Shariah law, the League boldly characterizes Islam as “tolerant.” Yet not one visible church of Muslim converts exists in any Arab country, nor have neighbors of “Occupied Palestine” assimilated displaced fellows as equal citizens. More often than not, Palestinians residing in the Gulf States are relegated to servant status.

For a Muslim to befriend a Jew is reprehensible. How do I know? The Qur’an tells me so. Check out Surah 7:16. Here, Jews are demeaned as “despised and rejected apes.” Friendly rhetoric? Hardly.

In 1981 the Mecca Declaration released Islamic jihad against Israel. HAMAS’ founding document proclaims the war to be open “until Israel ceases to exist … and the last Jew in the world is eliminated.” Similarly, in 1988, Osama bin Laden issued a fatwa or religious edict calling on Muslims to kill Americans anywhere in the world where they can be found.

Islamic Eco-menicalism
To market Islam as the sole one-world religion and Muhammad as the world’s premiere prophet, the League now rides the trendy wave of eco-menicalism. The World Islamic League portrays Islam as ready to resolve earth-related problems by using principles that are allegedly expounded through the Qur’an.

Mind you Muslim-majority countries do next to nothing toward limiting population growth or pollution from factories and automobiles, and they allow exploitation of natural resources. Nevertheless, self-proclaimed Muslim “environmentalists” purpose to create a “green Hajj” by eliminating plastic bottles generated by some three million pilgrims each year. What next—eco-friendly mosques and Qur’ans published with paper from sustainable forests? You bet!³

Wahabi Globalism: A Force, Yes; The Force, No
Truth be told, a Muslim’s greatest deterrent is evangelical Christianity—more specifically, the God of the Bible. Within the Islamic community, countless numbers have experienced what they dub their “Jesus dream” or “Jesus vision.” Reported miraculous healings in Jesus’ Name have won many former Muslims to a saving knowledge of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Countless more will follow.

Islam’s ultimate bid for world dominance may well be supported by its fast growth across most regions of the globe, tremendous financial resources, new-found allegiance to the environment, and Muslim missionary momentum. In fact, theirs is the sole world religion sporting what Dr. William Wagner calls a “megastrategy.”

While Islam’s Grand Design arguably carves way for a New World Order, the planned breakdown of national sovereignty (harmonization), redistribution of wealth (globalism), and establishment of a New Earth (Global Civic) Ethic will have not a thing to do with the Qur’an or Shariah Islamic Law.

While a real and present danger, the Muslim bid for world dominance is but a tool in the hands of CFR globalists, the true megastrategists. In the end, nepotism (favoritism) within the New World Order will summarily bypass any and all faith systems that are by nature monotheistic, fundamental, and/or mono-cultural. Islam’s no exception.

1. Dr. William Wagner, How Islam Plans to Change the World (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2004).
2. Ibid.
3. http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/asia/Muslim-Environmentalists-Push-For-Green-Haj-90738449.html.
4. Philippians 2:9-11.