AGES AGO, even in Britain, "lords of the town" used to emp loy - or trap a pauper into adding a veneer of spiritual integrity to the estate by tying them down at the fringes, out of sight a bit, preventing them from drinking, keeping them undernourished, then etting them to "think good thoughts". That was the theory anyway . . . . even if its effect was less than 100 % effectual, its the fact that they tried it that includes nineteenth century Britain in the past of the attempts at scamming spirituality that gets a mention even after the israelites had kicked out of slavery to work out a system of ethics to support the uncertain future of a community - ( that "look - SHINY SHINY !!!! PUT YOUR OFFERIN' OVER HERE. (MOO) -moment ) , then in the new testament paul gets the support of a "seer" thats escaped from the people trying to exploit her. . . .

Religions shouldnt try get frauds or "snake-oil-charmers" to take ALL the blame for problems that have happened in the past - but if we could even open up the "black budget" books of the past 70 years a bit, it might help in the "re-opening of Books" cordoba-style, that it seems the pope is actually talking about if you look at the actual text of "THAT" speech - even the debates of science with religion, too. The current archbish of york, with the diverse preparations for his week of fasting against the tragedy in lebanon - sleeping in a tent in front of his altar, preaching every hour, doing news interviews, was combining the traditions of his great great great grandparents - from that tribe, with the christian traditions - with the practical needs of the time, expressed, then emphasised with his actions in a way ALL campaigners could comprehend, secular or "religious".
Even local to here, the reverend that spent a week atop the roof of the church - with the gargoyles with, to protest about the fate of the rough sleepers, collecting a bit of cash for them, a bit of respect for "meaning it" from others - is a reminder that the "corporate social ethics are inadequate" report the establishment church brought out - last year - i think - received almost negligible publicity except for that "comment" in the FT that said it was a menace to society, but was, perhaps, both why throwing the kid out with the bathwater is a bad idea, yet also why certain attacks or misrepresentations are happening to all spiritualities in these times, as much as that "clash of cultures" trying to twist them against each other.

For what its worth - grouchy famous author Amis claiming that islam is going into a sort of "complex", after its "Success" period has allegedly fallen to a "Failure" period has had the info-war eye-patches stuck hard over both eyes . . . . fact is - what about the oil-cash. "frittered away"???? or - err - "skimmed." As for democracy - the middle east has tried, tried, tried, - it aint even stopped trying yet - but these "coups" happen - arranged from other nations. "Secular ", modern nations - or - a few dodgy criminals using these places as "cover".

Then, what about the machinating of a "bodyguard"for favoured/"puppet" rulers by oil corporations etc with dodgy friends in the city, the "administrators", etc, even down to themachinating of the "esprit de corps" for them, the version of that religion that was "favoured" was against democratisation or humanism, ( what government was it that broke up "The" Oil corporation in the late 1800s, after all? ) - - - - in the NAME of opposing socialism or communism.

The "favouring" - in fact - the distorting - of certain sorts of christian evangelism as a strategy in the cold war as a response to the catholic renewal of purpose in the 1960s - establishment as much as "intellectual" was also less than good in its effects over time . It does seem that all spiritualities have gotten played or distorted a bit at times - a lot further than most comprehend - often for very petty "causes" - that hide in a "wizard of oz" sort of a way, using several layers of curtains, electro-wurlitzers, etc etc etc. etc.

The "golden calf" scam wasnt a "cow" problem - it was a FRAUD problem.


. . . .as palestinians are twisted against each other,
after the tragedy of israeli, palestinian, lebanese suffering - as peace was so near - perhaps it is worth wonderin' if its due to the fact peace was getting nearer.

war is a profit.
if you have eyepatches over your brain too.
its all too "house of cards" - world collapse - to try to do the same old scams but with newer tech. Or to let others get away with it.
time for a peace process that drags/lets the criminals "back in from the cold" too . The background to some of the manipulating of peoples spiritualities might help the world to move up in a very good way.