Some Sort of Study

rye | 23 | they/them | mystic of some sort? occultist? no idea what a good word to use is

[lightoml]

[lord-kitschener]

I mean the whole damn point of the Nativity story is that the supposed son of God (interpret Jesus how you fucking want, of course) was born to a couple of poor, exhausted peasants in the stable for the inn, and his first bed was a feeding trough for animals. That would nowadays be like a poor couple where the mother gives birth in a parking garage behind the motel because they couldn’t find a better place and nobody else would take them in. It’s a pretty gritty setting, and the idea is that God was reborn in some of the rock-bottom lowest circumstances. The only thing majestic was all the angels and shit, and of course motherly love

I get that a lot of the art portraying Madonna and Child as fabulously wealthy europeans in splendid robes and golden light was meant to glorify God + whichever nobility was sponsoring the artist, and while of course it’s genuinely beautiful art, it just always struck me as horribly missing the point, which is that the supposed son of God started in incredibly humble circumstances, among the kind of people that everyone else looks down on

‘Massacre des Innocents’ by Leon Cogniét, 1824. Although the Feast of the Holy Innocents is in a couple of days time, this painting is still really relevant in that it portrays Mary as how She really was: a scared refugee mum, so fearful that Her son was going to be one of the Innocents killed by King Herod.

[durnesque-esque]

My new favorite mordern interpretation is this work, José y Maria by Everett Patterson (http://www.everettpatterson.com)

I had to look at this like FIVE TIMES to register all the layers of symbolism going into the piece by Patterson. 

The hoodie as a veil. 

Weisman cigarettes

Each of them is haloed by an advertisement sticker. 

No Vacancy sign on the motel. 

Dove sticker over Maria’s head. 

Neon sign with a star symbol also over Maria’s head. 

The crown over the ‘Dave’s City Motel’ sign. “New Manger.”

The sign behind Jose’s elbow likely says ‘Herod.’

The wee little plant growing through the cracks at their feet. 

It’s like a New Testament ‘I Spy.’ I love it!

Ugh.

New favorite interpretation of the nativity. 

[alextheraven]

Ezekiel 34 15-16 on the phone

[clockworkvulpine]

Good news sticker above José

Maria sitting on a donkey

Shepherd Watches advertisement in the newspaper

Gloria sticker on the payphone

[bowbowis]

The tragic/hilarious thing is how all the hardcore Bible thumpers I know would look at that image and feel nothing but contempt for Jose and Maria.

[actualmermaid]

In 2023, iconographer Kelly Latimore created “Christ in the Rubble” in collaboration with Red Letter Christians and Rev. Munther Isaac.

To quote Rev. Isaac earlier this month, “Christ is still under the rubble.”

[ultrainfinitepit]

Angelic Hierarchy (WIP)

[hymnsofheresy]

we should be far more concerned that our theology is loving than if it is logical, pragmatic, or even "correct."

[hymnsofheresy]

The root of everything is Love. If our theology does not reflect this Love, that theology is shit.

[noknowshame]

why is religious Christmas imagery all so joyful and pleasant? where is the inherent horror of the birth of Christ? A mother is handed her newborn child, wailing and innocent. Her hands come away sticky. Red. Simply by giving her son life she has already killed him. He is doomed from the beginning. Her love will not save him from suffering. Because the thing cradled in her arms is not a baby, it is a sacrifice: born amongst the other bleating animals whose blood will one day be spilled in the name of what demands it. the night is silent with anticipation. Mary, did you know? That your womb was also a grave?

[noknowshame]

[hymnsofheresy]

i genuinely believe that it is imperative to read matthew 25:31-40 alongside john 14:6

[helthehatter]

If you don’t mind me posting the verses OP:

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Matthew 25:

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

[c3rises]

u kno. lgbt ppl who, despite abuse from religious family members or the church themselves, feel a strong connection to their faith and choose to be active within it are legitimately and genuinely incredibly brave

[queerleigh]

[kimabutch]

[writes about Jesus but it’s actually about being trans] [writes about being trans but it’s actually about Jesus]

[zitasaurusrex]

Hey.

I'm serious when I say I think the sentiment that kindness requires "zero effort" is harmful.

The idea that kind is a thing you can be innately, without having to think or feel anything about it, leaves a gap in the fence where the other idea "if I have unkind thoughts or feelings, I am by nature a bad, unkind person" can slip through.

Listen. That's bullshit.

Being kind to other people means paying attention to the effect your words and actions have on others, caring about it, and trying to make those effects better. That's work.

If you have a nasty thought about another person that annoys you and you contain the impulse, hold your tongue, and let it go? That was effort.

If you took time out to really think about something you wanted to say and make sure it would have its intended result without causing accidental harm that you wouldn't have noticed if you went totally off the cuff? Wow, that took some work!

If you were tired and angry and full of hatred but you still did the dishes so your housemate has something to eat their breakfast off of in the morning, that wasn't easy.

I don't think there are magical "kind" people who never have a mean thought and are always selfless and pure. That would be exhausting and impossible.

I'm not a "nice person," I'm a nasty, bitter, angry, sad person who tries to have good leash manners, control my worst impulses, and not jump on strangers because they don't deserve that shit from me.

I don't always succeed, but I'm trying. I'm trying and it's worth it.

[cryptotheism]

Planetary metals as they apply to speedrunning?

Gold: The metal of purity. Holds dominion over the record itself. When all impurities are purged, the run will be Gold.

Silver: The metal of harmony. Holds dominion over game sense, information processing, action/reaction, and good cycles.

Copper: The metal of beauty. Holds dominion over well-executed tech, clean movement, impressive tricks, and audience engagement.

Iron: The metal of utility. Holds dominion over raw mechanical skill.

Tin: The metal of will. Holds dominion over effective practice, optimization, the supremacy of new tech, and the dominance of new strategies. The metal of routers.

Lead: The metal of origin. Holds dominion over the game itself, the computer on which it runs, and the controller you hold. The metal of freedom from crashes.

Mercury: The metal of change. Holds dominion over RNG.

[unbidden-yidden-deactivated20240]

In general, I think it's currently really important for progressive Christians to be very loud about being both progressive and deeply religious Christians, and for everyone else fighting for progressive values to be supportive of them doing just that. I know that's like, idk, counter-intuitive or cringe or whatever, but seriously folks, the alternative is that progressive Christians have to be quiet about their faith to be accepted within broader secular and interfaith progressive advocacy, which means that the regressive asshole Christians (a) sound that much louder and (b) dominate the USian religious landscape all the more. That's a problem, for all of us.

We need people pushing back within the faith as well as outside of it, because that destroys any edifice that this is about Christianity and religious freedom.

You can be a devout Christian and also:

Openly, proudly, and without being forced to remain celibate or otherwise limit your full expression of self, identify as LGBTQ+ or be a supportive ally.

Advocate for full reproductive autonomy and comprehensive sex education.

Love and support people of other religious groups, non-religious people and/or atheists, by choosing to believe that a truly loving God would not pursue anything less than universal salvation.

Stand against evangelism and proselytizing as they have thus far been interpreted and used, because there are ways to interpret the Great Commission that don't promote colonialism and cultural genocide.

A steward of the earth, protecting God's beautiful creation and lovingly tending to it as the unique and incredible gift that it is.

A believer in science, rationalism, and human progress as part of God's divine plan for humanity.

A believer in history and someone who understands that the Bible can be both divinely given and open to interpretation (no really)(if you're confused, please talk to a knowledgeable traditional Jew)

An ally to Jews, who stands against supercessionism and antisemitism in the church.

And in before regressive Christians come shouting at me that (1) what do I know, I'm a Jew and (2) no lol you can't because of ___ reason:

My source is that I've personally met and talked to Christians of great faith and integrity - people who embody the closest forms of kindness I've seen to what Jesus himself advocated - who are each of these things.

It is 100% possible; you just choose to believe otherwise.

[unbidden-yidden-deactivated20240]

At this point I think it's time to start preaching and claiming the moral high ground here.

Right-wing evangelical Christians want you to think that they're the moral ones, when they EXPLICITLY defy the word of God. They routinely:

Evade taxes intended to help the poor

Oppress the foreigner

Hoard wealth

Hate their fellow in their hearts

Destroy God's creation that they were entrusted to steward, intentionally and recklessly as well as carelessly

Cast the first stone

Preach idolatry through the prosperity gospel and the American cult of nationalism

Sacrifice their children to Molech through encouraging a culture of gun violence

Commit true sexual abominations, such as rape and pedophilia, and/or cover these things up or engage in apologetics

Encourage actual child and spousal abuse while calling it "traditional family values"

Oppress and demean women, when their main guy uplifted and valued women outside of marginal roles

Smugly quote scripture to satisfy their bigotries and to benefit themselves without caring about the true message

Fail to acknowledge God as the True Judge by substituting their prejudices for God's love and mercy

.......and plenty more. These are not just a few bad actors; this lifestyle is ENCOURAGED by this irresponsible and immoral cult. They are leading people astray into a life of sin and a culture of callous cruelty.

Is this the Christianity you want the world to know you by?

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

[beguines]

That God should permit victims to suffer and die is an insurmountable scandal. In the midst of such a situation, a believer can only accept the fact that God on the cross is as impotent as the victims themselves, and then interpret such impotency as God's way of being in solidarity with those victims. The cross on which God is placed is the most eloquent proclamation that God loves the victimized of this world. On that cross, God's love is impotent yet believable. And it is from that perspective that the mystery of God must be reformulated.

Jon Sobrino, The Principle of Mercy: Taking the Crucified People from the Cross

[cryptotheism]

Of course esotericism and occultism through a mostly historical materialist lens is a super broad field of study, independent or otherwise, but is there a general area or specific rabbitholes where you'd point a beginner who's primarily engaged with your content and the esoterica yt channel, and is very eager to learn more?

(So far I've picked up Newman's version of summa perfectionis, forbidden rites by Kieckhefer, and a smattering of beginner Latin resources)

Dictionary of western esotericism by Hanegraaff.

Any translation of Agrippa.

[catholic-saint-tournament]

Bonus Poll: Best Apostle

Peter

Andrew

James

John

Philip

Bartholomew

Thomas

Matthew

Jude

Simon

Voting ended onJun 17, 2023

*Since Tumblr only has 10 options, I left out Judas. Also, there are two Jameses, so pick your favorite in your head.

[wanderinwinter]

Is the patron saint of embroiderers, gardeners, florists, people who are harassed for their piety, and those with family problems

Wanted to become a nun since she was young

Took a vow of chastity

Deterred suitors by rubbing her face with peppers

Only slept two hours a night in order to pray more

Supported her family and helped the poor by selling her embroidery and the flowers she grew

Wore a crown of silver with spikes, which at one point, became embedded it her head

Accurately predicted her death

Was said the city smelled like roses after she died

@catholic-saint-tournament made some propaganda

[rednines]

do not surprised when occultists act like occultists

[rednines]

tbh ur lucky more of us are not graverobbing

[cryptotheism]

"why is there so much goth t4t sex on this goth t4t sex wizard club"

[cryptotheism]

Can you explain the “Seeker” phenomenon and why it’s bad? I can understand when Gnosis is separated into Unverified and Verified people would naturally seek to see if theirs can be Verified.

But it sounds like this has a nasty history of capitalistic exploitation so now I am more curious about the effects it’s had, and how it related to the UPG and VPG concepts

The thing beneath the whole Seeker phenomenon that has always stuck out to me is it's deeply Christian assumptions about things like fate and guilt and truth.

They're largely people who were raised Christian, or in a very Christian environment, and broke away for whatever reason. These are people who were raised to understand religion as something that could be done Correctly or Incorrectly. These are people who see spirituality as a process of trying to "seek out" the "correct" mythology to believe in.

Underneath all of the New Age, and seekers in general, is the idea that somewhere out there, there exists a True Religion; a universally correct, perfectly verifiable, un-challengeable form of spirituality, that just needs to be discovered.

My problem, personally, is not with the idea of people wanting to Verify their Gnosis, but with how these specific types of people understand a concept as complex as "trying to discuss the religious implications of a near-death experience."

Under the right circumstances, the mind can do some pretty incredible things. But I feel like it would be arrogant of me to claim that the things I've experienced were somehow an expression of some deep metaphysical truth. I'm no closer to Capital T Truth than a priest or a rabbi or an imam just because I've had some ritually induced waking dreams.