Move over, tacky trinkets in the Bible bookstore (Remember when they used to just have books?); make room for Virtue Perfume.  That’s right.  Now you can smell like a saint.  “God resides in the still, silent center that is us.”  That’s the catchphrase of California-based IBI, maker of the spiritual spray.

Drawing from New Testament texts, CEO Rick Larimore says that when Jesus ascended, we were then ecouraged to seek God (and Jesus) through the third person of the Trinity, The Holy Spirit.  He goes on to cite God’s formlessness and Jesus’ spiritualness as the basis for our connection with the unseen, but ever-present, stillness, that is our unity with the Godhead.  So the perfume, at $80 a bottle, helps to remind you of that stillness, combined with the “BEing”-ness of faith, as well as providing a scented environment for performing your “spiritual practices.”

I think I can relate.  I thank God every time I can enjoy a chili dog, with mustard and onions.  And the fragrance stays with me for hours, helping me to relive my culinary delight.  But seriously, though, what does an expensive dose of a nose-twitching fragrance have to do with virtues?  I’ve encountered many a woman (and not a few men) who smelled great, but were seriously lacking in the virtuous behavior department.

One thing is certain.  Make just about any product, and give it spiritual attributes, and Christians will flock to it.  They’ll wear it, read it, watch it, listen to it, eat it, drink it, stick it on their cars, or click on it.  And money is no object.  Maybe we’re trying too hard to identify who we are, when we really should be desiring to behave as who we should be.

When Jesus blessed the woman who poured expensive perfume on his head and feet, I don’t think he intended for the product to be packaged, distributed and sold as a testimony to her.  Let’s get real, people! 
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Christian Stuff
Virtue Perfume

This is difficult to write, without thinking of bacon, sausage, ham or pork roast.  Yum-m-m.  But it’s a serious subject to those who can’t eat the things.  While pig consumption is repulsive to both Muslims and Jews, some entrepreneurs are taking advantage of the tourists who crave the tasty meat.  Said Samouk, a practising Muslim in Morocco, raises 250 of the porkers in order to supply the need of the tourist poplulation, expected to reach 10 million by 2010.  Yves Yoel Chriquia, 32, owns the country’s main pork processing factory.  He’s a Jew.

Some countrys ban pig farming because it violates the national religion.  Which brings up a good point.  If belief is tranlated into behavior, is it right to encourage others to do something that you believe in your heart is wrong.  I’m not talking about murder or rape, for example, which is wrong on any level.  Rather, I’m referring to personal choices based on belief.  Like going to a restaurant on Sunday, when you don’t believe people should work on Sunday.  Or driving a beer truck, when you’re personally against alcohol.  Or working at Walt Disney World, even though they have a Gay Day.

Is what we believe a universal mandate for all creation, or is it just for those of us chosen by God?  Are we to be seen as examples of righteous living, or are we called to impose our lifestyle on the world?  Personally, I would advise caution on both fronts.  Certainly, if it’s within our power, we should work to correct inhumanity, whether it be between people or nations.  And we should take care not to clothe our righteous behavior with arrogance or pride.

God made all of us.  The same God, no matter what you may call him.  We should be less concerned about religious protocol, and be more conscious of caring and loving.  A great task lies before us.  It is right outside our door.  It ends only with full reconciliation.
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Pork Prohibitions
Reconciliation

Today is Resurrection day, the day commemorating Jesus’ reappearance from the grave.  Even with the changing landscape of church attendance and the reevaluation of some doctrines, some 82% of Americans still believe in the afterlife.  However, the writings of recent outspoken atheists, such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens, are laying the groundwork for significant doubt in the minds of those who are questioning their religious heritage.  Scientists contribute to the dilemma by being unable to recreate, in a controlled environment, the miracles documented by the Gospel writers, thereby denying their existence as fact.  Christian scholars, pastors and lay persons are mounting counterattacks in order to stabilize the church and revive foundering faiths.  For the most part, everything we believe is based upon a simple trust in the words of eyewitnesses from 2,000 years ago.  The human spirit is just that — spirit.  The root meaning for spirit is “breath.”   As long as we have breath, we have hope.  Life is too precious for it to end as nothingness.  Death is but a door.  The journey continues.  I’m going with the 82%.
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Death
Afterlife

Reuben Enaje is a seasoned professional.  He’s done this 22 times.  A real, honest-to-goodness crucifixion.  Real nails, real blood, and plenty of screaming.  And the tourists love it.  He gets to go first because he’s the oldest of 19 total participants, who will get their 5 minutes of glory in this small town in the Philippines.  The main event is preceded by hours (or days?) of self-flagellation (whipping yourself) by various penitents.  Why do they do that?  It’s not a new fad.  I personally witnessed the flagellation parade 39 years ago, when I was stationed there with the U.S. Air Force.  I opted out of the cucifixion event, though.  Word has it that all of these folks truly believe that it brings them closer to God and that participation is their form of giving thanks to God for answering their prayers.  So why is the Department of Tourism organizing the thing?  The Roman Catholic Church is on record, saying that they oppose the annual event.  The health department frowns on it and urges sterilization practices.  Still, the show must go on.  One crucifixion is enough for me, thanks.  Jesus took longer than five minutes to die, then showed us that spirits don’t really die.  And we are all spirits, clothed in flesh.  Some traditions are fine.  Torture and crucifixion reenactments (with real pain) are just plain wrong.  We have enough pain already in the world.  Let’s just hide Easter eggs,  enjoy our families and hope for the Resurrection.  He is risen, indeed.
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Easter
Flagellation

Well, they’re at it again.  Armed with $3.1 million and a Large Hadron Collider, scientists have begun a three-year study to locate the elusive God particle.  So what if they find it?  Will people who don’t want God in their lives have it surgically removed?  “Religion cries out for a biological explanation.”  So, I guess, we have faith to fall back on if the religion experiment fails.  Neuroscientists have done previous studies of brain activity, finding no significant pattern between Christians and non-Christians exposed to religious material.  But this effort, called “Explaining Religion,” is touted to be the largest scientific study of its kind.  Sort of makes you wonder what God thinks of all of this.  Like, “Why don’t you spend that money on something more useful, like feeding the poor, or building them houses?”  Or, perhaps, “Why don’t you use those high-powered gadgets to cure disease?”  The study will also go outside the laboratory to analyze various databases as they relate to religious behavior.  Here’s a thought.  Everybody look around and see whose behaving very well, then be like them.  End of study.  Zero dollars spent.  “Big Father is watching you.”  Further studies have been, and will be, used to determine what kind of god God is.  Is he like us, capable of disappointment, sadness and anger, or is he above all that?  For my money, God is love.  He created us to love.  Jesus (his Son) said to even love our enemies.  Simple formula.  Needs willing people to execute.  Operating budget: $0.00.  Overall results: priceless.
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Science vs. Religion
Love

A recent study in Europe revealed to the Royal Economic Society that people who have at least some religious ties, or even religious upbringing, tend to have more contented (or even happy) daily lives.  The European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research found that of the Christians (Catholic and Protestant) surveyed, most found their faith to act as a sort of buffer, protecting them from life’s disappointments.  Of course the National Secular Society (atheists and agnostics) thinks it’s a bunch of rubbish.  In this digital age, we can easily see that many affluent people or celebrities, who have all of their physical needs met, are still quite miserable inside.  We also have witnessed the controlling methods of some church organizations in order to squeeze money and loyalty out of the faithful.  But the photo above reflects the bottom line for foundational belief.  Those are gravestones.  They represent death and hope.  If we are here for this life only, then the names and words on those headstones are worthless.  The human spirit is designed to hang on through the worst of times, ever hoping for a better tomorrow, a peaceful resolution or an end to turmoil.  Many don’t get to see that hope fulfilled in this life, but they are strengthened by their hope in the next.  The prophet Habakkuk said that even if everything else fails, he will still trust in the one who will deliver him.  Faith rules!
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Religion In Europe
Hope

What does God look like?  Some see him as a stern, angry old man figure, ready to pounce on you for every sin.  Others picture a generous, loving Daddy, who lavishes gifts and riches on those who have faith (and send in seed money).  Still others believe in him, but they regard him as distant, not willing to intervene in our troubles.  These positions reflect a constantly changing landscape of religious belief in America.  England and Australia have had similar results from their surveys.  Young people are longing for a sense of security in this crazy world.  They want to believe.  They are our future.  Instead of trying to bind them with the faith of our fathers, we should encourage them to seek their heavenly Father in their own way.  Because when they find him, it will be a lasting relationship that will change the world.  God truly lives through love and hope. 
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A Young Person’s Response
The Entertainment-Driven Church

Our government (especially the IRS) is questioning the church’s role in presidential elections.  Many prominent Christian figures see it as imperative that we help God put the right man (or woman) in office.  The candidates have such dubious spiritual advisors:  McCain has Hagee and Parsley; Obama has Wright; Hillary has Bill.  Do religious beliefs have that big of a play in who occupies the White House?  Would you rather have someone that believes as you do, or someone who will lead fairly, no matter your brand of faith?  We’re looking for the Chosen One to possess the same, decent qualities that have been documented in religious writings for thousands of years.   The Bible says that man looks on outward appearances, but God looks at the heart.  A person can give all of the right answers on faith, but still make a lousy leader.  Let’s look deeper.
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Faith Debate?
Church and Politics

Actually, it would look kind of odd to see a mega-store plopped down in the middle of 200 synagogues and 28,000 residents.  But the Orthodox Jewish leaders of Monsey, New York would not allow “outside influences” to pollute their town.  I still wonder if it’s right for organized religions to throw their weight around, even for a good cause.  Jews and Christians alike should certainly focus on raising their families in the knowledge of Yahweh’s love and the gentle teachings of Jesus.  But it seems to me that God wants us to “be in the world,” not shutting it out.  It also should be noted that the good Rabbi teamed with a local politician in order to send Wal-Mart packing.  And we all know what a dangerous potion religion and politics can brew.
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Orthodox Judaism
Wal-Mart Watch

Cindy Jacobs’ prayer group combines internet and asphalt to bring God’s blessing to communities that border Interstate 35, a stretch of 1,559 miles, through six states.  Sort of a Prayer of Jabez for the Asphalt Jungle, she believes that concentrated prayer efforts by a large number of people will get God’s ear and effect change — for the good.  Well, I don’t know about that, but for years songs have been written, and stories told, of life being a journey.  Womb to tomb.  Cradle to grave.  A lot of symbolism can be had with taking wrong exits, road rage and staying awake at the wheel.  I like her website’s name though — Light the Highway.  We have personal responsibility for travel protocol, spiritually speaking.  I believe that the journey extends beyond this mortal existence.  And we’ll be on that road until we get it right.  Heaven’s up ahead. 
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Prayer of Jabez
Light the Highway