joypeacehope: A Potential Problem Of Epic Proportions

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

A Potential Problem Of Epic Proportions

Our modern world is being threatened by an invisible enemy which will conquer using the art of deception. As bizarre as it seems, this enemy is promoted as our friend, healer and helper yet the havoc being caused by this enemy may be beyond our comprehension. The name of this enemy reveals its true nature and when broken down the name reveals the words, 'against life'. So, what is the name this enemy goes by? 'Antibiotics' is the name and it takes many forms, all of which are contributing to a world wide proliferation of destructive super bugs that have been created by the very drugs that were created to destroy the diseases they targeted.

How Bad Is It?

More than 50 million pounds of these antibiotics are produced annually in the United States. Some 40 percent of that total is given to animals, mostly to promote growth rather than treat disease. Antibiotic use is also rampant in agriculture--for example, the drugs are sprayed onto fruit trees to control bacterial infections. Another little-recognized application is in antibacterial household cleaning products, soaps, toothpaste, and even plastic toys and cutting boards, which incorporate bacteria-killing substances too potent to be used in the body. The upshot of this massive exposure is the increasingly familiar predicament the world now faces: disease-causing super bugs that resist the drugs that once thwarted them. We are experiencing an alarming resurgence of common but no longer curable infections from super bugs that developed their resistance in our antibiotic-filled bodies, in animals, in fields, even on our antibacterial-soaked kitchen counters.

Sterilized Creation

Another sobering consideration is the fact that one billion tons of antibiotic laced animal waste is being generated yearly with these antibiotics going into the environment thus creating even more resistant stains of bacteria. Add to this number, human ingested antibiotics which continue to do their destructive work even after they leave our bodies passing into our water supplies as well as back into the soil. Additionally, millions of farm acres world wide have been sterilized and are continuing to be sterilized by industrial farming practices using synthetic fertilizers. The consequences are such that beneficial flora within the human and earthly terrain are no longer flourishing, opening yet one more facet through which disease and destruction will prey upon the human race and our environment.

Wrong Belief System

So, how is it that life on this planet has come to such predicament as this? When considering the big picture, we can blame our situation on the philosophical foundation of modernity. Modernity grew out of the age of enlightenment which was nurtured in the soils of Western civilization. But if this so, what was wrong with Western civilization that could cultivate such disastrous consequences? I believe the answer lies within the world of religious belief. Religion takes various forms around the world and within each culture both ancient and modern, we find religious beliefs permeating every aspect of culture and governing every facet of how a community, tribe or nation functions. I believe that the Eastern world and thus Eastern philosophy and religion (specifically Eastern Orthodoxy) which were the preserved by Eastern peoples, were in turn, corrupted by Western peoples, thus opening the way for the destructive aspects of modernity which we are experiencing today.

Conflictive Views

Rather than digging deeper on this thought, I would like to leave it and jump ahead to the conflict we moderns are experiencing between what I will define as synthetic materialism and natural materialism. Having supposedly evolved to a higher form of thought, we moderns have embraced 'man' himself, as being the creator, savior and ruler of the creation. Religion for the most part has been relegated to the realms of the spiritual, immaterial world having no influence on the material aspects of life, thus creating a huge "God void" which as a vacuum had to be filled by something and that something was man's intellect and ability to achieve. Thus, what we are observing in the world around us today is an all encompassing phenomena of creating a synthetic material world which is consequently supplanting the natural material world.

Synthetic World

So what's wrong with a synthetic material world? For starters, it is a denial of faith in a Creator and His ability to create that which is good, beneficial and enlightening for mankind. Consequently, because we are no longer relying upon a Creator, Provider and Helper; as a civilization, we find the need to create our own provisions and means by which to benefit our selves and our fellow man. So, instead of acknowledging our Creator, Father and God, we now ignore Him and continue on the path of creating our own world which mimics the natural world order but does not give life, sustenance and good health.

Delusional Thinking

Thus, we are experiencing the proliferation of so-called medicines which we accurately call 'antibiotics'. The term 'antibiotic' itself reveals the utter ignorance of mankind and our inability to extract ourselves from the consequences of calling good, evil and evil, good. Apparently this principle is so deeply ingrained into the darkened and deluded human psyche that even though we take them to promote life, we name them according to their true definition and purpose which is 'against life'. Nevertheless, we continue to flood the human and earthly terrain with these products in a state of delusional thinking and schizophrenic behavior.

Abiding Hope

Yet, in saying all of this, it is not too late to turn back to natural materialism as the means by which to obtain our life, our health and our sustenance. The earth is forgiving, revealing the nature of God and though the hour is late, it is not too late to turn back to the ways of the ancients, to the ways of East and to once again embrace nature, the good earth and all that grows upon it naturally as being for our benefit as God had ordained in the beginning.

5 comments:

Angela Damianakis, LCSW said...: quite thoughtful. i'm not sure if i accept every precept you put forward but the argument is compelling.; May 6, 2009 at 5:42 AM
Euphrosyn said...: Angela, Christ Has Risen! Could you elaborate more on your comment regarding what you are having trouble accepting?; May 6, 2009 at 6:25 AM
Angela Damianakis, LCSW said...: Indeed He is risen. i think that although monetary gain does drive many people in the pharmacutical industry, most have decided quite consciously to make their living helping and healing. i agree that there are over usages and abuses but i'd rather have them when i need them. please visit my blog elgreca262.blogspot.com; May 6, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Euphrosyn said...: Another factor that enters into the mix is pride and the corruption of man's God given drive to create. I would say that so long as what we create fits within the natural cycles of life without bringing harm or pollution than it is pleasing to God. Anything created that harms life or nature does not fit with the character of God's love. It is possible to have progress and technological advances without harming the environment but modern man is bent on a corrupt form of progress. I don't question the intent of many to help and heal but more often than not, the masses are led into corruption by the few whose goals are not compatible with responsible dominion of the earth.

As for synthetic medicines, foods, fertilizers, fabrics and all the rest... why? All of them are inferior to what God has provided and all that I know of have brought harm to mankind and the earth.; May 6, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Angela Damianakis, LCSW said...: true. thank you for your posts. check in frequently.; May 6, 2009 at 12:34 PM

"Anathema To Him Who Divides And To Him Who Confounds"

This statement was made by the most reverend bishops of the
Fourth Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon. As the mind of God was, so the seven holy councils of the first 800 years of the church spoke, establishing and confirming the great doctrines of the Christian church universal which stand firm and solid to this day and will for all eternity. In ignorance most Protestants and Romanists today aren't even aware of Byzantine history and the glorious reign of the church during the first thousand years of history after the coming of the Blessed One. If you knew that to not embrace the decrees and canons of these councils put you in an anathematized condition, would you not repent and return to the 'true faith' of your fathers? "Do not move the ancient boundary stone", so it states in the Proverbs and what happens when we do? We will be prosecuted and thus shall it be for us who violate these ancient decrees and canons of the Holy Ecumenical Councils.

Icon Of The Descent Into Hades

Jesus Christ stands on the doors of Hades and breaks them open. The doors are in the form of a Cross to remind us that Jesus shattered these doors through the power of the Cross. Christ is pulling Adam and Eve out of Hades or Sheol, the place of death. Notice the limp hand of both Adam and Eve. The limp hand symbolizes that it is through Jesus' power that they are taken to heaven out of this place of death. It is Jesus' death and that alone that has conquered death. Left of Jesus we see John the Baptist preaching about the one who is to come to Hades to save them. John the Baptist is Jesus' forerunner even in Hades. Next to John the Baptist is King David and King Solomon. Right of Jesus we find Abel, the first saint of the Old Testament. This icon is also called the Icon of the Resurrection.

Biography of Saint Basil, Fool for Christ

Saint Basil the Blessed, was born in December 1468 on the portico of the Elokhov church outside Moscow. His parents were commoners and sent their son to be trained as a cobbler. During Basil's apprenticeship, the master cobbler happened to witness an occurrence, which showed him that his apprentice was not an ordinary young man. A merchant had brought grain to Moscow on a barge and came in to order boots, specifying that they be made in a particular way, since he would not pick them up for a year. After taking the order, Saint Basil began to weep and said, "I wish you would cancel the order, since you will never wear them." Confused, the master cobbler questioned his apprentice, and he explained that the man would not wear the boots, for he would soon die. After several days the prediction came true.

When he was sixteen, the saint arrived in Moscow and began to display what is called "Yurodivy" or foolishness for Christ. In the burning summer heat and in the freezing Russian winters, he walked barefoot through the streets of Moscow. His actions were strange, for instance, he would topple kalachi and kvas stands in the marketplace. Angry merchants would throttle and beat Saint Basil, but he welcomed the abuse with joy and he thanked God for it. Soon after it would be discovered that the kalachi was poorly cooked, and the kvas was badly prepared. The reputation of St Basil quickly grew. People saw him as a holy fool, a man of God, and a denouncer of wrong.

Another story tells of a merchant who wanted to build a stone church in Moscow, but its arches collapsed three times. The merchant turned to the saint for advice, and he pointed him toward Kiev. "Find John the Cripple," he said. "He will advise you how to construct the church." Traveling to Kiev, the merchant sought out John, who sat in a poor hut and rocked an empty cradle. "Whom do you rock?" asked the merchant. "I weep for my mother, who was made poor by my birth and upbringing." Only then did the merchant remember his own mother, whom he had thrown out of the house. Then it became clear to him why he was not able to build the church. Returning to Moscow, he brought his mother home, begged her forgiveness, and built the church.

Preaching mercy, Saint Basil helped those who were ashamed to ask for alms, but who were more in need of help than others. Once, he gave away a rich imperial present to a foreign merchant who had been left destitute. Although the man had eaten nothing for three days, he was not able to beg for food, since he wore fine clothing. The saint harshly condemned those who gave to the poor for selfish reasons, not out of compassion, but hoping for an easy way to attract God's blessings. St Basil also visited the taverns, where he tried to see goodness, even in people who others had given up as lost, and to strengthen and encourage them by kindness.
Once Saint Basil even reproached Tsar Ivan the Terrible, saying that during the divine services the Tsar was preoccupied with thoughts of building a palace in the Vorobiev hills.

St Basil died on August 2, 1557. His body was buried in the cemetery of Trinity church, where in 1554, In an early icon, St Basil is portrayed as old, with white hair curling at his ears, and a short, curly white beard. He is completely naked, and holds a handkerchief in his hand. The veneration of St Basil the Blessed was always so strong that the Trinity temple and the attached Protection church were renamed for him as the famous St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. The saint's chains, his relics, are preserved at the Moscow Spiritual Academy.

RUSSIAN ICON "GUARDIAN ANGEL"

"Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven." Matt. 18:10 " Although we can not see them with our bodily eyes, we can see them clearly with the eyes of faith. Are we really so poverty stricken in sensitivity and spiritual awareness that we do not wish to believe anything except the easily visible world? Are our hearts so occupied with worldly vainglory that they love nothing which does not pertain to wealth and temporary pleasure?" The Guardian Angel pg. 10

Icon of the Holy Archangel Michael, Captain Of The Angelic Host.

Saint John Chrysostom The Golden Mouthed

St. Gregory The Theologian

St. Gregory the Theologian, when barely thirty years old, won acclaim throughout the region as a mighty warrior in the fight against paganism and heresy. He headed the reorganisation of the Orthodox Church which had been torn asunder by the heresy of Arianism from within and by the harassment of pagans without. In the course of this holy work, he achieved distinction as an orator, traditionalist, and a crusader that earned him the title of "Theologian" despite the opposition of Maximos the Cynic, who had been set up against him by the bishop of Alexandria. He was the instrument of God in unifying the Church into a cohesive unit that could withstand any internal or external pressure.

St. Basil the Great

St. Basil set Christian perfectionism as the goal of monastic life. The monks were to practice Christian virtues together, especially love; to practice obedience to a spiritual father; to practice chastity and poverty, and share the common goods of the monastery. After they achieved Christian perfection, they were allowed to come back to the world and help others to achieve Christian perfection. Thus, the monks had the mission of "social workers" as well. St. Basil's institutions, especially his Basileias, which was at the same time an orphanage, a "kitchen for the poor," and a school for the illiterate was in practice run by monks. This was St. Basil's way of utilizing the monastic movement to benefit the mission of the Church in the world.

Prayer of St. Ephram The Syrian 306-373

O Lord and Master of my life! Take from me the spirit of sloth, lust of power, meddling and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chasity, humility, patience and love to Thy servant. Yea, O Lord and King! Grant me to see my own errors and to judge not my brother; For thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amen. (The church historian, Sozomen credits Ephrem with having written over three million lines of hymns, poems, homilies and biblical commentary). His works are known only within Orthodoxy. "The greatest poet of the patristic age and, perhaps, the only theologian-poet to rank beside Dante." — Robert Murray.