The Blonde Dalai Lama.

Like all Progressives, American Buddhists have no sense of humor.

I classify American Buddhists with Progressives, because for the most part they are political Progressives who were looking for some religious meaning in this world and have latched on to an Americanized version of Buddhism because, simply put, it isn't.....well, Christianity.

For the Progressive, Christianity just isn't hip enough; Christianity isn't for those special folks - the elite, the Brights. But, you can call yourself a Buddhist and go on believing whatever un-Buddhist depravity you want to believe and no one is going to know the difference. No one is going to call you out on your American Buddhism but me, and who am I?

To show just how little sense of  humor the America Buddhists have, we need look no further than their reaction to the latest story concerning the Dalai Lama.

For years, the Chinese government has been attempting to co-op the Dalai Lama's next reincarnation so as to exercise more control over the people of Tibet. In what can probably be called a bit of tongue in cheek poking at the Chinese government, the Dalai Lama recently said in an interview, that after he has finally shed this mortal coil, he will most likely reincarnate as a mischievous, blond female. He added that she will have an attractive face because no one will pay attention to her otherwise.

Over at the Buddhist channel at Patheos.com, not a few irate American Buddhists have their knickers in a twist over his comments.

One such Buddhist wrote:

"The Dalai Lama is a fraud. And this comment reflects his true nature.He talks of peace and tolerance abroad and destroys it in the Tibetan exile community. He talks of harmony and has caused division amongst Buddhists. He talks of kindness and eats veal. He is the worst example of a Buddhist, let alone a monk or a human being."

Another writes:

"Wow can it get any worse. The world's most famous "Buddhist" talks about reincarnation in this way? I'm so grateful this politician is not my teacher. And to say a woman will only receive attention if her face is attractive...what a creep. Forget all that stuff Buddha taught about cultivating a good heart hey! AND what's with the mischievous bit your "holiness"?"

In Asia, however, comic artists in Taiwan and Hong Kong have been inspired by the Dalai Lama's comments to draw images and to write stories of the future 15th Dalai Lama as a blonde woman. They've even gone so far as to create their own Facebook page (what else?) The Blonde Dalai Lama .

The page is in Chinese, but there are lots of drawings, and we all know the relationship between words and pictures.

God and the Machine.

If one looks to the right of this post and scrolls down a bit, you'll come upon a list of links under the heading of News Sources. Of course, the list is pretty much self explanatory; I want to keep up with what's going on and I go to a wide variety of websites in order to stay reasonably informed.

One certainly can't accuse me of following websites that simply cater to my world view. You can't put news sites like Al Jazeera, the BBC, CNN, Fox, the Washington Times and China Daily into the same basket, politically.

If ones scrolls down a little further, you'll see listed under Places of Interest, a number of blogs that I'll check up on frequently.

One of those blogs frequented is Mark Shea's Catholic and Enjoying It!. One thing you can be absolutely certain of, is that I do not agree with everything Mark has to say. He and I agree on quite a lot of issues.....like abortion, torture, and capital punishment. On the other hand, when he goes off on a screed concerning the minimum wage, we have to part ways.

On the plus side, I do like the fact that he has quite a lot of folks leaving comments on his blog and, for the most part, it's anything goes.

A week or so back, I followed a link to his radio program, "Connecting The Dots" and there I came across one of his fellow columnists at patheos.com, Thomas L. McDonald. I can't recommend too highly McDonald's blog, God and the Machine. It has become one of my new favorites.

Some of McDonald's post which I especially like are What Should We Call Bruce Jenner? ,“The eraser is an instrument of the devil” Sez Credentialed Moron, and The Media Hate All Religions: An Example.

Unfortunately, McDonald has turned off all comments to his blog. He has a lengthy and well written comment policy, but he has chosen instead to simply not allow any comments whatsoever.

I can't even leave a comment letting him know how much I enjoy his writing. That's why I'm writing this particular post, although it's unlikely that McDonald will ever read this.

America's First Jewish President?

As I mentioned in an earlier post, it is no secret that there is little love between the Obamas and the Clintons.

President Obama may feel some pride in the fact that his daughter is worth more than the Clintons' daughter when it comes to a Kenyan Bride Token. Having one's oldest child given the value of 50 cows, 70 sheep and 30 goats must be extremely heart warming for Barack and Michele.

On the other side, I'm certain that it bothers Obama to no end that Bill Clinton was the first "First Black President". Not being satisfied with being the second "First Black President", Barack Obama has proclaimed himself to be America's First Jewish President.

From the Washington Times:

"In an interview by an Israeli TV station, former Obama adviser David Axelrod recalled the president venting in a moment of contemplation about criticisms that he doesn’t support Israel strongly enough, JPupdates.com reported.

'You know, I think I am the closest thing to a Jew that has ever sat in this office,' the president told Mr. Axelrod".

Female Bishops Call God "She".

Enough, apparently isn't enough. At least that's the way it appears to be with the Church of England and it's never ending struggle to separate Christianity from it's Traditional teachings.

First, we have England's King Henry VIII's separation of the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church due to the Pope's refusal to allow Henry a divorce from Catherine of Aragon. The Church of England and it's "Supreme Head" did not accept Christianity's traditional views on divorce.

Next, we have the Church of England producing it's own version of scripture, commonly known as the King James Version, which leaves out seven books of the Old Testament traditionally considered canonical.

In a jump from the 17th Century to the 20th, we have the Church of England becoming the first Christian denomination to break from traditional Christian teaching regarding contraception during the Lambeth Conference of 1930.

Closer to our time, we have homosexual Priests and Bishops in the Church of England and the Anglican community, and the ordination of female Priests, Bishops and Deacons as well.

Finally, today, support is growing within the Church of England to rewrite its official liturgy to refer to God as female. [ telegraph.co.uk and dailymail.co.uk ].

Referring to God as female flies in the face of some of the earliest, most basic teachings of the Church. In two of the Gospels ( Matthew 6:9 and Luke 11 ) we have Christ teaching us how to pray. Although slightly different, both instruct us to pray to "Our Father".

In the Apostle's Creed we have "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth" followed by "and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord".

On the cross ( Luke 23:34 ) Jesus says "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do".

As Former Tory MP Ann Widdecombe, who left the Church of England and became Catholic following the decision to ordain women priests rightly said,

"God clearly isn’t a She as a She can’t be a father. This is plain silly, unbiblical and ridiculous. I think it’s the work of a few lunatics".

Would Jesus Insult Islam?

In the 1990s, WWJD became a popular phrase and motto for a number of Christians who rightly believed that, before performing an action, we should ask ourselves, "What Would Jesus Do"? We don't see the bracelets very often these days, and although the phrase isn't as wide spread as it once was, I'd like to think that most Christians would still ask themselves that question today rather than act without thinking of the sinfulness of the action.

Today, it appears that "Draw Muhammed Contests" are becoming all the rage in the U.S.. One such event was planned for Friday, outside a Phoenix, Arizona mosque by "former Marine" Jon Ritzheimer who was encouraging folks to "utilize there [sic] second amendment right at this event just incase [sic] our first amendment comes under the much anticipated attack." Ritzheimer was quoted as saying, "This is purely 100% a Freedom of Speech Rally. Stand Tall and show that we can PEACEFULLY protest our rights that are under attack. That is the sole cause for this Rally and Islam wants to silence us."

Personally, I fail to see how bringing firearms to an event that intentionally insults a religious group can be call "peaceful". I'm also wondering how we Christians should react to this. Does Jesus ask us to stand outside a mosque wearing a "F**K ISLAM" T-shirt ?

Over the years, non-Christian's have displayed anti-Christian works of "art", such as the infamous "piss Christ" without fear of violent retaliation from the followers of Jesus. We Christians have, instead followed Christ's command to "turn the other cheek" and to forgive, "not seven times but seventy-seven times".

Obviously, Muslims will have a far different reaction. Are we permitted to insult Muslims because they fight back?

I am not asking these question out of fear of Islam or Muslim extremists. I hope that, should the time come, I'd be able to face death for Christ. I'm simply saying that we should treat Muslims the way we would like to be treated.