This is a topic that I think the Indonesian Government should listen and implement in ............
The Idea of separation of church and state is born by the proclamators of the United States of America.......
Their Idea is simple knowing that there were religious unrest in europe and that their country will be and is a plural country as people from different religion and divine cultures would come and in order for the government to run and be able to function, their official religion should be no religion.
The reasoning was written down by Thomas Jefferson who said:
"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State."
Now to all conservatives this might not be ideal, however in order to foster democracy, all should be included and no matter what their beliefs they must be able to function as both citizens and government personnels.
That was why in the USA, state/public schools are not allowed to hold school prayers or the teaching of one particular or even any religion.
The answer of why they tought that in schools this should not be in the curriculum is that school is a place for scientific and logical learning and the teaching of religion is in the exact opposite. Religion teaches us that scientific prove and logic does not apply to faith whereas in science for every reaction there exist an action that provokes it. Although I do believe that in the beginning of all that begun something begin, not all share this belief. I believe it isn't the Christian way to enforce my beliefs to others hence I do not want anyone to enforce their beliefs unto me. At the beginning of this blog I said that the Indonesian Government should apply this philosophy into the governing and law making process. Separation of church and and state for our country should be endowed as separation of religion and state and one of the way to do this is to dismantle the KUA and the Ministry of Religion. Government should not be in the business of controlling anyone's beliefs more ever here in Indonesia it symbolizes a tendency of favouritism towards certain beliefs, which is the very opposite what our heroes that died for our independence want it to be.
I do believe once we instill this philosophy, Indonesia would be as great a nation that would even rival the United States of America in all aspects.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
The Great Debaters
I just saw a powerful movie about racial inequality in the land of United States........
This movie was about a team of african american debaters in 1935 and was based on a true story......
It showed one of the darker times of racial relations especially in the southern states during that time.............
At a time when african americans were presecuted with prejudice these group of people did what during that time was something next to impossible............
They were the first african american debate team to win against the reigning champion of debate at that time from Harvard............
The story was powerful..... however although Denzel was a powerful actor I do not think he's yet to prove himself as a great director yet......... to me it was reminiscent of another powerful movie about racial interaction called "Remember The Titans". It seems that Denzel Wahington is only carbon copying that movie into the plot of The Great Debaters especially the medley of wins the debators were streaking............
Acting wise though was as usual superb.... Denzel Washington had two great and memorable scenes... one was because of his interactions with another great actor Forrest Whitaker the other was when His Character explained where the word lynching (you can see the history on the link) was derived from...............
I had hoped that the younger casts especially one who had both two great actors namesake Denzel Whitaker to steal the limelight however I just Didn't get it till the end...... his acting was good but I just thought that if this story was directed by someone who had more experience especially with african american movies like Spike Lee, Denzel Whitaker would have blown away all of us and probably possible to win some kind of young actors award.........
The only thing that helped Denzel Washington and drive people to watch this movie is the power of the story........
For people who likes this kind of niche and stories of the "David beating Goliath" type like I am, I would recommend it but if you are one of those who looks for great acting and directing I wouldn't recommend you to go to the movies, buy the dvd or even rent it don't waste your money on it just borrow it from a friend who is either great fan of Denzel Washington or like me who likes this kind of movie
Acting and Directing wise it's a 2 and1/2 star out of 5 but story wise it was a 3 and 1/2
This movie was about a team of african american debaters in 1935 and was based on a true story......
It showed one of the darker times of racial relations especially in the southern states during that time.............
At a time when african americans were presecuted with prejudice these group of people did what during that time was something next to impossible............
They were the first african american debate team to win against the reigning champion of debate at that time from Harvard............
The story was powerful..... however although Denzel was a powerful actor I do not think he's yet to prove himself as a great director yet......... to me it was reminiscent of another powerful movie about racial interaction called "Remember The Titans". It seems that Denzel Wahington is only carbon copying that movie into the plot of The Great Debaters especially the medley of wins the debators were streaking............
Acting wise though was as usual superb.... Denzel Washington had two great and memorable scenes... one was because of his interactions with another great actor Forrest Whitaker the other was when His Character explained where the word lynching (you can see the history on the link) was derived from...............
I had hoped that the younger casts especially one who had both two great actors namesake Denzel Whitaker to steal the limelight however I just Didn't get it till the end...... his acting was good but I just thought that if this story was directed by someone who had more experience especially with african american movies like Spike Lee, Denzel Whitaker would have blown away all of us and probably possible to win some kind of young actors award.........
The only thing that helped Denzel Washington and drive people to watch this movie is the power of the story........
For people who likes this kind of niche and stories of the "David beating Goliath" type like I am, I would recommend it but if you are one of those who looks for great acting and directing I wouldn't recommend you to go to the movies, buy the dvd or even rent it don't waste your money on it just borrow it from a friend who is either great fan of Denzel Washington or like me who likes this kind of movie
Acting and Directing wise it's a 2 and1/2 star out of 5 but story wise it was a 3 and 1/2
Sunday, March 23, 2008
August Rush
Now That Easter is over ... I thinks it's time to think about a subject that is not so heavy.......
what better subject than a movie... well if some of you think that it's weird and you thought that this was a blog dedicated just to Christianity... you were wrong.... Coz this is a Think Tank..... so basically it is a summary of my thinking at the time when I was writing this stuff..... but if you have any thing you want to discuss more about give me your comments okay....anyway let's move on shall we....
The Movie August Rush....
This movie was about a kid who grew up in a child care home.... he found out at a young age that he can hears music within his surrounding....... he could feel the rythm of every sound that he hears....... and more ever he could feel that the sounds that he hears will lead him to his parents.....
Although the ending can be foreseen to most people this movie was still touching..... as it embodies a love and bond that is so strong between parents and child and that even separated can still be united.........
This move is for those who are real romantics... if you are an action junkie I do not recommend this movie... but if you are a fan of tear jerkers than this music is for you........ and if yor are a fan of music this movie is definitely for you........
One of the great thing about this movie is that it has wonderful soundtracks that has the mixture of Classical and Pop Rock back ground and even a little bit country.......
So I do recommend that you get the complete DVD version
Any Way I give this movie a 3 1/2 star out of five
what better subject than a movie... well if some of you think that it's weird and you thought that this was a blog dedicated just to Christianity... you were wrong.... Coz this is a Think Tank..... so basically it is a summary of my thinking at the time when I was writing this stuff..... but if you have any thing you want to discuss more about give me your comments okay....anyway let's move on shall we....
The Movie August Rush....
This movie was about a kid who grew up in a child care home.... he found out at a young age that he can hears music within his surrounding....... he could feel the rythm of every sound that he hears....... and more ever he could feel that the sounds that he hears will lead him to his parents.....
Although the ending can be foreseen to most people this movie was still touching..... as it embodies a love and bond that is so strong between parents and child and that even separated can still be united.........
This move is for those who are real romantics... if you are an action junkie I do not recommend this movie... but if you are a fan of tear jerkers than this music is for you........ and if yor are a fan of music this movie is definitely for you........
One of the great thing about this movie is that it has wonderful soundtracks that has the mixture of Classical and Pop Rock back ground and even a little bit country.......
So I do recommend that you get the complete DVD version
Any Way I give this movie a 3 1/2 star out of five
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Easter's Revelation
Last night when I was attending the Last supper mass in th eSt John the Baptist church in Blok A south Jakarta the bible reading of the Mass was Exodus 12 verse 1 - 8 & 11-14. It was telling the story of how how to celebrate Easter or at that time it was called the Passover and how God's tenth fury was about to be released upon the people of Egypt who was presecuting the people of Israel. The Tenth Fury was the God wil punish the Egyptian by killing all of their first born, and the Jewish will be saved from that fury by drawing their doors with the blood of sheep that they've eaten during passover.
It's been years since I've attended sunday school, but I've distinctly remember that no one told me why the Crucifiction of Jesus was setup on the eve of passover...... maybe some of you out there knows about this....... but I just had this revealed to me during the mass.
God chose this day to let Jesus endure His suffering to show that as much as God was furious He was also willing to share in the plight of His Followers whoever they maybe, and to seal the New Covenant so that God intended for His words to be followed by all not only the Jewish but all mankind. To do this He was willing to sacrifice His own First born to teach us that He is also merciful and that He shares the pain of all mankind not only the victory of how the Jewish escaped from Egypt. God is now saying that at that time He had to be furious but now to set all of mankind free He is willing to suffer His own fury and to show His Love for all mankind not only for the people of Israel. Jesus also put forth this fact by washing the feet of His disciples and saying that If He was willing to humble himself to wash their feet they should do the same to others (Book of John 13 verse 1 - 15). God was "washing our feet" when He sent His First Born to be slain like the sheeps during Passover, God was showing that He was willing to suffer as all of Mankind do.
Let me know what you think of this revelation of mine and give me your comments .......
May This Easter sets You Free and be Full of Blessing from God and His Son Jesus Christ
It's been years since I've attended sunday school, but I've distinctly remember that no one told me why the Crucifiction of Jesus was setup on the eve of passover...... maybe some of you out there knows about this....... but I just had this revealed to me during the mass.
God chose this day to let Jesus endure His suffering to show that as much as God was furious He was also willing to share in the plight of His Followers whoever they maybe, and to seal the New Covenant so that God intended for His words to be followed by all not only the Jewish but all mankind. To do this He was willing to sacrifice His own First born to teach us that He is also merciful and that He shares the pain of all mankind not only the victory of how the Jewish escaped from Egypt. God is now saying that at that time He had to be furious but now to set all of mankind free He is willing to suffer His own fury and to show His Love for all mankind not only for the people of Israel. Jesus also put forth this fact by washing the feet of His disciples and saying that If He was willing to humble himself to wash their feet they should do the same to others (Book of John 13 verse 1 - 15). God was "washing our feet" when He sent His First Born to be slain like the sheeps during Passover, God was showing that He was willing to suffer as all of Mankind do.
Let me know what you think of this revelation of mine and give me your comments .......
May This Easter sets You Free and be Full of Blessing from God and His Son Jesus Christ
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Offending Religious Icons??
When Idols Are Offended
The Jakarta Post, Wed, 03/05/2008
"Many Christians and Muslims respect Jesus or Muhammad. They have given up learning and growing and instead seek strength in the reflected glory of their idols.
They are told that in blind submission lies virtue. In fact there lies only annihilation of the person’s creativity and individuality.
He becomes a soldier for his idol, eager to prove his devotion by smiting offenders whose reverence takes a different form, is directed elsewhere or is altogether absent.
For society, the outcome is a hierarchy built on fear, in which members of the smallest religious groups are beaten, persecuted or imprisoned by members of the largest group. The actual beliefs or practices of the persecuted groups are immaterial.
The persecution is just an outcome of the emotional need for dominance among the largest group. This is the context for the recent protests by Catholic youth groups against Tempo magazine’s cover parodying da Vinci’s ultima cena.
By intimidating an influential magazine’s editors, perhaps with court backing, they prove that they remain near the top of the hierarchy of fear, rather than down in the swamp with the deviant sects.
While their grievance may be genuine, appeasement of such protests is unhelpful.
Attacks perpetrated by religious groups against the weak and helpless are a symptom of the submissive-dominant complex outlined above. Conceeding that anger justifies censorship gives protesters an incentive to prove the force of their anger through violence.
And it reinforces their sense that idolatry confers strength. Their dependence on mindless submission increases, and with it the corresponding urge to oppress non-conformists.
It is better to remember that historic and controversial figures are not the property of any particular group. And not everyone idolizes a prophet.
Accepting censorship does not promote tolerance. It only legitimizes repression."
JOHN HARGREAVES
Jakarta
The Above has quite an impact in one's way of thinking especially if you r a Christian, to all of u who doesn't know what this guy is talking about remember that acouple of years ago and even last year there was a cartoon depiction of Mohammad the prophet of of the Islam Religion which ignited harsh comments from the moslem world... At that time me being a Christian thought that that was the worst way of handling this because these people actually did those kinds of things to ignite these kinds of reaction ....in fact they feed on it.... especially if the press got a wind of this....
and I thought to myself that (rather arrogantly perhaps) 'We Christians wouldn't have been baited like that too easily".... and boy I was naive aren't I....... turns out just a couple of months ago a spoof of Da Vinci's interpretation of The Last Supper was published and strangely enough some people seems to have been troubled by this .... my jaw almost dropped to the ground.......
although it wasn't as big of a commotion as it was with our counter-part community and seemingly to be isolated here in Indonesia and a small commune back in the States it still is bewildering to me how this kind of thing would even be imaginable........
First of All, I believe the spoof was mostly aimed at the painting rather than the occassion itself...
Secondly, to explain my naivete' why I did thought that we As Christians and I specifically a Catholic wouldn't be so fickle minded to take the bait, is that the Core of Christianity, specifically of the Catholicism school of thought is that we measure the experience & Suffering that Jesus had to endure before being cricified is what have freed and saved us... now if Jesus Christ Our Lord didn't mind being presecuted and physically tortured like that do we as followers really think that He would throw a fit at a picture of Him being replaced with a Dog Playing poker?? do we as His disciples really think that he would be that shallow??
Well again it is up to you to make up your mind and comment to me this is a cosmestic issue compared to my previous post that is a real threat to our right to commune and pray.....
more ever if we expect to be free build churches and believe in our beliefs we have to respect other free men who are free to express their way of thinking.....
The Jakarta Post, Wed, 03/05/2008
"Many Christians and Muslims respect Jesus or Muhammad. They have given up learning and growing and instead seek strength in the reflected glory of their idols.
They are told that in blind submission lies virtue. In fact there lies only annihilation of the person’s creativity and individuality.
He becomes a soldier for his idol, eager to prove his devotion by smiting offenders whose reverence takes a different form, is directed elsewhere or is altogether absent.
For society, the outcome is a hierarchy built on fear, in which members of the smallest religious groups are beaten, persecuted or imprisoned by members of the largest group. The actual beliefs or practices of the persecuted groups are immaterial.
The persecution is just an outcome of the emotional need for dominance among the largest group. This is the context for the recent protests by Catholic youth groups against Tempo magazine’s cover parodying da Vinci’s ultima cena.
By intimidating an influential magazine’s editors, perhaps with court backing, they prove that they remain near the top of the hierarchy of fear, rather than down in the swamp with the deviant sects.
While their grievance may be genuine, appeasement of such protests is unhelpful.
Attacks perpetrated by religious groups against the weak and helpless are a symptom of the submissive-dominant complex outlined above. Conceeding that anger justifies censorship gives protesters an incentive to prove the force of their anger through violence.
And it reinforces their sense that idolatry confers strength. Their dependence on mindless submission increases, and with it the corresponding urge to oppress non-conformists.
It is better to remember that historic and controversial figures are not the property of any particular group. And not everyone idolizes a prophet.
Accepting censorship does not promote tolerance. It only legitimizes repression."
JOHN HARGREAVES
Jakarta
The Above has quite an impact in one's way of thinking especially if you r a Christian, to all of u who doesn't know what this guy is talking about remember that acouple of years ago and even last year there was a cartoon depiction of Mohammad the prophet of of the Islam Religion which ignited harsh comments from the moslem world... At that time me being a Christian thought that that was the worst way of handling this because these people actually did those kinds of things to ignite these kinds of reaction ....in fact they feed on it.... especially if the press got a wind of this....
and I thought to myself that (rather arrogantly perhaps) 'We Christians wouldn't have been baited like that too easily".... and boy I was naive aren't I....... turns out just a couple of months ago a spoof of Da Vinci's interpretation of The Last Supper was published and strangely enough some people seems to have been troubled by this .... my jaw almost dropped to the ground.......
although it wasn't as big of a commotion as it was with our counter-part community and seemingly to be isolated here in Indonesia and a small commune back in the States it still is bewildering to me how this kind of thing would even be imaginable........
First of All, I believe the spoof was mostly aimed at the painting rather than the occassion itself...
Secondly, to explain my naivete' why I did thought that we As Christians and I specifically a Catholic wouldn't be so fickle minded to take the bait, is that the Core of Christianity, specifically of the Catholicism school of thought is that we measure the experience & Suffering that Jesus had to endure before being cricified is what have freed and saved us... now if Jesus Christ Our Lord didn't mind being presecuted and physically tortured like that do we as followers really think that He would throw a fit at a picture of Him being replaced with a Dog Playing poker?? do we as His disciples really think that he would be that shallow??
Well again it is up to you to make up your mind and comment to me this is a cosmestic issue compared to my previous post that is a real threat to our right to commune and pray.....
more ever if we expect to be free build churches and believe in our beliefs we have to respect other free men who are free to express their way of thinking.....
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Churches Being Raided Follow Up
A follow up on the previous blog......
I am not angry or mad per say.......
it's just that I'm frustrated to see that this kind of religious presecution and oppression still exist
The thing is that we have the right to commune and pray in our beliefs.........
at this age this kinds of segregationist tendency is unacceptable..........
and it is great invasion on our beliefs............
Imagine if the tables were turned, If these people who raided those churches were the ones being raided upon...
I am sure they will retaliate with much more fury than what we have seen........
that's why I'm polling on what kinds of reaction should we have against this kind of oppression.........
Please comment and post your votes on the polling below.......
I am not angry or mad per say.......
it's just that I'm frustrated to see that this kind of religious presecution and oppression still exist
The thing is that we have the right to commune and pray in our beliefs.........
at this age this kinds of segregationist tendency is unacceptable..........
and it is great invasion on our beliefs............
Imagine if the tables were turned, If these people who raided those churches were the ones being raided upon...
I am sure they will retaliate with much more fury than what we have seen........
that's why I'm polling on what kinds of reaction should we have against this kind of oppression.........
Please comment and post your votes on the polling below.......
Monday, March 10, 2008
Churches being Raided
Today I was surprised......
coz I read in The Jakarta Post that churches are being raided........
by civilians.......
they say that they are not bias against the religion and their practices just that they are misusing their the usage of the place where they are holding those masses......
I was going like haaahhhh!!!! that can't be right.....
at this day and age people are still bothered by that kind of things???
wow.... I went almost crazy today......... thinking about this.....
whatz worse is that they seem not to respect other people's right to commune and pray.....??
is this right ?? especially during this age and year??
I couldn't fathom that here in Indonesia it has come to this........
Just a few months ago we were at loggerheads with the Malaysian over certain things but it seems that we are trying to emulate their reign here??
isn't this crazy??
well this notion that makes me sick beyond repair is what brought me to write this opinionated blog.....
is ist really time for those whose religion are oppressed to rise up and start rebelling?? because if this goes on I do Believe that this will happen......
Is it time for those regions in which the majority religion aren't the National's majority to separate themselves from Indonesia?? I absolutely don't know ?? I used to think that we can avoid this..... but if this escalades I truly think that those regions might have a case.....
If Religious freedom is for all religion I truly believe that it should be the same whether they're the majority or not........
please let me know what You think.... I welcome alively debate on the above issues
coz I read in The Jakarta Post that churches are being raided........
by civilians.......
they say that they are not bias against the religion and their practices just that they are misusing their the usage of the place where they are holding those masses......
I was going like haaahhhh!!!! that can't be right.....
at this day and age people are still bothered by that kind of things???
wow.... I went almost crazy today......... thinking about this.....
whatz worse is that they seem not to respect other people's right to commune and pray.....??
is this right ?? especially during this age and year??
I couldn't fathom that here in Indonesia it has come to this........
Just a few months ago we were at loggerheads with the Malaysian over certain things but it seems that we are trying to emulate their reign here??
isn't this crazy??
well this notion that makes me sick beyond repair is what brought me to write this opinionated blog.....
is ist really time for those whose religion are oppressed to rise up and start rebelling?? because if this goes on I do Believe that this will happen......
Is it time for those regions in which the majority religion aren't the National's majority to separate themselves from Indonesia?? I absolutely don't know ?? I used to think that we can avoid this..... but if this escalades I truly think that those regions might have a case.....
If Religious freedom is for all religion I truly believe that it should be the same whether they're the majority or not........
please let me know what You think.... I welcome alively debate on the above issues
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