Conversations with God about his Decalogue

The Seventh Commandment

I have to tell you, having a conversation with God is never easy! There I was, walking down the street when suddenly this loud “voice” in my head asked me if I was ‘ready to tackle seven and eight?’ I almost tripped over my own feet.
When I finally found a little balance I whispered that I was on the street and that people could ‘hear me!’
Did this stop God? Ha!

God: So, don’t talk, just think.
Me: (Thinking to myself) Right. You can hear my thoughts. This is weird though. How am I going to concentrate on thinking this conversation and thinking about the topic and staying aware of where I am walking all at the same time?
God: Feeling limited? Can’t split your awareness, walk and talk at the same time? How are you at chewing gum and walking? (Laughter)
Me: Ok, ok. I’ll see what I can do. But I am going to stop and have a coffee while we do this.
God: OK.
Me: (Having sat down at a nice little café by the town square and ordered a mei de leite) OK. I guess I am not sure why number seven is a commandment. Is it that consensual sex without the approval of the state or religion is a sin?
God: Why would I care if the state or some religion approves?
Me: Hey, that’s my question.
God: No.
Me: Well, then it must be because marriage is a sacred relationship? Not a contract by the state or a religious ceremony, right?
God: Essentially you are on the right track. What do you think makes it a sacred relationship?
Me: The vows?
God: OK.
Me: But the vows people make can vary quite a bit. Let’s see, they generally agree to love each other. And, I guess, to protect and care for. Some ask to obey the other. Many suggest that the woman belongs to the man.
God: I know. Actually, you just scratched the surface of some of the things people vow when they get married.
Me: Do any actually vow to be monogamous?
God: Actually, a very rare few come close but most do not actually address sexual behavior directly.
Me: Yeah. Well, what is the essence? Loving and caring for?
God: Yes, that is good.
Me: So, somehow, having an affair would be not loving or not caring for? That doesn’t necessarily seem true. Wait a minute. Before we get into adultery, do you really want people to obey each other and for wives to be the husband’s property?
God: No. Definitely not.
Me: I am glad to hear that. Now, (Pause while I drink) I don’t get it. I am single. If I have sex with a married woman am I committing adultery? I mean, I know she is but am I?
God: Probably. Are you sure you are single?
Me: Hmmm. I am divorced. I consider myself single.
God: I see. And what about the vows you made.
Me: I tried, I really did. It seemed, still seems, to me that I was hurting her without meaning to. It seemed as if I could not take those vows seriously. And she seemed incapable of it as well.
God: So, the vows were not realistic?
Me: Right. I doubt if either of us could have kept them and remained true to our own natures.
God: You believe the problem was with the vows not yourself.
Me: Well, I guess I feel it was both.
God: Good. Did you commit adultery?
Me: Yes.
God: By breaking your vows?
Me: Yes… Well, maybe not entirely. I felt bad about the lying. I didn’t actually feel bad about having sex with someone else. You know, I don’t think I ever swore to be monogamous.
God: So, what was the lie?
Me: What is this, psychoanalysis?
God: Do you want to find a couch to lie on?
Me: Very funny. OK. The lie was… It was… about something unstated, I guess. You know, I was brought up to feel guilty about sex all the time. Even in marriage it made me feel a little guilty in those days. Like I was doing something “dirty.” Sex isn’t a sin, is it? It isn’t suppose to make us feel guilty, is it? I mean, just where do you stand in all this, anyway!
God: Why are you angry?
Me: I… I am angry because I feel betrayed. I feel like you gave me this ability to enjoy a wonderful, intimate, highly pleasurable action and then made me feel bad about it. It feels, felt, as if I almost had no choice about doing it. I felt driven by my body and emotions to make love with a woman and then I felt as if I was suppose to control it or deny it. It felt like a trap. Surely, that isn’t what you intended?
God: No, it isn’t.
Me: Sex is necessary. The way you set it up. If not for sex we wouldn’t have children, wouldn’t be here?
God: Right.
Me: So, what is all this crap about marriage? What use does it serve? Why is it important to be monogamous?
God: Why not drink a some of that coffee and take a deep breath. (I do both) Let us reason together. You have a great deal of life experience. What reasonable purpose do you suppose having one man and one woman come together in a union?
Me: To raise children, certainly. And, to provide comfort and aid to one another in times of difficulty. To give friendship and unconditional emotional support. I have experienced that, occasionally.
God: Good.
Me: But isn’t it possible to give that to another without also being exclusively monogamous?
God: What do you think?
Me: I think it is but I guess it is rare. I tried to do it in my second marriage and mostly succeeded but in the end it didn’t work. She left me mostly because she wanted sex with someone else and couldn’t have that and stay in the marriage. I tried to tell her I didn’t care if she had sex, as long as she loved me. She felt that meant I didn’t love her, I think. And I, well, I also didn’t feel I could fill her needs sexually. Oh, my. This is no fun at all. I feel awful trying to work this out.
God: I know. Why?
Me: It hurts.
God: Why?
Me: I did love her. And I feel like I was inadequate to…
God: To what?
Me: Sort out what I felt was real from illusion. See, this issue seems to me at the heart of the most horrible aspects of the human condition. I sometimes think it is behind war and greed and sadism and all sorts of awful human behaviors. I think most people are driven to most of what they do by messed up sexual desires.
God: Go on.
Me: It seems to me that most of the harm I personally have caused in this life can be traced to my sexual drive. And most of the suffering I have felt came from it. Wouldn’t it be better if we didn’t have so many emotions and desires and rules about it… Well, if we could just treat it like other natural instincts like eating and sleeping? Wouldn’t it be better if we didn’t call it ‘making love?’
God: Yes. It would.
Me: What?
God: I Agree, it would.
Me: Than why do we have this commandment?
God: Because adultery is a betrayal of love.
Me: You mean marriage?
God: I mean love!
Me: So, marriage isn’t a contract or a ceremony, it is a loving relationship between a man and woman?
God: That’s pretty good.
Me: So, what has monogamy got to do with it?
God: Not much.
Me: What! Isn’t that the definition of adultery – sex outside of marriage? Isn’t marriage only between one man and one woman? Or do you mean those Mormons have it right?
God: Not what I said.
Me: Hmmm. I think I’ll have another cup of coffee. (I get the waiter’s attention and order again. Then I laugh) I wonder what he’d think if he could hear this conversation?
God: I wouldn’t share it with him if I were you.
Me: No. I guess not. What is marriage anyway?
God: It is a sacred love pairing.
Me: Hmmm. Say, can a person be married, by your definition and not have sex?
God: Of course.
Me: I got it! It isn’t about sex necessarily?
God: Good.
Me: Then why the commandment about adultery?
God: Sort of pleased with yourself, aren’t you? What happened to that wonderful humility you were exhibiting last time?
Me: Ah, right. I am sorry. But I don’t get it. Why forbid adultery if marriage isn’t about sex?
God: Good question. Should I tell you?
Me: No, that’s ok, let me try to figure it out. (While I am thinking, my second coffee comes and I take a sip) Let’s see. Adultery is a ‘betrayal of love.’ Hmmm.. Is there some other way to commit adultery than having sex? You betray love by purposely hurting the other. If I lie to my wife or treat her with disrespect or do something with someone else that causes them to disrespect her… That’s betrayal. Is all that adultery? Is it?
God: It can be.
Me: Ok. I haven’t quite got it yet. But I am close, right?
God: Yes.
Me: It must come down to how we define love? If we define love as sex, then having sex with someone else is betrayal? No. That can’t be it. If we define love as monogamous sex then it is. Wait. This sounds more like a contract than a loving pairing.
God: You need to stop thinking like a lawyer.
Me: Right. Get simple. I betray love with my ‘sacred other’ when I don’t behave lovingly. That seems right.
God: Yes.
Me: So, it really doesn’t have to do with sex, unless my having sex with someone else is unloving?
God: Good.
Me: In fact, having sex with my ‘sacred other’ in an unloving way would be a kind of adultery also!
God: Very good!
Me: In fact, doing anything that betrays our love is a kind of adultery?
God: You shall not commit adultery.
Me: I think this one may need some re-writing.
God: I am listening.
Me: I need to think about this some more.
God: You do.
Me: (Finishing my coffee) I’m not sure I am up to discussing stealing right now. Although, I think it may very well be related to adultery in some meaningful way. Can we do it later? (Long pause) Hello? God?

To George Carlin

We note the death of George Carlin. A man who knew he couldn't take his "stuff" with him.

Conversations with God about his Decalogue

The Fifth and Sixth Commandments

The ways of God cannot be understood by mere mortals.
I woke this morning to find him sitting on the edge of my bed. I gasped. He laughed and told me to sit up. I slowly worked my aging bones up into a sitting position with my back to the wall. Suddenly a lap table materialized over my legs with a bowl of Muesli, fresh bananas, strawberries, whole milk and a large room-temperature glass of freshly squeezed mixed orange and tangerine juice.
As I began to eat, He asked me if I thought the next commandment was unclear. I started to reach for the tape recorder on the bed stand however a huge yawn made me stop to put my hand over my mouth.

GOD: You won´t need that. You will remember every word perfectly when you write this later.
TED: OK. Do you mind if I eat while we talk?
GOD: I mind if you don´t.
TED: (Eating) I feel as if I died and went to heaven.
GOD: How little you know!
TED: Right. Ah, so then, I think the fifth commandment is pretty clearly stated but I do have some reservations.
GOD: Why honor such imperfect beings, right?
TED: Well, I mean that most parents are probably deserving of honor from their children most of the time. I guess mine were. But what about those Fathers and Mothers who abuse, torture, even kill their young?
GOD: Suppose we avoid a long philosophical/ ethical discussion by defining a parent as one who not only sires or gives birth but who also nutures, raises and protects.
TED: So, we only honor those who are parents in practice as well as by biology? (God nods) Perfect. I think we can leave this one alone. Unless, perhaps we could add just a little descriptive such as, “Honor your loving Father and Mother.”
GOD: Not bad! Your feeling for poetry is improving.
TED: (Drinking the last of the juice) Thanks. Now comes the hard part, right?
GOD: Really?
TED: (A pungently steaming cup of fresh coffee with cream appeared on my lap table.) Whew. I must have done something right?
GOD: Because I am not capable of unconditional generosity?
TED: Well, it isn´t your most obvious trait in the testaments.
GOD: Have you read Book 1, Chapter 1?
TED: Of course! We owe it all to you, don´t we? I guess I am not fully awake yet.
GOD: Some excuse for being ungrateful.
TED: Right, right. I am sorry, truly.
GOD: You meant that so I accept your apology. Now, have you distracted yourself from the `hard part` long enough?
TED: (Sipping my coffee) Yeah. OK. So, it sounds simple, “You shall not kill” but what constitutes killing.
GOD: Taking a life.
TED: Under any circumstances?
GOD: Yes. It is that simple.
TED: So, how do I eat? Even plants are alive.
GOD: Thou shall not kill.
TED: But then I kill myself by not eating. So, I am damned either way.
GOD: Thou shall not kill.
TED: Hmmm… I must be missing something. I know it is killing to murder another person. I take his life. But when I eat a carrot, I take its life. I can´t quite see that both aren´t killing.
GOD: Is there no difference at all between eating a carrot and murdering a person?
TED: Well, I suppose a person could be said to be sentient and there is little evidence that a carrot is.
GOD: Aren´t you quibbling?
TED: Yeah. Ok, how about this. When I kill a carrot, I do it in order to sustain my life. So, by eating what I have killed, it sort of balances out, right? But if I kill a lion or shoot a person, it doesn´t balance because I don´t eat them.
GOD: Are you suggesting that I would approve of canabalism?
TED: Sheesh! This is difficult.
GOD: Want a hint?
TED: No! (Long pause as I finish my coffee which then disappears along with the bedtable.) OK. (Getting out of bed and starting to dress.) I´ll try a different approach. One step at a time.
GOD: Twenty Questions?
TED: Sort of. So, it isn´t any loss of life that constitutes killing. If I am playing baseball and run into another player who falls and hits his head on a rock, You don´t consider that killing, right? So, accidents aren´t killing? Even if a person is directly involved. Right?
GOD: OK.
TED: You sound uncertain. (Looking up at him as I slip my socks on. He shakes his head, `No`) Hmm... So, I also assume that you don´t consider it killing when I eat that carrot?
GOD: That´s right.
TED: And therefore, while I am intentionally taking another life, not by an accident, it isn´t… it´s… it’s… (Frustrated) Damn! Oops, sorry, sorry!
GOD: Try deep breathing.
TED: (Taking a couple of even deep breaths.) OK. Let´s come at it from the other side. If I intentionally shoot a man it is murder, that’s clear, I think. And if I kill a lion? (Pause) And put its head on my wall? Murder?
GOD: You bet.
TED: How about if the man or lion is trying to kill me? (Putting on a shirt) Then if I intentionally shoot it, that is not murder?
GOD: Sometimes.
TED: What!!! What the…
GOD: Breathe.
TED: Sometimes? Sometimes? Oh boy! And you said it was simple.
GOD: Yes. Thou shall not kill. Simple.
TED: If I can´t define kill, how can it be simple? It is like saying ´thou shall not boobeedoo.´
GOD: You believe I speak nonsense?
TED: No. No, of course not. I really don´t.
GOD: No. I know you don´t.
TED: Let me try again. Sometimes it can be killing to shoot a lion that is attacking me and sometimes it isn´t. Is that right?
GOD: Yep.
TED: So, what variable are there? My reason? No. I am doing it to protect myself. The circumstances? Hmmm… the circumstances. My responsibility for the event? It has something to do with my responsibility! Right?
GOD: (Smiling) Simple?
TED: Let´s see. If I was hunting the lion and he attacked me, then I am responsible for the killing! If I was simply out looking for berries to eat and he attacked then I was not responsible? Even if I knew he might attack, if my intention was simply to gather berries then it is not killing. Except… Oh no. What if I am hunting a rabbit and the lion attacks? I didn´t intend to kill a lion, so that isn´t my responsibility, but what about the rabbit. Wait! My intention is to eat the rabbit. Oh, sugar! I am back to suggesting canabalism would excuse killing.
GOD: Shall we go for a walk?
TED: Yes. Good idea. I am stuck.
At this point we left the house and walked down the narrow alley beside my building toward the little town square which sits directly along the ocean. As we came into the warm morning sunshine that filled the square I felt a profound sense of peace. Why not, after all, look at who was out for a stroll with me!
TED: Perhaps I am making this too difficult. You did say it was simple?
GOD: Thou shall not kill.
TED: Yeah. And I don´t think I ever have. Except, maybe that one time. I was about ten years old and my Dad gave me a twenty-two rifle for my birthday. He told me it was a great responsibility. A tool not a toy. It should only be used to hunt for food or for serious practice. Never for play. (Sitting on a stone wall edging the sea.) I did practice a little. I set up cans in the woods and shot at them. Then a few days later, I decided to go hunting. I quietly stalked through the woods and nearby meadows all afternoon. Then, around dusk, I saw a rabbit. I took very careful and quiet aim and shot it. I can´t explain how I felt. It was a mix of fear, excitement and something else? Horror, maybe? Yeah, something like that. Well, I brught it home and when I showed my Father, he said, “OK. Now skin it, so your Mom can cook it.” I couldn´t believe it. I got my scout knife and took the skin off. My hands were all bloody. I felt sick. Later, when my Mother put the cooked rabbit on the table I took a small piece but couldn´t eat more than one bite. Then I had to leave the table. I had bad dreams that night. Even today, I can still feel like I killed something that I shouldn´t have. But why? I have since fished many times and eaten them without any qualms at all. Maybe, maybe I should just trust that feeling. Actually, I don´t fish much anymore. Mainly because I don´t like to eat fish that often. And it still bothers me to pull a hook from the mouth of a trout and put it back in the stream all bloody.
GOD: Thou shall not kill. (At which point he actually put a hand on my shoulder! And I started crying.)
TED: What is this? Why am I crying?
GOD: Never apologise for feeling remorse. Maybe that should be one of the new commandments.
TED: What if…
GOD: Go on.
TED: What if someone doesn´t feel so… isn´t as sensitive about it?
GOD: We are each according to our nature. (Long pause)
TED: I think I get it. It is pretty simple.
Suddenly, I was alone on the wall looking out at a calm blue sea under a sky with a few small very white clouds. I cried for a little longer. Then I took off my shoes and socks, rolled up my pants and went wading.

Conversations with God about his Decalogue

The Third and Fourth Commandments

One of the difficulties in communicating with God is that you never know when or how he will respond. I was concerned after posting the previous taped conversation because it occurred to me that he might consider this blog publishing without his permission and “final edits”. So, I started praying. After a day or two, I began to relax, figuring he had to have heard me.This morning, I was sitting at my Computer, working on a poem when all of a sudden a chat program I had never seen before popped up on my screen. It was called SCC.net. Here is the conversation that ensued:


GG: Hey you!
Me: Yes? Who is this? What is this program?
GG: It´s me. Great God. (LOL) I invented the program. It´s called Spiritual Chit-Chat Dot Net. Whadda ya think?
Me: Cool. I didn´t know you bothered with programming.
GG: Really. How do you think I managed to make the physical universe consistent with mathematics?
Me: Right. Did you get my prayers?
GG: Of course. Look. None of these discussions are “My Word”. OK? We are merely having some creative and philosophical fun. Later, if I decide to reissue the commandments, that will be “My Word.” And that you can´t publish unless I give you specific rights. Feel relieved?
Me: Yep.
GG: So what´s up?
Me: Well, I sort of wonder if it matters which Decalogue version we are looking into here? I am using the one I grew up with but I do know there are several other versions. Do you care which one we use?
GG: Nope.
Me: OK. Then my question about commandment number three is this, exactly how does one take your name in vain? Is this about using curse words?
GG: Well, I am not pleased to hear people use a four letter word for sexual intercourse as a curse, but no, that isn´t what I was getting at. Look. What is the definition of “vain?”
Me: Conceited?
GG: Come on. That is a very modern usage. It actually means "having no value; foolish, silly."
Me: Aha! So, what you are saying is that you don´t want people using your name in a foolish, meaningless way! Does that happen often?
GG: You´re kidding right? Would you like some examples?
Me: Yes.
GG: You asked for it – how about these:

“God wants you to succeed, and that’s why he has given you an alternative to intercourse”
“Does God care about a football game? Of course He does.”

Actually, I used to like baseball before it became a business.

“Republicans are the party of God.”
“War is God's way of teaching Americans geography.”
“Does God support or oppose embryonic stem cell research? “
“God Wants You to Be Rich”
“God’s preferred mode of government is theocratic-monarchy.”
“I don't bring God into my life to - to, you know, kind of be a political person.”
“God wants…”

Me: Wait a minute! That last one, about politics, was that Bush?
GG: None other. Shall I go on?
Me: Wow, that commandment must be broken more than all the others combined.
GG: Damn right.
Me: So, it isn´t a sin when I use the word “shit?”
GG: Who do you think invented your ass? Humans have a dreadful capacity to denigrate my fine work with their silly hang-ups about their body parts and functions.
Me: I guess that commandment is pretty clear, actually. I mean, unless you misunderstand the definition of “vain” as I did.
GG: Yeah. Uh, maybe I could reword it and say ´don´t use my name for silly stuff.´ But then you humans would write millions of words defining “silly stuff” and it would end up meaning “swear words.”
Me: Hmmm. I get the feeling that attempting to reexamine these commandments is an exercise in futility. Right?
GG: More humility! I like you. Such exercises in futility tend to be a habit with your species. I don´t mind. Or do you think you are feeling hopeless?
Me: No. At least, I don´t think that is what I am feeling.
GG: Good. Because what you are feeling is inadequate.
Me: Right! Of course, you´d know, wouldn´t you.
GG: Uh huh.
Me: OK, then – number four. Why do we have to honor the Sabbath? And what day of the week is it?
GG: Think I am being a bit egotistic, do you?
Me: What can I say, you know what I am thinking better than I do.
GG: OK. What is the definition of “holy?”
Me: Sacred.
GG: Yes… It comes from the concept of wholeness. Being complete and whole. Which you realize can only truly be applied to My Works, since I created everything, right? Is it too much to ask that such Works be recognized?
Me: Not at all. It just surprises me that you would need our recognition.
GG: Hmmm. Need is the wrong word.
Me: Want? Demand?
GG: If men don´t recognize My Works, what would be the consequences?
Me: Consequences? For not worshiping the Sabbath?
GG: Think! You aren´t being asked to worship the day or me but what happened on that day. So, what happened on that day? What did I do?
Me: You rested.
GG: Come on... What else?
Me: Umm…
GG: I appreciated My Creation! The entire universe. I saw that it was good.
Me: So, you want us to appreciate that also, not you, but the entire creation!
GG: Not you are using that understanding I created. Good boy.
Me: So, the sense of it is that we should take at least one day a week to appreciate everything.
GG: Bingo!
Me: And I´ll bet you don´t really care what day we do it as long as we do it with some frequency.
GG: Once a week at least.
Me: Well, it seems a lot of us follow this one.
GG: Ha!
Me: A lot of people go to church or synagog or temple every week.
GG: Big deal.
Me: They do!
GG: Oh yes. And what do they do there?
Me: Sing hymns, pray, meditate…
GG: And burn incense and dress up and confess and kneel and listen to sermons… Yeah, yeah. What exactly do they pray for and sing and sermonize about?
Me: Well, let´s see. They pray for peace sometimes
GG: Good.
Me: Or for forgiveness, mercy, wealth, victory and healing. They praise you. They sermonize about goodness and sin and salvation and sacrifice mostly.
GG: And how does most of that show appreciation for My Works?
Me: Ah… Should we have more songs about how nice the world you created can be?
GG: That would be a start, wouldn´t it? How about spending that time contemplating how to reduce your pollution of My environment, or your war´s destruction of My species, or your failure to use the Reason I gave you to overcome ignorance? Wouldn´t the best way to keep the Sabbath holy be to build up your appreciation of My Works and contemplate how to enjoy this world every day instead of destroying it?
Me: I guess you know what I am feeling right now?
GG: Remorse is good for you. But you can stop with the guilt.
Me: What´s the difference?
GG: Guilt is simply feeling you did something wrong. Remorse is a deep recognition that you need to change because what you are doing is destructive.
Me: I… I…
GG: All you can take for one day, huh?
Me: Yeah. Will we chat again tomorrow?
GG: Tomorrow is a human concept. See you later.

Conversations with God about his Decalogue

The First Two Commandments

I was chatting with God the other morning and it occurred to me to wonder what he thought about his commandments these days. After all it has been over 2000 years since he handed them over at Mt. Sinai and a lot has happened since then. So, I decided to ask him if I could go over them with him. “Sure,” he said, “Might do some good to review at this point. I want you to pass along what I tell you accurately though. No spin, right?”
Being concerned that I might mess up if I relied on my 66 year old memory, I asked if I could tape our discussion. He agreed and here is the transcript.

Me: So, do you feel like these commandments are all still relevant?
God: Of course. Obviously most of the wording is out of date now and what folks have made of them since then is astonishing. But they are still pretty good advice.
Me: Right… Ah, so can we take a look at the wording a bit in order to understand precisely what you wanted? Maybe start with number one.
God: What don´t you understand about "not having any gods before me?" That one still seems clear to me.
Me: Hmmm.
God: Go on. I won´t bite. Although, I might send locust down on you. (chuckles.)
Me: Well… An awful lot of believers that seem to think other believers got the wrong God. For instance, we have Catholics and Baptists and Muslims and Jews and… you know how long the list is?
God: Enough to give you a headache isn´t it? Look, whether they know it or not, everyone who worships me has the “right god.” OK? I suppose I could clarify it a bit by saying, ´allow no substitute for god.´
Me: I am not sure that solves the problem. What would be a substitute? I mean I am pretty sure the Baptists are still going to think the Jews are missing the boat because they worship you and not Christ. And the Baptists are sure to think Mohammad is a substitute. Even Catholics might wonder if Jesus is a substitute, he is sort of god too, right? See, I am getting more confused just trying to express the problem.
God: Yeah. Makes you kinda humble, doesn´t it? Good!
Listen. Here´s the deal. It really doesn´t matter if people worship me in one form or another. Or even many forms, like those folks who think I am the sun and moon. The point is to recognise something larger, deeper, and more profoundly meaningful than your own bodily existence. And, for my sake, stop worshiping money and cars and each other! That is what inspired the second commandment - all these holy men running around praying to golden bulls, giving out blessings and curses, and kissing the breasts of young girls carved in elephant tusk. Remember, I can see into your hearts and minds. I know what is being idolized and most of the time it ain´t yours truly.
Me: I see. So why not say, ah… Hmm.. It is difficult isn´t it. Finding just the right words that can´t be misunderstood.
God: Not a bad insight for a mortal. Good for you. Take your time.
Me: Let´s see. How about, "only worship me directly - not words or things." I guess that is really one and two put together, isn´t it? And if we combined them you wouldn´t have ten anymore.
God: Yep. That´s OK, I may decide to add a few more commandments anyway and we don´t want it to become a book of laws, do we. Instead of holy men interpreting them, you´d have law firms getting involved. And when that happens, I am out of here. I feel your wording lacks poetry, but it goes in the right direction. Yep, I think merging the first two is cool. I was never entirely happy with my 2nd commandment from the beginning. I didn´t intend to shut down imagination and creativity, simply to get priestesses to stop cutting off men´s genitals and planting them in the ground by a statue of a pregnant crocodile or priests to stop breaking the backs of the poor by making them cut and pile huge blocks of stone ever higher for less than minimum wage. I mean, I love works of art but it gives me heartburn to see how many people suffered to build those Pyramids and that Sistine immensity in Rome. And then to make Michaelangelo paint the ceiling! Did you know he went blind doing it?
Me: I see what you mean. How about I work on it and get back to you.
God: Trying to be a prophet are you?
Me: Good God, no! I mean, Please God? Believe me I don´t. I was only... I mean, I didn´t... I wasn´t...
God: Oh, go ahead. I don´t mind. Just don´t publish as My Word without My final edits and approval. OK?
Me: Yes, sir.

Simply put...

Iraq is a corrupt war waged for corrupt purposes by corrupt military/political leaders for the benefit of corrupt corporations. And if we citizens do not insist upon whatever it takes to put a stop to it quickly then we too are corrupted. Furthermore, as well as ending this immoral warfare, we must condemn and demand harsh sentencing of those who designed, promoted, benefited from and carried it out. Anything less than this will insure that the United States of America’s final historic legacy will be one of unforgivable hypocrisy, greed and indecency.



Ted Guhl