How do you want to be cooked??? Authority in religion.

We all recognize there are many types of "authority." Like the policeman, the judge etc. And, of course, intellectual aurhotity. Science, history and so forth. But just a word or two on the principal authorities in religion. Each has its place I guess, but each has consequences of a staggering nature. So beware.

The authority of the church. This is pretty much Roman Catholic territory. If the Church says it that has to be right. Dangerous, No. It simply means anything the Church (RC) says has to be true. So you doubt Mary floated physically up in the air, say, 20 billion miles; well forget it ,bub, Pius 12 said she did; so if you doubt it just get on to hell!

The authority of tradition. RC's and Anglicans kind of like this. After all if somebody 2000 or later years ago said something and somebody still believes it, it must be true. Even Keble kind of liked this authority. The problem is thousands of people said thousands of things thousands of years ago so....hell just pick and choose.

The authority of the Bible. Sure it tells you to kill your neighbors at the drop of a hat, but listen you smart ass, God wrote IT and who do you think YOU are, p...ant!!

The authority of the Holy Ghost. Let's see YOU make people fall on the floor and bark, or laugh for a month without stopping. Just turn on your TV you fool!!!Let's see YOU talk in ancient Brokadolian!!

Well there you have it. Doesn't it say it Legituris 5:18 "And the scoffer shall be grilled well done.!!!"

St. Jake and MP. Someone has to gain.

We still have a few characters to fill out Mad Towers. But plenty to choose from, so we'll take our time.

In the meantime I want to know who else might be benefitting from the Anglican raucus. Two that are active right now are Mad Priest and St. Jake) (he stops the world).

MP has created quite a congregation by jumping in very early--blog wise--on the LGBT Anglican war. Indeed his disciples seem to be believe his blog has changed the direction of the 40 million Anglican Church--excuse me--communion. He was so successful in the minds of his 'neighborhood' that he started to solicit money over the internet to support his ministry which was, of course, himself. I've dealth with this before. He finally stopped soliciting through pay pal--it got to be embarrassing. I think MP hopes that if the "communion" breaks into 50 peices he might get to be maybe even a rectum and not have to remain as a lowly curate.

Now we have a new scavenger apparently looking for financial gain from the Anglican cat fight. I call him St. Jake as a tribute to the reverence in which he is held by HIS disciples. (Actually MP and St. Jake have basically the same disciples they compete for.) Anyway, Father Jake is now pushing a book on his blog. He's trying to be a bit more subtle than MP by asking for suggestions as to what he should write about. Now shucks; if an "author" ask my opinion you can be damn sure I'd buy the book when it came out!

Jake kind of favors an autobiography. Kind of Like "The Cross and the Switchblade"(remember Pat Boone?) and "Run Baby Run" (remember Nicky Cruz?). It's been done before; indeed you can't find a fundamentalist Christian church that doesn't have a preacher or youth minister who wasn't a former 'druggie', gay, gang banger, hood etc. But Jake just might bring that "I was saved by Jesus from nastiness" business back once again.

One thing Jake has going for him is the giant picture of himself on his blog. He certainly looks like a movie star...well, okay a 1930' "B" movie star. But heck, you can't have everything.

I'll keep you posted.

Mad Towers. Mrs. Mad Priest

Big Jim at Mad Towers

Yesterday, the editor and I tried to sketch in Tracie for the Mad Towers book/movie. We noted she was a real character, but somewhat 'damaged by her over lush attitude to the Master or MP. But this attitude toward the Master is not confined to ladies. (Sorry Susan S. We just don't have room for you). For example, we have Big Jim, we'll call him.

Recently he posted the following on the MP blog: "Brilliant both of you, absolutely brilliant."!! Now, if you're MP, could you ask for more!!

A little background. When I was working on my doctorate in philosophy, a current joke was: If you are in a philosophical debate and you may not be winning say,"Well, of course, Duns Scotus, is definitive on this matter." You win. Your opponents don't want to go there because no sane person knows or can figure out what Duns Scotus was trying to say.

Well, how does that work out with Big Jim. Say he's at a cocktail party in Illinois, his home state. Just for a moment over scotch someone mentions they are a Methodist; another volunteers Catholic; a third chimes in with Jewish. Big Jim opines "I'm Anglo-Catholic."WHAT??? the others wonder---better get on to the Cubs and Whitesoxs. Message: Don't bring up religion around Big Jim; you may make a fool of yourself---after all what is Anglo-Catholic?? Is it something like "scientology?". Someone told me there were three Anglo-Catholics in Illinois. Still the best definition of an Anglo-Catholic: 'Let's dress up and play like we're Catholics.'

Give me a break!!!

Big Jim has a blog. He uses 'comment moderation.' Probably be better if there was a 'comment immoderation' button. Not allow any moderate comments. It'd sure liven the place up. And maybe he could stop saying 'my little blog' all the time.
We know that already.

In the book/movie we see his character as a kindly, pipe smoking eccentric living on a little, insignificant acreage next to Mad Towers and acheiving what recognition he has by at least being acknowledged, on occasion, by the Master.

Tracie the Red...Mad towers must have.

The editor and I have been struggling all morning with the Mad Towers character "Tracie the Red" She IS the only female member of the 'neighborhood' that exudes even the faintest aroma of sexuality. (Da-Veed has the male 'scent' to himself.)

But we do have our problems. She 'opens' her blog, then closes it, then 'opens' it, then closes it and on and on. Hard to get a consistent persona.

Then the "Joe" thing. Who in the hell is Joe?? Her husband, her boyfriend(I'm being nice), her brother, her bishop? (Yes, bishops are looking for jobs, mainly in Africa.) Just don't know. She fights with Joe like cats---excuse me--- Anglicans.
Once we had a whole series of 'fights' dealing with The Red trying to get Joe to go to a job interview at some restaurant, I believe.

And then, we can't tell, is she a wicken(sp?), druid princess. Unitarian-Universalist---assuming there are distinctions. BUT, she hangs around with Anglicans. Well maybe that isn't an inconsistency.

For the movie we would have to work on a facial 'tic' she has. That is, she is always saying "roll eyes" in her writings. Of course that could that be an imitation of a Sarah Palin wink?

The biggest problem in determining her persona is her relationship with MP, the master of Mad Towers. When ever she is around him she literally drools with praise/admiration of the Master. I'm not at all suggesting "eros", but possibly "agape?". At times, cruelly, the Master mercilessly berates her. Some have suggested he found out she had bought a Richard Dawkins book and caused the Master to have a seizure!!

So yes, we must have her in book and movie. We still have to clear up "A Guy Named Joe" Mimi may remember this mid forties movie.

BTW, we have contacted Doris Day to see if she might be available for the Tracie role. We could do her in VERY SOFT focus.

DOXY!!!! Mad Towers

The editor and I have a tough one today. For some reason I can't get to "Doxy's" blog. You notice I am not using the first part of the blog name because I can't get in for some reason, so I'll try to reconstruct the character. If I attribute something to Doxy and it came from someone else let me apologize to the "someone else" right up here.

I first came across Doxy in the "neighborhood" when she told a 20 year old friend of mine she had never met he had a small penis?? How she knew this, I don't know, but it's quite a good and useful gift for any women.Then she started to give a day by day count down to her upcoming marriage. It was sort of like the ball dropping in Times Square to bring in the new year. Finally the day of her marriage arrived and the dropping balls must have falling right on her thighs. She had always referred to the man she was marrying as "Dear Friend." That's the only name I know of her husband. Some told me she did yell "O LORDY...." when the balls dropped a few hours after the wedding. What that meant I don't know. Maybe a replacement for "dear friend." BTW there were pictures of the wedding reception, but I can't remember seeing Doxy; it seems like all the pictures were of Mimi.

Anyway she has a reputation as a tough cookie. She once told about her son, from a previous marriage, and his friends talking in front of her about "yanking off" or "whacking off. That shocked me. Can you imagine when you were in your teens and your mother told you to do your homework and you replied"Sure, but let me yank off first--just take a few minutes."

Of course I'm way too wimpy. But do you like to think your parents"did it" before or after you were born? Disgusting!! I refuse to believe Queen Elizabeth has BM's. And the Pope falling in his bathtub!! Dirty proestant lie. His Holiness has NO bady parts---he is just a head on top a white cassock! He doesn't take baths; they send him to the dry cleaners!!

The big scene in the book involving Doxy is the Library Scene. A little background. The ladies of the Mad Tower neighborhood meet once a week in the Mad Tower library to discuss a religious/theological book. This has been going on for years. So far they've read all of C.S. Lewis's books----each one at least 15 times. In fact that is the only writer they have read in their book club. After all, forget Kant, Hegel, Hume,Spinoza---hell, all you need to known was a baby named Jesus was born a couple of thousand years ago, and C.S. Lewis proves, without any doubt the baby grew up to be God, or the Trinity or the "ground of all being"--you name it--He's IT. Few know this, but word reaches me that Mad Towers has, in a silver and glass case, the tongue ofC.S. Lewis. Yes, and it has not deteriorated one bit!

Well one day recently the club met to start the 16th reading of "Mere Christianity." AND, get the drama, Doxy shows up with a copy of "Lux Mundi!!!" A fight ensues. Tea cups are knocked over, some of Mimi's tea leaves are trampled, one of the ladies faints but her life is saved because her head strikes a needlepoint Jane Austen pillow that has fallen on the floor during the scuffle!!

And then as Doxy flauts out to go back to Dear Friend or OH LORDY she screams: AT THE NEXT MEETING I'M BRINGING "FROUDE'S REMAINS!!!!!!"

Mad Towers.A hint of sex--Da-VEED.

I met with the Mad Towers editor today and we worked on an important character for the novel. Da-VEEH.

This is a tough one. The editor said we couln't go with this character. There are no Anglicans in Mexico. It would be like having a Mormon living in Vatican City or a communist Christian Scientist. A little research indicated there are one-and- a-half Anglicans known in Mexico. The one-half is explained by a transvestite who lives there who when in a male mode is a pedophile catholic and in his/her female mode is an Anglican priest(priestess?). We still have to solve the problem of whether you call a female priest "father."

Da-VEEH's occupation is not clear. He sometimes refers to himself as a psychologist, then sometimes a "psychiko". Some research reveals he is a enematologist at the local hospital. In the book, however, we are going to use him for just a smidgin of sex. After all he is about the only person even suggesting sexuality in the MP neighborhood. His kind of 'titilating pitures on the MP blog--especially the half naked one he once used--always draws favorable comments from the ladies and---okay I'll say--by some men of the neighborhood. Umm?

In the novel he will be the Mad Tower master's "houseboy." In 'real' life and in the novel he will be remarkably submissive.No, no, we're not going there!!! Once or twice he's had the temerity to be misunderstood by the Master. The Master gets carried away; issues a few semi-racial rebuffs, whacks him up the side of the head, and then Da-VEED comes crawling back like a peasant in "Viva Zapata."

"Mad Towers", the novel and movie, will have the ladies talk to each other at times about 'forbidden love.' A tea drinking, Jane Austen lady attracted to the young latino. Of course, nothing will "really" happen since, baring a failure to sell Mad Towers as a movie, maybe the BBC or Masterpiece Theatre will pick it up. Probably only the older crowd---Mimi, for example---will remember Sabu---a 1940's movie exotic. But will think about this a little more.

If we ever get to the movie stage my wife has already developed a scene. Da-VEED wakes up in the morning clad only in underwear. After all "real" men---even English MEN(if there are such) don't sleep in 'jammies'. DaVeed gets up, looks in the bedroom mirror, and exclaims with a pronounced Mexican accent: GOD...am I BEAUTIFUL!!! If we have any left over 'cuts' from the movie we'll send them to the MP blog. For a price, of course.

Mad Towers. Mimi

To move on with brief sketches of some characters from the soon to be released novel "Mad Towers"(BTW, I own the movie rights) we come to who must be considered the principal antagonist, Grandmere Mimi.

This "lady" lives in one of the most primitive states in the United States--Louisianna. This state ranks near last in medical care for the inhabitants(significant later) and is governed by---you won't believe it---an Indian(the country), Roman Catholic convert, EXORCIST, who--hold on--has a pronounced "gay" wrist!!

Probably sensitive to her location on the globe, Mimi desperately covers herself with a more exotic patina. Where possible she 'drops' a little French---she recently fell in love with bete noir---devoting a whole essay to such "Noirs". Her optician is in New Orleans, of course. For her descriptive theme, she uses the first words of Mimi's aria from La Boheme, "Mi Chiamano Mimi". A touch of Italian. Not too much though. Those Italians are such crude Papists.

But her real dream, hope, prayer, is to be metamorphised into something out of a Jane Austen novel. She apparently reads these over and over and ---just a suggestion---might be available to do an Austen character in full costume at your lesbian ladies garden club. She is a anglophile, refuses to sing "My Country Tis of Thee", instead substituting, in all instances "God Bless Our Gracious Queen.!" And the mark of all English gentle ladies--TEA. The rumor is she would prefer the Sacrament be changed TEA, not wine. After all, God is a gentlemen! Should she get this desired reform, the TEA would have to be made ONLY from tea leaves, brewed by the special Colonel Hard---excuse me, Grandma Mimi formula. Watch for these fey "Tea" discussions and run!! Yes, men do LOVE to discuss TEA. Well, at least some.

This love of the old country extends in her worship of, at least some form, of Anglicanism. We have to say "some form" today as the differing groups fight to the death. Next to her devotion to the LGBT cause, this is her life. She once travelled to England to be 'received' by the Master of Mad Towers---a supposed curate---to receive his benediction. (Do Anglicans get benedictions, kiss rings etc; probably a bit crude for The Church Of Good Manners. )

Her early writings were accepted, but only took off when the Master of Mad Towers suggested she spice things up for todays readers by throwing in some "naughty"(tee hee) words and to openly discuss and refer to, at every chance, the male reproductive organ--OPENLY, with suggestive pictures.. In addition a slight change to your local bar-maid attitude (like 'I don't take no crap,bud') has greatly increased her readability.

And pictures!!! She loves them, especially of herself. To my knowledge she has been photographed from some quaint village in England to the "gay"--excuse me, the Episcopal General Convention--streets of San Francisco.

As to her friends, most seem to be in some serious health or accident problem. By my calculation, she spends close to 15 hours a day in prayer for others. Of course, she doesn't guarantee cures, but is probably the closet thing we have 'overhere' to Lourdes. I have heard, but with no proof, that she plans to put Louisiana swamp water into small containers, as a cure for hemmeroids.

I must close by saying she has incited the envy of some bloggers by being the subject of a rather good caraciture. Unfortunately it is sometime paired with some Rasputin like 'wacko.'

So all the way from singing at a pentecostal church to queen of the queens in just three or so years. Not bad, eh? Okay, cheap shot. Her work for the LGBT community is her real glory. REALLY!

Amor ti vieta.

MP on the run.

Brief Notice. MP is on the loose again!! As Louis said about Conn: He can run, but he can't hide.

The New Trollope. Mad Towers and MP

My favorite 19the century novelist is Anthony Trollope. As critics have pointed out you can't always remember the plot of his novels,but it's the characters that live with you.

Well, Trollope is gone so what do we do to find such 'memorable' friends. In this age of new and faster forms of communication, I go to Mad Towers blog. The characters are rich in slight quirks and are a delight to follow. Where else can you find Mimi, Jim, 'doxy', DAH-veed, Elizabeth, Tracie, IT and so many other hard to forget characters. In the days ahead, I shall attempt very brief sketches of the above and others. They will not be offended if a posibly unkind remark slips in due to misinterpretation; they do not read this blog---which gives me a good deal of latitude.

But first, a brief introduction to the master of Mad Towers. We actually know very little about him, but his general character is rather easily determined by reading his writings. We know little about his physical bearing since he apparently uses a flattering caraciture on the pages of his journal. One suspects that he is older than is shown and, based on a remark here and there, a bit more...porcine?

He is married to a desperate or saintly librarian. He loves to call himself Mad Priest, possible as a preemtive strike. Mad, as used here, has two possible denotations. Mad, as in mentally unbalanced; mad as always angry at the world in general. The best critical guess would be a combination of both uses.

MP, as he is sometimes called, tells us in one of earlier writings (indeed in a sermon) that he was confined to a mental institution(I hate to use the 'old' word asylum) for several years . He clearly is not writing of mild depression or bi- polar syndrome but a catatonic state brought about by fear of the world outside his cell---excuse me, room. At some time---it is not clear---he was released. As they say about cancer, you are never cured, but just a survivor. The left overs of his problem are still apparent as his writing clearly show. He still presents, to a degree, an exaggerated fear for his shaken self image by striking out, often to an extreme, at any who do not lavish him with praise---even including the members of his "community" or his "neighborhood" as he now calls his cyber friends.

As to the second meaning of "Mad," this is confirmed by his blatant striking out at the church he works for. After many years as a curate in the Church of England---a curate being just an assistant---not a vicar, much less a higher status---MP, in his resentment, should be a prime candidate for an "anger management" tutorial.

From the two "madnesses", MP likes to see himself as the first cyber prelate. To achieve this status he, until recently, kept a constant plead for money at Mad Towers, usually as he admits for his own use. He has now dispensed with his "love gift" appeals as even his most devoted followers thought it was in bad taste.

But there is good news. MP needs a support group. We all do. Most find such a group from their families and friends. Lacking these, apparently, he finds his support in the cyber world. And a loyal and kind group they are. The basic routine is this: He 'posts' something and is showered with acclaim. If the acclaim is not great enough MP lashes back with a blistering response. The recipient of the response (maybe with a touch of masochism) or fear, or kindness follows up with an abject apology.

Now those who think we might see the beginning a cult here, may be right. But hold your judgement, till we can examine some of the characters in his world. Is MP the new Jim Jones(of mass suicide fame) or the new Trollope?I lean to the latter.

Your best chance to live forever in the sky.

Ever since I took an interest in religion, I always thought there were two issues in Christianity.

One. Who was Jesus or the Christ? Part man, part, God, preexistent, part of the "Trinity" and on and on.


Two. What did this Jesus, this Christ, tell us to do?

You kind of divide religions on which on these two does a Church or an individual emphasize.

Well, I come down on number two.Basically for two reasons.

One. All the metaphysical discussions about who Jesus was---a God, part of a God, part of a trinity, is all just human speculation. Oh, sure you can get fancy and say Jesus/God is the "ground of all being." But what does that tell anybody?

Two. The second, with some disputes, can clearly be found in what he said and taught. Even that is not completely clear. But it seems like a good start.

So let's say you want to be "saved" or live forever in the sky somewhere. Will that be decided on what intellectual conclusions you draw and have a good, a very good chance,of being wrong. Or to get down to the "nut cracking" will it depend on what you do,based to a degree on what the man Jesus said to do.

Living forever in the sky is problematic at best, but I'm going to guess you have the best chance by acting, not just thinking.

Oh, I know most churches like to say it's what you believe AND what you do. But my money is on the latter as your best chance to get to the forever sky(heaven, I believe we call it).

Blog help. Don't be fooled.

We all know, of course, that there are actually no enforceable rules in "blogging." Every day, it seems, new blogs appear. So here are a few helpful tips for you new to the blogosphere.

One. If you see a good blog, bookmark it so you can get there fast. I have 5 bookmarked, so its a breeze to check them out each morning.

Two. Find out from other bloggers what blogs will "ban" you if you don't agree with the blog owwner. These are the blog "hiders"and "scaredy cats." There is usually something fishy about the blogs that block.

Three. Be careful of the "comment moderation" blogs. They only want you to" gush" over the owner.

Four. Don't waste too much time with blogs that are used by strange people to form a support group for themselves. One I know is a former inmate of insane asylums.

Five. If the blog has nothing but wild praise for the blog owner, you're wasting your time.

Six. BE VERY CAREFUL of bloggers that solicit money---some just for their own pleasure and use. You can't get all of these "moochers" on TV,but there's at least one blogger who begs you to give to the "cause"----himself.

Seven. And some of worst blogs actually set up PAYPAL accounts.

Eight. Watch out for bloggers who are always talking about "trolls" and use the word "boring" to describe other bloggers. This is a blog trick used by some blog owners out of fear they'll expose the blog owner as a bit of a scared patsy.

Hope this is helpful.

Kindly advice!!!

I'm trying to be helpful. So....

If you have no real friends.

You've spent a good deal of your life in an insane asylum.

You're at about the lowest level in your profession.

You have no career prospects. No one wants you.

You apparently have no kids.

You're totally self-centered.

You're married to a librarian.

Try to break up the organization you belong to because they see you're kind of "off the rocker." And you might find work with a part of the group that breaks off.

Very helpful. Okay

Well, here is what you do. Start a blog. Tell people you're crazy. Get their sympathy. Only allow those who think you're 'something' to contact you. Ask for money to support you, 'cause you can't make it very well on your "job." Specialize in hate comments.

See, it's easy. Now you can say my life is my blog.

Fey Fashion and the Anglicats.

You know I had hope for my old religion---Anglicanism. Saint Jake and Mad priest were a bit too much, but at least the latter erased a real tacky response to me.

But then the Anglicats blew it. MP ran a 45 comment discussion on "proper vesting". Kind of like something Jesus would talk about. Sure.

Then the gang joined in about some one who wore a "chasuble over rochet(sp?) and chimare." And they were off to the races. Each commenter struggling to comment on the 'proper' fashion dressing of an Anglicat priest. Man it was so "fey"(I don't mean LGBT) that it was hilarious. And you wonder why people don't take this group seriously anymore.

Sure the Anglicats are out front on some important issues, and on the right side. But this little fusion of fey fashion under the guise of religion was just TOO much.

But on the bright side they do love animals, especially cats. We should all care about these guys but "proper vesting"----give me a break!!

Join the RIGHT club. Excuse me,CHURCH

Recently I have been hanging around some Anglican blogs.

And of course they think they have the best liturgy and the most freedom according to Map Priest. That's fine. After all you don't belong to a church if you think its liturgy is crap and it holds you as a slave and won't allow you "freedom." In other words we all belong to churches we think are the best. If we thought there was a better one we would go join it.

Now to a lot of non-christians, Christians are just a Gagel(sp?) of quarelling nerds arguing about can three people be one, can wine really become blood if you say just the right "magic" words over it, did the creator of the entire universe write a book. when I'm cremated will I be put back together in maybe a billion years, are we more holy because our words at church are more 'poetic' than some others, can gays do the trick with the wine and bread and on and on????

Do Christians do anything that my atheist friends don't do? Or maybe less?

Look at Saint Jake. He spews hate for all who don't think just like he does. He doesn't even want to hear from them. Because? St. Jake says they can't be right unless they---well consider him, St. Jake, inerrant, infallible or any other term you want to use to show you know it all. Hell, the Catholics just come out and say "Our church can't make an error in matters of faith and doctrine." But isn't that idea, "we are the 'rightest', "what all the Christian groups say about themselves.
I had a friend who became a Roman Catholic because when he was down those wicked "papist" were really nice to him. They helped him. Silly boy. You don't chose a religion on that basis. If you do You had better watch out. After all it is our duty to belong to the BEST church---meaning our group .

Peace breaks out. Clear conscience.

This should close the little dispute with MP, his "community" and the "Saintly":() Father Jake.

I have posted in almost direct quotes the situation that arose on MP's blog about a question from a young man. No 'friends' involved in this disagreement have made any effort to refute what I have written. Yes, there have been some ad hominem replies but nothing other than that. The "principals" all know what I have written is correct.

I do not want to restate what I have written before. Any one who would review the whole disagreement would see the truth.

So let me say in closing. The people I have named in this matter know what was said. I think their attitude is: "Well, I got out of control a bit and then told a couple of fibs about it. But basically I am a good person." Let me say, I agree. As far as I can tell from the blogs they are good people.

My conscience is quite clear. If the people I have mentioned have a clear conscience on this matter, then we all are in good shape.

Question for Tracie.

Question for Tracie the Red.

I hate to do this since you have family illness.

But I do need to ask if you made any comment about the 'small penis club' to the young man who came to MP blog and ask about "touching himself?"

Did you also follow up on your own blog with less than complimentary statements about the young man?

Did you later erase all comments on this subject from your blog?

Mark vs Mad Priest---Wormwood doxy questions.

It is quite clear that this discussion is being followed by Mad Priest and his group. To this point, but I will wait, MP has made no response to specific points; it appears that finding quotes they have looked up in books is the strategy to "cover up."

So let's go to "wormwood doxy."

One. Did you state on MP's blog that that the question ask by my young friend was 'inappropriate' because he had not studied the MP blog long enough?

Two. Were you aware that my friend had ask several times if he could ask a question on the MP blog?

Three. Were you aware at the time that the young man had ask and been encouraged by a MP regular, to post his question?

Four. Did you state that the young man was like a person 'breaking down your door, coming into your house uninvited, placing his feet on your table, and asking for a drink?'

Five. Did you, or anyone you know, say the young man was a member of the 'small penis club?'

Six. Did you not state a few days ago that the young man had come in your house to discuss 'yanking off?'

Your response, please.

Mark vs. Mad Priest. Part one.

To continue.

One. Mad priest denies he was aware of any dispute with the complainant over comments on his blog over this matter. A review of his blog will clearly show that to be false. More than one complainant wrote to his blog. HOWEVER the same email was used and could easily have been checked.

Two. MP claims he never 'erased' on his blog any posting or comments on this matter. This is clearly false as a review of his blog will show.

Three. MP has stated several times in emails to Mark that the latter is mentally unsound. He offers no proof but his statement which, unsupported by any qualified person,cannot be given any weight.

Four. MP himself has admitted to a lengthy period of mental illness, including several institutional stays for treatment of mental disorders. His mental condition as of today is not documented.

Five. On several occasions MP has admitted his dissatisfaction with his career status in his religious denomination.

Six. MP rather consistently until recently solicited money from other bloggers for his personal use

Seven. It is quite possible that MP hopes, considering his present discontent, to gain career and monetary advantage should the Episcopal Church in the U.S. and "liberal" Anglican churches in England form some type of alliance.

Obviously MP or his agents are reading this, so an answer to each complaint should be made. Not however by silly "school boy" quibbles.

Next a few questionsfor Wormwood doxy.

"Mark" et al vs. "Mad priest" etal

I must, reluctantly, return to the case of "Mark" vs. Mad Priest, Wormwood doxy, Tracie the Red, Father Jake, et al.

Now we all know that in Western society methods have been developed to arrive at the truth when a disagreement arises. This method is basically the method used in courts of law. Now, we are talking "blogs" in this situation, such blogs not , in actuality, being subject to either common law or statutory law in most cases. However, the methods used to find the truth in courts of law can be quite useful in resolving any dispute, inclusing blog disputes.

To avoid over writing we can refer to the compainant as Mark, which includes Jack, Alice, Frank, Hugomar, Sheldon.Their complaint is joined together as they all use the same email address and in fact are an older man, his wife, and two younger friends of Jack and Alice. Since this is a joint complaint the just mentioned group will be refered to as "Mark" except where necessary to distinquish the different parties. The "defendants" included above will be refered to as MP except where necessary to specifically identifiy a defendant.

The complainant "Mark" et al, contends that "Mad priest" et al have made false and inaccurate statements about him, and, in addition, have clearly implied that "Mark" is engaged in unsavory behavior. "Mark" contends that "Mad priest"et al have known about and conveyed to others false information, clearly knowing such information to be false.

Before this matter is further examined a few elementary elements of finding the truth through a formal process should be stated.

One. There is no evidentiary value in using "color" words. Thus calling someone a "troll" id totally irrelevant to the matter under discussion.

Two. The number of "supporters" of each side as shown by a calculation of the "commenters" has no evidentiary value.

Three. Making statements with no effort to document them should be dismissed.

Four. While this blog matter has no legal standing the invoking ot the so called 5th amendment against self incrimination cannot be used by the defendant in that he has waived by action such protection by making an issue of "Mark" credibility. There both sides are free to offer any argument based on the proven or admitted character defects of the other side.

Five. It is relavant to examine what personal interest each side might have in stating their case.

Six. Telling an untruth in a particular matter does not mean the statements of the person are false in toto such untrue statements may cast doubt on the truth of other statements of the person.

Seven. The fact that some of the defendants claim clerical status must not give greater weight to their statements.

As we continue, other maxims of a legal nature may be invoked as needed.

Ethics and Art---Standards or personal whim?

Three yeas ago when I moved from our rather spacious home to a condo, I had a problem. What to do with my large library and my classical record collection of over 5000 albums. I love my condo---it has plenty of space---but not for the library and music albums. I sold most of the books but had to eliminate the records. It was a hard blow!

But here a few weeks ago I discovered youtube. And there they were---many of my favorites AND in video.

I never understood how people can love great literature, for example, The Book O Common Prayer, and then have their favorite music rock and roll and other inferior drivel. But they do.

Just two of the many favorites I have found:

Schumann's Piano Quartet, op.47 ,3rd movement.
Bach's opening chorale of his cantata "Wachet auf."

Later I may post on the absurdity of having 'standards' in ethics and wallow in the gutter in music. Arnold did say seek the highest and best. Some do this in ethics but trash its axiology twin, aesthetics.

There ARE standards in the arts. But most just say "it's all just a matter of personal taste" Should we apply that to ethics?

Two Priestly Blogs.

Because my blog is kind of a personal reflexion of my thoughts, for the past week or so I have wanted to get into some great music I've found on youtube. But I keep tangling myself up in the current "Anglodrama" over who or who should not be clerics. Basically two priestly blogs are center stage it seems.

But let me back up a second. The philosopher T.V. Smith wrote 'we become what we do not just what we think.' His prime example was
Russian communism since Lenin. Lenin and his cohorts had what might be called laudable goals; but they tried to achieve them by unsavory methods---thus eventually ruining their goal itself. What does this have to do with blogging???

Well, one of these priestly blogs is, in my opinion, doing more harm than good for the cause both blogs are seeking. Why? The 'bad' blog operates in a way which contradicts its supposed goal of tolerance and openess. It blocks those who have different views than the blog owner. It refuses to accept emails. It spreads false information about those it does not like. It centers way too much attention on praising the blog owner. It answers almost all comments with a sharp retort rather than any reasoned argument. It asks its followers to not tell the truth. It encourages obscene or at least off color comments. I could go on, but I think my point is clear.

The other priestly blog allows all to comment, excluding extreme obscenities, of course. It does not spread false rumors. It does not try to 'control' its followers. It does not openly solicit personal praise for the blog owner---in other words, this 'good' blog does just the opposite in method as the 'bad' blog.

Both blogs have excellent posts, mostly. Their goals are the same. But the methods to achieve the goals are in sharp contrast. The first of these blogs seems to have more followers. But as a 19th century statesman said. Men(Blogs) should be weighed, not just counted.

Loyalty and Truth--Which is the greater?

Mad Priest and I have been exchanging e-mails. I could analize them in detail but will pass that opportunity. So I have just one question.

MP stated in a comment on my blog that "That there never was a conflict." (With me or my son). "Nothing has been erased."

Now at least five of his "community" know that the statements above by MP are not true. Now just as a experiment it would seem some of them should come forward saying MP was mistaken. You know who you are.

Send me an e-mail if you recall the incident(s). I will not reveal your name or anything that would let people know who you are. This is just an experiment in ethics. I repeat: The e-mails will be private. Loyalty is a great trait; but so is truth.