Happy New Year to all of you here at Daily Kos. I hope that the new year brings you all the best of luck and grants you your wishes. For my part, I am very happy to have finally graduated with both my Master's Degrees in History and Library Science. Now, I will take the time to blog on my new computer and play all of the video games I have for my Nintendo Gamecube and Playstation 2. That is before I buy the new systems. Anyway, enough about that. Since I am a history graduate and student of history, I sometimes spend time watching the History Channel. Indeed, among history students and professors, the History Channel is nicknamed the Hitler Channel due to the numerous Nazi documentaries. Follow me below the fold.
About two weeks ago, I was channel surfing television when I stumbled upon the History Channel. The documentary that was playing was about the Antichrist and the Second Coming. As a former seminarian, I started to watch it with interest. Now, I am Catholic and I do not ascribe to the fundamentalist reading of the Bible. I am more liberal in my view of scripture. However, the documentary talked to various authors and preachers who read and believe the Holy Book word for word. The documentary mentioned that this type of preaching was known as Dispensationalism and it was started in the late 1800's. It was right at this point when the fundamental rightwing preachers would be born. The fire and brimestone breed of preachers would start making people look for the signs of the AntiChrist and the Second Coming.
These preachers see signs of the AntiChrist in techonology and even certain social programs. One example that the documentary gave was that of FDR. When he signed the Social Security Act in 1935, the preachers had a fit. In the Bible, it is mentioned that the beast would have a number and that his followers would also have numbers. Well, FDR was now giving Social Security numbers to all people so he must be the anti-Christ. Another example was that of Reagan. According to some preachers, he was the Anti-Christ because his three names contain six letters: Ronald Wilson Reagan. Technology is also seen as a sign of the Anti-Christ. The Internet, blogs, are all ways where you may be tracked and the Anti-Christ always will know where his followers or detractors are.
What I thought was funny and ironic about this documentary was to see a preacher that recently made the news about three to four months ago. This preacher was the head of the National Christian Church. I cannot remember the exact name. He said that his church and followers are always looking for signs of the Anti-Christ. "We are a national church, hence we also look after Christians here in the United States," he said. I am paraphrasing right here since it has been a few weeks. I was laughing the rest of the show when I saw this man.
Who was the preacher? None other than Ted Haggard, who until recently was the head of his church. He resigned in disgrace over a gay hooker, sex, and meth scandal. All I could think the rest of the show was, "Are you going to be part of the rapture now Ted?" Or will you pay for your sins when the Anti-Christ gets here? I had to laugh so hard at the sheer irony and hypocrisy of this. I had not heard of Ted Haggard until last fall thanks in part to the blogs and cable news. Upon watching that documentary, I was able to see who this man really was. A man that talks the talk and does not walk the walk. That is the irony in this. Here we have a supposedly holy man who was doing things he should have not. He fell into temptation. Those most holy fall harder to temptation and sin.
There is an old saying in Spanish that says, "That person is the type that eats saints and shits devils." What does this mean? Basically, that these holier than thou people talk all the religion they want and wear it on their sleeves. They eat their saints by quoting their Bible passages. However, when it comes to acting what they preach, they do not follow their own words. Worse, some of these people do the same vile things they preach against. Hence, they shit the devils by doing those very acts they consider immoral or sinful.
This was the funniest and most ironic documentary I have ever seen. Thank you very much Ted Haggard for this gift. As a Catholic, I know that I am not perfect and that I am sinner. I also know not to judge others lest I be judged. I do not judge Ted, I only point out the hypocrisy he stood for. Billy Joel says it best,"I rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints. The sinners are much more fun." That is true. I like to have fun and live life. If others want to have fun in life, then live life happy.
We only have one life to live, and we better make it good. Don't spend your time judging others by what they do or stand for. You will not enjoy your life or let others live theirs. Hence, in this New Year, fellow Kossacks lets learn from Ted Haggard and live our lives to the fullest. We are dying as each day passes. Let us not spend time looking for signs of the Anti-Christ or the Second Coming. We do not know when that will happen. In the meantime, do good to others and have fun. Or we can lead a regretful existence and die miserably As the Red says in the Shawshank Redemption, "Get busy living or get busy dying."
Happy New Year to all of you and much love,
El Barragas
P.S. I am not endorsing a religion in this diary only pointing out an irony in religion. Feedback is welcomed.