Religion: The Art of Sampling, Remixing and Remastering

If I know something is a remix or a sample doesn't make it less valid, less pertinent to my experience in my contemporary time. Nor does it make the original less valid. I may just appreciate all that was added to the remix. Like improving upon family recipe.

If you were to ask a Rabbi where the stories of the Hebrew Bible came from they may tell you that the Teachers of old took the best stories and they changed the names and some details. (Greek mythology copied Egyptian mythology. Just changed the names and details.) And some of the stories which are distinctly Hebrew are exaggerated accounts of what really occurred. To support that sentence, chew on this: a lot of the Hebrew Bible is a military history and the Hebrews did like most people do. When they won a battle or a war they attributed the victory to the Will of God. This may be true but dangerous as people tend to think and Pastors tend to Preach that God always leads us to victory and never to a crushing defeat.

Most of the Hebrew Bible wasn't written and compiled until about 1000 B.C. meaning there was at least 1500 years of oral tradition. As we know a story can change slightly or dramatically with each story teller. In the end it is the story or allegory or poem that teaches and leads us to righteous, which is another word for Justice.

The Hebrews were in Egypt 430 years, and they were in Babylon and Persia for a couple generations. If you believe they were the same people coming out as they went in...then I have a diamond mine in my sock drawer that I wanna see you. But you got to buy it first.

The concept of the Satan as we know him doesn't exist in the Hebrew Bible. In the Hebrew Bible he is more like a District Attorney appointed by God for us. An Angel who has to ask God's permission (get a warrant) before any action is taken against us. It was not until the Hebrews encountered Zoroastrianism and Ahura Mazda and Ahriman when the Satan became the embodiment of evil. Before that evil was the result of our internal action and not an external being. Evil is the result of man and the D.A. highlighted our actions before the Judge. You only need to read the description of Angels and Heavenly beings and see the statues Gods and Heavenly beings of Babylon and Persia to connect the dots.

Now I warn people to be cautious to what they label "of unbelievers" or "pagan" or "heathen" because of what we know of God from the Hebrews. The Hebrews went in every region that was more advanced than them and they learned (sent into exile and captivity by the design of God) they evolved because of the people that they were with.

They took the stories and collected them all together and gave us a more clear view (not perfect view) of who God is. GOD (the Light) comes to us through a sort of prism. Different people see the same light at a different frequency. The Hebrews, over time focused the Light on our side of the prism. They took the spiritually Obtuse and Acute angles, mingled them and gave us a Right Angle.
(If you study religion,like I do, WITHOUT A BIAS, you will see the same stories/Allusions/Allegory hinting at the common source with variation. Some stories are wild/outlandish and so are some things in the Bible. But faith is exercised. Some people believe literally, while others simply say its figurative, appreciate the lesson and keep it pushing.)

To put it short and simply:
My Grandfather may have seen Ford's first Model-T but he has never seen a Mercedes S-500.

-Now in writing this some are definitely gonna question my personal Christianity and faith. That's okay-

When in doubt, this is how I pray:
"Lord, I believe. Forgive my unbelief."

Forgive my silence

Forgive my silence but I am working on something that is proving to take some time and courage to write. But it will challenge the paradigm of many or confirm your own inner-most thoughts on the subject.
Until then...I'll leave you with this one thought.

Forgiveness is the sweetest Taboo.

Kaleidoscope Symmetry

When the day is done
I will become what you wish you needed
You will see me
Peripheral
Hear me in an echo
We are a mixture of Myrrh and Mercury
Ours is Kaleidoscope Symmetry
Freak and match every angle
as you please
as it pleases you
I pleases you
Plural meaning multiple
You the "Amen" my Hallelujah do await for
strike with momentum
cause flame where there was not
We are hope in the eye of the Saoshyant
Struggle not
for Kaleidoscope Symmetry
Rest easy
the Mahdi fight for me
Memories East
Peace with a West step
Alchemy to Ether
what used to be Oxygen
Perfect in first form
no less, finally.

1 of my all time favorites.

One of my all time favorite songs. Ten years and still in heavy rotation.
Hip Hop. Don't Feed the Philosophers. You don't know our diet. Man shall not live off of bread alone.

Alchemy and Ether Interview

Candid interview with me, David "Judah 1" Oliver about my Book, "Instructions for Alchemy. Ingredients of Ether."
Interview turned out to be a lot more than just about the book. You get to know a lot more about the Author. Check it out

Alchemy and Ether Interview from David Oliver on Vimeo.

you can get your copy of "Instructions for Alchemy. Ingredients of Ether."
Now at
lulu.com
"Instructions for Alchemy. Ingredients of Ether."
by
David "Judah 1" Oliver

Good people are sharing Good things

Instructions for Alchemy. Ingredients of Ether by Judah 1 takes the reader on a fascinating journey through one man's search for truth and meaning. It blends theology, philosophy, aesthetics, politics, love, humor and a fair share of autobiography in a compelling tour-de-force.

The writings are of varied length, style, and message. The common theme is a profound honesty that is at once convicting and inspiring. One cannot read the text without being alternately driven to rage over the injustices in our world, saddled with guilt over our role in this reality and then inspired to be an agent of change. This prophetic cycle of justice is contrasted by dabblings in the more profane matters of love, lust and other vicissitudes of human relationships. In addition to bringing a nice respite from heavier matters, these writings give us a window into the real soul of the author. He is an intellectual, a visionary, a poet, an agent of change and above all a human being. His attention to the ordinary is as remarkable as his deepest of philosophical musings about the nature of G-d. In short, Instructions for Alchemy. Ingredients of Ether is a book for those who love good writing, good ideas and care enough to do something with both of them. Judah 1 says in verse what all great prophets and revolutionaries have said. He does it with a new style, relevance and charisma. It is my hope that this time the world listens.

Ryan Falcioni
Associate Professor
Department of Philosophy
Chaffey College

Professors and Hip Hop Artists both have their view...Check out this review of my book that someone felt enough about to write a blog about

http://curtissking.blogspot.com/2009/10/instructions-for-alchemy-ingredients-of.html

MY BOOK IS HERE

Get yours today. Please.
you will not disappointed!

the Link is on the side of the blog.
I gotta run

Instructions for Alchemy. Ingredients of Ether.
David "Judah 1" Oliver