Edip Yuksel

THE NINETEEN QUESTIONS FOR CHRISTIAN CLERGY

by Edip Yuksel

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QUESTION 13 Priests or peddlers? "When missionaries came to South Africa, we had the land, they had the Bible. Then they told us, "Let's close our eyes and pray." When we opened our eyes we saw that we have the Bible, they have the land." (Desmond Tutu, the Nobel Prize winning South African priest). There are undoubtedly many individuals with high moral and ethical standards among the clergy members of every religion. Even among confirmed atheists you can find many such laudable individuals. However, the overall record of organized religion and proselytizing atheism is far from exemplary. Politics, money and religion... History is full of examples of this trinity, as well as the trinity of idols. Religion is an attractive and profitable business for many. You can preach to others to close their eyes on faith and pay money to your church, mosque or temple in order to enter heaven. When the market is good, you can sell indulgence and holy handkerchiefs. You can learn about people's secrets and crimes through confession and enjoy the power to forgive them. You can exploit their guilt-complex as much as you can. You become their gods with blackmail in your left hand, and forgiveness in the other. If there are some trouble makers you can call them heathen and even excommunicate them in the name of the conventional god, or gods. You can even manipulate kings and queens to declare Holy Wars, or Crusades. Indeed, church authorities are highly successful in abusing the faith of gullible masses. They inherit thousands of years of experience. They craftily mix gullibility with faith, ignorance with divine mystery. They never asked for money All the pioneers of monotheistic religions invariably fought against their contemporary professional religionists. Moses against the Magicians, Buddha against the Brahmans and their caste system, Socrates against the Athenian polytheist clergymen, Jesus against the Pharisees, Muhammad against the Arab's theocratic oligarchy. These pioneers never asked for money for their mission. They taught that the exploitation of faith is one of the biggest crimes. They tried to open people's minds. They exhorted them not to follow the religion merely on faith, but after reasoning. They defied the idols which were the means for every kind of exploitation. Their message shook the corrupt establishment. Worried about their business, religion brokers fought against them. Here is an example of this encounter: "Then he (Jesus) entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. "It is written," he said to them, "My house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'" Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him." (Luke 19:45-47). Paul, "the Pharisee, son of the Pharisee," was the first Christian to start making money and freeloading for his preaching. He was harshly criticized for that behavior. However, he made excuses for himself in 1 Corinthians 9:3-14 . Today's church is following Paul, not Jesus. When weeds replace flowers Ironically, soon after those brave revolutionary masters, their teachings were distorted by their ignorant "followers" and the hypocrites. Superstitions and lies replaced truth and wisdom. Weeds replaced flowers. After a long process of degeneration and mutilation, they became the norm and convention. That is the best time for religion brokers. The distorted religions with their many idols provide the best culture for them to breed and grow. Human history is stained by numerous disasters caused by the powerful church authorities. The holy form of colonialism The clergy do not need absolute power to stain the human history with wars and disasters. When they have relatively less power, they become tools in the hand of corrupt kings and rulers. Amawy, Abbasy and Ottoman tyrants used Muslim clergy for their corruption and aggression for centuries. The British Empire used Christian missionaries as spiritual conquerors, as angelic reserve forces behind their troops in Africa, Asia and the New World. This insidious form of colonialism was carried out by Catholics, Protestants, Mormons, with full governmental support. Massacres, assimilations, genocide, slavery were justified and consecrated by the corrupt clergy. The ones that did not want to participate in this action did no more than to say to the oppressed party, "Turn your right cheek also." The characteristics of nefarious clergy Today's clergy is no different than before. They adapt very well to every condition. In the United States, churches are very competitive businesses and they are evolving to super-churches. Evangelists now use radio and TV to raise even more money. Modern technology and psychology is employed for this oldest of businesses. The volume of money and assets involved annually accounts in billions. Emotionally exploited widows and elders, rich and poor reward them generously for their only product: delusion; but of the "holy" kind. Related questions 1. Why do you make profit for your religious service? Did Jesus or any of his disciples make money for their mission? 2. Why did you turn your church to "a den of robbers"? 3. What did Jesus mean when he told to his disciples, "You received free, give free..." (Matthew 10:8)? 4. Jesus was a carpenter and was working to earn his living. Why do you not follow him as a role model? 5. You are obviously following Paul, "the Pharisee, son of the Pharisee". He was not shy of telling people that he had the right to nourish himself with the milk of his flock, that is, his followers (1 Co 9:7). However, you have gone even far ahead of Paul. He was not charging when he was preaching the gospel. He was not making full use of it (1 Co 9:18). But you charge all the time. Why do you not have some mercy to your flock? Images, icons, idols, saints, priests --or God? "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below." (Deut. 5:7-8). The Bible is full of verses prohibiting use of images and statues in worship. Asking mediation from any image is considered a reproach to God. The first commandment is very clear in condemning any kind of respect for images. By asking a rhetorical question, the Bible teaches us that we cannot represent God with any image, since God is beyond our imagination. "To whom, then, will you compare God? What image will you compare him to?" (Isaiah 40:18) Psalm 115:4-8 describes idols as deaf, dumb and blind. Then, it warns those who make them and those who trust them of becoming like them. Here are some verses: "Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and jut down their Asherah poles. Do not worship any other god ..." (Exodus 34:13-14) "Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 26:1). "... Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places." (Numbers 33:52). "They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them." (Psalm 106:36). "The arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day, and the idols will totally disappear." (Isaiah 2:17-18). Also see: Deut 4:16-28, 35; 5:8; 7:5, 25; 27:15; Isaiah 27:9; Jeremiah 8:19; Micah 1:7; 5:13... From monotheism to idolatry However, today's churches are full of images and icons of Jesus, Mary and countless so-called saints. If Jesus were back today he would consider churches as the center of idolatry. A book published by the Jehovah's Witnesses raises a sound question against the idolization of the cross as a symbol: "Even if Jesus had died on a cross, would the way Christendom uses it be reasonable? If someone you loved very much was stabbed to death, would you worship the knife that killed him? Of course not. It would be an object of abhorrence to you. Further, according to the Bible, it is wrong to worship anything or anyone apart from God himself. The apostle John stated: "Little children, guard yourself from idols." (1 John 5:21) Yet, Christendom has made and idol of the cross." (The Time For True Submission to God, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 1982, p. 30). Paul is carving idols by innovating mediators In the Old Testament we cannot find intercession as the method for salvation. The doctrine of intercession is fabricated by Paul and his disciples. None of the biblical messengers and prophets used the names or images of other prophets or messengers in their prayers. Paul is the first one who created the institution of intercession or mediators after Jesus. "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men." (1 Timothy 2:5). But, the word "one" in Paul's dictionary does not mean the "one" that we know. When he says "one God," he means the "one made of three and equal to three", when he says "one mediator," he means "the Spirit and numerous saints" besides Jesus: "... because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." (Romans 8:27). Prayer brokers Christendom followed Paul and added numerous idols under the title of intercessors or mediators. Many so-called apostles and saints have been appointed as mediators, it appears that the Christian churches have turned to Hindu temples. Previous mediators and intercessors, (i.e., dead prayer brokers) paved the way for the living brokers. This provided a very important tool for the clergy to exploit their followers. ("We just care about the icon." A newspaper clip quoting the assistant secretary of a Greek Orthodox Church regarding the stolen "weeping icon" is omitted.) There are many gullible people who believe in fabricated stories. Fictitious miracles are not unique to the Christendom; they can be witnessed in every religious community. Whenever clergy needs some advertising, hearsay miracles are published. Excited zealots echo those tales with uncontrollable exaggerations and distortions. Nevertheless, here, I want to pull your attention to the attitude of the clergy. The clip below quotes a very interesting confession of idolatry by a clergyman: "We just care about the icon." How much did Abraham, Moses and Jesus care about icons? (The Arizona Daily Star, December 29, 1991) Related questions: 1. Why do you display images, icons and pictures in your churches? Why do you disobey numerous verses of the Bible regarding idolatry? 2. The Bible sets many examples for us. None of those Biblical figures advocate intercession, except Paul and his followers. What is the reason for this major shift? 3. Why do you "worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell"? 4. As Catholic ministers, how can you claim that you possess the power of absolving the penitent? Who give you power to require people to confess their sins before you? Are you "God" or His sinful creature? How can you forgive the crimes or sins committed against somebody else?

Moslem Questions on Christianity Edip Yuksel P.O. Box 43476, Tucson, AZ 85733-3476 U.S.A. Tel/Fax: (520) 323-7636

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	THE NINETEEN QUESTIONS FOR CHRISTIAN CLERGY by Edip Yuksel ISNET Homepage \| MEDIA Homepage \| Program Kerja \| Koleksi \| Anggota \| Indeks Antar Agama \| Indeks Artikel \|
	QUESTION 13 Priests or peddlers? "When missionaries came to South Africa, we had the land, they had the Bible. Then they told us, "Let's close our eyes and pray." When we opened our eyes we saw that we have the Bible, they have the land." (Desmond Tutu, the Nobel Prize winning South African priest). There are undoubtedly many individuals with high moral and ethical standards among the clergy members of every religion. Even among confirmed atheists you can find many such laudable individuals. However, the overall record of organized religion and proselytizing atheism is far from exemplary. Politics, money and religion... History is full of examples of this trinity, as well as the trinity of idols. Religion is an attractive and profitable business for many. You can preach to others to close their eyes on faith and pay money to your church, mosque or temple in order to enter heaven. When the market is good, you can sell indulgence and holy handkerchiefs. You can learn about people's secrets and crimes through confession and enjoy the power to forgive them. You can exploit their guilt-complex as much as you can. You become their gods with blackmail in your left hand, and forgiveness in the other. If there are some trouble makers you can call them heathen and even excommunicate them in the name of the conventional god, or gods. You can even manipulate kings and queens to declare Holy Wars, or Crusades. Indeed, church authorities are highly successful in abusing the faith of gullible masses. They inherit thousands of years of experience. They craftily mix gullibility with faith, ignorance with divine mystery. They never asked for money All the pioneers of monotheistic religions invariably fought against their contemporary professional religionists. Moses against the Magicians, Buddha against the Brahmans and their caste system, Socrates against the Athenian polytheist clergymen, Jesus against the Pharisees, Muhammad against the Arab's theocratic oligarchy. These pioneers never asked for money for their mission. They taught that the exploitation of faith is one of the biggest crimes. They tried to open people's minds. They exhorted them not to follow the religion merely on faith, but after reasoning. They defied the idols which were the means for every kind of exploitation. Their message shook the corrupt establishment. Worried about their business, religion brokers fought against them. Here is an example of this encounter: "Then he (Jesus) entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. "It is written," he said to them, "My house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'" Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him." (Luke 19:45-47). Paul, "the Pharisee, son of the Pharisee," was the first Christian to start making money and freeloading for his preaching. He was harshly criticized for that behavior. However, he made excuses for himself in 1 Corinthians 9:3-14 . Today's church is following Paul, not Jesus. When weeds replace flowers Ironically, soon after those brave revolutionary masters, their teachings were distorted by their ignorant "followers" and the hypocrites. Superstitions and lies replaced truth and wisdom. Weeds replaced flowers. After a long process of degeneration and mutilation, they became the norm and convention. That is the best time for religion brokers. The distorted religions with their many idols provide the best culture for them to breed and grow. Human history is stained by numerous disasters caused by the powerful church authorities. The holy form of colonialism The clergy do not need absolute power to stain the human history with wars and disasters. When they have relatively less power, they become tools in the hand of corrupt kings and rulers. Amawy, Abbasy and Ottoman tyrants used Muslim clergy for their corruption and aggression for centuries. The British Empire used Christian missionaries as spiritual conquerors, as angelic reserve forces behind their troops in Africa, Asia and the New World. This insidious form of colonialism was carried out by Catholics, Protestants, Mormons, with full governmental support. Massacres, assimilations, genocide, slavery were justified and consecrated by the corrupt clergy. The ones that did not want to participate in this action did no more than to say to the oppressed party, "Turn your right cheek also." The characteristics of nefarious clergy Today's clergy is no different than before. They adapt very well to every condition. In the United States, churches are very competitive businesses and they are evolving to super-churches. Evangelists now use radio and TV to raise even more money. Modern technology and psychology is employed for this oldest of businesses. The volume of money and assets involved annually accounts in billions. Emotionally exploited widows and elders, rich and poor reward them generously for their only product: delusion; but of the "holy" kind. Related questions 1. Why do you make profit for your religious service? Did Jesus or any of his disciples make money for their mission? 2. Why did you turn your church to "a den of robbers"? 3. What did Jesus mean when he told to his disciples, "You received free, give free..." (Matthew 10:8)? 4. Jesus was a carpenter and was working to earn his living. Why do you not follow him as a role model? 5. You are obviously following Paul, "the Pharisee, son of the Pharisee". He was not shy of telling people that he had the right to nourish himself with the milk of his flock, that is, his followers (1 Co 9:7). However, you have gone even far ahead of Paul. He was not charging when he was preaching the gospel. He was not making full use of it (1 Co 9:18). But you charge all the time. Why do you not have some mercy to your flock? Images, icons, idols, saints, priests --or God? "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below." (Deut. 5:7-8). The Bible is full of verses prohibiting use of images and statues in worship. Asking mediation from any image is considered a reproach to God. The first commandment is very clear in condemning any kind of respect for images. By asking a rhetorical question, the Bible teaches us that we cannot represent God with any image, since God is beyond our imagination. "To whom, then, will you compare God? What image will you compare him to?" (Isaiah 40:18) Psalm 115:4-8 describes idols as deaf, dumb and blind. Then, it warns those who make them and those who trust them of becoming like them. Here are some verses: "Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and jut down their Asherah poles. Do not worship any other god ..." (Exodus 34:13-14) "Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 26:1). "... Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places." (Numbers 33:52). "They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them." (Psalm 106:36). "The arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day, and the idols will totally disappear." (Isaiah 2:17-18). Also see: Deut 4:16-28, 35; 5:8; 7:5, 25; 27:15; Isaiah 27:9; Jeremiah 8:19; Micah 1:7; 5:13... From monotheism to idolatry However, today's churches are full of images and icons of Jesus, Mary and countless so-called saints. If Jesus were back today he would consider churches as the center of idolatry. A book published by the Jehovah's Witnesses raises a sound question against the idolization of the cross as a symbol: "Even if Jesus had died on a cross, would the way Christendom uses it be reasonable? If someone you loved very much was stabbed to death, would you worship the knife that killed him? Of course not. It would be an object of abhorrence to you. Further, according to the Bible, it is wrong to worship anything or anyone apart from God himself. The apostle John stated: "Little children, guard yourself from idols." (1 John 5:21) Yet, Christendom has made and idol of the cross." (The Time For True Submission to God, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 1982, p. 30). Paul is carving idols by innovating mediators In the Old Testament we cannot find intercession as the method for salvation. The doctrine of intercession is fabricated by Paul and his disciples. None of the biblical messengers and prophets used the names or images of other prophets or messengers in their prayers. Paul is the first one who created the institution of intercession or mediators after Jesus. "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men." (1 Timothy 2:5). But, the word "one" in Paul's dictionary does not mean the "one" that we know. When he says "one God," he means the "one made of three and equal to three", when he says "one mediator," he means "the Spirit and numerous saints" besides Jesus: "... because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." (Romans 8:27). Prayer brokers Christendom followed Paul and added numerous idols under the title of intercessors or mediators. Many so-called apostles and saints have been appointed as mediators, it appears that the Christian churches have turned to Hindu temples. Previous mediators and intercessors, (i.e., dead prayer brokers) paved the way for the living brokers. This provided a very important tool for the clergy to exploit their followers. ("We just care about the icon." A newspaper clip quoting the assistant secretary of a Greek Orthodox Church regarding the stolen "weeping icon" is omitted.) There are many gullible people who believe in fabricated stories. Fictitious miracles are not unique to the Christendom; they can be witnessed in every religious community. Whenever clergy needs some advertising, hearsay miracles are published. Excited zealots echo those tales with uncontrollable exaggerations and distortions. Nevertheless, here, I want to pull your attention to the attitude of the clergy. The clip below quotes a very interesting confession of idolatry by a clergyman: "We just care about the icon." How much did Abraham, Moses and Jesus care about icons? (The Arizona Daily Star, December 29, 1991) Related questions: 1. Why do you display images, icons and pictures in your churches? Why do you disobey numerous verses of the Bible regarding idolatry? 2. The Bible sets many examples for us. None of those Biblical figures advocate intercession, except Paul and his followers. What is the reason for this major shift? 3. Why do you "worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell"? 4. As Catholic ministers, how can you claim that you possess the power of absolving the penitent? Who give you power to require people to confess their sins before you? Are you "God" or His sinful creature? How can you forgive the crimes or sins committed against somebody else?
	Moslem Questions on Christianity Edip Yuksel P.O. Box 43476, Tucson, AZ 85733-3476 U.S.A. Tel/Fax: (520) 323-7636
	\| Indeks Antar Agama \| Indeks Artikel \| \| ISNET Homepage \| MEDIA Homepage \| Program Kerja \| Koleksi \| Anggota \| Please direct any suggestion to Media Team