(Here is a closer examination link in the actual size ) :
"Blow up"
I was surprised to see the more recent resurgence of angel myths but the idea is strong and does predate monotheism. Speaking of monotheism, I don't believe that Akhenaten was the son of god or that the Aten is the only god .I personally don't believe in the other gods of Egypt ,Rome ,or any incarnation of deity or mythical spirits. Akhenaten's heresy, a religious revolution from the top, was also a political move against the powerful cult of Amun Ra but the results was to outlaw all the other temples of Egypt in favor of his "One true God". His was the first theocracy,the initial step into monotheism , and the first introduction of intolerance which continues today in every form of monotheism,each of which include an angel mythology and explanations of their purpose in the various dogmas.The Taliban are a modern continuation in this tradition of intolerance and morally subjugating people in the name of a superior knowledge of the nature of existence. The subjugation of women is the first step to subjugating men in all the male oriented - monotheist dogmas from Judaism on.In reality the basic principal of "Do unto other as you would have them do unto you" is universal and a ten commandments was never necessary. The first commandment is necessary in monotheism."Thou Shalt Have No Other God Before Me"also happens to also be the first commandment of Akhenaten punishable by death.Incidentally,denying the Nicene Creed also was punnishable by death.The Council of Nicea (about 325) under the Emperor - Pope Constantine dictated the edict to the Cardinals who were threatened with death if they didn't agree with the Creed's dogma. Created by Constantine,this was similar to Akhenaten's laws of intolerance and brutality disguised in the will of his imaginary god who also preached love .The Nicean Creed became the center of the new Christian monotheism that survived the Roman persecution ,outlasting their Essene Jewish root cult who also had planned to take over the Roman Empire.The Essenes failed in their plans but ,after Constantine, the Christians were successful and never looked back.
It is interesting to me that there was an cartoon picture to depict a fantasy woman as an angel posted by a young woman who was defensive of her belief in "Angels". The Essenes didn't allow a women in the Temple much less married men or non-celibates until the few years that Jesus acted as their Priest-Pope-King , also considered a heresy ,but that is another story."You've come a long way, Baby."
As for "Coming a Long way,baby".... I recently came across the report of a study of Sambian men.The Sambia believe that seman is the essence of manhood and all Sambian boys must injest quite a bit of it. When they start to develope a manly phisique their elders say , "See, it's working!"Now the adolescent boys get fellated by a new crop of prepubescent boys. So what is the rate of homosexuality among Sambian men? Roughly 5 % which is about the same level of homosexuality found in Western societies.By the time a Sambian reaches his twenties ,95% of them marries a Sambian woman in spite of his initial introduction to sex.So,even if a society urges us to participate in a specific sexual practice during our formative years,this doesn't necessarily determine our adult desires.(I have paraphrased from "A Billion Wicked Thoughts"Sai Gaddam and Ori Ogas 2011)
The gay population of the entire world might be as much as 5 percent.Political pandering doesn't change the actual percentage of minorities.What does change the importance of minorities is that under fifty percent of the entire actual electorate come out to vote and in some communities there might be as little as 25 percent participation.Minorities that coordinate and come out to vote thus become more powerful to the candidates.One has to wonder what became of the majority rule idea that was the heart of democracy.
Our Democracy has changed a lot in recent years. The repeal of the Glass Steagall Act in 1999 ,a regulation which separate Investment and Commercial Banking ,has brought a similar outcome of greed that made the stock market crash in 1929.After 2008 the Glass Steagall should have been re established but the regulations are weaker and the banks are still gambling and making a lot of money at it,that is when they aren't losing a lot( 2 or 3 billion by Chase last week). Congress fell to the pressure big money interest and second guessed their own regulation in that long fought mistake. The Supreme Court was also was re guessing at a law enacted by congress a long time ago, a congress that knew they could be compromised by corporate money.The Supreme Court under the pressure of big business in the decision of January,2010 made corporations individual citizens and made it possible to donate undisclosed amounts of money to campaign funds.These two main points will be hard to get around as the congress is bought and sold by the banking industry and corporate entities.This problem is across party lines.Plutocracy is now out of the closet and Democracy is off the table.
