FBI vs. The Church of Scientology

(Today's Interview with Matt Lauer and Lawrence Write on Human Rights Violations in the Church of Scientology--- 2/7/2011) 

The Church of Scientology will always be a mystery. Peep the original New Yorker Article.

FIRE IN MY BELLY

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT IN THIS VIDEO!!!! 

Peep this HIGHLY controversial video art piece that was removed from HIDE/SEEK exhibition because it was offensive to some Christians...

"the Smithsonian would never have their little ants crawling all over an image of Muhammad."-Catholic League President Bill Donohue

It was later found that the video was meant to inspire AIDS awareness and prevention. 

Do You Know About Red Mass?

I remember learning in high school (actually middle school) that one of the reasons why people were so apprehensive and uptight about President John F. Kennedy being in office was religion. People were genuinely afraid that the Pope would eventually usurp the power from the government and that the Catholic Church would take on world domination. It goes without saying that separation of church and state has always been a major topic...

Well, why is there something called RED MASS, then, if that is the case? Red Mass is an annual Church ceremony that all political and governmental officials attend (a lot of times even the President of the United States) at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington D. C. Every year they all come together and request guidance from the Holy Spirit and take the opportunity for reflection on what Catholics believe is the God-given power and responsibility of all in the legal profession. I think it's an interesting thing. One side of me says...YES, for ethics and a sense of morality in politics. The other side of me says...but wait...why is it a CATHOLIC Mass? Why is it a PENTECOSTAL Mass when Catholics don't believe in speaking in tongues? Isn't this a violation of separation of church and state?

Khalifa Tower: The Tower of Babel?

1	"And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
2	And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
3	And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar.
4	And they said, Go to, let us build us a city, and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
5	And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
6	And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
7	Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
8	So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
9	Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. -Genesis 11:1-9

Immediately following the dawn of the new year, the Khalifa Tower (the tallest man-made structure ever built) officially opened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in the main business district. The tower itself cost US$1.5 billion dollars to make and recreating downtown Dubai cost an extra US$20 billion. In 2007, Dubai was considered the economic capital of the world. Recently in 2010 however, the completion of the tower coincided with a global economic slump and overbuilding, calling for a bank bailout in order to maintain stability in global economic recovery. (CNN Money)

The attention surrounding Dubai and the Khalifa Tower made me think of the tower of Babel. Is money the universal language of the world? The world shows more response to possible economic collapse then it does to extreme poverty on the immediate basis for fear that we, ourselves, will also become impoverished. Even with the recent event in Haiti, it became apparent that the most recognized response to tragedy always generates money. Are we obsessed with climbing new heights? Does money really talk?