ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION
INTRODUCTION
This paper will examine the question of whether or not the “Abomination of Desolation” spoken of by Daniel the Prophet and referred to in the synoptic gospels has to do with a time when God allows the local churches, (congregations throughout the world), to fall away and come under the spiritual authority of the antichrist, (Satan), for the purpose of judging the church and to usher in the period of time referred to as the Great Tribulation, which is immediately followed by the return of Jesus Christ upon its conclusion. One other aspect of the “Abomination of Desolation” within the context of eschatology that will be examined is whether or not the words of Christ in Mark 13:14, “But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains”, means that believers should leave their congregations and run to God.
This paper will be constructed with the use of extensive scripture support and scholarly journal articles as a basis for the above stated positions to include 1 Peter 4:17 (For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. And if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who refuse to obey the gospel of God?). I hope that the participants in this class will offer critiques that either support and confirm or disagree and disconfirm what I believe to be true, (using the word of God , the Holy Bible, as the basis for support or non support of the thesis), always to God’s glory in Christ Jesus……
THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION
The Abomination of Desolation that is spoken of and recorded in the books of Daniel, Mathew, Mark and Luke has to do with a time when, according to the gospel of Luke: 21 verse 20, Jerusalem is surrounded by armies and the desolation of it is nigh. Now the verbatim text as translated in the King James version reads “And when you shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies then know that the desolation is nigh.” How do we know that Luke 21 verse 20 is concerned with the topic of the “Abomination of Desolation” and is a verse that is parallel to that of Mathew 24, verses 15 and 16 and Mark 13 verse 14? We know that Luke 21 verse 20 is concerned with the topic of the Abomination of Desolation, even though it does not mention it by name as in the case of Mathew 24 and Mark 13, because of what is discussed in verse 21 where the author of Luke communicates, as does the gospels of Mathew and Mark, that “Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains…..”. So we can equate the occurrence of the Abomination of Desolation with the time that “Jerusalem would be compassed with armies”.
To further strengthen our position I offer the rest of Luke 21 verse 20 which goes on to say “then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.” (The language is similar as well as the context, that being the return of Jesus Christ). From this point on we as Christians should be concerned with this verse that is within the context of the return of Jesus Christ because it is something that God places special emphasis upon by placing the words in parenthesis in Mathew 24: (“whoso readeth, let him understand”). Once we understand that this “Abomination of Desolation” that is to take place has a lot to do with the timing and unfolding of events surrounding the return of our LORD Jesus Christ we can begin to know that it is of great importance that we fully, Look unto the hills from whence cometh our help, as we are instructed to do by the psalmist in verse one of psalm 121, (by the way I believe it to be of no small coincidence, as we will discuss later on, that in verse 2 the psalmist communicates exactly where his or her help comes from, that being the LORD which made heaven and earth). Ok, now that we have established that it is important as Christians to understand the topic of the “Abomination of Desolation”, where do we begin to look for answers that give us a clue as to when this took place or is to take place or like I believe “took place historically and is taking place spiritually during the times that we currently live in”.
The Bible is a prophetic book where tens, possibly even hundreds, of things that were foretold in the Old Testament have literally and historically occurred and were fulfilled in the Old and New Testaments. With the above stated forming precedence that GOD will fulfill his prophecies. Since we know that historical events have occurred in fulfillment of past prophecies we know that we can look at history and see if there are any events that have occurred that could be considered the fulfillment of the prophecy of the “Abomination of Desolation”, which leads us to the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD and the character of the future emperor Titus who with Tiberius Julius Alexander as his second-in-command, besieged and conquered the city of Jerusalem, which had been occupied by its Jewish defenders in 66. The city and its famous Temple were completely destroyed. If there were any historical event that we could look at as the fulfillment of the prophecy of the “Abomination of Desolation” the siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD would definitely serve as a candidate for the fulfillment of prophecy as is the claim of some.
Another historical event that took place a couple of hundred years earlier that helps us with “eyes to see” understand the “Abomination of Desolation” is when “In 168 BC Antiochus Epiphanes dared to occupy Jerusalem, enter the Holy of Holies, desecrate the sanctuary by offering unclean animals upon the alter of burnt-offerings, pollute the whole building by sprinkling it with water in which pig flesh had been boiled, dedicated the Temple itself to Jupiter Olympius, and erected the statue of that deity and plundered the temple treasures.” Daniel the prophet foretold of a time when the Sanctuary would be polluted and this without question occurred historically during the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes. We know that the two events that relate to the prophecy of Daniel the prophet mentioned in the eschatology chapter of the gospels are without question associated with Antiochus Epiphanes and Titus in a chronologically respective order, however the “Abomination of Desolation” that is spoken of by Jesus Christ has to do with his return and the culmination of time as we know it! What then could be the answer for the question of what does the “Abomination of Desolation”, that is spoken of by Daniel the prophet refer to?
If the “Abomination of Desolation” spoken of by Daniel the prophet occurred in a historical sense twice and is yet to come, we know it is still to be fulfilled because the eschatology of Christ in Mathew 24 places this fulfillment of prophecy right before the timing of the end and since the two previously spoken of “historical fulfillments” of the prophecy which point to the “spiritual reality and fulfillment” of the prophecy have come and gone and we are still occupying the earth, we can know that God has something in mind that relates to what will occur in the future just prior to Jesus’ return and the ushering in of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus Christ and the salvation of GOD’s people is the central theme that runs through the Bible. Jesus Christ came in the fullness of time, Galatians Chapter four verse four: “4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,” The Old Testament prophesies of his coming and looks forward to Jesus’ arrival, while the New Testament reflects back to the cross and looks forward to his second coming, nonetheless the entire Bible is related to Jesus Christ and the Salvation of God’s people. No doubt the subject of eschatology, which is the study of last things, is as well since Christ is the first and the last, the Alpha and Omega; “The “last things” are not like a runaway train that takes off on its own. Everything must be tethered to Christ. He is the basis of resurrection hope. His is the promise of eternal life. All things will be subject to his judgement in the end. There is no way to the Father’s heart except through the Son. All the so-called “last things” cohere in Christ. Faith generates hope that in the end the power that God displayed in raising Jesus from the dead will transform the world and triumph over the forces of sin, death and devil.
The “Abomination of Desolation” in the context of Mathew 24 has to do with the eschatology of Christ “the study of last things” and is foretold by the historical accounts of the “Abomination of Desolation” spoken of by Daniel the prophet and has to do with the external representation of the kingdom of GOD “The institution of the New Testament Church” which GOD has erected and stood up for his purposes and of which GOD has also laid out qualifications for the spiritual rulers in authority”, deacons, bishops, elders, etc…. “1 Timothy chapter 3”. According to the gospel of Luke when Jerusalem is surrounded by armies then this is the time when those that are in Judea (an area that is associated with the land of favor, Judah, Israel where the people of God have historically dwelt and that typifies where the believers dwell much the same way in which Israel typifies the kingdom of heaven). That Israel typified the kingdom of God and all the blessings that the inhabitants would inherit is no surprise once we are able to harmonize scriptures such as Mathew 15:24, which states: “I have only been sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”. In Mathew 15:24 when the woman who had the devil possessed daughter asked Jesus for his intervention and he told her that he was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel, was Jesus saying that he only came to save those that were of the nation of Israel? We know that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek and that God is no respecter of persons, but Jesus Christ used this language invoking the name Israel because they were a shadow of the true kingdom of God which is in heaven.
The previously stated conclusion is why in the book of Galatians 4:24-26 the author refers to the two covenants: “Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.” Notice the distinction that the author makes, keeping in mind what GOD tells the believer in 2 Timothy 3:16: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…”, between Jerusalem which is below, (the territory which is below that was a common dwelling place for the people that typified GOD’s people on earth) and the Jerusalem which is above which is free and the mother of us all. When we examine Mathew 24 and see the admonition for those of us who are in Judea, (a territory associated with the nation of Judah, the two southern most tribes of the nation of Israel), to flee into the mountains, (a territory that GOD associates his dwelling place to be at, reference the aforementioned Psalm 121 and the giving of the Law to Moses on Mt Sinai), we can now began to understand that since GOD made the distinction between the physical Jerusalem that typified the true Jerusalem which is above and how the focus has shifted from Old Testament Israel to the New Testament Church as the object of GOD’s favor as the command is given to preach the gospel and be a witness for Jesus Christ, how these verses concerning the eschatology of Christ begin to harmonize, Galatians 6:16 reads: “And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.” “As we discover how God related to national Israel, we will learn how God interrelates with the churches of the New Testament.”
METHODS OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION
There are two prevalent methods that theologians use to interpret scripture today. The two measures that theologians use to interpret scripture the most have to do with a literal interpretation of what is being read unless, scripture explicitly states otherwise, and an allegorical interpretation of what is being read, that is to say assigning metaphoric and or parabolic qualities to verses in the Bible that suggest if not explicitly then implicitly that they are to be understood in this manner. Both measures of interpretation rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit to arrive at a proper understanding of what is being conveyed in scripture and can be seen in work in the prophecy of the “Abomination of Desolation”. Those theologians that choose to use the literal approach for interpretation will favor the accounts of the desecration of the temple by Antiochus the IV and the capture of Jerusalem by the Emperor Titus as the literal historical fulfillment of the prophecy of the “Abomination of Desolation”, where as those theologians that prefer the hermeneutic of assigning parabolic qualities to scripture when called for will favor the latter approach. I personally believe that as GOD has done in the past, historical events are realized in order to assist believers, today who live in this time, with a better understanding of prophecy yet to be fulfilled completely as in the case of the abomination of desolation.
MATHEW CHAPTER 24
The determination of whether to leave the church would have to depend on one’s interpretation of the “Abomination of Desolation” spoken of in the gospels and the book of Daniel. There is ample evidence, given the context of Mathew 24, that the author, who is ultimately GOD, has in mind an allegorical interpretation for the “Abomination of Desolation” in Mathew 24 and we have seen how GOD himself has used allegorical interpretation as a basis for hermeneutic in Galatians 4:24-26.
THE BOOK OF DANIEL
Any study on the “Abomination of Desolation” spoken of by Daniel the prophet would be incomplete without an examination of Daniel the prophet himself. Daniel the prophet was a young man who from the earliest time in life had been blessed with the ability to interpret dark sayings. He rose to prominence in the kingdom by first telling the king what his dream was and then interpreting the dream for the king, satisfying the request of King Nebuchadnezzar. When Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar’s Son, took office Daniel was older and called to interpret a dream for him in which he told Belshazzar that he needed to humble himself before God and Belshazzar consequently rewarded him with gifts however King Belshazzar was slain the same night that Daniel interpreted his dream making way for the rule of Darius the Median. King Darius set Daniel in a position of prominence within the kingdom where he was conspired against by the counselors, rulers, and princes of the kingdom by them convincing the King that Daniel had disobeyed a royal decree to not ask anything of any GOD other than the King for 30 days. King Darius was forced to throw Daniel in prison where he successfully survived the company of a lion with the help of an angel whom shut the mouth of the lion. Daniel prospered under Darius the King. Chapter 7 and Chapter 8 record visions that Daniel had that greatly troubled him concerning Kingdoms that would be stood up and he was told that “at the time of the end shall be the vision” Daniel 8 verse 17.
Daniel did not understand the vision that spoke of “the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot. Under the reign of Darius the son of Ahasuerus Daniel understood by books, that is to say by studying books, the number of years that came to Jeremiah the prophet that God would cause Jerusalem to be desolate, that being for seventy years. The rest of the book of Daniel consist of Daniel being shown visions that pertain to the “Abomination of Desolation” of which he could not understand due to the prophecy having to due with the timing of the end, Daniel 12 verses 8 and 9: “8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? 9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” The book of Daniel can be interpreted as God’s way of telling believers that it was not his intention for us to understand what the nature of prophecies such as the abomination of desolation consisted of before the timing of the end, after all if Daniel the prophet who had been given the gift of interpreting dreams and visions from an early age could not figure out the meaning and was told to “go thy way for the prophesy is concerning the events surrounding the timing of the end”, then it was not meant to be understood until the appointed time. If we are at the time of the end, and all indications are that we are, then it is safe to say that GOD is now revealing the truths from the Book of Daniel that have been referenced by Christ during the chapters in the gospels that are related to his second coming. And not only the book of Daniel but many more truths that are contained in the Bible concerning GOD’s Judgement plan and the timetable for Jesus Christ’s return.
RELATED INFORMATION THAT SUPPORTS THESIS STATEMENT
The “Abomination of Desolation” spoken of by Daniel the prophet can be viewed as a judgement against the church, being careful to apply the same distinction that GOD makes between the Jerusalem that now is and the Jerusalem which is above and free which is the mother of us all, as GOD prepares to judge the world. 1 Peter 4:17 states:” For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” “We must be reminded by the Bible that it was God’s intention that this kind of information would someday be understood by the true believers. Remember God’s declaration of Ecclesiastes 8:5-7:
Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment. Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?
In these verses, God is teaching us that man, by nature, has no idea of the timetable of the day of his death or the details of God’s judgment process for the end of the world. However, in the life of the true believer, the individual with a wise man’s heart, it is God’s purpose that he will know time and judgment. “ Theologians such as Barbara Taylor feel that we can not know the timing of the return of Christ and quote scripture like Mathew 24:36, 44 in support of this position: “Therefore you also must be ready; for the son of man is coming at an hour that you do not expect” However we know that the true believer will know a great deal surrounding the timing of the return of Christ because he will be watching and discerning the times. I offer Revelations chapter 3 verse 3 as scripture support for the above stated position: “3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” In other words for the believers who are watching faithfully, we will know the timing of the return of Christ just as Daniel was able to figure out the period that Jerusalem would be made desolate through the study of GOD’s word.
CONCLUSION
We have discussed the biblical evidence that supports the idea that the “Abomination of Desolation” has to do with the falling away of the church and a time when GOD’s judgement is upon the external representation of the body of Christ during these last days very paralleling the judgement on Israel for their unfaithfulness. (FOR THE READERS CONSIDERATION ONLY).
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
what do you think?
Lashon,
Interesting article. Personal outlook gravitates toward the parabolic for application of fundamental truth and principle to Christians as a whole. (Biblical Israel = Christians today)
The subject of desolation provokes an immediate consideration of observed trends within the Church over the past few decades. What is the main message or emphasis after one accepts Christ? While it is not the case across the entire Body, it appears that a large portion places a significant emphasis on tangible blessings or the acquisition of material possessions. From my observations, most non-believers pick up on this and either reject because of the percieved simple shallow nature or accept in hope of an improved material life on this earth.
However, the most important pursuit and emphasis must be after those intangibles that cause others to see a “difference” that they want to experience themselves. (While I have personally failed at this due to inconsistency, I have experienced it nonetheless at different levels in my own life.) These intangibles are the Fruits of Spirit that anyone, believer and non-believer, can pick up on and they are only fertilized and cultivated through focused efforts on building our relationship with Him. Additional intangibles include those things that Jesus said we would be able to do in His name as representation and example of His power working through us. This is obviously not always easy or sought after due to our human weakness and fallible nature. The tangible material blessings are easier to chase after and more appealing to the carnal mind. However, tangible material blessings are simply a by-product of a proper and healthy relationship with Him and/or consequence of good decisions. Non-Christians are capable of making sound decisions that lead to material possessions. Christ is not a crutch to be used for getting and acquiring these types of blessings. Is it possible that a large, mainstream focus on the tangibles has put the Church on a path toward desolation and loneliness since this can cause the non-believer to discount the Church as insincere, powerless, or even corrupt? Rather than being the Light of the World we are more susceptible to being labeld as a mockery? Again, I do not believe that this is 100% applicable throughout the Church but it has been enough to be noticeable.
Won’t elaborate for the sake of brevity. Not perfect here by any means. Many mistakes and inconsistencies. Need more of those intangibles to get better and go farther and deeper in my own relationship. Thanks for sharing the article.
C, Smitt…
Thanks for the comment. Don’t we all need more of the intangibles (fruits) to draw closer in our walks with Jesus. I remember being younger and having a closer walk but it’s like the scripture says in Ecclesiastes 12:1, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;”. It is very hard to stay focused on things above as we live out our lives on this earth (even for the truly born again believer).
God’s blessings in Christ Jesus
Brother Bush
Lashon,
I started this with only a thought to give a few comments, but it grew beyond what I expected, so I hope you forgive me if I rambled in a few locations. ( I wrote this line after I was done!)
Here are few comments from my initial scan of your “ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION” paper and your position presented. Remembering how we talked about taking verses from the Bible with both the context of the scriptural writing as well as the historical context in which it was written. You accounted for the probable historical events surronding the verse, such as the siege of Jerusalem in AD 70 so I was following your initial statements, but then you seemingly dismiss the significance of the historical setting. Seems you acknowledge it, but then discount it without further argument. Later, when I finished reading, I understood better the differentiation you made between the historical view and the allegorical view.
As you acknowledged in your paper, the context of the phrase within both the verse, the whole of Mark Chapter 13 and the historical context, Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 are prophecies about the siege of Jerusalem in AD 70 by the Roman general Titus. However, many scholars agree there were ‘after the fact’ profacies, meaning the linkage of Christ’s words were linked to the actual event after the event occurred. The events, as you also noted, apparently were also supported in Luke 21:20-21 – “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.” Also, from my understanding, the first written Gospel was written about AD 70, which would give further support to the idea of an ‘after the fact’ profacy, in this particular case. These after the fact profecy writings would further support your viewpoint of an allegorical view – I believe.
But I don’t follow your arguement (which I believe is your thesis) that this verse “means that believers should leave their congregations and run to God.”, the supporting arguements don’t convince me, especially in the historical context that you initially lay out, which give a more solid explanation of the verse. Remember also that during the life of Jesus, the Roman armies were already occupying Jerusalem until (as you state) AD 66.
While you also reference 1 Peter 4:17 as a condemnation of the Christain communities “For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. And if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who refuse to obey the gospel of God?”, the context within the chapter is about accepting suffering in the name of Christ and combating the sin within ourselves. We must be true to the word that we preach, if we are truly to proclaim it to others. As Peter continues to say in 1 Peter 4:18 “If the righteous man is scarcely saved, where will the impious and sinner appear?”
I’m not inclined to focus on the end, I (would like to thing anyway) think I focus on being a servant here on earth. The end of the physical world brings us to our ultimate goal to be with God, so there is no fear in death and the end of the world/time ; while you seem to be a student of eschatology – focusing on the end of time as a negative thing.
The Church is a community, which we need. If I primarily associate with thieves, i would soon become a thief. If I primarily associate with womanizers, i would soon become a womanizer. And likewise if I join in communion with others in the Church in the love of Christ Jesus, I have the support I need to take steps to become more like Christ. Most people cannot do it alone. And as God warned through the letters of Paul, Rom 12:3, one should not think too much of oneself: “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment.” The Church is essential in keeping a foundation of Christ on earth, otherwise you end up with faiths being created for one’s own ala carte views and they fade away as quickly as they are created because they have no foundation in the Christ-established Church.
Also, I offer that as far as the end of time, God has no boundaries on time. God knows all that has happened, is happening and will happen, because there is no ‘time’ to God. All time is ‘now’ to God. Time is a human invention that is inconsequetial to God. Moses ‘wrote’ the first days of the world in Genesis in the context of what the people could understand. The Israelites could comprehend a context of Day 1 God did this and Day 2 God did that. Moses offered these teachings so it could be remembered and understood, which enabled a tradition of passing these teachings orally from generation to generation.
On a purely scholastic note, I would caution making statements such as ‘all indications are that we are’ to be assumed to be fact, unless you present that argument earlier in your paper. From your paper in the Daniel section, you state “If we are at the time of the end, and all indications are that we are, then it is safe to say that GOD is now revealing the truths from the Book of Daniel that have been referenced by Christ during the chapters in the gospels that are related to his second coming” However, you have laid no foundation to your conclusion that we are now at the ends of time.
On a personal note, I have gone through a time in my life where I believed the Church was just a bunch of old men taking our money to make big churches and tell us how we are sinners. But after this rejection that I had, and over time, I was challenged and my arguments soon were dissolved. The Church has lasted since Christ started it with Peter, over 2,000 yrs ago with an un-interrupted line of Popes. That is amazing! While a few of the Popes were human and therefore they sinned, the Church has yet remained because it started with Jesus naming Peter his Rock. The foundation of the Church. Just like the Bible is not a historical work, but rather God inspired scripture that is truth which transends generations; individuals within the Church are fallible, while the Church itself infallible. On a practical side, the Church is the most charitable organization on the planet. It gives more to more people across all countries, genders, races and faiths – without judgement. The Church — the community of people and God — were with me through trials in my life which I could not have gotten through without support. They made Christ real for me. So it is very personal also.
I do believe in your statements about how lessons conveyed in the bible are relevent to our lives today. We have the opportunity to learn from other’s mistakes and take joy in their succeses which we hope to duplicate in our lives. Mostly in the sense of you can rarely go wrong when you are serving others, but more often than not, when you serve yourself (and other god’s), you are sure to turn from God and experience ‘hell’. This is all by our own choice, not God’s, who wants us all to be with him.
God bless and thank-you for the opportunity to delve further into our faith.
-MAJ V
My personal beliefs on matters of eschatology are too obscure to be discussed at length in such a forum as this. I am no Theologian; but for the sake of discussion, the single most important point I could posit as a Theologian is that the concrete words emplaced within the scriptures are subject to question. Many of the scriptures were written in Hebrew, translated to Aramaic or Latin, and translated from there into English. The Douay-Rhemes version of the bible, accepted by so many Catholics as the ‘best’ translation, was scribed by French scholars (this delightful irony is not lost on me).
Why make this point? Because there is a very thin line between what are truths, and what are lies, and what are merely truths we lack the wisdom to fully appreciate. Indeed the message of the scriptures is clear, and has for centuries provided a rigid moral guide. While many terrible* things have been done ‘in keeping’ with this moral guide, it has, beyond any doubt, had a significantly better track record than Islam (for example) as far as historical figures and their accomplishments. It is definately worth saying that we are all only human, and the further you delve into history, the more human we become.
I wish to stress the single point that what is now known as the Catholic Church (and is referred to historically as “The Church”) has been involved in activities that may be called Abominable almost since it was founded. Because of this, I have difficulty giving credibility to the organization, and have similar difficulty accepting the credibility of any person or persons that the organization deems ‘credible’. Again, I am certainly no Theologian, so suspending immediate discontent, and looking only at history, I am not sure whether or not the entire discipline of Eschatology may be a lie, or if in fact it is a truth I lack the wisdom to appreciate. I am not sure whether or not Organized Religion in general is a way to save the masses, or a way to oppress them; if the intent was to provide a blanket method of salvation for those unable to accept the eternal consequences of their actions without assistance, or if the papacy was founded as the most clever pyramid scheme the world has ever seen. Perhaps a little of both.
Suffice it to say that my beliefs are rather conflicting, but that is my battle to fight.
*I speak of the witch burnings of western Europe, the rape and pillage done during the Crusades, the offering of ‘indulgences’ by the Vatican, the numerous assassination attempts on Martin Luther in the 14th Century, et cetera, et cetera