SPIRITUAL BOOKS

THE SEPARATION OF
CHURCH AND BUSINESS

Most of us have heard the ongoing arguments about the separation of church and state. The founding fathers knew that this essential ingredient would be necessary in order to prevent the re-creation of the oppression they and their families had experienced at the hand of the Aristocracy of England. In the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution it states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” This argument has allowed many new churches to be formed for varied reasons the United States. Originating from 2 Orthodox divisions of Christianity over 256 sects of Protestantism and have grown out of the respect for the term, “religious freedom.” But what about the separation of church and business?

In 1904 Max Weber, a German economist and sociologist began a series of essays entitled, “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.” He proposed that capitalism evolved when the Protestant ethic influenced large numbers of people to engage in work in the secular world. He further proposes that the Protestant Ethic was a force behind the mass action that influenced the development of capitalism. This idea is known as “The Weber Thesis” (source: Wikipedia). In his treatise Weber quotes the ethical writings of Benjamin Franklin to describe the “spirit of capitalism” which is based on individual greed, moral perpetuity and sometimes moral turpitude. Weber found a paradox in the Protestant work ethic. On one hand congregation members were religiously compelled to follow secular vocations to accumulate money. On the other hand, the spending of money inappropriately such as the purchasing of luxuries and donations to the poor, only furthered one’s journey towards either greed or dependency. Weber traces the union of the “spirit of capitalism” back to the Protestant Reformation.

Accepting Weber’s hypothesis, we can see a definite link between capitalism and established religion. After all, the early settlers of this country were Protestants. They had to leave their homes, travel a great journey and survive in a new world with what they called “savages.” Fortunately, for them, the true natives of this country respected the land and all creatures. Problems only occurred when certain groups tried to impose their belief systems upon the natives. As capitalism and business grew, religion became inextricably tied with business. Before the modern day practice of conducting business on golf courses, church members would only do business with other church members. The word “religion” comes from the Latin word “religio” (reverence for God) and “religionem” (inheritance of God), which means a binding together of people with common beliefs who have left behind their old ways and have developed new and common ways of approaching life. Remember, God doesn’t have religion. Man does. Years ago I read Hubbard’s book, “Dianetics”, and was taken aback by his pseudo-science and hypnosis of his followers. I was courted by Scientology at the Celebrity Center in Los Angeles, CA. in the late 70’s when they wanted to put a galvanic skin response meter on me to determine whether I was “clear” or not. This meter was supposed to show the “knots” in my nervous system. When I asked the “clear” initiator to show me his results on the e-meter, he declined; even though he had a large certificate over his head that stated he was “clear.” That told me all I needed to know. So I began some intensive research on Mr. Hubbard.

Today we see many TV and community churches continually asking for money to support the “ministry.” As we all know, money is one of the key ingredients in “spreading the word” of whomever you perceive is         extending the message that appeals to you. How do we truly know who is on the up and up? It’s simple. If a church or pastor’s message is more on the accumulation of “financial gifts” more than on the helping of souls that should be a clear indication as to their motives. Many churches have become businesses and treat their constituents as laborers for their greater good. Some businesses have become churches and are in the pockets everyday of their constituency. Remember, your tithe doesn’t have to be just to a church. If you give financially to help others in any way, you are spreading the wealth of God. This is not socialism, it is giving. There is a difference. Don’t let those who have more than enough convince you that you must give according to their rules. Respect man’s laws, but truly follow God’s laws.

NEEDS, WANTS, DESIRES
AND EXPECTATIONS

Once you analyze what your values are, you need to accept where you are right now to make an effective change for the better in your life.  I have mentioned many times how the practice of prayer meditation and service gives you a way of exercising the Law of Attraction. Prayer is an exercise in focusing upon what you want. Wants are issues, events, situations, people or things you feel you require to feel better about yourself in your current environment. They are not needs. Needs are necessities that you require in order to continue to survive. You need air, water and food to survive.

The chain of emotional requirements is as follows: Needs, Wants, Desires and Expectations. Needs are fixed requirements while wants are somewhat transitory. They arise from an emotional state of not being satisfied. When your wants are focused and reoccur almost every day they move into the realm of desires. A desire is a craving or longing for something you consistently want. Desire literally means, “Of the Father.” It is the uniqueness that God has given you as His creation. If you ignore your deep down desires of expression, then you are in effect proclaiming to the universe that you don’t trust what God has given you. I for one don’t want to tell the creator of this vast universe He didn’t know what He was doing when He created me. When we seek our desires and accomplish them consistently, we then move into the realm of expectation.

When your prayers reach the level of expectation and faith that God will bless you with what you seek, you need to let go of how you will get it. The universe is God’s big clock that operates beyond the timing and control that you have in your environment. Be concerned about focusing on what you expect and not on how you will get it. You must let go of the processes of how it will arrive and allow it to arrive. Meditation helps you with this by giving you and environment of relaxation where you can hear God’s still small voice guiding you as to how issues, events, situations, people and things will come to you.

In order to receive, you must first give. Giving of your talents and abilities in a positive way aligns yourself with the universe in such a way that blessings and bounty will be geared toward you. Your service to the universe primes the pump for blessings to abound. But you must be willing to receive. Are you a Giver? Are you a Receiver? In order for blessings to flow you must know when to be both. Have a good positive self image and be willing to receive what others give you. Don’t block the blessings they will receive from the act of giving. Let go of any foolish pride about receiving blessings and you unclog the drain of the flow of blessings to you from the universe. Always expect the best results for everyone and everything in the universe. Don’t settle for mediocrity!

Prayer is giving an expectation to the universe. Meditation is allowing the universe to guide you to make the correct steps. Service is receiving the blessings from the universe by acting in an appropriate way to bring about the blessings you seek. This is a process by which you can attain your deepest goals and desires of your heart. Quit complaining about what you don’t’ have and give thanks for what you do have. You have the ability, the awareness, the knowledge and the wisdom to make your life all that you expect it to be. Release all of the limitations that family, friends, school, business and government has told you that you have to embrace. Embrace how the universe works and it will work for you and not against you. ~Dean A. Banks, D.D.

AN INSPIRATIONAL STORY

Previously I talked about what our needs, wants, desires and expectations are. I have an interesting story to relate to you about a lady I know that helps to clarify the differences between emotional levels. I received a call yesterday from this lady who had just been let go from her job. She was one of the best performing workers at her job but recently contracted an illness which lowered her immunity to infections. She had lost several days from work last month and the management at her job told her that since she was such a good employee, that if she needed to work from home for a while they would support her in her recovery. She felt very good that she had that support. Due to her illness, within a month she contracted another flu-type infection and still went to work but had a difficult time focusing. The management told her that they needed her at work and she came in even though she was still sick. Her need to keep her job to support herself was real and she came to work. Other workers weren’t as dedicated to her job as she was.

Last week she missed 3 days of work because she couldn’t even talk. Since she was a customer service rep on the phone all day, it didn’t make any sense for her to even try to work on the phone. Her doctor faxed an excuse to her job. When she showed up Friday for work she worked the full day and when the day was over they called her into the manager’s office and let her go. Since the State of Delaware is an employer-at-will state, employers can fire anyone for any reason. They told her that her work performance was down (her minimum expected phone call goals were 160 calls per day and she was reaching 300 calls per day; more than any other CSR) and that she had missed too many days from work. The manager even told her that "at any time you feel that your health is back on track, you're welcome to come back." Her reaction to this news was one of inspiration. Instead of a “woe is me” attitude, she gave thanks to God for the blessing of not having to be associated with a company that fires someone for being sick. All along she wanted a better job, but her need to keep a job took precedent. Her desires to be better than she was kept growing within her. She began to expect the best in her life and God allowed her to be able to receive the best by leaving a job that was not conducive to her growth. Left alone, she might not have left the job, but she chose to look at her firing as a blessing.

What I will say next might ruffle some feathers, but I really don’t care. I am a child of the sixties and I have always chosen to question authority and religions that impose man’s, not God’s, dictates on individuals under the guise as the “word of God”, or some other authority. I have always respected other religions other than my own, but I must draw the line here. The optometrist that my friend worked for was proud to display that they operated their business under the principles of Scientology and the business practices of L. Ron Hubbard. In fact, she was persuaded to attend an “optional” seminar of these principles “off of the clock” from work. The seminar wasn’t mandatory, but “highly suggested.” She also told me about the ongoing tension in the office that was created by what she called “Scientology henchman” who monitored the employees and their work. Calls came in daily from Scientology headquarters to monitor their progress.

Years ago I read Hubbard’s book, “Dianetics”, and was taken aback by his pseudo-science and hypnosis of his followers. I was courted by Scientology at the Celebrity Center in Los Angeles, CA. in the late 70’s when they wanted to put a galvanic skin response meter on me to determine whether I was “clear” or not. This meter was supposed to show the “knots” in my nervous system. When I asked the “clear” initiator to show me his results on the e-meter, he declined; even though he had a large certificate over his head that stated he was “clear.” That told me all I needed to know. So I began some intensive research on Mr. Hubbard.

I discovered that when the State of New Jersey and the American Medical Association was challenging the veracity of his new founded faith (Scientology) he fled the state to avoid prosecution. His son, L. Ron Hubbard, Jr., remembers him moving them out of their home grabbing shoe boxes full of cash. Cash he had received from loyal followers of his “Scientology.” After being a science fiction writer for many years, he discovered that religion was his way to cash in. Please research what I am saying and see the facts for yourself. Here are some links; L. Ron Hubbard, Sr. and an interview of L. Ron Hubbard, Jr. Any belief system or religion that claims to be the only way to enlightenment is setting you up for a fall; or at the very least, separate you from your hard earned cash. Please check out this You Tube link. The poor guy is so afraid of Scientology retribution, he wears a mask. Religion needs to teach FAITH, and not FEAR! If any Scientology official has a problem with what I am saying, I invite you to an open debate on video of your principles, conclusions and the ethics of your founder and the statements he has made. Let’s let the people decide whether your organization is on the up and up. ~Dean A. Banks, D.D.

LEARNING

Learning requires an inner desire to acquire new information based on factual observation, clear and accurate perception and repeated occurrences that yield similar results. Psychologically, learning is the modification of behavior through practice, training or experience. In other words, letting of what doesn’t work and employing what does. Learning doesn’t occur without subsequent thoughts and feelings about what one is learning. When learning evokes an emotional response, it becomes cemented in your subconscious mind as being pleasurable. Some people confuse learning with parroting. Parroting is repeating or imitating someone else’s thoughts and feelings without complete thought or understanding of those thoughts or feelings. In other words, secondary thoughts and feelings without the direct experience of the events, occurrences, situations, circumstances or the behaviors of others or objects that have initially created the thoughts and feelings that one parrots.

For example, let’s say the following: “Planned Parenthood does NOT use taxpayer funding to perform abortions.” Now, those who don’t believe this parrot others who claim that PP does fund abortions with taxpayer funding. Despite the FACTS that clearly affirm that they don’t fund abortions with taxpayer’s money, certain groups of people insist that they do even in the face of facts to the contrary. Why would they do this? Why would they seek to undermine an organization that has successfully provided healthcare service to millions of women who could not afford to secure their health? It is because they have an agenda to bolster the life of the unborn while completely ignoring those who are already born and living. They determine that because some book written by sheepherders and fishermen over 2000 years ago proclaims that they should. WTF? NOWHERE in the Bible is abortion EVER mentioned!!! Again, NOWHERE! Yes, there are inferences to stillborn babies in the Bible but never specifically about abortion. Yet, time after time, those who have the inability to critically think and accurately feel discard the facts in favor of parroting the beliefs of others as ‘the way it is’.

What these people need to do is get off of their fat flatulating asses and stop blowing gas out of their two sets of lips. Burping and farting are both signs of improper digestion. If you eat the right foods with the right way of ingesting them, the creation of gas in your system is minimized. Let’s review; “Planned Parenthood does NOT use taxpayer funding to perform abortions.” Now, is this premise accurate? How could we know for sure? We go to the source of information that yields the raw statistics and examine the data. If the data supports the conclusion that they don’t, then why do some keep parroting an untruth? Is it because they WANT to believe this to be untrue? Is it because they need to gain allies to support their erroneous beliefs? Or is it because they don’t care about the truth at all? The parrot has certain characteristics:

In order to learn one must get over themselves by getting under themselves. How do they do this? By seeing things as they are and not how they yearn for them to be. Yearning is from the ego’s limited beliefs and desires are from the inner spirit’s knowing of your inner talents, skills and abilities to divinely serve your communities with truth and care. When you make the time to go within each and every day you get under your own skin and come to know the divine connection that we all share. You learn to stop parroting, posturing and pontificating about your beliefs and start knowing what contributes to the growth and expansion of everyone. In other words, you grow up! Again, let’s review; “Planned Parenthood does NOT use taxpayer funding to perform abortions.”

Do you now get it? Do you see that your ingrained beliefs came from what others believe MORE than what you know? If you don’t, you need to wash, rinse and repeat until you thoroughly clean your mind and heart of erroneous beliefs. Undoing what you have allowed to become real to you requires work and if you are unwilling to do the work your mind and heart will remain dirty and tainted by erroneous beliefs. Going within each and every day in deep meditation cleanses your being of erroneous beliefs while allowing you to find the beauty, simplicity and accuracy of the truth as it is and NOT how you WANT it to be. Be brave, diligent and dedicated to stop parroting and start living in the truth everlasting. Always remember, “Planned Parenthood does NOT use taxpayer funding to perform abortions.” Perhaps this lesson will be the trigger for you to know the truth and continue to live in the truth now and evermore! Be blessed! ~Dean A. Banks, D.D.