FEEDBACK ON CHRISTIAN TEACHING ON AIR

Mexican Christianity Wall Art from http://wall-decor.novica.com/sun-and-moon/mexico



If I were a non-Christian and I hear the radio spiel -- "Jesus said, ' take, eat, this is my body'" would I not think that Jesus is asking people to be a cannibal? Quoting from the Bible is not feeding the converted with quotations but making them understand Biblical statements, not blindly and possibly Christianizing them, making them appreciate Christian teachings.

But that is not the case at the moment. A Christian radio station, with the voice of a woman, keeps harping on that quotation, ad nauseam, as if she were a pastora who knows how the souls of human beings should run -- along fundamentalist interpretations of the Bible, a very medieval view of teaching about Christianity.

But is there room for change in the world of Christians? So many people like to quote from the Bible but their praxis is total opposite to what they preach. Another pastora I know very well has hurled epithets to her landlady for insisting that she vacate the place as she has not paid for almost 20 months then, the last time they talked. Yet she could quote dozens of Biblical passages, as if she had the sole prerogative of being holy.

It is difficult to find or push for changes in the religious scheme, when people embrace their religion as if it were blood in their veins. I think that is a very shallow understanding of Christian teachings. I believe in Jesus, especially when he says that "For what shall it profit a man (or woman) if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul?"

But for me to believe in Christ because so-so said this over the radio, I think that that is taking Christ out of context. But to be a Christian I would like to think is to know the whole life of Christ. To not be a Christian, is not to repudiate Christ's teachings without having read them.

Radio being an aural medium, and hence can penetrate the mind when one hears the sounds in darkness could be a dominating medium that could induce people to embrace a religion blindly. It should be handled with caution, and makes its users imperatively responsible enough to know the implications of every word that is spoken through it.

Sadly, there is very little space for changes where communication is concerned. The big radio stations use 4-numbers for people to communicate with them. But some celfones like mine do not send any of those numbers away under Globe or Sun or even Talk and Text. And how much do stations charge for sending to those 4-digit numbers? P15 per message to the Christian station.

Well, at least I am glad that DZXL has the 11-digit celfone number so I can send my comments very easily -- which is why we call it a friendly station.

Maybe the National Telecommunications Commission must already be on its toes to look into this matter of giving feedback, especially on religious matters that affect our daily lives day and night. We cannot remain quiet in the face of insidious attacks on our beliefs. The NTC must insure that every media outfit that goes on air shall allow for feedback without charges.

PEOPLES' PRIMARIES: LONG AND SHORT OBJECTIVES

LONG RANGE OBJECTIVES OF THE PEOPLES’PRIMARIES:

1. To instill in the people the need to actively participate politically, specifically to elections and governance of the country, albeit the community;

2. To make the society a place for people with noble values, of caring for all generations and the environment; and

3. To make them value their participation; and corollarily to remove all vestiges of patronage politics that spawn the “guns, goons, and gold” principle of getting elected and/or appointed in government.

SHORT TERM OBJECTIVES OF PEOPLES’ PRIMARIES:
1. To make the people see the need to get involved in 2010 elections from the nominating to the voting and counting phases;
2. To insure that an informed campaign takes place, to :
a. inform the people about the PP’
b. inform the people the good qualities of a leader;
c. inform the people of the need for alertness in voting and counting the votes honestly;
d. insist on the Comelec to provide free airspace to all candidates, especially those who have no resources but are qualified, competent and honest to run;
e. campaign for the platform of government that will contain the ideals of the people – covering most importantly, health, education, environment;
f. create groups and sub-groups that will attend to each every particular objectives and realize them;
g. appoint or select leaders who possess honesty, integrity, nurturing qualities and are informed of all the issues that are on hand affecting the political processes;
h. create a group, lawyers preferably for grievances, complaints and other negative issues that could harm the movement, whether these are coming from individuals or groups; and
i. prepare a lawyers’ group that will take over the issues of cheating of PP candidates of their votes.

The ecumenical and spiritual aspects of the movement should be observed, most importantly:
1. ecumenical prayers before and after each meeting/conference/seminar;
2. observance of the following relational principles:
a. Do unto others what you want others to do unto you;
b. The Ten Commandments;
c. Everyone is created equal;
d. Be sensitive and listen to each other; and
e. Honor and respect the environment.

A NEW SET OF SHORT-TERM OBJECTIVES SHALL BE DEVELOPED AFTER THE 2010 ELECTIONS

-- Art Print: Ruth Palmer: WHEN PATHS CROSS