Denominations and liberty

What is generally called “Christendom” or “Christian churches” is divided into hundreds of denominations, and thousands of “multi-” and “non-” and “anti-” denominational groups (congregations and loose collections of congregations). All claiming to worship YHWH (Jehovah, God, the Creator, the Father, etc.). And most worshipping the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, either as part of the Trinity, the Godhead, or as an exalted being.

Many of these denominations and various other “christian” groups also worship the human governments, the state, the human rulers of their towns and districts and cities and States and nations.

Why do we say “worship” for this?

The word “worship” as found in most if not virtually all English translations of the Bible is clearly defined in both Hebrew (for the Torah and the Tanakh; Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament).

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Media and the real standard for military personnel

Sometimes all you need is a headline and an opening paragraph to come to the correct conclusion that the “news” article (and even an “opinion piece”) is full of errors, lies, twisted facts, crazy claims, and generally spouting a particular worldview. Often a worldview that is wrong.

It is not just liberal or Regressive writing. It is not just conservative (neo- or alt-con) pieces. Articles and commentary by libertarians and other so-called “fringe” groups also can have this problem. The Alt-Media is not immune.

An example of this is The Hill’s recent article debunking SecWar’s supposed idea that women do not “play an essential role in the military.”

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Today’s military, discipline, hazing, and purposes

Like many, a correspondent questioned SecWar Hesgath’s removal of a prohibition on hazing in basic and other military training. This is part of the massive package of reforms for the Department of War and the six military service branches. (As far as we know, these will not apply to the other uniformed services: Public Health Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.)

Our news editor has provided this: A few thoughts on hazing.

The “removal” of restrictions on hazing that SecWar is implementing is perhaps much different than what is being pushed by the media and certain “interested parties.”

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Oh, dear, no government!

As we now complete one whole week without the FedGov, while millions suffer without health care, children are not taught about choosing their own gender, and planes fall from the air? We share this amusing but somewhat true cartoon:

The answer, of course, is simple: all of these “functions” of government have been deemed “essential” and so the government workers that provide these “services” are still on duty. Still spying, wasting money, and exhibiting contempt for not just you and me, but our beliefs, work, property, and liberties.

The following cartoon may be applicable to many readers and lovers of liberty.

Truthfully, for us here at The Price of Liberty, the longer we get by without “all” of government functioning, the happier we are. Even if only a few dozen people each day come to the conclusion that we do not need all of this “non-essential” government, the better.

Let us make it very clear: history has shown not only that mandatory human government is not essential, but that it is perhaps one of the greatest evils, and the greatest cause of other evils, that we can find in history.

Being without government agencies is undoubtedly a great pain and burden to bear. But it certainly has some good points. We don’t need it the way we think we do!

(Thanks to Bob Malone for sharing these cartoons!)

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Whom do we believe? Vaccines and illness

Shared by a correspondent:

Share and read yourself: the URL is https://tinyurl.com/58s7f563 at Mercola.com.

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Government shut down, dems begging?

This picture appeared in the Rapid City (SD) Journal today, along with a headline “Trump uses shutdown [sic] to punish his enemies.”

Good, on both counts. We here at TPOL, back from an unintended sabbatical, are excited. And feel a bit weird, hoping that the Dems win for as long as possible. (Sick, we know.)

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Eternal vigilance…

… is the price of liberty.

A neat online graphic to share. TPOL may be on limited publication this week due to travel and workload, as well as internet access.

Today we have more opportunities to be vigilant and more ways to carry out that vital task.

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Shut up!

As the States and the world continue to seemingly grow ever more divided, we see that enemies quickly start to resemble each other more and more. Not in their physical appearance, perhaps. But certainly in their actions and reactions.

As with many other issues, recent events have illustrated (pun intended) that situation. Enemies who fight each other tend to adopt the methods (the tactics and even the strategy) of their sworn and supposedly much different enemies. And not just in wartime.

The Western Journal discussed this with the announcement of new polls. “Just over half of voters say that it is appropriate for private companies to fire employees who have celebrated an assassination online like that of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk’s, according to a new survey.”

Imagine that. A majority of voters in the States would vote to punish people for exercising the right of free speech that Charlie Kirk advocated for 15 years of his life.

We should not be too surprised, of course. We have no doubt that a similar survey would have similar results: a majority would disagree with Charlie Kirk on God. That is, the belief in God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and the need for repentance and action to be forgiven and saved by God. Much less agree with the moral standards that he advocated. Even many of those who mourn his death clearly believe he was wrong on moral issues: abortion, homosexuality, divorce, and more.

Of course, we also point out that this is one reason that the Founding Fathers forcefully rejected the idea of “democracy.” They feared the emotions of people would cause them to do rash and dangerous actions. Especially against their enemies, political and otherwise. Libertarians have long shared the fable of the two wolves and a sheep in a democratic vote. Emotions arise, and we react with passion, anger, and a desperate need to do something! But all too often, we short-circuit our rationality, our common sense, and other beneficial characteristics. Hatred is often a greater motivator, at least at first, than love.

That is less a risk with a constitution that at least tries to establish clear limits on governmental power and protect individual liberties.

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Organlegging – American style

Got a liver? A kidney? Maybe a spare lung or heart? Come here, do I have a deal for you!

That very odd Regressive (Liberal/Progressvive) Robert F Kennedy Jr. is at it again. Angering his erstwhile comrades. (Who, like 1950s era American Communists, expelled him before he turned bad, of course.) Who delights not just in MAGA but MAHA, and who apparently is not embarrassed too much to admit a mistake.

What this time? He is overseeing a deep digging investigation of the American organ donation system. And making recommendations for reforms of what is now revealed as a very corrupt system. One in which money, influence, and even political and religious matters serve to determine who lives… and who dies.

Thanks to the close connections of the governments and the health care industry, it does not surprise us to find that it is rife with corruption. Both the monetary sort of corruption and the corruption of prejustice: the wrong sex, the wrong “race,” the wrong socio-economic status, and the wrong political stance.

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British brothers find themselves in peaceful protests – that will most likely prove useless

A correspondent, Konstantin Kisin, recently posted this:

I went to the “Unite the Kingdom” rally to film interviews with people on the ground as well as Tommy and other speakers backstage. I have been to pro-Palestine, pro-Israel, climate protests etc so have a good sense of the rally in context of other events.

You can watch the full movie below but here are some additional thoughts:

The police estimate for attendance (110,000) seems like a massive undercount and organiser claim of “millions” is an exaggeration. I would guess 400-600k.

The “Unite the Kingdom” rally in London on Saturday, the 13th of September, was led by a man named Tommy Robinson. It, together with rallies and marches in Korea (South, of course), and elsewhere, was primarily oriented towards free speech rights and restrictions on immigration (and the impacts on societies of virtually unlimited immigration).

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