Good News, Uncoded

What is the universally-accepted message of Jesus? This in not a trick question! You don't have to be a biblical scholar or a priest to know the answer. Jesus thought that children “got it”! He taught us to love one another (as He loved us). We are poor students, to be sure, but why make the lesson harder than it is?

Gnostics and their “modern” followers (da Vinci Code fanatics) claim that secret messages are coded in the Bible. This opinion was judged heretical by the earliest Christian church nearly 2,000 years ago for a simple reason – it doesn't fit the message or the Messenger. I liked the story in the Last Temptation of Christ because it dramatized His love of life and truly human fear of pain and death. The message of the “Code”, that the holy grail is not a cup but rather Jesus' pregnant wife Mary Magdeleine, is certainly provocative. Problem is, it is entirely inconsistent with the New Testament text and Jesus' message. Keep it simple, no conspiracy here.

The da Vinci Code - the movie - opens this weekend. Maybe it's good entertainment. Pass the popcorn and keep the Faith.

Staging Iran in '07

Cheney recently criticized Russia for not using its oil and gas reserves to support democracy. Cheney is a Big Oil lapdog who never thought of sacrifice when his money was on the table. Though common in politics, this administration seems to revel in such hypocrisy. Russia would be well advised to buy his silence by signing a few more contracts with Halliburton oilfield services. Dick will overlook any number of ethical issues for a cool million or so. But as craven as Dick is, I doubt that is the whole story.

Remember that Russia is key to any peaceful resolution of the Iran nuclear "crisis". Russia could help mediate a diplomatic solution by pressuring Iran for concessions and by not vetoing a resolution in the UN Security Council. Unfortunately, this administration sees no political gain in a diplomatic solution. Instead, they want to preclude any possibility of a unified front against the Iranians.

In related stories, Iran is being accused of bombing and sending guerrilla fighters into the Kurdish region of the former Iraq Although cross-border conflict is common in this area, watch for such actions to be emphasized as constituting another reason to attack Iran. This approach will focus on the rights of the Kurds. Meanwhile, credible reports place American special forces in Iran.

The administration chicken hawks assure themselves of their manliness by being the leaders of a nation at war. They desperately hope to resurrect -- or at least obscure the abject failure of -- their Bush League policy of peace-through-war. We have probably not yet seen the depths to which this failed administration will lead us.