“Say, I am you” by Rumi

I am dust particles in sunlight.
I am the round sun.

To the bits of dust I say, Stay.
To the sun, Keep moving.

I am morning mist,
and the breathing of evening.

I am wind in the top of a grove,
and surf on the cliff.

Mast, rudder, helmsman, and keel,
I am also the coral reef they founder on.

I am a tree with a trained parrot in its branches.
Silence, thought, and voice.

The musical air coming through a flute,
a spark of a stone, a flickering

in metal. Both candle,
and the moth crazy around it.

Rose, and the nightingale
lost in the fragrance.

I am all orders of being, the circling galaxy,
the evolutionary intelligence, the lift,

and the falling away. What is,
and what isn’t. You who know

Jelaluddin, You the one
in all, say who

I am. Say I
am You.

Posted in Artistic Works by Others, Islam, Poetry, Religion, Rumi, Sufism | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Theodemocracy (via By Common Consent, a Mormon Blog)

On April 7th, 1842, Joseph Smith received a revelation instructing the establishment of a new organization parallel to the church. Since its inception, this organization has been referred to as the Council of Fifty, though the true name is quite different. It is an organization that has captured the fancy of many, both sympathetic and critical of Mormonism, yet it remains somewhat enigmatic for want of public documentation (1). In short, Joseph S … Read More

via By Common Consent, a Mormon Blog

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Is this Joseph Smith?

Proposed Image of Joseph Smith

Considering all the commotion over the supposed daguerreotype photo of Joseph Smith that has been going around like wildfire (which the Church has not authenticated), I thought I might post this new proposed photo of Joseph Smith. This one actually looks much more how I would imagine the prophet than the first one, considering the death mask. Historian Will Bagley apparently notes that Joseph made mention of a photograph he had taken in 1844 (does anyone have the original reference to Joseph’s statement, if it exists?). We’ll see what this turns up.

The story of how the finder acquired this image is interesting, mentioning how the Brazilian book he found it in only said that it came out of New York in 1845. When was the last time Joseph was in New York? Why would it be in New York? The photocopy is from a book. The original daguerreotype is in the Museu PaulistaUniversidade de São Paulo, Brazil).

Joseph Smith Actor from Legacy: A Mormon JourneyAn article in the New Era a few years ago gives a description of Joseph from a combination of all the accounts:

Joseph was:

  • a little over six feet tall;
  • considered good looking and dignified;
  • athletic and strong with long legs and large feet.

He had:

  • an oval-shaped face;
  • a prominent nose, long and straight;
  • a rather long upper lip;
  • a light complexion;
  • deep-set hazel or blue eyes;
  • thick eyebrows;
  • long eyelashes;
  • fine, straight, light brown or dark blond hair.

If this isn’t a photo of Joseph, it does helps us imagine him more closely.

[via A Soft Answer]

Update 3/27/08: Incidentally, this daguerreotype reminds me a lot of the actor who played Joseph Smith in the film Legacy: A Mormon Journey.

Joseph Smith - by Theodore Gorka 1982, Museum of Church History and ArtUpdate 3/27/08: Also consider this drawing of Joseph Smith by Theodore Gorka in 1982, which is now in the Museum of Church History and Art. I’m particularly interested in the way the forehead and chin are receding, and the prominence of the nose, like the death mask (which is probably where Gorka got his inspiration). The upper lip is also very defined. Most of the early images of Joseph were side profile sketches, but which clearly show just how strong his nose was on his face. See more below:

Update 3/27/08: Correction. The finder at LDSA says that the author of the bookRetratos Quase Inocentes, a Mr. Carlos Eugenio M. de Moura, acknowledges that this “daguerrotype in question is, in fact, at the Museu Paulista – Universidade de São Paulo.” We’ll see if he can track down a color hi-res of this. Maybe someone should just order the book off the Brazilian website.


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Cubic Clock (Official Clock of the Church of Time Cube)

Cubic Clock (Official Clock of the Church of Time Cube)

Dr. XIX, VI

The Cubic day is divided into 16 1-hour periods. These hours correspond to one and a half hours of the Singularity clock. There are 240 Cubic minutes in one Cubic hour and 240 Cubic seconds in each Cubic minute. Each cubic second is equal to ¼ of the second in the Singularity clock, and each Cubic minute is equal to ¼ of the minute of the Singularity clock. There is no AM or PM but rather complete Cubic reckoning similar to that of Military time, meaning there is no division in the day into night time and day time halves.

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The Smashing of the Spherical/Non-Cubic Shaped Fruit (Official Ritual of the Church of Time Cube)

Time Cube International

The Church of Time Cube

The Book of Cubic Instruction and Ceremony

The Smashing of the Spherical/Non-Cubic Shaped Fruit

Dr. XIX, The Wisest Human and Protector of the Code of the Pyramid, VI

May 3, 2006 4:47- 4:58 PM

THE SMASHING OF THE SPHERICAL/NON-CUBIC SHAPED FRUIT

The Officers form a line perpendicular to the Sacrificial Column Of Cubic Appeasement and face the post.

The Priest goes forward with the Sacrificial Fruit and places it upon the Sacrificial Column Of Cubic Appeasement: O mighty fruit! Save us today from the wrath of the Octagonal Prism! The Priest returns to his original position.

The Deacon with the Sacrificial Mallet steps forward to the Sacrificial Column Of Cubic Appeasement: Let me become the instrument of the Ineffable Truth! He then raises the Sacrificial Mallet: All hail Time Cube! He then smashes the Sacrificial Fruit.

The Officers and the Congregation: All hail Time Cube!

The Congregation runs forward and collects the remaining fruit while speaking Cubic utterances.

THIS ENDS THE SMASHING OF THE SPHERICAL/NON-CUBIC SHAPED FRUIT

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The Liturgy of the Cube by XIX (Official Ritual of the Church of Time Cube)

Time Cube International

The Church of Time Cube

The Book of Cubic Instruction and Ceremony

The Liturgy of the Cube

Dr. XIX, The Wisest Human and Protector of the Code of the Pyramid, VI

May 3, 2006 3:19 PM- 4:56 PM

THE LITURGY OF THE CUBE

I. ON THE FURNISHINGS OF THE CUBIC SANCTUARY

In the direction of Georgia, which is where the throne of Dr. Gene Ray lies (May he be praised!), is the High Altar Of The Cubic Sanctuary. Its dimensions should be 8 feet in length, 4 feet in breadth, and 48inches in height. It should be covered with a black altar-cloth, on which may be embroidered Cubes in silver or another suitable emblem. 

Above it is the Altar That Is Smaller Than The High Altar Of The Cubic Sanctuary, at whose top is the Cubic Clock and Calendar in reproduction, with four rectangular candles on each side of them. Below the Clock and Calendar is the reproduction of the Time Cube (All hail!) and the Sacrificial Fruit, with six rectangular candles on each side of them. 

Directly out from the High Altar Of The Cube, about 15 feet, is the Low Altar Of The Cubic Sanctuary.  It should be about four feet in dimension and should also be covered with a black altar cloth in the manner of the High Altar Of The Cubic Sanctuary.

II.  ON THE OFFICERS OF THE LITURGY OF THE CUBE

The Priest: Bears the Book Of The Cube, and is clothed in a red robe and cape with a corresponding red Cubic Headdress.

Two Deacons: They are clothed in black robes with corresponding black Cubic Headdresses. One holds the Sacrificial Mallet and the other carries the Host Of The Cube (sugar Cubes) on a plate.

Two Children: They are clothed in white robes with corresponding white Cubic Headdresses. One bears the Cubic Staff Of Power and the other bears the Cubic Censor with burning incense inside it.

III. ON THE CEREMONY OF THE CUBELESS

The Officers remain outside of the Cubic Sanctuary while the congregation is admitted.

The Children enter the Cubic Sanctuary and circumambulate it, clockwise and at equidistance from one another, and then leave the Cubic Sanctuary to join the other Officers.

The Deacons enter the Cubic Sanctuary and circumambulate it, clockwise and at equidistance from one another, then leave the Cubic Sanctuary to join the other Officers

The Priest enters the Cubic Sanctuary and circumambulates it clockwise, then leaves the Cubic Sanctuary to join the other Officers.

The Priest enters the Cubic Sanctuary, followed by the Child with the Cubic Staff Of Power, followed by the Deacon with the Sacrificial Mallet, followed by the Child with the Cubic Censor, followed by the Deacon with the Host Of The Cube. They circumambulate the Cubic Sanctuary in a clockwise manner and then in turn each halts at their assigned positions.

The Deacon with the Host Of The Cube halts first, at the space between the High And Low Altars Of The Cubic Sanctuary, facing inward.

The Child with the Staff Of Cubic Power halts second, on the right side of the Low Altar Of The Cubic Sanctuary, facing inward.

The Deacon with the Sacrificial Mallet halts third, opposite the other Deacon, facing inward.

The Priest with the Book Of The Cube halts between the Low Altar Of The Cubic Sanctuary and the Deacon with the Host Of The Cube, facing inward.  He places the Book of the Cube in front of him on the Low Altar Of The Cubic Sanctuary.

III.  ON THE HAILING OF THE CUBE

The Priest raises his hands in the form of the Cube: All hail Time Cube!

The Congregation forming the Cube: All hail Time Cube!

IV. ON THE CREED OF THE CHURCH OF TIME CUBE

The Officers and the Congregation: I believe in one Ineffable Truth, and in one Cube whose likeness we are created; and in the Doctor, Gene Ray, the current regent of the Cube upon the Earth; and in his successor, XIX, the Wisest Human and the Protector of the Code Of The Pyramid. And I believe in the Church Of Time Cube whose wisdom will guide us in these dark days and save us from the Octagonal Prism and his Word Virus hordes.

V, ON THE CUBIC READINGS

The Priest: Now we shall partake of the truth and mercy and glory and honor and wisdom of the words of Dr. Gene Ray, the Savior. (Reads a selected verse from the Book Of The Cube) Now that we have heard from the mouth of Dr. Gene Ray, we may listen again for the wisdom of Dr. XIX, the Wisest Human and the Protector Of The Code Of The Pyramid. (Reads selected verse from the Outer Library) All hail Time Cube!

The Congregation: All hail!

The Priest: The readings of the Cube are at an end.

The Congregation; All hail!

VI.  ON THE EATING OF THE HOST OF THE CUBE

The Priest turns and faces the Deacon who holds the Host Of The Cube and makes the sign of the Cube above the plate: Now we are about to partake of the Host Of The Cube! May it fill us with its bounteous glory and dispel the singularity within us as well as the Octagonal Prism!

The congregation files past the Priest while he places a sugar Cube on their hands. They return to their original position and then consume the Host Of The Cube.

V. ON THE DISPELLING OF THE CONGREGATION

The Priest turns back to face the Low Altar Of The Cubic Sanctuary: Yon hither do I see the Octagonal Prism! May he be appeased with a sacrifice!

The Priest turns and goes to the High Altar Of The Cubic Sanctuary and takes hold of the Sacrificial Fruit. He faces the Congregation: O Children Of The Cube! Go forth before mine eyes and battle against the Octagonal Prism and the Word Virus he rules!

The Congregation leaves the Cubic Sanctuary in the manner it entered and goes outside to the Sacrificial Column Of Cubic Appeasement.

The Officers leave the Cubic Sanctuary in the manner they entered (the Priest with the Sacrificial Fruit) and go outside the Cubic Sanctuary to the Sacrificial Column Of Cubic Appeasement

THIS ENDS THE LITURGY OF THE CUBE (Followed by the optional SMASHING OF THE SPHERICAL/NON-CUBIC SHAPED FRUIT).

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Book Review: The American Religion by Harold Bloom

An extremely interesting and insightful work that delves deep into the American religious subconscious. A must read for anyone!

(Buy on Amazon.com)

From Publisher’s Weekly: “Without knowing it, American worshipers have moved away from Christianity and now embrace pre-Christian Gnosticism, asserts Bloom ( The Book of J ). In his most controversial book to date, the Yale professor defines “the American Religion” as a Gnostic creed stressing knowledge of an inner self that leads to freedom from nature, time, history and other selves. Every American, he writes, assumes that God loves her or him in a personal, intimate way, and this trait is the bedrock of our national religion, a debased Gnosticism often tinged with selfishness. The core of this odd, ponderous book focuses on Pentecostals, Christian Scientists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventists and especially Mormons and Southern Baptists–the two denominations Bloom believes will dominate future American religious life. He argues that mainline Protestants, Jews, Roman Catholics and secularists are also much more Gnostic than they realize. He identifies African-American religion, mystical and emotionally immediate, as a key element in the birth of our home-grown Gnosticism around 1800. Bloom is not likely to win many converts to his viewpoint.” First serial to Yale Reviewok ; BOMC and QPB alternates. Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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