Comment by Joan Denoo on September 23, 2012 at 8:04am

God gave me my money.

“God gave me my money. I believe the power to make money is a gift from God … to be developed and used to the best of our ability for the good of mankind. Having been endowed with the gift I possess, I believe it is my duty to make money and still more money and to use the money I make for the good of my fellow man according to the dictates of my conscience.

“JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, interview in 1905.—Peter Collier and David Horowitz, The Rockefellers, an American Dynasty, chapter 3, p. 48 (1976).

“Rockefeller assumed giving to charity was a Christian duty, and did so throughout his life. Later in life he began to “have the semimystical feeling that he had been especially selected as the frail vessel for the great fortune” (p. 48)”

Rockefeller, John Davison (1839-1937)

Comment by Joan Denoo on September 23, 2012 at 8:52am

“The way to make money ...

“The way to make money is to buy when blood is running in the streets.

~ John D. Rockefeller, USA oil magnate”

Comment by Loren Miller on September 23, 2012 at 9:01am

Joan, I read your last two entries regarding John D. Rockefeller, his faith versus his philosophy about money making, and I find I can't imagine the compartmentalization he must have practiced to be functional in his own life.  This had to be a man who didn't dare look too closely at himself, lest cognitive dissonance tear him apart.

Comment by Joan Denoo on September 23, 2012 at 10:11am

Loren, I think you are right and I wonder how and what he transmitted to his children and their children? These mixed messages could only confuse. I also wonder if any of his offspring ever realized the consequences of his actions? Saw the poverty left in his wake? 

Comment by Joan Denoo on September 23, 2012 at 10:39am

The good news is, many of us seek and find a more fulfilling mode of making a living; we learn how to live with rhythms of nature, enjoy each precious moment we have alive, feel a sense of pride of being part of it all and able to see the broader view of life and living things.

One little thing, I grow soil to raise food crops without chemicals; the end product is so far superior and the neighbor kids love to come over to watch my helper worms. Kids scamper through paths as they pick and eat a wide range of flavors, right from the soil. A little dust off, a splash in a pan of water and then to their mouths; their eyes sparkle with delight. Nothing like it happens when I return from the store. 

Comment by Joan Denoo on September 23, 2012 at 11:47am

Richard Dawkins, Society bends over backwards

Not being able to speak one's understanding of how the world works and how we are to function in living feels like a piece of masking tape over my mouth and a mind-binder over my brain that tightly prevents thought and speech. To what end? Who benefits? Who pay the price?
When confronted with a statement based on religious beliefs I must give my perspective. What good am I if I don't give my perspective? Am I just a mirror, or a CD of your beliefs? NO! Of course not. I am created with a mind and a mouth and I intend to use them both. If the evidence changes or my understanding changes, I am more than happy to change. Until then, expect me to speak and act from my best understandings.  

Comment by Loren Miller on September 23, 2012 at 12:00pm

Joan, society bends over backwards because so many of them have been co-opted by the lie of religion, and because they're afraid of retribution, either from the god they worship or their self-righteous neighbors.

Then, of course, we come in and throw a monkey wrench into their works by not accepting any of it and challenging all of it.  In places, we scare believers out of their wits ... and for multiple reasons, most of which have to do with lies told and lies hidden.

Comment by Joan Denoo on September 23, 2012 at 12:04pm

Do I need to clarify that the kids don't eat the worms, it is the fruits, vegetables and herbs?

Comment by Joan Denoo on September 23, 2012 at 1:25pm

Loren, as usual your words holds so much truth. I suspect I don't need to be as angry as I have been because I feel the bindings are now gone. Even though the issue is serious, it doesn't have to be grim. I read some history on J.D. Rockefeller this morning and realized how much his beliefs paralleled Romney's; we know how awful that turned out. Gaining great wealth on the backs of people who worked for them, and yet many citizens do not vote in their best interests. I am really interested to see how this election turns out. I have this silly vision of human beings bent into pretzels trying to make it in this Alice-In-Wonderland-world. I wonder if this generation of people-pretzels have to die off before we get our country back?

Hope your Sunday is relaxing and fun. 

Comment by sk8eycat on September 23, 2012 at 3:48pm

Joan, that's delightful, in a snarky kind of way.  And it's all true!

One thing that was omitted was the female pelvis; in order for us to be able to walk upright (sort of), the pelvic opening for the birth canal is too narrow for our offspring to be delivered fully formed and able to walk the way other mammals' younglings are.  Thus the prolonged childhood and adolescence, and dependence on parents.

Of course, I think it would be ghastly to have to carry a fetus to toddler-size! 

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