Oklahoma and Creationism – Important or Embarrassing?

I always cringe when I start writing these controversial blogs on religious ignorance. It always seems to strike a nerve with certain people. This is when I gain a couple followers and lose a couple…  I find it interesting that those with the most aggressive religious convictions seem the most vulnerable to criticism. Still, it is such an important topic to me that I spent two chapters on the subject in my book The Responsive Universe. If we do not have unadulterated belief systems free of weighted dogma and blind faith, how are we to fully and spiritually self-evolve?  I have written how we need to find a connection with the Universe – the big picture and not just man-made intervention.

Well, here it goes….

Oklahoma just narrowly passed a bill that will allow “students to challenge universally accepted scientific theories, such as evolution and climate change. Teachers would also be required to find more effective ways to address such controversies in their teachings.” The bill is basically smoke and mirrors with its main driving focus to allow creationism to be taught in local schools. Called the Scientific Education and Academic Freedom Act (that’s a joke), it was spearheaded by Republican state Rep. Gus Blackwell. Blackwell contends that there are teachers and students who may be afraid of going against what they see in their textbooks. I don’t know, maybe we should be more worried about the fact that the US ranks 14^th in the world in education – and still declining. In a recent interview, Blackwell stated a student has the freedom to write a paper that points out that highly complex life may not be explained by chance mutations. I suppose I agree with that… Freedom of speech…. Freedom of mind, right?

Although I kind agree with this too: “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross.” — Sinclair Lewis

Oooo that quote sizzles with stinging shock and awe…

Are you still with me?

At first this bill disturbed me. I have a hard time with religion in our public schools; not because I am a non-believer (cause I am not) but because it is always a Christian agenda that is pushed. Why not teach Buddhist or Muslim ideals? Oh yeah, teaching Islam in our schools – that would go over well! The Christian agenda is such a double standard. Even my 11 year old son knows the Earth was not created 6000 years ago. Some of this stuff is just crazy talk. The fact that there are high-ranking government officials who choose Genesis over Evolution; these same officials that grace our Science Boards – it truly bewilders me…

Still, maybe it is a good thing… I mean from a global standpoint I think it is embarrassing, but maybe there is a silver lining to this blind faith and ignorance. Maybe allowing the debate to EVOLVE in our schools is good: The argument of science verses religion. So many people adopt these archaic beliefs because they do not know any better. It is easy to follow and not lead. That is the problem with this world and with religion in general – it teaches us to follow and not lead.  It is too easy to adopt a belief without ever really thinking for yourself. It might be good if students did debate Adam and Eve verses Stellar Evolution and the Big Bang. Maybe it will educate people to actually think for themselves for once; to actually contemplate biblical history and the other alternate reality that runs parallel. You know, that crazy thing called reality…. To actually ponder and adopt belief systems they can call their own and not what Pat Robertson spews on cable TV. Once we actually stop and muse the world’s great questions many might come to the realization that it is a bigger picture. That God as it relates to man really does not center on man at all. It is only the ego that relates to man. That God is the Universe and the Universe is everything.

The Universe is… therefore we are……

John C. Bader

www.responsiveuniverse.com

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Article Reference

Our Connection to the Universe….

 

We live on a unique planet of modest size, orbiting an average star in a galaxy that contains several billion other stars. Further, scattered across the vast Cosmos are billions of other galaxies home to billions more stars.

Everything tangible and intangible in the Cosmos is made of energy. Everything seen and unseen within this grand Universe is composed of particles and waves of light that are interconnected.

A Universe boundless in periphery; its energy and form immeasurable; everything linked at the sub-atomic level weaves this complex tapestry that is everything.

 

Instinctual consciousness is intrinsic to the Universe

 

Despite the immensity of the Cosmos; despite the far-reaching realm of space and time, there is a connective quality to all that exists. Everything is linked to this responsive field of instinctual energy. It is here in the quantum Universe that actions create reactions and energy can’t be destroyed, it simply changes form. In an interstellar dominion of noble gases, dark matter and pin point light, there is a responsive element that unites humans with an omnipresent link to love, wisdom and energy. Such visions of grandeur can be overwhelming and many times unimaginable; yet, deep down there is this sublime relationship; thoughts and experiences in life remind us that we are part of this grand concept.

From imperfection is born beauty, energy and human perception; this is what defines the Responsive Universe and is the source of self-actualization and energy healing.

Welcome to the Responsive Universe….  your connection to everything….

 

 

John C. Bader

www.responsiveuniverse.com

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Colonoscopy? ….Holy Shit!

 

On the winding and sometimes challenging road of wellness; prevention and advocacy is our friend and ally. When I speak of advocacy I talk about reading labels; knowing what is in your food and drink, etc. When I speak of prevention I speak of mindfulness of body and surroundings.  We need to be our own champion; our own advocate because no one is looking out for you more than yourself. This is especially true when it comes to disease prevention.

My Mother had a colon cancer scare recently. They got it just in time. Her Doctor was professional and mindful enough to suggest (in light of the risk) any children over 40 should go and get an early Colonoscopy.  Enter my story….. Typically the age is 50 when they suggest you go in for the preventative test – I am 42 as I scribe these words. Colon cancer is one of the most preventable cancers and yet one of the most common. Ever heard the phrase “we are what we eat”? With all the fake processed crap in our food chain; the chemicals, sulfites, nitrates and carcinogens, it is clear cancer is going to be an ongoing battle. The colon is the last part of the digestive system; the trash dump of our body. It extracts water and salt from solid wastes before they are eliminated from the body. It is where toxins accumulate and thus poses a cancer risk.

In preparing for my Colonoscopy I had to fast for about 40 hours. The liquid they prescribe (which in essence is Draino for the human body) is not terrible to drink – it is the large amount you have to drink that is challenging. The hunger pains are real and though my stomach felt like it was literally sucking against my spine it was all bearable.  It actually felt good knowing I was being cleansed; in fact, I had enough energy to shovel the driveway even after not eating for 36 hours.

The prep in the hospital took about an hour. The Nurse asked if I was a jogger. I said no, but that I bike ride 20-30 miles a week; but now in the winter I am probably the most out of shape. She said my heart was that of a 20-year-old in regard to the oxygen it was pumping… That was empowering to know!

I kind of feel bad for Michael Jackson and his family. There must have been five different people who made references to his overdose. Propofol is used in the intravenously administered sedation. One nurse said I will be getting the MJ family value package. Another practitioner said I will not get a doggy bag to take home the leftovers like Michael. Even the anesthesiologist said the procedure was a breeze and I would be “moonwalking” out of here in no time.

He was right, the procedure was a breeze. Though I am not going to lie, I was a little worried about getting a medical probe shoved four feet up my butt. Still, all wired up and ready to go, the Propofol started flowing and before I knew it, I was in the recovery room never knowing anything happened. I am happy to say, there were no polyps and I am scheduled to go back in five years. It was easy!

The reason I write this somewhat personal account of my Colonoscopy is to create further awareness. If you are nearing 50 years old or if you are younger and there is colon cancer in your family; then you owe it to yourself to get a Colonoscopy. I thought the hard part was going to be the actual procedure. I think it was the fasting and colon cleansing that was the hard part – a silver lining if you ask me because I found that penny I swallowed by accident when I was 8 years old. Just kidding… or am I?

Be mindful and your body and be your own advocate! You owe it to yourself!

 

John C. Bader

www.responsiveuniverse.com

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Is the ego our Friend or our Enemy?

I write about the ego and its counterpart True Nature all the time. This is a great question queried recently by Dave, a friend and fellow blogger… Is our ego a friend or an enemy? Shall we settle this once and for all?

This is a complex question and it will come with a complex answer. I have overheard Wayne Dyer tell Oprah on TV once that the ego is not necessary – that there is no need. I totally disagree. Still I am cautious in saying that the ego is our friend… it is not in most cases.

What is the ego? The ego is part of our mental devices that experiences and reacts to the outside world and thus mediates between the primitive drives of our being and the demands of the social and physical environment. . The ego for better or worse thrives on ideals, beliefs and laws that determine a perception of the world and life that is larger than the individual. It becomes the governing force from which we unknowingly base our daily actions.

Ever heard of Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs? The model describes an imaginary pyramid that begins with physiological needs at its base and aesthetic principles of self-directed growth at its apex. After the satiation of water, food and warmth, humans seek love and safety needs. These requirements are born from a more primitive human existence dating back millions of years. The ego was necessary for the early evolution of humans; competing, breeding and foraging to survive; and it is necessary in the early development of children today. Many of us are born into a world where social Darwinism defines our existence. Though its mechanisms are crude, the ego is an unavoidable social phenomenon that helps trigger survival instincts and stimulate early social evolution.  Now, imagine if a child lives totally alone and isolated from social interaction; he or she will never come to grow an ego. But that is not going to help in human evolution. This child will remain like an animal never progressing or evolving. The ego is basically a bi-product of our social existence.

It was not until more recently – the last 3,000-5,000 years that humans have began searching for self-actualization. This is when modern religion was born and it is when humans began to cross the threshold of a physiological needs based society to an aesthetic needs based society.  Still, the ego remains rooted into our mind facilities growing and maturing as we progress into adulthood. The ego becomes this borderless entity that is so interwoven into the fabric of our minds we do not even realize its influence. . It is a complex array of sources that feeds an ego: From the unattainable benchmark set by celebrities to the materialistic urges brought forth by our peers and the advertising we are inundated with daily. It deals with social acceptance in communal arenas and the moral and mainstream pressures of life. In the “material world” the ego unknowingly gains power from these sources and we as malleable creatures inherit control patterns which subconsciously dictate our actions and reactions in life. Control patterns are subliminal hard-wired urges and intentions that are controlled by the ego and facilitate and reinforce the emotions of fear, anger, jealousy and low self-worth, many times unknowingly.

So what was once a crude but necessary friend in early development becomes this complex false-self that feeds on the infinite variables and situations that society yields. Still, without the ego, how would we know what is a balanced and unbalanced existence? How are we to know what our True Nature is without already knowing the extreme opposites of self-gratified bliss and suffering?  We need to have a matrix in place that takes in consideration all facets: bliss as it relates to our false-self, suffering as it relates to our false-self and this elusive middle ground called enlightenment. When we are born, society hands us our ego. True the ego is not found in the womb – the ego is manmade and in order to socially evolve it is a necessary function in our lives. It is true that most Buddhists would contend that the ego is not a part of us – it is merely a distortion. Still, even distortions are tangible evidence of who we are. When we look in a mirror, that image may be a distortion of our true self – a mirrored copy that is not real, but still it is rather difficult to deny that this image is not us.

The concept of an ego is in itself a yardstick in societal evolution. Whether we need the ego or not is really not the point – the ego exists whether we like it or not. The focus is not to say we do not need the ego but to acknowledge that it exists and then separate its facilities within our mind – make space for it so that when thoughts and emotions arise we can distinguish which ones are proactive to our evolution and development and which ones are merely there to create false-self and ultimately suffering. We cannot deny the ego but must find awareness for its power – the ego helped build a crude but necessary foundation in our human evolution. Now in the search for enlightenment, the key is to limit its authority and power so that true authentic empowerment can arise from within.

John C. Bader

www.responsiveuniverse.com

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Is your Energy, Spirit and Mood off? It is totally normal….

Do you ever get a little depressed and you’re not even sure why? I mean we all have our struggles; most of us toil with monthly bills, our weight or the fact the sun has not shined in 8 days. Still, some of these things never change and yet good moods and depressed moods seem to ebb in and out like the ocean tides. Why…

Well, nobody knows for sure and each person is different. The explanations and the scenarios that create them are probably infinite. I know in my self-evolution there are days my energy is low. Yes, even for a guy that lives in a Responsive Universe, there are still challenges; inward and outward… No matter how much I meditate or implement bio-energy therapy this lack of energy persists at times. Still, I always remember that behind those clouds is blue sky; our unfettered True Nature that is steadfast and always dependable.

You know it is interesting: In order to feel emotions of love, peace and bliss we need to have felt its polar opposite; depression, fear and even anger. How would we know any difference? If we all had balanced emotional baselines we would have little feeling at all – a Prozac world… The ego is part of this up and down world as is our surroundings that seem to throw challenges our way from every direction. It is my opinion that you have not really lived if you have not loved and felt anguish; bliss and depression. It is what makes us human. It might not be pretty at times but it is the truth we all face.

Remember that suffering is intrinsic to our being. Even those that are independently wealthy; where piles of money might buy the freedoms many of us dream about: Sure financial worries might be minimized but no caste system is safe from the death of kin, embarrassment or the crude but necessary facilities of the ego. As sentient beings we are all born to suffer.

The point is none of us are perfect and furthermore, we live in a very imperfect world. It is okay to ride out the ruts – there will be many more. Still what should not change is your steadfast vision that there are blue skies behind those ominous clouds. Remember to love yourself even in times of despair.  Be open to change, alive and aware – be mindful of your suffering and soon like storm clouds they too will dissipate giving way to the warm sun; lighting your path forward in self-evolution.

John C. Bader

www.responsiveuniverse.com

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When Juicing, it is Okay to Keep it Simple!

As I surf the many wellness sites online that bring me inspiration I see a lot of juicing recipes sprinkled throughout. I am a huge proponent of juicing… in a world of processed food and chemical flavoring, juicing whole fruits and veggies is one of the first and last stands against cancer and other food related diseases.

Some of the ingredients I see in people’s concoctions makes me scratch my head though…  Kale, banana and mango… – makes sense, right?  Then I see ingredients like bee pollen, maca, hemp seeds, maqui powder.

Hemp seeds? Do I eat them or smoke them?

Even though I have no idea what maqui powder is, I am sure it is good for you. The problem is, our local shaman doctor is on a walk about and I have no clue where to buy these special and exotic ingredients. The local Whole Foods Store you say? Ahh, another step in my already busy life..

There is one thing I have learned about health and fitness: The simpler the better! The easier something is the more likely you will stick with the specific regiment; like juicing for example. Here is an easy juice recipe and these are ingredient you can find at any grocery store:

1 Banana

1 Apple

Quarter slice of Beet

Handful of Kale

Handful of Spinach

1 Carrot

1 Celery Stalk

Handful of frozen Blueberries

…a little ice and a little water….

…a little love….

The Universe was born from imperfection.. So was I… My juice does not need to be perfect either. Happy Juicing!

 

John C. Bader

www.responsiveuniverse.com

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I just found Joseph Campbell!

As luck would have it, I stumbled on to a new documentary film about the philosophy of Joseph Campbell. Luck is really not the appropriate word because when we realize and understand we live in a Responsive Universe, we find there really is no luck; only meaningful connections. This movie found me and now I want to share it with you…

“I don’t believe people are looking for the meaning of life as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive.”

– Joseph Campbell

The film is called “Finding Joe” a new and refreshing movie by Patrick Takaya Solomon. Already the recipient of the Visionary Award, Finding Joe is a unique and masterful journey into the teachings of Joseph Campbell. Joseph Campbell, a true visionary and philosopher, has always been a huge influence on my journey to self-discovery. Much of what I write in blogs and books transcends Campbell’s unadulterated wisdom. Much like Campbell’s message the film makes a parallel of the “Hero’s Journey” through stories of ancient mythology and even the modern movies we see in the theater today. Campbell was successful in connecting parallels in visual media and ancient lore that resonate with the struggles and toil each of us face today. Interwoven into this wonderful journey are familiar faces like Deepak Chopra, Mick Fleetwood and sport legends like Tony Hawk and big wave surfer Laird Hamilton. If you have ever watched the Bill Moyer’s interviews with Campbell (The Power of Myth) then you know how cerebral his message is. Patrick Takaya Solomon takes this message and playfully and skillfully makes it more palatable for the average Joe like me.

“Find a place inside where there’s joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.” – Joseph Campbell

We learn that there are many stories in life, some good and some bad; yet in actuality there is only one story – the meaning for this existence – this thing we call life.  A question arises: how do we fit into this story; this hero’s journey? Under the static of ego, materialism and money there is this other world. The myths of the past and stories of the future teach us to go beyond the limits of possibility.  When we wake up to the fact we are the hero in this story of life magical things happen.

“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.”  - Joseph Campbell

There are really two stories within this film. There is the wisdom and energy of Joseph Campbell which Patrick Takaya Solomon successfully brings to illumination. And then there is our place in this journey; this story of life. This film adeptly sheds warm light on a new path; a path of self-discovery. We find that we are really not that different from each other. We find that we all struggle and are faced with challenges. We see the heroic stories of past and present and then this incredible realization takes hold: When we look in the mirror we do not just see a reflection of ourselves, we see a hero looking back at us. Yes, this new and inspiring film is about finding Joe, but it is also about finding you!

For more information please visit Finding Joe

 

John C. Bader

www.responsiveuniverse.com

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Skip Church All Together…

Did I get any shock value from that title?

Blair Atkins, a fitness writer and blogger published a great article on MindBodyGreen last weekend titled “If You Don’t Attend Church On Sundays, Meditate On Sundays Instead”.  First of all, great advice! In fact, if possible, meditate everyday! Secondly, if you are very religious, then yes, meditating and focusing on God outside of church pews and walls is great. In fact, I think it is better…

I would like to take that thought a step farther…

Skip Church all together! You do not need it!

Serious!

If you are new to my blog and message you might think this post is sacrilegious, even dangerously spoken. I do not fear damnation, hell or religious persecution. I fear credit cards, climate change and human suffering…..

Yes, church serves a purpose; a place to pray, hear positive messages and connect with others. There are many social and psychological factors that keep churches in business; money being one of them. I am careful not to condemn churches or the people that attend them. As my loyal blog followers know, I am not an atheist – far from it actually. Still, I am no proponent of organized religion. I feel it conditions people to follow and not lead. We have enough followers in this world; all of which creates mediocrity.

mediocrity sucks….

Spend a little time in nature and realize silence is beautiful; allow the wind to blow through your hair; let the healing sun warm your face; let your wisdom and True Nature from within arise bringing forth unlimited space, acute clarity and a responsiveness that fuels your energy and empowerment. Once you understand and know deep down that you are a part of this grand design that is the Universe; once you know that at our most basic construction; atoms and molecules – quantum physics connects us to everything – knowing this allows us to step back from what we once thought was truth; seeing the irony and dogma that modern religion offers. Once we connect to the sublime we realize that whatever this life source is; it transcends humans and all our mediocrity and earthly trappings.

Whatever your belief in God is, remember that you have the right as a conscious being to reassess your belief systems without guilt, fear or compromise. If you challenge you current belief systems and there is doubt, guilt and apprehension then there is something wrong. That is one of the fundamental problems with organized religion and church in general. These faiths teach their parishioners to follow and not to lead. How are we to find our true self? There is this underlying quality of fear, guilt and compromise that holds us to something less than authentic.  Many of us were raised under a roof of religiosity – some more than others. As we mature into adults with our own needs, wants and desires there comes a time to reassess our belief in God so that it can marry with the indestructible essence that is your True Nature. The two concepts need to marry as one – inseparable – free of ego, guilt and especially fear.

So leave that guilt and ego at the church door. In fact, do an about-face and find God in something that God actually created – Nature and the essence of your own beautiful mind. It is man who built churches; it is man who created religion… God (whatever the definition might be to you) created you; your thoughts and your energy. God created love, compassion, and wisdom. You do not need church for that… everything you need is already inside you.

Now go find it and start living in a Responsive Universe!

John C. Bader

www.responsiveuniverse.com

Responsive Universe Promo Video - yeah, it sucks.. but check it out anyway!

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