My Name Is Damien..,

My name is Damien.

I am gay.

I am religiously observant.

I like leather play.

I like porn.

None of these diminish the other 

#RealityCheck

.......2 God............I'm Happy You Don't Believe in God...........

............really I am...................... but can you please understand and respect my choice TO believe??....

.......A very sad side effect of being a person with Faith these days is that Fundamentalists / Extremists / Hardliners / Ulta-Orthodox / Fuck-knuckles have made it very hard to be someone who publicly lives their faith. And I don't mean those annoying people how go around door knocking and pushing their little pamphlets at you.......... (I used to answer the door with no pants on for them - they don't come round no more :)) I mean being an individual who does / believes things that may differ from those around you - or make you different from those around you.

.....I find myself challenged by people who either don't believe or believe that people of a religion ALL are alike.... I often get the whole "You're occupying Palestinian lands!!" thing thrown at me... Then people like to point out the whole hardline Jew thing to me....

.....Mainstream believers of religions get a bad rap coz of the corruptors of their religion. Before I go on though - there are some who will puff their chest out and say "Well *my* religion doesn't have people like those Muslim's who fly planes into buildings, or those terrible Israeli politicians who order the slaughter of defenceless Palestinians, so how can you say that!?"

• Christian Extremists blow up abortion clinics and have assassinated doctors
• A Jewish Extremist enouraged by other Jewish Extremists assassinated Rabin when he was *this* close to bring peace to ALL peoples of the region
• Catholic Extremists had a little party called The Inquisition - and now live as an organisation called Opus Dei
• Scientology - don't get me started
• Indian Hindu and Pakistani Muslim extremists keep the Kashmiri conflict alive
• Saudi Arabian Muslim extremists fund Radical Islam
• Radical Yahweists in the United States believe the Lord commanded them to form militias and to gain enough strength to overthrow the government..... hyuk hyuk
  
• Mormon extremists pscyhologically and physically torture their children and the children of others to de-gay them....

Shall I go on?

Now........ back to me............. I am a person of Progressive Jewish faith.....I believe in HaShem - the god of Abraham......I am Jewish through belief, faith, practice and knowledge...

....I believe in the concept of Tikkun Olam - wholistically translated as "Repairing the World"... This means I try to live in the world by example. This by no means signifies a belief in self-perfection, rather that it is a journey to being a BETTER person.... a journey and task that I recognise is an ongoing and life long one........

.....I believe in the concept of One G-d.... One creator....

..... I believe in the concept of Tzedakah ... often translated as "Charity" although most Jews prefer to refer to it as "Good Deeds".......... I believe this to be a beautiful practice in Judasim and can be something as simple as buying someone a coffee without them expecting it - to giving someone who has been having a hard time of it a handful of cash or several bags of groceries.....

.....Someone said to me upon hearing that I was a Jew was how do I believe in a Divine Creator when science has proven evolution and even NOW has proven the birth of the universe was through the big bang. My answer was simple... they actually HAVEN'T proven the Big Bang Construct. They have an excellent theory - and even then, if it is proven, it doesn't go against my faith. Why? Because of the beautiful symmetry of the Universe. Nothing exists on it's own. And that is MY belief...... irrespective of any scientific theory that is proven or disproven. Faith and science can actually exist quiet nicely side by side - it is only fundamentalists / extremists that try to corrupt one with the other.

....I believe........... and if required, I will go to arms to protect YOUR right to NOT believe..... all I ask is that you respect MY right to believe..... difference is diversity and diversity is strength.....

.... Shalom to you all.........

D..

PS.......... this piece of music is apt for me as I believe HaShem is my shadow - a constant companion - not of judgement - but of strength, support and love.....

May HaShem bless you all with health, hope and happiness..........

......Religion ........... What Sort Of Jew Are You?............

........this was a question asked of me recently by someone who knew there were different types of Jews - just like there are different types of Christians.

So ...... theologically speaking at least...... let's round off Religion week with it being all about me :)

Not that ever is of course :) ............... *casts eyes downward modestly*

• I am a convert - Jew By Choice - New Jew.
• I am a Progressive Jew.
• Progressive Jews emphasise education and personal observance. This means we learn all about our culture and our religion, then we observe as much as we can, mindful that we live in a modern time and culture. This is our primary difference to the Orthodox movement. We choose our level of observance and question tradition whilst respecting what has come before us. For more you can go to Wikipedia and read more if you are really interested :)
• I am a Jew who believes in the daily practice of "Tikkun Olam" - Heal the World - I do this by practicising good deeds. This can mean everything from the very serious - like supporting my mother during her difficult time - to the very simple - like buying a coffee for someone at work.
• I am a Jew who believes in HaShem (G-d) - I do not pretend to understand HaShem or HaShem's place in any of the issues I have covered this week - But I do believe in HaShem and have felt the presence of HaShem in my life. Lately not so much - but I have already posted about that.
• I am Jew who acknowledges that we have more in common with our Muslim cousins than that which we disagree on.
• I am Jew who believes the current State of Israel has lost it's Jewishness and needs to rediscover it's values.
• I am Jew who believes in a Palestinian State. The simple reality is that Palestine and Israel need each other - our people are cousins and should not be enemies.
• I am Jew who believes Jerusalem - the centre of three great religions - should be an international city administrated by the UN.
• I am a Jew who believes that homosexuality is not evil - and that HaShem doesn't believe that either.
• I am a Jew who believes in integrating with the modern world, and that by doing so it only enhances my culture/religion - not puts it at danger.
• I am a Jew who believes Islam is getting a bad rap by an extreme few.
• I am a Jew who believes that religion is a private thing and whilst it can be shared - like on this blog - it should not be forced down anyone's throats. Hello Mormons are you reading this? Stop banging on my damn door.
• I am a Jew who does not believe Christ was divine. I do believe he was a real man. He may have even be a special man. But in my view he was a man.
• I do believe that HaShem can interdict in people's lives and does so. I just do not understand why he has been recently absent from mine and those I love.
• I am a Jew who welcomes debate and challenge.
• I am a Jew who respects the religious stance - or atheistic - views of others :)
• I am a Jew who eats bacon - but dislikes pork chops - go figure.
• I am a Jew who wishes more Gay Jews blogged.
• I am a Jew who appreciates the vibrant, challenging and sometimes confronting dsicussions we have had this week about religion.
• I am a Jew who decries intolerance and hate in any form.
• I am a Jew who is blessed by regular visitors to this blog. Many of whom whose patronage I cherish and - quite frankly - am humbled by.
• I am a Jew who says thank you to each and every one of you who visits.

Shalom all

Damien

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......Religion........... Simple Solution To The Middle East Crisis..................

...................................this is my "Rambo" view - altho in my case more "Jewbo" I guess - kinda like an "Oy in the Hood".

Get the Israeli / Jewish hardliners/peace haters - and all the Hammas ppl.

Put them up against a wall.

Give me several pre-loaded automatic weapons.

Move out of my way.

Allow Trigger Finger to finally have it's Happy Day.

Televise the event explaining that this is now the one and only punishment for those who make trouble.

Put UN officials next to me on my right so that after my Trigger finger has it's Happy Day - I can turn to them and advise them that they WILL designate a Palestinian State - Have Knesset (Israeli Parliament) on left side - I turn to them - demonstrating Trigger Fingers desire to have a second round on it's Happy Day. After all, an automatic weapon is the gift that keeps on giving.

Jerusalem is designated an International City and troops from non-partisan nations are posted as it's security force.

Several heavy Nuclear devices are strategically but secretly placed throughout Israel and Palestine and the ramifications explained to all and sundry.

Damo get's to keep big red button.

Trigger Finger looks at big red button expectantly.

In a perfect world - THIS is my solution.

I don't play favourites.

Well I do - but that's just for the innocents who get killed.

Aren't we all lucky I don't run a nation :)

And to think - my military said no to me.

Shalom all

Damien
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..Religion WTF.............. Leave The Burqa The Fuck Alone !!! .........

................................. it is institutionalised intolerance and everyone knows it.

You're scared of Islamic extremists - join the club.

You think banning the burqa is gonna make them easier to catch or emancipate Muslim women? - get the fuck out.

If you ban the burqa - then logic dictates you do the following..........

• Ban the open display and wearing of crucifixes in public and on churches
• Ban Jews wearing Kippah (that'd go down well)
• Ban Mormons from going door to door (that one might prove popular tho)
• Ban religious billboards
• Ban religious events of any sort where they occurr in public
• Ban Hare Krishnas dancing at malls
• Ban religious paraphernalia of any kind

My Muslim cousins and I do not agree on some things - but freedom to wear our traditional garb - whether you agree with it or not - is a vital practice to our religion.

So get your hands off it and get your governments and local city councils back to other issues that are worth your time like - Oh I don't know - feeding and housing the poor and homeless maybe?

Burqa Ban........................... WTF????

Shalom & Asalam melekham

Damien

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....Religion........... I Hope G-d Is With These Young Men & Women.....

......Religion................................ Why Does G-d Desert Us?.......

.............................So whilst I am on a religion kick here on the blog - a contentious issue I know - here is my own point of view and an example of my own personal asking of this question.


One question I am often asked when people realise I am a person of faith - especially a person of an organised religion - is the one above. And one can appreciate why they do ask it. Look at these things................

Drought

Famine

War

Hunger

Religious Intolerance

The Middle East

It is an easy question to ask............ and one I have asked myself during the last three months when I look at my mother - a person I consider a living saint. And I am not speaking as a Son - I speak as a man who has met thousands of people during my life and learned to recognise good and bad. My mother is not good........................... she is sacred.

My Ima (Hebrew for mother) - raised two children on welfare - other time working 3 jobs over 16 hour days - to make sure that her children had food - clothes on their back - and shoes on their feet. My brother lived with my Father whilst we were growing up so I only refer to myself and my older sister.

My mother earnt so little that we lived in a caravan park for 10 years whilst I was growing up. For Americans, a caravan park is a trailer park. My mother worked for the park. She cleaned the toilet and shower facilities - read the electricity meters - and cleaned the owners house and did his ironing. The death of her grandmother and a subsequent small inheritance allowed her to buy a larger caravan (trailer) for her and her children.

Eventually, she was able to land a full time permanent job as a cleaner for a hotel - which resulted in a larger wage - she also cleaned houses on her days off to bring in extra money.

My mother has lost 2 sisters - her mother to lung cancer only last year - and is now caring for her partner who has cancer in his brain, liver, lungs and kidneys. He is declining rapidly. She cared for her mother full time and now cares for her partner. She has clinical depression because of it.

She never asks for anything. She would give you the last shirt off her back. She even frequently stocks up her freezer with containers of home made soup and casserole for hubby and I - just coz she knows we love her cooking and is sorry that she can not come up here to cook for us.

She actually apologised that she could not come up here and visit because she is tending to her partner.

Can you believe that?

She is on a pension (retirement welfare) that is below the poverty line. My partner and I do what we can to help but are currently working out of our own financial issues and can not provide all that we wished we could.

My mother has never had money - never been wealthy - never been financially "flush" - and yet, she agonises when she is unable to provide a birthday present for me. I have told her a card and a hug from her is all I have ever wanted, but she still worries.

And now, not a year after her mothers death from cancer, she will lose someone else she loves to that dreadful horror.

Where is G-d for my mother?

I recently chastised him for his absence. As much as many of you do not believe - I do - and have felt his presence in his life. I look to my husband as proof of that. How else would I meet my soul-mate that would prove to be my reward for my years of loneliness and depression? He lived in America - I in Australia - and it was only through a series of remarkable coincidences that we met and continue to be with each other.

And yet - G-d seems absent from my mothers life.

Why?

So I will reprint here what I yelled at him not a month ago in my living room through tears as I had just got off the phone from mother who was again crying in despair.


You bastard.

I have asked little of you during my life. Nothing more than good health and happiness. For every time I asked one thing for myself - I asked 100 blessings for my mother - a woman that you can NOT deny is a living saint.

Where have you been Mr Omni-Present and Mr Omni-Potent Lord of Lords and Creator of the Universe for someone whose life has been toil, pain and depression?

How dare you allow her to bear such pain - even with the support and love of her children?

How dare you allow yourself to be called Good and Just and Merciful when a woman who embodies the qualities of Love, Kindness and Generosity cries herself to sleep more often than not?

You fucker.

You coward.

I don't care that you can pat yourself on the back for the miracle that is Creation.

I don't care that I'm pissing you off. Do what you want with me - but her................ you should have given her every subconscious desire she ever had. Happiness.

All she ever wanted was enough money to pay the bills and retire so she could rest. And what did she get?

Poverty - pain - loss - at a level and frequency that I could not begin to foresee.

And yet - we see people everyday of questionable character bathing in grotesque wealth.

You couldn't let her share a little bit of it you fucking cunt???

Oh no - you made her work so hard that her fingers LITERALLY bled. Her feet ached to the point of being unable to walk. Her back constantly in pain - and yet you sit back and watch over your marvel that is Man.

You are a coward. And what makes it worse is I believe in you. I know you are there. I have felt your presence in my life. First as a very young boy - and many times later throughout my life.

And yet the ONE person who deserved just a LITTLE break - My Ima - you have denied her time and time again.

You bastard of a being. You are not just. You are a mockery of the belief and love that I have for you. And yet even now I can not just decide to refuse you. I know you are there.

You are a coward and a bastard.



...........................That is cleaned up a little bit - but that is mostly it.

And no - G-d did not answer me.

Where is G-d?

I don't know - all I know is that G-d is not with my Ima.

Shalom

Damien

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............New Poll......................................... Religion .............

Hey all,

In a bit of a blog-block which I think is due to my blocked and swollen sinuses and the festering pool of snot that is enveloping me like a puddle of green quicksand.

*sorry*

But I am curious as to what religion my visitors are? If any?

Also - if anything is not covered in the poll - OR - you wish to make a general comment / rant / declaration of anything religious, the please don't hesitate to either pop it in the comments - OR - if you prefer to keep your ID private then email me via my profile.

Thanks all.

Tissue time again.

Maybe drug time again too........ mmmmmmmmmmmmmm .......... drugs. :)

Shalom

Damien
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