Three Stooges

Whence arose all the horrid assassinations of whole nations of men, women, and infants, with which the Bible is filled; and the bloody persecutions, and tortures unto death and religious wars, that since that time have laid Europe in blood and ashes; whence arose they, but from this impious thing called revealed religion, and this mon­strous belief that God has spoken to man? The lies of the Bible have been the cause of the one, and the lies of the Testament [of] the other.

Some Christians pretend that Christianity was not established by the sword; but of what period of time do they speak? It was impossible that twelve men could begin with the sword: they had not the power; but no sooner were the professors of Christianity sufficiently powerful to employ the sword than they did so, and the stake and faggot too; and Mahomet could not do it sooner. By the same spirit that Peter cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant (if the story be true) he would cut off his head, and the head of his master, had he been able. Besides this, Christianity grounds itself originally upon the [Hebrew] Bible, and the Bible was established altogether by the sword, and that in the worst use of it—not to terrify, but to extirpate. The Jews made no converts: they butchered all. The Bible is the sire of the [New] Testament, and both are called the word of God. The Christians read both books; the ministers preach from both books; and this thing called Christianity is made up of both. It is then false to say that Christianity was not established by the sword. source

Nothing explains it better than the above video.

Kannon Bodhisattva

Kannon Bodhisattva is Kuan Yin and Kuan Yin (a.k.a. Guan Yin) is the Isis, Innana, Ishtar, Virgin Mary all over again.

Except in China, where ancestor worship is/was BIG, Guan Yin had real appeal as a household goddess.

Is she even Buddhist?
I doubt it.

Idolatry?
I tend to think so.

Re: Tripitaka:
"They are not, however, regarded as sacred, perfect and complete descriptions of the truth. To view any scripture in this way is a form of idolatry. All books, texts, and bibles, however inspired, are human creations and subject to error and imperfection. Buddhist scriptures are to be used as reflections and pointers. They are being used correctly when they stimulate mindfulness, virtue and insight - when they lead to open and receptive states of mind rather than to unskillful mind states, such as greed, hatred and delusion."
source

If you are unaware of Buddhist teaching on idolatry, then go find out.

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Showtime!

Ya' see, in the ministerial supply biz, aside from microphones, flexi-bibles, accordions, bowling shoes, and costumes,they sell Bling-bling. Now I'm talkin' item #71177 here. Naturally, that's an electroplated cross full o' rhinestones*.
Click on either picture for a bigger view (air sickness bag not included).

It is amazing how many people bring this stuff into them places that buy gold and expect it to have some value - any value. How much do you want for the paper bag?

*Rhinestones are cheap, even tawdry, fake gems that are associated with country and western costumes and tacky Las Vegas lounge acts. The word is a translation of the French caillou du Rhin. Originally a rhinestone was a common rock crystal found the Rhine River in Germany. Today, they accent trash (animate and inanimate).

The Nature of Nirbana

And when He was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God comes not with observation: Neither shall they say, Look here! or, look there! For, behold (become aware), the kingdom of Heaven (nirbana) is within you." (Luke 17:20-21)

Coptic (Egyptian) Gospel of Thomas 113
Jesus’ disciples said to him, “When will God’s Kindom come?”
“It will not come by watching for it. It will not be said, ‘Look, here!’ or ‘Look, there!’ Rather, God’s Kindom is spread out upon the earth, and people don’t see it.”

So, like other borrowed matter, the local culture (in this case Armenia) had no way to ingest the foreign and imported teaching and, therefore, had to corrupt it to local lore.

Quote 1 allows us to escape our custodial duties as gardeners of the environment. Quote 2 - the more authentic of the two - makes it clear that our custodial duties as gardeners of the environment is part and parcel of being in this place.

We are 'making our beds.' In the life cycles which follow, we will be sleeping in those beds.

Just Deserts

Oh, I'm not talking about the silly paperback which follows the same "formula" as three of Dan Brown's books. No, I'm talking about judgment day and your just deserts - sky cake.