The William Edelen Symposium

There is a sin among a large segment of the Christian clergy that I find despicable. It is the sin of omission. It is the sin of not sharing with a congregation what you know to be true about the bible and Christianity. It is the sin of promoting what you know to be false in order to hold your job. Those graduating in religious studies from every major university in America, as well as every major theological seminary that is independent of Christian financial pressure, know certain facts to be true. They know:

1. That the entire bible is saturated with common mythological themes, from the creation and flood myth, to virgin birth and resurrected hero mythology.
2. That the stories of the patriarchs in the Old Testament are known as "temple legends" to enhance the history of the Hebrew people and are mostly fiction.
3. That the Gospels were not written by anyone who knew Jesus personally, and are to be read only in the context of legends.
4. That the "Christ" myths and formulas are direct copies of Zoroastrian and Egyptian myths adopted by the Jesus sect.
5. That these facts, with others, have been known for years, and taught, by scholars who are respected internationally in major universities world wide.

Religiously educated clergy, through the sin of omission, yet continue to promote superstition. The Senior Minister of one of the largest churches in this area said to me: "Edelen, I can't talk about those things to my congregation. I would lose so much financial support I could not keep the church open...I just play the game they want."

A woman in my Idaho church said to me in the parking lot one day. "I don't care what you learned in seminary...I give more money than anyone else in this church and I just want you to talk about my sweet Jesus or I am taking my money and leaving." I said to her: "well...good bye" and with that she slapped me so hard across the face you could hear it for a mile. In Christian 'love' no doubt.

I call my study the center of the universe. That is very American Indian. In their cosmology wherever they are is the center. It is a beautiful concept. I am in my study now, typing thoughts as my muses forward them on to me. I am surrounded by three walls filled with books and artifacts from the American Indian mixed in with momentous from my grandparents little ranch in West Texas; branding irons, steer, bull and longhorn skulls. Georgia O'Keeffe would have loved my study.

I am trying to concentrate on writing by am almost mesmerized by what is happening outside my window. One wall is solid glass leading out into my private patio. Above a wagon wheel is a steer skull where a pair of wrens nest each year. They are there now, flying in and out, with nest materials and "following their bliss" in Joseph Campbell's phrase. I like that.