Solomon's Private File #267
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in
1950's. Stephen wrote about his life in letters to a penpal, and then
in a secure blog, in case he lost his memory again, in the master
computer in his school for gifted students, which he started attending
in 2016 in a new incarnation, until his death. Now his son Solomon is
attending the same school, and is writing in his own secure blog for
his future incarnations.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Solomon is 27 in this story, in the Winter of 2053-2054.
Solomon's Private File #267 "CNN Self Injury"
START Page
I did a single topic show on CNN. Monica said, "Your alien false
religion action has raised some issues with the public here in Earth.
There are questions about self inflicted injuries in practicing a
religion. Some here on Earth are doing it, and have for centuries. You
made them stop on that planet, but you haven't here. Could you explain
why?" I said, "I didn't make it stop. I made the whole false religion
stop, which was my goal from the start. I used the self injuries
practice to aid in the mission, to provide motivation for the leader to
discuss what he was doing, and to provide motivation for his followers
to turn on him and leave his religion after I made him show it was
false, where just discussing doctrine would have practically put them
to sleep. We are talking about, in English and religious terms, what is
known as 'mortification of the flesh'. That involves sacrifice to show
devotion to God, and can include abstinence and fasting, but it can
also include causing pain and injuries to the body. Some use the pain
and injury to try to feel what Jesus did on the cross. I can tell you,
because it happened to me more than once, NOTHING you can ever do that
you can survive the doing of, will EVER make it the same! That's one of
the worst ways to die that man has ever invented. REALLY not something
for us to be proud of."
I said, "Some people do similar things, like whipping themselves
bloody raw, beating themselves with sticks, stabbing, even impaling
themselves, and cutting themselves, to feel the pain, to somehow derive
spiritual advancement from that. The chemistry of the brain can
actually make people sometimes feel like it does in those actions, but
it really doesn't, and has no other significance. You are not closer to
God for doing that. Your body is the Temple of your soul. If you
disrespect it with deliberate injury, you disrespect yourself, and so
disrespect God. Doing it in God's name, is like you are doing it to
HIM! I stopped them from doing that on that planet, as a side issue.
What caused my action, was that they were doing it for false reasons.
They were deceived by a false Prophet. He was deliberately causing
unjustified harm, including harm to children, and would have continued
to do that. It was my duty to stop him." She said, "So you would have
let them continue to abuse themselves, if they hadn't been deceived?" I
said, "That would have been the case, because it wouldn't have been
called to my attention for justified action."
She said, "But you appose that." I said, "I appose a lot of things
people do, but that doesn't mean I should interfere with them for that,
which could cause more harm in the long term, than good. The causes of
many wrong behaviors are society based, and will NOT be changed by any
means other than the natural evolution of that society. Societies have
to mature and grow up, just as individuals do, however painful that is
to some innocent people. I feel it. ALL of it. I know." We went to
break. She said, "Any problems so far?" I said, "None. Good job. Bible
next?" She nodded.
Back on air, she said, "Some who do the self injury, cite references
in the Bible to it, as the reason." I said, "They are wrong. There is
absolutely nothing in the Bible that says anything specifically that
one should injure himself for God. The very idea that God would want
that is totally absurd! Sacrifice, yes. People have decided to infer
more from that than they should. If you want to sacrifice for God, and
your own self improvement, or as an example for others to follow, give
up a luxury. Give up a pleasure. Fast for a day. But do NOT harm your
body!" She said, "But it would be healed." I said, "Yes, you would be
healed, eventually. So would be a bullet wound. That doesn't give you
God's permission to shoot people." She said, "Well said!" I said, "Er,
thanks."
I said, "This practice of self injury is in most religions, but done
seriously by a minority in each of them, mostly in modern times by some
Christians, Muslims and Hindus." She said, "What about circumcision?" I
said, "Male circumcision is different. It's a single event body
modification, which is its primary purpose in religions that require
it, not the causing of pain. A surgical procedure. Also, in some
cultures it's used as a right of passage, to signify acceptance as an
adult, not as worship. Inflicting pain is often used as a test in that
process. While it's part of the culture, it's voluntary, although it
might not seem so to those in that culture, due to social pressure to
conform. I don't oppose that, if physical function isn't impaired,
which happens in all versions of female circumcision and breast
flattening. THAT I strongly oppose, and more, for the reason for it,
which is to control their sexuality. That is severe ABUSE!" She teared
up, so we had to go to break. We hugged. She said, "I didn't expect
what you said, and my reaction to it." I said, "You're a good person.
That showed. Human before professional, can't be changed, and
shouldn't." She had more tears. I gave her some tissues.
Back on air, I said, "Some native cultures use tattoos as body
modification and rites of passage. There is pain, and some of the
reason is for that, but most of it is for the actual body modification.
Some of the general public is doing it for the same reason, very
voluntarily. Well, partially, when they're drunk." Chuckles. I said,
"But there is a problem with children doing that. Often, they regret it
later. So do some adults, and very seriously. Reformed white
supremacists, for example, with really hateful things all over them
they no longer feel or support. Body modification is a very serious
thing, and when voluntary, is not changed in a healing. It is my strong
opinion that children should NOT be allowed to do that." She said,
"Does that include religious self injury? I said, "That DOES include
religious and ANY kind of self injury! Children should NOT EVER do that
to themselves, or ask another to do it. I wish I could stop it, but
how? If I make the parents responsible, and give them the consequence
of feeling that pain, they might actually enjoy that! Well, children do
this in religions, because their parents do it, and copy them. If I
tell the religious leaders to stop children from doing it, would they
even try to do what they believe wouldn't succeed, even if they wanted
to? Do you know some of them even use razor blades to cut themselves,
and in public!" She said, "I didn't know that!" We both had tears, so
we went to break. More tissues.
Back from break, she said, "You've set up some automatic actions,
such as preventing weapons from going into schools. Could you do
something like that for children who are injuring themselves?" I said,
"I want to stop children from injuring themselves, VERY much, but it's
too complicated and judgment requiring to do that with an automatic
process. If I do it manually in large groups in public, which I could,
they would just do that then privately in their homes, making it more
difficult to manage." I asked the Boss some things, and he agreed. I
said, "But I WILL do some things. Official announcements follow!
Starting in the next healing broadcast, all body modifications that the
individual strongly wishes to be removed or repaired, will be. That
includes tattoos and scaring. There is an exception to that. ALL female
circumcisions in children will be repaired, despite wishes to the
contrary." She said, "Wow! I didn't know you could modify the healing
in the Dalai Lama's broadcasts." I said, "I don't know if I can, or
not. I'm not doing it with this. God is. We had a discussion while I
was talking with you, and He's agreed to make the changes in what He
heals." She said, "He actually does what you ask?" I said, "He has
before, yes. I'm er, VERY careful with what I ask for. I REALLY don't
want to risk refusal." She said, "I can understand THAT!"
I said, "One more announcement. I hereby serve notice to the
religious leaders who support the self injury of their people. I
require that you do all you can to prevent children from doing that! I
will be watching. If you don't make a great effort in this, you WILL
suffer! I would prefer even that adults stop doing that, but I don't
require that you cause that. For now. Remember my words, for they can
be much more than just words, in action!" I signaled the end. Monica
said, "Thank you, Solomon, for helping us to understand this issue." I
said, "I am here to educate and serve."
Off air, she said, "I have to thank you! I didn't know I would feel
this way." I said, "I did." She said, "Oh!" Staff came in, and said
much the same. I said, "So now you know why I wanted that alien acton
broadcast." They stared at me. I said, "Arbitrary rulings cause
used us! Do it again!" I said, "I've been doing that for years. ALL my
shows. We're using each other. Me to help the world, and you to make a
living, and be a part of improving humanity. We all win. Er, I think."
They made sure I knew they agreed with me, loudly. We hugged a lot. It
was the same at home, and with some tears.
The next day, the president of CNN asked to see me. He said with
tears, "They told me what you said. Thank you!" We hugged with love. I
shifted to meet with the Grand Ayatollah. He said, "We saw your show.
Your notice. I never liked children doing it. Now I can strongly
require that they do not do it. Thank you!" We hugged. I said, "You can
tell them I don't force true religions to change, EXCEPT when they are
harming the innocent. That means children. And the force applied then,
may be individual consequences." He said, "Have you done that on
Earth?" I said, "My father did. Almost the entire top level of the
Church of Scientology resigned with restrictions, rather than face
having a just consequence for continuing to harm children. Well, after
a little sample of it. Or, maybe not so little." He said, "Wow!" He
tried not to grin. I said, "He played that recording to the Mormons.
They were VERY cooperative." He laughed. I said, "Actually, they didn't
need that lesson. My father didn't know their President had told them
to do whatever my father wanted. Later, I asked the President why. He
said it was a feeling. We know about those." He nodded, and said, "Yes
we do!" I said, "Oh, the Pope wants to see me." We grinned and hugged.
I shifted to meet privately with the Pope. He said, "What your father
did through me to my Papal predecessor, you are doing to me." I said,
"Duplicate situations and functions, causes duplicate processes. You
should have expected it." He sighed, and said, "I think I did, a
little. But I could never have expected the Messiah er, revelation!" I
said with a grin, "You weren't the only one." He smiled and said, "I
take some perverse comfort in that." I said, "Mom says hello." He
laughed.
He said, "So Chad was an Adept." I said, "And after my father, the
most intelligent ten year old in history until my generation. IQ 202.
And so strong willed in some ways, his parents couldn't do anything
with him, which he actually told them. They told that to the school
administrator, who told them about Stephen. With his advice, they let
my father, only a year older than Chad, raise him, as the only one who
could, which my father never knew until they were old men, when Chad
told him. Worked out well." He said, "Wow!" I said, "Yes."
He said, "Your requirement that I ask in public for the life of
said with a grin, "I know." He sighed. I said, "Your Church wrote the
current version of his life. You OWN it. So, it's up to you what's done
with it. That's fair." He said, "Said that way, I have to admit it is.
Don't do that." We chuckled. I said, "I don't see any harm from the
recordings already made public. Would probably be much the same with
the whole thing. Except for scholars. They would be so er, excited,
they would need a truck load of towels to clean up the mess. That still
wouldn't get the faithful to notice them. Unless they were in the next
office without their earplugs." He had to laugh. He said, "You father
never went that far with me in talking about sexual things. And not as
funny, I have to say." I said, "Er, thanks."
I said, "That reminds me. He never published the original works of
Josephus. What the modern world knows of that, had been modified in
copying, deliberately. I should do that." He said, "Hmm, is Jesus in
it?" I said, "He is, in what we have now. Think it was added?" He
thought a while, and said, "It might be. He wasn't important to most
Jews and Romans then. One among many. May I have a copy before you
publish it?" I said, "Do you expect me to do that?" He said, "I have
carefully not had any expectations." I said, "Here it is. Scanned
images of the original, and translations. I suspect you won't publish
altered versions, so I don't have to mention that." He tried not to
smile, saying, "I agree, you don't have to mention that at all." I
said, "You have a week to prepare your public comments, if you want
to." He said, "Thank you!"
I said, "So, when should I expect your public request for the life?"
He said, "Do you want me to do that?" I said, "It makes no difference
to me, actually. If you want to know it, that's how you get it. Don't
want to, then don't. You own his life. You know, the Boss is going to
think this is funny." He chuckled, and said, "I think it's entirely
possible. Is that why you're doing it?" I said, "No. That would be
irresponsible. I gave you the reason I had at the time, and the fact
that I'm not playing favorites with history, except in the current
delay. But, I have to say I would like very much to please and
entertain Him, when I can, where it won't interfere with my duties.
Well, I love Him." He said, "I suspect I don't love Him as much as you
do. I don't know Him nearly as well, but I do understand your feeling
about it." I said, "To know Him better, you need to try to think as He
would, not as you would like Him to." He said, "Oh! I didn't think of
that." I said, "You have a choice in that. I don't. He's deliberately
forcing me to think as He does." He said, "I remember you saying that.
I understand that better now." I said, "You have a lot to think about.
I should let you do it." We hugged.
Mom said, "What a choice!" I grinned, and said, "Something like Dad
did with with the rings of truth." She said, "Worse." I said, "Bigger
truth. Boss is annoyed with them for hiding it. They're going to have
to pay for that." She said, "Josephus. Gimme!" I did, in a crystal. She
read it, and said, "This is going to be interesting!" We traded grins,
as more of us wanted to see it.
A week later, I gave it to the UMD IT department, to add to the other
documents Dad gave them from the ancient Library Complex at Alexandria.
They announced it, and a lot of people were VERY interested in it.
After a lot of study, a week later, some of that made the news. Vatican
was silent on it, and that was very much noticed. There was no mention
of Jesus, or anything about Christianity in it, but there was, of
Hillel. Not as a Messiah, though. Paolo didn't ask to speak with me.
The faithful didn't care about the whole issue. Mom still grins a lot
about it. She knows I think THAT'S funny.
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Grant
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