Cruel & Unusual Punishment?

Question for December 17, 2005

IN THEORY

Cruel & Unusual?

Q: Before he was executed this week, many argued that Stanley Tookie Williams had been rehabilitated. Others argued that his lack of contrition and the nature of his crimes justifiably doomed him to execution. Do you agree? Is the death penalty a morally acceptable form of punishment?

A: By the time this article is printed, talk of Tookie will be at a minimum, if there is a murmur about him at all. The greatest tragedy associated with the death penalty is that it desensitizes us to death and therefore life. We begin to think that justice can be delivered as a commodity - an eye-for-an-eye - rather than a response which warrants sensitivity, especially for the victims!

Today a great injustice is happening in Darfur. Tens of thousands of people are being murdered just as they were being killed in Rwanda a decade ago. It's not that we don't care; it's just that we've become so immune to killings and violence that we understand life as numbers rather than flesh, blood and souls. And when the State executes someone, we receive a booster shot to our immune system. So four days later we've forgotten about Tookie, subsequently, we close our eyes to mass murder such as Genocide.

Stan Tookie Williams died. Four others died because he shot them. Hundreds of others have been and are being killed by gang violence. Over a 2000 of our troops have died in Iraq. And on the "other" side, 30,000 Iraqis have died since the start of the war. Add to that the 29,000 kids who die each day because of hunger and the statistics and numerical values of life and death become overwhelming to the point of desensitization. So when we hear that 1.5 million Armenian were murdered in the Genocide of 1915, we accept it as a statistic to history, rather than a call to action against injustice in the world.

It all begins when we tune-out the value of the life of one man, even if he be a criminal. John Donne described it so eloquently, "No man is an island entire of itself. Every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main... Any man's death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind; therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

The Death Penalty does not bring about justice. It only punishes us, those who remain to see another injustice.

FR. VAZKEN MOVSESIAN

Armenian Church

Youth Ministries

Taking the Christ out of Christmas

Published December 10, 2005 - Glendale News Press - Los Angeles Time

IN THEORY

Taking the Christ out of Christmas

Q: Commentator Bill O'Reilly is on a campaign to promote the use of the holiday greeting "Merry Christmas" in retail stores, reflecting a concern that outlets are replacing the greeting with non-denominational sayings such as "Happy Holidays." Do you think secular forces are wiping out such seasonal displays? Are you offended by the lack of the word "Christmas" in such displays and advertising?

A: Corporate America and the "secular forces" are doing a great job of removing Christ from Christmas, but it's not because of a reference to a generic holiday. Frankly, as a Christian I'm offended and even insulted by some of the signs that label their products with Christmas banners.

What makes a cruise a "Christmas cruise?" Do they have a plastic nativity tucked away in the corner of the dining hall? What makes the car dealer proclaim a "Christmas Sale"? Is it the big red bow over the car, or the Bible in the glove compartment? And what about the "Christmas Sale of Scotch Whiskey"? After the drunk driver kills innocent people are we to be comforted that he was returning from a Christmas party?

Christ was taken out of Christmas long ago. Whether advertisers use the word Christmas or holiday is really insignificant because what we've lost is not the word or even the person of Christ, but the message. The celebration of Christmas, with trees and ornaments, with gifts and giving, is all about a sacred relationship that we enjoy with God. The message of Christmas is all about giving to those who have absolutely no way of giving back to us -- the poor, the hungry, the starving and the sick. After all, the example was given to us on that first Christmas, when God gave to us, something so sacred, knowing that we had and have no way to return the gift, only by giving to others.

So Happy Holidays, Kwanza, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice and Merry Christmas.

Buy, spend and give. It's good for the economy and be comforted knowing that retailers rely on Christmas for their survival in much the same way we rely on God for ours.

FR. VAZKEN MOVSESIAN

Armenian Church

Youth Ministries

A Tangled Web of Morality

Published December 3, 2005

IN THEORY

A Tangled Web of Morality

Q: An orthodox Jewish community in Lakewood, N.J., has banned the Internet for families that have school-age children, citing concern over access to sexual images. Under the ban, students with home access to the Web face expulsion from the area's Jewish private schools. What do you think of this policy, and the Web's effect on morality?

A: The Web is a tool -- a means -- by which information is passed along. It is like asking, what is the effect of a hammer on a wall. It depends on the person using it, the place of impact, type of nail and so on. The Web is a means by which good and bad information comes to us.

The critical issue at hand is that the Web is vast, global and the "bad" is no longer a subjective issue. So its use by vulnerable children should be monitored. The community in New Jersey is exercising its voice on matters of morality.

They should be commended for doing so whether we agree or disagree with the policy. As orthodox Jews, this community is saying that their standard is different and does not have a place for the trash that pollutes the mind of so many.

This is where the religious community (not government) should be.

And ultimately it is the followers of that religion that will decide whether to belong. Hence, it is up to parents (again, not government) to accept or reject those guidelines as it pertains to their children.

For me, the opportunities afforded by the Internet are tremendous in terms of evangelization and communication.

Every rose has thorns but with proper pruning and care, you can preserve and present the beauty of the flower without damaging its integrity. As with all of life, the challenge for us is to use and not abuse the wonders that are around us.

FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN

Armenian Church

Youth Ministries

Taxing time for political sermons

Published November 19, 2005

IN THEORY

Taxing time for political sermons

Q: The IRS has reportedly warned a high-profile church in Pasadena that it could lose its tax-exempt status because of an anti-war sermon from a guest speaker. What are your thoughts on this? Are you concerned about the line between religion and politics in your own sermons, and how crossing that line could single out a church or a temple?

A: There's something wrong here and it is bigger than the Internal Revenue Service threatening a church with a change in tax status. A few months ago when Pat Robertson openly called for the assassination of democratically elected president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez Frías, was there a similar investigation of his religious credentials?

Or was he donning the hat of a politician and therefore protected by another set of rules?

And what about the mosques, synagogues and churches where hatred toward others is preached, advocated or even tolerated? Why are these institutions granted refuge under tax-exempt laws?

In the case of All Saints Episcopal Church, they are being singled out, and it is obvious. The truth is, I can't imagine a church being a church, without it championing peace and justice. I can't even imagine a clergyman, whether priest, minister, rabbi or imam, who can dare to stand in the sight of God and not preach peace and work for a world without war. I can't imagine this because I can't imagine Jesus standing for anything that would denigrate the sanctity of life.

Since our country was founded, issues of freedom, justice, peace and humanitarian duty have all been debated in the pulpits, in the pews and the forums established by the religious community. Run the course of history to the present and you will see the same for every time we have been confronted with challenges that touch the core of our liberty as a nation. Imagine where Civil Rights would be had it not been for Martin Luther King who leaned on his faith to build a movement for equality.

Today, the Church must continue with the same zeal and enthusiasm to be an advocate for the poor and the oppressed, to lead the way to justice and peace. If the government is set on stifling the Church's voice, it must have the courage to continue even at the cost of losing its nonprofit privileges. We hope that it will not come to this and so, we all need to accept the All Saints battle as our own. All Saints, their ministry and congregation are in our prayers.

FR. VAZKEN MOVSESIAN

Armenian Church

Youth Ministries

When drugs and religion collide

Published November 5, 2005 - Glendale News Press - Los Angeles Time

IN THEORY

When drugs and religion collide

Q: The Supreme Court this week heard arguments in a case that brings up the question of whether the nation's drug laws should ever trump religious freedom. In Gonzales vs. O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao Do Vegetal, the court could reportedly grapple with what happens when a religious ceremony requires consumption of a drug outlawed under the Controlled Substances Act.

The case involves a New Mexico religious sect of 130 members that uses a tea made of hallucinogenic substances banned in the U.S. But this sacramental tea has been likened to the wine at a Roman Catholic Mass or unleavened bread at a Passover Seder. What do you think? Do the nation's drug laws supersede religion in this context?

A: From as early as the 19th century, the courts have distinguished between religious beliefs and religious practices or actions. While beliefs are granted the full protection of the constitution, not so with actions, as is evidenced in the current issue regarding the use of "sacramental drugs."

During the Prohibition era, sacramental users of wine were exempt from the general prohibition laws and the element, which was transformed through religious practices into the blood of Christ, was secured through governmental resources. I imagine the same type of procedures can be adopted for the procurement of hallucinogens today.

This case is going to be a good test for our system. Sure it will answer questions about the extent of law and religious freedom, but it will answer even greater issues of tolerance and relativism. And the outcome may catch a lot of people off guard.

While many believe that heightening awareness of God via chemicals is sacrilege, we can only see ourselves on the other side of the looking glass, and the bizarre world of religion, that justifies many profane behaviors in the name of the divine. It gives us another opportunity to consider Marx's assessment that religion is the opium of the people.

FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN

Armenian Church

Youth Ministries

Is Revelation relevant to current times?

Published October 22, 2005 - Glendale News Press - Los Angeles Time

IN THEORY

Is Revelation relevant to current times?

Q: With the recent spate of natural disasters and the potential of pandemics, talk of the end times has heated up. Speculation about the end of the world has become the topic of blogs and evangelists. What are your thoughts on the Book of Revelation in relation to our current age? Do you believe in the prophecy of the end times, or not? Are the disasters more than natural?

A: It never ceases to amaze me how quick people are to latch on to the prophetic aspects of faith and ignore the practical fundamentals that are essential to quality living.

The Book of Revelation is not meant to be read as a guide for the end times. It was written in prison by the Apostle John while most Christians were suffering and enduring violent persecution toward the end of the first century. Its message is in line with the rest of Holy Scripture: God's enduring love will carry us through the most horrendous persecutions and in the end love is triumphant.

Those who extrapolate messages correlating to world events today are out of sync with the orthodox reading of Scripture. Their blueprints and maps for disaster are erroneous.

I have a simple approach to end-time theology. Don't worry about the second coming of Christ until you've first mastered the lessons of his first coming. When we can love, care and respect one another in our diversity, when we can honor the sacredness of our planet and stop the exploitation of God's wonders, then we may be living in a utopia where the cares of tomorrow are minimized by the fullness of the life we live today.

FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN

Armenian Church

Telephone Text-Bibles and Translation

Published October 15, 2005

IN THEORY

Will the Bible be lost in translation?

Q: The Bible has been translated into text-speak, so its passages can be sent via text messaging on mobile phones. It's being touted as a way of bringing the Bible into the 21st century. In text-speak, the Bible's first line is: "In da Bginnin God cre8d da heavens & da earth." Do you agree that this is a way of bringing the holy book into the 21st century? Are you concerned that anything gets lost in translation?

A: Interestingly enough, the Armenian Church celebrates the 1,600th anniversary of the founding of the Armenian alphabet this month. Pontiffs and exhibits have been featured in stories in the Glendale News-Press.

The entire reason and purpose of inventing an Armenian alphabet was to translate the Holy Scriptures into words that would be understandable to a people.

The Church took a leading role in transmitting the faith to its congregation.

Text-speak Bibles are an attempt at popularizing the sacred. From the several Bible verses I have seen in text-speak, it seems this is an issue of spelling, rather than translation. I'm more concerned with the sacredness of the text being lost than I am with the message.

Many people, with impure approaches, have extrapolated misconstrued messages even from the most beautiful, articulate and concise translations. But in terms of sacredness, is it really necessary to flash the content of scripture on cell phone screens?

Although we say that God is everywhere, arguably there are certain spaces that are more sacred than others to celebrate, worship or even communicate.

A simple church, the open skies, or a majestic sunset will always inspire the soul to spirituality much better than, say, an outhouse or the city dump.

Most everything we do has been reduced to the mundane. Holy Scripture should lift us from our routine to the exceptional so that God becomes for us that special entity that consumes and renews us.

FR. VAZKEN MOVSESIAN

Armenian Church

Youth Ministries