Stop-Loss

According to Deadline Hollywood Daily, the movie “Stop-loss” opened to the meager tune of 1.6 million yesterday. An unnamed studio source was cited as saying, “No one wants to see Iraq war movies. No matter what we put out there in terms of great cast or trailers, people were completely turned off. It’s a function of the marketplace not being ready to address this conflict in a dramatic way because the war itself is something that’s unresolved yet. It’s a shame because it’s a good movie that’s just ahead of its time.”

Or, here’s another thought: Stop-loss is apparently about a soldier refusing to return to duty. Perhaps instead of portraying U. S. military personal as monsters, unwilling victims, dupes and criminals the movie studios might try making a movie in which they are the good guys, doing good things. You know–an ACCURATE movie.

They could take a hint from God and Country, which I have linked below.

Mystical Warriors

This post is obviously of particular interest to me.

Slightly over a year ago, I was working on an article for Soldier of Fortune magazine (never published). While working on it, I reviewed videos of al ‘Qaeda training procured from my friend and co-author, who reviews such professionally. My friend was unsure why terrorists, during their training, would reference Aristotelian elements–but I immediately recognized the elements of alchemy, an obvious tie to the Sufis.

This is not to to vilify the Sufis (who probably represent a more direct connection to the original Gnostics than I), but to inquire into the relationship between mystic and warrior. Ethical considerations aside, modern so-called “mujahidin” terrorists are obviously drawing inspiration from the older, Sufi-inspired Hashishin, incorporating Islamic prayer, alchemy, and other mystical practices in their martial training. Similarly, the shinobi of medieval Japan trained in many exercises familiar to the modern Initiate–from the four-fold breath to the five-element philosophy of Tantrism.

This should not be confused with the more passive exercise of prayer before battle; these are examples of conscious and willful efforts to improve the spiritual prowess of the warrior. How effective might such a regimen be? What ethical arguments might be made for or against such practices?

On the Christ as the Word of God

I was recently in an argument on the nature of the Word of God. I asserted that Christian theology defines the Christ as the Word of God (Logos Theoi); an evangelical Christian, countering that the Bible is the Word of God, accused me of presenting Gnostic theology instead.
Toward a resolution of that discussion, I am posting a few internet pages which explain the Christian exposition of Christ-as-Word.

The first is the homepage of Les Oxnam, a Christian convert in New Zealand. Although it begins with a very friendly and evangelical tone, it goes on to present a well-reasoned and reasonably researched argument (caveat: the author does reference a personal dialogue with God in his study of the Bible):
http://www.all4god.net/word_of_god.htm

Next, we have the thorough scholarly research of the Catholic Encyclopedia:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09328a.htm

The third is a more parsimonious exegesis, hosted by Learn the Bible (of the Antioch Baptist Church of Knoxville, TN):
http://www.learnthebible.org/s_o_john1_1-5_jesus_christ_as_the_word_of_god.htm

Finally, we have a presentation by Hebraic-Foundations, a Bible study forum hosted by Christian Challenge International, which describes itself thus: “Hebraic-Foundations is an online email conference which provides studies as well as offers open discussion on the Biblical Christian. Its special emphasis is towards the pre-325 A.D. Church.” Not as exhaustive as the Catholic Encyclopedia, it is nonetheless a well-presented study:
http://www.christianchallenge.org/hebraic-foundations/HF139.html