Misc. 2002 By ESB

The American Self Protection Association, Inc.

Home of America's first Mixed Martial Art Training Method for the Entire Family

Misc. 2002 By ESB

ON ANGER

(Winter 2002-2003)

By Evan S. Baltazzi

Anger. "Refrain from anger and forsake wrath! Do not fret yourself; it tends only to evil." (Psalms 37:8).

Anger is a powerful emotion that is most poorly handled in society today. No one is exempt from it. Anger can be directed toward constructive ends or destructive ones depending on how one responds to it. It may get us "fired up" and help us overcome obstacles and reach goals, or it may lead us to violence that could hurt us and others. For these reasons it is important to understand anger. Then we can channel it and prevent us from saying and doing things we will regret later and cause us and others grave and sometimes irreparable harm.

What causes anger? The most common causes are annoyance, disappointment, frustration, harassment, hurt, and present or future threats. The body shifts to high gear ready for action, Blood pressure rises, blood flow quickens, muscles tense up, the heart beats faster, and adrenaline and other compounds are released into the blood stream. The thus generated energy may be used to our advantage or great disadvantage. Ignoring anger and failing to deal with it is a serious health hazard. Health risks associated with anger include heart and blood pressure problems, headaches, digestion problems, skin disorders, weight problems, and even constipation or diarrhea. Tension and anxiety may contribute to distraction and lead to accidents. Anger improperly handled leads to interpersonal problems that can have serious consequences.

Yet this foe, when recognized, handled right, and expressed properly, can become a valuable friend. It can help us to solve interpersonal problems, encourage growth and even intimacy. It can motivate us to work harder to reach goals and channel the angry burst of energy and strength for quick reaction to threats of danger.

Uncontrolled anger can lead to criminal acts such as destruction of property, assault, and even murder. It can lead to abuse and hurt of others. People who try to control others with anger will continue to do so until anger escalates to physical violence.

Experts suggest that, in order to control anger, one should follow these steps. First we must recognize that we are angry without feeling ashamed or guilty, since anger is a natural human reaction. Some of the signs that help us recognize "hidden anger" are use of sarcasm, feeling frustrated and disappointed, feeling our muscles tense up, and becoming accident prone. The next step is to identify the cause of our anger. This may often seem simple and obvious, but often it is not. We might be venting our anger on someone for a reason completely unrelated to what he has done or said. Then we can take positive steps to channel our anger and above all not to let it linger.

The first step we have to take is to cool down before discussing issues. Refrain from shouting matches that never lead to constructive solutions. Look carefully at your motives and decide if you are trying to solve a problem or to defeat the person that caused it. Negative motives lead to negative results Try to be assertive rather than aggressive, refrain from insulting remarks and be prepared to negotiate and compromise. If you are getting angry often and have trouble expressing your anger constructively, seek help. Talk to a friend or to a counselor. Behavior that involves getting personal, resorting to name-calling and insults will only aggravate the problem. Avoiding the issue is not a good idea, be direct without getting physical or violent. Listen to what the other person has to say before drawing conclusions and making accusations. Sulking in silence rarely solves the problem.

There are some proven ways to deflect anger. One of them is any kind of strenuous physical activity. When angry try to take the time to calm down before addressing the issue; in that respect hobbies that absorb our attention help. Evaluate the relative importance of what triggered your anger and try, if possible, to see humor in the situation. Plenty of rest, meditation, breathing exercises, and relaxation are very effective means to reduce irritability.

Now what if someone gets angry at us. First we should not answer to anger with anger; It can lead us to say and do things we might regret. Listen carefully and try to get the angry person to discuss his anger privately. Being considerate may save all concerned from embarrassment. If you think that your safety is threatened get help immediately. In some cases it is advised to consider if the angry person might feel better if some sectors of his life were improved. For instance if he had more time alone to relax, if the burden of his responsibilities were lightened, if he had more sleep, if he were subject to less stress, and the like.

In short, we should learn to recognize anger in ourselves and others, understand the real reason of our anger and find healthy, constructive ways to express it..

The Bible has many passages relating to anger and its sequels.

"Good sense makes a man slow to anger and it is his glory to overlook an offense." (Proverbs 19:11).

"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." (Proverbs 15:1).

"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you , you have gained your brother." (Matthew 18:15).

"Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. For the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God." (James 1:19-20).

"Then let us no more pass judgment on one another, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother." (Romans 14:13).

"Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written." Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." (Romans 14:17-19).

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 14:21).

ON Religious Extremism

(Winter 2002-2003)

By Evan S. Baltazzi

On Religious Extremism. These days we hear a lot about religious extremism termed also as fanaticism and fundamentalism. This is not a new phenomenon but has existed throughout the ages. The originators of the great religions left a message and guidelines. These were taken over by their followers, who, either because they were lesser minds, or because of other not particularly laudable reasons, cast the original teachings in concrete. With additions and subtractions, they devised dogma, rules and regulations for the devotees.

Religious extremism stems from self-righteous, self-centered, rigorous and inflexible interpretation of the original message and/or its legitimate or fancied implications. This extremism has been much more prevalent in the true religions like Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, rather than in metaphysical philosophies that became religions, such as Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. The rest of mankind that does not agree with extremist views is held in disregard, contempt, and not infrequently, hatred.

These extreme interpretations go often hand in hand with bigotry, intolerance, and racism. Throughout the centuries they have generated much violence, torture, and slaughter. Putting it simplistically, the thinking of religious extremists is a bit like this: "If you do not agree with me, there is something wrong with you and I am going to hit you over the head or destroy you to set you straight." In multi-ethnic and multi-religious societies like ours where physical violence is considered criminal, this kind of intolerance expresses itself as self-righteous condemnation of all dissenters, and racial and religious discrimination against all outsiders.

Today there is much singling out of Muslim religious extremism, yet Jews, Christians, and Hindus are far from being exempt. Without going back to the Spanish Inquisition, Iconoclasm, the burning of dissenters (labeled heretics) and supposed witches, we have in this country, the history of the "manifest destiny," racial discrimination culminating in violence, the burning of churches, bombing of abortion clinics, and the murdering of doctors. After 9/11 people who looked like Arabs were murdered. We are hearing daily the exploits of Jewish and Muslim extremists.

Let us now take a closer look at Christianity. This is fitting because before chastising others we should take first a good look at ourselves.

Along with other Christians, our fundamentalists believe that God is a God of love and compassion. Yet their views relate to a jealous and vengeful God straight out of the Old Testament, a God who supposedly commanded the slaughter of all men, women, children, and livestock of the enemies of Israel on more than one occasion (e.g., Samuel I, 15) and punished by death anyone who spared man or beast.

It is all too easy to get people's attention when you claim that God has spoken to you. Assuming this to be true, one should add that due to man's natural limitations it is only his perception of God's message that he will assimilate, and it is this perception that he will communicate to others by the most imperfect means of human language, where people using or hearing the same word mean, perceive or understand different things.

Denominations are generated from such divers interpretations, as well as from varied interests and emotions Even if we assume perfect good faith, which is not always the case.

Some estimate the number of Christian denominations to be anywhere from 1,500 to 6,000 (there are more being added daily). Let us take 1,500, then 1,499 are wrong and only the one of the Christian fundamentalist is right and worthy of salvation. He is blind to the grievous sin of pride he is thus committing. His God is an arbitrary satrap who creates billions of human beings so as to commit the vast majority of them to perdition. This all-knowing and ever-present God, ignores the frailty of the human condition, He ignores the fact that man is moved mostly by emotion rather than reason, and that he is the product of his environment.

A Christian fundamentalist has the makings of a Hindu, Jewish or Muslim one had he been raised in such environment. Because fundamentalism stems from self-centeredness, self-doubt, self-deceit, and a burning desire to be right and prove all others wrong.

Some believe that ingratitude is the greatest sin. I believe that genuine deep felt gratitude is the royal road to inner peace and enlightened faith. The zeal of religious extremists is not the result of genuine gratitude to a God of loving kindness. Their claims of having surrendered their life to Jesus sound hollow.

Religious people believe that their religion is the best. If they didn't, they would either cease to practice it or they would convert to another religion. America being a land of immigrants, the church, mosque, and synagogue serve also a social purpose as a gathering [lace for people of similar background and religious affiliation. Thus many attend them for that social function that often overshadows the spiritual one. The zeal of people for attracting others to their spiritual allegiance materializes in missionary work. . Missions are a most laudable endeavor and the vast majority of missionaries are well-intentioned and even saintly people, who sacrifice well-being and comfort to share with others their faith. I have met many Christian missionaries that have totally surrendered their lives to Jesus.

All self-respecting religious denominations have missions and I have seen them in action during my stay in the former French Africa. The pattern is everywhere the same. Denominations from rich nations go to poor ones bringing gifts such as food, medicine, clothing, and other amenities to get the locals' attention. It works. Yet the locals, not being particularly dumb, are not infrequently inclined to switch denominations so as to get more "inducements." This I have witnessed.

The locals also ask themselves,: if this denomination is the true Christian religion, what are all the others? And if Christianity is a religion of peace and love, how come we are being exploited, patronized and generally treated as second class people? Why Christians have so many antagonistic denominations that have been fighting and even killing each other?

Powerful countries have consistently used the impact of missions as a means for extending their sphere of influence and dominion over less developed ones. The missionary work of Europeans in the Americas and Africa offers abundant proof of this. Yet, in spite of the vast sums spent on missions and the dedication of missionaries, the results in countries where major religions are well entrenched have been disappointing. During ten years before my retirement I have frequently visited Japan as a consultant to Toshiba Corporation and I have heard many cases of people who adopted Christianity during the American occupation and then reverted back to that typically Japanese mixture of Shintoism/Buddhism. The Christian missions in China by major European powers had only a miniscule impact involving mostly the poor and the destitute and have also generated deep resentment This I have noticed during my travels in that country.

Islam with essentially two denominations, the Sunis and the Shiites, is the fastest growing religion, while the whites with their colonial past are deeply mistrusted particularly in Africa. North Africa remains overwhelmingly Muslim in spite of vast sums spent and much devoted missionary work.

Does it not behoove us as Christians to present a unified front before attempting to evangelize others? It is not too late. We should remember the essence of our religion given in Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians (2:8-9): "For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing but a gift from God. Not through works, lest anyone should boast." The unity of the Spirit does not divide, human passions and interests do.

The most challenging mission for Christians is to unite right here and now. Their differences could be, if not completely eliminated, at least minimized and tolerated. Then their antagonism in missionary work will gradually fade away and Christianity will speak again with one voice

ON EDUCATION, CULTURE, AND INTELLIGENT DESIGN. (Summer 2002)

By Evan S. Baltazzi

In all history there has not been a century bloodier than the twentieth century. Two World Wars claimed about eighty million lives and local wars many millions more. Technology advanced at an ever accelerating rate and awesome means of mass destruction were developed. When during the Middle Ages a knight in armor was fighting another knight he had first to bring him down with blows from his broad sword or mace, then he had to push aside his coat-of-mail to slice his throat. A dirty business, we think in disgust. Now we can kill people in the hundreds of thousands by pressing a button and keep our hands clean.

During my stay in the French Cameroon, before World War II, a Catholic missionary, a White Father (Pere blanc), told me that during the first World War he was trying to explain to the natives the number of people killed during the carnage in Europe. At the time he was stationed in the northeast part of the Cameroon at an area known as Garoua, famous for its many lions. The missionary tried to convey the numbers of people killed in terms of multiples of the number needed to kill one lion. His audience remained silent in disbelief. Later, Father Prosper, the missionary, overheard the natives saying the white man is bragging: It is impossible to kill that many people. The "savages" of Africa could not conceive the savagery of the "civilized" Europeans! Man's cruelty against his fellow man remains unchanged since the earliest recorded history.

The last century saw the birth of aviation, the unveiling of the secrets of the atom, the development of incredible means of telecommunication, extraordinary advances in computer science, biology, genetics, and medicine, and opened the exploration of outer space. During the early years of the last century it was the market that was leading technology, later technology overtook the market and now it is leading it. A perceived need was met with the development of new technology and products, while now it is the development of new products that spurs the search for needs to be met. This trend is accelerating with time. Many products now on the market do not even have a life expectancy of one year.

During the last century, knowledge increased at a geometrical rate. The era of people who were able to master essentially all the knowledge of their time, as during the antiquity and the Renaissance has long since ended. People became more and more specialized in increasingly narrower parts of a general field. Generalists became rare. The increased need for specialization for survival in many fields, prompted young students to opt for lucrative special areas of a technical nature at the expense of the humanities. The ranks of people devoting themselves to traditional endeavors kept thinning out. Twenty four hundred years ago Plato made the distinction between education (ekpaithefsis) and character building (morfosis). Culture, understood as the development of one's intellect, aesthetic appreciation, and manners. implies appreciation of the highest level of civilization and is attained through education and character. The search for lucrative specialized knowledge in ever expanding fields often results in people with a high degree of education but little culture.

It is an onerous fallacy to believe that the problems facing education in this country can be resolved by throwing money at them. Good education is based on a proper scale of values and these are first and foremost inculcated at home by the example set by the parents' responsible behavior. The school can build only on the sound values a child brings from home. Priority given to materialistic values is not conducive to culture. Particularly if we trust in God because of the motto engraved on dollar bills. Motherhood is pivotal to any society and no one can influence a child in his early formative years more profoundly than his mother. It is unfortunate that society does not renumerate well a mother's work and many young girls came to feel that being "only" a housewife is demeaning. Yet with teaching it is by far the most important element for a healthy, safe, and thriving society. There is a great need for mothers with first rate education and culture.

Man is lead more by his emotions rather than reason. He shores up what is convenient and emotionally satisfying for him by resorting to rationalization and often to tradition, as if traditions were always right and desirable. We find this at the center of the dispute between proponents of evolution and those of "Intelligent design." The former are biased by supposedly scientific considerations and the latter by religious beliefs. Yet, in my view, there is no incompatibility between both views. There is intelligent design ALONG WITH evolution. I would like remind those relying on science, the Heisenberg uncertainty principle according to which the only knowledge accessible to us in certain areas is linked to the highest probability and not to certainty.

The most exact of all exact sciences is the science of thermodynamics, so much so that its three laws are labeled axioms, since throughout human experience nothing contrary to them has ever been observed, that is, in the world surrounding us and not in some figment of one's imagination. Briefly, energy comes at different quality levels, it cannot be destroyed, but only degraded, and one has to pay a [price for converting low grade energy to higher grade energy. Let us take an example from the stock market. A person has one hundred IBM shares and another one hundred shares of Enron. Both have a hundred shares but their value is vastly different. The cascading of energy from higher levels to lower ones is what keeps the world going. Electrical energy may be used to give light but some of it degrades in heat.

We know also that matter is only but "compressed energy." The atomic bomb is proof enough. So matter and energy being two aspects of a single entity, we can consider the our world as a world of energy, the cascading of which from higher to lower levels keeps it in motion and in evolution. The indestructible sum total of the energy of the world must have been generated at some distant past.

If I told to one of the "scientific" evolutionists that my wrist watch created the materials it is made from and put them together by itself without the intervention of an external creative intelligence, he would ask me if I was joking. Yet he yields to his "scientific" bias and believes that this incredibly complex and marvelous world just happened. The existence of a creative intelligence, a Creator, distinct from his creation, with an intrinsic reason for his own existence is by far the most probable cause. the one with the least uncertainty.

Should we worship this Creative Intelligence? Man has a choice; if he does not want to worship God, he will worship himself. The twentieth century is a prime example of the results of man's self worship.

All the best
Evan

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