Friday, February 5, 2010

Pants on the floor or your head up your ass?

American Idol song of "Pants on the ground" has really become a hit, but why do some people (pardon my French) walk around with their heads up their asses? Is it just the way they are or are they just plain dumb as hell? Now I've heard arguments for and against questioning someone's credentials. In case of ministers there are two schools of thought. Older ministers especially those from the Bible Belt who were brought up at a very young age preaching the gospel tent meetings will quote the Bible specifically John chapter 15 verse 16 "yet not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain that whatsoever ye shall ask a the father in my name, he may give it you."To validate their credentials of ministry. They sincerely believe that God called them to preach and Shepherd the masses. As we approach the 21st century the call to ministry has changed. People nowadays are much better educated and no longer accept the biblical verses quoted by old-time preachers as validity for the call to preach or being the leader of the church or other religious organization. In order to provide the liturgy and to be ordained as clergy we now insist that that person meets certain educational requirements. Ordination only occurs after satisfactory completion of the curriculum in seminary.
Unfortunately in our society in this day and age there are many dishonest people. Therefore the requirements that a person completes a religious course in seminary has become mandatory. Any person claiming to be a minister would be required to produce some sort of the diploma or other proof of training before they can be ordained by their chosen faith or religious organization. Refusal to do so of course would be reason to refuse any application to any religious order organization.
And although there may be many sincere individuals who would like to become ministers in their chosen faith lack of education and psychological evaluation has become necessary in over to prevent any bad things from happening or anyone with a criminal or psychological impairment from being allowed to practice. I cite the current problems within the Catholic Church with many priests who have not been psychologically evaluated leading to rampant pedophilia within the church's clergy. Unfortunately some people are not psychologically qualified to serve as ministers or clergy. There are also other problems which can and do occur from the self proclaimed clergy concerning the monetary abuse of state and federal tax laws. Unfortunately there are people who abuse the process for their own inurement therefore violating the tax code.
I am not the only one who has challenged certain individuals credentials of ministry. Most of those I have asked have no problem providing proof. Others on the other hand have chosen to not produce evidence here pertain to their ordination or the corporate status of their church as a religious organization as defined by IR code 501(c)(3). It is my personal opinion that anyone who bocks at producing credentials of ministry or organizational information should be in my opinion suspect. Dealing with that organization would be at your own risk.