Gary James's Blog

This writer was among a network of veteran community/political organizers, operatives, analysts and astute political observers who took a vow of silence, prior to the presidential nomination scenarios in both the Democratic and Republican Parties. We had no reservations about removing ourselves from the partisan hyperbolic rhetoric and popular political juxtapositions that had become too comedic, with jocular entertaining presentations emanating from all media platforms, including serious domestic and international news programming.


 


The staging of each political party’s nominating process coupled with the respective candidates involved, had foreshowed what proved to be a political spectacle on both sides of the political divide. Moreover, the array of network and cable news media became obsessed with ratings and their bottom line while apparently losing sight of their responsibility as the Fourth Estate, and to the citizens of America’s republic… Info-tainment-news became and remains the order of the day, while investigative reporting, journalism, and ethics have apparently passed through the chopping block…


 


I’m in total sympathy with the position not to dignify the base, trite and sophomoric political rhetoric that abounds from all quarters until after the presidential election. But I had a personal reason as well, to avoid superfluous and inconsequential political commentary. Initially I planned to write a comprehensive postmortem on the presidential election in addition to the election in the Virgin Islands. Then that idea developed into a book project focusing on the current state and future of the Democratic and Republican Parties, going forward. We ultimately broadened this idea to include America in the context of unfolding world events…


 


Within hours the results of election 2016 will be in the history books and all political speculation relative to the end results in the United States and the Virgin Islands will cease. Therefore, our voluntary vow of silence not to comment on the popular partisan issues and juxtapositions is ending. Yours truly will certainly make political observations going forward regarding unfolding political events on the mainland and in the territory. Please be advised that our observations, comments, and opinions regarding the outcomes and futures will certainly follow.


 


Apart from who becomes POTUS, the challenges that each political party will face are Herculean and the Republican Party’s social-conservative wing in particular must confront the emerging demographic which some characterize as the “browning of America.” Moreover, the United States of America finds itself in the center of regional wars, and rumors of wars that seem to defy the conventional political and historical narrative. Hence, the prospect of a dynamic paradigm shift looms large in the foreseeable future…


 


On the other hand, the election in the Virgin Islands may be a referendum on the maturity of the VI electorate. This writer participated in the 2010, 2012, 2014, elections as a transplant from New York City and was confronted with a rude political awakening relative to the integrity and veracity of the process. Appropriate initiatives were undertaken and ultimately litigated in the courts in some cases, but no closure has occurred… Much has been said about the respective elected officials relative to their responsibilities, real, perceived and imaged. Therefore, we posit that this election will be a referendum on the maturity of the electorate. I’m waiting for the election results with great anticipation.


 


Over the summer I had a house guess 15 years my senior who is an informal mentor of mine as he trained me many decades ago as liability investigator and claims adjustor. He doesn’t do politics but is fascinated with my political prowess and experience. My man was not persuaded by my defense for not engaging local VI electoral politics. He said: “I’m surprised that you would try to justify not engaging local electoral politics. I recall you saying that your voting and engaging in electoral political will be consequential in the Virgin Islands as compared to inconsequential nature of African American “minority” politics. I’m a little surprised by your political defensive position bro; I’m surprised that you didn’t come up with a concept such as ‘Remote Political Ventriloquism’ to deal with the objective facts on the ground.”


 


About a week after he left for New York City, I called him and thanked him for his viable concept, Whether Coach was aware of it or not after examining the concept ‘Remote Political Ventriloquism’ I concluded that he was on to something… In addition, the book project is crystalized and focuses on the political trajectory of party politics in the United States and the Virgin Islands, in the context of world events. The projected release date is the spring of 2017. The books working title is “Confession of a Black Republican.” You can access the developing manuscript at www.blackGOPconfession.com

The book was inspired by Dejazmatch Amaha Abera Zion Kassa, affectionately known by his students a prof. Kassa. Prof. Kassa came to New York City in 1983 after serving 8 years in prison following the Communist Revolution in 1975, backed by the former Soviet Union. He relocated to NYC following his release wherein he was received as custodian of the Ethiopian Orthodox Coptic Church of North and South America, and Abuna Mikael, Metropolitan Primate of the church.

Prof. Kassa hails from a distinguished pedigree and he served in various positions of authority in the government of Ethiopia. The book explores the work of prof. Kassa in conjunction with his responsibility as a custodian of the church from the establishment St. Mary of Zion Church in Brooklyn NY, during the 1950s. During the late 1980s the Metropolitan Primate passed away but he appointed a successor prior to his passing. The new church leadership dispensation was met with great controversy from the outset, and the controversy became intractable as the new leadership attempted to impose a paradigm shift in the tradition worship service modality.

In addition to Herculean attempts on the part of Prof. Kassa to modulate the controversy, he was able to inspire, inform and guide his students for two decades relative to studies of Ethiopia’s, heritage, history, culture, language, and Judeo-Christian theology. “The Christmas Day Story” is soon to be released books by the prof’s students who continue his work.

A must read as an introduction to Ethiopia and its ancient history, and the establishment and presence of the Ethiopian Orthodox Coptic Church in North and South America.

A well placed leader of the grassroots activist wing of the Republican Party has seized on the idea that “Trump does not have the disposition, temperament and depth of intellectual thought necessary to negotiate domestic and international challenges facing the USA on a daily basis.” Gary James has broadened his undertaking of revealing internal racial, social and political under currents in the New York GOP, in his soon to be released book, “Black Republican Confession.” James said, “The Trump candidacy offers a constructive opportunity to renew an outdated party of President Lincoln. An anti-Trump political initiative can shed light on various political shortcomings associated with the bygone GOP.

The Grand Old Party had a strong contingent of African American and Hispanic Republicans in the New York metropolitan area during the 1980s that dramatically declined in proportion with the growth of the social-conservative wing of the party. James is a longtime political player from the grassroots to the highest levels of elective politics in New York’s GOP circles. He has managed the campaign of many local candidates for city, state and federal offices between the 1980s, and 2008.

On April 20, 1984 the re-election campaign of Reagan-Bush, wrote Gary James over the signature of Roger Stone Jr., Eastern Regional Campaign Director, stating,

“I have received word from the White House of your interest in helping the president’s reelection. We appreciate your generous offer of support.

We are building a strong organization in your state and would like to see your group involved. I have taken the liberty of passing your qualification on to our Executive Director in New York, Mr. Charles Gargano.”

James and his organization Voters Anonymous ran the “black desk” in New York State, and they made unique contributions to President Reagan carrying New York State, in the general election. He authored the Black Republican Task Force minority outreach plan under the auspicious of the New York Republican State Committee, in 1985.

James was state coordinator for the GOP Gubernatorial candidate in 1986, Justice Andrew O’Rourke, served as the Harlem delegate for Congressman Jack Kemp during his 1988 bid for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination. James has experienced all levels of party as well as community politics from which to draw on in the book.

James begins to disclose the political bowels and nefarious machinations in electoral political party politics in his no holds barred, soon to be released book, “Black Republican Confession.” But during an extensive interview with a Virgin Islands based Internet streaming publisher Ras Soup, James discusses the Donald Trump political phenomenon and points to a malignant political ambivalence throughout the social-political undercurrent of the GOP. He concludes that the political acquaintance of the party “establishment” and blind eye given to patent bigotry and racism ultimately facilitated the Trump phenomenon that turned a political juggernaut…

During the comprehensive interview with Ras Soup, James explains why he has positioned his election initiative in the framework of “anti-Trump” as opposed to “pro-Hillary” in his interesting political perspective. But, James is unequivocal about the decline of the social-conservative movement in the Republican Party based on the emerging demographic in America. Accordingly, as the browning of America occurs, the social-conservative political ideology will become less influential therefore the Republican Party’s philosophical as well as political thrust will necessarily undergo radical political surgery.

James said, “We want to be in front of the political curve when Trump, and the social conservative wing of the Republican Party bomb out respectively. Interestingly enough, the Trump political juggernaut is timely as his candidacy will likely crash and burn, while the GOP will require a rebirth for the ashes. Politically resurrecting the ashes and dried bones is a political growth opportunity for the Republican Party. It may be an emerging market going forward.”

Portions of Gary James’ extensive interview will be published on various media platforms throughout this presidential election season.

 

 

 

Commemorating the Transfer Day Centennial will be a climax to one of the great discoveries in my relatively long life, as I celebrate my seventh year as a resident of St. Croix in the Virgin Islands, of the United States.

I first learn about Transfer Day in 2009 after relocating from New York City to St. Croix, the birthplace of my beloved father Leando James in 1922. I began researching my family roots at the WHIM Great House Museum, and became overwhelmed with the wealth and bounty of the personal and historical information I was discovering. Transfer Day among other colorful and rich history of the former Danish West Indies, now known as the Virgin Islands of the United States; coupled with the discovery of my deep family roots on the big island were profound revelations to me. Having reached middle age, born and formally educated in New York City, and fairly well read, I was confounded by what I was learning for the first about “New World” history, the United States of America, as well as my ancestry.

My studies didn’t cover the transfer/sale of the formerly known Danish West Indies, now known as the Virgin Islands to the United States of America. I had no knowledge of the fact that for the first ten years of rule by the United States, that the Virgin Islands was under a military government, vis-à-vis, the Navy and Marines. It was interesting to learn that the United States Congress conferred statutory citizenship to inhabitants in 1927, and statutory limitations of statutory citizenship remain to this current day.

I was equally amazed to learn that my great, great grandfather Johannes James was born into slavery in 1825, lived and worked as a cooper on Estate Heritage. And the records point out that his parents Adam and Helena, lived on the Estate as well. Johannes would have been 23 years old and his parent’s perhaps in their 40’s on what I learned was Emancipation Day, July 3, 1848. And they may have been around during the “fireburn” and Contract Day 1878…

I had no idea that a great migration from the Virgin Islands to the states began in the 1920s, particularly to New York City. I was surprised to learn that Virgin Islanders were in the vanguard of the famous Harlem renascence, and many played roles of great consequence in politics, labor movements, literary and culture contributions are enormous.

Casper Holstein a migrant to New York City, from St. Croix, is credited with perfecting, if not inventing “the numbers gambling game.” He amassed millions of dollars, and lived a high profile lifestyle in New York City as well as in the Virgin Islands. Holstein is also credited helping to finance his brother-in-law David Hamilton Jackson’s undertakings with the St. Croix Labor Union and land deals.

Until this day the “numbers” remains as it was then in terms of 6X1 payout and it continues to be a job opportunity in the informal economy that plays a consequential role in the underground economy in many cities and urban centers. That fact that Holstein was kidnapped by the mob and returned after the delivery of a handsome ransom ads intrigue and gangster flare to the story…

My grandparents Theophilus and Beatrice Phillipus-James, my father and aunt migrated to NYC in 1925, never to return. Theophilus was the youngest of five siblings born in 1900, Adam and Fancisca (Frankie) James were his parents, Annie, Arabella, Patrick, Charles and Theophilus their five children.

Information was intense and abounding which inspired me to consolidate the work it into a book and try and make it a coherent read that I might understand and enjoy, as well as family and others. TRANSFER DAY was released in 2014 and it was a great personal relief and release to finally like it, like me go…

In flection, this cursory exposure to the New World and America’s history has embroidered my world view by way of offering a coherent yet complicated account of the African Diaspora, in the context of the colorful historical variations of African descendants coming from respective European colonial histories and ending up on the American mainland… A very enriching experience, and highly recommended.

With the United States of America being a general finial destination in the western hemisphere for many, it is not easy to appreciate or discern the respective secondary historical roots, vis-à-vis, European Caribbean colonial masters for friends and neighbors… In New York City for example “Black” Americans are generalized as a whole, but there are many significant nuances by way of history, tradition and culture that are over looked, or will continue to be unknown…

The rich variety that comprises the African Diaspora becomes vivid and graphic by way of a Caribbean historical lens is indeed recommended by this writer/explorer. And many Americans have roots in the Caribbean that will remain unknown, unless you (first parson singular) dig-up your roots and embellish your world view.

I remain inspired as my research and writing continues, along with learning…

TRANSFER DAY is available in the printed as well as ebook versions are available @ www.sbpra.com/GaryJames TRANSFER DAY is also available along with other books at Amazon…

PROPHETIC MISSION is the first installment of a trilogy with TABOT being book number two, and HORIZONTAL, the third book. The setting of the work is the Caribbean, North and South America, and the storyline positions the “New World” in a prophetic context as the zeitgeist of western culture vis-à-vis, modern civilization. Beginning with the “discovery” of the Caribbean islands, North and South America, the New World initially became a property of the Spanish Empire. Shortly thereafter the New World was transformed into the cockpit for European economic expansion, development and global dominance. Christianity was the framework that facilitated the conquest and structure of the Caribbean, North and South America. Christianity was adopted by Roman Emperor Constantine in the 4th century, and subsequently brought to Europe.  Previously, Christianity was practiced in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, and these early Christian communities experienced the wrath and persecution by Rome until Constantine adopted the faith.

But Christianity was introduced to North America by the Protestant Church, in the early 1600s in the wake of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. On the other hand South America remained predominantly Roman Catholic to this present day.  Christianity was the divine authority by which the new lands were discovered, conquered, settled and ruled. The divine right of Christian monarchs established order and governance of the new lands following Columbus’s successful voyage of discovery in 1492. And since the advent of the United States of America in 1776, North America specifically, has emerged as the as the single global super-power in the 21st century world. The United States and its Western European allies have been the dominant factor in the New World in terms of how political and economic business is conducted in the world since WWI. Moreover, the United States and Western Europe enjoy the position of being the geo-political and strategic hegemonic force on the planet. As such, western values and morals continue to inform the popular global culture, while managing and modulating the world order.

By virtually any measure American and western culture was imposed on the indigenous inhabitants of the New World, following its fortuitous discovery and ownership by the Spanish Crown. And under the umbrella of Christian authority, the settlers and pioneers established a nation state that has developed into the most powerful nation on the face of the earth, and North America in particular reigns as the arrowhead of modern civilization and future global nation states.

Folk-law and high speculation regarding the history of indigenous Americans, often intersects with Christian prophetic perceptions in the framework of the “America experiment” as the zeitgeist of the future. America’s “special dispensation” informs its domestic and foreign policy positions, and these manifold political, economic and social ideas represent the cornerstone of western culture. But prophetic speculation regarding the role of America in the world is not confined to the “America” project, or the prophetic predictions of Roman Catholic or Protestant denominational Christianity. The rich culture and prophetic traditions held and advanced by the indigenous inhabitants of the newly discovered world continue to resonate in some quarters.

Pre-Columbian North, and South America and Caribbean had many cultures from around 2000 BC to the 16th century. These various indigenous cultures had sacred and prophetic traditions and the Mayan calendar is one example of enduring indigenous traditions that peppered the New World. However, the Maya didn’t invent the calendar they developed it further, as it was used by most pre-Columbian cultures and is still used by some cultures today. The Arawak, Carib, and Inca are among the cultures that were met by Christopher Columbus during his contacts with the Caribbean Islands, and North and South America. Hence, the New World was shrouded with indigenous spiritual ideas and prophetic traditions from many sources.

Some assert that the geography which formulates the New World within itself has a special or sacred significance in the context of the natural electro-magnetic vibratory rate of the physical mass, sublime waters, and brilliant contours, shaping the hills and mountains, contrasting the expansive plains, forests and wondrous vistas. Surely the range of nature’s beauty against the spectrum colors with various values and intensities can conjure incomprehensible majesty, authority and power, sufficient to reflect an omnipresent purpose and presence. Whether by natural selection, or omnipotent ideas associated with the spiritual beliefs of indigenous cultures, manifest destiny of European culture, or the popular Christian prophetic propositions; it is not difficult to imagine that the New World in general and North America in particular may have a destination with fate…

Without reservation, Judeo-Christian prophetic speculations are among the most popular ideas that engage and animate informal conversations, although Native American concepts, natural phenomena, and anomalies are all relevant to the popular conversation. Irrespective of how a person may come down on the prophetic, spiritual or natural phenomena modalities associated with the uniqueness of the New World geography, North and South America is without question an exceptional region with a dynamic global future regarding the trajectory of modern civilization.

Among the plethora of prophetic scenarios are intriguing ideas associated with the enslavement of Africans in the New World. Stories abound relative to the prophetic outcome in the New World as a result of the trans-Atlantic slave trade that brought Africans to serve as beasts of burden under the European colonial system. The rules formulated by the European colonial masters made it difficult for enslaved Africans to assemble and communicate among themselves. Colonial masters and planters in particular had an abiding fear of slave revolts and insurrections which had occurred on many of the Caribbean islands. However, despite elaborate precautions taken by plantation owners and colonial masters, Caribbean history is replete with rebellions throughout the various islands as well as on the main lands.

In 1733 there was a major slave rebellion on the island of St. John, in the Danish West Indies that lasted several months until it was finally put down by cooperating slaves and a coalition of European colonial powers. St. Croix was purchased from the French in 1733 by the Danish West Indies company and there was great concern that the rebellion that occurred on St. John would not be repeated on St. Croix. Nevertheless, in 1848 a rebellion known as Emancipation Day and the “fire burn” rebellion that occurred 1878 (Contract Day) are examples of what enslaved Africans on St. Croix, under took to gain a measure of freedom. These two events are recorded in the local history and are local holidays. These two events among others set in motion dramatic and pernicious efforts on the part of colonial governments in the Caribbean to make examples of those who would defy and challenge the authority of the colonial system. Accordingly, the man and women who allegedly engaged in the rebellions were burned at the stake in public in Estate Grove on St. Croix.

But without question, the revolution that took place in Haiti in 1804 in which the French military forces of Napoleon were defeated by the enslaved Africans set the tone for the economic, social and political destiny for slaves and former slaves in the western hemisphere. As a practical political, economic and social matter, a free and independent black nation could not be toleration in the western hemisphere. Hence the ultimate fate of Haiti was etched in stone, and it continues to play out many argue…

The religious component associated with Haiti continues to be perceived as odious, and foreboding, with links to primitive African religious ideas not compatible with popular Christian prophetic tradition. Therefore, very little is explored and examined relative to Haitian and African theology and thought regarding prophecy in the context of the New World. Nevertheless, some argue that the religions of Voodoo, Santeria and Yoruba, all peculiar to Africa and South America, have interesting correlations with Roman Catholicism in the framework of spirits and the Orissa. Be that as it may, there is no popular prophetic narrative that speaks to New World destiny from an indigenous African religion. Yet, there is an informal and esoteric speculation that there is a prophetic outcome associated with the role of descendants of enslaved Africans in the future of the New World.

On the other hand there is an ancient African connection with Judeo-Christian theology that references Abyssinia (Ethiopia) following the advent of the faith in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The Ethiopic Bible (Hebrew) is comprised of 81 books (46 Old Testament and 35 New Testament), as compared to the King James Version which has 66 books (39 Old Testament and 27 New Testament), the Ethiopic Bible offers no appreciable differences with respect to prophecy relative to the New World, as the family of man advanced no race based distinctions in either canon of scripture. Therefore, the various interpretations of biblical prophecy associated western Judeo-Christian traditions have no general conflicting ideas as compared to the Ethiopian and Oriental Orthodox theological treatise.

However, there is a broad range of informal prophetic ideas that have generated interest and curiosity over the past few centuries that is still generating an interesting resonance. From the religious cultures of the pre-Columbian period to our present day Protestant denominational Christianity, engaging ideas abound relative to the prophetic destination of the New World. In the context of popular denominational Christian prophecy, there are several veiled biblical references to a people who are enslaved that will ultimately gain their freedom. In addition, there is much speculation in the context of end-of-days eschatology that speaks to judgment upon the churches. In all references the story is expressed in colorful, compelling and intriguing notions and possibilities.

Apart from conventional Judeo-Christian theology and ideas associated with other religions and cultures, there is information and enlightenment that is termed esoteric that is generally juxtaposed to popular perspectives and conventions. These unconventional perspectives are consistent with standard traditions in Judeo-Christianity but they and present a “philosophical inversion” to popular and conventional ideas and general thought.

For example the “philosophical inversion” in the framework of the Christian religion is the term, worship service. The worship service modality is the popular form of communion with God and Jesus Christ. This is convention and tradition in organized Christianity. In fact the worship service of all the religions of Abraham (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), enjoy a popular “worship service” modality. On the other hand the “philosophical inversion” relative to the esoteric perspective is service as worship. Hence the organized religion expression is the worship service, while esoteric religious adherents are engage in service as worship.

The esoteric philosophical inversion is also applied to the material (physical) realm and immaterial (spirit) realm juxtaposition. Accordingly, the material realm is popularly perceived as superior to the immaterial realm, and it (material realm) is in fact defined as irrelevant, if it is acknowledged to exist at all. On the contrary, the esoteric perspective defines the immaterial (spirit) realm as superior and the material as inferior in the framework of their relationship symbiosis. Esoteric information, ideas and enlightenment represent uncommon interpretations of convention and popular understanding. Some are moved when they encounter esoteric information and thought, while others are unmoved unimpressed, and ambivalent. Esoteric information and enlightenment has ancient origins in the framework of mysticism, alchemy, astrology and techniques associated with divination. And early religious communities also embraced the esoteric realm, which was practiced and advanced in monasteries, and religious orders.

The early Roman Catholic Church established many religious orders and monasteries, which was customary among the ancient oriental Eastern Orthodox communion that include, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Coptic (Egyptian) Orthodox Church, Syrian Orthodox Church, Greek Orthodox Church, Armenian Orthodox Church and Russian Orthodox Church. But esoteric enlightenment in its theological context did not migrate to denominational Christianity following the Protestant Reformation during the 1600s. In the western hemisphere esoteric information, knowledge and enlightenment migrated from the theological base to what are popularly referred to as “secret societies” or “clandestine societies.” Some of these so-called organizations talked about are: Freemasons, Illuminati, Rosicrucian’s, Opus Dei, Priory of Sino, Knights Templar, Skull and Bones, Trilateral Commission, Bilderberg Group, among others.

Virtually all the respective referenced religious and secular institutions have esoteric components that reside beyond the eye. And they also speculate and operate esoteric prophetic ideas associated with the future, and their role and participation in the anticipated future. Ideas such as the patriarchal system, (religious and secular), along with mass marketing the efficacy of vertical human relations while societal institutions and systems that maintain and modulate the status quo.

The trilogy offers an esoteric perspective in a comparative context to the popular narrative and conventional wisdom. Philosophy and theology in particular both have an esoteric dimension as well as a popular information narrative. But the popular narrative for various reasons has captured the public imagination and those relative ideas, concepts and perspectives inform the general consciousness. Some argue that esoteric perspectives and ideas inform, embellish and embroider the popular narrative and the process tends to raise consciousness.

The three works posit that modern society is constructed based on a philosophical and theological inversion, that continues to inform what and how we think. Moreover, what we think and how we think, as a result of the inversion will minimize the extent to which critical issues and problems plaguing contemporary society may be adequately addressed. Critical problems referenced herein include, 1. Discrimination based on a person’s race. 2. Perception of Christianity as a “white-mans” religion. 3. Prophetic riddles.

While referencing the relevant New World time a place, each of the three works examine the esoteric overlay to the conventional narrative that embodies the popular race paradigm, popular Christian socio-political sensibilities, and the providence articulated from various quarters. At the minimum, the reader will explore parallel philosophical and theological perspectives associated with timely issues and crisis.

 

We highlight North and South America, by way of the Caribbean, a/k/a the “New World.” North and South America represent the largest contiguous landmass in the “New World” which embodies the epicenter of modern civilization. Accordingly, the Caribbean region is our point of entry and portal to “Prophetic Mission.” Ruled by four major, and several minor European empires, the populations of the Caribbean islands developed an interesting diversity. Island cultures were therefore more varied than in either North America (primarily northern European and Protestant) or South America (mainly Hispanic and Roman Catholic). Each empire imposed its own language, religion, habits, culture and prejudices, etc. on the governed. The Spanish tried to govern their empire from Europe, which proved to be a challenging scenario. The British and the Protestant empires, at least before 1810, allowed whites on each island to make their own laws. Cuba and Jamaica both became major producers of sugarcane, grown and harvested by enslaved Africans. However, Jamaica was developed into a plantation society in the 18th century, while Cuba entered the peculiar industry (slavery) in the 19th century.

The Caribbean was the first part of the New World to be reached by Columbus, and his first stop was the island of Hispaniola, now known as Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Moreover, Europeans ruled the islands longer than most other parts of the Americas. Until the 1960s, many islands were directly attached to European states as political and economic colonies. And their peoples, or at least the ruling groups, often considered themselves to be Europeans even though they had been born on the islands. When Columbus discovered the Americas, Europe was only beginning to emerge from its medieval past. During the next few centuries, both technology and the ways in which Europeans viewed the world changed dramatically. Thus the history of the islands is largely a story of adaptation to developments in Europe or, in later centuries, in the United States. Europeans imposed slavery on the islands. Later, European governments were forced island planters to abandon slavery as their populations on the mainland protested the continuance of the institution, and rebellions of the enslaved populations grew.

Before leaving on his first voyage, Columbus negotiated with Queen Isabella of Spain the terms of a contract in the form of a royal grant (capitulation). In the event that he succeeded, the Crown would grant Columbus hereditary nobility and the title of admiral making him viceroy of the mainland and islands he reached, and would give him one-tenth of the profits taken from the conquered. The privileges granted to Columbus were unusually generous, but the capitulation itself was a traditional device through which the Crown delegated specific royal powers to the leader of an expedition. Most of the conquistadores who followed Columbus into the Americas solicited and operated under these contracts. Normally, the expedition’s leader combined most of the administrative authority of a governor with the powers of a military captain-general. Queen Isabella believed that she could delegate such great powers to her captains because the lands of pagan peoples were hers by right of conquest. A legitimate monarch did not invade the territory of another Christian ruler without just cause. But monarchs were obligated to bring under their rule territories occupied by pagans, or Christian heretics. By right of conquest, the ruler owned everything in these territories. And he or she could in turn distribute this conquered property to various subjects in whatever ways deemed most likely to facilitate settlement by Christian of the conversion of the present inhabitants.

The papal “Treaty of Tordesillas” divided the world between Spain and Portugal, with Spain receiving the lion’s share of the newly discovered lands of Columbus. The Treaty was intended to solve the dispute that had been created following the return of Christopher Columbus and his crew, who had sailed for the Crown of Spain. On his way back to Spain he first reached Lisbon, in Portugal. There he asked for another meeting with King John II to show him the newly discovered lands. After learning of the Spanish voyage, the Portuguese King sent a threatening letter to the Catholic Monarchs stating that by the previous Alcaçovas Treaty signed in 1479, with the papal bull, Æterni regis, that granted all lands south of the Canary Islands to Portugal all of the lands discovered by Columbus belonged, in fact, to Portugal. Also, the Portuguese King stated that he was already making arrangements for a fleet to depart shortly and take possession of the new lands. After reading the letter the Catholic Monarchs knew they did not have any military power to match with the Portuguese, so they pursued a diplomatic way out. On 4 May 1493 the Pope Alexander VI, decreed in the bull Inter caetera that all lands west and south of a pole-to-pole line 100 leagues west and south of any of the islands of the Azores or the Cape Verde Islands should belong to Spain, although territory under Catholic rule as of Christmas 1492 would remain untouched. The bull did not mention Portugal or its lands, so Portugal could not claim newly discovered lands even if they were east of the line. Another bull, Dudum siquidem, entitled Extension of the Apostolic Grant and Donation of the Indies and dated 25 September 1493, gave all main lands and islands, “at one time or even yet belonged to India” to Spain, even if east of the line.

The Portuguese King John II was not pleased with that arrangement, feeling that it gave him far too little land as it prevented him from possessing India, his near term goal. As of 1493, Portuguese explorers had already reached the southern tip of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope. The Portuguese were unlikely to go to war over the islands encountered by Columbus, but the explicit mention of India was a major issue. With the failure of the Pope to make changes, the Portuguese king opened direct negotiations with the Catholic Monarchs, the King Ferdinand and the Queen Isabella, to move the line to the west and allow him to claim newly discovered lands east of the line. In the bargain, John accepted Inter caetera as the starting point of discussion with the Catholic Monarchs, but had the boundary line moved 270 leagues west, protecting the Portuguese route down the coast of Africa, but also gave the Portuguese rights to Brazil. As one scholar assessed the results, with such that “both sides must have known that so vague a boundary could not be accurately fixed, and each thought that the other was deceived, concluding that it was a diplomatic triumph for Portugal, confirming to the Portuguese not only the true route to India, but most of the south Atlantic.” The treaty effectively countered the bulls of Alexander VI but was subsequently sanctioned by Pope Julius II by means of the bull Ea quae pro bono pacis of 24 January 1506. Even though the treaty was negotiated without consulting the Pope, a few sources call the resulting line the Papal Line of Demarcation.

Very little of the newly divided area had actually been seen by Europeans, as it was only divided via the treaty. Spain gained lands including most of the Americas, which in 1494 had little proven wealth. The easternmost part of current Brazil was granted to Portugal when in 1500 Pedro Álvares Cabral landed there while he was en route to India. Some historians contend that the Portuguese already knew of the South American bulge that makes up most of Brazil before this time, so his landing in Brazil was not an accident. One scholar points to Cabral’s landing on the Brazilian coast 12 degrees farther south than the expected Cape São Roque, such that “the likelihood of making such a landfall as a result of freak weather or navigational error was remote; and it is highly probably that Cabral had been instructed to investigate a coast whose existence was not merely suspected, but already known.”

The line was not strictly enforced as the Spanish did not resist the Portuguese expansion of Brazil across the meridian. However, the Roman Catholic monarchs attempted to stop the Portuguese advance in Asia, by claiming the meridian line ran around the world, dividing the whole world in half rather than just the Atlantic. Portugal pushed back, seeking another papal pronouncement that limited the line of demarcation to the Atlantic. This was given by Pope Leo X, who was friendly toward Portugal and its discoveries, in 1514 in the bull Praecelsae devotionis.

For a period, the treaty was rendered meaningless between 1580 and 1640 while the Spanish King was also King of Portugal. It was superseded by the 1750 Treaty of Madrid which granted Portugal control of the lands it occupied in South America. However, the latter treaty was immediately repudiated by the catholic monarch. The First Treaty of San Ildefonso settled the problem, with Spain acquiring territories east of the Uruguay River and Portugal acquiring territories in the Amazon Basin. Emerging Protestant maritime powers, particularly England and The Netherlands, and other third parties such as France, did not recognize the division of the world between two Catholic nations brokered by the pope.

The consequential role of the Roman Catholic papacy set the stage for the establishment of the Christian monarchs of Europe to settle and engineer the economic, political and social trajectory of the New World from four the voyages of Columbus to date. The future and role of the Americas in relation to a dynamic and unfolding world, remains in the process of becoming…

The “Spanish Caribbean” became the nomenclature of the various islands and main lands that comprised the New World… For more than 2 centuries, Spanish rulers claimed that all of the Americas were their property because Columbus had sailed under the authority of Queen Isabella. By virtue of conquest, the Crown was said to possess all political, judicial, and religious authority, own all property, and retain all powers of taxation throughout the New World. Anyone of any nationality entering the Americas must obey the royal laws. In theory, only Spaniards could move to or trade with the colonies, and all goods had to be bought over from Spain in annual fleets of licensed Spanish ships.

Rulers of other European states soon resented Spain’s claim to a monopoly over the New World. Francis I of France reportedly asked where in “Adam’s will” was the New World put exclusively in the hands of the Spanish king… But the Dutch, British, and France did not begin to plant colonies in Spain’s Caribbean world until the 1620s. Seizing territory involved expensive problems of governance and defense. Spain’s European enemies (Britain, France, Dutch), preferred to weaken the Spanish economy and kingdom by licensing ‘pirate’ and ‘privateers’ who seized Spanish ships on the high seas. Until the 1620s, piracy was the most common form of warfare in the Americas.

In seeking to maintain a total monopoly over all of the Americas, the Spanish government ironically permitted its enemies to invade its New World holdings. The Spanish Crown focused its attention on Europe, and it depended on the Americas primarily as a source of treasure to support its European wars. The Spanish government showed little interest in Cuba, Jamaica and Hispaniola after the discovery of gold and silver in Mexico and Peru. The Spanish Crown left most settlements to fend for themselves, even to the point of deliberately depopulating them. Undefended Spanish settlers on the islands were poor and they were easy prey to pirate and buccaneer raids.

The New World became the cockpit of European powers as the French, British and Dutch, by way of pirates, etc, and claimed the various islands in the Caribbean. The large mainland of North America and South America became the primary focus of the Spanish empire. South America remains a Spanish culture, and language, and the Roman Catholic religion continues to be the dominant faith.  On the other hand North America was ultimately settled by Puritans a form of Christianity that followed the Protestant Reformation. Accordingly, the United States of America was founded in the framework of the Puritan ethic.

Christianity came to Europe in the 4th century by way Emperor Constantine who consolidated a heretofore diverse religion under the absolute authority of the Roman Catholic Church. The consolidation of the faith was codified during proceedings of the Council of Nicaea (325 AD). Prior to this “First Ecumenical Council” Christianity was comprised of populations in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. These early Christian communities were victims of Roman persecutions and prosecutions, until the emperor’s conversion to the rapidly growing Christian faith. As a matter of fact, the advent of the Roman Catholic Church occurred 300 plus years after the birth of Christianity.

The sequence of these historical events, are recorded thusly. In 312 AD, Emperor Constantine was deposed in a brief military coup. The night before the decisive battle to regain the throne Constantine reportedly saw a cross in the heavens and he (Constantine) interpreted that vision as a sign of his triumph. Constantine was victorious and he regained his throne. Subsequently, in 313 AD Constantine signed the Treaty of Milan, which outlawed the confiscation of Christian’s property. There is irony in the fact that there is no account of Emperor Constantine being baptized or converted by a Christian bishop.

The newly converted emperor was able to convene virtually all of Christendom in the context of the First Ecumenical Council. The world of Christianity was represented (Middle East, Africa, Asia), and most bishops signed off on to the “Nicene Creed” that vowed absolute authority to the Roman Catholic Church. On the other hand bishops that did not subscribe to the Nicene Creed were excommunicated from the proceedings. In addition to challenges regarding the Nicene Creed, Ethiopian bishops disagreed with the “nature of Jesus Christ” as advanced by the Roman Church.

Roman Catholic theology asserts the nature of Jesus Christ as dual, (part human and part divine), while Ethiopian Church theology adherents to the “monophysite” doctrine (single divine nature). The Ethiopian bishop did not conform to the Nicene Creed, would not subscribed to the duel nature of Jesus Christ therefore Ethiopia was excommunicated from further proceedings and all future councils, and they were branded as heretical. The consequence of Ethiopia’s excommunication from the First Ecumenical Council actually bifurcated, Judeo-Christianity between east and west and is referred to in history as the great “schism.” The schism established a separation between the Roman Catholic Church in the western hemisphere, and the oriental Orthodox Church.

Roman Christianity was thusly brought to European monarchs who established and expanded Christianity by way of conquests by their respective empires, vis-à-vis divine right. The Roman Catholic Church enjoyed an absolute monopoly of Christianity in the western world from the 4th to the 16th centuries at which time the Protestant Reformation bifurcated the church in the western hemisphere into Catholics and Protestants. The Protestant Reformation began as a feud between the pope and king of England. Ultimately, the king of England (Henry VIII) split from the Roman Catholic Church and established the Church of England (Anglican Church). But the Church of England was soon thereafter accused by the ongoing “Protestant” reform movement of mimicking the excesses and sins that were peculiar to the Roman Catholic Church. Subsequently, the “Puritans” emerged to be consequential to the Protestant Reformation movement.

Accordingly, the pilgrims (Puritans) are at the cornerstone of founding the United States of America, the zeitgeist of modern civilization. There is a sublime mythology that posits America in the context of a prophetic role in world history. And in the comparatively brief history since the advent of America, she is proven to be a vanguard of modernity as the “America experiment” represents a prototypical trajectory for 21st century nation states. This messianic perception of America, that some hold regarding the profundity of America has an historical nature with ancient roots. This idea goes beyond the concept of “manifest destiny” that pervades high school American history and social studies curriculums as it can also be detected in the popular Greco-Roman historical narrative. But, notwithstanding its origins the same idea is currently being expressed in the political and social arena and is being marketed vociferously in the name of “American exceptional-ism.”

It is indeed the Protestant component of Christianity that is responsible for the founding nature of the United States of America. Among the unique ideas that are consequential to the America project is the separation between church and state. Prior to this advent, church and state enjoyed a precarious marriage with one overshadowing the other at various times in history. This novel idea of church and state separation was without question inspired by the overbearing, 1200 year of absolute authority that the Roman Catholic Church exercised. South America remained a stronghold of the Roman Catholic faith, but North America became immersed in Protestant denominational Christianity.

Hence, by way of the “Protestant ethic” the United States of America pioneered secular government in the context of a Constitutional Republic and what is popularly referenced as “classical liberalism,” which was advocated by John Locke among others. Interestingly enough, the prerogatives handed down to Christian monarchs by the papacy regarding their divide rights associated with conquests remained in place and unadulterated.

Therefore, during the infancy of America’s mainland colonies she easily adapted the social, economic and political norms that prevailed in the Caribbean colonies, in the context of the colonial “master” narrative. The obvious adaptation from the old world to the “New World” was the institution of trading in enslaved Africans. Slavery in the America colonies was consequential to her economic growth, but on the other hand the issue of slavery became a dividing line that threatened to spit the country between north and south. Nevertheless, since the abolition of slavery on the America’s mainland and Caribbean colonies, the issue of race continues to be an albatross around the neck of America, and a profound conundrum.

Compelling arguments are offered that America was born with birth defeats, and they sight the conceiving document establishing the United States of America, vis-à-vis, the Constitution. The referenced birth defects are the social, economic, political and educational facts on the ground that facilitated the 3/5 clause in the Constitution. On the other hand, arguments are advanced that constitutional amendments, override, debunk, neutralizes, and nullifies the 3/5 clause formulation. But the ideas, concepts and perceptions that established and sustain the race paradigm remains popular…

Current scientific evidence has confirmed and affirmed that there is no biological evidence that multiple races exists. Accordingly, all human beings living in the world today have a common origin that can be traced to a woman that lived in East Africa millennia ago. Therefore, the race paradigm is a social construct that was designed to achieve subjective outcomes, such as justifying the inferiority of Africans as less than human and equivalent to beasts of burden. The abolition of trading enslaved Africans and the plantation slavery system was decisive and definitive in ending the African bondage and enslavement system.

Despite a proliferation of the colonial “master” narrative throughout the New World, mainland America’ and European, popular sentiment among the “white” general public developed into a critical mass that ultimately required the abolition of slavery on the New World and Europe. Efforts by some citizens to abolish slavery during the 19th century were spearheaded by “Christian” citizens both black and white and including ministers and congregations. Some churches played a direct role in the abolition and rebellion activities. In fact Denmark Vesey was a member of the clergy and an abolitionist, and the names of prominent black and white folk along with a diverse supporting casts are legion.

By way of the modern civil rights movement of the 20th century African American political, economic and social advancement was on par with the impressive development that occurred during the 19th century’s period of “Reconstruction” in the black community. Interestingly enough, both periods of unprecedented of former enslaved Africans, was followed by political ambivalence on the part of former liberal and progressive benefactors, and reactionary initiatives undertaken by social-conservative anti-black advocates.  For several critical reasons the storied achievements and successes noted during “Reconstruction” and the “modern civil rights” movement could not be sustained or realized as a practical matter.

The Christian Church played a consequential role during the civil rights movement of the 20th century, as well as during the 19th century. The clergy, community and political activists, black, and white, among others created the critical mass that resulted in storied successes of the modern civil rights movement, and the period of Reconstruction. And the enactment of the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, respectively remain high points of the modern civil rights period. Both the civil rights movement of the 19th century and the modern civil rights movement in the 20th century are touted as successes in the context of how the “races” can cooperate and achieve successes.

While cooperation among the “races” sounds like a laudable and noble objective, we find it hard to imagine how cooperation and understanding can occur when the subject (race) is a phantom. Moreover if that were possible, cooperation on a practical level would not approach the psychological condition breed by the sublime perception of black inferiority codified by the vertical hierarchal relationship between the black and white “race” as designed, justified and promoted for centuries.

Apart from the dubious nature of “race” and the pernicious role that this vertical hierarchal that distinguishes human beings; the role of America’s Christian heritage and legacy remains dynamic and relevant. While there was a percolating civil rights and “black power” political movement in America during the 1960s; liberation movements occurred in the context of international politics. The 1960s witnessed successful liberation movements in former slave colonies of the Caribbean and on the African continent. Apart from the important role the church in America played during the modern civil rights movement, the Christian Church played a profound role in liberation and freedom struggles in the Caribbean, South America and on the continent of Africa.

 

A brief definition of the concept of the HORIZONTAL paradigm as compared to the vertical paradigm is alluded to, in this second book of the trilogy.  The horizontal paradigm exposes the vertical paradigm as among the enduring and pernicious applications that has generated great controversy and antipathy, vis-à-vis, a “patriarchal” system and society. The patriarchal system is a vertical paradigm, which is based on a hierarchy that is inherently unequal in application. A fundamental example of a patriarchal system is the conventional relationship between men and women. In this context, the patriarchal system by way of the religions of Abraham, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, offers salient examples of inherent inequality… Nevertheless, this hierarchal paradigm represents a conventional wisdom that has endured for millennia as it is enshrined in the respective canon of scriptures. The vertical hierarchal paradigm is the way in which the general public thinks particularly in regard to the process of human relations.

By way of full disclosure, we use the religions of Abraham patriarchal analogy for the purpose of establishing the contrast between the vertical paradigm and the horizontal paradigm, and does not represent a critique of the patriarchal religions. Additionally, the writer observes that a critique of the popular patriarchal religions could only be appropriately offered in a theological treatise on the topic. We explore the patriarchal vertical paradigm in the framework a historical overview relative to a comparison between the vertical and horizontal paradigms as they operate in human relations… Accordingly, we briefly review matriarchal society which essentially predates the contemporary patriarchal system that we are familiar with. It is generally known that ancient societies in Africa and in other regions there were matriarchal societies. In this context, we observe that the Queen of Sheba represents the last matriarchy in Ethiopia, (Axum Empire), before the empire became patriarchal by way of the Queens son, Menelik I (son of King Solomon), first emperor of Ethiopia in 1000 BC.

The fundamental difference between the vertical (patriarchal) as compared to the horizontal (matriarchal) paradigm is the hierarchy which is associated with the vertical paradigm, which is intrinsically unequal in its operation… On the contrary, the horizontal paradigm is intrinsically equal because there is no structured hierarchy, as human relations tend to be based on practical necessity. However, the general public is not oriented toward viewing phenomena in horizontal terms, particularly in the context of human relations. Higher and lower, superior and inferior, important and insignificant, master and slave etc., are examples of the terms by which the popular imagination tends to think and conceptualize in human relation terms. The relationship between men and women, the patriarchal vertical paradigm is the conventional model and motif that has endured over the millennia. Specifically, the marriage between a man and a woman is generally considered a sacrament in the religions of Abraham in particular, and patriarchal marriage is a secular phenomenon as well, and is enshrined in civil codes and standards. We explore patriarchal society in the framework of the religions of Abraham from a theological perspective in the third book of the trilogy entitled “THE TABOT.” The “Tabot” is an Ethiopian word that means “Ark of the Covenant, a Mosaic relic that links Judaism with Christianity. We dedicate the remainder of this work to another enduring concept that is a perplexing conundrum that some argue is a congenital disease that ultimately handicaps the potential of the America idea. We are referencing the hierarchal vertical paradigm associated with the “race” idea.

The hierarchal vertical relationship that distinguishes the “races” is a global phenomenon, but it is a comparatively recent concept as race based distinctions did not exist in the ancient world, from the Sumerian to the Roman Empire. The modern concept of race occurred parallel with the Protestant Reformation during the 16th century in the context of the “age of reason” and “age of discovery” etc. Advances in the material sciences and the authority associated with empiricism formulated a quantum leap in scholarship and intellectual curiosity and speculation, during this dynamic period. In this context, the idea of race as differentiating human beings was a “bright idea” in the framework of expanding the empires of the European Christian monarchs in their effort to civilize the heathens. Hence, the “Negro” was born and a theoretical and practical social construct became structured, systemic and institutionalized.

Scholarship, academics, literature, and text books substantiated and sustained the pseudo science of the 1600s, and currently, race based distinctions and their relative hierarchal relationship is a global phenomenon. In the United States of America, electoral politics, economic and social systems, education curriculum and many of the structures and institutions are formulated around the race hierarchal paradigm. Regarding the “Negro” race, we would be remiss not to observe that the controversy associated with the enslavement of Africans threatened to destroy the fledgling “America” experiment, by way of the civil war pitting north against south. Although there is a popular historical narrative that argues that the civil war was based on “States rights” and against federalism, on the part of the south; there is a counter persuasive argument that “states rights” was in fact a pro-slavery euphemism. The issue of slavery was in fact an impetus for the civil war, and emancipation of enslaved Africans was an outcome of the civil war.

While the popular historical narrative asserts that the Union (north) won the civil war, a compelling argument can be made that the north won the decisive battled that ended the war. On the other hand the Confederacy (south) won the political war on the ground. This argument is salient in view of the fact that the “great compromise” of 1876 that resulted in the Republican Party candidate for the president with the caveat that he, President Rutherford Hayes to recall the federal troops that protected the civil rights of the recently freed African Americans. The “great compromise” ended the brief period of Reconstruction which facilitated the establishment of Jim Crow laws, Black Codes, voting prohibitions, lynching’s and wanton terrorism. These egregious acts crimes and barbarity continued against the segregated African American community until the advent of the modern civil rights movement. During the brief decade embodying the period of Reconstruction black Americans achieved substantial success in the political and economic realms that remain unprecedented

The modern civil rights movement of the 1960s followed up with substantial success to address the state of black America under Jim Crow, and segregation after the demise of Reconstruction in the 19th century. The Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts of 1964 and 1965 respectively, among other statutory, social and political advances were touted as measures that would ameliorate much of the bigotry, discrimination and racism against the black community. Nevertheless, structured, institutional and systematic discrimination based on race remains percolating in America, while much of the political and social advances had been rolled-back or effectively nullified.

Race in general and black folk in particular are typically perceived as the 800 pound gorilla in the room… Similarly there often tends to be a subtext and politically correct narrative that awkwardly accommodates the presence of African Americans, yet a glass ceiling or social undercurrent is omnipresent. In the early 19th century Dr. W. E. B. Dubois raised the specter that race was the central issue in America. In 1968 the Kerner Commission Report authorized by President Lyndon b. Johnson, concluded that America was comprised of two societies, on white and the other black, and the report offered recommendations. In addition, 21st century science has spoken on the subject of race with great authority and without equivocation.

Recently scientific evidence published in magazines and produced on TV programming air conclusive evidence that there is no biological basis to the concept of race, and asserted that all humans living on the planet today have a common ancestor who lived millennia ago in Eastern Africa. Therefore, the human race can trace their ancestry to the same woman. These unequivocal findings utterly debunk and discredit the popular socio-political narrative relative to race and the contrived hierarchal significance, which has a color ranking in the popular imagination. But despite the scientific truth that establishes all human beings as one race, the respective stakeholders and role players managing the various structures, institutions and systems, apparently didn’t get the memo… Hence, the conventional race hierarchal paradigm continues to articulate the popular narrative. And interestingly enough, the need for a comprehensive and meaningful conversation on race continues to be a refrain of the politically correct.

Circumlocution and obfuscation characterizes the issue of race and the various iterations of the “race conversation” in particular. Unfortunately, many among the sincere and innocent are animated by this sophisticated and sublime deception calling for a conversation to address the “race problem” in America. No conversation about race is adequate unless it begins with the scientific fact that there is only one race of human beings on the face of the earth and as one human community we need to consider cutting our loses and stop looking at each other based on a fallacious racial hierarchy. If the race conversation is not based on the scientific fact that the human family than where should it begin? If the human race is comprised of one family than personal relationships should be based on a horizontal, not a vertical hierarchal paradigm…

It is noteworthy that is was theology, and the religions of Abraham that posited human beings are one family who ascended from Adam and Eve. This popular biblical idea of human beings comprising one family was until recently, at odds with the conventional scientific narrative, and academic scholarship about various races of mankind, and their relationship to each other. In addition to “race,” patriarchal society in general applies a hierarchal vertical paradigm, which positions Adam as superior to Eve. There are religious patriarchal societies and there are secular patriarchal societies, but the vertical hierarchal paradigm remains the same. In the United States both religious and secular society confirmed the vertical paradigm undergirded with religious on one hand a secular laws on the other with the male superiority motif. America was founded and established in the framework of the “Protestant ethic” relative to Christianity. The Protestant branch of Christianity established the American form of secular government with the provision of a separation between church and state; nevertheless, the country is predominantly Judeo-Christian.

The “America” experiment was and remains a unique phenomenon in comparison to all previous nation states by way of the separation between church and state. All previous European nation states were generally Christian monarchs at the base, vis-à-vis, the Roman Catholic Church, and / or a precarious marriage between the Catholic Church and Christian Monarch. Hence, it was the Protestant Reformation movement and the Puritans component particularly, who advanced the concept of separation of church and state. But the separation between church and state was not the only distinguishingly unique feature associated with the establishment of the United States of America.

Dynamic advances occurred in science and scholarship as well as from the massive wealth that accrued to colonial European due to the free labor of enslaved Africans, accompanied the Protestant movement. World events conspired that ultimately shifted the balance of international trade, commercial and economic development in favor of Western Europe. Literature, academic pursuits, intellectual curiosity and the printing press particularly, documented and advanced ideas, conventions and the popular narrative, promoting and marketing European culture to the world. The advent of the “Negro” race occurred during this period and as an acknowledge beast of burden, the “Negro” was justifiably the property of white man, and the object of free slave labor in perpetuity. Scholarship and science laboriously documented and illustrated the inferiority of the “black race” (African), and the vertical hierarchy was firmly codified with the white race on top, with relative positioning of the other races, with the black race pulling up the rear.

In addition to science and scholarship extrapolating in all spheres on the efficacy of the race paradigm, the black race was ultimately calculated and quantified as being less than a human being. Thus the Constitution of the United States posits that a black person amounted to 3/5th of a person. With the inferiority of the black “race” being enshrined in the Constitution of the United States, the argument that black folk are born to be slaves justified the proliferating plantation system in the New World. While some argue that subsequent Amendments to the Constitution have nullified the 3/5th Clause, it remains an albatross, and casts a profound shadow over America… Moreover, there mental and psychological pathologies remain in some cases among black and whites, but perhaps more pernicious is the thinking habits that have developed over the centuries. The vertical hierarchal race paradigm remains as crystalized consciousness that automatically perceives and thinks in race based terms.

Four hundred years hence, a critical mass of white people in the United States and colonial Europe became recalcitrant and in some cases activists and militants, acting with blacks on behalf of the anti-slavery movement. The collective efforts of black and white people successfully petitioned their governments and slavery was abolished in America (1865), the British colonies (1834) and the Danish West Indies (1848), for example. But, while physical bondage was outlawed, economic bondage remained albeit voluntary. A compelling argument can be made that voluntary slavery remains because of the mental slavery that generally pervades the black community.

Accordingly, the mental slavery component is sublime and sophisticated and it reinforces the conventional vertical hierarchal paradigm which accompanies race theoretical and social construct dominating the public imagination. The post slavery struggles within the black community is focused on mental emancipation which cuts across all aspects of society. It is worthy of note that the Roman Catholics and Protestants can be seen on both sides of the slavery question. During the 19th and 20th centuries the Christian Church played a consequential role in the anti-slavery movement and the civil rights movement respectively, on behalf of advancing black Americans socially and politically.

On the other hand the Christian Church (Catholic and Protestant) institution was generally complicit with the slavery and plantation system, by way of cooperation with secular colonial governments, as well as direct supportive functions. In this regard we would be remiss not to observe a sublime collusion between scholars and social scientists and Christian Church authorizes who embraced the “Negro race” inferiority theoretical and social construct in the framework of popular theology. Beginning with the appropriation of Judeo-Christianity by Emperor Constantine, establishing the Roman Catholic Church, the imagery and iconography personified European figures primarily, and over the past 1900 years Christianity became popularly perceived as a white man’s religion.

Both “race” and patriarchal society operate based on a vertical hierarchal paradigm which is pernicious and insidious in its own right. The vertical hierarchal paradigm is intrinsically unequal and in the context of human relations the correlating information and ideas that underpin the paradigm must be sound and unequivocal to maintain order. On the other hand, order in the framework of a vertical hierarchal paradigm will inevitably deteriorate if the scholarship and concept is undermined by authoritative ideas and information. Hence, the truth in terms of the objective historical facts may be perceived by some as dangerous…

 

 

The Christian Cross is an intrinsic symbol of Christianity that is ubiquitous around the world. From the very beginning the Christian community was diverse and eclectic for the first 300 years as it grew and proliferated in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Christianity was consolidated by the Roman Catholic Church in 325 AD, under Roman Emperor Constantine, which split Christianity between east and west in what is recorded in history as the “great schism.” Subsequently, Christianity was introduced to Europe by way of the Roman Catholic Church, and the faith remained consolidated in Europe until the 1600’s. During the 1200 plus years of Roman Catholic domination in the western hemisphere, the Protestant Reformation occurred, and in the 16th century the faith bifurcated in Europe in the context of Catholics and Protestants.  From the 16th century until currently Protestant denominational Christianity proliferated in Europe and in America. Hence there is a universe of Catholic and scores of Protestant denominational Christian churches proliferated in the western world.

The colorful history of Christianity grew throughout the entire world, yet the Holy Cross has remained the unequivocal symbol of Christianity and Jesus the Christ, the progenitor of the universe of Christianity. While unanimity exists among the universe Christianity and the faithful, the consensus breaks down immediately as soon as one moves beyond the Holy Cross, and Jesus Christ. Fortunately, more often than not, the spirit of Christianity has emerged to modulate Christian sectarian discord the framework of religious tolerance. However, there remains a specter of discord over the centuries between Catholics and Protestants.

Since the advent of Christianity in the Middle East, Africa and Asia It was healthy and appropriate for the respective Christian communities to appropriate the faith on behalf of their respective cultures and community. Prior to the advent of Roman Catholicism, Christianity was diverse and eclectic during the first 300 years. Therefore, prior following the advent of the Roman Catholic Church, Christianity was consolidated and remained dominant for 1200 years, until the Protestant Reformation. As the faith divided between Catholics and Protestants, Christianity began to return to its early state of diversity and eclecticism…

The organized Christian religion, notwithstanding denomination, and the various orthodox traditions practice a similar worship modality in the context of their weekly observance, and traditional holy days, with few variances. However, orthodox Christianity, by way of the Eastern Orthodox branch of churches, Roman Catholic Church, and Anglican Church reference their weekly worship service as a Mass. On the other hand Protestant denominational Christianity references their weekly observance as a worship service.  Predominantly the weekly service of Christianity occurs on Sunday, although Saturdays are an observance day in some faiths. Nevertheless, there is a general similitude among the universe of Christianity regarding the weekly worship service. The popular worship service represents the hallmark of the organized Christian religion and congregations along with respective clergy have assembled in this framework for centuries. In addition, the clergy represents the intermediaries between the faithful and God the father, by way of Jesus the Christ. Hence, the weekly worship service is the popular observance modality throughout the universe of the Christian faith.

On the other hand, Eastern Orthodox Christian Church and Roman Catholic Church have an ancient system of monasticism, with monks working within monasteries that proliferated throughout the early centuries of the Christian faith. Monasteries are institutions of learning, teaching, observance and defending the church. Traditionally, monastic orders have churches within their jurisdictions and they are generally responsible for training clergy that manage the churches, administer to the congregation and offer to the poor, and conduct the weekly worship service. In addition, monk’s often carryout special “orders” and engage in disciplines that are beyond the public sphere. Accordingly, monastic orders explore obscure and hidden meaning, and nuance with esoteric meaning. Therefore, as a practical matter, monastic orders in esoteric theology, while the popular clergy and parish priest engage exoteric worship. There is a dichotomy between monastic orders, and the clergy, parish priest and preacher. Specifically, in the monastery, service equals worship, and the popular clergy engage in worship as service. The religious experience of the general public is the weekly worship, in organized Christian religion. Monastic order was not grandfathered into the Protestant Reformation, nor was the “Adoration of the Magi” (Three Kings Day), among other Orthodox Christianity and Roman Catholic observances.

In the framework of monasteries esoteric theological ideas and concepts are engaged that as a practical matter are not included in the popular Christian discourse, and worship service format. And in the universe of traditional Christianity Roman Catholic and Protestant denominationalism, the conventional story of Adam and Eve are the central characters to the biblical Judeo-Christian story. The biblical narrative informs the reader that Adam was created first and Eve was created from Adams rib. This metaphor firmly establishes the patriarchal system which definitively positions Eve as subordinate to Adam, and the canon of scripture informs us by way of example how the vertical hierarchal paradigm operates in the relationship between Adam and Eve, and human relations in general. Thus, the religions of Abraham (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) are patriarchal religions.

On the other hand, there is another theological account which informs that Eve was the second wife of Adam, and first is known as Lilith… The brief, the Adam and Lilith creation story is summarized as follows: Adam and Lilith were created by God from the earth, simultaneously and as coequals. Shortly thereafter Adam lamented to God his unhappiness that Lilith would not easily submit to preference to maintain the master position. For her part, Lilith was adamant relative to enjoying the master position which more often than not caused bickering between them. Ultimately, Adam’s argument prevailed and God responded by creating Eve, from Adam’s rib. Therefore, from the outset of God’s creation, the relationship between Man and woman was coequal and horizontal in nature. The story of Lilith is among the esoteric theological allegories and offers a perspective beyond the traditional creation narrative.

STORY OF CREATION…

The story of creation in Christianity is possible one of the most well-known Origin stories to this day. The Book of Genesis states that God created the Earth in six days and rested on the seventh and in those days he gave life to the first humans; a man and a woman by the names of Adam and Eve. However, few know of the dark secrets that are kept within the history of Creation about a woman by the name of Lilith and her origin in Eden. The only things that remain to be answered now are who she was and what ever happened to her…

Thesis: Is Lilith truly Evil?

Origin of Lilith

The Talmud of Babylon


Lilith in Eden

Adam and Lilith
Alphabet of Ben Sira


Modern Culture

English Literature

Conclusion: Lilith was mostly considered evil in the past due to a male governed world and the close minded ways of society. Now as women gain more power and people are more willing to understand new things, it really depends on what culture you come from that determines how you view Lilith in the past and going forward.

The Story of Lilith

As the world continues to grow and the past is slowly uncovered by the future, many new characters and legends are rediscovered and studied to better understand what the past was like and how certain things that mankind still doesn’t have answers for came to be. One of the questions that will always be desired an answer for is the ever elusive “Origin of the Universe”, something that science and religion have fiercely clash over for many centuries now. However, the focus of this paper isn’t on the ever ongoing battle between science and religion, but the discoveries – or rather – the reintroductions of certain aspects of religion that were found through scientific studies like anthropology and archaeology. A grand example of this would be Christianity, which is one of the world’s most widely known religions of our day and age. Massive studies are still done on the Bible and in the certain locations to prove the existence of prophets like Moses and Jesus and places such as the lost paradise that was the Garden of Eden and the unholy cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. As researchers dig deeper and deeper into the past, more facts and stories are brought up to surface and either solidify or unravel some of society’s oldest beliefs and theories. The story of creation in Christianity being one of them and it all started with a famous she-demon who once was a woman by the name of Lilith.

Origin of Lilith

The earliest knowledge of Lilith comes from the Babylonian Talmud – second to the Torah and a central text of Rabbinic Judaism – where it is believed that the Babylonians may have derived her from myths about Sumerian female vampires called “Lillu”, and Mesopotamian succubae called “Lilin”. The roots that make up her name are a mix of Sumerian, Akkadian, and Hebrew with each more or less translating to “female night being/demon”, although any connections between the Sumerian and Mesopotamian versions of Lilith were later cut from that of the Jewish version. The Mesopotamian version of Lilith was believed to be a species of sexual demon – also known as succubae – meaning that there were both male – lili or incubus – and female – lilitu or succubus – that existed. This disagreed with the Jewish belief that Lilith was purely female and a single being.

Within the Talmud, Lilith is mentioned a total of four times and the connection of her being Adam’s first wife had still not been brought to light. However, due to her background thanks to the influence of the Sumerian and Mesopotamian versions in which she is associated with evil, Lilith was seen as a dark creature and often used as a warning against both men and women. She was considered to have a relation to abnormal fetuses and impurity. The Talmud stating that: “If an abortion had the likeness of Lilith its mother is unclean by reason of its birth, for it is a child, but it has wings” (as cited in Pelaia, Lilith in the Talmud and in Midrash, para 1). The Talmud also warned against men sleeping alone at home. Since Lilith was given a succubus influence, rabbis believed that she was responsible for nocturnal emissions that men had while they slept and that she gathered up their semen so that she could give birth to her many demonic offspring.

Lilith in Eden

Small hints of Lilith being the “First Eve” were discovered in Genesis Rabbah 18:4 as a collection of rabbinic literature – Midrashim – about the book of Genesis. It is with this knowledge and centuries of thought and study that Lilith eventually won the role of Adam’s first wife in Jewish folklore, and would also end up developing two opposing versions of the story of Creation. These two concepts of Creation would be separated into Genesis 1 and Genesis 2; Genesis 1 housing the story of Adam and Lilith and Genesis 2 housing the more widely known version of Creation with Adam and Eve. The main differences between the two concepts are Lilith and Eve and each of their relationships with Adam.

In Genesis 1:26-27 it clearly states: Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground”. So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:26-30 NIV). This meaning is that God had created both Adam and Lilith out of mud on the same clay and at the same time, making them equals and rulers over everything else that He had brought into existence. And yet in the second Genesis, God created Adam first and then created Eve out of one of Adam’s ribs after he had created all the animals in the Garden of Eden. Rabbis had noticed the problem and quickly came up with their own theories of explaining how Genesis 1 became Genesis 2, many involving the idea that Adam had been unsatisfied by the “First Eve” and God ended up replacing her with the “Second Eve”, a wife that would meet each of Adam’s needs without resistance.

The idea of Lilith being Adam’s first wife wouldn’t have more consideration until the birth of the Alphabet of Ben Sira, one of the earliest works of religious literature dealing with Lilith and Adam. However, some of the traditions that are explained in the Alphabet are actually believed to be older than the story since scholars tend to date the Alphabet between the 8th and 10th centuries AD. The amulet that is used to protect newborn boys until their circumcision was thought to come from this story, but actually dated back into the time in which the Mesopotamian belief of Lilin was still at large. Also, the idea of Eve having replaced another woman isn’t solely something of the Alphabet, as it can be found in the Genesis Rabbah. Nonetheless, what makes the Alphabet of Ben Sira unique is the idea that Lilith was Eve’s predecessor.

The story explains how God had created Adam and then Lilith shortly afterwards out of clay but they started to bicker with each other when left alone. Lilith wanting to be seen as Adam’s equal used the claim of their birth from the same clay to support her point, and refusing to submit to him when it came to sex as she also wanted to have a turn in the dominant sexual position. Seeing as they would never come to a compromise, Lilith uttered God’s true name and left Eden of her own freewill, leaving Adam alone in the Garden. God swiftly sent three angels after her to bring her back to Adam even if force was necessary, but even with their threats of throwing her into the Red Sea, Lilith stood firmly with determination of not going back to Eden and having to submit to Adam or even God’s will. She proved that she was a force to be reckoned with when she struck a deal with the angels in that she would not attack children that wore the amulets that had the three angels names inscribed on it, but the unlucky ones were hers. What Lilith didn’t know was that God had told Adam of a plan he had for when the angels found her, if she returned then all would be forgiven but if she didn’t then she would have to pay the price with the lives of a 100 of her own children. The result of the story in the end was that of a strong woman being replaced and then slowly demonized into a dangerous baby killer out of hatred and grief for the deaths of her own children. Time and more legends have molded her into the demonic yet sinfully beautiful seducer of men and succubus and mother of demons that we know today, earning her the title of Queen of the Demons.

Modern Culture

With Western growth and the spread of the arts and culture, Lilith quickly found herself the theme of many paintings and sonnets that played up her reputation as a “femme fatale” during the Romantic period of the 18th century. There were even a few artists that showed a more beautiful and loving side of Lilith, the Victorian poet Robert Browning an excellent example of this in his poem “Adam, Lilith, and Eve”. A poem that shown Lilith is a new light and explained some of the traditional myths that surrounded the trio that were the first of Eden; Browning even went as far as depicting Lilith and Eve being friendly with one another as they chat while Adam sat between them. In the poem, Lilith even admits to always having loved Adam while under threat of death as Eve admits the opposite while in the same situation; Browning purposely focused on the good that was still within Lilith buried deeply under the taint that she has gained.

The Romantic depiction of Lilith continues to grow as society matures and women are given more rights as she becomes more popular in and out of Occultism. Many cultures now hold her on similar terms as that of Dark Goddesses like Kali or Hecate, and others viewing her in the same light Isis and many other Goddesses that represent women, childbirth, love, sexuality, and magic.

Conclusion

In the past, Lilith was considered evil due to her desire for equality between men and women, and we must remember that men. in the religious and secular worlds, held and continue to hold most of the power in everything that ranged from business to marriage to education. The men of that time wanted women to be more like Eve in that sense; a wife that was submissive and unwilling to disobey their husbands. Sadly, that mindset does still exist although it is diminishing. Many potential “Lilith’s” live under death threats from even their own husbands and are force to live in fear as “Eves”. Nonetheless, the spirit of Lilith’s determination and will grows stronger and stronger everyday so that only leaves one thing to ask now. If Lilith is still viewed as something evil and now there are many “Lilith’s” being born into the world or coming out of their “Eve” shells, does that mean that all women are now evil?

Tabot is an Ethiopian word that means “Ark of the Covenant” the Mosaic biblical relic that was in the custody of King Solomon, according to biblical and historical accounts. The Ark of the Covenant’s advent is the basis for the storied victories recorded in Old Testament biblical narratives wherein, ancient Israelites were delivered from certain destruction, or they were able to advance their journey by way of the miraculous Ark of the Covenant. The famous Ark remains an enigma today as stories continue to be published regarding the alleged travels of Ark over millennia and there is high speculation as to its current resting place. The alleged travels and final destination of this religious relic include Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa, and several theories remain active. In addition, there is no shortage of novels, movies and literature from divergent perspectives regarding the ancient mystery embodying profound intrigues pertinent to the Ark of the Covenant. Various role players are highlighted in the plethora of mysteries and intrigues including the Knight Templar’s, “secret societies” and religious orders, too numerous to mention, and they all assert unique connection with the biblical relic.

Ethiopian theology and history record that country’s unique association with the Ark of the Covenant. The story begins with accounts of a romantic relationship between King Solomon and Queen of Sheba that resulted in a male offspring. Old Testament (1st Kings) offers an account of the Solomon and Sheba nexus, and there is an account in the Quran, Islam’s holy book, outlining the ancient story. The Kebre-Negest (Ethiopian text) tells an in depth exposition which is the Ethiopian version of the relationship marking the beginning of the line of King David, and the Judaic heritage and tradition in Ethiopia. Briefly summarized, Menelik I (son of Solomon and Sheba), studied under his father in Jerusalem when he became of age. Following the completion of his studies and training, Menelik I, was consecrated as the first emperor of Ethiopia, and was dispatched to the country, 1000 BC. Menelik I, began his journey to Ethiopia with an entourage of first born from the court of King Solomon, along with relevant religious monastic orders. During the process of leaving members of his entourage took the Ark of the Covenant and left a fake Ark in its place. Hence the Ark was relocated to Ethiopia where it remains, and the Ark is safeguarded by the Levite priesthood. The Levite priesthood has safeguarded the Ark of the Covenant from then to now!

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church liturgy adheres to an ancient Judeo-Christian tradition as the Ark of the Covenant (Holy of Holies) is intrinsic to the Ethiopian Orthodox Mass ritual. There is a replica of the Holy of Holies behind a curtained enclosure on the Alter, which is retrieved by the celebrant priest at the appropriate time during the Mass celebration. The Ark of the Covenant is unique to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Mass, and this ancient form of Judeo-Christianity is also known as “Tabot” Christianity. Hence, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church is known as Tabot Christianity. Judeo-Christianity became the state religion in 330 AD under King Ezana, which was directly in response to Emperor Constantine’s consolidation of the faith under the authority of the Roman Catholic Church.

During the proceedings of the Nicene Council, the Ethiopian Bishops were excommunicated, branded as heretical and excluded from all future ecumenical councils. The proceedings of the council revealed irreconcilable theological differences between Ethiopia and Rome relative to the faith, not the least of which was the dichotomy regarding the nature of Christ. The Ethiopians adhere to the doctrine of monophysitism (divine nature of Christ), while Rome advanced Christ as having a duel nature, vis-à-vis, part human and part divine. The controversy that occurred between Ethiopian and Rome is recorded as the east vs. west schism.  Following Constantine’s ecumenical council of 325 AD, the Roman Catholic Church engaged in various intrigues in Ethiopia that were ultimately identified as nefarious with objectives to undermine the indigenous church. During subsequent centuries, nefarious intrigues by various Roman Catholic monastic orders, ultimately caused Ethiopia to close its doors to the west, during the 16th century.

Judaic theology (Judaism) in the framework of the “messianic expectation” came to Ethiopia when Menelik I and his entourage of first born, established the first Ethiopian, Solomon dynastic line, under the authority of the Order of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (1000 BC). Among the entourage was the Order of the Magi, which established the heritage of Balthazar, in the country. 1000 years going forward, a priest in the Order of Magi, Balthazar joined with two other priests, Melchior and Gaspar, and the triumvirate journeyed in anticipation of the messianic expectation. The three wise man of the Magi, presented offerings to the infant Jesus Christ.  Balthazar’s offering was myrrh, a pungent sap from thorny tree that symbolized Christ’s impending sacrifice.

After presenting his offering, Balthazar returned to Ethiopia and issued the “Nezgid” (call to worship), which was the basis for establishing the first Judeo-Christian community in Ethiopia. Accordingly, the heritage of Balthazar is a covenant with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Three hundred plus years after the fact of Christianity (325 AD), Emperor Constantine consolidated the heretofore diverse Christianity, under the single authority of the Roman Catholic Church and Ethiopia was excommunicated. From the 4th to the 16th century the Roman Catholic Church enjoyed a virtual monopoly on Christianity in the western world until the advent of the Protestant Reformation, wherein the faith divided between Catholics and Protestants. Since the Reformation, denominational Christianity has proliferated around the world, and is currently expressed in many diverse traditions. There is irony in the vast diversity and appropriation of the Judeo-Christian faith as it currently is a reflection to its earliest times.

Similar to her daughter Egypt, Ethiopia enjoys an ancient and prolific history of monasticism which has served to safeguard, defend and perpetuate her Judeo-Christian tradition, heritage and religion. Over millennia Ethiopia’s monastery system was extended by way of familial responsibility to defend and safeguard the faith in the framework of their monophysite doctrine. There is a longstanding oral and symbolic tradition that takes the form of esoteric Judeo-Christianity, which resides parallel to the popular (exoteric) celebration and worship modalities in the Christian faith. In that regard, there is a dichotomy between the Parish Priest as compared to the monastic priest (monk). In Eastern Orthodox tradition priestly orders are inclusive of the parish priest or the monastic order. Monasteries and monastic orders enjoy a rich and colorful history and they remain central to the ancient as well as contemporary religious orbit of Ethiopia, its heritage and tradition.

The visitation by the three priests (wise men) of the Magi is referenced in the New Testament Gospel of Mathew, but little else is recorded of the Magi in the popular bible narrative, prior to, or subsequent to the birth of Jesus Christ. The ensuing 300 years from the birth of the Christ, bore witness to utter barbarity in the context of mans inhumanity to man, vis-à-vis, the Roman Empire. The barbarity of the empire’s military footprint distinguished the world until Emperor Constantine’s converted to the Christian faith. The Treaty of Milan (313 AD) ended the legal confiscation of the property of Christians, and in 325 AD, Constantine in the framework of the Council of Nicaea consolidated Christianity under the authority of the Roman Catholic Church.

There is irony in the fact that Constantine established Rome as the Roman Catholic Church headquarters in the west, while the eastern realm was established at Constantinople, effectively overshadowing the Eastern Orthodox forerunners of the Church of Rome. Queen Helena Augustus (mother of Constantine), was the point person who identified the construction sites for the “Church of the Nativity” and the “Church of the Holy Sepulcher” among other holy sites that define Christianity in the world today. There are more than 2 billion Christians currently in the world today, they are approximately equally divided between Catholics and Protestant’s, but among them is about 500,000 Eastern Orthodox Christians.

During the process of 1200 plus years of Catholic domination in the western hemisphere, many people for various and sundry reasons were burned at the stake at the hands of the “Inquisition,” and many books and libraries were torched. Countless religious manuscripts were secreted away, or destroyed by marauding Roman solders, seeking “heretical” documents. Documents that somehow emerged into the public discourse were ultimately labeled apocryphal and discredited for lack of authority, or unknown authority. The official canon of scripture of the Roman Catholic Church was the Latin Bible, also known as the Vulgate. The original Old Testament and New Testament was written in Hebrew, the scripture was than translated into Greek, also known as the Septuagint, and than to Latin, the Vulgate. In the translation process the 81 book that comprise the Hebrew version was reduced to 73 books that comprise the Latin Bible, while there are a total of 66 books that comprise the Protestant Bible.

The first English translation of the bible was published in the early 1500s, and it was called the “Tyndale” Bible, named after the author. The next English translation of the bible was the “Wycliffe” Bible, which also bore the author’s name. Both authors were promptly burned at the stake by the Roman Catholic Inquisition for their abominable act of heresy. The first successful English translation of the holy book was the King Henry VIII’s bible, which he authorized following his brake with papal authority, establishing the Church of England. The King James translation of the bible was published during the 1600s and it is currently the most popular bible today.

Protestant denominational Christianity and the King James translation of the bible predominates the biblical story in North America, while Roman Catholicism predominates the faithful in South and Central America. In deed the European Christian authorities that conquered and settled the “New World” (Caribbean, North and South America) emanates from a revisionist Greco-Roman historical narrative. On the other hand the Eastern Orthodox historical Christian narrative is a parallel account to the popular western iteration of pertinent ancient religious and historical events. Consequently, there are parallel accounts of the advent and procession of Judeo-Christianity, one from the east and the other from the west. A comparative perspective of both eastern and western accounts of Judeo-Christianity and world history offers a holistic perspective.

In his history classic book entitled the “Iliad” Homer, the Greek historian speaks volumes of his reverence for the Ethiopian’s and credits them as making a considerable contribution to his education. Other consequential Greeks have confirmed assertions made by Homer relative to the profundity of Ethiopia, “Land of Punt” home of the Gods… Accordingly, Ethiopians and Egyptians were held in unique esteem by the Greeks of historical consequence.