The modern world

The vague concept of "the modern world", which has for a long time coming been a convenient scapegoat for all the ills of our times, can actually help bail out those religious fellas who got onto the wrong side of law.

Q: WHY YOU STAY IN A PENTHOUSE IN ORCHARD ROAD INSTEAD OF TEMPLE?
A: Because I'm a modern monk. Can't you see? The world has changed...
I can be closer to my devotees if I stay in Orchard Road....

Q: WHY YOU WATCH PORN?
A: Because I'm a modern monk. Can't you see? The world has changed...
Who doesn't watch porn nowadays....?

Q: WHY YOU WEAR CALVIN KLEIN UNDERWEAR?
A: Because I'm a modern monk. Can't you see? The world has changed...
And it last longer... You should try....

Q: WHY YOU WEAR ROLEX WATCH?
A: Because I'm a modern monk. Can't you see? The world has changed...
And also it's a gift from my devotee.... Not I buy one...

On a different note, we tend to cast a disapproving look when we see monks mingling at high-end streets like Orchard and Sim Lim Square (of course!), and we react with glee upon seeing them stray onto the wrong side of law. We string them up, strip them of their dignity and robes, and scrutinize their private lives, right down to the underwears they own. And when we find that they lead lives not dissimilar to our very own, we start berating them for doing the very things we do, like giving in to materialistic excesses or lust or whatever that people in the "lousy modern world" do. Shouldn't we allow for some harmless failings on our fellow humans from time to time, especially if the crime committed is inconsequential? What is it with this selective inconsistency, or if you prefer, hypocrisy, that we have in abundance inside us? The christian bible may be another overrated relic, like justin timberlake or mutual funds, but it does say something wise from time to time: let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.

Miserable in Heaven...

...or happy in hell?

"The Son of Man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth" (Matt. Ch. 14):
"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire...And these shall go away into everlasting punishment" (Matt. Ch. 25):
"He that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath, never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation" (Mark, Ch. 3).

What is mere eternal damnation when people have not an ounce of belief in themselves, and allow their minds to be paralysed by fear, and stained by evil? The day bigotry rules is the day reasoning dies, and with it, drags humanity and progress.

So dear God, prepare the curses, spew forth the fire, sharpen the spikes, you have someone who is hell bent on going to hell.