What Now

[DiscipleofEshmun]

The gravity of the recent updates is just hitting me now. I appreciate clergy for everything that has been updated but I'm still confused on many topics. I don't understand why the Gods would allow people like High Priestess Maxine to teach us all that if it was false, allowing websites to be created and maintained, endless sermons and apparently directly teaching as she quoted them many times.

I also don't like the disrespect I'm seeing from current clergy towards her or other heroes of our past.

I appreciate everything being done, regardless of the above. Though I have to admit politics remains very relevant especially for those of us living in the west. I don't believe in hating anyone over their ethnicity but unfortunately the race topic will be very major for decades to come and I believe many even here are caught up in nations and situations where they can't escape it.

I'll just pull back a bit and focus on ritual schedules, the new meditations and spiritual information shared, and donations whenever I'm able to. Once I have processed everything new and I'm mentally in a better place I'll be able to be more active regularly on the forums. I hope everyone is enjoying the ritual schedule, it is a most beautiful one.

 

[Khem Nefermed]

I understand your issues, brother. Thank you for voicing them in a far less extreme way than others do, it shows understanding and respect for our Clergy's decisions.

The gravity of the recent updates is just hitting me now. I appreciate clergy for everything that has been updated but I'm still confused on many topics. I don't understand why the Gods would allow people like High Priestess Maxine to teach us all that if it was false, allowing websites to be created and maintained, endless sermons and apparently directly teaching as she quoted them many times.

The Gods guide us to find answers, they don't feed us answers. Humans make mistakes, even humans that become Divine. Such is the material world, one doesn't need to be perfect in all aspects to succeed in their journey.

For all intents and purposes, Lady HPS Maxine's task was a Herculean one: create the new religion of the world and bring back the influence of the Gods, at a time where opposition was great, and bring the right souls in to build the Temple. She was certainly not dealt the best cards in terms of her life situation either, and had to face endless challenges before and after the creation of (at the time) JoS.
She had endless work to do, endless material to scour through, endless knowledge to absorb, at a time where there were literal millennia long curses in place that distorted our view of the Gods. It is no coincidence that "esoteric beliefs" became a lot more commonplace among random people starting with the 2010s.

As for the things the Gods told directly, any message from the Gods is interpreted through our own mental state.

For what Her task was, She succeeded. Far better than many other "occult movements" that tried as well.

Her work was sufficient to bring in High Priest Zevios Metathronos, our greatest blessing as a community and the cornerstone of what makes Zevism officially indestructible in many ways.

I also don't like the disrespect I'm seeing from current clergy towards her or other heroes of our past.

There is no disrespect, only realism. Pedestalizing people and not admitting that they made errors is the opposite of respect. Lady HPS Maxine was extremely humble, and admitted mistakes many times. Heroes also do not need recognition, they do what they do to fulfill their purpose, not for standing ovations. High Priestess Maxine entrusted HPZM with the work of the Temple and went on to likely participate in greater duties, while still watching over this place and its growth. Rest assured that no iota, no dot or tittle of change in Zevism goes unapproved by Her. If you revere her as the risen Hero she is, you have no reason to doubt that.
Any Heroic figure would want us to move on, to not stay stuck in the past, to expand into what is best for the well-being and growth of our community. Our task is to bring the world an opportunity to see the Gods for what they are, and to learn from them. All else are details. If these details draw us away from our actual task, they are distractions.

if it was false

Not that much has changed. What we always opposed were the Abrahamic religions. The main quandary that this brought is that, unlike Christianity and Islam, Judaism is not just a religion, it is an ethno-religious identity. Christianity and Islam are a belief-based movement one can convert to, while Judaism is the ethno-religion of the tribe of Israel, a group whose inception as a group was a religious covenant. This muddied the waters.
In truth, we have always opposed Yehubor, and the individuals so deeply plagued by it that they became its warriors. Every single Israelite we have criticized, we have criticized for being Yehuboric, not because of their race specifically.
And yet, where we went wrong was language. Materially, it was obvious for anyone with two eyes that when HPS Maxine criticized "the Hebrews", she was not referring to a random child in Israel or to a random Israeli on the street. She was referring to the people that held to a Yehuboric religion with supremacist, extreme tendencies.

In antiquity, every Israelite was an ardent follower of Judaism, a deeply problematic religion that distanced itself from the Gods and had the narcissistic idea that their tribe's purpose was to teach these barbaric, misguided nations what God is. The adherents to this cult ranged from those who knew what they were doing very directly and were at war with the Gods, to those simply born into it and whose beliefs were born out of ignorantly accepting what was given to them, many thinking they were doing good in doing so.

Nowadays, "Israelite identity" is a reconstructed thing, Hebrew itself had to be rediscovered. Many of the current sects of Judaism try to stray away from their extremist beliefs. I still consider their religion very ignorant, and don't see the point of reviving something so hateful and extremist, even if it is "pacified".
The actual number of Israelites directly opposing the Gods knowingly, today, is quite small. It is a minor problem at best, now that we have removed the worldwide curses negatively affecting humanity's view of the Gods. Our fight was always against Yehuborim, those who opposed the Gods, and it was always spiritual in nature, as everyone remembers we have never advocated for real violence.

Spiritually, we did not know exactly what this covenant against the Gods implies for the tribe of Israel. We were over-careful, airing on the side of "better safe than sorry", which was a product of the time (an idea of "opposition", reflected in us uniting the ancient religions under the banner of "Satan") and something that needed correction. We looked at their own doctrine of a completely unique "soul of Israel" and mirrored it. We were still figuring out the ideas of the Gods "as aliens" (in truth, only avataric manifestations of the Gods, just as have been among humans), and those brought us to errant conclusions about the nature of this tribe. Mistakes were made, and Temple of Zeus has always admitted mistakes where they were made, and while our Clergy is Divine in so many ways, none have ever had the hubris to say that they are perfect or have perfect understanding.
In retrospect, it took us having a deeper understanding of what the Gods are to realize that nothing can "completely sever irreparably" one from the Gods, if they are willing to make a change.

All that we have done adds up to this moment, where we have a far more clarified and accurate enemy.

As HPZM was informed by Osiris, we fell into the trap of fighting hate with hate. As our Declaration of Political Severance states, we are held to the same standards as everyone else in terms of Yehuboric influence. Let's call a spade a spade. What is saying "this tribe is permanently severed from the Gods and can never return", if not Kagoim? What were the violent retaliation opinions of some members "in the name of the Gods" if not Sahiburah?
We were warned that we are on the right path, and are restoring the Gods, but we are at danger of creating Judaism 2.0. What would be the point, then? Yehubor can infest anything, Apep does not discriminate and Izfet does not care if we brand ourselves with the names of the Gods, if we do not deliver on proper justice.

It is a hard change for many, I am sure. Not everyone had a fully clarified idea of the Enemy that isn't a generalization. Not everybody could read through the lines and understand what we were fighting. But this is a good change, and a correction of past wrongs that needed to be made right. But we have to admit some basic realities here. That no group is a unified monolith. That no form of life in the Universe, regardless of how distanced it is from Ma'at, is "beyond the Gods". That we can't fight extremism with more extremism. And that nobody is safe from evil and corruption, not even the house of the Gods, if it falls into hubris and stops evolving.

Though I have to admit politics remains very relevant especially for those of us living in the west. I don't believe in hating anyone over their ethnicity but unfortunately the race topic will be very major for decades to come and I believe many even here are caught up in nations and situations where they can't escape it.

The solution to political problems will not come from a group that has a religious duty. It will also not come by LARPing movements that lived for barely over a decade and made grave errors. Politics are downstream from ideologies and worldviews, and political ideologies come, fail to do anything meaningful because they are not grounded in eternity, and go. A world that knows the Gods and holds the laws of Ma'at in its soul will naturally have better political ideas.

 

[High Priest Zevios Metathronos]

The gravity of the recent updates is just hitting me now. I appreciate clergy for everything that has been updated but I'm still confused on many topics. I don't understand why the Gods would allow people like High Priestess Maxine to teach us all that if it was false, allowing websites to be created and maintained, endless sermons and apparently directly teaching as she quoted them many times.

I also don't like the disrespect I'm seeing from current clergy towards her or other heroes of our past.

I appreciate everything being done, regardless of the above. Though I have to admit politics remains very relevant especially for those of us living in the west. I don't believe in hating anyone over their ethnicity but unfortunately the race topic will be very major for decades to come and I believe many even here are caught up in nations and situations where they can't escape it.

I'll just pull back a bit and focus on ritual schedules, the new meditations and spiritual information shared, and donations whenever I'm able to. Once I have processed everything new and I'm mentally in a better place I'll be able to be more active regularly on the forums. I hope everyone is enjoying the ritual schedule, it is a most beautiful one.

Don't worry as time goes and everything comes together it will make total sense. Give it time.

1. This was definitely not her fault. She genuinely did more than she could, or anyone would have done in her position and with the times this occurred.

We all receive our inputs and we follow them. The situation is that these inputs, are limited to the access of information one has and other factors. To go over this and move forward is not disrespect, if she was being disrespected we would not be evolving out of the basis of birth she provided. She is loved and respected immensely and as I have stated, this is unchangeable.

The past can also by accident disrespect the future, when for example, it unwittingly creates detrimental prospects for the future. Many parents love their children, but times change and aeons change.

2. Main change is moving past politics and expanding and founding everything on top of the literal core knowledge of the Gods again, in full. This is the promise of restoration and aim of restoration manifested.

3. Politics still exist in life and one can hold their opinion etc. In the meantime the Temple of Zeus cannot follow politics as politics are always clashes based and interest based [all these different approaches clash and create constant division between people]. Inside the Temple this cannot occur.

4. Legal penalties that outweight any and all positive things, and are based on inaccurate information, are both a loss, an impediment, and give nothing for the progress of the Temple or the divine evolution of people. You don't play football inside a hospital, and you don't practice fireworks in an art gallery.

5. On the spiritual domain yes, a lot of knowledge was incomplete and has evolved considerably.

 

[Emergent13]

Any Heroic figure would want us to move on, to not stay stuck in the past, to expand into what is best for the well-being and growth of our community.

I do completely agree with this. If we are ascribing divinity to any of our past heroes, believing and being told for decades that they have been walking with the Gods, receiving their constant aid to fight against those who try to defame our Gods and tried to bring Izfet to this world. The conclusion that they would only want the best for our community and expansion of our religion is a very rational and naturally occurring one.

Now, but I want to ask something. I have also, if I didn't misinterpreted it, seen some of our past heroes being mocked on VT platform. It is satirically and in a mocking tone been said that this person had only knew a few runes, and "such spiritually divine person he is." So, when I go with logic, as I am told that this particular person was a divine Pharaoh in his past life, and as I am told that our meditations and spiritual advancement all pass to our next incarnation (mostly, at least), why is this person being mocked in this regard?

Some members also asked what this person, who HPZM, the Clergy, and almost all members here have shouted countless happy birthdays for decades (and I even remember HPZM calling him "Son of Lucifer", literally or not), did for the Temple of Zeus?

Well, his very existence fueled every single spiritual warfare program, which were direly needed at that time and were very effective.

So, is it wrong if I feel bad and even a little bit disgusted when I see a person who did great deeds for humanity against the forces of Izfet, that we all celebrated, cherished, and motivated by for decades gets defamed and mocked?

Isn't this literally being spineless? I am sorry if my words aren't appropriate, but I am just expressing my genuine feelings, which I think are very reasonable.

This mocking and, in my opinion, undeserving statements might have been said in a moment of heat, because there were many fanatical people who were completely blind to what is trying to be accomplished (I also don't claim complete understanding, obviously), and also very hostile.

But is this an excuse to defame our past heroes and undermine what they have accomplished, and also what was their possible future vision, if they could continue their struggle?

Well, from now on the Temple is not the place to discuss these what ifs regarding politics which is absolutely fine and well.

And I want to emphasize here, again, so that I won't be mistaken or assumed as someone who is a rebel, or a fanatic, or an "idol worshipper."

I am very happy about the new liturgical terms. Since Yehubor encompasses all, I feel more awake and intellectualized, as this broader understanding allows you to detect and define every force of Izfet with much great precision.

Our severance from politics is also undoubtedly beneficial for our Temple. What was it before, I think, was very necessary at the time but if we are aiming to expand and bring back our Gods to their rightful glory, being stuck with politics wouldn't make our organization divine. I think severing ourselves from politics gives us much weight and seriousness. Which what befits this place.

Yes, we might have overemphasized political stuff before. We don't hide this, nor do we need to hide it. I think it was very much needed at that time, and without it, I think many members you see here might not be here. People often times found solace in this place, as this was only the place on the internet that allowed them to discuss some of these "controversial" and heavily censored topics freely with SOUND and REASONABLE people. Not with some basement dwellers and spiteful, life-hating losers.

Now, we are past this. It doesn't serve us anymore. We want to expand to real life instead of dwelling in the corners of the internet, and most importantly, our comprehension is now simply much greater.

I am completely in line with all these aspirations; I also carry them deeply. Particularly in this post, I wouldn't want to be seen as emotional, but I want to admit that I hate the idea of how many people visit the "ruins" of the Temples of our Gods, and they just pass by like it's nothing. I so deeply desire that all of the so called ruins around all the world will one day get rebuilt and revered for what they are.

Hope I was able to express myself clearly and show where I stand in my understanding and convictions.

I think it's one thing to sever ourselves from politics, and also admit some flawed and lacking understanding of our past. And stop talking about political figures from now on.

It's another thing to mock a past hero with as far as I see not very reasonable sounding statements.

And again, if I don't know something regarding this, if anything about this that we were told was also wrong, I would love to get explained these things so I can adjust my understanding.

Until then, I find it very spineless and dishonorable to mock someone who walked with the Gods and was a common denominator for decades and rightfully so, at the time.