Bizarre: El Colacho-Baby Jumping Ritual

Majorca, Spain-trekearth

Farjestaden, Sweden-trekearth

I have previously presented the post:

Ridiculous And Bizarre Baby Tossing

Examining the Blogger pageview statistics the article has above average pageview numbers. That is by my modest standards.

Therefore, with the philosophical 'tension' between potentially pleasing readers and writing what I am led to write, I hope the following is reasonable.

First some crucial commentary on the previous post as in live in the flesh from an actual human being. 

Nostalgia From United Kingdom 1999-2001

It is from church this morning and my good friend, Harald, from Germany, married to an American, living in Vancouver.

I shall paraphrase his comments:

Harald with huge smile sounding a bit like Arnold...

'Yaw I read your article...about your rental situation in England, and about Dave'. 'It was tricky'. 'But you must have got a cheap deal'. 'When I first came to Vancouver I ended up in a similar situation as I looked for a cheap place that sounded like a good deal'.

'I rented a place in Gastown and it ended up in a flat above a nightclub'.

'Boom boom boom'

Mail Online June 2-3, 2013

The header

Citations: 

'Pray he doesn't put a step wrong: Spanish 'devil' El Colacho takes leap of faith over one-year-old babies to 'cleanse their spirits''

'Tradition in Castrillo de Murcia - near Burgos, Spain - dates back to 1621' 'Colacho is 'devil who takes away evil from babies by jumping over them''

'It is the culmination of a four-day celebration after Corpus Christi feast'

End of header Quotes:

Citations:

'There can’t be many parents around the world who would allow their babies to take part in such an event - but some are clearly willing to take the risk.

A man representing the devil, called El Colacho, today jumped over the one-year-olds in the village of Castrillo de Murcia, near Burgos in northern Spain, in an annual festival dating back to 1621.

The Colacho represents the devil who takes away the evil from the babies as he jumps over them in the medieval religious custom that takes place to celebrate the Catholic feast of Corpus Christi.'

'Over the centuries there have been no reports of injuries among the babies, but the festival is still considered to be one of the riskiest in the world.

The previous pope, Benedict XVI, had asked Spanish priests to distance themselves from the event.'

Cakechooser.com

Wikipedia

Citations:

'Baby jumping (El Colacho) is a traditional Spanish holiday dating back to 1620 that takes place annually to celebrate the Catholic feast of Corpus Christi in the village of Castrillo de Murcia near Burgos.[1][2][3] During the act, known as El Salto del Colacho (the devil's jump) or simply El Colacho, men dressed as the Devil (known as the Colacho) jump over babies born during the previous twelve months of the year who lie on mattresses in the street.

The Brotherhood of Santísimo Sacramento de Minerva organizes the week-long festivities which culminate on Sunday when the Colacho jumps over the babies on the mattresses placed on the procession route traversing the town. [4][5][6] The festival has been rated as one of the most dangerous in the world.[citation needed] The origins of the tradition are unknown but it is said to cleanse the babies of original sin, ensure them safe passage through life and guard against illness and evil spirits.[7][8][9]'

End citations

Although there have been no reported injuries with the ritual the risks are still apparent and in my mind there are no theological benefits.

Grenz, Guretzki and Nordling explain that original sin is the state of alienation from God in which all human beings are born. Grenz (1999: 86). The sin of Adam of Eve via fallen nature being imputed to the rest of humanity. Grenz (1999: 86).

Biblically this can only be reversed for human beings through the atoning and resurrection work of Christ applied to persons as in being chosen and predestined in Christ, Ephesians 1 by grace through faith unto good works, Ephesians 2.

It cannot be reversed by work, works or ritual.

A view only intensified through twelve years of MPhil and PhD work in the areas of free will and determinism.

This is not to state that I am opposed to efforts to bring children into Christian faith and even Christian philosophy at an early age.

Teaching children within a Christian worldview is essential and this should include Bible and Theology, and I would recommend at some point Philosophy to some degree.

And yes, I of course support a full range of education for a child.

I realize that other worldviews should also be understood.

Reformed Presbyterians, and I am member of a PCA Church practice infant baptism or paedobaptism.

According to John P. Sartelle:

'The Bible teaches that the sign of salvation is to be applied to the children of believing parents. In the Old Testament, circumcision was the sign. The New Testament baptism is the sign'. Sartelle (1985: 22). It is a sign of a covenant between the parents and God to raise their children in the Lord, in Christ. 

To me this is a theological construct and not explicitly Biblical as would be Believer's Baptism (Matthew 28: 18-20) for which there is a stronger Biblical case, however, it is not heretical.

I would disagree with a Baptist or like that states it is.

One could as well based on the Reformed views on free will and determinism and compatibilism, be a Reformed Baptist, or like and commit one's child to the covenant of God in Christ without infant baptism or paedobaptism and maintain it reasonably Biblically, theologically and philosophically.

This based primarily on the concept and theology that can be found in Ephesians 1 and 2 that God chooses/elects by grace through faith unto good works, whom he causes/wills.

GRENZ, STANLEY J., DAVID GURETZKI AND CHERITH FEE NORDLING (1999) Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, Downers Grove, Ill., InterVarsity Press.

SARTELL, JOHN P (1985) Infant Baptism, PR Publishing, Phillipsburg, New Jersey



Cheers

Nostalgia From The United Kingdom 1999-2001

London, Windsor walkway-trekearth

Manchester-trekearth

I have discussed the incident with Manchester University and the being bottled incident more than once on my blogs, and so I will not discuss these within this post.

Please note that the dates on the photos are incorrect.

When I arrived in Manchester the University did not have student housing available for me or an academic adviser and so I had to find my own accommodation and therefore I did some research with some assistance from someone at the University and I rented a flat from a fellow or bloke named 'Dave'.

First I rented in Crumpsall and then later in Gorton. This was for over a year of the almost two year stay. Less than half of my stay I house-sat for missionaries that are among my group of Christian friends that are life long friends I made in the United Kingdom. Most of whom have now moved out of the Greater Manchester area.

Here are some photos from the first 'flat' I rented from Dave in Crumpsall.

That is the oven in September 1999 after an attempted wipe down. That is how bad the grease was! 

And in the beginning the flat did not have any heat.

Crumpsall and the outside of the flat.

I was going through the political issues with Manchester University and not getting any work done and so I headed home for Christmas 1999 and also visited my friend and his family JB that at that time lived in Southern Ontario.

JB and I visited Niagara Falls and Buffalo, New York with two trips.

From Southern Ontario I flew back to Greater Vancouver for Christmas. I then took a return flight back to Southern Ontario, visited with JB and family again and then boarded a flight back to Manchester. 

When I returned to Crumpsall my flat had been broken into and all of my electronic equipment stolen including my computer.

There was a note from Dave which stated, and I have the actual hand-written note glued to my photo album here: 

'Russell, your flat was broken into 25/12/99 I have refixed door. Janice (NO 6) has reported it to police. Dave.'

I emailed and phoned JB about the issue at the time and his Father is a retired police officer and his Father thought there was a good chance that Dave was responsible for the break in. Dave knew I was away and could have arranged to have an associate or associates break in.

At the time I reasoned that this was of course an intellectual, philosophical possibility but I thought with the high crime rate in the area it was just more likely a matter of the fact that persons reasoned that I had been away for a few weeks and took advantage of the situation.

There had been a prior incident, for example, when I took the third photo on this post presented of the outside of the flat where a young thug type slammed on his car breaks and jumped out his vehicle and with from my Canadian perspective, a whiny difficult to understand Manchester accent, as in not someone well-spoken, and was questioning why I was taking the photos. I simply stated 'private photos' sternly and he walked back toward his car and drove away.

This to me demonstrated among other things observed that Crumpsall was a high crime area. 

And so I asked Dave to find me a better area, and he found a better flat in the supposedly slightly safer area of Gorton, according to him.

When I moved back to Greater Vancouver for the Summer of 2000, it was nearly for good, perhaps it should have been. But I did move back again to Manchester for basically another year. This time I wised up and stored all my electronic equipment that I could remember with a Sikh computer technician and friend that built my new computer that was the replacement for the one that had been stolen.

When I returned to Gorton, once again I had been burgled, but I reason I only had lost a watch to theft that I had mistakenly left behind.

My electronic goods were all safely stored in my Sikh friend's basement in Trafford close to Manchester United...

Once again JB stated that his Father reasoned that Dave was behind these burglaries and this time although I had no solid evidence I decided to play it safe.

I accepted my missionary friend's offer to house-sit.

As far as Gorton being supposedly a slightly safer area, one of the neighbours in a nearby building had two people visit him, tie him to a chair, beat him to death, take nothing and leave the door open for the entire neighbourhood to view.

A local merchant told me he thought I had been the victim.

And I stated that I carried a night stick and I would probably be more difficult to take out by two thugs.

I also trained with that weapon.

Actually, the first thing the downtown weapons Manchester store owner offered me when I asked for a self-defence weapon was a Samurai sword, but I stated I was not interested in beheading an intruder.

Proverbs 15:22 English Standard Version (ESV)

22 Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.

I had limited support from my soon to be ex-University.

I did take some of Dave's advice as I was in a new country in a unfamiliar cultural situation, but realized that in light of his oven and heating issues, for example, with the first flat that there were some serious problems in regards to professionalism.

I did consider the wise councel of an intelligent and wise friend and his intelligent and wise Father that had worked as a police officer and would have experience with the issue of burglary.

However, without more evidence to this date, I have no firm conclusions in regard to whom would be responsible for either burglary.

But I am firm in my conclusions that I was wise to exit myself out from that rental situation.

Gorton

End

Country Road by Caron Smed: Caron was kind enough to share her fine art with my blogs once again. I have seen her work live as well and it is very impressive for depth, brilliant colour and detail. In line with this post this country road painting reminds me of the backroad off the tourist map trips I have taken with my family and friends over the years in the United Kingdom.

World Statistics Blogging & Otherwise

Moorea, French Polynesia-Facebook

Marseille-Facebook

Marseille-Facebook

Blogger & Revolver Statistics

Blogger statistics, which I would reason are likely the most accurate as my sites/blogs are both from Blogger, state the United States of America provides more audience, more readers than any other country, with Canada being second with both of my sites.

Revolver statistics are not in agreement with Blogger in regard to my other blog, Dr. Russell Norman Murray. Although Revolver does not provide the in-depth statistics that Stat Counter and Site Meter do in regard to pageviews, it does record temporarily many pageviews that the other services do not. Histats as well records some of the statistics that the other services do not, but none of the programs record all visits and pageviews and therefore by me using four free programs and Blogger statistics which are just data statistics as the prime source, I have an idea of the true state of my blogs statistically.

Revolver statistics in regard to audience/visits for this blog

1. United States 41.36%
2. Canada 25.26%
3. United Kingdom
4. India
5. Australia
6. Germany
7. France
8. Philippines
9. Brazil
10. Spain

With this blog and with the relative abundance of computers, and reasonable member numbers of Evangelical Christianity, Reformed Christianity and the Roman Catholic Church in the United States of America, it is not a surprise that more readers arrive to Satire And Theology from the United States of America than anywhere else.

I still have not figured out why my key readers/pageviewers may very well be quiet 90 year old grandmas from a couple or so States mainly...;)

Perhaps because I am temporarily homecaring?

1 Timothy 5:7-8 English Standard Version (ESV)

7 Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

James 1:26-27 English Standard Version (ESV)

26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Canada as my home country providing the second most visits/pageviews and audience members makes sense as my own pageviews are counted. I do not attempt to turn those off because for one, I am not the only person on the router network and others read my blog while on the network.

I have local friends that read my posts.

I also have friends in the United Kingdom that may read my posts at times.

Revolver statistics in regard to audience/visits for my Dr. Russell Norman Murray blog

1. Canada 41.76%
2. United States 33.34%
3. United Kingdom
4. Australia
5. India
6. Brazil
7. Germany
8. Philippines
9. Netherlands
10. Indonesia

If the Revolver statistics are correct over the Blogger statistics with my other blog, which I certainly doubt, it raises the philosophical possibility which I completely deny up front, that I am stalking myself...

End

From the site 25 things you wouldnt believe about these countries-selections

Oldest sovereign State in the world Egypt-3100 BC, Beherira Desert-trekearth

Most educated people with 50% past post secondary-Canada-I think I did my part-Vancouver, BC-trekearth

Fastest Disappearing Nation-Ukraine-Quote: 'With a natural decrease in population of .8% annually, between now and 2050 Ukraine is expected to lose around 30% of its people.' Sad to read.-Krym Alumpa, Ukraine-trekearth

Most people behind bars-The United States at 2.2 million people with 5% of the world population but 25% of the world incarcerated population. Honda Bridge, Florida-trekearth

The land of no rivers-Saudi Arabia-Saudi Desert-trekearth

Most lakes in the world-Canada-No shock with all the rain here in the Lower Mainland, there could be many human made lakes. Firelake, BC-trekearth

Nostalgia From The 1990s

British Columbia-trekearth

I have been quite busy working on alternate career plans to parallel online theological teaching and whatever other opportunities arise with my degrees.

I need a break and a lighter post.

A Note On Ethics

I am receiving some professional career counsel in regard to my two career path which has basically been my plan for several years. I realized as far back as when I was working on my Master of Theological Studies at Canadian Baptist Seminary at Trinity Western University, that one is not guaranteed with a Doctorate, whether Christian or Secular in the fields of Religious Studies and Philosophy as mine is in, to gain full-time employment.

According to the professionals, one is not ethically required on a Resume, which is different than a Curriculum Vitae, the document for academia and the document used in Europe, to disclose all degrees and work experience if it is irrelevant to the employment being pursued and may have a negative impact on the potential employment. Negatively, an employer may assume one is seeking employment in an unrelated field based on most of the candidates experience.

Ethically one should not be dishonest, but in my case in a new career I simply need to highlight the qualifications on a resume that are related to the employment in the new field and do not necessarily need to highlight my four degrees and related employment.

Those would only need to be ethically highlighted if applying for a related job in regard to a Curriculum Vitae and not a Resume.

Example, if I decided to become a Chef, which I never will, I would not ethically according to professional counsel need to mention degrees obtained and employment that do not relate to that field of work.

This is sound advice which makes sense and had crossed my mind before receiving professional counsel, but it demonstrates that in today's modern world one is often far better off seeking professional guidance while searching for employment rather than trusting in primarily gaining knowledge from trial and error.

Nostalgia From The 1990s

Chucky suggested looking through the old 1990s Columbia Bible College art and satire book that I had put together at that time.

I am not an artist, but yes I was writing satire long before this blog. I did receive some contributions from friends with the book.

I think I can write satire.

A problem is much of the material happens to mention a certain person's real name as well as pseudo names. This person very deservedly the brunt of most of the jokes and the winner of most of the Non-Conformist Of The Year Awards.

Therefore it is too difficult to share some of the only average artistic quality drawings at best by myself and others, but in my mind the written satirical material is my best work anyway.

Bobby and Chuck are both amateur musicians and so I experimented with some of the lyrics from Bobby's favourite songs back in the 1990s.

He and his family are Elvis fans.

I think these are from about 1998, so I was at Trinity Western University at the time.

'The Final Pose Down'  a parody of Europe and 'The Final Countdown':

Apparently this was played at a natural bodybuilding competition while Mr. Buff posed.

Mercifully I was not there, because I would have burst a gut.

The Final Pose Down

Sappy Silly Intro

Your'e looking real phoney...and pose real fine
Your'e full of baloney...grease makes you shine
The final pose down...sappy music

This chance of a lifetime...will soon be gone
So get out there a pose now...in that blue thong!
The final pose down...sappy music

Your'e looking real cool now...you're looking so tough
What the hell baby...your'e Bobby Buff
The final pose down...sappy music
The final pose down...sappy music

End

'Falling in Love' a parody Elvis Presley and 'Can't Help Falling in Love':

Falling in Love

I can't help falling in love with me
I'm big, I'm tough, and I cut up the trees

When I awake, I look in the mirror
I know I am real big, and then I have no real fear

Chorus

When I use Crisco, I look like I'm from Frisco, but I know I am straight...
Take my hand, and I know that only fools rush in, but if I melt just toss me in the recycle bin

End

'On My Own Mind' a parody of Elvis Presley and 'Always On My Mind':

Also semi dedicated to Chuck at the time with the beeps and boops...

On My Own Mind

I was always on always on my own mind
Repeat
beep beep beep

Maybe I should have called you...pause
And let you know the truth..pause

Maybe I didn't fool you...pause
Hangin out at the tan booth
boop boop boop

I was always on my own mind
Repeat
beep beep beep

Maybe I...pause...should have seen what you saw
Instead of staying home and watching hee haw...
boop boop boop

I was always on my mind
Repeat
beep beep beep

Take me home...pause, don't tell me I'm a phoney even though it's true...pause

Don't visit me at home...unless I have it planned and set since last June.

Since I'm phoney by design, I'm phoney by design
boop boop boop

End