Prophesy Shmophesy Memoir Fragment

I know there are problems in all three of the major Abrahamic faiths. But this piece focuses on one problem in some pockets of Christianity, and how I stumbled upon this, and reacted.

The phrase "Prophesy shmophesy," is the title of a poem that I wrote, and the poem's first line. 

In Yiddish usage, rhyming a word with a "shm" word creates a dismissive, or an attempt to disempower any illegitimate authority.  The phrase "prophesy shmophesy" can stand alone, and can be used independently of my poem.  My intention was originally to do my part against nuclear war --  by protesting and tackling one of it's  attempted  rationalizations, one I began encountering when I lived in Oakland. 

I had three research projects when I lived in Oakland.  Two involved library research in which I deliberately sought out material on my topics, but the third involved "found research," seemingly strewn in my path.  Everywhere I went in Oakland I would find Christian evangelist literature, literally in my path.  I examined it all.  A recurrent theme was Scripture quoting to herald or to invoke,  to accept or make credible a future nuclear war. 

I was challenged to square off against this brand of Scripture quoting, what I regarded as a misuse of religion, and an atrocity in the making. 

The Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament, was the scripture most often quoted.  So an early name for this box of research was "Better Revolution than Revelation!"  Another name for it, from this early period  was "They're Blessing the Bomb!"  Further down the road,  I renamed this topic "The Prophesy that was a Curse!"  And later still, the very concise  "Prophesy Shmophesy!"

So hard work and persistence pays off.  For me as a writer, my persistence paid off in my own creativity.  But did all this make the world a safer place?  Did I succeed in setting back nuclear weapons and the threat of nuclear war?   Maybe I did and maybe I didn't, but that was what I wanted to do.  

2

When I lived in Oakland, California, in the late 1970's and early 1980's, I encountered Christian evangelist literature everywhere.  More door knockers brought it to my home than any place I ever lived.  I did not let them in.  If I went out, as I say, it was in my path. 

If I took my dog for a walk, if we went to the park, she would sniff, sniff the ground, sniff low set objects, sometimes sniff the air.  Then a small breeze would blow a piece of Christian evangelist literature right across my path.  Or if I would sit down on a bench, right there would be a piece of this same literature. 

Some of this was locally produced and some was from out of state.  Some was slick and full color, usually the nationally produced, and some a simple xerox.  Some of it I think was deliberately placed, and some just  littered or dumped.  Some was self-identified as a part of the school system's time release program, and I imagined some kids were just getting rid of the papers they didn't want.

I quickly perused all of this, and tossed about three quarters of it into the nearest trash can.  But I took home some of it, and put into its own box, for the purpose of oppositional research, and as evidence of a big threat.  I kept any of it that  claimed the possible use of nukes as God's will unfolding.  

The apocalyptic highlight of this  "prophesy" was  set in the middle east, and featured Israel.  The more detailed versions predicted the exact number of Jewish survivors, namely those who embraced Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  There was no doubt in my mind what I was looking at.

I thought this was a new development in anti-Semitism, as well as something racist toward Arabs or Palestinians, and militarist toward the region.  I stood up to oppose this over and over.  If at first you don't succeed, try try again.  I tried so many times to formulate my protest of this ideological excrement that I became very concise.

Prophesy shmophesy!  Don't be headin' toward Armageddon!

The Book of Revelation promotes an escalation.

The End of Days is a deadly craze.

Find a pathway from the lethal maze.

Visualize co-existence

and to false prophesy

create resistance

3.

As I say, though, the formulation "Prophesy Shmophesy" was an advanced development.  In the early stages of my research and opposition, everything came out in less poetic longer sentences.  I also seemed a little upset during this early period.  As I said, I had three staggering research topics and I ended up adversely affected by their sheer weight, even though I did have a support system.