HMMMMMM...

Sound like anyone you know?

MALWARE: MY NEW COMPUTER CAME AT GREAT PERSONAL EXPENSE

Wouldn't you know it!  I got a new computer on the weekend and now I can't think of a single thing to write on it...The well has suddenly gone dry, so to speak.

I find it rather strange how attached I became to the old virus and malware infected word processor that I reluctantly traded in for an upgrade Lenovo "Think Centre" with all its bells and whistles.  I am sure that this too shall pass, but it may take a day or two for me to make the adjustment.

Meantime, as a pump-primer and speaking of my old computer, I was totally shocked to learn that in a little more than a year's time I had unknowingly amassed more than 800 forms of malware...and here I thought that I was being particularly security conscious and careful of what I click on.  I first became suspicious when I began receiving pop-ups when working online.  Then came bogus emails from friends promoting all kinds of products and services (Viagra, health foods and exercise programs being some of the more popular).  Eventually my identity was stolen and our online banking disastrously compromised, causing untold inconvenience. Ultimately the computer crashed and I could no longer gain access to my data.  So don't think it can't happen to you because IT CAN.

Every time you click your cursor on a Facebook "shared" bit of wisdom, a clever expression from an anonymous source, or a video that sparks your curiosity, there is a 90 per cent chance you have added malware to your computer. We've all been exposed, no one escapes.

One of the straws that finally broke the camel's back may well have come early last week when I innocently and happily accepted a bogus Facebook friendship request from an old friend who (as it turned out) had been the victim of identity theft.  I honestly do not know how they got my name in this case, but there you go...Once I accepted the request, they had me.

Malware, short for "malicious software," refers to a type of computer program designed to infect a legitimate user's computer and inflict harm on it in multiple ways. Malware can infect computers and devices in several ways and comes in a number of forms, just a few of which include viruses, worms, Trojans, spy ware and more. It's vital that all users know how to recognize and protect themselves from malware in all of its forms.

So what is malware? It comes in a bewildering variety of forms. Computer viruses are probably the most familiar type of malware — so named because they spread by making copies of themselves. Worms have a similar property. Other types of malware, such as spy ware, are named for what they do: In the case of spy ware, it transmits personal information, such as credit card numbers.

Now, the next logical questions are, "who is creating malware, and why?" The days when most malware was created by teenage pranksters are long gone. Malware today is largely designed by and for professional criminals.

These criminals may employ a variety of sophisticated tactics. In some cases, as technology site Public CIO notes, cyber criminals have even "locked up" computer data — making the information inaccessible — then demanded ransom from the users to get that data back.

But the main risk that cyber criminals pose to heavy computer users like me is stealing online banking information such as banking and credit card accounts and passwords. The criminal hackers who steal this information may then use it to drain your account or run up fraudulent credit card bills in your name. Or they may sell your account information on the black market, where this confidential information fetches a good price.  In my case the perpetrator operated out of India of all places. At one point after the accounts had been blocked, he even contacted me by telephone posing as a bank security officer wanting more information in order to "help clear up the matter" for me. These people stop at nothing!

So now that leads to the biggest question of all: "How do I make sure my computer or network is malware-free?"  The answer has two parts: Personal vigilance, and protective tools. (My new computer is now monitored 24/7 by an off-site professional security technician.)

As I say, one of the most popular ways to spread malware is by email, which may be disguised to look as if it is from a familiar company such as a bank, or what seems to be a personal email from a friend asking you to "check out this cool site." (I get at least two or three of these every day.) Never, never let your curiosity get the best of you and click on links accompanying any suspicious email messages.  Trust you gut instinct on this.

Be wary also of emails that ask you to provide passwords. Personal vigilance is the first layer of protection against malware, but simply being careful is not enough. Because business security is not perfect, even downloads from legitimate sites can sometimes have malware attached. Which means that even the most prudent user is at risk, unless you take additional measures.

Malware security protection provides that second vital layer of protection for your computer or network. A robust antivirus software package is the primary component of technological defenses that every personal and business computer system should have.

Well-designed antivirus protection has several characteristics. It checks any newly downloaded program to ensure that it is malware-free. It periodically scans the computer to detect and defeat any malware that might have slipped through. It is regularly updated to recognize the latest threats.

Good antivirus protection can also recognize — and warn against — even previously unknown malware threats, based on technical features (such as attempting to "hide" on a computer) that are characteristic of malware. In addition, robust antivirus software detects and warns against suspicious websites, especially those that may be designed for "phishing" (a technique that tricks users into entering passwords or account numbers). So shop around. It is an absolute necessity if you want to continue participating in any form of social media.

If you regularly copy and share third party Facebook posts and free online snippets on any number of topics (motivational, political, religious, humorous, cute babies and animals) on your timeline, chances are you have already subjected your computer to large doses of malware and you will ultimately experience the ramifications at some point.

No protection is absolute, of course. But a combination of personal awareness and well-designed protective tools will make your computer as safe as it can be.  Trust me, I've learned the hard way and in the future I will be extremely careful of what I chose to view on Facebook and Twitter.  I will ere on the side of caution and, consequently, will not enjoy the online experience quite as much.  Sad but true!

Don't say that I didn't alert you, my friend! 

I OWN MY WRONGS AND MISTAKES AND IN GOD ONLY DO I TRUST

I'm probably not like the average reader of Wrights Lane(?).  I have done things wrong in my life, both knowingly and unknowingly.  I have made errors in judgment. I have made mistakes to the point that my deceased loved ones surely would be disappointed in me -- if, in fact, they were somehow looking down, or watching over me.

Another for-instance in a similar vein:  My first wife passed away after 40 years of marriage. In life she was a brutally frank person, never hesitating to give me the benefit of her opinion when she was unhappy with something I'd done. What does she think of me remarrying and more to the point, does she approve of the life I now have with another woman? I can't express it any more tactfully than that. Suffice to say, down deep it has all kind of bothered me.

But, God have mercy...Surely that is not the way it is.  How completely inhumane for both the living and the dead if this was actually the case. How contrary to the concept of heaven as described in the Christian Bible.

We often hear Christian people say that deceased loved ones are watching over them, taking care of them, smiling down on them, or sending them signs. Mediums make a living by advancing the theory. Granted, it is a nice thought, but the Bible doesn’t specifically have much to say about this topic, although there are several clues in Scripture that seem to show that this is not true.

Humans do create unsubstantiated beliefs that feed into their best interests and those of others at difficult times.

1. He will not return to me.

In 2 Samuel, we see David, a distraught father who has lost his only child. He has been fasting and praying that God might spare his son’s life, but when the child passes away, David makes this statement:

"But, now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me. (2 Samuel 12:23)"

David shows here that the child is now gone, never to return to this Earth. He talks about how they will one day be reunited in Heaven, but until that time, David indicates that they are separated. He does not seem to expect the child to leave him signs of any kind or to be a presence in his life.



2. Present with the Lord.

In 2 Corinthians 5:8, the Bible tells us that when we are absent from the body we are present with the Lord. In other passages we get glimpses of what being in the presence of the Lord might look like. Isaiah and Revelation both paint vivid pictures of the singular focus of those in Heaven, as they gather round the throne of God singing an eternal song of worship and praise, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.”

There is no indication in these descriptions of Heaven or any other place in Scripture that those in Heaven are involved in, or cognizant of, the things that are happening on Earth. Although some claim that the “great cloud of witnesses” in Hebrews 12:1 indicates that our loved ones are watching us, John MacArthur, teacher, pastor, author and creator of the Grace to You ministry, explains why this passage doesn’t support that idea:

"The witnesses in that verse are not modern-day loved ones, but the faithful saints in Hebrews 11 who lived victorious lives by trusting God. Those saints are witnesses to us because their lives testify about the value of trusting God no matter what hardships we face. They are active witnesses who speak to us by their example; not passive witnesses who watch us with their eyes.

"Hebrews 11 shows how the great fathers of the faith lived out that faith. Their stories witness to us about trusting God, and they are the witnesses mentioned in verse 12:1. These aren’t our loved ones witnessing what we do, but Abraham, Isaac, and others whose lives witness to us."

3. No tears in Heaven.

In Revelation 17:7 and 21:4, we read that in Heaven God will wipe away every tear: “There will be no more death or tears or crying or pain.” If our loved ones can look down on this tragedy-filled world and watch us struggle through it, watch us lose people we love, watch us make mistakes that grieve God, how can they be without tears? How can they exist with no pain if they are aware of or involved in our daily struggles?

...Unless, of course, God equips the spirits of our deceased loved ones with blinders so that they can selectively see only the good we do in this world and not the bad.

It seems it would be impossible for our loved ones to enjoy Heaven as the Bible says we all will, to live in perfect peace with no fear or worry or sorrow, if they are witnessing the many terrible things that go on here on Earth. Even a great day on Earth is marred by sin and imperfections the likes of which are abolished forever in Heaven, so it seems unlikely that our loved ones are looking down, sending rainbows, or helping us through situations. So, even though it may be a comforting thought to imagine that we still have a connection with our loved ones after they die, it is likely that only our memories and the hope of being reunited with them in Heaven remain.

Losing those we love is indescribably difficult. But, we can take comfort in knowing that our believing loved ones are safe, at peace, and in the presence of God, no longer concerned by all of the many worries of our world, but resting in the arms of the Savior. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 says that in after-life we do not grieve like the rest of the world, which has no hope. We don’t have to look for signs or hope for the spiritual presence of our loved ones. We can know without a doubt that they are happily escaped from a world of great sorrow and pain, and we can console ourselves, knowing that they would not wish to be privy anymore to the sadness and troubles of this life, and the things that they might not approve of if they were living.

We can choose to trust God on this. We can believe His word, and we can enjoy the memories of time with our loved ones until, perhaps, we see them again in Heaven.

So dear friends, if you are like me and have done some things wrong in life, you are only human and belong to a very large club. Know that God has forgiven you. Mistakes are made for us to learn by and ideally not to be repeated.  Some things in life should be private and just between you and your maker.  No one else "up there" is watching you in surveillance camera fashion.  Continue being the good person those close to you have come to know and love...After all, they don't need to know any differently, neither here nor in the hereafter.

That's the way I look at it anyway.

SINGERS ARE MUSIC TO EARS OF THE DYING

In my active church days I joined a group of singers (primarily choir members) who each Christmas visited a local nursing home and the residences of members who were shut-ins. While our carol renditions were always graciously received, I often wondered just how much our "invasions" were actually appreciated and what impact our singing may have had.  The "Threshold Singers" idea, however, has taken this concept to a different level and has given me reason to rethink my assumptions.

"Do not go gentle into that good night,

Rage, rage against the dying of the light". -- Dylan Thomas 

This renowned 20th Century Welsh poet wrote these lines of verse as his own father was dying. It reflects Thomas’s aggressive approach to that inevitable end-of-life journey which every human must someday take. His own death at age 39 came in New York City, hospitalized and in a coma. One wonders whether, despite his avowed admonition to do otherwise, he went “gentle into the night.”

Most of us would prefer to die peacefully. "The recent growth of hospice and palliative care resources in our region makes this possibility more likely," says Rev. Bob Johnston of Saugeen Shores. "In western Canada, services available to the dying can now include musical groups called Threshold Singers. While I initially assumed music would be more appropriate for a wedding than a deathbed, I quickly learned my assumption was misguided."

Threshold Singers are small groups of 2-4 vocalists who offer their gift of gentle choir music at the bedside of a person on the “threshold” between life and death. Members are chosen for an ability to hold their part in harmony, carry a note and maintain pitch. More importantly, each volunteer must bring a caring, calming presence to ease a patient’s transition from this world to whatever lies beyond.

Threshold Singers began in California. In 2001, Kate Munger and a group of friends were helping to care for a patient dying with AIDS. Along with providing practical assistance with meals and cleaning, she recognized that singing at his bedside proved to be comforting.

About 10 years later, Munger developed and organized small musical groups to deliver this complementary component within existing palliative care services. Currently about 150 Threshold Choirs are providing this service in the United States and more recently, six in Canada

"To be honest, if I were in my last weeks of life trapped in some hospital bed and forced to endlessly listen to most contemporary 'music,' I would already feel I was in hell! Threshold Singers provides a far different service. They create their own songs, lyrics related to the patient’s threshold of life and death experience. Their music is presented in the form of gentle lullabies," Johnston explains.

Each choir enters a patient’s life only when invited. While remaining sensitive to the spiritual dimension of dying, they bring no religious affiliation. There is no cost for their services. When interviewed, patients describe a sense of reduced pain and anxiety. Breathing becomes more regular and relaxed.

Caregivers and bedside family members can also receive comfort and strength from the presence of these musicians. What takes place is clearly not a performance but the voluntary presence of a small group of compassionate singers briefly entering into a patient’s end-of-life journey and walking with them on that road.

You can access saskatoon@thresholdchoirs.org which provides a link to a Charles Adler Tonight podcast interview with Karla Combres, the founder of a threshold choir group in that city. Other links on the same site lead to a Global News video and CBC interview featuring the work of these singers.

Even Dylan Thomas, who lived a reckless life, may have finally found peace in his own dying days if surrounded by such an angelic choir. My hope is that our own Western Ontario region will one day have this resource available as we prepare to cross “into that good night,” accompanied by gentle lullabies to ease us on our way.

I honestly believe that there is something about music that penetrates the soul of a dying person -- when words fail.

There is a Threshold Singers group forming in nearby Owen Sound but I'm not just dying to hear them sing...Not yet!

NO. 2 IN A SERIES: Many Native families today have been devout Christians for generations. Still others have retained their aboriginal traditions more or less intact.

Dancers from across the country participate in the annual Three Fires Confederacy Pow Wow held the second weekend in August in the Saugeen First Nation, just north of Southampton, ON.  Native dance, music, traditional foods, handmade beadwork, quill baskets, black ash baskets and other handcrafted items are featured.

In my previous Wrights Lane post I took a look at Japan's indigenous spirituality where it is believed that every living thing in nature (e.g. trees, rocks, flowers, animals - even sounds) contains kami, or gods, and could not help but see a marked similarity to the spirituality of our Native North Americans. Spirituality may be the most contentious and poorly understood dimension of Native North American communities today. For generations the religious beliefs and practises of our First Nations people have been the subject of public fascination and scholarly inquiry. Unfortunately, this ongoing interest has all too frequently been fueled by facile generalizations, inaccurate information, or inappropriate methods of investigation. It is for this reason that I am attempting to remove some of the mystique surrounding native spirituality. In so doing, it is my hope that I can gain a clearer sense of spirituality in my own life.

ABORIGINAL SPIRITUALITY IN CANADA

There is no recorded beginning to Aboriginal religions. They probably were brought to Canada by the Native people as they migrated here following the retreat of the last Ice Age between 8,000 and 9,000 years ago.

All Aboriginal peoples in Canada have their own religious faiths. Some have fallen into disuse, but many more are undergoing a revival.

All the Native peoples resident in Canada prior to contact with Europeans had their own religious belief systems. Europeans felt compelled to convert Canada's Native people to Christianity; early missionaries believed that by doing so the Native people were being saved from spending eternity in Hell.

From the 1830s onwards, church-operated residential schools in Canada were sometimes brutal in their attempts to convert Native people to Christianity and to stamp out traditional religions. Mercifully, the last of these schools closed in the 1970s and First Nations people have been returning to their traditional belief systems in increasing numbers.

Close to home for me (just two miles north) is The Saugeen First Nation which is home to many denominations of Christianity, such as the Wesley United Church, Saugeen Full Gospel Church, Baptist Church, Roman Catholic, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and a small multi-denominational Church on French Bay Road. Many residents, however, are going back to the traditional ways or co-practising Midewin and Christian religions.

In general, most Aboriginal religions share the belief that all natural things, all forms of life, are inter-connected. No distinction is made between the spiritual life and the secular life; Aboriginal spirituality is a total way of life.

Creation is explained in the Earth Diver story, in which either the Great Spirit or the Transformer dives, or orders other animals to dive, into the primeval water to bring up mud, out of which he fashions the Earth; this belief is held by Indians of the Eastern Woodlands and Northern Plains.

The Trickster creation story frequently but not always represents the Transformer as a comical character who steals light, fire, water, food, animals, or even mankind and loses them or sets them loose to create the world. This explanation is heard among West Coast and some Prairie tribes.

Among the Mi’kmaq and Abenaki of the East Coast, the Transformer appears as a human being with supernatural powers who brings the world into its present form by heroic feats. Across the Great Plains, there are said to be two Transformers. They compete with each other in feats of strength, ability, or cunning. The result of this contest is the formation of the world as it now exists.

All Aboriginal religions have elaborate ceremonies and rituals. These are performed to please the gods so rain will come for the crops, or hunters will be successful in finding game. Other rituals involve fertility, birth, and death.

As an example, let's look at the Shaking Tent Ritual  where a client would pay a shaman (a kind of priest or healer) to build a special cylindrical lodge or tent. The shaman would enter the tent in darkness and singing and drumming would bring his spirit helpers. The arrival of the spirits would be signaled by animal cries and the shaking of the tent. The shaman would then use his spirit helpers to cure the client of whatever ailed him or her or to ward off black magic or a curse.

Among First Nations there is usually a belief in an afterlife but the world of the dead is thought to lie at a great distance from the living. The dead usually have to make a difficult journey often beyond a great river, on islands far out at sea, in the remote mountains, or in the underworld to get to their place of rest. Occasionally, there is contact between humans and the world beyond.

Northern Lights

Spiritual stories are needed to explain spectacular events such as a thunderstorm or an earthquake. A Native shaman might explain the Northern Lights by saying that the dancing waves of colour are powerful guardian spirits; the spirits of ancestors dance across the northern sky, weaving their way through the black of night, moving in harmony with the eternal rhythms of Father Sky and Mother Earth.



A key concept among Indian and Inuit societies is the notion of the Guardian of the Game. This is a supernatural person who looks after one or all of the animal species, especially those hunted by man.

Typical examples are to be found in the Bear ceremonial of the Abenaki and Montagnais-Naskapi, the Spirit of the Buffalo in Plains societies, and Sedna the sea goddess and Guardian of the Seals among the Inuit.

Inuit religious thought is grounded in the belief that anua (souls) exist in all people and animals. Individuals, families and the tribe must observe a complex system of taboos to ensure that animals continue to make themselves available to the hunters.

The underwater Goddess Sedna watches to see how closely the tribe obeys the taboos and releases her animals to the hunters accordingly. There are other deities who release land mammals. Many rituals and ceremonies are performed before and after hunting expeditions to ensure hunting success.

There are no written texts; Native spirituality is contained in stories told by the Elders. Most of these religious tales have a moral or ethical dimension in which behaviour patterns are ordered, banned, recommended, or condemned.

Religious Tolerance quotes an unknown Native woman as saying: "If you take [a copy of] the Christian Bible and put it out in the wind and the rain, soon the paper on which the words are printed will disintegrate and the words will be gone. Our bible IS the wind."

Sources used in this series:

Religions in Canada, Directorate of Human Rights and Diversity, Government of Canada.

The Encyclopedia of World Religions, Robert S. Ellwood (ed.) Facts on File, 1998.

Religion for Dummies, Rabbi Marc Gellman and Monsignor Thomas Hartman, For Dummies Publishing, 2002.

Religious Tolerance, Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance

Religion, CBC Montreal

NO. 1 IN A SERIES: SHINTO, BUDDHISM AND THE JAPANESE BELIEF SYSTEM

I envy my daughter Cindy, her son Ryan, daughter Madison and several cousins who are planning a trip to Japan this summer.  For various reasons and apart from sight seeing, they all have an interest in Japanese culture and spirituality.  Their itinerary will be full of temples, monuments, gardens and festivals.

As the next best thing for me, I thought that I would take a superficial look at the country that many North Americans know so little about.  For the purpose of this exercise I referred to japanesetours.com. 

Religion in Japan is a wonderful mish-mash of ideas from Shintoism and Buddhism. Unlike in the West, religion in Japan is rarely preached, nor is it a doctrine. Instead it is a moral code, a way of living, almost indistinguishable from Japanese social and cultural values.

Japanese religion is also a private, family affair. It is separate from the state; there are no religious prayers or symbols in a school graduation ceremony, for example. Religion is rarely discussed in every day life and the majority of Japanese do not worship regularly or claim to be religious.

However, most people turn to religious rituals in birth, marriage and death and take part in spiritual matsuri (or festivals) throughout the year. Until World War Two, Japanese religion focused around the figure of the Emperor as a living God. Subjects saw themselves as part of a huge family of which all Japanese people were members.

The crushing war defeat however, shattered many people's beliefs, as the frail voice of the Emperor was broadcast to the nation renouncing his deity. The period since has seen a secularization of Japanese society almost as dramatic as the economic miracle which saw Japan's post-war economy go into overdrive.

However, much of the ritual has survived the collapse of religious belief. Today, religion defines Japanese identity more than spirituality, and it helps strengthen family and community ties.

Shintoism is Japan's indigenous spirituality. It is believed that every living thing in nature (e.g. trees, rocks, flowers, animals - even sounds) contains kami, or gods. (In that regard I find a marked similarity to the spirituality of our Native North Americans and I plan to elaborate on the subject in my next Wrights Lane post.)

Consequently Shinto principles can be seen throughout Japanese culture, where nature and the turning of the seasons are cherished. This is reflected in arts such asikebana (flower arranging) and bonsai, Japanese garden design and the annual celebration of sakura - or cherry blossom.

Shinto only got its name when Buddhism came to Japan by way of China, Tibet, Vietnam, and ultimately Korea. Buddhism arrived in the sixth century, establishing itself in Nara. Over time Buddhism divided into several sects, the most popular being Zen Buddhism.

In essence, Shintoism is the spirituality of this world and this life, whereas Buddhism is concerned with the soul and the afterlife. This explains why for the Japanese the two religions exist so successfully together, without contradiction. To celebrate a birth or marriage, or to pray for a good harvest, the Japanese turn to Shintoism. Funerals, on the other hand, are usually Buddhist ceremonies.

Visiting a Shinto shrine is tightly woven into the
daily life, culture and history of Japan.

As a general rule of thumb, shrines are Shinto and temples are Buddhist. Shrines can be identified by the huge entrance gate or torii, often painted vermilion red. However you'll often find both shrines and temple buildings in the same complex so it is sometimes difficult to identify and separate the two.

"To appreciate a shrine, do as the Japanese do," says one travel brochure. "Just inside the red torii gate you'll find a water fountain or trough. Here you must use a bamboo ladle to wash your hands and mouth to purify your spirit before entering. Next, look for a long thick rope hanging from a bell in front of an altar. Here you may pray: first ring the bell, throw a coin before the altar as on offering (five yen coins are considered lucky), clap three times to summon the kami, then clasp your hands together to pray."

At a temple, you'll need to take your shoes off before entering the main building and kneeling on the tatami-mat floor before an altar or icon to pray.

Luck, fate and superstition are important to the Japanese. Many people buy small charms at temples or shrines, which are then attached to handbags, key chains, mobile phones or hung in cars to bring good luck. Different charms grant different luck, such as exam success or fertility.

Prayers are often written on votive tablets: wooden boards called ema that are hung in their hundreds around temple grounds. At famous temples such as Kyoto's Kiyomizu-dera, you'll see votive tablets written in a variety of languages.

A final way to learn your destiny is to take a fortune slip. Sometimes available in English, a fortune slip rates your future in different areas: success, money, love, marriage, travel and more. If your fortune is poor, tie your slip to a tree branch in the temple grounds; leaving the slip at the temple should improve your luck.

The most important times of year in the Japanese calendar are New Year, celebrated from the 1st to the 3rd of January, and O-Bon, usually held around the 16th of August. At New Year the Japanese make trips to ancestral graves to pray for late relatives. The first shrine visit of the New Year is also important to secure luck for the year ahead.

At O-Bon it is believed that the spirits of the ancestors come down to earth to visit the living. Unlike Halloween, these spooky spirits are welcomed and the Japanese make visits to family graves.

A Japanese O-Bon dancer.

Births are celebrated by family visits to shrines. The passing of childhood is commemorated at three key ages: three, five and seven, and small children are dressed in expensive kimono and taken to certain shrines such as Tokyo's Meiji Shrine. Coming of age is officially celebrated at 20. In early January, mass coming of age ceremonies (like graduations) are held in town halls followed by shrine visits by young people proudly dressed in bright kimono.

In Japan today, marriage ceremonies are a great clash of East meets West. A Japanese wedding may have several parts, including a Shinto ceremony in traditional dress at a shrine as well as a Western-style wedding reception in a hotel or restaurant. In the second part it is now popular for a bride to wear a wedding gown for a howaito wedingu (white wedding).

Funerals are overseen by Buddhist priests. 99% of Japanese are cremated and their ashes buried under a gravestone. To better understand Japanese funerals, InsideJapan Tours highly recommend the Oscar-winning film Okuribito, or Departures, about a concert cellist who goes back to his roots in Yamagata and retrains as an undertaker.

Japanese matsuri are festivals connected to shrines. In a tradition stretching back centuries matsuri parades and rituals relate to the cultivation of rice and the spiritual well being of the local community.

Other religions: According to Article 20 of the Japanese constitution, Japan grants full religious freedom, allowing minority religions such as Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism to be practiced. These religions account for roughly 5-10% of Japan's population. However, the spiritual vacuum left by the Emperor's renunciation was also rapidly filled by a plethora of new religions (shin shukyo) which sprung up across Japan.

Mainly concentrated in urban areas, these religions offer worldly benefits such as good health, wealth, and good fortune. Many had charismatic, Christ-like leaders who inspired a fanatical devotion in their followers. It is here that the roots of such famous "cults" as the "Aum cult of the divine truth", who perpetrated the Tokyo subway gas attack of 1995, can be found.

However, the vast majority of new religions are focused on peace and the attainment of happiness, although many Japanese who have no involvement appear suspicious of such organizations. Tax-dodging or money-laundering are, according to some, par for the course.

Some of the new religions, such as PL Kyoden (Public Liberty Kyoden) and Soka Gakkai, have, however, become very much a part of the establishment in Japan, and it seems their role in politics and business is not to be underestimated.

For those who have an interest in Buddhism or Shinto, Japan is full of fascinating places to visit. Nara, in the Kansai region near Osaka, is thought to be the original home of Buddhism in Japan and features an extensive museum of Buddhist art and artifacts, as well as the huge statue of Buddha that is Nara's central visitor attraction.

Kyoto is full of beautiful shrines and temples and can provide a unique look back through history to a time when religious belief was a more significant part of everyday life, as well as being simply stunning to behold.

So, have fun you guys.  Take lots of photos!

THE THEN AND NOW OF NEWS GATHERING: NEVER THE TWAIN SHALL MEET

I have written before on the disturbing decline of newspapers and the need for "reliable" news sources in today's ever changing and conflicting climate.

Now, over to broadcast news: With a record number of news outlets showcasing numerous differing opinions, it has also become increasingly problematic for society to discern fact from fiction in all news of the day. As people turn away from conventional news sources in favor of social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter, the reporting by major news outlets are questioned, fueling the propaganda that is “fake news.”

In today’s thousand channel news environment, it is difficult to envision a time when everyone was, more or less, on the same page; to recall a less contentious and fractured framework for disseminating information.

Such a time did truly exist. Sometime between Marconi and Musk, viewers enjoyed a reliable and secure sense that their news was true. It was the heyday of global network news coverage. Like today, viewers opinions differed wildly and like today, the narratives told often featured protagonists and antagonists. It was the delivery mechanism then that so contrasts the way we get our news today.

This was a time when the news landscape was owned by the “Big 3” networks. Yet, it was far from a monopoly. Each “Net” fervently represented their own historic brand and whose founders and stewards viewed news gathering and reporting as a sort of civic responsibility. The news divisions, with their vast assemblage of domestic and international bureaus, were everywhere and anywhere news happened. Their fact-based reporting and broadcasting were void of the talk show opinions and interpretations so omnipresent today. Budgets were enormous because viewership was enormous. Everyone’s ‘set’ was ‘tuned-in’ to the national news to get the straight scoop on what was happening in the world. Anchormen were more trusted than Presidents and Prime Ministers. The reporting was riveting, the stories were real. There was nothing ‘Fake’ about it.

But alas, that was then...this is now!

There is a general reluctance today for the consumer to pay for news in any form, especially when they can get it on line for free.  The problem is, can free news be trusted.

When it comes to self-tailored media, or “echo chambers,” of current times, the main causes are twofold. The first is that many people share and interact with news stories they agree with or of which they approve. In addition, social media users are free to select which media outlets to follow, and which ones to block.

The result is a potential bubble of information that may discourage engagement with challenging viewpoints.

Even more, if the view or information reinforced by these media choices are inaccurate, it may lead to a personalized information trap of unreliable sources. This has created concern among readers who don’t want to miss challenging viewpoints.

To address this issue, some consumers are turning to news aggregates. In fact, according to the Reuters Digital News Report, 57% of respondents said they prefer news aggregates in order to access a variety of sources.

News aggregates like Google News and Yahoo Japan are already quite popular with people whom prefer to receive news from multiple sources. In China a new app called Bingdu combines news aggregation, user-driven advertisements, and Facebook-style recommendation algorithms to attract around 10 million active users.

Another Google DNI funded initiative comes from Europa Press Comunicación via a news platform that aims to “facilitate the use of open-data both as a source of news and as a fact validation instrument.”

The problems of fake news and echo chambers will not be solved overnight. We have already seen a shift in news production by leading media companies to ensure credibility in this changing media ecosystem. Innovative emerging publishers should continue to foster a strong relationship between publishers, readers, and researchers. This is an essential first step in building a more positive media landscape for the future.

Some people are “news bumpers,” meaning they primarily get their news by bumping into it without seeking it out or turning intentionally to particular sources. Other people are “news seekers,” meaning they look for topics and issues they are interested in and actively and intentionally hunt for them. In subsequent studies of all age groups, we have seen the same pattern. There are seekers and bumpers across all demographic groups. Older people are more likely to be seekers, though there are plenty of younger people who also seek out news rather than simply bump into it.

Three-quarters of those who pay for news fall into the category of being news seekers. That suggests seekers are the largest and most likely group for publishers to try to understand.

The challenge is intimidating for one who has lived in the "old" world of news gathering.  Would that I could provide answers that are conclusive and today oriented.

OKAY YOU GUYS, I APPRECIATE HELP BUT ENOUGH ALREADY!

Some people have guardian angels looking after them...Me, I have strange guys in parking lots.

It is rather a long story that is difficult to rationalize. I'll try to explain.

Two weeks ago I pulled my 2012 Hyundai Elantra into a parking spot at the entrance to our local Tim Hortons. On the sidewalk in front of me were two middle-aged men and a woman engaged in a conversation.  As I slowly drew to a halt I noticed one man pointing down at the front of my car..."Oh my God," I thought..."What's wrong?"

I turned off the motor and was positioning my arthritic body to make a typically uncomfortable exit when the man doing the motioning hustled around the car to meet me at my partially opened door.   "Did you know your motor is making a bad ticking sound?" he asked with a gruff, yet concerned voice.

The oil was OK.

"Yes I do," I responded, not knowing how to fully accept his query.

"How long has it been doing that?" was his next question.

"About two weeks," I said, still taken aback by the unexpected confrontation.

"What year is the car and how many miles have you got on it? he asked, to which I replied "it's a 2012, with a only a little more than forty thousand clicks on it".

"Might still be under warranty," he offered. "Shouldn't be doing that...It's just not right. Start it up again and pop the hood," I was instructed as he disappeared from my vantage point behind the steering wheel.

"Don't worry," the woman interjected..."He knows a lot about cars!

After about 20 seconds with his head under the hood, my out-of-the-blue mechanic headed back into the coffee shop only to emerge momentarily with the remnants of a paper towel in his hand.  Back under the hood, he lifted the oil dipstick from the engine and gave it a swipe before inserting it once again.  "Well, the oil's okay, so it's not that" he announced after a second dip of the stick."

"You can shut off the engine now," was my final instruction.

But he wasn't finished yet...

"That is just not right," he repeated emphatically.  You've got an engine problem and you'd better get this car into the Hyundai dealership right away.  It will only get worse...They have to make it right for you. I'm serious."

Thanks a lot for that!" I said, still in a partial state of shock.  "I'll take it in first thing next week.

The trio departed, still talking about the noise my motor was making.

After ordering two coffees to go and two Timbits for Lucy, I couldn't help but sit down for a few minutes before leaving to contemplate the almost surreal incident in the parking lot just minutes before.  I rolled up the rim on one of the coffees only to see the customary "Please play again!" and thought to myself "All is not lost...at least I got a free engine diagnostic out of the experience."

Four days later I was standing in front of an Owen Sound Hyundai service rep as he broke the news to me: "The bearings in the engine of your car are wearing prematurely.  Bottom line, we'll have to replace the whole thing for you.  Your warranty has just expired, but we'll go to bat for you with the manufacturer."

The replacement engine parts had to be ordered and I am still waiting for word on how Hyundai is going to handle the cost. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Meantime, I can't stop thinking about the guy who took the time and interest in Tim Hortons parking lot to alert me to the pending motor problem. Most unusual...Ultimately appreciated.

Oddly enough, however, this story does not end there.

"Could fly off and behead someone."

Chapter Two: Out of obvious necessity, I'm driving my pickup truck these days. Late yesterday I was walking out of our local supermarket with a cart full of groceries and as I approached the truck I noticed a portion of the plastic wind deflector on the hood had broken off and was laying on the pavement. Someone must have somehow clipped it as they walked or drove past.

I picked up the detached reflector piece and put it back into place, thinking that I could later secure it with a screw or two and some good contact glue. That's when I saw a guy literally running toward me from a car he had been sitting in, about 75 yards away.

Catching up to me, he said "better not do that...You could be driving and that piece could fly off and catch somebody..." drawing his hand across his throat as if suggesting decapitation. "I recommend you just take it off,"

"Whatever you say," was my rather sarcastic response, taking the piece and tossing it in the back of the truck.

As I loaded my groceries, the guy (by appearance, he could have been an off-duty cop) returned to say "It's not apt to happen, but you never know." I nodded agreement.

Back in the truck and about to pull out of the parking space, I saw the guy jump out of his vehicle once again and hurry toward me.  "Oh no...What now?" I thought.

The (not too) soft front tire.

"Your left front tire is soft," he announced as I rolled down my window.

"I know, but thanks for looking after me," I responded.

"You're welcome!" he said, doing an about-turn and heading back to his car.

I sat with my truck idling for a few minutes as I watched the guy pull his rather dirty Ford Focus out of the parking lot and speed into the distance on Highway 21.

Once again I was left wondering what had just happened.  Was the guy being overly officious or was he intentionally trying to be helpful...I simply cannot make up my mind, but will give him the benefit of doubt.

One lingering question remains: Is there something about me that invites this type of uninvited attention?...Quite frankly, however well-intended, I'm starting to develop a complex and it is slightly annoying.

HARK...IS THAT A VOICE I'M HEARING?

Former Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King was a spiritualist and regularly attended seances seeking to connect with spirits, including his deceased mother. Not only did King hear voices, he was comfortable with them and took great solace in knowing they were there and hearing what they had to say.  He insisted however that he “made it a rule to ignore advice” given by spirits, trusting always in his own judgment.

King, our 10th Prime Minister, was called upon to make many difficult decisions in the running of a country finding its feet and emerging from the shadows of imperialism onto the world stage and all during the decades of financial turmoil, global upheaval and great human conflict. Among those he would seek counsel of were former Prime Minister Sir Wilfred Laurier and another of Canada’s pioneering leaders: his grandfather – William Mackenzie King, leader of the Upper Canada Rebellion and first Mayor of Toronto whose spirit is reputed to still haunt the hallowed halls of that city. 

I have always been of the opinion that hearing voices is not necessarily a sickness or a brain fault, but a human experience more common than we may have been led to believe.

Mackenzie King came immediately to mind last week after learning that one of the co-hosts on ABC's The View stirred controversy by mocking U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence's deep Christian beliefs.

It all started when the co-hosts played a video clip segment featuring former White House staffer Omarosa Manigault, who warned that Americans shouldn’t sleep too comfortably at night because their vice president believes “that Jesus speaks to him.” Co-host Joy Behar then took a shot at Pence, pointing out that “it’s one thing to talk to Jesus, it’s another thing when Jesus talks to you.” She then took things a step further: “that’s called mental illness, if I’m not correct. Hearing voices.”

Mike Pence

The comments quickly made the rounds on social media, and eventually elicited a strong response from Vice President Pence himself. Criticizing the attacks on his beliefs, Pence said it was “simply wrong for ABC to have a television program that expresses that kind of religious intolerance.” 

The incident was a clear example of “how out of touch some in the mainstream media are with the faith and values of the American people,” he insisted. Unsurprisingly, conservative Christian groups voiced overwhelming agreement, and pounced on Behar’s comments as an example of Christian shaming and the so-called “War on Christianity” in the U.S.

So, what to make of this claim? Is there really a growing intolerance toward Christian faith, or are people simply being oversensitive?

Christian Shaming in America

Christians who feel slighted will point to numerous instances of their beliefs being mocked or thrown under the bus.

For example, former NFL coach and media personality Tony Dungy unwittingly came under fire recently when he praised Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles and insisted his faith was an important factor in the Philadelphia Eagles’ victory.

“NBC pays me to express my opinion,” Dungy replied. “And it was my opinion that Nick Foles would play well because his Christian faith would allow him to play with confidence. And that he’s a good QB. I think I was right on both counts.”

Keeping in the world of sports, former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow was widely and frequently mocked for his open displays of faith. Tebow became notorious for kneeling in prayer before games and sporting Bible verses beneath his eyes – habits for which he was picked on by fans and media alike.

More broadly, evangelicals and others who instinctively call for prayer in the wake of tragedies are increasingly accused of hiding their heads in the sand.

Even "Thoughts and Prayers” has gone from an acceptable form of expressing condolences to a cynical meme.“ Blind faith isn’t helpful, critics say, and it certainly cannot take the place of action. In the wake of the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, even the seemingly-innocuous phrase “thoughts and prayers” has become a lightning rod for criticism.

      The seemingly-innocuous phrase “thoughts and prayers”           has become a lightning rod for criticism.

When to Criticize Religion

Critics claim they’re pushing back against such statements because religious justification is a slippery slope. Sure, some people sincerely want to extend prayers to those suffering. But others might seek to weaponize their faith in order to impede progress or promote intolerance.

In a 2016 report by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Chairman Martin R. Castro argued that Christians often hide behind “religious liberty” as an excuse to discriminate against people or treat certain groups poorly. “In the past, religion was cited to justify Jim Crow laws, and oppose women’s suffrage,” said Castro. “Present day ‘religious liberty’ efforts are aimed at discriminating..."

Is this fair criticism, or further evidence of creeping Christian shaming? No question in my mind that there is a growing cynicism in today's society and that may be another subject to be pursued on another day.

Perhaps we’d all benefit from toning down the rhetoric a bit. It does no good to automatically attribute bad motives to those who profess strong Christian beliefs. Furthermore, I give full marks to any politician who listens, even if some of those voices are from on high.

BILLY GRAHAM'S UNIQUE CHRISTIAN SPIRIT WILL LIVE ON

The Rev. Billy Graham, the magnetic, movie-star-handsome preacher who became a singular force in postwar American religious life, a confidant of presidents and the most widely heard Christian evangelist in history, died last week at 99. Known as “America’s Pastor,” he was laid to rest on Friday at a funeral service in his hometown, Charlotte, North Carolina.  I would be totally remiss if I did not write about him this one last time.

The worldwide Christian community was left to mourn the loss of one of its most revered, albeit at times controversial, spokespersons of the Twentieth Century. And his ministry was truly worldwide; the Citizen Times (USA Today) noted in its recent obituary that Graham led 417 preaching crusades in 185 countries and territories, reaching 84 million people face to face and a further 215 million by satellite.

The story of his life is familiar to many North Americans, especially those who define themselves as Evangelical Christians:

---home-birthed in 1918 on a humble dairy farm near Charlotte, NC

---raised in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church

---attended Bible College then Wheaton Seminary

---married to Ruth in 1943 (who died in 2007) and the father of five children

---as a young man, hired by the fiery Canadian Evangelist, Charles Templeton, to lead Youth For Christ ministries

---ordained as a Southern Baptist preacher. (facts from Wikipedia)

Eventually, Graham moved beyond providing local pastoral care to become best known for his “crusades” These large rallies were typically held outdoors and designed to reach mass audiences with his simple message, inviting each one to experience a deep faith in God through the person of Jesus. (Today, even the term “crusade” would be offensive in many circles, calling to mind the medieval forcible conversion of Jews and Muslims to Christianity and the waging of warfare to “liberate” Jerusalem from Islamic rule.)

By contrast, Graham’s crusades were nothing but gentle in their persuasion. When accepting an invitation from local church leaders to preach in their city, he would first insist that planning for these proposed rallies be ecumenical in nature. In an era when Charismatics were often theologically estranged from Fundamentalists over “speaking in tongues,” Protestants historically separated from Roman Catholics, Evangelicals divided from Liberals over Bible literalism and inerrancy,

Graham brought these diverse groups together for a greater good: to present the message of God’s love. If brought to faith at a crusade, new believers were encouraged to remain in their own local churches, rather than being fought over by other clergy seeking to fill their own pews.

He also insisted that his meetings be integrated; this being most remarkable, given that many churches in Graham’s own denomination remained staunchly segregated during the decades of his ministry. As a fellow minister, he remained a good friend of the Rev. Martin Luther King during the turbulent 1960s’ civil rights struggles and even posted bail on one occasion to free him from a Southern jail. Graham remained resolutely opposed to same sex marriage even after public opinion had shifted in the opposite direction. For this stance he has been long criticized by gay rights advocates.

I was among a busload who excitedly drove to a Graham crusade at the then new Air Canada Centre in Toronto in the early 1900's. In the weeks before the meetings, I witnessed how his advance people brought together different denominations to discuss logistics for his pending crusade. I clearly recall the highlight of his service in the cavernous centre holding 25,000 of the devoted, the searching, the uncertain, the troubled and the curious.  I truly felt in awe, simultaneously inspired and sensing that I was part of a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual occassion.

The resonant bass voice of George Beverly Shea (or an alternate vocalist in the person of Micheal Smith) led the massed choirs in singing a favorite traditional hymn “Just As I Am.” Graham would invite those among his huge congregation to begin a relationship with God through Jesus by coming to the altar. Initially, a few cautiously stepped forward, then dozens and soon hundreds slowly streamed down from the bleachers and toward the platform where Graham and local ministers waited prayerfully to receive them into the Christian family.

There was nothing magical or soul-saving about the physical act of rising from one’s seat and moving forward. The step was only symbolic but powerfully felt by those who came forward: theologians would describe it as a visible and public witness, a response to the prompting and calling of God’s Spirit.

Skeptics will argue that the whole exercise is merely an emotional catharsis disguised as a religious happening. Admittedly, in inviting people to the altar over past years of Charismatic ministry, I have seen many come bringing copious, flowing tears or shouts of joy. But even if it were only a catharsis, it would still provide release and relief from whatever was being carried as an inner burden. Further, anyone who has experienced a spiritual, soul-enriching moment in life, will testify that their encounter also included a deeply-emotional component.

One can also acknowledge that so-called spiritual moments can be mostly the result of manipulation, intentional or innocently induced by the person leading the service. Endless, mind-numbing repetition of a verse of music, scary exhortations to “be saved” to avoid hellfire, seductive appeals to come forward “if you love Jesus” can quickly fill the altar spaces. (Think of the film Elmer Gantry.) But the effect is short lived, and once the hype is left behind , the glow recedes. I have met more than one person who has confided that they have been “saved three or four times,” only to lose their enthusiasm and religious conviction in the cold dawn of the next morning.

"Billy Graham was different: he mostly let the Spirit do the work of drawing seekers to faith. America’s Pastor only provided that opportunity, without manipulation or coercion. Graham is now safely in the care of his God whom he loved, followed and faithfully served over a lifetime! May he rest in peace!" says Rev. Bob Johnston in a Saugeen Times tribute.

We are not apt to see Billy Graham's equal in our lifetime.