The Three Christs of Ypsilanti - Milton Rokeach [45]
“The cross stands for two arms and the main stem,” said Leon.
“The cross,” Joseph continued, “is just a tool of the old Romans to crucify a criminal. Instead of hanging or cutting off heads the Romans used this method. I cherish the beautiful dream, or I would be awfully gleeful if the reality came about that there would be just singing and preaching in the church—no crosses. Martin Luther went screwy in Germany. He thought he was God. Somebody knocked the shit out of him in C building. Luther lacked the experience of running the Reformation. Luther was insane. St. John was the same way.”
Leon, after defending Luther and St. John, agreed that “the hierarchy of the Catholic Church are against us. Listening to their misrepresentation of the truth, sentimental trash. I don’t care for no part of it, whether it’s from a priest, a minister, or whomever it may come from. Worshipping the body of Jesus Christ! That’s idolatry! It’s a dirty shame they do not recognize reincarnation. Devils go to church, too, by which I mean that it isn’t the building that sanctifies the person; it’s the condition of the heart and the grace of God. There were some good points about the Reformation, deploring some of the works of the Popes, their misdemeanors at the time. History says that he was selling indulgences and Martin Luther had every right to speak up against … and as far as that goes, the present-day Pope is also a sentimentalist. I don’t care for his ideology.”
And what is the truth? “God is truth,” said Leon. “He cannot lie.”
“Why can’t He lie for a purpose?” asked Joseph.
“Because He is the truth. You can’t use a bad means to a good end.”
“It’s a good means to a good end,” Joseph persisted.
“When you speak a lie,” Leon said, “it’s in the wrong direction.”
“You’re awfully limited!” Joseph snorted. “You don’t seem to be sure there is a God. You don’t believe in God being on earth, but only in the clouds.”
“God is everywhere. Ponder that over, sir.”
“You don’t believe that God could be in the hospital, as I am now?”
“I believe that God is in this chair. He is in my dung and urine and farts and burps and everything,” Leon said.
“That’s crazy. You don’t believe that God can be a patient in this hospital.”
“God is truth. He’s not sick, Mr. Cassel. Please understand that!”
“I’m the real God,” Joseph said positively, “and I know I can be in many forms.”
“You’re a false individual,” replied Leon. “I’ve got news for you. You’re on my uncle’s dung list.”
Joseph and Leon likewise were in sharp disagreement over the nature of hell and the identity of the Devil.
“There is only one hell,” said Joseph. “It is where it is. I had a fight with the Devil in C building. What I didn’t like about the Devil was that he would say: ‘You’re not seeing me. You’re just imagining.’ Then I would say: ‘Now be a good sport. We’ve always been good friends and worked together. Somebody has to take care of those condemned to hell. Why don’t you go back to your business and take care of that?”’ It had taken him years, Joseph said, to convince the Devil to go back to hell, and he had worked day and night to get conditions set up right in hell. “The fallen angels are in charge now, paid by the government there to take care of the fires and run things.”
“God sets conditions in hell!” Leon countered vehemently. “Have you ever met Satan who was walking about in human form? Do you know who he is? I want to see how well you’re equipped on your deviltry.”
“Satan?”
“He’s a colored fellow,” Leon said; “works in the hospital in Detroit. If you’re so well informed, what’s his name?”
“He’s controlled,” Joseph yelled, “he’s restricted to hell, not walking around. He’s in hell.”
“He’s in a hospital in Detroit.”
On “Thou Shalt Not Kill.” “I’m the law,” said Clyde, “and I can do it. It isn’t sin, either.”
“Oh, it’s very nice,” Joseph said, “a very nice Commandment to observe. You can go right ahead and