Cory B. Scott's Blog, page 3
February 21, 2020
God’s in the Garden is Taking Off!
With the books first award came the editorial review I have included below. Thank you everyone for reading the book and all your support.
Cory
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“Love is the truth, religion is the lie, the great misdirect. It takes the truth and molds it to self- serving principles, doctrines, and rules. They threaten you with hell as if a God made of love would allow his loved to burn.”
There are many passages I could have taken from God is in the Garden by Cory B. Scott, but having spent my own childhood fearing I would somehow displease God because of my very human fallibilities, this is a passage that really struck a chord. How can a benevolent, omnipotent God, hang the torment of eternity in Hell, and yet still be called all-loving? It is a paradox and one that Scott explores in this frank, honest, and remarkable book.
Scott takes his readers on a very personal journey, where he explores his beginnings, and the abuse he endured by those who hid their true selves in the darkest shadows of institutional religion. Scott is unfailingly honest, which at times can make this book an emotional rollercoaster, and it did leave me in tears on more than one occasion. The doubts, the confusion that Scott talks about as he looks back on his life is a familiar story which most of us, unfortunately, would recognise. Scott does not shy away from who he is, and where he has been, and what he has done, which makes this book all the more hard-hitting. At the same time, however, Scott gives his readers hope. Hope that they too can find their way back to God and his Garden.
Scott’s message is clear and concise, and easy to understand because of his use of stories, parables if you will. His story about a child at Sunday School whose curiosity and questions were squashed by an adult who was not qualified, as no one really is, to interpret how we should praise God was very moving. I think Scott made his point admirably when he stated:
“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” With that in mind, maybe the children should be teaching Sunday school to the adults.
Would God really set his people up to fail? Scott asks. When you come away from the religious doctrine, then questions such as this one makes one pause and consider. However, as Scott stated, it is incredibly challenging to let go of the concepts and the “truths” that have been drummed into our minds so very early on in our lives, and not always done positively — especially when the threat of Hell is used to force obedience. No wonder the relationship many people have with God is corrupted, no wonder so many turn their backs on him — but what we forget, as Scott reminds us, is that God isn’t the problem. Scott urges us to think for ourselves and to connect with God in our own way. Is it right for good people to fear that they will go to Hell because they have stumbled in life — made a mistake, made a wrong choice? How is this right? Scott says it is not. Another question that Scott asks is, can we only find God in the Bible? And then he reminds us that this book’s contents were agreed upon not by God, but by the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. It is a sobering thought, indeed. Society has come along way since that first Council of Nicaea. Still, religion it seems has not kept pace as it drags its feet with regards to equality and tolerance, and let’s not forget empathy.
Scott dares to argue that God cannot be all-loving and all-hating at the same time. Scott does not, however, dismiss God in any way, shape, or form, he is steadfast in his beliefs of this mighty celestial being, but what he questions is how religion is used as a tool to control minds and assure obedience. We are the sheep, and the shepherds (the religious leaders) are not really shepherds at all, and some of them are the wolves, or the serpent, sent to lead us away from God. There was, after all, only one Good Shephard — anything else is a poor and sometimes very dangerous imitation.
Some times self-help, self-enlightening books, can be rather dry and somewhat heavy in the delivery, but this is not so in Scott’s book. What is also different about God’s in the Garden, is that Scott does not pretend to have all the answers, but he wants his readers to awaken, to realise that there is a way back to the God they knew as a young child before religion got a hold of them.
Some who read this book will take offence at the arguments Scott puts forwards, which is totally understandable, and nothing can be done about their displeasure. But, if you read this book with an open mind, then you can take a lot away from it. This is the kind of book I wish I had read twenty years ago.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.
God's in the Garden is Taking Off!
With the books first award came the editorial review I have included below. Thank you everyone for reading the book and all your support.
Cory
[image error]
“Love is the truth, religion is the lie, the great misdirect. It takes the truth and molds it to self- serving principles, doctrines, and rules. They threaten you with hell as if a God made of love would allow his loved to burn.”
There are many passages I could have taken from God is in the Garden by Cory B. Scott, but having spent my own childhood fearing I would somehow displease God because of my very human fallibilities, this is a passage that really struck a chord. How can a benevolent, omnipotent God, hang the torment of eternity in Hell, and yet still be called all-loving? It is a paradox and one that Scott explores in this frank, honest, and remarkable book.
Scott takes his readers on a very personal journey, where he explores his beginnings, and the abuse he endured by those who hid their true selves in the darkest shadows of institutional religion. Scott is unfailingly honest, which at times can make this book an emotional rollercoaster, and it did leave me in tears on more than one occasion. The doubts, the confusion that Scott talks about as he looks back on his life is a familiar story which most of us, unfortunately, would recognise. Scott does not shy away from who he is, and where he has been, and what he has done, which makes this book all the more hard-hitting. At the same time, however, Scott gives his readers hope. Hope that they too can find their way back to God and his Garden.
Scott’s message is clear and concise, and easy to understand because of his use of stories, parables if you will. His story about a child at Sunday School whose curiosity and questions were squashed by an adult who was not qualified, as no one really is, to interpret how we should praise God was very moving. I think Scott made his point admirably when he stated:
“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” With that in mind, maybe the children should be teaching Sunday school to the adults.
Would God really set his people up to fail? Scott asks. When you come away from the religious doctrine, then questions such as this one makes one pause and consider. However, as Scott stated, it is incredibly challenging to let go of the concepts and the “truths” that have been drummed into our minds so very early on in our lives, and not always done positively — especially when the threat of Hell is used to force obedience. No wonder the relationship many people have with God is corrupted, no wonder so many turn their backs on him — but what we forget, as Scott reminds us, is that God isn’t the problem. Scott urges us to think for ourselves and to connect with God in our own way. Is it right for good people to fear that they will go to Hell because they have stumbled in life — made a mistake, made a wrong choice? How is this right? Scott says it is not. Another question that Scott asks is, can we only find God in the Bible? And then he reminds us that this book’s contents were agreed upon not by God, but by the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. It is a sobering thought, indeed. Society has come along way since that first Council of Nicaea. Still, religion it seems has not kept pace as it drags its feet with regards to equality and tolerance, and let’s not forget empathy.
Scott dares to argue that God cannot be all-loving and all-hating at the same time. Scott also dares to suggest that the Bible is not the word of God, it is written by man, and we must never forget that. Scott does not, however, dismiss God in a way shape or form, he is steadfast in his beliefs of this mighty celestial being, but what he questions is how religion is used as a tool to control minds and assure obedience. We are the sheep, and the shepherds (the religious leaders) are not really shepherds at all, and some of them are the wolves, or the serpent, sent to lead us away from God. There was, after all, only one Good Shephard — anything else is a poor and sometimes very dangerous imitation.
Some times self-help, self-enlightening books, can be rather dry and somewhat heavy in the delivery, but this is not so in Scott’s book. What is also different about God’s in the Garden, is that Scott does not pretend to have all the answers, but he wants his readers to awaken, to realise that there is a way back to the God they knew as a young child before religion got a hold of them.
Some who read this book will take offence at the arguments Scott puts forwards, which is totally understandable, and nothing can be done about their displeasure. But, if you read this book with an open mind, then you can take a lot away from it. This is the kind of book I wish I had read twenty years ago.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.
February 11, 2020
God’s in the Garden By Cory B. Scott
An exhilarating memoir about one man’s journey through physical, emotional, and spiritual abuse to find his inspiring personal awakening.
Shaken by the loss of his mother, drained by his pursuit of a doctoral degree, and conflicted over his experience with illegal and unethical activities in religious organizations, Dr. Scott found himself questioning everything he had been raised to believe. This questioning sends him spiralling down a dark rabbit hole into a new world he never knew existed.
Through original artwork, creative writing, and rigorously honest introspection. Dr. Scott take us all on a journey into the dark places that separate us from unfiltered truth.
Excerpt
My brewing feelings of bitterness and confusion about my faith and men and women of God seemed to be confirmed when I found it impossible to secure any help with the funeral service. I had already officiated at my father’s funeral, and I did not want, nor did I think I was capable, of officiating at my mother’s funeral.
We had no funds, and my mother did not leave a will so we needed to start a GoFundMe account to try and raise money so that my mother could be buried with my dad in the plot he bought. No one from the church contributed. I was hurting, bitter, and angry with God and his people.
I found myself free to be me, free to be angry, and free to question for the first time in a long time. I realized all the lies that I entertained. The people, the faith, the institution, it all seemed sincere until you question it or move to the sides. This was not the first time I realized this subtle truth, and I felt like a fool for falling into its snare again. This was the hundredth time if it was the first, I had opened myself up to an institution that only seemed to be aware of what their actions looked like rather than the real needs right in front of their eyes.
I swore I would not tolerate anything false in my life any longer. That meant taking a long hard look at my life, what I believed, and why I believed it. I was not looking for perfection, just something real, less perfect, and more genuine. It is ironic that the death of my mother was the beginning of a journey through the dark places that had grown between my creator and me. This was the dawning and the start of this journey and book.
I was given a rare opportunity to start anew. I could now call into question all that I had grown to believe. My eyes were open to the realization that my mother, the church, the institution of faith, and the followers of that faith had become my faith. The fact that I had relied so much on others was apparent when they were gone or unavailable. How had I strayed so far, why was my faith made of paper, what happened to it along the journey of life. Was it real? Is God real? Is there a God who cares for me without the intermediary of humans to show that love or tell me of him? Can I get back to the place that I vaguely remember when I was a small child? A place where I knew something loved me, something was bigger than me, something that I was once undisputedly connected to–whatever it was.
When I let go of the concept of God, I also lost my anger frustration and feelings of betrayal only a true God would relieve his creation of such burdens in such a selfless manner. C.B. Scott
Invitation to an Adventure
If you struggle with understanding your spirituality. If you’re a victim of spiritual abuse and haven’t figured out how to make it stop affecting your life, or if you enjoy learning from another’s mistakes, this is the book for you. A Buddhist once said to me that when a student is ready, the teacher would appear. It took me years to learn how to use the power of my mind to strengthen me rather than destroy me. If all your attempts at self-help have got you nowhere then maybe the trick is to be ready so the teacher can appear.
I have a theory that if you can empathize with someone else’s experience then you can learn from their mistakes. In essence, you can become ready and the teacher can appear. Feeling the emotion, pain, and internal conflict of another can bring you to the point where you are receptive. You may even be able to reclaim the personal power and independence you have given away.
In this book, I attempt to chronicle the evolution regression and transformation of a human soul. This book starts at the beginning and hopefully by the end it takes us back to the beginning anew. By way of self-examination, I attempt to find meaning in the complexity of what makes us spiritual beings. I attempt this chronicle in a vicarious way, bracketing myself long enough to discover my many perspectives. In photography, bracketing is the general technique of taking several shots of the same subject using different camera settings. In the same way, I attempt to be objective and honest as I evaluate my thought patterns, my failures, and my weaknesses from multiple perspectives; the role I played, the role others played, and the role a Higher Power played. Digging deeper into my understanding of God and how I have come to believe what I do. Further, I attempt to strip away all that is false and see what remains as it relates to my connection with my creator.
This life has been an adventure with many ups and many downs. I have the honor of being a survivor who has lost everything twice and wrestled with real and imagined deities for over 40 years. I hope this book will help my children understand their father and maybe themselves. I have always wanted them to be seekers of truth above all else. I want them to know it’s OK to be human and to question authority of any kind, be it God, priest, or boss. I also want them to see the vacuum of self that is left when critical thinking is not employed. By extension, I also want this for anyone who invests in this book.–>
Pick up your copy ofGod’s in the GardenAmazon
Cory B. Scott
Dr. Cory B. Scott has had an adventurous career that has afforded him the honor of such titles as, Doctor, Deputy, Lieutenant, Director, Executive, Reverend, and finally, his true passion, Professor. But those were just titles; He is really just, Daddy, Husband, Brother, Friend, Uncle, Mentor, writer, and finally, in 2019, he was awarded his true love, Grandpa. Cory has survived some devastating and tragic events along his path as well as some personal failures. These experiences have given him deep insight and a desire to help others overcome personal obstacles and transform their tragedies into strength and hope.
Cory weaves original artwork, poetry, and stories in an incredible memoir titled, “God’s in the Garden.” This book captures the essence of a survivor’s journey through abuse, pain, loss, betrayal, and enlightenment. Cory is the author of the “Inspiring, Metaphoric, and Psychedelic Stories of Oopy Loopy Provenance.” A series of stand-alone stories set in the murky provenances of the heart and the human condition. These adventures explore the depths of our humanity. These crafty works are designed to inspire and help the reader use the power of metaphor to identify and overcome common hang-ups that hold us back from enjoying this life and reaching our full potential.
Connect with Cory: Website • Twitter.
January 26, 2020
What it Takes to Change the World.
Admiral McRaven Leaves the Audience SPEECHLESS with one of the Best Motivational Speeches I have ever heard.
January 17, 2020
Imagine what we could change if we changed the way we use our imaginations
Imagine what we could change if we changed the way we use our imaginations
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Scientists have discovered that nearly every hemisphere of the brain is engaged when we use our imaginations. This is no little childish mechanism. It is probably the most underrated yet, a dominant part of who we are. It can be used to shape how we see ourselves and how we are seen.
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If you don’t believe this, you need to look no further than the woman who writes her name over and over again with the last name of the man she loves to see how imagination can start something. On the other hand, you need to look no further than the example of Ebenezer Scrooge. As the story of the Christmas Carol illustrates, all of his misery and discontent could be traced back to various points in his life where he chose to numb or ignore the positive aspects of this poorly used tool.
Hope and despair start with what you imagine and grow into what you believe. Of all the uncertainty that can be spun from the imagination, it is also the only real source of hope, the only thing that is certain to carry you.
Humans are nervous and unsure creatures. People need firm ground to stand on, a covenant agreement, a lawful decree. Laws that can be tested and weighed against what we can see. Rules and punishments, this is how we get our bearings and what we need to move forward through uncertainty and fear. There are laws of physics, doctrines of the religion, empirical evidence of the senses. Reason, intellect, and law are more comforting and stable to you as an adult and leave little room for imagination.
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As a consequence of our desire for certainty as we get older, our imaginations get weaker. We tend to refer to them with condescending statements like “Oh, that was only my imagination,” meaning that because something originated in our minds, it is less real or childish.
I have come to see that this is a colossal mistake and a critical error. It is also a disservice to our abilities, gifts, and our relationships. Our imagination is a gift and a powerful tool we can use to create or destroy. Everything begins and ends in this workspace of the brain. It is also our most powerful mechanism to engage with the unimaginable.
But we find comfort in certainty in knowing what is real, trustworthy, and stable. In a way, it is a form of control for us to know all the inner workings and label them. So when it comes to the unknown, we decide for ourselves if these mysteries should be proclaimed as something to be feared or worshiped.
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My imagination brought a lot of negativity and destruction into my life before I learned the power it held. This part of our brain is the most underrated and ignored friend or foe we will ever know. Manipulators and predators used the power of my imagination to trap me into the belief that my fate was connected or dependent on them. I allowed them to capture my imagination with ideas of helping the world or just the department where I worked. I allowed organizations to capture my imagination and lead me to believe I was a part of something big and important, and I gave them so much of myself. This tool, in my mind, my imagination, is where everything begins and ends. It is where seeds are planted that I either water or cast away.
It is the idea that the imagination is just a childish or false part of who we are that can lead to our destruction if we let it. On the other side, what if we acknowledge the power of this force within, and reclaim control over it. Take power back from leaders, organizations, religions, and anyone other than ourselves or that small voice within. It is our tool after all. We can reclaim it and use it for our benefit.
In my book God’s in the Garden I take a journey into the dark uncharted landscape of pain and disappointment in my life. I discovered that I let people, religion, and events control how I felt about myself. I let others control and influence me and they did this by capturing my imagination first. One thing that I learned on this journey is that everything truly does begin and end in our imagination. I realized a lot about the power of imagination and how to take back control of this formidable tool. I determined that I can reclaim this power and use it to bring positivity and hope back into my life.
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The Book, God’s in the Garden, seizes the essence of a survivor’s journey through abuse, pain, loss, and betrayal, toward enlightenment. This was a long, arduous journey, but it was also an incredibly cathartic adventure. I encourage you to read my memoir God’s in the Garden you will enjoy the experience and the occasional pit stops of poetry, short stories, and original artwork which will capture and captivate your imagination. God’s in the Garden seizes the essence of a survivor’s journey through abuse, pain, loss, and betrayal, toward enlightenment.
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It is a unique memoir that not only illustrates the devastation and loss a survivor experienced but also the power of the human spirit and mind. The Power to overcome and heal, and to once again reclaim ourselves, our life, and our imagination. Join me on the adventure; maybe you too will reclaim what has been lost to you in the Garden of your imagination.
Available for Preorder Now
Coming February 10th
January 7, 2020
Poor Britney…
Britney was running so fast to the sound of an attack on her sheep that she ran headlong into something she had never seen in the grasslands before. The monster was busy devouring its prey as she ran headlong into it, so hard she bounced off the creature and landed on her back, in the grass. The massive animal seemed unaffected by the sudden impact. It barely took notice of the disturbance, but did look over at Britney laying on her back.
Britney slowly lifted her head and shoulders, propping them up on her elbows. The creature was watching her as its muzzle curled back, revealing sharp, bloody teeth. She knew this had to be a War Wolf, but where did it come from? She had heard they were all dead.
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The beast was illuminated intermittently by the flashing lightning. It had the head of a wolf and a disproportionately muscular, bull-like body that resembled a man’s, somehow. It had black, bristly fur, which Britney wanted to pick out of her teeth, but she was too terrified to move. Then, the creature stirred and began to rise. It was horrifying to watch as it stood to its full seven-foot height.
The beast let out a terrifying roar, directed at the intruder. Britney scrambled backward. She realized she was still on the ground, but she was unable to look away from the dark creature. She felt around for her shepherd’s crook. She couldn’t feel it in the tall grass around her. She didn’t want to take her eyes off this creature, but she had to find her shepherds crook, as it was her only protection. Then, as the lightning flashed again, she saw it, off to her left. She wrapped her fingers around the shaft and used the crook to pull herself to a standing position. She was moving slowly, because the beast looked ready to lunge toward her at any moment.
Once she was able to stand, she placed her crook in front of herself, holding it with both hands in a striking and defensive position. The beast reacted with a violent roar as it crouched into an attack stance, extending its claws. Britney saw gore dripping from the mouth and claws of the animal. Fear struck her heart; she wondered what she was doing here. This was a real threat––she wasn’t sure if she could take on such a massive beast––certainly not by herself.
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Sensing Britney’s fear, the creature started to take bolder steps toward her. Britney looked down at the mutilated sheep at the War Wolf’s clawed feet; their fur was still snow-white except for the black gore which swallowed the moonlight. She thought of how quickly this massive beast could disembowel her with those long claws, and sharp teeth. Fear overcame Britney, who shook as she sputtered a prayer to the gods.
“Please, please let the true light save me, shine through my carvings, save me gods, save me.”
The Wolf let out a gargling laugh from deep in its chest.
Britney held the crook up and saw that there was no glow coming from it or her elaborate carvings. She hadn’t seen them glow since she was a small child and she wondered if they really glowed back then or if it was just her imagination. When she was young, she believed she could do anything, fight anything, and overcome any foe. But now all she had was this wooden stick between her and this massive angry monster. Fear was all that Britney felt now as everything else faded into the background. Her body and mind betrayed her, she felt sick and light-headed. Her vision started to fuzz and go gray. Then, she felt the first blow from the beast hit her right in the sternum. Britney fell to the ground, unable to take a breath. As she lay there waiting for her death, she heard the shouts of the other shepherds… Excerpt from The Shepherd of Olympus available now on Amazon, Kindle, and Kindle Unlimited
December 29, 2019
December 24, 2019
Merry Christmas Neighbor
This time of year, it isn’t very easy to avoid acknowledging the real purpose of the season, at least, somewhere deep inside. This is primarily true if you were raised in a hyper-religious environment, as I was. For some of us, the seasons’ origins bring anger; for others, it brings wonder. Yet, for most, it is a season of love and family time.
No matter what demands our particular brand of faith has imposed on us, no matter how much bitterness we may still carry inside. No matter how much we strive for perfection, we can acknowledge one thing above all else; that we can fulfill all expectations that truly matter with the sacred command of the one who brought us this season, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”
December 18, 2019
I Became a Grandpa Today
I never thought I could love anything as much as my wife or daughters… I was wrong.
