You may think Elvis is cute, but other people think he's a god. In fact, they have made him a deity. As strange as this may seem, however, there are many other religions founded on much stranger beliefs. The Church of the Subgenius is based on several cult movements, including UFO conspiracy theories. Then, there's the cat-monkey-hippo "God" creature on "South Park." It is loosely based on the bunyip, originating from the mythology of Australian Aborigines.



Throughout much of the world, people are free to peacefully gather in public places, such as churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples, to practice their right to worship a particular deity. In countries where freedom of religion is upheld, who you worship - whether it is Abba, Jehovah, Allah, or Buddah - is not as important as the protection of that right. But even in countries where freedom of religion is a cornerstone of the culture, the threat of terrorism, such as those posed by extremist hate groups, has become very real. That makes the use of spy video cameras in places of worship particularly valuable. It is interesting to note that the very idea behind spy video cameras it itself based on religious concepts.

Right on the Money

Every day, millions of people look down at the $1 U.S. bills, and sometimes spy video cameras record this action. But do people really look at the money? You have probably heard the term "eye in the sky." One picture on the bill includes the United States' Great Seal, which John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson created. But the picture of the pyramid is much more mysterious. The Egyptian pyramid symbolizes power and permanence, while the 13 steps represent the first 13 U.S. states. But what is the meaning of the detached part of the pyramid, which forms some sort of "eye in the sky"? The eye is the "Eye of Providence," and rays of light encircle it. In Greek mythology, the one eye is known as the "Eye of Horus," one of the Egyptians' earliest gods.

Egyptian Eye

You are probably wondering, "What is an Egyptian eye doing on an American bill"? One theory is that the "all-seeing eye" represented Freemasonry. No, they did not build houses without charging. Freemasonry is an international fraternal group. The theory involving the Eye of Horus argues that the Founding Fathers wanted to enact Masonic order in the U.S., based on their personal beliefs. Spy video cameras are able to continue this tradition of the "all-seeing eye."

From a Distance

Although it is debatable whether or not the Founding Fathers wanted America to follow their Masonic beliefs, many of them were certainly Deists-including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. Perhaps Julie Gold's song "From a Distance," made famous by Bette Midler's version, epitomizes the belief of Deists. Similarly, spy video cameras can be used to watch "from a distance" those that are below. The trend during the Deists' era was on logic, rather than on blind faith. Deists believed that nature's continuation proved that god existed. God was referred to as a "Divine Clockmaker" who created the Earth and then watched it "from a distance." It is interesting that the Deists were not particularly interested in organized religion or spiritual revelations. But they would probably support the installation of spy video cameras in religious institutions--if it made society safer while protecting their individual freedoms.

Regardless of one's religious affiliation or lack of it, spy video cameras can provide a comforting "eye in the sky" in any public place of worship-even for the Church of the Holy Donut!