Today, we are witnessing a profound re-examination of the principle undergirding our commitment to the integration of all peoples as bona fide exemplars of the human race. Whether one lives in Africa or in the United Kingdom, each of us is committed to loving one another; and if not loving, at least respecting. one another. ( In Christian terms, we are to love one another even as God so loved the entire world that He gave His only begotten Son for mankind's sake.)
Indeed, the Globalization-movement itself is divided--to my mind, split in two over the question of what nation should be designated to lead into the future. 1) There is the view every now and then that a new nation should be chosen; and built to become the leader in trade. 2) And then there's the view that the United States should continue as the leader to promote trading organizations, such as the World Trade Organization, that identifies members to conform to accepted accounting practices to keep the books among the trading partners and to promote free trade among its members.
From the Middle Ages, when trade was expanded internationally, certain states with a naval flotilla was designated by trade and commerce financiers as the dominant nation promoting trade world-wide: The Netherlands, England, now the United States. While promoting commerce, these great powers also have encouraged cultural exchanges and argued for racial and national respect among those following their lead.
Of those who hold to View 1, China has usually been thought to be the next successor in trading dominance. While the United States has been unofficially singled out as the leader in the free world, time and again it has been described as lapsing from its calling to be an advocate for free trade. To be sure, all nations have reservations in endorsing such a concept when they find it necessary to protect some home industry, e.g., France to permit large import duties on foreign wines.
Those of View 1, also see financial advantage in building up a country through increased trade and building excessive military strength to enforce the organization's power over international trading lanes.
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Christianity is an inclusive, not an exclusive religion
At Christmas time, the entire Christian community acknowledges that the Three Wise Men of the East came to Bethlehem to rejoice in the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. And, it is assumed, they were all welcome, despite their religious commitments to other religions. Nobody seems to object to the story of the Three Wise Men at the cradle of Jesus.
I believe that this account of a star that led the Three to Bethlehem bespeaks the inclusive nature of the very foundations of Christianity: it recognizes, even assumes. that there are many Ways to the Divine Power. Note, too, that during the early days of the Church, born-again Christians did not need to profess faith in Judaism, the religion from which Christianity was spawned.
Also, Jesus was comfortable speaking and teaching sinners, many of whom were not Jews. He conversed with Samarians, who were not necessarily of any religious affiliation. Paul complained to the Romans and Greeks that their religions did not produce the miraculous results for which their followers sought, and attested to the results in changing the lives of Christian believers that faith in Jesus had wrought.
Even today, I am astounded of the results that Yoga can achieve in the lives of its practitioners and followers. The peace and quietude it distills in their daily actions has a marvelous effect on their cultures. The same quality is pervasive through the practice of 5 daily prayers performed by Muslims with their faces turned toward Mecca.
I, too, share what I take was an early tenet of Christianity--there are many Ways to God, each of which must be attested to by God's power to work wonders in them for the sake of God's plan in the world and the hereafter.
I believe that this account of a star that led the Three to Bethlehem bespeaks the inclusive nature of the very foundations of Christianity: it recognizes, even assumes. that there are many Ways to the Divine Power. Note, too, that during the early days of the Church, born-again Christians did not need to profess faith in Judaism, the religion from which Christianity was spawned.
Also, Jesus was comfortable speaking and teaching sinners, many of whom were not Jews. He conversed with Samarians, who were not necessarily of any religious affiliation. Paul complained to the Romans and Greeks that their religions did not produce the miraculous results for which their followers sought, and attested to the results in changing the lives of Christian believers that faith in Jesus had wrought.
Even today, I am astounded of the results that Yoga can achieve in the lives of its practitioners and followers. The peace and quietude it distills in their daily actions has a marvelous effect on their cultures. The same quality is pervasive through the practice of 5 daily prayers performed by Muslims with their faces turned toward Mecca.
I, too, share what I take was an early tenet of Christianity--there are many Ways to God, each of which must be attested to by God's power to work wonders in them for the sake of God's plan in the world and the hereafter.
Friday, November 29, 2019
Form I exemplars
moving to New York City
It was 1947. just the end of WWII, when John O.'s father came to him after he was returning home from school on a Thursday afternoon and declared, "Son, your mother is divorcing me." Age 9, John was confused. He knew his parents were not getting along for whatever reason, but he was just learning that it meant the marriage was over. He talked with his mother at dinnertime about what would happen now. The children and she were to be relegated to the second floor to live, until the house was sold and the proceeds awarded by the court to her.
Making her plans for becoming a legal secretary, perhaps even a lawyer, John's mom decided to pursue a degree in law; she already had a bachelors degree. But she did not want to remain in Buffalo, New York, because she felt she had to start anew someplace else. The times were such getting a divorce was tantamount to becoming a social pariah--it just was not done in those days.
She had recently completed a B.A. at University of Buffalo; and with one of her professor's connections, she was able to be accepted quickly into law school at New York University. The family had visited New York several times and with the promise of starting-over with law-degree training, she decided to jump at the chance forthwith.
"Sheila, would you go with me to find an apartment we could rent there?" she asked her young daughter of 17. Her daughter of 20 was already engaged to a bus driver in Buffalo and would not make the move with Sheila, John and her--that was to comprise the new family--because the date had already been set for the wedding.
The day to journey to New York and look over the prospect for the move had been set. The trip would last up to a week, money holding out. John joined his sister and Mom in prayer through the next days before the two would depart by train to New York. He also was excited about the prospect of going to New York to live, because he already suffered each winter from the frigid cold of Buffalo weather that would incapacitate him in bed for at a month during the long below freezing weather.
The very day Mother and daughter were to board the train, John ran to the makeshift kitchen on the home's second floor they made for themselves (while his father domiciled on the first floor, where his law office at home was also located), and announced boldly, "I woke up with a vision that you'll find a place in Manhattan. Don't worry so much! You'll come across an intersection. One side is the apartment building--it's about four or five stories high, but there's a place for rent on the first floor. Actually, you don't get to it by the front entrance of the building, but there's a side entrance you have to go through. And, Sheila, there's a high school a few blocks away up a hill aways. But there's a really large building on the other side just opposite where the apartment is where people live, though it's different from an apartment building. That's the area I saw in my mind. Nothing more was said about John's imagining before Mother and daughter were on their way to New York.
They came back with news that they leased an apartment. It was more than my Mother wanted to pay but with the court settlement felt we could live there for awhile. It matched John's vision to a 'T'. And the three of them moved to that apartment. Their neighbors soon informed the newly composed family that they were living in a city rent-controlled unit and the rent was reduced by two-thirds of the initial price. John loved the education he received at the private schools he attended through high school; and after that vision dedicated his life to do Christian service.
That "large building people lived in but was not an apartment" turned out to be an old-folks home.
additions: 12/ /19
It was 1947. just the end of WWII, when John O.'s father came to him after he was returning home from school on a Thursday afternoon and declared, "Son, your mother is divorcing me." Age 9, John was confused. He knew his parents were not getting along for whatever reason, but he was just learning that it meant the marriage was over. He talked with his mother at dinnertime about what would happen now. The children and she were to be relegated to the second floor to live, until the house was sold and the proceeds awarded by the court to her.
Making her plans for becoming a legal secretary, perhaps even a lawyer, John's mom decided to pursue a degree in law; she already had a bachelors degree. But she did not want to remain in Buffalo, New York, because she felt she had to start anew someplace else. The times were such getting a divorce was tantamount to becoming a social pariah--it just was not done in those days.
She had recently completed a B.A. at University of Buffalo; and with one of her professor's connections, she was able to be accepted quickly into law school at New York University. The family had visited New York several times and with the promise of starting-over with law-degree training, she decided to jump at the chance forthwith.
"Sheila, would you go with me to find an apartment we could rent there?" she asked her young daughter of 17. Her daughter of 20 was already engaged to a bus driver in Buffalo and would not make the move with Sheila, John and her--that was to comprise the new family--because the date had already been set for the wedding.
The day to journey to New York and look over the prospect for the move had been set. The trip would last up to a week, money holding out. John joined his sister and Mom in prayer through the next days before the two would depart by train to New York. He also was excited about the prospect of going to New York to live, because he already suffered each winter from the frigid cold of Buffalo weather that would incapacitate him in bed for at a month during the long below freezing weather.
The very day Mother and daughter were to board the train, John ran to the makeshift kitchen on the home's second floor they made for themselves (while his father domiciled on the first floor, where his law office at home was also located), and announced boldly, "I woke up with a vision that you'll find a place in Manhattan. Don't worry so much! You'll come across an intersection. One side is the apartment building--it's about four or five stories high, but there's a place for rent on the first floor. Actually, you don't get to it by the front entrance of the building, but there's a side entrance you have to go through. And, Sheila, there's a high school a few blocks away up a hill aways. But there's a really large building on the other side just opposite where the apartment is where people live, though it's different from an apartment building. That's the area I saw in my mind. Nothing more was said about John's imagining before Mother and daughter were on their way to New York.
They came back with news that they leased an apartment. It was more than my Mother wanted to pay but with the court settlement felt we could live there for awhile. It matched John's vision to a 'T'. And the three of them moved to that apartment. Their neighbors soon informed the newly composed family that they were living in a city rent-controlled unit and the rent was reduced by two-thirds of the initial price. John loved the education he received at the private schools he attended through high school; and after that vision dedicated his life to do Christian service.
That "large building people lived in but was not an apartment" turned out to be an old-folks home.
additions: 12/ /19
Forms of Religious Knowledge--# 1
The Forms of Religious Knowledge--wherein God has provided us with the power to change, do the unthinkable good thing, experience His grace, rededicate ourselves, become rejuvenated with His purposes for our lives
I. The Testimonies and Reports written in third person
--what happened: who said what; who did what
--what was God's response to the individual; what did he learn from God; what did he come to realize he should do henceforth
--solicited from church goers and Christian believers
II. Seminars including a Q and A session
--ideas and concepts we find useful to live by as devout Christians
--our ruminations about our experiences as a Christian, what we have learned and the changes it has meant for us
--solicited from ministers of the Gospel irrespective when It became part of God's word to live by for us
III. Hymns of Praise to God
--our joyful response to God's presence in our lives and daily activities
--religious, particularly Christian, poetry
--solicited materials from church music directors
IV. Moments of Revelation, of Religious Imparting
--personal feelings recounted, e.g., "God's in His heaven"
--what we suddenly realized we could do
--discovering with God's help our human potential, e.g., through science we may learn how to see in the dark as bats do; and become even more Godlike in our actions; discovering our potential as humans
--envisioned events to come (prophesies)
--mankind expanded to be even closer to God
additions: 12/02/19
I. The Testimonies and Reports written in third person
--what happened: who said what; who did what
--what was God's response to the individual; what did he learn from God; what did he come to realize he should do henceforth
--solicited from church goers and Christian believers
II. Seminars including a Q and A session
--ideas and concepts we find useful to live by as devout Christians
--our ruminations about our experiences as a Christian, what we have learned and the changes it has meant for us
--solicited from ministers of the Gospel irrespective when It became part of God's word to live by for us
III. Hymns of Praise to God
--our joyful response to God's presence in our lives and daily activities
--religious, particularly Christian, poetry
--solicited materials from church music directors
IV. Moments of Revelation, of Religious Imparting
--personal feelings recounted, e.g., "God's in His heaven"
--what we suddenly realized we could do
--discovering with God's help our human potential, e.g., through science we may learn how to see in the dark as bats do; and become even more Godlike in our actions; discovering our potential as humans
--envisioned events to come (prophesies)
--mankind expanded to be even closer to God
additions: 12/02/19
Monday, November 18, 2019
Book Proposal: Bible of Contemporary Religious Knowledge
Why the need for a bible of contemporary religious knowledge?
1. The clergy find it difficult to sermonize over passages of Scripture written in pre-technological civilizations and cultures.
2. Parishioners are dwindling, I believe of the difficulty for people in our generation to understand explanations and accounts of events occurring thousands of years ago. The rise of science is also part of this causal effect: people just can't understand the events as purported.
3. Nevertheless, there's a Christian message that has endured for these many centuries that the many witnesses will attest to.
Format of the book:
1. Present the means by which religious knowledge is ascertained today. In the church setting, the Eucharist or Mass is commonplace to provide the aura whereby the power of God is experienced by churchgoers. There are innumerable ways that God has communicated with man as reported by the Christian mystics.
1a. Means of getting in touch with "one's still small voice" in the Jewish tradition is also a vehicle to experience God. These personal experiences are detailed in William James' book, Varieties of the Religious Experience written a century ago.
2. Present topically an individual's account where God has provided direction and inspiration to achieve God's will in his or her own life. These will be edited to permit vocal reading of such accounts in church services--edited for literary and poetical purposes to maintain the solemnity during which these are read in Christian churches.
Withal, these passages of personal experience in which God has led mankind will attest to the continual testimony of religious faith in human existence.
3. A cross reference of items and persons will form the third portion of the opus.
additions: 12/ /19
1. The clergy find it difficult to sermonize over passages of Scripture written in pre-technological civilizations and cultures.
2. Parishioners are dwindling, I believe of the difficulty for people in our generation to understand explanations and accounts of events occurring thousands of years ago. The rise of science is also part of this causal effect: people just can't understand the events as purported.
3. Nevertheless, there's a Christian message that has endured for these many centuries that the many witnesses will attest to.
Format of the book:
1. Present the means by which religious knowledge is ascertained today. In the church setting, the Eucharist or Mass is commonplace to provide the aura whereby the power of God is experienced by churchgoers. There are innumerable ways that God has communicated with man as reported by the Christian mystics.
1a. Means of getting in touch with "one's still small voice" in the Jewish tradition is also a vehicle to experience God. These personal experiences are detailed in William James' book, Varieties of the Religious Experience written a century ago.
2. Present topically an individual's account where God has provided direction and inspiration to achieve God's will in his or her own life. These will be edited to permit vocal reading of such accounts in church services--edited for literary and poetical purposes to maintain the solemnity during which these are read in Christian churches.
Withal, these passages of personal experience in which God has led mankind will attest to the continual testimony of religious faith in human existence.
3. A cross reference of items and persons will form the third portion of the opus.
additions: 12/ /19
Saturday, November 2, 2019
There's a crying need for new paradigms in religion!
Each major religion of today--Christianity, Judaism, Muslim--uses the stories of centuries ago as paradigms to show the relevance of living in society today --a really preposterous thing to do! We can't well relate sowing seeds for harvest and enriching our plates today any more than we can think of our wearing a toga to work on Monday morning.
The point is that religion would do well to end the controversies dividing them because one religion thinks it must establish a kingdom here on earth--even if it be in a desert--while another thinks its kingdom can wait until the end of time, as we know it. All these controversies miss what is invaluable to religious insight: how we can relate to forces and Being beyond what we can see around us through its material presence in the physical world.
The point is that religion would do well to end the controversies dividing them because one religion thinks it must establish a kingdom here on earth--even if it be in a desert--while another thinks its kingdom can wait until the end of time, as we know it. All these controversies miss what is invaluable to religious insight: how we can relate to forces and Being beyond what we can see around us through its material presence in the physical world.
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Prior to His arrest, Jesus was praying to God, while Peter, tired, was sleeping!
The story of Jesus, just prior to His arrest and trial, is illustrative, how the believer must push the body to perform its normal limits of endurance for the sake of being prepared to accomplish God's plan in our life.
Indeed, Jesus scolded Peter that he should be alert rather than yield to his bodily want for rest.
But for the human being to accomplish great things for the sake of principle and right, we all must maintain a steadfast readiness. It was Abraham Lincoln, who sensing the great need to preserve the Union during the Civil War, he stood for the just cause that won out in the end.
We must push our bodies to perform to the utmost for the sake of justice, freedom and religious rectitude. At this Easter season, let us rededicate ourselves to God's will in our lives.
Indeed, Jesus scolded Peter that he should be alert rather than yield to his bodily want for rest.
But for the human being to accomplish great things for the sake of principle and right, we all must maintain a steadfast readiness. It was Abraham Lincoln, who sensing the great need to preserve the Union during the Civil War, he stood for the just cause that won out in the end.
We must push our bodies to perform to the utmost for the sake of justice, freedom and religious rectitude. At this Easter season, let us rededicate ourselves to God's will in our lives.
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