The Christian Doctrine Of Damnation... And The Destruction Of Christ-Spirit
Compendium Of Best Pax Posts: What I Think About Christianity
Hello Family and Friends in the USA and Germany!
World events of the past few days serve as a chilling reminder of the importance
of our work toward healthy global community, using Calgary as a microcosm of
that vision. That’s the purpose of all this stuff I do. I’ve recently begun asking
Americans (and others) the following question: Would Americans and everyone
else be better off (safer, healthier, happier, more productive) in the long run if the
Golden Rule (Do unto others as you would have them do unto you) were taken
as the absolutely binding standard for all US foreign policy decisions and actions
from this day forward? Let me know your thoughts on that.
of our work toward healthy global community, using Calgary as a microcosm of
that vision. That’s the purpose of all this stuff I do. I’ve recently begun asking
Americans (and others) the following question: Would Americans and everyone
else be better off (safer, healthier, happier, more productive) in the long run if the
Golden Rule (Do unto others as you would have them do unto you) were taken
as the absolutely binding standard for all US foreign policy decisions and actions
from this day forward? Let me know your thoughts on that.
I hope you will all have a happy new year and specifically that you will not be
targeted by any drone strikes. Here’s the content of the handout we used at
our most recent dialogue event, which took place on December 18. The suggested
topic was “Self Reliance.”
targeted by any drone strikes. Here’s the content of the handout we used at
our most recent dialogue event, which took place on December 18. The suggested
topic was “Self Reliance.”
Self Reliance
The meaning of self reliance depends on the context. I would not do well as a
hunter-gatherer; I rely on grocery stores and other services for the basics. Yet I can
do things that hunter-gatherers could not do. Here are some observations from two
heroines of the twentieth century.
hunter-gatherer; I rely on grocery stores and other services for the basics. Yet I can
do things that hunter-gatherers could not do. Here are some observations from two
heroines of the twentieth century.
From Eleanor Roosevelt:
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
“Do one thing every day that scares you.”
“Do what you feel in your heart to be right – for you'll be criticized anyway.”
“A stumbling-block to the pessimist is a stepping-stone to the optimist.”
“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you
really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived
through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived
through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
From Amelia Earhart:
“The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.
The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act
to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.”
The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act
to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.”
“Women, like men, should try to do the impossible.”
“Some of us have great runways already built for us. If you have one, take off!
But if you don’t have one, realize it is your responsibility to grab a shovel and
build one for yourself and for those who will follow after you.”
But if you don’t have one, realize it is your responsibility to grab a shovel and
build one for yourself and for those who will follow after you.”
“Adventure is worthwhile in itself.”
“The more one does and sees and feels, the more one is able to do, and the
more genuine may be one’s appreciation of fundamental things like home,
and love, and understanding companionship.”
more genuine may be one’s appreciation of fundamental things like home,
and love, and understanding companionship.”
“No borders, just horizons – only freedom.”
From Others:
“Marriage is a fine institution, but I’m not ready for an institution.” - Mae West
“You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to
solve all of the world’s problems at once but don’t ever underestimate the
importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be
contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.” - Michelle Obama
solve all of the world’s problems at once but don’t ever underestimate the
importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be
contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.” - Michelle Obama
“Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you
can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically,
but nothing consistently without courage.” – Maya Angelou
can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically,
but nothing consistently without courage.” – Maya Angelou
Good Questions
Circumstances usually impose self reliance upon us. We become self reliant in
specific ways and for specific purposes. In what ways and for what purposes have
you become particularly self reliant compared to other people you know? In what
ways have others become remarkably self reliant compared to yourself?
specific ways and for specific purposes. In what ways and for what purposes have
you become particularly self reliant compared to other people you know? In what
ways have others become remarkably self reliant compared to yourself?
If you were to choose one aspect of your life (or one area of endeavor) in which
you’d like to become more self reliant in the year ahead: 1) What would your choice
be? 2) How would you design a strategic plan for actualizing your choice?
3) Assuming you will be successful (as you probably will be if you take it seriously),
what outcome, what benefits from your enhanced self reliance would you anticipate
in the future?
you’d like to become more self reliant in the year ahead: 1) What would your choice
be? 2) How would you design a strategic plan for actualizing your choice?
3) Assuming you will be successful (as you probably will be if you take it seriously),
what outcome, what benefits from your enhanced self reliance would you anticipate
in the future?
From the Daily Stoic: The Beat Goes On
“Walk the long gallery of the past, of empires and kingdoms succeeding each other
without number. And you can also see the future, for surely it will be exactly the
same, unable to deviate from the present rhythm. It’s all one whether we’ve
experienced forty years or an aeon. What more is there to see?”
- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 7.49
without number. And you can also see the future, for surely it will be exactly the
same, unable to deviate from the present rhythm. It’s all one whether we’ve
experienced forty years or an aeon. What more is there to see?”
- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 7.49
All things die. Not just people but companies, kingdoms, religions, and ideas
– eventually. The Roman Republic lasted 450 years. The Roman Empire, of which
Marcus Aurelius was considered to be one of the “five good emperors,” lasted 500
years. The longest recorded life of a human being is 122 years. The average life
expectancy in the United States is a little over seventy-eight years. In other
countries, in other eras, it has been more and it has been less. But in the end, we all
succumb, as Marcus said, to the rhythm of events – of which there is always a final,
determined beat. There is no need to dwell on this fact, but there is no point in
ignoring it either.
– eventually. The Roman Republic lasted 450 years. The Roman Empire, of which
Marcus Aurelius was considered to be one of the “five good emperors,” lasted 500
years. The longest recorded life of a human being is 122 years. The average life
expectancy in the United States is a little over seventy-eight years. In other
countries, in other eras, it has been more and it has been less. But in the end, we all
succumb, as Marcus said, to the rhythm of events – of which there is always a final,
determined beat. There is no need to dwell on this fact, but there is no point in
ignoring it either.
Announcement: Our next dialogue event will be on January 8, 2020.
Arthur
Dear Arthur,
Thanks for your email.
It is great how you're using your Calgary community as a microcosm for
communitarian exploration.
communitarian exploration.
Concerning your question about The Golden Rule...
I don't think it's necessary to be a diagnosed sadist or masochist to be one
which is an inconvenient truth that skews The Golden Rule.
which is an inconvenient truth that skews The Golden Rule.
Under Trump, not only are we experiencing deliberate cruelty, but "cruelty
as amusement."
as amusement."
It is hard to say these words since their meaning is exquisitely horrifying.
iAnother of my "working hypoteses (which is also a "Great Unmentionabl")
is that Christianity has normalized belief in hellish torment-and-torture
-- without possibility of the tortured person's reform-and-restoration.
Furthermore, it embarks hellish torment in such a cruel way that the
tormented soul is not even granted the definitive surcease that we humans
routinely provide by euthanizing our pets.
is that Christianity has normalized belief in hellish torment-and-torture
-- without possibility of the tortured person's reform-and-restoration.
Furthermore, it embarks hellish torment in such a cruel way that the
tormented soul is not even granted the definitive surcease that we humans
routinely provide by euthanizing our pets.
Behind this cruelty, I think funadmentalist Christians believe that by
tormenting "infidels" and "the undeserving" in this life, they are actually
serving as God's agents, giving "the damned" a foretaste of "what the
n'er-do-well bastards have got coming."
tormenting "infidels" and "the undeserving" in this life, they are actually
serving as God's agents, giving "the damned" a foretaste of "what the
n'er-do-well bastards have got coming."
I lament having to share the following links with you, fully recognizing they
may be "bad for your mental health."
Even so, I encourage you to at least read the titles.
"The Cruelty Is the Point": Trump And Many Of His Followers Delight In The Suffering Of Enemies
"Cruelty Is The Point," An Update On Trump's Policies And His White Christian Base
Christian Conservatives, The Republican Party, And Deliberate Cruelty As A Source Of Laughter
https://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2019/10/christian-conservatives-republican.html
In The End, We Choose Between Cruelty And Kindness
https://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2019/10/in-end-we-choose-between-cruelty-and.html
Trump's America Is A Deliberately Cruel Place And "Christian" "Conservatives" Are The Cruelest
Tennessee Williams' Critique Of Cruelty Should Be Included In The World's Sacred Scripture
https://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2019/09/tennessee-williams-critique-of-cruelty.html
Best Pax Posts About Trump's Cruelty, Mendacity And Seduction Of "Conservative" "Christians"
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2019/08/best-pax-posts-about-trumps-cruelty.html
"When Hate Came To El Paso," Introduced By A Central American Civil Rights Worker
https://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2019/08/when-hate-came-to-el-paso-introduced-by.html
Conservative Evangelicals On Trump: Racism And Cruelty Are Fine, But Must There Be Swearing?
For Trump And Trumpistas Cruelty (AKA Hellish Torment) Is The Point
https://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2019/08/for-trump-and-trumpistas-cruelty-is.html
https://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2019/08/for-trump-and-trumpistas-cruelty-is.html
Momma Said There'd Be Days Like This: "Cruelty Is The Point"
https://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2019/08/mommy-said-thered-be-days-like-this.htmlChristian Conservatives, The Republican Party, And Deliberate Cruelty As A Source Of Laughter
Tennessee Williams' Critique Of Cruelty Should Be Included In The World's Sacred Scripture
Family Separation And The Deportation Of Parents Constitute Kidnapping And Human Trafficking
https://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2019/07/family-separation-and-parent.htmlNew England Journal Of Medicine Determines The Lethality Of Trump's Family Separation Policy
https://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2019/09/new-england-journal-of-medicine.html"When Hate Came To El Paso," Introduced By A Central American Civil Rights Worker
https://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2019/08/when-hate-came-to-el-paso-introduced-by.html
Illegal Immigrants Commit Crime At A Considerably Lower Rate Than Trump's Inner Sanctum
"Trump Administration Argues That Caged Migrant Kids Don't Deserve Toothpaste And Soap"
PolitiFact Probes Biden's Debate Claim That Obama Administration Did Not Cage Immigrants
My Own Contact With Family Separation, And The Young Girl Who Died
(The Story Of UNC-CH Public Health Professor John Hatch)
My Own Contact With Family Separation, And The Young Girl Who Died
(The Story Of UNC-CH Public Health Professor John Hatch)
"You've Been Trumped" is the most revealing Trump documentary.
It was filmed in Scotland where Malignant Messiah presumed he could push around
an entire native community whose ancestors lived in that place
for hundreds if not thousands of years.
This film reveals "The Asshole" at his most loathesome.
"You've Been Trumped" is the most revealing Trump documentary.
It was filmed in Scotland where Malignant Messiah presumed he could push around
an entire native community whose ancestors lived in that place
for hundreds if not thousands of years.
This film reveals "The Asshole" at his most loathesome.
Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman Explains Why Republicans Are Qualitatively Worse Than Scrooge
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2019/12/nobel-laureate-paul-krugman-explains_25.html
Pax
Alan
Pax
Alan
No comments:
Post a Comment