John: I find this an interesting post ~ Time availability I’ll respond to your various points according to my viewpoint(s).
In last week’s post, I suggested those of us in the church often fall into the habits of discourse so common in our culture and miss the opportunity to demonstrate a compellingly different way of being in the world.
F: If anything I’d say a more ‘realistic’ or perhaps ‘basic’ WAY such that people like myself and my brothers Asmus (Ernie & Grant) would be enabled to turn from their (different) beliefs/faiths or lack there-of and be irresistibly drawn liken to those you offer..
Part of this, I argued, is due to an attitude we can easily adopt: that those who think like me are good and wise and those others who think differently aren’t just wrong (and foolish) but sinister.
F: Well – do you really think they care – at all? I have come to understand in my old age that there are gradations of Faith. I know you’re familer with them so I’ll skip to the first and most obvious: The first and most popular is not based on anything at all except by the phrase “Who cares?”
The natural fruit of this attitude is contempt for others and pride in my own intelligence and sanctity.
F: Most often is rather; “Give me a break from this religious material: Let’s do something/anything else..”
I really like your Lothlorien metaphor, and have been pondering it since. I agree: that strange land holds itself apart, and in so doing remains pristine, untainted by evil, but therefore also can't directly engage evil (or so it seems; it's a very mysterious land to me). And yet at the same time, I wonder about this: Lothlorien's help was crucial to that small band of travelers who went out to directly oppose the heart of evil: the cloaks it gave them enabled them to endure the weather and defeated any attempt by evil to see them. And it was ropes from Lothlorien that enabled Sam and Frodo to climb down a cliff in the dark, and the light from the Lady of Lothlorien than was alone able to defeat the giant spider. And, come to think of it, it was the food of Lothlorien that gave Sam and Frodo the strength to finish their desperate journey to Mount Doom and to succeed in destroying the ring.
So I agree that evil needs to be directly resisted, and the lie directly exposed. But I wonder what kinds of Lothlorien-like supporting action are necessary if that direct action is to succeed?
Thanks, Benjamin. The elves of Lothlorien are glad to have someone speaking up on their behalf! What you say is quite true. They play an important role, even if not a direct one. (Galadriel is especially interesting, since she has a ring and is involved in the struggle in mysterious ways.) I think the analogy holds for us. In order to engage well we need plenty of time in (and support from) Lothlorien, so to speak.
Thanks for composing all that detailed information/book reporting about 'Lothlorien.'
I have not read that fantasy series at all so it was all new ground to read your comments.
In my own character I prefer to read simpler stuff like cliche even. For example the old Navajo story of the young boy asking his grandfather why people are the way they are.
The grandfather pauses and tells the boy: "Inside each of us there are two wolves. One is evil and wants only to influence a person always toward evil and pain, discouragement a hurt. The other wolf is kind and understanding, wanting only to give good advise, share kind words and actions.
These two wolves are always at war with each other within ur hearts.
"Grandfather" the young boy asks; "Witch one will win?"
Thanks for a reminder of that story, Forrest. Like any good parable, its simple -- but contains an important truth. Interestingly, Plato has a parable very like it in his Republic.
If entropy were to go ‘flat’ with no difference in temperature or energy anywhere. Then would be equilibrium. ~ NOTHING ~ would happen!Even time would stop. Thus entropy is what drives everything: Ifentropy were -0- there would be no “past” or ‘future’ sincethey would not not exist is morning, I’m off to deliver Meals. Good morning, Forrest
"The truth is that each one of us at times and in ways, often invisible to us, comes under the sway of the dark tower."
John: I find this an interesting post ~ Time availability I’ll respond to your various points according to my viewpoint(s).
In last week’s post, I suggested those of us in the church often fall into the habits of discourse so common in our culture and miss the opportunity to demonstrate a compellingly different way of being in the world.
F: If anything I’d say a more ‘realistic’ or perhaps ‘basic’ WAY such that people like myself and my brothers Asmus (Ernie & Grant) would be enabled to turn from their (different) beliefs/faiths or lack there-of and be irresistibly drawn liken to those you offer..
Part of this, I argued, is due to an attitude we can easily adopt: that those who think like me are good and wise and those others who think differently aren’t just wrong (and foolish) but sinister.
F: Well – do you really think they care – at all? I have come to understand in my old age that there are gradations of Faith. I know you’re familer with them so I’ll skip to the first and most obvious: The first and most popular is not based on anything at all except by the phrase “Who cares?”
The natural fruit of this attitude is contempt for others and pride in my own intelligence and sanctity.
F: Most often is rather; “Give me a break from this religious material: Let’s do something/anything else..”
I really like your Lothlorien metaphor, and have been pondering it since. I agree: that strange land holds itself apart, and in so doing remains pristine, untainted by evil, but therefore also can't directly engage evil (or so it seems; it's a very mysterious land to me). And yet at the same time, I wonder about this: Lothlorien's help was crucial to that small band of travelers who went out to directly oppose the heart of evil: the cloaks it gave them enabled them to endure the weather and defeated any attempt by evil to see them. And it was ropes from Lothlorien that enabled Sam and Frodo to climb down a cliff in the dark, and the light from the Lady of Lothlorien than was alone able to defeat the giant spider. And, come to think of it, it was the food of Lothlorien that gave Sam and Frodo the strength to finish their desperate journey to Mount Doom and to succeed in destroying the ring.
So I agree that evil needs to be directly resisted, and the lie directly exposed. But I wonder what kinds of Lothlorien-like supporting action are necessary if that direct action is to succeed?
Thanks, Benjamin. The elves of Lothlorien are glad to have someone speaking up on their behalf! What you say is quite true. They play an important role, even if not a direct one. (Galadriel is especially interesting, since she has a ring and is involved in the struggle in mysterious ways.) I think the analogy holds for us. In order to engage well we need plenty of time in (and support from) Lothlorien, so to speak.
John;
Thanks for composing all that detailed information/book reporting about 'Lothlorien.'
I have not read that fantasy series at all so it was all new ground to read your comments.
In my own character I prefer to read simpler stuff like cliche even. For example the old Navajo story of the young boy asking his grandfather why people are the way they are.
The grandfather pauses and tells the boy: "Inside each of us there are two wolves. One is evil and wants only to influence a person always toward evil and pain, discouragement a hurt. The other wolf is kind and understanding, wanting only to give good advise, share kind words and actions.
These two wolves are always at war with each other within ur hearts.
"Grandfather" the young boy asks; "Witch one will win?"
"The one you feed."
Good afternoon, Forrest Asmus ATP
Thanks for a reminder of that story, Forrest. Like any good parable, its simple -- but contains an important truth. Interestingly, Plato has a parable very like it in his Republic.
John:
This has surfaced for your consideration:
If entropy were to go ‘flat’ with no difference in temperature or energy anywhere. Then would be equilibrium. ~ NOTHING ~ would happen!Even time would stop. Thus entropy is what drives everything: Ifentropy were -0- there would be no “past” or ‘future’ sincethey would not not exist is morning, I’m off to deliver Meals. Good morning, Forrest
OK, I've herd of this guy Plato. ~ he Navajo version seemed a little closer to hom
- F