It appears the hearts of those in the media, and many of their true believers, have "hardened hearts" - instead of repenting their evil, we see an increase in hatred and calls for violence (against, of course the people they accuse of being violent haters).
It certainly reminds me of the biblical tale of the Pharaoh. How many more upsets will it take? Will they ever be able to repent?
The downward spiral of the left, and their evil purposes, is of course always death and destruction.
We may pray that many hearts will be woken to the reality of God, and that many may repent his sins.
Friday, November 11, 2016
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Good Moments Are Eternal
God is eternal, or outside time, with perfect knowledge.
This concept I think we can not really imagine or conceive, because our lives are lived so differently, but it leads to a beautiful conclusion that affects our every waking moment.
The good we do each day, and that others do to us, or that somehow effects us - even the most minor acts of love - such as holding my son, or kissing my wife, or helping relieve ones burden, even helping sweep the floor are truly eternal and a manifestation of God, or an aspect of Him, in reality. We may say a "small part" but God really had no boundaries in this way and may even be fully manifest in the smallest particle of the Eucharist.
[I had a beautiful dream of receiving the chalice last night, and wanting to make sure even the smallest drop was drank, and trying to get every last drop but it seemed I could never fully drain it, yet it gave me such great joy and I knew He was in even the smallest drop.]
To us living time-bound each moment seems instantly lost, each good thing always behind us. This may help us in our task of continuing to manifest God, to create beauty, to do good, to share the truth - as each new moment is created. It is like a painters canvas on which we may work.
But God is not time-bound, and he knows all, and he knows this all outside time, that is - in eternity. He knows all things in perfection, so perfect that they truly exist. He knows Himself so that it created the Son, and so loved the Son it manifests the Holy Spirit, and this Trinity bound by love of infinite power and greatness and joy beyond our conception - God loves us with this Love and sustains our very lives each moment with this Love.
So all those good things, all those even seemingly mundane and silly things, like children playing, and singing songs, and hugging are truly eternal as God is - truly existing in the eternity of eternities - world without end - is now and ever shall be.
Because we know too that God is all good, all truth, all beauty, each good moment and thing is also manifesting God in the present, in the now we can feel, and taste, and head, in the very present.
So when we fill our lives with the good we are filling our lives with the things that are eternal, moments that will eternally be really present in God and Heaven, and really bringing God Himself into our lives and others, making Him really present in what seems like "a small part" to us, though He may really and fully be present, though we may not or can not fully perceive it.
(I wrote this quickly after praying to God for an answer on whether these good things and moments were eternal, after hugging my son, because it seemed to me unbearably tragic were they not! So each Christmas the joy we manifest may be in part the same real joy that existed on the actual birth day of Christ so many years ago.)
Thursday, July 7, 2016
Primary Motivation in Becoming Christian?
I think the primary motivations in becoming Christian should be:
- Because it's true.
- Because it brings great joy.
- Because it gives our lives meaning.
Perhaps too short, or missing - but, indeed, Christianity is the most joyous religion, with the most good news possible. It is, in the face of a world clearly imperfect and with many suffering people, the happiest, best news we can imagine.
In fact, we know it is greater than we can imagine - surpassing our best hopes and dreams.
The Saviour commands us to love God with everything, and we start by imagining or understanding God as He is - the most loving, caring Father possible, overflowing with joy and happiness and the infinite beauty of Himself and creation that He desires to share with us.
To participate we, ultimately, only have to let-go of the darkness in our lives, the falsehoods, errors, and flaws that somehow bind us and are destructive to creation and joy. We need to repent those things and seek God, to love Him.
The threat of great suffering is real, as we should know even now from sufferings in-this-life, but the greatest will be the loss of that relationship, and joy with God - He is infinite, and eternal, and the sufferings of that loss from a Heavenly perspective are of a greater pain, a greater loss to God's creation, and so worse than we can possibly imagine now (just as the joys are also beyond our happiest imaginings and dreams).
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
God Wills That None Are Lost
Some "Internet Catholics" say most are condemned to eternal torment (except, perhaps, readers of the blog?)
https://stevensperay.wordpress.com/the-fewness-of-the-saved-most-christians-go-to-hell/
Yet how can you hold that view without undermining the Mercy and Charity of God - and the efficacy of the Son of God's eternal sacrifice?
2 Peter 3:9New International Version (NIV)
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
1 Timothy 2:3-4New International Version (NIV)
3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be savedand to come to a knowledge of the truth.
John 3:16-17New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Everyone's a Heretic
My first tongue-in-cheek title.
The real problem I've had in starting out a Catholic is that I find my own beliefs and understandings of Church doctrine are quickly called heretical by other internet Catholics, and that for those who profess that "Church teachings are very clear and consistent" appear to enjoy using that to try and bludgeon others into accepting their system - I think there is great pride for some in being the biggest "I am the most correctist person" and pointing out everyone else's heresies for them.
--
Bonald writes that the Pope's apparently heretical statements have made him doubt the trustworthiness of all the Pope's statements and writings.
David responds that we must be "subject to the Roman Pontiff" or we're going to Hell, presumably because otherwise we're heretics.
George says out the SSPX has left the church because the "Vatican II" council contains statements that or in error, or tending towards heresy, while liberals within the church accuse the SSPX of being schismatic and potentially facing the same punishment as heretics for not being directly obedient to the current Pontiff (and his apparent heretical beliefs?)
David responds that George's understanding of the Vatican II teachings (that non-Catholics belief systems can lead to salvation) are wrong and the teachings are consistent, and that George is preaching heresy by believing his interpretation of those teachings.
Olaus concludes by accusing Bonald of being heretical traditionalist, and furthermore daring to preach the heresy of Fideism.
--
I asked my local conservative Priest (I think the most, or one of the most, conservative in our parish) about what it-all-means. He explained that, indeed, non-Catholics may obtain salvation and that we should hope for it - though the Catholic church is the only true path and church established by God.
The last part sounds about right, but I'm not so sure about the first (though I'd like to believe it). At least he's not quite as heretical as the Pope, but I fear the internet might still condemn him as a heretic for not condemning all non-Catholics to Hell.
It's good to know that we as Catholics can at least figure it all out (?) even when the Pope's statements are especially hard to interpret in light of previous statements - because they're not really heretical or you're a heretic for thinking so. (I'm pretty sure Bonald's commenters have also pointed out that's a heresy too though.)
The real problem I've had in starting out a Catholic is that I find my own beliefs and understandings of Church doctrine are quickly called heretical by other internet Catholics, and that for those who profess that "Church teachings are very clear and consistent" appear to enjoy using that to try and bludgeon others into accepting their system - I think there is great pride for some in being the biggest "I am the most correctist person" and pointing out everyone else's heresies for them.
--
Bonald writes that the Pope's apparently heretical statements have made him doubt the trustworthiness of all the Pope's statements and writings.
David responds that we must be "subject to the Roman Pontiff" or we're going to Hell, presumably because otherwise we're heretics.
George says out the SSPX has left the church because the "Vatican II" council contains statements that or in error, or tending towards heresy, while liberals within the church accuse the SSPX of being schismatic and potentially facing the same punishment as heretics for not being directly obedient to the current Pontiff (and his apparent heretical beliefs?)
David responds that George's understanding of the Vatican II teachings (that non-Catholics belief systems can lead to salvation) are wrong and the teachings are consistent, and that George is preaching heresy by believing his interpretation of those teachings.
Olaus concludes by accusing Bonald of being heretical traditionalist, and furthermore daring to preach the heresy of Fideism.
--
I asked my local conservative Priest (I think the most, or one of the most, conservative in our parish) about what it-all-means. He explained that, indeed, non-Catholics may obtain salvation and that we should hope for it - though the Catholic church is the only true path and church established by God.
The last part sounds about right, but I'm not so sure about the first (though I'd like to believe it). At least he's not quite as heretical as the Pope, but I fear the internet might still condemn him as a heretic for not condemning all non-Catholics to Hell.
It's good to know that we as Catholics can at least figure it all out (?) even when the Pope's statements are especially hard to interpret in light of previous statements - because they're not really heretical or you're a heretic for thinking so. (I'm pretty sure Bonald's commenters have also pointed out that's a heresy too though.)
Saturday, July 2, 2016
The Essential Problem of Catholicism
The essential problem of the Catholic church today is a failure to adapt to certain circumstances, and adaption attempts that have lead to more evil than good.
Traditional Catholics recognize the failings of the "Vatican II" adaptations, and would like to simply return to a pre-1960s church. Liberal Catholics want to ignore history and rewrite the doctrine of the church to be largely secular and modern. Conservative Catholics are attempting to make an apparent continuity between the traditional church and the broken and erred modernism introduced into the church with the reforms.
The specific problem is the transition of modern society from hierarchical to its present corrupted democracy. The church for centuries functioned by direct control largely via rulers, and directed a whole Catholic culture and society. It has now for many years been attempting to reassert and prove this authority (e.g. Papal infallibility) in the face of radical changes, yet has continued to fail holding onto a Catholic society and Christian populace as Protestantism fractures into further segments and the rulers and propagated culture of society itself has become anti-Christian.
The church attempted to "adapt" to this, which was an analysis of a legitimate problem, by attempting to adapt secular values - which as mentioned are largely anti-Christian. Yet at the same time the real problem persisted of a completely authoritarian church, used to ruling through secular and political ties to a large extent, completely losing those ties.
The reality is we can no longer rely on the top-down conversion of political rulers, who are in the sway of evil, but must rely on a mass, individual, personal Christianity that is made real and revealed on the individual level. We must return to a more apostolic Christianity which relied on individual conversion and experience of the Holy Spirit - direct insight and individual confirmation of the reality and truth of Jesus and Christianity.
Traditional Catholics recognize the failings of the "Vatican II" adaptations, and would like to simply return to a pre-1960s church. Liberal Catholics want to ignore history and rewrite the doctrine of the church to be largely secular and modern. Conservative Catholics are attempting to make an apparent continuity between the traditional church and the broken and erred modernism introduced into the church with the reforms.
The specific problem is the transition of modern society from hierarchical to its present corrupted democracy. The church for centuries functioned by direct control largely via rulers, and directed a whole Catholic culture and society. It has now for many years been attempting to reassert and prove this authority (e.g. Papal infallibility) in the face of radical changes, yet has continued to fail holding onto a Catholic society and Christian populace as Protestantism fractures into further segments and the rulers and propagated culture of society itself has become anti-Christian.
The church attempted to "adapt" to this, which was an analysis of a legitimate problem, by attempting to adapt secular values - which as mentioned are largely anti-Christian. Yet at the same time the real problem persisted of a completely authoritarian church, used to ruling through secular and political ties to a large extent, completely losing those ties.
The reality is we can no longer rely on the top-down conversion of political rulers, who are in the sway of evil, but must rely on a mass, individual, personal Christianity that is made real and revealed on the individual level. We must return to a more apostolic Christianity which relied on individual conversion and experience of the Holy Spirit - direct insight and individual confirmation of the reality and truth of Jesus and Christianity.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Christ and the Alive World ("Animism")
The World is Alive
"Animism" or the belief that the natural world around us is alive, and has a degree of intelligence or consciousness, appears to be a spontaneous and common belief among peoples across the entire world.
My academic background was the study of religions - and it was an embarrassingly poor education - with nothing at all taught about Christianity. What struck me though was the profound commonality, underneath exterior differences, of this tribalistic, family-oriented, spontaneous religion and belief system that understood creation as having a spirit, or being actually alive. Animals, trees, rivers, lakes, mountains, etc. all have degrees of personality and spirit.
Perhaps one of the most profoundly "unorthodox" element in the works of Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and perhaps also all our most popular children's stories is they capture this worldview. Most often this is simply the expression that some animals can literally talk and think like people do. Even those who don't though have distinct personalities, memories, and even wills - that extends to everything in nature and God's creation.
Child Like Belief
When Christ commands us to have child-like belief, I think this is an element of that instruction. I think we are or should rely on our spontaneous and early understanding of the good, God, and the world to some extent.
One story that I think is worth meditating on is the boy Jesus teaching the wise men in the temple. We should certainly consider this story in light of His command to have child-like belief. Christ, despite being fully man (along with being God), was as a child more learned than the wisest men. Christ is a model of perfect man, and we should learn from this to appreciate that spontaneous, natural worldview and life that God supplies to us - that we are born with.
Christ and the Living World
There are several utterances and actions by Our Lord that certainly make sense in this light, the light of a living world of intelligences - if we are willing to not explain-them-away and take them simply.
In Context of Tolkien
If we take Tolkien's insights as real and true, than the above passages could easily be read as connected to Middle Earth mindset, because it would be the same with our world. In Tolkien too the at least some of the rocks have memories, mountains are alive, and much more.
Disease and Demons
One frequently difficult area for moderns is the connection between disease and demons. We argue that science proves disease is caused by germs (and not demons) so we tend to forget or feel uncomfortable with these passages.
A possible explanation that probably doesn't cover all these is that some or most diseases are evil in their own right - the actual identification of the disease is with evil, or the destruction of good, and that the disease has, to some degree and like the rests of creation, its own desire and personality (however clouded, confused, sickly/broken, etc.)
God Came into Creation
It may also be interesting to establish Christ's close connection to the natural world, as apart from towns and cities. He frequently visits the towns and cities to preach, but often removes Himself to nature or wild surroundings to rest and pray.
This is mainly in contrast to the modern assumption that we are mostly disconnected from nature and material creation, that is totally distinct and separate from of us (as opposed to also alive, conscious).
"Animism" or the belief that the natural world around us is alive, and has a degree of intelligence or consciousness, appears to be a spontaneous and common belief among peoples across the entire world.
My academic background was the study of religions - and it was an embarrassingly poor education - with nothing at all taught about Christianity. What struck me though was the profound commonality, underneath exterior differences, of this tribalistic, family-oriented, spontaneous religion and belief system that understood creation as having a spirit, or being actually alive. Animals, trees, rivers, lakes, mountains, etc. all have degrees of personality and spirit.
Perhaps one of the most profoundly "unorthodox" element in the works of Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and perhaps also all our most popular children's stories is they capture this worldview. Most often this is simply the expression that some animals can literally talk and think like people do. Even those who don't though have distinct personalities, memories, and even wills - that extends to everything in nature and God's creation.
Child Like Belief
When Christ commands us to have child-like belief, I think this is an element of that instruction. I think we are or should rely on our spontaneous and early understanding of the good, God, and the world to some extent.
One story that I think is worth meditating on is the boy Jesus teaching the wise men in the temple. We should certainly consider this story in light of His command to have child-like belief. Christ, despite being fully man (along with being God), was as a child more learned than the wisest men. Christ is a model of perfect man, and we should learn from this to appreciate that spontaneous, natural worldview and life that God supplies to us - that we are born with.
When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom... After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.Lewis captures this in the Narnia tales. There is much of the supernatural world that only children can see, or at least, that only they can see spontaneously. Adults seem to unlearn these things as they grow, or learn to deny or forget them.
Christ and the Living World
There are several utterances and actions by Our Lord that certainly make sense in this light, the light of a living world of intelligences - if we are willing to not explain-them-away and take them simply.
And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
Who else does Christ rebuke? At times His disciples, or the Jewish leaders in error. The water and wind obey Him as living creatures because He is Lord of creation.
The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
Why does Christ rebuke a tree out of season? I've read various explanations, but they don't always seem particularly straightforward - or perhaps explain the passage on a different level. I think Christ commanded the tree to bear fruit, as He has commanded the winds and waters to be calm, but the tree being disobedient (or perhaps inclined towards unfriendliness and evil) was to never bear fruit again as punishment.
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.
Christ matter-of-factly treats the wind as having its own personality and desires. Was He "speaking down" to His listeners in an unscientific fashion, or should we perhaps take Him at face value?
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
In context, like with the above passages, having enough faith (following Christ, becoming more Christ-like) means creation will listen to you (because it is alive) - even a mountain can or will move itself.
He replied, "If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers [cry out]!"
Another passage that, I think, is more wondrous and makes sense in context taken at face-value (child-like) rather than explained away as a metaphor or exaggeration on Our Lord's part.
In Context of Tolkien
If we take Tolkien's insights as real and true, than the above passages could easily be read as connected to Middle Earth mindset, because it would be the same with our world. In Tolkien too the at least some of the rocks have memories, mountains are alive, and much more.
Disease and Demons
One frequently difficult area for moderns is the connection between disease and demons. We argue that science proves disease is caused by germs (and not demons) so we tend to forget or feel uncomfortable with these passages.
A possible explanation that probably doesn't cover all these is that some or most diseases are evil in their own right - the actual identification of the disease is with evil, or the destruction of good, and that the disease has, to some degree and like the rests of creation, its own desire and personality (however clouded, confused, sickly/broken, etc.)
God Came into Creation
It may also be interesting to establish Christ's close connection to the natural world, as apart from towns and cities. He frequently visits the towns and cities to preach, but often removes Himself to nature or wild surroundings to rest and pray.
This is mainly in contrast to the modern assumption that we are mostly disconnected from nature and material creation, that is totally distinct and separate from of us (as opposed to also alive, conscious).
- Jesus was born in a cave (the manger), and reborn in a cave (the tomb).
- Jesus spent, early in His ministry, 40 days alone in the wilderness.
- The Holy Spirit descended on Christ after being baptized in the river Jordan (not a bath, or with a small vessel, etc. - suggesting the closer connection to nature).
We are also taught by scripture that He raised up all of creation by coming into it, not just Human nature, which suggests an even wider significance to the incarnation that the salvation of our souls - I mean that perhaps all of creation can be elevated to some sense (like at the end of Narnia) and that God Himself is deeply connected to all of the natural world - not just mankind - in imbuing it with different hierarchy and degrees of souls (that is, real and true life).
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Tolkien's Elves and Eden
I think that in Tolkien's work, the elves may represent, at least in part, men of Eden - those who would be happy, unblemished by evil, and primarily unfree to chose wrong. They would be content with the garden (creation) and live their peacefully, knowing no disease, death, etc.
That is certainly the picture we get from when the Hobbits visit places of elvish influence and dominion - peace, bliss, happiness, beauty - but eventually they must head back into the "real world" and know pain and suffering, and actively choose good in the face of evil. The elves mostly stay to themselves though, in their Garden-like surroundings, and can not know death by age or disease.
When evil was introduced into the world though by the serpent, man was deceived and came to know the difference between good and evil. He came to know suffering, pain, struggle - and this is the man as we know him now and in Tolkien's works. He is often and easily still deceived, but must struggle against the temptations of evil, repent, and try to do good with his relatively short life.
So man must actively chose good, and in this can potentially become closer to God, while the elves and such creation may be always beautiful, but can only go so far.
That is certainly the picture we get from when the Hobbits visit places of elvish influence and dominion - peace, bliss, happiness, beauty - but eventually they must head back into the "real world" and know pain and suffering, and actively choose good in the face of evil. The elves mostly stay to themselves though, in their Garden-like surroundings, and can not know death by age or disease.
When evil was introduced into the world though by the serpent, man was deceived and came to know the difference between good and evil. He came to know suffering, pain, struggle - and this is the man as we know him now and in Tolkien's works. He is often and easily still deceived, but must struggle against the temptations of evil, repent, and try to do good with his relatively short life.
So man must actively chose good, and in this can potentially become closer to God, while the elves and such creation may be always beautiful, but can only go so far.
Friday, June 17, 2016
Most Fundamental Christian Beliefs
- God loves us personally and desires for us to love Him back.
- God is our Father and Jesus Christ is our Brother.
- God desires for us to apply this family relationship to His other children on earth, and treat them as brothers and sisters, or as an ideal Father would like to see us treat each other.
- Love is the primary reality, or force, tying all beings together.
The first and third were given by Christ as the most important commandments, from which all others derive. The second was established clearly in the Gospel, and the fourth I believe is clearly derived from the others. Our relationships to one and other, our family relationships, our relationships to our children are how our relationship to God is (and not just a reflection, though our relationship to God is or can be far more perfect).
God created us to live primarily as families to show and teach us our relationship to Him and His other creations/children.
--
The more we love God, just as the more we love a good father, the more we desire to please Him, learn from Him, and trust Him.
I think, unfortunately, some descriptions of Him lead away from these primary truths, or are at least easy to misunderstand - we must certainly not mistake God for a bad tyrant, but we should really fear what can happen to us by doing evil - just as a child should properly fear running in front of a moving vehicle!
- God is our Father and Jesus Christ is our Brother.
- God desires for us to apply this family relationship to His other children on earth, and treat them as brothers and sisters, or as an ideal Father would like to see us treat each other.
- Love is the primary reality, or force, tying all beings together.
The first and third were given by Christ as the most important commandments, from which all others derive. The second was established clearly in the Gospel, and the fourth I believe is clearly derived from the others. Our relationships to one and other, our family relationships, our relationships to our children are how our relationship to God is (and not just a reflection, though our relationship to God is or can be far more perfect).
God created us to live primarily as families to show and teach us our relationship to Him and His other creations/children.
--
The more we love God, just as the more we love a good father, the more we desire to please Him, learn from Him, and trust Him.
I think, unfortunately, some descriptions of Him lead away from these primary truths, or are at least easy to misunderstand - we must certainly not mistake God for a bad tyrant, but we should really fear what can happen to us by doing evil - just as a child should properly fear running in front of a moving vehicle!
Monday, May 9, 2016
"News" Propaganda
On my iPhone's default "search" screen, news articles automatically appear by default. One of them was about a woman obtaining a degree in sacred theology. As boring and mundane as this sounds, this was promoted as one of the top 3 news stories in the World, at that time, for me to read.
The propaganda was obviously ridiculous and logically inconsistent. The story dry nonsense, and the "story" pushed completely disconnect from the facts - but that is the goal of evil - to use any premise to twist into lies and deceit.
After reading between the lies, the reality is that some elderly woman and obtained a degree that Priests usually obtain for the goal of becoming priests, but of course has never been excluded from anyone, and planned or hoped to teach future Priests.
This was twisted into the idea that Pope Francis was going to soon start promoting and allowing women priests, and that it would be really good as soon as the Catholic church progressed and had women priests, and we can all hope that this will be very soon now.
I can't think of this as anything but evidence that evil still really does see the Catholic church, despite all its flaws and challenges, as a real enemy and threat to its goals - and individual, believing, moral Catholics to still be a serious force against evil.
I think this is a good cause for hope! May God Bless and preserve the Catholic church against the lies and deceit of the devil, and may St. Micheal the Archangel be sent to protect us.
The propaganda was obviously ridiculous and logically inconsistent. The story dry nonsense, and the "story" pushed completely disconnect from the facts - but that is the goal of evil - to use any premise to twist into lies and deceit.
After reading between the lies, the reality is that some elderly woman and obtained a degree that Priests usually obtain for the goal of becoming priests, but of course has never been excluded from anyone, and planned or hoped to teach future Priests.
This was twisted into the idea that Pope Francis was going to soon start promoting and allowing women priests, and that it would be really good as soon as the Catholic church progressed and had women priests, and we can all hope that this will be very soon now.
I can't think of this as anything but evidence that evil still really does see the Catholic church, despite all its flaws and challenges, as a real enemy and threat to its goals - and individual, believing, moral Catholics to still be a serious force against evil.
I think this is a good cause for hope! May God Bless and preserve the Catholic church against the lies and deceit of the devil, and may St. Micheal the Archangel be sent to protect us.
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Group Survival during Mutational Meltdown
Reference: http://charltonteaching.blogspot.com/2016/04/we-are-worse-off-than-mouse-utopia.html
During the coming "mutational meltdown" and the coming collapse of civilization, for a healthy group to survive it will need to face both internal and external attacks, become autonomous from broader society, and have a worldview sufficiently motivating to overcome a long period of suffering.
Modern society is "uniquely" structured to succumb to mutational meltdown and fail fast, as outlined above and here:
1) No interest in preserving itself against internal or external attack. The most productive and intelligent members are actively denigrated and attacked, numerous policies actively handicap the productive workers while promoting the less productive, their labor is blunted, taxed, and wastefully "managed", while a massive influx of colonizers is welcomed, with the openly desired and stated goal of replacing or destroying the current backbone of our civilization.
2) Everything is highly correlated and linked on a worldwide basis, so that major disruptions to food and energy supplies, and even basics like clothing, will be felt globally. Large portions of the population, as in Africa, are dependent on world aid. Any major setback to the highly complex, technological system will result in major suffering, disease, and starvation worldwide.
3) First-world civilization has absolutely no motivating factor outside of basic hedonism and materialism (and the desire for self-destruction already mentioned). There is no cohesive culture or religion to hold society together and motivate people in the face of major hardships.
Traditional cohesive factors such as a strong uniting culture and ethnicity, with a clear and organized patriarchy are almost completely absent in broader Western Civilization. It is likely and necessary that these factors would emerge during severe hardships, but depending on the speed of collapse would be no guarantee for personal or group survival.
The answer, of course, is a strong and organizing religious faith, which was the basis of civilization for all of history and only abandoned recently. Not all modern religious organizations would survive, and especially those less powerful and loosely organized groups that require little in commitment of their members would fail overnight.
So our options are limited to those featuring:
1) A clear and organized chain of power (not a democracy) that will be obeyed by its members. Clearly a patriarchy is necessary, with the traditional model of divinely ordained Kingship.
2) A strong worldview that overcomes or even embraces discomfort, struggle, and suffering (Christianity has these messages) and a very clear and purposeful reason of existing now.
3) A very strong family structure, with an emphasis on protecting and raising children.
4) Autonomous structures for food, power, clothing, medicine, etc.
5) A way to survive despite heavy, strong, and sustained persecution utilizing modern technologies. Very possibly on a scale not seen before.
In all these factors considered, it appears Mormonism, especially early Mormonism, under the divine-Kingship structure (i.e. the Prophet organizing both religious and secular affairs) may be uniquely structured to survive these coming hardships. The system will likely have to revert back to a more isolated and independent model than currently exists - where many members are heavily involved in secular society, public schools, etc. - but the religion has done good about never forgetting its roots. They regularly recall the struggles of the early Mormon pilgrims, which the expectation that they are at least thankful or may have to experience it again, and have a carefully organized system for making sure members are financially independent, or at least not indebted, along with amble food stores to survive pro-longed hardship. Unlike the suicidal modern system, Mormonism has a clearly delineated and prioritized organizational structure where the needs of immediate family, children, and church members would come before broader society. While the organization is currently one of the most charitable around, these resources could quickly be diverted to prioritizing member survival and protection during a time of major hardship and failure in broader society. Even now Mormon Bishops on the local level have a unique power over their member's time and have extensive practice in organizing members for the above mentioned food storage operations, scouting, charitable operations, etc.
Secondarily, Catholics do have a long-history of survival through many of history's hardships. The problem being though that the whole church doesn't appear prepared, in the way that the Mormons are, for this coming catastrophe. It seems likely a very conservative, tightly-organized Catholic community would be in a good position for survival (e.g. similar to unique ethnic/Catholic immigrant communities that existed earlier in American history), where the Church's structured patriarchy could help selflessly organize members and create or renew a strong and binding culture. Monastics and others maintain the history of a organized life of work and prayer, seasonal feasts, etc. Those who join such communities, even the priesthood, tend to being of above-average intelligence as the study commitments are intellectually strenuous, and the discipline asks unique self-control and selflessness. These are all excellent factors for trusting one for a leadership role or class. Agrarian history and practices could be renewed, housing efforts organized, etc. Mentally the traditional Catholic liturgy puts a strong emphasis on bearing suffering. In many ways the Catholic traditional also preserves legal traditions, and to some degree the culture, of Rome. The main negative, as mentioned above, is these forms may not exist *now* as it does for the Mormon church. Perhaps to some degree one might look towards the Society of Saint Pius X, as even now it faces persecution from the broader Catholic church in its effort to preserve the traditional Roman/Latin liturgy in the face of Vatican II's modernization - has been uniquely opposed to modern moral and cultural changes - and has actually thrived and grown under this persecution.
(In this regard the Orthodox could also be a viable example, with its history of surviving persecution under Communism).
I'd say a third, and less clear option, might be some Southern churches. Some of the south still maintains a degree of cultural independence from broader society (and, again, persecution, mockery, etc.) and has a strong agrarian tradition, firearm and hunting skills, etc. On a smaller basis than the above two, smaller and closely organized communities would have the necessities for survival.
During the coming "mutational meltdown" and the coming collapse of civilization, for a healthy group to survive it will need to face both internal and external attacks, become autonomous from broader society, and have a worldview sufficiently motivating to overcome a long period of suffering.
Modern society is "uniquely" structured to succumb to mutational meltdown and fail fast, as outlined above and here:
1) No interest in preserving itself against internal or external attack. The most productive and intelligent members are actively denigrated and attacked, numerous policies actively handicap the productive workers while promoting the less productive, their labor is blunted, taxed, and wastefully "managed", while a massive influx of colonizers is welcomed, with the openly desired and stated goal of replacing or destroying the current backbone of our civilization.
2) Everything is highly correlated and linked on a worldwide basis, so that major disruptions to food and energy supplies, and even basics like clothing, will be felt globally. Large portions of the population, as in Africa, are dependent on world aid. Any major setback to the highly complex, technological system will result in major suffering, disease, and starvation worldwide.
3) First-world civilization has absolutely no motivating factor outside of basic hedonism and materialism (and the desire for self-destruction already mentioned). There is no cohesive culture or religion to hold society together and motivate people in the face of major hardships.
Traditional cohesive factors such as a strong uniting culture and ethnicity, with a clear and organized patriarchy are almost completely absent in broader Western Civilization. It is likely and necessary that these factors would emerge during severe hardships, but depending on the speed of collapse would be no guarantee for personal or group survival.
The answer, of course, is a strong and organizing religious faith, which was the basis of civilization for all of history and only abandoned recently. Not all modern religious organizations would survive, and especially those less powerful and loosely organized groups that require little in commitment of their members would fail overnight.
So our options are limited to those featuring:
1) A clear and organized chain of power (not a democracy) that will be obeyed by its members. Clearly a patriarchy is necessary, with the traditional model of divinely ordained Kingship.
2) A strong worldview that overcomes or even embraces discomfort, struggle, and suffering (Christianity has these messages) and a very clear and purposeful reason of existing now.
3) A very strong family structure, with an emphasis on protecting and raising children.
4) Autonomous structures for food, power, clothing, medicine, etc.
5) A way to survive despite heavy, strong, and sustained persecution utilizing modern technologies. Very possibly on a scale not seen before.
In all these factors considered, it appears Mormonism, especially early Mormonism, under the divine-Kingship structure (i.e. the Prophet organizing both religious and secular affairs) may be uniquely structured to survive these coming hardships. The system will likely have to revert back to a more isolated and independent model than currently exists - where many members are heavily involved in secular society, public schools, etc. - but the religion has done good about never forgetting its roots. They regularly recall the struggles of the early Mormon pilgrims, which the expectation that they are at least thankful or may have to experience it again, and have a carefully organized system for making sure members are financially independent, or at least not indebted, along with amble food stores to survive pro-longed hardship. Unlike the suicidal modern system, Mormonism has a clearly delineated and prioritized organizational structure where the needs of immediate family, children, and church members would come before broader society. While the organization is currently one of the most charitable around, these resources could quickly be diverted to prioritizing member survival and protection during a time of major hardship and failure in broader society. Even now Mormon Bishops on the local level have a unique power over their member's time and have extensive practice in organizing members for the above mentioned food storage operations, scouting, charitable operations, etc.
Secondarily, Catholics do have a long-history of survival through many of history's hardships. The problem being though that the whole church doesn't appear prepared, in the way that the Mormons are, for this coming catastrophe. It seems likely a very conservative, tightly-organized Catholic community would be in a good position for survival (e.g. similar to unique ethnic/Catholic immigrant communities that existed earlier in American history), where the Church's structured patriarchy could help selflessly organize members and create or renew a strong and binding culture. Monastics and others maintain the history of a organized life of work and prayer, seasonal feasts, etc. Those who join such communities, even the priesthood, tend to being of above-average intelligence as the study commitments are intellectually strenuous, and the discipline asks unique self-control and selflessness. These are all excellent factors for trusting one for a leadership role or class. Agrarian history and practices could be renewed, housing efforts organized, etc. Mentally the traditional Catholic liturgy puts a strong emphasis on bearing suffering. In many ways the Catholic traditional also preserves legal traditions, and to some degree the culture, of Rome. The main negative, as mentioned above, is these forms may not exist *now* as it does for the Mormon church. Perhaps to some degree one might look towards the Society of Saint Pius X, as even now it faces persecution from the broader Catholic church in its effort to preserve the traditional Roman/Latin liturgy in the face of Vatican II's modernization - has been uniquely opposed to modern moral and cultural changes - and has actually thrived and grown under this persecution.
(In this regard the Orthodox could also be a viable example, with its history of surviving persecution under Communism).
I'd say a third, and less clear option, might be some Southern churches. Some of the south still maintains a degree of cultural independence from broader society (and, again, persecution, mockery, etc.) and has a strong agrarian tradition, firearm and hunting skills, etc. On a smaller basis than the above two, smaller and closely organized communities would have the necessities for survival.
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Faith
Politicians put their faith in money. If we have more money we can do X.
Christians should put their faith in God. If we perceiver in prayer, love, and striving to obey God's will, we can do anything.
--
The use of money, like all things material, may be used for God's will, or for good, but we must strive not to put our faith in it or in creation. Our faith must be in God. Anything else is idolatry.
Christians should put their faith in God. If we perceiver in prayer, love, and striving to obey God's will, we can do anything.
--
The use of money, like all things material, may be used for God's will, or for good, but we must strive not to put our faith in it or in creation. Our faith must be in God. Anything else is idolatry.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Eternal Marriage, Mormon and Catholic
I think the Mormons make a pretty good argument that "they will neither marry nor be given in married" has been misunderstood as a universal case applying to all Christians and marriages, but that Christ is speaking - quite plainly at that - of a specific case that references an Old Testament incident ("ye err i not knowing scripture").
From that base though, I think that Mormons may misunderstand the nature of the highest order of Heaven. For active members, it is pretty clear they need to be married (sealed) within a temple to obtain this glory and have a full communion with God.
Clearly though many people are simply not meant to be married, and many marriages are so deeply flawed that one wonders if they were meant to persist in Heaven? I mean that, the implicit suggestion that active Mormons need to achieve this may be flawed (or perhaps misunderstood by many active Mormons, and not intended by the leaders - rather just as an ideal that should be strived for as Catholic sainthood but knowing many will fail?)
My point being though the teaching that all people have, by the grace of God, the ability achieve the highest level of Heaven, or communion with God, and that implying that eternal marriage is necessary for this doesn't seem applicable to all people.
The Mormons argue that only those *sealed* marriages are known to be eternal, which are a minority among earthly marriages. I think Catholics need to admit that some marriages being eternal is a real possibility - there is nothing explicitly forbidding this, though unlike Mormons it isn't explicitly taught. Certainly we have Christ's words that man and woman become "one flesh" - and knowing bodily resurrection it seems unlikely God himself would separate or tear asunder this one flesh that He Himself made a holy sacrament. The church's own teaching on divorce is that no "divorce" as such can exist, but only the recognition that a marriage wasn't real (i.e. the couple wasn't truly made "one flesh", or haven't achieved the requirement for its eternal nature).
So in this both Mormons and Catholics agree that not all marriages are eternal. I think Catholic opinion is flawed in arguing that all marriages are not eternal (because even they themselves don't believe this, as revealed in the eternal or heavenly nature of the Holy Family with St. Joseph, St. Mary, and the Child Jesus). So for both we should admit that *some* marriages are eternal. However, is having an eternal marriage *necessary* for the highest level of Heaven?
I'd argue no, and take the Catholic position that the saints dwell with God in Heaven as fully, or at the same level, as those who are eternally married - or at least, marriage in itself, isn't the distinguishing feature for the separate rooms or mansions in Heaven. That there is another distinguishing feature that is perhaps more based on our fully giving to God, our service, and imitation of Christ Himself that would determine the hierarchy of Heaven even for those souls. That is, for both the hierarchy of Heaven itself and distinguishing which souls dwell in purgatory still (or, if you will, the lower levels) versus fully with God in Heaven.
From that base though, I think that Mormons may misunderstand the nature of the highest order of Heaven. For active members, it is pretty clear they need to be married (sealed) within a temple to obtain this glory and have a full communion with God.
Clearly though many people are simply not meant to be married, and many marriages are so deeply flawed that one wonders if they were meant to persist in Heaven? I mean that, the implicit suggestion that active Mormons need to achieve this may be flawed (or perhaps misunderstood by many active Mormons, and not intended by the leaders - rather just as an ideal that should be strived for as Catholic sainthood but knowing many will fail?)
My point being though the teaching that all people have, by the grace of God, the ability achieve the highest level of Heaven, or communion with God, and that implying that eternal marriage is necessary for this doesn't seem applicable to all people.
The Mormons argue that only those *sealed* marriages are known to be eternal, which are a minority among earthly marriages. I think Catholics need to admit that some marriages being eternal is a real possibility - there is nothing explicitly forbidding this, though unlike Mormons it isn't explicitly taught. Certainly we have Christ's words that man and woman become "one flesh" - and knowing bodily resurrection it seems unlikely God himself would separate or tear asunder this one flesh that He Himself made a holy sacrament. The church's own teaching on divorce is that no "divorce" as such can exist, but only the recognition that a marriage wasn't real (i.e. the couple wasn't truly made "one flesh", or haven't achieved the requirement for its eternal nature).
So in this both Mormons and Catholics agree that not all marriages are eternal. I think Catholic opinion is flawed in arguing that all marriages are not eternal (because even they themselves don't believe this, as revealed in the eternal or heavenly nature of the Holy Family with St. Joseph, St. Mary, and the Child Jesus). So for both we should admit that *some* marriages are eternal. However, is having an eternal marriage *necessary* for the highest level of Heaven?
I'd argue no, and take the Catholic position that the saints dwell with God in Heaven as fully, or at the same level, as those who are eternally married - or at least, marriage in itself, isn't the distinguishing feature for the separate rooms or mansions in Heaven. That there is another distinguishing feature that is perhaps more based on our fully giving to God, our service, and imitation of Christ Himself that would determine the hierarchy of Heaven even for those souls. That is, for both the hierarchy of Heaven itself and distinguishing which souls dwell in purgatory still (or, if you will, the lower levels) versus fully with God in Heaven.
Monday, February 15, 2016
Ordered Love vs Disordered Love
What the Bible says:
"Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
What a #ProAbortion -ist says:
"To sacrifice another's life for my pleasure is a human right!"
"Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
What a #ProAbortion -ist says:
"To sacrifice another's life for my pleasure is a human right!"
Monday, January 11, 2016
St. Joseph as Every Father
There is a Truth in which we are all like St. Joseph. While unlike him, our children are conceived naturally, nevertheless there is an aspect of their nature that is a miracle - that is, both the actual creation, but especially their immortal souls.
Looking at my newborn baby, a profound mystery strikes me: this is my child, and yet he also has an immortal soul given by God, his Father in Heaven.
Just like St. Joseph, this child is also to be obedient to us in so far as we teach it the good, but he may have a higher mission from God.
My duty is to protect and raise the child, keep him healthy, but ultimately his purpose is infinitely above me, it is His purpose.
Looking at my newborn baby, a profound mystery strikes me: this is my child, and yet he also has an immortal soul given by God, his Father in Heaven.
Just like St. Joseph, this child is also to be obedient to us in so far as we teach it the good, but he may have a higher mission from God.
My duty is to protect and raise the child, keep him healthy, but ultimately his purpose is infinitely above me, it is His purpose.
Friday, January 1, 2016
God's Sacrifice and Number of Elect
There are a lot of debates on "who gets to go to Heaven," or "how many are elect?" but I think, before considering anything else, we need to keep in mind Christ's sacrifice. That is, the sacrifice of God is, by His very nature, infinite and all encompassing. Christ has already suffered all our sins.
That is, the basis of everything, is to acknowledge and accept this sacrifice. To thank God for this sacrifice and accept it as our own to have an effect.
We seem to understand intrinsically though that this can't be done hypocritically - we can't pretend to accept it, but should seek to love God with our whole being, to repent of our failing even in this regard.
Because of this, and God's great mercy, it is wrong of us to assume God would not extend His love to those who have not heard of Him, or been told lies of Him - surely he will ask "forgive them for they know not" and seek even that lost sheep and rejoice should it return. We must then necessarily assume that a great many people must chose to accept Christ after death, but before the resurrection - as in during those "3 days" when Christ descends to the dead and brings them the Gospel. Is that a period act, or an eternal act?
Based on this simple understanding, I don't want to go further. It seems, at that point, to accept revelation as given to one church or the other. If to the Catholics, then purgatory answers the role of meeting the remaining deficiency. If Mormon, then the levels or "rooms" of the mansion answers the role - as "few are chosen" either for direct sainthood or to the fullest celestial glory.
I can testify though that God wants us to love Him, that He seeks us out for us to love Him as a most perfect Father who desires His lost son or daughter to come home and embrace Him.
That is, the basis of everything, is to acknowledge and accept this sacrifice. To thank God for this sacrifice and accept it as our own to have an effect.
We seem to understand intrinsically though that this can't be done hypocritically - we can't pretend to accept it, but should seek to love God with our whole being, to repent of our failing even in this regard.
Because of this, and God's great mercy, it is wrong of us to assume God would not extend His love to those who have not heard of Him, or been told lies of Him - surely he will ask "forgive them for they know not" and seek even that lost sheep and rejoice should it return. We must then necessarily assume that a great many people must chose to accept Christ after death, but before the resurrection - as in during those "3 days" when Christ descends to the dead and brings them the Gospel. Is that a period act, or an eternal act?
Based on this simple understanding, I don't want to go further. It seems, at that point, to accept revelation as given to one church or the other. If to the Catholics, then purgatory answers the role of meeting the remaining deficiency. If Mormon, then the levels or "rooms" of the mansion answers the role - as "few are chosen" either for direct sainthood or to the fullest celestial glory.
I can testify though that God wants us to love Him, that He seeks us out for us to love Him as a most perfect Father who desires His lost son or daughter to come home and embrace Him.
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