I just started watching "Elizabeth" with Cate Blanchett.
Seems powerful.
Who were the three heretics burned in the opening, and where did that fit in the timeline?
Man that church certainly knew back then what "Christian compassion" was all about, didn't they? But that seems to be true of all the religions I know of. They all preach compassion and forgiveness, and the churches all practice the most heinous acts of intolerance and violence and oppression you can imagine. I don't think this is a testimony on religion, but rather on human beings. Not that we are basically bad, but that we are going through a millennia-long process of learning to handle our emotions and savage side.
From an evolutionary point of view, religions are simply the first inkling that cooperation can produce better lives for us than competition.
ReplyDeleteThe inkling has yet to become a generally accepted working hypothesis.
I used to be very "religious". During these years I kept a tight cap on my "negative" emotions. I only tried to practice love and kindness. When the cap blew off in a long-sought experience of awakening, the deeply repressed emotions came to the surface, and all my respectability was blown to bits. I could no longer play "good enlightened person." It was a hellish time. I used anti-depressants to help me through those days. Then stopped all meds, weaned myself all all outside dependencies (i.e. the mental health system, the church, etc.) and went through it more nakedly. All the while, kept saying insdie myself, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free, You will know the truth...."
ReplyDeleteNobody told me how hard that truth would be for some time.
Rumi the poet called the true church "a temple in the ear", an inner listening with the heart of understanding, listening to one's deepest pain with love. This "listenng" is the only mediator necessary to knowing God,
at least in my experience.
I disagree with D Gallaher. Well, I agree (advisedly) with him that "religions are simply the first inkling that cooperation can produce better lives for us than competition." But I disagree that the "inkling has yet to become a generally accepted working hypothesis." The part I don't like is the "yet to become."
ReplyDeleteI think cooperation USED to be generally accepted and has only RECENTLY fallen into disfavor.
Final Identity,
ReplyDeleteI should see another as someone who has the potential to help me in some way. The more different they are from me, the greater their potential to help me.
Most people see others as threats to themselves, and the more different in nationality, religion or social class, the greater the perceived threat.
I think we have just begun the societal evolution toward seeing others the way I try to see them. I'm unaware of any golden age in our human history??
Oh, there was a Golden age, from March to June 1865, in Karrebaeksminde, Denmark. It ended when a fire destroyed the store and the library.
ReplyDelete"from March to June 1865, in Karrebaeksminde, Denmark."
ReplyDeleteLet us not forget a couple of centuries in Iceland around 1000 to 1200 c.e.
Anarchy reigned according to Milton Friedman's son, David, and there were lots of free rounds of mead at almost every pub in Reykjavik.
Remember that, Eolake?
Those were the Good Old Days, for sure.
People says to me "You believe in God - why don't you go to Church." I reply.
ReplyDelete"I don't believe in God, I have experienced God. He didn't need a church to talk to me, so I don't need a church to talk to him."
Adam you are correct about the church statement, but I fail to understand your words about not believing in God but experiencing Him? Also a church is a place mean't for believers to congregate and worship. (But not neccessary for salvation. That comes only through truly accepting Christ as your personal saviour. Though the church should be telling the lost that only Christ can redeem.)
Take care :)
"I don't think this is a testimony on religion, but rather on human beings."
ReplyDelete"Thou shalt not give false testimony."
But no worries, in the present case I think you're perfectly safe. ;-)
"we are going through a millennia-long process of learning to handle our emotions and savage side."
Uh... not to worry you, Eolake, but Mankind has actually been around for about a hundred millenia. Looks like the savage side is no wussy foe. ;-)
"religions are simply the first inkling"...
If I read you correctly, religions are destined to disappear once they have become obsolete.
Please, tell me you're not just saying this to lift our spirits! :-)))
"Then [...] went through it more nakedly."
You, Signalroom? A nudist?
Oh, I suspected it all along! ;o)
"I'm unaware of any golden age in our human history??"
Alas, more than plated gold there has yet to be.
Although... according to his Excellency President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (whose wisdom shows on his radiant face), Mankind's eternal Allah-inspired golden age ended in 1946, when the Devil attained the founding of the State of Israel. Which is the one cause of the decadence of the Islamic world, d'uh!
People says to me "You believe in God - why don't you go to Church."
I feel inclined to ask the question inversely : "If God knows you believe in Him, why do you need to display it by going to Church?" Collective rites are important for humans, to feel a sense of community, of belonging. God has more worthy tasks for us than flattering some divine overbloated ego. Otherwise, He would have made "damn" sure that the whole world knew how to pray and sing, "the correct way"! Instead of waiting until 1492 for us to discover there was a whole continent of heathens to be converted by sword and fire to the One True Religion of Luv.
"He didn't need a church to talk to me"
Wow! God really IS all-powerful. Who knew? ;o)
"If you can't find your glasses, it is likely you are wearing them."
Alas! My parents are always looking for their OTHER pair of glasses.
You'll see, when you're their age... ;-p
"The man who said that God is just a New Pair of Glasses put it very nicely."
Since this man seems to be you, I admire your christian humility! ;o)
"David Gallaher said...
Remember that, Eolake?
Those were the Good Old Days, for sure."
Aye! Fer sure, it was! Bounty aplenty fer all! Yo-ho-ho, and a barrel of mead!
To me, the Golden Age was when I was young and candid enough to believe there was justice in this world.
All did glitter then...
(sort of related to Cate. Not sure where else to post this for you) I have loaned 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,' from the library (completely forgot that it also has Tilda Swinton in it!), and just got a few more ideas re: films that feature Brad Pitt, as well. Really wanting to see 'Tree of Life.' I bet he's wonderful in that! I sure know that he is great in 'The Curious Case...'
ReplyDelete(oooh! And forgot that Jessica Chastain is in 'Tree of Life,' as well! I remember you liking her. :-D
ReplyDeleteAnd people say *I* have a scary memory! I don't even remember her, though I certainly like the way she looks.
ReplyDeleteHmm... I can't find anywhere I mentioned her...
ReplyDeleteWe talked about her, offline. Check your "me" acct. for May 6th of this year. And...I guess you had made a general statement (the usual) that you love redheads. Must have been why I mentioned her to you, :-)
ReplyDeleteI had forgotten how LONG 'The Curious Case...' movie was! Long but good! It had been too long, since the first time I had seen it! My twisted "sick" humor antennae went up when the "hit by lightning seven times" dude kept showing up! Too funny! lol!
ReplyDeleteAnd...I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the meetings of him w/Swinton. She did a really nice job of that part.
I've been wondering where that BEAUTIFUL spot was that they shot those AMAZING sunrises/sunsets. Looked pretty real to me! I wanna go to that bench! Hm...I wonder if it was Pier 49, in San Pedro, CA (I, actually, don't think so as I don't think the water would be that calm...unless they messed w/that, digitally. And...this wharf doesn't look *that* "impressive" if you're just looking @ this pic!) or...the Virgin Islands. Perhaps, I otter go to the VI to see! (gotta find an excuse to go there; might as well be this!) :-D