Friday, February 25, 2011
Crysalis and the Liberals
This one is entertaining John. Several years ago I said the Liberals were heading to the woodshed. From a Conservative perspective Iggy was a terrifying force. A force that ultimately fizzled. The Liberals emerged from the woodshed too soon. The necessary chrysalis was aborted before the transformation could occur. Pity. Had party mandarins not been in such a rush to force a liberal prime-minister on the country so soon after their corruption was manifest. Even if he had potential, the timing was a disaster. Of course, those party mandarins weren't getting any younger. But the orderly transfer of party leadership has often been rather messy instead--particularly one so mortally wounded.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Running debate on the Globe and Mail Sex and Religion article.
Alethia
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Unfortunate choice of title, but the article itself wasn't too far off. Fornication is not the same a sex, neither does the article contain the word. Perhaps the title was mashed onto the top of it by an editor.
Modern Christians see the Stoicist philosophy and its influence in the early church as flawed. The upshot of Stoicism created sad excess. From self-flagellation to monastic desert cells, and even finally celibacy, a healthy appreciation of sexuality has eluded much of Christianity to its harm. Today there is a Renaissance of healthy sexuality in the church at large. There will always be the Bristol Palins who will be held up and the flawed example exploited, speaking of straw men... All of these fall far from the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles. Even though St. Paul lists fornication as carnal, there was no teaching of monasticism, stoicism, self flagellation or celibacy. In fact the writings of the Apostles steer a course between Stoicism and 1st century Epicurianism. The modern equivalent of Victorian Prudism, vs Hedonism. Neither extreme was embraced and both were criticized.
Modern Christians see the Stoicist philosophy and its influence in the early church as flawed. The upshot of Stoicism created sad excess. From self-flagellation to monastic desert cells, and even finally celibacy, a healthy appreciation of sexuality has eluded much of Christianity to its harm. Today there is a Renaissance of healthy sexuality in the church at large. There will always be the Bristol Palins who will be held up and the flawed example exploited, speaking of straw men... All of these fall far from the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles. Even though St. Paul lists fornication as carnal, there was no teaching of monasticism, stoicism, self flagellation or celibacy. In fact the writings of the Apostles steer a course between Stoicism and 1st century Epicurianism. The modern equivalent of Victorian Prudism, vs Hedonism. Neither extreme was embraced and both were criticized.
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witness1
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I hope that within my life, I witness the end of religion by whatever name; its leaders and their overbearing, sanctimonious prattle about everthing one must do to please the magic sky-fairy.
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Alethia
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MarkNS: People participate and give their point of views. I never said my idea was the right one to the exclusion of others. I am sorry if they refuse to fit the "ticky-tacky" boxes of your stereotypes.
Witness1: Voltaire predicted it would happen in his life time a few centuries ago. Perhaps you will be the ones to wish it away. Every generation lies in the same peril. If the people who claim faith die and there are no others, then Christianity would be dead.
Some describe its truth to be existential: only known in the experience of it. Some as metaphysical: existing outside of what is empirically measurable. Certainly for anything to live in the currently hostile climate, it would take a miracle.
Witness1: Voltaire predicted it would happen in his life time a few centuries ago. Perhaps you will be the ones to wish it away. Every generation lies in the same peril. If the people who claim faith die and there are no others, then Christianity would be dead.
Some describe its truth to be existential: only known in the experience of it. Some as metaphysical: existing outside of what is empirically measurable. Certainly for anything to live in the currently hostile climate, it would take a miracle.
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Saturday, February 12, 2011
The peril facing the Liberals is related to their dire need for renewal. Stelmach should loom large in their minds or they will be repeated in BC style. Insiders with connections to the old guard should be the last people nominated to lead. To survive the next election, this party must pass the sniff test--something that would be impossible if a leader arises attached to the cabinet, and the BC Rail affair.
Friday, February 4, 2011
So Ignateff has his finger on the pulse of what worries us eh?
The Politics of Fear.
The way to move the complacent voter. Admit it, Canadians have been fairly satisfied, and with good reason. Compared to all the other nations of the world, our ship is right side up. I think complacency will be the biggest problem next election, we feel too good.
So bring on fear. Fear lower tax rates mean lower revenues/jobs. Create a secret agenda/you can't trust him neurosis--hoping that line hasn't been too over-used the past 5 years; will Canadians actually still buy it?
Bring on fear that Canada will cease to care for the old, sick, and disabled among us. But there is one fear we can put to rest, at least the current party hasn't stolen 40 million dollars with impunity from the public purse.
The way to move the complacent voter. Admit it, Canadians have been fairly satisfied, and with good reason. Compared to all the other nations of the world, our ship is right side up. I think complacency will be the biggest problem next election, we feel too good.
So bring on fear. Fear lower tax rates mean lower revenues/jobs. Create a secret agenda/you can't trust him neurosis--hoping that line hasn't been too over-used the past 5 years; will Canadians actually still buy it?
Bring on fear that Canada will cease to care for the old, sick, and disabled among us. But there is one fear we can put to rest, at least the current party hasn't stolen 40 million dollars with impunity from the public purse.
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MarkNS
Of course, your version of Christianity is the "right" one.
Wait a sec...isn't that what they all say?