[Dialogue] [Oe List ...] Spirit of the 20's

William Schlesinger w.schlesinger at pvida.net
Fri Aug 30 04:11:12 PDT 2019


I've found a literal translation of the Greek word hamartia which is
translated as sin to be really helpful. Hamartia means to miss the mark. It
goes along with metanoia, translated as repentance, which means new
mindedness. Both have helped to take away the moralism and sentimentality
of each of the two words.

Bill Schlesinger

On Thu, Aug 29, 2019, 5:54 PM Ellie Stock via Dialogue <
dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:

> From a Christian perspective, Tillich was a good next step in articulating
> the reality of "sin".
>
> For me another definition from the Christian perspective makes more
> sense:   The reality is that everything is connected and interrelated.
> "Sin" is thinking, acting, living "as if" we were separated from the primal
> Energy of Life, humanity, and all creation which leads to destructive
> patterns of behavior towards all life.
>
> Love/compassion is the antidote.  The call to demonstrate inclusive,
> unconditional love through our knowing, doing, and being is based on the
> interconnectedness/interrelatedness of All and therefore builds up rather
> than tears down.
>
> Ellie
> elliestock at aol.com
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Robertson Work via Dialogue <dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net>
> To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>;
> dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net <dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net>
> Cc: Robertson Work <warkers at msn.com>
> Sent: Thu, Aug 29, 2019 06:20 PM
> Subject: Re: [Dialogue] [Oe List ...] Spirit of the 20's
>
>
> Dear A.M.,
>
> Now that is a deep question, friend. Thank you. Would love to hear your
> and other's answers.
>
> A few of my thoughts: If a contradiction is that which is blocking a
> vision, what is the vision? If the vision is of humanity realizing its full
> potential to love all beings (all people and all nature), then what is
> blocking that from being realized? From my point of view, the human
> contradiction is the illusion that the self is a *separate*, independent,
> unchanging entity that must be protected and promoted at the expense of any
> and every other reality. This is based on ignorance of the true nature of
> the self as interdependent, impermanent, and in a state of suffering. That
> statement is from a Buddhist perspective. A Christian perspective on the
> contradiction seems to be very similar. Human beings are in a state of sin,
> which Paul TIllich clarifies as: "sin is *separation* from self, others,
> and the ground of being." This fundamental error of perception of the self
> is that which pits the self against all others and even its own nature.
> This is a tragic ontological narcissism and solipsism - the belief that "I"
> am all that matters or even exists, and therefore I can and must do
> whatever I need to do to subjugate other beings to my will and my glory.
>
> What do you think?
>
> In solidarity,
>
> Rob
>
> ................................................................................................
>
> Recent book: *A Compassionate Civilization: The Urgency of Sustainable
> Development and Mindful Activism - Reflections and Recommendations*
> https://www.amazon.com/dp/1546972617
>
> Blog: https://compassionatecivilization.blogspot.com/
> <https://compassionatecivilization.blogspot.com/>
> <https://compassionatecivilization.blogspot.com/>
>
> LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertsonwork/
>
> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/compassionatecivilization/>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* OE <oe-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net> on behalf of A.M. Noel via
> OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
> *Sent:* Thursday, August 29, 2019 8:01 AM
> *To:* Order Ecumenical Community <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
> *Cc:* A.M. Noel <anthonymarianoel at gmail.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [Oe List ...] Spirit of the 20's
>
> We always knew when we are able to articulate the contradiction. We could
> come up with what is possible, Are we willing to articulate what is the
> human contradiction?
>
> A.M. Noel
>
>
> On Thu, Aug 29, 2019 at 7:31 AM Jack Gilles via OE <
> oe at lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
>
> John and Colleagues,
>
> You have laid out the classic analysis of the existential crisis the world
> is facing very well. Indeed, the collective threat to our human and
> planetary existence is before us. What is obvious is that the pain will
> increase; for all of us. There will be no escape. We will all weep at the
> destruction of the planet and the dehumanization forces react to the fear
> they feel. Let these tears cleanse our hearts and clear the dust from our
> minds. We will rejoice at the signs of possibilities that so many will
> demonstrate daily, even though they also face the wind that can blow out
> the candles of hope. Cruelty will grow, greed will flourish and the beast
> will roar. Courage will be in big demand.
>
> So many years ago, amazingly we saw it coming, although we had no idea of
> the particulars. You can remember and resonate to the words of wisdom that
> were spoken then. “Without a NRM there will be no NSV”. “Although we are
> engaged in the campaigns of Awakenment and Demonstration, the day after
> tomorrow we will only be doing the Third Campaign, Caring for those who
> Care.” “Discerning the Contradiction is the key to creative change”. “Never
> attack directly, indirection is the way”. And wow, all the learnings we
> amassed! We failed at replication, but now we know why. We failed at
> expanding Religious Houses, but now we know why. We failed at renewing the
> historical Christian church, but now we know why. And that wisdom needs to
> be collected and shared. Thus the mission of the Living Archives. It is now
> time to share that wisdom, but not just everyone, but with the newly
> awakened ones, those who discovered the Second Mountain, as David Brooks
> describes it. With those who have discovered the primacy of the local but
> have done so in partnership with the living Earth. We can trust the Mystery
> to raise up stones in amazing ways. New life will fill “dem bones”. New
> poetry, stories, songs and symbols will left hearts and strengthen spines.
>
> Enough of the words. Practically what do we do? Most of us are long-in-the
> tooth, so we must discern our elder role and develop the strategy to make
> it happen. Time is short to do so. Maybe the ICA’s is the vehicle, maybe
> not. We lost something when we shifted from Global language to National
> language. The nation state is a social vehicle that will not work, it is
> dead, but sure does look at act alive (I mean it doesn’t represent the way
> life is anymore). So start with our Grid. Watch the TED talk on the 50
> Urban Nodes that have emerged (these are the Areas from our Grid). Listen
> to the wisdom of Larry Ward and Peggy Rowe (see Larry’s short TED talk).
> Become fluent in speaking of what we called the NRM. See how it is indeed
> the absolute requirement to lead in the creation of the NSV. Understand the
> dynamics of the creative process and how our Socilal Process work reveals
> the wisdom of how it happens and review the Pressure Points and Whistle
> Points for their relevance today and have they shifted? Grasp the dynamics
> and forms of The Wayside Inn and how it can function. And so much more.
> Perhaps we need a forum to
>
>
>
> On Aug 28, 2019, at 16:36, John Epps via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
> wrote:
>
>
> *The Spirit of the 20’s **John Epps, August 2019*
>
> The categories for determining the spirit of a decade supposedly come from
> Kierkegaard: An External Situation creates an Internal Crisis which raises
> an Existential Question from which we try to Escape. I’ve used them in
> trying to assess the situation since the 60’s. Here we go again:
>
> *The Prevailing Spirit:*
> Our External Situation is best characterized as one of *THREAT*.
> Economically, health care costs are rising astronomically, the move away
> from fossil fuels and the trade war with China have put markets in turmoil
> and talk of recession is in the air. Politically, we have cut off alliances
> and find Russia, N. Korea, and Iran all upgrading their nuclear
> capabilities. USA Congress seems unable to act. Culturally, we are besieged
> with increased numbers of immigrants and mass shootings now appear
> commonplace. And encompassing all this chaos is the Earth’s environment
> which appears to be undergoing dangerous changes due to global warming.
>
> All this has generated or contributed to an Internal Crisis of *FEAR*. We
> increasingly fear those who differ from us, whether by race, gender
> identification, nationality, or ideology. Everything different seems a
> threat, and we fear the changes already in progress. Compromise seems weak,
> and we’re increasingly in a black or white situation: agree or fight.
>
> The Existential Question in this situation is *HOW CAN WE SURVIVE?* With
> the environment collapsing and threats at every turn, what can we do?
> Problems seem too big to tackle, and local action, while effective, remains
> local while the issues are larger. Institutions we developed to address
> larger issues appear paralyzed: CONGRESS, UN, NATO, NAFTA, ASEAN, Treaties
> with Iran and the Paris Accords for Climate all appear ineffective in
> providing remedies. Attempts to inact gun control legislation, despite
> agreement from both parties, cannot move through Congress.
>
> We Escape through *BLAMESTORMING*; we look for scapegoats for each issue,
> then cast them as enemies toward which hatred is the only suitable
> relation. We demonize NRA, GOP, “Moscow Mitch,” Trump, Kim, Putin,
> Refugees, Democrats, Immigrants, Socialists, and many others. Extreme
> hostility takes the guise of radical nationalism attempting to band “us”
> against “them” or in too many cases, mass shootings aimed at eliminating
> “them.”
>
>
> *Towards an Authentic Response: *This is where we meet the question of
> God today: wrestling with the question of responding to threats to our
> existence.
>
> Local action may be the most we can do, and since that makes a difference,
> should be pursued with vigor. Maybe, over time, the mass changes needed can
> come from local people.
>
> The threats are real. The status quo cannot and will not survive. The
> future is really open and unpredictable. We can, however, have a hand in
> inventing it.
>
> Your comments, additions, corrections, and insights are most welcome.
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