January 2022 - OE - lists.wedgeblade.net

FW: Celebration of life for John Weir Singleton, 1931-2020
by Lynda C 05 Nov '24

05 Nov '24

From: Rob Singleton <rob.singleton(a)hsc.utah.edu> Date: Saturday, July 11, 2020 at 3:51 PM To: Rob Singleton <rob.singleton(a)hsc.utah.edu> Subject: Celebration of life for John Weir Singleton, 1931-2020 This email is sent on behalf of Louise Singleton- Dear Family and Friends, We plan a virtual Gathering of Gratitude to celebrate the life of John Singleton on August 8 at 11:00 a.m. MDT. The celebration will consist of a service and, after a five minute break, a virtual reception. Details of the service and instructions for how you can participate are contained in the attached Word document. Please register to join the celebration at: http://bit.ly/johnweirsingleton which also contains additional information. With love and appreciation to all of you who made John's life abundant. Louise Rob, Martha, David, and Will Louise Singleton 3101 Old Pecos Trail, Unit 509 Santa Fe, NM, 87505 lrsingleton85(a)gmail.com<mailto:lrsingleton85@gmail.com> J. Robinson Singleton, MD Professor and Vice Chairman for VA Programs, Department of Neurology, University of Utah Chief of Service, Neurology, Salt Lake City Veterans Medical Center Office 801-581-6770 Cell- 801-201-4525

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John Epps completed life
by John Epps 16 May '23

16 May '23

Dear Communion of Saints, John's earthly existence was completed on Wednesday morning, June 24, 2020. His last words were "thank you," the same words he wrote to you on June 9 in his brief comments, "Thanks for the memories." For five days we were privileged to be in the lovely Denver Hospice which enveloped us with grace and compassion. I am grateful for your many comments of appreciation for John in response to his "Last Collegium." His remains will be interred at the Montview Presbyterian Church Columbarium in Denver. Grace and Peace, Ann

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Adventures of Joe Biden--Inauguration Day!
by mellowmilan2＠gmail.com 25 Jul '22

25 Jul '22

I wrote a lot of 'Adventures of Obama' during the times now past. Ogden Nash, who wrote comic poetry in the 1920s, wrote 'Adventures of Isabel,' a 40 line poem in rhyming couplets. I took my poetic license and wrote a series of the Adventures of Obama in 10 line segments at a time. Each stanza tells the of encountering seemingly impossible odds and turning them into victory in unexpected ways. The original Isabel was a little girl who met a ravenous bear, an ugly witch, a one-eyed giant, and a despairing doctor and used her "magic" powers to win out in the end. I am continuing to use my poetic license with a nod to Ogden Nash in the Adventures of Joe Biden. Adventures of Joe Biden-Inauguration Day Joe Biden showed up for inauguration Knowing he'd face a divided nation Mitch and his minions known for obstruction Smiling as though there'd been no eruption Of venomous attackers hunting their heads At the urging of Donald who now they did dread Joe Biden, Joe Biden didn't worry Joe Biden didn't scream or scurry He calmly took his oath, made his stand And brought civility back to our land. Milan Hamilton January 20, 2021 Milan Hamilton 80 North Center Street Redlands, CA 92373 Phone: 909-556-5815 E-mail: mellowmilan2(a)gmail.com

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Global Buzz reminder
by ICA International 31 Jan '22

31 Jan '22

Reminder for entries This reminder is for the Global Buzz that will be published February 5th. 2022 (Please send your entries at least a day or more ahead) Please send all your entries by regular e-mail to: inform(a)ica-international.org with your entry as an attatchment. Send details of news items, training programmes, your peer to peer connections with other ICAs, any concerns you may have and of any events that are coming up at your location. Your report can be long or short, but remember that all other ICAs would really like to know about the things that matter where you are, and what you are doing as an ICA. Peter, for ICAI Communications Pour les entrées de rappel Ce rappel est à la Global Buzz qui sera publié le 5 février 2022 (S'il vous plaît envoyez vos entrées au moins un jour à l'avance) Veuillez envoyer toutes vos entrées maintenant par courriel ordinaire à : inform(a)ica-international.org avec votre entrée comme un attatchment. Envoyer les détails des articles de nouvelles, des programmes de formation, vos connexions peer to peer avec d'autres CIAS, de toute préoccupation que vous pourriez avoir et de tous les événements qui sont à venir à votre emplacement. Votre rapport peut être longue ou courte, mais rappelez-vous que toutes les autres CIAS aimerait vraiment savoir à propos de choses qui importe où vous êtes et ce que vous faites comme une ICA. Recordatorio de las entradas Este aviso es para el Global Buzz que se publicarán 5 febrero 2022 (Favor de enviar sus entradas al menos con un día de antelación) Por favor envíe todos sus entradas ahora por correo electrónico a: inform(a)ica-international.org con su entrada como un archivo adjunto. Enviar detalles de noticias, programas de capacitación, el peer to peer las conexiones con otros convenios o acuerdos internacionales, las preocupaciones que usted pueda tener y de los eventos que se aproximan en su ubicación. El informe puede ser a corto o largo, pero hay que recordar que todos los demás convenios quisiera saber realmente sobre lo que realmente importa, y lo que están haciendo una ICA.

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FYI: A 2nd opportunity to see the "Mission: Joy" documentary about the freindship and wisdom of the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu
by Ellie Stock 29 Jan '22

29 Jan '22

Hi Folks, A second opportunity to see "Mission Joy". Hope you are able to view it. Ellie :)elliestock@aol.com -----Original Message----- From: Lawler, Steve <slawler(a)eden.edu> To: Leadership <Leadership(a)eden.edu> Sent: Fri, Jan 28, 2022 8:01 pm Subject: A 2nd opportunity to see the "Mission: Joy" documentary about the freindship and wisdom of the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu #yiv9700719080 P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}Dear friends, Because of the great response, we received to "Mission: Joy" https://missionjoy.org/ when we made it available to stream during the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday weekend, we obtained a second license for next weekend, February 4 the - 6th. The film is available from 12:01 am Friday the 4th until 11:59 pm on Sunday the 6th. We have created a sign-in page on the Eden site to provide the distributor with the number of people who view the film. https://www.eden.edu/events/mission-joy-screening I hope you will share this information with friends, colleagues, and family. And, you may want to watch it again. Having watched it three times, I am looking forward to seeing it again as each viewing provides new moments of inspiration and awe. We will release the link, and passcode to all who have signed up just ahead of the link going live at 12:01 am Friday am CST US/UTC -6 Please let me know if you have any questions, Wishing you joy in this time of challenges and hope, Steve Steve Lawler / Director Walker Leadership Institute / Leadership for the Common Good Eden Theological Seminary / 475 East Lockwood AvenueSt. Louis, MO 63119 / www.eden.edu o 314 918-2628 / c 314-753-7911 he/him

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Fw: Tuto and Da,ai Lama: An inspiring doumentary
by Ellie Stock 29 Jan '22

29 Jan '22

Hi Folks, Sorry for sending this so late. We just watched and were inspired by the documentary "Mission: Joy" about the friendship between Archbishop Tutu and the Dalai Lama and wanted to share it with you. In these challenging times, we think you will find this movie a source. Access to the film runs kut tonight. If you have time, you can watch "Mission: Joy" by going to https://vimeo.com/showcase/missionjoyscreener2021. The password is joy 122. The film's subtitle, "finding happiness in troubled times," is shown in the way these two wise elders interact and in the lessons they have to share. As the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King approaches, this documentary shows us again what can be done when religious leaders act on behalf of the common good. I hope you and yours are staying healthy. Grace and peace, Ellieelliestock(a)aol.com

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1/27/22, Progressing Spirituality: The Rev. Michael Dowd: My G🌎 D, What Have We Done?
by Ellie Stock 27 Jan '22

27 Jan '22

For more info via documents and videos: check out some of the links included in Micheal Dowd's text below and hss website: www.theearthstory.org My G🌎 D, What Have We Done?#yiv5962851942 p{margin:10px 0;padding:0;}#yiv5962851942 table{border-collapse:collapse;}#yiv5962851942 h1, #yiv5962851942 h2, #yiv5962851942 h3, #yiv5962851942 h4, #yiv5962851942 h5, #yiv5962851942 h6{display:block;margin:0;padding:0;}#yiv5962851942 img, #yiv5962851942 a img{border:0;height:auto;outline:none;text-decoration:none;}#yiv5962851942 body, #yiv5962851942 #yiv5962851942bodyTable, #yiv5962851942 #yiv5962851942bodyCell{min-height:100%;margin:0;padding:0;width:100%;}#yiv5962851942 .yiv5962851942mcnPreviewText{display:none !important;}#yiv5962851942 #yiv5962851942outlook a{padding:0;}#yiv5962851942 img{}#yiv5962851942 table{}#yiv5962851942 .yiv5962851942ReadMsgBody{width:100%;}#yiv5962851942 .yiv5962851942ExternalClass{width:100%;}#yiv5962851942 p, #yiv5962851942 a, #yiv5962851942 li, #yiv5962851942 td, 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p{font-size:16px !important;line-height:150% !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width:480px){#yiv5962851942 #yiv5962851942templateBody .yiv5962851942mcnTextContent, #yiv5962851942 #yiv5962851942templateBody .yiv5962851942mcnTextContent p{font-size:14px !important;line-height:150% !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width:480px){#yiv5962851942 #yiv5962851942templateFooter .yiv5962851942mcnTextContent, #yiv5962851942 #yiv5962851942templateFooter .yiv5962851942mcnTextContent p{font-size:12px !important;line-height:150% !important;}} | | | | View this email in your browser | | | | | | | | | | | | | | My G🌎 D, What Have We Done? | | | | | | | | | | Essay by Rev. Michael Dowd January 27, 2022 On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan — the first time such a catastrophic weapon was used in conflict. As the city disappeared under a mushroom cloud, Captain Robert Lewis, co-pilot of the Enola Gay, the B-29 bomber that dropped the weapon, “Little Boy”, wrote in his journal “My God, what have we done?”I had originally planned to title this essay “Honest to G🌎D”, in honor of Bishop John A.T. Robinson’s 1963 book that inspired a generation of progressive Christians. But upon my third watching of the Netflix movie "Don’t Look Up”, I realized that the co-pilot's now-famous lament would be my lead.My thesis is simply this: A comet actually is heading our way. We ourselves set it in motion millennia ago. But only recently have scientists, echoing longstanding Indigenous warnings, charted its course and voiced the alarm. Its name is Anthropocentrism and these are the End Times because human-centeredness will prove to be nearly as devastating as the comet in the movie.By Fate or by Failure Fate, in human experience, is a future that happens to us regardless of our own actions. As defined by sociologist C. Wright Mills, “Fate is the summary outcome not intended by anyone but resulting from innumerable small decisions about other matters by innumerable people.” ~ William R. Catton, Jr.The gifts of awareness and understanding brought forth by the scientific endeavor have been trailing a latent and growing shadow. This shadow is now so immense and terrifying that there is much to lament about the course we have taken. Could it have been different?Let us reflect on just one facet of how the discoveries of science have been applied: access to and deployment of Earth's reserves of stored energy.To begin, might the British have said "no" to digging coal in Newcastle? What about using that coal to power steam engines for digging deeper, transporting it across oceans? Could Americans have said "no" in Pennsylvania or Texas to turning a foul-smelling liquid into black gold? What about fracking bedrock to dislodge the remaining natural gas and petroleum liquids in Ohio, Oklahoma, the Dakotas?What about leases for deep-water drilling in the Gulf of Mexico? (Oops, the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe in 2010.) Then selling leases again December 2021?And what about utilizing the same energy stores to produce plastic and to draw nitrogen fertilizers out of thin air?How, in sum, could any new technology that offered big and immediate human benefits have been thwarted by the mere possibility of future risks? Indeed, if problems did arise, the thinking went, human ingenuity would once again come to the rescue. We imagined there were no limits to the advance and growth of industrial civilization!I have come to accept that each step of energy extraction and technological deployment was, in a way, inevitable. No council of wise elders could have assessed the true costs and benefits — and certainly not if charged to consider the consequences seven generations ahead. Equally, for those in power, who could remain in power if they accepted a "no" vote of such counsel?What aggregation of peoples could survive long saying no to any new technology if a yes was eventually put in play somewhere else?Recent history offers an example. The Chinese found a way to mix chemical elements to produce the marvels of fireworks. But when other peoples on the Eurasian continent began using the same mixture for propelling cannonballs and bullets, "gunpowder" became a necessity everywhere in the world. Dubbed "the parable of the tribes," this kind of evolutionary arms race is regarded by some historians as a matter of fate. Ditto "ecological overshoot" and now also the anthropogenic causes of today's biodiversity and climate crises.Looking to the future, we come to this: Whether we arrived at our species predicament by fate or failure, the period of industrial exploitation is over. Peak energy, peak consumption, peak globalization, peak soil, peak phosphorus, peak food, peak habitat, peak progress — each is already in the rearview mirror.Progressive Christianity TodayFundamentally, it is time for progressive Christians to reckon with the very notion of progress — that anthropocentric “advancement” is even a good thing in the long run. What may well have presented as a template for human progress a half century ago can no longer be viewed through the same lens.I offer here a possibility. Let's stop trivializing God.As modeled in the title of this essay, I propose that "God" be spelled (and more importantly, taken to heart) as G🌎D. The planet in all its manifestations thus becomes the center of what is holy; not the entirety, but what rivets our attention. G🌎D, our living Creator, Sustainer, and End, is indeed our “ultimate concern" — that which we respect and revere, that which we serve above all else.Following on the teachings of Jewish scholar Martin Buber, the living biosphere transforms into a greater “Thou”, no longer a lesser “it”.Today's movement for the rights of nature (Earth jurisprudence) is another path toward biocentric valuation. Indigenous peoples are, in this case, leading the way. They and their allies have already secured legal personhood for sacred lands and rivers in Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, India, Bangladesh, New Zealand, and most recently in the Canadian province of Quebec. Surely, this is an inviting path forward for progressive Christians. A flag we can carry to demonstrate our alliance, our allegiance, our support might well be this: G🌎D.In a 2017 essay, "The Way Home for the Prodigal Species," and two recent videos, "G🌎D: Owning Our Error, Accepting Our Fate" and "Sustainability 101: Indigenuity Is Not Optional," I reinterpreted our biblical heritage in ecocentric ways. We are in fact the prodigal species. We have squandered not only our own inheritance but that of nearly every other form of life. Human-centeredness has proved to be the most heinous form of idolatry. The ancients may have dissed God; we are defiling G🌎D.Human-centeredness in our language, in our portrayal of the divine, in our notion of rights and responsibilities is inherently anti-future. It cannot be sustained. As Edward Goldsmith details in his magnum opus, The Way: An Ecological Worldview, virtually every sustainable culture that we know of held three things in common: (1) they related to the local, living presence of reality (what we dismissively call “the environment”) in a humble, reverential, I-Thou way; (2) this incarnational presence of the divine (G🌎D) was honored as the source of all benefits and all real wealth for the community; and (3) preservation of the health and wellbeing of the body of life was the sacred responsibility.Human wellbeing is thus a consequence of right relationship to reality — not the focal point for decision-making. Potawatomi botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer encourages us all to regard plants and animals as kin. More, they are "our first teachers." Fruit and flesh are gifts, warranting gratitude and reciprocal action.Meanwhile, and drawing upon early Greek expressions of ecological wisdom, American scholar William Ophuls presents humility, moderation, and connection as a trinity of virtues worth reviving.G🌎D’s Judgment“Sooner or later we all sit down to a banquet of consequences.” ~ Robert Louis Stevenson“G🌎D’s Judgment” is of course a mythic phrasing of “our banquet of consequences.” Accumulating over generations long before our own, this unwelcome feast can also be understood as “karma.” It is the inevitable fruit of anthropocentric institutions, governance — and religions.Industrial civilization is threatened by a "planet killer" of its own making. Here is where we now stand: • No matter who is voted into or out of office, no matter how many people take to the streets, become vegan, stop flying or reproducing, no matter how much ‘evolution of consciousness’ might be cultivated, and no matter how many solar panels and wind turbines are installed… • The ice of the world will keep melting and weirding out the jet stream. Methane and nitrous oxide (super-potent greenhouse gasses) will continue to belch from permafrost and polar seas. Forests everywhere will continue to incinerate, overwhelming our carbon-mitigation efforts. Acidifying oceans will continue to dissolve the calcium casings of coral, plankton, and shellfish. Hurricanes, tornados, heat domes, floods, droughts: all will grow ever more damaging, deadly.Our human-centeredness is causing the 6th mass extinction. Homo colossus is surely on the list. Homo sapiens may be, too.RedemptionDenial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance: where are you in the vaunted "stages of grief"? And is doom automatically the end point?Mid 2019, and building upon Paul Chefurka's notion of finding the gift on the other side of acceptance, I began to explore (with others) the possibility of compassionate “post-doom" forms of awareness. (I see “post-doom” as akin to compost theology, or regenerative grace — a secular name for resurrection.) Sure enough, multiple paths were already recognizable and inviting. Quite a few of my interlocutors (Paul Chefurka, Joanna Macy, among them) call upon Buddhist teachings for their ways forward. Several (notably, Shaun Chamberlain) speak of the emotional and spiritual equanimity he gains from Taoist writings.Post-doom conversations from a Christian platform were numerous: Richard Rohr, Damaris Zehner, Sid Smith, Robert Jensen, Gail Tverberg, and the Seminary of the Wild Guides (Victoria Loorz, Matt Syrdal, Brian Stafford, and Bryan Smith). I encourage readers of this publication to explore them all, as well as the mind-expanding post-doom resources and soul-nourishing “post doom, no gloom” zoom calls.But here, I will close with the final prayer of Jesus at his own end time, on the cross. For me, these words are comforting, even redemptive…”Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”~ Rev. Michael Dowd Read online HERE To listen to an audio narration of this essay, click HERE To see a video presentation of this essay, click HERE About the Author The Reverend Michael Dowd is a bestselling eco-theologian, TEDx speaker, and pro-future advocate whose work has been featured in The New York Times, LA Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Newsweek, Discover, and on television throughout the United States and Canada. His book, Thank God for Evolution, was endorsed by 6 Nobel Prize-winning scientists, noted skeptics, and religious leaders across the spectrum. Michael and his science writer, evolutionary educator, and fellow climate activist wife, Connie Barlow, have spoken to some 3,000 groups throughout North America since April 2002. Michael has delivered two TEDx talks (“Why We Struggle and Suffer” in 2012, and “Reality Reconciles Science and Religion” in 2014) and a program at the United Nations. He has also conducted three acclaimed online conversation series: “The Advent of Evolutionary Christianity” (2011), “The Future Is Calling Us to Greatness” (2015) and “Post-doom: Regenerative conversations exploring overshoot grief, grounding, and gratitude” (2020-21). Dowd's work provides audiences with applications of evolutionary and ecological wisdom that break through the confusions of these rapidly shifting times.As of September 2020, Michael and Connie live permanently in Ypsilanti, Michigan, from where Michael delivers Zoom homilies and longer programs. Sample sermons can be found here and here and here. This video: “Serenity Prayer for the 21st Century: Pro-Future Love-in-Action” is especially recommended as a introduction to his current body of work regarding climate change, ecological overshoot, true vs. faux sustainability, and how to discern what to accept and what to passionately engage in.Rev. Dowd’s websites: MichaelDowd.org / TheGreatStory.org / PostDoom.com | | | | | | | | Question & Answer Q: By A Reader With the continuing political polarity across our nation for those of different races, cultures, sexualities, and genders, where do LGBTQIA+ people find the resources and advocacy to thrive in today’s less progressive churches? A: By Rev. Brandan Robertson Dear Reader,This is an interesting question- the truth is that all around the world, thousands of progressive, inclusive churches are emerging that are drawing LGBTQ+ people and our allies out of the pews of non-inclusive churches into spaces of true inclusion and embrace. (To see many of these churches, check out GayChurch.net) For those who may not have a progressive, inclusive church geographically near them, many turn to the internet to find inclusive community. Through social media groups to progressive clergy on TikTok, millions of people are being connected to resources that help them reinivision their faith in ways that allow them to bring their full self to the table. In the past two years, for instance, I have gained a following of nearly 200k people on the app TikTok where I proclaim progressive Christian messages every week. I actually left ministry in a brick-and-mortar church, in part, to start a virtual faith community for these thousands of people and now every week through Metanoia Church, (metanoiacenter.org) hundreds gather via Zoom to be a part of a fully virtual inclusive community. So, our virtual world has made it easier than ever for people in every part of the world to be connected to resources and real community that embraces them just as they are. The last thing I’ll mention is that there are dozens of international non-profits dedicated for reformation within the Church around LGBTQ+ inclusion. Groups like Q Christian Fellowship, The European Symposium of LGBTQ+ Christians, One Body, One Faith, We Are Church, Changing Attitudes, and the Global Interfaith Commission on LGBTQ+ Lives all offer resources for LGBTQ+ Christians and our allies to cultivate a progressive, inclusive faith and I’d highly encourage you to check them out!~ Rev. Brandan Robertson Read and share online here About the Author Rev. Brandan Robertson is a noted spiritual thought-leader, contemplative activist, and commentator, working at the intersections of spirituality, sexuality, and social renewal and the author of Nomad: A Spirituality For Travelling Light and writes regularly for Patheos, Beliefnet, and The Huffington Post. He has published countless articles in respected outlets such as TIME, NBC, The Washington Post, Religion News Service, and Dallas Morning News. As sought out commentator of faith, culture, and public life, he is a regular contributor to national media outlets and has been interviewed by outlets such as MSNBC, NPR, SiriusXM, TIME Magazine, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Associated Press. He leads Metanoia, a digital spiritual community at MetanoiaCenter.org | | | | | | | | Please continue to send us your feedback… we are listening. We aim to give voice to many different perspectives that are relevant and inspiring along this spiritually progressing path. We are not here to tell you what to believe or how to act. We are here to support your journey, to share and learn together.Thank you for being a part of this community - join us on Facebook! | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | As a non-profit ProgressiveChristianity.org/Progressing Spirit rely heavily on the good will of our donors to help us continue to bring individuals and churches the messages of progressive Christians, Weekly Newsletters, along with the many other resources we provide. For years, the majority of our fundraising came at the end of the year. Looking at various ways to create a more reasonable amount of cash flow we decided rather than having a BIG ask at the end of each year, our more frequent asks give folks a chance to contribute when their funds are more flexible. We think that's a win for everyone. We also want to highlight the opportunity to become a sustaining supporter. If you are looking for the best way to help us continue to provide progressive Christian resources, become a sustaining supporter by choosing Recurring Donation. Help keep ProgressiveChristianity.org online and going strong - click here to donate today! * Another way to support us is to leave a bequest in your Will and/or Trust designating us a beneficiary. | | | | | | | | Bishop John Shelby Spong Revisited What Do Christian Symbols Mean in a Land Where Christianity is No Longer Practiced? Essay by Bishop John Shelby Spong December 1, 2022Italy is a Roman Catholic country! That was stated time after time as we journeyed through Florence, Tuscany and the Cinque Terre. The signs of this faith tradition were everywhere. The major tourist attractions in Italy, ranging from the Vatican to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, to the storied museums of the land in which the artistic creations of the Christian past are on display, all serve to make this Catholic history visible. Every Italian city is home to many churches, to stories of miracles emanating from a bygone era, to multiple shrines and to statues of religious heroes of the past. The influence of Catholicism obviously finds constant expression in Italian culture. The powerful mother of the Italian family, the “Mama Mia,” is undergirded by the image of the Virgin who is universally present. The suffering of the people, especially of those mothers who lost sons in the almost endless warfare throughout history between Italian cities or regions, is reflected in portraits of the Virgin at the cross cradling the limp body of her deceased son, Jesus. The “hot blood” of the Italian psyche is reflected in the images of the wrathful father God and in the sensuous appeal of Mary Magdalene. The great festivals and holidays of Italy all have Christian content, not only the universal ones like Christmas and Easter, but also the more favored local ones like the Flower Festival of St. Zita on April 27 in the city of Lucca, which commemorates one whose body, so the legend says, has been miraculously preserved from decay, so she is displayed in her final resting place, visible behind glass and serving as a tourist attraction not unlike Scotland’s Loch Ness monster. Underneath these overwhelming, religious facades, however, is a vast and pervasive emptiness. The external forms of religion reflecting the Catholic faith no longer seem filled with religious content. The city of Lucca in Tuscany illustrates this reality. Lucca, a small city of less than 100,000 people, has eighty-seven churches dotting its landscape with their steeples punctuating the skyline. Sixty-seven of these churches, however, have been officially deconsecrated and turned over to secular purposes. Of the twenty that remain, attendance is very low with only a few of the pews occupied on any given Sunday. The myths of miracles continue to be passed on, but with the glimmer of make believe, a vain attempt to capture the magic of their religious past. No one, save for some of the elderly and uneducated, still ascribes any reality to the details. They remain as cultural artifacts of a time that is no more. In the Middle Ages almost the entire purpose of life was to prepare the faithful for the life to come. It was focused on penance; pilgrimages and the spiritual discipline of mortification, combined with prescribed acts of kindness and generosity were thought to assure one of the bliss of heaven. Guilt was the omnipresent reality in that system that motivated all behavior. Today, life is centered in the present. The search for pleasure now has long since replaced the yearning for bliss later. Wine is the beverage of choice and it is drunk in great quantities at dinner and is anticipated as fully as is the food. Clearly it gladdens the hearts of the Italian citizenry. Lots of homes have small vineyards from which their own wine is made. They cannot imagine alcohol control as a function of government. Few ever associated wine with the sacrament of the Eucharist. They would understand those words culturally, but they would never employ them. Biblical ignorance is also rampant throughout the land. The Catholic Church never put a premium on Bible Study and the last two hundred years of critical biblical study has not made a significant impact on either the Catholic hierarchy or the priesthood. It has certainly not permeated the minds of the average person. If one were to tell an Italian audience that none of Jesus’ disciples wrote the gospels or that the miracles were far more symbolic than historical, they simply would not listen. Jesus was born in Bethlehem one Italian told me, totally unaware that the stories of the miraculous birth of Jesus, which includes moving his birth from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the city of David, did not enter the Christian tradition until the 9th decade of the Christian era. The artifacts of their Christian past are simply like pieces of antique furniture, honored by, but not used in a typical household. The people are proud of their artistic treasures. Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the statue of King David as a youth, was adopted as symbolic of an insight into modernity by the people of Florence, but none of them could tell me why a Jewish king, who reigned about 3,000 years ago, was chosen to be a symbol of a new age. Yet this gigantic, nude statue carved and chiseled with incredible skill and talent, draws millions of viewers a year. The non-biblical aspects of what they assume to be biblical portraits are astonishing. As I noted last week there were numbers of paintings of Jesus and John the Baptist, playing together as children under the careful watch of Mary and Elizabeth, found in every museum. Yet there is not a shred of evidence in the Bible of any association between Jesus and John the Baptist in childhood. Most of the tradition that has grown up around this theme reflects only an earlier story of the relationship between Esau and Jacob in Genesis. In both narratives, the elder must decrease and the younger increase. The Stations of the Cross, painted and hanging as portraits on the walls of churches, tell the story of Jesus’ passion with little regard for the facts related in the biblical narratives. So the people enjoy the art, ask no questions about it and generally ignore its meaning. What do empty religious symbols mean? What power sustains them? Why do these symbols remain so prevalent when the faith that gave them meaning has so little residual power? That was the issue that intrigued me. While I was in Italy, I saw only one person wearing a cross. So rare was this experience that I inquired if she would be willing to tell me what that simple act meant to her. It was an intrusive question, but she responded without taking offence. “I’ve always liked the symbol, she said, but I don’t like the things it traditionally stands for – suffering, pain and death. It says to me that one human life lived out his destiny by giving his life away – so for me it is a sign of radical freedom,” an interesting non-religious response. That response, however, helped me to answer my own questions about the continued impact of Catholic forms in a nation and a culture that has largely abandoned Christianity’s content. Certainly the Italian people are not obedient to the rules of their church. The birth rate in Italy, 1.2 children per family, is the lowest in all of Europe. Does anyone really believe that this startling rate is achieved without birth control or legal abortion? Churches are closing, worshippers at those that remain open are few and the number of priests is in free fall. The tourist guides wink knowingly when they relate the miracle stories connected with the various shrines. The Pope is treated like a piece of furniture or a maiden aunt. No one is unkind, but no one pays attention to anything he says. “He is not popular,” one Italian told me. “Why is that?” I inquired. “Because he’s German,” came the answer. “The Germans are blunt, they say what they think and don’t care who likes it. Previous Popes knew how to make everyone think the Pope agreed with them.” When the substance of Christianity is largely absent from Italy’s life, but the ancient forms of Christianity are everywhere there is bound to be confusion. One can, however, move beyond the forms of the past without moving beyond the substance to which those forms were originally but pointers. If we identify the forms with the substance then when the forms die the substance also dies. That is where institutional Christianity is in Italy, indeed in Europe and increasingly in the United States. Yet most people still seek in some way meaning, ultimacy and God, but so often it is the dead forms of the past that force our search to remain inside the increasingly empty symbols of yesterday. Traditional Christianity is clearly dying in Italy – perhaps it has already died. The human experience, however, which traditional Christianity once interpreted, is as real today as ever. Our task is to find new forms through which our eternal yearnings can find expression. That is never achieved by reviving the past. It comes by embracing the future, walking courageously into it and in the process redefining the meaning of being human. To accomplish this Christians must begin by freeing ourselves of binding creeds and dated liturgies. We need to cast aside pious ignorance, the fear of science and of new insights. We probe the dimensions of our humanity, identifying those things that lift us beyond our limits and those that force us to live behind defensive barriers. We look at the freedom and the wholeness of Christ and seek those same qualities in ourselves without worrying about what will become of our traditional and familiar symbols. People living today might not recognize what the Christianity of the 22nd century evolves into being, but we must nonetheless be about this journey. Perhaps the secularity of Italy gives the Italians a head start, while we in America still have to push aside the thin, lingering religious veneer. We still see at political rallies in America a hard and harsh presence called “the religious vote,” which suggests that those without health care insurance be allowed to die; boos a gay soldier, who has served courageously, when he seeks equality under the law, and tries to define the religion of a presidential candidate as a “cult.” The Bible is still quoted to defend popular prejudices. Christian liturgies remain pre-Copernican and Christian theology pre-Darwinian, while we search for meaningful answers to such perennial questions as: Who am I? What is my purpose, my destiny? Who is my neighbor? When we begin to ask those questions in honesty with no preconceived religious answers, the time will have arrived for the Christian faith to be born to new dimensions of truth. I yearn and work for that day with confidence that it will arrive.~ John Shelby Spong | | | | | | | | Announcements Exploring Engoldenment1-Hour Course + Live and Recording of Q&A Session + A specially created film of Kabir poetry - Online January 31st. READ ON ... | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Copyright © 2021 ProgressiveChristianity.org, a 501(3)c. All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 4810 Pt. Fosdick Dr. #80, Gig Harbor, WA 98335 253-507-8678 - contact(a)progressivechristianity.org You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. | | | |

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FYI: Zoom Conversations with Matthew Fox: Be Involved in the Great Turning: Join Us Tomorrow Tues, 1/25!
by Ellie Stock 24 Jan '22

24 Jan '22

Hi Folks, FYI: See below: Zoom conversation with Matthew Fox, Order of the Sacred Earth regarding responding the present/futre times of societal collapse and the future of Earth and rebirthing community. Ellie elliestock(a)aol.com -----Original Message----- From: Order of the Sacred Earth <orderofthesacredearth(a)gmail.com> Sent: Mon, Jan 24, 2022 5:32 am Subject: Be Involved in the Great Turning: Join Us Tomorrow! 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collaborate with a dynamic global Earth-centered community in 2022? Read on for more information and be involved! | | | | | | | | | Order of the Sacred Earth | | | | Dear Beloved Community, Happy (almost) Lunar New Year to you all (February 1st)! It feels like life is speeding up and inviting us to come out of our caves of 2020 and 2021. Join us tomorrow (information below!) for an online council to connect with the amazing folks within the OSE community and to get involved! Please read on for other ways to collaborate in moving our communal efforts forward as we create a more just and ecological human presence on Earth. As so much continues to change in our world, it's often difficult to keep track of it all and to stay focused. As our lives continue to be challenged in this time of collapse and rebirth we feel that community is more important than ever. We give thanks for the privilege of being alive by making space for Earth to move through us in unique and new ways. We strive to listen and respond from the inner knowing that we are each held and supported by life. In this way, we allow ourselves (again and again) to trust in life's intelligence as we seek to bring forth vitality and connection. We're calling in the strength necessary to show up for the substantial grief and loss we're all experiencing in order to give our best efforts to the Great Turning now underway. | | | | It is in this spirit that we gather tomorrow around our virtual council fire. Join us on Tuesday, January 25th at 4pm Pacific/7pm Eastern time for our monthly OSE Council Meeting. | | | | | | Our Councils are on the last Tuesday of each month. Join Matthew Fox, Skylar Wilson, Mariko Middleton and others from the global OSE movement as we come together to listen, share, and to support one another within this growing movement. There are many ways to plug into our network as we create more avenues for cross-pollination and community support so please come with an open heart and mind! | | | | Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88665302478 Meeting ID: 886 6530 2478 One tap mobile +13017158592,,88665302478# US (Germantown) +13126266799,,88665302478# US (Chicago) Dial by your location +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 646 876 9923 US (New York) +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)Meeting ID: 886 6530 2478 | | | | This will be a time to connect in community around the themes of working sustainably and consistently to build and expand a culture that honors the sacredness of the Earth and all life. Our intention is to create a container for connection and networking with other mystic warriors who are putting forth the intention and effort needed to make a difference within these crucial and challenging times. We have also enjoyed providing a space for new people to join us to learn more about this movement and share how they are being called to participate in the Great Turning of humanity. In the past, we've had between 12-65 people join us from all over the world so the format changes from month to month. There will be time to briefly share what you're up to, what is present in your heart, or anything else that feels relevant to you and this movement. More than anything, this is a place to listen to one another and what has been happening within our extended network of ecoregional Pods who are meeting and rooting into their communities while creating change in both internal and systemic ways. | | | | | | Here are two video recordings of recent council meetings in case you're curious: https://youtu.be/ouo4okdROIw https://youtu.be/q9o6YJhKQ_M | | | | | | | | | | If you haven't already, please check out and subscribe to Matthew Fox's daily meditations: https://dailymeditationswithmatthewfox.org/ | | | | | | | | Again, we would love to hear from you! Please send us your ideas, stories, essays, poems, content, related and important events etc. and spread the word about this community within your circles so that we may continue to grow in service of all that we are. In community, Skylar, Matthew, and Mariko | | | | Join an Online Collaboration Group to Support the OSE Community in Developing A Place for Deeper Conversation for Organizing Effectively! Anita Manuel and Jesse London are exploring/creating an online space to connect for discussion, community making, and collaboration to organize Earth-Centered community. This is a space to hold some of the messy confusion and chaos present in our current moment while remembering our very real connections with life. It's a space for practicing pragmatic decision-making/acting within the web of life while simultaneously being faced with so much complexity. This could include exploring collaborative decision-making processes like Circle Forward: https://circleforward.us/lifting-up-gerard-endenberg-founder-of-sociocracy/ Please Contact Anita and Jesse for more information and to collaborate: orderofthesacredearthoc(a)gmail.com and almanuelnw(a)gmail.com OSE Community Member Seeks Your Stories Do you have a short personal story that describes an experience of awakening to racial/social/ or environmental justice in ways that changed your life? Often this can begin in the realm of a deep contemplative experience. Together with friends from the Game Changer Intensive sponsored by the Pachamama Alliance, we began to uncover and share our stories convinced that they were powerful tools capable of shifting oneself and others toward engaged acts of justice. Once the stories appeared, they kept coming: The Poor People’s March brings me for the first time face-to-face with police brutality. While hitching a ride from Texas to Michigan with a migrant family we confront racism. A Day of the Dead celebration brings healing to the family of a murdered child. Viewing a bomb shelter exhibit at the age of five convinces me that a nuclear war can never be won. If you are interested in meeting others who are writing stories for awakening dreamers and moving toward the Great Turning, contact: Marijo Grogan at: marijogro(a)gmail.com. Connect with Conservation Biologists and Restoration Efforts in your Ecoregion! At the last gathering of the Council, Conservation Biologist Tom Baugh (hiddensprings2(a)gmail.com) introduced us to an order of saints who are responsible for an incredible type of verifiable miracle. We called them Conservation Biologists, or Ecologists and their colleagues are Stewards or Rangers. And we described their miracles as quite literally the restoration of life on Earth. That is truly a miracle in this day and age. These saints are often funded and supported by specialized nongovernmental organizations and sometimes governments. For example, the Bezos organization recently contributed $100 million dollars to the World wildlife Fund to save life on Earth (talking about buying indulgences). Also very recently, and more to the point, the government of Scotland approved the reintroduction of a small animal (about a meter long) called a beaver into Scotland. This little rodent does amazing things with logs, limbs and twigs, building dams across streams and other flowing water. The dams create ponds and the ponds attract plants, fish, birds, and other life of Earth. The last wild beaver in Scotland was killed some 400 years ago. Other saints and their support teams have introduced beaver in other places with outstanding results. The miracles in this case include cleaner water better, storm water control and improved habitat for many forms of life… including humanity. Is this a little thing, a small miracle? Well maybe, but over the past several months I have read reports claiming that a beaver pond here and a beaver pond there add-up to helping offset climate change…and that’s a big miracle. The reintroduction of beaver is only one of the efforts throughout Europe undertaken by the many of the 'rewilding' efforts and those efforts are succeeding. Saints…miracles and returning life to Earth....meditate on that! ~Tom Baugh is a Biologist with a focus on Ecology and 30+ years experience in various aspects of Conservation Biology with one university and two US federal agencies. He has worked in wetland habitats from the US deserts and coasts, to the southern Appalachian Mountains and with numerous taxa from fish to plants. Tom is a member of several professional organizations and is published in the scientific, technical, and 'popular' literature. 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Re: [Oe List ...] OE Digest, Vol 118, Issue 20
by Richard and Maria Maguire 24 Jan '22

24 Jan '22

Re: [Dialogue] Stoicism Thanks Dharma for your question about the RS1 comments about stoicism. Yes, the RS1 comments about a number of things were in relation to how they were understood in our current culture. Besides "stoicism" another term was "meditation" (misunderstood as "navel gazing"). Maybe there were others. I also used to think that "stocism" was like the British "stiff upper lip" or the Australian "she'll be right". In the meantime I have learned that it appears to be about being an authentic human being in the situation you are in. People can learn a lot about stoicism and the stoics on this website for instance. https://www.holstee.com/blogs/mindful-matter/stoicism-101-everything-you-wa…. Another term in popular culture that RS1 did not talk about but could have was "epicurean", understood as seeking out the most desirable things for yourself. This was also a misunderstanding of the philosophy, which emphasised that the good life was being in commmunity and living on "enough", rather than luxury and consumption. I learned from a documentary by contemporary philosopher Alain de Boutton that an epicurean king in ancient Asia Minor put an inscription on the wall of the marketplace which is still visible. It went something like this, "Be aware that nothing you can buy here will give you happiness" I realize from things like these that we can have many more "ancient friends" than is generally realized. From the perspective of 60 years after my first encounter with RS1, I realize that the use of those terms and others back then was polemical, intended to close off escapes that people were trapped in and prevented real living of the life you have now. Best wishes Richard Maguire On 22/01/2022 6:40 am, oe-request(a)lists.wedgeblade.net wrote: > Send OE mailing list submissions to > oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > oe-request(a)lists.wedgeblade.net > > You can reach the person managing the list at > oe-owner(a)lists.wedgeblade.net > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of OE digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Stoicism (Dharmalingam Vinasithamby) > 2. Re: [Dialogue] Stoicism (James Wiegel) > 3. Re: [Dialogue] Stoicism (Dharmalingam Vinasithamby) > 4. Re: [Dialogue] Stoicism (Milan Hamilton) > 5. Re: [Dialogue] Stoicism (Nancy Trask) > 6. Re: [Dialogue] Stoicism (Beret Griffith) > 7. Re: [Dialogue] Stoicism (Jim) > 8. Re: [Dialogue] Stoicism (Diann McCabe) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2022 00:27:15 +0000 (UTC) > From: Dharmalingam Vinasithamby<dvinasithamby(a)yahoo.com> > To: OE Listserve<oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net>, Dialogue List > <dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> > Subject: [Oe List ...] Stoicism > Message-ID:<1071180527.308516.1642724835413(a)mail.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Dear colleagues, > > I need help with an idea I?m trying to sort out. If you have the time and inclination, I would love to hear from you on the following:? > > Saying Yes to life and Stoicism. Stoicism seems to be understood as a relationship to life where you keep going on despite the odds. There is also an inuendo that this may not be humanly possible and that internal pressures will eventually cause the person to crash. What I want to know is, was that the Stoicism that Zeno founded or merely a degraded understanding? Why did we as an Order cast it in a negative light? What was our beef with it? Was it a reaction to the degraded form or were we looking at it in its original sense? > regardsDharma > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL:<http://lists.wedgeblade.net/pipermail/oe-wedgeblade.net/attachments/2022012…> > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2022 03:17:19 +0000 (UTC) > From: James Wiegel<jfwiegel(a)yahoo.com> > To:"dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net" <dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net>, > "oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net" <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net>, Karenbueno > <karenbueno(a)aol.com> > Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] [Dialogue] Stoicism > Message-ID:<2130564282.888309.1642735039425(a)mail.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Does anyone recall (have notes on) the lecture introductions from RS-1?? They were quick and insightful, and I don't find anything in our archives on them . . .? > One intro, maybe on Saturday afternoon -- would have been an intro to the freedom lecture / section / holy spirit / life style was a series of little triangles . . .? > Everyone lives out of some sense of their final reality What am I upagainst in life?? what is my situation?and they have "A word" that releases them -- gives me the capacity to liveand a life style that comes out of that > Anyway, I think one of them was the final reality is bad, and the word was just survive, and the life style was the stoic > I don't quite remember the other ones . . . and the one course I had on philosophy did not emphasize the stoics. > > > Jim Wiegel ? > > > > Theunknown is what is.? And to be frightened of it is what sends everybodyscurrying around chasing dreams, illusions, wars, peace, love, hate, allthat.? Unknown is what is.? Accept that it's unknown, and it's plainsailing.? ??John Lennon > > > > 401 North Beverly Way,Tolleson, Arizona 85353 > 623-363-3277 > > jfwiegel(a)yahoo.com > > www.partnersinparticipation.com > > > On Thursday, January 20, 2022, 07:54:09 PM MST, Karenbueno via Dialogue<dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: > > Stoic: I'm fine.? > Me: Are you telling the truth?Stoic: Well, even if I hurt, what can I do.? I will just bear it.Me: Have you tried what the doctor advised?Stoic: Oh, I probably will soon.? Stop worrying about me.? I'm fine. > Another day--Stoic: I don't see how we need to worry about climate change.? It will destroy us and the rest of life on the planet soon.Me: But shouldn't we do a few actions that might help.Stoic:? Oh, we are too far gone.? The oceans are rising, the ice is about gone.? We might as well just enjoy the life we have.Me: but what about our kids and grandkids and their kids?Stoic:? Look.? We are human.? The planet it too far gone.? We may as well just accept it. > Another day--Stoic: Well, I think we have gone as far as we can to abolish racism in the United States.Me: I think there is still a lot of suffering from racism.? I think we should find some way to pay reparations.Stoic: You pay for it.? I have some other things I want to do with our money. > Another day--Me: Did you hear about how the Wisconsin government is giving back some of their land to the Indians?Stoic: Oh for Pete Sake.? That war is long over, and we are getting along fine. > Another day--Stoic: Listen to those shovels!? They are finishing my work!Me: No, honey, they are digging your grave. > Another day--Me: They say that faith is belief in things not seen.Stoic: Ha.? Sounds pretty magic to me!Me: But if you trust that the creative power of God is in charge, you can have hope that the future is open, and we can act!Stoic: Naptime now. > > > Karen Bueno > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Dharmalingam Vinasithamby via Dialogue<dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> > To: OE Listserve<oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net>; Dialogue List<dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> > Cc: Dharmalingam Vinasithamby<dvinasithamby(a)yahoo.com> > Sent: Thu, Jan 20, 2022 5:27 pm > Subject: [Dialogue] Stoicism > > Dear colleagues, > > I need help with an idea I?m trying to sort out. If you have the time and inclination, I would love to hear from you on the following:? > > Saying Yes to life and Stoicism. Stoicism seems to be understood as a relationship to life where you keep going on despite the odds. There is also an inuendo that this may not be humanly possible and that internal pressures will eventually cause the person to crash. What I want to know is, was that the Stoicism that Zeno founded or merely a degraded understanding? Why did we as an Order cast it in a negative light? What was our beef with it? Was it a reaction to the degraded form or were we looking at it in its original sense? > regardsDharma_______________________________________________ > Dialogue mailing list > Dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net > http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net > _______________________________________________ > Dialogue mailing list > Dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net > http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL:<http://lists.wedgeblade.net/pipermail/oe-wedgeblade.net/attachments/2022012…> > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2022 06:20:15 +0000 (UTC) > From: Dharmalingam Vinasithamby<dvinasithamby(a)yahoo.com> > To:"dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net" <dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net>, > "oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net" <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> > Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] [Dialogue] Stoicism > Message-ID:<945319551.358776.1642746015855(a)mail.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Thanks everyone for your responses. Some of these touched on what is happening to our planet, which is also what triggered my question.?It is clear that we have pushed our biosphere over the tipping point into a trajectory that will bring mass extinctions, perhaps even that of our species, in its wake. Whatever we do cannot change this, at least till after several decades. So whatever good we do, we won?t be around to see its result.So the question for me is what does it mean to say Yes to life in this situation and to live out of that stance. To use a metaphor, if we are led to the gallows, can we approach it saying Yes to what our life has been and what is going happen? By ?can we?, I mean how do we generate the courage and spirit for this.?A related question, how do we tell others what is in store truthfully and yet not leave them without hope or drive??If we live like this, could it be described (in a positive way) as Stoicism? I remember we seemed to have reservations about thi > s during our RS1 courses. But I?m not sure whether they were about the popular understanding of Stoicism, as Karen illustrates in her email, or something deeper in that philosophy.? > Dharma > > > On Friday, 21 January 2022, 11:17:28 am MYT, James Wiegel via OE<oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: > > Does anyone recall (have notes on) the lecture introductions from RS-1?? They were quick and insightful, and I don't find anything in our archives on them . . .? > One intro, maybe on Saturday afternoon -- would have been an intro to the freedom lecture / section / holy spirit / life style was a series of little triangles . . .? > Everyone lives out of some sense of their final reality What am I upagainst in life?? what is my situation?and they have "A word" that releases them -- gives me the capacity to liveand a life style that comes out of that > Anyway, I think one of them was the final reality is bad, and the word was just survive, and the life style was the stoic > I don't quite remember the other ones . . . and the one course I had on philosophy did not emphasize the stoics. > > > Jim Wiegel ? > > > > Theunknown is what is.? And to be frightened of it is what sends everybodyscurrying around chasing dreams, illusions, wars, peace, love, hate, allthat.? Unknown is what is.? Accept that it's unknown, and it's plainsailing.? ??John Lennon > > > > 401 North Beverly Way,Tolleson, Arizona 85353 > 623-363-3277 > > jfwiegel(a)yahoo.com > > www.partnersinparticipation.com > > > On Thursday, January 20, 2022, 07:54:09 PM MST, Karenbueno via Dialogue<dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: > > Stoic: I'm fine.? > Me: Are you telling the truth?Stoic: Well, even if I hurt, what can I do.? I will just bear it.Me: Have you tried what the doctor advised?Stoic: Oh, I probably will soon.? Stop worrying about me.? I'm fine. > Another day--Stoic: I don't see how we need to worry about climate change.? It will destroy us and the rest of life on the planet soon.Me: But shouldn't we do a few actions that might help.Stoic:? Oh, we are too far gone.? The oceans are rising, the ice is about gone.? We might as well just enjoy the life we have.Me: but what about our kids and grandkids and their kids?Stoic:? Look.? We are human.? The planet it too far gone.? We may as well just accept it. > Another day--Stoic: Well, I think we have gone as far as we can to abolish racism in the United States.Me: I think there is still a lot of suffering from racism.? I think we should find some way to pay reparations.Stoic: You pay for it.? I have some other things I want to do with our money. > Another day--Me: Did you hear about how the Wisconsin government is giving back some of their land to the Indians?Stoic: Oh for Pete Sake.? That war is long over, and we are getting along fine. > Another day--Stoic: Listen to those shovels!? They are finishing my work!Me: No, honey, they are digging your grave. > Another day--Me: They say that faith is belief in things not seen.Stoic: Ha.? Sounds pretty magic to me!Me: But if you trust that the creative power of God is in charge, you can have hope that the future is open, and we can act!Stoic: Naptime now. > > > Karen Bueno > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Dharmalingam Vinasithamby via Dialogue<dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> > To: OE Listserve<oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net>; Dialogue List<dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> > Cc: Dharmalingam Vinasithamby<dvinasithamby(a)yahoo.com> > Sent: Thu, Jan 20, 2022 5:27 pm > Subject: [Dialogue] Stoicism > > Dear colleagues, > > I need help with an idea I?m trying to sort out. If you have the time and inclination, I would love to hear from you on the following:? > > Saying Yes to life and Stoicism. Stoicism seems to be understood as a relationship to life where you keep going on despite the odds. There is also an inuendo that this may not be humanly possible and that internal pressures will eventually cause the person to crash. What I want to know is, was that the Stoicism that Zeno founded or merely a degraded understanding? Why did we as an Order cast it in a negative light? What was our beef with it? Was it a reaction to the degraded form or were we looking at it in its original sense? > regardsDharma_______________________________________________ > Dialogue mailing list > Dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net > http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net > _______________________________________________ > Dialogue mailing list > Dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net > http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net > _______________________________________________ > OE mailing list > OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net > http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL:<http://lists.wedgeblade.net/pipermail/oe-wedgeblade.net/attachments/2022012…> > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2022 22:49:21 -0800 > From: Milan Hamilton<mellowmilan2(a)gmail.com> > To: Order Ecumenical Community<oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> > Cc:dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net, Dharmalingam Vinasithamby > <dvinasithamby(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] [Dialogue] Stoicism > Message-ID:<A7F062F9-75A4-4A74-9016-FCE0A89EB48E(a)gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > I majored in philosophy also and especially Studied Kierkegaard with one of the preeminent American teachers of SK, But can?t say I got much beyond the surface until RS-1. I do think there was more depth to Stoicism as a philosophy than hearing the word elicits in our psyche. But as to offering a way into the question Dharma is raising, I would suggest reading Jem Bendell?s Deep Adaptation paper and if interested getting into the conversation on the Deep Adaptation Forum; secondly, Michael Dowd?s ?Post Doom? series of 78 fifty minute interviews on You Tube with all sorts of climate scientists and writers, as well as some of his own videos; third, check out Joanna Macy?s ?The Work that Reconnects.? These are some resources we have found helpful to avoid getting stuck in one or more of the philosophy rabbit holes,Stoicism being only one of them. > Humbly, Milan H. > > Sent from my iPad > >> On Jan 20, 2022, at 10:20 PM, Dharmalingam Vinasithamby via OE<oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: >> >> ? >> Thanks everyone for your responses. Some of these touched on what is happening to our planet, which is also what triggered my question. >> It is clear that we have pushed our biosphere over the tipping point into a trajectory that will bring mass extinctions, perhaps even that of our species, in its wake. Whatever we do cannot change this, at least till after several decades. So whatever good we do, we won?t be around to see its result. >> So the question for me is what does it mean to say Yes to life in this situation and to live out of that stance. To use a metaphor, if we are led to the gallows, can we approach it saying Yes to what our life has been and what is going happen? By ?can we?, I mean how do we generate the courage and spirit for this. >> A related question, how do we tell others what is in store truthfully and yet not leave them without hope or drive? >> If we live like this, could it be described (in a positive way) as Stoicism? I remember we seemed to have reservations about this during our RS1 courses. But I?m not sure whether they were about the popular understanding of Stoicism, as Karen illustrates in her email, or something deeper in that philosophy. >> >> Dharma >> >> >> >> On Friday, 21 January 2022, 11:17:28 am MYT, James Wiegel via OE<oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: >> >> >> Does anyone recall (have notes on) the lecture introductions from RS-1? They were quick and insightful, and I don't find anything in our archives on them . . . >> >> One intro, maybe on Saturday afternoon -- would have been an intro to the freedom lecture / section / holy spirit / life style was a series of little triangles . . . >> >> Everyone lives out of some sense of their final reality What am I upagainst in life? what is my situation? >> and they have "A word" that releases them -- gives me the capacity to live >> and a life style that comes out of that >> >> Anyway, I think one of them was the final reality is bad, and the word was just survive, and the life style was the stoic >> >> I don't quite remember the other ones . . . and the one course I had on philosophy did not emphasize the stoics. >> >> >> >> Jim Wiegel >> The unknown is what is. And to be frightened of it is what sends everybody scurrying around chasing dreams, illusions, wars, peace, love, hate, all that. Unknown is what is. Accept that it's unknown, and it's plain sailing. John Lennon >> >> 401 North Beverly Way,Tolleson, Arizona 85353 >> 623-363-3277 >> jfwiegel(a)yahoo.com >> www.partnersinparticipation.com >> >> >> On Thursday, January 20, 2022, 07:54:09 PM MST, Karenbueno via Dialogue<dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: >> >> >> Stoic: I'm fine. >> Me: Are you telling the truth? >> Stoic: Well, even if I hurt, what can I do. I will just bear it. >> Me: Have you tried what the doctor advised? >> Stoic: Oh, I probably will soon. Stop worrying about me. I'm fine. >> >> Another day-- >> Stoic: I don't see how we need to worry about climate change. It will destroy us and the rest of life on the planet soon. >> Me: But shouldn't we do a few actions that might help. >> Stoic: Oh, we are too far gone. The oceans are rising, the ice is about gone. We might as well just enjoy the life we have. >> Me: but what about our kids and grandkids and their kids? >> Stoic: Look. We are human. The planet it too far gone. We may as well just accept it. >> >> Another day-- >> Stoic: Well, I think we have gone as far as we can to abolish racism in the United States. >> Me: I think there is still a lot of suffering from racism. I think we should find some way to pay reparations. >> Stoic: You pay for it. I have some other things I want to do with our money. >> >> Another day-- >> Me: Did you hear about how the Wisconsin government is giving back some of their land to the Indians? >> Stoic: Oh for Pete Sake. That war is long over, and we are getting along fine. >> >> Another day-- >> Stoic: Listen to those shovels! They are finishing my work! >> Me: No, honey, they are digging your grave. >> >> Another day-- >> Me: They say that faith is belief in things not seen. >> Stoic: Ha. Sounds pretty magic to me! >> Me: But if you trust that the creative power of God is in charge, you can have hope that the future is open, and we can act! >> Stoic: Naptime now. >> >> >> >> Karen Bueno >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Dharmalingam Vinasithamby via Dialogue<dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> >> To: OE Listserve<oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net>; Dialogue List<dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> >> Cc: Dharmalingam Vinasithamby<dvinasithamby(a)yahoo.com> >> Sent: Thu, Jan 20, 2022 5:27 pm >> Subject: [Dialogue] Stoicism >> >> Dear colleagues, >> >> I need help with an idea I?m trying to sort out. If you have the time and inclination, I would love to hear from you on the following: >> >> Saying Yes to life and Stoicism. Stoicism seems to be understood as a relationship to life where you keep going on despite the odds. There is also an inuendo that this may not be humanly possible and that internal pressures will eventually cause the person to crash. What I want to know is, was that the Stoicism that Zeno founded or merely a degraded understanding? Why did we as an Order cast it in a negative light? What was our beef with it? Was it a reaction to the degraded form or were we looking at it in its original sense? >> >> regards >> Dharma >> _______________________________________________ >> Dialogue mailing list >> Dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net >> http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net >> _______________________________________________ >> Dialogue mailing list >> Dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net >> http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net >> _______________________________________________ >> OE mailing list >> OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net >> http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net >> _______________________________________________ >> OE mailing list >> OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net >> http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL:<http://lists.wedgeblade.net/pipermail/oe-wedgeblade.net/attachments/2022012…> > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2022 07:48:07 -0600 > From: Nancy Trask<nlt462(a)gmail.com> > To: Order Ecumenical Community<oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> > Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] [Dialogue] Stoicism > Message-ID: > <CAAsR2TE+jqzOe8c99QzS+NePB13fgd436jRnz__7UtHdTi_qEg(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Dharma and all, it?s a very timely push for deeper understanding ? so glad > you raised this angle on the topic. Thanks also to Milan for sharing > resources from Jim Bendell, Michael Dowd, and Joanna Macy. I will have a > look. The YouTube series of 78 interviews sounds fascinating. And I had > recently happened on a presentation about adaptation, which has stuck with > me. > Could consider starting a new study series on some of these resources. > Nancy Trask > > On Fri, Jan 21, 2022 at 12:49 AM Milan Hamilton via OE < > oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: > >> I majored in philosophy also and especially Studied Kierkegaard with one >> of the preeminent American teachers of SK, But can?t say I got much beyond >> the surface until RS-1. I do think there was more depth to Stoicism as a >> philosophy than hearing the word elicits in our psyche. But as to offering >> a way into the question Dharma is raising, I would suggest reading Jem >> Bendell?s Deep Adaptation paper and if interested getting into the >> conversation on the Deep Adaptation Forum; secondly, Michael Dowd?s ?Post >> Doom? series of 78 fifty minute interviews on You Tube with all sorts of >> climate scientists and writers, as well as some of his own videos; third, >> check out Joanna Macy?s ?The Work that Reconnects.? These are some >> resources we have found helpful to avoid getting stuck in one or more of >> the philosophy rabbit holes,Stoicism being only one of them. >> Humbly, Milan H. >> >> Sent from my iPad >> >> On Jan 20, 2022, at 10:20 PM, Dharmalingam Vinasithamby via OE < >> oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: >> >> ? >> >> Thanks everyone for your responses. Some of these touched on what is >> happening to our planet, which is also what triggered my question. >> It is clear that we have pushed our biosphere over the tipping point into >> a trajectory that will bring mass extinctions, perhaps even that of our >> species, in its wake. Whatever we do cannot change this, at least till >> after several decades. So whatever good we do, we won?t be around to see >> its result. >> So the question for me is what does it mean to say Yes to life in this >> situation and to live out of that stance. To use a metaphor, if we are led >> to the gallows, can we approach it saying Yes to what our life has been and >> what is going happen? By ?can we?, I mean how do we generate the courage >> and spirit for this. >> A related question, how do we tell others what is in store truthfully and >> yet not leave them without hope or drive? >> If we live like this, could it be described (in a positive way) as >> Stoicism? I remember we seemed to have reservations about this during our >> RS1 courses. But I?m not sure whether they were about the popular >> understanding of Stoicism, as Karen illustrates in her email, or something >> deeper in that philosophy. >> >> Dharma >> >> >> >> On Friday, 21 January 2022, 11:17:28 am MYT, James Wiegel via OE < >> oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: >> >> >> Does anyone recall (have notes on) the lecture introductions from RS-1? >> They were quick and insightful, and I don't find anything in our archives >> on them . . . >> >> One intro, maybe on Saturday afternoon -- would have been an intro to the >> freedom lecture / section / holy spirit / life style was a series of little >> triangles . . . >> >> Everyone lives out of some sense of their final reality What am I >> upagainst in life? what is my situation? >> and they have "A word" that releases them -- gives me the capacity to live >> and a life style that comes out of that >> >> Anyway, I think one of them was the final reality is bad, and the word was >> just survive, and the life style was the stoic >> >> I don't quite remember the other ones . . . and the one course I had on >> philosophy did not emphasize the stoics. >> >> >> >> Jim Wiegel<http://partnersinparticipation.com/?page_id=123> >> >> The unknown is what is. And to be frightened of it is what sends >> everybody scurrying around chasing dreams, illusions, wars, peace, love, >> hate, all that. Unknown is what is. Accept that it's unknown, and it's >> plain sailing. John Lennon >> >> 401 North Beverly Way,Tolleson, Arizona 85353 >> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/401+North+Beverly+Way,Tolleson,+Arizona+…> >> >> 623-363-3277 >> >> jfwiegel(a)yahoo.com <marilyn.oyler(a)gmail.com> >> >> www.partnersinparticipation.com >> >> >> On Thursday, January 20, 2022, 07:54:09 PM MST, Karenbueno via Dialogue < >> dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: >> >> >> Stoic: I'm fine. >> Me: Are you telling the truth? >> Stoic: Well, even if I hurt, what can I do. I will just bear it. >> Me: Have you tried what the doctor advised? >> Stoic: Oh, I probably will soon. Stop worrying about me. I'm fine. >> >> Another day-- >> Stoic: I don't see how we need to worry about climate change. It will >> destroy us and the rest of life on the planet soon. >> Me: But shouldn't we do a few actions that might help. >> Stoic: Oh, we are too far gone. The oceans are rising, the ice is about >> gone. We might as well just enjoy the life we have. >> Me: but what about our kids and grandkids and their kids? >> Stoic: Look. We are human. The planet it too far gone. We may as well >> just accept it. >> >> Another day-- >> Stoic: Well, I think we have gone as far as we can to abolish racism in >> the United States. >> Me: I think there is still a lot of suffering from racism. I think we >> should find some way to pay reparations. >> Stoic: You pay for it. I have some other things I want to do with our >> money. >> >> Another day-- >> Me: Did you hear about how the Wisconsin government is giving back some of >> their land to the Indians? >> Stoic: Oh for Pete Sake. That war is long over, and we are getting along >> fine. >> >> Another day-- >> Stoic: Listen to those shovels! They are finishing my work! >> Me: No, honey, they are digging your grave. >> >> Another day-- >> Me: They say that faith is belief in things not seen. >> Stoic: Ha. Sounds pretty magic to me! >> Me: But if you trust that the creative power of God is in charge, you can >> have hope that the future is open, and we can act! >> Stoic: Naptime now. >> >> >> >> Karen Bueno >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Dharmalingam Vinasithamby via Dialogue < >> dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> >> To: OE Listserve<oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net>; Dialogue List < >> dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> >> Cc: Dharmalingam Vinasithamby<dvinasithamby(a)yahoo.com> >> Sent: Thu, Jan 20, 2022 5:27 pm >> Subject: [Dialogue] Stoicism >> >> Dear colleagues, >> >> I need help with an idea I?m trying to sort out. If you have the time and >> inclination, I would love to hear from you on the following: >> >> Saying Yes to life and Stoicism. Stoicism seems to be understood as a >> relationship to life where you keep going on despite the odds. There is >> also an inuendo that this may not be humanly possible and that internal >> pressures will eventually cause the person to crash. What I want to know >> is, was that the Stoicism that Zeno founded or merely a degraded >> understanding? Why did we as an Order cast it in a negative light? What was >> our beef with it? Was it a reaction to the degraded form or were we looking >> at it in its original sense? >> >> regards >> Dharma >> _______________________________________________ >> Dialogue mailing list >> Dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net >> http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net >> _______________________________________________ >> Dialogue mailing list >> Dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net >> http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net >> _______________________________________________ >> OE mailing list >> OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net >> http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net >> _______________________________________________ >> OE mailing list >> OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net >> http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net >> >> _______________________________________________ >> OE mailing list >> OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net >> http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net >> -- *Transforming individuals and organisations towards a future worth living now.* Phone: +61 2 9896 3839, Post: 18 Sturdee St, Wentworthville NSW 2145 Australia Winners of Zest Award as Outstanding Community Leaders in Western Sydney. /*We live and work on the land of the Darug nation in Western Sydney and pay respect to the Elders past, present and emerging.* We acknowledge the wisdom and sovereignty of all Indigenous people and support The Uluru Statement from the Heart, calling for Voice, Treaty and Truth./

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Re: [Oe List ...] [Dialogue] Stoicism
by James Wiegel 21 Jan '22

21 Jan '22

Does anyone recall (have notes on) the lecture introductions from RS-1? They were quick and insightful, and I don't find anything in our archives on them . . . One intro, maybe on Saturday afternoon -- would have been an intro to the freedom lecture / section / holy spirit / life style was a series of little triangles . . . Everyone lives out of some sense of their final reality What am I upagainst in life? what is my situation?and they have "A word" that releases them -- gives me the capacity to liveand a life style that comes out of that Anyway, I think one of them was the final reality is bad, and the word was just survive, and the life style was the stoic I don't quite remember the other ones . . . and the one course I had on philosophy did not emphasize the stoics. Jim Wiegel Theunknown is what is. And to be frightened of it is what sends everybodyscurrying around chasing dreams, illusions, wars, peace, love, hate, allthat. Unknown is what is. Accept that it's unknown, and it's plainsailing. John Lennon 401 North Beverly Way,Tolleson, Arizona 85353 623-363-3277 jfwiegel(a)yahoo.com www.partnersinparticipation.com On Thursday, January 20, 2022, 07:54:09 PM MST, Karenbueno via Dialogue <dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: Stoic: I'm fine. Me: Are you telling the truth?Stoic: Well, even if I hurt, what can I do. I will just bear it.Me: Have you tried what the doctor advised?Stoic: Oh, I probably will soon. Stop worrying about me. I'm fine. Another day--Stoic: I don't see how we need to worry about climate change. It will destroy us and the rest of life on the planet soon.Me: But shouldn't we do a few actions that might help.Stoic: Oh, we are too far gone. The oceans are rising, the ice is about gone. We might as well just enjoy the life we have.Me: but what about our kids and grandkids and their kids?Stoic: Look. We are human. The planet it too far gone. We may as well just accept it. Another day--Stoic: Well, I think we have gone as far as we can to abolish racism in the United States.Me: I think there is still a lot of suffering from racism. I think we should find some way to pay reparations.Stoic: You pay for it. I have some other things I want to do with our money. Another day--Me: Did you hear about how the Wisconsin government is giving back some of their land to the Indians?Stoic: Oh for Pete Sake. That war is long over, and we are getting along fine. Another day--Stoic: Listen to those shovels! They are finishing my work!Me: No, honey, they are digging your grave. Another day--Me: They say that faith is belief in things not seen.Stoic: Ha. Sounds pretty magic to me!Me: But if you trust that the creative power of God is in charge, you can have hope that the future is open, and we can act!Stoic: Naptime now. Karen Bueno -----Original Message----- From: Dharmalingam Vinasithamby via Dialogue <dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> To: OE Listserve <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net>; Dialogue List <dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> Cc: Dharmalingam Vinasithamby <dvinasithamby(a)yahoo.com> Sent: Thu, Jan 20, 2022 5:27 pm Subject: [Dialogue] Stoicism Dear colleagues, I need help with an idea I’m trying to sort out. If you have the time and inclination, I would love to hear from you on the following: Saying Yes to life and Stoicism. Stoicism seems to be understood as a relationship to life where you keep going on despite the odds. There is also an inuendo that this may not be humanly possible and that internal pressures will eventually cause the person to crash. What I want to know is, was that the Stoicism that Zeno founded or merely a degraded understanding? Why did we as an Order cast it in a negative light? What was our beef with it? Was it a reaction to the degraded form or were we looking at it in its original sense? regardsDharma_______________________________________________ Dialogue mailing list Dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net _______________________________________________ Dialogue mailing list Dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net

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