Exceptional, my wonderful friend. Thank you for a classical stroll along the path of history leading to the white smoke. Thank you for your vulnerability in sharing your relationship with faith. I can only hope, like you, that this new “try” at global “Christian” leadership will focus on the actual teachings of Jesus in the way that all faith traditions recognize, through their own great teachers, the very basics of how to act like a decent damn human being. It is not that difficult to determine what that means, and yet “leading from the front” seems to elude so many in positions of “leadership.” Perhaps that is why “a child shall lead them” is part of what we are exhorted to understand. Pax et bonum.
(2) Brihadaranyaka Upanishad in the later parts, where the Advaita (A-Dualistic (I.e., Unity) Teachings) of Yajnavalkya during the Priestly Contest in King Janata‘s Court, where the great teacher, Yajnavalkya, of the Khsatriya (Warrior) Class, NOT a Brahmin, literally caused heads (of Brahmins) to explode, so piercing were his insights.
More difficult to understand, but which is currently under my study, is the Middle Way of Nagarjuna — impermanence, no-self, enlightenment.
But the very best is the truth of a child.
I can easily live with broad political differences.
But core values of humanity, due process of law, limitations on Executive powers, the force of judicial orders — shared Constitutional Values, dating back to John Locke‘s Second Treatise of Government and to the 1688 Bill of Rights of Wm and Mary — this core Jurisprudence must form the political dialogue.
Heartily concur! Add to this the duty to treat our fellow non-human earthly inhabitants and the earth herself with honor, respect, gratitude and agency.
Liz Gauffreau — As a Catholic in the Skeptical heritage of William of Ockham and Desiderius Erasmus von Rotterdam, paint me jaded.
I think politics somehow plays the predominant role.
I am quite pleased at the social justice theme suggested by the heritage of Leo XIII.
I have known of the social-democratic teaching of Leo XIII for almost two-score years.
But to this Catholic, all this is a pretty veneer until the Catholic Church undergoes major jawbone graft thoroughly and repeatedly.
No group is worthy of Moses, Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, the Upanishads, or David-Hume-Immanuel-Kant-Bertrand-Russell/Andrew-North-Whitehead, unless the littlest child, the girl, the woman, nay, also the trans- is nurtured in love, freedom, and human dignity and safety.
Liz Gauffreau: To put it in appropriately stark terms— the Church is in the Passion Time, the scourging and crucifixion, and its Easter, its Participation in the Resurrection is not in sight.
The history as you lay it out is so fascinating, Armand.
We were in Rome a couple years ago and couldn't get into the Pantheon or St. Peters without a reservation, which we had neglected to make. I was able to catch a glimpse inside the Pantheon from outside the entrance. We were able to visit the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel.
The continuity and worship of all gods you mention make it sound more holistic than I was led to believe growing up Catholic in Chicago. I was taught none of that.
What are your thoughts on the continuation of the Roman Empire through around 1,000 AD through Constantine/Constantinople?
"The Romans were very pious. They did not want to incur the wrath of ANY God.
So, the Pantheon allowed worship of ALL THE GODS WHATSOEVER.
Lorraine Evanoff: The core values are so well stated in the posts of Lorraine Evanoff, the Palmer Report, and the wonderful, beautiful cycle of Louise Moscow.
My loves definitely include regular visits with Livy, Polybius and Tacitus.
Tacitus is especially heartening to me, because he was a Senator, and he develops so very clearly the evolution of the Imperial Government— where, under Augustus, the Senate still had memory of Roman Freedom (then, already, an ancient institution with the jurisprudence of the now lost Twelve Tables). During the reign of Augustus, some Senators would still speak boldly. But, as the Emperors became more mentally ill — Caligula (played DELICIOUSLY in „I Claudius“ by John Hurt!!) — the Senators would become slobbering sycophants.
So, under Caligula, the Emperor‘s office became a monstrous Satire!!
My Belgique Mom (from Charleroi) used to quote, „ plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose".
Pitcher of wine spilling into an overflowing cup into other cuts, then other cups. Don’t mourn not turning to orthodoxy ever because of Catholic pedophilia - I knew a boy attacked by orthodox priests…
Patris: Welcome, dear friend, and thank you for your kindness and insight.
I love your wine fountain image.
In my profession, as a uniformed Judge Advocate (28 years Air Force Reserves, retired 2093, Lt Col), and civilian (GS-905-15) with Navy General Counsel (retired 2016 with combined federal service of 41 years), the United States had associated me with some of the finest persons, professionals, anywhere.
(Armando speaks only for himself. The Navy and Air Force speak only through their own, official channels.)
So to see America persecuting and targeting minorities is excruciating.
The Church’s abuse is a deeply rooted rot. Jean-Jacques Rousseau reveals some of it in his 18th c. „Confessions“.
it is truly an agony.
Patris, We do what we can.
We speak up.
A Nun I was quite fond of was shocked when, relying on exposés of the Houston Chronicle, I told Sister, „I give bishops always the respect they have earned, which for 90% of them means, about the level of respect you would render to a felon“
Sister excitedly whispered, „May God have mercy on you!“
I don‘t think Sister was aware of the overwhelming nature of the abuse, for her response was of innocent shock.
Please understand, this is a very good, fine and loving Nun.
We do what we can.
We protest.
We speak up.
Of course, we vote.
We join the ACLU, the NAACP.
We support advocacy groups for immigrants.
We emphasize dignity and due process of law for each person, with no exceptions.
Thank you, Patris, for friendship and the sharing of core values of humanity and sisterly love for each person.
Dear Armand. You speak for millions, without exaggeration. We must seek out justice as we were raised to understand it. In classrooms and with parents who clearly saw the path we not only espouse and attempt to live. It is one that unlike the majority of social systems in what was deemed the old world welcomes the stranger to our table, grasps our common humanity - and know through experience that combining our strength is the reason this imperfect country we inhabit have achieved what success we have economically. A very self serving take, I know. Though many of us also know our embracing of the arts and cultures our parents brought here make life taste better, speak truer, create art and deeply confront the philosophical underpinnings of those freedom that emerged and still emerge.
ACLU, Democracy Docket, Civil Liberties Union.. and the NAACP - together make this country stronger, educate and lift up the concept of community, cooperation and those benefits that flow from all of these
You and I are friends I think, and there are so many others, yes?
You state exactly the right points and awaken the hope that with Millions, Due Process and Humanity, the human dignity of each person, with no exceptions, will be The Law of the Land.
As you well point out, the ACLU, NAACP, Democracy Docket and allied organizations are bulwarks of Due Process of Law.
Exceptional, my wonderful friend. Thank you for a classical stroll along the path of history leading to the white smoke. Thank you for your vulnerability in sharing your relationship with faith. I can only hope, like you, that this new “try” at global “Christian” leadership will focus on the actual teachings of Jesus in the way that all faith traditions recognize, through their own great teachers, the very basics of how to act like a decent damn human being. It is not that difficult to determine what that means, and yet “leading from the front” seems to elude so many in positions of “leadership.” Perhaps that is why “a child shall lead them” is part of what we are exhorted to understand. Pax et bonum.
Kate Morgan Reade: A child shall lead them.
At 77, the most delightful persons are young children and their spontaneous observations.
A child deserves love and shelter, and she will speak with fresh insight and hope.
A person is wise according to how deeply she empathizes, she loves.
Two great works include:
(1) The great Poet and Sufi Mystic, Farid Attar, „Conference of the Birds,“
https://sufipathoflove.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/the-conference-of-the-birds.pdf
And,
(2) Brihadaranyaka Upanishad in the later parts, where the Advaita (A-Dualistic (I.e., Unity) Teachings) of Yajnavalkya during the Priestly Contest in King Janata‘s Court, where the great teacher, Yajnavalkya, of the Khsatriya (Warrior) Class, NOT a Brahmin, literally caused heads (of Brahmins) to explode, so piercing were his insights.
More difficult to understand, but which is currently under my study, is the Middle Way of Nagarjuna — impermanence, no-self, enlightenment.
But the very best is the truth of a child.
I can easily live with broad political differences.
But core values of humanity, due process of law, limitations on Executive powers, the force of judicial orders — shared Constitutional Values, dating back to John Locke‘s Second Treatise of Government and to the 1688 Bill of Rights of Wm and Mary — this core Jurisprudence must form the political dialogue.
Heartily concur! Add to this the duty to treat our fellow non-human earthly inhabitants and the earth herself with honor, respect, gratitude and agency.
Kate Morgan Reade: We share the same soft spot.
I am probably going to post something soon along your theme.
As usual, THANKS, dear Friend!
🌷🐈🐈⬛😻
I have the sense that electing the first-ever American pope was a political decision, but I’m not sure why and what the Church expects will happen.
Liz Gauffreau — As a Catholic in the Skeptical heritage of William of Ockham and Desiderius Erasmus von Rotterdam, paint me jaded.
I think politics somehow plays the predominant role.
I am quite pleased at the social justice theme suggested by the heritage of Leo XIII.
I have known of the social-democratic teaching of Leo XIII for almost two-score years.
But to this Catholic, all this is a pretty veneer until the Catholic Church undergoes major jawbone graft thoroughly and repeatedly.
No group is worthy of Moses, Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, the Upanishads, or David-Hume-Immanuel-Kant-Bertrand-Russell/Andrew-North-Whitehead, unless the littlest child, the girl, the woman, nay, also the trans- is nurtured in love, freedom, and human dignity and safety.
You make a good point about pretty veneer. The Roman Catholic Church hasn’t yet redeemed itself.
Liz Gauffreau: To put it in appropriately stark terms— the Church is in the Passion Time, the scourging and crucifixion, and its Easter, its Participation in the Resurrection is not in sight.
Alas!
Well put!
The history as you lay it out is so fascinating, Armand.
We were in Rome a couple years ago and couldn't get into the Pantheon or St. Peters without a reservation, which we had neglected to make. I was able to catch a glimpse inside the Pantheon from outside the entrance. We were able to visit the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel.
The continuity and worship of all gods you mention make it sound more holistic than I was led to believe growing up Catholic in Chicago. I was taught none of that.
What are your thoughts on the continuation of the Roman Empire through around 1,000 AD through Constantine/Constantinople?
"The Romans were very pious. They did not want to incur the wrath of ANY God.
So, the Pantheon allowed worship of ALL THE GODS WHATSOEVER.
That is why it was a PAN-THEON."
Lorraine Evanoff: The core values are so well stated in the posts of Lorraine Evanoff, the Palmer Report, and the wonderful, beautiful cycle of Louise Moscow.
My loves definitely include regular visits with Livy, Polybius and Tacitus.
Tacitus is especially heartening to me, because he was a Senator, and he develops so very clearly the evolution of the Imperial Government— where, under Augustus, the Senate still had memory of Roman Freedom (then, already, an ancient institution with the jurisprudence of the now lost Twelve Tables). During the reign of Augustus, some Senators would still speak boldly. But, as the Emperors became more mentally ill — Caligula (played DELICIOUSLY in „I Claudius“ by John Hurt!!) — the Senators would become slobbering sycophants.
So, under Caligula, the Emperor‘s office became a monstrous Satire!!
My Belgique Mom (from Charleroi) used to quote, „ plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose".
What a history. Like a full
Pitcher of wine spilling into an overflowing cup into other cuts, then other cups. Don’t mourn not turning to orthodoxy ever because of Catholic pedophilia - I knew a boy attacked by orthodox priests…
Patris: Welcome, dear friend, and thank you for your kindness and insight.
I love your wine fountain image.
In my profession, as a uniformed Judge Advocate (28 years Air Force Reserves, retired 2093, Lt Col), and civilian (GS-905-15) with Navy General Counsel (retired 2016 with combined federal service of 41 years), the United States had associated me with some of the finest persons, professionals, anywhere.
(Armando speaks only for himself. The Navy and Air Force speak only through their own, official channels.)
So to see America persecuting and targeting minorities is excruciating.
The Church’s abuse is a deeply rooted rot. Jean-Jacques Rousseau reveals some of it in his 18th c. „Confessions“.
it is truly an agony.
Patris, We do what we can.
We speak up.
A Nun I was quite fond of was shocked when, relying on exposés of the Houston Chronicle, I told Sister, „I give bishops always the respect they have earned, which for 90% of them means, about the level of respect you would render to a felon“
Sister excitedly whispered, „May God have mercy on you!“
I don‘t think Sister was aware of the overwhelming nature of the abuse, for her response was of innocent shock.
Please understand, this is a very good, fine and loving Nun.
We do what we can.
We protest.
We speak up.
Of course, we vote.
We join the ACLU, the NAACP.
We support advocacy groups for immigrants.
We emphasize dignity and due process of law for each person, with no exceptions.
Thank you, Patris, for friendship and the sharing of core values of humanity and sisterly love for each person.
Dear Armand. You speak for millions, without exaggeration. We must seek out justice as we were raised to understand it. In classrooms and with parents who clearly saw the path we not only espouse and attempt to live. It is one that unlike the majority of social systems in what was deemed the old world welcomes the stranger to our table, grasps our common humanity - and know through experience that combining our strength is the reason this imperfect country we inhabit have achieved what success we have economically. A very self serving take, I know. Though many of us also know our embracing of the arts and cultures our parents brought here make life taste better, speak truer, create art and deeply confront the philosophical underpinnings of those freedom that emerged and still emerge.
ACLU, Democracy Docket, Civil Liberties Union.. and the NAACP - together make this country stronger, educate and lift up the concept of community, cooperation and those benefits that flow from all of these
You and I are friends I think, and there are so many others, yes?
Dear Patris, Emphatically, You and I are friends.
You state exactly the right points and awaken the hope that with Millions, Due Process and Humanity, the human dignity of each person, with no exceptions, will be The Law of the Land.
As you well point out, the ACLU, NAACP, Democracy Docket and allied organizations are bulwarks of Due Process of Law.
Perseverance is a marathon.
Together here dear Armand 🙏