9 posts tagged “religion”
“Pope Benedict XVI says football has a crucial role to play in teaching young people the important lessons of life - honesty, solidarity and fraternity.”
But the Pope seemed to have forgotten to mention the ‘important lessons’ football gives to the masses on the virtuous value of ,
‘intra group antagonism’,
‘depreciating the significance of oneself via vicarious identification’,
‘aggression and competition’,
‘inter-national antagonism’,
‘another being appreciated or depreciated by group identification as opposed to content of character’,
‘allowing one’s attention to be deviated from the national elite and locating it in the inter-national scene as opposed to the local one’,
‘its value as a cathartic vent to allay the negative consequences of the masses significance as nothing other than cogs and wheels in a machinery geared toward the aggrandizement of another’……….
That said, i'm not against football per se. Rather, it is our failure to complement a divisive pastime with pastimes that elicit equal or more fervour that are universalist in nature that renders the former 'deadly' in its socio-psychological impact.
Perhaps the Holy Books of Sociology and Psychology ought to be added between the 'Old' and 'New'. That might help prevent catholic clerics from supporting wholly non-catholic(non-universalist) pastimes. The failure to do this basically prefixes, 'sectarian', into the (sexist) phrase, 'brotherhood of man'. Obviously, the Pope doesn't see the seams on the ball.
Amen
ed-infinitum
singapore malaysia hong kong thailand india taiwan japan asia uk australia philosophy life culturereligion christianity catholicism pope football nationalism sociology psychology
My opposition to the contemporary observance of Halloween is founded on the following,
The counterposition of the idea of Good and Evil for serious consideration is diluted by tainting the traditional symbols of evil with ‘fun’ amongst impressionable juveniles. What counterpositional symbols independent of top-down definition are they left with, I ask.
The role of ‘symbols’ as ‘primers’ or inciters of thought cannot be understated – comprises what I term the perspectival infrastructure that determines attitudes, behaviour, aspirations, etc. It is, in themselves, the most significant of reminders that there is an alternative way of looking at things other than that pushed forth as Truth by the mainstream media and powers, or, that there is such a thing as counterposition itself apart from what we are billboard-led to think ‘cool’ or otherwise. In other words, with objective and independent symbols of Good and Evil in existence, we might be incited to question after what we have been led to believe is Good or Evil - what Plato might call 'archetypes'.
So long as these symbols exist independently, one may stand an increased chance of going past these symbolic thought-provokers and inquire after their meaning and continuing relevance in one’s personal and ‘modern’ life despite the pronouncements of us-against-them or this-is-fashionable-and-that-is-not preachers. But, for most, to go past these symbols would require the existence of these symbols in their pure forms, untainted by allusion or association to ‘fun’. Thus, to dilute these symbols is to relegate and confine the consideration of Good and Evil to one’s media-led ‘personal’ penchants and proclivities – or, in contemporary terms, what’s ‘cool’ and ‘uncool’.
This observation
(Halloween) may be seen as a significant part or consequence of the ‘modernist’
movement that effects the dilution of all counterpositional symbols and
presents all opposition to this movement as Evil in itself. Just as their counterparts in ‘Christendom’
had profited much from being guardians of the traditional idea of
counterposition by casting it as a war between their idea of sin and virtue, whilst taking on the persona of the
latter, the ecclesiastics of the ‘modern’ faith are basically doing the same
except that in this case, they have synonymised themselves with virtue and will
view as a sin any proposition, such as this article, that attempts to maintain
the independence of the
counterpositional idea of Good and Evil. However, it must be said that whilst the elite of 'Christendom' did profit much from being arbiters of Good and Evil, the independence and the counterpositional idea of Good and Evil was kept alive as the saints and sinners illustrating either was not a part of the Church itself. The Church could only hope to found their power and privilege by association with these symbols and could not completely usurp or replace them unlike that witnessed in 'modern' times where the symbols comprising Good and Evil are determined by the Powers-that-be. On could still claim to take the position of The Christ or The Buddha in opposition to The Church or Temple.
In sum,
The contemporary observation of Halloween, in part, plays a significant role in incorporating the portentious minds of the young by weaning them off the independence of their sceptical tendencies and bringing about a goodness-of-fit between their future perceptions of Good and Evil with those of the 'modern' Powers-that-be via the first step of getting rid of the independent and counterpositional existence of Good and Evil.
To keep the
counterpositional idea of Good and Evil independent and untainted by just-for-a-laugh
‘good fun’ is to keep alive skepticism in the face of The System(‘the Father’)
and The Corporation(‘the Son’) and The Ethos(‘the Holy Ghost’) engendered by
them.
The Root of All Evil finds its Incubatory Refuge in that which is Perceived to be Good.
ed-infinitum
halloween culture good evil good and evil philosophy society religion psychology sociology christianity buddhism hinduism islam malaysia singapore india hong kong philippines
“Tibet Leader Accepts Top US Medal
The Dalai
Lama has been awarded a Congressional Gold Medal - the top US civilian honour - in a move that has
infuriated China.
George W Bush attended the ceremony in Washington, the first time a sitting US president has appeared in public with the exiled Tibetan leader.
Chinese state media had warned it would "cast a shadow" over ties with the US.
Beijing described it as a "gross interference in China's internal affairs".”
Firstly, I fail to see any honour in receiving a ‘congressional gold medal’ from the so-called ‘greatest nation on earth’. Quite patronizing. ‘Tis not unlike a child awarding her sage-master for doing a good job.
The granting of awards effects a two-fold recognition…
…whereby the greater the status of the recipient – provided s/he accepts it – the greater becomes the award-giver in the eyes of the masses (same applies to academy/oscar/grammy awards.) If this continues, as it unfortunately has – with even Pope John Paul II being short-sighted enough to accept this dubious accolade from an equally dubious source – not only is the US validated in the specific sense, as in its implied claim to appreciate virtue via the granting of awards to those who's business is supposed to be in the celebration of virtue, but in the generic sense as well where it can be generally viewed as a nation guided by virtue. Thus, it's past, present and future actions will elicit less reflexive resistance and scrutiny by the global mass of thus-created 'fans'. This is further amplified by awards to globally recognised spiritual leaders whose congregation spans nations. In consequence, alternative streams of thought and consciousness, along with its adherents, are incorporated, departmentalised, and lobotomised within The Corporation. The 'Devil's' way is not a foolish one. It is a way that accesses the pathways to a persons soul via roads paved by those or that s/he cherishes.
Thus, the myth
of the US
being ‘the greatest nation on earth’ is reinforced and perpetuated.
With time, such awards basically amplify the ‘celebrity’ status of both, and their status in a thus-perspectivally malformed public begins to have less and less to do with the intrinsic worth of what they have to say or do, or what they have failed to say or do, and more with the frequency with which they are bathed, and thus ‘transfigured’, in the hallowed glow of an American-orchestrated spotlight. There is a significant difference between a ‘thank you’ gift and a ‘good job’ award. In the former is appreciation, in the latter, and in this instance, condescension. I’ve often been inclined to say,
“Too much time on the pew, and not enough time in non-ecclesiastical libraries, turns one into the pawn of a 'devil' who thrives on the ‘good works’ of those who keep their eyes toward the heavens and mind not the pitfalls on the road”.
Didn’t you know that The Devil is an academic with Phds in all subjects?
In this, it can be thus argued, that both the Dalai Lama and Pope John Paul are unwittingly guilty of taking awards from the nemesis of those Gods they think they are terrestrial satellites of. And in this, they have opened the trapdoor to hell at the foot of the stairway to Heaven.
Thou shall not judge till thou art qualified to judge
If thou still doth judge
And draw the validity of thy judgment from thy prominence in unrelated matters
Thou shall contract the criteria via which judgment ought to be made
And, as a consequence, create swooning fans in place of a future judicious jury
Secondly, the Chinese ought to be
reminded that ‘gross interference in China’s internal affairs’ is not an
‘argument’ and simply a paraphrasing of ‘mind your own damn business!’. But, they are not to be faulted for
confounding a juvenile rant for an argument.
After all, when we consider the fact that the Chinese Imperium thrives
on mass ignorance-hence-subservience, their reasoning faculties would be quite
underdeveloped given the lack of critical opposition. Generic intelligence is, after all, developed
by intelligent challenge. Where the
latter is detained-without-trial, shot-with-little ceremony, or
beaten-to-a-pulp-in-public-streets, the former suffers severe compromise. It is no wonder that it is those nations that
abide by such methods of perpetuating (mis)rule that do not seem to be able to forward more than, ‘gross interference in internal affairs!’ whilst confusing it for an argument as the only paltry cover
for an infernal state of affairs.
ed-infinitum
reference:
'Mayan', in the title, derived from the Hindu/Buddhist term Maya, meaning 'illusion', 'temptation', 'mammon', amongst others.
on Pope John Paul's congressional gold medal
“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season….
And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison…
Revelations [chapter] 20
“On Friday night, the white-robed Pope led rites at the Colosseum, the ancient Roman amphitheatre. The ceremonies commemorate the suffering and death by crucifixion of Jesus Christ…
On Saturday night, the Pope will celebrate Easter midnight mass in St Peter's Basilica.
As the mass begins, the huge darkened building will be suddenly flooded with light symbolising the resurrection of Christ.”bbc: Pilgrims mark easter week in Rome
Why do you seek Him where he is
not to be found? In Rome?
He is not there. He is to be
found amongst the poor and suffering across the world - victims of your apathy. Light your candles there and look askance at
that which creates them. And then,
finally, will the rock be rolled aside from the mouth of the tomb and the resurrection
of the Christ will be nigh. Till then,
he still writhes on the cross.
Hypocrites and fools.
note: I do not support violent revolution, only critical introspection.
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The following are excerpts from news items appearing on the BBC website pertaining to the issue of secularism and religious symbolism. Ed's thoughts follow.
“Williams joins faith symbols row
The Archbishop of has entered the Muslim veil debate by saying people should be free to wear visible religious symbols.
Dr Rowan Williams said aiming for a society where no symbols such as veils, crosses, sidelocks or turbans would be seen was "politically dangerous".
It would treat the state as a "central licensing authority" which creates public morality, he told the Times.
The Bishop of Southwark, the Right Rev Tom Butler, said Dr Williams had provided a "helpful perspective".
"Religious symbols add to the richness of our society and we should not be too influenced by those who push such symbols to excess," he said. ”
bbc: William joins faith symbols row
“UK Christians 'suffer for faith'
More than one in five Christians in the faces discrimination in their local communities because of their faith, a survey for a BBC programme suggests.
"There is an aggressive secularist agenda that says it's OK to support any group ending in 'ism', but it's not OK to support anything connected to Christianity."
Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, who is a Catholic, said Christians must decide whether to "fight back or take it".
"My own belief is that we should stand together and fight this discrimination."”
bbc: UK Christians
suffer for their Faith
aside: Oh yes, there
may be discrimination in the UK ,
but nobody keeps mum about it. Reason
rules the evolution of rules, most of
the time, in the UK.
The Value of exposure
to, and embracing Difference (true ‘secularism’)..
...lies in its ability to forestall
Indifference in the face of novelty.
This undermines any inclination towards a myriad of bigotries as ‘different’/'weird' is not immediately and subconsciously equated with ‘undesirable’ or ‘discountable’ simply because our existing formulae for comprehending reality cannot be utilised to readily explain or understand it. Such a people will be afforded and enriched by the perspectives of peoples from many walks of life, and, as a consequence, learn the art of contradistinguishing phenomena in multifarious ways and give requisite attention to the details that comprise and interconnect them. Such a people will be at the forefront of creativity and intellectual vibrancy for at the core of these invaluable traits lie a mind appreciative of the detailed stitches and sinews comprising the tapestry of life. Thus, they who take ethnocentric pride in their culture whilst according less attention and public visibility to those of ‘others’, will invariably become a stupid race of people. Such a people are to be feared as they will countenance no ‘other way’ other than ‘their own’.
Related article
by Gadgit : Vive la Difference!
uk malaysia singapore hong kong india australia usa culture islam christianity religion secularism
“Muslims don't
drink alcohol. Hindus don't eat beef. However, in singapore, they don't try to
prohibit non-Muslims or non-Hindus from consuming alcohol or beef. Why?
Because the freedom of religion exists in singapore. The first aspect of this
freedom is that each of us is free to practise our own faith. The second
aspect, which follows logically, is that we shouldn't impose our own faith on
others.”
You mean the freedom of religion exists so long as you don't exhibit your religious affiliation in places of learning don’t you. I thought that is where the significance of appreciating difference and the value of difference is supposed to be learnt under the supervisory guidance of allegedly intelligent teachers? The latter proscription turns the former into a misconception my friend.
Where one is
forced to comply with the dictates of secularism at the expense of one’s faith,
and especially where the ideal of secularism is enriched and validated by the
infusion of other ways of seeing things, secularism moves from being a watchdog
of perspectival freedom to being an arrogant arbiter of the right way of
thought. Where the adherents of a
particular faith are not allowed to exhibit their religious affiliation in
schools, what we see is the imposition of the belief of ‘religious secularists’
(those who disrespect the beliefs of all whilst practicing their own secular
faith of intolerance in the face of difference – their motto is, ‘No faith is
better than Any Faith’) on 'secular religionists'.(those who respect the beliefs
of all whilst practicing their own faith).
A classic case is the banning of the hijab
in French universities. This casts the latter, in the eyes of the ever-observant youth, that they are undesirable - especially when non-muslims come 'as is' and do not set aside their traditional religious vestments when going to school. To ask another to do that is to forward their customs as 'undesirable' and one's own as 'normal'. If one does not conform to this, one is viewed as a 'troublemaker' - which in singapore is a catch-all word for anyone who asks 'why' instead of 'how high' when told to 'jump'. What do you think happens when these
young’uns graduate to the economic sphere and have learnt that something is not
appropriate simply because some party says it is not. If they, and the ‘adults’ around them, are so
docile and apathetic as to not question it, how do you think they are going to react to
difference in the work arena? - and this is especially exacerbated where a people practice a culture that values tradition for tradition sake. Where
difference is depreciated in one’s early years by seemingly 'intelligent' adults, it is usually discriminated against when the children move on to ‘adulthood’ as one learns to appreciate homogeneity for its own sake, discount novelty and, via these, learn not to focus on details that contradistinguish since contradistinction itself is viewed as a 'no no'.
Secularism ought
not to be a fortress keeping out disparate faiths. Rather, secularism ought to include within
its bosom the faiths of all. Thus,
secularism is validated as such. All else is an
affront to it. I say this for the
perspectival good of
and any other nation seeking to do right by its inhabitants and seeking to
expand its creative and intellectual wealth.
Take it or leave it.
I for one,
embrace difference for it affords me many unique vantage points in life to
experience life. I am, what you can
call, perspective-hungry, as I’m most cognizant of the fact that what I know
emerges from those few perspectives that I am in possession of, and the more
perspectives I add to my perspectival arsenal, the more I will know. That is what precedes an open-eyed
edsperience of life.
Amen.
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"If it really were the most important archaeological discovery in history, the point of truth came with very little song or dance. There was no drum roll or fanfare, just the sweeping aside of black felt drapes to reveal a pair of simple stone boxes sitting side by side.
But for the panel of film-makers, theologians and statisticians at 's public library yesterday, this really was the moment. As James Cameron, the director of the film Titanic who has lent his name to the project, said: "It doesn't get bigger than this".
from Guardian - is this really the last resting place of Jesus, Mary Magdalene - and their son?
I never cared much for such
'discoveries' – unless such findings could be used to prove or disprove beliefs
and aid in reorienting humanity towards a greater truth.
So what if this was the Tomb of Christ, Mary Magdalene and daughter/son. Well, I suppose it might increase tourism in the region and see the production of lots of little replicas of Jesus’ tomb. Because, perhaps, for the masses of ‘devout’ followers of celestialised celebrities, all that really matters is a ‘Jesus was Here!’, a la ‘Kilroy was Here!’, scribble on the wall. In other words, once the deed is done and the accolade won, all that matters is a starry-eyed worship of the person as opposed to an appreciation and emulation of the persona. As western film director James Cameron aptly put into words what might very well be the underlying perspective of the devoted masses, “It doesn’t get bigger than this.” I suppose he had box-office ratings and the ensuing millions to be made in mind. That which is sensational, as opposed to that which is essential, to such simplified minds, is all that matters or has matter. Of course, what is deemed to be ‘sensational’ is dependent on the perspectival and intellectual maturity of the masses. Just as ‘Mother Goose’ and ‘humpty dumpty’ might be ‘sensational’ to children, the discovery of what might be the Christ’s tomb might be sensational to post(but not past)-mother goose minds.
To me, nothing about Christ ‘gets bigger’ than His *13th Commandment – “Love Thy Neighbour as Thyself”. All else, including His bones and where they are interned, is superfluous. It is through such an appreciation that a person is resurrected. Without this s/he languishes in her/is tomb for time immemorial despite it being 'discovered'.
Pilgrimages and Vicarious Worship(via idols, sacred sites, etc) is fine so long as it, in the fashion of ‘reference points’ and not ‘reverential points’, brings you closer to God/s as opposed to such observances substituting spiritual intimacy with the thrill of temporal proximity.
*Matthew chapter 19, verse 19
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