The serious and sometimes satirical reflections of a priest, poet, and pilgrim —
who knowing he has not obtained the goal, presses on in a Godward direction.
The motto on the Compasrose emblem of the Anglican Communion states a timeless concept from John the Divine: "The Truth will make you free." (John 8:32) It is good to remember, in light of an increasing number of assertions and asseverations concerning that Communion, that the inverse is also true: "The Big Lie shall make you slaves."
Tobias Stanislas Haller BSG
“a clear-sighted companion.... If you are passionate about the vitality of today’s church, I encourage you to accompany him on his mystagogical excursion into the liturgical landscape. You will rediscover a familiar place rife with fresh provisions planted by the God who longs to feed our deepest hungers and hopes.” —Jay Koyle, chair, Faith, Worship and Ministry of The Anglican Church of Canada
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And as someone else, perhaps trollish in nature, is sure to come along and point out shortly Father T, what for you and me is the truth, for our opponents is the big lie, and the vice versa.
So we remain in the same "crucified place".
Father Harris has an interesting point about "listening" in the latter part of his post regarding the Incarnation of God. Just have a care for the comments from the Roman Catholic troll masquerading as a priest, Michael.
Thanks for the heads up, Dahveed. I am to some extent forearmed, in that I am not one of those who adopts the notion of "pluriform truth" but actually do believe that some things are true and other false -- even as I acknowledge that certainty often eludes us. Thus I have no difficulty in holding firm on the notion that what I think to be true is true in an objective sense, and that my opponents are wrong. Thus I am unimpressed by their "reassertions" -- since I think they got it wrong the first time around. I remain hopeful that if we remain steadfast in proclaiming the truth (not just "our" truth) it will prevail in the end.
The chief problem these days (you see it clearly in the increasingly misnamed "news" area) is that Opinion seems to be displacing Verifiable Facts as the criterion for judgment. There is nothing new about this, but technology is a two edged sword, capable both of spreading falsehoods and exposing them. Thus we must remain vigilant against those who lie, about themselves and others.
It seems to me that the "truth" is that loving Godde and indiscriminately loving and caring for each other yields a life which is worth living. As said elsewhere but attributed to Rabbi Hillel, all the rest is commentary hence neither true nor false. Opinionating may be worthwhile in one sense or another but, to me, the two commandments summarize the Bible best and that is the only truth I need. Why waste all the time and effort to "prove" this or that when we should be trying to make the world a better place for ALL, not just for those of whom we approve?
Thanks, PsPiskie! This is, for me, an important marker of truth -- consistency with the teaching of Jesus to love, not judge. So much energy seems to be spent on the latter, not nearly enough on the former. IF we could get past the notion of "agreement" as the basis for our life together -- agreement on some "idea" that is outside ourselves -- and instead simply love each other as God loved and loves us, I think we would be much better off. "The heart must bear the greater part."
Just a thought: In my life, if agreement was a precondition for loving, the numbers of those whom I love would be greatly reduced.
Thanks, Mimi. This is one reason the Covenant (really a contract) is so much less than it should be in one direction, while being more than it should be in another. It reflects little of the unconditional love of God -- or marriage, or even robust friendship -- by establishing conditions for the termination or reduction of the relationship. Even to mention "relational consequences" is to forgo any likeness to a real Covenant of Love! It is Satanic (based on what we can get out of each other rather than what we can do for each other).
It is Satanic (based on what we can get out of each other rather than what we can do for each other).
There, someone finally named it. Thank you, Tobias.
Thus I have no difficulty in holding firm on the notion that what I think to be true is true in an objective sense, and that my opponents are wrong.
With your Big Brain, Tobias, I see how that M.O. could work...
...I, however, to Get Through Life, need to rely on a necessary crutch: "Of Course I Could Be Wrong."
Amen, JCF. The OCICBW is always there in the background, and I try to keep it in mind! I am always willing to accept challenges, and I've changed my mind on many things over the years. Still, I do believe that there is an objetive reality about which one can hold correct or incorrect opinions.
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