tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post3415989903616948631..comments2023-06-15T09:13:45.467-04:00Comments on Liberty's Torch: Odd Ducks: A Kinda-Sorta RuminationFrancis W. Porrettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05862584203772592282noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-61139587393799932872015-09-03T03:30:27.417-04:002015-09-03T03:30:27.417-04:00Forgive me for waxing scatological, but who cleane...Forgive me for waxing scatological, but who cleaned up after old Simeon during his years of "elevated" consciousness? Were the slaves/followers who brought him food and drink responsible for cleaning up his dung and urine? Must have been quite an inspiration to others to observe him urinating and defecating from on high. A real class act.Reg Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14099612693763932005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-13528573545622201892015-09-01T17:09:44.709-04:002015-09-01T17:09:44.709-04:00I can understand why the "early church" ...I can understand why the "early church" wanted to include Paul and other texts in the New Testament. And even why they may have chosen to incorporate pagan or other religions' festival days. . . and to proclaim saints and martyrs to help people through horrible times<br /><br />But times DO change. Let's assume God's message through the Redeemer does not. . . <br /><br />I can't help but think that a modern Pope speaking with the infallible voice at his command might revisit Paul's "stuff" without having to tell priests they can absolve abortion for a year starting on what must be seen as an arbitrary date.<br /><br />I'm left with the impression that, while Jesus did proclaim Peter and his Church as "the rock," all the councils that added chapters to the gospel, and all the popes who added their "stuff" were not only NOT Peter, they were not speaking through the Holy Spirit.<br /><br />It's true that the 4 original gospels can be read different ways. But, given history and the infallibility of man, I do not believe the additions and interpretations have cleared things up or made them better.<br /><br />Those 10 commandments were clear enough that we can teach them to 5 year olds. Everything else seems like wriggle room, doesn't it?<br /><br />I've broken all but one of them, I think. But I think all the stuff about confession and even the Eucharist is "Woo-Woo." That is, it's great if the Holy Spirit came to you, during that. And yeah, it's great if God and Christ exist across time during the Eucharist.<br /><br />But every moment in time *IS* different. Maybe I lied yesterday, and ogled the next door neighbor's wife this morning. But *NOW* is a new moment and I can choose to do what I have been taught and KNOW is right this time. All that stuff about confession is just a way to get people to listen to their conscience again without the nagging idea of, "Well, I screwed up once and it seemed ok, why not do it again?"<br /><br />This morning I was laying in bed and didn't want to get up. I knew I was being cowardly. Then, in an unrelated context, I was reminded to say, "Thank you." That very thought "made" me hop out of bed. Just recognizing that "right thing" for a moment gave me - not the courage or duty - but the desire to do the right thing.<br /><br />I think an early episode of "The West Wing" had the President's adviser ay something like, "Act as if you have faith and it'll be given to you."<br /><br />The miracle is this life and our place in it. I won't say Christ isn't real. And I won't say the gospels are fantasy. But popes and doctrine can be inimical to the things they profess to espouse. It's really hard to find fault with the 10 commandments, however. Particularly the shortened version you've often quoted.<br /><br />There are no miracles or wonders - or even hope and a promise of justice in afterlife - in those commandments. The commandments just make good sense. The wonder, hope, miracles and justice are what WE can experience, create, espouse and hope for.<br /><br />Tim Turnerfurballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15779319678886254479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-37894424448864539752015-09-01T16:04:23.051-04:002015-09-01T16:04:23.051-04:00Weet: That's one plausible interpretation, tho...<b><i>Weet:</i></b> That's one plausible interpretation, though there are others. However, according to Christ, we're supposed to leave all moral judgment to God.<br /><br /><b><i>Pascal:</i></b> These days, most of what I care about is getting to Mass in the morning, losing my extra 15 pounds, and whatever <i>BLEEP!</i>ing novel I'm struggling to complete. Besides, as I <i>started out</i> "out of the world," there isn't much further "out" I could be driven.<br /><br /><b><i>Arthur:</i></b> I hold no brief for old Simeon, but he did manage to stay up there for more than 30 years, which is probably still the record. As for using our gifts to the hilt, I'm with you, which is a big part of my reason for rejecting the self-flagellators, self-mortifiers, and other aficionados of death-in-life.Francis W. Porrettohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05862584203772592282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-67732063524026439522015-09-01T14:37:44.377-04:002015-09-01T14:37:44.377-04:00Was sitting on the top of a pole the only thing he...Was sitting on the top of a pole the only thing he was good at?<br /><br />Didn't God admonish us to use the gifts he gave us to the best of our abilities?Arthurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09289639279717534292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-19848963499773668642015-09-01T14:02:11.379-04:002015-09-01T14:02:11.379-04:00When our Curmudgeon Emeritus writes "what fas...When our Curmudgeon Emeritus writes "what fascinates me about Simeon Stylites" isn't there also a bit of professional courtesy involved? :D<br /><br />FWIW, I always viewed your moniker as tongue in cheek, because you are far more caring than you often let on. You may not be aware of it, but it shows up most when you've been criticized. Is it saintly that it doesn't drive you out of the world as it has done to others?Pascalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00303025432356543062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-72839855824885197852015-09-01T13:57:57.422-04:002015-09-01T13:57:57.422-04:00Beginning with an aside: I'd always thought t...Beginning with an aside: I'd always thought that canonization was based on Matthew 16:18:<br /><br />"And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven."<br /><br />I'm not saying I've reflected on it deeply and can defend it theologically.Weetabixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06106614092497408546noreply@blogger.com