#334: Lamentation – “The Wrong Juice”

“Terrific energy is expended—civilisations are built up—excellent institutions devised; but each time something goes wrong. Some fatal flaw always always brings the selfish and cruel people to the top and it all slides back into misery and ruin. In fact, the machine conks. It seems to start up all right and runs a few yards, and then it breaks down. They are trying to run it on the wrong juice. That is what Satan has done to us humans.”

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Lewis, C. S.. Mere Christianity (p. 55). Pomodoro Books. Kindle Edition.C

#314: Mayday Monday - SCC (et al.) - RE-ED SESSION SEVENTEEN

Further to the Déjà Vu Times post: Open Directive to the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC)From Their Supervisors¹ and the directive to tune into Mayday – The Human Condition every Monday for re-education vlogs, blogs, books, etc. featuring diverse thinkers: here is Session Seventeen for the SCC, the SCJ- Ontario, the CPO, et al.:

“All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree. All these aspirations are directed toward ennobling man's life, lifting it from the sphere of mere physical existence and leading the individual towards freedom. It is no mere chance that our older universities developed from clerical schools. Both churches and universities — insofar as they live up to their true function — serve the ennoblement of the individual. They seek to fulfill this great task by spreading moral and cultural understanding, renouncing the use of brute force.

“The essential unity of ecclesiastical and secular institutions was lost during the 19th century, to the point of senseless hostility. Yet there was never any doubt as to the striving for culture. No one doubted the sacredness of the goal. It was the approach that was disputed.”*

Re-ed Assignment:

1. Journal your thoughts about the above quote by Albert Einstein.
2. Write a pro and con assessment of why coerced re-education does or does not constitute a form of “brute force.”
3. Explain “by what authority” a person or group can direct another to follow a directive that is contrary to the conscience of that other person.
4. Explain if and how coercion of conscience or thought serves “the ennoblement of the individual.”

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* "Moral Decay" (1937); Later published in Out of My Later Years (1950)
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein

#235: Light and Dark

Self-reflection: Do I have a light that shines in darkness?

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.*

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.**

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*New Testament | John 1:5
**New Testament | John 3:19-21

#230: “Changed From Their Carnal and Fallen State”

Self-Reflection: Have I been changed?

25 And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;
26 And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.
27 I say unto you, unless this be the case, they must be cast off; and this I know, because I was like to be cast off.
28 Nevertheless, after wading through much tribulation, repenting nigh unto death, the Lord in mercy hath seen fit to snatch me out of an everlasting burning, and I am born of God.
29 My soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity. I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of God. My soul was racked with eternal torment; but I am snatched, and my soul is pained no more.
30 I rejected my Redeemer, and denied that which had been spoken of by our fathers; but now that they may foresee that he will come, and that he remembereth every creature of his creating, he will make himself manifest unto all.*

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*Book of Mormon | Mosiah 27:25-30 (bold emphasis added).

#214: “Liberty Hath a Sharp and Double Edge”

Reflection: What does our society merit? What does it need?

“For stories teach us, that liberty sought out of season, in a corrupt and degenerate age, brought Rome itself to a farther slavery: for liberty hath a sharp and double edge, fit only to be handled by just and virtuous men; to bad and dissolute, it becomes a mischief unwieldy in their own hands: neither is it completely given, but by them who have the happy skill to know what is grievance and unjust to a people, and how to remove it wisely; what good laws are wanting, and how to frame them substantially, that good men may enjoy the freedom which they merit, and the bad the curb which they need.”*

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* The Prose Works of John Milton, Volume II, Book III. (1847) | bold emphasis in copy at 
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Milton

#208: Falling Seeds

Self-Reflection: Where do I tend to fall?

3 ... Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side,
5 Some fell upon stony places, ...
7 And some fell among thorns; ...
8 But other fell into good ground, ...
9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

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New Testament | Matthew 13:3-9

#182: A Glimpse of What is Possible

15 And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.
16 And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.
17 There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of –ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God.
18 And how blessed were they! For the Lord did bless them in all their doings; yea, even they were blessed and prospered until an hundred and ten years had passed away; and the first generation from Christ had passed away, and there was no contention in all the land.*

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*Book of Mormon | 4 Nephi 1:15-18

#173: “Mischief is in their hearts”

Reflection: Do we see this in or world today?

3 Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.

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Old Testament | Psalms 28:3

#081: “Exceeding Great and Precious Promises”?

Self-Reflection: Am I striving to escape “the corruption that is in this world”?

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

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New Testament | 2 Peter 1:3-4