Credo
"Sign on, young man, and sail with me. The stature of our homeland is no more than the measure of ourselves. Our job is to keep her free. Our will is to keep the torch of freedom burning for all. To this solemn purpose we call on the young, the brave, the strong, and the free. Heed my call, Come to the sea. Come Sail with me." -- John Paul Jones
"Pardon him, Theodotus; he is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature" --George Bernard Shaw, "Caesar and Cleopatra"
"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music."--Friedrich Nietzsche
"A kind Providence has placed in our breasts a hatred of the unjust and cruel, in order that we may preserve ourselves from cruelty and injustice. They who bear cruelty, are accomplices in it. The pretended gentleness which excludes that charitable rancour, produces an indifference which is half an approbation. They never will love where they ought to love, who do not hate where they ought to hate."--Edmund Burke
“You say that it is your custom to burn widows. Very well. We also have a custom: when men burn a woman alive, we tie a rope around their necks and we hang them. Build your funeral pyre; beside it, my carpenters will build a gallows. You may follow your custom. And then we will follow ours.”--General Sir Charles Napier
"Μολὼν λαβέ" -- Leonidas
"Blogito Ergo Sum" -- Neptunus Lex
Deflection and spin. Must be terrible for them to accept that their own “team” would be capable of doing this to them. I almost feel sorry for them – almost. I’m more of the mind that they deserve what they get. You reap what you sow.
Sorry – above comment relates to the Iranian thing. Though it would be interesting to apply it to the Pope’s encyclical. Don’t really want to comment on that directly – would reveal too much about how I really feel about organized religion, and I’m afraid I’d scare people…
Iranian story blaming Brits: I am surprised they didn’t blame it on the Israelis, or us, Savak, the Shah or Salma Rushdie….maybe they are trying to get the Shias in S. Iraq to secede.
2nd story update: What’s wrong with the concept of agape? Don’t get/see any possible connection other than the same BBC.
b2
I’ve always been curious about one aspect of this Papal doctrine – if love between a man and a woman can develop into an unconditional love for Jesus, what about those single people out there? Doomed to Hell just because they can’t get a date? Seems a trifle harsh… Imagine locked outside the gates of Heaven while St Peter and all your married friends are inside, pointing and laughing at you. I mean, it’s alright for the Pope to say this, I’m pretty sure he’s got a seat reserved. Or am I overthinking it?
Chris – valid questions. Though slightly off-topic from this encyclical, what about the idea of procreation? What about people, like my husband and I, who can’t have children? Are we abdicating our responsibilities to procreate just because some genetic twist prevents either of us from having kids? Are we doomed to a negative judgment because we didn’t add more people to the planet?
Now, we’re not Catholic and could care less about this truly. However, my husband’s family is quite devout (I corrupted him I’m afraid…), so it does make me wonder how they might truly feel on this subject. We are the only ones in the family who have no children – do they feel we are being punished because Jim walked away from the Church?
Chris, unless I misread it, I don’t think he’s saying “love between a man and a woman can develop into an unconditional love for Jesus.” I read it as saying that sexual/romantic love (eros) between a husband and wife can develop into the kind of love for each other that Jesus as for us (apage).
Uhoh, lost my typing skills in the last sentence. Should be, “…that Jesus has for us (agape).”
Golly. Didn’t mean for the convo to get so philosophical, so quickly. Such clever, insightful readers.
No. My only point (and a whimsical one at that) was choosing a 72 year old single guy who probably hasn’t had a warm snuggle since Frank Sinatra wore spats to talk about “modern” love was just that teensiest bit ironic.
Is all.
Oh, I see – the love OF Jesus, not the love FOR Jesus – you can understand my confusion as they can often mean the same thing.
And yes Lex – I thought the same thing.
Chris, are you being serious, or snarky? It’s honestly hard to tell.
Yes, the reporter’s phrasing of the issue is awkward, but I’m pretty sure that’s what the Pope meant, as developing agape (unconditional) love for our fellow humans is an important concept in Christianity.
For our community here, I generally try, if there are two possible interpretations of someone’s intentions, to assign the most favorable motivation rather than otherwise.
Of course, Lex.
Sorry if I came off a little short. It’s been a stressful week and so I’m probably quicker to see things negatively than I should be. My apologies, Chris.
FbL – no offense taken. Being Australian means no one ever knows when you’re serious or not. It was a genuine misunderstanding on my part, possibly night shift fatigue induced.