Paul Revere by Cyrus Dallin, North End, Boston

~~~

~~~

Sunday, November 20, 2022

YOUR SUNDAY MOMENT OF ZEN

18 comments:

Les Carpenter said...

As long as dualistic societies and dualism exist the dangers Rev. Doc. Brown highlights will always exist.

Our clinging to cherished attachments (beliefs/things) and our avoiding things we're adverse to (things/beliefs) will insure this.

Dave Dubya said...

Wise words from a Christian who gets it. I had to find what else she had to say.

The difference between progressive and evangelical Christians is made clear by Rev. Dr. Barbara Brown Taylor

“The problem is, many of the people in need of saving are in churches, and at least part of what they need saving from is the idea that God sees the world the same way they do.”
― Barbara Brown Taylor, An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith

“As a general rule, I would say that human beings never behave more badly toward one another than when they believe they are protecting God.”

Mike said...

I like it!

Dave Miller said...

I woke up this morning to the news of another shooting at a place frequented by the LGBTQ community, this time in Colorado Springs. I listened to the reports of this most recent tragedy... another 5 lives lost to senseless gun violence.

In one of those reports I heard an elected official say that the actions of the suspect did not represent the people or the views of people who live in Colorado Springs.

Colorado Springs is the county seat for El Paso County, District 5 in Colorado.

This is the most conservative non-rural area in the state. It was won decisively by Donald Trump in 2020. The GOP has handily won this district for years, this year returning election denier Doug Lamborn to Congress.

It is also the seat of conservative white evangelical Christianity in America, housing Focus on the Family and many other evangelical organizations.

I dare say that contrary to the official I heard in the report on this most recent killing, the shooter perfectly represents the hate, positions and politics of Colorado Springs.

And represents nothing of the Jesus that Rev. Taylor in your post stands for.

Dave Miller said...

RN... yes to the dualism you cite. It leaves no room for negotiation, nuance or grace, and is a poison on today's body politic and civic engagement.

skudrunner said...

Rev, You are assuming that the killers were from that area which has yet to be proven. You also make the accusation that this is faith based which again has not been proven. When a person who runs a christian charity makes accusations/assumptions it is no wonder we are so screwed up.
Comes with the guilty until proven innocent not the other way around.

Dave Dubya said...

Ant-LGBTQ bigots are generally the conservative religious type.

The Colorado Springs gay nightclub shooter is reportedly the grandson of MAGA Republican representative Randy Voepel, who supported the January 6 insurrection.

Dave Miller said...

Skud... as usual, you are guilty of a bit of eisegesis as it relates to my comment.

I went back and of course re read what I wrote.

I disagreed with an elected official in the area who said of the killer, "he didn't represent Colorado Springs."

I made no judgement whatsoever of the shooter as it relates to his guilt. I never said where he was from. What I said was that he does indeed represent the great majority of people of that area, based on their votes for a person and political party that calls for violence, celebrates getting even, demonizes women, people of color, disabled people and of course, the LGBTQ community.

When people excuse hundreds of people who attacked Capitol police, beat them with sticks, poles, fire extinguishers, shields, maced them, bear sprayed them and more, it should come as no surprise when ppl attack a marginalized group and even kill them.

And yet, for some reason, we are indeed surprised.

Dave Miller said...

Dave Dub... I haven't heard that confirmed, but it will not surprise me.

Dave Miller said...

Skud, maybe you should take a look at this too...

Dave Miller said...

And Skud... here's another take...

You see, there's ample evidence to support my position that the politician who claimed the shooter and the shooting did not represent the ppl of Colorado Springs and El Paso County, that she was just plain wrong.

The evidence is in plain sight. El Paso County, District 5, Colorado Springs, is home to some of the most conservative voters and ppl in the state. People in this case who felt they had a right to ignore red flag laws because it infringed on the rights of, literally crazy people, to carry a gun. And ultimately walk into Club Q and kill people.

You got triggered by my post because you are fundamentally unable to see any problems with conservatism as it now is practiced in the US.

These deaths are the door steps of conservatives and people like you who will not join the great majority of America and try to prevent these senseless tragedies.

Les Carpenter said...

Conservatives of the present era have reified their archaic views to the point of absurdity. But for them it's the majority of Americans who are out of touch, not them.

Anonymous said...

Remind me again, what is God's will.

ralph said...

The problem with your point the finger at conservatives is the shooter said he was non binary. I know few if any non binary people who are conservative. Les hate and more hope

Dave Dubya said...


No matter how this is framed, the issue is STILL weapons of mass death in the hands of disturbed people.

If the shooter was not conservative, he was the product/victim of a hateful conservative bigot for a father.

The Colorado shooter’s dad on finding out his son murdered people: “They started telling me about the incident, a shooting... And then I go on to find out it’s a gay bar. I got scared, ‘Shit, is he gay?’ And he’s not gay, so I said, phew… I am a conservative Republican.” (@CBS8)

The Colorado shooter’s dad: “I praised him for violent behavior really early. I told him it works... You’ll get immediate results.” He then went on to praise the Colorado shooter’s grandpa, a MAGA Republican politician named Randy Voepel who supported the January 6 insurrection.


https://twitter.com/NoLieWithBTC/status/1595519454900805649

Les Carpenter said...

god has will? Remind me exactly as well.

Anonymous said...

Anon7:24pm, as I recall Gd’s plan is the ineffable one.

Ralph, the COS shooter’s lawyers did indeed report that the shooter identifies as non-binary but the shooters’ social media footprint says something else entirely.

And I’m going to point my fingers all over the place because this young man told their family they wanted to be a mass murderer and… nothing. No 72 hour hold for being a danger to oneself or others, no therapy. In fact the whole incident was covered up, most likely by the grandfather as the dad didn’t know the kid was alive.

Yeah, I’m pointing to the COS law enforcement agencies, I’m pointing to the shooters family…. Humans like this aren’t born this way, they are carefully trained. And according to what I’ve been reading, there are more of these ‘lone wolves’ waiting in the wings, ready to go off as they each seek their blaze of glory.

Grey One Talks Sass

Anonymous said...

Sounds like our politicians need to step up, it may cost them a few million to do their job so it will take guts they do not have.
They could pass a law where you have to register all gun sales and require a picture ID to vote. That would piss off both sides