To truly love life and ALL that share life with you is to know the essence and nature of our universe and existence itself. For love is the divine capacity we all share. One with nature and creation, we are, truly one.
Guard against the ego as it loves to create in each of us the belief that we are separate and diferent from others. And make no mistake, the energies and ego beliefs that would separate us are strong in MAGA and in its creator Donald Trump.
Love can and will defeat hate and division ONLY if those who love remain unified against division and hate.
The quality of mercy is not strained; It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: 'T is mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown: His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above this sceptred sway; It is enthronèd in the hearts of kings, It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then show likest God's When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, Though justice be thy plea, consider this, That, in the course of justice, none of us Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy; And that same prayer doth teach us all to render The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much To mitigate the justice of thy plea; Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.
The very essence of Christianity, whether ppl accept it or not is this from the Gospel of John...
"Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
That willingness to me, is how we know a man's heart. Will he, or she, serve others selflessly as this verse suggests? To claim Christianity as your faith, and yet not try to live this out might be the unforgivable sin spoken of in the Bible.
"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law. Love is the law, love under will." Aleister Crowley
There is a mass of information about Crowley but "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law", is the central dictum of his received work, The Book of the Law. This principle is not as one assumes at first glance a license for unchecked indulgence, but rather a mandate for individuals to align their actions with their truest spiritual calling.
Or as we 'kids' like to say it here/now - when someone tells you who they are, believe them.
I studied Crowley's work back in the day. As much as he despised the dogma of traditional religions his priest class fell into the same trap. Adherence to dogma became the prime instead of just a guide which is what started me down the path of energy work instead of having to obtain a high priest or priestess's blessing to do what I do.
Funny - you'd think Pagans would be free from the same dogma which limits current fundamentalists of every religion but nope. Apparently when any layer of intervention is placed between a supplicant and their deity/energy it produces the same results, every time; an entitled priest class which controls whom does and does not get to 'speak' to their deity.
Research is by the Wiki and my own personal lived experience.
The Jewish and Christian Scriptures state that Thou shall not kill. My understanding is it is without exception. So my question is; is it a sin to end a person's life if it is to prevent that person from taking another persons life.
If I saw a Hamas terrorist shooting children or raping women (they did much worse) I would kill him if I could. I don't know what a pastor would say, but I would be perfectly comfortable with that killing.
Love isn't much different to me than belief in God, or a higher power, however one wants to describe it. I feel the presence and just do. I don't need a definition. That being said, fuck Hamas.
Life is impermanent, love is, ultimately impermanent, actually, eveything is impermanent. In fact, no compound phenomena created though cause and effect (dependent origination) is permanent... Space and time are, the permanent aspects of reality.
Hey Les... sorry about the late reply, but I was traveling.
You've hit upon one of those eternal conundrums which can play out in a variety of ways.
1. Self defense... that other person's life being yours. Most ethicists will say the killing of another in self defense is acceptable, thus, not a sin.
2. Capital Punishment... killing a guilty person, as punishment, or so he never leaves prison and kills again. Most conservative Christians will see this as acceptable, and again, not a sin. Liberal Christians and many Catholics disagree, eschewing capital punishment. Some, like myself, take what a Cardinal once called a "coat of life" position, saying all life is sacred, thus capital punishment is off the table.
3. Let's take the Presidential Assassination scenario... I think most people would put this in self defense adjacent, thus, if a person is, or appears to be ready to kill the president, or another, and you can reasonably ascertain that he/she is going to follow through, yes, you can kill that person.
Now here's where it gets messy. The Hebrew Bible/Old Testament says in Leviticus where we have the Ten Commandments, that "Thou shalt not kill". Many conservative Christians take that literally. We should not, except maybe in the above scenarios.
Jesus however, in the most lengthly address we have of his on record, the Sermon on the Mount, flips the script. There he says, and I paraphrase, "You've heard it said thou shalt not kill, but I tell you anyone who calls his brother an idiot is guilty himself of murder/killing."
And this is where I struggle with the Biblical literalists... they will not even consider this passage literally. Because it would convict them.
I tend to believe that we're better people when we choose to err on the side of caution. I think God is saddened anytime we believe it's best to take another life and we should do everything possible not to do so.
14 comments:
Fear lies at the very heart of love, and exhibitions of cowardice/bravery lie in whether one overcomes it, or not.
To love is to be vulnerable, which takes courage.
To truly love life and ALL that share life with you is to know the essence and nature of our universe and existence itself. For love is the divine capacity we all share. One with nature and creation, we are, truly one.
Guard against the ego as it loves to create in each of us the belief that we are separate and diferent from others. And make no mistake, the energies and ego beliefs that would separate us are strong in MAGA and in its creator Donald Trump.
Love can and will defeat hate and division ONLY if those who love remain unified against division and hate.
...is it better to be feared or loved?
The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
'T is mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown:
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthronèd in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much
To mitigate the justice of thy plea;
Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.
- Shakespeare, "Merchant of Venice"
The very essence of Christianity, whether ppl accept it or not is this from the Gospel of John...
"Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
That willingness to me, is how we know a man's heart. Will he, or she, serve others selflessly as this verse suggests? To claim Christianity as your faith, and yet not try to live this out might be the unforgivable sin spoken of in the Bible.
"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law. Love is the law, love under will." Aleister Crowley
There is a mass of information about Crowley but "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law", is the central dictum of his received work, The Book of the Law. This principle is not as one assumes at first glance a license for unchecked indulgence, but rather a mandate for individuals to align their actions with their truest spiritual calling.
Or as we 'kids' like to say it here/now - when someone tells you who they are, believe them.
I studied Crowley's work back in the day. As much as he despised the dogma of traditional religions his priest class fell into the same trap. Adherence to dogma became the prime instead of just a guide which is what started me down the path of energy work instead of having to obtain a high priest or priestess's blessing to do what I do.
Funny - you'd think Pagans would be free from the same dogma which limits current fundamentalists of every religion but nope. Apparently when any layer of intervention is placed between a supplicant and their deity/energy it produces the same results, every time; an entitled priest class which controls whom does and does not get to 'speak' to their deity.
Research is by the Wiki and my own personal lived experience.
GOD BLESS AMERICA
Off topic: An ethical question Dave.
The Jewish and Christian Scriptures state that Thou shall not kill. My understanding is it is without exception. So my question is; is it a sin to end a person's life if it is to prevent that person from taking another persons life.
Exclude the horror of war.
Thank you all for responding to this post. You have all enlightened me.
If I saw a Hamas terrorist shooting children or raping women (they did much worse) I would kill him if I could. I don't know what a pastor would say, but I would be perfectly comfortable with that killing.
What Hamas did was horrific. My position mirrors your own.
Which brings the question, is killing 40, 000 innocent women, children, and non combatant men in response ethical?
The fatal assumption lies in one word, Les. "Innocent".
Desire Street runs from the river. It dead-ends up at Law, Grey One.
Get thee to New Orleans! ;)
Love isn't much different to me than belief in God, or a higher power, however one wants to describe it. I feel the presence and just do. I don't need a definition. That being said, fuck Hamas.
Life is impermanent, love is, ultimately impermanent, actually, eveything is impermanent. In fact, no compound phenomena created though cause and effect (dependent origination) is permanent... Space and time are, the permanent aspects of reality.
Hey Les... sorry about the late reply, but I was traveling.
You've hit upon one of those eternal conundrums which can play out in a variety of ways.
1. Self defense... that other person's life being yours. Most ethicists will say the killing of another in self defense is acceptable, thus, not a sin.
2. Capital Punishment... killing a guilty person, as punishment, or so he never leaves prison and kills again. Most conservative Christians will see this as acceptable, and again, not a sin. Liberal Christians and many Catholics disagree, eschewing capital punishment. Some, like myself, take what a Cardinal once called a "coat of life" position, saying all life is sacred, thus capital punishment is off the table.
3. Let's take the Presidential Assassination scenario... I think most people would put this in self defense adjacent, thus, if a person is, or appears to be ready to kill the president, or another, and you can reasonably ascertain that he/she is going to follow through, yes, you can kill that person.
Now here's where it gets messy. The Hebrew Bible/Old Testament says in Leviticus where we have the Ten Commandments, that "Thou shalt not kill". Many conservative Christians take that literally. We should not, except maybe in the above scenarios.
Jesus however, in the most lengthly address we have of his on record, the Sermon on the Mount, flips the script. There he says, and I paraphrase, "You've heard it said thou shalt not kill, but I tell you anyone who calls his brother an idiot is guilty himself of murder/killing."
And this is where I struggle with the Biblical literalists... they will not even consider this passage literally. Because it would convict them.
I tend to believe that we're better people when we choose to err on the side of caution. I think God is saddened anytime we believe it's best to take another life and we should do everything possible not to do so.
But, is it always possible? Probably not.
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