In some quarters, the birthday of V.I. Lenin is being marked today. If you do not object to any honor for Lenin,think again. Why should one object? Here's why and whether you are a conservative or a liberal, or, most especially, a socialist (as in a non-communist socialist):
Bad blood after all these years as between socialism (which is neither atheistic nor theistic nor Christian, and so on ...) over the absolutism of Marxist Leninism. Had Democracy or even representative democracy been allowed to proceed in Russia of 1917, communism might, even if atheistic and anti-religion in its politics, have had some legitimacy in my eyes.
The revolution preceded the crimes of Lenin. The revolution led to the Republic and most assuredly was dead with the execution of Karensky. Sad, very sad.
Just so you know that for years and years I prayed the Rosary for the conversion of Russian which was by state decree atheistic and persecuted persons of religious conviction. Not sure if God can be said to have currently prevailed in the modern Russian state. Today I again pray the Rosary but for a different reason.
What time has taught many of us is that Russia in its very soul lives or dies if the center (the center being the power brokers in the Kremlin) does not hold. Unfortunately for the Russian people and all the bullied ethnic minorities of Russia and its client states, the center has time and time again trashed minorities, especially the individual who says emphatically to the state: NO! The tsars did it, Lenin did it, Stalin most assuredly did it, and others, and sadly Mr. Putin, the old KGB man does too.
Absolutism and statism scare the bejesus out of liberals such as myself, and pardon me if I retch at any idea of celebrating the birthday of Vlad!
Liberals and conservatives who do not know the dangers of statism of any stripe scare the bejesus out of me (as in fascists, nazis, and communists to name a few). Limited government gives people hope, and legitimate government requires of itself the reasonable and necessary curtailment of state power.
Communism in control of the state has proven again and again that it is its own worst enemy for no greater reason than that it prevails by becoming absolutist and dictatorial and extremist. China carries the banner of vested interest in capitalism today. In that sense it provides for now a future for its communist regime (at least if one ignors the human rights abuses rampant in its realm). Capitalism and communism are not strange bedfellows anymore than it was for the Nazi and the Fascists and the Phalangists.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Once again welling up in me is such joy
The fact each human being has an experience of God (even if termed atheistic as a "selfie") does not in fact warrant the existence of a knowing God, creator God.
In Christian understanding, we are made in the image and likeness of God and can not be fully realized as humans we are created to be but for and by the grace of God in becoming other Christs both in our submission to the Father God's will and in the humility of our service to our fellow human beings.
Joy for me is the tattletale on the riggings of our little sail boats which tells us Christians that we are truly onto something in living the life of Christ. If one has need of such joy one is indeed experiencing the joy of relationship with God.
Please do not think I espouse a notion that the only valid experience of God is Judaeo-Christian, but the searcher after connectedness with God who happens upon the Gospels and the Bible would be fortunate indeed to try it on for its authenticity. Jesus, just a closer walk with thee . . .
Public Domain version of the hymn "Just a Closer Walk with Thee":
I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.
Refrain:
Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
Through this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.
When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.
On line source for hymn: http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Just_a_Closer_Walk_with_Thee/
In Christian understanding, we are made in the image and likeness of God and can not be fully realized as humans we are created to be but for and by the grace of God in becoming other Christs both in our submission to the Father God's will and in the humility of our service to our fellow human beings.
Joy for me is the tattletale on the riggings of our little sail boats which tells us Christians that we are truly onto something in living the life of Christ. If one has need of such joy one is indeed experiencing the joy of relationship with God.
Please do not think I espouse a notion that the only valid experience of God is Judaeo-Christian, but the searcher after connectedness with God who happens upon the Gospels and the Bible would be fortunate indeed to try it on for its authenticity. Jesus, just a closer walk with thee . . .
Public Domain version of the hymn "Just a Closer Walk with Thee":
I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.
Refrain:
Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
Through this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.
When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.
On line source for hymn: http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Just_a_Closer_Walk_with_Thee/
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