I like Anna’s analog of gravity, pertaining to Christian thought and practice. The idea that Principle underlies all order also connects with logos, the Word (of the Creator) which can be translated from ancient Greek, logos > principle, word. There is a famous 17th century philosopher who extracted such insights using geometry as his method of explanation for life practice: Benedict (aka Baruch) Spinoza. Born Jewish in Amersterdam, he was excommunicated by his worship community for an undefined heresy at the young age of 23. Subsequently he has become known as an atheist, but also as a “God-drunken” man. He rejected all denominationalism but was deeply spiritual, marrying together science, religion, and practice. I’ve read several biographies, but the most useful to this exchange is SPINOZA’s RELIGION: A New Reading of the Ethics, by Clair Carlisle, a philosophy graduate of Cambridge, and professor at King’s College, London. It’s a very accessible book, unlike Spinoza’s seminal Ethics. I found his On the Improvement of the Understanding to be more readily comprehensible than his “masterwork”. (I’m grateful to her for her clear writing on this important thinker.)
Spinoza's description of how the Rulers preach the supernatural to the Peasants while the Geniuses can comprehend the import of spirituality strictly within the realm of natural world has stuck with me. Perhaps I could use a little more Spinoza. Thanks for the tip.
I appreciated your comments about beauty found in Christian architecture and music.
The clear similarities between religion and science.
The ChatGPT sermon!
Lots of nuggets as usual.
One thought that occurred to me in the context of rapid technological change that we find ourselves in - CS Lewis wrote a fascinating book ‘The Abolition of Man’ in which he argues that we humans should be focusing more and more on moral development in order to handle the growing complexities of our world, and make moral decisions. Sadly, most of us have not done this, and we are morally stunted when we need the opposite.
Entries like this imo encourage we peasants to work on our moral muscle.
A guy named Novalis, in 1787, (not a contemporary of Spinoza) termed him "God-intoxicated". The key observation here is that nobody can both be "an atheist "(as Spinoza's many contemporary critics, especially his Calvinist neighbors, were doing) AND be described as God-intoxicated. Spinoza was fixated on the divine, but utterly without denominational identity.
As a late and long delayed follower ( age 65) of Jesus Christ, I’ve come to appreciate the unique gift which is a personal relationship with Him. Raised as a Roman Catholic in 1960’s the Bronx, religion for me was a definitely top down phenomena. Having a relationship to the man/God on the cross was a fanciful as being a millionaire. (No one spoke of billions in those days).
The awakening in me of the power of Christ was unleashed by personal tragedy and family crisis. Being led to believe and ultimately believe that I was loved by Christ and that He desires relationship with me was and is fundamental to me life in Christ today. While I love and respect my youthful pastors and their weekly efforts at sharing the lessons of scripture with us, ultimately, the hours I spend alone with God each week are what drives my relationship and growing trust in Him.
Unfortunate, too many Christians today have forgotten these fundamental truths about our faith and relationship with our Savior. It’s why so many Christian’s, especially young ones are leaving the faith. It doesn’t speak to them anymore is it ever did. Too many Christian communities are seeking to avoid the hard truths of Jesus’ ministry and the lessons of the gospel, seeking instead to hammer on the nails of blindness, arrogance, lack of compassion and hypocrisy. Too many of our Christian community are like the Pharisees of 1st century Palestine - more focused on the legalistic attention to moral dictates than the focus on forgiveness, grace and compassion for others.
Sorry for rant- but like a reformed smoker, or alcoholic, a blind man who has found faith in our Creator and Savior can be a bore at a cocktail party.
I like Anna’s analog of gravity, pertaining to Christian thought and practice. The idea that Principle underlies all order also connects with logos, the Word (of the Creator) which can be translated from ancient Greek, logos > principle, word. There is a famous 17th century philosopher who extracted such insights using geometry as his method of explanation for life practice: Benedict (aka Baruch) Spinoza. Born Jewish in Amersterdam, he was excommunicated by his worship community for an undefined heresy at the young age of 23. Subsequently he has become known as an atheist, but also as a “God-drunken” man. He rejected all denominationalism but was deeply spiritual, marrying together science, religion, and practice. I’ve read several biographies, but the most useful to this exchange is SPINOZA’s RELIGION: A New Reading of the Ethics, by Clair Carlisle, a philosophy graduate of Cambridge, and professor at King’s College, London. It’s a very accessible book, unlike Spinoza’s seminal Ethics. I found his On the Improvement of the Understanding to be more readily comprehensible than his “masterwork”. (I’m grateful to her for her clear writing on this important thinker.)
Spinoza's description of how the Rulers preach the supernatural to the Peasants while the Geniuses can comprehend the import of spirituality strictly within the realm of natural world has stuck with me. Perhaps I could use a little more Spinoza. Thanks for the tip.
Why was Spinoza called a God drunken man? What an intriguing description?
I want to add to this particular essay, a link to a previous one. https://mdcbowen.substack.com/p/how-to-believe-in-god
Wonderful piece. Thank you.
I appreciated your comments about beauty found in Christian architecture and music.
The clear similarities between religion and science.
The ChatGPT sermon!
Lots of nuggets as usual.
One thought that occurred to me in the context of rapid technological change that we find ourselves in - CS Lewis wrote a fascinating book ‘The Abolition of Man’ in which he argues that we humans should be focusing more and more on moral development in order to handle the growing complexities of our world, and make moral decisions. Sadly, most of us have not done this, and we are morally stunted when we need the opposite.
Entries like this imo encourage we peasants to work on our moral muscle.
A guy named Novalis, in 1787, (not a contemporary of Spinoza) termed him "God-intoxicated". The key observation here is that nobody can both be "an atheist "(as Spinoza's many contemporary critics, especially his Calvinist neighbors, were doing) AND be described as God-intoxicated. Spinoza was fixated on the divine, but utterly without denominational identity.
As a late and long delayed follower ( age 65) of Jesus Christ, I’ve come to appreciate the unique gift which is a personal relationship with Him. Raised as a Roman Catholic in 1960’s the Bronx, religion for me was a definitely top down phenomena. Having a relationship to the man/God on the cross was a fanciful as being a millionaire. (No one spoke of billions in those days).
The awakening in me of the power of Christ was unleashed by personal tragedy and family crisis. Being led to believe and ultimately believe that I was loved by Christ and that He desires relationship with me was and is fundamental to me life in Christ today. While I love and respect my youthful pastors and their weekly efforts at sharing the lessons of scripture with us, ultimately, the hours I spend alone with God each week are what drives my relationship and growing trust in Him.
Unfortunate, too many Christians today have forgotten these fundamental truths about our faith and relationship with our Savior. It’s why so many Christian’s, especially young ones are leaving the faith. It doesn’t speak to them anymore is it ever did. Too many Christian communities are seeking to avoid the hard truths of Jesus’ ministry and the lessons of the gospel, seeking instead to hammer on the nails of blindness, arrogance, lack of compassion and hypocrisy. Too many of our Christian community are like the Pharisees of 1st century Palestine - more focused on the legalistic attention to moral dictates than the focus on forgiveness, grace and compassion for others.
Sorry for rant- but like a reformed smoker, or alcoholic, a blind man who has found faith in our Creator and Savior can be a bore at a cocktail party.