Since there seem to be some new regular readers of this blog, I will repeat an offer that I have made a few times before - which is to answer questions from commenters (one question from each!).
Because the daily blog has been running for nearly 13 years and has over 8000 posts; I may well be able to point at some previous thing that has already addressed the question.
Or else, if the question is relevant, and I have something to say on the subject, I may be able to provide some kind of new response.
Anyway - that's the invitation.
30 comments:
Do you believe the judgment of God is now on a neo-Babelist Western Civ. to bring it to an end as a possible means of Christian revival?
Bruce, here’s a question I keep meaning to write to you about one of these days but haven’t. My oldest is nearly 8 years old and a big believer in Father Christmas, as is our whole household (I have read, and agree with, your posts on the matter). But I expect it will not be long before he understands how much we, his parents, collaborate with Father Christmas.
The question is, how might you explain so that a child would understand the collaboration between parents and Father Christmas in a way that does not render Christmas a deception in the eyes of a child?
I am considering initiating him into the mystery before he "figures it out." I am relying on being inspired when this comes up, but my tentative approach is to explain it as an initiation into a mystery. But my explanations feel rather adult-like. Perhaps the answer is that there is no explanation a child would fully understand because understanding the truth requires some sort of initiation into adulthood.
Have you ever considered whether the Heavenly Mother is the Holy Spirit? Or did your understanding of HM come after you had decided the Holy Spirit is Christ's Spirit?
@Iain - No, I don't think so.
I think this civilization has brought-about its own downfall, by choice.
If I had to guess, I would guess that God was Not trying to save Western Civilization; but God is (as always) trying to save as many persons as possible - working on individuals, families, and other loving and good-seeking personal-groupings...
But I would suppose that God is Not trying to save The System, because it has become a machine purpose-built for Man's corruption and damnation.
@John - I have written about this before:
https://charltonteaching.blogspot.com/search?q=father+christmas
What may need to be explained, or left implicit, is that the reality of Father Christmas is what it is - which varies between families. The conversation needs to be about reality - and that reality Always Necessarily Does include consciousness, intent, choice - the participation of Men.
My kids are grown up, but I have never acknowledged in any way that Father Christian is Not Real - because he is Real. I know this from experience (as did JRR Tolkien).
@Luke - I haven't considered this because I am convinced that the Holy Ghost is Jesus.
My understanding of Heavenly Mother was solidified through 2013-2014 (although it began to develop some years earlier, indeed *as soon as* I first read about the Mormon doctrines which was probably 2007-ish, and before I became a Christian).
Therefore I knew the truth of HM *before* I realized that the HG was Jesus (which was about 2017, from reading the Fourth Gospel 'in isolation' - and seeking guidance on this matter).
If you do the relevant word searches, you can find these developing and solidifying understandings being reported in this blog.
Thanks for your answer, Bruce. I think you misread my question, though. As I wrote, I have already read your Father Christmas posts and agree with them. I believe that Father Christmas is real!
My question is about the transition of understanding/consciousness about Father Christmas, and whether such an explanation can be given to a child, or whether it involves some sort of initiation into adulthood, by its very nature.
@John - I did understand the question - and that was my answer!
In other words, once one knows the principles or assumptions, then the specifics must be down to the individuals involved. It would be wrong to have a formula answer for something that depends so much on the individuals and specific situation - the exact answer must arise from the unique instance.
Have your views on genius changed since the publication of the book "The Genius Famine"? Is it possible to achieve the rise of genius in modern days, similar to those in ancient Greece and Renaissance
@A - Not significantly in terms of biology; but there is a spiritual perspective on genius which was not included in the book. In other words, since real creativity is a divine attribute, and since genius is very VERY unequally distributed according to time, place and populations - then I assume that major geniuses are bestowed on societies (and withheld) as part of God's plan for the world.
You ask whether world historical geniuses could occur in modern days? Well they haven't for several decades, and they aren't at present - but I would be reluctant to say that it *couldn't* happen.
But I'm pretty sure that if there was a major world genius, then he would not be recognized generally - so, unless you knew them personally, we probably would not realize it.
On classical music, it's future creation and appreciation: You have an old post where you consider European classical a "closed canon". Is this related to another type of development in human consciousness and/or a genius famine, and do you think some different type of high, Art music is possible at this time?
https://charltonteaching.blogspot.com/2014/05/elgar-vaughan-williams-finzi-nice.html
Your many posts and opinions on classical music, and the above post mentioning "...in the sense that I can perceive what is going-on inside it in a way that makes it clear that most people cannot". How much of this ability has a purely genetic/"naturally musical" component to it, and how much of it can be learned through effort?
Have you ever enjoyed video games in any way, shape or form?
@Wes S - I think that the possibilities of classical music were exhausted by the late romantics who followed Wagner - Richard Strauss (especially), Mahler, Bruckner. After which it was a matter of variations on an established musical language.
There was still worthwhile music (e.g. for me, early Tippett, some Busoni); but not of the first rank.
"How much of this ability has a purely genetic/"naturally musical" component to it, and how much of it can be learned through effort?"
I think this (as most aspects of musical ability) is mostly innate (which is why some children and teens are Far better than the average adult) - but, of course, it requires some training and much experience to bring it out.
@Lauri - No, I have not enjoyed any video games - but this is nothing against videos, but against All kinds of games and puzzles etc.
I have an almost complete blind spot for all such things. I would rather do literally nothing than - for example - do puzzles, or play some kind of board game.
I have nothing against games for other people, however - my family is full of avid (*really* keen) game and puzzle players. I'm the odd one out - but my father was the same, so I probably inherited it.
When is it OK or good for peoples to look back to a golden age and revive aspects of that past culture in the present and find healing of their alienation in this? Considering that you have said that to seek to try to recreate culture today from the childhood of man in the past is worse than a bad idea - it's damaging. And considering that natural and practical things like connecting to nature and learning one's family's or people's history or ancient language or stories can and does relieve alienation.
And so when do we seek the healing of our alienation from other methods beside by way of primary thinking?
A timely post.
Q - Does your blog have a "search" button? I would love to be able to search your older posts, but am reduced to scanning titles from the archives one-by-one. Thanks!
@MV - No psychology - just a puppet.
@Luke - I have no significant opinions regarding the largest monotheistic religion.
@Luke - wrt looking back. The point is to have an understanding of the development of consciousness; and not to try to put it into reverse.
@Jeffrey - The Blogger search button is at the top left corner of the screen. If you can't see it - it may be because you are using a mobile phone version, in which case you should switch to the Desktop Site option from the drop-down menu.
My question is, do you think people often have a mental block on the finality of a bit of knowledge so much, that they never come to certainty, or never act on it?
Are you familiar with Gene Gebser's Ever Present Origin and if so what are your thoughts on his works as it relates to Romantic Christianity? I'm new to his work, and while not Christian, he presented a strong argument against the atheist materialist view that dominates the establishment system today. Some view his work as a continuation of Spengler but more optimistic. One thing interesting about his ideas is that he believes magic can exist, but is only accessible to those of an older consciousness which has fallen out of favor. Some of your writing seems to parallel some of these views, so I was wondering if you've ever encountered his writings before.
As you see things now, if you could only recommend one practice to help one return to God, what would it be?
Thank you for all your writing.
1) Have you ever listened to, or have any opinion on, the greats of heavy and extreme metal such as Black Sabbath, Slayer, Metallica or Burzum?
2) Do you have any opinion on Crowley?
@Jared - I don't understand what you are asking - would you like to try again?
@SS - I haven't come across Gene Gebser.
@Michael - I don't think any 'practice' would be helpful on its own or for everyone - but almost everybody *needs* to examine, identify, evaluate their metaphysical assumptions concerning the basic nature of reality.
@Anton - I used to like 'progressive rock' in the late 60s early 70s, but this did not survive my exposure to Tolkien's Lord of the Ring, which sent me to electric folk music!
Crowley seems to have been one of the 'talented, charming psychopath' types, who cause so much trouble in this world!
Where is The Crow?
@outrigger
?
Sorry. I miss The Crow's offbeat input. Every now and then I think, I wonder what The Crow would make of this, notably your riffs on Barfield.
@Jeffery - I have the same issue on mobile, which is why I made this little tool which may be worth bookmarking: https://newworldisland.org/search/
@outrigger - Oh yes. I thought you were punning on the "Corvid" birdemic.
I haven't heard from Crow for many years - I vaguely recall that (probably because we are both highly irritable characters) there was some kind of verbal spat.
@outrigger He has his own forum here:https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/secrets_of_life/
It's mostly inactive these days, seeing a bit of sporadic activity here and there. It was fairly active around the mid 2010s.
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