tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post7229764588182734703..comments2024-03-28T17:44:11.289+00:00Comments on Bruce Charlton's Notions: The lazy, sub-human passivity fantasy - but we need to be active, purposive, conscious and freeBruce Charltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-53168737431141497762017-04-28T17:43:59.643+01:002017-04-28T17:43:59.643+01:00I have been struggling with this for years. Seems...I have been struggling with this for years. Seems nearly impossible to circumvent, unless I play agnostic or something. Even while being aware of it, prayer seems to create a mindset of passivity. <br /><br />Production, I notice, is particularly tough. Study, reading, even working out- things easily done alone- easier to do. <br /><br />It must be that we must develop will, whereas the progressive hack on our tradition seems to be that they taught us not to develop will, but to wait for God's will to be manifested. Since that isn't the way it works, they happily use whatever energy we have to do their will via the institutions. But, even after we figure things out we need the will, which does not seem to be a easy to build as muscle.Augusthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08758314961163692341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-60630740446836682152017-04-28T13:10:59.456+01:002017-04-28T13:10:59.456+01:00@William - Thanks! Although, I have to admit that ...@William - Thanks! Although, I have to admit that I got this idea from Owen Barfield and Rudolf Steiner. Bruce Charltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-39192774550690349042017-04-28T12:41:24.089+01:002017-04-28T12:41:24.089+01:00That's a great insight, Bruce. Spirituality is...That's a great insight, Bruce. Spirituality is all too often associated with passivity, letting go and not resisting etc and though these are certainly part of it they are not the whole. It's the old story of rejecting selfhood instead of fulfilling it which is, I believe, the higher option. Of course, this fulfilment must be within the context of renouncing the old, fallen self and moving into a higher understanding of the self in God but still God must want a positive contribution from us as individuals to increase the value of creation and not just passive acquiescence in his being. Otherwise what's the point from his perspective?!William Wildbloodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13231219533755925897noreply@blogger.com