Carl McColman at the Website of Unknowing, which is becoming one of my favorite blogs, wrote this line which really resonates with me:
"Mysticism tends toward universal values, in contrast to ordinary religion which tends toward tribal thinking." Carl McColman (The specific post is "Pandora, Ken Wilber, and William Blake.")
This really clicked with me, because I've been thinking about the difference between choosing a spiritual tradition (and the way that I am constantly drawn back to some form or other of Christianity) and being born into a tribe from which one takes one's destined and unchangeable identity. I think I keep running away from Judaism because the idea that I'm "born Jewish, always Jewish" offends my sense of intellectual and spiritual freedom. Of course, it is a self-created constraint on my freedom if I say that I am free to choose anything else BUT, since making an exception to my freedom means that I'm not entirely free. But whenever any kind of religious tradition starts talking the language of "us-versus-them," whether it is believers and unbelievers, or those born to the tribe and those not, it turns me off.
"Mysticism tends toward universal values, in contrast to ordinary religion which tends toward tribal thinking." Carl McColman (The specific post is "Pandora, Ken Wilber, and William Blake.")
This really clicked with me, because I've been thinking about the difference between choosing a spiritual tradition (and the way that I am constantly drawn back to some form or other of Christianity) and being born into a tribe from which one takes one's destined and unchangeable identity. I think I keep running away from Judaism because the idea that I'm "born Jewish, always Jewish" offends my sense of intellectual and spiritual freedom. Of course, it is a self-created constraint on my freedom if I say that I am free to choose anything else BUT, since making an exception to my freedom means that I'm not entirely free. But whenever any kind of religious tradition starts talking the language of "us-versus-them," whether it is believers and unbelievers, or those born to the tribe and those not, it turns me off.
- Mood:
thoughtful - Music:"Defying Gravity" - "Wicked" soundtrack
For too long, when I feel happy, I have then felt guilty and condemned for it, on the premise that to be content in a world of suffering is to be cold and uncaring toward all those who are in pain. Today I choose to allow myself to be willing to enjoy a sense of peace without feeling that my own serenity makes me morally responsible for harm to others. Just as finishing my dinner neither helps nor hurts the starving elsewhere in the world, my happiness is not the cause of the suffering of others.
- Mood: contemplative
- 17:47:51: This "floral" netbook is so pretty. I really don't need another netbook, I already have two, but I still like looking: http://bit.ly/5JYrTo
- 21:27:39: I am the willing prisoner of the kitten in my lap. Sounds like a good opportunity for Compline with @Virtual_Abbey.
- 21:35:17: I'm thankful for TweetDeck which allows me to follow the @Virtual_Abbey Compline service ("Twitter down" error earlier, but all is well now)
- 22:50:22: RT @txvoodoo: This may be the cutest dog pic I've seen in AGES (NOT my dog) http://is.gd/5G6lX
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- 09:30 Any users of Credenza for Outlook here? If so, what do you think of it? #
- 11:50 As far as I was able to tell, installing Credenza for Outlook didn't change or add anything. Maybe I just missed something? #
- 10:05:11: Yes, 2009-2010 is liturgical Year C! I can use that old Year C readings book that I've had lying around for - well - years. :-)
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So, it looks like I'll be re-taking the "40 Days of Purpose" small group study on Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life, this time with an online small group from the actual Saddleback Church itself, yay! The only obstacle is getting TokBox to work on my desktop system, which is a 64-bit Win7 machine and has issues with Flash, most webcams, and a lot of other things.
Thank you very much,![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
meowvatar, for helping me work on setting up TokBox last night. I'm not there yet but at least we have eliminated a number of possibilities. I was very lucky to have a patient friend who was willing to test some of these possibilities with me in real-time.
It's snowing in a delightful way this morning, light and fluffy, the most perfect kind of snow - and my garbage WAS picked up, yay! It's a good morning.
Thank you very much,
meowvatar, for helping me work on setting up TokBox last night. I'm not there yet but at least we have eliminated a number of possibilities. I was very lucky to have a patient friend who was willing to test some of these possibilities with me in real-time.It's snowing in a delightful way this morning, light and fluffy, the most perfect kind of snow - and my garbage WAS picked up, yay! It's a good morning.
- Mood:
cheerful
- 10:27:35: Anyone famliar with #Threadsy? Is it a fairly reputable and secure app?
- 11:30:57: RT @mccolman: Latest Blog Post: Grace and the Goddess: AVATAR as a Christian/Pagan Parable http://bit.ly/4uGXER
- 18:14:43: Trying to get the Purpose Driven Radio Connection player to work. I've tried it with several browsers, but so far, no luck.
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- 00:26:32: I started singing Switchfoot's "More Than Fine" and the kitten jumped up on my desk and ran over to touch my nose with hers. :-)
- 01:22:27: Logan and Madison want me to go upstairs now, and far be it from me to deny my canine masters, so good night and merry Christmas, everyone!
- 15:50:50: McKenzie has decided to make herself comfortable on top of my bag, with a proprietary paw upon my mouse, since I'm not going out today.
- 18:11:14: I finally have the time today to restore an old iTunes backup, from about two years ago. I had already forgotten a lot of this stuff.
- 18:36:15: Restoring this iTunes backup is an interesting flashback to early 2007: episodes of The Black Donnellys, Blood Ties, The Dresden Files ...
- 18:49:43: My restore is finally reaching the Battlestar Galactica episodes. Anyone else find it addictive to work on more than one computer at a time?
- 19:51:07: My restore of an old iTunes backup from 2007 continues, while I was winning a random draw for attending ourjewishcommunity.org tonight ...
- 19:52:00: ... Although my restore of one "Raines" episode failed, I'm now up to my fourth copy of Evanescence's "Call Me When You're Sober."
- 20:52:24: @geekix: Do you retweet EVERY mention of Battlestar Galactica? That must keep you busy. :-)
- 20:53:16: @rainbow_goddess Everyone's talking about Doctor Who: The End of Time, and I wonder how long it will be before I can get to see it!
- 21:15:28: Finishing the dinner I made for myself. Kitten is munching dry food, Logan is chewing a rawhide. All is right with my world.
- 21:51:08: According to the BBC America website, we should get to see "Doctor Who: The End of Time," Part One, tomorrow. Bet I'll be visiting the MIL.
- 21:58:10: I haven't seen "Doctor Who: The End of Time" yet but the green couple in this promotional photo look like Brachens to me: http://ow.ly/PHqX
- 22:20:33: The kitten arrived in my lap at 9:18 PM. Let's see how many minutes pass before my intercom rings and I'm needed to bring something upstairs
- 22:24:58: 9:24 PM - it only took six minutes from the time the kitten settled into my lap until the intercom rang.
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- 17:05:58: Celebrate This Christmas with me as I join others from around the world at #ChurchOnline. http://bit.ly/86EL4g
- 18:04:54: Check out Saddleback Church online ... http://bit.ly/1qCElh
- 18:06:46: RT @AlbanyNews: Woman crashes into Dunkin' Donuts http://bit.ly/8YAUyd
- 18:21:22: I subscribed to GothamTheSeries's channel on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/GothamTheSer
ies?feature=autoshare_twitter - 19:58:05: I favorited a YouTube video -- Step by Step Jaime Sommers, Steve Austin and Kate Mason http://youtu.be/lyqFBtGn52w?a
- 22:34:31: RT @johncmayer: Sending a heartfelt Merry Christmas to those who feel loneliness this time of year. You're not alone. Hang in there.
- 22:35:16: Just realized that I have now posted over a thousand tweets!
- 22:38:37: I favorited a YouTube video -- Frozen Ghost - Step By Step http://youtu.be/0ZKlwLe-tLk?a
- 23:08:22: Just turning on the TV again to watch the Northway Church Christmas Special on the Capital Region's CW
- 23:08:37: I subscribed to bionicboy1969's channel on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/bionicboy196
9?feature=autoshare_twitter - 23:18:46: Too restless to watch TV without interruption, so definitely too restless tonight to go sit in a real church for a Christmas Eve service.
- 23:56:53: I favorited a YouTube video -- Leona Lewis I See You Theme From Avatar Movie Music Video Full HDTV http://youtu.be/q__xKmew4fk?a
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- 14:43 Xmas Eve weather good here, blue sky & sunshine, snow not til tomorrow. Traffic is crazy though. Not sure about driving an hour to Northway. #
- 20:55 One should never envy another person's Christmas gifts, but I do envy my husband's Droid Eris and can hardly wait until he gets tired of it! #
After watching online services, I'm listening to some of my favorite music, serenading the cat and feeling absolutely wonderful tonight.
- Music:Michael English - Mary, Did You Know?
Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas from the kitten, the other fur kids, Ken (who is taking a cat nap) and me!
- Mood: happy
- 11:47:59: Noticing that the MySpace spammers are out in force today!
- 12:05:22: Cracker Barrel extra sharp white cheddar cheese on Triscuits with rosemary and olive oil - how could there be a better brunch than that?
- 12:37:33: Thinking: The drama of growth is about "becoming," not "already being," even when the goal of that "becoming" is the recognition of "being."
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- 11:12 My pink Acer Aspire is starting to have difficulties with pointing-device response. Do I have an excuse to install a new operating system? #
Some reviewers have questioned why "Avatar" needed to have an outsider/human/"white" hero, as opposed to an insider/Na'vi/"person of color" hero. As time permits over the next few days, I'm going to be working on an essay about "Avatar" and the second-person standpoint, and the moral narrative and dramatic importance of making the transition from objectifying the other to recognizing and respecting the personhood of the other. I will be making the argument that this story needs to be told from the perspective of the unenlightened becoming enlightened, the desensitized becoming sensitized, rather than from the perspective of one who already knows. Wish me luck on finding the time to write this the way I want and still get some housework and office work done over the next few days.
- Mood:
thoughtful
- 08:56:20: I favorited a YouTube video -- AGORA FINAL OFFICIAL HD ENGLISH TRAILER http://youtu.be/f-xH0lHUs9c?a
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- 14:39 Catching some of today's 22 Tweets Roundtable on Solo Practice which started at 2pm EST. Use #22TwRT to follow #
- 14:43 RT @SCartierLiebel (shortened) In life you will always have bills & familial obligations, but how you earn your money is your choice always. #
James Cameron’s AVATAR is in theaters today. What about this movie interests you the most? Sponsored by AVATAR. In theaters December 18. Buy tickets now. |
My question was "if a movie blatantly manipulates the audience by playing to pretty much every mythic stereotype in the book, will I still enjoy it?" and my answer was, "DEFINITELY."
Profile
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Page Summary
- catecumen : Individual versus tribe [+0]
- catecumen : Cross-posted from my BlogSpot: Serenity, guilt, and giving oneself grace [+0]
- catecumen : From Twitter 12-29-2009 [+5]
- logicalargument : (no subject) [+0]
- catecumen : From Twitter 12-28-2009 [+1]
- catecumen : Full circle - and a big thank-you to meowvatar [+0]
- catecumen : From Twitter 12-27-2009 [+0]
- catecumen : From Twitter 12-25-2009 [+3]
- catecumen : From Twitter 12-24-2009 [+0]
- logicalargument : (no subject) [+0]
- logicalargument : Writer's Block: Tonight, tonight [+4]
- catecumen : Say hello! [+4]
- catecumen : From Twitter 12-23-2009 [+1]
- logicalargument : (no subject) [+0]
- logicalargument : "Avatar" and the Second-Person Standpoint [+5]
- catecumen : From Twitter 12-22-2009 [+0]
- logicalargument : (no subject) [+0]
- catecumen : Writer's Block: James Cameron’s AVATAR [+5]
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