tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post2298998720189662617..comments2024-03-27T11:16:36.951-07:00Comments on One Cʘsmos: Who Will Dream of God and Beauty, If Not Man?Gagdad Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-75690451582341101262009-03-10T10:14:00.000-07:002009-03-10T10:14:00.000-07:00Maineman said "And Van, do you think the best hope...Maineman said "And Van, do you think the best hope for reversing the two-dimensionalization of our youth might be to build up the church schools?"<BR/><BR/>I think the ideal would be homeschooling, but a lot of changes needed in the laws and culture before that becomes more than an oddity though. Next best is the neighborhood or church school overseen by parent representatives from the neighborhood.<BR/><BR/>The real issues, IMHO, are not whether the schooling comes from family, public, private or church schools, but the acknowledged purpose and goal of that education pursued on the part of the educators, which at the moment is socialization and fitting them for the workplace, instead of educating students to be individuals worthy of liberty and all that implies. If the goal of the educators, parent or otherwise, is not a Liberal Education (<A HREF="http://catholiceducation.org/articles/education/ed0060.html" REL="nofollow">Liberal Arts Education</A> in a Free Society JAMES V. SCHALL:<I>"...The terms “liberal” education and “free” society arise out of the same source, out of the classic notion that we could and should first rule ourselves, that such rule is in our personal power..."</I>), then the children still won't receive an education, no matter who is giving it.<BR/><BR/>Almost as important, for whichever institution is delivering the education, is 'Educating Students' the goal of the institution? The best that can be hoped for is of course from the parents, the next best being parent representatives from the neighborhood(s), the next as the goal of a business which has close oversight and involvement from parents. The worst possible institutional structure, which is what we have, is bureaucratic, where the chief clear goal of those giving orders to teachers, directing what they will teach, how they will teach it, and what materials they will use to teach it, is the political power and its expansion and the advancement of the bureaucrats, all of which being driven by political & ideological goals - and none of which is concerned with the actual capital "E" Education of the student. <BR/><BR/>Until that is taken care of, all other changes in law, Gov't, etc, will be only stop-gap measures, at best.Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-4144723723105549682009-03-10T06:38:00.000-07:002009-03-10T06:38:00.000-07:00"But first a hush of peace, a soundless calm desce..."But first a hush of peace, a soundless calm descends;<BR/>The struggle of distress and fierce impatience ends;<BR/>Mute music soothes my breast-unuttered harmony<BR/>That I could never dream till earth was lost to me.<BR/><BR/>"Then dawns the Invisible, the Unseen its truth reveals;<BR/>My outward sense is gone, my inward essence feels<BR/>Its wings are almost free, its home, its harbour found;<BR/>Measuring the gulf it stoops and dares the final bound!<BR/><BR/>-Emily Jane Brontëgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02015936407999495181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-33777639989695305292009-03-10T05:27:00.000-07:002009-03-10T05:27:00.000-07:00Thank you, Bob and Mrs. G. That was very meaningfu...Thank you, Bob and Mrs. G. That was very meaningful on many levels. My wife experienced the Divine heat many years ago, quite by surprise, but I have yet to myself.(cured her Rheumatoid Arthritis, by the way)<BR/><BR/>On the matter of the next evolutionary stage, I have been thinking for about the past 6 to 12 months that we are probably/hopefully experiencing another of the Great Awakenings that have tended to happen to us in this country. If true, the question that raises is whether it's a global phenomenon or not.<BR/><BR/>I suppose I'm guilty of American exceptionalism, but it's hard to see the next move in the ascent occurring if not led by us.<BR/><BR/>And Van, do you think the best hope for reversing the two-dimensionalization of our youth might be to build up the church schools? The infrastructure is there, and the public schools seem too far gone and likely to remain that way for a generation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-84071005511388471042009-03-10T03:16:00.000-07:002009-03-10T03:16:00.000-07:00Thanks for sharing that, Bob n' Mrs. G! That exper...Thanks for sharing that, Bob n' Mrs. G! <BR/>That experience you both had is very humbling and uplifting at the same time, and that's just reading about it. <BR/>Congratulations Mrs. G! That is indeed Good News. What a blessing! :^)<BR/><BR/>That intensely blissful energy...I smile now when I think of all the times I used to try to look for it or "make" it happen through some ritual or prayer or any number of means.<BR/><BR/>As you mention, Bob, it's best simply to be open to it, to O. <BR/>And I just erased a bunch of stuff I wrote tryin' to explain what you better explained (you're right, the symbols are easier to use than words, however the experiences we have within O, and O within, may occur).<BR/><BR/>And art, of course is always the language of choice. :^)USS Ben USN (Ret)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07492369604790651538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-12745411912835183562009-03-10T01:42:00.000-07:002009-03-10T01:42:00.000-07:00Re: the coming age as a covenant with individuals ...Re: the coming age as a covenant with individuals - <BR/><BR/>I would think definitely so in the sense that we are to directly manifest Christ's Light and love, not merely exercise devotion to Christian ideals and images. <BR/><BR/>As some Christians say, we must have a *personal* relationship with Jesus. I think they speak truer than they know. There is nothing more personal than the presence of the Spirit within - as Eckhart said, "He is closer to me than I am to myself." <BR/><BR/>Paradoxically, at the same time there is nothing more *impersonal* than the Spirit within, though by *impersonal* I don't mean cold or heartless. Hard to explain.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-53757889690605593342009-03-09T21:44:00.000-07:002009-03-09T21:44:00.000-07:00If in the Age of the Father the covenant was with ...If in the Age of the Father the covenant was with a people, and in Age of the Son it is with a church -- or let us say the body of Christ -- perhaps the Age of the Holy Spirit will indeed involve a kind of covenant with individuals. <BR/><BR/>Just speculation.... although I think Guenon said something similar, in the sense that the world has become so dense, quantified, and materialized, that there is a sort of compensatory divine energy that goes out to serious seekers. I know I'm not explaining it well. Oh well. Sleepy time...Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-28340009541391641422009-03-09T20:34:00.000-07:002009-03-09T20:34:00.000-07:00Ricky - I have to think that's true in a sense. Ea...Ricky - <BR/><BR/>I have to think that's true in a sense. Each of us reflects divinity in our own unique way, so I suppose each of us would perceive divinity in our own unique way. <BR/><BR/>Of course, by this reckoning, the spiritually atrophied wouldn't see Him at all - however,as the book says, " . . every eye shall see him". I don't know - we may be in line for something a lot more "palpable" than what we generally expect.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-10844757154413813252009-03-09T18:59:00.000-07:002009-03-09T18:59:00.000-07:00Will, have you wondered that the second coming mig...Will, have you wondered that the second coming might happen on an individual basis? -- as individual visits or awakenings. After the resurrection Jesus visits people individually and they don’t recognize him at first, which in some paradoxical way seems to suggest “individually” in that He won’t look the same to all of us "at the same time" as he did before the resurrection…Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10589423819039764711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-38431559156634488852009-03-09T18:52:00.000-07:002009-03-09T18:52:00.000-07:00But you don't really need a weatherman . . .But you don't really need a weatherman . . .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-5334641508551333332009-03-09T18:49:00.000-07:002009-03-09T18:49:00.000-07:00Bob,You know, it’s not so strange to think that th...Bob,<BR/>You know, it’s not so strange to think that the way our “little family is now”, how it is like this everyday, that a little of it might have uncovered for 5 seconds back then and it only seemed like a dream.Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10589423819039764711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-30579014064915882692009-03-09T18:29:00.000-07:002009-03-09T18:29:00.000-07:00Nick - Yes.Expect scattered revelations in the com...Nick - <BR/><BR/>Yes.<BR/><BR/>Expect scattered revelations in the coming months, followed by a shower of initiations. Long-range forecasting includes the certainty of Parousia after the storm front has passed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-92036125917292162002009-03-09T18:28:00.000-07:002009-03-09T18:28:00.000-07:00Van,There are some clips on youtube.Van,<BR/>There are some clips on youtube.Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10589423819039764711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-79145308134079722662009-03-09T17:54:00.000-07:002009-03-09T17:54:00.000-07:00I had that dream once, too, though in my case it w...I had that dream once, too, though in my case it was a little girl with blonde hair and pigtails. Still waiting for it to come true, though.juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-34484636881693535652009-03-09T17:53:00.000-07:002009-03-09T17:53:00.000-07:00Being detached is fine, but that's really impressi...Being detached is fine, but that's really impressive. Congratulations, Mrs. G. <BR/><BR/><I>My soul doth magnify the Lord.</I>mushroomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07651027035577798096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-6662299997874229232009-03-09T17:48:00.000-07:002009-03-09T17:48:00.000-07:00Rick: You reminded me. I had that same dream. M...Rick: <BR/><BR/>You reminded me. I had that same dream. More or less. <BR/><BR/><BR/>****<BR/><BR/>Yes, you could say that the whole of Night of the Hunter is a dream -- specifically, a children's nightmare. It's filmed in such a beautifully expressionistic manner, especially the river scene, which is like a descent into the unconscious. It was the only film ever directed by Charles Laughton.Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-42013211235397866262009-03-09T17:46:00.000-07:002009-03-09T17:46:00.000-07:00I did a search on Night of the Hunter, and this li...I did a search on Night of the Hunter, and this link came up on <A HREF="http://www.hulu.com/watch/31469/the-night-of-the-hunter" REL="nofollow">Hulu</A>, but then as it loads, I got a "Unfortunately this is no longer available" aw shucks, ok... but then see if you get the "but here are some related videos to watch".<BR/><BR/>The links are Gare-wrong-teed to draw out a "uh...!" and a head shake.Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-49821457101499086622009-03-09T17:12:00.000-07:002009-03-09T17:12:00.000-07:00Bob,We watched “The Night of the Hunter” Friday ni...Bob,<BR/>We watched “The Night of the Hunter” Friday night. We’d never seen it. Of course the whole thing gives the deep creeps – but when he is shot and howls, running off like he does. He seems to be something besides a really bad guy at that point. Didn’t expect that.<BR/><BR/>Interesting too how the movie sort of looked like a play…like they wanted it to look like a stage, the 2 dimensional props like the farm house and barn in silhouette…and the floating down the river scenes were more like a dream.Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10589423819039764711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-69726322579317885922009-03-09T16:50:00.000-07:002009-03-09T16:50:00.000-07:00Robin,A few years before my son was born I had a v...Robin,<BR/>A few years before my son was born I had a vivid 5-second dream of him. I’m “one of those people” who usually don’t remember my dreams. In the dream my wife and I are in the car and he is in the middle of the back seat. We were laughing and he was leaning forward on the edge of his seat so that his head was between ours, pulling our seat backs with his hands, all excited about something. And we were all laughing. And he was this very skinny little dark skinned kid, with dark brown hair of about 8 or 9 years old. That was it. I remember telling my wife and some close friends about it the next day. They were convinced it would come true. Now…we were newly weds and you know, its hard to put yourself, myself, back then looking ahead and having no clue as to what your life may be like next week, never mind if you will have kids -- when you have no frame of reference for any of it. Do you remember? And of course it did come true. He looks and acts exactly like he did in the 5 second dream. In fact I can’t tell you how much our little family is just like that 5-second dream all the time. In other words, at the time of the dream, the dream was the strangest thing. Now it’s the other way around.Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10589423819039764711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-78658535876573692672009-03-09T16:40:00.000-07:002009-03-09T16:40:00.000-07:00Absolutely. The postmodern secular left has done ...Absolutely. The postmodern secular left has done its best to systematically undermine the very possibility of love, truth, and beauty. I'll be posting more on that subject when we return to Balthasar's Theo-Logic.Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-5026772022266443302009-03-09T16:33:00.000-07:002009-03-09T16:33:00.000-07:00I was listening to Peter Kreeft's "podcast" of "Sh...I was listening to Peter Kreeft's "podcast" of "Shocking Beauty" this weekend. No time to reach for the link but go to his page and look for the mp3 and listen. One small part, he called modern art an attack on beauty itself. There's more.Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13750763393428404220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-70643232077250936072009-03-09T16:25:00.000-07:002009-03-09T16:25:00.000-07:00Bob, a beautiful post, indeed.For us to only read ...Bob, a beautiful post, indeed.<BR/>For us to only read of it, and be moved enough to recognize, in a sense similar as you, that there are no words for it even from our second-hand position (or is it third?)– now that is one thing. But to have experienced it? That must be another much more precious thing altogether. We can only imagine the purity. And yet some how we know it. How is this possible.<BR/>You were right to share it here and can imagine how difficult it might have been not to. Thank you, Bob. Well done describing it. Blessings to you and Mrs. G.Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10589423819039764711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-63360576985207559812009-03-09T15:01:00.000-07:002009-03-09T15:01:00.000-07:00Nick said,I have been thinking too over the possib...Nick said,<BR/><I>I have been thinking too over the possibility of divergence if this energy is increased further. Seems to make those who are opposed to it do some very crazy things.</I><BR/><BR/>Today's examples: <BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.popsci.com/environment/article/2009-03/birth-control-animals?page=1" REL="nofollow">Birth control pills for wildlife</A> (what could <I>possibly</I> go wrong?)<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/03/president-oba-7.html" REL="nofollow">"Scientific integrity"</A> restored.juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-39814917397859263772009-03-09T14:01:00.000-07:002009-03-09T14:01:00.000-07:00Robin said "Cue X-Files music bed"Um... I wouldn't...Robin said "Cue X-Files music bed"<BR/><BR/>Um... I wouldn't recommend googling that phrase... not sayin', just sayin'.<BR/><BR/>;-)Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-85733001052721028082009-03-09T13:48:00.000-07:002009-03-09T13:48:00.000-07:00A pow!erful post and evidence that dreams are more...A pow!erful post and evidence that dreams are <I>more</I> than we think, Time notwithstanding.<BR/><BR/>And Mrs. G, thanks for sharing the 'other side of the mirror' as well. Wonderful, and Real.<BR/><BR/>My wife and I have had numerous 'dream / reality' exchanges over the years. The first was dreaming about her symbolically the night before we met - a crane lifting me out of the ocean and onto a pier. And she has an unusual name, to say the least. To add to the spooky factor, todays wv is <I>crene</I>. Cue X-Files music bed.robinstarfishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15665546554663005609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-19501031959103670032009-03-09T12:30:00.000-07:002009-03-09T12:30:00.000-07:00Leslie, thank you for sharing this with us. There ...Leslie, thank <I>you</I> for sharing this with us. There are great and deep mysteries at play right now.<BR/><BR/>O Magnum Mysterium, indeed. In my heart, I've been singing <I>Magnificat</I> all weekend.juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.com