a great talk by Phillip Zimbrano on the pace of life and our perspective on time.

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I am on my way to Oslo to participate in a few lectures in my ongoing studies. In preparation for this weekend I have been reading about John Wesley’s social ethics which include his very strong opposition of war. I am sitting here on the web and juggling blogs, facebook and the whole nine yards of being connected. This reminds me of how we(I) are fast becoming less attentive. We’re finding it easy to forget. The web distracts and fragments. We have things to do. Before long, conflict will creep up on us, but we will have forgotten why. That again reminded me of a beautiful little poem by an unknown author of war and forgetfulness;

Why are they selling poppies, Mummy?
Selling poppies in town today.

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The poppies, child, are flowers of love.
For the men who marched away.

But why have they chosen a poppy, Mummy?
Why not a beautiful rose?
Because my child, men fought and died
In the fields where the poppies grow.

But why are the poppies so red, Mummy?
Why are the poppies so red?
Red is the colour of blood, my child.
The blood that our soldiers shed.

The heart of the poppy is black, Mummy.
Why does it have to be black?
Black, my child, is the symbol of grief.
For the men who never came back.

But why, Mummy are you crying so?
Your tears are giving you pain.
My tears are my fears for you my child,
For the world is forgetting again.

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Author unknown

oh and a quote by Wesley;

“There is still a more horrid reproach to the Christian name, yea, to the name of man, to all reason and humanity; there is a war in the world!”

 

Oh and while I am at it why not be inspired by this song performed by Norwegian Madcon at the European

song contest with millions of Europeans all over Europe.

Barbara Ehrenreich is not talking about theology or faith here, but this is also true in several strains of Christianity.

“Positive thinking Christianity” is often referred to as prosperity theology (also known as prosperity doctrine, the health and wealth gospel, or the prosperity gospel)It is a religious belief found among “tens of millions” of Christians primarily in the United States but also here in Europe, centered on the notion that God provides material prosperity for those he favors. It has been defined by the belief that “Jesus blesses believers with riches” or more specifically as the teaching that “believers have a right to the blessings of health and wealth and that they can obtain these blessings through positive confessions of faith and the ‘sowing of seeds’ through the faithful payments of tithes and offerings.

I see this thinking and teaching also influencing all parts of Christianity to different degrees. The belief that belief or should we say “positive thinking”  itself is a powerful tool in either manipulat

ing-influencing God or people in a good or bad way to achieve personal gain or good. The belief in Utopia, the belief in the unrealistic or unseen. I believe in the mystical,in dimensions beyond our senses and in the supernatural but it is always in the context of  reality or as Barbara emphasizes the need for realism.

Have a look and tell me what you think;

Thanks Gunilla for this:)