considered themselves – and often are held up as – deep thinkers about faith,
religion and philosophy.
Prominent atheists such as Christopher Hitchens are hailed for their
intellect and the persuasive way they have “figured things out.” They are so
intellectual and “progressive” in their thinking that they don’t need God. They
are above the “crutches” the rest of us need.
We are shown in the Writings that many such people, celebrated on this
earth for their learning and sophistication, come to be fools in the spiritual
world because they are incapable and unwilling to see and understand truth.
They have no idea of what true wisdom is: “You have reached wisdom
when you no longer have any concern about understanding what is good and
true, but are motivated by and living what is true and good; for this is wisdom.”
(Arcana Coelestia 10225)
To be “sophisticated” is to be “worldly-wise” – but not necessarily to be
wise.
(BMH)
lincoln and his faith
November marked the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s iconic
Gettysburg Address, and his birthday is honored in the United States on
February 12. When Lincoln was leaving his native Springfield, Illinois, to
assume the presidency in 1861 – with the nation on the brink of civil war – he
acknowledged in his Farewell Address that he faced a task “greater than that
which rested on [George] Washington.”
But he was confident because: “Without the assistance of that Divine Being
who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. But with that assistance I cannot fail.
Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you, and be everywhere
for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well.”
When he was presented with a Bible in 1864, just months before his
assassination, he said: “In regard to this Great Book, I have but to say, it is the
best gift God has given to man. All the good the Savior gave to the world was
communicated through this book.”
Lincoln was never hailed as being sophisticated. He was loved for being
wise. And he was wise because he knew where wisdom came from.
(BMH)
the most important consideration
Does the wish by some in the Church to ordain women represent the influence
of the culture around us in the world today? Or, is the fact that the General
Church in its beginning chose to institute an all-male priesthood simply a
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