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Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship

Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship

This blog will be written from an orthodox Christian point of view. There may be some topic that is out of bounds, but at present I don't know what it will be. Politics is a part of life. Theology and philosophy are disciplines that we all participate in even if we don't think so. The Bible has a lot to say about economics. How about self defense? Is war ethical? Think of all the things that someone tells you we should not touch and let's give it a try. Everything that is a part of life should be an expression of worship.

Keep it courteous and be kind to those less blessed than you, but by all means don't worry about agreeing. We learn more when we get backed into a corner.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Opus 2011-331, Discernment Watch: Historical Gag Orders

One of the books I am slowly working through is Pensees by Blaise Pascal.  It is something that I can read in little bites and gives me something to chew on.  It is also one of those books that is part of our cultural heritage and it doesn’t hurt to build foundations.

I came across this statement that I thought was really interesting.
“786 On the fact that neither Josephus, nor Tacitus, nor other historians have spoken of Jesus Christ.—So far is this from telling against Christianity, that on the contrary it tells for it. For it is certain that Jesus Christ has existed; that His religion has made a great talk; and that these persons were not ignorant of it. Thus it is plain that they purposely concealed it, or that, if they did speak of it, their account has been suppressed or changed.”
This gives us insights into the way the modern media works.  Reporters and talking heads know the truth.  They know much about what is going on.  The problem is that they have an agenda and an ideology that dictates what they report and how they report it.  So when President Obama says something really ignorant, it is ignored.  When he does something that deserves impeachment, no one hears about it.  When Herman Cain has an anonymous, vague accusation hinted at, they are all over it.  They are reporters in the tradition of Josephus and Tacitus.

We may not know all of the contemporary truth because so much of it is hidden from us, but we can know the eternal truths because truth will find a way to express itself and because the giants, on whose shoulders we stand, risked their lives to get the word out.  Or in the final words of the Declaration of Independence,
“And for the support of this declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”
I pray that when we are called on we will be willing to also stand for truth.

Pascal, Blaise.  Pensees.  Project Gutenberg,  Kindle Highlight Loc. 4293-96.

homo unius libri

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Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.