Posted on 11/02/2022 6:02:55 AM PDT by jimfr
Have any of you read the book "Live not by lies"? I just started it. It correlates current events with the start of communism in Russia and the eastern block. It states the need for people to be true to themselves in their speech and actions by "not going alone to get along". It says you need to join groups of like persons and is against individualism. However, my thinking is, you need to be an individual to take that first step to evaluate your observations. I would like to hear the opinions of those that have read it.
I read it early in the Covid pandemic as part of a mens group at church, so my recollection may also include our discussions.
I don’t think it is so much against individualism, but rather points out being among like minded people strengthens one’s resolve.
See my tagline.
Personally, I reject someone else’s view on how I should structure my life within society.
I noted that you said the author eschews “individualism”.
Reject the gaslighting.
Be free.
I have friends that are mostly moderate Republicans, and I keep trying to inform them that going along to get along is what has brought us to this point. That if we keep having this as a way to conduct ourselves, we will surely lose this nation as it was originally founded.
As I noted, I just started reading it, but in a subheading “losing faith in hierarchies and institutions” he writes “As radical individualism has become more pervasive in our consumerist-driven culture, people have ceased to look outside themselves for authoritative sources of meaning”.
Are we to mindlessly accept someone else’s (father, priest, politician,or scientist) opinion of some thing? That puts us in the position of accepting some random lie inconsistent to our true self!
The Nation is Lost. The question is: “Can the dead live again?”
Your action got me thinking, who would I give a copy to? Then - who would accept it and actually read it? Which stimulated the thought does it require a christian basis of thought for a person accept the thesis of the book?
Have not read this book, but will comment!!!
Jesus said, “I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE.” This alone is our life guide. If we’d just search the scriptures for guidance, it is all there! Plus, when we humble ourselves and pray, repent of our sins...The Holy Spirit will guide us in all righteousness. We look not to man, but to God in three persons!
During COVID, several of us prayed together, searched scripture, looked for second opinions and true experts, watched scripture based programs, etc. and found we were lead to hold off on what other govt/men were telling us and listen to God. Thank God! And, we talked among ourselves to share information/visions/Words from God. It was a blessing as we skipped the ‘long COVID’ nightmares and remained joyful in spirit and soul and body.
If one is not familiar with the Biblical message of sinful man and redemption through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, then this book would seem gibberish.
As a Believer, I found "Live not by lies" to be a great resource on how to live and navigate in a world speeding towards its final chapter.
I don’t think the author was pitting blind faith vs. individualism. Rather that radical individualism is a solipsistic philosophy that weakens any sense of society.
If you’re Jeremiah Johnson, it may work for you for a while. But people need others who have common beliefs.
With that said, it clearly shows what is happening currently. We are being fed continuous lies from government officials, the media and social groups and being pressured and conditioned to conform to these lies. To not conform and comply results in social exclusion, shunning, banning and for some, imprisonment. It is even prevailent here in FRAND.
The propaganda lies are relentless. From UKR, covid, stolen elections, deviant perversion and racial matters. SOLZENITZEN warned us of this and now we are living it. In his work "GULAG ACHEPLEGO", he cautioned (paraphraseed) "Do not say 'oh this can never happpen here, not in our country', but this too is what we said, yet it happened. It can happen anywhere" (just searched though his work to find the exact quote, but cannot locate it right now). And, here we are.
When purhasing LIVE NOT BY LIES, I also purchased "THE BENEDICT OPTON", which offers solutions...essentially to surround yourself with like-minded community, where the lies are not lived in and we "love one another" in truth is the rather monkish solution of life in purity.
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The book is masterful. People who existed behind the Iron Curtain had to resist steadfastly the controllers’ strident efforts to control. They wanted to eradicate everything that wasn’t thought by the state. They wanted Christianity out of public discourse. They demanded people participate in the indoctrination, the chanting of slogans, the ideological posters in store windows along the streets — or else: “your attitude has been noticed, you know; oh yes, it’s been noticed”. Or “I didn’t get a harrumph outta that guy!”
He interviewed several people who stood against that ethos and gave their antidotes, such as meeting in small groups to relate to the young people what it means to be Christian, to be Hungarian; they discussed art, literature and history, lest all that be lost in the intellectual purges that were going on.
A few of his sources said, “America, watch out; you are experiencing the early stages of Iron Curtain style purges.”
If we’re smart, we can resist the go-along/get-along instinct and manage to stay out of trouble at the same time.
“It says you need to join groups of like persons...”
Probably, if you want to get anything significant done. However, if you are talking a Soviet-style society, the larger the group, the more informers...
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