Posted on 12/24/2019 6:24:09 AM PST by Kaslin
It is virtually impossible to understand America in 2019 without taking into consideration the huge shifts of paradigm that came about during the 1960s. Monday’s passing of Richard Alpert, aka Baba Ram Dass — New Age philosophizer and sometimes LSD proselytizer — is a sad reminder of 1960s idealism that promised to change the world, but only really damaged it.
Ram Dass himself admitted that hundreds of LSD trips, pilgrimages to India, periods of celebrity, and thousands of sexual liaisons had left him, at the end of life, depressed and searching.
A big part of the 1960s worldview (as it related to social reform and world improvement, at least) was that old constructs had to go. Society, education, government, family structures, religion— it all needed to be deconstructed and rebuilt. Songwriters and influencers like Ram Dass pulsed out the mantra that it was time for something new. To this very moment -- among political liberals/progressives / neo-socialists / woke-ists -- this wholesale embrace of the nebulous “new” remains a zealous pursuit.
But there is a difference between “old” and “time-tested.” In 1929, influential thinker Gilbert Keith Chesterton spoke of “modern reformers” who see an old fence or gate and say, “I don’t see the use of this; let us clear it away.” Chesterton, just like wise King Solomon of old, warned that before one generation sweeps away the boundary lines drawn by their fathers, it is wise to familiarize oneself with why those parameters were built in the first place. Ram Dass and his contemporaries promised the world an enlightened utopia. The legacy of the 1960s revolutionaries has left America and Europe with varying degrees of lawlessness and much social damage to undo.
Pop culture leaders of recent decades have promised fulfillment through everything from horoscopes to holistic medicine. It is only human to want to know the truth and find purpose. Christmas provides helpful reminders of this— and the Magi who sought out Jesus are a perfect case in point.
The early Christian writer Tertullian concluded from certain Old Testament prophecies (Psalm 72:10; Isaiah 49:7, 60:3) that the wise men must have been Eastern kings of power and wealth. Who else could undertake the trek to Jerusalem, gain an audience with Jewish and Roman leaders along the way, and be able to afford such extravagant gifts?
As for their spiritual orientation, magos? the Greek word from which magi is derived? could mean a variety of things. In the ancient world, this same root word was used to speak of a learned man, a scientist, or even a sorcerer. Indeed, beyond its appearance in Matthew 2:1-12, magi is found only two other times in the New Testament, both referring to occult activities (Acts 8:9; 13:6-12).
So what connection, if any, exists between the Magi of Matthew 2 and present-day astrology? After all, weren’t they looking for answers in the stars? Commendably, they made it all the way to Jerusalem by following the star. But they needed help to make it all the way to Jesus. Upon arriving in the holy city, they still had to ask, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:2). This company of wise men may have been practitioners of astrology, but their stated purpose in traveling so far (“We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him”) shows that they were not just idolatrous pagans. They followed the light they had in an apparent quest to more fully experience a Deity they did not yet know.
It is touching that Jesus’ birth was made known to lowly shepherds and these non-Jews from the East. Clearly, the Christ child was to be the Savior for all people. These “Wise Men” sought the One who is Himself wisdom. They carried with them earthly treasures on their quest for the One who is the heavenly treasure. And even with a star for guidance, the Magi had far less divine enlightenment than we do.
It has been my privilege to interview many people who were personally involved in efforts to “change the world” during the 1960s and 1970s. Some of the folks I’ve met were influencers who truly made news “back in the day.” Others were just ordinary folk searching for . . . something. It makes me sad that many, like Baba Ram Dass, spent long years on quests that essentially led to nowhere. The stories I’ve heard from people of the counter-culture generations are a mix of hope, disappointment, achievement, loss, and longing. Many have plainly admitted that the ripple effects of the 1960s have been, in large measure, negative.
Perhaps this Christmas you’ll have an opportunity to take a fresh look at the manger scene. I’m sure you’ll see at least one such display. We might note that the wise men: 1) personally worshiped Jesus; 2) sacrificially followed God’s leading; and 3) took a public stand for their beliefs.
The star-gazing searchers of old did not look for a better world through astrology, drugs, or politics. The story of the Biblical Wise Men reflects genuine faith and obedience. Reflecting on their humility, devotion, and honest recognition of truth conveys faith and wisdom that can be an inspiration to us all.
Good post!
I have the same reaction to the real story behind “The Exorcist”; the non-Catholic Christian parents are told by their minister that they need a Catholic exorcist. Could you imagine that? Why return to your regular church the next Sunday?
When evaluating worldviews, a Christian must remember 2 Timothy 2:24-26: we must present God's truth gently and kindly in order to set free those who have been captured by deceptive philosophies and worldviews.
Mankind is on a normal spiritual developmental cycle.
We are now approaching the pinnacle of self actualization of the ego. We are full of ourselves. The upcoming mid-life crisis is necessary in order to get rid of the old to make room for the new seed to sprout within us. When we are full of ourselves we have no room for God.
Erik Erickson quoted Anna Freud in his 1958 book “Young Man Luther: A Study in Psychoanalysis and History” that “the period of Reformation was the beginning of the glorification of the ego of common man.” This is when the scriptures were translated into common man’s language and many more people could read and interpret the scriptures for themselves. This created self empowerment.
Our souls are seeds that are planted here on earth to grow, (read Jesus’s explanation of the parable of the weeds in Matthew 13)
In the mid-life crisis diminishing of the ego that is forthcoming, each individual has 4 options.
1. Circle back, have affairs, buy the sports car, seek validation of our ego self in new ways. This is the most common path that keeps people circling as a dog chasing their tail.
2. Give up and die. This life is too rough and I can’t do it. Let me die and leave this mess.
3. As we approach the dark night of the soul or empty self, fear becomes very great. The closer we get, the greater the fear becomes. People in this phase of development seek someone else to surrender their individual authority. This is what gives cults their power over people. This is how the anti-messiah will fool people into following him. This is happening now.
4. The 4th option is to go through the dark night of the soul by looking within self for the Light of God. When this first happens there is a period of euphoria and bliss that makes a person feel they are one with God and have ended their journey. They will write books and seek followers as they feel they have the answers for everyone. Actually they have just placed their toe on the threshold of the transcendent self and are God aware. They go through the euphoria and think they know it all just as a 16 year old does when they first develop a sense of self when the soul is growing through the teenage transition. It is a natural response to the stability of coming out of the turmoil of transition and into the stability of a new stage of soul development.
The Old Testament teaches us how to come out of dependency and self actuate. The New Testament teaches us how to diminish the ego of self actualization and transition to a self transcendent God aware or experiential stage of soul development.
On This “Little Christmas”
January 6th from my The First Book Of Moses poetry page
Below is an abbreviated form. The entire poem is on my poetry page linked below which offers past history of the way Christmas was observed but also reflections about WWII impact on ethnic groups
L.J.Keslin
On This “Little Christmas”
January 6th
Once Upon a Time and not too long ago
The Twelfth Night Of Christmas
was celebrated with a ball
From the Day of Babes Birth
and the 11 thereafter
kith and kin were paid a visit
and friends from far and near
once were paid a call
So on this day I pray in the spirit that this date recalls
Let the gift of homage of kings gain
in the spirit of the days this season yet remain
ere it wane
Be thine Blessings Great
and misfortunes thee none befall
moses@maqs.net
http://www.theusmat.com/natdesk.htm
When a child is born, their soul is pure and they can’t survive unless they surrender to someone else, hopefully their parents. They are empty and have no identity except through their parents.
When a person goes through a severe mid life crisis, the same emptiness happens. This is why their are no atheists in foxholes. The person feels helpless to survive on their own.
Just as a child surrenders to their parents, we must surrender to God in order to move to the next level of development and move through the dark night of the soul.
Actually this problem goes way, way back. Back to the Garden of Eden. It was pride that caused Eve and Adam to succumb to the temptation of being as wise as God.
4The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5“For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Genesis 3:4-7 NASB
*****
The Reformation put the Scriptures into the hands of the average person who could read and understand His Word and how to have a saving faith in Christ.
Most likely of Parthia; some accounts have them accompanied by many soldiers.
Okay,,,
I’m somewhere
Between #2 and #4.
I ran across a similar quote that said, "Never tear down a fence until you know why it was put up." To me, that is the essence of conservatism. Social norms and values evolved over thousands of years to be a certain way for specific reasons . . . reasons we may have forgotten. Wrecking that logical and thoughtful evolution of behavior is a highly reckless, arrogant and egotistical endeavor . . . some, like me, would say foolish. In that vein, I view most leftists as undisciplined morons.
I have just provided a very short summary of the process of the soul growing to be “One with God.” To “Raise UP” to Him which is what the Rapture is all about. When we do this we realize why Jesus said to us, “You too shall do the things that I do and even more in My Name.”
Christians don’t understand the concept of being “Born Again.” When this happens, your consciousness is raised up and you begin to perceive reality directly from your consciousness rather than being limited to your 5 senses. I could explain this through brain wave frequencies and neuroscience, but that only serves to provide fuel for a spiritual ego which emulates the process and creates hindrances to actual spiritual growth.
The Garden of Eden was supposedly in Iraq
“Okay,,,
I’m somewhere
Between #2 and #4.”
OUCH!
I’ve been with many people at their time of death.
Just prior to death, there is a period referred to as “Pre-Death Agitation.” Even the people who have been calm and peaceful their entire life go through it. After that period their is peace and contentment, and the person is of with surrendering to death.
This period is the ego death, or the death of the individual self identity. It is what Jesus spoke of in the process of “dying daily.” In Buddhism, it is the process of achieving “No Self.” which must precede enlightenment. They are both describing the same process.
I was presenting at the hospital recently to a group of Dr’s, faculty and med students when I mentioned that our goal in life is to go thorough this “Pre-Death Agitation phase as early as possible in our lives so that we to can live in peace and contentment. It’s hard to understand this unless you are in the process of diminishing self or close to a “Dark Night” experience.
Ran Dass came here quite a few years ago. We have a few mutual acquaintances who are his followers.
While his taking drugs could imitate the process of achieving spiritual bliss, it is not the real thing. His stroke a few years ago actually helped him understand the process more than his intellectual studies and drug use.
Taking drugs is like jumping up to peep through a window. You might get a little bit of good feeling from what you see through the window, but you can’t crawl through the window and enter the room to pure bliss that is permanent.
O Lord, grant us Your Vision in 2020.
Merry Christmas… and Happy (remember why it’s called) 2020!
It's even better than that. The boy's family was Lutheran. (I don't know which Lutheran group, and that might have made a difference.) It is surprising that a Lutheran pastor, of all people, would say, "Here's a tough case; better turn it over to the Catholics." Especially since the Lutheran church recognizes possession and authorizes exorcisms, in principle at least, though it's rare.
I'm not an expert on the case, but I have read up on it from time to time. Some obvious potential explanations come to mind. The case occurred in Cottage City, Maryland, which is opposite Bladensburg on the Anacostia River, sandwiched between the river and the DC line. (William Peter Blatty fictionalized and sensationalized the story, and changed a lot in the process including the location; he chose Georgetown because Blatty had been a student at GU when the case made the newspapers, and he knew the Georgetown area. He also made the child a girl; the real case was a boy, twelve when the events began. The family's house still stands.)
Anyhow, Cottage City was a small trolley line suburb of DC. The boy's father was a federal employee. The local Lutheran pastor and the neighborhood priest would have lived quite close to each other. They would have had overlapping congregations. I imagine that they were friends. And it may be the case that the pastor asked his pal, the Catholic priest, to take a look, since the Catholics do more exorcisms than Lutherans.
I also got the impression, from a source I would have to search to find again, that the Lutheran pastor, like the boy's father, was somewhat skeptical of the whole thing. The true believer in the possession was the boy's mother. It may be that the pastor wasn't convinced, so when the mother was adamant, the pastor called in his buddy the priest for a second opinion to humor the mother. That's all speculative, but it is plausible in terms of small town social dynamics.
I would also not be surprised if the fact that Catholic University is two skips up the road might have played a role. That's Catholic Central, USA. When you have that kind of a resource right at hand, it would be very sensible to hand the case off. That said, I don't know if CUA was ever approached; the university and related seminaries could have sent out whole battalions of experts (who would have very much wanted to consult on such an interesting case), but that apparently didn't happen. That's still a loose end in my book.
The case began in 1949, so there's a substantial mental adjustment needed to try to understand the people of that time.
As a Catholic, if my clergy sent me to another denomination to deal with something as serious as this, I’d become a member of the denomination that could deal with it - and regard my own former faith as a farce.
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