Posted on 12/25/2017 12:19:35 AM PST by Oshkalaboomboom
One of my favorite expressions, which Google finds to be of disputed provenance, is "Be hard on yourself, but easy on others."
Most of us naturally tend toward the opposite.
In my case, I give myself unlimited hall passes for things much worse than I condemn others for. I have done this all my life, I’m frightfully good at it, and I doubt I will ever stop.
This comes to mind because 2017 has been the worst year of my life. Four people very close to me died within a few months of each other (the last two, 10 days apart), with a fifth passing away just before Christmas 2016.
As one does at times like these, I cast about for guidance and inspiration, which brought me to the works of 18th-century philosopher and scientist Emmanuel Swedenborg.
During his later years, Swedenborg claimed to have visited the afterlife, including both Heaven and Hell, and wrote prolifically about what he saw there.
This may seem bizarre, but Swedenborg’s books are profound and detailed, with many concepts worthy of consideration, even if the entire canon was the product of delusion.
In my nascent Swedenborg study, I have found that some Christians consider him to be a heretic, even an occultist.
Whether Swedenborg offered a legitimate interpretation of scripture or was a doctrinal arsonist and, as his contemporary John Wesley is said to have described him, "one of the most ingenious, lively, and entertaining madmen that ever set pen to paper," his prevailing message is clear.
To wit, everything we do and are, and the whole of existence, including this life and the next, is based on love.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
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LOL.
I'm 70 years old and I remember the good old days when to be judgmental was known as a good trait. I remember the good old days when "critical thinking" and criticism" were taught in good schools as subjects of thought and writing.
Oh ...... the good old days.
Why, even, have I published this column? Is it (as I like to believe) because I have alighted upon
The reason the Golden Rule is to treat others as you would like to be treated, and Christ instructs us to love others as we love ourselves (the starter kit to loving God above all things), is that this is motivation to which people can relate.
We all love ourselves first and foremost. Our assignment is to take that abiding self-love that is in the heart of every human and, so far as we are able, redirect it toward other people.
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Here's hoping for a meaningful Christmas to all here at FR .......... and elsewhere.
"Take that abiding self-love that is in the heart of every human and, so far as we are able, redirect it toward other people."
Judge yourself as thoroughly as you are able, even (and especially) when you are being easy on others."
AMEN!! Discriminating Taste used to be a GOOD thing....now we have to accept ALL deviancy! And CELEBRATE it!
Yes, Swedenborg is a cultist and it would be wise not to follow him.
But the advice on how to deal with others can be found in Scripture.
Show mercy and forgiveness to others , just as you were forgiven.
Yep - “judgement” used to be synonymous with “discernment”....
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Well said, and thank you.
Merry Christmas to you.
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