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.
The family physician had been consulted, but one thing led to another and the boy was admitted to Georgetown University Hospital. That means the docs and shrinks at Georgetown would have had a look at him, and presumably passed their recommendations on an exorcism up their own chain of command. The exorcism was actually begun in the hospital but was suspended when the boy wrenched a bedspring loose from his rollaway hospital cot and stabbed the exorcist. The DC exorcism was suspended. The mom then took the boy to St. Louis, where she had family, and started over. That means a different archdiocese, a different set of priests, docs and psychiatrists, and a different bishop -- a whole second set of eyes, all reaching the same conclusion. That's part of what makes the case so interesting.
We ain't talkin' about an uneducated rural family and Father O'Gullible in the back of beyond, completely isolated and trying to improvise on something above their pay grade.
“NeverForget to laugh”
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GyG@PlanetWTF?/WNW!
SemperTRUMP.45!
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Well, maybe … but remember, the boy's father never thought the kid was possessed. I gather that opinions were mixed all around. If the dad wasn't convinced, and the pastor wasn't convinced, but the mother was adamant, consulting someone who agreed with the mom and was willing to try Plan B would be an obvious course of action.
This wasn't a case where the Lutheran pastor tried and tried again to perform an exorcism and then handed the case off in defeat. More likely it's a case where the pastor wasn't convinced, so the mom, who was always the true believer, sought out someone else. Women do this kind of thing. It drives their husbands crazy.
Also if they were from what was at one time part of the Persian Empire, some of the prophecies of Daniel and others were known from the time of the Exile. I had a discussion with my pastor about this on Sunday. Note the gifts. Gold frankincense and myrrh. Gold one would expect. The other two, one would suspect that the Magi, among others, were aware of the prophecies regarding His death. Many had expected the Messiah to be a political and military leader, yet I suspect that the Magi had at least an inkling that He was much more than that.
“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.”
It’s not denomination specific. It is more a matter of where the individual doing the exorcism is at spiritually. I’m not Catholic, grew up Lutheran, and attend many denominations services now including Catholic.
When I am around a priest that can do exorcisms, I feel the Love radiating from their solar plexus. It is very strong. That is necessary for anyone to do this work.
I’ve done many, some much more difficult than others. When I finally watched the movie Exorcist a few years ago I found it very accurate and similar to cases I have personally encountered.
“The DC exorcism was suspended.”
LOL... Politics and exorcisms do not mix well.
In 1949, it had nothing to do with politics.
Never Forget
To Laugh!
That, My FRiend
Is The Secret.
Beetle Boots
and Pukha Beads
are Hilarious!
“...left him, at the end of life, depressed and searching.”
Well, he went to the ends of the earth to avoid just cracking open a Bible and searching there. He didn’t really want to find the truth, if you ask me, because he spent his life running away from it.
I understand; this family didn’t fall off the turnip truck...
If a Catholic priest send me to a Lutheran minister, who in turn performs a successful exorcism, I’d never darken the doorway of a Catholic church again.
I have never met a Lutheran pastor who would be able to do an exorcism. The minor misguided spirits are easy and they could do them. Until you realize that you are just a tool and the work is done through you, it’s dangerous work.
Generally, when you do even a minor spirit release there is a higher up dark spirit observing the event. I’ve worked my way up the command structure until one evening satan himself appeared. The room got freezing cold and it was like a giant vacuum cleaner sucking energy away.
The Divine energy was stronger and satan just backed away. It was not time for the confrontation.
I’ve had evil spirits take over people’s physical bodies and charge at me. It is as though they hit an invisible wall a few feet from me. They are stopped dead in their tracks as though they hit a block wall. It is the edge of the bright Light they encounter.
That is terrifying; incredible that people are skeptical about these spirits.
“When a child is born, their soul is pure and they can’t survive unless they surrender to someone else,”
I find your use of the word “surrender” to be inaccurate and unhelpful in understanding the situation. To surrender is to make a choice, a decision. The child has no such ability.
He is merely being who he is, a helpless little creature. It is the parent that makes the choice to help him or not.
“They are empty and have no identity except through their parents.”
That implies that at birth we are an empty slate and everything we become is due to the environment and that our genes have nothing to do with our personality and who we become.
“When a person goes through a severe mid life crisis, the same emptiness happens.”
I don’t think that’s a good analogy. From my experience, a midlife crises is the sudden realization that you have been living someone else’s values (usually your parents, or the prevailing culture), and in discovering that there is a certain sense of liberation and also unmooredness that leads to experimentations to define your own values.
“This is why their are no atheists in foxholes.”
You’re equating being in a foxhole with midlife crisis? I would equate it with being near death.
“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.”
When you’re at death’s doorstep surrendering is not a choice, it doesn’t matter whether you surrender or not - you will die. You may make the last few moments more palatable, or even joyous, believing in God, or, agnostically, wondering what this next adventure will be like, or, atheistically, simply be relieved that your suffering in this earth is finally over, or perhaps sadness at leaving your loved ones behind.
What comes next nobody knows. Or could it be that believing in something makes it real, literally?
Just my 2 cents. Merry Christmas!
The Bible,
Thanks.
“To surrender is to make a choice, a decision. The child has no such ability.”
Intellectual decisions are spiritually worthless. They are like the Pharisees prayers.
Believe what you want, but you do not understand the process. Surrender is not to make a decision. It is to give up your individual will.
The Bible
The Truth
.
Yup,
It’s in There!
I did 1 then moved to 4. Only stayed at 1 long enough to think “this ain’t gonna last”. :)
I did 1 then moved to 4. Only stayed at 1 long enough to think “this ain’t gonna last”. :)
“Surrender is not to make a decision. It is to give up your individual will.”
And to give up your individual will (or anything else) is not a decision?
Words have meaning. Use them correctly, and wisely and you would have a much clearer and more convincing argument.
You lose yourself (and anyone you’re trying to influence) in a fog of vaguely defined terms.
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