What an apt comparison of the Thielists with N.I.C.E. There is a duality at the heart of this babelic project. They need to perceive themselves as the misunderstood outsiders, persecuted unjustly by the unimaginative Powers who lack the technical and spiritual gnosis; yet they also need to influence and be in the inner circle of Power; thus the aspirations to N.I.C.E. Their appropriation of Girard is logical, as Girard gives them a compelling narrative to explain their victimhood. Isn't it funny how even the most powerful and influential people need to think of themselves as victims? As outsiders? And to think, their fondest desire is really to end up being a pathetic government bureacracy, not really the cabal of brilliant Brunos and Galileos which they project.
Someone somewhere said let us thank the Nimrods and babelists... they leave in their wake so many useful things to appropriate for better ends. Bind the strong man, steal his stuff.
McGowan was such a poet. How God places such a talent alongside such a self-destructive personality is one of life's mysteries.
Thanks for the reminder of the Judah/Israel connection re: the good Samaritan. If I ever knew it, I had forgotten it. The baby reading of the parable is like the goad, forcing one in the right direction, and the deeper political implications seem to be planted there to sustain us when we run dry and start to suspect God of being shallow. He tells us the "whys" as we dig more deeply.
I've a theory of application of the political meaning, in an ecclesiocentric direction. It is commonplace in the USA these days to hear even conservative Christian anti-immigration rhetoric clamoring "just look what's happening to Europe with all the Muslims!" when in fact, "illegal" immigration to the USA is still overwhelmingly central and South American... of largely catholic stock. The typical immigrant to Germany says "Allahu Akhbar" while the typical "wetback" says "Nuestro padre en el cielo".
The revolting conflation of the two, to my ears, sounds like a gross violation of Proverbs 6:19: which the Pharisees were guilty of in their refusal to acknowledge the Samaritan as a brother.
If conservative US Christianity cannot even understand this dynamic at play, Lord help us when it comes time to help the Muslims who will, eventually begin to dominate immigration. Having failed such a test, what will we have to offer them at that time?
Susannah- totally feel like you could do a podcast a la Matt Fradds one except for Protestants! It would be so good!
Thanks for the newsletter! It was an especially good one this week.
What an apt comparison of the Thielists with N.I.C.E. There is a duality at the heart of this babelic project. They need to perceive themselves as the misunderstood outsiders, persecuted unjustly by the unimaginative Powers who lack the technical and spiritual gnosis; yet they also need to influence and be in the inner circle of Power; thus the aspirations to N.I.C.E. Their appropriation of Girard is logical, as Girard gives them a compelling narrative to explain their victimhood. Isn't it funny how even the most powerful and influential people need to think of themselves as victims? As outsiders? And to think, their fondest desire is really to end up being a pathetic government bureacracy, not really the cabal of brilliant Brunos and Galileos which they project.
Someone somewhere said let us thank the Nimrods and babelists... they leave in their wake so many useful things to appropriate for better ends. Bind the strong man, steal his stuff.
McGowan was such a poet. How God places such a talent alongside such a self-destructive personality is one of life's mysteries.
Thanks for the reminder of the Judah/Israel connection re: the good Samaritan. If I ever knew it, I had forgotten it. The baby reading of the parable is like the goad, forcing one in the right direction, and the deeper political implications seem to be planted there to sustain us when we run dry and start to suspect God of being shallow. He tells us the "whys" as we dig more deeply.
I've a theory of application of the political meaning, in an ecclesiocentric direction. It is commonplace in the USA these days to hear even conservative Christian anti-immigration rhetoric clamoring "just look what's happening to Europe with all the Muslims!" when in fact, "illegal" immigration to the USA is still overwhelmingly central and South American... of largely catholic stock. The typical immigrant to Germany says "Allahu Akhbar" while the typical "wetback" says "Nuestro padre en el cielo".
The revolting conflation of the two, to my ears, sounds like a gross violation of Proverbs 6:19: which the Pharisees were guilty of in their refusal to acknowledge the Samaritan as a brother.
If conservative US Christianity cannot even understand this dynamic at play, Lord help us when it comes time to help the Muslims who will, eventually begin to dominate immigration. Having failed such a test, what will we have to offer them at that time?