> I disagree that there is only one way to believe, one way to be spiritual or religious.
Very well said. I agree. Thank you for sharing. However, I believe this idea of "sacrificing ourselvres for our enemies" behavior is essential to resolving intractable problems. It is explicit in Christianity, but I am unclear how visible it is in other traditions and practices. Can you enlighten us? Sincerely, Ernie P. On Sunday, October 27, 2024 at 8:41:23 PM UTC-7 Florida, Australia & Pacific fan wrote: > I absolutely believe that faith, and spirituality, are much much more > important than politics will ever be. > > I disagree that there is only one way to believe, one way to be spiritual > or religious. > > But one's own spiritual, emotional, mental and physical well being, one's > own positive attitude - we should really be focusing on that, far more than > politics. > > On Fri, Oct 25, 2024 at 9:13 PM Beaches & Nature fan <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> There is more than one religion in the world. >> >> On Mon, Aug 12, 2024 at 8:47 PM CP Hahn <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> It is through His wisdom that I now speak, for I have seen how His >>> message of love, humility, and justice can be the cure for the divisiveness >>> that plagues our land. >>> Amen >>> >>> On Sat, Aug 10, 2024 at 5:30 PM Dr. Ernie Prabhakar < >>> [email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> >>>> >>>> https://radicalcentrism.org/2024/08/10/saving-washington-the-cure-for-political-divisiveness/ >>>> >>>> Saving Washington: The Cure for Political Divisiveness >>>> >>>> *ChatGPT as George Washington, with help from Edwin Friedman >>>> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Friedman> and Paul Bloom >>>> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Against_Empathy>* >>>> ------------------------------ >>>> >>>> My Fellow Americans, >>>> >>>> I stand before you now, not as the first President of our beloved >>>> Republic, but as one who has journeyed beyond the veil of time, beholding >>>> the trials and triumphs of our nation from a vantage point few can >>>> comprehend. I speak to you from beyond the grave, not out of a desire to >>>> relive the glories of old, but to address the grave perils that now >>>> threaten to undo the very fabric of our Union. >>>> >>>> When I penned my Farewell Address, >>>> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington%27s_Farewell_Address> >>>> I warned of the dangers of political factions and partisanship. I implored >>>> you to guard against the spirit of division, for I knew that it would lead >>>> to discord and weaken the strength of our nation. Yet, even I could not >>>> foresee the extent to which these divisions would deepen, threatening to >>>> tear asunder the bonds that hold us together as one people. >>>> *The Crisis of Partisanship* >>>> >>>> Today, we find ourselves at a crossroads, where the spirit of >>>> partisanship has taken root in the hearts and minds of our citizens. The >>>> symptoms are clear: >>>> >>>> - an unwillingness to listen to opposing views >>>> - a readiness to vilify those who differ from us, and >>>> - a growing sense of animosity that blinds us to our common cause. >>>> >>>> This partisanship is not merely a difference of opinion; it is a >>>> disease that saps the vitality of our Republic. >>>> >>>> What troubles me most is that this partisanship has been fueled by a >>>> crisis of self-differentiation >>>> <https://ymcaokc.org/monday-morning-joe-self-differentiation/>—an >>>> inability to stand firm in one’s convictions without being swayed by the >>>> passions of the crowd. Too many of us have allowed our identities to be >>>> shaped by party loyalty, rather than by the principles of justice, reason, >>>> and compassion that should guide us. >>>> *The Encounter with Christ* >>>> >>>> In the realm beyond this life, I have had the privilege of encountering >>>> the teachings of Christ in a way that transcends earthly understanding. It >>>> is through His wisdom that I now speak, for I have seen how His message of >>>> love, humility, and justice can be the cure for the divisiveness that >>>> plagues our land. >>>> >>>> Christ’s command to “love your enemies >>>> <https://biblehub.com/matthew/5-44.htm>” is a radical call that >>>> challenges the very foundations of our partisan conflicts. It is easy to >>>> love those who agree with us, to show kindness to those who stand with us. >>>> But Christ asks us to go further—to extend grace, understanding, and >>>> compassion even to those who oppose us. This is not a call to passivity or >>>> weakness, but to a strength of character that reflects the heart of God. >>>> *The Law and the Power of Grace* >>>> >>>> The law, as necessary as it is, can only condemn sin; it can expose our >>>> wrongdoings and set boundaries, but it cannot transform the human heart. >>>> The law can highlight the injustice of racism, the cruelty of >>>> discrimination, and the divisiveness of partisanship, but it lacks the >>>> power to heal these deep wounds. Only forgiveness and grace can bring true >>>> healing. >>>> >>>> It is through Christ’s grace that we find the power to move beyond the >>>> letter of the law to the spirit of love and reconciliation. Grace does not >>>> ignore sin; it confronts it with the power to redeem. >>>> >>>> “Grace does not ignore sin; it confronts it with the power to redeem.” >>>> >>>> When we forgive those who have wronged us, when we seek reconciliation >>>> instead of revenge, we break the cycle of hatred and division that the law >>>> alone cannot address. This is the only way to truly cure the deep-seated >>>> racism that has plagued our nation for centuries. >>>> *Healing Through True Self-Differentiation* >>>> >>>> For this healing to occur, each of us must undergo a process of >>>> self-examination. We must ask Christ to show us where we are clinging to >>>> false identities—whether they be political, cultural, or even >>>> religious—that prevent us from living out His call to love and justice. >>>> Too >>>> often, we allow these identities to dictate our actions and attitudes, >>>> rather than allowing Christ to define who we are. >>>> >>>> “Too often, we allow these [false] identities to dictate our actions >>>> and attitudes, rather than allowing Christ to define who we are.” >>>> >>>> Christ offers us a new identity, one that is rooted not in the >>>> divisions of this world, but in the unity of His love. It is an identity >>>> that transcends the labels of race, class, and party affiliation, and >>>> calls >>>> us to a higher standard of living. We must allow Him to differentiate us, >>>> to strip away the false identities that divide us, and to shape us into >>>> His >>>> image, where love and grace are the defining characteristics of our lives. >>>> *A Call to Christlike Leadership* >>>> >>>> The cure for our nation’s divisions lies in the practice of Christlike >>>> self-differentiation. This means grounding our identity not in the >>>> transient labels of political affiliation, but in the eternal principles >>>> of >>>> truth, justice, and love. It means having the courage to stand for what is >>>> right, even when it is unpopular, and to engage in civil discourse with >>>> those who hold different views. >>>> >>>> It is also a call to practice rational compassion—a balanced empathy >>>> that seeks to understand the perspectives of all, rather than demonizing >>>> those who differ from us. This form of compassion is not blind; it is >>>> guided by reason and tempered by the recognition that all are made in the >>>> image of God. >>>> *Electing Christlike Leaders* >>>> >>>> To save our Republic, we must elect leaders who embody these >>>> principles—leaders who are not swayed by the winds of political >>>> expediency, >>>> but who stand firm in their commitment to justice, truth, and the common >>>> good. We must seek out those who will unite rather than divide, who will >>>> lead with humility and strength, and who will inspire us to rise above the >>>> fray of partisanship. >>>> >>>> “We must seek out those who will unite rather than divide, who will >>>> lead with humility and strength, and who will inspire us to rise above the >>>> fray of partisanship.” >>>> >>>> And as citizens, we must do our part. We must reject the temptation to >>>> be drawn into the bitterness of political warfare and instead strive to >>>> build bridges of understanding and cooperation. We must engage in civil >>>> discourse, always seeking the truth and working toward solutions that >>>> benefit the whole, rather than just the few. >>>> *A Vision for Unity* >>>> >>>> My fellow Americans, the vision I hold for our nation is one of unity—a >>>> unity that transcends party lines and embraces the diversity of thought >>>> and >>>> experience that makes us strong. It is a vision where we are bound >>>> together >>>> not by our differences, but by our shared commitment to the principles >>>> that >>>> define us as a people. >>>> >>>> This is not an easy path, but it is the path that will lead us to a >>>> brighter future. It is the path that will preserve our Union and fulfill >>>> the promise of liberty and justice for all. >>>> *Conclusion: The Republic’s Call* >>>> >>>> As I stand before you now, I urge you to take up this challenge with >>>> courage and conviction. Let us rise above the noise of partisanship and >>>> recommit ourselves to the principles that have guided this nation since >>>> its >>>> inception. Let us strive to build a nation that is truly “of the people, >>>> by >>>> the people, for the people,” and let us do so with the light of Christ as >>>> our guide. >>>> >>>> May God bless you, and may God bless these United States of America. >>>> >>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>> >>>> -- >>>> -- >>>> Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community < >>>> [email protected]> >>>> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism >>>> Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org >>>> >>>> --- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups "Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/RadicalCentrism/DD5494CC-A426-4703-8F44-1F2BB5B5FAA5%40gmail.com >>>> >>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/RadicalCentrism/DD5494CC-A426-4703-8F44-1F2BB5B5FAA5%40gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>> . >>>> >>> -- >>> -- >>> Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community < >>> [email protected]> >>> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism >>> Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org >>> >>> --- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/RadicalCentrism/CACB%2BEVc91Nq_n0Xr6DLz2s1nS0OTy-%2B-Vf42w9cPLuFECVGzqQ%40mail.gmail.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/RadicalCentrism/CACB%2BEVc91Nq_n0Xr6DLz2s1nS0OTy-%2B-Vf42w9cPLuFECVGzqQ%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >> -- -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group. 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