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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