tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860677.post9008886915401722961..comments2024-03-25T14:27:40.121-05:00Comments on Heart, Mind, Soul, and Strength: Is Puritanism immoral?Weekend Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425001168670801073noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860677.post-55375349856296264322009-05-04T07:27:00.000-05:002009-05-04T07:27:00.000-05:00I think my favorite along those lines was from the...I think my favorite along those lines was from the King Arthur stories. In one version, the question you had to answer to get the Grail was, "For what does the Grail serve?" I think it was Galahad who answered right: "It's mad idolatry that makes the service greater than the God." <br /><br />We are almost hardwired toward idolatry -- taking something else and making it God. <br /><br />Take care & God bless<br />Anne / WFWeekend Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10425001168670801073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860677.post-66118685609575268552009-05-01T06:44:00.000-05:002009-05-01T06:44:00.000-05:00"What if the true foundation is much more basic th..."What if the true foundation is much more basic than that? What if the foundation of morality is when God looked at creation and declared that it was good?"<br /><br />Certainly, this 'goodness' lies at the heart of the matter - care towards life through relationship. This approach under girds the principals of living provided by the Jerusalem council (avoiding 'immorality' that actually harms ourselves and others) - that's the essence of creational life, thereby living at 'peace' with one another.Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13707181627588121525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860677.post-13799455249598678442009-04-30T10:25:00.000-05:002009-04-30T10:25:00.000-05:00I've had a similar thought regarding certain types...I've had a similar thought regarding certain types of courtesy that seem to have been codified into ridged rules. For example, should the man open the door for a woman? Well, yes, if the door is extremely heavy, or she is carrying the food or baby, etc. There are rules for introducing one person to another, based on seniority or rank. Yet the main point needs to be the importance of introduction, which if not done leaves people hanging in a social situation. [This introduction thing really sticks with me because in kindergarten (yes!) we were taught these rules regarding introduce who to whom. Even since then, when I try to do introductions, I go blank and can't accomplish the most important thing, the social grace of this.]<br /><br />You can think of many types of things we have been taught through the years that are now rules in isolation, but most probably started out as something very practical for a certain time in history. If we look at these things from a standpoint of practicality, then whichever person can do something to help another person, that is the courteous thing to do. <br /><br />I don't know the history of the Puritan morality, but it think it is safe to assume that it resulted from a reaction to immorality as they saw it.LoieJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01977264499770654307noreply@blogger.com