[Mb-hair] Ian's response re EMAIL WITH A FRIEND

[Michael Butler]

Equalmente
Michael

> Michael Butler....has anyone told you today that you are loved?
> 
> I Love You:)
> 
> Sherwin 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mb-hair-bounces at islandlists.com
> [mailto:mb-hair-bounces at islandlists.com] On Behalf Of Michael Butler
> Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2004 11:08 AM
> To: Civic; HAIR List
> Subject: [Mb-hair] Ian's response re EMAIL WITH A FRIEND
> 
> Dear Ian,
> I respect your views. I feel the dark forces have come from organized
> religion. We all have the right to believe in whatever and to say so. The
> terrible aspect is the continuing violence in name of God.
> I know you have the same desire for Peace.
> Love,
> Michael
> 
> ------ Forwarded Message
> From: "Ian" <ialterman at nyc.rr.com>
> Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 17:43:42 -0400
> 
> Subject: Re: [Mb-civic] EMAIL WITH A FRIEND
> 
> Michael:
> 
> I was intrigued by one of your comments.  You said: "Spirituality is the
> only future and that wont come from religion. God or the Gods are playing
> too many tricks. It can only come from within. We had a chance in the 60's
> and we were not strong enough to overcome the dark forces.  Now they seem to
> be on both sides of the aisle."
> 
> As a minister, I would be remiss in not asking: have you considered the
> possibility that the very approach used in the 60s, and that you are
> suggesting now again - "it can only come from within" - is the very reason
> WHY you "were not strong enough to overcome the dark forces?"
> 
>> From the Judeo-Christian perspective, this "come from within" approach
>> is
> the very approach that STRENGTHENS the "dark forces" AGAINST the positive
> spirituo-religious forces that might avail against them.
> 
> Yes, I know that many (perhaps most) non-believers have a dim view of
> "religion," due to the way that all of them have been bastardized, co-opted
> and apostatized.  However, I reiterate that "Religion is about laws and
> behavior; faith is about a relationship with God (and Christ)".
> 
> In this regard, I, too, have serious concerns and misgivings about what has
> come to be called "religion."  But that does not change my feeling - and my
> understanding of my faith - that putting one's faith in oneself and one's
> "better nature" or "good conscience" is dangerously misguided, and only
> gives "the enemy" (whomever or whatever you perceive him/it to be) more
> "fuel for the fire."  It is only when we put our faith in God - and refrain
> from attempting to use our own efforts (spiritual or otherwise) - that the
> "dark forces" might be overcome.
> 
> This does not mean idle worship (pun intended); i.e., simply praying and
> hoping that things will change.  Certainly, even Christians (and other
> believers) have an obligation to be active in trying to effect change for
> the betterment of all people.  But to suggest that "God or the Gods are
> playing too many tricks," and that we can - or even should - somehow attempt
> to hinder God from His work (whether or not we are happy about the outcome
> of that work: "His ways are not our ways") would seem to engender flagrant
> arrogance or "pride" - the deadliest of all sins.
> 
> Peace.
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Michael Butler" <michael at michaelbutler.com>
> To: "Family Finance" <michael at michaelbutler.com>; "Civic"
> <mb-civic at islandlists.com>; "HAIR List" <mb-hair at islandlists.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 3:04 PM
> Subject: [Mb-civic] EMAIL WITH A FRIEND
> 
> 
> Compadre,
> 
> Were we not lucky to have lived in that era? Notwithstanding the
> circumstances, Warfield or whatever, I hate to say it, sounds like an old
> saw but things were better those days for everyone.
> Now where and how do we go? Spirituality is the only future and that wont
> come from religion. God or the Gods are playing too many tricks. It can only
> come from within. We had a chance in the 60's and we were not strong enough
> to overcome the dark forces. Now they seem to be on both sides of the aisle.
> I have great fear for the kids and more so for my grandchild. What a bleak
> future they are facing. We need to continue to try to right this boat. The
> important things are family and friends, the more the better. Compassion is
> the keyword, so abused by our our current president. Let us hope the next
> one does show that peace and love are the only objectives that will work.
> 
> Michael
> 
>> Don Miguel,
>> 
>> Ah, Warfield. What a wild (and well managed) place! I remember
>> bringing
> the
>> Bauls of Bengal there one dark winter night for one of your soirées
>> and
> your
>> butler -- suspicious of these dark skinned joyous eyed Bengalis in
>> their lunghis, sandals and Marks and Spencer overcoats -- fed them in
>> the
> kitchen.
>> They then made their music and blew everyone away. If I remember,
>> George
> and
>> Patty Harrison gave me a ride home that night to Wentworth where I was
>> staying with Don'o(van). Those were the days, eh? Don't envy you
>> living in America now in that cyclotron of fear spawned spin, altered
>> perceptions
> and
>> partisan vendettas. Against the greater reality, it's all so petty.
> Everyone
>> is bending the facts and objective truth is the victim. Instead of
>> facing the music, Lib and Con alike are feeding the cacophony.
>> Everyone is too
> soft
>> and comfortable and ignorant of the greater world. It doesn't matter
>> who
> the
>> president is to the Middle East, they're on their own fools ride of
>> denial and destruction. That clock's been ticking for centuries and
>> the chimes
> are
>> deafening. The next decade is going to be helter-skelter to say the least.
>> Antonio
> 
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