The dangers of being unteachable

 

The quote "There are no solutions. There are only trade-offs." is attributed to *Thomas Sowell* in his book "A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Struggles”. Sowell is an American economist, and social theorist, who emphasizes that in the realm of politics, perfect solutions are elusive, and decisions often involve making difficult trade-offs between competing interests. Rather than seeking ideal solutions, we must navigate the complexities by finding compromises that balance various needs and priorities. This perspective acknowledges the inherent limitations and complexities of political decision-making.

The forward for Sowell’s book reads, “Controversies in politics arise from many sources, but the conflicts that endure for generations or centuries show a remarkably consistent pattern. In this classic work, Thomas Sowell analyzes this pattern. He describes the two competing visions that shape our debates about the nature of reason, justice, equality, and power: the "constrained" vision, which sees human nature as unchanging and selfish, and the "unconstrained" vision, in which human nature is malleable and perfectible. A Conflict of Visions offers a convincing case that ethical and policy disputes circle around the disparity between both outlooks.”

“A generation of the unteachable is hanging upon us like a necklace of corpses.” ― George Orwell

And that is exactly where this will lead to, corpses, or should I say yet more corpses, since this type of unteachability has already led to the loss of life. Stupid people may frighten me, especially when their idiocy is manifested collectively by an entire group of unteachable fools who subscribe to the same flawed thinking. But more frightening yet are intelligent people who similarly reject the use of reason while collectively using their rejection of Godly wisdom to control others. This class of educated fool Paul referred to in 2nd Timothy 3:7, "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."

There are several scriptures that highlight the dangers of having an unteachable spirit:

1. **Proverbs 16:18** states, "Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a great fall"¹. This suggests that an unteachable spirit, often a sign of pride, can lead to destruction and failure.

2. **1 John 4:6** says, "We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood"². This implies that those who refuse to listen, or are unteachable, are not from God.

3. **Proverbs 26:12** (Amplified Bible) reads, "Do you see a man [who is unteachable and] wise in his own eyes and full of self-conceit? There is more hope for a fool than for him"³⁵. This scripture warns of the dangers of being unteachable and full of self-conceit.

4. **Colossians 3:12** says, "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility gentleness, and patience"⁴. This scripture speaks to the need for humility, which is the opposite of an unteachable spirit.

These scriptures emphasize the importance of being teachable and humble, and warn of the dangers and consequences of being unteachable. It's important to remain open to learning and growth in our spiritual journey.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 2024-02-26

(1) Having A Teachable Spirit - LTM. https://ltmorlando.org/unbelief-having-a-teachable-spirit/.

(2) Spirit of Error - Unteachable Part 1 - Faith is the Evidence. https://www.faiththeevidence.com/fte-blog/spirit-of-error-unteachable-part-1.

(3) Proverbs 26:12 AMP - Do you see a man [who is unteachable - Bible Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2026%3A12&version=AMP.

(4) The Sin of an Unteachable Spirit - CultureWatch. https://billmuehlenberg.com/2018/05/03/the-sin-of-an-unteachable-spirit/.

(5) Appendix: The Plight of Being Unteachable | Bible.org. https://bible.org/seriespage/appendix-plight-being-unteachable.

Today I am witnessing an unteachable Church that is weak, broken, and divided making it ill equipped to counter the leading false teachings of our time. In fact, I find most fellowships entirely disinterested in even mentioning how Postmodernism and Critical Theory have combined in an unholy union to create the prevailing fad of WOKE ideas infecting our children’s minds. The loss of Classical education and a clear understanding of the importance of Christianity to our legal systems and government has left society engaged in the single greatest act of pride and hubris, namely attempting to create our own value structure.

Nietzsche predicted that the rejection of God would lead to all of the totalitarian conflicts of the 20th Century when he wrote, “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?” ― Friedrich Nietzsche

I can state with absolute assurance that the ridiculous nature of our Postmodern Zeitgeist combined with the power of technology powered by AI will soon create a species of hell on earth we are incapable of imagining if we do not repent and find our way back to God through Christ. God will not be mocked by the hubris of the fools who are authoring this totalizing enterprise of valueless values which are literally based upon a complete rejection of reality!

Where are the voices crying out in the wilderness opposing this false and Godless ideology? I hear little about this from our Church leaders who continue to feed their flocks pablum instead of the real revelatory meat of the Word of God which is the only antidote for WOKE ideological possession!

The importance of the Word of God to the development of the Anglo-sphere:

The King James Version (KJV), also known as the King James Version Bible (KJVB) and the Authorized Version (AV) is an Early Modern English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England, which was commissioned in 1604 and published in 1611, under sponsorship of the King who was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until his death in 1625. Although he long tried to get both countries to adopt a closer political union, the kingdoms of Scotland and England remained individual sovereign states, with their own parliaments, judiciaries, and laws, both ruled by James in personal union. He was the longest-reigning monarch of the Kingdom of Scotland. The 80 books of the King James Version include 39 books of the Old Testament, 14 books of Apocrypha, and the 27 books of the New Testament.

The King James Version is noted for its "majesty of style" and has been described as one of the most important books in English culture and a driving force in the shaping of the English-speaking world. The King James Version remains the preferred translation of many Christian fundamentalists and religious movements, and it is also considered to be one of the important literary accomplishments of early modern England.

Background for the KJV translation:

Given the perceived need for a new authorized translation, James was quick to appreciate the broader value of the proposal and at once made the project his own. By June 30, 1604, James had approved a list of 54 revisers, although extant records show that 47 scholars actually participated. They were organized into six companies, two each working separately at Westminster, Oxford, and Cambridge on sections of the Bible assigned to them. Richard Bancroft (1544–1610), archbishop of Canterbury, served as overseer and established doctrinal conventions for the translators. The new Bible was published in 1611.

The Epistle Dedicatory and what it has to teach us about how its translators used it to put an end to the totalising enterprise of their day:

Allow me to read but two short excerpts, “And this their contentment doth not diminish or decay, but every day increaseth and taketh strength, when they observe, that the zeal of Your Majesty toward the house of God doth not slack or go backward, but is more and more kindled, manifesting itself abroad in the farthest parts of Christendom, by writing in defence of the Truth, (which hath given such a blow unto that man of sin, as will not be healed,)”

“And now at last, by the mercy of God, and the continuance of our labours, it being brought unto such a conclusion, as that we have great hopes that the Church of England shall reap good fruit thereby; we hold it our duty to offer it to Your Majesty, not only as to our King and Sovereign, but as to the principal Mover and Author of the work: humbly craving of Your most Sacred Majesty, that since things of this quality have ever been subject to the censures of illmeaning and discontented persons, it may receive approbation and patronage from so learned and judicious a Prince as Your Highness is, whose allowance and acceptance of our labours shall more honour and encourage us, than all the calumniations and hard interpretations of other men shall dismay us. So that if, on the one side, we shall be traduced by Popish Persons at home or abroad, who therefore will malign us, because we are poor instruments to make God’s holy Truth to be yet more and more known unto the people, whom they desire still to keep in ignorance and darkness; or if, on the other side, we shall be maligned by self-conceited Brethren, who run their own ways, and give liking unto nothing, but what is framed by themselves, and hammered on their anvil; we may rest secure, supported within by truth and innocency of a good conscience, having walked the ways of simplicity and integrity, as before the Lord; and sustained without by the powerful protection of Your Majesty’s grace and favour, which will ever give countenance to honest and christian endeavours against bitter censures and uncharitable imputations.”

The Catholic Church and the Holy Roman Empire were the totalizing enterprises of their day with the Pope claiming to have the keys to control heaven, earth, and hell along with the authority to forgive sin which obviously belongs to Christ and Christ alone. And now an even more insidious world order is emerging that is utterly godless which makes no reference to Christ. The first demon may have been cast out but seven more which are far worse evils have taken its place!

Matthew 12:43-45 King James Version

43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

Things too great for me: from whence cometh my help?

 

Let us consider what it is wise to do when we are being confronted with things that are beyond our capacity to understand and our ability to deal with effectively. Allow me to read the Words of Agur from the book of Proverbs Chapter 30 (NASB) as the backdrop for today’s discussion on restoring sanity to a world captured by delusions and falsehoods:

1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle.

The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:

2 Surely I am more stupid than any man,

And I do not have the understanding of a man.

3 Neither have I learned wisdom,

Nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.

4 Who has ascended into heaven and descended?

Who has gathered the wind in His fists?

Who has wrapped the waters in His garment?

Who has established all the ends of the earth?

What is His name or His son’s name?

Surely you know!

5 Every word of God is tested;

He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

6 Do not add to His words

Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.

7 Two things I asked of You,

Do not refuse me before I die:

8 Keep deception and lies far from me,

Give me neither poverty nor riches;

Feed me with the food that is my portion,

9 That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?”

Or that I not be in want and steal,

And profane the name of my God.

10 Do not slander a slave to his master,

Or he will curse you and you will be found guilty.

11 There is a kind of man who curses his father

And does not bless his mother.

12 There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes,

Yet is not washed from his filthiness.

13 There is a kind—oh how lofty are his eyes!

And his eyelids are raised in arrogance.

14 There is a kind of man whose teeth are like swords

And his jaw teeth like knives,

To devour the afflicted from the earth

And the needy from among men.

15 The leech has two daughters,

“Give,” “Give.”

There are three things that will not be satisfied,

Four that will not say, “Enough”:

16 Sheol, and the barren womb,

Earth that is never satisfied with water,

And fire that never says, “Enough.”

17 The eye that mocks a father

And scorns a mother,

The ravens of the valley will pick it out,

And the young eagles will eat it.

18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me,

Four which I do not understand:

19 The way of an eagle in the sky,

The way of a serpent on a rock,

The way of a ship in the middle of the sea,

And the way of a man with a maid.

20 This is the way of an adulterous woman:

She eats and wipes her mouth,

And says, “I have done no wrong.”

21 Under three things the earth quakes,

And under four, it cannot bear up:

22 Under a slave when he becomes king,

And a fool when he is satisfied with food,

23 Under an unloved woman when she gets a husband,

And a maidservant when she supplants her mistress.

24 Four things are small on the earth,

But they are exceedingly wise:

25 The ants are not a strong people,

But they prepare their food in the summer;

26 The shephanim are not mighty people,

Yet they make their houses in the rocks;

27 The locusts have no king,

Yet all of them go out in ranks;

28 The lizard you may grasp with the hands,

Yet it is in kings’ palaces.

29 There are three things which are stately in their march,

Even four which are stately when they walk:

30 The lion which is mighty among beasts

And does not retreat before any,

31 The strutting rooster, the male goat also,

And a king when his army is with him.

32 If you have been foolish in exalting yourself

Or if you have plotted evil, put your hand on your mouth.

33 For the [m]churning of milk produces butter,

And pressing the nose brings forth blood;

So the churning of anger produces strife.

Agur, was the son of Jakeh, and is mentioned in the Bible as the originator of the wisdom found in Proverbs 30. The name "Agur" translates to the word "gathered", and his father's name, “Jakeh”, means "pious" or "carefully religious". There is a possibility that Jakeh was from an Ishmaelite tribe.

Agur's insights in Proverbs 30 serve as an illustration of the ways of man versus the wisdom of God. He expresses deep humility at the outset of his verses, and acknowledges that true wisdom can only come from God. His sayings in Proverbs 30 give us insight into the man because God used Agur to pen an entire chapter in the Bible.

However, it's important to note that we know very little about Agur and Jakeh outside of Proverbs 30:1. Some interpretations suggest that the names and words following Agur in Proverbs 30:1 are epithets of King Solomon himself.

So, to today’s point. Yesterday Anne-Siri, Solskinn, and I went downtown to investigate the two-year anniversary protest of the Emergency Measures Act being enacted by the Marxofascist political misfits here in Ottawa. The suspending of habeas corpus and the Rule of Law was declared unconstitutional and therefore illegal by the courts. We saw many waving let's go "fa coff" flags inviting Trudeau to join them at Tim Hortons "fa coff" (the flag bearers must be Italian because they love to get together "fa coff"). We heard chants of "Trudeau must go", and shouts of “freedom”! I saw folks carrying signs which read “Leave our kids alone!” I even spoke with a PPC supporter carrying a "stop the genocide in Gaza" poster who claimed to be a Christian since Christianity owes no debt to Judaism in the eyes of that man’s delusional version of Godly faith. I heard a speech in front of Parliament where the speaker promised that Muslims and Christians would unite to free Canada from oppression, just like they've always done when Muslims and Christians united for peace, which ain't never happened. Basically, I saw desperate people who really did not know how to achieve their goals but were certain if they chanted loud and long enough that magically the totalizing enterprise of global Marxofascism would just wither away and die on a vine that has not yet born the fullness of its totalizing fruit!

It made me sad to see people so hopeful when they simply were unable to define the nature of the devilish spirit that they are ostensibly fighting. Moreover, that they could share no concerted plan as to how they intend to restore limited constitutional government under the Rule of Law. My most oft repeated admonition is that there cannot be a political solution to a moral, philosophical, and spiritual crisis. It is my opinion that the struggle to free us from the totalizing spirit of our time may well cost much spilt blood before the prevailing Zeitgeist is exchanged for yet another oppressive force of illiberal tyranny after the next pendulum swing toward authoritarianism.

Not a single politician was present to speak with the protesters to hear their concerns to address them. If this had been a pride parade with children exposed to perversions such as "pin the clit on the vulva" or the ever popular "dildo ring toss" game, then the entire deviant political class would have been there waving rainbow flags in approbation of wicked degeneration. Ottawa has become a Godless excuse for a national capital.

But there is something far worse, I did not see a single Christian Church leader, nor did I see any believers gathered to lead the disaffected in prayer. Several times over these past few years I have reached out to Church leaders to assist them in developing speaking series geared at exposing the foremost ideological possession of our time. Each time I have offered, my offers have been dismissed as though the prevailing Zeitgeist of WOKE Marxofascism is not the direct result of the Satanic lies being disseminated in the Academy and in turn propagated in every political, bureaucratic, and cultural institution whose former function was to defend our faith, our families, and our property.

I will finish today by inviting you to watch an interview between Jordan B Peterson and Doctor Oz shot in Doctor Peterson’s Toronto home on developing the necessary courage and wisdom to challenge the prevailing mindset of the social collective if said mindset has become toxic. If what we are currently witnessing in Canada’s illiberal and authoritarian “crap-it-all” isn’t toxic, then I do not know what is! The social collective and mass psychosis go hand in glove. If you are incapable of thinking for yourself the ever-present danger of being swept away by the type of madness that gripped pre-war Germany, the Bolshevik Revolution, Mao's Cultural Revolution, or the present WOKE madness of "Just-In" Trudeau whose minority government has a vice-like grip on Canada is undeniable. The fact that some of my family and a few of my former friends will no longer speak with me because of my opposition to this madness is proof. Add to that the fact that our government can refuse to answer for its corruption and that the public goes along with it is further proof we have arrived at mass psychosis. You will find that video at this link; https://youtu.be/ok6h3nXA230?si=PAO7ikCGc6BxV1Tf

This problem is too great for me. This type of demonic ideation will only come out with much prayer and fasting from all the people of God who said, AMEN!

WOKE: the Godless Gnostic Cult of Materialists

 

Fighting ideological possession in defence of the Truth of Christ is the reason for me creating these blogs and recording my vodcasts. We are living in an age of almost universal deceit. Moreover, the nature of that deception is exceptionally dark and oppressive since the governing elite are using it to control an ideologically addled population who have forgotten God.

Let us examine what Jesus Himself had to say about this kind of arbitrary and godless control keeping in mind that He was addressing legalistically religious people who ostensibly followed the Pentateuch to the letter. The words of Jesus on this matter from John 8:

41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?

47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

Magisterium /măj″ĭ-stîr′ē-əm/ is a noun referring to the authority to teach religious doctrine, a body of people having doctrinal authority in a church, or the teaching office or authority of the Roman Catholic Church. The magisterium in Jesus’ day were using ideological deception to control the Jews whose national sovereignty had been compromised by Roman occupation. This is not so dissimilar from our present dilemma in Canada where our government is under investigation for being under foreign interference. Moreover, consider this, if people who believed every word of the Pentateuch from Moses and the Prophets had so rejected the Truth behind those words, how much more so have our leaders today who in their rejection of Christ have made themselves into their own gods? So let us examine how false ideology is being used by the governing elite as a political tool of oppression.

The impossibility of rejecting religion and how WOKE has become a “Gnostic Cult of Godless Materialists”:

From Bing AI: The concept of irreligious thought refers to the lack or rejection of religious beliefs or practices. It is a broad concept that encompasses many different positions and draws upon an array of philosophical and intellectual perspectives, including atheism, agnosticism, skepticism, rationalism, and secularism³. However, some argue that it's impossible to completely reject religious thought because humans naturally seek meaning and purpose, which are often provided by religious or spiritual beliefs⁴.

As for how ideologies resemble religion, both are systems of beliefs that give a sense of purpose and order to life¹. Here are some similarities:

1. **Worldview**: Both religions and ideologies offer comprehensive worldviews that help individuals make sense of the world¹.

2. **Norms and Objectives**: They introduce norms and objectives in individual and collective life¹.

3. **Us vs. Them Mentality**: Both can create an 'us and them' mentality, reinforcing group identity and cohesion².

However, there are also key differences:

1. **Focus on the Divine vs. Material World**: Religions generally focus on the divine and spiritual aspects of existence, while ideologies tend to focus on the material world and human society¹.

2. **Salvation vs. Fulfillment**: The aims of religions and ideologies are akin, but not identical: personal salvation for most religions; a better life and happiness in this world – now, or in the future – for ideologies¹.

It's important to note that these are general observations and there can be significant variations within both religions and ideologies. Also, the line between religion and ideology can sometimes be blurry, with some ideologies taking on religious characteristics and vice versa².

Source: Conversation with Bing, 2024-02-12

(1)  Irreligion | Definition, Overview, & Examples | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/irreligion.

(2) The work that destroys the cornerstone of irreligion. https://thepenmagazine.net/the-work-that-destroys-the-cornerstone-of-irreligion-the-treatise-on-nature/.

(3) Religions and Ideologies | SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-017-9376-6_17.

(4) Is there a difference between ideology and religion, and if not, what .... https://philosophy.stackexchange.com/questions/46431/is-there-a-difference-between-ideology-and-religion-and-if-not-what-does-secul.

(5) The Incoherence of the Philosophers - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Incoherence_of_the_Philosophers.

 

Therefore, today the governing elite have elevated the profane, material, and base to the status of holding a place where the highest good can be achieved. This unholy see is being led in part by Beelzebub’s Blasphemous Bishops, his ass-holiness Joe Biden and the preposterous pontiff, Justin Trudeau. They are ministering at Satan’s altar with all the zeal with which any Pharisee or Jesuit ever used to persecute Christ and His Church.

How the ungodly ideology of WOKE has been used by the governing elite to control secular society:

1. **Elite Theory**: This theory suggests that a community's affairs are best handled by a small subset of its members, and in modern societies, such an arrangement is inevitable¹. This small subset, often referred to as the "elite," can use ideology to maintain their position and control over the majority¹.

2. **Control of Information**: Elites can control information flows, promotions, and other aspects of organizational functioning, leading to power concentration².

3. **Use of Force and Persuasion**: In actual societies, elites are those most adept at using the two modes of political rule, force and persuasion². They often enjoy important advantages such as inherited wealth and family connections².

4. **Creation of Ideological Unity**: The creation or persistence of a consensually or ideologically united elite is not discernibly linked with non-elite propensities². This unity can be used to further control and influence the population.

5. **Monopolization of Political Power**: The political elite can be defined as a group of high stratum decision-makers in political culture or concrete political structure which monopolizes political power, influences major political policies, and occupies all important posts of political command³.

It's important to note that these methods can vary greatly depending on the specific context and the nature of the governing elite. The use of ideology by the elite to control populations is a complex process and is a subject of ongoing study in political science and sociology.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 2024-02-12

(1)  Elite theory | Political Science & Power Structures | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/elite-theory.

(2) Elite Theory and Elites | SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-0-387-68930-2_9.

(3) Political Elite: Concept, Orientations and Role in Social Change. https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/politics/political-elite-concept-orientations-and-role-in-social-change/39204.

How Christianity became the ideology of politics used by the magisterium.

For some 1200 years between Constantine's conversion and the Protestant Reformation, Catholicism was the dominant force in shaping political reality in Europe.

From Bing AI: The period between Constantine's conversion in the 4th century and the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century was indeed a time when Catholicism significantly shaped the political reality in Europe. Here are some key points:

1. **Constantine's Conversion**: Constantine the Great, who reigned from 306–337 AD, adopted Christianity after his victory at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312². His formal conversion in 312 is almost universally acknowledged among historians¹.

2. **Legalization of Christianity**: In 313, Constantine and Licinius issued the Edict of Milan, which decriminalized Christian worship¹. This was a turning point for early Christianity, sometimes referred to as the Triumph of the Church, the Peace of the Church, or the Constantinian shift¹.

3. **State Support for the Church**: From this point on, the state became a supporter of the Church, becoming part of the way in which the Church operated². The intertwining of Church and state is a continuing, present reality in Europe today, and that's really all a product of what began with the conversion of Constantine².

4. **Church and Imperial Government**: Constantine completely altered the relationship between the Church and the imperial government, beginning a process that eventually made Christianity the official religion of the empire³.

5. **Political Motivations**: Some scholars allege that Constantine's main objective was to gain unanimous approval and submission to his authority from all classes, and therefore he chose Christianity to conduct his political propaganda, believing that it was the most appropriate religion that could fit with the imperial cult¹.

6. **Dominance of Catholicism**: After Constantine, the Catholic Church became a dominant force in shaping the political, cultural, and social landscape of Europe. The Church held significant influence over monarchs, guided the moral and ethical compass of societies, and played a crucial role in education and the preservation of knowledge⁴.

Remember, these are historical interpretations and the real reasons behind Constantine's decisions remain a subject of debate among historians¹.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 2024-02-12

(1) Constantine's Conversion to Christianity: Was It… | Zondervan Academic. https://zondervanacademic.com/blog/does-constantines-conversion-matter.

(2) Constantine’s Conversion to Christianity - World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1737/constantines-conversion-to-christianity/.

(3) CHRISTIANITY AND CONSTANTINE'S IMPERIAL WOMEN. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/greece-and-rome/article/christianity-and-constantines-imperial-women/2DA6CEBDC951A3C6DD088F9C9F10A362.

(4) Did Constantine create the Catholic church? - History Skills. https://www.historyskills.com/classroom/ancient-history/catholic-constantine/.

(5) What was Constantine’s relationship with Christianity?. https://www.britannica.com/question/What-was-Constantines-relationship-with-Christianity.

How the Anabaptists challenged the Magisterium:

From Bing AI: The Anabaptists were a radical movement of the Protestant Reformation that emerged in the 16th century¹². They challenged the Magisterium, the teaching authority of the Roman Catholic Church, in several ways:

1. **Adult Baptism**: The most distinctive tenet of the Anabaptists was adult baptism¹. They rejected infant baptism as a blasphemous formality, believing that baptism should only be administered to those who can make a public confession of faith¹. This was in direct contrast to the Catholic Church's practice of infant baptism.

2. **Separation of Church and State**: The Anabaptists believed that the church should be separated from the state¹. They saw the state as existing only for the punishment of sinners¹. This was a challenge to the Catholic Church, which had significant political power during this period.

3. **Pacifism**: Most Anabaptists were pacifists who opposed war and the use of coercive measures to maintain social order¹. They also refused to swear oaths, including those to civil authorities¹. This was a challenge to the Catholic Church, which often supported wars and had close ties with civil authorities.

4. **Persecution**: Because of their teachings and the apparent danger they posed to the political order, Anabaptists were widely persecuted¹. Despite this, they remained committed to their beliefs and practices, which continued to challenge the authority of the Catholic Church.

5. **Emphasis on Scripture**: Anabaptists rejected the authority of papal and academic hierarchies in favor of the exclusive authority of scripture². Scriptural interpretation became the prerogative and obligation of the congregation².

6. **Rejection of Infant Baptism**: Anabaptists rejected the Lutheran doctrine of salvation by God's grace alone, insisting that the believer's inward faith must be authenticated and supplemented by outward actions².

These challenges posed by the Anabaptists led to significant tensions with the Catholic Church and contributed to the broader religious and political changes of the Reformation period.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 2024-02-12

(1) Anabaptist | Definition, Description, Movement, Beliefs, History .... https://www.britannica.com/topic/Anabaptists.

(2) Anabaptists | The Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/anabaptists.

(3) History and beliefs of the Anabaptist | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/summary/Anabaptists.

 

The founding of America represented a challenge to the authority of a State Church since the United Kingdom’s Kings and Queens had become the head of the Church of England since the reign of Henry VIIIth. The US had been founded by radical dissenters who emphasised the need for a personal relationship with Christ and the separation of church and state. Alexis de Tocqueville’s book “Democracy in America” is a magnum opus as to what had differed so radically from the democratic government of mid-19^th Century France from that of mid-19^th Century America.

From Bing AI: "Democracy in America" is a comprehensive study of the American way of life and political system written by Alexis de Tocqueville. Here's a summary:

1. **Equality and Democracy**: Tocqueville begins by discussing the conditions in his own nation, France, and the rise of equality and democracy as a replacement for aristocratic monarchies¹.

2. **American Society**: He gives a historical account of the Pilgrims who first arrived from England and established the sovereignty of the people¹.

3. **Federalist System**: Tocqueville elaborates on America’s federalist system, which divides power between the national capital, the states, and local townships¹. This system maintains individual freedom and encourages people to play an active role in their nation’s political affairs¹.

4. **Political Life**: He discusses democratic juries and political associations as key examples of active political life in America¹.

5. **Power of the Press**: Tocqueville also draws attention to the power of the press in America, which promotes liberty and disseminates political knowledge¹.

6. **Political Rights and Education**: Tocqueville insists on political rights and education as essential to promoting freedom¹.

7. **Individual Freedom**: Despite the unlimited power of the majority in the United States, Tocqueville stresses that individual freedom is maintained¹.

Tocqueville's work provides a deep insight into the functioning of American democracy and its implications for the rest of the world¹.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 2024-02-12

(1) Democracy in America by Alexis de Toqueville Plot Summary - LitCharts. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/democracy-in-america/summary.

(2) Democracy in America Summary and Study Guide | SuperSummary. https://www.supersummary.com/democracy-in-america/summary/.

(3) Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville - Book Summary. https://www.booksummary.net/democracy-in-america-alexis-de-tocqueville/.

(4) Democracy in America : Tocqueville, Alexis de, 1805-1859 : Free .... https://archive.org/details/democracyinamer00tocqgoog.

 

In particular what did de Tocqueville have to say about the importance of evangelical religion to the success of American democracy:

From Bing AI: Alexis de Tocqueville, a French political thinker and historian, had significant observations about the role of religion, particularly evangelical Christianity, in American democracy. Here are some key points based on his monumental study, "Democracy in America":

1. **Religion as a Unifying Force**: Tocqueville saw religion as a unifying social force, a set of common beliefs that are essential to maintaining the democratic way of life¹.

2. **Religion and Freedom**: He explained why religion, though in some ways a pre-modern and pre-democratic phenomenon, is nevertheless essential to the health of modern democracy¹. He argued that modern democratic freedom developed as a result of Christianity’s influence on European civilization, and more particularly as a result of Puritanism’s influence on American civilization¹.

3. **Religion's Contribution to Democracy**: In his analysis of American democracy, Tocqueville noted the contributions of religion no less than education, manners and customs, and law and parties to its spirit and performance². He dwelt at length on religion because of religion's apparent contribution to American democracy².

4. **Religion and the State**: Tocqueville agreed with the view that church and state should be institutionally separate, but he also maintained that a strong religious life is necessary to sustain the morals and habits crucial to the practice of democratic freedom³.

These insights highlight Tocqueville's belief in the positive role of religion in supporting and nurturing democratic values and institutions.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 2024-02-12

(1) Tocqueville on Christianity and American Democracy. https://www.heritage.org/civil-society/report/tocqueville-christianity-and-american-democracy.

(2) Christianity and Democracy: Tocqueville's Views of Religion in. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1201932.

(3) A Marriage of Opposites: Tocqueville on Religion and Democracy - AEI. https://www.aei.org/research-products/journal-publication/a-marriage-of-opposites-tocqueville-on-religion-and-democracy/.

 

My conclusions:

De Tocqueville maintained that a strong religious life is necessary to sustain the morals and habits crucial to the practice of democratic freedom, yet we not only do not have such, but we also have a considerable portion of our population who have not merely rejected Christ, they have laid hold of doctrines straight from the Father of Lies. We have already experienced some of the trials brought about by the illiberal authoritarian expressions of our WOKE Magisterium, but only in part! Will we shortly discover just how disastrously wrong things can become? It is up to me, and it is up to you, for the WOKE Magisterium cannot save us. Just as in the day of Christ they are the real source of anti-Jewish and anti-Christian hatred. Each of us must cultivate a direct relationship with the ONLY ONE who can save, for He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and no man will come unto the Father save through Him! And nothing can anchor a functional democracy under the Rule of Law but a population which has the strong religious life necessary to sustain the morals and habits crucial to the practice of our democratic freedom!

The Illusions of Moral Neutrality: The source of ideological possession

 

So, I lied, I told my wife yesterday that I had grown totally fed up with the prevailing Zeitgeist for the simple reason that it has killed even the very possibility of having fun, of enjoying the normal natural joys of life free from the ever grasping cloying and authoritarian hand of the MAN. In an age when literally everything has been politicized, from our medical care, our sexuality, and certainly that most liberal of all ideas, namely the free market and capitalism. I need to understand why something that I saw in Scandinavia which closely resembles the Borg-like mind meld reminiscent of a dystopian Star Trek episode has now arrived in North America to capture the minds and hearts of a considerable proportion of the population. This is not to say that Norwegians do not each have unique personalities, but I do mean that despite this they will react to the same stimuli virtually identically when confronted with ideas and behaviours that contradict their shared mojo. I have often previously spoken about Janteloven (Tall Poppy Syndrome), so I won’t bore you with that now, other than to state that the ten foundational ideas of Janteloven are the petri dish in which ideological possession grows. Basically, it is ten ways of stating that your individuality is meaningless, prideful, and that no one gives a shit about you anyway.

It is weird, it is illiberal, it is authoritarian, and it is hiding behind kid gloved Marxofascism where even family members and dear friends are disassociating themselves from those for whom they formerly cared deeply. If we do not manage to come to terms with this it will eventually destroy all social cohesion and it will put an end to democratic government under the Rule of Law. In fact, it has almost already done so where we are suffering under a political class who think that they are above the law. They live by the adage "laws for thee but not for me!"

This will be the topic of today's episode on the Food for the Faithful Channel. If such things interest you, please ensure that you have subscribed to my vodcast.

From Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Budziszewski

“Dr. J. Budziszewski (born 1952) is an American philosopher and professor of government and philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin, where he has taught since 1981. He specializes in ethics, political philosophy, and the interaction of these two fields with religion and theology.[1]

Budziszewski has written widely, in both scholarly and popular venues, about a variety of moral and political issues including abortion, marriage, sexuality, capital punishment, and the role of judges in a constitutional republic. His principal area of publication is the theory of natural law. He has been a leading advocate for natural law theory over the past twenty years.[2] In this context, he has given particular attention to the problem of moral self-deception: what happens when human beings tell themselves that they don't know what they really do. Among his research interests are also virtue ethics and the problem of tolerance.[1]

His research on self-deception:

One of Budziszewski's research interests has been to analyze what he regards as general human tendency to self-deception.[5] The problem arises from a theoretical tenet defended by Thomas Aquinas, who he said "we must say that the natural law, as to general principles, is the same for all, both as to rectitude and as to knowledge."[6] This claim amounts to saying that the most general principles of right and wrong are not only right for everyone but known to everyone, even though the same cannot be said of their remote implications. According to Budziszewski, Aquinas is right. He argues that often, even when people appear to be ignorant of the moral basics, the hypothesis that they are self deceived provides a better explanation of their actual behavior.[7]

This leads to Budziszewski's theory of guilty knowledge, of violated conscience. Following Aquinas, Budziszewski distinguishes between synderesis, which supplies the first principles of practical reason and which he calls "deep conscience," and conscientia, which he calls "surface conscience" and supplies judgments about particular acts. According to Budziszewski, conscience operates in three different modes: In the cautionary mode, it alerts us to the peril of moral wrong and generates an inhibition against committing it. In the accusatory mode, it indicts us for wrong we have already done. In the avenging mode, it punishes the individual who knowingly does wrong but refuses to admit that he or she has done so. Conscience is therefore teacher, judge, or executioner, depending on the mode in which it is working.[8]

 The most original part of this schema is what Budziszewski says about the avenging mode. The most obvious penalty of guilty knowledge is the feeling of remorse. Remorse is not always present. However, Budziszewski suggests that even when remorse is absent, guilty knowledge generates objective needs for confession, atonement, reconciliation, and justification. Calling these other four "Furies" the "greater sisters of remorse," he argues that they are "inflexible, inexorable, and relentless, demanding satisfaction even when mere feelings are suppressed, fade away, or never come."[7]

Apart from his scholarly philosophical work, Budziszewski is known for articles and books of Christian apologetics, addressed to a broad audience including young people and college students. Known as one of the prominent evangelical intellectuals in America and former atheist, Budziszewski was received into the Roman Catholic Church on Easter Sunday 2004.[3] After his conversion, he continues to address his writings and lectures on Christian themes to Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Christians, as well as to those who are uncertain of their beliefs but are sincerely seeking.[3][4]”

So, I will read from “THE ILLUSION OF MORAL NEUTRALITY” by Dr. J. Budziszewski published in August of 1993

You may read this article for yourself as the following link: https://www.firstthings.com/article/1993/08/the-illusion-of-moral-neutrality

“Nietzsche claimed that if men took God seriously, they would still be burning heretics at the stake. In the same spirit, one supposes, are the notions that if men really cherished moral truth, they would suppress all beliefs that they considered wrong, and that if men still cared about the sanctity of the marriage bed, they would go back to making adulterers wear the scarlet A.

Today two different groups of people agree with conditional statements of this sort. In the first group are the ordinary bigots, who are always among us. The second are a kind of modern backlash—call it the reaction—found principally among the “cultural elite.” For instance, whereas the bigots respond to Nietzsche’s conditional by saying, “Yes, that’s why we should burn heretics,” the reactionaries respond to it by saying, “No, that’s why we should suppress the public expression of belief in God.”

These reactionaries claim to love tolerance, but, misunderstanding it, they strangle it in their embrace. Their creed is that intolerance is born at the same moment as public moral commitments; that morality must therefore be a “private” affair; that in order to say that tolerance is a good, we must forbear to say aloud that anything else is good or evil. Their god is Neutrality. In certain intellectual regions he travels under other names such as Autonomy and Rights.

We meet this jealous and negating god on the philosophic right, where conservatives like Michael Oakeshott tell us that the specific and limited activity of “governing” has “nothing to do” with natural law or morals. We encounter him on the philosophic left, where liberals like John Rawls and Marxists like Jurgen Habermas invent devices like the Veil of Ignorance and the Ideal Speech Situation to convince us that if we wish to understand truly the principles of justice, we must pretend to forget not only who we are, but also everything we ever thought we knew about good and evil. We meet this god in law, where many jurists treat ethical distinctions such as “family” vs. “non-family” as “invidious classifications” that deny citizens the equal protection of the law. We meet him in education, where elementary school children are offered books like Daddy’s Roommate, Heather Has Two Mommies, and Gloria Goes to Gay Pride. In fact, we meet this god

everywhere: in the university, in the movie theatre, in many churches and synagogues, and, it goes without saying, on the even more ubiquitous altar of the television.

It might seem remarkable that people who insist that tolerance means moral neutrality should themselves be so earnest in ridiculing those who aren’t neutral. But of course, they themselves aren’t neutral either. The scandal of Neutrality is that its worshipers cannot answer the question “Why be neutral?” without committing themselves to particular goods—social peace, self-expression, self-esteem, ethnic pride, or what have you—thereby violating their own desideratum of Neutrality. Yet even this is merely a symptom of a deeper problem, namely, there is no such thing as Neutrality. It isn’t merely unachievable, like a perfect circle; it is unthinkable and unapproachable, like a square circle. Whether we deem it better to take a stand or be silent, we’ve offended this god in the very act of deeming.

To see the folly of neutralism is one thing; to escape from it is another. Many who understand perfectly well that tolerance cannot be defended by suspending judgment about goods and evils have difficulty defending it in any other way. They suspect the worst: that if neutrality is a square circle, then so is tolerance, along with all of its component virtues like objectivity and fairness. They fear that by leaving the reactionaries, they will join with the ordinary bigots. They are right to fear this trap, but make the difficulty of avoiding it greater than it is.”

From Bing AI, “The nature of ideological possession”:

Ideological possession is a complex phenomenon that can be caused by several factors:

1. **Extreme Identification with an Ideology**: Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung believed that psychological problems arise when the natural balance of the human psyche is disrupted. This can occur through extreme identification with a particular ideology, leading to what Jung called "ideological possession"².

2. **Excessive Group Cohesiveness**: One potential cause of ideological possession is excessive group cohesiveness. An extravagant amount of group togetherness and harmony can lead to becoming indoctrinated due to individuals of a group exhibiting too little skepticism and thus, employing too few critical thinking skills in the process³.

3. **Fear and Cognitive Dissonance**: Pathologically, ideological possession may even be understood as the substitution of that highest value by another, such as Self-Preservation. This often happens when Evidence receptors become overwhelmed by Fear (the most powerful epistemic pathogen) or deactivated to prevent Cognitive Dissonance⁴.

4. **Exclusion of External Opinions and Influences**: Keeping an open mind is an important aspect to prevent becoming ideologically possessed³.

These factors can lead to a loss of objectivity, a sense of righteous conviction, and a tendency to demonize those with different beliefs². In political contexts, ideological possession can be particularly concerning as it can lead to polarization and even violence².

Source: Conversation with Bing, 2024-02-10

(1)  Final Thoughts: Explaining Ideological Possession | SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-39642-7_15.

(2)  What is ideology and why can it possess people. https://healthybodyathome.com/what-is-ideology-and-why-can-it-possess-people/.

(3)  Ideological Possession Is the Real Pandemic - Brownstone Institute. https://brownstone.org/articles/ideological-possession-real-pandemic/.

(4)  The Diagnosis and Treatment of Ideological Possession. https://fee.org/articles/the-diagnosis-and-treatment-of-ideological-possession/.

From Bing AI “Ideological possession has become a significant issue in the present time due to several reasons”:

1. **Polarization and Violence**: When individuals or groups become ideologically possessed, they may see opposing political viewpoints as not just different, but as fundamentally wrong or even evil³. This can lead to polarization and even violence³.

2. **Threat to Healthy Discourse**: Ideological possession is to healthy political discourse as scientism is to science¹. Any ideology has the potential to be deadly when advanced by those who are so sure of their own knowledge and moral outlook that they would impose it against the protestations of those affected by it¹.

3. **Social and Societal Impact**: Understanding what motivates people to join violent ideological groups and engage in acts of cruelty against others is of great social and societal importance². Ideological obsession changes people's social interactions by making them gravitate towards like-minded individuals who support ideological violence².

4. **Resistance to Communication Strategies**: Ideologically obsessed individuals are prone to psychological reactance, making them immune to communication strategies intended to dissuade them from using violence². In fact, messages espousing non-violence can have the opposite effect by reinforcing their violence-supporting ideology².

These factors contribute to the increasing concern about ideological possession in our current times. It's important to promote open-mindedness, critical thinking, and respectful dialogue to mitigate the negative impacts of ideological possession¹²³.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 2024-02-10

(1)  Final Thoughts: Explaining Ideological Possession | SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-39642-7_15.

2) The Diagnosis and Treatment of Ideological Possession. https://fee.org/articles/the-diagnosis-and-treatment-of-ideological-possession/.

(3) The sociocognitive processes of ideological obsession: review and .... https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rstb.2020.0144.

(4) undefined. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2020.0144.

My conclusions:

Firstly, despite Bing AI being programmed by those who themselves may well be ideologically possessed, its ability to collate vast amounts of digitized written material pertinent to the topic at hand makes it an invaluable tool for doing research. If questioned correctly it can save hundreds of hours of work searching the web or physical libraries for pertinent materials.

Secondly, ideological possession must first have its root causes analyzed so that we may counter these pathological ideas effectively since use of logic and reason will be insufficient to engage the ideologically addled.

Thirdly, and most importantly for me, the very fact that Christians are paying so little attention to this attack on our faith and values is deeply disturbing to me. Ideological possession is the basis for the most pernicious immoral false doctrines of our time. Why Christian leaders are not doing a better job of equipping the Church of Christ to fight the good fight is literally beyond my poor ability to comprehend.

Lastly, the fact that these toxic ideas are undermining our faith, our family and seek to rob us of our property yet so few even dare to speak about it is to me remarkable. But hey, what do I know? Please tell me what you think. Or are you like so many today who are unaware of how radically illiberal things around us have been altered with no end in sight? How do you remain unaware that ideological possession opposes our previously held fundamental values such that you can still remain silent, compliant, and ignorant of how cosmically dangerous that our present dilemma truly is?