Having said all that, (and I really need to see about making the comment box longer so we don't have to split discussions into multiple parts) I still want to say thank you again for raising this. I’ll try to make a point of qualifying those terms a little more explicitly as I use them. In fact, your note has also reminded me of an article “stub” I’ve had on the backburner for a while and that might be good try to complete.

I hope that you’ll continue to read my articles, and to comment as often as you wish.
David

Hi Lois
Thanks for your note and for expressing your concerns. I think that your phrase “live into the oneness of God” makes it pretty clear that you’re not a “literalist” in the way that I use the term in my posts. And I certainly hope that it doesn’t seem like I’m painting all Christians with the same brush since I too am Christian. You are absolutely (no pun intended) right about us each having nuances to our relationship with God.

It’s also true, I think you’d agree, that the Gospels depict Jesus as having little patience with the priests, scribes, and so on who tried to turn that relationship into nothing more than a list of “dos” and “don’ts”. It’s that group, which still exists today within the institutional church, the scientific community, and of course elsewhere, that I’m thinking of when I use the terms “literalist and atheist.”

Hi Diane.
Thank you so much. That's high praise and I hope that you will feel I continue to deserve it if you read other posts here. And if you don't I hope that you'll feel equally free to express those sentiments as well.

I think that there are many in the pulpit who would like to say more, but who feel a loyalty to the institutional church as well and who do not, yet, have the courage to fully set that aside and allow their faith to speak without "editing."

Lets hope that the Spirit, and we, can continue to encourage them.
David

Hi Kathie
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and offer such positive feedback. I hope that you'll continue to read my small offerings, and to add your thoughts at any time.
David

Hi Sherron
Thanks so much for taking the time to offer such warm words of encouragement. I'm glad that you found this to be of value to you and I hope that you'll drop back and feel free to comment any time.
David

Hi Don
Since you mention a missalette, I am guessing that you're following a Catholic lectionary cycle which may be different than the Revised Common Lectionary that John used.

You can find a comparison of the readings on The Text This Week http://www.textweek.com/yearb/lentb2.htm .

Hope this is helpful
David

Hi Marcos
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
I think that the biggest question facing us now is what will we do with direct democracy now that we have it?
It's such an unknown concept to most modern societies that those who have called for it have trouble recognizing it. Those who do recognize it have a deep-seated interest in the status quo, which will lead them to attack it at every opportunity.

Whether we can use it to transform our global society remains to be seen.

I was interested in your "Organized Pluralism" but was unable to find much about it online. I'd be interested in further information if you have anything available in English.

Thanks again
David

"Put your (our) money where your mouth is and offer cash reward recognition."_In other words, you want to be bribed to stop throwing stuff in the trash.

First off, its not a "one bag limit". It's one bag free. Many municipalities, Quinte West for example, have charged a fee for EVERY bag for years. _I doubt that its that much more effective actually (no idea what the numbers are) but it's sure a lot simpler - you wanna put a bag out, put a tag on it.__Your choice to throw it out instead of diverting it after all. Pretty simple.

I don't disagree with your thesis - that a success of "some kind" will help to keep the Occupiers engaged. I don't even say that an event built around a transaction tax is "bad" - after all, this is an eclectic movement and one of its strengths is the diversity of ideas that are being brought to it.

Underlying it all, however (in my opinion at least), is a sea change in how we see the average citizen engaging in the process of being governed. We're starting to see more comments along those lines emerge now. How that perspective will shape the message though remains to be seen.