Gregorian Chants

-------/\/\/ Gregorian Chant LINK Audio | Gloria Plain Song / Gregorian Chant Timeline BACKGROUND: End of Antiquity (Greco-Roman) Roman Republic Roman Empire Roman Empire carries on traditions established by Greeks NEW CULT ON THE BLOCK: Rise of Christianity First Century CE new religious cult:  figure Jew & Roman subject Yehoshua of Nazareth (aka 'Jesus') teachings focus on: 1.  one god 2.  equality between social classes [comment:  sounds like the current 'oneness' or universality ideology and indoctrination underpinning the international law US-led Western power-grab; establishment of supranational institutions; intrusions on national sovereignty AND intrusions on individuality & choice, in the name of enshrining the rights of various minorities (which always involves obligations on the fettered majority, versus onus on the minority to adapt to the majority); & the entirety of the 'humanitarian' ideology, with its in-step drive alongside capitalism, towards globalisation and centralised control of the planet by ruling capitalist elites.   Now there seems to be a secular god:  it is an outward 'god' of capitalism (its Messiah), & that god is 'man', the labourer, the debt-slave and the consumer.  The oneness/unity and equality spin sounds a lot like Marxism, only they're not looking at economic equality (just dictating a socially Marxist regime, that's not dispossessing the capitalists -- it's dispossessing the people).   And it's a god that demands 'safe spaces' ... LOL ...  If capitalism is the modern-age Messiah, if man is the modern god, then there is also a 'holy spirit' (and that is money/profits/ global markets etc) ... so it's a HOLY TRINITY and profit/money is the Holy Spirit, or something like that.] -- dangerous to Roman power structure [comment:  modern-day secular version of this religion is not at all dangerous to the US-led capitalists who believe they have a right to 'global markets'.  However, it is dangerous to everyone else.   The Capitalist Empire which indoctrinates & pushes for a universal 'love-in', fits in with the agenda pushing for a vast one world human cattle market of producers and consumers, with gradual dismemberment of sovereign nation states and individual peoples as individual peoples with their own identities, cultures and values/moral choices. ] -- in Greece prior to Rome & in Rome, religion polytheistic -- (worship more than one god, system of many gods) -- Roman emperors were also treated as gods themselves -- Christian idea of one god & non-violence  -- was dangerous to polytheistic power structure of Rome -- how would Rome maintain armies and defend borders [comment: Today's threat is: secular capitalist powers outwardly worshipping (ie exploiting) the 'humanitarian' sole 'god', having established various supranational authorities and structures that usurp power from the people of free nations; the use of international law to do much the same; plus failure of states to maintain INDEPENDENT, armed & fully combat ready national armies. Any nation that is incapable of defending itself with military force will cease to exist as a nation, by relying on the continued goodwill and continued existence of others (which comes with obligations that can be exploited & may not always be in national interests). The Christians preaching 'pacifism' but killing in the name of their ideology & torturing heretics etc, makes a mockery of the 'pacifism' preaching ... but the entire package is a mockery, including all the propaganda 'saints' and 'miracles'  ... What a fraud.] -- first three centuries:  persecution of Christians -- Emperor Constantine issues Edict of Milan, 3rd C. -- legalising & protecting Christianity -- under Roman laws, free to worship any god, -- as long as also worshipped the Roman gods & Roman emperors -- due to religious freedom in Rome, Christianity flourished -- Christianity then grew beyond critical mass able to be thwarted -- Christianity arose from cult to religion -- 60 years after Edict of Milan, Emperor Theodosius I -- makes Christianity official Roman state religion -- later, fall of Rome and continued rise of Christianity -- result:  beginning of period of severe unrest, war & famine -- world order cultivated through centuries Greco-Roman -- culture was soon replaced by tribalism and civil war -- eastern part of Roman empire held out better -- the Byzantine empire = abt. 5th C. to 1453 CE -- (capital, Constantinople) fell to Ottoman Turks -- eastern Roman empire gave rise to traditions of -- the Greek & Russian Orthodox churches -- eastern half of Empire, rise of Gregorian chant -- Christians of both the eastern & western portions -- of Roman Empire inherited the Jewish tradition of chanting scripture -- Jews would congregate & chant on specific days -- Jews would chant from Tehillim (ie 'praises' / aka 'Book of Psalms (C.)) -- Jews would chant from Ketuvim -- Tehillim -- first book of the Ketuvim ('Writings') (third section of Hebrew bible) -- 'psalms' = Gk. for 'psalmoi' ('instrumental music') -- many psalms / tehillim are linked to King David    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psalms -- Christians share the 'old testament' with Jusaism /sing or intone tehillim -- to 'intone' is to sing from one note -- singing of songs from bible was referred to as psalmedy -- early Christians would meet for communal meals & worship -- at these meals, they would sing hymns & psalms (ie tehillim) -- large, rectangular spaces for gatherings known as 'basilicas' -- early Christians (eg Saint Augustine) -- recognised music's power to influence -- character & mood, similar to Greek convention of ethos -- Augustine & others considered music's power to influence mood -- to best be used for worshipping god -- therefore, non-spiritual music (esp. instrumental music) was deemed sinful -- for this reason, nearly all next 1,000 years of European music is acapella -- ie. all unaccompanied singing with no instruments -- Christianity developed a monastic tradition of intense, isolated worship -- and heavy prayer -- monastic monks developed a system for singing the psalm (tehillim) verses -- & for singing the hymns -- / the difference between the two:     -- psalms (tehillim) = derived from bible     -- hymns have extra biblical sources -- many newly written texts and prayers -- are both songs of praise -- which eventually coalesced into a repertoire -- of chants & bible readings, known as a 'liturgy' -- the songs they sang are defined as 'plain song' -- at least five distinct liturgical repertoires (aka 'dialects') of plain song:     -- Ambrosian (Milanese)     -- Gaelican     -- Mozarabic (Arabised Iberians, Spain - Moorish rule, Christian)     -- Old Roman     -- Gregorian     [ see also:  Andalusi Romance]    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozarabs -- the Old Roman dialect (ie chant) was standardised eventually throughout Christendom -- this repertoire of plain song is known as 'Gregorian chant' -- Pope Gregory I (aka Saint Gregory the Great), the namesake of this musical material -- Pope Gregory I:  ruled as pope from 590 CE to 604 CE -- he lived centuries before the REDISCOVERY of musical notation -- notational systems developing following Antiquity were long forgotten by his time -- for following reason, Gregorian liturgical dialect came to dominate: legend of Saint Gregory:  created as propaganda, in favour of Roman liturgy over others -- legend:  'holy spirit', permutation of the Christian god -- took the form of a dove and dictated the form of the Roman repertoire -- to Saint Gregory -- the propaganda worked:  all the competing chanting -- repertoires were eventually suppressed -- manner of suppression, borne of political alliance between the Franks -- peoples of modern France and Germany, & the Roman popes abt. 752 CE -- formed between the King of the Franks Pepin the First -- & leader of church, Pope Stephen II -- mutually beneficial deal:     -- church needed protection from hostile northern tribes (Lombards)     -- Frankish kings needed formal recognition of hereditary rights to         consolidate their power -- results of alliance successful:     -- Lombards expelled from (now) northern Italy     -- Rome recognised Pepin as official ruler of Frankish lands -- King Pepin actively imported Roman liturgy for official use -- Pepin's son, Charlemagne, completely conquered the Lombards -- and even more actively imported the Roman liturgy -- arriving triumphant into Rome as protector of papacy -- Charlemagne was crowned first Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire -- on Christmas Day of 800 CE -- inception of Holy Roman Empire makes [five (5)] separate permutations of Rome     1.  Roman Republic     2.  Roman Empire     3.  Western Roman Empire - Rome     4.  Eastern Roman Empire - Constantinople (Byzantine empire)     5.  Holy Roman Empire -- Gregorian chant is derived from the OLD ROMAN CHANT DIALECT -- because it evolved in capital city of Christendom (Rome) -- newly inaugurated season of peace led to:  Carolingian Renaissance -- ie. period of philosophical & cultural flourishing in what is today:     France, Germany & Italy -- [propaganda] + political stability = Gregorian chant thrives *comment:  Christendom would have surely entered Greece first?  *comment:  I have added the split east/west Roman empire (above), making it x5 permutations (rather than the four mentioned) above a summary of audio by Brian Jump Audio | Brian Jump Dark Ages retrogression (govt & social, illiteracy rampant, knowledge & philosophy forgotten) --  for:  1,000 years 5th to 15th Century CE Transition from Antiquity to Middle Ages Emperor Theodosius I Theodosius the Great (Flavius Theodosius) issues decree, establishing Christianity official religion of Rome ended state sponsorship for traditional Roman gods introduced a period of prosecution & punishment for non-Christians -- religious turmoil that resulted, contributed to religious instability already evident in civil war and border conflicts with northern barbarians (the Goths) On death of Theodosius, two sons split empire: -- eastern Empire:  Constantinople -- western Empire:  Rome Rome was in freefall, but Christianity was ascending     Gregorian Chant is derived from the old Roman chant dialect, having evolved in the capital city of Christendom  -------/\/\/ LINK | Audio | Dies Mei COMMENT This was really interesting: religion, history & music in one package. Might have to come back to checking some of these links. No time now. Civilisation is only a very thin veneer.  I'm betting there will be another 'fall of Rome' and civilisation will be lost for hundreds of years (if there's survivors after nukes war). *Religion is (a) tradition (b) social control, c) political control, manipulation & opportunism, and (d) one of the means of large common interest groups (values, tradition, heritage etc) organising themselves socially, politically, administratively, culturally etc., a way of maintaining group cohesion/unity; it is a way of asserting political power as a group -- a strategy of having group (leader) interests met; and it is probably a social strategy, which goes back to organisation of large human groups generally.  That's all I can think of, just off the top of my head. I find religion very interesting, as religion is entwined with history, sociology and politics (plus art, music and so much more).  Religion is politics. I think.  LOL  It certainly has an impact -- eg. Pope whoever-his-assumed-pope-name is currently making pronouncements on immigration to USA, and thus undoubtedly attempting to influence domestic US policies (while pushing for much the same in Europe).  These people have no business leading the gullible to vote against their own interests.  But that would most likely be in keeping with the historic role of these Christian religious frauds:  ie screw the masses. I cannot understand why European Christians do not return to the ancient religions of their European ancestors:  at least it would be authentic. NOTE:  if early Christianity quickly reached a 'critical mass' in the Roman Empire, that  could not be repelled by the Roman state, what does that tell Europeans about the potential for the demise of Europe when the 'critical mass' of non-indigenous peoples & non-Western values/ideology/religion/customs is approached etc. Europe will be finished.

Russian Federation: Last Remaining European Pagans - the Mari (aka 'Cheremis' / 'Chimari')

ꕤ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1qdU1JnSpc Last of Europe's Pagans Russia's Mari people aka 'Cheremis'  /  Chimari -- Finno-Ugric ethnic group -- Republic of Mari El -- Volga Finnic ethnic group -- x3 different groups Meadow Mountain Eastern 2002:  604,298 self-identified Mari Rural residing Mari = 60% Own language:  Mari RELIGION Pagan -- individual connected with nature -- nature exerts magical influence over the people -- relate to nature as sacred, powerful & living being -- (man cannot exist outside of nature) -- nature:  source of absolute good -- helper as long as it is not harmed or opposed -- pantheon of gods, reside in heavens -- Great White God (Osh Kugu Yumo), most important -- lesser gods:     -- god of fire (Tul Yumo)     -- god of wind (Mardezh Yumo) Hybrid Gods - Chumbulat -- Mari believe in half-men, half-gods on Earth -- most revered:  Chumbulat (leader & warrior) Ivan IV - Ivan the Terrible -- 1500s - incorporates Mari into Russian Empire -- Adoption of Christianity / but not universal -- paganism practised to this day -- pagan Mari:  25-40% of Mari population (otherwise mostly Orthodox) [wikipedia] ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Spring in the birch grove by Strakhov Keremet god identified with sacred groves birches & oaks grow on site upon which mortal killed by god of earth & water, Keremet Keremet is the punisher god Keremet's home is the sacred groves Sacred groves:  home of dead heroes Mari / Maris (Chimari) Osh Kugu Yumo Osh Poro Kugu Yumo Great White Good God Great White Good God -- masculine form -- master of heavenly laws -- protector etymological (word origin) parallels in related other languages: Finnish (Jumala) Estonian (Jumal) Zyryan (Yen) Udmurt (Inmar) God Keremet -- opponent of Kugu Yumo -- negative aspect -- dangerous, destructive -- contact made through sacrifices & consecrating trees or groves -- Eastern Mari see Keremet as defender of Maris -- but this does not negate dangerous / negative aspects -- 'keremet' - generic term for nasty spirits -- those not properly buried / dead with hostile dispositions -- Keremet evilness not absolute -- Keremet is lord of the earth & esp. the waters -- records misdeeds of humans -- does not punish without reason -- punishment for bad deeds or violation of rituals -- demonisation of Keremet = Christianity influence Ancient myth: -- earth diver water-bird that created world -- by diving down to bring up earth from abysses of water Yumo's Daughter - Yumyn-Iudyr -- regularly descended silky stairs from heaven -- to pasture 'heavenly herd of cattle' -- married a mortal -- marriage ended tragically for mortal (jealousy) -- mauled by Keremet / site of his death grew birches & oaks -- some Mari consider husband of Yumyn-Iudyr -- their totemic ancestor Kugo Yumo -- distant from humanity (in the heavens / sky) Shaman = kart belief in initial unity of gods and humans -- humans & gods lived on star (planet) -- tended to animals -- natural cataclysm:  grass stopped growing -- gods sent people to Earth -- to feed the herd & herds lifted back to heaven (for food) -- but planetary catastrophe:  ppl & animals could not return to star -- remained on earth Sacrifices -- sacrificed animal flesh burned on fire -- to feed gods in heavens -- as souls of animal (burnt offerings) rise to the star to the gods -- gods consume the spirit (and are fed) Individual Angel-Servants -- Susko, defender of faith -- protects from forces of nature & poverty -- Vitn'yze, spirit helper who helps gods -- Piyambar, goddess linked with destiny & divination Vechory (or vesiory) - male or female -- female is positive -- male brings destruction -- are local family spirits -- upon whom material success of humans depends Demonic Spirit:  Obada -- social defects blamed on an 'obada' -- eg drunkenness Cult of Saintly Heroes -- national leaders & defenders of Mari tribes -- special reverence:     -- Chumbylat - saint of all Mari, prince-warrior     -- end 11th Century gathered all Mari     -- told them to build cities     -- 1830s Chumbylat's grave, cliff at:     -- rocky mountain by river Nemda     -- cliff destroyed     -- Mari revived the cult:  honour hero - 26 June Mari often mix up figure of Chumbylat with figure of tribal god:  Kuryk Kugyza (k.a.  'Kuryk Kugu' -  the great mountain person') Akpatyr -- considered by Mari as one of ancient tribal princes -- 1500s service to Russian Tsar -- diplomatic skills -- peaceful existence for his ppl, amid Russian & Tatar expansion -- cult of Akpatyr revived in present day Mari acknowledge x9 honoured, powerful ancient hero-ancestors -- to address ancestor, one needs special spiritual power -- morally purity requisite Kugeche - connected with Easter (celebrated same day) -- Eastern Mari seek to distance themselves from Christian traditions -- celebrate a week earlier Above is not a complete overview.  It is  just a small portion of what's covered in the following academic text: SOURCE Modern Pagan & Native Faith Movements in Central & Eastern Europe by Kaarina Aitamurto (University of Helsinki) & Scott Simpson (University in Krakow) http://www.amazon.com/Movements-Central-Contemporary-Historical-Paganism/dp/1844656624 cataclysm violent upheaval causes great destruction or brings about a fundamental change or  devastating flood fm. Latin 'cataclysmos' (deluge) fm. Greek kataklusmos fm. katakluzein (to inundate) 'kluzein' (to wash away) ---------------------- ꕤ ----------------------  COMMENT I could get into reverence for enormous 1,000 year old oak trees (and warrior ancestors).  Sounds sensible.  I'm also drawn to the European tribal thing.  But I'd never fit into tribal society. Mari El Republic must be a wonderful place to live -- as in the ancient history that's borne by the people and the land.  Favourite parts (aside from warrior ancestors & the space myth):  birches and oaks growing from place mortal was killed. Chimari is the term I prefer. ꕤ

Multi-part audio book - Hitch

ꕤ Video SOURCE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwGYl-mIbb0 God Is Not Great - Christopher Hitchens - Audio Book - P1 ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Multi-part audio book. Listening to Hitch on religion. ꕤ

DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE - Edward Gibbon

ꕤ Decline and Fall ROMAN EMPIRE HISTORY OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE Edward Gibbon, Esq. With notes by the Rev. H. H. Milman Vol. 1 1782 (Written), 1845 (Revised) http://www.gutenberg.org/files/731/731-h/731-h.htm Summary & Extracts Wikipedia Entries - Edward Gibbon (author) Edward Gibbon 1737 – 1794 English historian and Member of Parliament The Decline and Fall known for quality and irony of its prose use of primary sources open criticism of organised religion Unusually for 18th century: Gibbon not content with second-hand accounts when the primary sources were accessible  But:  most of these were drawn from well-known printed editions ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Grandfather, also named Edward lost all of his assets result of the South Sea Bubble stock market collapse in 1720 ... but regained much of his wealth in time ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Maternal neglect ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Westminster School https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_School {  Royal College of St Peter in Westminster  } boarder independent school within precincts of Westminster Abbey earliest recorded evidence of the school dates from 1371 in Westminster Abbey's muniments  {land titles records} buildings now used date back to 11th century originally part of the Anglo-Saxon Abbey at Westminster 1540 Henry VIII ordered the dissolution of the monasteries in England personally ensured the School's survival by royal charter  College of St. Peter carried on with forty "King's Scholars" financed from the royal purse available to members of the public from across the country, so long as they could pay their own costs, rather than private tuition provided to the nobility Mary I's brief reign Abbey was reinstated as a Roman Catholic monastery but the school continued Elizabeth I re-founded the School in 1560 1560 is now gen. taken as date school was "founded" Located primarily in the precincts of former medieval monastery of Westminster Abbey Also at school site: Church House HQ of the Church of England Rooftop Ornament: The phoenix which was placed on the roof of school in the 1950s to commemorate the school's resurgence after World War II. [comment:  phoenix looks a lot like a peacock to me.  must be a Persian thing -- ie the mythical bird and the Yezidis peacock] highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rates of any secondary school or college in the world ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Further education: Magdalen College, Oxford enrolled as a gentleman-commoner Expelled from Oxford for religious subversion [ here ] [Dodgy Wikipedia can't even publish the truth of a dead author's bio.  Got the 'expelled' from Oxford from alternate source.]  ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- 1753 conversion to Roman Catholicism at Oxford Sent to Switzerland [on expulsion from Oxford] ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Switzerland reconversion to Protestantism father threatened to disinherit him, Christmas Day 1754, re:   reconversion to Protestantism ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- influence of deist or rationalist theologian Conyers Middleton denied Gibbon's claim to having been converted by a reading of Middleton is very unlikely It is claimed: Gibbon fabricated Middleton story retrospectively in his anxiety about the impact of the French Revolution and Edmund Burke's claim that it was provoked by the French philosophes, so influential on Gibbon. further "corrupted" by the 'free thinking' deism: playwright/poet couple David and Lucy Mallet ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- 1759 - 1770 served on active duty & reserve South Hampshire militia 1762 deactivation coinciding with the militia's dispersal end of Seven Years' War *must have remained a reservist given 1770 date?  ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Father died 1770 ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- 1763 - Grand Tour Grand Tour (of continental Europe) included a visit to Rome Claimed he: first conceived the idea of composing a history Rome later extended to the entire empire incident known as:  the "Capitoline vision" "It was at Rome, on the fifteenth of October 1764, as I sat musing amidst the ruins of the Capitol, while the barefooted fryars were singing Vespers in the temple of Jupiter, that the idea of writing the decline and fall of the City first started to my mind."  [Edward Gibbon] Oxford Dictionary of National Biography disputes this as: "creation of memory" or a "literary invention"  given that Gibbon journal is undated ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- "Ruins of the Forum looking towards the Capitol, 1742, by Carnaletto" image source | roberthorvath30.wordpress.com see also ‘Capitoline Vision’ of Edward Gibbon https://roberthorvat30.wordpress.com/2013/10/15/the-capitoline-vision-of-edward-gibbon-on-this-day-in-history/ ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Other US Mercantile Empire Modelled on Roman Empire US Mimicry [image source:  wikipedia  - public domain] "Capitol"  Latin   associated with Roman temple to Jupiter Optimus Maximus on Capitoline Hill USA established upon ratification United States Constitution formally began:  Mar. 1789 New York remained home to Congress 1790 - Residence Act passed to pave the way for a permanent capital Philadelphia was chosen as a temporary capital  for ten years (to Dec. 1800) until capital in Washington, D.C. would be ready US Capitol aka called Capitol Hill in  Washington, D.C. is the seat of the US Congress, the legislative branch of the US federal govt original building was completed in the year 1800 subsequently expanded distinctive neoclassical style and has a white exterior War of 1812 Capitol was partially burned by the British - 1814 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Capitol ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- 1774  initiated a freemason of the Premier Grand Lodge of England ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Became the archetypal back-bencher benignly "mute" and "indifferent" support of the Whig ministry invariably automatic ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Decline & Fall well received by public Rapid & lasting fame ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Medical extreme case:  scrotal swelling, prob. hydrocele testis chronic inflammation numerous procedures last of series, caused unremitting peritonitis (inflammation of membrane that lines abdominal cavity) inflammation set in and spread caused death ---------------------- ꕤ ----------------------  Death "English giant of the Enlightenment" died:  12:45 pm, 16 January 1794 - age 56 ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Decline & Fall criticised for scathing view of Christianity chapters XV and XVI. ... resulted in the banning of the book in several countries ... alleged crime was disrespecting ... character of sacred Christian doctrine, by: "treat[ing] the Christian church as a phenomenon of general history, not a special case admitting supernatural explanations and disallowing criticism of its adherents" ... the chapters excoriated the church for: "supplanting in an unnecessarily destructive way the great culture that preceded it" and for "the outrage of [practising] religious intolerance and warfare" ... assumed to be entirely anti-religion ... was supportive of religion to extent that work/history Decline and Fall was not influenced and swayed by official church doctrine ... Christianity chapters are heavily ironical & cutting about religion ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Gibbon verdict on the history of the Middle Ages: "I have described the triumph of barbarism and religion." But: ... politically, he aligned himself with the conservative Edmund Burke's rejection of the democratic movements of the time as well as with Burke's dismissal of the "rights of man." Winston Churchill "I set out upon ... Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire [and] was immediately dominated both by the story and the style. ... I devoured Gibbon. I rode triumphantly through it from end to end and enjoyed it all." Modelled his writings on that of Edward Gibbon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Gibbon ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT Glad I looked up Edward Gibbon. His history is a history of place and time, and it touches on significant movements of the period -- which contrast with the Dark Ages that followed the Fall of Rome and are relevant to religion etc. Churchill "Democracy is not some harlot in the street," he said in condemning the Greek Communists toward the end of World War II, "to be picked up by some man with a Tommy gun. Democracy is based on reason, a sense of fair play, and freedom and a respect for the rights of other people." [here] On the contrary, both Democracy & Religion are the harlots of the beneficiaries of wealth and privilege and are both probably the 'opium of the people' in a sense  ... in terms of conditions that involve illusion, at least. 1931 Paris - Opium Den Skimming the editor's and author's introductions and noting how Decline and Fall was banned in several countries, as it did not preserve the special protections this harlot of privilege and power enjoyed, filled me with disgust. Very interested in the Fall of the Roman empire, because I see what appears, to me, to be the fall of Europe right now. Not sure how I'll go with reading Decline and Fall seated at a desktop.  It will take me forever. Drawn to the chapters on Christianity.  Do not understand why the beliefs of a break-away religious sect/cult from the Middle East were adopted by Europe:  why this was adopted over one's own traditions.   The worship of a foreign mortal and the blend of foreign religion with pagan religion that resulted is intriguing -- as is the role that religion may have played in the decline of the Roman Empire. Even today, religions receive special protections.  I don't think that should be the case at all.  Organised religion deserves no special regard. It is organised fraud perpetuated perpetrated for political ends, and this organisation is an expression of a host of other things that are tied to personal and group identity, psychology and so much more. Works of Karl Marx 1843 A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right Introduction https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1843/critique-hpr/intro.htm What Carl has to say looks interesting. Might check this out before I launch into the Gibbon's chapters on Christianity. PS Struggling reading what Marx has to say.  Sounds like he's opposed to the old order of the German empire.  Struggling with it because each sentence seems to be packed with so much weight.  The manner of presenting unfamiliar ideas is also hard to follow.  But I guess the more you know the easier that becomes to understand?  lol Might set Marx aside and pop over to visit Christianity destroying the Roman empire.  lol * Even though this book would be outdated, I think it will be an interesting read.  ꕤ

Sweden - Diakonia - Bo Forsberg

SWEDEN GOOGLE TRANSLATION Diakonia Bo Forsberg has most publications With 32 published opinion articles in the years 2001-2011 has Diakonia's Secretary General Bo Forsberg most successful of all religious företrädare.- I'm not so surprised, he says to Date. by John Ottestig October 23, 2013 Marta Axners thesis shows that relatively few religious leaders (30 people) produced just over 42 percent of the published debate articles from 2001 to 2011. The list is topped by Bo Forsberg, with 32 publications, followed by Sten-Gunnar Hedin and Peter Weiderud with 24 published articles each. According to Bo Forsberg is long-term work that has borne fruit: - We are working with international aid, and we know that political decisions on issues relating, for example, trade, aid and debt relief have huge importance if we want to change the world. 5-6 years ago we took a strategic decision. It meant that we have built a broad expertise and today we have a whole team of press officers and senior people who have relationships with politicians and others in power. Marta Axner mean that it has become easier for religious leaders to gain space on the discussion pages. But Bo Forsberg says it does not recognize the problem: - Generally, I would say that it is easier today. It probably depends primarily on Diakonia, the organization has built up a trust for a long time. I find it hard to make the connection to the new thesis, but I also think the radio and television, I would say that we have much greater impact today. Marta Axner argue that religious actors adapts to debate the sides. What do you say about that? - I can admit that we formulate ourselves in a certain way in the media. But I argue very firmly that we will not compromise on the message, it's only about a linguistic processing of the text to be comprehensible even to those who are not daily basis dealing with development issues. Are you surprised that you have, for example, the Swedish Church Archbishop for you on the list of the persons who have received the most debated articles published? - No, I actually do not, as I said, this is part of our work. We have developed a set of values ??and based on it we have decided that we should be in the public debate. http://www.dagen.se/diakonias-bo-forsberg-har-flest-publiceringar-1.104277 OTHER Zambia Memo of Understanding signed w Sweden mining + corporate social responsibility (CSR) church participation encouraged / Hallelujah! FAITH-BASED Swedish development org, Diakonia, representative urging ppl to question application of taxes  https://www.daily-mail.co.zm/?p=28309 Diakonia f. 1966 interl devel org / network ppl, orgs & churches does not carry out any projects of its own / supports local 2009 - Diakonia 400 partner orgs in about 30 countries Secretary General = Bo Forsberg [sources - various] Marta Axners thesis (referred to above) =  few religious leaders (30 ppl) pump out abt 42% published debate articles  2001-2011 Bo Forsberg = top [dagen.se] Oct. 2008 Joakim Wohlfeil said at meeting Gothenburg Diakonia is more a lobby group with political agenda for Middle East [philosemitism] Pro Israel blog [2008] complains Diakonia ME agenda bias w/out accompanying solution to terrorism in region  [philosemitism] COMMENT Not a great translation.   So, very few religious leaders drive what is supposed to be 'public debate' regarding what must be aspects of Swedish foreign (and other) policy and, according to the thesis, the head of Diakonia (a religious quarter lobby group that seeks to influence policy in the Middle East) is foremost in terms of output among this small religious, public debate chorus set. Found this interesting.

'Sam Harris rips academics who ceaselessly deny that religion can inspire brutal violence' [RawStory]

Sam Harris rips academics who ceaselessly deny that religion can inspire brutal violence Scott Kaufman 05 Mar 2015 at 10:33 ET                  Neuroscientist and public intellectual Sam Harris conducted a wide-ranging interview with journalist Graeme Wood that was supposed to be about the latter’s cover story in this month’s Atlantic, but which turned into an opportunity for Harris to outline what, to his mind, is the psychological state of a jihadist. Harris began by arguing that it was rational to believe that most believers understand religious texts at a literal level. “There are more or less plausible, more or less straightforward, more or less comprehensive readings of any scripture,” he said. “And the most plausible, straightforward, and comprehensive readings tend to be the more literalistic, no matter how self-contradictory the text. So, for instance, when it says in the Qur’an (8:12), ‘Smite the necks of the infidels,’ some people may read that metaphorically, but it’s always tempting to read it literally.” “In fact,” he continued, “a line like that fairly cries out for a literal reading. Of course, some Muslims believe that such violent passages must be read in their historical context. But it seems even more natural to assume that the words of God apply for all time. So it’s no accident that the Islamic State has made a cottage industry of decapitation.” Because “the Islamic State is giving a very plausible reading of the Qur’an and the hadīth. That’s a terrible problem, because one can’t stand up and say that this behavior is un-Islamic.” Harris then wondered why so many academics refuse to believe the statements made by jihadists at face value. “No one doubts the political and economic justifications that people give for their behavior. When someone says, ‘Listen, I murdered my rich neighbor because I knew he kept a pile of money in a safe. I wanted that money, and I didn’t want to leave a witness,’ nobody looks for an ulterior explanation for that behavior,” he said. “But when someone says, ‘I think infidels and apostates deserve to burn in hell, and I know for a fact that I’ll go to paradise if I die while waging jihad against them,’ many academics refuse to accept this rationale at face value and begin looking for the political or economic reasons that they imagine lie beneath it. So the game is rigged.” The reason those academics refuse to believe the statements of a believer is that they are too committed to their secular understanding of the world to fully comprehend the power of belief. But “once you imagine what it would be like to actually believe in paradise, and in martyrdom as the surest way of getting there, it becomes obvious why someone would want to join the Islamic State. If a person truly believes that the Creator of the universe wants him to wage war against the evil of unbelief and that the Islamic State is the very tip of His spear, he has to be insane not to join the cause.” “I see no reason to think that most jihadis are psychologically abnormal,” Harris said. “The truth is far more depressing: These are mostly normal people — fully capable of love, empathy, altruism, and so forth — who simply believe what they say they believe.” “The fact that most jihadis are generally rational, even psychologically normal, and merely in the grip of a dangerous belief system is, in my view, the most important point to get across.” “It is amazing how resolutely people will ignore the evidence of this,” he concluded. “Justin Bieber could convert to Islam tomorrow, spend a full hour on 60 Minutes confessing his hopes for martyrdom and his certainty of paradise, and then join the Islamic State — and Glenn Greenwald would still say his actions had nothing to do with the doctrine of Islam and everything to do with U.S. foreign policy.” http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/03/sam-harris-rips-academics-who-ceaselessly-deny-that-religion-can-inspire-brutal-violence/ COMMENT Interesting points raised by Sam Harris.  The bit about Beiber & Greenwald made me laugh. A heap of media focus and blame on 'radicalisation' at the moment, and not enough discussion of belief systems (although I'm sure US foreign policy also has a significant role in Middle East dramas). The 'psychologically normal' part isn't something I'd accept.   To my way of thinking, it isn't psychologically normal for modern man to believe he is on a mission from an almighty creator to destroy others or, at the other end of the spectrum, to seriously believe in any kind of religious being, powers, rituals and so on, no matter what belief system they represent. In other news: "Less Porn, More Scripture on New Russian Orthodox Search Engine" [MoscowTimes] Imagined a Soviet Union that had rid itself of the shackles of religious superstition.  But that's far from the case in post Soviet Russia.  It's encouraged.  Very disappointing.