It is good to be able to express one's own personal statements of faith. We are all better off living in a society where people do abide by their own fundamental moral codes, regardless of their origins. Compared to living in a society where a total lack of moral code intrudes too often on our own pursuit of happiness, safety and sanctity for our own lives.
Our Founders were right when they assumed our present form of governance can only work in a society with a strong and shared moral code - but within the express confines there shall be no mandatory state religion, nor state intrusions on one's own religious beliefs.
Many mountains reach up into the sky - an important bit of wisdom I encountered on a trip to India, as I struggled to understand their many and complex religious expressions. Privacy of religious thought and lived religious beliefs remain precious fundamentals for our country. Seeking common threads in all religions remains a life-affirming exercise.
Then struggling with what is a "religion" anyway. Where is the line between private religious beliefs and public expressions of those beliefs. The American experiment with religious freedom is not over.
That said, I am in favor of putting the Ten Commandments back on school walls, not because they represent the only one True Religion, but because they are a very good starting point to support the society we want to live in. And thus deserve becoming the bases of our shared moral and ethical codes.
Ms. J. Livingston, in the spirit of compromise: How about the Ten Commandments get placed "back" on school walls only if they also get placed on the walls at Mar-a-Lago?
RJ: I erred. 10 Commandments were never place on California school walls during my own history in Calif public education, so they would not be "back" in many similar US classrooms.
Let's see if you can go with the "spirit" (gasp) of the suggestion? An oddity, many find under the rough veneer, a man of blunt and deep honesty is actually sitting in the White House right now. Promises made; promises kept.
I would look for the intent of the "commandment"; and not adhere too strictly to requirements of any particular dogma. But then, I am a Unitarian so I have been down this road many times
1-3 would certainly be most suspect vis a vis the Establishment Clause. But they are also a necessary "higher power" commitment, which creates the motivation to honor the other seven. How does one sanitize and make generic a common value/ethics system to become a shared a public instrument, and not be viewed solely as religious statement of faith?
I propose this only because there are so many similarities in these Judeo-Christian 10 Commandments to other global statements of faith already out there. But I also believe America is suffering right now from the loss of not only Commandments1-3; but Commandments 4-10 as well.
It was easy growing up in the churched 1950s in America always carrying the message 'God is watching you" to have a sense of right and wrong. Now it is surveillance cameras are watching you, but there is little left of any sense of internal rights and wrongs. Unless it is only the media that reminds us today when the 1950's media was far more censored.
Still, I think civilizations run better on shared values, and I find myself not sharing many values with my compatriots today. What are their guidelines that form the bedrock of their belief systems they want me to follow?
Thank you, Andy, for this interesting piece. It reads like an itemized character assessment of the current White House resident, whose abhorrent narcissism and nihilistic attitude towards the rule of law while he seeks to enrich himself and his cronies becomes more apparent with each passing day.
The YouTube video referenced is of boogie woogie pianist Terry Miles playing in a 14th century church. Do you recall this old, beautiful melody he is playing "borrowed" by a famous singer? After playing in the church, Terry then segues into playing an enthusiastic "Oh Happy Day." This is one of my favorites by Terry. Great article Andy describing all my faults <g>. Love any reference to John Steinbeck, my favorite writer.
Andy, re your paragraph: “ This Easter Sunday, would you please consider the many deleterious impacts to our collective happiness having to do with nihilism, hedonism, narcissism, and materialism? This is extremely important because these views and beliefs dominate our society today to our collective demise.”
No, thank you. You are free to spend a glorious Spring Day dwelling on the negative, but I'm going to spend it thanking God for giving me life instead of death when I got Septic Shock in January. I'm going to think about all the selfless things I watched nurses, doctors, clean up crews, food deliverers, PTs, OTs - all the miracles that I watched people at Cottage Hospital do for patients. I'm going to thank them for the hours they work, the smiles they bring to every patient and the people who love them and the long commutes they make in order to do God's work - whatever they call their God.
They showed me that the world Andy describes of nihilism, hedonism and narcissism is just a sermon, not the truth. We are a blessed and good country. And we live on a miraculous planet.
"Whatever they call their God"? Dear Polly, Jesus alone died for our sins, a few of which I listed in the piece...He alone paid the price for our sins....the only name by which mankind is saved is the name of Jesus...
Andy, I say this with a great deal of admiration for much of what you've written and said on your show about the destruction of CA by the Left. But you are giving the vote to the Democrats every time you thump your Bible. You Conservative Christians will be the final blow to California - and the country. I don't personally care what religion people have. I stand for their right to their own religion or to be atheists. I care that they don't steal money from me as a taxpayer. That they don't destroy Santa Barbara - and California and America - with their grift. That they don't ruin our schools with their woke agendas. That they stop killing the children of our country with plastic, phony vaccines and trans operations. That they shut the border and start to treat the veterans and legal immigrants here with respect rather than criminal gangs. That they stop making billions off selling our farmlands to the global industrial complex.
I am dismayed to see this turn that SB Current is taking into Conservative Christianity. This publication was different than the propaganda rags that we have here. But now it's becoming all too similar.
Leftists call me a fascist because I voted for and support Trump. You Conservative Christians call me anti-Semitic for opposing Israel's massacre of Gaza or a sinner for not being a Christian. I am dismayed beyond belief by seeing how similar you are becoming in your intolerance to the Left.
There have been more Christian posts here than this week. If you don't agree with what I wrote, why don't you come up with a positive rebuttal instead of this jeering? Jesus was not a jeerer, you know.
One could reasonably argue according to the definitions put forth by the author that our president is a narcissist and a materialist. It might be those very attributes that helped launch his political career. There is a trait that is even worse than those two and that is obtuseness, meaning someone who is willfully ignorant. Unfortunately, that describes many of the politicians in office today, especially in California.
European friends have explained to me that the main difference that they see in Americans is that we believe we have the right to be happy every day. And all is not well in our worlds unless we are in that state of constant positive. But Europeans, perhaps the rest of the world also, view happiness as a fleeting thing, to be celebrated and gratefully acknowledged, when achieved.
Perfection! Thanks for always bringing us the truth and taking your time to share your wonderful gift of writing with us. We are truly blessed to have Andy Caldwell amongst us!
It is good to be able to express one's own personal statements of faith. We are all better off living in a society where people do abide by their own fundamental moral codes, regardless of their origins. Compared to living in a society where a total lack of moral code intrudes too often on our own pursuit of happiness, safety and sanctity for our own lives.
Our Founders were right when they assumed our present form of governance can only work in a society with a strong and shared moral code - but within the express confines there shall be no mandatory state religion, nor state intrusions on one's own religious beliefs.
Many mountains reach up into the sky - an important bit of wisdom I encountered on a trip to India, as I struggled to understand their many and complex religious expressions. Privacy of religious thought and lived religious beliefs remain precious fundamentals for our country. Seeking common threads in all religions remains a life-affirming exercise.
Then struggling with what is a "religion" anyway. Where is the line between private religious beliefs and public expressions of those beliefs. The American experiment with religious freedom is not over.
That said, I am in favor of putting the Ten Commandments back on school walls, not because they represent the only one True Religion, but because they are a very good starting point to support the society we want to live in. And thus deserve becoming the bases of our shared moral and ethical codes.
Ms. J. Livingston, in the spirit of compromise: How about the Ten Commandments get placed "back" on school walls only if they also get placed on the walls at Mar-a-Lago?
RJ: I erred. 10 Commandments were never place on California school walls during my own history in Calif public education, so they would not be "back" in many similar US classrooms.
Let's see if you can go with the "spirit" (gasp) of the suggestion? An oddity, many find under the rough veneer, a man of blunt and deep honesty is actually sitting in the White House right now. Promises made; promises kept.
Keeping this important theme alive, I've listed the 10 Commandments which Moses had so kindly brought down from Mt. Sinai in two stone tables.
Which do you think will be legally challenged first? Which (if any) will survive the ACLU's inevitable onslaught?
1. There is one God
2. Do not Take the name of the Lord in vain
3. Keep the Sabbath holy
4. Honor the mother and father
5. Do not kill
6. Do not commit adultery
7. Do not steal
8. Do not bear false witness
9. Do not covet the neighbor's wife
10. Do not covet the neighbor's goods.
I would look for the intent of the "commandment"; and not adhere too strictly to requirements of any particular dogma. But then, I am a Unitarian so I have been down this road many times
1-3 would certainly be most suspect vis a vis the Establishment Clause. But they are also a necessary "higher power" commitment, which creates the motivation to honor the other seven. How does one sanitize and make generic a common value/ethics system to become a shared a public instrument, and not be viewed solely as religious statement of faith?
I propose this only because there are so many similarities in these Judeo-Christian 10 Commandments to other global statements of faith already out there. But I also believe America is suffering right now from the loss of not only Commandments1-3; but Commandments 4-10 as well.
It was easy growing up in the churched 1950s in America always carrying the message 'God is watching you" to have a sense of right and wrong. Now it is surveillance cameras are watching you, but there is little left of any sense of internal rights and wrongs. Unless it is only the media that reminds us today when the 1950's media was far more censored.
Still, I think civilizations run better on shared values, and I find myself not sharing many values with my compatriots today. What are their guidelines that form the bedrock of their belief systems they want me to follow?
Excellent question…. If not the 10, what alternatives?
Shall start with the current "progressive" operating Top 10 and work backwards from there?
1. Thou shalt kill -- abortions, euthanasia, forced injections
2. Thou shalt steal - apply only wrists slaps or dismissals, shop activist judges
3. Thou shalt commit adultery -favor open marriages, no marriages, solo parenting should be celebrated
4. If I want something, I just take it. Others owe me a living
5. Thou shall bear false witnesses -listen to only Democrat lies and media fake news on a daily basis
6. Engage in constant class envy, class warfare, tax the rich
7. Take the Lord's name in vain - swear constantly, make every other word the F word
8. There is no God - moral relativity one only measurement, how does it make you feel is the only thing that matter
9. Every day, make yourself the sole and most important thing on the planet
10. Sit around and do nothing with your own life, while you wait for Thy Father and Mother's inheritance
Amen and Praise God for the empty tomb . “He is risen “ are the 3 most important words in human history.
“Narcissists have an unreasonably high sense of self-importance and require constant, excessive admiration."
Teddy Roosvelt's daughter had it right when she said of her father - "He wants to be the corpse at every funeral and the bride at every wedding."
Timely reminders, Andy. There’s only One Cure for the ills of this old world.
Thank you! Amen
Thank you, Andy, for this interesting piece. It reads like an itemized character assessment of the current White House resident, whose abhorrent narcissism and nihilistic attitude towards the rule of law while he seeks to enrich himself and his cronies becomes more apparent with each passing day.
No SS, it does not read like an "itemized character assessment of the current White House resident". But thanks for sharing your own opinion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e19ZxCECXB0
The YouTube video referenced is of boogie woogie pianist Terry Miles playing in a 14th century church. Do you recall this old, beautiful melody he is playing "borrowed" by a famous singer? After playing in the church, Terry then segues into playing an enthusiastic "Oh Happy Day." This is one of my favorites by Terry. Great article Andy describing all my faults <g>. Love any reference to John Steinbeck, my favorite writer.
“Plaisir d’Amour”or The Pleasure of love
Original Poem By Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian (1755 - 1794)
Melody to Poem created by Jean-Paul-Egide Martini (1741-1816)
Elvis Presley recording to “Can’t Help Falling in Love” written by Hugo Peretti,
Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss and featured in Blue Hawaii (1961)
English translation from French
The pleasure of love only lasts one moment;
The regret of love lasts one's whole life.
I left everything for the ungrateful Sylvie;
She leaves me and takes another lover.
The pleasure of love only lasts one moment;
The regret of love lasts one's whole life.
As long as this water flows softly
Toward this brook that borders the plain
I will love you, repeated Sylvie to me.
The water still flows, she has changed however.
The pleasure of love only lasts one moment;
The regret of love lasts one's whole life.
Elvis Lyrics to Can’t Help Falling in Love
Wise men say
Only fools rush in
But I can't help falling in love with you
Shall I stay?
Would it be a sin
If I can't help falling in love with you?
Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Take my hand
Take my whole life, too
For I can't help falling in love with you
Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Take my hand
Take my whole life, too
For I can't help falling in love with you
For I can't help falling in love with you
Amen! He is risen!
Andy, re your paragraph: “ This Easter Sunday, would you please consider the many deleterious impacts to our collective happiness having to do with nihilism, hedonism, narcissism, and materialism? This is extremely important because these views and beliefs dominate our society today to our collective demise.”
No, thank you. You are free to spend a glorious Spring Day dwelling on the negative, but I'm going to spend it thanking God for giving me life instead of death when I got Septic Shock in January. I'm going to think about all the selfless things I watched nurses, doctors, clean up crews, food deliverers, PTs, OTs - all the miracles that I watched people at Cottage Hospital do for patients. I'm going to thank them for the hours they work, the smiles they bring to every patient and the people who love them and the long commutes they make in order to do God's work - whatever they call their God.
They showed me that the world Andy describes of nihilism, hedonism and narcissism is just a sermon, not the truth. We are a blessed and good country. And we live on a miraculous planet.
"Whatever they call their God"? Dear Polly, Jesus alone died for our sins, a few of which I listed in the piece...He alone paid the price for our sins....the only name by which mankind is saved is the name of Jesus...
Andy, I say this with a great deal of admiration for much of what you've written and said on your show about the destruction of CA by the Left. But you are giving the vote to the Democrats every time you thump your Bible. You Conservative Christians will be the final blow to California - and the country. I don't personally care what religion people have. I stand for their right to their own religion or to be atheists. I care that they don't steal money from me as a taxpayer. That they don't destroy Santa Barbara - and California and America - with their grift. That they don't ruin our schools with their woke agendas. That they stop killing the children of our country with plastic, phony vaccines and trans operations. That they shut the border and start to treat the veterans and legal immigrants here with respect rather than criminal gangs. That they stop making billions off selling our farmlands to the global industrial complex.
I am dismayed to see this turn that SB Current is taking into Conservative Christianity. This publication was different than the propaganda rags that we have here. But now it's becoming all too similar.
Leftists call me a fascist because I voted for and support Trump. You Conservative Christians call me anti-Semitic for opposing Israel's massacre of Gaza or a sinner for not being a Christian. I am dismayed beyond belief by seeing how similar you are becoming in your intolerance to the Left.
IT IS EASTER SUNDAY for crying out loud.
"You Conservative Christians": Such contemptuous condescension!
How would you have me describe them?
My Goodness! There's been - what - three "religious" posts to the "Current, and all have been during Holy Week and Easter. Quite a "trend"!
There have been more Christian posts here than this week. If you don't agree with what I wrote, why don't you come up with a positive rebuttal instead of this jeering? Jesus was not a jeerer, you know.
Trump is the greatest president of my lifetime.
You are so blessed
And we that know you are more blessed
Oh happy day …
One could reasonably argue according to the definitions put forth by the author that our president is a narcissist and a materialist. It might be those very attributes that helped launch his political career. There is a trait that is even worse than those two and that is obtuseness, meaning someone who is willfully ignorant. Unfortunately, that describes many of the politicians in office today, especially in California.
European friends have explained to me that the main difference that they see in Americans is that we believe we have the right to be happy every day. And all is not well in our worlds unless we are in that state of constant positive. But Europeans, perhaps the rest of the world also, view happiness as a fleeting thing, to be celebrated and gratefully acknowledged, when achieved.
Perfection! Thanks for always bringing us the truth and taking your time to share your wonderful gift of writing with us. We are truly blessed to have Andy Caldwell amongst us!
Oh Happy Day indeed ! Yes!
So good! So true! Thank you!