| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"maff" |
| Date: |
31 Jan 2005 08:26:19 AM |
| Object: |
Dom Stasi |
How the Religious Exploiters Exploit
http://www.progress.org/2004/stasi04.htm
Guest Essay - "MORAL VICTORY- Religious Exploitation, and the New
American Creed"
Have you recently read, or re-read, Sinclair Lewis' famous novel "Elmer
Gantry"? It explains a lot of what's happening in the U.S. today. And
so does this article.
"Our moral perils are not those of conscious malice or the explicit
lust for power. They are the perils which can be understood only if we
realize the ironic tendency of virtues to turn into vices when too
complacently relied upon; and of power to become vexatious if the
wisdom which directs it is trusted too confidently."
-- Reinhold Niebuhr
by Dom Stasi
IN THE BEGINNING...
I remember it as though it were yesterday. I was a young engineer fresh
from a successful and heady seven years in the manned lunar expedition
program called Project Apollo.
Along with thousands of other American engineers, scientists, pilots,
and technicians, people accustomed to working in relative obscurity, we
had found ourselves suddenly at the center of the universe. And though
Albert Einstein had already proven that everything and anything can
rightfully be considered the center of the universe, I'm speaking less
prosaically. For a young man in the morning of his career, or an old
man at its dusk, and today I can speak with knowledge of both
circumstances, Project Apollo was that something we would remember the
rest of our days. Physics aside, Apollo simply was for a time the
center of the universe of men. Anyone who had the great good fortune
and talent to be a part of it, would be changed for the experience, and
changed for the better. Such harmless vanity is simply human nature. We
are all of us creatures who delight in success however small might be
our part in its achievement. Self esteem is critical to our well being
as humans. On Apollo it made us all work harder and with more passion
than any work I've known since. Contributing to Project Apollo, and
earning the trust and respect of project engineers older and wiser than
I, and ultimately that of the astronauts themselves, gave this and so
many other young Americans a special kind of self-confidence. Few have
had such an opportunity so early in their lives and careers. Fewer
still might have accepted it, for failure would have haunted all our
days, and with each new moonrise, our nights as well. It's been said
that experience doesn't change a person, but make him more of what he
already is. Perhaps that is so. Think of the challenges you have faced
in your own life. Think of how your responses to them tempered or
softened you, contributed to, or somehow affected your social,
intellectual, and perhaps, spiritual growth and attitudes. Reflecting
upon ones life can be a rewarding or a painful exercise. Yet it is a
thing from which we cannot hide. As Socrates observed, "An unexamined
life is not worth living." Extreme? Perhaps. But keep these concepts
of self top of mind. Remain mindful of self-confidence, self-esteem,
and, not incidentally, self-worth as you read on.
Elmer Gantry (Signet Classics (Paperback))
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0451522516/
by Sinclair Lewis
Editorial Reviews
The Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature
Novel by Sinclair Lewis, a satiric indictment of fundamentalist
religion that caused an uproar upon its publication in 1927. The title
character of Elmer Gantry starts out as a greedy, shallow, philandering
Baptist minister, turns to evangelism, and eventually becomes the
leader of a large Methodist congregation. Throughout the novel Gantry
encounters fellow religious hypocrites, including Mrs. Evans Riddle,
Judson Roberts, and Sharon Falconer, with whom he becomes romantically
involved. Although he is often exposed as a fraud, Gantry is never
fully discredited.
Elmer Gantry (1960)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053793/
Elmer Gantry, salesman, teams up with Sister Sharon Falconer,
evangelist, to sell religion to America in the 1920's. They make enough
money to build a temple, and Sister Sharon falls for Elmer. Elmer, is
tested by temptation and almost capitulates, but is than wrongly
accused by the jilted temptress. But Sharon stands by her man and truth
prevails, until both are seduced by fame and blind faith over common
sense, and fate deals them a crushing blow.
Summary written by Colin Tinto {cst@imdb.com}
Dom Stasi
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| User: "Vivapadrepio" |
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| Title: Re: Dom Stasi |
31 Jan 2005 10:15:40 PM |
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From: "maff"
Date: 1/31/05 12:26 AM Pacific Standard Time
IN THE BEGINNING...
I remember it as though it were yesterday. I was a young engineer fresh
from a successful and heady seven years in the manned lunar expedition
program called Project Apollo. ...
Prayer Of A Worker:
Lord, Jesus Christ, I offer you today all my work, my hopes, my sorrows and
joy. Grant me the grace to remain close to you today, to work with you and to
do all that I do for your honor and glory. Help me to love you with all my
heart and to serve you with all my strength.
Help me, Lord, to give a full day's work for a full day's pay. Help me to
respect the property of others, to be honest in dealing with those involved in
this task, and to put forth effort with personal interest. Give me the spirit
of charity that I may contribute to the happiness of all those with whom I work
and when the job is done, grant us all a peaceful rest.
St. Joseph, patron of workers, pray for me. Amen.
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Pray, hope, and don't worry.
Worry is useless.
God is merciful and will hear your prayer.
-- Padre Pio, Pietrelcina.
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