The other day I was talking about the election with some friends. One of my most-trusted insiders, Michael Cage (a first rate marketing genius – at 28 years old he has yet to show the world what he is fully capable of) commented, “One of the things that defines the generation that elected Barack Obama is we just don’t relate to an us-vs-them mentality when we look out at the rest of the world. Everyone in the world is just an email away.”
Ten years ago someone commented, “These days you may not even know your next door neighbor, but you exchange emails with your buddy in South Africa twice a week.” I looked out the window at the house next to mine – barely knew the neighbors – and yes I was sitting there sending emails to someone in some far-off country.
Every week I get on conference calls and say hi to everyone and barely think twice about the fact that I’ve got 17 people from Texas, four from Perth, one from Amsterdam, one in Alaska, one in Lebanon.
Ever heard Thomas Friedman’s “McDonalds theory of world peace”? He observes that with only one exception, no two countries with a McDonalds have ever gone to war with each other.
Can you imagine, say, the US going to war with Australia? Think of all the emails the senators and congressmen would get: “Hey, stop trying to kill my customers! And by the way, here’s a list of 115 blogs from people who are trapped in the Siege of Sydney right now!”
The world of 2008 is truly a strange and wonderful place. Just before we took off for Nebraska to go see relatives, I loaded the first season of The Dukes of Hazzard on my video iPod so my 10 year old son would have something to watch while we trucked down Interstate 80.
That TV show ran in 1979 – the year that *I* was 10 years old. I said to Laura, “Who would’ve thought that 25 years later you’d be able to download an entire season of the Dukes of Hazzard onto a device that’s half the size of a pack of cigarettes, and our kids would watch it in the car with headphones and a 2″ screen?” We shake our heads in amazement.
OK, so what does all this have to do with Christmas?
Equality and technology… They have everything to do with Christmas.
Let’s start with equality.
The United States Declaration of Independence makes a world-shattering declaration that transformed the modern world:
“We hold these things to be self-evident, that all men are created equal and endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
In his book “Democracy in America” (1835) Alexis de Tocqueville carefully traces this statement and its idea of equality backward through history and lands at Galatians 3:28, the words of St. Paul:
“In Christ there is neither male nor female, Jew nor Greek, slave nor free. All are equal in Christ Jesus.”
Before Paul said this, no one had ever made such a bold and sweeping statement. No one. Not the Jews or Babylonians, not the Egyptians, not the Greeks, not the Chinese. The concept of equality came first from Paul.
This idea got planted in western civilization and began to grow and develop, little by little dismantling slave trade, sowing the seeds for democracy and spurring technological and political progress. He says that from 1100 AD to the present, every major development led to more equality, not less. The Magna Carta. The invention of the horseshoe. The invention of the gun and the post office and the printing press and democracy.
If you live in a democracy and you’re thankful for the ability to vote, if you’re thankful that people generally consider you and themselves to be just as good as anybody else, then thank Paul. And his Rabbi, Jesus.
Because – despite what the Declaration says – equality really is NOT self evident. At least it wasn’t to any of the ancient world prior to 2000 years ago. On the surface, we’re all different. Some are stronger. Some are smarter. Some have more money. Some are politically connected. Some are more savvy.
And some people get the scraps.
You have no principle to guide you but the 80/20 rule. Which, divorced from any overriding sense of equality or individual dignity, is a cruel master.
But when Paul said this, he was declaring that there is an underlying *spiritual* reality, that yours and my true identity doesn’t come from accomplishments or money or power but from our Heavenly Father. That once we know that true identity we’re no longer slaves to money and power and accomplishments and the ‘natural’ order of things.
If you’re thankful that Western Civilization today considers all people to be intrinsically equal, be thankful that a young couple in Bethlehem gave birth to a baby who was to become the most loved, most hated, most argued about, most written about, most influential person in the history of the world. One who taught that the greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. One in whom there is no male or female, no Jew nor Greek, no slave nor free.
So then how about technology?
Science itself is, at its core, a presumption of discoverable underlying order. A belief, an assumption (which cannot be proven in advance BTW) that when an apple falls from a tree it does so because of some law of nature that caused it to do so. That there was a string of cause and effect that can be traced back to explain why this happened.
The apple did not fall from the tree because, say, Zeus was having a snit with Apollo and that’s why there was the lightning storm which is why there was a wind that caused the apple to swing back and forth and fall from the tree…. no, it happened for rational discoverable reasons. That God made a world which could operate consistently on its own without Him constantly making corrections from the outside.
So far as I can tell, the inspiration for this belief first came from Wisdom of Solomon 11:21: “Thou hast ordered all things in measure and number and weight.”
(The Protestants omitted that book, but our Catholic friends thankfully left it in.)
If a scientist does not presume that there is a rational reason for what he is about to investigate, there is nothing for him to investigate at all. Belief in rationality comes from belief in a rational God. A God who wants us to discover His universe. For whom such discovery is an act of worship.
If you read the history of science over the last 500 years, the only reason science succeeded in the West – after getting started but failing in Greece, Rome, China and in the Arab world – is that Christian theology understood God to have created the universe to operate according to fixed discoverable laws. Theology made that prediction, then people had a philosophical basis for having a scientific method.
In his fascinating book “The Victory of Reason” historian Rodney Stark further explains that the forward march of technology began after the fall of the Roman Empire and has marched steadily forward ever since. Equality implied that slavery was wrong, so people had to develop technology in order to free their slaves and still get the work done. So… part of the inspiration for inventions like water wheels was a belief in dignity and freedom and the rights of the individual.
Technology is supposed to empower people, not enslave them. Because, as Paul said, in Christ, all are equal.
If you trace these ideas back through history, equality and technology and even iPods and Democracy have everything to do with our very beliefs about the universe and about God. And yes, even Jesus. Case in point: it’s politically incorrect to say “Merry Christmas” cuz it’s too religious. Instead you get a tepid, watered down “Happy Holidays.”
It’s because Christ is offensive. When a guy smashes his thumb with a hammer, he doesn’t say “Krishna” or “Buddha,” he says Jesus Christ. Because that’s the most loaded, most powerful word in the English language. There’s no name you can invoke that’s more powerful than the Son of God.
~~~
Do you know what the most important invention in the history of the world was?
It wasn’t the computer. And it sure wasn’t the light bulb or the telephone. (Or even the electronic voting machine.)
It was the printing press.
In 1445, Johannes Gutenberg invented the world’s first movable type printing press. He didn’t know it, but he was unleashing a revolution that continues to this day. Even the mighty Internet in the 21st century is just an extension of Gutenberg’s original, revolutionary machine.
The first book he printed was the Bible. And that led to controversy, too, because Luther translated it into German, the people’s language, instead of Latin, the lingo of the religious elite.
Suddenly, ordinary folks could not only afford a copy, but they could read it for themselves instead of getting some guy’s slanted interpretation. Soon the cat was out of the bag–there were copies scattered all over Europe.
When people started to read it, they were alarmed at what they saw, because between the covers of this book was an amazing story that had seemingly little to do with the politics and shell games they saw in some corners of organized religion.
Luther wrote a list of 95 accusations against the church — priests taking bribes and granting ‘indulgences’, an institution setting itself up as a ‘middleman’ between man and God.
He argued that God didn’t need a middleman, or a distributor, or an agent, or a bureaucracy. People could go direct to the source.
This little ‘schism’ in Worms Germany unleashed a firestorm of protest and permanently changed the way people approached education. No longer was a big, faceless institution responsible for your spiritual progress — YOU were. Now that you had the knowledge in your hands, you were accountable before God to do something about it.
I’m not trying to attack the Catholic church, by the way. The problem is not institutions per se; it’s just that it’s easier for most of us to mindlessly follow some guru than to listen to God’s still small voice, and use the minds He gave us.
It’s no coincidence that the scientific enlightenment and industrial revolution began in earnest within 50 years of this. Not that it wasn’t already underway (it had already gathered considerable momentum) but now that ordinary folks had access to knowledge and the freedom to pursue it, the possibilities were limitless.
The printing press took the handcuffs off of knowledge and spirituality, and the world has never been the same. Equal access to knowledge empowered people everywhere, and it was only natural that the Renaissance, and in time, democracy too would follow.
So on Christmas we celebrate the person who inspired these revolutions. Jesus’ teachings were radical and scandalous. He claimed to be the Son of God. He said he would rise from the dead, and according to the historical accounts, he did. He stepped into the world and split time in half: BC and AD. And his words still resonate throughout the earth in 2008.
Still rolls the stone from the grave.
Today I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy new year. And in the spirit of what Jesus taught us, I hope that in 2009 you’ll use the 21st century printing press, the Internet, to not enslave but empower individuals. To bring more equality, to make the world a better place for your fellow man.
Thanks for reading.
Perry Marshall
P.S.: You might also enjoy my email series on science, “Where did the Universe Come From” as well as “7 Great Lies of Organized Religion.”
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About the Author
Perry Marshall has launched two revolutions in sales and marketing. In Pay-Per-Click advertising, he pioneered best practices and wrote the world's best selling book on Google advertising. And he's driven the 80/20 Principle deeper than any other author, creating a new movement in business.
He is referenced across the Internet and by Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, INC and Forbes Magazine.
166 Comments on “Merry Christmas and the Dance of Equality, Technology and Spirituality”
I am happy to have read Perry’s article. It is very refreshing to hear a guy with a broad and insight full perspective on things.
It gives a very helpfull balance to keep things in the right place in the interest of everybody.So that there is progress in the end and not decline.
thanks and all my best,
Jorke van Eerten, Netherlands
I found this interesting on many levels. First being of mixed religous background(parents) I never have been able to understand why all wars have some basis in religion. I also don’t understand why it is important for those who don’t want to fight for their freedom should have it. I have also found that most people only believe the parts of their own religion that soots their needs and the rest they just can’t seem to find.
The next thing that struck me about this was that the writer earns his living completly contrary to this statement or because of it “it’s just that it’s easier for most of us to mindlessly follow some guru than to listen to God’s still small voice, and use the minds He gave us.”. Even though he provides an education and a great service many come to him because they don’t really want to do the work themselves just find an easy way to reep the benefits. They stay a while, pay a while and move on to the next guru. If they actually read what he sends them they could build on it without spending a dime,but that too would take effort.
Finally the secret to this business seems to be that you have to be able to read. Not just devower words but see the meaning in them. Most of the gurus that email me have this ability.Even a greater accomplishment is to then put that understanding into words so the rest of us can see what we couldn’t until explained to us.
Who was the most powerful man in the History of human beings?
Today,when we celebrate Christmas a thought of Jesus Christ is inevitable.He was born as Human being and gifted by God’s power to do many marvelous things,owned gift of prediction,and did what for all Mankind appears to be eternal Aspiration: to win death and being deathless.
In that way Jesus Christ got the attribute of the most powerful man ever born on Earth.Regarding to other religion Supreme Beings,he had that advantage to be not only spirit then physical Being as well..
Thank you for an inspiring reality check.
I’m thankful for a great internet neighbor like you and I encourage others to reach out and touch someone else with a thoughtful message like yours via the internet today as well as get out and go across the street to wish their physical neighbor a Merry Christmas.
Serving others as Jesus did brings great rewards!
Thanks,
Kole Freeman
Hi Perry
Great stuff,very insigthful.
Regards
Ron
When you think about it, Jesus was the biggest “Launch” in history. There was a ton of pre-selling by scriptures and prophets. The message was viral in nature and good old word of mouth spread the news of the Birth (launch)far and wide.
Testimonials by established “gurus” were abundant and sincere.
Post-launch the proof was in the “product”. As it turns out, the Jesus software was, and still is, life changing.
As Jesus said, “of myself,I do nothing. I only do what the Father does through me.”
We all have that same software downloaded and installed in our systems. We only need to Activate and Run it.
“This and more you will do.” Jesus told us.
Gett beyond tour self – “die to the self,” as Jesus said, and what is left is Great Love, Great Compassion, and thy kingdom has come, thy will is being done, on earth as it is in heaven – is the new reality spread across the face of the earth and inside of us, yet we see it not” – Jesus.
You don’t need a religion and you don’t need a preacher, priest, or anyone else to interpret Jesus – “go into your interior room and pray in secret – be still, know the truth and the truth will make you free.”
Merry Christmas
Dear Perry
Thanks for all your very interesting and thought provoking reads. i am intrigued to know your opinion of the the “heart” of man as being his subconscience, have you read any of Jim Richards books??
What a load of shyte!
Perry, I’ll consider seriously what you have to say about Adwords, but I’m getting pretty tired of your pro-Christian slant.
Help me out people, are all Americans really this ignorant and half-educated? Or is just the members of the Religious Right?
Is it really true, as George Carlin said, that America’s leading industry is the manufacturing, processing and distribution of b*llsh*t?
Perry, you continue to show me that it is.
“Paul gave us equality”, “Science succeeded because of Christianity” – give me a break!
What Gutenberg gave us was the ability to read books OTHER THAN the Christian Bible.
Perry, having set off on your own back in 2001, you may know much about marketing and Adwords, but when it comes to the ‘Bigger Picture’ your head is still in that Dilbert cubicle.
Stick to your day job.
And go watch the first part of a movie called “Zeitgeist”. It’s available for free, right here on the Internet.
Meanwhile, happy winter solstice everybody.
Re: Clarke Echols post – excellent!
Re: Perry Marshall’s article…very thought provoking.
I love that Perry puts his faith on the line regardless of the consequences, financially or otherwise. It is an inspiration to me to keep the faith.
Perry,
You mentioned:
“…160 million people in the 20th century alone, mostly done by atheist governments.”
Ah, but there is a difference! When people pin blame for the Crusades on organized religion, it is because those wars and deaths were religiously motivated. There were serious religious underpinnings to those conflicts.
Atheism cannot be blamed for Stalin’s atrocities because the vast majority of them had nothing to do with atheism. Rather, the most logical explanation is that Stalin and Hitler simply manipulated the masses as pawns in their own narcissistic quests for power.
(I believe Richard Dawkins pointed out that blaming atheism makes about as much sense as blaming mustaches since Stalin and Hitler had them.)
Keep in mind: atheism in and of itself is not a philosophy. The only thing you can infer about an atheist as such is that he/she does not believe in God. That explains why there are atheist communists (ie, Stalin), and atheist capitalists/individualists (ie, Ayn Rand.)
Thank you Perry for this inspiring post.
I recently heard a business commercial on the radio and applauded its Christmas message. The message began with saying that in this day and age where people are told they must not mention Jesus for fear of another taking offense, it needs to be remembered, as you stated as well, “In Christ there is neither male nor female, Jew nor Greek, slave nor free. All are equal in Christ Jesus.”
Allowing me the joy of my beliefs does not take away the beliefs of others but instead enhances those beliefs. It amazes me, and probably always will, that offense is so strongly taken over a belief that is so profoundly good.
I wish for you and your family the joy and blessings of this Christmas season. May all who read your post be equally blessed.
Sherry
Loved your post Perry. All this politically correctness is out of hand. “In God We Trust” and “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.” Amen! Have a “Merry Christmas!”
Perry,
I see what you’re saying. However, does it follow, from that, that *religious* faith is warranted? The unprovable Geometric proofs strike me as a very different type of faith than placing trust in an unseen God (whom many power-hungry people seem eager to speak for.)
Also…
I don’t see the legacy of scientific curiosity or openness to new ideas in religion that you seem to. Rather, I look at history and see a creed that has hermetically sealed itself from virtually all advancements that encroach on its pre-conceived notions of the world.
For example, I believe the Catholic Church just accepted the heliocentric theory of the universe this decade! And it took them until 1992 to admit that they might have been a little harsh on that Galileo guy…
I would like to read the Victory of Reason. Maybe it would change my mind.
Thanks Perry
I just completed a business success book with closing comments discussing real success – being right with God. I’ve been struggling whether to keep or remove the comments. Your example has convince me to keep them. Thanks
Well said.Many Saints and Sages came on this Earth to show the right path towards God. They uttered holy words and the man of the time could not got benefitted from them.Now those holy Words are in Holy Books. And man of the day is worshiping these Books without trying to understand the meanings of the holy words. Hence,has become a stagnant water,oozing out pungent smell.The Holy Words of those Saints are like a path on which man can go and achieve new heights in spirituality. GOD is so vast and non-describable that no one,on this earth,could know him fully. And there are limitless chances for the man to progress in the field of spirituality. Since God is limitless hence his knowledge is also limitless. No one can claim that he knows God fully and if he claims, he is a big liar.Saints had never claimed this.
With the help of these Holy Books we can gain knowledge of God as per our capacity. Holy Books never claim that these are the end of God’s knowledge/description.
I am new to this site Perry, I was not sure what to expect. But I am thankful after reading you comments. Your insight is filled with wisdom, and I appreciate it. In this day an age it is politically incorrect, to say that you love Jesus. This is the day when the Bible says they will call evil good and good evil.
Where there are people there will always be a difference of opinion. Here is one thing I can say; Know you the truth, and it will make you free. That truth is JESUS.
Have a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
Blessings
Earl
Hello Perry!
Great post Perry. It’s so refreshing to hear “Merry Christmas” and to see Christ being so rightfully put back in the center of this day… and of our lives.
I’m so glad that I’ve read your words and find out that we share faith in the same Lord. I’ve always appreciated your honesty and now understand where it comes from!
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Yvon-Pierre
Amazing article! I am inspired that you can make a life for your family, help and inspire others and still proclaim your belief system despite the unpopularity and hostility towards Christianity. Thank you for being a good example of how a Christian business man should be. I’ve subscribed to dozens of free auto emails, but you and Seth Godin keep giving me practical gems to improve my business that are always delivered creatively. I can’t wait to be able to become one of your paying customers. I hope for the best to you and your family for this wonderful Christmas day and a great 2009! To God be the glory! Dat To
I am a Christian and I don’t celebrate nor practice xmas; and when people wish it to me I respond but rarely do I listen. I read yours Perry because at least you spoke about Jesus. If the reason for the season is the birth of Christ; at least have the decency to let it be about Him.
Santa, xmas trees, raindeers, 10% off at Macy’s
(during a depression/recession), has nothing to do with Jesus. We pretty much know it’s not His birth; is’s a pagan festival; but if you want to give the season some light because you assume it’s about Jesus; at least deal with Him and what He means to the earth.
Nehemiah
Perry,
I am Jewish- so I might try and argue certain points–but instead I want to thank you for standing on principal of your faith, and having the conviction to see how faith carries itself over into our world today.
Thanks,
Jeffrey
I have one word for this post.. AMEN!
Thank you Perry for the wonderful post.. have a very, merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!!
Thanks for this post. It saddens me how many are blinded by the evil one and cannot see the truth. “That Christ Jesus came into the World to save sinners”
I pray that others will see the truth and come to know Jesus as their Lord and saviour.
By the way. Holiday comes from Holy Day and as such still acknowledges God and His day.
May God bless your message and the Christian ones that follow as God says “My word does not return to me empty”
I look forward to your Easter message.
May God bless you and your family Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,
1) In response to Jay Cross:
It would a great misconception to assume that faith and reason are at odds. In 1931 the great mathematician Kurt Goedel proved mathematically that any system of logic or reasoning requires assumptions, that while perhaps self evident and necessary, are not provable.
That no system of logic can be completely self-consistent. For example a high school geometry book that’s full of proofs and theorems has certain starting premises that you “know” are true – must be true – but simply cannot be proven no matter how hard you try.
A simple way of summarizing Goedel’s theorem would be: “Nothing that you can draw a circle around cannot completely explain itself. It always references or implies something outside of that circle.”
Prior to Goedel’s incompleteness theorem, many mathematicians were very optimistic that they were closing in upon a completely self-consistent system of logic; that the foundations of mathematics would be established on new ground, and that ultimately, a theory-of-everything would emerge.
Goedel’s theorem demolished this belief and sent the mathematicians and philosophers reeling. Because what he proved was literally that logic and reason cannot even exist without faith. You always begin with a starting assumption you cannot prove.
Which is to say that faith and reason go hand in hand. One is needed for the other to exist.
Anyone who has practiced real science experiments for any length of time has personal experience with this. The core scientific presupposition of underlying order is a perfect example of this. You cannot prove it in advance, you can only asssume it and then demonstrate that the assumption is rewarded by your experiments.
2) Ern Langmaid said: “Take a 10 second look at what religion has bought to the world. Fear, war and hate.”
Religion has undoubtedly abused, make NO mistake about that… but there’s another side of that coin.
I’ve got a book on my bookshelf in my library called “The Black Book of Communism” and it documents the genocide of 160 million people in the 20th century alone, mostly done by atheist governments.
Who could forget the human rights advances of Lenin, Stalin, Chairman Mao and Pol Pot? Secularists like to lay a lot of problems at the feet of religion. And I’ll echo the sentiment. The first murder in the Bible (Cain and Abel), what was it over? Was it not jealousy in regards to the worship of God?
Nevertheless religion’s track record of murder and destruction pales in the face of what secularism has accomplished.
Also, we must never omit the thousands of hospitals, orphanages and shelters built by millions of devout, unselfish atheists. Case in point: Does not every city and town have a Richard Dawkins Memorial Hospital, a St. Stalin Community Health Center, a Voltaire Homeless Shelter, a Friedrich Nietzsche Home for Orphan Girls and Boys?
And of course who can deny the hundreds of busloads of secularists and people from Infidels and other skeptic organizations who organized themselves and went down to New Orleans to help the Hurricane Katrina victims?
If we’re going to keep score, let’s remember to add up the points on both sides.
If I must make a choice, I prefer witch hunts, crusades and religious wars (tens of millions dead) to atheism (hundreds of millions dead).
Fortunately, one need not be forced to choose between the two. One can choose to obey Jesus’ command to “Love your neighbor as yourself” and decide not to hate, not to fear, not to wage war.
Perry Marshall
‘Take a 10 second look at what religion has bought to the world. Fear, war and hate.’
Perry quoted Rodney Stark’s book “The Victory of Reason”. Rodney Stark has also written a brilliant book entitled ‘the Rise of Christianity’. Read it to find out, amongst many other things, how the early Christians cared for the sick, often at the cost of their own lives, in two massive plagues (each of which wiped out around one third of the population of Europe) in the second and third centuries. Learn too how Christianity transformed the status of women.
Fear, war and hate? I don’t think so!
Perry,
Very thoughtful article, thank you. In a somewhat related spirit, but one that addresses the other Abrahamic religions, I would recommend watching Karen Armstrong’s talk at last spring’s TED conference.
http://tinyurl.com/6gz77c
Merry Christmas
Andy
merry christmas
Hi Perry,
Great Piece, I enjoyed it.
Very enlighting responsive and emotionally guided. You should be very proud. The comments are a great addition. Merry Christmas and A Very Happy New Year To You. Thanks,
Julie
Dear Perry,
Thank You for your article. I do think its a shame that we let our government take God out of school, government and discipline in school. After all was our country not fonded on In God WE Trust. And the Pledge of Alliance which we all grew up with. I think this country needs a little more religion and we truley do need to learn to Love our neighbors. And our kids in this country needs discipline and maybe their wouldn’t be as much violents in our world today. Anyway thank you again for your article.
Merry Christmas and God Bless you and your family.
Carol Holman
Greetings . One of the finest posts , that I have ever read .
Well Done .
If the ” us verse them ‘ mentality , which is diminishing , could be
further reduced to ” united we stand , divided we’re dead ” , THEN
just maybe , as a species we can fix the mess that we are creating of our own home .
Read back through history . Our species has always built Spiritualities to control the masses . Stoneage to Spaceage , people
teach us that they know about what we can not understand .
Those Spiritual Leaders , have great conferences and meetings , to
discuss their interpretation , of what they teach . They do not
even agree with each other , about what to teach . Everyones
interpretation , about some Spiritual Reality , is open to change .
Meanwhile we are destroying this beautiful Earth , and fighting
the War on Terror , and fulfill those Spiritual Leaders idea of our
Prophseied Destiny . This can be changed with education about
our geological history , and billions of years of our ancestors hard
work at survival , to pass down their ” GIFT of LIFE ” to their
offspring , you and me .
Buddha , was a man , who taught others about his ideas on how
to live . Apparently Buddha taught others , not to worship him as
a God , but as a man . People being people , disobeyed him , and
built great statues , to pray to , as a God .
Did Jesus , give us similar instructions , that our Leaders did not see profit , in passing on to us ?
Spirituality , is important to most people . By joining a group ,
an individual , automatically becomes opposed , to people who
follow a different group . Religion always leads to War .
Mother Nature is all around us . She is a wonderful Mother .
Our species are destroying our Mother , quarreling bickering and
arguing about their idea , of who our Father really is .
Education can change this . It all boils down to , What do you chose to read . Spirituality OR Reality . What idea do you follow ?
Thank you for your post . Sincerely , for Peace and Prosperity Ron
Hi Perry,
Thanks so much for your article. It really blessed my heart to know that you are a Believer!
All (good) things come from God. According to the Bible, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are ONE. Jesus said (If you have seen me, you have seen the Father. After His resurrection, and His return to Heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us until He returns. He will return for those who have (believed) in Him. Yes, He lives today because He lives within my heart and therefore I can face all of my tomorrows.
In order to know Him, we must (believe) that He is all He said He is. The (only) way to Heaven is through belief in the Lord Jesus Christ.
I appreciate the way you linked spiritual things with technology. Philippians 4:13 says:
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Our world is a mess today because our leaders, over time, have failed to recognize the Creator of all things. They have removed prayer from our schools and other places, but Jesus also said: The gates of hell shall not prevail against His church. With Christ, we win!
Jesus Christ IS my peace no matter the troubles around me.
Merry Christmas to you and your family and thanks for a beauty article. I enjoyed reading it.
Delores Darden
Thanks Perry,
I greatly appreciated this unexpected bonus on Boxing Day morning in Canberra, Australia.
I want to recommend two books. The first is ‘Surprised by Hope’ by Tom Wright, Bishop of Durham (therefore probably not a crackpot) and one of the world’s leading New Testament scholars. I have been a Christian for over 40 years. I am an ordained Anglican minister. This has been the most transformative book I have ever read. Here’s the essence of the book, and indeed what underpins Tom Wright’s writings.
‘Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God’s Kingdom has been launched on earth as in heaven, generating a new state of affairs in which the power of evil has been defeated, the new creation has been decisively launched, and Jesus’s followers have been commissioned and equipped to put that victory and that inaugurated new world into practice.’ ‘Jesus is Lord and Caesar isn’t, Mammon isn’t, Apprhodite isn’t, Mars (the God of war) isn’t.’
The second book is on understanding our daily work from a Christian perspective. It is by Miroslav Volf, and is called ‘Work in the Spirit: Toward a Theology of Work’. Here is the essence of this wonderful, empowering book.
‘ . . . all work that survives the test of God’s judgment has eternal significance. All work that is in keeping with God’s purposes is therefore done in cooperation with God. In Volf’s understanding, “the noble products of human ingenuity will be cleansed from impurity, perfected and transfigured, to become part of God’s new creation.”‘
It is easy to see the profound effect this view could have on our daily work. The belief that one’s work can have eternal significance in its contribution to humankind and God’s creation is transformative.
Regards
Andrew Hingeley
Way to go Perry! you have some points there! as Pan Gloss would say . Alls for the best in an impossible world” perhaps under a
socialization spell of sorts . its all wonder- full and awful in some way or another . work with what you;ve got,hhhhmmm try a good way, weather scientific ,spiritual,cosmological,absurdity. what ever you choose leads to compost eventually . ho ho hehe merryments ,mints ,mucho fun moments to all and to all agood life, peace out!
Ern: faith isn’t something that only belongs to “religious” people. Fear is nothing but faith in reverse, it’s putting faith in bad things happening. People who have faith in God and eternal life are not ruled by fear, and that’s because of Jesus Christ. I can understand your being critical of religions for abuse of power and fear mongering, and I would agree and stand with you against that… but that’s not my perception of faith, and not what I think Jesus Christ taught. The tone of your post, in a word I would say is: intolerant. To me, that’s a red flag… exactly what I see in secular society (which is itself a “religion” whether you choose to admit it or not) toward those people of faith in God, especially Christians.
Amen! and Hallelujah!
Excellent. I do find it amazing that two millenniums later, there is one whose birthday is celebrated world-wide, Jesus. While opinion and debate, blame and criticism will be heard until your and my final day, those that seek Jesus are promised to find truth … and blessing.
Bill Hayden,
You said:
“The “educated” secular society in which we now live (Western civilization) has replaced faith in God the Creator with faith in reason and technology. Reason is a gift, the ability to use our minds to discern truth vs. false, good vs. evil, but it is no substitute for faith.”
I don’t think this is a defensible statement. Faith is simply belief. I wont deny that it is a powerful belief for those who have it, but a belief is exactly that. Reason, on the other hand, is concerned with empirical research, repeatable experiments, observed patterns and facts. It is concerned with what is provably and inarguably so. Seems to me that this is a *perfect* substitute for faith. But let’s put it to the test (this is an open question for anyone on this webpage, atheist or believer.)
Name a practical situation where having faith would be more advantageous than applying reason? For example, a time when some actual person solved some pressing, thorny problem using faith, and where reason would not have worked as well or better.
(Don’t mean to rain on anyone’s Christmas, I just believe – there’s that word again – in the idea of respectful and high-spirited debate!)
“Take a 10 second look at what religion has bought to the world. Fear, war and hate.”
So by that logic, without religion there would be no fear war or hate?
Ridiculous to blame ideologies which generally preach peace, love, and understanding for all of the destructive actions of men.
Even if you do not believe in God, is it too much to ask that you not insult people who do?
Totally new to your site and your name, but I plan to visit often and read more. For now, just a minor matter. You quote the Declaration….as we hold these things…
I always thought it was “we hold these truths”
Am I wrong?
Richard
Amen and amen!
Well said Perry, well said.
js
Cheese Perry, you sure bought out the god-botherers in numbers on this one.
No doubt a lot of people believe in a god of one brand or another.
I stand against those who already know who or what god is.
I am not in awe of the self righteous bigoted views of those still living on a 6000 year old planet with their invisible friend.
Take a 10 second look at what religion has bought to the world. Fear, war and hate.
Religion is yet another way to display the human condition and it’s dirty DNA.
It will not be anyone’s god that helps mankind. It will be those who can put this superstitious clap-trap behind them long enough to stop arrogantly declaring that they hold the truth, so that they can seek it.
I have read the bible and would describe it’s god as a psychopathic vengeful 6 year old.
I am a very imperfect man, but I would never treat any life form is such a disgusting way as the god of allah or christ.
You are all wankers in my book.
Hi Perry, Larry here I loved your article. I wish only I could express myself like you did. Thanks
Good word. Thanks for sharing.
The original thing that separated man from God was they chose not to trust Him.
The way back is to trust Him.
It’s that simple.
“…that whosoever believes shall not perish but have eternal life”.
“…and this is eternal life, to know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent”.
Trust and obedience: These are the foundation of a true relationship with God.
Cling to, adhere to, rely upon Jesus. He fulfills His promises, indeed, He cannot lie, for He cannot deny Himself.
Excellent article, Perry! Thanks for provocing reflection on these issues.
I think your claims are valid, but I have trouble with the exclusivity of the idead chain and the causal chain they imply.
It is widely recognised that the fundamental truth and principle shared by all major religions is the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you wish them to do unto you. If this is not a seed of equality and democracy, I know not what is.
These funadamental principles are imbedded in the Universe itself and have found clearest expression in the humanist-spiritualist traditions rather than in the organised religious theologies.
This is why your argument for the link between science, technology, equality and democracy is your strongest point. These connections is what lead us in the direction of liberation from the the clutches of organised religion and into the discovery of our common humanity and dignity and the freedom to share the abundance of the earth and the wealth of the creative human spirit.
Thanks again for raising these issues.
Thank you Perry, for your boldly stated insights.
Christ and Paul were revolutionary in the recognition they gave to the unlimited value inherent in the individual human spirit.
And whatever doubts we have about whether progress really exists, we can agree that it’s a hallmark of a civilized society is to share that recognition.
But I’d like to piggy back just a bit about something implicit in what you wrote, that too often doesn’t receive the emphasis it should.
It’s the tradeoff we often make when we forget that we are, as Aristotle would say, social creatures as well. And that side of our nature is often lost as seek to expand our individual liberty.
Paul and Jesus always made sure to remind their followers of the duty they owed those who suffer. To widows and orphans and strangers who may be without shelter.
As you illustrated, we’re able, like never before to communicate and build friendships with people we may see only once every few years, or not at all.
But communication is not community. True friendships are only forged in the context of a shared vision of what is good.
We should never forget that Jesus’ and Paul’s ministries were “hands on.” One of the thing’s I’ve recognized in the last few years is that to follow Christ is to love the things he loves.
To do that, we must seek out the welfare of the city we live in. We should not act as if we are only passing through.
There are all sorts of opportunities to roll up your sleeves and get dirty with those less fortunate. Perhaps today is a good day to look around and see if there’s someone in your city, on your block or in the house next door who could use a little help.
Giving money is nice and is required of us, but our time and effort are equally important, if not moreso.
Perry: “Belief in rationality comes from belief in a rational God. A God who wants us to discover His universe. For whom such discovery is an act of worship.” That’s interesting… your own interpretation? Or from somewhere else? I do think God, the Creator, gave us a mind to use and think for ourselves. But, I do think there is danger in “belief in rationality” rather than faith in God the Creator. Reason and science cannot prove the existance of God the Creator, that requires faith. That is precisely why we now have a society of “educated” persons who denounce Christ, Christianity, and the faithful. The “educated” secular society in which we now live (Western civilization) has replaced faith in God the Creator with faith in reason and technology. Reason is a gift, the ability to use our minds to discern truth vs. false, good vs. evil, but it is no substitute for faith.
Perry,
A great write up and we need many more write ups on Christmas and what it means because people have lost the meaning and gone after shadows.
Jesus is the reason for the season and we must never forget this. I find it a mazing that the world refuses to accept Him as Lord and saviour yet on their death beds they call for Him.
Secondly, why does the world come to a standstill in the UK as far as transportation is concerned on Christmas day ONLY Christmas day.
Answer: Jesus is Lord.
Grace
http://www.instantreviewspro.blogspot.com
Perry,
Really enjoyed your article. Although I myself am not a religious person, I do believe in Christ as the Son of God and He is the true Reason for the Season. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for letting me share and thank you Perry for the awesome Christmas article. I will definitely be forwarding to friends & family.
God Bless & Merry Christmas to all!
Dave Pfiester
Perry,
I personally think that your article is right on, but frankly – all too politically correct! First of all, the convergence of man and the machine, is more or less unavoidable. The trouble lies not within the ability of the machines, but more so with the elite, and even more specifically, who runs the elite. Oh yes, I think we are going to see a bunch of very sophisticated robots and other apparatus to help us to cope with our daily chores. But I am sure the machine will always be there as a tool, handling routine matters, however complex it may be. But there’s one exception; if we can not spot that power hungry elitist minded dictator early enough, (as an example, there’s abundance of them in the recent history to choose from) we indeed may be doomed. These guys, or gals, just cannot see it any other way. For some reason, they believe they must have it all. And yes, they will risk a lot get it, they will really work hard to get it. When you and I may pause for a break, they will not. When you and I think we should really give some time to our families, they will not. Their number one priority in life is to control others any which way they can. I am old enough to say that without malice. I myself have worked for such individuals. In my heart of hearts I felt they were dangerous, but, just like a good slave I was, I just followed the orders. For the most part of my life. And I consider myself a fairly free thinking individual. But I was able to reclaim some of this freedom just recently. I did projects and jobs for an individual who, as a CEO of a large company acted like a little child, screaming and yelling to his employees, behaved like an idiot, and yet, most employees took the abuse. Yes, he has a nice little trick that he uses, generally speaking he pays fairly well, or at least on time, and his fear concept has to do with “I will take care of you”, that is to say, if you just accept his way, you will get paid, and be “taken care of” for the rest of your life. So if you believe that, then you will also believe the opposite, if you leave “you will not be taken care of”. So, acting totally ruthlessly without much regard to his own people, except of course the very top, although they too, are at the mercy of his daily mood swings, he gets away with it, continues to build his empire. Cold shivers go down my spine when I think what he could do if he had the chance to control the elite and the machines. The last time when we met, he gave me a ration of his mind, to which I said; no matter who you are and how much you own, I will not continue working for you, ever. He of course started the all too familiar “you will never find work, you will never make it on your own” bla, bla, bla. And yes, he may have done some short term damage. But who cares. I hope your readers would take notice, and stand up to these thugs, before they get too much power. If these guys or gals, call the shots in the future, we are in for a shock. Believe me.
Great article, Perry.
Citing the Declaration makes me want to add that between freedom and equality, equality is by far the more damaging force in the modern Western world.
In come circles, your noting the people are not all equal and in every way upsets some. Same folks who would be upset about frank talk about the cultural benefits the West has recievied from Christianity.
Equality in the eyes of the law, and equality in the sense that all people are due their liberty is valuable. The problems start when governments begin enforcing equality in every corner of our lives. It leads to moral relativity, cultural relativism, and paradoxically, retreat from a culture and government which respects man’s freedom to choose his course in life, to enjoy the fruits of those choices, and yes, to sometimes screw up and suffer (and then LEARN).
America was founded and prospered on liberty. She lost her way on the day she decided that (enforced) equality is more important than individual liberty.
Merry Christmas to you, too, Perry. You are a wonderful man and may you always share your gifts of inspiration across the internet. I know you will.
Many blessings,
Lois