Pensees
13.3.14
– Alternative lifestyles – divine law, social order & individual freedom
– What can one gain (learn) by stripping life down to its bare essentials?
– Alyssa Siegel’s response to her father
– Human nature:
Total depravity
Vs.
Potential goodness
– Intrinsic motivation
Vs.
External locus of control
– Personal referents
Mythical signifiers
– Moral norms (social)
Vs.
Ethical convictions (personal)
– Emulate – moving from admiration to imitation.
– dulcet
– Jesus/Bible/Church
Vs.
Christ/Scripture/Spirit!
– BF
– Shanthuru Premkumar, Julie Goldberg & Chandran – Brussels.
Wow!
– Discernment » discretion
– I ridicule, condemn & curse the IPL (Cricket)!
– How can anyone live in lust or greed or anger or pride or cruelty??
– Pensees – my blog does not have articles which preach/say something, only vignettes which suggest/ask something!
Goads to provoke your soul…… launching pads for you to take-off on your own jumps, & points of departure for your own wanderings……
The dance of intersections & divergences!
– Desire-believe » feel-think » express-respond » belong-relate & build-repair!
– Blogging about blogging,
Movies about cinema,
Talking about communication…
– Words, images & impressions
– Light, texture & colour
– Observation & articulation » analysis & synthesis » evaluation & inferences » implications & application
– Advocating a message
Vs.
Insinuating a mood
Artful ~ subtle ~ indirect!
– Ingratiate with…
– Item numbers & comedy pieces
– Empowering women
&
Female-objectification
– Fucking socialites!
Culture » celebrity,
then
Celebrity » culture!
It’s a vicious circle…
– Love:
Passion
Vs.
Commitment
Studying a theology in its own religious, philosophical & cultural milieu
Martyrdom & atonement
Substitution ~ ransom
Mercy-seat, blood-sacrifice & forgiveness-cleansing
Dead works
Vs.
Vital worship
Pious frauds!
Demonic evil, cosmic catastrophe, divine victim & human redemption
Tenets – clear, coherent & concise – basic definitions, principles & instructions
Apologetics & accommodation
Adaptation & compromise
‘Devout reason’ & ‘Basic instincts’
Voluntarism & automatisation
State, church & school
Rational judgment & virtuous conduct
Spiritual knowledge, religious doctrine, virtuous character & practical reason
Anger, fear & grief always go hand-in-hand!
The value & danger of sensuality
No self-control, no justice
Equanimity ~ wisdom
Discipline, discernment & love (in that order!)
Reality, ideality & reflectivity
No passion/anger, no conviction/courage!
Faith vs. Impulse
Noble ~ honourable
The martyr, the tyrant & the land
4 Maccabees 1:11
“Jesus is Lord!”
Yes, but what does this mean & signify for us today? How do we understand its truth & seek to practice the implications of this belief?
Spirit/reason/mind OVER flesh/emotion/matter
From ruling factor to ordering principle!
Pleasure – love, joy, peace, faith (clarity/confidence), hope
Pain – anger/hatred, grief, fear/anxiety, confusion, despair
Where does doubt & wonder fit in here? Maybe they are just the 2 sides of the experience of Glory (which is greater than even Goodness, and transcends the dichotomy of good-&-evil!)……
How are virtue & vice related with the positive & negative emotions?
Gormandize
4 Maccabees 1:25
GOD is NOT good, he is great!
Rationality & affectivity
Personality & morality
Discourse ethics
“The jungle of emotions”
Mental desires & physical habits
Law/GOD, faith/spirit & will/mind
Yoga poses, emotions & benefits
Insecurity >> imbalance
Breathing, posture, balance & stretching
Destressing by concentrating (on your breath)!
News
11.3.14
Natural evil & moral evil
Devils
Books – “Understanding Spiritual Warfare” – Ed. James Beilby & Paul Eddy
Evangelicals ~ Puritans
Vs.
Charismatics ~ Quakers
Evil, the Cross & Christian theodicy
GOD – ruler or warrior or victim??
Pentecostal systematic theology!
“An und fur sich”
Essence & existence
12.3.14
– Freedom – define liberty, independence & autonomy
– Spiritual formation
Spiritual warfare
Spiritual direction
– The GOD of the fools
Vs.
The God of the wise
– “A dream like a dream” – Stan Lai
– inured
– An intelligentsia that fosters public opinion
– accost
– missus
Wifey
– kutcheri
– say-so
The final vote
– I didn’t know that ‘lovely’ referred to the character of a person, & ‘beautiful’ referred only to the appearance…
– Artisanal
– Cooper
– Hospitable ~ entertain
– Jedi & Yoda
– Immediacy
Vs.
Urgency
– Caste & class
Science & tradition
Religion & morality
– Developmentalism
– State, quality, act
– Intermediacy
– Article on Kangana Ranaut in India Today Woman
– Nandan Nilekani in politics
– A reliable, effective & replicable framework
– A comprehensive exploration of what agency actually means
– Secular-religious & spiritual-material – 50 shades of grey!
– Axiological, ontological & cosmological
– Value judgments & moral decisions
– Vindicated, but impoverished!
– Creativity & improvisation
– In-depth observation, systematic analysis & clear articulation
– Ethnography
– State actors
– Commentators, activists & bureaucrats
– Gramscian analysis
Cultural hegemony
Capitalist ideology
– Melange
– “Theater of the absurd”
Irrational, purposeless, chaotic!
– Wisden
– Maverick genre – ‘narrative non-fiction’
– Literati Clerisy
– Passionate about being laid-back!
– Withal
– Raconteur
– Postpositive
– Personal essay
– Nalanda University reborn… WOW! 🙂
– Satellite cities
Mini capitals
– Visit countries that are socialist & democratic
– Trademark dare-devilry
– ‘Mohalla sabha’
– Arvind Kejriwal – buffoon or genius??
– NaMo
NaBloPoMo
– Illicit dance
Jottings
9.3.14
Neither moralistic nor nihilistic!
Moral judgments & nonmoral evaluations
Obligation > supererogatory > permissible > prohibited
The intricate interweaving of psychology, morality & theology!
Internalized social norms
10.3.14
The tug-o-war in the present – Hope vs. Nostalgia
Regret, stagnation, & purpose
Obsession
Vs.
Escapism
Homonymy, homophone, homography
Christian-scholarly research on spirit-beings (angels & demons)!
The extra-human realm
“He is Lord, He is Lord…”:
Can you sing this song from your heart, now?
Spiritual beings or just supernatural forces? Or both?!
Rantings
9.3.14
– Book-ended
– Movies:
Two Mothers/Adore
10.3.14
– Distinguish:
Flick, movie & film
– Quip
– True Caller
– Wunderlist
– Jamboree
– Screed
– Liberal, liberation & libertarian
– Passion, service & discipline
– Blogroll
– My apps, podcasts, bookmarks & feeds
– Horror/comedy/erotic films… & Philosophy/Psychology/ Theology!
– ‘Seven year itch’ – just imagine!
– Sorry, this is an adults-only ministry, folks!
– The suffering of (macro) boredom
&
The monotony of (chronic) pain
Thoughts
8.3.14
– Personal idealism
– Hypostatisation of transcendental ego
– Beyond the materialist-idealist dichotomy, to the ultimate resolution in personalism!
– Person – consciousness, agency & relationality
– The subpersonal & impersonal
– Person > mind > brain
– The common sense philosophers
– Movies:
The Trial – Orson Welles (based on novel by Franz Kafka)
– Watcher in the sky
Lines
7.3.14
– International Conference on Persons.
– Computational theory of mind.
– Senescence
– Birth, growth, maturity, ageing & death.
– Counter-episteme
– The psycho-dynamics of faith
– The mass massacres & brutal judgments of the OT are there to remind us that GOD is absolutely free, & has the legitimate moral right to do with his creation (this world, & especially humans) as he pleases! And on the Cross, this very same GOD demonstrates his willingness to forego this divine prerogative.
– Austin Farrer
Michael Polanyi
– Homiletic verses
– Birkin & Ursula ~ Joseph & Salome!
– Dynamic equilibrium of passion & integrity.
– Merge culture club, online student-fellowship & webinar!
– Usiology
– The Gifford Lectures
– Axiology Cosmology
– Does the Created Order simply refer to the physical limits of our function or does it also include moral norms for our conduct?
– Natural Theology
– ‘Sensual arousal blog’ – shouldn’t I be ashamed?!
– Distinguish:
Impudence
&
Boldness
– I CAN know GOD!
– Insolvency
– Hostile takeover
– From selfism to personalism
– Transcendence + immanence = imminence!
– The patient application of sharp correction…
– The personalist metaphysic!
Words
7.3.14
Should we read something very heavy/dense together, & then & there struggle through it?
8.3.14
Thoughts on life, love & lust…
Philosophy, sexuality & relationships
Sex – intimacy, pleasure & reproduction
The unanticipated & surprising rewards of theorizing about anything & everything!
Seduction as ‘nonviolent rape’
Conceptual analysis (~ phenomenology, etc.)
Vs.
Normative philosophy (~ ethics, etc.)
Reflect
Vs.
Reflex
Impulse, desire & act
Uncontrollable, involuntary, wild, dangerous!
Fear >> delusion, anxiety, obsession & aggression
Coercive/manipulative/deceptive offers
Demonising >> divinising >> humanising sex!
Slink
Commitment – permanence, exclusivity & dignity
Seeking a morally virtuous (& sensually passionate?) sexuality
Intrinsic value
Vs.
Instrumental value
Russel Vannoy
Is it possible/desirable to be passionate (spiritual/psychological) without being sensual (physical/sexual)?
Irving Singer
Jean Hampton
Can anything that is nonviolent be (termed as) evil?
Distinguish:
Sin (religious/theological)
&
Immorality (social/personal)
Is there an innate (though latent/suppressed) animal dimension to human nature?
Supererogatory stuff
Schedule (brief)
SUNDAY
Liturgical rhythm:
– The Resurrection – God’s last laugh!
– The 2 Great Commandments
– Holy Eucharist
Browse – apps, sites, etc.; stuff in PC
Check out Bing/NatGeo photo (daily)
Feeds – Flipboard/Feedly
Holy Sabbath (First day of the week)
How is it with your soul?
The Hindu – Sunday Magazine; Cinema Plus; Literary Review
Word/quote of the day; Mind-game; yoga (daily)
MONDAY
Download Philosophy Talk, Homebrewed Christianity, etc.
Liturgical Rhythm:
– Pentecost – Creation & New Creation.
– The New Commandment, the Golden Rule & the Great Commission
– Baptism & Feet-washing
The Hindu Newspaper (Sunday Magazine; Cinema Plus; Monday Education Plus)
Study – Movie; Theology Quest; Spiritual Theology (book)
TUESDAY
Liturgical rhythm:
– Incarnation – God with us; God in the other
– The Ten Commandments
– Confession & Penance
Study – Religions; News
TT Coaching (Tue. & Wed. 7-8:30am; Tue. – Fri. 7-9pm for kids)
WEDNESDAY
Chyavanprash
Fasting day (with sil. n sol., schedule/resolutions review, foundational stuff, liturgy, & Scripture). Buy 100% fruit juice. Balancing posture, breathing…
Liturgical Rhythm:
– Epiphany – the call to justice and peace
– The Beatitudes & the Great Blessing
– Catechism & Confirmation
Plan/revise for SFG Meeting
THURSDAY
Liturgical rhythm:
– The Christian walk of costly discipleship
– The I AM sayings
– Preaching of the Word & Funeral
Weekly thought » sms list
Study – Fiction; Poetry; YouTube/Vimeo
FRIDAY
Download iTunes song of the week
Liturgical rhythm:
– The Cross – identifying with the crucified Messiah
– Fruit of the Spirit
– Holy Matrimony & Religious Ordination
Music time
Study – Secular Course; Metaphilosophy; Theology book on my table
Weekly thought » SFG
SATURDAY
Liturgical rhythm:
– God’s reign in the community of the saints
– Spiritual Warfare
– Extreme Unction & Laying on of Hands
Social networking – Twitter/LinkedIn/WordPress
Study – Movie; Desiring the Kingdom; TV
SFG Meeting
Musings
6.3.14
Natural desalination: sea water >> water vapour >> clouds >> rain >> drinking water!
Austerity & charity
Enjoyment & friendship
Survival (biological) > security (material) > comfort (psychological) > status (social) > meaning (spiritual)
Comfort ~ pleasure; Status ~ power; Meaning ~ transcendence
Distinguish:
Indulgence
&
Celebration
Is solitary enjoyment always evil?
There can be no enjoyment without desire. But the root of all misery is surely attachment. So what could be the solution to this conundrum?
Distinguish:
Equanimity
&
Stoic
“Cure the senses with the soul, and cure the soul with the senses.” – Oscar Wilde
I agree!
The moral, the intellectual & the sensual
Ethics, philosophy & aesthetics
What about politics?
The social comes only later…!
Ecstasy (momentary elation)
Vs.
Bliss (lasting peace)
Sacrifice (psychological) >> life (spiritual)
Indulgence, moderation & addiction
There is no way into the desired positive, except through the negative! The greater the desired positive, the greater the required negative…
Renunciation & liberation ~ moderation & happiness
Variety & balance
Vs.
Focus & intensity
Control is freedom
Vs.
Trust is freedom
Sublimation/transcending
Vs.
Moderation/ruling
‘The moral majority’
Will – tyrannical ruler or wise master?
Conscience – haunting spectre or benevolent guide?
Detachment & freedom
Vs.
Compassion & relationship
Doxography
Liberation from sin ~ realization of the absolute
The birth, growth, decline, death…… & resurrection of Christianity!
Resurrection as the non-dual transcendence of the life/creation/sustenance-&-death/destruction/decay dichotomy!
The eternality of the present!
Father – the self-creating & eternal GOD; the Son – the self-sustaining & manifesting GOD; and the Spirit – the self-destroying & metamorphosing GOD!
Come up with a system/structure/rule that gives enough space for spontaneity & leisure. But once fixed, do not compromise! Changes can be made only after a proper review, not impulsively.
Father, Son & Holy Spirit ~ life, death & resurrection!
Being, time & nothingness
The past as the faded present, & the future as the potential present…
GOD, man & cosmos; Cosmos, GOD & man; Man, cosmos & GOD; Man, GOD & cosmos; GOD, cosmos & man; Cosmos, man & GOD.
Created order; hierarchy of being; levels of consciousness; forms of reality…
Past, present & future ~ being created/born, living/dying & resurrection/afterlife
No ashes, no Phoenix!
Blithe
Belle sauvage
Lambent
Gleam Flicker
‘Old dead morality’ or ‘Law of creation’?
Unison & balance; integrity & freedom
Without the tension caused by the id & superego, the ego would die of laxity!
Mino
The self (I), the other within (you) & the other without (them)
Immanuel Joseph's Blog 