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  %ADDRESS ISSUES MODERN LIFE ANCIENT RELIGION MYTH 020608
                                                          
           When  religious  leaders and theologians of the
past have addressed issues which confront us in our modern
life  ---     it  is well for us to seek  to  discern  the
extent   to  which  they have addressed  the  issues  with
personal and  communal integrity.     They  may have  much
in  the way  of  timeless insights to offer  to  us.    We
should not blind ourselves to their  insights out of  fear
that we might discover that we have been wrong or blind.  
                                                          
                                                          
     On  the  other  hand,   when  religious  leaders  and
theologians  of  the  past have NOT addressed  the  issues
which confront us in our modern time ---   or did NOT have
available   to  them  the languages in  terms   of   which
we discern  the modern issues ---   it will be well for us
to  seek  to discern the extent to which they have  failed
to   address   the  issues  with  personal  and   communal
integrity;     and     then    seek   to    discern    the
reasons/motivations   which  might  have played  roles  in
their failures to address  the issues;  e.g.,  addictions,
codependence,    domination,    sexual   abuse,     macho-
mentalities,   militarism;  and indifference to the  weak,
poor,  confused,  different ---    and their   needs   and
views.   Why  have   they   ignored   the    long     term
consequences of  respecting   the   myth  of   redemptive-
violence and the associated just-war-theory?   Why have we
continued the tradition of ignoring those tragically great
long term consequences?                                   
                                                          
                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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