Posted on 05/06/2013 6:04:08 AM PDT by NYer
One of my favorite quotes from Pope Benedict XVI deals with Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. Benedict states:
“Judas is neither a master of evil nor the figure of a demoniacal power of darkness but rather a sycophant who bows down before the anonymous power of changing moods and current fashion. But it is precisely this anonymous power that crucified Jesus, for it was anonymous voices that cried, ‘Away with him! Crucify him!’”
Think that one over. It’s profound.
Judas was a mere sycophant to what Pope Benedict dubbed “the anonymous power.” What was this power? It was the power of “changing moods and current fashion.” That’s a hugely influential power, one that you can’t always get a handle on, but it’s there, and with a great influence, a tremendous persuasive power upon the crowd, the culture.
It was indeed that same anonymous power, manifest in the form of anonymous voices, which yelled at Jesus, “Away with him! Crucify him.” We know not their voices, or faces. But we know they handed Christ over.
Mere days earlier, the same people had been hailing Christ with hosannahs, begging him to heal them, watching in awe as he did miracles, welcoming him into their homes and towns. And just like that, they turned on him. “Away with him! Crucify him.”
There are so many issues over the years where I’ve seen this anonymous power at work in our culture. And few strike me currently quite like the sudden fanatical push for gay marriage. It has come from nowhere. In mere years, the entirety of the Democratic Party and its leadership has switched from affirming traditional marriage to demanding homosexual marriage. America’s president and youth are overwhelmingly on board. Polls have flipped in their favor. It’s a cultural tsunami. On TV and Twitter and Facebook and the web, it’s an overwhelming obsession.
And who’s pushing it? Well, it’s anonymous.
It’s hard to get a handle on, but it’s there. Beware. Our culture, countless Americans, are mere sycophants to the anonymous power of changing moods and current fashion. Gay marriage is the latest example.
Ping!
An early example of "democracy".
Actually, this is nothing new.
Rudyard Kipling wrote of it nearly a century ago.
AS I PASS through my incarnations in every age and race,
I make my proper prostrations to the Gods of the Market Place.
Peering through reverent fingers I watch them flourish and fall,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings, I notice, outlast them all.We were living in trees when they met us. They showed us each in turn
That Water would certainly wet us, as Fire would certainly burn:
But we found them lacking in Uplift, Vision and Breadth of Mind,
So we left them to teach the Gorillas while we followed the March of Mankind.We moved as the Spirit listed. They never altered their pace,
Being neither cloud nor wind-borne like the Gods of the Market Place,
But they always caught up with our progress, and presently word would come
That a tribe had been wiped off its icefield, or the lights had gone out in Rome.
With the Hopes that our World is built on they were utterly out of touch,
They denied that the Moon was Stilton; they denied she was even Dutch;
They denied that Wishes were Horses; they denied that a Pig had Wings;
So we worshipped the Gods of the Market Who promised these beautiful things.When the Cambrian measures were forming, They promised perpetual peace.
They swore, if we gave them our weapons, that the wars of the tribes would cease.
But when we disarmed They sold us and delivered us bound to our foe,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "Stick to the Devil you know."On the first Feminian Sandstones we were promised the Fuller Life
(Which started by loving our neighbour and ended by loving his wife)
Till our women had no more children and the men lost reason and faith,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "The Wages of Sin is Death."In the Carboniferous Epoch we were promised abundance for all,
By robbing selected Peter to pay for collective Paul;
But, though we had plenty of money, there was nothing our money could buy,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "If you don't work you die."Then the Gods of the Market tumbled, and their smooth-tongued wizards withdrew
And the hearts of the meanest were humbled and began to believe it was true
That All is not Gold that Glitters, and Two and Two make Four
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings limped up to explain it once more.As it will be in the future, it was at the birth of Man
There are only four things certain since Social Progress began.
That the Dog returns to his Vomit and the Sow returns to her Mire,
And the burnt Fool's bandaged finger goes wabbling back to the Fire;And that after this is accomplished, and the brave new world begins
When all men are paid for existing and no man must pay for his sins,
As surely as Water will wet us, as surely as Fire will burn,
The Gods of the Copybook Headings with terror and slaughter return!
What has been, that will be; what has been done, that will be done. Nothing is new under the sun.Even the thing of which we say, "See, this is new!" has already existed in the ages that preceded us.
There is no remembrance of the men of old; nor of those to come will there be any remembrance among those who come after them.
Ecc 1:9-11
Date of Writing: Solomon's reign as king of Israel lasted from around 970 B.C. to around 930 B.C.
Brilliant.
“Anonymous power”?
Hardly. Re: Judas, Scripture states that “Satan entered into him”. Re:the crowd, Scripture states the “whole world is under the control of the evil one” and that he is “the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience”.
When Scripture clearly defines the evil power working through fallen man, there is no need to invent some lofty-sounding “anonymous power”.
Very well put! Letting the Zeitgeist call the shots is nothing new, as many posters have pointed out, but calling it the “Anonymous Power” is certainly a great way of identifying it for our times. When the author ties it to the calls of “Crucify him,” he also calls attention to the mobocracy aspect of it, certainly a big problem in our times.
“That Hideous Strength”
Although I am not Catholic, I LIKED Pope Benedict 16th. I felt that he was a towering intellect who was instrumental in bringing discipline and tradition back to the Catholic Church. I was somewhat dismayed by his resignation, but figured he had a good reason.
The new Pope is very nice, but I am afraid that a lot of pundits, in praising Pope Francis, are also finding ways of denigrating Pope Emeritus Benedict.
This writing about “the anonymous” is a very deep and interesting subject, and evokes profound thought about the nature of evil and of how it is able to so infiltrate our society.
Thank you for posting this article.
This in no way denies the influence of the demonic. It means the demonic is hidden in the demotic.
Democratic Party and its leadership has switched from
$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$
affirming traditional marriage to demanding homosexual...
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Depending on which generational "anonymous" "heading" prevails at a given time in history, their promises of "perpetual peace," "the fuller life," and "abundance for all," like a proverbial "siren song," have produced misery, oppression, and disappointment, because they are based on a counterfeit idea:
"There is a way which seemeth right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." - Proverbs 14:12There was a time, in America, when "another" idea prevailed and was described in the words of a Declaration of Independence. The people who promulgated that idea proclaimed "liberty throughout the land"--a liberty based on Creator-endowed life, rights, liberty and laws to protect them under a "Supreme Judge of the world."
One hundred years later, on the Anniversary of that "Declaration of Independence," an Ohio Legislator, student of the history of nations, and Methodist Minister, Dr. Benjamin W. Arnett, delivered a "Centennial Thanksgiving Sermon" in Urbana, Ohio, at the St. Paul A.M.E. Church.
In that Sermon, which should be read in its entirety by all who love liberty, the Rev. Arnett lifted the veil on the "gods of the copy book headings" of 1876 who, already, had begun the bold task of undoing and destroying the foundations laid in the very "Declaration" being celebrated on that day, as well as the Constitution for self government which emanated from its principles. According to Arnett, they called themselves "liberals"--the predecessors of those who, today, are self-described members of the "progressive" movement.
The theme of that Sermon was: "Righteousness Exalteth a Nation, but Sin is a Reproach to Any Nation."
So-called "progressive" "intolerance of ideas" has produced generations who have never heard the wonderful and essential ideas of liberty underlying the nation's founding documents!
Readers of this post may visit the Library of Congress's Historical Collections" -
"African-American Pamphlets from the Daniel A. P. Murray Collection," 1820-1920; American Memory, Library of Congress
Washington, DC,
CENTENNIAL Thanksgiving Sermon, DELIVERED BY REV. B. W. ARNETT, B. D., AT ST. PAUL A. M. E. CHURCH, URBANA, OHIO 1876
There, in that "Sermon," celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, a warning was issued by the Ohio Legislator, Scholar, Historian, and Methodist Minister Arnett, which may be of interest to all who love liberty and wish to explore the ideas underlying our Constitution's limits on government power.
In the Sermon's conclusion, Rev. Arnett warned of just the series of "changes" and events then being planned by well-educated and determined "liberals" of that day. Those "liberals" then morphed into self-described "progressives," and now we can track the "changes" they have wrought.Hear Rev. Arnett in the final section of his lengthy Sermon, under the heading:
"The Danger to our Country.
"Now that our national glory and grandeur is principally derived from the position the fathers took on the great questions of right and wrong, and the career of this nation has been unparalleled in the history of the past, now there are those who are demanding the tearing down the strength of our national fabric. They may not intend to tear it down, but just as sure as they have their way, just that sure will they undermine our superstructure and cause the greatest calamity of the age. What are the demands of this party of men? Just look at it and examine it for yourselves, and see if you are willing that they shall have their way; or will you still assist in keeping the ship of state in the hands of the same crew and run her by the old gospel chart! But ye men who think there is no danger listen to the demands of the Liberals as they choose to call themselves:
"'Organize! Liberals of America! The hour for action has arrived. The cause of freedom calls upon us to combine our strength, our zeal, our efforts. These are The Demands of Liberalism:
"'1. We demand that churches and other ecclesiastical property shall no longer be exempt from just taxation.
"'2. We demand that the employment of chaplains in Congress, in State Legislatures, in the navy and militia, and in prisons, asylums, and all other institutions supported by public money, shall be discontinued.
"'3. We demand that all public appropriations for sectarian educational and charitable institutions shall cease.
"'4. We demand that all religious services now sustained by the government shall be abolished; and especially that the use of the Bible in the public schools, whether ostensibly as a text-book or avowedly as a book of religious worship, shall be prohibited.
"'5. We demand that the appointment, by the President of the United States or by the Governors of the various States, of all religious festivals and fasts shall wholly cease.
"'6. We demand that the judicial oath in the courts and in all other departments of the government shall be abolished, and that simple affirmation under the pains and penalties of perjury shall be established in its stead.
"'7. We demand that all laws directly or indirectly enforcing the observance of Sunday as the Sabbath shall be repealed.
"'8. We demand that all laws looking to the enforcement of “Christian” morality shall be abrogated, and that all laws shall be conformed to the requirements of natural morality, equal rights, and impartial liberty.
"'9. We demand that not only in the Constitution of the United States and of the several States, but also in the practical administration of the same, no privilege or advantage shall be conceded to Christianity or any other special religion; that our entire political system shall be founded and administered on a purely secular basis; and that whatever changes shall prove necessary to this end shall be consistently, unflinchingly, and promptly made.'
"'Let us boldly and with high purpose meet the duty of the hour.'
"Now we must not think that we have nothing to do in this great work, for the men who are at the head of this movement are men of culture and intelligence, and many of them are men of influence. They are led by that thinker and scholar, F. E. Abbott, than whom I know but few men who has a smoother pen, or who is his equal on the battle-field of thought. He says in an address on the duty of his leagues:
"'My answer may be a negative one to all who see nothing positive in the idea of liberty. The conviction I refer to is this: that, regarded as a theological system, Christianity is Superstition, and, regarded as an organized institution, Christianity is Slavery. The purpose I refer to is this: that, whether regarded as theological system, Christianity shall wholly cease to exercise influence in political matters. Although the national Constitution is strictly secular and non-Christian, there are many things in the practical administration of the government which violate its spirit, and constitute a virtual recognition of Christianity as the national religion. These violations are very dangerous; they are on the increase; they more and more give Christianity a practical hold upon the government; they directly tend to strengthen the influence of Christianity over the people, and to fortify it both as a theology and a church; and they are therefore justly viewed with growing indignation by liberals. Not unreasonably are they looked upon as paving the way to a formidable effort to carry the Christian Amendment to the Constitution; and the liberals are beginning to see that they must extinguish the conflagration in its commencement. I believe all this myself, with more intense conviction every day; and therefore I appeal frankly to the people to begin now to lay the foundations of a great National Party of Freedom. It is not a moment too soon. If the liberals are wise, they will see the facts as they are, and act accordingly. Not with hostility, bitterness, defiance, or anger but rather with love to all men and high faith in the beneficence of consistently republican institutions, do I urge them most earnestly to begin the work at once.'
"He acknowledges that this is a religious nation and wants all men to assist him in eliminating the grand old granite principles from the framework of our national union. Will you do it freeman; will we sell the temple reared at the cost of so much precious blood and treasure? These men would have us turn back the hands on the clock of our national progress, and stay the shadow on the dial plate of our christian civilization; they would have us call a retreat to the soldiers in the army of Christ; the banner of the cross they would have us haul down, and reverse the engines of war against sin and crime; the songs of Zion they would turn into discord, and for the harmony and the melody of the sons of God, they would give us general confusion; they would have us chain the forces of virtue and unloose the elements of vice; they would have the nation loose its moorings from the Lord of truth and experience and commit interest, morally, socially; religiously and politically to the unsafe and unreliable human reason; they would discharge God and his crew and run the ship of State by the light of reason, which has always been but a dim taper in the world, and all the foot-prints it has left are marked with the blood of men, women and children. No nation is safe when left alone with reason.
"But we have no notion of giving up the contest without a struggle or a battle. We are aware that there is a great commotion in the world of thought. Religion and science are at arms length contending with all their forces for the mastery. Faith and unbelief are fighting their old battles over again, everything that can be shaken is shaking. The foundations of belief are assaulted by the army of science and men are changing their opinions. New and starting theories are promulgated to the world; old truths are putting on new garbs. Error is dressing in the latest style, wrong is secured by the unholy alliances, changes in men and things, revolution in church and state, Empires are crumbling, Kingdoms tottering; everywhere the change is seen. In the social circle, in the school house, in the pulpit and in the pews. But amid all the changes are revolutions their are some things that are unchangeable, unmovable and enduring. The forces that underline the vital power of Christianity are the same yesterday, to-day, to-morrow and forever more. They are like their God, who is omnipotent, immovable and eternal, and everywhere truth has marched it has left its moccasin tracks.
"The Conclusion of the Whole Matter.We have patiently tried to examine the record of the nations of antiquity and learn the cause of their decay and decline, their fall, why their early death; and why so many implements of destruction around and about their tombs, and everywhere, in the silent streets, mouldering ruins, tottering columns, mouldy and moist rooms, and the united voice from the sepulcher of the dead past is, "sin is a reproach to any people." We see it written on the tombs of the Kings, and engraven on the pages of time, "sin is a reproach to any people." These are the principles of governments, Right and wrong; and the people who are the advocates of Right have bound themselves together and by their united effort they have brought light out of darkness and forced strength out of weakness.
"We as a nation have a grand and glorious future before us. The sun of our nation is just arising above the horizon and is now sending his golden rays of peace from one end of the land to the other. The utmost extremities of the members of the body politic are warm and in motion by the commercial and financial activities of the land. Her face is destined to blush with beauty when peace and justice shall be enthroned. The grand march of progress shall mark her in her onward advancement in moral strength, intellectual brilliancy, and political power. Then we can say that we give to every man, woman and child the benefit of our free institutions, giving all the benefits of our common school and the freedom to worship God under their own vine and fig tree. Then will we see written, on the banner of our free, redeemed and disenthralled country, the sublime words written, not in the blood of men, but in the sun-light of truth, that "Righteousness exalteth a nation." It will fall like the morning dew on the lowly; it will descend like the showers of May on the poor; and like the sun it will shine on the good and bad, dispensing from the hand of plenty the blessings of a government founded on the principle of justice and equality.
"Standing on the threshold of the second century of the nation's life, with the experience of the past lying at our feet, we are saluted by the shout of triumph from the millions who left their homes and business and attended the Great Exposition of the skill and genius of the world, collected at Philadelphia. We were permitted to receive the greetings from the oldest to the youngest nation of the earth. Egypt and the United States clasped hands over the waste of 5,000 years, and lay their treasures at the feet of our civilization. The material, intellectual and mechanical deterioration of the one, and the unprecedented progress of the other, stand in great contrast; in all that makes the nation great,—morally, religiously and socially, the young nation is ahead.
"Following the tracks of righteousness throughout the centuries and along the way of nations, we are prepared to recommend it to all and assert without a shadow of doubt, that "Righteousness exalted a nation"; but on the other hand following the foot-prints of sin amid the ruins of Empires and remains of cities, we will say that "sin is a reproach to any people." But we call on all American citizens to love their country, and look not on the sins of the past, but arming ourselves for the conflict of the future, girding ourselves in the habiliments of Righteousness, march forth with the courage of a Numidian lion and with the confidence of a Roman Gladiator, and meet the demands of the age, and satisfy the duties of the hour. Let us be encouraged in our work, for we have found the moccasin track of Righteousness all along the shore of the stream of life, constantly advancing, holding humanity with a firm hand. We have seen it “through” all the confusion of rising and falling States, of battle, siege and slaughter, of victory and defeat; through the varying fortunes and ultimate extinctions of Monarchies, Republics and Empires; through barbaric irruption and desolation, feudal isolation, spiritual supremacy, the heroic rush and conflict of the Cross and Crescent; amid the busy hum of industry, through the marts of trade and behind the gliding keels of commerce.”
"And in America, the battle-field of modern thought, we can trace the foot-prints of the one and the tracks of the other. So let us use all of our available forces, and especially our young men, and throw them into the conflict of the Right against the Wrong.
"Then let the grand Centennial Thanksgiving song be heard and sung in every house of God; and in every home may thanksgiving sounds be heard, for our race has been emancipated, enfranchised and are now educating, and have the gospel preached to them!
"Sons of freedom, sing the glad hymns of praise on the Western plains! Daughters of sorrow shout the joyful tidings amid the savannahs of the South-land! Proclaim it on the Atlantic's western stand and declare it on the slopes of the Pacific! Humble followers of the Son of Mary, chant the eternal truth in the temple of the Most High, that “Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”
"We invite every nation, kindred, tongue and people, to come to our land. Come from the bogs of Ireland; come from the dykes of Holland; come from the mountains of Switzerland; and from the sunny plains of Italy; and enjoy a government made for man! Come from the jungles of Africa or Egypt, the university of the infant world; come from Asia the cradle of humanity; come and bring your gifts from the Islands of the South Sea and spice land! Come ye men of every clime and race and see a nation founded in Righteousness, guarded by Justice, and supported by truth and equity, and defended by God!"
I appreciate your point, but why not call it/name it what Christ and his apostles did? God’s word identifies our arch enemy by name.
Pope Benedict XVI is considered a great theologian as is evidenced by his homiletics, encyclicals and writings. As you well noted, he restored discipline and tradition when it was most needed. As his predecessor, Bl. JPII approached the end of his life, he became more dependent on those around him. His Master of Ceremonies was Piero Marini. As the pope’s chief liturgist Marini was one of the most influential Catholic churchmen in the world, with the fruits of his work being broadcast on television around the globe and seen by millions, if not billions of people. His celebrations both in Rome and at large international events like World Youth Day, were widely criticized for regularly featuring scantily clad “liturgical dancers,” and non-Christian ceremonies like “blessings” by indigenous shaman and other additions proposed as “inculturation.” The first thing Pope Benedict did was drop that Marini and replace him with Guido Marini who drove the liturgical celebrations back to a more classical and traditional reverence.
The new Pope is very nice, but I am afraid that a lot of pundits, in praising Pope Francis, are also finding ways of denigrating Pope Emeritus Benedict.
Pope Benedict's legacy is written on the hearts of practicing catholics who care little what the media say or do. Pope Francis is "nice" but, keep your eyes peeled and ears tuned in to what he says and does. He presents a simple image but he too has a solidly orthodox heart. Following a flurry of media coverage after his election and installation, they are no longer attuned to his homilies or messages because they are at odds with the secular world. They keep hoping the Catholic Church will elect "one of their own". It won't happen
Each of the 20th century popes was the right man for that moment in time. Let's watch and listen to Pope Francis. His simple lifestyle is just what we need right now.
I hear you.
I see Pope Francis as “The Hug that Follows Loving Discipline”. Just my own thoughts on the matter.
A Loving parent knows that BOTH are necessary.
worshipping at the altar of cool.
well, I moved from nonjudgmental in my 20s to the point that I couldn’t put up with the ridiculous prattle while having my hair done by a gay stylist...
Can you imagine the fuss if public school students were required to copy such virtues in a modern school?
And still the Gods of the Copybook Headings continue onward:
What was it Ayn Rand said?
“You can ignore reality, but you cannot ignore the consequences of ignoring reality”?
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