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<p>Hi all<br>
</p>
<p><br>
<a href="https://youtu.be/uqsBx58GxYY"><img
moz-do-not-send="false"
src="cid:part1.v9jMO21R.04PrVHK8@integralshift.ca" alt=""
width="569" height="357" align="right" border="0"></a></p>
<p>Throughout history people experience great social
change.civilizations rise up and civilizations fall. Apocalyptic
literature is one way that our ancestors have given meaning to the
tribulations brought about in the end game of Empires as they
fall. The image to the left is linked to an After Skool youtube
video relating the the historical events that lead to Polybius
developing his theory of the rise and fall of Empires. A theory
that was elaborated by later thinkers like Thomas Aquinas,
Machiavelli and John Adams who contributed this thought to the
American Constitution. <br>
</p>
<p>In this vein I would also like to share with you a reflection on
the apocalyptic story in th Gospel according to St. Mark(13:3-21)</p>
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<h1>The Psychology of the Christian Apocalyptic Stories</h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span
class="MsoSubtleEmphasis">Art Blomme, Nov. 14,2024</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Christian Apocalyptic stories all follow a
certain
structure. First the tribulation is described and following that
is the
victory.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It follows the
template of Christ’s
resurrection where “death is rendered to have lost its sting”
through faith in
the resurrection. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the Revelation of John, the
structure of this story is clear. The fearsome beast and the
calamities that it
brings upon the earth by the four horsemen are described in some
detail.
However the calamities are not the end of the story for in the end
these
fearsome events lead to the shining New Jerusalem victoriously
descending from
the heavens.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span
style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This Sunday’s gospel reading begins by
referring to “the
tribulation… where … the stars will fall from the sky and the
powers of the heavens
will be shaken”. Following this tribulation comes the good news.<span
style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“and then they will see the
son of Man coming
in the clouds with great power and glory.” </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The reading ends with the fig tree metaphor
where we are
called to view the turmoil in our world as a sign of the
progressing seasons. In
the spring when we see the tree’s beginning to bud we know that
summer will
soon arrive.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In like
manner when we see
the turmoil and strife in our world we should know that the
kingdom of God is
close at hand. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Gandhi says our real enemy is fear not hate.<span
style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Fear causes us to act out of
our reptilian
brain. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It pumps adrenaline
and cortisone into
our body readying us for fight or flight. Fear is a negative state
of mind that
causes us to withdraw our energies inward to protect ourselves. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Although they may be different, we all have
perspectives on
the evil and decay we glean from our interactions with the world.
Our news
channels are filled with reports of war and genocide; of climate
disasters, of
the rising cost of shelter, of food scarcity, disease and
political corruption.
<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When we dwell on this
tribulation should
we be fearful?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mark’s metaphor of the fig tree <span
style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>is teaching us to see in the
dangerous events
of our time, a sign of the inevitable new season where the son of
Man is coming
in the clouds with great power and glory.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Notice the shift in our mental state generated
by this image
when we contrast it to the fearful states that are generated in
the images of
the tribulation. The Christ descending from the heavens with great
power and
glory generates states of awe and wonder.<span
style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>These states foster a growth mindset creating the optimum
conditions for
transcending the tribulation of our times.<span
style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Perhaps our Christian stories of the apocalypse
should be
seen as social resurrection stories.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>Just
as our faith in the resurrection has conquered death, so to our
faith in the
inevitability of the New Jerusalem and <span
style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>the Second Coming conquers the
power of death over
our society.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span
style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There is no reason to have
fear. Let us flourish
in awe and wonder.</p>
<p><br>
</p>
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