Peter Csermely's blog 2.0 - networks

A szinodalitás, mint hálózatos szükségszerűség

Csermely Péter — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 22:00:00 +0000

Előadás a pannonhalmi ökumenikus konferencián, 2022. október 21-én

Nagy hálaadás van a szívemben, hogy el tudtam jutni Pannonhalmára, a szinodalitásról rendezett konferenciára, amelyet Görföl Tibor és Dejcsics Konrád szerveztek. Köszönöm mindenre kiterjedő, figyelmes munkájukat! Olyan előadókat lehetett ott meghallgatni (sok más kiválóság mellett -- a program innen tölthető le), mint Mario Grech bíboros, a püspöki szinódus főtitkára, Musa Panti Filibus érsek, a Lutheránus Világszövetség elnöke, Alois tesvér, a Taizéi közösség perjele, Johannes Oeldemann, a paderborni Johann Adam Möhler-Intézet igazgatója és Sabino Chialà, a Bose-i Monasztikus Közösség perjele. Nagy megtiszteltetés volt a számomra, hogy néhány hálózatos gondolattal én is gazdagíthattam a konferenciát. "A szinodalitás, mint hálózatos szükségszerűség" címmel megtartott előadásom szövege innen tölthető le, az előadás

Key topics:

Key words:

What to do after the epidemic? What not to do after the epidemic?

Csermely Péter — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 14:29:56 +0000

Season concluding thoughts about the mercy of renewal

1. What not to do after the epidemic? What should be avoided in this summer? First we should avoid being very optimistic. As the ancient wise men taught, we have to avoid the other extreme, i.e. fear, too. We managed to build up such a complex system (network) with the help of our worldwide connections that we cannot comprehend any more. Our computers cannot comprehend it either. Moreover, they will not comprehend it either. It is because the complexity of the system grows more quickly than the complexity of the parts able to comprehend the system. We need to come to terms with this emerging permanent uncertainty. There is no padded, safe life any more. In fact, there has never been a safe life – but we managed to create the illusion for a few decades that there was. It’s over. (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

2. What to do after the epidemic? What are the most important take home messages of the pandemic? All extremes should be avoided. We should not rush – but we should not isolate ourselves either. What could be the advantage of South-East-European countries in the pandemic? The local experience (considered “fresh” on a historical scale) that we have to be able to change our lives – could be an important contributory cause. The regime change from socialism to capitalism (and the recession in 2008) made South-East-European countries (and the Greeks) accustomed to the necessity and possibility of society-wise changes. What did this pandemic teach us? We learned behavioral flexibility. It taught us that we have to train ourselves for changes, for that we “switch on” or “switch off” (or rather switch over) our lives according the situation. This knowledge will be much needed in the expected, big cataclysms of the coming decades of the 21st century. Those communities which practice the capacity of behavioral change better now, at the time of this mild “main rehearsal”, will be better survivors later if the real problems (climate change, water scarcity, food shortage, etc.) will strike. (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

3. What is the real solution? The mercy of revival. When the interconnectedness of networks exceeds a certain density, the period of instability together with a series of unexpected situations begins. This is what the world reached in the past decades. We applied the simplest answer to system stabilization during the past months. We disconnected the world network and by this we started to return to the stable regime. But the world is about to “switch on” again and facing to a new uncertainty – just differently. We do not have to look for the real answer OUTSIDE but INSIDE. How do I have to change? The real answer is the mercy of our inner revival and purification – and this we may only ask for from above. A man looking for the real answer opens, reveals and leaves space for God’s presence in him. THIS carries him to the life that will be the real answer in ITS OWN totality – in the midst of any external change. Only this inner revival brings real resilience and survival – anywhere and anyhow. Let’s be converted! There is no other way. I wish all my dear Readers this revival during the summer. (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

1. What not to do after the epidemic?

When I am writing these lines (at the end of May, 2020) the COVID-19 pandemic is coming to an end. Life is about to get restarted again. What should be avoided in this summer? First we should avoid being very optimistic. "Actually there has been no epidemic. It was just a bad joke of the media. It was a political game. At last we can do what we want. Here we go again!” We have to avoid this extreme: we still have to be careful. The virus is here among us. Herd immunity, i.e. the protective immunity of the majority, has developed almost nowhere. That is, a second (and in autumn/winter a third) infection peak can quite easily evolve. As the ancient wise men taught, we have to avoid the other extreme, i.e. fear, too. "I don’t go out to the street. I don’t let my child go anywhere. They are all insane. They unleash people again because of being afraid of an economic collapse. They will see what happens. But I am smarter.” No, we are not smarter than anyone. We have to realize that we managed to build up such a complex system (network) with the help of our worldwide connections that we cannot comprehend any more. Our computers cannot comprehend it either. Moreover, they will not comprehend it either. It is because the complexity of the system grows more quickly than the complexity of the parts able to comprehend the system. We need to come to terms with this emerging permanent uncertainty. There is no padded, safe life any more. In fact, there has never been a safe life – but we managed to create the illusion for a few decades that there was. It’s over.

2. What to do after the epidemic? What are the most important take home messages of the pandemic?

As I mentioned above: all extremes should be avoided. We should not rush – but we should not isolate ourselves either. However, we have to be more prepared for the extremities. There were a lot of interpretations published regarding why South-East-European countries “could better come out of” the pandemic than the Western world. “They were hit by the virus a little later, when there were already solutions at hand that could be easily adapted. They were more skeptical about their resistance (e.g. their healthcare and social systems’ capacity) than countries of the West. Etc.” All explanations are right. If something is a network phenomenon, the corona virus is very much that, which is influenced by thousands of social and individual factors together. (That is why it is so difficult to anticipate anything about it.) What could be the advantage South-East-European countries in this opacity? The local experience (considered “fresh” on a historical scale) that we have to be able to change our lives – could be an important contributory cause. The regime change from socialism to capitalism (and the recession in 2008) made South-East-European countries (and the Greeks) accustomed to the necessity and possibility of society-wise changes. What did this pandemic teach us? We learned behavioral flexibility. It taught us that we have to train ourselves for changes, for that we “switch on” or “switch off” (or rather switch over) our lives according the situation. This knowledge will be much needed in the expected, big cataclysms of the coming decades of the 21st century. Those communities which practice the capacity of behavioral change better now, at the time of this mild “main rehearsal”, will be better survivors later if the real problems (climate change, water scarcity, food shortage, etc.) will strike.

3. What is the real solution? The mercy of revival

"I know both how to be brought low, and I know how to abound:
I can do all these things in Jesus Christ, who strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:12a,13)

As I wrote above: we arrived to a life where a smart answer to the situation became increasingly “unpredictable” due to the growing complexity of our world. When the interconnectedness of networks exceeds a certain density, the period of instability together with a series of unexpected situations begins. This is what the world reached in the past decades. We applied the simplest answer to system stabilization during the past months. We disconnected the world network and by this we started to return to the stable regime. But the world is about to “switch on” again and facing to a new uncertainty – just differently. We do not have to look for the real answer OUTSIDE but INSIDE. How do I have to change? The real answer is the mercy of our inner revival and purification – and this we may only ask for from above. A man looking for the real answer opens, reveals and leaves space for God’s presence in him. THIS carries him to the life that will be the real answer in ITS OWN totality – in the midst of any external change. God is the stability itself “For I am the Lord, and I change not” (Malachias 3:6). Only this inner revival brings real resilience and survival – anywhere and anyhow. Let’s be converted! There is no other way. I wish all my dear Readers this revival during the summer.

Key topics:
sustainable growth
spiritual growth
science
democracy
national identity
personal growth
networks
Key words:
2008 economic crisis
behavior change
climate change
conversion
corona virus
extreme optimism
extremities
fear
God
Greeks
herd immunity
medical system
network
renewal
system change

About the benefits of overwhelmedness

Csermely Péter — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 14:22:02 +0000

Thoughts about the most beautiful manifestations of spiritual depths

1. Our very good reasons why we have banished the term of overwhelmedness from the dictionaries of our time. Nowadays we don’t like being overwhelmed. According to the dictionary, overwhelmedness is „being shocked/shaken caused by a distressing circumstance or a disaster”. The synonyms of overwhelmedness are shock, trauma, grief, consternation, indignation, amazement. Well… It is not a comforting list… If we do not want to be shaken, would it mean that we would like to be unshakable? I wouldn’t believe that this is the public opinion. Warriors of the Middle Ages, the epic heroes should be unshakable. We don’t want to deal with this ‘overwhelmedness thing’. We would like to be happy again together. We have been deprived enough from joy – years in advance. (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

2. About the benefits of overwhelmedness. "Shock, trauma, grief, consternation, indignation, amazement" – what do they have in common? The root cause of overwhelmedness is a radically new situation. A situation, what we cannot react to as we used to. Something, what cannot be avoided, proudly refused, or swept under the carpet. Overwhelmedness happens when something radically evicts us from our comfort zones. What happens to us when we are overwhelmed? We’ve just been given a chance to learn something very new. We’ve been given a chance to improve our survivability. We’ve been given a chance to be really creative. We’ve been given a chance to have a new life… Is it such a big problem? (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

3. About the real purpose and meaning of overwhelmedness. There is an interpretation of overwhelmedness that we do not realize nowadays. The soul’s overwhelmedness is not a conversation topic today. When does our soul become shaken? The soul’s overwhelmedness is provoked by our experience of the ultimate questions of life. Life, death, love: commitment to someone forever. What happens to our soul when it meets the ultimate questions of life? The most important experience of the shaken soul is that it is not alone. That there is Someone who wants to get connected with our soul. We feel that the overwhelmed soul meets love, don’t we? The love, what wants to give something important to our souls. Love, what wants to grow and improve our souls. The overwhelmed soul meets the inexhaustible love of Jesus and the Father. Even if it feels – lacking the necessary experience – that something so terrible has happened to it that it cannot cope with it. Now, between Easter and Pentecost, let’ think about all these – and let’s wait for, let’s ask for the possibility of overwhelmedness – because we can be enriched by it in a previously unimaginable way. (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

1. Our very good reasons why we have banished the term of overwhelmedness from the dictionaries of our time

Let me begin my essay with a question. When was the last time, dear Reader, you felt overwhelmed? The probable answer is either related to a death/funeral ("we regret to inform you that…"), or it’s been some consequence of the recent corona virus epidemic. Nowadays we don’t like being overwhelmed. According to the dictionary, overwhelmedness is "being shocked/shaken caused by a distressing circumstance or a disaster". Our house becomes shaken by an earthquake. Let’s remember the recent catastrophe in Zagreb, Croatia when people, forced to stay at home because of the epidemic, had to run to the streets due to the earthquake. There was no peace for them anywhere and any more. “Thank you very much, we’ve got our fair share of overwhelmedness recently…” The synonyms of overwhelmedness are shock, trauma, grief, consternation, indignation, amazement. Well… It is not a comforting list… If we do not want to be shaken, would it mean that we would like to be unshakable? I wouldn’t believe that this is the public opinion. Warriors of the Middle Ages, the epic heroes should be unshakable. We don’t want to deal with this ‘overwhelmedness thing’. We would like to be happy again together. We have been deprived enough from joy – years in advance.

2. About the benefits of overwhelmedness

Let’s calm down, let’s try to keep distance from our everyday troubles and let’s think it over again what the term of "overwhelmedness" means. "Shock, trauma, grief, consternation, indignation, amazement" – what do they have in common? The root cause of overwhelmedness is a radically new situation. A situation, what we cannot react to as we used to. Something, what cannot be avoided, proudly refused, or swept under the carpet. Let’s think about this. Note that those situations that cause overwhelmedness are exactly the situations that confront us with something very new in our own lives. Overwhelmedness happens when something radically evicts us from our comfort zones. Things did not happen as we had expected (that’s how indignation gets among the synonyms). Something very different took place instead of what we had expected (then come consternation and amazement). What happens to us when we are overwhelmed? We’ve just been given a chance to learn something very new. We’ve been given a chance to improve our survivability. We’ve been given a chance to be really creative. We’ve been given a chance to have a new life… Is it such a big problem?

3. About the real purpose and meaning of overwhelmedness

There is an interpretation of overwhelmedness that we do not realize nowadays. The soul’s overwhelmedness is not a conversation topic today. When does our soul become shaken? The root cause here is a radically new situation, too. What can a radically new situation be for our soul? The soul’s overwhelmedness is provoked by our experience of the ultimate questions of life. Life, death, love: commitment to someone forever. What happens to our soul when it meets the ultimate questions of life? It expands explosively. It discovers new dimensions. It could also happen that these new dimensions are painful. It may also happen that the overwhelmed soul withdraws or that it even breaks down. But the experience of survival remains in these cases, too. The most important experience of the shaken soul is that it is not alone. That there is Someone who wants to get connected with our soul. Let’s not remember those moments of overwhelmedness when our loved ones passed away. First let’s think about those of our overwhelmed moments when we held our new-born baby for the first time, when we got married to our spouse, when we first kissed the one we loved, when we discovered something fundamentally important about the essence of life. We feel that the overwhelmed soul meets love, don’t we? The love, what wants to give something important to our souls. Love, what wants to grow and improve our souls. The overwhelmed soul meets the inexhaustible love of Jesus and the Father. Even if it feels – lacking the necessary experience – that something so terrible has happened to it that it cannot cope with it. Now, between Easter and Pentecost, let’ think about all these – and let’s wait for, let’s ask for the possibility of overwhelmedness – because we can be enriched by it in a previously unimaginable way. This is the real scandal of Jesus with which He touches us and with which He has rewarded our life – forever. Amen.

Key topics:
talent
spiritual growth
personal growth
networks
Key words:
comfort zone
corona virus
creativity
death
earthquake
Easter
God
Jesus
learning
life
love
mourning
overwhelmedness
Pentecost
shock

How can we reach peace?

Csermely Péter — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 15:19:31 +0000

Thoughts about the power of faith when we feel that the light has run out…

1. Our age: the age of unrest. It is not the uncontrolled temper but the extravagance of the soul that represents unrest in today’s ‘developed’ countries. We are unable to calm down. We are unable to appreciate what we have. We are unable to get satisfied. We are unable to get on well together. The spaciousness of a love community’s inner space is endless. Let’s make an attempt to let our isolation and unrest free in these immeasurably spacious inner dimensions! (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

2. Why is uncertainty good and how can it be tolerated? “There is worse than isolation in the weeks of corona virus epidemic.” Many would say. “And this is uncertainty.” Let me remind ourselves that we haven’t known anything until now either but we convinced ourselves to forget about this in the ecstasy of rush. Tolerating uncertainty is a key virtue. Only tolerating uncertainty leads us to real, creative and new solutions. All changes of existing situations generate uncertainty. Uncertainty is a necessary corollary of the reorganization of complexity by a creative change. We imprison ourselves if we do not tolerate uncertainty. If we can establish uncertainty-tolerance in ourselves now, we can prepare for future changes successfully. For we can tolerate uncertainty, we have to believe in something. (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

3. How can we reach peace? The power of faith – when we feel that the light has run out… For we can find peace after unrest, we have to believe in something. For me the essence of faith is the certainty of belonging: to not less than Totality. The certainty that Totality, God accepts and embraces me, not because of my own virtues but due to the sacrifice of Jesus. Years ago I was sure that light and love show the way on the path of faith. Recently, I understood that nothing has been lost even if we cannot see the light and cannot feel the love-avalanche covering us either. Because faith, the certainty of belonging, does remain. Faith gives birth to hope again. Hope creates love. And love creates light. Not from us, not for us, but as the gift of God, of mercy. There is stability in the middle of uncertainty. This stability does not hide from us but offers a helping hand to us. Let us accept it! (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

1. Our age: the age of unrest

Some Readers may snap to attention at the title already “The age of unrest?? But there is no war in much of the world! You should go back to the Middle Ages and you’d dread about your tattered life everyday… That Was unrest!” In fact, in the middle of a corona virus epidemic, being 62 years old, I would actually dread about my tattered life… Nevertheless we have to admit that in a numerous countries of the world we have no idea about the age when the exclusion from the shelter of the house for the night meant „weeping and gnashing of teeth” – according to one of evangelist Matthew’s recurrent phrases. It is not the uncontrolled temper but the extravagance of the soul that represents unrest in today’s ‘developed’ countries. We are unable to calm down. We are unable to appreciate what we have. We are unable to get satisfied. We are unable to get on well together. In the weeks of curfew restrictions quite a lot of people stay at home desperately, fighting with their families, mourning for the opportunities lost. Nevertheless, solitary confinements or closed monastic communities have led to deep spiritual contemplation both in past and present times. The spaciousness of a love community’s inner space is endless. (Why is it endless? It is endless, since it leads us to Totality.) Let’s make an attempt to let our isolation and unrest free in these immeasurably spacious inner dimensions!

2. Why is uncertainty good and how can it be tolerated?

“There is worse than isolation in the weeks of corona virus epidemic.” Many would say. “And this is uncertainty. We don’t know who is ill and who is infectious. We don’t know from when. We don’t know how long. We don’t know how long this whole thing will last. We don’t know either what will come after that. That’s terrible!” Indeed, this is really terrible. However, let me remind ourselves that we haven’t known anything until now either but we convinced ourselves to forget about this in the ecstasy of rush. Tolerating uncertainty is a key virtue. Only tolerating uncertainty leads us to real, creative and new solutions. All changes of existing situations generate uncertainty. Uncertainty is a necessary corollary of the reorganization of complexity by a creative change. We imprison ourselves if we do not tolerate uncertainty. If we can establish uncertainty-tolerance in ourselves now, we can prepare for future changes successfully. The Reader may snap to attention again. “Great… Let’s make virtue out of misery… Would you also tell us, how?” For we can tolerate uncertainty, we have to believe in something. We have to see the future with our spiritual eyes after the uncertain present. Tolerating uncertainty is somehow a closely-related concept with inherent trust which may be called as: future-trust. For a lot of people this future-trust is originated from their past experiences. For others it is arisen from their families’ cohesion. For others again it comes from the power of the community. For me there is a much stronger source than these. This will be discussed in the final part of my essay.

3. How can we reach peace? The power of faith – when we feel that the light has run out…

Let me start with repeating a sentence: for we can tolerate uncertainty, we have to believe in something. For we can find peace after unrest, we have to believe in something. For me the essence of faith is the certainty of belonging: to not less than Totality. The certainty that Totality, God accepts and embraces me, not because of my own virtues but due to the sacrifice of Jesus. Years ago I was sure that light and love show the way on the path of faith. At that time it was very clear to me that the glory of God and His emanating love, as a compass, help me not to get lost. Then I understood that sometimes the light might become illusory. The light of God can be reflected by the devil, too, and leads us astray. Recently I understood that nothing has been lost even if we cannot see the light and cannot feel the love-avalanche covering us either. Because faith, the certainty of belonging, does remain. Faith gives birth to hope again. Hope creates love. And love creates light. Not from us, not for us, but as the gift of God, of mercy. Faith in the certainty of belonging gives me power in all kinds of distress – just as in the middle of the present epidemic, too. "For I am the Lord, and I change not” (Malachias 3:6). "Jesus Christ, yesterday, and to day; and the same for ever” (Hebrews 13:8). "He is faithful that hath promised” (Hebrews 10:23b). There is stability in the middle of uncertainty. This stability does not hide from us but offers a helping hand to us. Let us accept it!

Key topics:
talent
sustainable growth
spiritual growth
science
personal growth
networks
Key words:
belief
corona virus
creativity
devil
family
future-trust
glory
God
grace
hope
inner dimensions
insecurity
Jesus
light
love
love-community
peace
self-confidence
restlessness
totality
uncertainty-tolerance

About the benefits of suffering

Csermely Péter — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 13:08:56 +0000

Good Friday thoughts about the unavoidable antecedents of a new life

1. Corona virus: a chance to change. Our welfare society lives in an irreconcilable conflict with suffering. In our time there is no room for suffering. Some years ago the " (I hope with all my heart that) have been sunk by it. It would be very unfortunate to return to where we were after such a global learning process. We could become more trained to tolerate changes than we have been earlier. We may become more cohesive than we have been. We may become more understanding than earlier. Are we doing so? That is The question of this year. (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

2. About the benefits of suffering. Reading this title the Reader may think that I have gone crazy. Isn’t there enough suffering here? Yes, there is. Even so. It is important to see suffering from another point of view than before. Suffering is not a leftover of ancient history surviving today that modern man can exterminate completely. The proper answer is not shaping our environment to meet our demands. The proper answer is reforming ourselves. The corona virus epidemic forces us to recognize this. Change always causes suffering. Suffering is such a state of being, in which complex systems are not in a resource-rich but in a resource-poor status. Resource-poorness educates to select. It teaches to distinguish between valuable and valueless. Only suffering educates to appreciate the good. We become defenseless without suffering. We have to practice how to stay alive – if we want to survive in the future... That is exactly what we are doing now. We are conducting global survival exercises right now. Suffering is a prayer. A prayer that manifests Jesus Christ’s redeeming mercy in the world and with this it contributes to the world’s purification. A suffering man awakens this mercy in the souls around him which are open to good. This is how a sufferer helps these souls get closer to Jesus with his silent service. All of us, let’s feel this call. (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

3. The necessity of resurrection. When I was kneeling at the Golgotha in November, 2019, and after that when I was embracing the resurrected Jesus’ tomb, I clearly understood that there is no resurrection without crucifixion. Jesus’ resurrection’s world explosion that took place in a split of a second was the consequence of the slow crucifixion full of suffering. It is necessary to get through the narrow gate to see the entire Universe opening up. Our birth, life and death are all these very same analogies. We cannot omit suffering from our lives if we want to receive peace. Our Lord asks us to take up His cross every day (Lucas 9:22-25). So we should not protest – if it is here now. And let’s wait for the Easter Dawn, first with increasing hope, then with certainty emerging from this. Because the dawn of resurrection WILL COME after suffering. Because it has been consummated. Amen. (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

1. Corona virus: a chance to change

Our welfare society lives in an irreconcilable conflict with suffering. In our time there is no room for suffering. Far be it from me to want those disastrous eras back, in which suffering, caused to others, was one of the main characteristics of humanity. I feel intense grief and sincere compassion towards the victims, the ill and the threatened, and also the mourning and worried relatives in the raging epidemic today. However, I need to note that the self-enforced vicious circles of human welfare’s "development" have taken us (but not the lacking billions of people!) to negate suffering to such an extent, where the alarm bell has already started to ring. Because of our suffering-phobia, we interpret the definition of health ("Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." – WHO) as something that includes the maximum obtainable welfare in "total well-being", where we do not let a tiny bit of space to suffering. Suffering is often conceived in religions as a punishment for original sin. According to the approach of this century, suffering becomes The Devil itself, the Genuine Evil that should be completely exterminated from people’s lives. (This "ausradieren" behavior did not lead to anything good in the past either...) Some years ago the " (I hope with all my heart that) have been sunk by it. It would be very unfortunate to return to where we were after such a global learning process. We could become more trained to tolerate changes than we have been earlier. We may become more cohesive than we have been. We may become more understanding than earlier. Are we doing so? That is The question of this year.

2. About the benefits of suffering

Reading this title the Reader may think that I have gone crazy. Isn’t there enough suffering here? Yes, there is. Even so. It is important to see suffering from another point of view than before. Suffering is not a leftover of ancient history surviving today that modern man (together with the remnant of nature surrounding him...) can exterminate completely. The proper answer is not shaping our environment to meet our demands. The proper answer is reforming ourselves. The corona virus epidemic forces us to recognize this. Change always causes suffering. Suffering is such a state of being, in which complex systems are not in a resource-rich but in a resource-poor status. The unlimited inflow of resources into our lives prevents us to make a difference between them. What for? If this car of mine is useless, there surely will be another one. This partner of mine is useless, there surely will be another one. If this God is useless, I will surely create another one... Swamped by the numerous opportunities, we cannot make a difference among them because there is not enough time and information-processing capacity for that. Resource-poorness educates to select. It teaches to distinguish between valuable and valueless. Only suffering educates to appreciate the good. We become defenseless without suffering. We have to practice how to stay alive – if we want to survive in the future... That is exactly what we are doing now. We are conducting global survival exercises right now. Those who have not suffered enough yet cannot assess the depth of suffering either. They do not feel compassion and they are able to cause suffering to others without reservations and limits. We are becoming enriched in mercy – I hope – right now.

Although the epidemic has created a real Lenten period (as Lenten’s essence is that we should give up on something and experience at least the anteroom of suffering), with these thoughts above my intensions were far from becoming a warrior of a "suffering culture". I feel deep sympathy with the misery of millions and the difficult situation of hundreds of millions or even billions. The totality of life needs to be total both in the depth of suffering and joy, too. Let me quote Dear Sister Marguerite-Marie, while I, dedicated to the positive forces of the universe, was wandering over the continents and the seas, passionately absorbed in watching all the hues of the earth rise, you, motionless, prostrate, you were silently transforming, at the depths of your being, the darkest shadows of the world into light. In the eyes of the Creator, tell me, which of us two will have played the better role?" Suffering is a prayer. A prayer that manifests Jesus Christ’s redeeming mercy in the world and with this it contributes to the world’s purification. A suffering man awakens this mercy in the souls around him which are open to good. This is how a sufferer helps these souls get closer to Jesus with his silent service. All of us, let’s feel this call.

3. The necessity of resurrection

"knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience trial; and trial hope; and hope confoundeth not: because the charity of God is poured forth in our hearts, by the Holy Spirit, who is given to us." (Romans 5:3b-5)

(The painting of Matthias Grünewald’s Isenheim altar, Hans Holbein’s painting "The Body of the Dead Christ in the Tomb", and Salvador Dali’s painting "The Ascension of Christ" depict Jesus’ hand symbolizing Good Friday, Holy Saturday and the resurrection of Easter. Please observe how the finger of the dead body of Jesus points on us in the middle painting and how the very same nailed hand of the left gets filled with power in Dali’s right painting showing the ascension. This gives us hope. The nailed hand always gets always filled with power, because this is the Will of the Father.)

When I was kneeling on Golgotha in November, 2019, and after that when I was embracing the resurrected Jesus’ tomb, I clearly understood that there is no resurrection without crucifixion. Jesus’ resurrection’s world explosion that took place in a split of a second was the consequence of the slow crucifixion full of suffering. It is necessary to get through the narrow gate to see the entire Universe opening up. Our birth, life and death are all these very same analogies. We cannot omit suffering from our lives if we want to receive peace. Our Lord asks us to take up His cross every day (Lucas 9:22-25). So we should not protest – if it is here now. And let’s wait for the Easter Dawn, first with increasing hope, then with certainty emerging from this. Because the dawn of resurrection WILL COME after suffering. Because it has been consummated. Amen.

Key topics:
talent
sustainable growth
spiritual growth
science
democracy
national identity
personal growth
networks
aging
Key words:
ancestral sin
Teilhard de Chardin
corona virus
cross
devil
discrimination
Golgotha
health
Jesus
learning
prayer
resource-poor
resurrection
snowflake generation
suffer
survival
theology of the cross
totality

What can we learn from our current miseries?

Csermely Péter — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 17:49:13 +0000

Lenten thoughts about the benefits of slowing down and longsuffering

1. Why do not we want to (why cannot we) tolerate longsuffering in this century? Not so long ago, there was a large rush all around the world... We have forgotten even that how to prepare for something. The problem with this was that we never arrived where we were. Because we never know where we are. Because we never let ourselves have enough time to realize where we will be... The moment became unimportant. There will be a new, another moment instead. Only the lack of tolerating unchanging things was bigger than the hunger for changes. "It is unbearable if we have to bear anything!"– we thought. Mankind lived in the illusion of omnipotence. This was a blindfolded road to the abyss. Then the crisis came. Corona virus appeared... I think that mankind learns now a very painful, very awful, but for our long-term survival very important lesson today. We should learn from this. We need to find the path to inner growth in these weeks of coerced silence. Please do not return back to rush even when these weeks will be over. This is the way how we can save the Earth, our home. (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

2. Longsuffering as a part of wisdom. Inner peace and wisdom can only be reached with the ability of distancing ourselves from our desires. For that we have to become trained at longsuffering. Now we are gaining the very important skill of longsuffering... Lent of the church calendar became a coerced-Lent... Please do observe that we may only prevent individual tragedies with a community longsuffering. Those local communities which were not ready to follow the new rules of life, had many more infections than those which were able to slow themselves down. This slow-down will be (hopefully) over in a few months. Let us build up during this time ourselves in a different, in a better way! (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

3. Longsuffering: God’s exceptional mercy. The driving force of longsuffering is love that "beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things" (1Corinthians 13:7). Let me repeat my previous sentence here: we may only prevent individual tragedies with a community longsuffering. We do see now why love is the driving force of longsuffering, do not we? We may only save those who are the fragile members of our community with the longsuffering of the whole community. We did not receive corona virus as a punishment. However, it is our education which proceeds right now. Let us observe that despite the sad tragedies this education comes with much love. Let’s feel the love flowing on us even amidst our current misery and we will be given the grace of inner peace with it, too. With this love and inner peace let us start re-building our communities. (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

1. Why do not we want to (why cannot we) tolerate longsuffering in this century?

Not so long ago, there was a large rush all around the world... We have forgotten even that how to prepare for something. The problem with this was that we never arrived where we were. Because we never know where we are. Because we never let ourselves have enough time to realize where we will be... Life became dense. A man met more of his fellows in an hour than his great-grandfather did in his whole life. The moment became unimportant. There will be a new, another moment instead. That is why we never observed anything that made our great-grandparents happy everyday: the dragonflies flying, the birds singing... – it was closely related to the fact that there were no flying dragonflies and singing birds in more and more people’s lives. (What is a dragonfly? A real flying dragon?) Busier life raised our sensitivity threshold. If the incoming input decreased, our discomfort increased. (How many people suffer now from this...) Only the lack of tolerating unchanging things was bigger than the hunger for changes. "It is unbearable if we have to bear anything! We have conquered the Earth! We have got the power, we do what we want! There is democracy: we select our food, our partner, our faith, our socks and our political party." – we thought. Mankind lived in the illusion of omnipotence. This was a blindfolded road to the abyss. Then the crisis came. Corona virus appeared... I think that mankind learns now a very painful, very awful, but for our long-term survival very important lesson today. We should learn from this. We need to find the path to inner growth in these weeks of coerced silence. Please do not return back to rush even when these weeks will be over. There will be recession. Economy will suffer. There will be many problems emerging from this. But there will be a good side as well: finally we will impose a self-control of our behavior. This is the way how we can save the Earth, our home. Please do observe, that there ARE other ways of happiness, than the boundless consumption and rush! First, observe this from pressure. Than observe this from your own choice in a creative way.

2. Longsuffering as a part of wisdom

Instant gratification makes us be at the mercy of our desires. Inner peace and wisdom can only be reached with the ability of distancing ourselves from our desires. For that we have to become trained at longsuffering. Now we are gaining the very important skill of longsuffering... Lent of the church calendar became a coerced-Lent... Please do observe that we may only prevent individual tragedies with a community longsuffering. Those local communities which were not ready to follow the new rules of life, had many more infections than those which were able to slow themselves down. Survival is the ability to leave our former comfort zone fast. We are able to find the optimal decision only with . But in parallel with this the new order is always getting to be built. Let us build up ourselves in a different, in a better way!

3. Longsuffering: God’s exceptional mercy

Longsuffering is the measure of the inner peace and serenity. Those who practice longsuffering know it very well what is Totality and how much smaller it is what they have to suffer right now. There is an immeasurably great example for that: God Himself. The Old Testament describes longsuffering as one of God’s most important characteristics: "but thou, a forgiving God, gracious, and merciful, longsuffering, and full of compassion" (Nehemias 9:17b). The driving force of longsuffering is love that "beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things" (1Corinthians 13:7). Let me repeat my previous sentence here: we may only prevent individual tragedies with a community longsuffering. We do see now why love is the driving force of longsuffering, do not we? We may only save those who are the fragile members of our community with the longsuffering of the whole community. We may only save the Earth, our home with the longsuffering of the whole community. Let’s think deeply: if Our Lord not only tolerates us with our plenty of deceits but He gave His only begotten Son for death to save us. Don’t we think it is time for us to be able to bear more? We received a trial from this now. Please bear the self-constraints and help bear them for those, who may not tolerate this so much. There will be many more trials like this to come. Let us prepare ourselves for this. This is the token of our survival. We did not receive corona virus as a punishment. However, it is our education which proceeds right now. Let us observe that despite the sad tragedies this education comes with much love. Though it is difficult to imagine this right now, but we may have received a much larger misery instead of this. We had not received that. We had received a chance for our education instead. Please use this chance. Let’s feel the love flowing on us even amidst our current misery and we will be given the grace of inner peace with it, too. With this love and inner peace let us start re-building our communities. Our Father in heaven please be merciful to your un-educated children! Let us pray for our communities, as well as for Africa and South America where the disease is just about to start its decimation.

Key topics:
sustainable growth
spiritual growth
science
democracy
blog community
national identity
personal growth
networks
aging
Key words:
almightyness
complex system
corona virus
disease
desires
disorder
endurance
God
grace
infection
inner peace
instant gratification
Jesus
lent
longsuffering
love
mercy
moment
parental behavioural patterns
preparation
proper time
punishment
re-building
silence
slow thinking
serenity
subjective time
totality
tragedy
waiting
wisdom

How is innovation created in the society networks – and in the Church?

Csermely Péter — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 16:50:32 +0000

Thoughts about our innovation-poor times and love networks

1. Why do we live in innovation-poor times? What do you mean by innovation-poor times??? Artificial intelligence overtakes the human brain right now. It is predicted by a lot of people that singularity, (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

2. How is innovation created in society networks? Where can the sources of real innovation hide? Definitely not where there is "rush". The core of society networks repeats those "innovative ideas" over and over that have received confirmation in the big communication echo-chambers again and again. Dense network connectedness results in group conformity. In every complex system (from proteins through cells to brain) according to which ones force us to make a much more radical change of our lifestyle than any others do. (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

3. Why are love networks important in innovation? How can we let the periphery’s very much disliked ideas, which extrude us from our comfort zones, into the center of the social public opinion? For that it is not enough to loosen the rigid, hierarchical social structures anymore – which has always been enough so far during the history of the humanity because mankind has not ever faced that it has devastated the whole planet successfully on which it should be living. We have to become Earth-conform humans. This is the real revolution. We must not look at the world with our own eyes any longer. We have to look at the Earth with the eyes of God the Creator, the Good Shepherd – considering all its parts as treasures. For this we need love. LOTS of love. The time has come when prophets do not have to be stoned but have to be loved. (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

4. How is innovation created in the Church? A technological system that is fundamentally gone sideways cannot be fixed with innovations derived from the same technology. This is the time when "Humanity 2.0" is needed. There has already been Somebody who made this possible with His crucifixion. Almost exactly two thousand years ago... That is why the Church becomes vital in the revival that leads us to our new, Earth-conform selves. For the Church will be able to help sufficiently in this revival, it has to renew itself, too. Where can the sources of revival come from within the Church? First from the love network. And there is a huge difference here which is the essence: the real love network is not the love network that is there among people. The inexhaustible source of the real love network is God’s love and the strength of the Holy Trinity’s loving relationship. The Church being in its right place grows out from this and passes this on with the strength of the Holy Trinity. What can help the Church in all this, except for the essence of the essence, mercy? It is exactly the periphery which this whole essay is about. Both Pope Benedict and Pope Francis think agreeing that the Church can be renewed by its periphery. Pope Benedict speaks about the strength of the small, creative, lightning Christian communities. Pope Francis emphasizes the flourishing example of the Southern Hemisphere’s Church. Both are the periphery from where Jesus Christ’s real innovation can break into the center – and at the same time into our souls’ center, too. (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

Introduction. This essay is published on Valentine’s Day, the day of love. But I bring a shocking subject here. The patient Reader will surely find love at the end of the writing. What I am writing about is nothing less than our chance to survive. It is hard to think about it because we cannot see the future. That is why I invite the Readers to an active (patient and loving) discussion.

1. Why do we live in innovation-poor times?

The introductory question may get the attention of many Readers. What do you mean by innovation-poor times??? Artificial intelligence overtakes the human brain right now. It is predicted by a lot of people that singularity, we destroy the Earth – our home… [As one of the sad examples of many: conferences on protecting our Earth are often only pseudo-meetings that lead to a very few concrete results, except for the huge amount of carbon dioxide produced by travelling back and forth...] There are almost no collective reflections about the possibilities of inwards growth, about the survival chances of a "post-disaster humanity" or about the methods of preparing for that. Any of these would be real innovations.

2. How is innovation created in society networks?

Where can the sources of real innovation hide? Definitely not where there is "rush". The core of society networks repeats those "innovative ideas" over and over that have received confirmation in the big communication echo-chambers again and again. Dense network connectedness results in group conformity. Unfortunately we are still monkeys. Real innovation would be breaking out from this monkey existence. according to which ones force us to make a much more radical change of our lifestyle than any others do. The real question is the chance of survival after an Earth-wide natural disaster. We have to prepare for that not for a comfortable life. Let me say it more brutally and personally: a network researcher will not be needed after such an Earth-size disaster. But a priest will definitely be needed. I can less and less neglect the thought that this is one of the reasons why Our Lord’s call has led me, a recognized researcher approaching his well-deserved retirement, to be a sophomore pastor student at the Lutheran Theological University in Budapest, Hungary.

3. Why are love networks important in innovation?

How can we let the periphery’s very much disliked ideas, which extrude us from our comfort zones, into the center of the social public opinion? For that it is not enough to loosen the rigid, hierarchical social structures anymore – which has always been enough so far during the history of the humanity because mankind has not ever faced that it has devastated the whole planet successfully on which it should be living. Let me quote here József Antall’s (the first Hungarian Prime Minister’s after the free elections in 1989) sentence: "You should have made a revolution instead!" – well, a revolution is not enough here anymore: because it is not the society but ourselves who have to be transformed radically. We have to become Earth-conform humans. This is the real revolution. We must not look at the world with our own eyes any longer. We have to look at the Earth with the eyes of God the Creator, the Good Shepherd – considering all its parts as treasures. For this we need love. LOTS of love. Love of the surrounding world, love of our transformed selves, and love of all those very disliked people who want to force us to change. The time has come when prophets do not have to be stoned but have to be loved. Because otherwise no-one remains here to decide on whether any prophet is to be stoned or loved... That is why love networks are indispensably important in making the innovation unfold that does not eradicate but saves us.

4. How is innovation created in the Church?

How does the Church fit into this line of reasoning? (I can hear the skeptical Reader: Professor, since you have become a pastor student, everything reminds you of this...) A technological system that is fundamentally gone sideways cannot be fixed with innovations derived from the same technology. (For example: global warming cannot be solved with the shielding effect of garbage released to the atmosphere...) This is the time when "Humanity 2.0" is needed. There has already been Somebody who made this possible with His crucifixion. Almost exactly two thousand years ago... That is why the Church becomes vital in the revival that leads us to our new, Earth-conform selves. Because to reject our own sight and to receive God’s view instead – is impossible to do on our own. Because to reject our own loveless selves and to receive God’s love instead – is impossible to do on our own. From this swamp which we have lead ourselves into, we cannot pull ourselves out acting like Baron Munchausen. For the Church will be able to help sufficiently in this revival, it has to renew itself, too. Where can the sources of revival come from within the Church? First from the love network. And there is a huge difference here which is the essence: the real love network is not the love network that is there among people. The inexhaustible source of the real love network is God’s love and the strength of the Holy Trinity’s loving relationship. The Church being in its right place grows out from this and passes this on with the strength of the Holy Trinity. What can help the Church in all this, except for the essence of the essence, mercy? It is exactly the periphery which this whole essay is about. The main point of Professor László Gájer’s lecture held on 30th November at the Péter Pázmány Catholic University in Hungary, was very telling to me. Both Pope Benedict and Pope Francis think agreeing that the Church can be renewed by its periphery. Pope Benedict speaks about the strength of the small, creative, lightning Christian communities. Pope Francis emphasizes the flourishing example of the Southern Hemisphere’s Church. Both are the periphery from where Jesus Christ’s real innovation can break into the center – and at the same time into our souls’ center, too.

Key topics:
talent
sustainable growth
spiritual growth
science
democracy
education
national identity
networks
Key words:
József Antall
artificial intelligence
pope Benedict
church
comfort zone
communication
complex system
echo chamber
pope Francis
László Gájer
God
global warming
group conformity
Hungarian Lutheran University of Theology
innovation
Jesus Christ
life-change
love
love networks
Mankind 2.0
baron Münchausen
network
periphery
prophet
singularity
Trinity

What is the essence of sincerity?

Csermely Péter — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 15:25:19 +0000

Thoughts with regard to the eighth commandment

1. Who is my neighbor and what is false testimony? How much easier the eighth commandment ("Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour!") would be if the words "your neighbor" were not there or there were "your friend" there instead. Jesus’ illustration about the Good Samaritan (Lucas 10:25) teaches us that the network of love around us and the acts of mercy recognizing the need determine the idea of "neighbor". God has no respect of persons being not partial (Deuteronomy 10:17; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11). We should not be either. False speech is harmful by far not only on court. Our nowadays "post-reality" society has made it an awfully common practice that if something is told with a media-magnified voice becomes true – whether or not reality is diametrically the opposite of it. Faithful word is not only right but pure, too. Silence can also be false witness. The real point of the eighth commandment is not prohibition either but persuasion. I should spread the truth and stand for it: I should not be silent when truth is violated. (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

2. How can we be sincere? A lot of people identify sincerity with truthfulness. The profound content of sincerity is to be honest with God. When somebody speaks sincerely, he speaks about the essence instead of unimportant things. Sincerity does not necessarily mean to be talkative. (In fact real sincerity speaks little because it focuses on the essence.) A Carthusian monk who has taken a vow of silence can also strongly show the essence of his existence through his life, metacommunications and writings. (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

3. What is real sincerity? The essence of sincerity is our relations to the harmony of the created world of God. If we accept the harmony of the created order of God, we get into the love stream coming from the Holy Trinity. Whether we hear the call of Jesus to love is the only really important decision of our lives. It belongs to real sincerity that we forward the love to others that we have received. It is the essence of our existence to participate in the love chain. (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

Introduction. This season’s essays are written about the Ten Commandments. With regard to the first commandment ("I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt not have strange gods before Me.") I wrote about the Christian identity. Interpreting the second and the third commandments ("Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Remember to keep holy the Lord's day.") I examined the concept of the real honoring of God. Regarding the fourth commandment ("Honor your father and your mother!") I was looking for the answer to what makes a dialogue determining in somebody’s life? The key idea of the answer is the openness to honor other people (e.g. our parents). Thinking over the fifth commandment ("Thou shalt not murder!") I showed that there are many ways to commit a murder in our everyday lives, and whom we kill when we are unable to forgive. I also thought it over what we must murder to become capable of accepting Jesus. Related to the sixth commandment ("Thou shalt not commit adultery!") I tried to find an answer to how we can avoid fornication and what purity means as a state of life. During the interpretation of the seventh commandment ("Thou shalt not steal!") I was looking for answers to the questions of what we can steal, what the opposite of theft is and when we do not steal from God. When thinking over the eighth commandment ("Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour!") I explored the issues of who is my neighbor, what insincerity and what real sincerity are. With regards to the ninth and the tenth commandments ("Thou shalt not covet neighbor's house! Thou shalt not covet neighbor's wife, slaves, animals, or anything else!") I was looking for answers to the questions of what we should not wish for and what is the only appropriate wish.

1. Who is my neighbor and what is false testimony?

Santa Claus: Have you been a good kid? Child: Yes, I have!
Santa Claus: And what about your brother? Child: He has not!
Santa Claus (with a severe look): And which of the two is true?
Child (a little fearfully): None of them...

How much easier the eighth commandment ("Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour!") would be if the words "your neighbor" were not there or there were "your friend" there instead. (Let’s examine these versions: "Do not bear false witness!" It is clear: if you swear on the Bible on court that you will tell the truth then you should not lie. "Do not bear false witness against your friend!" No problem: I have some good pals whose interests I take into account – some people may add here: ...if I will be well paid – and all the others should beware!) But there is this damn neighbor or fellow man (who is not my neighbor at all). Who is my neighbor? Jesus’ illustration about the Good Samaritan (Lucas 10:25) teaches us that the network of love around us and the acts of mercy recognizing the need determine the idea of "neighbor" and not the concepts of the assumed stranger or enemy. God has no respect of persons being not partial (Deuteronomy 10:17; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11). We should not be either. The prohibition of insincerity is general: there is no a fictive escape because of our own interests, identity, presumptions or fears.

"We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor,
betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him,
and explain everything in the kindest way."
(Martin Luther: Small Catechism)

What is false witness? Jesus’ words warn ("But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one"; Matthew 5:37), that false speech is harmful by far not only on court. Our nowadays "post-reality" society has made it an awfully common practice that if something is told three times (or even only once but with a media-magnified voice…) becomes true – whether or not reality is diametrically the opposite of it. (Let’s note that today’s world goes back to the times of Enlightenment or even before Christianity when the magic power of "incantation" had made the non-existent 'reality'. Our time’s great enablers pretend to be media magicians.) Defamation, accusation, judgement, or even the lack of credibility, distortion, as well as ulterior motive are all such insincerities that we have to avoid. Faithful word is not only right but pure, too. Silence can also be false witness. Last but not least at all: the real point of the eighth commandment is not prohibition either but persuasion. I should spread the truth and stand for it: I should not be silent when truth is violated.

2. How can we be sincere?

"Before speaking, think it over
what you would like to say, whether it is nicer
than the silence you are up to break."
(Johann Christian Friedrich Hölderlin)

A lot of people identify sincerity with truthfulness. "The one who does not lie is sincere." If we think about the real meaning of sincerity then we realize that sincerity is more than truthfulness. (Socrates’ triple filter in case of proper speech placed the criteria of goodness and usefulness beside truthfulness, too.) The profound content of sincerity is to be honest with ourselves and with God. Sincerity implies self-awareness and integrity. When somebody speaks sincerely, he does not only avoid lies but speaks about the essence instead of unimportant things. He considers it important and possible to share the essence of his life with those he gets in contact with. He discloses and shares the most significant values his life carries. Sincerity does not necessarily mean to be talkative. (In fact real sincerity speaks little because it focuses on the essence.) A Carthusian monk who has taken a vow of silence can also strongly show the essence of his existence through his life, metacommunications and writings. (During the thirty days’ silence of the Saint Ignatius retreat we got to know each other’s essence better being with those even whose names we did not know than that of our childhood friends.)

3. What is real sincerity?

"To fail in the sincerity of sharing, in fact, or to fail in the sincerity of love,
means cultivating hypocrisy, distancing oneself from the truth, becoming selfish,
extinguishing the fire of communion and fating oneself to the chill of inner death.
Those who behave in this way pass through the Church like tourists,
they never step in, they are always in transition."
(When we try to find the answer to the question of what real sincerity is, it is worth starting with the thought that "when somebody speaks sincerely, he speaks about the essence instead of the unimportant things". But what is the essence? The essence is our relations to the harmony of the created world of God. Whether we realize this harmony, whether we feel the relation to it and whether this relation is acceptance or rejection. If we accept the harmony of the created order of God, we get into the love stream coming from the Holy Trinity. Whether we hear the call of Jesus to love is the only really important decision of our lives. It belongs to real sincerity that we forward the love to others that we have received. It is the essence of our existence to participate in the love chain. (As an example: we should not give piles of chocolate to our children on Saint Nicholas’ Day because they get fed up with it. Not any chocolate makes up a missing smile or caress. We should give more love instead of chocolate – and send the chocolate, together with our love because it never ends, to those who do not have any.)

Key topics:
spiritual growth
personal growth
networks
Key words:
fellow creature
pope Francis
God
harmony
Johann Christian Friedrich Hölderlin
insincerity
integrity
Jesus
judgment
justice
love
lie
Martin Luther
mercy
metacommunication
person-respect
post-reality
self-identity
sincerity
slander
spiritual tourist
Trinity
Socrates
Ten Commandments

What is the opposite of theft?

Csermely Péter — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 10:24:39 +0000

Thoughts with regard to the seventh commandment

1. What can we steal? By far it is not only an object, which may become other people’s property to be stolen. According to its original interpretation the seventh commandment referred to kidnapping. God has given people the freedom of choice even at the cost that we turn against Him and kill His only begotten son. We should not expropriate the freedom of any person. Trust can also be stolen. All kinds of manipulation, illicit profit or fraud are thefts. Greediness and prodigality are also theft because they limit other people’s prosperity. As we destroy the Earth now, we steal from our descendants. (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

2. What is the opposite of theft? The opposite of theft is not the pledge of "I will not steal from now on". We do not steal the opportunity from others only – if we create it for them. As in the case of every commandment, including the seventh about theft, the point is not what I DO NOT do, but what I do. The lazy non-action is day theft. The real opposite of theft is not self-restraint or refraining from the sin of theft but generosity, providing advantages to others and increasing others’ self-confidence and self-esteem. Only a life of dedicated service is free of theft. You do not take away only if you give. (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

3. When do I not steal from God? Life is a zero-sum game only in case we do not believe that God still goes on creating and He overwhelms us with His love stream in every moment. This inexhaustible source provides the extra love in the world that can be forwarded again and again. Our lives become complete if they are connected to the love network of the Holy Trinity. If we close inside the love falling on us and we do not forward it, we steal from God. One of the criteria of canonization in the Christian Church is that the candidate should radiate joy around him. We are all able to radiate joy around us because this joy comes from the infinite love reaching us. Forwarding God’s love what makes our joy complete, too. (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

Introduction. This season’s essays are written about the Ten Commandments. With regard to the first commandment ("I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt not have strange gods before Me.") I wrote about the Christian identity. Interpreting the second and the third commandments ("Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Remember to keep holy the Lord's day.") I examined the concept of the real honoring of God. Regarding the fourth commandment ("Honor your father and your mother!") I was looking for the answer to what makes a dialogue determining in somebody’s life? The key idea of the answer is the openness to honor other people (e.g. our parents). Thinking over the fifth commandment ("Thou shalt not murder!") I showed that there are many ways to commit a murder in our everyday lives, and whom we kill when we are unable to forgive. I also thought it over what we must murder to become capable of accepting Jesus. Related to the sixth commandment ("Thou shalt not commit adultery!") I tried to find an answer to how we can avoid fornication and what purity means as a state of life. During the interpretation of the seventh commandment ("Thou shalt not steal!") I was looking for answers to the questions of what we can steal, what the opposite of theft is and when we do not steal from God. When thinking over the eighth commandment ("Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour!") I explored the issues of who is my neighbor, what insincerity and what real sincerity are. With regards to the ninth and the tenth commandments ("Thou shalt not covet neighbor's house! Thou shalt not covet neighbor's wife, slaves, animals, or anything else!") I was looking for answers to the questions of what we should not wish for and what is the only appropriate wish.

1. What can we steal?

Some people almost brag about what they can steal (of course, in such a "talented way" so they cannot be caught legally at all). By far it is not only an object, which may become other people’s (or a community’s) property to be stolen. According to its original interpretation the seventh commandment referred to kidnapping (i.e.: selling a free man for a slave). (For this interpretation see e.g. 1Timothy 1:10 where Apostle Paul briefly summarizes the points of the ten commandments and he talks about kidnapping instead of stealing.) According to one of the Bible’s examples Joseph was sold for a slave by his brothers (Genesis 37:28). God has given people the freedom of choice even at the cost that we turn against Him and kill His only begotten son. We should not expropriate the freedom of any person. What God has given to others, we are not allowed to take away.

"Theft is all profits that someone gets at someone else’s expense.
Theft is all advantage that someone gets to the detriment of someone else."
(Martin Luther)

Trust can also be stolen. Jacob misused his father’s, Isaac’s blindness when wearing his brother’s, Esau’s clothes and by doing this he stole Esau’s smell. Moreover, he covered his hands and neck with young goatskins so he also stole Esau’s touch to steal his father’s blessing his father intended to give to his elder brother, Esau (Genesis 27). Absalom, King David’s son (according to the original Hebrew text, literary) “stole” the hearts of the people of Israel when instead of his father he played the ‘righteous judge’ for the complainants coming to his father, the king for judgment (2Samuel 15:4-6). All kinds of manipulation, illicit profit or fraud are thefts. Greediness and prodigality are also theft because they limit other people’s prosperity. As we destroy the Earth now, we steal from our descendants. God’s property, our common treasure, the created world can also be robbed – radically…

2. What is the opposite of theft?

"He that stole, let him now steal no more;
but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good,
that he may have something to give to him that suffereth need.” (Ephesians 4:28)

I remember my mother’s words, who told me the following when I cast shadow on her when she was sunbathing: "My son, do not take away what you cannot give." The opposite of theft is not the pledge of "I will not steal from now on". We do not steal the opportunity from others only – if we create it for them. As in the case of every commandment, including the seventh about theft, the point is not what I DO NOT do, but what I do. The lazy non-action is day theft. The real opposite of theft is not self-restraint or refraining from the sin of theft but generosity, providing advantages to others and increasing others’ self-confidence and self-esteem. Only a life of dedicated service is free of theft. You do not take away only if you give.

3. When do I not steal from God?

"The energy radiated by the sun on the plant can be found in the fruit. That is why God considers our defaults sins. That is why our Lord asks His people why their lives lacked good fruits. He has the right to ask: where is the energy from your life that I have radiated on you that I have given to you?" (Pál Zászkaliczy, Sr.)

During our lives the "old man" living in us (Colossians 3:9) strives continuously to steal us from God’s authority and remove us from the life-changing vicinity of Jesus. Life is a zero-sum game only in case we do not believe that God still goes on creating and He overwhelms us with His love stream in every moment. This inexhaustible source provides the extra love in the world that can be forwarded again and again. Our lives become complete if they are connected to the love network of the Holy Trinity. If we close inside the love falling on us and we do not forward it, we steal from God. (The real love sink is devil. His blackness swallows every light radiated on him. We should NOT follow devil not to pass the energy of love we received to others.) One of the criteria of canonization in the Christian Church is that the candidate should radiate joy around him. We are all able to radiate joy around us because this joy comes from the infinite love reaching us. Forwarding God’s love what makes our joy complete, too. I wish all my dear Readers a joy of life becoming complete in giving!

Key topics:
sustainable growth
spiritual growth
personal growth
networks
Key words:
Absalom
Creation
earth
evil
fraud
freedom
God
Isaac
Jacob
Jesus
Joseph
joy
kidnap
laziness
love
manipulation
Apostle Paul
service Ten Commandments
theft
Trinity
zero-sum game

Life situations of fulfillment at young and old age

Csermely Péter — Mon, 06 May 2019 13:17:20 +0000

Thoughts about the Totality of a life in Jesus

1. What is the difference between the young and the old? Being young is identical with our openness to the world, the diversity of our responsiveness and our capacity to lifelong learning. The old age can be described with an experience encoded as an effective behavior pattern, the wisdom of distinguishing the substantial issues from the unimportant ones and the restraint from the extremes. The young and the old behaviors are not linked to the chronological age. Systems become complex if they are capable of both behaviors – alternately. (If you would like to read about this more, please, read my essay here.)

2. Life situations of fulfillment at young and old age. Young age is the age of exploration and enrichment of the information of the environment. In young age there is no permanent order. The young cannot be controlled, it is vigorous and happy. For the young every moment is a whole life. The fulfillment of the young breaks the limits and creates a new world. The old age is the age of clarity, the capability to identify what is important and what is not, thus the age of wisdom. The old age has learnt to wait. The old age has learnt to listen. For the old the whole life is a moment. The old age has experienced the beauty of purity and silence. (If you would like to read about this more, please, please, read my essay here.)

3. Life situations of fulfillment in Jesus. The man living in Jesus is not alternating between young and old but he has entered the timelessness of the Holy Trinity where he can be both young and old at the same time. Jesus as the Door (John 10:9), opens the Totality of the Father that gives an unlimited space for the youth to grow and enrich. As the Path and the Truth, Jesus endows the old age’s capability to identify the essence with the Totality of Vision. Jesus, as the Life, joins the impulsivity of the youth with the timelessness of the old. Man living in Jesus lives in the Resurrection where death is not the end but the door opening to God’s Totality. (If you would like to read about this more, please, read my essay here.)

Introduction. As I wrote in my first essay in September, I will go along a whole course of a spiritual retreat with my essays until summer. With the Christmas post we have arrived at the end of the first week of the four weeks’ long spiritual retreat: Christ may have been born within us, we may have been given places in the House of God and we may have realized that we were the Children of God. My four essays covering the second week of the spiritual retreat confronted us with our sins. Both our community sins and our own personal sins have been examined, we have thought about the conditions of our good choices, and we have answered the question what is the most important decision of our whole lives. Until the coming summer we will go along the second two weeks of the four weeks’ long spiritual retreat: praying throughout the whole earth life of Christ, our Lord.

22nd February: Thoughts about the Incarnation. Why Jesus cannot be sidestepped?

8th March: Difference between the duty and the service. Lenten thoughts about the benefits of self-sacrifice (the childhood and baptism of Jesus)

22nd March: What is the difference between hope and expectations? Lenten thoughts about the power of faith (teachings and miracles of Jesus)

5th April: Lenten thoughts about the FORCE-field of Jesus. The power of the Eucharist

19th April: Cross and Glory. Good Friday and Easter thoughts about the Totality of Salvation

3rd May: In how many ways can we be happy about the Totality of life? Thoughts about the thousand faces of joy

17th May: Life situations of fulfillment: Thoughts about the joy of life's Totality

-----------------we reached this point in our prayer--------------------------------------------------------

31st May: Forms of the presence of the Spirit. Thoughts about Holiness

7th June: What makes the church attractive today? Pentecost thoughts about the power of the Gospel

21st June: What is the difference between the word and the Word? Year-end thoughts about the power of God’s Word

1. What is the difference between the young and the old?

My essay’s interpretation of the young and the old is not connected to the chronological age. Anyone can be old at a young age – and young at an old age. The essence of the young and the old age is not linked to the biological age either: someone may be young in a body that is limited or old in a healthy body, too. For me as a network researcher, being young is identical with our openness to the world, the diversity of our responsiveness and our capacity to lifelong learning. In the network context sense, the old age can be described with an experience encoded as an effective behavior pattern, the wisdom of distinguishing the substantial issues from the unimportant ones and the restraint from the extremes. A young network is less ordered than an old one. A network is settled by the encoding of just that piece of information (experience) that the old system possesses compared to the young one. The result of exactly this learning process is that orders the network. This network ordering becomes the knowledge of the older age that gives an effective, reliably repeatable and in most of the cases quick response for already known situations. However, old age knows not only what to do in a certain situation but (as a much more important characteristic) it also knows what is not worth doing in a given case. The duality of „what to do” and the „what is not worth doing” is the wisdom that refrains from the extremes staying in the golden mean. Moreover! If a wise old experiences some extremes in his environment (in order to stabilize the surrounding world) he does something against it. I finish by what I have started with: the young and the old behaviors are not linked to the chronological age. Systems become complex if they are capable of both behaviors – alternately.

The alternation of the young and the old behaviors is the complex systems’ mode of existence. The young, exploratory behavior is quite important when the environment is variable. The old behavior recognizing and exploiting the advantages of a situation becomes useful in the case of the environment’s stability. However in a steady environment the repeated, effective response of the old system upsets the stability of the environment. That is why after a while the old behavior (that tries to stabilize also its surroundings) has to give way to the young, exploratory behavior. However, the diversity of the exploratory behavior becomes "a noise" at the level of the larger system of the environment that allows the environment to stabilize. (This is because noise helps the environment’s larger system get through the barriers that have prevented its stabilization before.) In the stabilized environment learning and practicing the optimal response becomes important again which turns the young behavior into the old behavior again. So the alternation of the young and the old behaviors is the key of effective learning and surviving as I have explained it in one of my earlier essays. (For those interested in the topic I recommend to read the two scientific articles downloadable from

2. Life situations of fulfillment at young and old age

Young age is the age of exploration and enrichment of the information of the environment. The life situation of fulfilling the young age is growth, the collection of experiences, the feeling of "I am capable of everything", playfulness and exploding joy and relief. Young age neither knows authority, nor obeys anything, nor limits itself. In young age there is no permanent order. The young cannot be controlled, it is vigorous and happy. For the young every moment is a whole life. The fulfilment of the young breaks the limits and creates a new world. The old age is the age of clarity, the capability to identify what is important and what is not, thus the age of wisdom. The life situation of fulfilling the old age is balance, temperance and the intimate serenity of knowing what life is about. The old age understands what situation requires action and knows what to do. The old notices the problems in his environment and helps to solve them. This is because the old already knows what pain is and he also knows what can be done against it. For the old the whole life is a moment. The old age has learnt to wait. The old age has learnt to listen. The old age has experienced the beauty of purity and silence.

3. Life situations of fulfillment in Jesus

The human-face of Jesus with His left hand holding the New Testament and His God-face with His right hand giving blessing can be seen together on the . (The mirrored, smaller images show the human and the God’s face of Jesus separately.) This ancient icon has an important message. Living in Jesus does not deny our manhood but fulfills it raising it to God. The life fulfilled in Jesus raises us before the first sin, reaches Totality of knowledge, and restores the original purity of the created man in the Paradise.

The man living in Jesus is not alternating between young and old but he has entered the timelessness of the Holy Trinity where he can be both young and old at the same time. Living in Jesus makes both the young and the old age part of the Totality at the same time. Jesus as the Door (John 10:9), opens the Totality of the Father that gives an unlimited space for the youth to grow and enrich. The space of the Father is not only spacious, not only unlimited, but it opens opportunities with countless directions and dimensions that are unimaginable for the human mind. As the Path and the Truth, Jesus endows the old age’s capability to identify the essence with the Totality of Vision. In Jesus the Totality of God’s knowledge is revealed. However, God’s knowledge is not an assembly of information but it is order. God’s knowledge does not make things complicated but simple. God’s knowledge does not differ from God but it is God Himself. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God". (John 1,1) God’s Totality is that Purity and Silence whose initial seeds are the most beautiful virtues of the old age. However God’s Silence is not a deafening silence without a response. God’s Silence is the Silence of understanding and mercy. God’s Silence is the Silence of pervasive love. God’s love spread lavishly on us is what fulfills the youth living in us. Jesus, as the Life, joins the impulsivity of the youth with the timelessness of the old. Man living in Jesus lives in the Resurrection where death is not the end but the door opening to God’s Totality.

Thinking over the essays describing the spiritual retreat since last September, let us read and let us try to say the prayer of Saint Ignatius:

"Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my intellect, and all my will
all that I have and possess.
Thou gavest it to me:
to Thee, Lord, I return it!
All is Thine,
dispose of it according to all Thy will.
Give me Thy love and grace,
for this is enough for me." Amen.

Key topics:
talent
spiritual growth
science
personal growth
networks
aging
Key words:
age
complex systems
death
the Face of Jesus
God
Jesus
joy
learning
love
mercy
networks
order
Pantokrator
Paradise
purity
Saint Catherine's monastery
Saint Ignatius
silence
timelessness
Trinity
totality
wisdom
the Word of God
youth