SecondJon @SecondJon@qoto.org

Regardless of whether you intend it or recognize it, the structures around you form who you are. The way your time is structured, the way your spaces, home, workplace, church are structured are all formative. They all influence who you are.

We shape the world we live in, which in turn shapes us.

(My takeaway from a discussion spawned out of my admiration of - and a friend's disgust for - the beautifully ornate architecture of the historic churches in San Francisco, as compared to a equally expensive multi use conference center of a church facility.)

“The GSFA is no longer able to recognise the present Archbishop of Canterbury, the Rt Hon and Most Rev Justin Welby, as the ‘first among equals’ leader of the global Communion,” the statement said. 

“He has sadly led his House of Bishops to make the recommendations that undergirded the General Synod motion on ‘Living in Love and Faith’, knowing that they run contrary to the faith and order of the orthodox provinces in the Communion whose people constitute the majority in the global flock.

#Anglican

Various political sides in the US want to ban certain things in #books. Dr Seuss took a hit not long ago, now Roald Dahl is being edited to remove references to Rudyard Kipling among other things.

https://notthebee.com/article/why-do-you-need-to-own-so-many-books-they-ask-heres-why

An ad plays during the superbowl featuring the division in our society, ends with a message of love, that Jesus loves everyone, including those we hate.

Response from some news outlets and politicians: Talk about loving your enemies? You must be a fascist. Like Hitler. You evil evil thing. Actually, people should be even MORE divided and against each other...let me dig up things that'll really get you mad about someone who contributed funds the to ad and you you hate them better. Hate them, hate Jesus, hate the idea of loving your enemy.

Gotta say, I find a message of love more appealing than that of hate which followed.

It's a commentary about our culture that a non political message of love and unity and the messiah can be so easily mocked, used as a tool to remind people why they really ought to keep their enemies list full, and then it's filed away as a brief distraction.

The Avacado ad that mocked the biblical story was also a commentary, that the biblical narrative and the curse of sin is a small thing... just a joke to be mocked and derided.

I don't know that "post-Christian" society is the right term. I don't think it's progress to hear Love Your Enemies and respond with rallying cries to hate your enemies. It seems less like a progression and more like a regression.