The Melting Pot & The Mosaic

#36
thanks Neil Smith yeah true observations and thanks for sharing that story. Some are telling me I am a ''mystical'' runner because I look for this thing call the runner high now I was told cycling is a new religion too. Amen :-) Reply

#34
That's a fair observation if nothing else the spirit of the article has landed well with the commentators :-) Reply

#31
ah thanks very nice words not for me to say I do what I can not always what I want :-) Reply

All I know is you are one amazing father and stand up for goodness and ensure kindness is spread. That makes you an amazing father & friend Pal Derrien. Reply

#29
thanks Jeremy Keefer :-) Reply

#27
I define a good father as one who realizes the life they have lived is not the mosaic their off-spring will experience. Specifically, seeking a new journey through these new humans to the world. There are no perfect fathers only those who share the journey as their children explore. Absolutes is an old word, and one that under today's conditions, would be considered intolerant. Unfortunately these absolutes have become clubs that many Christians use to beat folks over the head. I feel for these folks as they carry a big torch of bitterness that the fuel eventually runs out. No, absolutes are nothing more than what you do when no one is looking and you wont get caught. I have 6 grandchildren and the exploration of their belief system development has been very rewarding. Your journey with your son will be one that is crazy and exciting as you explore together the belief systems you each subscribe. Reply

#26
thanks Harvey Lloyd interestingly enough the junior version of me mentioned absolutes to me recently. Not necessarily in those terms but he mentioned all the volunteer work and other stuff I had done over the years, he was probably trying to say something about moral compasses being stronger than superficial allegiance, there is more than the optics :-) Thanks for the praise but I don't know if I am a good father its work in progress :-) Reply

My family has similar characteristics of broad views. Even though we are all christian. I am not sure melting pot would express our family as well as mosaic. Mosaics have clear irregular lines of boundaries. Atheism is always considered the opposite of Christianity. I don't think this is true. Religion at its individual level is the absolutes you hold dear and act out within family and community. We all have these absolutes. Absolutes being those lines of script that we don't venture past in our relationships. The irony is that through the absolutes we visualize a better future or service to others. Faith. A few decades ago agnostics who were come what may folks of the primordial soup found some leaders against Christianity. As choice is the main concept here atheism is something that holds a spot on the spectrum of choices. But it, like all things has changed. Atheism, Christianity and politics have all been polarized to group think categories. My angst within all of it is those who profit from the rhetoric and leadership. How one chooses to live their life, a code if you will, is their personal choice. This code that helps us in those situations where we are deeply emotionally engaged is the life line of success. Atheist, write your own or Christianity and follow someone else's. The amazing part i discovered is that from atheist views on morals and success tend to match what the Bible knew 2000 years ago. I commend you on your openness to your your son seeking that code of absolutes that will assist him in his future. Although Christian, i am saddened that so many will find the code of life after disaster instead reviewing it during their youth. You are promoting self actualization of a belief system that stimulates great conversations. You are a good father:) Reply

#24
yup 👍 A mere 6 decades ago ..... plus some. A tiny spark twinkle in the big bang theory. Reply

#23
By all accounts those traumatic events seem very recent Ken Boddie :-) Reply

I’m with you, Pascal. Never did understand this blind acceptance that some religious people have. Last time I was in church they tried to drown me. Haven’t been back since. 🤔 Reply

#21
thanks Franci\ud83d\udc1dEugenia Hoffman, beBee Brand Ambassador a organizations they are sharp and ruthless indeed and we only have access to the tip of the iceberg. Reply

#15
thanks Jim Murray a small contribution to the world on my part both in terms of action and narrative :-) Reply

#16
cheers Randall Burns I know a family unit is really functioning at micro level so I wonder what we lose when we try to scale that up ? Reply

#17
many thanks Debasish Majumder always nice to hear :-) Reply

Great, heartfelt piece Pascal Derrien, I agree with the discussion that has followed and there is traits of both "Mosaic" and "Melting Pot", and I believe they make us richer, collectively, regardless of our own personal beliefs we must embrace this, (as you've done with this article). You finished it off brilliantly with; "In the end the wording is actually not that important I guess the actions are far more exigent. Its not about compromising its about understanding, you can view it from so many different angles that you may end up only seeing the tangles but I dare say it's far more simple but for that you got to be humble and get out from your own temple. Its not about excessive power or who is the best raconteur, forget about those who say you got to plant the biggest protest tent, how about you and I just try intent....... " Well done! Reply

Nice piece Pascal Derrien. I think you have pretty much summed up the world as we know it today in your conclusion. People do not, by and large, care to look at all aspects of an issue, only opinions that agree with their own ideas or preconceptions. As a result you don't have so much an imbalance as you do a wide chasm in between people of differing beliefs. You are right on your side. They are right on theirs. And seldom if ever the twain shall meet. But that meeting is so important. Because that meeting can heal the fractured world. And the wider the chasm becomes, the more we need bridges to join us so we can find common ground. Reply

#12
thanks Claire L Cardwell for the kind words and your sharp observation, many churches or sects are pretty wealthy I am thing of the Scientology guys among a few Reply

#7
thanks Ali , I think the subsequent discussions and view point will probably be of a better quality but happy to trigger some school of thoughts among the audience :-) Reply

#8
thanks Jerry Fletcher I think that's interesting you mention its up to the individual or group to make a move that's a rare view nowadays. I also agree on the definition of mosaic pieces :-) Reply

Pascal, both mosaic and melting pot have resounding strengths and weaknesses. The mosaic allows each piece to stand separately but the melting pot allows one to become part of a greater whole contributing flavor while incorporating the strengths of other components. For some one is better than the other but i believe the decision to merge or stand alone should be left to the individual or tribe or group. Reply

#2
Whatever drives beliefs, this history produces fascinating stories and sometimes surprising roots and interesting vignettes into the human condition. For example small tidbits like why Jesus changed Simon's name to Peter and why that informs us of Matthew 7:24. Simon means sand, and Peter means rock. It described Peter in faith being a rock, but as a human being as sand - and that sand is revealed in his betrayal of Jesus (three times no less). Then there is the name Jesus did not change - which is the Saul and Paul bit, here we find clues such as this one https://www.gotquestions.org/Saul-Paul.html and here we see Paul is a chameleon trying to be all things to all types of people. Personally to me that reminds me more of Machiavellian mindset than the words of reverence from someone whose words now form a substantial part of Christian doctrines or at least had an absolute means of shaping them. In that regard it is all a study book on human politics - whether it is called religion or not. That is something that fits my learning media approach - to seek to understand and discern, rather than argue and debate. It maybe difficult to observe this history because it contains so many negatively emotional and inhuman choices - but if we want to understand our flawed humanity, it is a guidebook. Reply

#3
I think the term mosaic implies combination and collaboration, melting pot is just something that seem to get stirred in all directions with no real compass and that's maybe why some get confused and finish their course in various ideological dead ends, you cannot legislate but maybe you attempt to educate ? Reply

thanks CityVP \ud83d\udc1d Manjit for dropping and proposing an elaborate comment, History has indeed been littered with events ''in the name of'' whether its crusades, inquisition or califats. Reply

It is not religion that bothers me but that the basis of religion are patriarchal control freaks. It is the moment where some guy saw the opportunity to take control and seize power and organized religion away from the individual and into the cess pool of special interest. Now couple that with how many different directions we can take either philosophical and/or theological talk. Back in the days of the Nicaean Council, the politics of 3rd Century Christianity makes today's politics look quaint by comparison. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nduka-QqXbQ. Then through in Emperor Constantine who added his personal desire to wield power by accepting a faith that until then he was busy persecuting. The same thing happened with Saul, a horrible excuse for a human being, who turned into a saint of a human being renamed Paul. Paul then went on to write 3/4 of the Bible, and like Constantine probably added his opinion or interpretation. With Constantine Christians got Sunday worship (literally the Sun), and with Paul, a highly patriarchal conditioning of what used to be a very small sect cult - transformed into a global power. Now from here we can go in complete circles as to which version of a Christ is being put forward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d2lOQpuqd4 The attached video is great because it shows how complex and devilish all these thought constructs are and how it can end up creating such blood and mayhem - which are all products of thought and the by-product of control freaks. That is not something I have decided that I don't have time for, but in reality i find so interesting because it mirrors the human condition and the conflicts that arise from that conditioning. Best way to save a headache is to remove oneself from all these forms of power plays or at least point out this pitfalls and perils of organized religion. Reply