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for eternal life in heaven – a process governed by Divine providence.
There is a distinct difference between people and animals; animals lack
the two higher planes of life humans possess which give us the faculties of free
will and reason.
And we have knowledge of all this, and many other essential truths, from
Divine revelation (the Word).
So here we have two quite distinct and opposite worldviews. The materialist
or atheist view is on the march, and is especially making gains among young
people. In the Heavenly Doctrine we have what we need to lead them out of
the spiritual wasteland which is otherwise very likely to claim them.
(WEO)
the road to character
Some years ago an anxious executive in a downsizing atmosphere
recommended writing your own obituary as stress therapy. “If you are like
most people,” he said, “you will tear up the first draft because it will be about
your accomplishments, successes and positions in organizations. You’ll realize
you want it to be about character – doing useful things, being a good partner,
an exceptional friend.”
This is what New York Times columnist David Brooks calls the difference
between résumé virtues and eulogy virtues in his new book, The Road to
Character.
Brooks is concerned that too many people today live unbalanced lives –
more in pursuit of achievement than character. This is a culture of “selfies”
and the often suffocating narcissism of Facebook. Surveys track a depressing
decline in Christianity and of lives guided by faith. Young people who used to
say it was more important to be “nice” than “successful” have reversed their
priorities. Too often, he says, they lack even a moral vocabulary to evaluate
their world.
In this issue of New Church Life, in which we celebrate another milestone
of New Church education in the Academy Secondary Schools and Bryn Athyn
College, we can be grateful that their mission is unique: to educate young
people for useful lives in this world and the next. Would that it were not so
unique, although there are still many students, schools and colleges committed
to developing character, as well as “success.”
Brooks says: “We live in the culture of the Big Me. The meritocracy wants
you to promote yourself. Social media wants you to broadcast a highlight reel
of your life. Your parents and teachers were always telling you how wonderful
you were.” Missing, he feels, is a noble sense of humility. Especially, we might
add, humility before God.
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