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Douglas Saunders's avatar

Fantastic read. Matt 18:3 comes to mind. [3] “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

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Diane Hinsch's avatar

It’s true that cynicism always feels smug and pompous. It’s also lazy. It’s always easier to give up and take the black pill. Otherwise you’d have to work to try to find the hope in a situation. That’s what takes real strength.

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Jordan's avatar

Amen! Somehwat related. Since becoming Christian I have sworn off all sarcasm. I'm convinced the overwhelming majority of the time it is used it is sinful and corrupts the soul. God bless.

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Don Beck's avatar

Excellent rumination on what is--I agree--a cancer on modern society. Well done, Christopher.

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Christopher Stites's avatar

Thanks for reading Don!

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Lynn George's avatar

Joy, like happiness, comes from within. Let it bloom and spread it.

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Sublimating the Quant's avatar

Yes. Joy has essentially deserted our public spaces. How often do you see people laughing out loud in the streets? I have seen a notable decline in a measly 20 years. Our grandparents, despite their struggles, also had a lot more fun.

To me, this loss of joy is part of a wider, longer movement of dehumanization now at play in so many fields.

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Christa Hanshaw's avatar

I whole-heartedly agree. So many are using the term “deconstruction” when what they are actually falling into is cynicism. There’s a true yearning for something real outside of the industrialized church - but instead of walking the journey of being unbraided and rebraided by and with God, they simply create another paradigm based on this ‘non-belief’ in what they left. It’s dangerous territory.

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Christa Hanshaw's avatar

I meant to add also that I believe deconstruction is very real, necessary, and good! It’s just easy to lean into cynicism and believe you’re truly deconstructing.

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