Status Updates From Truth and Tolerance: Christ...

In the consciousness of mankind today, freedom is largely regarded as the greatest good there is, after which all other good things have to take their place. In legislation, artistic freedom and freedom of speech take precedence over every other moral value…Political action has to demonstrate that it furthers freedom.

The renunciation of truth does not heal man. How much evil has been done in history in the name of good opinions and good intentions is something no one can overlook.

Ecological disasters could serve as a warning to us...The ability to hear such warnings, the will to let oneself by purified by the truth is essential…The capacity to renounce oneself, a greater inner openness, the discipline to withdraw ourselves from the noise and all that presses our attention, should once more be for all of us goals that we recognize as being among our priorities.

Cardinal Ratzinger continues to speak at a graduate school level. Honestly we could probably devout college level courses to his writings alone. It offers deep reflection, yet I continue to struggle to grasp his intellect.

A deep deep dive into religion and relationships between different religions so far! Interesting stuff

“Revelation is not something Alien to them; rather, it corresponds to an inner expectation in the cultures themselves”.

Points that I like so far
- The God of Abraham has 2 foreign qualities than others. His title, and the fact that he is not a “god” of one realm but has dominion over the universe.
- Christianity transcends culture and philosophical thought without compromising it.
- Faith persists because it corresponds with the nature of man. The longing for the infinite is still there even after the fall.

Some of the questions Pope Benedict XVI (Cardinal Ratzinger at the time) poses here: Can the Christian claim truth without being intolerant? How is revelation different in the monotheistic religions? What is the relationship between faith and culture, and does Christianity compromise one’s culture upon conversion? Are there seeds of the Gospel/Paschal Mystery in other religions?