Comments for The Fearless Path

Comment on Speaking of Faith by Krista Tippett – book review by mike

mike — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:49:43 +0000

Thanks, Dave.

I’ve been reading a lot about the Reformation and the beginnings of the European Enlightenment. The fear or different ideas, whether scientific or religious, drove so much violence and death. I’ve been making similar comment to students that Polkinghorne does: essentially, science has as its purpose to understand and investigate the “how” of life. It can say nothing about the “why”. Religion really doesn’t pretend to be able to answer the “how” of things (like how the universe came into being), but it has answers to the “why”.

Until we realize that God knows infinitely more than any of us can imagine and we let our arrogance affect the way we treat others, we will be living inconsistently with His “why” for us.

Comment on What Might Have Been by Aharon Smith

Aharon Smith — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 05:02:31 +0000

Agreed. What a cool way of looking at how things could have been. What an ideal that we can strive for in the future. Maybe this war on terror, this realization that for the lust for revenge we have plunged ourselves into never-ending wars with potential blowbacks will awaken the rising generation in this nation to build a better foreign policy path for tomorrow. God bless America and may America remember God.

Comment on Seven Spheres of Influence by Aharon Smith

Aharon Smith — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:49:15 +0000

Amazing! Well said David. We really need to help the majority of Americans (and the world) understand the importance of these spheres of influence and begin to use them again.

Comment on Seven Spheres of Influence by Stephen Palmer

Stephen Palmer — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:56:00 +0000

Dave, I love this article and I’d love to publish it on the Center for Social Leadership website if you’re game.

Comment on What Might Have Been by mike

mike — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:48:23 +0000

“He was resolved to build a strong state, and thought that it could not be done by Christian means. His use of the traditional tools of statecraft-propaganda, deception, intrigue, discipline, war-was bound to offend those who preferred a Christian [nation] to a strong one”.

No, not GWB or even Dick Cheney. Rodrigo Borgia aka Pope Alexander VI. Will Durant here is referring to the Catholic church, then and now a Christian church. The question is, unless a nation is going to behave like a Christian nation, should it continue to say that it is? Or should we stop deceiving ourselves and recognize that a nation can never have a higher allegiance than itself? Rulers will use any means to attain their ends. For most, religion and war are both means only, with the ends being power and money.

But most citizens, when a leader says “religion” or “war”, stop thinking for themselves and fall right in line with what is being asked of them…

Comment on What Might Have Been by Janet Erickson

Janet Erickson — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 04:37:44 +0000

What a huge blessing that would have been. Thanks.

Comment on What Might Have Been by mike

mike — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:34:21 +0000

Wow, Dave. Thanks.

Comment on The Night Battle by Dave

Dave — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:42:53 +0000

This is great Mike. Thanks.

Comment on Turn the Other Cheek? Are you Serious? by mike

mike — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:20:47 +0000

We must remember that Moroni prosecuted his war of defense prior to Christ giving these injunctions to the world. The commands were very different prior to 30 A.D. The Anti-Neph-Lehis had made a covenant which they were not to break, even on pain of death. Have we not entered into a similar covenant as disciples of Christ?

In our day, it comes down to a matter of trust. Will we be more secure and protected if we trust the teaching and turn the other cheek? Don’t get me wrong, I have an obligation to protect my wife and children and will do so. However, the best way to accomplish that protection may be to, instead of violently defending, quietly turn the other cheek. This is the general commandment. Might there be specific exceptions? Absolutely. I just want us to consider the truthfulness of the words of Christ instead of disregarding them out of hand as being too difficult or idealistic or impractical.

Comment on Turn the Other Cheek? Are you Serious? by Reluctant

Reluctant — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:04:34 +0000

I love the concepts that Tolstoy (and you) present here. However, I know you are the perpetual idealist, but I’m still not convinced of the practicality of always turning the other cheek. It’s just that sometimes you need to protect your family, neighbors, etc.

I’m not sure what Captain Moroni would say to Tolstoy. I’m not trying to argue, but just honestly don’t know what he would say. I’m sure the Anti-Nephi-Lehies would completely agree.