Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

TexasProgresive

(12,157 posts)
Tue Jan 20, 2015, 09:13 AM Jan 2015

Last night after a day of celebrating Dr. King

I came across a quote by Thomas Merton which resonates with one by Dr. King posted by Cha:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026108754

We conclude that the world is evil because there is so little love in it and we blame and castigate those whom we hold responsible for this lack of love. Thus a theology or ethics of punishment and retribution take the place of the vision of love, and love becomes and idealized abstraction. The daily reality of our lives is not under the rule of love, but under the rule of law, of force and of punishment. We talk about love, but we live by hate: we hate in the name of love... On the contrary, love is the only reality. Everything that is, is by virtue of love, and if love is not clearly evident in all things, the reason is that we ourselves have made no effort to see love in all things. Thomas Merton in his introduction to To live is to Love: Meditations on Love and Spirtuality Ernesto Cardenal


I recommend going to Cha's post it is quite good.
2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Last night after a day of celebrating Dr. King (Original Post) TexasProgresive Jan 2015 OP
Mahalo for this link, TexasProgressive~ Cha Jan 2015 #1
You're welcome, Cha TexasProgresive Jan 2015 #2

Cha

(297,323 posts)
1. Mahalo for this link, TexasProgressive~
Tue Jan 20, 2015, 09:34 AM
Jan 2015

The quote from Thomas Merton really resonates with me.. it totally makes sense,.. "Love is the only Reality".. the hard part is actually living it! But, so good to be reminded.. and that it's the way Dr King lived his life.



TexasProgresive

(12,157 posts)
2. You're welcome, Cha
Tue Jan 20, 2015, 11:49 AM
Jan 2015

I think of love a being a positive, by that I mean something that has quantity whereas hate is a negative, being a lack of something, in this case love.

This is like there is only light, darkness is the absence of light; there is only heat, cold is the absence of heat.

Well that's the way my simple mind works.

Latest Discussions»Alliance Forums»Interfaith Group»Last night after a day of...