As I understand it purity is mainly understood as being free of contamination, pollution, guilt and lust. Another aspect of purity is the willingness to be separate and to be seen as different from the rest. The measure of this purity are the morals, precepts, and values by which we live. For the religious person this morality is framed by the particular teaching, traditions and holy book of their faith. The danger of bringing purity and morality together is that they can be used as a weapon to destroy others as this article shows. I think it’s instructive to see how Jesus dealt with what amounts to the same problem. A reading of the Gospel will show Him having full discussions with those who were using purity and morality as a weapon to belittle and disgrace others and, at the same time, to show themselves to be morally pure. They are usually known as the scribes and Pharisees. Firstly Jesus always sided with those who were being “cancelled” like the lepers, tax collectors and sex workers. Secondly He always treated the scribes and Pharisees with scorn, absolutely refused to be silenced and highlighted how unjust and ridiculous they were. Thirdly He did not compromise His own purity and morality which He believed should be shared by all. But wherever you stood on such matters He would treat you with kindness, grace and respect. Of course they did crucify Him, but that’s another subject.
Adrian Smith
3 years ago
An interesting article which tells us more about the sort of people who knit AND want to talk about it on a social media platform.
And as this kind of essentially trivial spat grinds on western civilisation unravels (like a piece of shoddy knitting maybe) whilst it enemies in China, the Islamic world and elsewhere hover gleefully. “Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.” – I think it’s clear where we are in that cycle
As I understand it purity is mainly understood as being free of contamination, pollution, guilt and lust. Another aspect of purity is the willingness to be separate and to be seen as different from the rest. The measure of this purity are the morals, precepts, and values by which we live. For the religious person this morality is framed by the particular teaching, traditions and holy book of their faith.
The danger of bringing purity and morality together is that they can be used as a weapon to destroy others as this article shows.
I think it’s instructive to see how Jesus dealt with what amounts to the same problem. A reading of the Gospel will show Him having full discussions with those who were using purity and morality as a weapon to belittle and disgrace others and, at the same time, to show themselves to be morally pure. They are usually known as the scribes and Pharisees.
Firstly Jesus always sided with those who were being “cancelled” like the lepers, tax collectors and sex workers.
Secondly He always treated the scribes and Pharisees with scorn, absolutely refused to be silenced and highlighted how unjust and ridiculous they were.
Thirdly He did not compromise His own purity and morality which He believed should be shared by all. But wherever you stood on such matters He would treat you with kindness, grace and respect.
Of course they did crucify Him, but that’s another subject.
An interesting article which tells us more about the sort of people who knit AND want to talk about it on a social media platform.
“Purity spiral”. I like it-thanks.
….or, as most might call it, a bullsh*t spiral.
And as this kind of essentially trivial spat grinds on western civilisation unravels (like a piece of shoddy knitting maybe) whilst it enemies in China, the Islamic world and elsewhere hover gleefully. “Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.” – I think it’s clear where we are in that cycle
Interesting article.