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| Abbotsford, after church, May 4 |
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| Colourized version |
I think both photos are decent versions, considering they are from my new LG mobile and not from a professional camera or from a professional photographer. I like the bluish original as much as the reddish colourized version, but neither caught the actual essence and brilliance of the colours.
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The Dangers Of Exaggerated Critique
After class I viewed on the Knowledge Network
David Starkey's: Music & Monarchy
Dr. Starkey told a version of the following story...
Wikipedia
'The ejection of non-conforming Puritan ministers from the Church of England in the 1630s provoked a reaction. Puritan laymen spoke out against Charles's policies, with the bishops the main focus of Puritan ire. The first, and most famous, critic of the Caroline regime was William Prynne. In the late 1620s and early 1630s, Prynne had authored a number of works denouncing the spread of Arminianism in the Church of England, and was also opposed to Charles's marrying a Catholic. Prynne became a critic of morals at court.
Prynne was also a critic of societal morals more generally. Echoing John Chrysostom's criticism of the stage, Prynne penned a book, Histriomastix, in which he denounced the stage in vehement terms for its promotion of lasciviousness. The book, which represents the highest point of the Puritans' attack on the English Renaissance theatre, attacked the stage as promoting lewdness. Unfortunately for Prynne, his book appeared at about the same time that Henrietta Maria became the first royal to ever perform in a masque, Walter Montagu's The Shepherd's Paradise, in January 1633. Histriomastix was widely read as a Puritan attack on the queen's morality. Shortly after becoming Archbishop of Canterbury, William Laud prosecuted Prynne in the Court of Star Chamber on a charge of seditious libel. Unlike the common law courts, Star Chamber was allowed to order any punishment short of the death penalty, including torture, for crimes which were founded on equity, not on law. Seditious libel was one of the "equitable crimes" which were prosecuted in the Star Chamber. Prynne was found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment, a £5000 fine, and the removal of part of his ears.
Prynne continued to publish from prison, and in 1637, he was tried before Star Chamber a second time. This time, Star Chamber ordered that the rest of Prynne's ears be cut off, and that he should be branded with the letters S L for "seditious libeller". (Prynne would maintain that the letters really stood for stigmata Laudis (the marks of Laud).) At the same trial, Star Chamber also ordered that two other critics of the regime should have their ears cut off for writing against Laudianism: John Bastwick, a physician who wrote anti-episcopal pamphlets; and Henry Burton.'
Dr. Starkey stated (paraphrased) that Prynne had called stage actresses 'whores' and this eventually led to his prosecution and the removal of his ears. Unfortunately the queen of that era had recently been performing on stage.
Another lesson on being careful what one states and writes, including the dangers of exaggerated critique in a serious context. If satire is used, it should be cautiously and respectfully.
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| Christianity Explored |
Mark 10 Sixth Short Study
Christianity Explored
Mark 10:13-16
In regard to Jesus blessing the little children, at the table we agreed that the disciples at least somewhat misunderstood the ministry of Jesus Christ in attempting to prohibit the children access to him, the Messiah and Lord, in as much as the disciples understood the true nature of Christ, prior to the resurrection.
As Christ noted, to be in the Kingdom of God, a child-like faith is required by humanity and I stated that with all my research, I consider myself finite and sinful, implying therefore a child-like faith is appropriate.
The child-like qualities of 'trust and receptiveness' being crucial in this context. Short (1986: 1170).
At our table, we agreed that children are generally more willing to accept things by grace through faith than are adults. Short states in regard to child-like faith: 'apart from any thought of merit...' Short (1986: 1170).
See also
Matthew 19
Luke 18
SHORT, STEPHEN S. (1986) ‘Mark’, in F.F. Bruce (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
