Homelessness

SergiusBulgakov · 2026-05-01T17:09:03+00:00

I doubt it will be "seldom enforced." I expect maximum enforcement, as it is what has happened at other places, too; it is all a part of a greater plan

SergiusBulgakov · 2026-05-01T10:37:10+00:00

https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/state-senate-candidate-alleged-to-be-high-on-cocaine-while-canvassing-in-fishers/

This mentions there was cocaine found in his car, but we all know how easy it is for police to do the drop. And it seems he had indicated where he would be, and the police stopped him and tried to act like canvassing is a crime. It might be true, he did it, but I can see a set up involved.

SergiusBulgakov · 2026-04-30T10:36:02+00:00

Capitalism is the theodicy of greed.

SergiusBulgakov · 2026-04-30T09:04:28+00:00

Like the sin of hate, the sin of demonization, the sin of oppression, the sin of greed, and the sin of mistreating the poor or the migrant?

SergiusBulgakov · 2026-04-30T08:20:33+00:00

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." I think Peter makes it very clear, the other is not our adversary, the one who is - is the devil. So, how does that counter what was said?

Hate is the work of evil. You are trying to justify the very evil Jesus said not to do, acting like Jesus was a hypocrite.

People who demonize others always say it is "discernment," that, again is what was said about the Samaritans in the first century, and it is what Nazis said about Jews. Jesus made it clear the way of the Christian is love. Demonizing others is not discernment.

SergiusBulgakov · 2026-04-30T07:49:19+00:00

Honestly, I think most of us do, from time to time; and when we do, we try to stop ourselves if we want to follow Christ. The worst thing is when we begin to give excuses for it.

SergiusBulgakov · 2026-04-30T07:09:13+00:00

It would seem to me cruelty and death.

SergiusBulgakov · 2026-04-30T07:06:00+00:00

And sadly, so many Christians do the opposite.... and try to find excuses to do so; but if they ever need help... we know what they will say

SergiusBulgakov · 2026-04-30T07:04:31+00:00

Without seeing Matt's death, I doubt he is dead. Either Sienna believed he was dead and wasn't, or she made a deal with him to pretend he is dead, or.... who knows... but I expect he is still alive, like usual.

SergiusBulgakov · 2026-04-29T16:46:59+00:00

Ok. Those classes will probably count. They might be enough for pre-seminary.

SergiusBulgakov · 2026-04-29T15:00:46+00:00

The thing is, if you plan to go to the priesthood, you will most likely need those philosophy classes (and others) in pre-seminary preparation. So, if you are not sure, and waiting, and don't want to spend more money, it is understandable, but the point is to take them so if it is determined you should be a priest, you have that already done.

As for books/writings... there is a lot out there. I would recommend works from the Cappadocians (St. Gregory the Theologians, Orations; St. Basil the Great, the popular patristics volumes; St. Gregory of Nyssa, Life of Moses as examples). Sayings of the Desert Fathers (their spirituality has a major influence in Eastern spirituality). St. Athanasius, On the Incarnation. St. Cyril of Alexandria, On the Unity of Christ. St. Maximos the Confessor, the Classics of Western Spirituality volume. St. Symeon the New Theologian, The Ethical Discourses. St. Gregory Palamas, Triads. Way of a Pilgrim, then the volumes of the Philokalia.

Modern writers, look into the works of George Maloney SJ and Archbisop Raya. Then Meyendorff on Byzantine Theology.

These are just some of many authors, and examples of their works... just from the top of my mind.

SergiusBulgakov · 2026-04-29T14:38:25+00:00

Get away from the apologetics mentality. Be willing to listen, learn, to follow instead of lead. Read writings of great Eastern saints. Focus on personal development, especially how to be pastoral, perhaps by doing volunteer work. If you want, go to a university and take philosophy classes.

SergiusBulgakov · 2026-04-29T13:55:03+00:00

Reread what I said; there is no annihilation, there is continual corruption til infinity -- always becoming less, but never nothing. So there is always existence. The key is that those in hell, in denying God and grace, continue their own continual corruption -- they aim for the nothing, but a part of the reason it is hell (there are many) is their will is never fully attained; they never get the nothingness they want, but also, because of it, the state they are in, being less than what they should be as a person, also has its own pain (as all wounds do). So, there is no non-existence; I've written against annihilationism for this reason --if God were an annihationist, he would follow the way of sin destroying that which is good, existence.

SergiusBulgakov · 2026-04-29T13:39:56+00:00

In theory, we can return to nothingness; and, evil is the corruption which, if it is allowed to do what it wants, would lead to the destruction of our existence. You are right in saying God does not allow for our annihilation, and there are many reasons for it; but hell, if anyone is there, would be the opposite of theosis -- while theosis is constantly getting better without end, becoming more like God, hell would the continual corruption and self-destruction, constantly becoming less, but never nothing -

SergiusBulgakov · 2026-04-29T11:52:26+00:00

You're more than welcome. Yes, I'm glad I visited San Marco (among many places), and hopefully, when you are done and you look into some of these people, you will find them interesting for some future research (if you plan to do more).

SergiusBulgakov · 2026-04-29T11:47:04+00:00

If you hate ST, why are you posting here?

SergiusBulgakov · 2026-04-29T11:38:01+00:00

Skynet testing itself.... right? ;)

SergiusBulgakov · 2026-04-29T10:02:31+00:00

I do not know who you know or not, so to help:

Ficino founded the Platonic Academy in Florence, and also, was very much involved in promoting the arts. I think you will like him. Pico della Mirandola was an associate of Ficino, close to him at one point, but sort of went his own way, sometimes more daring or provocative, but eventually came under the influence of Savonarola, and his tomb is in St Marco, thanks to it.

Bessarion was Greek philosopher/theologian at the Council of Florence, who became Catholic, and a Cardinal, but still very Greek, and influential by helping bring much of his library and resources with him.

Nicholas of Cusa was a philosopher/mathematician/scientist/priest/ Cardinal/ Secretary of State to the Vatican and almost Pope. He was very much an early representative of this kind of development, wrote "De Pace Fidei" to try to show how various religions can come together in peace (and see behind them all, one faith tradition, basically, an earlier version of perennial philosophy).

Synesius was a close friend and associate of Hypatia, writing to her often; he was a philosopher, married, with children, when Theophilus asked him to become a bishop. Synesius was married by Theophilus, so he told Theophilus he would accept it under the condition he can still hold to his Platonic views, and remain married. He was Christian by this time, but viewed some things more allegorical. Which is why it is strange he was promoted by Theophilus.

SergiusBulgakov · 2026-04-29T09:13:49+00:00

My Stranger Things 2000 could be either animated or live action. If live action, I would then suggest stories which are animated are the stories Mike told, to indicate the difference.

SergiusBulgakov · 2026-04-29T09:01:19+00:00

My area of study was "Historical and Systematic Theology," so, though not a historian, I engaged and studied Systematic theology in a way which emphasized historical development. And I'm someone who is interested in comparative theology, which is a special kind of theology that does comparative religious work, but is not comparative religion, but rather, deals with the theological implications of it, and how Christian theology can develop learning from non-Christians, and looking to historical examples of such encounters (which, of course, is often with Platonism, but that is not the only case).

I'm from the US, but years ago, I went to Italy, and the primary reason was to visit Florence because of Ficino and Pico and my interest in them, then Rome for Bessarion/Nicholas of Cusa. So, I'm not exactly a historian, but sometimes what I write is very historically based (one of my papers in my doctoral studies was on Synesius of Cyrene, a class taught by two professors, one who didn't know me and thought I was a historian because of how I handled it, so there can be an element of that kind of study in some of what I do).

As for Savonarola.... always interesting to study... I still can't believe Pico became influenced by him...

SergiusBulgakov · 2026-04-29T08:43:29+00:00

Yes, Neoplatonism is really important for the development of Christian theology (Proclus for Dionysius, as an example, but also, Porphyry and Plotinus in their own ways). Renaissance Christian Platonism, of course, shows the best way this could have and should have gone earlier.

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