Author Topic: False responsibility (Read 776 times)

spouse of Jesus · « **on:** July 08, 2009, 12:07:04 PM »

Are we really responsible for everything? Are we really obliged to try to eradicate poverty and tyranny? Are we commanded to be as active as possible and work as much as we can? Do we have to be informed about everything that happens around us?
Is it sinful not to weep/worry for the sake of the poor of the world, and just give them alms?
Is it sinful to ignore those world news that can only make us anxious and hopeless?
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I really love to have peace, and I am willing to give alms and pray for the poor. But I don't want to join any campaigne or revolutionary group. I prefer to sit peacefuly and not to hear bad part of the news. I love to focus on my religion.

But they say that everybody should try to eradicate tyranny and oppression and that one must cry out when his rights are not recognized.

Is that true?

Matthew · « **Reply #1 on:** July 08, 2009, 12:20:42 PM »

We cannot eradicate evil in this world. It will always exist.

Our Lord said, "the poor you have always with you: but me you have not always." (Matthew 26:11)

If we could eradicate poverty, we would be proving Our Lord wrong, which is impossible. But we can give alms when we see someone in genuine need.

The problem is that, for the first time ever, we can be aware of EVERY suffering there is, ALL OVER THE WORLD. That is not natural. We were not given hearts large enough to care about 5 billion people. We're not God.

Humans find it much easier to be compassionate about people they can see. And let's face it -- how else can human beings know about something? Before the media, if they didn't SEE the starving people in Africa, they didn't know about them.

Now we're bombarded with an overwhelming tide of evil and suffering in the world. All we can do is shut down and stop "caring" -- which is why it's not all that profitable to religiously read the world news.

I mostly read the news so I can know how much more time we have (to prepare).

But even then, I stick to articles in certain areas: Israel, Russia, Iran -- places that will be involved in the first stages of World War 3.

The average person is not powerful enough to end tyranny OR oppression. I believe when it comes to revolutions (or war in general), etc. there must be a good chance of victory, and it has to be for a just cause. That makes sense, because just the process of revolution/war leads to so much suffering and hardship. That has to be outweighed by the outcome.

I don't know a lot about the Catholic "Just War" doctrine, however, so I leave it to someone else to explain better.

Matthew

TheD · « **Reply #2 on:** July 08, 2009, 12:31:02 PM »

Excellent response Chant! Too often today people are bombarded with the message that we must fight world poverty through some socialist group. There needs to be more emphasis on CHRIST, not a worldly utopian society.

spouse of Jesus · « **Reply #3 on:** July 08, 2009, 09:29:21 PM »

Thank you Chant!

St Jude Thaddeus · « **Reply #4 on:** July 11, 2009, 03:21:32 PM »

Quote from: spouse of Jesus

Is it sinful not to weep/worry for the sake of the poor of the world, and just give them alms?
Is it sinful to ignore those world news that can only make us anxious and hopeless?

No, it is not sinful. One of the chapters of The Spiritual Combat by Dom Lorenzo Scupoli is titled, "The Soldier of Christ, Resolved to Fight and Conquer His Enemies, Must Avoid, As Far As Possible, Anything That Intrudes Upon His Peace of Mind."

The author goes on to say, "The countless trials that crowd this life--sickness, wounds, death, the loss of friends and relatives, plagues, war, fire, etc., which men, naturally adverse to suffering, dread--all these, through God's grace, may not only be received submissively from the hand of God, but can become occasions of joy. This is true if we view them as just punishments, inflicted on sinners, or as opportunities given the just to obtain merits."

He continues, "These trials and events occur at the design of our Master; the severest tribulations of this life bring His will to our aid, so that we can march with a calm and tranquil soul. Any disquiet on our part is displeasing to God. For whatever nature it may be it is always accompanied by some imperfection, and it always has a tendency towards self-love in one form or another."

St Jude Thaddeus · « **Reply #5 on:** July 15, 2009, 01:09:20 AM »

Also,

From The Imitation of Christ, Chapter XX in the Bishop Challoner translation:

Let curiosities alone.

Read such matters as may rather move thee to compunction than give thee occupation [worry].

If thou wilt withdraw thyself from superfluous talk and idle visits, as also from giving ear to news and to reports, thou wilt find time sufficient and proper to employ thyself to good meditations.

St Jude Thaddeus · « **Reply #6 on:** July 15, 2009, 01:23:47 AM »

In all honesty I must add that I follow none of the above advice myself. I spend a couple of hours a day average either listening to news on the radio, reading it on the 'net or talking about it with friends and coworkers.

Predictably, I am often anxious and worried, in disobedience to Christ's admonition that we should not be afraid of them that kill the body... because the very hairs of [our] heads are all numbered. (Luke 12,7.)