Man and Sin by Piet Schoonenberg (1964) 2.3 XN
[Modernism packs every idea into ‘this versus that’.]
[Modernism packs every idea into ‘this versus that’.]
[Throughout history, Christian believers wrestled with heresies that focused on certain relational elements while ignoring the other elements. These heresies distorted the big picture.
Impressions that something was lacking were confirmed by subsequent events.
For example, many heresies often have a way of making some people look better and others look less.
Subsequent events confirm these impressions.]
Summary of text [comment] pages 86 and 87
[Each of these models exhibits a simple relational structure.
The relational structure illustrates how difficult discussions of various topics, such as freedom, can be.
Imagine a thinker focusing on one structural element to the exclusion of other elements.
This is especially easy to imagine when the one thinker is trying to show how another thinker is wrong.]
Here is another issue that he raised:
Can I master a secret knowledge that overcomes my bondage, as if we could find a path to release from this world of decay (as implied by Gnostics)?
Summary of text [comment] pages 84 and 85
[The slogans of the modest proposal might be:
Political promises make bondage.
Personal responsibility makes freedom.]
[The bill is coming due.
The value of a dollar is about to collapse.
The post-religious (enlightenment) Progressives have only one option:
Create a one party state before and during the financial collapse.
Force conversion on all citizens who cooperate.
Place the remainder in camps.]
[What happens if the modest proposal is never considered?
The federal government has already established a sovereign religion. This religion lays words (obligations) upon the people in the name of a multitude of organizational objectives.
They have maintained transfer payments through shady accounting. They borrow 4 dollars for every 10 they spend.
The religion of big government (il)liberalism is a false religion.]
[What happens if this modest proposal is adopted?
All citizens (and non-citizens) would experience greater responsibility and freedom.
The nation would flourish.]
Summary of text [comment] pages 84 and 85
[Here is a modest proposal.
Everyone in the nation should pay a 25% income tax.
5% goes to the federal government for civil and criminal courts plus defense.
The remaining 20% must go to institutions within the person’s state.
These institutions may include churches, charities, plus any other non-profit organizations designated by each particular state.
Let the people put their money where their mouths are.
Let their choices and amounts be published on the internet.
All other federal transfer programs should cease within 10 years.
All monies held in special accounts for particular purposes (for example, so-called trust funds, which are all empty) should be returned to the individuals who paid them.]