Church or State-That is the question

 Big brother (1984) got a bad rap as he is really benevolent  Winston and Julia go to O'Brien's house, where they confess to O'Brien that they are enemies of the Party. In the party one must think first of the state and not of ones own-self. Own-self is a crime. " Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country” c. 1961 JFK O'Brien explains the secret Brotherhood, a loosely formed group committed to eliminate the Party and Christian morals.   He initiates Julia and Winston into the group. Julia and Winston are the last of the non-Chritsian world and all they want is to frolic in the woods or in thier dingy apartment like muskrats in the animal kingdom.  Big Brother was the Good Guy In the book 1984 it's suppose to be a totalitarian dystopic future where big brother is evil, Winston Smith is good for thinking outside  the box and so on etc. But what if Winston Smith really was just a selfish criminal rebel and big brother really w...

 What were the social and moral conditions in Europe and Britain just after WWII Just after World War II, Europe and Britain faced immense social and moral challenges. The end of the war did not bring an immediate return to peace and stability; instead, it ushered in a period of severe hardship, widespread displacement, and profound moral reckoning. Social Conditions Across Europe, the social fabric was shattered. Cities lay in ruins, economies had collapsed, and millions of people were displaced. Mass Displacement and Migration: The war created a refugee crisis of unprecedented scale. Approximately 20 million people were displaced, including former forced laborers, prisoners of war, and ethnic Germans expelled from Eastern European countries. This mass movement of people created immense social strain and logistical challenges. Housing and Food Shortages: Widespread destruction of infrastructure led to severe housing shortages. Much of Europe's industrial capacity was ruined, and a...

 Here’s a comprehensive list of the main and notable characters in George Orwell’s 1984. They fall into a few categories: central figures, Party members, proles, and symbolic entities. Party Figures & Government Apparatus Big Brother – The possibly fictional leader of the Party, symbol of absolute authority and surveillance. Emmanuel Goldstein – Alleged leader of the Brotherhood, the Party’s principal enemy figure (may also be fictional). Mr. Charrington – An old shopkeeper who rents Winston a room; later revealed as a Thought Police agent. What is Carrington famous for? Leonora Carrington was known for her surrealist paintings and sculptures. In her nearly 2,000 works, Carrington created haunting and mysterious images of sorcery, metamorphosis, motherhood and femininity, and animals like horses and hyenas. Parsons (Tom Parsons) – Winston’s neighbor, an unquestioning Party loyalist. What is a parson in English? /ˈpɑsən/ Use the noun parson to describe a member of the clergy — a...

 Grounding the State in the Christian Creed https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/grounding-the-state-in-the-christian-creed?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=novashare Grounding the State in the Christian Creed A culture without public prayer is a culture that no political intervention can preserve. Regis Martin If the life of prayer is a vocation offered to all, then it follows that the practice of prayer must equally be within the reach of all. It is not an esoteric exercise, in other words, for which only the most gifted athletes of the spirit may qualify. There is no human being on the planet to whom God has ever refused the invitation to pray.  But what exactly is prayer and why do we need it? The Catechism is wonderfully direct on the subject, calling it “a vital and personal relationship with the living and true God” (2558), followed by this charming little chestnut from the Little Flower, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, which is both brief and exquisite: ...

 A "Christian self" is a self understood and grounded in God's love and grace through Jesus Christ, characterized by a "dying to self" and a shift from self-centeredness to a Spirit-filled life focused on others. This involves recognizing one's ultimate worth comes from being a child of God and a "temple" of the Holy Spirit, rather than from personal achievements or an inflated self-esteem. True Christian self-understanding leads to selfless love and the production of the "fruit of the Spirit" (love, joy, peace, etc.), contrasting with the "works of the flesh" driven by self-centeredness.  The False Self vs. The True Self The False Self: . A self-referenced, fearful, and self-protective way of being that is focused on self-promotion and indulgence.  The True Self: . In Christian theology, this is the identity that emerges when one, by the indwelling Holy Spirit, lives in union with God.  Key Aspects of a Christian Self Derived W...

  Grounding the State in the Christian Creed https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/grounding-the-state-in-the-christian-creed?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=novashare

 The Spanish Inquisition was a tribunal established by the Spanish monarchy in 1478 to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in their newly unified kingdom. It was led by Tomás de Torquemada and primarily targeted conversos (Jewish converts to Christianity) and later Moriscos (Moorish converts) suspected of secretly practicing their former faiths. The tribunal used tools like secret denouncements and trials to impose penalties ranging from admonishments and property confiscation to imprisonment and execution, often by burning at the stake Purpose and Establishment Religious Orthodoxy: The Inquisition's main goal was to ensure adherence to Catholic doctrine and eliminate heresy, which was defined as any deviation from Catholic teachings.  State Control: It also served as a tool for the monarchy, particularly King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, to secure their rule and consolidate power over their newly Christian territories and global empire.  History: The Spanish Inquisition was cre...

  An Unhailed Holy Queen https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/an-unhailed-holy-queen?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=novashare

In George Orwell's 1984, Big Brother is presented as a symbol of totalitarian rule, but the nature of his governance can be seen as either "benevolent" or "oppressive," depending on how you interpret his role. However, in the novel, Big Brother is firmly positioned as an oppressive dictator. Let’s explore how the dynamics of the society would change if Big Brother were a benevolent dictator instead of an oppressive one. 1. The Nature of Control Oppressive Big Brother: In the original 1984 scenario, Big Brother exercises control over every aspect of citizens' lives through surveillance, manipulation, and fear. The Party demands complete conformity, where dissent is punished severely, and citizens live under constant surveillance (via telescreens, Thought Police, etc.). The oppression is not just physical but psychological, ensuring that even thoughts are policed (through "thoughtcrime"). The Party thrives on fear, coercion, and the destruction of pe...

 Big brother (1984) got a bad rap as he is really benevolent  Winston and Julia go to O'Brien's house, where they confess to O'Brien that they are enemies of the Party. In the party one must think first of the state and not of ones own-self. Own-self is a crime. " Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country” c. 1961 JFK O'Brien explains the secret Brotherhood, a loosely formed group committed to eliminate the Party and Christian morals.   He initiates Julia and Winston into the group. Julia and Winston are the last of the non-Chritsian world and all they want is to frolic in the woods or in thier dingy apartment like muskrats in the animal kingdom.  Big Brother was the Good Guy In the book 1984 it's suppose to be a totalitarian dystopic future where big brother is evil, Winston Smith is good for thinking outside  the box and so on etc. But what if Winston Smith really was just a selfish criminal rebel and big brother really w...