Empress Wu:

 China's Sole Female Emperor

 

Wu Zetian, also known as Empress Wu, holds the unique distinction of being the only woman in Chinese history to rule as emperor in her own right. Her reign during the Tang Dynasty marked a period of significant political reform, economic prosperity, and cultural flourishing.
 

 Rising from concubinage to the pinnacle of imperial power, Wu Zetian demonstrated remarkable intelligence, political shrewdness, and administrative capability, challenging traditional gender roles and leaving a lasting legacy on Chinese civilization.

 

From Digital Anvil 

 

Worldview Essay 2.4: 

 

Forgive my boldness; I would like to share something you probably know, the term: Worldview. 
This is a set of beliefs you and I live by. These ‘guides’ to life or ways of living are taught and learned through various means. Much of today’s dominating global -view has trickled down from the mountainside of the great intellectuals of the past 400 years in Western society.
A small group of thinkers like Darwin, Hobbes, Hume, Rousseau, Nietzsche, Freud, Marx, Sartre, Kafka, Camus, Jung, Hesse, Koestler, Huxley and  a few more have established the newer intellectual landscape for some centuries.

You may not have heard of all of them, but they certainly fuel some of your beliefs.

I have read a few of their famous books, devouring the publications eagerly and was deeply impacted by them. Some were great thinkers who liberated my mind and our contemporary society. They were unrivalled men whose contribution to Western thought is priceless. Some of their books caused me to stay up for hours overnight to complete reading those works of compelling genius.

 I studied deeply their ‘messages to the world’ in High School. I learned that these thinkers were skillful with words, causing 100s of 1000s like me to accept their cognitive engineering of contemporary Western society’s social and evolutionary progress.

There were key themes in books that we studied in High school. For example, the individual vs the society: Huxley’s vision of the near- future where people were divided into 3-4 classes and how a particular drug was given to ‘lower’ masses to stop them from knowing that they were living in an elitist governed Utopia and kept ‘happily’ unaware.  ( Brave New World )

My generation, the Baby Boomers, wanted to change the world! We did precisely that. For good or ill? You decide? As I aged, I grew up in a way that reflected what I had read for about the first three decades of early life. Yes! Ideas, you shall find, can have real-world consequences.

 Yet as I grew older, I began seeing some flaws with the loss of critical thinking and the indoctrination of the modern Western civilisation  in latter decades.

 I’ve read some contemporary philosophers and particularly, general technology books, which opened my mind to search, review and understand carefully.

It wasn’t the wisdom of another more extraordinary thinker that brought down the intellectual Everest for me. The then overall meaninglessness of my life, the emptiness and the void in my heart, tolled the death- bell of this long-cherished Worldview. 

Later on, I concluded that their writing was intelligently crafted, deceptively skillful fiction.  We could term this collective body of work as misleading, delusionally conceived and destructive information. The over-arching strategy of their books is an attempt to explain away God. To deny Him a place in our world and present Him as an ancient mythic- being. An improbable Wizard in the sky.

 It was my original acceptance of their spellbinding system of beliefs (the atheistic worldview) that brought me to that cave of despair and darkness in the first place. They taught that God is dead!

And that a person’s value is not inherent and that individuals must earn their way in life while valuing and obeying the Government elites above their own freedom. If this seems like a return to ancient Rome’s ideals, it is. Women and girls have been seduced by the darkness in idealising their roles as ‘empowered’ females in an age where unattached sex is easier to obtain than a pizza. Where the tragedy of 'Bonnie Blue' polarises Mums and Dads of yesteryear disapproving attitude and more than the likes of current social media platforms.

These achingly poor realised attitudes  are the deeper echoes of the 50s, 60s and 70s political, social, cultural, sexual and economic ‘revolution.’ The catch-cry’s then morph into the hook-ups of today with old slogans of...

‘If you want to, then do it, don't stop!’Nice single girls can too! ‘If It doesn’t hurt anyone, go ahead, do it!’ ‘That  We, not God, are the measure of everything.’  Anyway, God left us all alone, and He departed after creation.’ True? Or not? 'Pessimism seems true.'
It seemed to the following generations, that existence is meaninglessness; Face that kind of life with courage. Courage is meaningless. The gladiators motto or existentialists tagline became,' eat, drink and be merry. For tomorrow we die!'

But ...

Look up at the night sky and see the white points of trillions of galaxies in overwhelming blackness. Is the universe impersonal or is it the intentional craftsmanship of an intelligent Designer?
 

Ask yourself, when you are faced with a likely moral decision, do I invest this moment (e.g.,meeting girls by serendipity) in my life for short- term benefits or for long-term gains?
We ask ourselves how do we make sense of all the particulars we encounter in our lives? From Adam to Zoology, from a baby's cry to a Ferrari, from ideas to transcendence, from the cell to a prisoner. All is  phenomena in the world of our space and time. All things, we can see or sense, yet there are things that we cannot see, yet we know that they are true and real. We have asked, how does this all fit together? The question wrestled throughout human history. 

Who do we trust? Mortal man or immortal  God?

Because, like 100s of millions of others, we choose to trust some of those trickled down ideas from a few mortals who—I believe-- undermined the foundation of our Western society to fracture the granite-like base of our collective lives. Their ideas sound good until you see the downstream consequences. Compare Putin's Russia with Singapore ? Hong Kong under Britain vs Chinese Protectorate? China vs USA. Iran vs Israel.

Who is truly free and who has freedom chained?

The after -effects of some trickled down thoughts are found in the rise of relativistic ideals, radical gender theories, neo-atheism, neo-racism and the emergence of communism -Lite, political correctness and reality ensembles. One example is the popularity of reality TV. These people are rarely endowed with awarded talents, fine acting skills or other merits except that they are famous. For instance, the Kardashians' fame lies primarily in persistent self-promotion and clever marketing. Mega-numbers crave such celebrity, power, wealth and prestige. ‘Appearance is everything,’ a  myriad of voices cry out. Cosmetic surgeons do whole-body makeovers to chase the elusive ‘fountain of youth.’

Today, celebrities, whether athletes, rock bands, movie stars, billionaires, models... etc., project our inner desires. Our lives in the digital age reflect the core value of belonging: where do we fit in? We are composites of the persons we want to emulate.  We mirror other mirrors, other like-minded people; it is one reason for the massive popularity of social media.( Four Billion + members) Becoming more like what we desire. Is this good or ill? We consume and assume worth by buying acceptance and belonging to particular people- groups. From our data, the algorithmic marketing pitch, honed and shaped by our offline and online lives over the past decades, precisely targets our human need for worth. Despite our fiercely guarded independence, we comply, longing to belong.

 I know you believe we are all made free. I was duped, but now I see. I am free from near- global deception. More than a game changer, it is a Life- Transference! Transferred from the domain of man to the kingdom of God.

I am overwhelmed by gratitude. Who or what liberated me? All that happened was that somebody took me out of a deep cave into pure, radiant light. This new reality, which I have begun to live in, makes me want to rescue others trapped in the deep cave and release them. This is a gift I am unworthy to receive, yet I did! Originally a prisoner now rescued from falsehood,fiction,myth and delusion. 

Why should I be fortunate to experience this true enlightenment, this change of perspective, heart and mind?  Has Love found a way?

Transformed by new concepts and persons whose selflessness, devoted actions and committed friendships shared their light. There is abundant love, genuine acceptance, and a meaningful and purposeful life to be found.  Experiencing new and renewed relationships in the illumined world that reaches beyond barriers and toward healthier living with the fundamental dynamic Love from the ‘Book of Ages’: The Bible.

(Thank you for reading this letter.)

Recommended sources for further research:

Renewing Your Mind by R.C. Sproul.
Consequences of Ideas by R.C.Sproul.
Streams of Confusion by Brad Scott.
1984 by George Orwell.

The Intellectuals by Paul Johnson
Dekonstructing the Kardashians by M J Corey

and others
Academy of Ideas: YouTube Channel.

What do you think? drop a comment? Your nuggets, your thoughts are welcome? Drop by again.

Final Comment:

It came to my attention that I didn't name other contemporary thinkers. While its not an omission of agreement but of space and historical relevance, its still mine. Tonight I embark on reading a tome by Dostoevsky of whom Camus and Einstein said,that he is the real brilliant 19th century.Prophet, not Marx.

      

 By Digital Anvil.

 Return of the Princess:

 

 She's back!!!

This very evenin, she hugged and so did I.

Thank You,Father for her safe Return.

By Digital Anvil.

Final Comment:

Later,i asked her, what had she done to herself, because she looked " different?"

I was stunned  and puzzled because she looked so different ?  Her hair? Her clothes? 

 

She smiled with the air of satisfaction and replied, " make - up. "

Thank You, God,because to love is to be made whole.

 The Boy Crisis

 

 

 

Few books have done more to reframe the conversation about boys and young men than The Boy Crisis by Warren Farrell and John Gray, which was published eight years ago in March 2018. 

Compassionate, evidence-based and solutions-focused, it stands as one of the defining works on the challenges facing boys in the 21st century.

Farrell and Gray argue that the boy crisis isn't about boys losing power, but about too many boys growing up without the support, guidance and opportunities they need to flourish. They explore declining educational outcomes, father absence, mental health struggles, rising suicide, social isolation, addiction, disengagement from work and study, and the growing number of young men who feel disconnected from purpose and belonging.

What distinguishes this book is its refusal to blame. Instead, the authors draw on decades of research to understand why these problems have emerged and, more importantly, how they can be addressed... They highlight the importance of involved fathers, positive male role models, healthy masculinity, better schooling, practical learning pathways, relationship skills and policies that recognise boys' distinct developmental needs while benefiting families and society as a whole.

Warren Farrell has spent decades courageously challenging assumptions about gender, while John Gray brings deep psychological and relationship expertise. Together they demonstrate that caring about boys isn't a rejection of caring about girls; it's an essential part of building a healthier, fairer and more compassionate society...

The lasting impact of The Boy Crisis lies in its humanity. It helped shift public discussion from ideology to evidence, from blame to understanding, and from despair to practical solutions. For parents, educators, policymakers and anyone who wants the next generation of boys to thrive, this is an indispensable book. It deserves to be read widely, discussed seriously, and acted upon. The Boy Crisis is a landmark contribution to one of the most important social challenges of our time.

Unknown Contributor.

Many thanks.

( from Digital Anvil )

Our 'Job' 

 

We, Christians are to be His witnesses. Our 'job' is to be the invisible reign of Jesus visible. The world is shrouded in darkness. Nothing is visible in the dark. No wonder then we've are called to be the light of the world. Every single one has a mission. We have all been sent to bear witness to Light. That means simply that we are all missionaries.

My thanks to R.C. Sproul for this exhortation to act.

From Digital Anvil.

Pressure Of Too Much Money

A survey by the Private Wealth Network revealed that the vast majority of Australia’s wealthy want to conceal their true wealth from family and friends.

A spokesperson from one of the forty-four wealthy families surveyed commented:

“It makes it a hell of a lot harder to raise your kids with a decent attitude and to instill my child with a sense of purpose and mission.”

Most of us only dream of being crazy wealthy and think that would solve all our problems. Yet this survey shows that you simply migrate to a different set of challenges.

This is why Paul wrote to the Philippians that he had learned to be content in every circumstance, whether living in plenty or in need (Philippians 4:12).

Joy is beyond our financial resources.

Share this daily- reading.

I'm grateful to Karl Faase.

( from Digital Anvil )

 On Purpose:

 

 

Here is a linked article for connecting with an overall goal of God and of others, I thought you might be interested  in ...where can you and I find our purpose,our primary reason for being here on this planet? Especially in the tug and push of everyday life.

Click or tap on link below

link On Purpose.

(from Digital Anvil with respect to the website: Glorify.com.)

I recommend following the above link to determine more of that universally sought- after supra -power: Purpose.

As you are aware the 3 primary pillars of human life are belonging,meaning and purpose. 

Purpose is the shorter, slimmer but stronger sister  walking with her two sisters, Meaning and Belonging along a dusty, winding path. In fact the two elder but more robust sisters are being dragged by Purpose uphill toward their common  destination,  the mountain range of the familiar fillial peak: Gennema.

By Digital Anvil.