Seminary Studies etc and ALP NatCon

[tcpip]

The past few days I've spent a fair amount of time completing essays for my studies at The New Seminary. A complete update of my work to date, which includes Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism, plus reviews of the four common dialogues of the last days of Socrates, plus reviews of the first three chapters of Felder's procedural reconstruction of the Ten Commandments, are all available on my website. Yes, that is quite a word count. Edit Neglected to mention that I've been upgraded to the accelerated program, and will complete within a year.

On related matters, caught up with a fellow seminary student who occasionally lives in Melbourne. A former liberal Baptist she is now part of a Uniting Church eco-feminist congregation that meets at CERES. It made good sense to have dinner that night at the home of the organiser of a local witches coven

I have arrived in Sydney to attend the ALP's National Conference and Fringe Conference. Staying in a rather neat and surprisingly charming backpackers dorm in Bondi. Chatted to a reporter on the 'plane over, who reckons the numbers are about 170 to the left and about 220 to the right, with a handful of independents, and with wavering factions in the larger groupings (e.g., the Ferguson Left, the NUW). Briefly attended the National Left meeting. Major issues that will come up will be marriage equality, onshoring processing of asylum seekers, uranium sales to India, and Party reform. Will be making ample use of Twitter during the conference (lev_lafayette).

Comments

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

As a practical example of the discussion we're having I would be interested in what your interpretation is of the Gadhimai festival....

[pmax3.livejournal.com]

I have never heard of that festival before. Seems pretty gruesome from the pictures on Google. Don't know what you mean by saying that it is an "example" of our discussion. If they are doing it for religious purposes, I'd say they have arrived at a rather violent Dharma for themselves which is not likely to do them much good (or the animals, of course).

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Last time it was held received pretty complete coverage around the world; BBC, CNN, the Guardian, ABC etc; so that's when I first heard of it. From what I've read it's a centuries-old tradition.

There are plenty of priests who strongly endorse the activity and of course, plenty of people who claim because of the sacrifices their prayers have been answered.

I have no doubt according to the practitioners this act accords with Rta, don't you think?

[pmax3.livejournal.com]

What do I know, ask them!