Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, reflects on Zaccheus and notes that Christ calls him a “child of Abraham” after his resolve to give generously and restore what he wronged. The label follows the fruit. Cyprian isn’t teaching merit, but recognition: mercy made visible. The question he leaves us with is practical—what are we laborious about, and who would say it shows?

#christian #zaccheus #wealth #grace #solafide #africanchristianity #Solidarity #CommonHumanity #AppliedEthics #PatristicAfrica

As Amy Remeikis @pyjamapolitics said, ‘People are going to be angry and lashing out and that is normal and understandable in the circumstances -- our job is to be there, not weaponise that hurt, and stand against division.’

This is what standing against division looks like.

#CommonHumanity #RefuseHate #grieving

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/dec/17/bondi-beach-terror-attack-vigil-jews-muslims-embrace-ntwnfb?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

I’ve just started reading Huxley’s Island (1962) - his uptopian response to Brave New World - and the first thing he tells us about the people of the Island, in a scene between a little girl and a journalist shipwrecked on the Island, is that the people of the Island are emotionally intelligent. The girls instructs the journalist how to feel his feelings and cry after a fall that could easily have been fatal:

“What did your mother do when you hurt yourself?"

She had taken him in her arms, had said, 'My poor baby, my poor little baby.'

"She did that?" The child spoke in a tone of shocked amazement. "But that's awful! That's the way to rub it in. 'My poor baby,'" she repeated derisively, "it must have gone on hurting for hours. And you'd never forget it.’

Island
Aldous Huxley

I’d prefer it without the derision, but otherwise I’m happy he opened this way. A norm of emotional intelligence one of the bases of the utopias I think about. Unconditional recognition of all others humanly is another.
I believe the norm ‘boys don’t cry’ is one of the basic errors in the way American social reality is constructed.
Attaching good/bad or positive/negative to emotions is something I see often. Feelings are pleasant/unpleasant and give us valuable information about our mind-body state They can be difficult to bear and cut us to the core, and I was never taught how to accept them, I’m having to figure that out now. I could have used some support and guidance. I suspect that applies to a lot of people. #CommonHumanity

#Huxley #Utopia #MentalHealth

Don't worry! We're not judging you. We're all too busy judging ourselves! And worrying about you judging us!!!

If you knew how insecure we all are, you'd feel as confident as hell!
#judgement #anxiety #commonhumanity