The way we perceived the world depends on where we have been in it. If you are considering reading my words, and wonder about my agenda?
Manifesto of the Reluctant Believer: A Perspective on Faith, Violence, and Community
by Lawrence Lyons
From a poor example of a Christian who rarely attends church and believes if the church said that Jesus Christ said part your hair on the right, you can figure Jesus said part it on the left. I retired from the police long ago but once a copper always a copper as they say here in Australia and Britain perhaps elsewhere?
I present this manifesto, a heartfelt invitation to reevaluate how we engage with faith, our neighbours, and the broader spectrum of society—not from the lofty heights of self knowing political power, but from the grounded perspective of the clay of this earth.
In the silences between our incessant thoughts—those fleeting moments when an echo of long-forgotten wisdom suddenly surfaces to inform our current circumstances—we uncover a space of awakening. This is highlighted in the teachings of spiritual figures like Eckhart Tolle, who emphasizes the importance of being present, noting that true awareness often lies between our thoughts. Similarly, Deepak Chopra posits that our essence is both spiritual and physical, suggesting that the interplay between these dimensions defines our existence.
At the very least, we carry within us ancestral memories that influence our instincts and reactions. Consider a pregnant woman who nearly drowns in a river; when her child is later born, they may develop a deep-seated fear of large bodies of water. This fear isn’t simply inherited through genetics—what we might call a “gut feeling” transcends mere biological data transfer. Rather, it encompasses a deeper understanding of perceived threats that have been shaped by our ancestors’ experiences.
These instincts enable us to identify the elements that together form a perceived danger, guiding our responses through an innate wisdom. In times of uncertainty, our intuition can lead us to act protectively, drawing upon the collective knowledge and experiences of our ancestors. Indigenous around the world, emphasise the deep connection between individuals and the natural world, viewing intuition as an integral part of understanding our environment.
As the Lakota scholar Vine Deloria Jr. expressed, our relationship with the earth and each other provides profound insights, teaching us to listen to the whispers of the past. In this way, we are not just guided by our own experiences but also by the shared heritage that connects us to those who walked this land before us.
During moments of stillness or reflection, when we step away from the automatic routines of daily life, we find ourselves in this awakened state. It is in these intervals, between the clatter of advice and the habitual patterns of our minds, that we truly live, straddling the line between waking and dreaming in a deeper, more meaningful way. As Buddha said, “The mind is everything. What you think you become.” This speaks to the power and potential hidden within those quiet moments—a reminder that while we may seem to navigate the world on autopilot, there exists an opportunity for greater awareness and insight in the stillness.
A few ripples of time do move in a different direction to time. I kinda see them as poles in a stream disturbing the water in a predictable pattern. Once in a while you are aware of some “precept” from the future. However, like “omens” if you go looking for them you will find “false omens”. So it is not as helpful as you would think, except in the extreme event categories.
Suddenly you glimpse something that has meaning ahead, like a group of rocks making a trail, it has purpose but as to the purpose you are left wondering. One is a forward look, not until you turn around and look backwards in time do you realise the purpose of those rocks was to guide you into the future. It is a very ancient way of looking at the world.
Today, we are witnessing a resurgence of tribalism. People are instinctively seeking their tribes—not defined by race or colour but shaped by circumstances and shared experiences. This revival is steering us back to a sense of “gut feeling,” where discernment grows sharper, allowing many to see through the distortions perpetrated by the extreme fringes of both the left and right.
As a homeless man might put it, “Wake up! Don’t you see? The left socializes the losses among the many while the capitalists capitalize on the profits of the few. They’re simply two wings of the same bird, and those of us in the middle? Well, we are being told what to think.”
This brings us to an essential inquiry: who is truly orchestrating the intricate web of cooperative structures in our world? The landscape appears increasingly troubling, as many of these organizations seem to be generating more turmoil than stability. Are we witnessing the unchecked power of multinational corporations, or perhaps a selective group of around 6,000 individuals who command a significant portion of global wealth? These actors navigate vast sums of money in the digital realm, often enabling financial maneuvers that shield them from overlapping audits, all while executing a systematic dismantling of the existing financial system to enhance their control.
Consider the practice of legislating for profit. Are there not an abundance of seemingly unnecessary laws today? It is possible that one of these future laws could lead to the prohibition of cash, favouring instead programmable digital currencies. In the 1930s, authorities would arrive at your doorstep to enforce the prohibition of personal gold ownership. Today, such enforcement is obsolete; a mere line of code can render “gold” irrelevant, bypassing the need for physical intervention.
Alternatively, could it be a select group often referred to as the “Elites”? I have a T-shirt from an American Indigenous source that read, “You can’t drink oil,” a poignant reminder of our misguided priorities.
Something personal about me. In 1975, my friends and I climbed onto a roof after surfing most of the day at the Gold Coast in Australia. I know it was the summer of 75 because come January 1976 I was entering the Oxley Police Academy. Just after sunset from the south west the six of us saw two bright lights. At first we thought they were Jumbo Jets with their front light on. But one lad said, “they have them on the wings”. Like an object so large like a Jumbo it almost looks like it is floating for a moment. In the time of a brief conversation about what they were, as they come closer they were above the atmosphere with a long sunlit bright comet tail.
The lower of the two was slightly closer to the earth and was buffering the atmosphere. In the time it took to say “It is cracking” a third broke off and down slightly, then back about ten length and it’s momentum did not miss a beat. It quickly developed a bright white comet tail. We could make out the valleys and ragged edges, the contrast and the shape of each. They followed the curvature of the earth and went off out of sight. So everyday I say pray that always beings with “thank you for this day of life”. The universe is an amazing place, and perhaps the “Blue Star” of the Hopi Indian mythology based on the passing down of astrological events saids it has been here before.
Jesus only said two things about the sword, noting the contemporary today is the gun. These are my words to the effect, firstly “live by the sword die by the sword” The homicide rate is about one as to one hundred thousand, of this those that live by the sword, their statical outlook isn’t good.
The next things the Prince of Peach said about the “gun”, sorry the “sword” was a recommendation to one of his apostle “If you do not have a sword sell your cloak and buy one.” Seems like it is advice to solve a financial problem. The cost of sword and good cloak are about the same.
It comes down to this, “You must love your neighbour as well as your enemy.”
It is easy to love a neighbour based on things they tell you as your get to know them better.
They tell you “I love chocolate cake but my doctor saids I shouldn’t have chocolate.”
If you place temptation in temptation’s doorway by offering them chocolate for lunch, you are not a Christian. Offer them a fruit salad or something else that is healthy for them that they also enjoy.
As for loving your enemy, it is the same treatment, don’t put temptation in temptation’s doorway.
What is the weakness of a bandit? Answer, “An easy target”.
The three responses to a threat is based on psychological principles and sometimes spiritual wisdom.
The first response, the “philosophical” approach, encourages us to step back and assess the situation calmly. It reflects the wisdom of many spiritual traditions, advocating for mindfulness and the understanding that not every perceived threat warrants an immediate reaction. As the philosopher Marcus Aurelius once noted, “You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
The second response, “aggression,” brings forth the idea that some threats require a more direct confrontation. This initial act of asserting oneself—using one’s voice and personal power—can be seen as a protective measure. Engaging with the threat assertively, while still embodying a sense of purpose rather than fear, aligns with the teachings of various spiritual leaders who advocate for standing firm in one’s truth. As the biblical verse from Ecclesiastes 3:3 suggests, there is “a time to kill and a time to heal,” reminding us that there are moments when a person has to take decisive physical action to preserve your life or that of another under attack.
Having a sword or a gun can be a deterrent against an armed bandit or armed aggressor, whatever the circumstances may be, but it serves little purpose if you lack the resolve to use it when faced with an attack. This principle reflects the reality that not all of the apostles were prepared to take the necessary actions to protect themselves or others in the face of danger. Only a few exhibited the willingness to act decisively when their lives—and the lives of those around them—were at stake.
The third response is “avoidance” or “preemptive passive action.” This strategy entails recognising a potential threat early and choosing to step back, allowing others to address the situation. If you lack the capacity or confidence to confront the threat directly, removing yourself from the area can be a wise decision. It prioritises your safety while enabling those more equipped to handle the situation to take action.
Every response has its appropriate context and is suited to specific circumstances and individuals. However, no single response can universally apply to all situations. My goal is to advocate for a model of collective security that does not depend solely on our military for protection during an occupation. In such scenarios, the military would likely be in survival mode, relying on support from the populace including an enacted National Civil Defence.
Good luck and God’s Speed.