Linda's Blogspot

Someone sent me a YouTube clip quoting that African are prone to being violent because it is in their DNA. 1. There is no “violence gene.” Modern genetics has proven that there’s more genetic diversity within African populations than between Africans and any other group on earth. Africa is the birthplace of humanity — every population outside Africa descends from Africans. To say that violence is “in African DNA” is not only wrong but biologically absurd. 2. Violence is a social and historical issue, not a genetic one. When violence occurs in any society, it’s usually tied to: Colonial history and trauma Poverty, inequality, and lack of opportunity Political instability or external interference Cultural dislocation or exploitation These are human-made conditions, not inherited traits. 3. This kind of rhetoric has a long, dangerous history. Claims about “racial traits” have been used to: Justify slavery, colonialism, and segregation Rationalize police brutality and economic exclusion Sp...

Emmet Fox’s Sermon on the Mount (1934) transformed spiritual understanding in the early 20th century. His work reinterpreted Jesus’ message not as dogma, but as a practical guide to consciousness, inner law, and personal transformation. Comparing Fox’s New Thought lens to traditional Christian interpretation highlights both shared moral foundations and very different metaphysical assumptions. Below is a comparison: Emmet Fox’s New Thought Interpretation vs. Traditional Christian Interpretation 1. The Nature of God Traditional Christianity: God is a personal, transcendent Being — Creator, Judge, and Redeemer. He exists apart from creation but loves it deeply. Humans are dependent on God’s grace, and salvation comes through faith in Christ and obedience to His teachings. Emmet Fox (New Thought): Fox sees God as divine Mind, Infinite Intelligence, or Presence — the creative power that permeates all things. God is not a distant figure but the indwelling Source of all life and thought. To F...

So much in common in this two religionous Thought practices. The world needs guidance and teachings  “Islam: The Path of Inner Peace and Compassion” — A Spoken Reflection (Soft background music fades in — something serene, perhaps with gentle oud or flute tones.) Narrator voice (warm, reflective): There is a path that leads inward… a path of stillness, surrender, and peace. It is the path of Islam, whose very name means peace through surrender to God. In a world of noise and striving, Islam reminds us that peace is not something to be found out there — it begins within. To surrender in Islam does not mean to give up. It means to let go — to release fear, pride, and anxiety — and to rest in the trust that there is a divine wisdom moving through all things. When a Muslim says “Bismillah” — “In the name of God” — before beginning a task, it is a reminder: that every act, every word, every heartbeat belongs to something greater. It is an invitation to live consciously, reverently, and ...

Religions Connections: New Thought & Islam is Sufism There are connections between Islamic spirituality (especially Sufism, the mystical dimension of Islam) and New Thought teachings such as those of Emmet Fox, Neville Goddard, Ernest Holmes, and  Scovel Shinn. At the same time, there are also important philosophical differences — mainly about the nature of God, creation, and human power. Similarities between Islam (especially Sufism) and New Thought 1. God Is Near — Not Distant The Qur’an repeatedly emphasizes that God is closer than your own heartbeat: “We are nearer to him than his jugular vein.” (Qur’an 50:16) This echoes the New Thought idea that the Divine is immanent — not a remote deity but a living presence within consciousness. Both traditions teach that we live and move within divine mind or divine reality. In Sufi Islam, this nearness of God is expressed in the idea of Tawhid — the unity of all being. There is no separation between Creator and creation; everything i...

The World Needs Inner Peace ! The moral and spiritual lessons in Christianity, Islam offers a deeply practical and compassionate path for living a conscious, ethical life. Many people don’t realize how much Islam emphasizes inner development, peace, and responsibility — ideas that beautifully parallel teachings like Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. “ The Teachings of Islam as a Guide for Daily Life.” The Teachings of Islam is also a Guide for Daily Life like Christianity. At its heart, Islam — which means “peace through surrender to God” — is about living in harmony: with oneself, with others, and with the Creator. Much like Christianity, Islam teaches that faith is not a label, but a way of being — a daily practice of humility, mindfulness, and compassion. The core teachings of Islam, found in the Qur’an and the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), are meant to guide believers in every aspect of life — from how one thinks and speaks to how one treats others and relates to t...

 “The Bible as a Great Educator” — Spoken Reflection I find it interesting how often people criticize Christians and Christianity. Some say the Bible is outdated, or that it’s not true — and yet, they miss something important. They miss the fact that, whether you believe in its divine origin or not, the Bible is one of the greatest teachers humanity has ever known. The Bible is a book full of lessons — about how to live, how to forgive, how to love, and how to grow. It’s not just a religious text. It’s a book about being human. Its pages are filled with the stories of people who struggled, doubted, failed, and tried again — people who found courage in the middle of fear, faith in the middle of hardship, and peace in the middle of uncertainty. When I read the Bible, I don’t just see commandments or rules — I see wisdom. I see guidance for everyday living. From Joseph, we learn forgiveness. From Ruth, we learn loyalty and love. From David, we learn that even when we make mistakes, we...

  The Global Village Has Become a Village of Tribes By Linda Dabo When Marshall McLuhan first coined the term “global village” in the 1960s, he imagined a world where electronic media would knit humanity together through instant communication. Distance and time would vanish, he said, and we would all live as if we were neighbors, hearing and seeing one another in real time. Yet McLuhan also warned that such closeness might not lead to harmony. He predicted that the global village could just as easily become a theater of tribal conflict , where emotions overpower reason and identity becomes our loudest language. This morning, scrolling through TikTok, I saw McLuhan’s prediction come to life. A Caribbean woman was addressing African American tourists who, caught in a hurricane during their stay at a luxury Jamaican hotel, had taken to social media to complain about the service. She was unapologetic and visibly angry. “I am not Jamaican,” she said, “but don’t come back to Jamaica ...

Terms like communism, socialism, and capitalism are often used loosely, and the reality in most countries rarely fits the textbook definitions. Let’s break them down clearly, and then see why old labels often don’t match today’s practice. When Old Labels of Communism, Socialism and Capitalism no Longer fit. Capitalism Core idea: Private ownership of property and business. Individuals and companies make decisions about production, investment, and prices, usually guided by the market. Goal: Profit and efficiency through competition. Government role: Varies—can be minimal (laissez-faire) or significant (regulation, welfare, public services). Examples: U.S., Germany, Japan (though all mix some social programs). Socialism Core idea: Collective or government ownership of major industries and resources, often paired with strong welfare programs. Goal: Reduce inequality, provide essential services to all. Government role: Typically larger, intervening in the economy to redistribute wealth. Exa...

Emmet Fox and the Law of Personal Responsibility By Linda Dabo In his spiritual classic The Sermon on the Mount, Emmet Fox offers a timeless truth that feels as urgent today as when he first wrote it: “No man or woman can save his brother’s or sister’s soul, or pay their debt. We can and should help one another on special occasions, but in the long run each must learn to do his own work.” In this simple passage, Fox distills a profound spiritual law — one that harmonizes compassion with personal accountability. The line between helping and overreaching, between loving someone and trying to live their life for them, is one of the most delicate and essential to discern. The Individual Path Fox’s message is rooted in the understanding that every soul is on its own journey of growth and realization. Each person must come to see truth through direct experience. No sermon, no friend, no teacher — not even the most loving parent — can substitute for the inner work that transforms consciousnes...

  The Many Economies of the Jews: A Journey Through Socialism, Communism, and Capitalism By Linda Dabo Across the tides of modern history, few peoples have been more entangled with the great economic systems of the modern age than the Jews. From the guilds and ghettos of medieval Europe to the kibbutzim of Israel and the stock exchanges of New York, Jewish experience with socialism, communism, and capitalism is a study in resilience, adaptation, and contradiction. The Jewish encounter with these economic worlds is not a single story but a series of overlapping ones — each shaped by exclusion, intellect, ethical tradition, and the ever-present quest for dignity. From Margins to Modernity For centuries, Jews were confined to the economic margins of Europe. Forbidden to own land or join craft guilds, many found survival in commerce, moneylending, and trade — professions both tolerated and resented. Out of necessity, Jews became skilled in portable capital: literacy, arithmetic...

Jewish people — Jewish history, culture, thinkers, communities — and the three major economic-systems/ideologies of capitalism, socialism & communism.  1. Historical forces & motivations Here are some of the broad forces that shaped Jewish engagement with capitalism, socialism and communism: Marginalisation, prejudice & economic role: In many parts of Europe Jews were restricted in the trades they could enter, barred from land-ownership, sometimes relegated to clerical/trade/finance roles. This placed many Jews in intermediary economic positions (commerce, small credit, trade) which made them visible as economic “others”. For example, the linkage of Jews & moneylending goes back many centuries.  Appeal of socialist movements: Because of discrimination and limited opportunity, many Jews were drawn to socialist and left-labour movements that promised equality, removal of class barriers, internationalism, and relief of suffering. The idea of “workers of the world ...

  When Utopia Lost Its Soul By Linda Dabo When Thomas More published Utopia in 1516, he was not simply imagining a perfect society — he was probing the conscience of his own. His island civilization, where property was shared, work was equal, and greed was extinguished, has echoed through the centuries as one of the earliest blueprints for an ideal world. Yet Utopia was never just a social experiment. It was a spiritual reflection, an attempt to reconcile human reason with divine order. Centuries later, that same vision would be reborn — but emptied of its soul. The architects of modern communism, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, borrowed liberally from the communal framework that More envisioned: shared labor, common ownership, and the leveling of class distinctions. But in their hands, faith — the moral engine of More’s world — was erased. In Utopia , religion is not an afterthought. It is the heartbeat of civic life. More’s citizens believe in the immortality of the soul, d...

When Utopia Lost Its Soul: How Communism Borrowed from Thomas More and Left Out God When Sir Thomas More published Utopia in 1516, he gave the world more than a clever satire about politics and human folly. He offered a blueprint for a better society — one based on reason, equality, and shared purpose. More’s imagined island was a place where there was no private property, where people worked for the common good, and where greed and envy had no soil to grow. It was a society that balanced material needs with moral order, a harmony between the practical and the spiritual. Centuries later, parts of More’s Utopia would be lifted and reshaped into something very different — modern communism. The idea of communal ownership, equality of labor, and the elimination of class divisions are all ideas that echo through More’s pages. But when Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels reinterpreted these ideas in the 19th century, they removed the foundation upon which More built his vision: faith. More was a ...

  The People’s Party: The Populist Movement in America In the decades following the Civil War, American farmers faced deep economic hardship. Falling crop prices, high railroad shipping costs, and mounting debt left many rural communities struggling to survive. Out of this discontent arose the People’s Party, better known as the Populist Party, one of the most significant third-party movements in U.S. history. Origins The Populist Party grew from earlier agrarian organizations, such as: The Grange Movement (1860s–1870s) — which promoted farmer cooperation and regulation of railroads. The Farmers’ Alliances (1880s) — which sought economic reform, cooperative stores, and political representation. By 1891, leaders from these movements met in Cincinnati to form a new political organization—the People’s Party—to challenge the dominance of both Republicans and Democrats, whom they saw as beholden to banks and industrial corporations. Platform and Goals At the 1892 Populist Convention in ...

  Opinion: The Lost Art of Discernment in Our Public Life By Linda Dabo As New York City moves toward its next mayoral race, something essential seems to be missing from the civic conversation — discernment. Passion is everywhere, opinions are abundant, and social media hums with constant commentary. But discernment — the quiet ability to perceive truth beneath noise — feels rare. Among young voters especially, I sense a kind of restless certainty without reflection. People react before they’ve had time to think, repost before they’ve had time to read. It makes me wonder: is discernment even taught anymore? Is it part of our schools, our civic education, or our everyday conversations? Discernment is more than intelligence. It’s not about being clever or quick. It’s about seeing clearly — distinguishing truth from illusion, and what matters from what merely distracts. It’s a form of wisdom that grows through stillness and self-awareness. Yet in today’s world of constant stimulation,...

  The Lost Art of Discernment in Our Public Life By Linda Dabo  As New York City heads toward its next mayoral race, one thing seems to be missing from the conversation — discernment. Passion? We have plenty. Opinions? Overflowing. But clear, steady judgment — the kind that sees beyond slogans and emotions — feels strangely absent, especially among younger voters. It makes me wonder: is discernment even taught anymore? Is it part of our schools, our conversations, or our civic life? I fear that it has quietly disappeared, leaving behind a culture of reaction rather than reflection. Discernment is more than intelligence. It is wisdom in motion — the inner light that helps us see what’s true and good beneath appearances. It is what allows a person to say, “Let me pause before I decide.”  A Culture of Noise We live in an age of noise. Information comes faster than we can process it, and opinion is often mistaken for truth. Political campaigns rely on emotional triggers, not ...

The Little Light of Knowing A bedtime meditation story about discernment Tonight, before you fall asleep, close your eyes and take a slow, quiet breath. Feel your body resting — soft, still, and peaceful. You’re about to visit the quiet place inside you — the special place where truth lives. Some people call it their “inner church,” some call it the “light within.” It’s that calm space where you can feel what’s right, even when the world outside feels noisy or confusing. Now imagine a gentle path made of golden light. It leads to a small glowing room inside your heart. You walk there slowly, breathing softly. Each step you take makes you feel lighter, calmer, and wiser. When you arrive, you see a tiny candle waiting for you. It’s your Light of Knowing. It doesn’t shout. It doesn’t rush. It shines quietly — steady, loving, and true. You sit beside the candle and listen. You can ask it anything: “Is this true?” “Is this kind?” “Is this right for me?” The candle never gives quick answers....

The Lost Art of Discernment in Civic Life By Linda Dabo As I look around at the upcoming mayoral race in New York City, I see an unsettling pattern — a lack of discernment, especially among young voters. Passion is plentiful, opinions are loud, but something vital seems missing: the quiet strength of clear inner judgment. It makes me wonder — is discernment even taught anymore? Is it part of our educational curriculum, or has it quietly vanished from the classroom and, with it, from our conversations? Discernment is not mere intelligence. It is not cleverness, nor is it simply having an opinion. It is the spiritual intelligence that perceives truth beyond appearances — the ability to sense what is real, authentic, and constructive beneath the noise of persuasion and emotion. It is a skill of the soul, and it seems to be fading. The Modern Void Today’s culture of speed and spectacle makes discernment difficult. We are flooded with data, headlines, and emotional appeals. Our poli...