Purity Unrealized

I ran across this quote this morning; while the author is not writing about Laestadianism, I thought the sentiment fit quite well.

Puritan movements are doomed to fail because people are not pure. Such coteries inevitably turn in upon themselves: having fondly imagined they can set themselves up as a society of the perfect, at the first sign of weakness the mob will turn on the one perceived as guilty and drive the offender out. Ultimately such a gathering is the antithesis of the Gospel, for it is based on judgment rather than forgiveness. It is also the antithesis of history, for it lives in a fantasy of realized eschatology rather than in the hope of a cooperative pilgrimage.

Because they are based on a goal incapable of realization -- a pure society with unrealizable standards, or a perverse double standard that acknowledges but cannot tolerate human imperfection -- they never cease from irascible critique, a toxic attitude by which they close themselves off from the wider world and then turn in upon, and digest, themselves.

Tobias Stanislas Haller BSG

Another brief story of shunning

Ran across this short article today, and thought I'd pass it on.

Thank goodness the comment feed is working again!

How Does Sweetie Become Shunned, by Leanne Waldal

Technical Difficulties

The comment feed doesn't appear to be working right now. Per post comments do work, but the sidebar seems to be having a problem.

Feed for all posts (currently working):
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Feed for all comments (currently not working):
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Feed for this page only comments (working):
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Feed per label (in this case, Laestadian, working):
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Films from Finland

One of the films at the upcoming international film festival in Minneapolis is "Forbidden Fruit," which was discussed on this blog awhile back. There are three other films from Finland. If you see any of the movies, please let us know what you think!

Under Construction

Everyone now and then, things need a spring cleaning, including this site. Please be patient as Tomte looks under the hood and reconnects the wires. It will all come back soon.

Meanwhile, here is an interesting article on Scientology and the cost to those who leave it. Makes me sad and tired just thinking about it.

How about you, readers? Do you find yourself more, or less, sympathetic to others who "stepped in some dogma" (so to speak).

Or does it vary, depending on the person and the dogma?