Leaving the monastery

  One of the greatest influences in my understanding of evil was M. Scott Peck. Scott Peck’s exploration of evil in People of the Lie and The Road Less Traveled delves deeply into the psychology behind destructive human behavior. He characterizes evil as a "malignant self-righteousness," where individuals actively refuse to acknowledge imperfection and project their guilt onto scapegoats—often their own children or innocent others. These "People of the Lie" maintain a façade of normality and respectability, using consistent self-deception and manipulation. Peck describes this form of evil as a complex of malignant narcissism, where empathy is replaced by the instrumentalization of others for personal gain, and guilt is deflected onto others to preserve an image of moral superiority. Peck identifies specific traits among individuals he considers "evil": compulsive self-deception, selective abuse of specific targets while maintaining a semblance of kindnes...

The monastery at Meteora in Trikala region, Greece Why monasticism? The Edict of Milan in 313 AD ended the persecution of Christians, but also elevated Christianity to a status of protection and favor within the Roman Empire. This shift allowed Christians to worship freely, emerging from the secrecy and danger they had faced for centuries. However, as Christian leaders gained influence, there arose concerns over the growing secularism and corruption within the church, leading devout believers to seek a purer expression of faith outside mainstream church structures. This led to the rise of the monastic movement, where Christians sought to embody their faith through rigorous asceticism. Initially inspired by the Eastern tradition, the movement found a stronghold in the West as well, with men and women adopting lives of strict devotion. Monastics rejected worldly comforts to focus on prayer, charity, teaching, and evangelism, often leading lives of extreme simplicity or isolation—whether ...

Socrates, philosopher and gadfly This series of articles is edited by Justin Figget MA MA(Oxon). You may wish to refer to section 1.1.0 for an overiview of what we hope to achieve through this detailed examination of Darius' philosophy as set out on his Jersey Libertarian blog.  As always the last number in the title relates directly to the section of the index on the Jersey Libertarian blog index . In this second article we take a closer look at what Darius perceives prevents Jersey from achieving free and fair elections. This reflection delves deeply into the systemic challenges facing Jersey, tying them to broader global issues of governance, media influence, and democratic accountability. Here's the key insights and their implications: 1. The Jersey Evening Post as a Functional Public Authority Darius' analysis highlights how the Jersey Evening Post (JEP) functions as more than just a private media outlet. By fulfilling statutory obligations under laws such as the Jers...