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Jim McCrory

What I Fear Most

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Edited by Jim McCrory, Wednesday, 5 Feb 2025, 11:26


"Men have forgotten God; that's why all this has happened." Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

"Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth 'thrown in': aim at Earth and you will get neither." C.S. Lewis

 "When men choose not to believe in God, they do not thereafter believe in nothing, they then become capable of believing in anything." G.K. Chesterton

 "If God does not exist, then everything is permissible." Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov:

"He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you

but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 (BSB).



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What I Fear Most

Reflect on the quotes presented above. They serve as a solemn warning, crafted by sages through the ages, including the divine insights from Micah. A profound fear of mine is that many will be drawn into, and pledge their allegiance to, this post-Christian era. Entrapped by a materialistic and atheistic spirit of the times, this path does not promise a yellow brick road to a new age—and indeed, the cracks on that road are there for all to see.

I see the signs all around me—religious buildings closing, faith dismissed as outdated, and society drifting further into a post-Christian age. We live in a world that still runs on the aroma of Christian morality, yet fewer people recognize or acknowledge the source. What happens when those aromas run out? What will replace the faith that shaped our laws, our ethics, and our understanding of what it means to be human? I fear the answer, because nothing else works.

I was born into a world where Christianity was still the foundation of society. It wasn’t just a private belief system but the bedrock of Western civilization. The idea that every human being has worth—that justice, mercy, and compassion matter—comes not from secular reason, but from the belief that we are made in the image of God. Even those who reject Christianity still live within the moral framework it built. But what happens when that scaffolding is removed?

The moral and legal systems that govern much of the West have their roots in the Bible. Take human rights, for example. They are not self-evident in nature. Ancient empires didn’t operate on the assumption that all men were created equal. That idea comes from Genesis. Justice, as we know it today, was shaped by biblical principles—the Ten Commandments, Jesus’ call to love our neighbour, and the belief that truth is objective rather than relative.

Compassion, too, is a distinctly Christian contribution. The modern concept of charity was not a natural development of human civilization but the result of Jesus’ teachings. Hospitals, schools, and social services largely grew out of the church’s mission. Christianity introduced the revolutionary idea that the weak, the poor, and the outcast mattered. It gave us a moral compass beyond self-interest, a vision of a society where the first shall be last and the last shall be first.

Yet, I fear we are severing ourselves from our roots. Society wants Christian values—justice, dignity, kindness—without Christ. But values detached from their source wither over time.

If Christianity declines, something will take its place. That is inevitable. G.K. Chesterton put it well: “When men stop believing in God, they don’t believe in nothing; they believe in anything.” And history has shown that the substitutes for Christianity are rarely better.

Secular humanism tries to provide a moral framework without God, but its foundation is unstable. Morality becomes subjective, shifting with cultural trends rather than standing firm on eternal truth. The dignity of human life is no longer a given; it must be constantly justified. The moment it becomes inconvenient, it is discarded.

Scientific materialism, another replacement, reduces people to mere biological accidents. There is no soul, no inherent purpose—just neurons firing in a meaningless cosmos. Under this worldview, justice and morality become illusions, useful only for social cohesion but not rooted in any ultimate truth.

Then there are the political ideologies that rise to replace faith. The 20th century provided grim examples of this. When societies abandon belief in a higher power, they often turn to human messiahs—whether political leaders or radical movements. Communism, fascism, and extreme nationalism all sought to create utopias without God, and all led to disaster. The state became the new deity, demanding ultimate loyalty and punishing heretics who refused to conform.

Some turn instead to paganism or vague spirituality, but these, too, fail to provide the structure and hope that Christianity offers. They give temporary comfort but no lasting foundation.

Already, we see the cracks forming. Anxiety and depression are rising, particularly among the young. Without faith, many drift into nihilism, struggling to find meaning in a world that tells them they are just highly evolved animals with no destiny beyond death. There is a growing polarization in society because we have lost a shared moral language. We see the erosion of self-sacrifice, replaced by self-interest. Even forgiveness is fading—cancel culture is what happens when a society forgets grace.

These are not just random cultural shifts; they are the symptoms of a deeper spiritual emptiness. Christianity, for all its flaws in practice, gave us a reason to strive for goodness beyond ourselves. It gave us meaning beyond our immediate desires. Without it, we are left with a world where morality is fluid, where justice is whatever, the majority decides.

But even in my fear, I have hope. History is not a straight line; it moves in cycles. Christianity has faced decline before—during the Enlightenment, for example—yet it revived. God is not bound by cultural trends. Faith often flourishes in adversity. Some of the strongest Christian movements have emerged when belief became countercultural.

Perhaps the future of Christianity is not in grand institutions but in small, faithful communities. Perhaps the faith will be purified by the fire of opposition, leaving behind the nominal belief and rediscovering the radical love and truth of the gospel.

I fear that many will abandon Christianity. I fear what will take its place. But I also believe that truth endures. The world may wander, but Christ remains. And those who seek Him will find Him, even in the darkest times.

This fear may linger in me, but I refuse to despair. Because at the heart of Christianity is a promise—one that no cultural shift can erase: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” Matthew 28:20 (WEB).


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Jim McCrory

A Writer's Notebook: Reflections on Being Human.

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Edited by Jim McCrory, Wednesday, 1 Jan 2025, 09:59


“I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.”

― Robert Louis Stevenson


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During the turbulent period of Covid-19, I embarked on a master’s in creative writing. At the time, I was seeking to understand what it truly means to be human. Listening to and reading various series on the subject. I often found that the perspectives shared were confined within narrow bounds.

To encapsulate humanity in its essence, one need look no further than Micah 6:8, which reads:

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”

These words resonated deeply, inspiring me to begin keeping a writer’s notebook, juxtaposed with my biographical reflections.

Throughout my studies, I observed that mankind appears to be following a downhill trajectory, losing sight of our innate goodness and potential for kindness.

This concern drove me to document my thoughts and experiences, hoping to capture a more comprehensive understanding of the human condition. Some of these reflections, in shorter extracts, are found in this blog, and the developed thoughts will come later in my book, A Writer's Notebook: Reflections on Being Human.

A happy New Year to all you 233,000 visitors who have accessed this blog over the past two years, and may you learn to love kindness and goodness. The source of true happiness. 



 


























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Jim McCrory

What Might Intelligent Life Beyond Our Universe See in Us

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Edited by Jim McCrory, Sunday, 29 Dec 2024, 07:26


Imagine someone tells you something slanderous about another person. Later, you discover evidence suggesting the story might not be entirely true. Is your first instinct relief—'Well, they’re not as bad as I thought'—or is it disappointment, coupled with a hateful desire to cling to the original story, savouring and nurturing with embellishment  the satisfaction of believing the worst about them?



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What Might Intelligent Life Beyond Our Universe See in Us?


Go on, think about someone you have grown to hate. Now, go and write down why you hate them.

What did you write? Is what you’ve written true? Can you even remember why you don’t talk? It looks silly on paper, doesn’t it? Now, think about the worst thing you have ever done to another human. Does it create a cringe factor? A feeling of shame?

The Bible advises going and speaking to the person you hate—just you and that person alone. Why? Because going to others aggravates the issue and questions your own spiritual standing. So, why waste a life hating?

I used to belong to a religion where I gave public sermons. My most requested talk was, “Do you harbour resentment, or do you forgive?” One of the key thoughts in the sermon was the Bible’s advice to go and speak to the person you hate—just you and that person alone. Why? Because going to others aggravates the issue and questions your own spiritual standing. So, why waste a life hating?

If intelligent life outside our realm were to observe us, what would they think?

People often get into fights over things that seem small or unimportant. Whether it’s a sports rivalry or a disagreement over a parking spot, conflicts can quickly escalate into something bigger than the issue itself. But these small fights are usually about deeper feelings like pride, identity, or fear of being judged. Here are a few examples of how people can end up hating or fighting over what seem like trivial matters.

One reason people fight is that they feel wronged, even if no harm was done. Sometimes, a small misunderstanding or a comment taken the wrong way can lead to hurt feelings and anger. This is especially true in relationships with family, friends, or even strangers. We might get mad at someone for something they didn’t mean to do, and this can lead to long-lasting resentment. The fight isn’t really about the issue—it’s about how we feel in the moment.

Another reason people fight is because of differences in religion. People sometimes get angry or even violent when others don’t share the same beliefs or attend the same religious services. This kind of division has been happening for centuries, often based on the idea that one group’s beliefs are the only “right” way—even though their own beliefs change over time. People can reject, slander, or even hate others just because they have a different faith. While this might protect a sense of identity or belonging, it causes harm to relationships and communities.

Sometimes, people get angry when others try to give them advice. This is especially true when the advice challenges their beliefs or way of life. For example, when someone suggests making better choices or changing certain behaviours, it can feel like an attack on personal judgment. Instead of listening, many people shut down or get defensive. They may even start to dislike the person who offered the advice because it made them uncomfortable or forced them to face truths they didn’t want to confront.

In many cases, the reason behind these small fights isn’t really the issue itself—it’s about how people feel. Whether it’s protecting their pride, defending their beliefs, or avoiding the truth about themselves, the real source of conflict often comes from emotions. People tend to fight when they feel their identity or sense of self is being threatened, even if the argument is over something minor.

In the end, the challenge is to recognize when we are letting our feelings control our reactions. If we can learn to listen, be open to other beliefs, and accept advice without getting defensive, we might avoid many unnecessary conflicts. It’s not always easy, but the more we practice kindness and understanding, the fewer things will feel worth fighting over.

 And most of all, our hearts are being searched by intelligent life. We are under scrutiny:

I will reveal to you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires from you,

 and how to act with judgment, and to love mercy, and to walk carefully with your God.

 Micah 6:8 (CPDB).







 


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Jim McCrory

Why Do We Say What We Say?

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Edited by Jim McCrory, Sunday, 22 Dec 2024, 10:18

"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice"

Theodore Parker



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I live in the United Kingdom, a country often regarded as a secular society. Despite this prevailing notion, our actions frequently contradict our professed secular worldview. How so? By the simple act of listening to people’s everyday conversations. Consider some of the common expressions we hear:

- “You wouldn’t believe what she said about me.”

- “Eh, excuse me, but there’s a queue.”

- “That’s not fair!”

- “He deserves better.”

- “You owe me an apology.”

- “What they did was uncalled for.”

- “We should split it evenly.”

Do you see what is happening in all these expressions? They are calling on a universal sense of justice. These statements reveal an innate recognition of right and wrong, fairness and justice, which seem to transcend cultural and religious boundaries.

If we are living in a universe that is nothing more than an accidental bang, where life stepped out of a prebiotic pool with no first cause, then those expressions of injustice would be meaningless because there is no inherent justice in an aimless world. We would all just be dancing to our DNA. But we are not. And there is a reason why: we are subject to a universal law, given by a lawgiver who has stamped these laws into our hearts.

Micah 6:8 encapsulates this universal principle beautifully: "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" This biblical passage emphasizes that acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly are not merely religious edicts but profound human imperatives.


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Jim McCrory

The Fatal Consequences of Indifference

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"He has shown you, O man, what is good.

And what does the LORD require of you

but to act justly, to love mercy,

and to walk humbly with your God?"

— Micah 6:8.


Image generated with the assistance of Microsoft Copilot


I have often had spiritual discussions with people who have been heard to say, "What has God done for me? "These words some up the infiltration of me-ism in society. On the other hand, it's not about what God has done for us, but about what we have done for God and our neighbours.

How easy it is to ignore the impact of our actions on others. From time to time, I  return to  In J.B. Priestley’s play, An Inspector Calls. In it, he powerfully illustrates how interconnected our actions are. Set in 1912, the play follows the Birling family, whose comfortable lives are disrupted by Inspector Goole. Through his investigation, each family member is shown to have contributed to the downfall of Eva Smith, a young woman whose tragic death highlights the consequences of indifference. Priestley’s message is clear: our choices matter, often in ways we do not realize.

Social responsibility is striking in a world that values individualism. The Birlings’ privilege blinds them to their role in Eva’s suffering, reflecting the illusion that our lives and actions exist in isolation. Priestley shows that we are all connected, and failing to act compassionately can harm others.

Priestley contrasts the older and younger generations in the Birling family. Arthur and Sybil, the parents, deny responsibility, clinging to their privilege and refusing to face the impact of their actions. Sheila and Eric, the children, recognize their faults and embrace change. Their transformation offers hope and a reminder that growth is possible when we confront uncomfortable truths.

Inspector Goole represents conscience, urging the Birlings—and us—to examine the consequences of our actions. His questions remind us to listen to our inner voice, often silenced by distractions and self-interest, and to consider what kind of society we want to create.

At its core, An Inspector Calls asks us to see the humanity in others and recognize that every choice contributes to a larger whole. It challenges us to question our assumptions, take responsibility, and consider how our actions shape the world.

The play’s lesson is simple: act with kindness, take responsibility, and understand that your choices matter. In doing so, we honour lives like Eva Smith’s and help create a more compassionate, connected world.


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Jim McCrory

Searching for Meaning in a God Forsaken Society

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Edited by Jim McCrory, Saturday, 30 Nov 2024, 08:23

 

“He has shown you, O man, what is good.

And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly,

to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Micah 6:8, (BSB).



Image generated with the assistance of Microsoft Copilot



Searching for Meaning in a God Forsaken Society

I have often had discussions on God and what the essence of being human is in a world wherein advances in science and technology seem limitless.  The most pressing challenge we face today isn’t technological; it’s deeply human. It’s the question of what it means to live meaningfully, to seek purpose beyond the self, and to navigate a moral framework amid a society where truth seems as fluid as olive oil. We find ourselves grappling with a moral drift that runs parallel to a rise in mental health crises among young people—depression, substance abuse, a lack of hope. The heartbeat of humanity, grounded in shared values, seems to fade as we distance ourselves from any notion of universal truths or an absolute moral law.

This shift has not happened overnight. In The Abolition of Man, C.S. Lewis critiqued an educational system that dismisses the need for “objective values,” a rejection that ultimately strips people of their capacity to feel deeply and discern right from wrong. When we choose to see all values as relative, we lose not only our perception of life’s purpose but also of what it means to be a human that adds to this world’s value. It’s a road towards becoming, as Lewis wrote, “men without chests”—people with sharp intellects yet lacking in conviction and moral courage. In today’s youth, we see this crisis unfold vividly: a rising generation plagued by an inner emptiness that no achievement or digital connection can fill.

Friedrich Nietzsche's Parable of the Madman foreshadowed what happens when a society “kills” God—when it removes the transcendent values that have served as humanity’s compass for millennia. In the parable, the madman proclaims that “God is dead,” not with jubilation but with a haunting hopelessness, as he grasps the gravity of what humanity has undone. Without a divine or moral centre, he warns, we have unmoored ourselves from any ultimate purpose. We wander in a cold, indifferent universe, bereft of meaning.

What Nietzsche foresaw is visible all around us. If God, or any transcendent standard, is dead, then purpose and worth are inventions, mere illusions we construct to comfort ourselves. And yet, like the madman’s audience, we find ourselves at a loss—drifting, disillusioned, clinging to “freedom” that feels more like captivity to our own desires. As humans, we crave meaning and community; without these, despair fills the gap. For young people today, this often manifests as anxiety, depression, addiction. Without a moral law, they are left searching for their identity and value in transient sources—social media validation, achievements, substances. Each of these offers a fleeting escape, a momentary illusion of significance that dissolves all too quickly, leaving them adrift again.

The cost of abandoning objective values becomes clearer when we examine its effects on society. In abandoning moral absolutes, we risk not only personal despair but also a disintegration of the fabric that binds us. Lewis feared this “abolition of man” would strip away our humanity, leading to a society where people are treated as manipulable resources rather than dignified beings. When values are subjective, people become tools for someone else’s agenda, and a culture of use and exploitation thrives. The inherent worth of the individual is overshadowed by what one can provide or achieve.

To be human, truly human, is to recognize that we are more than mere biochemical reactions, more than products of our environment. It is to live with the awareness that there is a “Tao,” as Lewis put it—a universal moral law that holds us accountable and dignifies us as moral agents. This moral framework has been the foundation of great cultures and movements throughout history, fuelling acts of compassion, justice, sacrifice, and courage. When we remove this foundation, we may gain momentary freedom from constraints, but we lose a far more profound freedom: the freedom to know ourselves and our purpose.

We are being with a capacity for conviction and compassion. The path forward, then, is not simply a return to old traditions or rules for their own sake, but a rediscovery of our human purpose and dignity. Perhaps it is time for each one of us to recognise, as the madman did, that in abandoning moral truths we have also abandoned the most essential parts of ourselves. To truly live is not to exist in an aimless world, but to seek and revive that heartbeat of humanity within us—to cultivate values that can guide us, unite us, and ultimately restore us to the fullness of what it means to be human. We need to return to God.



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Jim McCrory

Good Morning Ireland! I Like That Phrase, Cothrom na Féinne

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Edited by Jim McCrory, Saturday, 29 June 2024, 14:48


Image by https://unsplash.com/@childeye

 “There cannot be a God, there’s too much evil,” I’ve often heard say. But doesn’t that statement provide evidence of God? “How so,” you may ask.

Well, for starters, you are calling on an objective standard of justice. That standard of justice comes from a higher source outside man. A sense of justice that says stealing, murder, anger, and the like are wrong. A sense of fairness that legislates for what we determine as evil. And no matter where you go in the world, we observe a universal standard of fair play on the basic morals that make us human. If you doubt that, try skipping the queue in a supermarket in France, Germany, India, or the Philippines. You will receive the same reaction. We have this inner sense of fairness that comes from an outer source.

Also, whilst we say there is too much evil, how to we come to terms with the fact there is too much goodness? If we are creatures dancing to our DNA in a dark aimless universe where survival of the fittest is the order of the day, then why is there kindness, gentleness, altruism, empathy, love, affection and people who are willing to sacrifice their lives for people they do not know? Ponder. Evil exists because some humans ignore the inner sense of fair play. God gave us free will.

He has told you, O man what is good

And what does the LORD require of you

But to act justly, to love mercy,

And to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8 (BSB).


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