Meaning of Life – What do we live for?

meaning of life

By Stephen Russell-Lacy. This question about the meaning of life might strike you first of all as a bit silly. After all, the world is just what it is. ‘We live and then we die. When we’re dead, we’re dead.’ I might be fascinated by what things go on in my life, but not see … Continue reading Meaning of Life – What do we live for?

12 Steps recovery – What higher power?

12 steps

The original 12 steps recovery programme is still used by AA (Alcoholics Anonymous). Many alcoholics have a hard time admitting that they can’t control their alcohol use. If they believe that they are unable to stop on their own, AA say the recovery process can begin. There is a big idea they promote. Most of … Continue reading 12 Steps recovery – What higher power?

How to be happy from a deeper perspective.

How to be happy

You may be wondering how to be happy — happy in a way that will last. We have only to read the newspapers or watch the television to observe a lot of unhappiness in the world. “I grew up as this very carefree, happy kid then things turned darker for me. Maybe it was because … Continue reading How to be happy from a deeper perspective.

Flaws – Seeing the shadowy side of oneself.

flaws

We know it is all too easy to try to deny any personal criticisms that come our way. No one finds it comfortable to acknowledge shortcomings in their makeup. However, when we do notice feelings of resentment, guilt, or hurt in our dealings with others, we might start to wonder if we are at fault.

Alone in Berlin – Book Review

Alone in Berlin

by Hans Fallada (Translated by Michael Hofmann) Penguin Modern Classics.

The author of this absorbing novel has created a story about a decent character, Otto Quangel, who with his wife lives in Berlin during the second-world war. Working in a factory and living amongst a people whose private misgivings and criticisms of their political leaders are silenced by fear, Otto, also has a daily horror of the possibility of being reported to the authorities for having a wrong political attitude or for having committed some minor misdeed against the state. Such accusations could well result in arrest and torture or even a death camp. Yet he is prepared to communicate his criticism of the government’s oppression and unjust social policies as well as their military conquests abroad. For the regime in seizing absolute power, have destroyed any vestiges of democracy.

I wonder how we would react in similar circumstances? Thank goodness I do not have to face such a test. But many people in the world today who live under dictatorship have to find some way of accommodating themselves to corruption in their society while maintaining their self-respect.