Opinion / Columnist
Zimbabwe be calm
05 Mar 2019 at 17:31hrs | Views
In the 1960's a time when the world was ever divided with prospects of a third world war running supreme due to the nuclear arms race and technological advancements. The Catholic Church led then by blessed Pontiff Saint John 23rd commenced the second Vatican council that went on to reform the church and lessen tensions in the world.
The church saw it being vitally important to be involved in shaping the cultural, moral and political future of a divide world living in fear of the changing times driven by technological advancements and liberation movements.
The pope spoke these words to mark the opening of the council on 11 October 1962 and I quote "It often happens, as we have learned in the daily exercise of the apostolic ministry, that, not without offense to our ears, the voices of people are brought to us who, although burning with religious fervour, nevertheless do not think things through with enough discretion and prudence of judgment. These people see only ruin and calamity in the present conditions of human society. They keep repeating that our times, if compared to past centuries, have been getting worse. And they act as if they have nothing to learn from history, which is the teacher of life, and as if at the time of past Councils everything went favourably and correctly with respect to Christian doctrine, morality, and the Church's proper freedom. We believe we must quietly disagree with these prophets of doom who are always forecasting disaster, as if the end of the world were at hand.
In the present course of human events, by which human society seems to be entering a new order of things, we should see instead the mysterious plans of divine providence which through the passage of time and the efforts of men, and often beyond their expectation, are achieving their purpose and wisely disposing of all things, even contrary human events, for the good of the Church. This is easy to see if careful attention is given to today's very serious questions and controversies concerning political and economic matters. All these things so preoccupy people that they turn their cares and thoughts away from the religious affairs which are the concerns of the Church and its teaching authority. This way of acting is certainly not without fault and it is rightly to be condemned."
The 1960's decade can be compared to our times as the world then was rapidly changing on all fronts technological, politically and the social setup. Individualism was on the rise in the period. Social liberty movements like the civil rights movement in the United States of America gave African Americans equal rights to white Americans. On the African continent 32 nations gained independence. On the technological front computers had just been manufactured alongside the commencement of television transitions and broadcasting with man landing on the moon.
It was not without fault for the world to have feared all these changes in grappling with these new realities, freedoms, changed economic roles and ways of expressions.
These events can be paralleled to the current Zimbabwean woes in which the democratic space has been widened; expression methods like the social media platform are now available for all to express themselves and changed economic roles placing the local population as creators not seekers of employment.
Taking all these events and changes then, with the Catholic church's' previously authoritarian stance the holy spirit shone on Pope John 23rd to go on reforming one of the worlds most respected institutions the 'mother church'. His approach was to gather all the different leaders in the church, in the Christian faith, other religions, politics and world organisational to go about reforming the worlds unifying body the 'mother church'. His major driving goal and objective was bringing these differing views unified and aligned with their common interests and desires. The desire for all to be heard, to be involved in economic activity, to all have good living standards thereby living in peace.
Following the council the church was willing to decentralise its power to it's congregates all over the world. Most notably the order of the mass moved from being done in Latin to the local languages in the different countries. The church then was able to move along with the changing times in a progressive way. Congregates of the church could now understand the word and became greatly involved in the order of mass.
Above all the Vatican council was one of the greatest events of the 1960's decade credited for preventing world war III from happening as it promoted a more engaging approach even on the political front. World leaders were then forced to follow the same path the church had taken in solving their own political differences. Drawn by common interests the cold war between the United States of America and United Soviet States of Russia was also brought to an end.
We pray that Zimbabwe can also realise that we all have common interests that are of involvement in economic activities, being all heard and for all to live in peace with one another.
STAY BLESSED
TERENCE T SIMBI
Twitter - @terencesimbi
Youtube – Terence S
The church saw it being vitally important to be involved in shaping the cultural, moral and political future of a divide world living in fear of the changing times driven by technological advancements and liberation movements.
The pope spoke these words to mark the opening of the council on 11 October 1962 and I quote "It often happens, as we have learned in the daily exercise of the apostolic ministry, that, not without offense to our ears, the voices of people are brought to us who, although burning with religious fervour, nevertheless do not think things through with enough discretion and prudence of judgment. These people see only ruin and calamity in the present conditions of human society. They keep repeating that our times, if compared to past centuries, have been getting worse. And they act as if they have nothing to learn from history, which is the teacher of life, and as if at the time of past Councils everything went favourably and correctly with respect to Christian doctrine, morality, and the Church's proper freedom. We believe we must quietly disagree with these prophets of doom who are always forecasting disaster, as if the end of the world were at hand.
In the present course of human events, by which human society seems to be entering a new order of things, we should see instead the mysterious plans of divine providence which through the passage of time and the efforts of men, and often beyond their expectation, are achieving their purpose and wisely disposing of all things, even contrary human events, for the good of the Church. This is easy to see if careful attention is given to today's very serious questions and controversies concerning political and economic matters. All these things so preoccupy people that they turn their cares and thoughts away from the religious affairs which are the concerns of the Church and its teaching authority. This way of acting is certainly not without fault and it is rightly to be condemned."
The 1960's decade can be compared to our times as the world then was rapidly changing on all fronts technological, politically and the social setup. Individualism was on the rise in the period. Social liberty movements like the civil rights movement in the United States of America gave African Americans equal rights to white Americans. On the African continent 32 nations gained independence. On the technological front computers had just been manufactured alongside the commencement of television transitions and broadcasting with man landing on the moon.
These events can be paralleled to the current Zimbabwean woes in which the democratic space has been widened; expression methods like the social media platform are now available for all to express themselves and changed economic roles placing the local population as creators not seekers of employment.
Taking all these events and changes then, with the Catholic church's' previously authoritarian stance the holy spirit shone on Pope John 23rd to go on reforming one of the worlds most respected institutions the 'mother church'. His approach was to gather all the different leaders in the church, in the Christian faith, other religions, politics and world organisational to go about reforming the worlds unifying body the 'mother church'. His major driving goal and objective was bringing these differing views unified and aligned with their common interests and desires. The desire for all to be heard, to be involved in economic activity, to all have good living standards thereby living in peace.
Following the council the church was willing to decentralise its power to it's congregates all over the world. Most notably the order of the mass moved from being done in Latin to the local languages in the different countries. The church then was able to move along with the changing times in a progressive way. Congregates of the church could now understand the word and became greatly involved in the order of mass.
Above all the Vatican council was one of the greatest events of the 1960's decade credited for preventing world war III from happening as it promoted a more engaging approach even on the political front. World leaders were then forced to follow the same path the church had taken in solving their own political differences. Drawn by common interests the cold war between the United States of America and United Soviet States of Russia was also brought to an end.
We pray that Zimbabwe can also realise that we all have common interests that are of involvement in economic activities, being all heard and for all to live in peace with one another.
STAY BLESSED
TERENCE T SIMBI
Twitter - @terencesimbi
Youtube – Terence S
Source - Terence Simbi
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