CANADIAN PROTESTANTS
TOLD TO STOP GOSSIPING
TOLD TO STOP GOSSIPING
www.iol.co.za
- Canada’s largest Protestant denomination is urging
congregants to stop gossiping, likening the chatter to gambling and
“other evils of society.” “Gossip can cause people to lose their jobs
and their good reputations,” according to a motion under consideration
at the United Church of Canada’s 41st general council, held August 11-18
in Ottawa. Idle talk can “lead to broken friendships and split
families, and can be used as a malicious weapon against an opponent,”
the resolution continued, adding that mean-spirited gabbing “can cause
people to switch churches or in some instances, to stop attending church
altogether.” The motion aims to “encourage congregations to seek ways
to raise awareness of the harmful aspects of gossip.” While not
explicitly a sin, United Church spokesman Reverend Bruce Gregersen
explained that spreading tales is contrary to Christian teachings
promoting love, truth and honesty. It falls into the category of
“bearing false witness,” he told AFP. However, Gregersen acknowledged
“it's hard to know what we can do about it as a congregation.” The
conference, held once every three years, brings together 350 delegates
and hundred more guests.
The conference also brings many observers, representing 650,000 church members nationwide. Participants also planned to discuss child poverty, homelessness and economic disparity in Canada, as well as the hardships of rural churches in keeping up membership and staffing levels. The council will also take on issues of national and international interest, such as climate change and a proposed oil pipeline in westernmost Canada. The church also plans to consider a new report on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Anthropologists, however, see chatter as a way of sharing key information about others that affects people’s social standing. Reputation is determined by gossip, and casual conversations of others affect one’s acceptability as a mate or a partner in a social exchange, said Jerome Barkow, an anthropology professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax. In his evolutionary psychology volume “The Adapted Mind,” he said gossip is largely unreliable because people tend to disseminate information that bolsters their own social success, not objective truth. We tend to derogate rivals and mask our own weaknesses," Barkow wrote.
The conference also brings many observers, representing 650,000 church members nationwide. Participants also planned to discuss child poverty, homelessness and economic disparity in Canada, as well as the hardships of rural churches in keeping up membership and staffing levels. The council will also take on issues of national and international interest, such as climate change and a proposed oil pipeline in westernmost Canada. The church also plans to consider a new report on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Anthropologists, however, see chatter as a way of sharing key information about others that affects people’s social standing. Reputation is determined by gossip, and casual conversations of others affect one’s acceptability as a mate or a partner in a social exchange, said Jerome Barkow, an anthropology professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax. In his evolutionary psychology volume “The Adapted Mind,” he said gossip is largely unreliable because people tend to disseminate information that bolsters their own social success, not objective truth. We tend to derogate rivals and mask our own weaknesses," Barkow wrote.
WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?
We
can not prevent the birds from flying over our heads, but we can avoid
making a nest on it. Similarly, we can not help that at times critical
or negative ideas or thoughts appear within us, but we can prevent them
from taking root, and for that we must be experts become indifferent to
them. If you hear any criticism / gossip / profanity / etc. about
someone, do not let your mind accept it as real and true, until you by
yourself do not check it directly. It is very important not to fail in
this, not even by an inch ... or the consequences will come one after
another in a domino effect. If I want to venture to criticize someone,
first I must precede it with a series of favorable assessments of the
qualities that person - who is the subject of my criticism - has, even
those qualities that he / she possesses, and that I should develop, too.
Otherwise, you better take some time before opening the mouth, and
deeply analyze whether what we are going to say is motivated by a real
constructive desire, or simply out of envy, for being unable to tolerate others' success.
Śrīpad Bhaktivedanta Padmanabha Mahārāja :
“Thoughts”
“Keys to a True Advance”
http://www.swamipadmanabha.com.ar/p/articulos-ensayos.html
“Thoughts”
“Keys to a True Advance”
http://www.swamipadmanabha.com.ar/p/articulos-ensayos.html
Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/
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