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mmljpp
Orange Belt
Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 110
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 Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 2:51 am Post subject: |
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very very nice as a Christian i loved this article
God Bless |
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gensei
White Belt
Joined: 06 Jan 2006
Posts: 11
Location: Toronto, Canada
Styles: Shintani Wado Kai
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| Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 11:25 pm Post subject: |
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As a Christian myself, I have felt doubt at times as well regarding my responsibilities to God and to my loved ones and myself. As has been said above several times, the need to follow your conscience in a situation of violence is primary in any case, though the conscience is something cultivated through spiritual searching and exercise of virtue (and thus will only guide well if it is nourished and strong). Certainly self-defense and the ability to intervene in situations of danger are valuable, though both have limits (to theist and atheist).
Budo can be applied in many ways. At least one path is certainly compatible with Christianity (as I believe is the one I have chosen), whether one is a strict pacifist or not. It is the cultivation of body, mind and ki. It is metaphysically rooted, but not necessarily in any one religion. The pursuit of peace, harmony, physical strength and grace, and even of God, can be undertaken through the practice of martial arts.
However, the weaponization of the body is not to be taken lightly. With vigourous training, the hand becomes a sword and the body a machine of violence. It takes more control to hold it in peace and stillness than to let loose its power. Martial arts are surely dangerous for any peace-loving person, Christian or otherwise, though surely their study may be beneficial through a conscientious and restrained approach to one's mental and social development. |
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The BB of C
Brown Belt
Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 664
Location: New York
Styles: Cannon Style, Kuk Sool Won, Isshin-ryu, Capoeira
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| Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:41 pm Post subject: |
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This article reinforced everything I've been trying to accomplish as a martial artist and also cleared up a few things. Thanks for posting it.
_________________
There is little honor in going down. There is no honor in going down without a fight. --- Victory dwells in the individual, not the style.
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| Consistency; Preservation of human life; Courage; Insight; Faith; Hope; Patience |
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rayjag
Yellow Belt
Joined: 08 Apr 2007
Posts: 30
Location: Northern Virginia
Styles: Tae Kwon Doe
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| Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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Nice!
RJ |
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on the post.
