Swimming against the current - the friends' journey continues E-Book

Erich Skopek

• Herausgeber: novum publishing
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 153

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

In 1965, Bob Dylan wrote the song 'Ballad of a thin man'. It says: Something's going on, but you don't know what, do you Mr. Jones (Schmidt, Meier, Huber)? Out of concern for the future of Europe, right up to an Occident of Allah, the author takes a critical look at the two pillars on which our post-Christian, Western culture rests - Christianity and the Enlightenment. He wants to inspire and encourage his readers to ask themselves the fundamental questions of life - who am I, where do I come from and what is the meaning of my life - and to find the right answers to them.

Leseprobe

Any inconsistencies in the text are due to the fact that it was translated using computer-aided technology for a company-wide study.

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Prologue

Happy is the person who does not

listens to the advice of the wicked,

does not take the life of sinners as an example

and does not put up with mockers.

Full of joy he accomplishes the will of the LORD

and meditates on his law day and night.

He is like a tree rooted on the riverbank

and bears abundant fruit year after year. Its leaves

do not wither, and everything he does succeeds.

(Psalm 1:1-3)

Do you want the goal

reach,

you must also

want to get there.

(Unknown)

Foreword

For those who were among the first of the friends - Birgit, Peter, Erwin and Herbert - their first meeting on the Mariazell train on their journey to the provincial capital seemed a long way off. Erwin and Herbert, who had known each other for a long time and met unexpectedly in Mariazell, had boarded the train there after stopping off at the 'Jagasaftl', a small kiosk where you could also get something to eat and drink. Peter joined them immediately afterwards in Mitterbach and Birgit had only joined the small group in Ober-Grafendorf shortly before their destination, the provincial capital of St. Pölten. The three men remembered their unscheduled stay in Gösing, where they had illegally spent the night in a hotel that was closed at the time in order to find shelter from the cold. Birgit recalled their joint conversation on the subject of abortion and pointed out the sometimes very impulsive arguments Peter used to defend it with all known statements. And they would have continued to reminisce had the jubilarian not interrupted their thoughts.

The birthday party

All his friends and their partners had gathered at a wine tavern because Peter was celebrating his sixtieth birthday. So of course a speech had to be made and after this the birthday boy thanked everyone present for welcoming him so warmly into their circle, even though he had often not made it easy for them. It was not his often controversial thoughts and discussions that had made a harmonious relationship difficult, but his often unobjective arguments, which he put forward with an exclusivity that sometimes lacked any sensitivity or warmth. Herbert then took the floor to thank the jubilarian for the invitation. He didn't say a word about the difficulties they had had with Peter, who gradually gave up his tough attitude and became more open to reasonable arguments. A long time ago, Herbert had even called Peter an 'advocate diaboli', but that was a thing of the past.

Some of those gathered for the celebration claimed to have accepted Jesus Christ into their hearts and to live according to his will in everyday life, which of course was not always easy. Herbert also mentioned this in his speech. In the course of their shared history, the friends had experienced that some of them, through the example of others, had chosen the path of life that Christ described as a path through a narrow gate. Others, however, had remained skeptical, including Peter. However, this did not stop the community from respecting each other and supporting each other in everyday life. This was clearly demonstrated after Erwin's accident, when everyone helped his wife Renate to run the nursery.

Although the friends all came from different backgrounds, this only played a subordinate role in their relationship with each other. Of course, each individual in the group also had their own particular environment and interests. But there was no group pressure or common rules of conduct to follow, except for respect, cordiality and consideration for one another. Of course, those in the group who lived a life of obedience to God were more similar in many ways. Although this sometimes led to insignificant tensions, it also often led to interesting conversations. As almost all of the friends - with the exception of Isabel and Stefan - were already over fifty, none of them could be classified as belonging to the currently predominant experience society group. This is a milieu that is only focused on happiness and pleasure. It is hostile to patience and can be described with the motto 'I want it all and I want it now'. This section of society lacks solidarity, effort, patience and understanding for temporary sacrifice. This is how Stefan explained it to them in a conversation.

The words of former American President J.F. Kennedy: 'don't ask what your country can do for you, but ask, what you can do for your country'(don't ask what society can do for you, but ask what you can do for society), which would be met with incomprehension and deaf ears by such people, were brought up by Herbert as a point of discussion for the expected talks. After all, the majority of people today expect the state to take care of everything in their lives. From the cradle to the grave, society should take care of all the important aspects of daily life and some left-wing dreamers even expect a state inheritance (up to 50,000 euros depending on the country and party) for all citizens when they reach the age of eighteen. Such ideas, along with many other unworldly and unfinanceable ideas, are of course among the 'desirable' goals of our 'fully comprehensive society', said the speaker, concluding somewhat cynically. Herbert rounded off his final statement by saying that such people want to participate in life, but not be involved in it.

After the two speeches, the friends presented Peter with a travel voucher, for which they had pooled their money, and a globe. While the Heurigen host set up the warm buffet for the guests and the jubilarian, the first conversations began. Of course, they primarily focused on their shared experiences, with their trip to Scandinavia taking center stage. They talked about the sights, the beautiful nature and the conversations they had with the other travelers that they remembered. It was only natural that the individual friends sometimes had a different view of what they had experienced together. During the discussions, baked vegetables, various schnitzels, roast pork and smoked fish were served on platters placed on the prepared tables, as the Heuriger also had hot dishes on its menu. There were also salads and various side dishes. The various alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks were served by the staff. Away from the laid table was a refrigerated display case containing delicious slices of cake and various delicious cream slices.

After the buffet had been opened, the party moved on to the cozy part of the celebration. The guests slowly made their way to the prepared dishes and chose from the various delicacies. In order not to disturb the expected conversations, Peter had refrained from playing music when preparing his party. The guests sat together in small groups at the various tables and often changed conversation partners. But the conversations only really got going when the appetite was satisfied. It was impossible to tell from a distance what topics were being discussed. At the table where Christine and Birgit and their partners were sittingthey remembered the conversation that Birgit and Herbert had had on their trip to the state capital. As already mentioned, the conversation had revolved around the topic of abortion. As the four of them at the table were more or less of the same opinion, the conversation didn't really get going. Herbert then told them that he had recently had to deal critically with the Evangelical Church of Germany again, which had led to another sharp email to this church.

The EKD Council considered it conceivable to regulate abortions outside of criminal law under certain conditions in future (see katholisch.de, Article 43880). Although the Council was in favor of continuing to provide obligatory counseling in the case of a planned abortion, it felt, in keeping with the spirit of the times, that the responsibility for protecting unborn life should not be transferred to the woman. Instead, he thought it would be better if the state and society took responsibility. What else should the state do, interjected Bernhard, should it even assume moral and ethical responsibility for its citizens? Do theologians and the church establishment no longer have any answers to this question? Do they want to choose between truth and situational ethics in the future? What are they still there for? Are they already so overwhelmed with their tasks in the social sphere that they can no longer find answers from the Bible to certain aspects of a Christian life in following Jesus? After all, the reformers drew their principles for the everyday decisions of a Christian life from the Bible. Have these churches merely degenerated into better social clubs? he asked in conclusion.

Under the motto: No, this is not a satirical article - the Evangelical Church in Germany is actually serious about all this - the Exxpress of 20.12.2023 reportedthat a 'queer nativity play' including a drag show and a feminist choir was to be performed in the Galilee Church in Berlin. And in the nativity scene of the same church, the figure of Joseph was replaced by a female figure. However, the height of stupidity was reached by a school in Italy, which replaced the word Jesus with the word cuckoo in a Christmas carol. This action was explained as a way of showing consideration for parents and children who do not have a Christian background. However, this only showed those responsible that premature obedience is the adornment of the kippers. It also made it clear that self-righteous righteousness disguised as morality and stupidity are Siamese twins. It also clearly showed how far the blindness in our once Christian West had already progressed.

And you, Birgit said to Herbert, did you leave these statements about abortion unchallenged? I don't know you like that. No, of course not, said Herbert, pulled his smartphone out of the inside pocket of his jacket and began to read aloud:It was with an angry heart that I read in the FAZ of 19.10.2023 that the Evangelical Council and the Diakonie are considering condoning abortion up to the 22nd week of pregnancy. However, this incorrect advice overrides the fifth of the ten commandments - thou shalt not murder (this is the correct translation). Even if the words of the Reformers do not carry the same weight as the Word of God, I would like to quote John Calvin (Commentary on the Last Four Books of Moses): The fetus that lives enclosed in its mother's womb is already a human being ... therefore it is even more abominable to kill a fetus in its mother's womb before it sees the light of day ...

With such an attitude - just as with solidarity with climate terrorists or the resettlement of old people from their homes into the unknown in favour of immigrants (as happened in Berlin) - they have simulated the evil left-green zeitgeist asand all that remains is to wait for God's judgment (1 Peter 4:17). Or have they already abolished it?

MfG

And what reply did you get to your letter?" asked Bernhard. None, replied Herbert, apparently the recipients of my letter were lost for words. Don't you think your words were a bit harsh?" Birgit rejoined the conversation. Sometimes you have to exaggerate with words to get attention, Herbert defended his clear words. And unfortunately, some theologians nowadays really do preach and act as if God no longer exists. Seen in the light of the Holy Scriptures, they then blather on in the usual way in liberal theology and the only people who understand this are these theologians themselves, or perhaps not even them. There may still be a few isolated church members sitting in the pews with their mouths open, but their astonishment only betrays their ignorance of a personal life with Christ.

That's how sad it sometimes looks in our churches today and that's how sad our current social development is, Birgit concluded from what has been said so far. Because when God is dead, man also dies and when he no longer knows any absolute standards or absolute truth, then everyone can live according to their own ideas, every action is justified and there are no universally valid moral and ethical standards. Everything is then relativized and it is no longer possible to draw any binding conclusions. Judging an action as right or wrong then becomes more or less obsolete. As a result, selfishness, false goodness and criminal behavior increase on a large scale. And this then leads many people to the current attitude that every behavior, however evil it may be, must be understood. After all, it could be that someonehad a bad youth or is traumatized. Or whatever other excuses have to be used.

Bernhard took the floor again, namely on the subject of traumatization. I learned from a psychotherapist I know from Germany, who has his practice in western Austria, that social NGOs sometimes exert psychological pressure on doctors to certify that people who are not entitled to asylum are traumatized. In this way, these groups want to swindle a right to stay for those whose asylum application has been rejected. In this way, our society is lied to and deceived, and people then think that they have helped a good cause to win. But the end does not justify the means and this kind of behavior has rightly made some people or associations very untrustworthy, even if they are patting themselves on the back self-righteously. For example, many of the foreigners entering our social system were referred to as refugees and were cheered and frenetically welcomed as 'refugees'.

However, the Greens, the self-appointed do-gooders and the churches, in their often naive view of things, did not realize that people with archaic ways of life and thought patterns were often allowed into the country: the man as head and despot, the woman as subject, the brother as 'protector' of the sister and self-appointed guardians of morals who watch over the Islamic community and a religion in which violence is part of the good tone (see Sura 4:34 of the Koran). In this passage it says (Reclam edition): Men are superior to women because of what Allah has given the one before the other, and because they spend from their money. The righteous women are obedient and careful in the absence of (their husbands), as Allah has provided for them. But those whose rebelliousness you fear, warn them, banish them to their bedchambers andbeatthem.

However, this statement on violence is not unique to the Qur'an. In Suras 9:5 and 9:30, the calls for violence continue: "But when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and seize them and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush. But if they repent and establish prayer and pay the poor tax, let them go their way,says verse 5.It is hardly possible to think of an increase, but there is one: "And the Jews say, Uzair is the son of Allah. And the Nazarenes say that the Messiah is the son of Allah. They speak like the unbelievers from before. Allah strike them dead! How mindless they are.But how mindless are those in the mainstream Christian churches who talk about an interreligious dialog and thus pave the way for a false, anti-Christian unified religion.

However, anyone who did not show enthusiasm for the welcome culture was quickly placed in the radical right-wing and fascist corner by the do-gooders. These left-wing contemporaries, who are very quick with the fascist club at hand, usually react angrily themselves when the largely left-wing origins of their actions and statements are clearly pointed out. Bernhard continued: "My cousin from Cologne told me that this welcoming culture had changed at short notice after the events in his home town in 2016. But that wasn't just the case in Cologne. According to the Cologne public prosecutor's office at the time, as reported in the press on 28.12.2023, there were 1182 reports on New Year's Eve, 497 of which were sexual assaults. These intolerable and criminal acts affected 648 victims. Of the 354 suspects known by name, 278 came from North Africa, Syria and Iraq.

But now there are new, more recent headlines: Anti-Semitism in Germany has tripled, is one of them. But these anti-Semites have neither blond hair nor blue eyes, nor do the majority of them know what happenedon the night of the Reichspogrom in Nazi Germany. But when the state of Israel was brutally attacked, countless citizens were murdered and abducted and the state of Israel rightly fought back with harsh retaliation, a completely different set of anti-Semites suddenly became visible on German and Austrian streets. They demonstrated in support of Hamas and tore Israeli flags from the poles of public buildings. They were the same anti-Semites who had been shouting 'Hamas, Hamas, Israel to the gas' with impunity in Berlin and other German cities years before. Only now most of them had darker skin and black hair. But how did our society react to this?" asked Bernhard and immediately gave himself the unsatisfactory answer: with astonishment and regret, but without consequences for the people who had abused the right of hospitality.

Birgit backed up her husband's comments with two reports from Austria. She told us that before Christmas, when the fire department arrived to fight a fire in a town in Upper Austria, they were met by around fifty young people in front of the asylum home, who then obstructed access to the home. This was the fourth fire alarm there in just a few days, the first three having turned out to be false alarms. The female firefighters, who had been actively involved in fighting the fire, were sexually harassed by this mob while carrying out their service to the public. According to the media, it naturally remained unclear how the fire had started. I wonder why no clear position was taken on this? Something similar also happened in Klagenfurt (5min.at). The push-button alarm in the refugee accommodation in the Siriushalle has already been activated three times, triggering a fire department operation. And three times it turned out to be a false fire alarm. However, the firefighters were already expected by the asylum seekers, who were just fooling around and not taking the matter seriously in any way. Although