APAD: Certainty is the enemy of unity

本帖於 2025-05-08 07:48:00 時間, 由普通用戶 最西邊的島上 編輯
"Certainty is the great enemy of unity" is a line from “Conclave”, a 2024 thriller film. In the film, Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (see pic below) organizes a conclave to elect the next pope and finds himself investigating secrets and scandals about the major candidates.

So he opens the appealing deliberations at the beginning of the conclave:
 
"Certainty is the great enemy of unity. Certainty is the deadly enemy of tolerance. Even Christ was not certain at the end. ... ... Our faith is a living thing precisely because it walks hand-in-hand with doubt. If there was only certainty and no doubt, there would be no mystery. And therefore, no need for faith. Let us pray that God will grant us a Pope who doubts. And let him grant us a Pope who sins and asks for forgiveness and who carries on."

I watched most of the movie, including this speech (before falling to sleep towards the end), and felt a bit puzzled by it. Some say that he was encouraging the college to embrace uncertainty, which makes sense.

I feel words below (from online) describe the meaning well:
"Certainty pretends there are unambiguous answers when there are only better or worse ones, and they need to be worked out. Certainty permits and enables prejudice. Certainty denies the need for thought. Certainty is the precursor of conflict."

Actually, my choice of this phrase was triggered by the current conclave. If you think politics is complicated and dramatic, add religion into it - the mixed cocktail gets even more interesting 小聲點.

So far, the black smoke poured twice from the Sistine Chapel chimney already, signalling the 133 cardinals taking part have voted but didn't reach a two-thirds consensus required to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church on the 1st and the 2nd day.

Who will be the next Pope at Roma? Only time will tell. I ain't religious but just a curious observer.

Regardless, life is full of uncertainties, be it political or just daily life. Personally I don't really like it, but same as most of us, have to live with it.

Let's embrace our imperfect world and try to make best of it.  Cheers!
 
 
 
 

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I just watched the movie last night on olevod.com! -矽穀居士- 給 矽穀居士 發送悄悄話 矽穀居士 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 05/08/2025 postreply 07:52:33

Great! and U didn't fall asleep? ;-) -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 05/08/2025 postreply 07:55:07

No, I finished the movie entirely. The ending is surprising. -矽穀居士- 給 矽穀居士 發送悄悄話 矽穀居士 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 05/08/2025 postreply 07:57:02

Yep. I was tired of thePolitics but surprised2 when wakingUp -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 05/08/2025 postreply 08:00:45

Agree! For example, neither death or tax is good for unity:) -7grizzly- 給 7grizzly 發送悄悄話 7grizzly 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 05/08/2025 postreply 08:15:35

Good to learn the word 'conclave.' Thanks. -7grizzly- 給 7grizzly 發送悄悄話 7grizzly 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 05/08/2025 postreply 08:16:31

NP (and the movie is an eye opener 2 ;-) -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 05/08/2025 postreply 08:22:37

Yes. Your quotes are impressive. -7grizzly- 給 7grizzly 發送悄悄話 7grizzly 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 05/08/2025 postreply 08:25:57

"a Pope who doubts, sins & asks for forgiveness, carries"... -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 05/08/2025 postreply 08:28:41

Very good examples, but I'm afraid of tax more. :-))) -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 05/08/2025 postreply 08:25:20

So, uncertainty is the friend of unity -永遠老李- 給 永遠老李 發送悄悄話 (0 bytes) () 05/08/2025 postreply 08:52:10

"Hope is an embrace of the unknown and unknowable" ;-) -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 05/08/2025 postreply 08:55:09

when there's hope unity may come, I hope ;-) -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 05/08/2025 postreply 09:02:03

Liverpool FC brings joy while -永遠老李- 給 永遠老李 發送悄悄話 (69 bytes) () 05/08/2025 postreply 09:02:05

FYI: Zhao made history as C's 1st World Snooker champion;-) -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (194 bytes) () 05/08/2025 postreply 09:08:47

Breaking News ;-): white smoke & there's a new Pope! -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 05/08/2025 postreply 09:46:10

The Conclave is over. A new Pope has been elected! -矽穀居士- 給 矽穀居士 發送悄悄話 矽穀居士 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 05/08/2025 postreply 09:51:32

yes, the 1st American Pope ... -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 05/08/2025 postreply 11:25:21

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