Jim Cooper

Jim Cooper

Rector, Trinity Church, New York City

The Rev. Dr. James Herbert Cooper is the 17th Rector of Trinity Church-St. Paul’s Chapel in the city of New York. Before coming to New York City, the On Faith panelist spent over 30 years as rector of Christ Church in Ponte Vedra, Fla., where he founded $52-million and $82-million nonprofit life-care facilities to assure quality of life and health care for the aging population in the region. Dr. Cooper serves on the Advisory Board for the Anglican Observer to the United Nations, Sailors’ Snug Harbor, Seamen’s Church Institute, St. Margaret’s House and John Heuss House. He has previously led on the board of directors of Florida Association of Homes for the Aging, Christ Church Foundation, Life Care Pastoral Services, FreshMinistries, United Way, Christian Healing Ministries, University of the South and Kanuga. In 2005 Cooper was bestowed an honorary doctorate from the General Theological Seminary in New York City and made Canon of the Cathedral in Jerusalem. He is a graduate of Washington & Lee University, and received his Master of Divinity and his Doctor of Ministry from the Virginia Theological Seminary. He lives in Lower Manhattan with his wife Tay and they have two grown children and two grandsons. Close.

Jim Cooper

Rector, Trinity Church, New York City

The Rev. Dr. James Herbert Cooper is the 17th Rector of Trinity Church-St. Paul’s Chapel in the city of New York. Before coming to New York City, the On Faith panelist spent over 30 years as rector of Christ Church in Ponte Vedra, Fla... more »

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Love is the Fuel for a World of Good

I would appeal to the universal tenets on love of God and love of neighbor. If any of our actions do not serve love and respect the life and dignity of humanity, these actions are not in accord with the...

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All Comments (7)

Emily:

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Emily:

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serena1313:

Exactly!

Love transcends all else. However Love has little to do with "religion," but by the same token the vein of commonality shared by all religions is premised on Love. Unconditional Love is the only way for humanity to evolve, advance and survive.

Religious leaders too often use religion to manipulate events, politics government and their followers. Originally religion was meant to teach love, bring comfort, offer guidelines and moral support etc., but later religious leaders craved power. Heretofore once their quest for power and control became a priority religion abandoned its purpose of teaching Love. Presumably the power to interpret the Bible, Koran, etc... as such convoluted the message of Love. For example the worship of a man instead of practicing the teachings misconstrue the true nature of love. Therewith either man forgot or never learned that true Love is unconditional.

Love is the very essence of our Being that exists within has no boundaries, it knows no limits; it comes without a price; it does not judge; it cannot be bought nor sold; it is timeless and limitless. Knowing that herein loving oneself unconditionally too becomes as easy as loving others.

Most being taught or led to believe love is "conditional" translates into I will love you only "if"... Conditional love induces a fear of being judged as unworthy of love whether by mortals or Divine Consciousness. Judgment initiates intolerance that eventually if left unchecked drives hurtful and aggressive behaviour.

In contrast unconditional Love dispels all fear. Do note too that unconditional does not imply bad behaviour is acceptable nor does it indicate forcing another to be or allowing another to force oneself to be submissive are either. Furthermore it is possible to distance oneself from those whom act not in kindness, but in aggression and still love them simultaneously. In other words in the absence of judgment, making a conscious decision to remove oneself from the situation and/or person can still disapprove and love the person's essence at the same time.

Life's Journey is a process of decision-making and experiences none of which are neither good nor bad, right nor wrong, but how we deal with life changing experiences. The defining determinate for our actions is Love or it isn't.

Religion can provide the guidelines, but often doesn't. Thus harnessing the power of unconditional love transcends religion and transforms humans into advanced and balanced evolved thinking-beings who act in accordance therewith. Henceforth our survival depends not on religion, but Loving without condition.

Anonymous:

Don't miss the articles on the front page her at the WPost;
under the heading "More non believers speaking out".

Very encouraging reading.Keep it up non believers.

Just keep on making sense.

DuckPhup:

This conundrum CAN be resolved... quickly... easily... economically... once and for all.

My simple solution requres only that for one whole month, every newspaper in the free world devote its front page to cartoons ridiculing Allah (peace on him) and Mohammed (peace on him, too). By the end of that time, all of Islam will have self-destructed in a paroxysm of snits, hissy-fits and terminal apoplexy. WARNING: This will not be pretty... but the world will be a much better place for it.

My only regret in this is that I cannot think of a similarly uncomplicated, cost-effective and efficient stratagem to dismantle Christianity... but, oh well... one thing at a time. One only does what one can.

Angry Atheist:

Richmond T Stillgass
my alter ego

Richmond T. Stallgiss:

Actually, Love of God and Neighbor is the foundation of Christianity as taught by Jesus. Other religions have very narrow definitinos of narrow.

The extremist Muslims love their neighbor too, but only the "non-infidel" neighbors.


It is unbridled fear and hate against the out-group... xenophobia... that marks the extremists capable of the worst violence.

-RT

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