The medieval church forbade usury and claimed that usurers went to hell. However, as the feudal system of the Middle Ages declined and merchants emerged as an emerging power, usury businesses amassed enormous wealth. Usurers donated their corrupt wealth to monasteries, and when they died, they could be buried there. It was a bonus that the donor usurer could receive the sacrament of confession shortly before death. Fear of the afterlife caused poor churches to accumulate wealth, used to decorate walls or build larger, more elaborate structures, leading to the Renaissance era. The unjust usury business sparked a literary and artistic revival. Let go of the illusion that only good things can change the world for the better or the right. The innocence of ignorance about how the world works makes it easier to accept sin and corrupts the world into evil. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
Some leaders find relief only when they dominate the mind, while others serve as limbs. They seek to facilitate threats and collaboration with others to bolster their sense of security. Some of them resort to “gaslighting,” manipulating circumstances to create doubt and maintain control. They view their micromanagement as a notable strength, caring for even the most minor details. Working alongside such a person can reduce even the most capable individuals to feeling foolish and diminish their self-esteem. Unbeknownst to them, those around them are suffocating. The desire to conform is often mistaken for loyalty. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”