Temporal Powers

This is a dead cat bounce of the David Bowie remembrances from last week.

Here, Bowie plays Pontius Pilate to Willem Defoe's Jesus of Nazareth in Martin Scorcese's "The Last Temptation of Christ." Is this the only cinematic "duet" Bowie ever spoke? He was so good at musical ones.

link in case the video doesn't load

There's an imaginary exchange in that clip about a future to come: that of Rome dying. Of course that's exactly what happened. But these days, neither Rome nor Roman Catholics have much temporal power.* I even think it's hard to measure which one had a more lasting influence, putting everything on the scales.
___________
per Google: Temporal power is a term of art in medieval and early modern political philosophy to refer to worldly power, as contrasted with spiritual power. The temporal power (simply), the state (polity) or secular authority, in contrast to the Church or spiritual authority.

The prophet Daniel's vision reminded me of a Rudyard Kipling poem, "Cold Iron."  Note especially the Biblical references:

GOLD is for the mistress - silver for the maid" -

Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade! "

"Good!" said the Baron, sitting in his hall,

But Iron - Cold Iron - is master of them all."

So he made rebellion 'gainst the King his liege,

Camped before his citadel and summoned it to siege.

"Nay!" said the cannoneer on the castle wall,

"But Iron - Cold Iron - shall be master of you all!"

Woe for the Baron and his knights so strong,

When the cruel cannon-balls laid 'em all along;

He was taken prisoner, he was cast in thrall,

And Iron - Cold Iron - was master of it all.

Yet his King spake kindly (ah, how kind a Lord!)

"What if I release thee now and give thee back thy sword?"

"Nay!" said the Baron, "mock not at my fall,

For Iron - Cold Iron - is master of men all."

" Tears are for the craven, prayers are for the clown

Halters for the silly neck that cannot keep a crown."

" As my loss is grievous, So my hope is small,

For Iron - Cold Iron - must be master of men all! "

Yet his King made answer (few such Kings there be!)

" Here is Bread and here is Wine - sit and sup with me.

Eat and drink in Mary's Name, the whiles I do recall

How Iron - Cold Iron - can be master of men all."

He took the Wine and blessed it. He blessed and brake the Bread

With His own Hands He served Them, and presently He said:

" See! These Hands they pierced with nails, outside My city wall,

Show Iron - Cold Iron - to be master of men all. "

" Wounds are for the desperate, blows are for the strong.

Balm and oil for weary hearts all cut and bruised with wrong.

I forgive thy treason - I redeem thy fall

For Iron Cold Iron - must be master of men all! "

'Crowns are for the valiant - sceptres for the bold!

Thrones and Powers for mighty men who dare to take and hold!'

" Nay! " said the Baron, kneeling in his hall,

" But Iron - Cold Iron - is master of men all!

Iron out of Calvary is master of men all! "