This is hard to fathom. Not your post, so much, but the enormity of what you're saying - because, after all, the aspect of God, the higher power, a reckoning, choice versus nothingness, God as clockmaker versus God as pastoral creator - it's massive!
I think that's why we call it 'blind faith'. We just have to go along with it. How, on earth, can be reason about it.
Sometimes I rail at God and I think this is common. The injustice of a child dying, the horror of disease, the unfairness of stuff like the RC church's history of abuse, the RC approach to guilt and sacrifice and confusion ...
But it's not really his fault. It's the interpretation of man that has lead to these teachings of a vindictive God, mortal sin, the mark left on your soul because you said the 'F' word when you were 12, or you kissed a boy at 15.
I realize this is slanted towards my religious upbringing, but I have THAT to thank for the spiritual journey that has occurred since Lea died. Now I choose to believe that she's 'with' God. I choose to believe
( ... )
Not to inflict further pain on your brain, there, dear Rosie, but I have a couple of questions for you.
First of all, your remark here: I think that's why we call it 'blind faith'. We just have to go along with it. How, on earth, can be reason about it.makes me curious. I think of 'faith' and 'blind faith' as two separate kinds of faith. Do you feel that any faith you have is 'blind'? Have you not had something conclusive to you, even if not 'provable' to someone else that has solidified your faith? I ask that because I've had those kinds of experiences personally, which makes me certain my faith on particular subjects is not 'blind' -- though on others I do have 'blind' faith, at least for a time until the mysteries of God are revealed to me. So I'm just wondering about that
( ... )
Do you feel that any faith you have is 'blind'? Have you not had something conclusive to you, even if not 'provable' to someone else that has solidifiedYes, I have had quasi-conclusive 'events' that have (kinda) 'proven' that God exists, but they mainly presented as dreams. I've been visited by my sister several times, as have siblings, but we often wonder if that's our brains giving us what we want to have (her, with us) or if it's really her
( ... )
I think all things that happen with regard to faith hinge on the aspect of being illogical to some extent. Anything we can logic our way into, we can logic our way out of. Faith being a 'feeling' is both stronger and more lasting than the intellectualism of anything. Dismissing those experiences we have that are both profound and slightly difficult to believe is undoubtedly the crux of the matter, and the difference between someone who believes and someone who doesn't
( ... )
You know, I always like our talks about religions, even though I find them so so exhausting on the mind :)
What bothers me with the portrait of God/religion you're depicting in your last paragraph, is that everything appears extreme (to me), good or bad, black or white...there isn't shades of grey in the middle ? I'm not looking for excuses for what Hitler did for example, one would wonder what shades of grey could we find in his actions...but I do believe that one's story is more that just one side and that when you look at different sides of a story, to define an action as good or bad becomes harder because it's not that easy and clear. The underlying meanings behind someone's action is just so complex.
I actually agree with this totally, and that's why I believe only God can judge us--because only he can look upon our heart and understand the state we were in when we chose whatever it is that we chose. Only he can dole out both mercy and justice.
For what it's worth, I don't think Hitler will spend eternity in hell.
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I think that's why we call it 'blind faith'. We just have to go along with it. How, on earth, can be reason about it.
Sometimes I rail at God and I think this is common. The injustice of a child dying, the horror of disease, the unfairness of stuff like the RC church's history of abuse, the RC approach to guilt and sacrifice and confusion ...
But it's not really his fault. It's the interpretation of man that has lead to these teachings of a vindictive God, mortal sin, the mark left on your soul because you said the 'F' word when you were 12, or you kissed a boy at 15.
I realize this is slanted towards my religious upbringing, but I have THAT to thank for the spiritual journey that has occurred since Lea died. Now I choose to believe that she's 'with' God. I choose to believe ( ... )
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First of all, your remark here:
I think that's why we call it 'blind faith'. We just have to go along with it. How, on earth, can be reason about it.makes me curious. I think of 'faith' and 'blind faith' as two separate kinds of faith. Do you feel that any faith you have is 'blind'? Have you not had something conclusive to you, even if not 'provable' to someone else that has solidified your faith? I ask that because I've had those kinds of experiences personally, which makes me certain my faith on particular subjects is not 'blind' -- though on others I do have 'blind' faith, at least for a time until the mysteries of God are revealed to me. So I'm just wondering about that ( ... )
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Do you feel that any faith you have is 'blind'? Have you not had something conclusive to you, even if not 'provable' to someone else that has solidifiedYes, I have had quasi-conclusive 'events' that have (kinda) 'proven' that God exists, but they mainly presented as dreams. I've been visited by my sister several times, as have siblings, but we often wonder if that's our brains giving us what we want to have (her, with us) or if it's really her ( ... )
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What bothers me with the portrait of God/religion you're depicting in your last paragraph, is that everything appears extreme (to me), good or bad, black or white...there isn't shades of grey in the middle ? I'm not looking for excuses for what Hitler did for example, one would wonder what shades of grey could we find in his actions...but I do believe that one's story is more that just one side and that when you look at different sides of a story, to define an action as good or bad becomes harder because it's not that easy and clear. The underlying meanings behind someone's action is just so complex.
Reply
For what it's worth, I don't think Hitler will spend eternity in hell.
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