Response to Arg:
I think using “for lack of a better reason” was the wrong terminology. I feel the main point that I was trying to convey was that in light of all the other options out there, faith in God was the better reason to choose. Also the fact that science sometimes tries to justify things that may be as farfetched as others. God seems to provide the same if not more reasoning and evidence then everything else. It is this evidence that increases my ability to believe and commune with God on a daily basis. This has also lead me to the other revelation that God is not a church building or a priest. He is His own individual who wanted these things to spread his word and bring people to Him but what they have turned into are things that distract or detract individuals from having a one on one relationship with God void of church and others. Although these things can be beneficial and provide a starting point for one’s journey in the Lord. It is these things like science which create or change the true purpose of the research or relationship with God.
I agree with your statement about science and measuring or the void of caring due to science. It is like I have stated before that although society today and technology have opened the door to communicating with more people with more frequency it is taking that personal relationship out of things. An example I would provide is a mother and daughter who are at odds with each other cannot have a face to face conversation without argument because they no longer know how to communicate. But can text each other while sitting in the same room without any problems. This proves that we have forgotten how to be personable. Jesus taught us that God is love and the best way to God is through showing that loving nature. This also keeps us from getting close to God because we have forgotten how to get back to the basics and communicate on a personal level with God. God and spirituality cannot be achieved through anything but a personal communicative relationship. If I may make a bold statement because I was there a few weeks ago that this is where everyone needs to move towards. Step out from behind your technology, science and buildings (i.e. Church) and start communing with people and God more importantly on a personal level.
But unlike philosophy that does not provide final answers God does and is willing if one would just stop and be quiet to listen to what He has to say to you. This can only occur through relationship and increased communication.
What were these obstacles and what spiritual issues were you struggling with? Out of curiosity.
I agree that spiritual distress will prevent one from fulfilling the worldly roles that they have. This furthers the point that one must become closer to and in tune with God in order to be better at the worldly roles that we fill. For God gave us those roles for a reason. If we communicate and are willing to listen He will show us how to be better at these roles.
Finding that balance is so much fun. (Ha-ha) The nice thing is that we can help each other and others reach this point. Just remember God is not made to fit in a box and when one tries, God always finds a way to prove you wrong. Blatantly proven when God won me over like you stated Mr. J in your last paragraph before your conclusion.
Overall, God is declaring “aren’t I enough for you.”
Let’s see where this takes us. Despite the pile you thought you laid out there well done!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
arg
This is a bad post. I had this idea which I felt would start a great dialogue. However, I got lost and was unable to get back. The only thing I achieved was days and days of pointless writing. So now, I cannot write any longer. I will just throw caution in the wind and hand you, Mr. A, this massive sticking pile of you know what. I have always relied on your insight, so get your scalpel out and dissect what you can. Feel free to draw blood. :), or ignore this post all together.
Mr. A, I have not fully appreciated what you have been saying. So below you’ll find a new response to your last two posts.
Response to second to last post:
You stated,
How the above happened to me:
I too have come to the conclusion to have faith in God. I cannot say with a total blind faith, but I’ll admit faith does require being blind; otherwise it’s not faith. You described your faith using the phrase “ for lack of a better reason.” It was the same for me. I wrestled with God philosophically until Unamuno ( who I hope was one of the people God knew would bring me around should I find him) who believed in God simply because everything contradicted itself, including God, kicked my arse. In the end, Unamuno like me, could not shake that desire to live forever, to have a God to believe in, to know and trust ( although his God is a lot different than mine).
Your statement about relying too much on science is not wrong but I would like to add to it. I don’t think we rely on science too much as we don’t take the time to think about why we really are conducting scientific experiments. Allow me to give an example. In order for a nurse to be an expert in caring, it requires profound philosophical, scientific, and personal insight. In short it requires a lot of knowing. The medical field’s obsession with measuring everything (isolating variables) has resulted in nursing losing it’s focus on one of our most profound banks of legitimate knowledge ( caring) simply because it cannot be properly measured. While there are legitimate ways of studying it (qualitative methods), they are thought to be weaker ( not true).
I recall one oncology nurse who realized after reflection, that medicine’s outcomes based work had forgotten to ask what it was like to have end stage cancer. She found that by the time medicine was done with these patients, all that could be done to alleviate their suffering, was to dope them up to high heaven. She wanted to know what it was like to go through this. So, she conducted a qualitative study and found that the patients suffered even more due to the pain medication. This was because they were being robed of their lucidity. From this many new interventions were implemented
So why did I talk to much about science?
I often see that faith and religion have the same problems as the above. But this is wrong for everything we do requires rational thought. This includes faith, for people have to believe it is the best thing for them. Anyone who becomes disappointed with philosophy (rational thought), in my mind, thinks that philosophy can give real final answers. It does not, it only assists us in making sense of this life, this irrational life, which only seems to make sense, when we rely on our experiences. These experiences are what give us truth and understanding and in my case it requires religion but only when guided by reason. But be warned. Too much reason cause one to be blind to their experience , but for those who ignore reason, will start thinking that Jihad crusades are ok.
Response to Mr. A’s last post.
The importance of this entry, is that I have to admit that I believe in God in a very similar way as you described. That for all the books I have read etc, my reason to believe is no better founded. I had been struggling with spiritual issues too long and because of that, I was becoming more ineffective as a father, nurse, and researcher. I felt compelled to return to my religion even though I had major issues with it (rational). After praying for years and getting the same answer: “ to go a priest, confess your issues, and return to the faith you once had as a child”. As a rational person, I found that is a ridiculous idea ( fought it for like 15 years). But as you said Mr. A, at some point one comes to accept, to believe. So, fed up with my spiritual distress and guided my the above answer,I finally went to a priest. By going to somebody else, and in the name of all that is asking for help, I was able to overcome some major spiritual obstacles.
Every day I find that I have to remain focused on what is really important. If I stray from the right path, I become very ineffective in what I do. I become less capable of being caring and staying away from vices. This heavily detracts from my work, work that I feel would be of at least some importance if I could balance my life better
I struggle just like you Mr. A in balancing the two worlds. I want to do what is right in God’s view but it did not work by just following a set of religious rules ( as Catholics can be thought famous for and what I thought I had to do as a Catholic), about which job he wants me to have, how large a family, or what kind of research I should/should not conduct (although he might). Rather, I would guess that God knew I would be always thinking about stuff ( study philosophy), want to be in a profession where I could focus on caring (nurse), want to be artistically creative when possible (guitar player), and participate in sports that put mortality to the test (monkey/snowboarder/rock climber. I could have chosen other things but they would be similar.
My struggles happen when I get too focused on one thing or another I falter. It sad how quickly and obvious it is when I stray. For me to stay on path, I need pray a lot, reflect upon what is going on in my life, and finally most recently reconcile my problems with the Catholic church so that I can return to my religious tradition. Studying philosophy, being a nurse, being a father, guitar playing etc. have all brought me closer to God and also taken me away from God.
One does not need any of the above to get to God, but in my case they is how He got to me, for that is what I am. Hopefully my work will be of help to others. When I first met you, I felt you Mr. A could have cared less about God. Oh how He changed that. For I feel He knew what kind of person you were, and waited for you to make a move in the right direction, a move that would bring you right to Him.
Conclusion:
Give the long mother blog ( I hope you don’t die reading it) I thought I better summarize what I said. My faith became necessary when I could not longer contain my spiritual distress. This required me to accept experiences and ideas that I cannot fully rationalize except to say that it seemed to right and therefore most rational for me to do. Through a most off topic I tried to show that science does not error because it is too scientific but rather because like anything else ( philosophy and faith), it can blind itself. I have come to realize that if I do not allow myself spiritual help I am not capable of being a good father, husband, nurse, researcher, and musician (even though these traits are what I am) because I too can blind myself by ignoring the bigger picture spiritual needs. However, without all the above I would never have found God in the first place. How quixotic.
From the heart I want to say that my faith is based in reason and experience (irrational thought); quixotic to the core. Your’s, from a completely different angle, requiring little of what I do. You born again, me Catholic. Both religions opposed and alike. Yet, I have all the faith that God laughs at this saying, “you believe for the same reason, is that not enough?”
Mr. A, I have not fully appreciated what you have been saying. So below you’ll find a new response to your last two posts.
Response to second to last post:
You stated,
it is funny because I have come to the thought that whether it is faith or the lack of a better option just believing in God and heaven seems to make sense now. I think I am beginning to move towards bettering my relationship with God, bettering my journey, accepting all with a blind faith because nothing else out there speaks any better or clearer. Don’t get me wrong, I do not believe because of default but it is funny how faith has begun to fall in to place for me. Things are making sense and the other options out there seem just as improbable.
How the above happened to me:
I too have come to the conclusion to have faith in God. I cannot say with a total blind faith, but I’ll admit faith does require being blind; otherwise it’s not faith. You described your faith using the phrase “ for lack of a better reason.” It was the same for me. I wrestled with God philosophically until Unamuno ( who I hope was one of the people God knew would bring me around should I find him) who believed in God simply because everything contradicted itself, including God, kicked my arse. In the end, Unamuno like me, could not shake that desire to live forever, to have a God to believe in, to know and trust ( although his God is a lot different than mine).
Your statement about relying too much on science is not wrong but I would like to add to it. I don’t think we rely on science too much as we don’t take the time to think about why we really are conducting scientific experiments. Allow me to give an example. In order for a nurse to be an expert in caring, it requires profound philosophical, scientific, and personal insight. In short it requires a lot of knowing. The medical field’s obsession with measuring everything (isolating variables) has resulted in nursing losing it’s focus on one of our most profound banks of legitimate knowledge ( caring) simply because it cannot be properly measured. While there are legitimate ways of studying it (qualitative methods), they are thought to be weaker ( not true).
I recall one oncology nurse who realized after reflection, that medicine’s outcomes based work had forgotten to ask what it was like to have end stage cancer. She found that by the time medicine was done with these patients, all that could be done to alleviate their suffering, was to dope them up to high heaven. She wanted to know what it was like to go through this. So, she conducted a qualitative study and found that the patients suffered even more due to the pain medication. This was because they were being robed of their lucidity. From this many new interventions were implemented
So why did I talk to much about science?
I often see that faith and religion have the same problems as the above. But this is wrong for everything we do requires rational thought. This includes faith, for people have to believe it is the best thing for them. Anyone who becomes disappointed with philosophy (rational thought), in my mind, thinks that philosophy can give real final answers. It does not, it only assists us in making sense of this life, this irrational life, which only seems to make sense, when we rely on our experiences. These experiences are what give us truth and understanding and in my case it requires religion but only when guided by reason. But be warned. Too much reason cause one to be blind to their experience , but for those who ignore reason, will start thinking that Jihad crusades are ok.
Response to Mr. A’s last post.
The importance of this entry, is that I have to admit that I believe in God in a very similar way as you described. That for all the books I have read etc, my reason to believe is no better founded. I had been struggling with spiritual issues too long and because of that, I was becoming more ineffective as a father, nurse, and researcher. I felt compelled to return to my religion even though I had major issues with it (rational). After praying for years and getting the same answer: “ to go a priest, confess your issues, and return to the faith you once had as a child”. As a rational person, I found that is a ridiculous idea ( fought it for like 15 years). But as you said Mr. A, at some point one comes to accept, to believe. So, fed up with my spiritual distress and guided my the above answer,I finally went to a priest. By going to somebody else, and in the name of all that is asking for help, I was able to overcome some major spiritual obstacles.
Every day I find that I have to remain focused on what is really important. If I stray from the right path, I become very ineffective in what I do. I become less capable of being caring and staying away from vices. This heavily detracts from my work, work that I feel would be of at least some importance if I could balance my life better
I struggle just like you Mr. A in balancing the two worlds. I want to do what is right in God’s view but it did not work by just following a set of religious rules ( as Catholics can be thought famous for and what I thought I had to do as a Catholic), about which job he wants me to have, how large a family, or what kind of research I should/should not conduct (although he might). Rather, I would guess that God knew I would be always thinking about stuff ( study philosophy), want to be in a profession where I could focus on caring (nurse), want to be artistically creative when possible (guitar player), and participate in sports that put mortality to the test (monkey/snowboarder/rock climber. I could have chosen other things but they would be similar.
My struggles happen when I get too focused on one thing or another I falter. It sad how quickly and obvious it is when I stray. For me to stay on path, I need pray a lot, reflect upon what is going on in my life, and finally most recently reconcile my problems with the Catholic church so that I can return to my religious tradition. Studying philosophy, being a nurse, being a father, guitar playing etc. have all brought me closer to God and also taken me away from God.
One does not need any of the above to get to God, but in my case they is how He got to me, for that is what I am. Hopefully my work will be of help to others. When I first met you, I felt you Mr. A could have cared less about God. Oh how He changed that. For I feel He knew what kind of person you were, and waited for you to make a move in the right direction, a move that would bring you right to Him.
Conclusion:
Give the long mother blog ( I hope you don’t die reading it) I thought I better summarize what I said. My faith became necessary when I could not longer contain my spiritual distress. This required me to accept experiences and ideas that I cannot fully rationalize except to say that it seemed to right and therefore most rational for me to do. Through a most off topic I tried to show that science does not error because it is too scientific but rather because like anything else ( philosophy and faith), it can blind itself. I have come to realize that if I do not allow myself spiritual help I am not capable of being a good father, husband, nurse, researcher, and musician (even though these traits are what I am) because I too can blind myself by ignoring the bigger picture spiritual needs. However, without all the above I would never have found God in the first place. How quixotic.
From the heart I want to say that my faith is based in reason and experience (irrational thought); quixotic to the core. Your’s, from a completely different angle, requiring little of what I do. You born again, me Catholic. Both religions opposed and alike. Yet, I have all the faith that God laughs at this saying, “you believe for the same reason, is that not enough?”
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Mr. A, worldly knowledge, practice, and in your case, your job do not have to contradict the Godly view. What we do here, is what brings us to God. I will try to, in a short time, to explain why I feel your job, if done right ( I am sure it is), is God’s work.
Mental illness is real:
A close relative of mine, has a number of mental defects/illnesses that often prevent her from having total control of her actions. I will not list any specific illnesses, but I will say that her problems fit the description of many a mainstream mental illness thought to be bogus. But she is not possessed by Satan, she has bad DNA ( proven with a DNA test). I can imagine that people in the not so distant past would think her possessed. For she often bursts out saying things that don’t make sense- including making up new words, gets foam in the corners of her mouth from speaking and worrying too much, and is prone to falling and seizing on the floor. I thank God someone understands that there is something wrong in her brain and is utilizing drugs to improve neurological function. Not only is her illness is under control, but she continues to surpass all projections as medical treatment and therapies continue to improve over the years.
It’s dangerous to assume that mental illness is otherwise; imagine if we considered other illnesses to be demonic:
Example 1:
Empirical science, through it diligence, has not only identified bacteria, but found cures for the many illnesses it causes. I would find it madness and amoral (negligence or suicide), for an otherwise healthy person, to refuse or be refused antibiotics if the excuse was “it’s demonic and requiring only prayer; it’s in God’s hands”.
Example 2:
Take a person who practices bad diet, is overweight, and does not exercise. Was their heart attack from demonic possession or clogged arteries? I don’t need diet or exercise, I need prayer.
What these examples mean:
As far as we know regarding mental illness, there is no difference between mental illness and any other illness. Like bacteria, we empirically see it and are doing our best to empirically treat it. I have no qualms with the religious idea that a person via bad choices can cause or make depression or many other mental illnesses worse and by extension of reason, allow or further the devil’s influence. The devil may very well be enacting on someone in a way to give or promote mental illness (or any illness for that matter), but rest assured, like a bacterial infection, there is an actual illness that needs treatment. But say somehow the Devil works just through the soul and not through the body , it is severally dangerous to assume this. Imagine if we assumed that every fat person who goes to McDonalds is possessed by the devil to go there. Most if not all people at McDonalds are not possessed but probably have serious health issues(although the drive through has made me wonder at times) and the same is for mental illness. We need to help these people. Would it be right to pray to end world hunger while simultaneously getting rid of food pantries and outreach program because they promote the devils work by making us think the problem is not of this world?
God gave us talents that can be used for good or for evil. Fat McDonald people need help. So do the mentally ill. Their need prayer, therapy, and medical intervention. Mr. A ,your ability to be good therapist, to help people overcome a mental illness ,is a calling and gift from God. I know that you have been a great help to me.
The world needs Mr. A to continue his good works. I need to know there is a world in which people like Mr. A are out there helping people.
Conclusion:
Go ahead a pray for every one who has any illness. Pray for guidance. Pray for me who might have just really pissed Mr. A off. Just don’t forget that the mentally ill need real treatment. I am sure then that the Devil would love us only to pray for others while ignoring physical action. We have only this world in order to build ourselves up by doing that that which is good and right. Remember, that quote ‘whatever you do to the least of my people, you do to me’?. We find God by doing what is right, by helping others. Most of us were not all meant to live in a monastery, ignoring this world. If you do the right thing in this world, you learn to be closer to the next. Why else to we live? I am sure Mr. A , that for you it is to be saved, but being saved does not mean sitting around. Every action we take on this earth can bring us closer to higher understanding, all we have to do is maintain our focus.
Mental illness is real:
A close relative of mine, has a number of mental defects/illnesses that often prevent her from having total control of her actions. I will not list any specific illnesses, but I will say that her problems fit the description of many a mainstream mental illness thought to be bogus. But she is not possessed by Satan, she has bad DNA ( proven with a DNA test). I can imagine that people in the not so distant past would think her possessed. For she often bursts out saying things that don’t make sense- including making up new words, gets foam in the corners of her mouth from speaking and worrying too much, and is prone to falling and seizing on the floor. I thank God someone understands that there is something wrong in her brain and is utilizing drugs to improve neurological function. Not only is her illness is under control, but she continues to surpass all projections as medical treatment and therapies continue to improve over the years.
It’s dangerous to assume that mental illness is otherwise; imagine if we considered other illnesses to be demonic:
Example 1:
Empirical science, through it diligence, has not only identified bacteria, but found cures for the many illnesses it causes. I would find it madness and amoral (negligence or suicide), for an otherwise healthy person, to refuse or be refused antibiotics if the excuse was “it’s demonic and requiring only prayer; it’s in God’s hands”.
Example 2:
Take a person who practices bad diet, is overweight, and does not exercise. Was their heart attack from demonic possession or clogged arteries? I don’t need diet or exercise, I need prayer.
What these examples mean:
As far as we know regarding mental illness, there is no difference between mental illness and any other illness. Like bacteria, we empirically see it and are doing our best to empirically treat it. I have no qualms with the religious idea that a person via bad choices can cause or make depression or many other mental illnesses worse and by extension of reason, allow or further the devil’s influence. The devil may very well be enacting on someone in a way to give or promote mental illness (or any illness for that matter), but rest assured, like a bacterial infection, there is an actual illness that needs treatment. But say somehow the Devil works just through the soul and not through the body , it is severally dangerous to assume this. Imagine if we assumed that every fat person who goes to McDonalds is possessed by the devil to go there. Most if not all people at McDonalds are not possessed but probably have serious health issues(although the drive through has made me wonder at times) and the same is for mental illness. We need to help these people. Would it be right to pray to end world hunger while simultaneously getting rid of food pantries and outreach program because they promote the devils work by making us think the problem is not of this world?
God gave us talents that can be used for good or for evil. Fat McDonald people need help. So do the mentally ill. Their need prayer, therapy, and medical intervention. Mr. A ,your ability to be good therapist, to help people overcome a mental illness ,is a calling and gift from God. I know that you have been a great help to me.
The world needs Mr. A to continue his good works. I need to know there is a world in which people like Mr. A are out there helping people.
Conclusion:
Go ahead a pray for every one who has any illness. Pray for guidance. Pray for me who might have just really pissed Mr. A off. Just don’t forget that the mentally ill need real treatment. I am sure then that the Devil would love us only to pray for others while ignoring physical action. We have only this world in order to build ourselves up by doing that that which is good and right. Remember, that quote ‘whatever you do to the least of my people, you do to me’?. We find God by doing what is right, by helping others. Most of us were not all meant to live in a monastery, ignoring this world. If you do the right thing in this world, you learn to be closer to the next. Why else to we live? I am sure Mr. A , that for you it is to be saved, but being saved does not mean sitting around. Every action we take on this earth can bring us closer to higher understanding, all we have to do is maintain our focus.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
God, the question and proof of my growth.
Who is God? The one I know and have experienced through odd and strange sensations, acts of the world and more than coincidence. But to continually struggle to live by his image. Failed by choices and thoughts. Forgiven by grace, saved by mercy. Who is this being that is so loving, all knowing and allowing of free will.
Why is it that all of the worldly knowledge, practice and job(occupation) contradict the Godly view? Is it mental health issues or is it demonic? Why does worldly treatment effect these so called demons? How does one be a believer when his view and knowledge of God contradicts his day to day job and experiences? These are the things I struggle with daily. Wanting to be Godly everyday, living in the experience, feeling God and knowing his voice. But balance my knowledge of books and worldly experiences.
Hard to stay in chair one(the Godly chair), pray and commune with God every day. Not always seeing results knowing I should, getting frustrated at God but taking it out on the world. What of me must I change in order to walk from a holy place. Contending like a prized fighter who is not in any condition to do so.
So I can see the change that I have continued to make through the experience with the blog and reading things that have answered questions and edified my beliefs. It is crazy how God and intercede in your life and interject his plan throughout your life especially when you are not expecting these things. I believe it takes faith and a choice to proceed in your faith. So now is the time for me to start training to be that prized fighter. So those around me be prepared to be questioned, tested and experienced in the walk that I continue to travel.
Feel free to answer the questions, pose your own or share any experience that you have had whether it is your walk or thoughts you have had.
Why is it that all of the worldly knowledge, practice and job(occupation) contradict the Godly view? Is it mental health issues or is it demonic? Why does worldly treatment effect these so called demons? How does one be a believer when his view and knowledge of God contradicts his day to day job and experiences? These are the things I struggle with daily. Wanting to be Godly everyday, living in the experience, feeling God and knowing his voice. But balance my knowledge of books and worldly experiences.
Hard to stay in chair one(the Godly chair), pray and commune with God every day. Not always seeing results knowing I should, getting frustrated at God but taking it out on the world. What of me must I change in order to walk from a holy place. Contending like a prized fighter who is not in any condition to do so.
So I can see the change that I have continued to make through the experience with the blog and reading things that have answered questions and edified my beliefs. It is crazy how God and intercede in your life and interject his plan throughout your life especially when you are not expecting these things. I believe it takes faith and a choice to proceed in your faith. So now is the time for me to start training to be that prized fighter. So those around me be prepared to be questioned, tested and experienced in the walk that I continue to travel.
Feel free to answer the questions, pose your own or share any experience that you have had whether it is your walk or thoughts you have had.
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