God is certainly not a church, building or priest. But like you, I find benefit from seeking understanding of others (like your pastor’s sermons or teachings) and the general experiencing of worship. There are certain people who’s job it is to help guide people when they feel lost. I was lost and after prayer realized I needed to go back to my church. My faith comes almost completely from personal experiences, prayer (alone), and reading. Church and priests etc are just one way to keep things going. As you stated, philosophy does not provide final answers, God does. I will only add however, that the point of philosophy is to help people weed through the mires of life; to keep their thoughts and understandings properly in place. While faith may require blindness, we still need to see to work on this earth.
To answer your question about spiritual issues, it boils down to the person I am. Am I doing the right things in life? Am I trying hard enough to achieve ( understand) that which I should be achieving ( understanding) versus sitting around and being a fat lazy bum? Questions like this often surround four topics; being a husband, being a father, being a nurse, being an academic. How do I balance these things? The problems comes up when my personal demons throw things out of balance. We all have flaws that can really get under our skin and tear us apart. I remain full of pollution ( TV, generalized laziness, multiple anxieties from not succeeding, wanting too much for oneself). I am trying very hard to get my mind, body, and spirit back in order ( as if it ever was). The better I get at these things the better I am balancing my priorities. Prayer, meditation, and faith are very helpful.
As of now I exercise daily, eat well, and practice the faith I have always loved. Its doing wonders.
I like your conclusion.
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.”
Of note:
I would like to say in response to your statement “step out from your technology, science and buildings and start communing with people and start communing with people and God more importantly on a personal level”
The most important thing we can do in this world is to understand each other. The art of dialogue is paramount there. I feel that my responses have not been dialectic here at all. The point of my research is to understand others through meaningful dialogue. For when two people truly try to understand each other ( instead of trying to demonstrate a point) true understanding comes into being. If people are ever to have better answers on this earth it will never come from anything but this All the science and technology will no nothing to promote this of its own.
One of the most important things I need to do here is to understand your faith. For you understood me even in times when it was clear I was off my rocker.
