...what is authentic is that which is followed and obeyed without threat of pain, separation or isolation.
I agree with that. How do we then teach young minds that truth when it is much easier to shelter them from it with things like cookies, thus beginning the spiral of requiring a reason to unlearn this behavior?
Of course, if people were allowed to go through life with that truth as their guide, there would be no need for big structures with names like World Overcomers' Church or those with convenient "viewing" (theater is viewing and not participation) hours 4 times a weekend.
Those 'big structures' to which you refer (at least those I've visited) ask participation of those attending in various degrees. I will not deny (as some in my circles would) that there is an element of theatrics involved. Any ritual is likely to contain similar elements. Do we attempt to put some kind of sensibility behind it? Absolutely. Is it effective? Not always.
Yes, indeed the trees are laughing. But I also know that while they appear to be dead, in reality their growth is slowed due to the colder weather and the lack of sunlight.
Re: Sorry AgainflidaisairmidMarch 17 2009, 17:06:25 UTC
"I agree with that. How do we then teach young minds that truth when it is much easier to shelter them from it with things like cookies, thus beginning the spiral of requiring a reason to unlearn this behavior?"
We are honest with them from the start.We treat them like the intelegent thinking beings that they are and explain the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth to them. Till that discussion , or better yet example can be shared with them, we do our best to keep i from their view. This means of course that we as adults have to be very proactive and often deny ourselves opportunities to see the latest shiny thing. Such as the case with a lot of media presentations. You cannot go about saying something is wrong and then give thumbs up to entertainment media that presents a contrary position.When this happens, the little thinking individuals begin to see the hypocrisy, and everybody loses.
"Those 'big structures' to which you refer (at least those I've visited) ask participation of those attending in various degrees. I will not deny (as some in my circles would) that there is an element of theatrics involved. Any ritual is likely to contain similar elements. Do we attempt to put some kind of sensibility behind it? Absolutely. Is it effective? Not always."
So how to you justify the verse "Be still and know I am God" in the midst of the theater that is called ritual ? Inquiring minds would like to know.
Participation is a spontaneous thing, left up to the decision of the one who chooses to participate. If it is "you will now sing this" or "you will now move this way" or "the real deal does not begin until this player is present", it is theater. If it is an individual being moved to act in a certain way because of their interaction with something else, it is participation. A conversation is participation- an out loud reading of a book is not.
Trees only appear to be dormant in the winter because they don't have the showy bits about them. Yet they are very much alive. The energy is simply focused at the roots. Much like the attitude that God is indeed everywhere and needs no permission, setting,,official rule book or structured ritual to make it so.
I agree with that. How do we then teach young minds that truth when it is much easier to shelter them from it with things like cookies, thus beginning the spiral of requiring a reason to unlearn this behavior?
Of course, if people were allowed to go through life with that truth as their guide, there would be no need for big structures with names like World Overcomers' Church or those with convenient "viewing" (theater is viewing and not participation) hours 4 times a weekend.
Those 'big structures' to which you refer (at least those I've visited) ask participation of those attending in various degrees. I will not deny (as some in my circles would) that there is an element of theatrics involved. Any ritual is likely to contain similar elements. Do we attempt to put some kind of sensibility behind it? Absolutely. Is it effective? Not always.
Yes, indeed the trees are laughing. But I also know that while they appear to be dead, in reality their growth is slowed due to the colder weather and the lack of sunlight.
Reply
We are honest with them from the start.We treat them like the intelegent thinking beings that they are and explain the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth to them. Till that discussion , or better yet example can be shared with them, we do our best to keep i from their view. This means of course that we as adults have to be very proactive and often deny ourselves opportunities to see the latest shiny thing. Such as the case with a lot of media presentations. You cannot go about saying something is wrong and then give thumbs up to entertainment media that presents a contrary position.When this happens, the little thinking individuals begin to see the hypocrisy, and everybody loses.
"Those 'big structures' to which you refer (at least those I've visited) ask participation of those attending in various degrees. I will not deny (as some in my circles would) that there is an element of theatrics involved. Any ritual is likely to contain similar elements. Do we attempt to put some kind of sensibility behind it? Absolutely. Is it effective? Not always."
So how to you justify the verse "Be still and know I am God" in the midst of the theater that is called ritual ? Inquiring minds would like to know.
Participation is a spontaneous thing, left up to the decision of the one who chooses to participate. If it is "you will now sing this" or "you will now move this way" or "the real deal does not begin until this player is present", it is theater. If it is an individual being moved to act in a certain way because of their interaction with something else, it is participation. A conversation is participation- an out loud reading of a book is not.
Trees only appear to be dormant in the winter because they don't have the showy bits about them. Yet they are very much alive. The energy is simply focused at the roots. Much like the attitude that God is indeed everywhere and needs no permission, setting,,official rule book or structured ritual to make it so.
Reply
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