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
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Candy, hey. I really enjoyed reading this and it lends to what we've been discussing, I think. would like to know what you think if/when you have the time:
Without doubt, life would simply be a series of packaged assumptions, none of them tested, none of them sure, and all of them belonging not to us, but to someone else whose truth we have made our own.
Thanks for that. I agree with that so much--it's interesting to me, but EVERY TIME I engage in a religious discussion with someone, particularly someone who doesn't believe at all, I find myself strengthened, because I have to search more deeply for answers and doctrine that I take for granted sometimes.
The times in my life when I've questioned all of it -- when I've wondered if the way I've chosen to live my life is worth it at all -- those are the times when my prayers are more meaningful, and my study is a hunger rather than just a habit I have. It all becomes so much more, and those are the times when I can say with even more certainty: I know it's true. Not just I 'believe' or I 'hope' but I know. As she said doubt leads to real faith, and faith can move mountains -- figurative and literal.
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 ( ... )
Reply
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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From Sr Joan:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sister-joan-chittister-osb/be-grateful-for-doubt_b_750923.html
Without doubt, life would simply be a series of packaged assumptions, none of them tested, none of them sure, and all of them belonging not to us, but to someone else whose truth we have made our own.
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The times in my life when I've questioned all of it -- when I've wondered if the way I've chosen to live my life is worth it at all -- those are the times when my prayers are more meaningful, and my study is a hunger rather than just a habit I have. It all becomes so much more, and those are the times when I can say with even more certainty: I know it's true. Not just I 'believe' or I 'hope' but I know. As she said doubt leads to real faith, and faith can move mountains -- figurative and literal.
Reply
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