Psycho-Babble Faith Thread 1039948

Shown: posts 1 to 25 of 32. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Re: Lou' request-mrngsptr » Lou PIlder

Posted by Tomatheus on March 9, 2013, at 15:46:24

In reply to Lou' request-mrngsptr » Tomatheus, posted by Lou PIlder on March 9, 2013, at 14:19:48

Lou,

See below for my responses to your questions.

> A. Which God do you have a relationship with?

I don't know the name of the God who I feel like I have a relationship with, but I feel like God as I know Him is a spiritual presence beyond myself that knows the future and has a forgiving nature. The first thing that I feel that God revealed to me was that I was forgiven. Now, I refer to this spiritual presence as God, but I can't discount the possibility that it might be someone or something else. I'm sure that many would argue that what I perceive to be God is really just my mind playing tricks on me since my experiences with God are closely tied into (and in some ways inseparable from) my psychosis. I was very delusional at the time that I first felt the presence of God, and I now recognize that a lot of the things that I was thinking at that point in time were in fact delusions, but I don't think that my belief of being opened up to this intelligent spiritual presence that I call God is a delusional one. I don't usually try to convince others of this because I know that they're not likely to believe me, and I'm not trying to persuade you as much as I'm just answering your question.

> B. Does this God have any scriptures that the people that give service and worship to this God use?

I don't know the extent to which the God I have a relationship with influenced the writing of various religious scriptures. I would like to think that the God that I have a relationship with is the same God that people of various world religions worship, but I don't know for sure if that's the case.

> C. In those scriptures, if there are any, do they speak to what that God prescribes to people that take mind-altering drugs?

I am only familiar with the Bible since I was raised a Roman Catholic Christian, but I have not read enough of it to know what it speaks of concerning what God prescribes to people that take mind-altering drugs.

> D. Does this God claim to have created the heavens and the Earth?

I have not had God make this claim to me, but He has not revealed anything to the contrary, either.

> E. If this God writes in the scriptures, if any, that one can be delivered out of depression and addiction, do you know how that can be done?

I don't know how that can be done. It might be possible for deliverance out of depression and/or addiction through divine means to occur, but I do not know of it happening, nor do I know what one would need to do to make it happen.

Well, that sums up my responses. Some of them may sound delusional to a lot of those who are going to read them, but they represent my honest take on what I've experienced.

Tomatheus

 

Lou' request-frgv » Tomatheus

Posted by Lou PIlder on March 9, 2013, at 19:45:42

In reply to Re: Lou' request-mrngsptr » Lou PIlder, posted by Tomatheus on March 9, 2013, at 15:46:24

> Lou,
>
> See below for my responses to your questions.
>
> > A. Which God do you have a relationship with?
>
> I don't know the name of the God who I feel like I have a relationship with, but I feel like God as I know Him is a spiritual presence beyond myself that knows the future and has a forgiving nature. The first thing that I feel that God revealed to me was that I was forgiven. Now, I refer to this spiritual presence as God, but I can't discount the possibility that it might be someone or something else. I'm sure that many would argue that what I perceive to be God is really just my mind playing tricks on me since my experiences with God are closely tied into (and in some ways inseparable from) my psychosis. I was very delusional at the time that I first felt the presence of God, and I now recognize that a lot of the things that I was thinking at that point in time were in fact delusions, but I don't think that my belief of being opened up to this intelligent spiritual presence that I call God is a delusional one. I don't usually try to convince others of this because I know that they're not likely to believe me, and I'm not trying to persuade you as much as I'm just answering your question.
>
> > B. Does this God have any scriptures that the people that give service and worship to this God use?
>
> I don't know the extent to which the God I have a relationship with influenced the writing of various religious scriptures. I would like to think that the God that I have a relationship with is the same God that people of various world religions worship, but I don't know for sure if that's the case.
>
> > C. In those scriptures, if there are any, do they speak to what that God prescribes to people that take mind-altering drugs?
>
> I am only familiar with the Bible since I was raised a Roman Catholic Christian, but I have not read enough of it to know what it speaks of concerning what God prescribes to people that take mind-altering drugs.
>
> > D. Does this God claim to have created the heavens and the Earth?
>
> I have not had God make this claim to me, but He has not revealed anything to the contrary, either.
>
> > E. If this God writes in the scriptures, if any, that one can be delivered out of depression and addiction, do you know how that can be done?
>
> I don't know how that can be done. It might be possible for deliverance out of depression and/or addiction through divine means to occur, but I do not know of it happening, nor do I know what one would need to do to make it happen.
>
> Well, that sums up my responses. Some of them may sound delusional to a lot of those who are going to read them, but they represent my honest take on what I've experienced.
>
> Tomatheus
You wroye,[..I don't know...has a forgiving nature..].
I am unsure as to what that could mean to you. If you could post here answers to the following, then I could havethe opportunity to respond accordingly.
A. Are there any conditions that you know of that this God has for you to do to be forgiven?
B. If so, what are they?
C. If there are no conditions to be forgiven, then could not one do anything and not need forgiveness? If not, why not?
D. What could happen to people that are not forgiven by this God,if you know?
Lou

 

Re: Lou' request-mrngsptr

Posted by sigismund on March 10, 2013, at 0:09:50

In reply to Re: Lou' request-mrngsptr » Lou PIlder, posted by Tomatheus on March 9, 2013, at 15:46:24

In "One River" (I think) an Indian, on hearing the Gospel, weeps and when being asked why explains that it is because of the great distance of that God from his creation as opposed to their practice.

 

Re: Lou' request-mrngsptr

Posted by Meatwood_Flack on March 10, 2013, at 7:14:57

In reply to Re: Lou' request-mrngsptr, posted by sigismund on March 10, 2013, at 0:09:50

He may have also wept because God wanted white people to claim ownership of what he was perfectly willing to share. God is a product of man's oversized brain that needs to be able to explain the machinations of the universe. It's an idea that is thousands of years old, and the only idea that old that hasn't been discarded in the face of new information. It's the one area where we have not, as a whole, yet evolved. The universe is composed of two things: energy and empty space, and energy prefers conditions that sustain it. That's really as deep as it gets and anything else is just illusion. What is the source of this energy? We'll probably never know, and until we are comfortable with not knowing we will continue to attempt to ascribe those things we don't understand to a benevolent higher power. The higher power is energy, but it has no vested interest in what we do beyond maintaining itself. What kind of God would allow, if not create, mental illness? Religion offers the illusion of certainty and identity in the name of control. For some, that may be a fair trade off, but not for me.

 

Re: Lou' request-mrngsptr » Meatwood_Flack

Posted by SLS on March 10, 2013, at 8:02:36

In reply to Re: Lou' request-mrngsptr, posted by Meatwood_Flack on March 10, 2013, at 7:14:57

The conception of God often talked about here is Judeo-Christian-Muslim. There are others. Mine does not have God serving man as a guide to the machinations of the universe and providing a means of salvation. Mine simply unifies existence. I don't have the time and energy to invest in the rituals of organized religions, although I do not decry them. They do, in fact, serve important purposes in the lives of a great many people. I don't know if I would have even bothered to contemplate God without my introduction to Judaism.

For me, life is a spiritual experience. My spiritual belief in God has helped keep me alive. It has also been a source of joy and beauty. When I was an atheist, the universe was a cold, dark place with no direction or purpose. Man was a writhing worm on the surface of a small planet, whose every thought, feeling, and behavior were instilled by evolution only as a means of survival and propagation. The years I spent in atheism were the worst of my life.

My belief in God might be misguided, but it works for me.


- Scott

 

Re: writhing worms » SLS

Posted by joe schmoe on March 10, 2013, at 10:06:11

In reply to Re: Lou' request-mrngsptr » Meatwood_Flack, posted by SLS on March 10, 2013, at 8:02:36

> When I was an atheist, the universe was a cold, dark place with no direction or purpose. Man was a writhing worm on the surface of a small planet, whose every thought, feeling, and behavior were instilled by evolution only as a means of survival and propagation. The years I spent in atheism were the worst of my life.

LOL. Nice imagery.

Personally I think the common phenomena of belief in gods, as well as hearing voices, must have some biological basis, and I think it is the two-hemisphered construction of the brain. One half occasionally "talks" to the other half, or just makes its presence known, which feels to the conscious half like there is some constant presence there, hidden and watching and occasionally commanding. This idea is explored more fully in Julian Jaynes' "The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicameral_mind

Now, belief in an invisible friend who is immortal, omniscient and has superpowers, might be a great comfort, but usually we do not judge ideas on the basis of how comforting they are. For example, if you played the Lottery each day, and went to bed convinced that you were going to win tomorrow and thus in a very happy state of mind, always looking forward to the next day and certain riches, when in fact you were not going to win, we might say this belief is a great comfort and helps the Lottery player to get through difficult times. Most people could probably afford to play the Lottery every day too, it would only cost about $30 a month, cheaper than many meds. Does that mean this idea should be encouraged as a therapy? It is an interesting notion.

I tend to prefer facts to comforting beliefs, however useful such beliefs might be, but maybe that is simply because I have an awfully hard time believing things which would be comforting, but that I see no evidence for.

As for whether the universe is cold, whether we are worms, etc. those are value judgments, not facts. I don't think an atheist like Carl Sagan saw the universe as cold and humans as worms. Rather, he saw the universe as an amazing place, and humans as the most amazing things in it.

 

Re: writhing worms

Posted by Meatwood_Flack on March 10, 2013, at 11:07:19

In reply to Re: writhing worms » SLS, posted by joe schmoe on March 10, 2013, at 10:06:11

Sagan's "Pale Blue Earth" should be required reading/listening in our high schools, especially given the continued influence of the Bible on Western thought. Sagan's essay is a direct attack on the perspective of smallness that religion thrives on in favor of a wider point of view.

 

Re: Lou' request-mrngsptr

Posted by Meatwood_Flack on March 10, 2013, at 11:53:57

In reply to Re: Lou' request-mrngsptr » Meatwood_Flack, posted by SLS on March 10, 2013, at 8:02:36

How were you able to set aside doubt in favor of faith? I've read many of your posts and they all seem to carry the common anchor of logic. Our present discussion defies logic in favor of faith. Having read these posts, I have concluded that you are an intelligent and reasonable man. So I guess my question is how you arrived at your conclusion when my intelligence and reason led me in a different direction? I believed, once, and would really love to be able to believe again without feeling like I was just hedging my bets, if that makes sense...

 

Re: Lou' request-frgv » Lou PIlder

Posted by Tomatheus on March 10, 2013, at 13:37:37

In reply to Lou' request-frgv » Tomatheus, posted by Lou PIlder on March 9, 2013, at 19:45:42

Lou,

I don't know what conditions must be met to be forgiven by the God that I feel like I have a relationship with. I will say that I felt as though I received forgiveness just once: at the time that I both started feeling God's presence and began experiencing signs of psychosis. I haven't received any indication pointing to forgiveness since then, although I haven't received any indications of condemnation that I can think of either.

It's my understanding that the New Testament of the Bible says some things concerning what those seeking forgiveness should do, at least from a Christian perspective. You might be able to find more on this with a quick Internet search if you're interested. Of course, if you don't share the Christian perspective on forgiveness, there are undoubtedly other perspectives that you might find to be of interest.

Tomatheus

 

Re: double double quotes » Meatwood_Flack

Posted by Dr. Bob on March 10, 2013, at 20:14:53

In reply to Re: writhing worms, posted by Meatwood_Flack on March 10, 2013, at 11:07:19

> Sagan's "Pale Blue Earth" should be required reading/listening in our high schools, especially given the continued influence of the Bible on Western thought.

I'd just like to plug the double double quotes feature at this site:

http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#amazon

The first time anyone refers to a book, a movie, or music without using this option, I post this to try to make sure he or she is at least aware of it. Thanks for letting us know about other resources,

Bob

 

Lou' reply- » Meatwood_Flack

Posted by Lou PIlder on March 10, 2013, at 21:05:22

In reply to Re: Lou' request-mrngsptr, posted by Meatwood_Flack on March 10, 2013, at 11:53:57

> How were you able to set aside doubt in favor of faith? I've read many of your posts and they all seem to carry the common anchor of logic. Our present discussion defies logic in favor of faith. Having read these posts, I have concluded that you are an intelligent and reasonable man. So I guess my question is how you arrived at your conclusion when my intelligence and reason led me in a different direction? I believed, once, and would really love to be able to believe again without feeling like I was just hedging my bets, if that makes sense...

M_F,
You wrote,[...doubt in favor of faith diffrent direction...how you arrived...would really love to believe again...]

 

Re: writhing worms » joe schmoe

Posted by SLS on March 11, 2013, at 3:58:02

In reply to Re: writhing worms » SLS, posted by joe schmoe on March 10, 2013, at 10:06:11

I find comfort in the way it resonates with me the idea of there being a higher order beyond existence. It seems to me that it is easy for man to use his logic to determine the "how", but not the "why". I don't have any problem with the idea that the entire Universe originated from the explosive expansion of a singularity. I rather like it. My spirituality is always in flux as it is refined by experience. Recognizing and accepting uncertainty appeals to me.


- Scott

 

Re: Lou' request-mrngsptr » Meatwood_Flack

Posted by SLS on March 11, 2013, at 5:03:36

In reply to Re: Lou' request-mrngsptr, posted by Meatwood_Flack on March 10, 2013, at 11:53:57

> How were you able to set aside doubt in favor of faith?

I don't know that I have "faith" as the word is often used. I guess I prefer "sighted faith" to "blind faith". My feeble logic keeps bringing me to the conclusion that it makes no sense to deny Existence as being a manifestation of something higher. Yet, I don't see God as being an entity. It really doesn't matter to me what God is, actually. For me, contemplating existence is a spiritual endeavor. Sometimes, the closest I can come to experiencing God is to embrace all of existence in the moment, and appreciate the incredible order and beauty of its design.

One of the turning points in my spiritual journey was to question my atheism when I was offered an answer to a very simple query. I had always invited debate, although I felt sure that my beliefs in the Big Bang Theory and biological evolution were sufficient to maintain my atheism, regardless of challenge. I was wrong. The question I asked was, "Why would a god create a universe"? My friend gave it some thought and replied, "Perhaps He wanted a relationship."

> I've read many of your posts and they all seem to carry the common anchor of logic. Our present discussion defies logic in favor of faith.

Perhaps my spirituality helps to fill in the blanks left by the limited knowledge of man. However, it sure feels like it encompasses the entirety of the universe, known and unknown. Spirituality is an easy answer that allows me to find comfort in the face of uncertainty. This does not make me any less voracious in my appetite for knowledge and understanding. It just quells my desperation. I look around and say to myself, "There is no way that this just happened."

For me, duality is the key to conceptualizing many aspects of existence, including God. Duality is integral to the understanding of much of cosmology, including the phenomenon of light. Light has the dual nature of being wave and particle at the same time. I experience God the same way. He exists and doesn't exist at the same time. He is present and absent at the same time. He is not of this universe, yet comprises everything in it. He is the Unity to be found in separateness.

How do you define "faith"?


- Scott

 

Lou' reply-

Posted by Lou PIlder on March 11, 2013, at 8:42:00

In reply to Lou' reply- » Meatwood_Flack, posted by Lou PIlder on March 10, 2013, at 21:05:22

> > How were you able to set aside doubt in favor of faith? I've read many of your posts and they all seem to carry the common anchor of logic. Our present discussion defies logic in favor of faith. Having read these posts, I have concluded that you are an intelligent and reasonable man. So I guess my question is how you arrived at your conclusion when my intelligence and reason led me in a different direction? I believed, once, and would really love to be able to believe again without feeling like I was just hedging my bets, if that makes sense...
>
> M_F,
> You wrote,[...doubt in favor of faith diffrent direction...how you arrived...would really love to believe again...]
Now faith is something that could be in different types. Their is man's own faith which is different that the faith that has been revealed to me.
YOu see, there is a faith hat is the sam faith as the Rider on the white horse. He had a different faith type than human faith. This type of faith is Word faith. YOu see, the Rider is the Wordof God. The logos, the intellegence of God. Tghis type of foaith is iven to one, it is infused into the person's being and thinking and spirit and heart.
Now I am prevented here from posting what has been revealed to this type of faith, the faith that the Rider has, that is imparted into one, given to one, infused into one's heart and mind. This type of fath chnges one into a whole new creature. Old things pass away, all thigs become new, you sing a new song.Gone are the dark clouds, for this type of faith has the Sun of righeuosness arise with healing in his rays.
The prohibitions posted to me here by Mr Hsiung prevent you from knowing what has been revealed to me about faith. You see, there are requierments to receive this type of faith, a healng faith, a moving faith, a faith that gives you the power to overcome all things, even depression and addicton.
Lou

 

Re: writhing worms » SLS

Posted by Phillipa on March 11, 2013, at 10:15:39

In reply to Re: writhing worms » joe schmoe, posted by SLS on March 11, 2013, at 3:58:02

Not Joe but ever since I was medicinalized as I call my RN career I was taught over and over again that if you can not see it, feel it, It isn't real. Proof was a medical test result, a pain that showed on a scan or was found in an operation if needed that indeed yup here is the source of the problem. It kind of brain washed me. So now it's hard to believe. Show me first please my mind always says to me. Phillipa

 

Re: Lou' reply-

Posted by schleprock on March 11, 2013, at 18:37:51

In reply to Lou' reply-, posted by Lou PIlder on March 11, 2013, at 8:42:00

> > > How were you able to set aside doubt in favor of faith? I've read many of your posts and they all seem to carry the common anchor of logic. Our present discussion defies logic in favor of faith. Having read these posts, I have concluded that you are an intelligent and reasonable man. So I guess my question is how you arrived at your conclusion when my intelligence and reason led me in a different direction? I believed, once, and would really love to be able to believe again without feeling like I was just hedging my bets, if that makes sense...
> >
> > M_F,
> > You wrote,[...doubt in favor of faith diffrent direction...how you arrived...would really love to believe again...]
> Now faith is something that could be in different types. Their is man's own faith which is different that the faith that has been revealed to me.
> YOu see, there is a faith hat is the sam faith as the Rider on the white horse. He had a different faith type than human faith. This type of faith is Word faith. YOu see, the Rider is the Wordof God. The logos, the intellegence of God. Tghis type of foaith is iven to one, it is infused into the person's being and thinking and spirit and heart.
> Now I am prevented here from posting what has been revealed to this type of faith, the faith that the Rider has, that is imparted into one, given to one, infused into one's heart and mind. This type of fath chnges one into a whole new creature. Old things pass away, all thigs become new, you sing a new song.Gone are the dark clouds, for this type of faith has the Sun of righeuosness arise with healing in his rays.
> The prohibitions posted to me here by Mr Hsiung prevent you from knowing what has been revealed to me about faith. You see, there are requierments to receive this type of faith, a healng faith, a moving faith, a faith that gives you the power to overcome all things, even depression and addicton.
> Lou

Word faith indeed.

 

Lou' reply-feythofthewrd » schleprock

Posted by Lou PIlder on March 11, 2013, at 19:17:37

In reply to Re: Lou' reply-, posted by schleprock on March 11, 2013, at 18:37:51

> > > > How were you able to set aside doubt in favor of faith? I've read many of your posts and they all seem to carry the common anchor of logic. Our present discussion defies logic in favor of faith. Having read these posts, I have concluded that you are an intelligent and reasonable man. So I guess my question is how you arrived at your conclusion when my intelligence and reason led me in a different direction? I believed, once, and would really love to be able to believe again without feeling like I was just hedging my bets, if that makes sense...
> > >
> > > M_F,
> > > You wrote,[...doubt in favor of faith diffrent direction...how you arrived...would really love to believe again...]
> > Now faith is something that could be in different types. Their is man's own faith which is different that the faith that has been revealed to me.
> > YOu see, there is a faith hat is the sam faith as the Rider on the white horse. He had a different faith type than human faith. This type of faith is Word faith. YOu see, the Rider is the Wordof God. The logos, the intellegence of God. Tghis type of foaith is iven to one, it is infused into the person's being and thinking and spirit and heart.
> > Now I am prevented here from posting what has been revealed to this type of faith, the faith that the Rider has, that is imparted into one, given to one, infused into one's heart and mind. This type of fath chnges one into a whole new creature. Old things pass away, all thigs become new, you sing a new song.Gone are the dark clouds, for this type of faith has the Sun of righeuosness arise with healing in his rays.
> > The prohibitions posted to me here by Mr Hsiung prevent you from knowing what has been revealed to me about faith. You see, there are requierments to receive this type of faith, a healng faith, a moving faith, a faith that gives you the power to overcome all things, even depression and addicton.
> > Lou
>
> Word faith indeed.

schleprock,
You wrote,[...Word faith indeed...]
In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was there from then on. This Word, manifests itself in human form. You see, no one could look at the God that the Jews give service nd worship to and live. But this God visits people in the form of a man, The Word of God. The scriptures that the Jews use tell about this manifistation of God in human form as The Angel Of The Lord. The faith that The Angel Of The Lord has can be imparted into us, given to us, a faith that gives power to overcome. The Rider on the white horse is The Angel of The Lord. He is The Word of God that can become flesh. It is His faith that I am bringing to this forum. This is the faith that enables one in bondage to depresssion and addction to have the shackles of slavery to them broken. This faith opens the Gates of hell and allows the captives to be freed. This faith can never die, for it is The Faith Of The Word, as you see. This faith reveals what we are and why we are here and where we are going. This faith reveals beyond psychiatry/psychology. This faith leads you to know the truth that makes you free. This faith restores the broken-hearted. This faith wipes away all tears and all pain and leads you to sing a new song and have a new heart.
This faith is a shield. For the God that the Jews give service and worship to is a sun and a shield. I am prohibited from posting what I think could save your life and prevent life-ruining conditionds and addictions by the nature of the prohibitions to me here by Mr Hsiung. But I say to you, that if you can understnad just one part of this, that there is a star of light comimg to you that could put light in your heart to dispell the darkness that could lead you to come out of depression and into a marvelous light, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Lou

 

Re: Lou' reply-feythofthewrd

Posted by schleprock on March 11, 2013, at 19:25:32

In reply to Lou' reply-feythofthewrd » schleprock, posted by Lou PIlder on March 11, 2013, at 19:17:37

> > > > > How were you able to set aside doubt in favor of faith? I've read many of your posts and they all seem to carry the common anchor of logic. Our present discussion defies logic in favor of faith. Having read these posts, I have concluded that you are an intelligent and reasonable man. So I guess my question is how you arrived at your conclusion when my intelligence and reason led me in a different direction? I believed, once, and would really love to be able to believe again without feeling like I was just hedging my bets, if that makes sense...
> > > >
> > > > M_F,
> > > > You wrote,[...doubt in favor of faith diffrent direction...how you arrived...would really love to believe again...]
> > > Now faith is something that could be in different types. Their is man's own faith which is different that the faith that has been revealed to me.
> > > YOu see, there is a faith hat is the sam faith as the Rider on the white horse. He had a different faith type than human faith. This type of faith is Word faith. YOu see, the Rider is the Wordof God. The logos, the intellegence of God. Tghis type of foaith is iven to one, it is infused into the person's being and thinking and spirit and heart.
> > > Now I am prevented here from posting what has been revealed to this type of faith, the faith that the Rider has, that is imparted into one, given to one, infused into one's heart and mind. This type of fath chnges one into a whole new creature. Old things pass away, all thigs become new, you sing a new song.Gone are the dark clouds, for this type of faith has the Sun of righeuosness arise with healing in his rays.
> > > The prohibitions posted to me here by Mr Hsiung prevent you from knowing what has been revealed to me about faith. You see, there are requierments to receive this type of faith, a healng faith, a moving faith, a faith that gives you the power to overcome all things, even depression and addicton.
> > > Lou
> >
> > Word faith indeed.
>
> schleprock,
> You wrote,[...Word faith indeed...]
> In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was there from then on. This Word, manifests itself in human form. You see, no one could look at the God that the Jews give service nd worship to and live. But this God visits people in the form of a man, The Word of God. The scriptures that the Jews use tell about this manifistation of God in human form as The Angel Of The Lord. The faith that The Angel Of The Lord has can be imparted into us, given to us, a faith that gives power to overcome. The Rider on the white horse is The Angel of The Lord. He is The Word of God that can become flesh. It is His faith that I am bringing to this forum. This is the faith that enables one in bondage to depresssion and addction to have the shackles of slavery to them broken. This faith opens the Gates of hell and allows the captives to be freed. This faith can never die, for it is The Faith Of The Word, as you see. This faith reveals what we are and why we are here and where we are going. This faith reveals beyond psychiatry/psychology. This faith leads you to know the truth that makes you free. This faith restores the broken-hearted. This faith wipes away all tears and all pain and leads you to sing a new song and have a new heart.
> This faith is a shield. For the God that the Jews give service and worship to is a sun and a shield. I am prohibited from posting what I think could save your life and prevent life-ruining conditionds and addictions by the nature of the prohibitions to me here by Mr Hsiung. But I say to you, that if you can understnad just one part of this, that there is a star of light comimg to you that could put light in your heart to dispell the darkness that could lead you to come out of depression and into a marvelous light, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
> Lou

All the trees in my neighborhood just throw apples at me.

 

Duality: Free-Will and Fate » Meatwood_Flack

Posted by SLS on March 12, 2013, at 21:40:21

In reply to Re: Lou' request-mrngsptr, posted by Meatwood_Flack on March 10, 2013, at 11:53:57

> For me, duality is the key to conceptualizing many aspects of existence, including God. Duality is integral to the understanding of much of cosmology, including the phenomenon of light. Light has the dual nature of being wave and particle at the same time. I experience God the same way. He exists and doesn't exist at the same time. He is present and absent at the same time. He is not of this universe, yet comprises everything in it. He is the Unity to be found in separateness.

I forgot to mention one of the most important features of a duality-driven conception of God and the Universe: Free-will and fate exist simultaneously. Everything that has happened and is yet to happen was determined at the moment of the Big Bang. Every thought, feeling, and behavior you have was preordained. However, these things occur only as the product of free-will. Yet, the exercise of free-will is the product of fate. Duality is a rather fun concept to ponder.

I am still interested in knowing how you define the word "faith".


- Scott

 

Lou' reply-

Posted by Lou PIlder on March 13, 2013, at 16:28:07

In reply to Lou' reply- » Meatwood_Flack, posted by Lou PIlder on March 10, 2013, at 21:05:22

> > How were you able to set aside doubt in favor of faith? I've read many of your posts and they all seem to carry the common anchor of logic. Our present discussion defies logic in favor of faith. Having read these posts, I have concluded that you are an intelligent and reasonable man. So I guess my question is how you arrived at your conclusion when my intelligence and reason led me in a different direction? I believed, once, and would really love to be able to believe again without feeling like I was just hedging my bets, if that makes sense...
>
> M_F,
> You wrote,[...doubt in favor of faith diffrent direction...how you arrived...would really love to believe again...]
To believe (again), could nean that there is no faith in you now. So how does one have faith? Now I am writing here about a faith that is the same faith as the Rider, the same faith as The Word of God, the Logos of God. This is not the same as our faith, for this faith is imparted into you as a gift, and it is beyond human faith. This faith that am writing about is the same faith that Abraham had. And today, you can have that same faith. A faith that gives you the power to overcome. And how does one get this type of faith?
It has been revealed to me how this faith is given to you. And when you receive this faith, you will soar like an eagle, and look down at what you came out of.

 

Re: Lou' request-mrngsptr » SLS

Posted by Meatwood_Flack on March 20, 2013, at 23:04:53

In reply to Re: Lou' request-mrngsptr » Meatwood_Flack, posted by SLS on March 11, 2013, at 5:03:36

I would characterize faith as a belief that exists in the absence of proof. That would seem to beg a distinction between faith and hope. Maybe the only distinction is that hope can also be a verb. There may well be more to it than that, though.

 

Re: Duality: Free-Will and Fate » SLS

Posted by Meatwood_Flack on March 20, 2013, at 23:46:04

In reply to Duality: Free-Will and Fate » Meatwood_Flack, posted by SLS on March 12, 2013, at 21:40:21

The concept of duality, the Tao, is interesting to contemplate. Fate and free will are oppositional, at least by standard definitions. Are we fated to make the choices we make? If the details of our lives are predetermined, how can our choices truly be freely made?If the decisions we freely make influence the course of our lives, how is the course predetermined? None of us chose to bear the illnesses we carry, and the illnesses can certainly influence our decisions, but was my decision to go to college nearly 30 years ago predetermined? Perhaps by my inborn talents and interests, my DNA. Are our freely made decisions simply shaped by events that are, largely out of our control, nature and nurture? It is fun to ponder...and also frustrating. The Tao in action!

 

Re: Lou' reply- » Lou PIlder

Posted by Meatwood_Flack on March 21, 2013, at 0:38:26

In reply to Lou' reply-, posted by Lou PIlder on March 13, 2013, at 16:28:07

The part of me who wishes he still had faith is the same part that wishes for the return of the innocence of childhood. The more mature part of me, however, sees both as states of dependence. I had a revelation, as well. Since the dawn of mankind, there have been many different explanations of the origin of the universe and what happens when we die. Some attribute creation to God, some attribute it to multiple Gods, some to no God. And, even among those who share a belief in a single Supreme Being, there are widely differing opinions on the details. Secondly, even if you had a spacecraft capable of infinite fuel, water and food, as well as the ability to suspend the aging process, you could drive that hooptie off into outer space and never reach the end of it. It is unfathomable, just as death is unfathomable to the living. To me, it stands to reason that if there is a force that holds dominion over both, then that force must be equally unfathomable.

 

Mathematical faith. » Meatwood_Flack

Posted by SLS on March 21, 2013, at 1:33:01

In reply to Re: Lou' request-mrngsptr » SLS, posted by Meatwood_Flack on March 20, 2013, at 23:04:53

> I would characterize faith as a belief that exists in the absence of proof.

Who decides what constitutes proof?

Did you believe in the existence of the Higgs Boson (and field) before it was first observed in the CERN synchro-cyclotron last year? Some very scientific minds did. Were the calculations of Higgs in 1964 a mathematical proof or an act of faith?

What conditions must exist in order for you to believe in God? Have you already struck a bargain?

God doesn't exist. If He did exist, he wouldn't be God. He would be us.

My belief in God is rather simple. I doubt it rises to the level of faith. However, it is absolute.


- Scott

 

Re: Lou' request-mrngsptr » Meatwood_Flack

Posted by Phillipa on March 21, 2013, at 19:07:28

In reply to Re: Lou' request-mrngsptr » SLS, posted by Meatwood_Flack on March 20, 2013, at 23:04:53

Exactly my personal feeling if can't see it how does it exist? The medical model I was taught. As charting is observation as the proof, no feelings or assumptions can be made. Phillipa


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