S
Shiro, Time Devourer
Guest
Way to go, Eric! You said it better than I could.
I hope the "majority of religions" include Christianity. Having a Bible at all suggests that communication is seized, and now the bridge between God and self needs to be accommodated by the fallible, unemotional written word of some Holy Books. Indeed, all religions suggest that communication has seized, and by thus, they all offer a gate, a bridge, a hope of reconnection.Eric:
To my knowledge, the majority of religions profess that communication between God and man has ceased...
And I suppose you are referring to the return of Christ? I suppose the decision to continue the revelations and prophets comes from someone other than individuals? How do you come to differentiate between who makes the decisions: which is the individual decision here - to continue or to discontinue?Eric:
The world changes over time and continuing revelation (both personal and through prophets) is an important part of God's work. Religions that profess to not have continuing revelation by necessity have decisions made by individuals and individuals are falible.
To readily dismiss the self, to rely, to roam freely from that moment of contentment - what an irresistible promise! To forget today, and tomorrow, to forget life, to be enslaved, to think not at all, and introspect not of the self.Eric:
From my experience, once you realize that there must be a God, the only way to be truely introspective is to seek his help. This can be done personally without organized religion.
Yet you still willingly name yourself a Christian. The individual experience you speak of seems to be lacking at this moment - the student is still in school, learning. He is still to grasp the idea of faith, and by thus, he cannot have possibly found God. He is still tagging religion along with him. He has not been above and beyond. Yet. Yes, yet, he suggests that he is faithful, that he found God. And to inquire of his methods to finding God, he speaks of utter helplessness, of the monumental moment of selfishness, as the grand gate to God - the same God who teaches selflessness.Eric:
...at the core, it is an individual relationship with God that is the key.
And...Eric:
And it is not selfish to seek God. Quite the contrary. If we truely seek God, it is through our works towards others that we demonstrate this.
Eric:
There is no shame in asking for his help when you need it the most. It feels hypocritical to only ask in those moments...
And I suppose my weeping, my whimpering, wailing and crying and falling and failing...I suppose when I seek God, I am not seeking it for the sake of my calm, my serenity, to avoid the impending madness! I cannot be that selfish, and even be insincere to not admit that those moments are the only moments where I desire God.Eric:
Of course, this is, in part, the duality that you speak of. Why seek God if not to gain the reward. In which case, it is a selfish act. The true follower does good because he wants to. The fact that rewards will follow is never the issue.
You don't suggest it, Eric, you present it with all your confidence. What would I be doing, in my moments of need, when I am cowering to God? I am escaping myself, sniffing, if only falsely, the haze of ecstasy, the pure aroma of a life that I wish I had, a hope not of another life, but a hope of hope! I suppose I am not dismissing myself if for only hopefulness...Eric:
As far as dismissing the self, I'm not suggesting that.
Likewise.Eric:
Regardless, if you seek answers, Duke, I hope that you find them. I have certainly enjoyed the conversation and have learned much. A sincere thanks.
Blah blah blah blah blah? Blah blah blah blah!Originally posted by Almindhra:
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