Eegore wrote on 02/01/19 at 06:31:06:
"Remember, you can never fix what only God can fix."
This is the line that makes things a little rough for atheist/agnostic/complacent etc. individuals. It can easily be interpreted as saying that the human individual is completely incapable of resolving an issue on their own, and must wait for God to supply the resolution.
I agree that this isn't the most efficient course of action. However I do think that religion, in this case God and prayer, are potentially useful tools for creating change in the challenged human individual. Unfortunately many people seek only to say prayers, and not follow through with action.
The following can be interpreted as using God/religion as a tool to do something yourself:
"seek God’s help to resolve the hurts of the past and move toward a genuine focus on others"
I'm feel that religion can be used effectively, in the same way that counseling, or therapy, or even diet plans are. It's typically not the method that is the deficient factor as much as the person needing the help.
For me, and that is the only witness I can give, is through God I could do what I wasn't able to do by myself.....and boy howdy did I try, for decades.
My sincerity was genuine, and I wanted to stop my destructive behavior associated with drinking, a addiction.
I truly thought I loved those around me, who I was hurting.
I cared a lot about how they felt, and I didn't want to hurt them, I didn't.
However, I cared about myself, more, and as you alluded to in your post, its all about the true witness of anyone of us, our actions......
And my action was I continued to drink, plain and simple, the God awful truth.....
My truth was my perception, or my perception, was my truth.....does it make any difference?
Not until I got out of myself, honestly, harshly, brutally, did I even begin to glimpse the true reality of my actions.
I wanted to believe what I wanted to believe, because it gave me control, comfort, peace, however, all of that was a facade based on a false reality, script, and self propaganda, and it allowed me to do what I wanted to do, get drunk.
I was extremely lucky, in a odd sort of way, my coming to understand, came instantly, after I surrendered to the truth of who I was.....
I was blessed with a new spirit, a whole new meaning, new understanding, that only took almost 50 years
Everyone of us is unique, its what we say we celebrate, but do we.....???
Seems lots of folk find their comfort in being in the herd, that is their affirmation.
My life, witness, who I am, is unique unto me, and I was created to be this person I am......even if it escapes me, my journey is to find him, my quest.
Our cosmos would cease to exist if every man though of himself, as the utmost important, as conflict would result with threat of their person hood, its not a physically sustainable condition.....if not by myself, then a herd, a army, a...?
If it were, then why in all the years man has walked this planet, has it never been achieved?
Is it right to judge anyone based on our own preconceived notion and assumptions?
To what end....to stay in our beliefs, our comfort zone, to what we've been told to believe?
Or, by their actions, their testimony, their witness?
And finally, yes, much failure, lies, cheating and self promotion lie within the "church" as outside the church......for it is all human, each and everyone of us.
My hope is in not judging and scorning those who sin like me, no, but too offer a glimpse of possibility to not become entrapped, and beholden to the things in life, that can remove peace and joy, simply, in your lives....
If through a spiritual awakening WITHIN one self, and a relationship with that spirit who talks directly to you, achieves it, bearing the fruit of witness through actions, to me that is a wonderful thing to be herald.
Isn't that what any of us really hope for anyway, peace in this world, which begins with peace of self?
Again, thanks for your sincerity in asking and sharing your thoughts on the matter of spirituality.....
I PRAY
I was able to help explain maybe some of it through what it has meant to, and done for me......THANKS!
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