(Need Better Title)
This is an idea that I wrote down a little while ago for a blog post. I never wrote the post, but I still think the notes are interesting.
Spiritual Paralysis (need better title)
- often issues are put forth as dualistic, but there's often middle ground
- evolution and creationism: theistic evolution
- biblical literalism and bible is fiction: bible is bother literal and metaphorical
- the imprecise nature of the metaphysical evades logical deconstruction of anything specific (not necessarily for general truths)
- attempts to do so often result in ridiculous results (the creation museum)
- inability to logically deconstruct leaves the person on the path to spiritual/truth enlightenment in a rut
- only way to move out of this rut is to make assumptions and proceed as if this assumption were true unless new facts are brought to the table
- if person does not move out of rut, then will remain in a state of indecision and will often just cease to try to uncover the truth
- this is fine unless the seeker is under the impression that their decision has eternal consequences
- one problem with Christianity is that by it's nature (grace oriented, not works oriented) there is pressure on the individual to believe in certain truths in order to gain eternal reward
- if individual makes logical misstep then it can result in their eternal damnation
- Leaves numerous different possibilities
- God is a proponent of survival of the spiritually fittest, those who come to right logical conclusion will survive
- God has predistined those who will recieve eternal salvation
- Grace is determined by action. In order to get around idea of no works salvation, can say that actions do not save, but actions determine direction of heart which determines if God will give grace or not.
- Eternal Damnation does not exist. Universalism (this does not really line up with scripture as far as I can tell).
- Christianity is false and there is no afterlife.
Changes Hopefully Coming Soon
I'm trying to teach myself html, CSS, and PHP to hopefully get a nicer and more professional layout to this blog. Hopefully those changes will be coming soon. Unfortunately that means that my blogging won't be as regular as I'd hoped to have it at this point. I'm going to try and start hammering out a quality post everyday. Feedback from my readers (assuming any of you guys are still around) is much appreciated. Tell me what you like and what you don't like. Are you guys interested in film reviews?
Speaking of film reviews, I'll hopefully have one for the Hurt Locker written up soon, so be on the lookout for that.
Authenticity
There's this guy at my school who can be kind of obnoxious. He will readily admit this himself. People make fun of him sometimes. He's freaked out and disgusted a few people. I admire him though. There's a lot of authenticity to him. He seems to say what's on his mind. He seems to not care about social stigmas whatsoever. He says lots of things that offend people, but I think he says them because that's what he's thinking and not because that's what will shock. He has an ugly side to him (who doesn't?), but he doesn't seem to try to hide it.
The idea of authenticity is important to me. Except a lot of times I have to take my approach in the opposite direction. I have to hide things so I'm absolutely sure it's coming from a sincere place in myself. I get too much satisfaction from people's praise and too much discouragement from their criticism.
The feeling of inauthenticity[sic] has began to creep up into this blog. I made it known to a wide range of people because my past blog was only available to a couple of people and thus I was never motivated to update it.
As the writer from Tarkovsky's Stalker says, "A man writes because he is tormented, because he doubts. He needs to constantly prove to himself and the others that he's worth something. And if I know for sure that I'm a genius? Why write then? What the hell for?"
I have a conflicting desire to write and hide at the same time.
I have thoughts that I feel like would cause people disgust, beliefs that would cause ostricization. The very fact that I'm afraid to share these things shows I've failed in being authentic with those people I'm afraid to share with. It'd be impossible for me to be totally authentic on this blog; hell, humans can't even be truthful with themselves. I will however promise to make an effort towards that ideal state as often as I can. I'm going to try and show some of my ugly side. Maybe it'll be helpful to someone who reads it or maybe somebody who reads it can be helpful to me. I'm willing to give it a shot.