|
 infidelGOD
illusion
Registered: 04/18/02
Posts: 3,040
Loc: there
|
 Re: Faith in What?  [Re: Swami]
#1424391 - 04/02/03 08:45 PM (22 years, 28 days ago) |
|
|
The ONLY difference that I can see is that the internal dialogue is somewhat different. The pain and joy is roughly equal and no external mystical force played a part in the end result of the melodrama WHATSOEVER!
The difference is that the believer mother believes that her son is in heaven. if it brings her just a little bit of comfort, does it really matter if heaven really exists or not?
If I have faith in the "wrong" or a nonexistent thing
If faith in something nonexistent can bring about real change, then isn't the power of faith in faith itself?
The question isn't "Faith in what?". It doesn't matter if this thing "really" exists because we can't know. It's the belief. It's about choice: if it was you coming home in that body bag, would you rather have your mother say "he's in a better place" or "life is a cruel joke"?
|
Anonymous
|
|
Hey! What are you trying to do, get people to think?
Knock it off! 
Nice seeing you post btw
|
Swami
Eggshell Walker
Registered: 01/18/00
Posts: 15,413
Loc: In the hen house
|
|
The difference is that the believer mother believes that her son is in heaven. if it brings her just a little bit of comfort, does it really matter if heaven really exists or not?
First off you are assuming that it does bring comfort. I have noticed ZERO difference in the suffering of those who have lost loved ones between believers and non-belivers; not just at funerals, but as to long-term mental/emotional effects.
Secondly, I have MANY times on this board outlined the trouble with "random" beliefs; from wars ("holy" and otherwise) and cults (Koresh, Jonestown, etc. to scams (TV evangelists, mediums).
Faith in "something out there" seems disempowering rather than empowering. "I am weak and helpless, but God will save me!" (even though he never does)
My misguided faith in Santa Claus brought both joy and pain, and in the end was a useless deception/belief accomplishing nothing.
--------------------
The proof is in the pudding.
|
infidelGOD
illusion
Registered: 04/18/02
Posts: 3,040
Loc: there
|
Re: Faith in What? [Re: Swami]
#1425363 - 04/03/03 03:01 AM (22 years, 28 days ago) |
|
|
Don't look for faith to magically take away the pain of losing a loved one. People get through tough times with or without faith.
So lets say that faith can't take away the grieving mother's pain, but still she believes, she truly, honestly believes that her son is in heaven. She's still hurting because he's been taken away from her, but she believes that someday she will see her son once again. Is this such a bad thing?
If you had "evidence" that heaven didn't exist, would you tell her?
As I've said on various other threads, I don't think faith is all good either. It can be a poison that incapacitates feeble minds. Faith is powerful and it cuts both ways.
I agree that faith can be disempowering if you have faith in a god that determines the outcomes of sporting events and meddles in interpersonal relationships. Yes, THAT god will let you down time and again.
|
chunder
marker
Registered: 08/11/02
Posts: 966
Loc: The City
|
|
I base my faith on real tangible feelings and experiences. When I have a spiritual experience, while praying or otherwise, it is very real to me. Feelings and emotions flood my body that cannot be explained. This is what I base my faith on, not just ideals or promises of eternal life, but actual experiences I have had.
--------------------
|
CosmicJoke
happy mutant
Registered: 04/05/00
Posts: 10,848
Loc: Portland, OR
|
Re: Faith in What? [Re: Swami]
#1425823 - 04/03/03 10:28 AM (22 years, 27 days ago) |
|
|
i can overcome my previous confines through devotion
will <----> faith
wouldn't have one without the other
--------------------
Everything is better than it was the last time. I'm good.
If we could look into each others hearts, and understand the unique challenges each of us faces, I think we would treat each other much more gently, with more love, patience, tolerance, and care.
It takes a lot of courage to go out there and radiate your essence.
I know you scared, you should ask us if we scared too. If you was there, and we just knew you cared too.
|
Anonymous
|
Re: Faith in What? [Re: chunder]
#1425840 - 04/03/03 10:34 AM (22 years, 27 days ago) |
|
|
when one gives into their beliefs, and accepts faith as an answer to their spiritual void, what actually happens? many describe a "love for god", but could this love just be our human emotion misplaced into irrational thought?
i've been in love before, and during that experience i thought i had been touched by god. i don't believe i was in any way, because the "true love" i was feeling turned out to be false, as it was not felt on the other side.
love is a very powerful emotion that can be internalized when one decides to accept the most beautiful thing they can imagine, god, as being a fact.
|
|
Threaded
Previous
Index
Next
Edit 
Reply 
1 2 3 all )
Moonshoe
gnrm23
Twirling
Phluck
Syle
Muppet
Sclorch