Religion/Spirituality
I wonder what the Christian view is on good people who haven’t taken Jesus into their hearts. My understanding is that if you are in any way aware of him and don’t, you can’t get into heaven. At least some people believe that if you never heard of him, you can still get to heaven. If you must take him into your heart to get to heaven then everyone before his birth can’t get in.
Even more unsettling, if they are “grandfathered in” by not having the opportunity to believe – and anyone who is a good person gets into heaven, then Jesus is responsible, by simply existing, for more good people being kept out of heaven than getting into heaven.
One of the many things I am clueless about is why people are so mean or at least indifferent to each other. I guess I start with the assumption that every person is important and willing to assume that they are good people until their actions prove otherwise.
Life is like a swimming pool. Some people find a small section of it and splash around making a lot of noise, indifferent to most of what goes on around them. Some people pick a direction; spend their time focused on the pathway that moves them where they want to go. Others climb the high dive and go deep into a limited area. I guess others sit on the side catching some sun and watching the rest of the people doing what they do. I seem to cover a good deal of area in a less than straightforward manner – no smooth stroking for me. I do enjoy the occasional wave though.
Having Fun
My feeling is that organized religion tries to explain things that we just can’t know about for sure. I guess it would be pleasant to be absolutely sure of a permanent paradise, but all I can be sure of is the here and now. So, I try to enjoy here and now. It is pretty easy actually. You have to understand yourself well enough to know when you are having fun and to …..well, enjoy. Enjoying involves the people around you, things you find beautiful (or at least stimulating), knowing love when you trip over it, knowing what is pleasurable. I would add the caveat that I am a strong believer in personal responsibility so when you are off finding your bliss, the boundaries of acceptable, whether legal or moral do apply and you are responsible for the results of breaking those boundaries. Much more on that particular rant in the future.
Hobbies as Meditation
I think anything that allows you to lose your sense of self and exist only in the moment is similar to mediating. I've always considered 'hobbies' the equivalent to 'Western meditation'. It can be stamp collecting, cooking or woodwork. When the hours flow by and you haven't noticed, you have been living in the moment and that is great for relieving stress.
Catholic Sins
(Regarding an article by a women who won't get divorced because it is a sin but is now living with someone else)
She may be playing the Jesus card. I am not a great source on the subject (being raised Jewish) but my understanding is that whatever sins you commit in the world won't put you into hell if, when you die, you have become a true believer in Christ. At that point, we are debating the amount of purgatory you get dealt based on your sins. For whatever personal reason, she is accepting the state of adultery sin (she doesn't go into why she thinks the hit to her afterlife is worth it) but doesn't want to add to it. I agree with the Jenga analogy. Stop worrying about the finely woven fabric of rules and just be the best person you can be - from there it will be OK, whatever happens next.
Even more unsettling, if they are “grandfathered in” by not having the opportunity to believe – and anyone who is a good person gets into heaven, then Jesus is responsible, by simply existing, for more good people being kept out of heaven than getting into heaven.
One of the many things I am clueless about is why people are so mean or at least indifferent to each other. I guess I start with the assumption that every person is important and willing to assume that they are good people until their actions prove otherwise.
Life is like a swimming pool. Some people find a small section of it and splash around making a lot of noise, indifferent to most of what goes on around them. Some people pick a direction; spend their time focused on the pathway that moves them where they want to go. Others climb the high dive and go deep into a limited area. I guess others sit on the side catching some sun and watching the rest of the people doing what they do. I seem to cover a good deal of area in a less than straightforward manner – no smooth stroking for me. I do enjoy the occasional wave though.
Having Fun
My feeling is that organized religion tries to explain things that we just can’t know about for sure. I guess it would be pleasant to be absolutely sure of a permanent paradise, but all I can be sure of is the here and now. So, I try to enjoy here and now. It is pretty easy actually. You have to understand yourself well enough to know when you are having fun and to …..well, enjoy. Enjoying involves the people around you, things you find beautiful (or at least stimulating), knowing love when you trip over it, knowing what is pleasurable. I would add the caveat that I am a strong believer in personal responsibility so when you are off finding your bliss, the boundaries of acceptable, whether legal or moral do apply and you are responsible for the results of breaking those boundaries. Much more on that particular rant in the future.
Hobbies as Meditation
I think anything that allows you to lose your sense of self and exist only in the moment is similar to mediating. I've always considered 'hobbies' the equivalent to 'Western meditation'. It can be stamp collecting, cooking or woodwork. When the hours flow by and you haven't noticed, you have been living in the moment and that is great for relieving stress.
Catholic Sins
(Regarding an article by a women who won't get divorced because it is a sin but is now living with someone else)
She may be playing the Jesus card. I am not a great source on the subject (being raised Jewish) but my understanding is that whatever sins you commit in the world won't put you into hell if, when you die, you have become a true believer in Christ. At that point, we are debating the amount of purgatory you get dealt based on your sins. For whatever personal reason, she is accepting the state of adultery sin (she doesn't go into why she thinks the hit to her afterlife is worth it) but doesn't want to add to it. I agree with the Jenga analogy. Stop worrying about the finely woven fabric of rules and just be the best person you can be - from there it will be OK, whatever happens next.