I’m enjoying the ongoing exchanges between Richard and Jack on my Strabo post. Jack sounds like a somewhat angry person — “combative” is his own word, better than “angry” — he’s channeling the anger constructively from what I can see. The Hebrew prophets sometimes roar with anger as well; not all anger comes as a bad thing. We have classes in anger management, but you never hear of classes in joy management, or how to handle an excess of ecstasy. Are we so unplugged in to joy that few experience it regularly?
Richard and Jack grapple with their faith journeys, as we must if we’re to grow. We need certainty to know who we are, how to go forward; and doubt to keep us humble and growing. Rarely does anyone sustain both simultaneously — a challenge.
14 February 2007 at 9:40 pm
I’ve lived with anger for a long time, so I’m more than a little proud of now being able to use it to keep one-pointed and on task and on target. Not as good as coming from love, but I figure you use what you’ve got and go with it. I find I have little tolerance for fools, or the lazy, intellectually or otherwise, and that makes me unpleasant to be around sometimes, I know. I also know as a Christian that anger is something I need to work on: as Proverbs famously has it, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” Not that I’ve taken any cities lately or ever, either. So I’m learning compassion, and to keep my mouth shut more often. But anger is my flag, and kicks me into noticing my emotions and thoughts and dealing with them. As a celibate homosexual who indulged for too long in self-pity, I know I’m carrying some anger just from that, too.
16 February 2007 at 6:09 pm
Hi
There is something quite liberating when one realizes that there is more to spirituality than is found in the traditional Biblical teachings. It takes a strong spirit – one who is courageous and TRULY believes in a God who loves unconditionally – to venture outside of the Christian doctrines of men to find the Christed Spirit…the Christ Consciousness – that brings Unity and Healing to all of the Creators creations.
As one who spent way too many years in debates such as Jacks and Richards, it is wonderfully affirming to find an entire community of peaceful, loving spiritual people who are looking for ways in which we are all similar – and inclusive, with tolerance and compassion – than with those that are too busy trying to protect their own opinions that they’ve forgotten that LOVE fulfills all.
KUDOS, Druidyear, for bringing such a discussion to the Light!
27 February 2007 at 7:24 am
How then to get any kind of certainty with which to go forward?
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