I think there is a great misunderstanding about what life is. I think most Americans assume that life is supposed to be about happiness and fulfillment. And when life is no longer happy and fulfilled, they think something must have gone wrong. But that's not what life is about. Life is about pain and suffering. Life is about disappointments. Life is about loss. And then we all die. And hopefully, our pain will have made us a better person in some way. But I can't say I've become a better person because of my suffering. I think my pain has caused me to turn away from God, to reject him, to go away from his presence. And this is all my fault. Did I really expect that God would arrange the universe so that everything would come out my way? In a world where so many bad things happen to so many people, did I really expect nothing bad would ever happen to me? Did I expect that I would live in a safe little bubble while others around me suffered? I am ashamed of my childish ideas about God that somehow he owes me something. I am ashamed of the bitter person I've become because of these childish ideas that somehow God was gypping me.
Very much in keeping with the first of the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism. You might benefit by reading the other three. They directly address the issues you discuss here.
Well, I changed my mind about posting this, but here it is any way. And there was more, but it somehow got cut off. Well now that it's out in the open I might as well discuss this. My life has been a series of negative experiences for me. I am begginning to wake up to the fact that my own negativity has led to many of these problems. I had a pretty horrible childhood and it has scarred me, making me bitter, angry, distrusting of other people. I want to turn a new leaf. See the good in other people rather than the bad. I will go to my priest and confess my sins, which for me is the sin of wrath. For far too long I have nursed thoughts of revenge against those who I perceived have wronged me. My anger is so great that even now I feel it within my belly, a fire that never dies. I have to let go of my anger and the only way to do that is to forgive all who have done me wrong, and all I think have done me wrong. But that will only be a beginning. I must look for ways to show love to other people. This will be very hard for me because I have always been a selfish, introverted person who disliked the company of others. I will have to shed my old self and become a new man. I will need your prayers.
To a degree I understand. I use to believe that if you are a good honest reliable person who did not hurt others, who practiced acceptance love and understanding... that in life those closest to you would reflect back to you the kindness that you have shown them. And after so many years of believing that way I now see it is utter BS. I was delusional to think that if you treat others well that they will reflect back to you the good that you show them. Over the last couple years, some of those closest to me have matched my honesty with dishonesty, my tolerance with judgment, my compassion with aloof indifference. You can be good to people and in time most will just treat you like dirt! Perhaps they see such an easy going loving attitude as weakness? I am not sure... would be kind of weird as most of those whom have betrayed my trust are Christians. I am so jaded and guarded now that I don't let many people get close enough to know me. I like the bubble analogy, I use it often myself. But the way I see it, most people live in a self created sphere of influence. They don't care about the suffering of others as it would disrupt their perfectly constructed little world. I have CFS and fibro and live in pain. When someone close to me would ask me "how are you doing" and I actually would tell them... they would look all uncomfortable and probably be thinking TMI dude! So now days I never tell people how I am really doing... I just smile and say "I am doing good" I lie to them because they do not want the truth, they are just using a customary phrase to start off a conversation.
OK, well I'm trying to get away from the idea that other people are out to get me, or out to hurt me, or are talking about me behind my back. But I understand what you are saying. It is true that most people are uncomfortable if you talk about your problems. That is why I talk about my problems only with my father and my brother. I can't even talk to my wife about my problems, because she doesn't want to hear it. She just wants me to earn the money and be the strong one in the marriage so she doesn't have to worry. And I understand that. A wife should be able to feel safe with her husband. And sometimes even my father doesn't want to hear about my problems. But then I tell him I have no one else to tell, so he listens any way. I myself had this problem with other people. There was a woman who lost her daughter due to a heroin overdose. Every morning when I came into the office, she wanted to talk about her distress over losing her daughter. I literally didn't know what to say. I had no words to comfort her. What do you say to a woman whose daughter died at the age of 18 of a heroin overdose? I had no idea. If I suggested she seek professional counseling, she might have been insulted. So I just listened. But I will give that advice to you. Your friends and family may not be able to cope with listening to your problems. Your problems seem very serious and they might feel helpless when you tell them about it. So I would suggest you go to a professional therapist, who will know how do handle listening to your problems. He won't be able to make the pain go away, but he may help you learn to live with it better. Please keep in mind that just because your friends can't take listening to your problems doesn't mean they're not your friends. What it means is they're not trained professionals, trained to cope with listening to problems like yours.
It sounds like you now walk in the direction of GOD and seek HIM. I pray that you find Him, by purpose or circumstance!
I would also like to add this: God will always listen to your problems. God will always love you even when no one else will. God does not hold grudges against you and does not want revenge for what you have done. Even when the pain is the worst, God will reach out to you and if you pay attention, you will feel his love. I can honestly say that if it weren't for God's love getting me through the worst of my pain, I would not be alive today.
"Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something." Including many peddling religion. 'nuff said.
Yes, it is true that there are many people selling the concept that their product will bring happiness and a lack of pain. And I would include in that number the modern socialist who promises a utopian world in this life in return for a surrender of certain economic freedoms. But I am not selling anything. I am admitting that life in this world is painful, and Christ never promised any differently. He joins us in that pain with his suffering on the cross.
TRUE Christians are sufferers. We bear the weight of responsibility for the entire world, for the weak, for the meek, who are incapable and spiritually immature.....weak men, women, children. They tell us their lies, their hatreds, their prejudice, their malice and contempt.......and WE MUST BEAR THIS BURDEN FOR THEM. Why does it fall upon Christians? This is so, because it fell onto CHRIST. You seem to be headed in the direction of Christ, to take on these burdens of others, to become responsible for others. I pray that God gives you the strength you need to endure this spiritually gifted life. In suffering, if you survive, then you will receive the eternal reward of wisdom and God's Grace!!! The irresponsible, the Jews and Muslims, women and children, atheists and agnostics....none of them will ever know spirituality. They are forever irresponsible for themselves, and for others. You cannot trust these spiritually weak types....they will not understand. SIN is their drug. SIN is their life. And they willingly walk away from God of their own FREE WILL. This is the life they have chosen. And this is the life we MUST CHOOSE for ourselves. Or, you can blind yourself. You can immerse yourself back into the drug of SIN. But the pain will always be there in the morning......some are chosen by God, I guess.....
If that was supposed to be some kind of dig, you're barking up the wrong tree. I completely agree with that statement.
Climb down off your cross already. This post is illustrative of what I consider the considerable arrogance of some Christians, thinking they're the only ones capable of personal responsibility, spirituality, etc. What a load of self-righteous twaddle. True martyrs don't go around complaining about it and making sure that everyone else knows how much they're suffering on others behalf. It's manipulative bullcrap.
I didn't know pointing out FACTS OF LIFE were "complaining". Explain to everybody here, how atheists are SPIRITUAL people in ANY WAY. Atheism and morality is like oil and water, DOES NOT MIX.
Thank you. But capitalism is just as guilty. TV commercials parade an endless variety of products that promise to ease our suffering and make us happy, as if anything material could make us happy. When people don't know what brings real happiness, then they try to fill the void with other things. But no breath mint will ever bring happiness, nor any brand of beer, or a shiny new toy. We derive true happiness only from loving God, and our neighbor, and being loved in return.
Strawman. You do realize there are more religions that just Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, right? I'm not an atheist, I'm an agnostic. And while I wouldn't call myself a particularly spiritual person, neither do I consider spirituality to be dependent on a belief in a God, and definitely not exclusive to a belief in the Christian God.
I think it would be possible for an atheist to be moral, but only with a great amount of self-discipline. A very intelligent, educated man might be capable of such, and lead a moral life. But most men and women are not masters of themselves. Most men and women are swayed more by emotions than logic, and are ruled by their passions and prejudices, not their thoughts and ideas. And I do believe that for this vast majority of mankind, godlessness will inevitably lead to vice and debauchery, and all reason will be abandoned. And we can see this happening in Great Britain, where public drunkeness and licentiousness has become such a national scandal, especially among young women. And if atheists ever convince the great masses of the common people to abandon God, our civilization will not long survive.
All of this I agree with as well. As an ex-believer, I obviously don't subscribe to the God part of this equation, but I am willing to see the truth in this statement as it applies to Christians. Edit: Then again, I've known some very unhappy Christians. I'm just not persuaded that they have some kind of exclusive hold on true happiness. The capacity for happiness is just as universal as the capacity to feel pain.
And if Christianity is supposed to be the savior of civilization, I would have to say that we're equally doomed.
Christianity did save civilization. Had it not been for the Church, all the knowledge of the Romans and Greeks would have been lost. Had it not been for the Church, there might never have been a Renaissance.
There is so much fail in what you posted that I don't even know where to start. You come across as pompous, judgmental and arrogant. People like you are why I am not a Christian. Instead of helping non Christians you alienate them with your holier than thou attitude. You are saved so you are going to do me a favor right? Wow, the ego on some of you Christians is ginormous! Christ was humble, most Christians are not in my experience. WWJD?
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the LORD. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it: "LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me." The LORD replied: "My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you." Just felt like posting that. I think it might help.
I wonder if there is some confusion about “existence” and “living”. We all exist but all of us have different living experiences. As has been pointed out Buddhism holds that life is about suffering and coming to grips with that fact is essential for humans. The Buddhist parable of the mustard seed describes it nicely. Monty Python in the Life of Brian also described it, but more crudely (and funnier). Adversity comes at us in many ways and for some of us it can be crippling. Whatever gets you through it is fine with me, whether it be religion or counselling or some other constructive engagement. Of course there'll be a bit of self-pity but getting through that is essential (and I am not suggesting anyone does that alone). I won't use that phrase about what doesn't kill you either, it's pretty meaningless. But after you do, you realise what it is to be human.
