Posted by thor on July 14, 1998 at 04:12:56:
In Reply to: I'd argue there can be only one Truth. The rest is a lie. n/t posted by blue on July 13, 1998 at 22:39:03:
look. is it really that black and white? is there
nothing in the bible that is mildly fuzzy or grey
to you? filling the ark with two of every living
creature....c'mon now...its a metaphor...it is
figurative...it's a mythology...as people we are
wired to believe in god, to have religion...frankly,
we need some kind of belief system...but one truth, the rest is a
lie? well, let's here it...what is the one truth?
thor
:
: : :
: : : : BLUE, YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN. HOWEVER, MY APPROACH IS NOT ONE OF
: : : : CYNICISM NOR APATHY. I HAVE A CLOSE FRIEND IN THIS
: : : : SITUATION. HE DOESNT BELIEVE, SHE DOES. HE IS FINDING
: : : : IT VERY DIFFICULT TO LIVE WHAT HE BELIEVES TO BE
: : : : A LIE. "TRUTH" TO HIM IS NOT NECESSARILY AN ABROGATION
: : : : OF ALL RELIGIONS AND A SLIPPERY SLOPE INTO APATHY.
: : : : TO LIVE HIS "TRUTH" IS TO REJECT HERS. IT IS COMPLICATED AND MESSY.
: : : My biggest concern at this point in such a relationship is that it seems too many people begin to wonder whether Truth even exists, or at least whether man can discover Truth. I think this to be a real shame. It seems natural to me that after one has been spoon fed a false doctrine in the name of "Truth," one would easily become cynical, and I seem to sense that here, although everyone denies it.
: : : : I THINK IN MY OWN CASE THAT MY RELEASE OF MORMONISM
: : : : TAUGHT ME THAT SPIRITUALITY IS NOT PREDICATED ON
: : : : BELONGING TO A RELIGION. THAT IS THE BIGGEST LESSON
: : : : OF THE MORMON EXPERIENCE. DO I HAVE TRUTH? SOME, MAYBE
: : : : A FEW PORTIONS, AND I AM STILL SEARCHING...BUT I DO
: : : : KNOW WHERE "TRUTH" HAS BEEN MISREPRESENTED.
: : : It sounds like you are in a healthy position, as long as you keep "knocking" on doors trying to find Truth.
: : : : I ALSO THINK IN YOUR ANSWER THAT YOU ASSUME THE PERSON
: : : : WHO IS IN THE CHURCH CANNOT HANDLE A REJECTION OF THEIR
: : : : PERCEIVED "TRUTH" AND THAT THEY WOULD BE BETTER OFF
: : : : REMAINING DECIEVED THAN TO EMBARK ON A CYNICAL QUEST OF
: : : : RELIGIONS OUTSIDE THE CHRISTIAN SPECTRUM. I DISAGREE.
: : : : YOU SOUND THE CYNIC.
: : : : RESPECTFULLY, THOR.
: : : I am sure different people react differently. I guess if you go about it by saying something to the effect of "I have discovered some real inconsistencies that have caused me to doubt Mormonism in my own life," then you are bringing up the topic in a matter that shows more concern.
: : : It's nice to see you are giving forethought before acting hastily. Well done.
: : BLUE...WHILE I APPRECIATE YOUR "APPROVAL", I DO NOTE
: : SMIDGEN OF PATRONIZING...HMMM, MAYBE IT'S ME, OH WELL.
: : AS TO YOUR IDEA OF TRUTH...LET ME JUST SAY THAT YOU BRING
: : UP A VERY IMPORTANT POINT IN ALL OF THIS...TRUTH IS
: : VERY MALLEABLE...A CHRISTIAN TRUTH AND AN ISLAMIC
: : TRUTH MAY BE OPPOSITE BUT FOR THE HOLDERS OF EACH THEY
: : ARE ABSOLUTE...."TRUTH" IN OUR WESTERN CONCEPT IS OF ITSELF
: : IN NEED OF INSPECTION AND CRITICISM. ANYWAY, YOUR POINTS
: : ARE WELL TAKEN, BUT I PERSONALLY THINK THAT MISREPRESENTATIONS AND
: : MANIPULATIONS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. ADDRESSING THEM AND THINKING
: : THEM THROUGH IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT AND ARDOUS, BUT ULTIMATELY MUCH
: : MORE REWARDING, THAN TO LEAVE THEM IN DARK CORNERS OR
: : REFUSE TO FACE THEM.
: : CHEERS,
: : THOR