Posted by Lou Pilder on April 24, 2016, at 20:01:23
In reply to Re: a reward for giving up pleasures? » Lou Pilder, posted by Tabitha on April 23, 2016, at 10:44:35
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> > Tabitha,
> > You wrote that people that feel desperate and lost are more vulnerable to belief systems that promise dramatic salvation as reward for giving up many of the ordinary human pleasures.
> > I am unsure as to what you are wanting to mean. If you could post answers to the following, then I could respond accordingly.
>
> Pardon me, Lou, I was speaking more of general observations of people who undergo religious conversions (particularly Christian, since that's what I'm familiar with) rather than the specific things you talk about with the Spirit of Truth and the Rider. I'm not really able to say much about your specific recommendations since you don't post details that you think are forbidden by Mr Hsiung.
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> But I'll try to answer your questions anyway so that you many understand my comment.
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> > Fill in:
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> > A. The belief systems that promise dramatic salvation as reward for giving up many of the ordinary human pleasures are:
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> Some examples are evangelical Christianty and radical Islam. Both of these promise a blissful afterlife as a reward for the faithful for following restricted lifestyles.
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>
> > _____________________________________________
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> > B. The ordinary human pleasures that I have not specified, Lou, are:
> > __________________________________________
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> Many things are regulated by different religions. For instance, many have dietary restrictions. There are rules about what foods can be eaten, and days or weeks of required fasting. Sexual behavior is regulated. Women's participation in public life can be severely limited. People's dress and personal adornment (partiularly women's) can be regulated. People's daily and weekly schedules can be regulated by required prayer and worship times. Some people may thus be missing out on yummy food, free sexual lives, the enjoyment of public life and leadership, the pleasure of being able to control one's own schedule, the enjoyment of sleeping late instead of attending church, the pleasure of wearing colorful clothes, adorning oneself, and feeling the breeze in the hair.
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> >
> > True or false:
> > C. I really do not know how the Spirit of Truth that you are writing about, Lou, enters someone that changes a person so that they can overcome addiction and depression.
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> True
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> > D. I really do not know that what you could post here to lead people to that Spirit would require them to give up any ordinary human pleasures.
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> True
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> > E. The lost and desperate people would be better off being lost and desperate, Lou, than to have a new heart and a new spirit that would lead them to dramatic salvation that could give them power to overcome addiction and depression.
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> That sounds like a false dichotomy. The options for people are not limited to only remaining lost and desperate OR being transformed by the Spirit you talk about.
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> > F. I posted what I did, Lou, because I want readers to think that if they are lost and desperate, to discard what you write about receiving the Spirit of Truth and receive a new heart and a new spirit, because that comes from the Jewish perspective.
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> False. I don't want anyone to reject what you write because it comes from the Jewish perspective. As I said, most of my personal skepticism about religious paths comes from my experience with Christianity.Tabitha,
You wrote that Christianity is a religion that promises dramatic salvation as a reward for giving up ordinary human pleasures.
I know of no basis that those professing Christianity are rewarded with dramatic salvation by giving up ordinary human pleasures. I would like for you to substantiate your claim so that I could respond accordingly. The substantiation would need to come from doctrine promulgated by some Christendom sect or from some other, unbeknownst to me, source.
Lou
poster:Lou Pilder
thread:1088191
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20160331/msgs/1088446.html