Gary's Corner

[Gary Childress]

Wouldn't your conclusion then have to be that nobody has any way of knowing God? Or would you suppose that maybe some might, but you don't know who they'd be?

That's exactly my position.

And here's another thing. I don't know if Jesus was God incarnate. I'm not interested in reading the Bible. I'm not interested in praying. I'm not interested in going to church. I'm not interested in begging for forgiveness from a being who demands those things of me. And I'm not going to pretend I love a being who is going to demand those things of me or else threaten to send me to hell if I don't.

If God doesn't approve of that and is going to send me to hell for those things, then I guess I'm screwed. But at the very least I didn't try to con God into thinking I'm someone or something I'm not. If God can read minds, then God knows already that I'm not going to do those things. If he's not OK with that, then there's nothing I can do except try to lie and cheat him into thinking otherwise.

We do our best. But imagine if this view of the punishing jealous God is something invented from limited knowledge based on, for example, trauma. Then we go on for centuries believing in what is essentially a tyrannical God, just to be safe. That would be painting ourselves into a corner.

I agree.

[Immanuel Can]

I don't know which to "accept" as true.

Wouldn't your conclusion then have to be that nobody has any way of knowing God? Or would you suppose that maybe some might, but you don't know who they'd be?

That's exactly my position.

Which one of the above? There are two.

[Gary Childress]

Wouldn't your conclusion then have to be that nobody has any way of knowing God? Or would you suppose that maybe some might, but you don't know who they'd be?

That's exactly my position.

Which one of the above? There are two.

Both. I don't think anyone has a way of knowing for sure that they know God since it's all ultimately speculation and it's possible that some might have their speculations accurate, that's possible and I don't know who they'd be.

[phyllo]

If you're not interested, then why do keep talking to IC about it?

[Gary Childress]

If you're not interested, then why do keep talking to IC about it?

I don't know. Maybe for a similar reason he keeps talking to me about it. Why does anyone talk to another person about what they believe when beliefs are different or at odds?

[phyllo]

Maybe for a similar reason he keeps talking to me about it.

Well, one reason is that he is trying to convert you.

Why does anyone talk to another person about what they believe when beliefs are different or at odds?

Probably because both parties have an interest in their own beliefs and/or the other's beliefs.

It seems that you are not interested in driving, but you keep talking to a used car salesman.

Maybe you are looking for a reason to be on Team Jesus.

[Walker]

Everyone eventually seeks peace of mind, even those who don’t know that’s what they’re after. Those who have found it simply want to share it and the method of sharing varies. In the intellectual realm of written communication, jnana is the most appropriate expression of peace of mind. In the physical realm the expression of peace is often a non-intellectual awakening to one’s own mortality through experience or first-hand witnessing, which is the advantage of a human birth.

Question to AI:
What is jnana?

[phyllo]

So Gary is looking for "peace of mind".

He should try some meditation.

It's easier to swallow than pills or religion.

[Walker]

That depends on individual capacity and need. Meditation gives no answers. It still the mind in preparation for contemplation.

[phyllo]

Then meditation is a reasonable first step.

[Iwannaplato]

Then meditation is a reasonable first step.

Or perhaps some high energy activities: a sport, dancing, just some sprints. Lowers the stress hormones and if done twice weekly you get more relaxed base levels. Then meditation might be easier. Or a massage pillow (for those without enough to pay a perhaps). Or a long shower and tea with a friend.

But what is someone wants peace some of the time and dynamic (rajasic) some of the time (really deep down, even if some people think they can speak for everyone). We could plan for Gary there.

[phyllo]

From talking to Gary, I get the sense that he doesn't have access to some of these activities in the area where he lives.

[Iwannaplato]

From talking to Gary, I get the sense that he doesn't have access to some of these activities in the area where he lives.

there should be some kind of option for anaerobic training: running up and down stairs for example. But he needs to have some baseline health to do this. Not that there's any problem to try out meditation as a first step without these things. It just might make it easier, for some, to glide into meditation.

But then perhaps Gary can weigh in on whether peaces is THE thing he is looking for or one thing he is or if there is some other goal.

[Gary Childress]

I'm in terrible physical shape and have no motivation to improve it. I'd rather sit and rot, than exercise. My life is over anyway. There's too much to do to get back on track and most of what I like to indulge in is pleasure. Joy is something I never get, nor do I seem capable of it. I'm emotionally flat and my baseline is melancholy, possibly due to the medications I am on. Once you get on anti-psychotics you may as well kiss life goodbye. Or you can go off them and, if you're mentally ill, live with psychosis and walk the streets homeless, mumbling to yourself and making weird gestures with your body.

[phyllo]

Studies show that exercise improves mood, lessens anxiety and depression.

But it's your life.