Gary's Corner

[Gary Childress]

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

But it's your life.

It's difficult to describe anhedonia to someone who isn't experiencing it. Such is life.

[phyllo]

I had to look it up.

One of the ways to alleviate symptoms is apparently exercise.

[Impenitent]

Everyone eventually seeks peace of mind, ...

nope

Piece of Mind

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeJu_eQPKKI

if you're gonna die, die with your boots on...

-Imp

[Immanuel Can]

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.

I'm not clear on your position, Gary. It looks like you're saying "nobody knows," but then, how are you going to know that? You say it's possible...but how do you know that, either? The only part I think I understand clearly is your claim that you don't know.

Maybe you can clear all that up for me.

[Gary Childress]

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.

I'm not clear on your position, Gary. It looks like you're saying "nobody knows," but then, how are you going to know that? You say it's possible...but how do you know that, either? The only part I think I understand clearly is your claim that you don't know.

Maybe you can clear all that up for me.

If God = the creator of all that is, how would you know that something is the creator of all that is. If it tells you it is, then is it telling the truth or is it deceiving you or mistaken. The only way to know for sure would be to witness the creator creating the universe. Since we are presumably not able to observe that, being logically impossible as well, we are always speculating that our beliefs are accurate or based on accurate testimony. If that's not true for you, then I assume you were there to witness the creator creating the universe. If not, then you are like me. All you could have is the testimony of something that tells us it is the creator of all that is.

[Gary Childress]

I had to look it up.

One of the ways to alleviate symptoms is apparently exercise.

If you had schizophrenia, you would understand. Severe mental illness is like no other disease. It breaks you. And you will never be whole again.

[Immanuel Can]

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.

I'm not clear on your position, Gary. It looks like you're saying "nobody knows," but then, how are you going to know that? You say it's possible...but how do you know that, either? The only part I think I understand clearly is your claim that you don't know.

Maybe you can clear all that up for me.

If God = the creator of all that is, how would you know that something is the creator of all that is. If it tells you it is, then is it telling the truth or is it deceiving you or mistaken. The only way to know for sure would be to witness the creator creating the universe. Since we are presumably not able to observe that, being logically impossible as well, we are always speculating that our beliefs are accurate or based on accurate testimony. If that's not true for you, then I assume you were there to witness the creator creating the universe. If not, then you are like me. All you could have is the testimony of something that tells us it is the creator of all that is.

Oh, I see. So what you're saying is that you don't know if God tells the truth?

Well, from a Christian and Jewish perspective, there's got to be nothing else the Supreme Being can tell. If you read in Genesis, you find out that God spoke all things into existence. His word is why things are the way they are. That means that His word IS reality. It determines what is real. So analytically, it's impossible for God to tell anything but the truth.

However, you must have some sort of lesser being or demigod in mind. They could conceivably lie, without it redefining reality itself.

[Gary Childress]

I'm not clear on your position, Gary. It looks like you're saying "nobody knows," but then, how are you going to know that? You say it's possible...but how do you know that, either? The only part I think I understand clearly is your claim that you don't know.

Maybe you can clear all that up for me.

If God = the creator of all that is, how would you know that something is the creator of all that is. If it tells you it is, then is it telling the truth or is it deceiving you or mistaken. The only way to know for sure would be to witness the creator creating the universe. Since we are presumably not able to observe that, being logically impossible as well, we are always speculating that our beliefs are accurate or based on accurate testimony. If that's not true for you, then I assume you were there to witness the creator creating the universe. If not, then you are like me. All you could have is the testimony of something that tells us it is the creator of all that is.

Oh, I see. So what you're saying is that you don't know if God tells the truth?

No. It's saying I don't know that something is God, therefore, I don't know if it's telling the truth. There's a difference.

[Immanuel Can]

If God = the creator of all that is, how would you know that something is the creator of all that is. If it tells you it is, then is it telling the truth or is it deceiving you or mistaken. The only way to know for sure would be to witness the creator creating the universe. Since we are presumably not able to observe that, being logically impossible as well, we are always speculating that our beliefs are accurate or based on accurate testimony. If that's not true for you, then I assume you were there to witness the creator creating the universe. If not, then you are like me. All you could have is the testimony of something that tells us it is the creator of all that is.

Oh, I see. So what you're saying is that you don't know if God tells the truth?

No. It's saying I don't know that something is God, therefore, I don't know if it's telling the truth. There's a difference.

Okay, go ahead...what's the difference? I think I get it, but I want to be sure I'm understanding you. What would the "something" be that you're uncertain is God?

[Gary Childress]

Oh, I see. So what you're saying is that you don't know if God tells the truth?

No. It's saying I don't know that something is God, therefore, I don't know if it's telling the truth. There's a difference.

Okay, go ahead...what's the difference? I think I get it, but I want to be sure I'm understanding you. What would the "something" be that you're uncertain is God?

Well, according to many religions (including Christianity) it could be a demon or lesser being. Could be an advanced intelligence that did not create the universe. Could be hallucination or delusion.

The Biblical account of God sounds almost demonic to me. God being more or less a tribal war God and fertility God. Would the creator of all that is be as morally unsophisticated as the Biblical God?

[Immanuel Can]

No. It's saying I don't know that something is God, therefore, I don't know if it's telling the truth. There's a difference.

Okay, go ahead...what's the difference? I think I get it, but I want to be sure I'm understanding you. What would the "something" be that you're uncertain is God?

Well, according to many religions (including Christianity) it could be a demon or lesser being.

You're saying you're in communication with a demon or lesser being? Or some other alien? Or delusions and hallucinations?

Or are you just saying you think that "religious" people are? But how would you decide that?

[Gary Childress]

Okay, go ahead...what's the difference? I think I get it, but I want to be sure I'm understanding you. What would the "something" be that you're uncertain is God?

Well, according to many religions (including Christianity) it could be a demon or lesser being.

You're saying you're in communication with a demon or lesser being? Or some other alien? Or delusions and hallucinations?

Or are you just saying you think that "religious" people are? But how would you decide that?

I don't claim to be in communication with anything other than people. You claim to be in communication with the supreme being. My point is I don't know and I don't think any human can.

[Gary Childress]

I spend most of my time angry. And nothing makes me angrier than the idea that there are sinister people running our government and keeping us constantly in conflicts with other countries.

Of course, anger is not a constructive emotion. Why am I so combative? Why am I always so angry? Should I not be angry at the way the world is run by those who move the levers of power? Is there something wrong with me? Or do I have a right to be angry? Do I have good reason to be angry? Or is anger just going to make things worse?

[Iwannaplato]

I spend most of my time angry. And nothing makes me angrier than the idea that there are sinister people running our government and keeping us constantly in conflicts with other countries.

Of course, anger is not a constructive emotion. Why am I so combative? Why am I always so angry? Should I not be angry at the way the world is run by those who move the levers of power? Is there something wrong with me? Or do I have a right to be angry? Do I have good reason to be angry? Or is anger just going to make things worse?

Anger can be a constructive emotion. It is a strong motivation. But in those situations it leads to constructing something. What would you want to construct that at the same time fits what you are capable of right now in your life. If that anger led to making things slightly better for yourself, and I mean slightly better, just a bit, that would be great. Unlikely that that would be something that affected those in power, which is fine.

I am not sure thinking of your own emotions in terms of rights is helpful. Anger is one of the core emotions. The onus would be on someone saying you shouldn't get angry. And note: anger is not violence. Anger is an emotion. Is there any reason that it is wrong to feel anger in your home? I can't imagine what that would be. Is there a reason it is wrong to feel angry and toxic power? I can't see what that would be. Is there something wrong with feeling anger when your boundaries are violated, for example? I can see what that would be.

One pattern where anger can be a problem, even when there is no dumping it on others or violence, is when it is used to avoid other emotions, like fear and grief. That pattern can be harmful. Once protective, perhaps, but now not so useful. But that's not hurting others, it's more like a habit that is no longer good for you. And my mentioning this does not mean I think that is what is happening.