tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-170476162024-03-07T00:55:04.841-08:00pribis.net<i>Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.</i><br>
Albert EinsteinBrian Pribishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324580663490737718noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17047616.post-68845516419390840532021-03-04T09:51:00.002-08:002022-04-18T11:59:07.090-07:00Thoughts on morality: part 1<p> Let me start by saying that I do not believe that morals are subjective. I believe that there are certain moral statements that we can make which are binding for everyone at all times. I won't be discussing those in this post or how I arrived at that position. I simply wanted that out of the way so that I am not accused of preaching something I am not. </p><p>There are a number of ethical theories which have been purposed for arrive at morals for individuals and society. Many of them don't compete as much as they try to offer better answers. In fact, a number of them can be said to supplement one another. That said, most ethicists push their theories as exclusive. But there is one that probably gets pushed as exclusive more than any other. That would be divine command theory. Most religions do this, but in America Christianity would be the religion that does the majority of the pushing. This is the religion I will address mainly in these posts if I address any at all.</p><p>The first line of attack Christian apologists will take is to point out that without a divine law giver morality is subjective and arbitrary. There are two problems with this. The first is that this is merely an assertion. Is it true that without a divine law giver morality is subjective and arbitrary? On the surface it could seem that way. But ethicists who have been wrangling with these ideas for centuries would certainly beg to differ. Typically, what the apologist is doing here is making a distinction between subjective and absolute morality, not subjective and objective morality. It is really objective morality we should be concerned with. It is true that some people believe in subjective morality, and a few years ago it was all the range at universities, but no one today takes it very seriously. It simply doesn't work and anyone, giving it even a modicum of thought, knows it. But here the apologist is being a bit dishonest because they are making it seem that the argument is about subjective vs. objective morality when he or she really isn't wanting to talk about objective morality at all. </p><p>The second problem is best summed up with the question, "so what?". As I stated in the beginning, I don't believe morality is subjective. If morality were truly subjective it would be a rather terrible situation. People would just being doing stuff because they wanted to do stuff, there could be no accountability and society would completely break down. Of course, subjective morality isn't even possible, but let's pretend for a moment that it is. So what? It doesn't follow that because not having a divine law giver means morality would be subjective therefore there must be a divine law giver. If morality is truly subjective, then it is subjective. The end. It is the burden of the Christian to prove there is a moral law giver. They cannot do this by pointing out what we would rather not have and show how having a god would make things better and then declaring "Here he is!" It simply doesn't work that way. You might as well ask a child if they would rather have a world with Santa or without Santa. Their answer won't prove Santa's existence, even if having a Santa would be ethically the best option. </p><p><br /></p>Brian Pribishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324580663490737718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17047616.post-30275681736491095122021-03-04T07:17:00.001-08:002021-03-04T07:17:18.756-08:00Low hanging fruit<p> "Where do you get your morals from?" This is a gotchya question Christians ask nonchristians frequently enough to be borderline comical. Street evangelists such as Ray Comfort and Frank Turek love to use this trope in an attempt to prove that without a moral law giver morals are subjective and ungrounded. </p><p>The problem with this sort of questioning is that it is simply picking at low hanging fruit. Most people, including Christians, have never given the topic of ethics much thought. Even if you were to ask most Christians on the street as to where they get their morals from you will will, at best, receive one of two answers: the Bible or God. But these two answers (which are really only one answer: God), don't really answer the question. They simply put off the question one more step, just as the nonreligious would do if you gave them a chance.</p><p>When the nonreligious are ask this question, "I dunno" is typically the only answer Christians are expecting and, regardless of the actual answer, the only one they hear. At least, that is the only answer the ilk of Comfort are recording. But if given half the chance they will give more of an answer and many of them do. It may not be the answer they like and it may arguably not be a good answer, but it will be a better answer than "I dunno". They may say, "My parents", or "The law", or "My heart", or "My brain", or any number of other answers. But here the Christian will no doubt argue that these answers are not good enough because they are subjective and arbitrary. But this is where my original point comes to the front. Christians are making a similar mistake when using divine command theory as their moral framework. Simply saying, "Because God" doesn't excuse them from explaining where they get their morals from. All they've done is put the question off into the distance a bit. Is there really a God? Where does God get his morals from? Why should we trust him? Which God are we talking about?, etc. Christians make a whole lot of assumptions when asking their questions.</p><p>The apologist will have answers for this, of course. However, we aren't talking about them, we are talking about apples to apples and therefore we must interview the man and woman on the street. I bet if we interview a dozen christians we will discover that few if any will have a good answer to this question. In fact, most will have the equivalent of, "I dunno". Something like, "Because he's God and God is moral". </p><p>It is important that Christians, if they truly want to evangelize the masses, that they start having honest conversations with the people they are evangelizing. Stop with the gotchyas and start putting yourself in the other person's shoes. Be honest and stop with the trickery. It really doesn't set a good example for the person you are supposed to be representing. </p>Brian Pribishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324580663490737718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17047616.post-83517148188762117712021-02-26T10:26:00.000-08:002021-02-26T10:26:03.218-08:00The practical joke<p> The little paper dixie cups full of water were everywhere in the office. In every corner, covering the desk, under the desk, on the chair, surrounding the wastepaper basket, on the shelves, everywhere. The only place there weren't any was a space to allow for the office door to close.</p><p>This was a practical joke set out by the office's occupant by his workmates. When he arrived from his weeklong vacation he was forced to take each soggy cup one at a time and place it in a bucket. By the time he was done the floor, the desk and his cloths were as soggy as the cups. He was not a happy camper. However, his workmates were more than happy with their efforts.</p><p>The end.</p><p><br /></p>Brian Pribishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324580663490737718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17047616.post-82970170945870098702021-02-25T11:27:00.000-08:002021-02-25T11:27:00.137-08:00Don't blame the crazies<p> All through history the insane have been the favorite punching bag for many of society's ills. If someone did something truly horrible, then the person was most certainly insane. Not much has changed. Our 45th president drove this point home on more than one occasion, blaming domestic terrorist attacks on the mentally ill, despite constant assurances by mental health experts that such is not the case.</p><p>Without a doubt, mentally ill people can be violent and have committed terribly crimes. But such cases are rather rare when compared to similar crimes committed by people who are not mentally ill. But my point of this article isn't to argue that point. Rather, I want to discuss a defense I hear given for the mentally ill committing domestic terrorism. It goes something like this, "Only someone who is mentally ill would kill a bunch of people". They will qualify this with the words "random" and a location such as school, nightclub, restaurant, concert, etc. The logic, in their minds, is solid. Since shooting up a bunch of innocent random people is something only a crazy person would do, crazy people are responsible for doing it. QED. </p><p>Of course, this opinion, whether someone is "crazy", is completely subjective. Many times the attacker takes their own life. Therefore, professionals are typically left with anecdotal data to try and make some sort of diagnosis with. But more often than not, the person isn't found to be insane. But that doesn't stop the nonexpert and the man on the street from making their own diagnosis. And, well, the President said it so it must be true.</p><p>They other thing we have to ask our selves is, are there any cases in which a person killing a bunch of other people is not considered the act of an insane person? What about a soldier following orders? What about a police officer who is being attacked? What about a woman who is the victim of a home invasion? "But that is different!", someone might object. But why? Why is it different? Because they are being attacked? Because they are following orders? Because of the rules? Ultimately, the "reasons" are arbitrary. All the parties believe they are justified in doing what they do. That is, they have reasons, right or wrong, for committing the acts they do. Attaching the epitaph of "crazy" to one and not the other is merely one of convenience for us and nothing more. It helps give us an easy answer to an act we would rather have a different answer to than the obvious one. You see, with the other acts we don't mind the answers. The soldier, policeman, and the woman are all doing noble things. Things we would like to think we would do in their shoes. Things that most of our society consider good. However, the terrorist is doing something we can all agree is horrific. Something no one likes to imagine themselves doing. So the last thing we want to admit is that we have the capability to do that very thing. If we can convince ourselves that the terrorist is something other than ourselves, i.e., crazy, then we can comfort ourselves with the thought that we could never be that person. But once we admit that they were perfectly in their right minds (and they most likely were), we are forced into a very uncomfortable reality. One we are desperate to avoid at all costs.</p><p><br /></p>Brian Pribishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324580663490737718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17047616.post-17710227041034450952021-02-14T11:45:00.000-08:002021-02-14T11:45:52.145-08:00The 'H' Word<p> Christianity, like many, if not all religions, suffer from the general problem of its adherents being unable to live up to its ideals. Or, if we were being honest, less desirous to do so. This may sound harsh, but it is an honest assessment of over forty years of observation. Christianity makes a lot of claims for itself and demands for its disciples that, when taken seriously, lead to a rather odd and difficult life that very few people find palatable for very long. This isn't to say there aren't groups who haven't come closer than others to living out the ideal, and for longer periods of time. It is only to say that, by and large, most do not. That is, unless you are planning on being a monastic, you probably aren't going to take the teachings of your religion very seriously except in a very few and specific areas.</p><p>When I was young I, like so many, foolishly though that the teachings of Scripture, all of them, were meant to be followed and adhered to. All of them. I am not saying I did this consistently or well, but I did feel and teach they were to be followed and made various attempts to do so. For example, Jesus taught that we are not to worry about where we were to live, wear, eat or even worry about tomorrow,</p><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote>"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:25-34)</blockquote></div><p>To my wife and I this resulted in never buying a house, never getting life insurance, no savings, no retirement, etc. Why? After all, God was going to take care of us. Besides, to do any of those things was to demonstrate a huge lack of faith in our God. </p><p>It wasn't until years later that my wife and I really started noticing that most Christians we knew had large savings, life insurance plans, house loans and more. Why weren't they following Scripture like we were?</p><p>Because of my reading of Scripture I never voted. Why? Because the Bible taught that the government was establish by God,</p><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote>"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." (Romans 13:1)</blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"></span></div><p> Yet all the Christians we knew voted. In fact, the church we attended admonished all its parishioners to get out and vote every election season. </p><p>We sold all of our possessions and moved into a Christian commune (twice!) because of the book of Acts, we spanked our kids because of the book of Proverbs, my wife wore a head covering because of 1 Corinthians 11, my wife submitted to me and I was the head of the household because of...well...the entire bible. Yet, few Christians we knew followed any of these teachings. And the ones we knew of chose other passages to ignore. </p><p>I am not writing all of this to show you how good we were or to call all Christians to repent and align themselves with the teachings of Scripture. Quite the opposite. I now know that most of the teachings of Scripture aren't worth following in the first place. Head coverings, spankings, submission, slavery, genocide, anti-scientific claims like miracles, supernatural claims, and so on, are the imaginings of superstitious and uneducated men who simply didn't know any better. I am writing all of this because it is time we acknowledge this and stop being hypocrites, pretending we are following the teachings of a 2,000 year old book when, in fact, we are not. Not even close. </p><p> </p><style type="text/css">#EkleguLightBox {display:none; background:#fff; opacity:1; position:fixed; top:10%; left:5%; width:290px; height:60px; z-index:1000; border:2px solid #000;margin: 0px; padding:10px; padding-top:5px;}#EkleguLightBox > dl {margin: 0px; padding:0px;}#EkleguLightBox > dl > dt {margin: 0px; padding:0px; padding-top:5px; font-family:'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:14px; color:black; line-height: 1.0; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background: transparent;}#EkleguLightBox > dl > dd {margin: 0px; padding:0px; padding-top:2px; font-family:'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:14px; color:black; line-height: 1.0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; background: transparent;}</style><div id="EkleguLightBox" style="display: none;"></div><style type="text/css">#EkleguLightBox {display:none; background:#fff; opacity:1; position:fixed; top:10%; left:5%; width:290px; height:60px; z-index:1000; border:2px solid #000;margin: 0px; padding:10px; 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background: transparent;}#EkleguLightBox > dl > dd {margin: 0px; padding:0px; padding-top:2px; font-family:'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:14px; color:black; line-height: 1.0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; background: transparent;}</style><div id="EkleguLightBox"></div><style type="text/css">#EkleguLightBox {display:none; background:#fff; opacity:1; position:fixed; top:10%; left:5%; width:290px; height:60px; z-index:1000; border:2px solid #000;margin: 0px; padding:10px; padding-top:5px;}#EkleguLightBox > dl {margin: 0px; padding:0px;}#EkleguLightBox > dl > dt {margin: 0px; padding:0px; padding-top:5px; font-family:'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:14px; color:black; line-height: 1.0; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background: transparent;}#EkleguLightBox > dl > dd {margin: 0px; padding:0px; padding-top:2px; font-family:'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:14px; color:black; line-height: 1.0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; background: transparent;}</style><div id="EkleguLightBox"></div><style type="text/css">#EkleguLightBox {display:none; background:#fff; opacity:1; position:fixed; top:10%; left:5%; width:290px; height:60px; z-index:1000; border:2px solid #000;margin: 0px; padding:10px; padding-top:5px;}#EkleguLightBox > dl {margin: 0px; padding:0px;}#EkleguLightBox > dl > dt {margin: 0px; padding:0px; padding-top:5px; font-family:'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:14px; color:black; line-height: 1.0; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background: transparent;}#EkleguLightBox > dl > dd {margin: 0px; padding:0px; padding-top:2px; font-family:'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:14px; color:black; line-height: 1.0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; background: transparent;}</style><div id="EkleguLightBox"></div><style type="text/css">#EkleguLightBox {display:none; background:#fff; opacity:1; position:fixed; top:10%; left:5%; width:290px; height:60px; z-index:1000; border:2px solid #000;margin: 0px; padding:10px; padding-top:5px;}#EkleguLightBox > dl {margin: 0px; padding:0px;}#EkleguLightBox > dl > dt {margin: 0px; padding:0px; padding-top:5px; font-family:'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:14px; color:black; line-height: 1.0; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background: transparent;}#EkleguLightBox > dl > dd {margin: 0px; padding:0px; padding-top:2px; font-family:'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:14px; color:black; line-height: 1.0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; background: transparent;}</style><div id="EkleguLightBox"></div><style type="text/css">#EkleguLightBox {display:none; background:#fff; opacity:1; position:fixed; top:10%; left:5%; width:290px; height:60px; z-index:1000; border:2px solid #000;margin: 0px; padding:10px; padding-top:5px;}#EkleguLightBox > dl {margin: 0px; padding:0px;}#EkleguLightBox > dl > dt {margin: 0px; padding:0px; padding-top:5px; font-family:'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:14px; color:black; line-height: 1.0; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background: transparent;}#EkleguLightBox > dl > dd {margin: 0px; padding:0px; padding-top:2px; font-family:'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:14px; color:black; line-height: 1.0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; background: transparent;}</style><div id="EkleguLightBox"></div><style type="text/css">#EkleguLightBox {display:none; background:#fff; opacity:1; position:fixed; top:10%; left:5%; width:290px; height:60px; z-index:1000; border:2px solid #000;margin: 0px; padding:10px; padding-top:5px;}#EkleguLightBox > dl {margin: 0px; padding:0px;}#EkleguLightBox > dl > dt {margin: 0px; padding:0px; padding-top:5px; font-family:'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:14px; color:black; line-height: 1.0; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background: transparent;}#EkleguLightBox > dl > dd {margin: 0px; padding:0px; padding-top:2px; font-family:'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:14px; color:black; line-height: 1.0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; background: transparent;}</style><div id="EkleguLightBox"></div>Brian Pribishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324580663490737718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17047616.post-11529051415308117502021-01-15T05:37:00.003-08:002021-01-15T05:37:46.125-08:00Think about death<p> Death is one of those topics people are reticent to talk about. For most, the only way they feel comfortable about broaching the subject is in the context of religion. Most religions allow us to consider death not as something final, the end of life, but rather as a doorway to a new and improved life. </p><p>What do you do if you don't believe there is anything after this life? What comfort is there? The answer is rather simple and stoic: There is nothing, so just resign yourself to it and enjoy what you have now. This seems a fairly decent answer both for the religious and the atheist. So many of us focus so much on the after that we impede our now. The adage, "Live like there's no tomorrow", has some merit here. Not that we shouldn't plan for tomorrow, but that we should live in a way that focuses on the present in such a way that as we draw closer to the end (whenever that might be) we aren't filled with regret for what we did or did not do. </p><p>This is where thinking about death can be helpful provided it is done gently and in the right context. Constantly ruminating to the point of depression and despair would be unhelpful and even dangerous. But spending time understanding death as the end (even if you ultimately don't believe it is) can be helpful. Understanding that our after life will be no different than the millions of years that existed before we were born can give us a better perspective of our lives. We aren't all that important. Most of the world - enough to say 'all' - does not know or care that we exist. In fact, it will only take a few short generations for us to be completely forgotten from memory. Even if we take pictures and video log our lives, it is doubtful anyway would care to see them. </p><p>Should this fill us with despair? No. It should humble us and inspire us to focus on the here and now. Influence those around us by respecting and loving them. Leave a legacy for those who follow us, not because they remember us but because they have been influenced to work, think and behave in better ways than if we hadn't been in their lives. </p><p>So take time to humbling understand your place in this life and then go out there and do something good for others and yourself. </p>Brian Pribishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324580663490737718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17047616.post-66558391089070827382021-01-02T05:36:00.003-08:002021-01-02T05:36:50.449-08:00Optimistic pessimists?I use to think monastics (monks and nuns) where all perpetual pessimists. Black garments, mournful chanting, fasting, talk of sin, death and demons. But I realize now this isn't pessimism at all. At least, not when looking at these things from their point of view. Now that I've gotten to participate in the Orthodox church and have met some monks and have spoken to my daughter who has met a few nuns I have come to see the incessant, almost to the point of embarrassment, celebratory spirit to be found among these folk and, indeed, the Church as a whole. Glorifying God, enjoying communion with saints, singing songs of celebration, the death of sin, the reversal of death and the defeat of demons and Satan himself. The pessimism I once saw was the result of me transposing my ideas onto that of the monastics. As soon as I started to participate in the life they enjoy I began to see things from their perspective. I too started to become an optimist. Brian Pribishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324580663490737718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17047616.post-62997708583122126572020-08-10T08:55:00.006-07:002020-12-16T06:49:05.284-08:00Why does God allow Suffering?<p> This is the first post in a series exploring questions atheists have concerning the claims of Christianity. Sometimes they are questions, sometimes accusations, but out of respect I will try to phrase each post as a question. My hope is to offer something for Christians and atheists to think about, including myself. Also, let me offer this caveat to keep in mind as I explore these questions: I spent most of my life as a protestant Christian. However, now I am an Orthodox Christian. Eastern Orthodoxy predates Protestantism by over fifteen hundred years. All of the questions (or accusations) I have heard from atheists have been leveled at a protestant view of Christianity. Although I may talk about protestant views, I will be answering from primarily an Orthodox perspective as best as I am able. </p><p>The question usually takes the form of:</p><blockquote><p>If God is all powerful, all knowing and all loving, why does he allow such terrible suffering?</p></blockquote><p>I have thought of this a lot and I am afraid my answer is going to be less than satisfactory to all parties. Why? Because there simply is no good answer to this question. Not because there isn't one, but because we are incapable of understanding both the question and, I suspect, the answer if one were provided by a God that is so different then ourselves.</p><p>To clarify, the question runs into a roadblock before it even gets started when using the word "God". Its use makes a whole lot of assumptions that need to be addressed before it can have any real meaning. The words after "God" try to define who or what we are talking about, but even these words make assumptions. First, do we really understand who this God is? The Bible attempts to give us some definition by offering descriptions. But the Bible itself is a book written to humans by humans who were being inspired by a being that is so far above us that understanding him is a challenge that will probably never be overcome. Even though the Bible describes God, we tend to miss qualifiers that are important to recognize before we start rattling off descriptors and declaring God as understood.</p><p>The prophet Isaiah wrote:</p><blockquote><p>For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.</p></blockquote><p>Centuries later the Apostle Paul wrote:</p><blockquote><p>Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?</p></blockquote><p> It was the scholasticism, a creation of Latin Catholicism, that influenced the theology of the Reformation and Protestanism (This is an oversimplification, but the broad stroke here is accurate). Here the church, both Catholic and Protestant came to believe God could be understood (albeit, not completely) by intellectual exercise. This doesn't mean we shouldn't use our intellects. We can't help but do so. But it gave a greater weight to the intellect than was healthy when it comes to understanding God. This was primarily a Western problem that continues to this day. </p><p>The Eastern church did not take this approach. It took a more, in my opinion, humble approach. For example, the creation of apophatic theology gave the Church the ability to talk about God's qualities without losing the understanding that God was so far above us as to make questions involving God difficult, if not impossible, to answer. At least, to answer in a way that would satisfy our desires for an answer.</p><p>To give some examples, the statement, "God is holy" was rephrased, "God is holy in a way that we are not". Or, "God is eternal" as "God is not finite". This makes sense because we are unholy and finite. We know what that means. We don't understand what holy or eternal means in their fullness because we only have ourselves as a reference point. </p><p>Because of this, trying to say, "God is this, so why does God allow...?" is not only difficult but impossible to answer. The best we can say is, "I don't know". But it is in trying to answer this question by Christians and atheists from a protestant point of view that causes real suffering. When a tragedy, such as a tsunami, occurs I have heard Christians declare that God was punishing sin, such as homosexuality. Or, in the case of children, that God spared them the suffering of this world. Or that God knew the child would grow up to be destined for an eternity of fire, brimstone and worms, so he took her before that could happen. On the other hand, I have heard atheists put forward that bad things happen in a naturalistic system and therefore there probably is no God. Without arguing which idea is true, both are at least unhelpful to those who are actually experiencing the tragedy, at most they are boarding on the abusive. The fact is, we just don't know why these things happen. We know a lot of things about God in a very, very limited way, but we don't know enough to give definitive answers. At least the atheist understands this. Unfortunately, most Christians do not and try to give answers that display their own ignorance of the questions being asked.</p><p>So, to the atheist and protestant, I would suggest both are assuming far too much when asking such a question. I don't blame the atheist, here. They are simply parroting what protestants have been saying for hundreds of years. Therefore, it is up to Protestants to begin to reframe the dialog in a way that is both humble and less adverse to ignorance. </p><p>Like I said at the beginning, it is unlikely this explanation is going to satisfy either party. But it is what the ancient church, for the most part, has taught and, in the East, what she has always taught. The best we can do, when it comes to tragedy and suffering is to sympathize with the sufferer and love them. </p>Brian Pribishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324580663490737718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17047616.post-54974766175845705612018-05-19T08:35:00.000-07:002018-05-20T17:07:40.461-07:00May is mental health awareness monthMany people may not know that May is Mental Health Awareness month. To be honest, I didn't know it either, until recently. I have debated for the past week if I was going to write this post. But in the end I decided that I probably should. Besides, it couldn't hurt, could it?<br />
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For a long time I use to laugh along with everyone else about mental health and "crazy people". Even though I knew it wasn't really that funny. I had a aunt who took her own life while in the throws of a terrible depression. I had another relative I grew up with in an out of institutions because of a serious mental illness. I have had friends who suffered terribly from mental illness. So why would I think it was funny when someone pretended to be crazy on the silver screen? Once a pastor of a church I attended showed a "funny" skit of a psychiatrist (played by Bob Newhart) and a patient who was suffering from a mental illness. I have to admit that not only did I laugh along with much of the congregation, but I shared the link to the video with other people. Looking back on it I don't really find it all that funny any more.<br />
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I've attended a number of different denominations (different types of protestant christian Churches) over the years. Some conservative and some very charismatic. Most attributed mental illness to either complete, or at least partial, demonic influence. Some would claim that the mentally ill person was "possessed" by demons! And again, at one time, to my shame, I also subscribed to this view.<br />
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What both the humor and the demonism have in common is that they both avoid the true nature of mental illness. They designate it as something to be laughed at, and therefore not of any real consequence, or as something that is usually the fault of the sufferer because he or she invited the demons into their lives through some wicked thought or action on their part. <br />
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I personally had to come terms with my feelings and thoughts on mental illness over the years. If my relatives and friends suffering from it didn't do it, my own diagnosis finally did. About five years ago I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I chose then to ignore it. The doctor didn't know what he was talking about anyway (That is what I told myself) and besides, that was caused by demons and I wasn't possessed. I was a Christian after all and the last thing a Christian is, is mentally ill. Right? Wrong!<br />
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Over a year ago I was chugging along just fine. I was running races, studying martial arts, going to school full time and I had a great career. I dropped school and went into the ministry instead (after all, what could school teach me I didn't already know?). I was preaching almost every Sunday and studying what I needed in order to become a pastor. But slowly something began to change. The energy started to dissipate. I no longer could see the point of studying for the ministry. Slowly, insipidly, darkness started to color everything. I no longer liked work, I didn't like church, I didn't want to be around people, I didn't want to run or study my martial arts. I couldn't think clearly. At work I'd just stare at my monitor for almost eight hours, watching the clock for quitting time, begging the hands to move faster, doing only what was required of me and struggling to see the point of it all.<br />
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I have always struggled with periods of depression, but this was the worst I had ever experienced. And it got still worse. Much worse. At the end of last summer I read my electronic journal that I keep and realized I had been talking about depression in between bouts of high energy and activity, blaming the depression on Satan, and the good times on God, for almost six years!<br />
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By this time I was self-medicating with copious amounts of alcohol just to recover from the day. I couldn't wait to go to sleep at night and I dreaded getting up in the morning. The summer completely passed me by and I didn't remember much of any of it. I decided it was time to talk to my doctor. <br />
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My doctor put my on some medicine for my depression and insisted I see someone in the psychiatric profession who could help regulate my medication. But the medication had a very odd side-effect. I started to rapidly cycle between severe depression and euphoria. In either case I could hardly function. So I saw someone else who, after a few questions and noting my symptoms while on the antidepressant, diagnosed me with bipolar 2. She started me on a mood stabilizer and changed my antidepressant out for another. I started seeing a psychiatrist later on and he recommended I go on an anti-psychotic along with my other medications to help bring the cycling under control.<br />
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After a year of doing the medication shuffle and talking to both my doctor and my priest I am doing better. This time, instead of denial, I finally decided to embrace my illness. I decided to stop being afraid of what people have to say (thus this post) and own it. Which brings me to my final bit. A few things to note, which I hope will help you interact better with those struggling with mental illness. After all, one in five, struggle with mental illness. So the likelihood that you know someone who suffers from it is very, very high. And, unfortunately, the stigma also is still very high.<br />
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1. Mental illness is not the fault of the sufferer. It is not true, not to mention cruel, to say such things to someone with a mental illness. We probably wouldn't even say this to someone suffering from another disease even if it was their fault. So why treat mental illness differently?<br />
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2. Mental illness is just that. An illness. Blaming it on demons or a character flaw is not only ignorant, it is cruel.<br />
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3. People cannot just "get over it". You wouldn't tell someone with a broken leg or diabetes to just "get over it", would you?<br />
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4. Some mental illness can be overcome with counseling and talk therapy. Some cannot. Diseases like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, to name two, cannot. There is not talking one's self out of these types of diseases. Talking can help cope, but these are life-long diseases that, more often than not, must be medicated if the sufferer is going to have any semblance of a life. Just like other diseases.<br />
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5. We don't want the disease. Yes, it can help make someone very productive and creative at times. But the cons far outweigh the pros (If they can be called that). If you asked most people with mental illness if they wanted to get better, most if not all would say yes. Romanticizing mental illness is the media's game. But like most things in the movies, it isn't true.<br />
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6 Don't tell me it could be worse. Think about it. Telling someone who just lost his legs that it could be worse is kind of obvious but completely inappropriate. And it doesn't help.<br />
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7. Don't tell me it is just a season and everyone goes through them. You simply haven't a clue if you've never struggled with mental illness. If by "season" you mean my whole life, then yes, I will agree. Otherwise don't say it.<br />
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8. Don't tell me you have the same mental illness if you've never been diagnosed. It isn't that you aren't struggling with the same thing, per se. It is just that we live in a "me" culture that thrives on one-upping the other person, and people are quick to try and "join the club" whenever they can. So forgive me if I don't believe you out of hand. If you think you have a mental illness then GO TO A DOCTOR. <br />
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9. You don't have to tell me, "I never knew". I spent a lot of years hiding it from myself. I've gotten pretty good at it. I don't really like talking about it and I'm not ever going to be quick to bring it up (Another reason why #8 seems so out of place). Most people don't like talking about it mostly because of the stigma it has. Many of us, even though we know logically it isn't our fault, still struggle with shame and embarrassment because of it.<br />
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10. Please do not attribute every weird thing I say or do to my mental illness (or to any mental illness). How many times have we heard, "Oh she is just OCD" or, "There he goes, getting all schizo again". Such things are right up there with, "She's a typical hysterical woman" or "He acts like such a girl". Inappropriate and not true.<br />
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11. Finally, don't tell me I should get off my medication and try this diet or that herbal supplement. Unlike the latest fad, the use of medication, although far from perfect, is scientifically proven to help.<br />
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Anyway, that's it. It is all I got the energy for. If you want more information about bipolar 2, or mental illness in general, here is some extra reading:<br />
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<a href="https://www.nami.org/mentalhealthmonth">Mental Health Month information</a><br />
<a href="https://www.bipolar-lives.com/bipolar-type-2.html">Bipolar 2 (with some info about Bipolar 1)</a><br />
<a href="https://www.nami.org/learn-more/mental-health-conditions">Mental health in general</a><br />
<a href="https://themighty.com/2017/06/what-not-to-say-to-someone-with-mental-illness/">Top ten things not to say to someone with a mental illness</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiCrniLQGYc">The black dog (A short video about clinical depression)</a><br />
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Brian Pribishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324580663490737718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17047616.post-69782168058213861872017-05-27T09:09:00.001-07:002017-05-30T03:59:41.916-07:00RainAn old forgotten and rusted can of paint thinner<br />
Chimes in time with the rain. <br />
The rain hissing and running down from the gray sky<br />
Twists and shifts with the wind.<br />
<br />
Pools fill in the divots and channels left by winter,<br />
Leaves in trees drinking it up.<br />
The tarmac glistens like a skating rink<br />
Worn but warm from the hidden sun.<br />
<br />
Birds bathe in makeshift showers and baths<br />
Singing and bringing more music<br />
To the percussion of the intermittent downpour.<br />
Hop on top the soaked forgotten clothes,<br />
<br />
The sun is sure to shine again, sending down its rays<br />
Scattering the smattering of water left<br />
After the storm disipates into foggy memory,<br />
Seething and breathing behind the mountains.Brian Pribishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324580663490737718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17047616.post-87837554615305249532017-04-29T10:06:00.000-07:002017-05-27T08:50:20.675-07:00The Baptism <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Cold biting winter wind, merciless<br />
in its' endeavors. Scratching, clawing, desperate to win<br />
gives way, once again, to warming spring breezes and<br />
green buds, frog song and bird love.<br />
<br />
Light a candle or three. <br />
<br />
Death, sometimes slow halting movements,<br />
other times sudden like a unexpected stunning slap to the face.<br />
Now life, resurrected, death spun backwards and on its head<br />
Weak, useless legs strengthened, eyeless sockets budding, growing, filled.<br />
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Water becomes wine, the wedding can go on!<br />
<br />
The procession of catechumens, an army of priests.<br />
The Archangel Micheal, sword drawn, shoulders back, chin forward,<br />
voice the sound of trumpets, "The Lord rebuke you!"<br />
The enemy quakes, the catechized pray. They are ready. Amen.<br />
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The bridegroom! Parousia! <br />
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Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come...<br />
Kingdom here, the song of thousands upon thousands,<br />
ten thousands upon ten thousands sing, pray, worship!<br />
Another sheep for the fold, ten-thousands plus one.<br />
<br />
The wise virgins have lit their lamps! <br />
<br />
The waters, oily and cold in the environment clouded with smoke,<br />
open wide their arms to embrace the penitent.<br />
They both hold their breath. In all the excitement they forget to breath!<br />
The voices sound like rushing water and thunder.<br />
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The trees of the fields clap their hands! <br />
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What will be your sacrifice O! nomore-catechumen?<br />
Some locks of hair? Snip - Snip - Snip. Much more than hair.<br />
Stretch forth your arms, someone else will dress you.<br />
Stretch forth your arms, someone else will lead you.<br />
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Sower, sow your seeds!<br />
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Take into your mouth the blood shed for you; your blood will be shed.<br />
Take into your mouth the flesh torn for you; your flesh will be torn.<br />
Juxtapose kingdom, lovely, full of light, healing, life and forever<br />
with road to it narrow, hard, full of suffering, pain and tears.<br />
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Mara natha! <br />
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Sing! Rejoice! Christ has risen from the dead, trampling down<br />
death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.<br />
Sing! Rejoice! Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you.<br />
God grant you many years - live long and prosper. <br />
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Amen, amen, amen!<br />
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<br />Brian Pribishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324580663490737718noreply@blogger.com0