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| Spirituality on the decline?; as inspired by a Christmas message | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Dec 26 2005, 02:08 AM (355 Views) | |
| Adkenar | Dec 26 2005, 02:08 AM Post #1 |
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I'm not a Catholic by any means, but I do pay some attention to the news. It seemed to me that his general message for Christmas was that as we develop technology, we lose touch with our spirituality (I'm generalizing it here so it pertains to more than just Christianity). Do you think this is true (for most, for all, for any)? Is this a bad thing, or a good thing? These questions are a bit difficult ot answer, being that there are a lot of people and there's a pretty serious time span for the development of "modern" technology, but it does seem to me that, as a general population, we've been less focused on spirituality and more focused on science. It may not be apparent in an individual (particularly young ones, who've essentially only lived with "modern" technology), and it's much harder to make the claim for spirituality than for religion, but based merely on my interactions with other people, it seems that the majority seem to ignore any spiritual beliefs. I'd say that this is something of a bad thing. Spirituality can be a very inspiring force, a way to enlightenment, a connection that cannot be explained by science or technology, a hope for those who might have little reason to hope otherwise. I'm not suggesting that technology or science are bad; the both clearly have tremendous practical value. However, perhaps it would be wise to remember, now and then, that not everything in life need to involve the pursuit of cooler toys. |
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| Hammerlock Jones | Dec 26 2005, 02:15 AM Post #2 |
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Devoted to Christ
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Well, my grandmother was full-blood Oklahoma Choctaw. She held the general opinion that as we advance technologically we are actually devolving intellectually, in as much as we lose touch with the world (and universe) around us. We become mere extensions of the machines we manufacture (and depend on more and more). Cold, detached, rigidly logical....unable to believe in the unseen world all around us. And it does seem that as science advances, belief in spirituality, ghosts, the paranormal, etc is getting chucked out the window. And I'm not sure that's a good thing. Our ancestors may not have had the ability to build a jumbo jet, or program a super computer (for one thing, they got by fine without them), but we could all learn a lot from them. I'm not saying science is evil, or technological progress is bad. I just think sometimes we get so caught up in the religion that science has seemingly become (for too many people), that we lose sight of who we are, where we come from, and where we should be going. Is spirituality on the decline? Hard call. But I'd say (for all my rembling) no. If it was, (especially Christianity...and I am a Christian) it wouldn't be coming under such heavy-handed attack from non-believers on an almost daily basis. |
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| Deleted User | Dec 26 2005, 04:15 AM Post #3 |
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Always a bit odd to hear of anyone with Native American blood being a Christian, considering what the Christians did to their people and land, as well as most native peoples around the world. :/ Anyway, I think true spirituality is actually on the rise, after a very long period of decline and absense, at least in "Western" culture. I don't equate spirituality with religion though, and find that most of those I would consider the most spiritual are what most religious types would consider atheist, or at least, agnostic. On the other hand, I would consider very few of the religious people I've known to be spiritual, with the exception of a large percentage of Buddhists and Pagans. Believing and practicing science doesn't necessarily have anything to do with whether you're spiritual or not, just as being religious doesn't. I do agree with your grandmother, to a great extent, in that I think we've allowed ourselves to become complacent, misdirected, and obsessed with things and thoughts and actions that are, essentially, worthless at best, and generally counterproductive, and that we've become lesser beings for it, depsite all the advances. However, that's mainly an issue of priorities, not process. We need science and technology, not only to help assure Humanity's survival of rogue asteroids and whatnot, if we're interested in surviving, but also to aid in the ongoing struggle to overcome religious oppression. That doesn't mean we have to let it or anything else dehumanize us or distract us from what really matters though. |
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| Hammerlock Jones | Dec 26 2005, 06:02 AM Post #4 |
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Devoted to Christ
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Why is it odd that a Native American would be Christian? Using your implication, I should be doubly anti-Christian considering that on the one side of my family I am Choctaw (mother's) and on my father's African-American. Afterall, Christian Europeans committed terrible crimes against both cultures. Also, by your implication I should hate all white people. But I don't. And why not? Because these sorts of tragedys have occured in all groups throughout man's history. At one time or another everyone's ancestors were subject to persecution by some other group or people with different beliefs. Christ taught us through His perfect example to be men and women of grace, peace and quiet conviction. He never once asked us to kill, murder, or enslave to spread His ministry. Therefore, as far as I (or my grandmother who became a Christian) am concerned, Christians (true Christians who follow and obey Christ's teachings) have never harmed our people. On the contrary, I can give numerous examples of Christians risking all in order to keep other white's (European and Hispanic) from exterminating native peoples altogether. The Christian church continues to support and defend native people's to this day, from Alaska down to Cape Horn. Don't be too eager to condemn the Christian Church for the sins of those who would call themselves "Christian". I do not hate all Muslims or Arabs for the mass murder committed on 9-11 by self-proclaimed "Islamic Holy Warriors". |
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| Deleted User | Dec 26 2005, 08:03 AM Post #5 |
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True. It's hard to separate the church from its followers sometimes though, especially when the true followers are a tiny minority and have been almost since the outset. I think if I were one of the true followers in a church of millions and millions that are a disgrace to the religion they claim membership of, I'd start calling myself something else, if for no other reason than to avoid bringing those associated masses any more power, or even the appearance of it, but maybe that's just me. :/ My mother calls herself a Catholic, even though she disagrees with half of what the Catholic church teaches and practices, which is different, but also doesn't make sense to me. |
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