Thursday, November 29, 2012

Let it in… Let it out… Let it be…


I realize that much of the process of education involves classifying, sorting, categorizing, etc. various ideas, thoughts, concepts, and constructs.  We seem to need a framework of some type to “hang” an idea on, in order to grasp it.

Nonetheless, I find “either/or” statements problematic, particularly when it comes to discussions about a topic which falls into the realm of mostly what I would call “experiential opinion”.

Is God “within”, looking to our unfoldment in order to give greater expression?  Is God “without”, trying to get into our hearts and minds”?  We discussed the “let it in / let it out” (the “it” being God) in class on Tuesday.  Of course, we came to no conclusions, and I for one, am not willing to “pick one”.

As I voiced in class, I do not see an issue with AND.  It is full of possibility.  There is no finite measurable verifiable infallible way to “prove” God – so is this just an egoic conversation about who is “right”?

Yes, I am aware that “if this is true, then that means…” types of discussions.  I find it mostly irrelevant to my daily experience of God.



I gave the example of “water”.  Present within me, in great quantity.  Water as the basis of blood and other body fluids.  Some “water” present as interstitial AND intrastitial cellular fluid, spinal fluid, tears, etc.  Some expressed only when needed, such as sweat, some to be released to the outside, as urine.  Water vapor is present as a component of the breath – necessary for comfort of the airways, and a byproduct of respiration.  That’s my experience of water “inside”me. Mostly operating and doing it’s thing below the level of consciousness, but essential nonetheless.  All providing something essential to my life, on so many levels. Oh, and I sometimes drink the stuff too…  purposely and consciously putting it into my body as water, coffee, tea, etc.

And then there is my experience of water “outside” of me.  This experience of water occurs on a much more conscious level.  I am conscious of experiencing water as weather – rain, sleet, snow, fog, mist, dew, etc.  I experience water as a cleansing agent for my body.  I experience water as a buoyant and refreshing immersion in the pool or lake on a hot summer day. Or in which I wash the dishes, or clothes.  I experience water externally in many, many, MANY forms – ice, liquid, hot, cold, steam, etc.  And, sometimes I consciously drink the stuff too… oh, I said that already.  Probably because when someone says “water” I initially think of one thing – that thing upon which I anchor  my definition.  A drink of water. Although I experience water daily in a multitude of ways... I tend to think of "water" in a limited sort of way. 

My point is, how is this different from God?  All the way from the smallest molecule of my being to the grandest expression in the cosmos – who is to say that the essence we call “God” isn’t present throughout?

Sometimes, it’s time to let it out.
Sometimes it’s time to take it in.
And, sometimes, it’s time to let it BE!



Sunday, November 25, 2012

Free "Will"?

So the talk I heard in church today was "God's will or my will; whose will is it anyway?"

Here we go, back to the "free will" debate.  And then I ran across a disturbing news article that argues evidence that there may be no such thing as free will.

     "The conscious decision to push the button was made about a second before the actual act, but the team discovered that a pattern of brain activity seemed to predict that decision by as many as seven seconds. Long before the subjects were even aware of making a choice, it seems, their brains had already decided."

and further

     "As humans, we like to think that our decisions are under our conscious control — that we have free will. Philosophers have debated that concept for centuries, and now Haynes and other experimental neuroscientists are raising a new challenge. They argue that consciousness of a decision may be a mere biochemical afterthought, with no influence whatsoever on a person's actions. According to this logic, they say, free will is an illusion. "We feel we choose, but we don't," says Patrick Haggard, a neuroscientist at University College London."

See the complete article here:  http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110831/full/477023a.html

So, if this is true, who/what is doing the choosing?  Is there even really a choice?  

Just as important:  NOW WHAT???




Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Divine Will and Free Order???



I found the discussion today in class rather interesting.

What is the relationship between Divine Order and Free Will?

This is how I see the relationship:

Divine Order
 

Free Will
Describes a process of unfoldment or growth or evolution
Describes a power or causation
Unfolds according to some type of principles; according to “law”
Unfolds according to individual selection or choice; “whim” or “not law”
Based on a Divine Idea – an Ideal
Based on a person’s “filters”
Directed (shaped) by interaction with free will
Influenced by history, tradition,  teachings, experience, reflection
Some predictability, if “laws” are familiar and known.
Less predictable, highly subjective
© 2012

I am sure that others can add to this comparison / contrast.  I'm still pondering how either/both of these relate to the concept of PREDESTINATION.  Seems (at the moment) that predestination is not either a process nor a power... but a line in the sand, saying "THIS is what IS".

I know it's way more complex than that. But I need to start slow!


Friday, November 2, 2012

Say It Ain't So!

Here we go....  "If I've told ya once..."



Malachi 3:6 "For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.


James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.



Psalm 102:24-27: "So I said: "Do not take me away, O my God, in the midst of my days; your years go on through all generations. In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But you remain the same, and your years will never end."

Process Theology?  Huh???

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, the Swiss physician/researcher, in her seminal work on the grief process (On Death and Dying, 1969) developed a five stage model of the emotional and psychological response to "negative" change (typically grief, tragedy, catastrophic losses.) The model has since been found to be an accurate description of the emotional process that occurs whenever a change of significance occurs in someone's life.

The five stages go kinda like this:

    (1) Denial - "You gotta be kidding me!  God can change??? I don't think so!"

    (2) Anger - "Who IS this guy that proposes that theory?  What? More than one person thinks it's possible?  Those idiots!  Don't they read the Bible?  What are they talking about?"

    (3) Bargaining - "Well, maybe I heard it wrong.  Guess I'm going to have to do some research and poke some holes in this thing.  Maybe it will go away if I just ignore it and I can hang on to my old idea of God... I don't have to accept this thing right now, do I?  After all, it got only 5 minutes of class time!"

    (4) Depression - "What's the point? Why are we studying this stuff if just anyone can make up anything and get it published?  If it sounds plausible (to someone) and there are enough big words and convoluted logic, I guess it earns a place in the Wiki-leagues.  OMG I cant go on!"

    (5) Acceptance - "Well, I guess it's going to be okay… can't fight it, I may as well learn about it.  It's not going away, and I need to know what people are talking about.  Whether or not I believe it!"


Diagrammatically, the process kinda looks like this:

http://www.care611.com/2012/01/04/grief-cycle/


In Unity, this is called "chemicalization".


I guess I need a new definition of "absolute". These definitions don't work (for me) when used to describe "God" in the same sentence as the phrase "process theology".

Absolute, the--Divine Mind; unlimited Principle; the almighty One; the all-pervading Spirit; the Infinite; the Eternal; the Supreme Being. The one ultimate creative Mind; the Source of all things. That which is unconditioned, unlimited, unrestricted, and free from all limitations. The self-existent God.Revealing Word, p. 7-8

absolute
noun
1.
something that is not dependent upon external conditions
for existence or for its specific nature, size, etc. (relative ).
2.
something that is free from any restriction or condition.
3.
something that is independent of some or all relations.
4.
something that is perfect or complete.   Copyright © 2012 Dictionary.com, LLC

At church, we just finished the fall sermon series on the book “The 5th Agreement” by Don Miguel Ruiz.  His website says “The Fifth Agreement uses doubt as a tool to discern the truth.”    It goes like this:  “Be skeptical, but learn to listen”.

Right now, I’m skeptical.  

And I’m listening.