26 Jun 13
Originally posted by stellspalfiewhy settle for simply biting it, why not go the full hog and lop it off?
my wife has always had a dream to get married, honeymoon in rome and wish for a red headed baby girl by flipping a coin in the trevi fountain. we did all of those things and a year after honeymoon she had a little red headed girl.
nice story...but my wifes a bloody atheist so it does my skeptical, scientific brain in when she tells it like it was fa ...[text shortened]... house moving tale if you should wish to share it, my skeptical tongue is well and truly bitten.
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26 Jun 13
1 edit
Originally posted by stellspalfieI think I have shared enough for now. I do not like to throw my experiences out cheap.
my wife has always had a dream to get married, honeymoon in rome and wish for a red headed baby girl by flipping a coin in the trevi fountain. we did all of those things and a year after honeymoon she had a little red headed girl.
nice story...but my wifes a bloody atheist so it does my skeptical, scientific brain in when she tells it like it was fa ...[text shortened]... house moving tale if you should wish to share it, my skeptical tongue is well and truly bitten.
You have already discarded one precious experience by the wayside. I see no reason why you will be more receptive to another experience.
It is ok. I'd rather say that God firstly speaks to us with the words of the Bible. He will not say to me what is contrary to what He has already told me in the word of God the Bible.
His speaking is always with love. And I would have to say to some of you skeptics and atheists that the God you don't believe in is not the God that I believe in.
Glad your wife is happy. And you too.
26 Jun 13
Originally posted by sonshipCasting pearls before swine will not work, since the swine only see the pearls as something to trample on.
I think I have shared enough for now. I do not like to throw my experiences out cheap.
You have already discarded one precious experience by the wayside. I see no reason why you will be more receptive to another experience.
It is ok. I'd rather say that God firstly speaks to us with the words of the Bible. He will not say to me what is contrary to ...[text shortened]... u don't believe in is not the God that I believe in.
Glad your wife is happy. And you too.
The Instructor
26 Jun 13
Originally posted by RJHindsThe verse which inspired your post here is only one of a few that I actually like from the Bible; and well...the Bible delivery of that line is far superior to yours.
Casting pearls before swine will not work, since the swine only see the pearls as something to trample on.
The Instructor
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26 Jun 13
Originally posted by sonshipi dont think you were cheapening your story. although the religious part doesnt mean much to me, your love for your wife and the success of your marriage is something i admire. i dont see that as cheap.
I think I have shared enough for now. I do not like to throw my experiences out cheap.
You have already discarded one precious experience by the wayside. I see no reason why you will be more receptive to another experience.
It is ok. I'd rather say that God firstly speaks to us with the words of the Bible. He will not say to me what is contrary to ...[text shortened]... u don't believe in is not the God that I believe in.
Glad your wife is happy. And you too.
Originally posted by sonshipI did not read your experiential sharing, sonship—deliberately, in order to remain neutral and impersonal (I started to, but stopped myself). I do understand your point about sharing such things though—and, in fact, have been subject to a “bait-and-switch” game more often by fundamentalist Christians on here than anyone, when it comes to apparently sincere questions of one’s personal experiences (though, not that I recall, by anyone currently posting on here).
I think I have shared enough for now. I do not like to throw my experiences out cheap.
You have already discarded one precious experience by the wayside. I see no reason why you will be more receptive to another experience.
It is ok. I'd rather say that God firstly speaks to us with the words of the Bible. He will not say to me what is contrary to ...[text shortened]... u don't believe in is not the God that I believe in.
Glad your wife is happy. And you too.
Here, however, is what I see as the general problem with taking such experiences (mine, yours, anyone’s) in an evidentiary way:
If either (1) the particular content (including the putative source), or (2) the forcefulness, of personal experiences, could be considered self-validating, then nobody would ever be fooled by a mirage.
We can be fooled by beauty; by beautiful, moving and provocative stories (including, but not limited to, myth); by unsought thoughts that arise in our minds; by powerful psychological experiences—etc., etc., across the board. There apparently is evidence that people are generally more moved to believe this or that proposition by powerful metaphors than by reason.*
That is the force of reason: both you and I must (in my view) accept it in the face of self-interpreted personal experience.
None of this is intended to diminish aesthetics (the harmonious and beautiful) in our lives. Nor your personal story. But the facticity, in terms of content, of the stories that we tell ourselves (and that have been told to us)—as opposed to the aesthetics, or the moral, or the philosophy—has to be decided by reason (logic) and empiricism (here: repeatable, independent and disinterested observation).
My personal experiences are not, per se, evidence of anything outside themselves—they are completely self-referential, and cannot reasonably be considered as self-validating—unless and until subjected to logic and empiricism. Their aesthetic impact, however: that is mine to appreciate and enjoy.
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* I have no citation; this was stated to me recently by a Christian scholar that I happen to know personally. I wouldn’t press the point without further research, and would not expect anyone to accept it willy-nilly.
EDIT: Though I responded to sonship here, I really mean this as a general post.
