Larian Studios Forums General Chat Chat (Anything) Cultural definition of "spiritual damage".

no worries, Tsel. i didn't miscontrue Al's words. just my statement to all about religion & believers & differences between.

problem with some christians who sound like know-it-all are those who are enlightened to start the journey towards better self but stuck at the beginning of it. the little that they know becomes encompassing experience that overwhelms them & that makes them feel all-knowing. many forget Jesus's teaching of 'becoming like children', which is not to assume. just like little children. whatever we know is a start, a tip of the iceberg, & not the encompassing truth.

i recall a priest who admonished the congregation, "God is bigger than u, than me, than the congregation, than the church! what makes you think he operates only within our faith?"

religion isn't truth. it is a path to it.

[color:"orange"] the bible is a double-edged sword [/color]
...and it is as goood, or bad, as he who wields it.

[color:"orange"]religion isn't truth.[/color]
Yes, it certainly is not the truth - as this is individual and lies in the eyes of the beholder ( <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" /> in a RPG-forum this may be a misleading formulation <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />)

[color:"orange"] it is a path to it[/color]
many roads lead to ... ?

Rome?
Mekka?
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Everywhere. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

Free choice.

Many paths lead to wherever you choose to go.

Tsel <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Ah. But free choise is often not true. Religion is most of the time forced upon people (often from birth). Even culture is forced upon people.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

You can still choose to suffer their wrath and not follow those paths.
You may not like the consequences of choosing, but free choice is still there.

Tsel <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Depends.

Taking the "path" picture literally, Bilbo once said that every path you follow leads into the uknown - into unknown adventures, into lands far ahead ... so choose wisely which way you follow ! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

there is such a thing as free will. it exists even in the most oppressed. can u believe this?

Viktor Frankl, famous for logotherapy, mentioned in his book (sorry, i can't remember the title) about his observation in concentration camps (he was also a prisoner) & that he could observe free will in some of the prisoners. those who have strong belief in their religion & those more enlightened/educated are mentally stronger & able to exercise free will wherever/whenever possible. example; to give up & wither away (spiritual damage?) or to be optimistic about surviving all these. Frankl himself tried this on himself by seeing the harrowing experience in the camps as learning experience as a doctor (or psychiatrist). he told himself that he will write a book about it & so survived partially because he found meaning.

& that is why i love that word & concept very much: meaning. if u can find one for u & your life, nothing can displace u spiritually.

http://www.voidspace.org.uk/psychology/logotherapy.shtml

I don't pretend, I simplly havn't read it.

And the fact that we both have said the same thing (cos that seems to be the thing here, according to you), it either mean that we're both as smart as the other, or as dumb. I tend to think it's that smart <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />.

Übereil

First, you have to choose a road. Not choosing at all is worse than choosing the wrong path. Giving up is probably the "ugliest" way of expressing yourself (if giving up is a way of expression, as Gide tries to demonstrate). And we all know what stands at the basis of mediocrity, I guess. The lack of will, of courage, of curiosity. And, most of all, the following mentality: "Everything great is full of guilt"... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/exclamation.gif" alt="" /> As for me, I believe that man is free to do his bidding. He is freedom of action, not freedom of essence- I agree with that. But, if we can't tell for certain where one ends and the other begin, we can consider an absolute imperative the following idea: Use your freedom in order to touch FREEDOM!"

Your post is extremely logical. However, you refer to Mathematics and Physics as OCCUPATIONS, and not as SCIENCE. In order to become science, they had to pass through a full process of theorization... and the Greeks were the authors of this process, if my memory serves me correctly...(of course, few things are known about the Aegyptian literature, because of the fire in the Library of Alexandria, and so on...). As for occupations, I guess that the primitive man one million years ago still asked himself why does it rain, what is thunder, and so on. Philosophy and theology as OCCUPATIONS come from their Prehistorical rituals and perception of truth. So, my opinion is that Philosophy was also the first occupation... anyway, just a thought. Of course, no offence in a debate...like Jaspers said, a dialogue of contradicting opinions regarding superior sciences is the key to enlightenment... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />