There is a paragraph in Lewis' Screwtape Letters where the older demon tells the younger demon to convince his person that chastity is unnatural and the only way to make temptation go away is to give in to it (this belief is called "our best weapon"). This is absolutely true - one of the great lies of the devil that I constantly consider and it actually helps me deal with temptation, not just sexual as was inferred. When I want to say or eat something bad I think of how my desire would go away if I just did it.
This great lie is believed by many atheists and half-ass Christians as well in the realm of sex. They see supressing sexual desires outside of marriage as unnatural. The desires will only get stronger and eventually come out as something more perverse than simply giving in immediately. Sometimes it is thought of as impossible to preserve sex for marriage as the desires will become too powerful. What an ingenious lie - take some truth and twist it so maliciously. Again, the preversion of the best is the worst. Note any reference to Scripture is forgotten and one attempts to create morality with pure reason from one's own head. As with any such attempt, common sense is also forgotten and while one has confidence that they were reasoned into such a belief they actually forsook the real world in favor of the idealized reasonable world.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Self-awareness
I have also started to think of how much I value self-awareness. For instance, knowing the type of person you are and also the type of people your friends/family are. This helps with relations and in moderating expectations, but I value it highly not because of its efficacy but simply as an attribute. This attribute is actually fairly easy to determine in someone, especially by their humor. Sarcastic comments require a more intimate knowledge of people and situations and thus I tend to gravitate toward sarcastic and witty people and view them as smarter. I love the quote in V for Vendetta (which everyone should join me in watching Nov 5): "Is everything a joke to you?" "Only the things that matter." As a side note, self-awareness becomes markedly easier with age.
It's interesting to note too that who you feel intimidated by has the attributes you value. For instance, I am not intimidated by Caltech professors even though they have so much science knowledge and experience. However, I am intimidated by a successful businessman because he has the self-awareness and business savvy that I value. This is a problem in my field since I only care what my professors think of science; in other areas they are as smart as Joe the Plumber. And they definitely are not self-aware or think of how to encourage a productive work environment; this is of course weird to me since I think of those things a lot. I have to actualy consciously remind myself that these people are smart but they just don't have the attributes I value.
It's interesting to note too that who you feel intimidated by has the attributes you value. For instance, I am not intimidated by Caltech professors even though they have so much science knowledge and experience. However, I am intimidated by a successful businessman because he has the self-awareness and business savvy that I value. This is a problem in my field since I only care what my professors think of science; in other areas they are as smart as Joe the Plumber. And they definitely are not self-aware or think of how to encourage a productive work environment; this is of course weird to me since I think of those things a lot. I have to actualy consciously remind myself that these people are smart but they just don't have the attributes I value.
Best - Worst
I have been thinking recently about how the perversion of the best is the worst. Perhaps God wants me to learn something since it seems like this concept keeps coming up. In the Dark Knight, family, relationships, work, Satan, Halloween, etc for some reason I see many examples.
I have been thinking about how God made these great things that could be so awesome which means they could also be so horrid. When confronted with such evil (or potential evil) I think it is reasonable to ask whether the risk is worth it. Not whether God was right in making such great things, but whether as individuals we choose to pursue those great things. I do not believe this is an excuse to give up on life but rather a contemplative decision on which path we pursue and which risks we are willing to take.
For instance, in desiring to be close to someone, such as family, does the joy from knowing that person outweigh the pain of rejection or of them passing? Most would say yes and I tend to agree, but I do not believe it to be a forgone conclusion that the answer be yes. This is a morbid train of thought but not so much so that it does not warrant consideration. At least I hope not since for some of us such thoughts are unavoidable.
I have been thinking about how God made these great things that could be so awesome which means they could also be so horrid. When confronted with such evil (or potential evil) I think it is reasonable to ask whether the risk is worth it. Not whether God was right in making such great things, but whether as individuals we choose to pursue those great things. I do not believe this is an excuse to give up on life but rather a contemplative decision on which path we pursue and which risks we are willing to take.
For instance, in desiring to be close to someone, such as family, does the joy from knowing that person outweigh the pain of rejection or of them passing? Most would say yes and I tend to agree, but I do not believe it to be a forgone conclusion that the answer be yes. This is a morbid train of thought but not so much so that it does not warrant consideration. At least I hope not since for some of us such thoughts are unavoidable.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)