tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2828101829504518203.post1139510684240608506..comments2024-03-22T06:31:42.929-05:00Comments on Wry Thoughts About Religion: From where does our Sense of the Divine come?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2828101829504518203.post-41542410977366487552015-08-08T10:22:29.876-05:002015-08-08T10:22:29.876-05:00Not exactly, Charlie. I just don't see "t...Not exactly, Charlie. I just don't see "the sense of the divine" as existing in the DNA. I think it is learned. "Spirit" for me is a different matter. I see that as awareness. Unlike Gene, I see this awareness as coming from sensation and perception. (When out in the woods I can sense a copperhead or bear by smell. I can sense rain coming from watching the movement of birds.) "Spirit" for me is being attuned to the world and one's place in the world... A long way from my SBC roots, I realize, but I don't see it as supernatural or transcendent. It's being here mindfully. It is the "mere breath" of life of awareness.<br />Dennis Dean Carpenter<br />Dahlonega, Ga.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2828101829504518203.post-70501766499224204312015-08-06T10:55:47.471-05:002015-08-06T10:55:47.471-05:00Hi Charlie, reviewing what's been written, I g...Hi Charlie, reviewing what's been written, I guess I'm not clear what is meant by a "sense" of the Divine. My comments were directed at a possible origin for the "idea" or "concept" of the divine. Regarding spirit, I think that Paul had it right when he concluded that spirit awareness flows from a condition of trust (faith). Building on my previous remarks, I would say that the "idea of the divine" deriving from the immediate experience of our finite condition merges into "awareness of the divine" stimulated by the trust required by the finite circumstances (see previous post). The spirit is the creation of space carved out by trust, and what happens there is observable. <br /><br />Gene Stecher<br />Chambersburg, Pa.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2828101829504518203.post-84460733533833551162015-08-05T17:20:44.698-05:002015-08-05T17:20:44.698-05:00Hi Dennis and Gene,
You both seem to take the posi...Hi Dennis and Gene,<br />You both seem to take the position (as did I) that that since we cannot see, touch, or measure spirit, it is not there. But not even physical scientists always operate in that way. For example they have theorized the existence of quarks, which they project are elementary particles and fundamental constituents of matter. No one has ever seen a quark on its own, however, and much of what is known about them comes by observing composite particles called hadrons (which they theorize are comprised of quarks).<br />Perhaps Hedrick is wrong, and in like manner we can learn about spirit by observing those we theorize are influenced by spirit. <br />What do you think?<br />Cordially,<br />Charlie Charles Hedrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11285420936166236724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2828101829504518203.post-23384504458389116422015-08-04T09:23:09.046-05:002015-08-04T09:23:09.046-05:00What a thoroughly interesting topic, Charlie. My c...What a thoroughly interesting topic, Charlie. My current thinking is that naming develops from the holistic impact of immediate experience. For example, did the concept of 'wheel' emerge before someone saw a round stone rolling down a hill. It seems unlikely that the concept of 'divine' and its characteristics emerged before someone felt finite: for example, guilt when wronging someone, insignificance when beholding the creation, helplessness in staring down death. <br /><br />Gene Stecher<br />Chambersburg, Pa.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2828101829504518203.post-28165454601904578842015-08-03T12:32:16.122-05:002015-08-03T12:32:16.122-05:00I think that this "sense of the divine" ...I think that this "sense of the divine" is built from learning. If it is a matter of DNA what accounts for the many who earlier in life receive or create these impulses, then reject them? <br /><br />I see most “normal” children as being curious. Parents generally facilitate this curiosity by “filling in the blanks.” Schooling reinforces some of these concepts, displaces others, and destroys some. Church has a major role, though, in shaping the “sense of the divine.” At least that’s how I see it, as a learned response to curiosity about life, and especially about death.<br /><br />Incidentally, you mentioned Ecclesiastes. I am reading a fantastic translation of that by Robert Alter (The Wisdom Books). He explains many core terms used in the Hebrew and how they have been translated. Wisdom? "... all is mere breath, and herding the wind..." <br />Dennis Dean Carpenter<br />Dahlonega, Ga.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2828101829504518203.post-24161125687621342522015-08-03T08:33:28.441-05:002015-08-03T08:33:28.441-05:00Thank you, Charlie! Very thoughtful!Thank you, Charlie! Very thoughtful!bobinbereahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00501253521947132870noreply@blogger.com