Francis, I like much of what you've said, particularly about being open-minded to new ideas.
I would like to comment on some things, however.
Francis king said:
as for evidence of biblical accuracy... there is none... the bible itself, and also the fundamental beliefs about what it is to be a christian and what a christian should believe have changed significantly several times over the course of christian history, and that is the only fact we can actually be sure of. There is no proof of Jesus, apart from this book, the bible, and if you have ever heard of things like the "gnostic gospels" you will see that the bible has been compiled and altered a good few times, by different ppl with different agendas... only the most rabid fundamentalists would believe otherwise... why do you think there is so much diversity within christianity? because ppl change things to suit themselves...
Without getting into the question of inerrancy, accuracy, changes in the texts, or for that matter, the Gnostics and other externals, I am more inclined to believe that much of the diversity in Christianity is the result of
interpretations of the extant scripture, rather than these other variables. I do not see too many denominations that venture outside the Old and New Testaments, rather on the whole the development of a denomination depends on what portions of scripture are emphasized (for example, Pentacostals look toward gifts of the Spirit, Orthodox churchs focus on the ritual of the Cross, Methodists concentrate on the teachings of Christ, Evangelicals on salvation). These several examples demonstrate that there can be an imbalance toward extremes, but only because different scriptures are central to their tenents.
Francis king said:
A lot of ppl with bi-polar disorder and psychotic disorders can be intensely spiritual while they are in crisis, and I also think I came across two other important symptoms which usually occur in such instances, and they are... you guessed it, sleep paralysis and what is known as "temporal lobe epilepsy". This TLE is described as a sensation within the body, like being flooded with light, or God, and scientists reckon it is often the result of what they call a "serotonin cascade"- a feel good chemical in your brain pumps out a lot of stuff and bingo, u feel all blissed out and tingly, and a lot of ppl attribute this, not to a disorder, but to God...
I wonder why there has to be a distinction between the spiritual and the physical when it comes to a relationship or experience of God. I figure that God created our brains and bodies to function in a certain manner so that when we are drawing near to Him, the chemical reactions in our bodies will follow to created those feelings of bliss.
Now I recognize that there are disorders that effect this, we live in a fallen and diseased world. And for those suffering as such will experience this differently depending on the disorder.
But for a normal person, the principle is that if one follows the precepts of morality and love, yada,yada, yada, as designed by God that we should follow, then we are going to experience feelings of joy, peace, and contentment, albeit "serotonin cascade", because we are doing right. We are operating according to the way God designed us. Their needn't be this distinction between the physical and the spiritual.
Francis king said:
Like drunks, nutters can be good and bad. If you are crazy, like me, then it is better to be religious and crazy than be crazy and irreligious. And the main reason for that is... religion is generally a place where morals and ethics and decency are important, and within religion there is guidance on how to live. If you are in a crisis, then it is good to have a safety net, in God, or in a firm belief system.
You will not decend into psychosis and run into the supermarket with a gun and shoot ppl, you will not become manic and gamble your money away or get involved in risky sex, becuase no matter how bad it gets your belief in God will stop you doing it. Yes, you might still become psychotic, but if you sit at home in the quiet and read the bible for a bit, have something to eat and then sleep... things always look brighter then...
Of course, whether you would do these things anyway, with or without religion, depends on who you are... but if the limits of your madness so far involve reading a few religious books when you're feeling a little high, there's no need to worry too much about yourself just yet.
Not sure I agree with this assessment at all. Some of the worst nutters have been caught up in religious fanaticism or motivated by religious means. Look at David Koresh, Jim Jones, Heaven's Gate, extreme terrorists, just to name a few. Religiousity does not immune you from phychosis.
Apparently "high school" for you begins at Year 9. For us it's preschool/kindergarten, primary school (Prep and Grades 1-6) and secondary school (Years 7-12).
