Posted by rayww on December 23, 2003, at 15:39:56
There is a lot of confusion on the subject of mind altering drugs and religion.
A person's religion is their belief.
Spirituality is the unseen experience that strengthens our faith, rewards our patience, and sustains us and brings us peace in the midst of trial and turmoil. One is a constant and the other is a variable. Applying other laws to this may help us understand how the constant can stay the same as the variable changes. (what do I know about science? not much)
When we are unsure of what is happening in the variable, we can hang onto the constant having faith it is correct. The religious experience will be different for everyone, yet within it are some constants as well that we can hang on to when we aren't sure about the reality of our spirituality.
What is a constant on the spiritual side?
#1. God's love for us can be felt by all who ask.
#2. Spiritual witness of truth - - that warm electric feeling that sends a charge through our body from time to time as we search out truth
#3. Revelation leading to undestanding and wisdom as we discover treasures of truth in the scripturesWhat is the constant? The official doctrine of the religion you believe in. Or if you don't have religion, the 10 commandments and Sermon on the Mount - those universal truths taught in most religions - basic rules for living and loving.
When I am unsure of the spiritual/psycho feelings I am having, I can fall back on what I believe, and allow my belief, not my feelings, to carry me over the rough spots.
The 10 Commandments teach that I should not lie, steal, hate, or commit adultry. If my feelings and spirituality are driving me to do something I know in my head is wrong, I can trust and rely on my belief to convince me to go write a book instead. Usually it just takes a little patience to get over a rough spot, or a diversion of some sort. With each passing, the next one gets easier, until eventually it isn't even a temptation. Proof that you can trust the constant when the variable is going crazy in you.
If you don't have a religion you can trust, then trust God. Trust the Ten Commandments. Trust the Sermon on the Mount. But, find something you can trust.
In the world of psychotropic medications and mental disturbances, we need a constant, or an anchor to hold onto when times get rough, as they always do.
poster:rayww
thread:292869
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20030908/msgs/292869.html