[Dathon]

following. Where’s the popcorn?

[Dathon]

Orson wrote:

Wow, thanks for that Dathon. It is a very thought provoking response for me personally.

I relate to a lot of what you say. I think it’s very human and in fact healthy to recognize when we take journeys through the entire spectrum (or a good part of it) of faith and question. I also don’t believe that the true and complete nature of God can be understood or communicated by humans. However, I do think we can properly recognize certain Godly attributes, and relish our experience with them. Things like love, compassion, forgiveness, the gift of life, knowledge, etc.

I do believe there is one true church for me personally, and that another would not fill the unique requirements of my specific situation quite as well.

I also have faith in the potential of community, and see progress – even evolution – of community toward a greater good and a clearer understanding, however slow that progress may be.

FWIW I see myself as a questioning believer – the only type of believer that can be a true or authentic Mormon in my book.

I can agree with what I understand you to have meant, but I could be misinterpreting. It may be that different people find G-d / transcendence in different faith or affinity communities. I believe that the CoJCoLDS has some truth that is viable for many people. I do not feel it has a monopoly on either divine authority or truth. I believe that if it affords what you need, then you ought to stick with it and follow your bliss. I also believe the 11th article of faith, that we ought to respect the right of all people to worship / or not according to the dictates of their own conscience.

[Dathon]

It’s been a long time in dog years since I’ve checked in here. I hope all of you are well and finding peace on your respective journeys.

[Dathon]

just me wrote:

Welcome aboard. We already know you won’t bite.

WHAT? 😯 My reputation is a shambles 😳

What about my bark? Does it still strike fear into hearts of misanthropes and malcontents? (Did it ever, outside my classroom?)

[Dathon]

I don’t think anything is ever self-evident. Different people can witness the same event or examine the same data and then give different descriptions or interpretations or draw divergent conclusions.

Life is full of paradox, inequity and inconsistency yet people go on muddling through. Some people are bothered by inconsistencies and ambiguities, others don’t care about details so long as their general perception or feelings about things are positive or comfortable.

[Dathon]

I’m an ambivalent agnostic. I vacillate between doubt and hope with excursions to anger, fear, flow and transcendence. I don’t believe in one true church or that the nature of God is either knowable or can be communicated among human beings limited to space and time. I have faith in the potential of community and the power of compassion.

[Dathon]

Thank you all very much. I feel you may be too kind, but please don’t stop.

[Author]

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