|
Register | Sign In |
|
QuickSearch
EvC Forum active members: 64 (9164 total) |
| |
ChatGPT | |
Total: 916,788 Year: 4,045/9,624 Month: 916/974 Week: 243/286 Day: 4/46 Hour: 0/1 |
Thread ▼ Details |
|
Thread Info
|
|
|
Author | Topic: Human Spirit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stile Member Posts: 4295 From: Ontario, Canada Joined: |
There is an interesting side discussion going on around Message 368 in the thread Importance of Original Sin.
I think it's an important topic that deserves it's very own thread. This thread is about discussing aspects of the human spirit and how it plays a part in our lives.
What is the human spirit?Some think it is a separate entity (body, mind, spirit) of human existence. Some think it is a portion of humanity that is linked more with theological idea. Some think it is a piece of God. I don't believe any of that. I think the human spirit is whatever each and everyone of us needs it to be. I think the human spirit is our own personal junk drawer. Everyone has a junk drawer at home... the one drawer where little trinkets or minor pieces of information you want to keep around end up. The drawer as the human spirit represents "whatever it is we need it to be." It can be a source of unimaginable power (hope and will). It can be a source of entertainment when things are dull. It can be a source of strength when required, or just an extra laugh with friends. It's the place that when you need something... maybe not even knowing what that thing is... you can go to that place and find inspiration to continue. Are some people able to judge that another's spirit is weak or strong?Not unless you let them. Just like the junk drawer at home, no one knows what you keep for when you need it. Only you. You can open the drawer and show others, but there are likely many hidden compartments that will always only be known to you. The human spirit certainly can be weak or strong, but no one knows that state except for yourself. It's also possible to trick yourself into thinking your own spirit is healthy when it's actually weak. It's important to be honest with yourself when reflecting on your own personal abilities. How many ways can the spirit be strengthened?It's varied for each of us. Anyone claiming that it can only be done one way is only talking about themselves. Perhaps their spirit can only be strengthened in one way, but they are not able to make this claim for other people. Your junk drawer is in your house, not theirs. You can do whatever you want to it (or nothing at all) whenever you'd like. The "organization" within the drawer is your own. Another person's system for finding what helps them may or may not work for you. Does understanding our spirit bring us closer to God?I'm sure it does for some people. Some people are very successful keeping a single tool in their junk drawer. Others prefer a more varied approach. The important concept is to make an honest review of yourself and stick with what feels right to you. A junk drawer may or may not be perfect to show to others or be consistently logical or reasonable or absolutely true. A junk drawer is about being whatever you need it to be. Storing the things you know you need. In order to figure out what those things are, you'll have to be honest with yourself. How is this spirit helpful to human life at all?It may not be helpful. But... it makes us us. Some people need it. Some people want it. Some people use it for all it's worth. Some people ignore it. Some people are corrupted by it. It is undefinable and without limitations. I think the human spirit is whatever each and everyone of us needs it to be.Sometimes that's good, sometimes that's bad. For the forum of Faith and Belief, or maybe Coffee House if this doesn't include enough "God Stuff" (although I think the discussion will naturally revolve around that anyway).
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
AdminPhat Inactive Member |
Thread copied here from the Human Spirit thread in the Proposed New Topics forum.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Phat Member Posts: 18338 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 1.0 |
Stile writes: I of course believe that there is one Holy Spirit which not only created the universe that we claim to begin to understand but who even created the "junk" that many of us cling to hoping we can use it some day. While I wouldn't disagree that God the Holy Spirit can be seen by us as whatever we need Him to be,I also see Him as living and active....something in the drawer that can educate us and change our perception as we commune together. A common mistake for humans is to naively believe that we built the drawer (or discovered it in our minds) and that we are in control of what we store there, take from there, or assign value to what we perceive to be in there. The reality, however, is that long before we could imagine such things a Creator imagined us and foreknew our intelligence, strength, and limitations. My belief, anyway.
What is the human spirit?Some think it is a separate entity (body, mind, spirit) of human existence. Some think it is a portion of humanity that is linked more with theological idea. Some think it is a piece of God. I don't believe any of that. I think the human spirit is whatever each and everyone of us needs it to be.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
jar Member (Idle past 420 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined: |
What makes you think anyone or anything imagined us?
Anyone so limited that they can only spell a word one way is severely handicapped!
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Phat Member Posts: 18338 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 1.0 |
Its my belief. I am more than mere pond scum with a knowledge of right and wrong.
And GOD, Creator of all seen and unseen is fully capable of explaining further---should you seek His wisdom. Why do you have me question my thought process? Dont you know me by now?? Edited by Phat, : No reason given.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
jar Member (Idle past 420 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined: |
But you didn't answer my question at all.
Anyone so limited that they can only spell a word one way is severely handicapped!
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dogmafood Member (Idle past 375 days) Posts: 1815 From: Ontario Canada Joined:
|
I think the human spirit is whatever each and everyone of us needs it to be. So basically just something that we make up to make us feel good. The idea of a human spirit is a coping mechanism that we use to deal with our mortal nature. It is a way of bypassing the reality of death and non existence. It is a construct of the mind that we use to beat the unbeatable test. It is what we aspire to be. It is born of that human quality that is the will to survive even in the face of inescapable mortality.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dogmafood Member (Idle past 375 days) Posts: 1815 From: Ontario Canada Joined:
|
What makes you think anyone or anything imagined us? Probably the same thing that makes you think that someone or something imagined us.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
jar Member (Idle past 420 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined: |
What makes you think I think something or someone imagined us?
I'm always amazed when folk can make such comments after the number of times I've covered that her at EvC? I don't think any living critter was a specific intended critter including humans.Anyone so limited that they can only spell a word one way is severely handicapped!
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Phat Member Posts: 18338 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 1.0 |
jar writes: Oh very well. But you didn't answer my question at all. The question was:What makes you think anyone or anything imagined us? It is my belief. I believe that God exists and that God loves us uniquely and cares about our development. I also believe in cosmological creationism. I don't believe that we are random at all.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
jar Member (Idle past 420 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined: |
Again, you didn't answer or even try to answer the question, just told us what you believe and not why you believe it?
What makes you think anyone or anything imagined us?Anyone so limited that they can only spell a word one way is severely handicapped!
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Phat Member Posts: 18338 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 1.0 |
What makes you think anyone or anything imagined us? The Bible says we were created in Gods Image. To me, this is the same as Gods imagination. I could ponder what makes me think. My thoughts are my beliefs.... Edited by Phat, : No reason given.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
jar Member (Idle past 420 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined: |
The Bible says we were created in Gods Image. To me, this is the same as Gods imagination. So you base your position on misrepresenting what the story says? Got it. But if you are basing it on Genesis 1 then everything was created by God imagining stuff, humans, pond scum, trees... "Image" and "Imagination" are not synonymous. So, God imagined all that is, seen and unseen. What does that have to do with "Human Spirit", whatever that is?Anyone so limited that they can only spell a word one way is severely handicapped!
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Phat Member Posts: 18338 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 1.0 |
jar writes: So, God imagined all that is, seen and unseen. What does that have to do with "Human Spirit", whatever that is? To me, human spirit is simply gustopassion to learn
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
jar Member (Idle past 420 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined: |
Okay, so human spirit has absolutely nothing to do with who may or may not have imagined us, with beliefs, with a religion or anything else. Got it.
Anyone so limited that they can only spell a word one way is severely handicapped!
|
|
|
Do Nothing Button
Copyright 2001-2023 by EvC Forum, All Rights Reserved
Version 4.2
Innovative software from Qwixotic © 2024