I think religion and spirituality are extremely important and undervalued in this day an age. But this has all the trappings of a social contagion. God only started speaking to one of the people in the story once the church was packed and it was cool? Hmmmm... Sounds like a fad, God can come to you alone praying on a mountain top. You can meet Buddha walking alone.
I think religion and spirituality are extremely important and undervalued in this day an age. But this has all the trappings of a social contagion. God only started speaking to one of the people in the story once the church was packed and it was cool? Hmmmm... Sounds like a fad, God can come to you alone praying on a mountain top. You can meet Buddha walking alone.
I was raised Catholic and did not have a personal relationship with Jesus. I now belong to a Christian church and found that I do not need a priest to be in the middle of my relationship with God. However, going to church and to be in community only strengthens my faith. God wants us to be with people to support and love us. And the way the secular world calls you crazy if you believe in God, you need other believers to keep your faith.
As Jesus said тАШthe kingdom of God is inside youтАЩ I believe the energy of the group here is amped up. ItтАЩs a good energy. Positive. WhoтАЩs to say itтАЩs not God inside each person collectively.
We have entered a NEW AGE. In Jung's ANSWER TO JOB (written at the end of his life) he present's the idea that the force we call God intend's to be consciously manifest in human kind. To your point: That the transcendent is no longer above but within us.
Some of us are careful to stay away from all religions - and that includes wokism, climate alarmism, gender ideology, CRT, communism, scientism (Fauci style) indigenous history revisionism. Have I missed anything?
I respect your reasons for caution but "alone" is exactly the problem with so many of us these days, especially kids. Also, the greatest historical dispensations of the Spirit have been public and massive (see Acts 2).
Yes I hear you. This story is awe-ful, by that I mean inspiring awe and fear. Awe that people are hungry to share a spiritual experience. Fear that that makes them vulnerable. Responsible religious leaders have a valuable role to play in this.
Yes, but itтАЩs not up to God. ItтАЩs up to people. When people come together with genuine seeking and gratitude, God will be among them; not the other way around. God, whatever you believe that to be, is always there; the All; we merely become blind to it, and consequently, suffer.
I think religion and spirituality are extremely important and undervalued in this day an age. But this has all the trappings of a social contagion. God only started speaking to one of the people in the story once the church was packed and it was cool? Hmmmm... Sounds like a fad, God can come to you alone praying on a mountain top. You can meet Buddha walking alone.
Absolutely. But I think this story says more about the need for people to come together and find community after the last couple years of isolation.
He can, but you are still alone. I take your point but even if you are correct that just means that not all contagion is bad.
This is exactly what I was thinking while reading the column. A positive social contagion.
I was raised Catholic and did not have a personal relationship with Jesus. I now belong to a Christian church and found that I do not need a priest to be in the middle of my relationship with God. However, going to church and to be in community only strengthens my faith. God wants us to be with people to support and love us. And the way the secular world calls you crazy if you believe in God, you need other believers to keep your faith.
Better than ticks, transgenderism, cutting etc are some not so good social contagions. I will take God as a social contagion, thanks.
As Jesus said тАШthe kingdom of God is inside youтАЩ I believe the energy of the group here is amped up. ItтАЩs a good energy. Positive. WhoтАЩs to say itтАЩs not God inside each person collectively.
We have entered a NEW AGE. In Jung's ANSWER TO JOB (written at the end of his life) he present's the idea that the force we call God intend's to be consciously manifest in human kind. To your point: That the transcendent is no longer above but within us.
Haha! Faith as social contagion. I guess thatтАЩs one way of looking at it.
Social contagion usually implies some harm is or will be done. Where is the harm here?
It doesn't imply harm - laughter is contagious. This is laughter on spiritual steroids.
I'm one of several atheists on this site, and I think that this revival is great.
You are a rare human AL. Kudos to you.
Thank you.
Some of us are careful to stay away from all religions - and that includes wokism, climate alarmism, gender ideology, CRT, communism, scientism (Fauci style) indigenous history revisionism. Have I missed anything?
I respect your reasons for caution but "alone" is exactly the problem with so many of us these days, especially kids. Also, the greatest historical dispensations of the Spirit have been public and massive (see Acts 2).
Peace to you and yours!
Yes I hear you. This story is awe-ful, by that I mean inspiring awe and fear. Awe that people are hungry to share a spiritual experience. Fear that that makes them vulnerable. Responsible religious leaders have a valuable role to play in this.
Uh, with all due respect, no. This is fabulous as is.
Yes, but itтАЩs not up to God. ItтАЩs up to people. When people come together with genuine seeking and gratitude, God will be among them; not the other way around. God, whatever you believe that to be, is always there; the All; we merely become blind to it, and consequently, suffer.