Comments on: Honouring Our Mothers and Fathers http://concreteacademic.com/2009/10/honouring-our-mothers-and-fathers/ Think sharp: arts, culture, and ideas Mon, 24 May 2010 14:54:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Honouring Our Mothers and Fathers | Concrete Academic PV online http://concreteacademic.com/2009/10/honouring-our-mothers-and-fathers/comment-page-1/#comment-46 Honouring Our Mothers and Fathers | Concrete Academic PV online Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:28:14 +0000 http://concreteacademic.com/?p=275#comment-46 [...] more here: Honouring Our Mothers and Fathers | Concrete Academic By admin | category: principle variation | tags: between-decks, crossfaded-using, [...] [...] more here: Honouring Our Mothers and Fathers | Concrete Academic By admin | category: principle variation | tags: between-decks, crossfaded-using, [...]

]]> By: Vlad Todor http://concreteacademic.com/2009/10/honouring-our-mothers-and-fathers/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Vlad Todor Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:53:50 +0000 http://concreteacademic.com/?p=275#comment-45 Christians are called on to be judicious, and yet not judgmental. I find among fellow believers that it's more difficult than it should be to see the difference. You mention differences of opinion in belief and in practice, and simultaneously not casting aspersions on others' standing with God. We MUST be 'judgmental' from the standpoint that Christian freedom is not relativism, and yet we have to continually locate our humility and realize we are in no place to 'judge' in the stricter sense. Christians are called on to be judicious, and yet not judgmental. I find among fellow believers that it's more difficult than it should be to see the difference. You mention differences of opinion in belief and in practice, and simultaneously not casting aspersions on others' standing with God. We MUST be 'judgmental' from the standpoint that Christian freedom is not relativism, and yet we have to continually locate our humility and realize we are in no place to 'judge' in the stricter sense.

]]> By: Ezra http://concreteacademic.com/2009/10/honouring-our-mothers-and-fathers/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Ezra Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:05:21 +0000 http://concreteacademic.com/?p=275#comment-44 I think there's a natural instinct to speak on the actions of others that comes from a place of love. We speak from a place of what has worked for us because we want to share the joy that we get from walking our path. At the same time, I guess it follows from the idea of a personal faith that any affront (whether intentional or not) is taken personally. I have to constant bear this in mind, especially when I disagree with someone over interpretation of scripture. Sometimes you have to let a conversation go and marinate on it until you've both had time to understand each other. At least that's how it works for me. I think there's a natural instinct to speak on the actions of others that comes from a place of love. We speak from a place of what has worked for us because we want to share the joy that we get from walking our path.

At the same time, I guess it follows from the idea of a personal faith that any affront (whether intentional or not) is taken personally. I have to constant bear this in mind, especially when I disagree with someone over interpretation of scripture. Sometimes you have to let a conversation go and marinate on it until you've both had time to understand each other. At least that's how it works for me.

]]> By: Ezra http://concreteacademic.com/2009/10/honouring-our-mothers-and-fathers/comment-page-1/#comment-43 Ezra Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:03:13 +0000 http://concreteacademic.com/?p=275#comment-43 I think there's a natural instinct to speak on the actions of others that comes from a place of love. We speak from a place of what has worked for us because we want to share the joy that we get from walking our path. At the same time, I guess it follows from the idea of a personal faith that any affront (whether intentional or not) is taken personally. I have to constant bear this in mind, especially when I disagree with someone over interpretation of scripture. Sometimes you have to let a conversation go and marinate on it until you've both had time to understand each other. At least that's how it works for me. I think there's a natural instinct to speak on the actions of others that comes from a place of love. We speak from a place of what has worked for us because we want to share the joy that we get from walking our path.

At the same time, I guess it follows from the idea of a personal faith that any affront (whether intentional or not) is taken personally. I have to constant bear this in mind, especially when I disagree with someone over interpretation of scripture. Sometimes you have to let a conversation go and marinate on it until you've both had time to understand each other. At least that's how it works for me.

]]> By: MichaelBingham http://concreteacademic.com/2009/10/honouring-our-mothers-and-fathers/comment-page-1/#comment-41 MichaelBingham Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:03:22 +0000 http://concreteacademic.com/?p=275#comment-41 Ezra, allow me to say that this is an absolutely outstanding piece, and I can't wait to read more of your work. I really love this statement : "The personal standards we set for ourselves aren’t always a necessity for others, even if they stem from our spiritual walk." I for one, have to be extremely strict in certain areas of my life so as to not allow myself to fall into dangerous situations...this strictness comes from an attempt to know myself, my strengths and my weaknesses. However, I have to work on imposing and attempting to enforce my personal views on others, because they are just that, my personal views. And in all honesty, it's pretty difficult for me to keep my mouth shut when I know a person engages in activities that aren't scripturally or morally wrong, but I don't participate in them. I guess this difficulty is a reminder that I need to work on my humility. Ezra, allow me to say that this is an absolutely outstanding piece, and I can't wait to read more of your work. I really love this statement :

"The personal standards we set for ourselves aren’t always a necessity for others, even if they stem from our spiritual walk."

I for one, have to be extremely strict in certain areas of my life so as to not allow myself to fall into dangerous situations…this strictness comes from an attempt to know myself, my strengths and my weaknesses. However, I have to work on imposing and attempting to enforce my personal views on others, because they are just that, my personal views. And in all honesty, it's pretty difficult for me to keep my mouth shut when I know a person engages in activities that aren't scripturally or morally wrong, but I don't participate in them. I guess this difficulty is a reminder that I need to work on my humility.

]]> By: Ezra http://concreteacademic.com/2009/10/honouring-our-mothers-and-fathers/comment-page-1/#comment-38 Ezra Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:04:25 +0000 http://concreteacademic.com/?p=275#comment-38 Caveat Qui Credit Let the believer beware. Let me disclaim a few things: This is but one imperfect man’s view on a perfect God. As such my view is imperfect. I don’t see God as God is. Trying to get a better view is what this piece and my life’s journey is about. I am not a messenger dispensing the undistilled will or word of God. I merely offer a view based on my own experience, fellowship, prayer, and thought. If I get out of my own way long enough to let how God has touched my life touch others, then that glory goes to God. The rest is my imperfection; a product of sin I will carry with me until I die, that is luckily forgiven. This piece, like the disclaimer, more than a finger pointing at anyone else, are a reminder back to me of the virtues I need to work on or the weaknesses I need to work beyond. My placing it here to read is to hopefully encourage fellowship, whether there is accord or disagreement. I believe the outcomes of both scenarios to be potentially beneficial. Thank you. Caveat Qui Credit

Let the believer beware.

Let me disclaim a few things:

This is but one imperfect man’s view on a perfect God.

As such my view is imperfect.

I don’t see God as God is. Trying to get a better view is what this piece and my life’s journey is about.

I am not a messenger dispensing the undistilled will or word of God. I merely offer a view based on my own experience, fellowship, prayer, and thought. If I get out of my own way long enough to let how God has touched my life touch others, then that glory goes to God. The rest is my imperfection; a product of sin I will carry with me until I die, that is luckily forgiven.

This piece, like the disclaimer, more than a finger pointing at anyone else, are a reminder back to me of the virtues I need to work on or the weaknesses I need to work beyond.

My placing it here to read is to hopefully encourage fellowship, whether there is accord or disagreement. I believe the outcomes of both scenarios to be potentially beneficial.

Thank you.

]]> By: Ezra http://concreteacademic.com/2009/10/honouring-our-mothers-and-fathers/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Ezra Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:01:18 +0000 http://concreteacademic.com/?p=275#comment-37 You're right. I think most of what I focus on when I talk about faith is empathy. Especially faith put into practice. I'm always looking back to Matthew22:36-40. To me that's the filter through which I look at 'works' to see whether they are effective. In the example above, both parties in principle are causing the same offense to the other. If they were to stop and think about their actions they'd see that they don't like this sort of 'love' when it comes back to them, so maybe they should think twice before loving others in this way. It's something I've had to learn to be careful about myself. I enjoy religious debate but have to be careful about being seen to challenge anothers faith. While I reserve the right to disagree with how another person practices their faith (in terms of whether I should follow their example) I also have to concede I am as imperfect as they are and should frame my disagreement in a way that casts aspersions on their spiritual standing with God. That's partially what I get from Romans 14 when pushed through the filter of Matthew 22:36-40. It can be a hard line to walk in the heat of the moment, because like you say, there can be a visceral reaction before an intellectual one. You're right. I think most of what I focus on when I talk about faith is empathy. Especially faith put into practice. I'm always looking back to Matthew22:36-40. To me that's the filter through which I look at 'works' to see whether they are effective. In the example above, both parties in principle are causing the same offense to the other. If they were to stop and think about their actions they'd see that they don't like this sort of 'love' when it comes back to them, so maybe they should think twice before loving others in this way.

It's something I've had to learn to be careful about myself. I enjoy religious debate but have to be careful about being seen to challenge anothers faith. While I reserve the right to disagree with how another person practices their faith (in terms of whether I should follow their example) I also have to concede I am as imperfect as they are and should frame my disagreement in a way that casts aspersions on their spiritual standing with God. That's partially what I get from Romans 14 when pushed through the filter of Matthew 22:36-40. It can be a hard line to walk in the heat of the moment, because like you say, there can be a visceral reaction before an intellectual one.

]]> By: VladTodor http://concreteacademic.com/2009/10/honouring-our-mothers-and-fathers/comment-page-1/#comment-33 VladTodor Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:20:56 +0000 http://concreteacademic.com/?p=275#comment-33 Honoring fathers and mothers is an instructive metonym for honoring religious tradition. An interesting element here is the psychology of the encounter: even before particular convictions are engaged there is an affront, a "disrespect." There's already a roadblock to constructive debate because there is a visceral reaction before an intellectual one. I think you're extolling an understanding 'from the inside,' an empathy. In religion and ideology more broadly, I think we have a harder time developing that empathy than in the family analogue. Honoring fathers and mothers is an instructive metonym for honoring religious tradition. An interesting element here is the psychology of the encounter: even before particular convictions are engaged there is an affront, a "disrespect." There's already a roadblock to constructive debate because there is a visceral reaction before an intellectual one. I think you're extolling an understanding 'from the inside,' an empathy. In religion and ideology more broadly, I think we have a harder time developing that empathy than in the family analogue.

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