... who claim to have found it." I wish I knew who to credit for this quote.
I remember a columnist who wrote a book called, Often Wrong, Never in Doubt. I wish I had thought of that. I have lots of experience with being absolutely sure. I have even more experience being bedside myself with doubt. Neither state improves the odds of me being right about whatever it is I am on about. I often told my son as he was growing from boyhood to manhood, "Doubt may be a higher level of consciousness than certainty. Of course, I can't be sure."
In her book Waiting: A Nonbeliever's Higher Power, Marya Hornbacher describes doubt as being at the heart of the spiritual experience. She says, "When we doubt, we learn to accept that we may never know. When we question we learn to accept that there may be no answer. When we shout our doubt out into the universe, we learn to accept that we may be met with silence we do not know how to read...And the paradox is this: to accept this not-knowing - to accept doubt, a lack of certainty - is to accept the very nature of life as it is."
MORE MARYA (interview about WAITING)
Did god create humans in his, her, its, their image or was it the other way around?
I don't have any proof of an interfering god that grants serenity, recovery, wisdom or second chances. But I do have proof that I prefer assurance to chaos; I like protection more than vulnerability. So, it is reasonable, the way my mind thinks, that if no one before me created a god-concept, I would at least fantasize about one, if not craft a narrative about how it is likely to exist and any doubt I had was merely that power's way to test my faith in him, her, it or they.
I love seekers, I truly do. They are open, curious, vulnerable and willing. People who know what's best, know what secret message the lessons of the past are trying to tell us or have unwavering certainty about what's best for the next generation, these people scare the shit out of me. I would like to enjoy a good laugh at their expense but I wonder if they are dangerous.
Beyond Belief Daily Musings for 12 Step Life is 365 daily reflections that starts with a great quote and considers its application to recovery and addiction. Beyond Belief the book will be launched as an eBook December 2012 and the physical book will be available for purchase early in 2013
I remember a columnist who wrote a book called, Often Wrong, Never in Doubt. I wish I had thought of that. I have lots of experience with being absolutely sure. I have even more experience being bedside myself with doubt. Neither state improves the odds of me being right about whatever it is I am on about. I often told my son as he was growing from boyhood to manhood, "Doubt may be a higher level of consciousness than certainty. Of course, I can't be sure."
In her book Waiting: A Nonbeliever's Higher Power, Marya Hornbacher describes doubt as being at the heart of the spiritual experience. She says, "When we doubt, we learn to accept that we may never know. When we question we learn to accept that there may be no answer. When we shout our doubt out into the universe, we learn to accept that we may be met with silence we do not know how to read...And the paradox is this: to accept this not-knowing - to accept doubt, a lack of certainty - is to accept the very nature of life as it is."
MORE MARYA (interview about WAITING)
Did god create humans in his, her, its, their image or was it the other way around?
I don't have any proof of an interfering god that grants serenity, recovery, wisdom or second chances. But I do have proof that I prefer assurance to chaos; I like protection more than vulnerability. So, it is reasonable, the way my mind thinks, that if no one before me created a god-concept, I would at least fantasize about one, if not craft a narrative about how it is likely to exist and any doubt I had was merely that power's way to test my faith in him, her, it or they.
I love seekers, I truly do. They are open, curious, vulnerable and willing. People who know what's best, know what secret message the lessons of the past are trying to tell us or have unwavering certainty about what's best for the next generation, these people scare the shit out of me. I would like to enjoy a good laugh at their expense but I wonder if they are dangerous.
Beyond Belief Daily Musings for 12 Step Life is 365 daily reflections that starts with a great quote and considers its application to recovery and addiction. Beyond Belief the book will be launched as an eBook December 2012 and the physical book will be available for purchase early in 2013