What role do reason and will play in your life? Is your life governed by your reason and will? Or are you governed by your feelings and the drama of your own narcissistic "subconscious?" Do you live in the real world or in a world of dreams?
Bishop Sheen explains the difference between the normal and abnormal person. The normal person represses the lower instincts to avoid the excesses that damage love and deform his God-given humanity. The abnormal person represses the reason and the will and is ruled by his lower instincts for the base pleasures he enjoys. Our nature is rational. Our normal state is to witness by our lives where we come from -- God. When we abandon our reason for our baser instincts, we deform our humanity and give witness to another being who is NOT GOD.
This video explains a lot about of what is happening in our culture today. Truth doesn't change! Self-examination is an important part of life. Are you letting your feelings and baser instincts rule your life, or is your inner "pilot" taking your little ship to the port of the celestial city?
I was thinking that The wisdom of Bishop Sheen is missed in today’s world, but then I realized it is not for most people. The world has purposely inflated egos of its people to lead them astray. Sheens wisdom is then shut out. Being ignorant of good teaching the world does not miss what it does not know, instead it remains hungry for the truth and being misguided devours the ways of the devil in pride and materialism. As these and other food from evil lack spiritual nutrition the world remains ravenous in the evil ways...
ReplyDeleteChristians need to stand up and show they are Christian by saying no in deeds and actions to evil and thus showing a path to others where they may be filled by His truth...
You hit the nail on the head. We've also lost a sense of sin. We live in a culture that believes in determinism. Our actions are determined by our upbringing, our physical or mental health, the way we feel when we get up in the morning, etc. I read a book years ago called "Whatever Became of Sin?" by Dr. Karl Menninger. Here's an excerpt: "In all of the laments and reproaches made by our [modern] seers and prophets, one misses any mention of "sin," a word which used to be a veritable watchword of prophets. It was a word once in everyone's mind, but now rarely if ever heard. Does that mean that no sin is involved in all our troubles -- sin with an "i" in the middle? Is no one any longer guilty of anything? Guilty perhaps of a sin that could be repented and repaired or atoned for? Is it only that someone may be stupid or sick or criminal or asleep? Wrong things are being done, we know....But is no one responsible, no one answerable for these acts? Anxiety and depression we all acknowledge and even vague guilt feelings; but has no one committed any sins?"
ReplyDeleteI think this is an important question at a time when we have an epidemic of problems destroying families and communities. I'm personally interested in the relationship between mental health and free will. Re-reading Menninger's book could be an interesting place to start.