dhawk@lll-crg.llnl.gov (David Hawkins) (06/01/89)
In the referenced article, mls@mhuxu.UUCP (Michael Siemon) wrote: >This poses the question rather abstractly. Equally abstractly, one might >respond that for many people, the greatest *barrier* to their "yielding >to the Spirit" is the rigidity of the psychological and social structures >in which they have been inculcated. There are a wide number of addictions that can keep one from developing a conscious contact with God. Check out John Bradshaw's _On the Family_ for a partial list. For some people it's alcohol, while for others it's religion or sex or overworking or tv . . . - but that's something that people have to determine for themselves. Yes, religion can be a block and it's a real common one. It's easy to knock the Pharasees and practice exactly what they did. The church can be a great excuse to keep that rigidity that Michael mentions. It's interesting to follow the discussions here and in talk.religion.misc as folks develop guidelines that everyone should follow. What works for me it to practice love and acceptance first (I know there's something in there about loving your neighbor). Associate with the sinners -- like Jesus did. I was at a detox center last night and it sure clears away these intellectual abstractions. These were suffering people and I just sat around and talked with them about what had happened to me (I'm a recovering alcoholic in AA). Alcohol is a block for me, but so is pride. I haven't had a drink in 18 months, but I have to deal with pride on a daily basis. Enough rambling for now . . . later, david -- David Hawkins {apple,pacbell,hplabs,ucbvax}!well!dhawk It is better to encounter one's existence in disgust than never to encounter it at all. - William Barrett