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Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!!
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To: Dayuhan who wrote (24179)8/10/1998 8:00:00 PM
From: Jacques Chitte  Read Replies (1) of 108807
 
Steve:
I've spent the weekend (well okay - during commercials) pondering your concept of the Force. My conclusions hinge on a question which I submit to you.
Is the "Force" as you describe it
a) the manifestation of a spiritual extrahuman presence
or
b) a human trait/attitude?
If it's a), then religion has a lot going for it. The mythology and faith at the core of any religion is a prescription for how to be in tune with that presence. It's further stipulated that the Presence is important and beneficial.
If it's b), then we find ourselves examining a showcase of one of the peculiarities of human psychology. It's what Norman Vincent Peale called "the power of positive thinking". There is a universal but unscientific lore that thinking good thoughts can affect your physical well-being. I figure that this extends into the "other people" parts of our lives as well - relationships, politics etc.

This ties into the ongoing musings about Jesus. The New Testament makes no bones about one central premise:
"OK folks, here's the real deal. Straight from God. This is the one good way to live and think. All other ways will cause you to accrue a major liability, payable upon death". Very neat - this threat of post-mortem accounting. If we buy into it just a little - well you see how scary it can be.
The miracles become exceedingly important in this context. They are a mark of authenticity for the one choice placed before us that affects more than just our bodies and brains - if the folks in the black robes aren't full of ****. I find it frustrating that the miracles seem to be features of a narrow slice of history - and thus beyond straightforward critical examination.
The whole thing is a cosmic pig in a poke. How do you believe [what's in the poke]? Talk about consequences.
OK, I'm rambling like an LA suburb...
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