@fmf saidRight - thought provoking for atheists. Not so for Christians.
The OP's question is not "silly", nor is it "pseudo-intellectual" in any way. Indeed, on the previous page, you said: "Thank you for the thought-provoking question."
But you claimed to be a Christian for 40 years, and you don’t know that God’s Holy Spirit and the human spirit are not the same?
Wow. Almost seems like your claim to have been a former Christian is a blatant lie 😉
@pb1022 saidBeing an agnostic atheist, my analysis is that theological terms like "God’s Holy Spirit" and "the soul" are what religionists use to describe what I see as the unique individual identity/capacity that gives each of us our personhood. I haven't self-identified as a Christian for about 20 years now.
But you claimed to be a Christian for 40 years, and you don’t know that God’s Holy Spirit and the human spirit are not the same?
@fmf saidSlightly left-field, but relevant, I feel, to the main thrust of your OP. Zen teachers have often warned against becoming entangled in ideas of what the mind, spirit, the world or enlightenment really is. Many Zen stories express the idea that the mind, and indeed ‘peace of mind’, is not what we might think. A famous example is this dialogue between two of the founding figures of Zen, Bodhidharma and his student Huike:
Spirituality is concerned with things of the spirit, which I take to mean our each and every human spirit ~ which, in harness with cognitive abilities, is the basis for our capacity for [or contribution to] abstract interaction and imagination. This in turn, again, to my way of thinking, forms the basis for our uniqueness and individuality ~ for which others might use the word "s ...[text shortened]... your philosophy of individualism and how you see yourself relating to the society in which you live?
Huike said to Bodhidharma: ‘My mind is anxious, please pacify it.’ To which Bodhidharma replied, ‘Bring me your mind, and I will pacify it.’ Huike said, ‘Although I’ve sought it, I cannot find it.’ Bodhidharma then said, ‘There, I have already pacified your mind.’
@pianoman1 saidActing on a tip from a friend, I have been enjoying talks ~ on the mind/brain ~ given by Iain McGilchrist. His analysis contributes much to any attempt to understand the human consciousness.
Slightly left-field, but relevant, I feel, to the main thrust of your OP. Zen teachers have often warned against becoming entangled in ideas of what the mind, spirit, the world or enlightenment really is. Many Zen stories express the idea that the mind, and indeed ‘peace of mind’, is not what we might think. A famous example is this dialogue between two of the founding figu ...[text shortened]... ’ve sought it, I cannot find it.’ Bodhidharma then said, ‘There, I have already pacified your mind.’
@pb1022 saidAgain, I'm not sure what your strategy here is. You deny such accusations as though the regulars here have forgotten the disturbed things you posted under your previous account. I remember those comments you directed at FMF clearly and did indeed find them repulsive.
I never made that accusation and I find your dishonesty to be quite repulsive.
Rather than being dishonest yourself you should show some of that Christian humility you are supposed to be imbued with and offer a genuine apology.
@fmf saidI recommend:
Acting on a tip from a friend, I have been enjoying talks ~ on the mind/brain ~ given by Iain McGilchrist. His analysis contributes much to any attempt to understand the human consciousness.
“Zen and the art of Consciousness” by Susan Blackmore.
She is a psychologist, lecturer and free thinker researching ideas of consciousness and parapsychology.
I think you’ll find it interesting.
