Comments on: Money Matters but you cant serve two Gods http://liambyrnes.co.uk/2008/04/10/money-matters-but-you-cant-serve-two-gods/ Technology, Music, Theology, and General life - It's essentially a blog with a multiple personality disorder Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:03:12 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Liam http://liambyrnes.co.uk/2008/04/10/money-matters-but-you-cant-serve-two-gods/comment-page-1/#comment-290061 Liam Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:55:41 +0000 http://liambyrnes.co.uk/2008/04/10/money-matters-but-you-cant-serve-two-gods/#comment-290061 Martin, Thanks for commenting. With regards to your comments to my fairly off the cuff statement regarding God flagging somethin up to me. Hopefully I can explain myself a little more and give some form of response to a couple of your other points. Much of what you misunderstand is due to worldview, my worldview could be simply stated as a belief that God exists, and not only that he exists, but that he wants to relate to me. I completly understand that to you that may sound like a form of mental health, but I think that is maybe more a point of perspective. I heard somebody say the other day that in fact its the 'sane' people who need the label 'insane' to use against others, they need it for their own affirmation more than the label being useful for those deemed 'insane'. An interesting thought, but maybe a red herring in relation to all of this. Finally though, Id like to say that I can never convince you of any of this, nor would I want to particularly, I've arrived at this place of faith through a journey and faith will always be a very alien concept to people who haven't taken some form of that journey, and that is not meant in an elitist sense either, You are very welcome to take the journey! Thanks again for your comment. Liam Martin, Thanks for commenting. With regards to your comments to my fairly off the cuff statement regarding God flagging somethin up to me.

Hopefully I can explain myself a little more and give some form of response to a couple of your other points.

Much of what you misunderstand is due to worldview, my worldview could be simply stated as a belief that God exists, and not only that he exists, but that he wants to relate to me. I completly understand that to you that may sound like a form of mental health, but I think that is maybe more a point of perspective.

I heard somebody say the other day that in fact its the ’sane’ people who need the label ‘insane’ to use against others, they need it for their own affirmation more than the label being useful for those deemed ‘insane’. An interesting thought, but maybe a red herring in relation to all of this.

Finally though, Id like to say that I can never convince you of any of this, nor would I want to particularly, I’ve arrived at this place of faith through a journey and faith will always be a very alien concept to people who haven’t taken some form of that journey, and that is not meant in an elitist sense either, You are very welcome to take the journey!
Thanks again for your comment.

Liam

]]> By: Martin BC http://liambyrnes.co.uk/2008/04/10/money-matters-but-you-cant-serve-two-gods/comment-page-1/#comment-289400 Martin BC Sun, 13 Apr 2008 15:57:56 +0000 http://liambyrnes.co.uk/2008/04/10/money-matters-but-you-cant-serve-two-gods/#comment-289400 I've always found one element of the Christian mindset very difficult to take seriously, your post illustrated it perfectly when you said: "I think God is probably trying to flag it up to me” I understand that your god is always on your mind and that you believe “he” is guiding you but I have difficulty taking the idea of a deity flagging things up or giving people messages seriously. Obviously this is a matter of faith and, for you, beyond question but I have to be honest and tell you that I find it more than a little mad! I mean, outside of a religious context, such notions of messages and signs would be considered signs of schizophrenia Example, If someone said this to you in the pub/coffee shop: “I think My infallible, unknowable mate Dave is trying to tell me something” Would you stay quiet lest you upset the person? Or would you put your drink down and slowly step away form the crazy person? I really do mean no disrespect. I just find it interesting that society accepts such notions when attached to religion but labels people as mentally ill when similar notions are expressed without the backing of a popular faith. I’ve always found one element of the Christian mindset very difficult to take seriously, your post illustrated it perfectly when you said:

“I think God is probably trying to flag it up to me”

I understand that your god is always on your mind and that you believe “he” is guiding you but I have difficulty taking the idea of a deity flagging things up or giving people messages seriously.

Obviously this is a matter of faith and, for you, beyond question but I have to be honest and tell you that I find it more than a little mad! I mean, outside of a religious context, such notions of messages and signs would be considered signs of schizophrenia

Example, If someone said this to you in the pub/coffee shop:

“I think My infallible, unknowable mate Dave is trying to tell me something”

Would you stay quiet lest you upset the person? Or would you put your drink down and slowly step away form the crazy person? I really do mean no disrespect. I just find it interesting that society accepts such notions when attached to religion but labels people as mentally ill when similar notions are expressed without the backing of a popular faith.

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