Why might it be a good idea to be thankful and humble? When we imagine the perfect self we do not imagine a proud, boastful person who only has themselves to thank for their achievements. For a Christian, we usually imagine Jesus as the perfect archetype of this mode of being.
Here's a couple of ideas on that from someone who is convinced of the legitimacy of religious story and expression to narrate our ethical landscape.
Firstly, it is simply false to assert that our accomplishments are not built on the shoulders of the contributions of others. Most would agree that that which is false is usually synonymous with bad. Further affirmation of the inherent goodness of truth can be sourced through the theory of biological evolution: a species operating with erroneous ideas of reality cannot adapt well to it, and its members that attempt to do so may harm their chances of survival. (This is a broad brushstroke on the goodness of truth - there are some notable exceptions).
Secondly, a profound realisation of one's dependence on others should cause social beings like humans to draw from and recognise the social resource. There is thus a harmonisation that occurs when a member of a profoundly social group is able to operate in a balanced dynamic of drawing from and contributing to the larger group.
Thirdly, when faced with a problem, a thankful person may feel less overwhelmed. Previous such challenges were overcome because the social resource was effective and found to be near limitless if engaged via sustainable social transactions.
The spiritual practice of prayer to God develops the gratitude of a person. That's great for a spiritual person, but what about for a non-spiritual person? Perhaps they should simply realise that some form of spirituality could be considered in their process of developing their own humanity. If the person has had a negative introduction into the institutions of abusive religion, then perhaps the process can look something like this.
Look at the good memories. Smile at them. Recognise their beauty, their colour, the privilege of owning them.
Imagine the people we value most. Smile at them. Recognise the beauty of their character and what we value in them.
That word 'privilege' is powerful. Just mulling that is good. Using it in conversation once mulled completes the fermentation of the gratitude and allows it to be served as the quality beverage that it most certainly is! Cheers :)
ps apologies about the promise of the previous post - I still would like to enter the fray of "lies and contradictions" in Christianity and what anti-religious types might mean by such language.
Here's a couple of ideas on that from someone who is convinced of the legitimacy of religious story and expression to narrate our ethical landscape.
Firstly, it is simply false to assert that our accomplishments are not built on the shoulders of the contributions of others. Most would agree that that which is false is usually synonymous with bad. Further affirmation of the inherent goodness of truth can be sourced through the theory of biological evolution: a species operating with erroneous ideas of reality cannot adapt well to it, and its members that attempt to do so may harm their chances of survival. (This is a broad brushstroke on the goodness of truth - there are some notable exceptions).
Secondly, a profound realisation of one's dependence on others should cause social beings like humans to draw from and recognise the social resource. There is thus a harmonisation that occurs when a member of a profoundly social group is able to operate in a balanced dynamic of drawing from and contributing to the larger group.
Thirdly, when faced with a problem, a thankful person may feel less overwhelmed. Previous such challenges were overcome because the social resource was effective and found to be near limitless if engaged via sustainable social transactions.
The spiritual practice of prayer to God develops the gratitude of a person. That's great for a spiritual person, but what about for a non-spiritual person? Perhaps they should simply realise that some form of spirituality could be considered in their process of developing their own humanity. If the person has had a negative introduction into the institutions of abusive religion, then perhaps the process can look something like this.
Look at the good memories. Smile at them. Recognise their beauty, their colour, the privilege of owning them.
Imagine the people we value most. Smile at them. Recognise the beauty of their character and what we value in them.
That word 'privilege' is powerful. Just mulling that is good. Using it in conversation once mulled completes the fermentation of the gratitude and allows it to be served as the quality beverage that it most certainly is! Cheers :)
ps apologies about the promise of the previous post - I still would like to enter the fray of "lies and contradictions" in Christianity and what anti-religious types might mean by such language.
