tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post6327112956197077189..comments2024-03-19T04:32:18.795+00:00Comments on Bruce Charlton's Notions: Since we are living in such evil times of value-inversion - why doesn't God intervene to stop it? Bruce Charltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-65288592839594553052016-08-08T14:44:50.907+01:002016-08-08T14:44:50.907+01:00@L - There are also consequences of modernity (the...@L - There are also consequences of modernity (the genius famine, the decline of intelligence, mutation accumulation/ mouse utopia, the inexorable rise of bureaucracy etc) which have already ended qualitative technological advance and initiated decline - and will thereby save us from what would have been the nightmare of transhumanist spiritual oppression. Bruce Charltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-67686932318959514252016-08-08T09:06:34.753+01:002016-08-08T09:06:34.753+01:00It could be that he is intervening to stop it, jus...It could be that he is intervening to stop it, just in ways not immediately apparent to us. Even just the prick of conscience is a significant intervention. If the game is all about salvation vs. damnation, a lot of the apparently horrible stuff we see must not be very important at all. Suffering that leads to salvation is no victory for the demonic forces, as you described in a previous post. This could be a suffering of the spirit as well as the more mundane sort. The modern world may be a deadly trial, but as a result navigating it is likely more significantly inoculating against evil. <br /><br />While these years are probably the best candidate yet for the end times, there is some sort of agitation under the surface and tangible reasons to hope.Luqmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12144548172937229260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-60669083605755307822016-08-07T15:45:35.988+01:002016-08-07T15:45:35.988+01:00@John R - That is a different question altogether ...@John R - That is a different question altogether - you are asking why life is not completely pleasant all the time. The short answer is that mortal life is not meant to be pleasant as a priority - it is a means to an end. <br /><br />Essentially, the way to reason it is to start with knowing what God is aiming for, the nature of Men, and that the aim is not for mortal life to be pleasant in and of itself, but for it to be about experiences of value in eternal, resurrected life. Bruce Charltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-87232292797747450302016-08-07T15:38:15.628+01:002016-08-07T15:38:15.628+01:00@Orrin - These may give some suggestions that migh...@Orrin - These may give some suggestions that might work for you:<br /><br />https://charltonteaching.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/the-primacy-of-impressions-metaphysical.html<br /><br />https://charltonteaching.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/revelations-via-imagination.htmlBruce Charltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-60411108262566007852016-08-07T12:36:14.267+01:002016-08-07T12:36:14.267+01:00When you talk about demons being invited in, what ...When you talk about demons being invited in, what about the demons no one would willingly invite in? I can understand a pervert inviting a succubus or an alcoholic inviting the rage that follows his drinks but if we assume everything is living then surely things like diseases and motor accidents are demons. I don't think anyone would invite them, so why are they allowed to exist?<br /><br />Or to use a more concrete example it is near unanimous that ticks and mosquitoes serve no higher ecological purpose that couldn't be filled by other non-parasitic non disease vector insects. If humanity is an inchoate God wouldn't the proper decision be eradication of insects who cannot be redeemed and have no purpose beyond reproduction and disease spreading. Why wouldn't a stronger God rid the world of suffering that serves no purpose such as cancer or tornadoes? <br /><br />Perhaps the purpose is hidden to immature beings such as ourselves.John Rnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-21366923833649427602016-08-07T12:16:26.851+01:002016-08-07T12:16:26.851+01:00I have found the recent posts about good, evil, de...I have found the recent posts about good, evil, demonic forces, God, and this insane world highly stimulating. Thank you.<br /><br />I will readily admit I am in the "torn" category -- I succumb to the temptation by sin pretty much out of habit at this point, but my conscience is annoyingly potent in the extreme. It will not let me rest. I am always called back to consider my thoughts and deeds and consider another way. <br /><br />A corollary question that I have about this recent theme of posts is:<br /><br />How can we tell God answers? I am not sure I see that. There have been times when I lived a cleaner life, one of humility, stillness, mindfulness, and moderation. In my own way I reach out. I call out in earnest for some sense of guidance, reassurance, etc. It never seems to be forthcoming. The silence becomes deafening. I eventually lose faith. And the cycle repeats.<br /><br />I think perhaps 2 or 3 times in my life for brief moments I have experienced a shift in perception that has pealed back the veil so to speak. There was a sense of something beyond the five senses. But I also wonder if it was perhaps only an hallucination.<br /><br />Again, where is the evidence our prayers are answered? Perhaps for some it seems so. For many others not. I do not mean to come across argumentative. I sincerely would like to understand. As you have mentioned with other questions, there are probably some false assumptions built into my question.Orrin Aholahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10905261011996786311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-67591706049217481062016-08-07T11:28:50.800+01:002016-08-07T11:28:50.800+01:00Thanks for your long and considered reply, Bruce, ...Thanks for your long and considered reply, Bruce, which is very helpful. I would just add that I think the present time is like a stress test that enables those who pass it to make greater spiritual progress than would be possible in more harmonious times when the incentive is not so great. When the world is in ruins it is easier to turn to God. Also, I don’t think those who fail the tests of the current time are damned (to use emotive language),or not most of them any way. I believe there is now a winnowing of souls and those who don’t ‘make the grade’ will be placed in environments more suitable to their spiritual understanding or lack of it. They will have further chances to turn to God but might to have to work harder to purify themselves of that in themselves which has stopped them doing so on this occasion. Repentance is always possible but that is still only the beginning of the spiritual journey.<br /><br />William Wildbloodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13231219533755925897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-72578985533834561002016-08-07T09:32:54.185+01:002016-08-07T09:32:54.185+01:00@David - Aside: Great news, hope to see you soon. ...@David - Aside: Great news, hope to see you soon. <br /><br />wrt Praying, I don't see anything wrong with any positive prayers of any kind. <br /><br />wrt Satan - I suppose there must be hope, since (being part of God's creation, and necessarily not being 100 percent negative/ destructive) he is not totally evil; and by my earlier argumet, ifthere was no hope then he would be neutralised or sequestered in some way. Bruce Charltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-79132638937286678522016-08-07T08:02:32.948+01:002016-08-07T08:02:32.948+01:00A mostly satisfying answer Bruce and I feel intuit...A mostly satisfying answer Bruce and I feel intuitively it rings mostly true in its broader resolution. As you yourself say though the finer, more minute details of the situation are likely to remain onscure to us at this stage but we surely know enough not to invite them in or repent when we succumb to various temptations to sin. Incidentally, do you see any value to praying for or psychically projecting sincere positive emotions and hopes towards the spiritual welfare of demons? Perhaps some *or all* may yet repent in the fullness of eternity? And by extension is there any hope for Satan himself or do you believe he is permanently outside of the pale and unable to atone for the most collossal of all sins?<br /><br />David Balfourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12099160562774064281noreply@blogger.com