Drinking alcohol and smoking pot – what are your thoughts?

[Kush]

Hi Gary, yes, that is exactly what I am claiming.

Call god, high and almighty, call him allahu, call him whatever you like. The thing is, do you try to connect with him, or do you simply and blindly follow mans rule?

If you however belive in a god such as Jah (the one many catholics belive in) or any other form of a mythological Zuse like god, I will tell you know, I do not belive those types of gods exist. Jesus has NEVER told us a “god” exists. we only assumed that as that was what man has belived since the dark ages… I found however that that is simply not true.

Jesus has told us EXACTLY what god is (and I’m using the term god as a label) and what god means. There is no allmight dude up in the clouds with angles flying around him. What god is according to Jesus is you, and me, and everything. Its all inside. problem is your still listening to man.

I have never “shot dope” nore do I know anyone who has… however, I do not need to stick my head in the ground, and ignore the evidence out there. A simple google search will show you what shooting dope can do to you… where as you will never find a true and unbias argument outlining any dangers with weed. You will find a ton of them telling you how harmful alcohol is… yet you don’t seem to have a problem with that drug. Oh, and alcholol is a drug. there is no differnce, other than its harder than weed.

This pretty much shows that your knowlege of drugs comes from propoganda feed to you by the phramcuitical companies, and government bodies with all thier hidden adjends. None of what you belive in that avenue comes form anything spiritual.

Kush, your not suggesting this self proclaimed enhanced delusion is a well formed relation with the Almighty?

Kush, If I told you how many times I heard this, “You never shot dope, how would you know” line you wouldn’t believe me. Nevertheless, we don’t have to agree, just think about it, I’m almost as certain as you no resolve will come today. But the seed of truth is planted.

 

[Kush]

Hey Coptic,

See, that is the problem with our species. As humans, we are so ignorat to the point where we feel it is within our grasps of understanding to know what “morality is” or what realitiy even is. That is why we invented gods for so many centuries.

I truly don’t belive in mythological gods anymore. I feel that a true understanding of what god is can only come by opening our minds and understadning the words spoken by teachers such as Jesus Christ. He was very very clear on what “god” is, and what our moriality is.

The sad thing is, most Christians today belive they are simple/mortal beings. I feel we are much greater than that. Many Christians belive they need to live her, and one day die in order to be in the “kindgom of heaven”. If you study Jesus - and what he taught, its clear that is not true. We are already there… You may have already been here since the beginning of time, with a belief that one day you will die… the realitiy is, we canot die, we are all god. everything is god.

PS: Thank you for your questions, I must admit, I really enjoy chatting with you… your not as hot headed as the other dude

peace my friend.

Kush,

Then you are saying that Morality is relative and not absolute. Is this correct?

 

[Kush]

Man added a lot to the bible. When these writings were found, its origins were written in a hebrewic language that no one understood. So, “man” scollers were sent in to “interpret” this document. You know what happens when you get a “man” to interpret it… it becomes different, it looses meaning, and meaning is adapted by the personal belifs of the men who translated it. Asside form that, it was originally writen by man none the less…

You can try to take anything you like to the church, but again, being a follower of Jesus, I try to live his way. He never ran to the church to ask them what they think. As a matter of fact, the only time he ever visited a church… well… lets just say things didn’t go over very well. He was so upset how this “man made” organization was trying to make money selling chickens and things… Could you imagine how happy he would be today if he visited the vatican? As a matter of fact, I think the only time we heard about Jesus getting angry was when he visited a church.

I should probably tell you a bit about my history. I know the teachings of the Church well, and I know the teachings of Jesus. I was a catholic alter boy, and the whole topic iterested me so much, that I dedicated my life trying to find “truth”. What i have learnt is… the only truth you can belive in Coptic is the word of Jesus (and teachers like him). The Church seems to add to his content… this is so wrong. I try to live the way Jesus taugh… not the way “man” teaches… its the only way Coptic.

The Church has added so much to this lesson, that many of thier followers are loosing the big message. Jesus was about Love. It was very fundamental. Love, understadning, and knowing we are all one.

The Church later felt that they could “take his mesage and imporve on it” by adding hatred to it (do you know any christians that hate gay people", or adding fear to it (I don’t recall Jesus telling people they will burn and suffer in hell". he never even said such a place exists. they added a huge monitary part to it (I don’t recall Jesus making the kind of Money the church makes), and they also added guilt… (by focusing on the crusifiction, the church trys to keep people feeling guilty about his death… Jesus never had people focus on such horrible things…

This is what I’m talking aobut… mixing the views of Man (simply because they where a clerical costume) over and taking those words while ignoring the words of Jesus is wrong, and will never take anyone anywhere Christ intended.

Kush,

What did man add to the Bible?

The Bible says that when we disagree to get a witness and then if you can’t resolve it to take it to the Church.

The Bible says that the Church is the Pilar and Foundation of Truth and it is where the manifold wisdom of God is known.

You say that the Church teaches and we should not follow it.

How do you get that out of the Bible?

 

[CopticChristian]

Hey Coptic,

See, that is the problem with our species. As humans, we are so ignorat to the point where we feel it is within our grasps of understanding to know what “morality is” or what realitiy even is. That is why we invented gods for so many centuries.

I truly don’t belive in mythological gods anymore. I feel that a true understanding of what god is can only come by opening our minds and understadning the words spoken by teachers such as Jesus Christ. He was very very clear on what “god” is, and what our moriality is.

The sad thing is, most Christians today belive they are simple/mortal beings. I feel we are much greater than that. Many Christians belive they need to live her, and one day die in order to be in the “kindgom of heaven”. If you study Jesus - and what he taught, its clear that is not true. We are already there… You may have already been here since the beginning of time, with a belief that one day you will die… the realitiy is, we canot die, we are all god. everything is god.

PS: Thank you for your questions, I must admit, I really enjoy chatting with you… your not as hot headed as the other dude

peace my friend.

Kush,

So do you believe that morality is absolute or relative?

 

[CopticChristian]

Man added a lot to the bible. When these writings were found, its origins were written in a hebrewic language that no one understood. So, “man” scollers were sent in to “interpret” this document. You know what happens when you get a “man” to interpret it… it becomes different, it looses meaning, and meaning is adapted by the personal belifs of the men who translated it. Asside form that, it was originally writen by man none the less…

You can try to take anything you like to the church, but again, being a follower of Jesus, I try to live his way. He never ran to the church to ask them what they think. As a matter of fact, the only time he ever visited a church… well… lets just say things didn’t go over very well. He was so upset how this “man made” organization was trying to make money selling chickens and things… Could you imagine how happy he would be today if he visited the vatican? As a matter of fact, I think the only time we heard about Jesus getting angry was when he visited a church.

I should probably tell you a bit about my history. I know the teachings of the Church well, and I know the teachings of Jesus. I was a catholic alter boy, and the whole topic iterested me so much, that I dedicated my life trying to find “truth”. What i have learnt is… the only truth you can belive in Coptic is the word of Jesus (and teachers like him). The Church seems to add to his content… this is so wrong. I try to live the way Jesus taugh… not the way “man” teaches… its the only way Coptic.

The Church has added so much to this lesson, that many of thier followers are loosing the big message. Jesus was about Love. It was very fundamental. Love, understadning, and knowing we are all one.

The Church later felt that they could “take his mesage and imporve on it” by adding hatred to it (do you know any christians that hate gay people", or adding fear to it (I don’t recall Jesus telling people they will burn and suffer in hell". he never even said such a place exists. they added a huge monitary part to it (I don’t recall Jesus making the kind of Money the church makes), and they also added guilt… (by focusing on the crusifiction, the church trys to keep people feeling guilty about his death… Jesus never had people focus on such horrible things…

This is what I’m talking aobut… mixing the views of Man (simply because they where a clerical costume) over and taking those words while ignoring the words of Jesus is wrong, and will never take anyone anywhere Christ intended.

Kush,

are we reading the same book?

You have heard that it was said to the men of old, “You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.” But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, “You fool!” shall be liable to the** hell **of fire. (Matt. 5:21-22)

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matt. 10:28; see also Luke 12:5)

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you traverse sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. (Matt. 23:15)

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, saying, “If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.” Thus you witness against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? (Matt. 23:29-33)

f your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:43-48; see also Matt. 5:29-30; 18:8-9)

 

[GaryTaylor]

Jesus has told us EXACTLY what god is (and I’m using the term god as a label) and what god means. There is no allmight dude up in the clouds with angles flying around him. What god is according to Jesus is you, and me, and everything. Its all inside. problem is your still listening to man…

God is the Creator, not the Creation. And you can say with absolute certainty “exactly” that God told you its without a doubt its fine to take a hit. Did he tell you how many is too much or didn’t he go into detail?

I listen to the same voice, pray, Church and Eucharist [remember Him]. I’m getting a slightly different message. I think perhaps you should try the Catholic frequency again. See if it comes through clearer there.

I have never “shot dope” nore do I know anyone who has… however, I do not need to stick my head in the ground, and ignore the evidence out there. A simple google search will show you what shooting dope can do to you… where as you will never find a true and unbias argument outlining any dangers with weed. You will find a ton of them telling you how harmful alcohol is… yet you don’t seem to have a problem with that drug. Oh, and alcholol is a drug. there is no differnce, other than its harder than weed…

This is my point, they are both gateway drugs, which as you see from the conversation leaves the individual to decide where the “enough line” should be drawn. Problem is my dear friend, they are often way past the line when they draw it. Not many young people use other drugs without first trying marijuana. Tis a pattern.

This pretty much shows that your knowlege of drugs comes from propoganda feed to you by the phramcuitical companies, and government bodies with all thier hidden adjends. None of what you belive in that avenue comes form anything spiritual.

Kush, I don’t have to crash a car to know crashing a car is dangerous. I know its dangerous the moment I neglect the voice of my conscience and hit the accelerator. I guess that’s the other frequency.

I know that other frequency, my nephew is on it. He told me he wanted a Viking Funeral when he died. He too was an Alter Boy.

 

[J_the_Centrist]

I’ve been to various Protestant churches…some discourage drinking, others prohibit it, and still others have no problem with it. I believe Catholics drink just like me. Since marijuana is now legal in Washington and Colorado, and medical marijuana is legal in many states, what do you believe about drinking and smoking pot?

I think that alcohol has ruined my life, I will be completing my master’s degree by next May and if I didn’t drink for so long I could have been a Professor with a Ph.D by now. Marijuana is a different issue, I haven’t done it for over two years and if it weren’t for my job I’d probably do it once in a while, certainly not like when I was younger. Pot is NOT the drug it has been portrayed to be in recent decades. Despite the fact that Bill Maher is our faith’s enemy and I disagree with him on just about everything I agree with him when he says “in order for pot to become legal people will have to start dying from it.” At Mass sometimes I wonder if I should drink the wine, but I haven’t as of yet because I am horrified of relapsing. Personally, I can never drink again because I have a disease, I wish I could smoke pot but I cant, but I wouldn’t use the government to restrict the use of either if that is what you are alluding to.

 

[Kush]

Not all of it.

God gave you concousness for a reason. You are to use it to learn and grow. If something in the bible works, and does not trigger that voice in your head that says “this part just does not fit”. than go with it.

I simply follow the teachings of Jesus… He is not the only teacher that taught us about spirituality. Many of the things he has said, has been echoed by other teachers such as the Buddha, its all int the TAO, and other spiritual writings.

Think of it as an eterinty of learning. Learn from the teachers. You have a concousness, and you know whats right and wring in your soul… God never desined you to be a blind follower… you have thoughts for a reason. use them as best as you can, and keep learning. You’ll find a way that brings you to eternal peace.

Remember, keep your mind open. I feel you sometimes confuse the great lessons w/ what the church says. Thats when those mental bells should be rinnging. remember, if I was to say anything like this a few hundred years back, the church would have burned me alive. Really, once you truly know Jesus Christ, you will be able to read passages such as Zechariah 13:3 and easily know “this is evil, and put there by man”.

Also , just keep in mind the bible is man made… there is wisdom in it, and there is evil in it. your job is to determine the correct path. Live like he did, and you’ll be fine. Follow the bible litterally, and you’ll be introduced to a very evil/jelous god who burns and drowns children… All I’m saying is its very easy to see truth - once you use the gift god gave you.

Peace

Kush,

your dudeness…

So are you saying that all I need to do is follow what is in the Bible?

 

[Kush]

When did Jesus ever say drinking or getting intoxicated was a sin?

He partied… he turned water into wine… he had no issues w/ humans enjoying themselves. You may be following the word of man. be careful

That’s depends on the individual to monitor. But the Church gives us the freedom to do it. Of course some people will abuse it (and getting intoxicated is considered a grave sin, mortal if all the qualifications are met). The same arguments can be made against eating too much (gluttony) and eating unhealthy foods. But the Church has never said we can’t have cake or soda, even though they really no nutritional value, and are eaten for pleasure. Overeating until you’re sick can be sinful, but it’s up to each individual to make sure he or she doesn’t cross that line. And it’ll be different for different (a 6’ 5" construction worker is going to need to eat a lot more than I do. It would be sinful for me to eat that same amount of food).

In Christ,
Ellen

 

[Kush]

Peter was just a man. Jesus never said such things. He had no issue with people having fun. That was something that was forced on people, by people.

Don’t forget, in the story, the deciples really didn’t get it most of the time. That is why one almost drowned when Jesus asked him to get out of the boat and belive. That is why Tomas doubted him, that is why Judas betrayed him.

None of the deciples were enlightned like Jesus was. be careful when reading thier thoughts…

Heres some Bible info on wine.

tektonics.org/lp/nowine.html

Conclusion at bottom.

1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

This verse does not refer to wine, but is taken as an admonition of teetotalism.

 

[Kush]

I think the basis of morality can be absolute. Lets not kill people, lets not steal from people, and lets be kind and treat everyone as god.

Unfortuently, many people with thier own adjendas try to depict thier own ideas as “moral ideas”. such as the debate on gay marrages.

In this, the only moral issue in this matter is hate and anger. God made a person the way they are… and all those screaming its imoral - are simply using the term morality to justify thier own “hatred, biggetry, and evil” by saying its “gods word”.

If there was such a thing as “sin” I would say a great sin is pointing fingers at another persons way of living, and calling it immoral. When you do that, you might as well turn to god and say… “I know you made this person this way, I kown they are from you, but I feel you messed up, and I could have done a better job creating these people, and make them all think like me”.

Kush,

So do you believe that morality is absolute or relative?

 

[J_the_Centrist]

When did Jesus ever say drinking or getting intoxicated was a sin?

He partied… he turned water into wine… he had no issues w/ humans enjoying themselves. You may be following the word of man. be careful

Never, he even suggested that the pharisees were accusing him of being a “drunkard”, because he ate and drank with people, even “sinners.” Enjoying life is one thing and abusing a habit is another, he is very clear in other areas of scripture that allowing anything (including alcohol) to come before God is a sin. BTW “drunkards” are among those who will not enter the Kingdom, along with other’s separated from God by their behavior. Even a liberal Catholic like me (my theology, not my politics) knows this, Jesus was NOT an “anything goes” type of guy.

 

[Kush]

Hi Gary,

Sorry, I cannot take the catholic frequency. If you really listen to that voice, you would not let these “humans” have you follow their way. Go visit the vadican, see how much money this man made organization has pulled in. Read up on the sex scandals, the abuse over the years, the historical data on how many people this orgainization has murdered during its time… then see if those bells in your head go off… Let your guards down, and ask yourself… would Jesus have been ok with this? Did Jesus really want a world that is so divided by religon that it has started wars? Do you really think that was his plan? If not, you should go read up on his life again. Follow Jesus, forget the church. If I was to pick between one or the other… I choose Christ.

As for the gateway thieory… thats really just a myth. Your point is taken. Now, similary, most people who get into hard drungs - always started with a beer. does thtat make beer a gateway drug? Maybe all those who do hard drugs started with Coffee and tea (both a drug) - Listen, I’ve worked with addicts in the past. The reason people get into hard drugs is not experimentation… they get inot it usually because something else in thier life is messed up. I have yet to meet a happy alcoholic. these are people using a drug as a tool to escape reality. Totally a different thing.

PS: Please don’t take anything I write offensifly, its not my intent. I am just passionalte abut this topic (its really the only thing that matters in life). and if I overstep, please let me know.

Peace

God is the Creator, not the Creation. And you can say with absolute certainty “exactly” that God told you its without a doubt its fine to take a hit. Did he tell you how many is too much or didn’t he go into detail?

I listen to the same voice, pray, Church and Eucharist [remember Him]. I’m getting a slightly different message. I think perhaps you should try the Catholic frequency again. See if it comes through clearer there.

This is my point, they are both gateway drugs, which as you see from the conversation leaves the individual to decide where the “enough line” should be drawn. Problem is my dear friend, they are often way past the line when they draw it. Not many young people use other drugs without first trying marijuana. Tis a pattern.

Kush, I don’t have to crash a car to know crashing a car is dangerous. I know its dangerous the moment I neglect the voice of my conscience and hit the accelerator. I guess that’s the other frequency.

I know that other frequency, my nephew is on it. He told me he wanted a Viking Funeral when he died. He too was an Alter Boy.

 

[Kush]

Hey J,

Just wanted to say I’m so proud of you for kicking that habbit. Sorry to hear it gave you such a hard time. Just remember, alcohol and alcoholism is not a disease - its simply an addition. You got addicted to a substance.

I was there years back. I was addicted to tobaco. I know I could never try again, or I would relapse - but after years of being away from it, I truly understand addiction.

Best of luck, and awesome job on school

I think that alcohol has ruined my life, I will be completing my master’s degree by next May and if I didn’t drink for so long I could have been a Professor with a Ph.D by now. Marijuana is a different issue, I haven’t done it for over two years and if it weren’t for my job I’d probably do it once in a while, certainly not like when I was younger. Pot is NOT the drug it has been portrayed to be in recent decades. Despite the fact that Bill Maher is our faith’s enemy and I disagree with him on just about everything I agree with him when he says “in order for pot to become legal people will have to start dying from it.” At Mass sometimes I wonder if I should drink the wine, but I haven’t as of yet because I am horrified of relapsing. Personally, I can never drink again because I have a disease, I wish I could smoke pot but I cant, but I wouldn’t use the government to restrict the use of either if that is what you are alluding to.

 

[GaryTaylor]

I think that alcohol has ruined my life, I will be completing my master’s degree by next May and if I didn’t drink for so long I could have been a Professor with a Ph.D by now. Marijuana is a different issue, I haven’t done it for over two years and if it weren’t for my job I’d probably do it once in a while, certainly not like when I was younger. Pot is NOT the drug it has been portrayed to be in recent decades. Despite the fact that Bill Maher is our faith’s enemy and I disagree with him on just about everything I agree with him when he says “in order for pot to become legal people will have to start dying from it.” At Mass sometimes I wonder if I should drink the wine, but I haven’t as of yet because I am horrified of relapsing. Personally, I can never drink again because I have a disease, I wish I could smoke pot but I cant, but I wouldn’t use the government to restrict the use of either if that is what you are alluding to.

My dear friend when you know the truth you can never convince yourself of the lie again. This is the point in your mind that your at. When you neglect that and accept temptation through your own permission, then you are back in the out of control mode. These Cross’s become more difficult because we allow the original temptation to then the slippery slope of vice, then habit. And somewhere not exactly sure where, you can rest assure you have entered the world of illusion.

The guilt part is another aspect which also revolves around your thinking in the disease realm. That’s not helping your guilt. The I am powerless idea I’m not convinced of but I admit I know not enough about that. You want to develop your strength, not bow to your weakness, but know it well. My thinking anyway. You sound good, the one hit weed out here now is dangerous, make no mistake here. In a moment you can find yourself confused and disoriented, basically in need of help.

 

[GaryTaylor]

Hey J,

Just wanted to say I’m so proud of you for kicking that habbit. Sorry to hear it gave you such a hard time. Just remember, alcohol and alcoholism is not a disease - its simply an addition. You got addicted to a substance.

I was there years back. I was addicted to tobaco. I know I could never try again, or I would relapse - but after years of being away from it, I truly understand addiction.

Best of luck, and awesome job on school

Kush, I am proud of you also. Still a little unsteady after the last go around I see though. Viking Funeral still in effect. Would you say its safe to say you are gaining knowledge of addiction thus yourself?

Kush, Catholic Church… Its calling you. Hows that struggle going? Do you think your rebelling still?

 

[Kush]

So he hung out and drank with ate with “sinners” yet you think he somehow fit into a conservative crowd? He chilled with prostitues dude! He knew and said we are “all gods children” Not by birth, but by the fact that we are all from the same source. We are all one.

What kingdom are you refering too? Jesus never said such a thing. He actaully said - and I quote “man will search high and low for the kingdom of god, and he will never find it… for what he does not know is… the kingdom is inside him”. Its not a destination we are heading towards. We are already there J. Live your life to its fullest. Eat, drink and be marry… that is the true gift from god. Heaven is real, it just does not exist out in space somewhere. it is inside you… where else do you think it would be. and if that is the case, there really is nothing you can do to prevent yourself from getting there… as you are already there.

These are not my words, these come from Jesus.

Hell, and all those places are just man made stories. they don’t really exist… you have been in heaven for a very long time… He gave you everything you need, you just simply need to start living the eternal joy… that part is up to you.

Peace

Never, he even suggested that the pharisees were accusing him of being a “drunkard”, because he ate and drank with people, even “sinners.” Enjoying life is one thing and abusing a habit is another, he is very clear in other areas of scripture that allowing anything (including alcohol) to come before God is a sin. BTW “drunkards” are among those who will not enter the Kingdom, along with other’s separated from God by their behavior. Even a liberal Catholic like me (my theology, not my politics) knows this, Jesus was NOT an “anything goes” type of guy.

 

[GaryTaylor]

So he hung out and drank with ate with “sinners” yet you think he somehow fit into a conservative crowd? He chilled with prostitues dude! He knew and said we are “all gods children” Not by birth, but by the fact that we are all from the same source. We are all one.

What kingdom are you refering too? Jesus never said such a thing. He actaully said - and I quote “man will search high and low for the kingdom of god, and he will never find it… for what he does not know is… the kingdom is inside him”. Its not a destination we are heading towards. We are already there J. Live your life to its fullest. Eat, drink and be marry… that is the true gift from god. Heaven is real, it just does not exist out in space somewhere. it is inside you… where else do you think it would be. and if that is the case, there really is nothing you can do to prevent yourself from getting there… as you are already there.

These are not my words, these come from Jesus.

Hell, and all those places are just man made stories. they don’t really exist… you have been in heaven for a very long time… He gave you everything you need, you just simply need to start living the eternal joy… that part is up to you.

Peace

Sounds like the same place the Pope hung around for a few decades. I seen it, not pretty, but good souls. Jesus Christ Crucified…my role model.

 

[Kush]

Hey Gary, thanks man, but seriously (and yes, I know how this internet word play game goes, its all cool), but in the end… here are my addictions. 1. coffee (can’t live without it for a day)… thats it. yes I smoke herb… but its not an addictive substance… I’ll have a beer here and there… but again, rarely, and I do so responsibly and maturly.

Not interested in the church… they don’t really follow Jesus… they seem to have made up thier own rules… If ever an organizaiotn use to “kill” people for not beliving what they belive in… that organization is false, and not following the right path. You know the history of the church… so I wont go there…

But, I do totally respect you (and my parents, and everyone else who go)… we all find our way… My way is through lessons I have learnt from my spiritual teachers… Jesus, the Buddha, and the Tao… (and many others who repeat the same message). its just my way

Kush, I am proud of you also. Still a little unsteady after the last go around I see though. Viking Funeral still in effect. Would you say its safe to say you are gaining knowledge of addiction thus yourself?

Kush, Catholic Church… Its calling you. Hows that struggle going? Do you think your rebelling still?

 

[J_the_Centrist]

My dear friend when you know the truth you can never convince yourself of the lie again. This is the point in your mind that your at. When you neglect that and accept temptation through your own permission, then you are back in the out of control mode. These Cross’s become more difficult because we allow the original temptation to then the slippery slope of vice, then habit. And somewhere not exactly sure where, you can rest assure you have entered the world of illusion.

The guilt part is another aspect which also revolves around your thinking in the disease realm. That’s not helping your guilt. The I am powerless idea I’m not convinced of but I admit I know not enough about that. You want to develop your strength, not bow to your weakness, but know it well. My thinking anyway. You sound good, the one hit weed out here now is dangerous, make no mistake here. In a moment you can find yourself confused and disoriented, basically in need of help.

Brother in Christ, I don’t think you understood what I meant. I am not guilty of anything at all however, for me to suggest that my life would be better off if I never drank would be nothing less than fallacious dishonesty. Pot is something that I can’t consume anyway, but if you have never smoked weed and enjoyed it you don’t understand what I mean. I grew up with people who have done far worse drugs than I ever did and we weren’t rich kids from the suburbs. Most of us were poor, borderline poor, or lower middle class kids, most of us came from dysfunctional families and that kind of drug use is always destructive. Call it a disease, addiction, crutch or whatever you like, once you quit an addiction you can never, ever go back to it again and I have enough experience and friends who are dead or in jail to know that. Yes, my addiction can reenter my life at any time, that is why I am constantly on guard from preventing that from happening again. Being honest about my problem and the ruinous impact it has had on my life is one of the weapons in my arsenal, without honesty I am twice as likely to relapse. I am not full of self-hatred, I am just admitting to the truth as it is. Thank you for your kind words, I should have elaborated, but I will share some of my story as it relates to our faith, if you don’t mind.

In case anyone is wondering my “coming home” experience was extremely unusual. I am a former Agnostic who returned to Christianity while still in the midst of my alcoholism and for years I wondered what good Christianity was doing for me, because I seemed to have used alcohol in conjunction with my faith. For example, as a historian I like to watch historically themed films (historical fiction), especially Christian epics; for years I would drink and watch movies like Ben Hur in what became like a personal tradition, I was also a solitary drunk. Becoming sober scared me, because I thought I would discard Christianity because it became seemingly so ingrained with my faith experience, so mine is not your typical “born again” story, but are there really any? One time I said in the depths of despair that I would rather have Jesus as a drunk, than become a sober Atheist. The complete opposite has happened, not only have my grades, faith, work-ethic, familial relations, and many more things improve, in addition I would really like to become a secular Franciscan. Franciscan spirituality in part lifted me out of the darkness I was in, as did the writings of St. Therese of Lisieux who I am very devoted to now, because I prayed for her assistance in helping me quit and I haven’t drank since then. I just thought I would share that, for anyone reading this who is lost in the depths of addiction, there is help and a God who really loves you, keep trying and never give up you really are not alone.