Faith and Sense

[simplynoone]

Before Thanksgiving, my sister and I were at the grocery store. We were amazed to walk in and see not only a Santa Claus walking around, but all the Christmas stuff out full force. As I was making my way through the store, I noticed that my cart was filling up more quickly than usual as well as my two sons were asking non-stop for this and that and, well … everything.

Now, those who don’t know me might consider me somewhat of a “penny pincher,” but the truth is, I don’t look at stuff and see “happiness.” I don’t look at food and think “contentment.” I don’t think of a song and think “joy.” I think contentment when I read the words of another that I “get.” I think happiness when I am on the same page to learn as another human being whilst in a discussion (whether we agree on the topic or not). I think joy when I see others trying to understand one another. I have my moments of fulfillment when I am sitting out under the stars and contemplating what we call “Life.”

On this day that we were in the store, it occurred to me what was happening. I noticed the Christmas music in the background, the smells, the samples, and the attention that was being drawn to “stuff” by the Santa. It was our senses that were being manipulated and it was the contributing factor to my basket having more than the usual amount (which, I quickly took control of) and my children “wanting, wanting, wanting” … whereas they are not at all that way on any other normal day.

Given my curious nature, I came home and searched the Scriptures. I found two places where the word “sense” is used.

In light of the scenario I shared above, is there anything that can be drawn from the following two passages?

Nehemiah 8:8 and Hebrews 5:14

How do you think our senses, that being taste, smell, touch, sight, and hearing have to do with our understanding of the Law of God?

Also, what about common sense? What is it to have a deeper sense of Reality?

And how can the mystical be considered beneficial to our understanding of Reality (for those that subscribe to it)?

Remember that it was the house of Israel that had the problems with idolatry, in which they were then scattered among the Gentiles Nations according to Hosea 8:8. So, is it all possible that the NT was sent out into the world to “teach” them? Perhaps “faith” being a lesson to be learned? After all, there is what is written in Jeremiah 17.

Thoughts? http://www.theologyonline.com/forums/images/smilies/confused.gif

 

[Joe_5859]

Since we are psycho-somatic unities (i.e. body and soul), the senses have a great deal to do with how we learn and how we come to know things. You and I are communicating right now because we have the sense of sight (or perhaps also the sense of hearing if you are using one of those programs that can speak the text on your computer).

This is how God communicates to us as well. He sent us His Son incarnate to walk among us, to speak to us. Jesus healed people using physical things like mud and spit. For Catholics, the Sacraments are ways that God is touching our lives in this physical way even now. We have the Bible which we are able to hear proclaimed or read with our eyes.

Indeed, it is difficult to imagine how we would learn anything about anything without our five senses. They are the tounching points between us and the world outside of ourselves.

Of course, as you experienced, this fundamental reality about our human nature is cleverly used by people who are interested in making a profit. But that doens’t mean our senses are bad. It means we need to be on guard against being taken advantage of (which it seems you were able to do successfully).

I don’t know if this is the type of answer you were looking for, but it’s all I have at the moment.

 

[puzzleannie]

I think both OP and the store managers understand perfectly how the senses work on our thinking and choices, very wise parent to get this understanding home to her kids, so they can see how the ambience in the store is designed that way.

visited Krispy Kreme when we were in NC with the grandkids, first time I had seen the conveyor and the fresh donuts, DH talked to the clerk who told him when the fresh donuts come out sales explode, and people buy boxes instead of single donuts.

the same phenomenon is why they hire people to cook and hand out food samples in the grocery store, and why your market probably also had a lot of non-food gift and holiday type items being promoted.

this whole holiday hype–and the guilt trip it imposes on moms trying to achieve the perfect holiday experience for their families–is based on this principle–buy IT and buy happiness

 

[simplynoone]

Since we are psycho-somatic unities (i.e. body and soul), the senses have a great deal to do with how we learn and how we come to know things. You and I are communicating right now because we have the sense of sight (or perhaps also the sense of hearing if you are using one of those programs that can speak the text on your computer).

This is how God communicates to us as well. He sent us His Son incarnate to walk among us, to speak to us. Jesus healed people using physical things like mud and spit. For Catholics, the Sacraments are ways that God is touching our lives in this physical way even now. We have the Bible which we are able to hear proclaimed or read with our eyes.

Indeed, it is difficult to imagine how we would learn anything about anything without our five senses. They are the tounching points between us and the world outside of ourselves.

Of course, as you experienced, this fundamental reality about our human nature is cleverly used by people who are interested in making a profit. But that doens’t mean our senses are bad. It means we need to be on guard against being taken advantage of (which it seems you were able to do successfully).

I don’t know if this is the type of answer you were looking for, but it’s all I have at the moment.

Well, given that I asked for your thoughts, any answer is fine.

I am thinking along the lines of what is written in the NT … “faith is the evidence of things not seen.” People don’t really think of this and realize that it does not say, “faith is the evidence of truth.”

Now, read Jeremiah 17 … how does God test the mind? I think this is the design of the NT … to test the mind. Again, remember that the house of Israel (Ephraim) was spread into the bloodlines of the world. And it is a proven fact that Life (information) is in the blood. Given that they had such a problem with idolatry, how then could they be tested via the mind? The NT?

Jesus never claimed to be God, and in fact went to special lengths to make sure that no one could claim he did … just read John 5.

 

[simplynoone]

I think both OP and the store managers understand perfectly how the senses work on our thinking and choices, very wise parent to get this understanding home to her kids, so they can see how the ambience in the store is designed that way.

visited Krispy Kreme when we were in NC with the grandkids, first time I had seen the conveyor and the fresh donuts, DH talked to the clerk who told him when the fresh donuts come out sales explode, and people buy boxes instead of single donuts.

the same phenomenon is why they hire people to cook and hand out food samples in the grocery store, and why your market probably also had a lot of non-food gift and holiday type items being promoted.

this whole holiday hype–and the guilt trip it imposes on moms trying to achieve the perfect holiday experience for their families–is based on this principle–buy IT and buy happiness

Thank you for the support. I posted this on another board and only got criticism as a parent. shrugs

And guilt trips … well, they don’t work on me when it comes to my children.

 

[jmcrae]

Our five senses are the gateway to our consciousness. What grabs our attention through our senses is what informs us - it’s what we think about, at least for that particular moment.

This is why, when teaching, environment is so important. I remember one year, I had a poster of the Ten Commandments up on one of the walls of the room I was using. I think I taught on that subject twice during the whole year. Years later, the kids who were in that group still remember the Ten Commandments - but very little else that I taught that year.

I have also noticed that Catholics who attend Mass at parishes that are decorated with stained glass windows, statues,and traditional furnishings - where the music is very traditional, and where they use incense, and where the altar servers are encouraged to use the bells at the appropriate moments - seem to have a stronger grasp of their faith than Catholics who attend Mass in more modern-style buildings, where these things are not seen as being very important to our faith experience.

When all of the senses are being used, we retain more (because we have experienced more) than when we are only using one or two of our senses.

 

[simplynoone]

Our five senses are the gateway to our consciousness. What grabs our attention through our senses is what informs us - it’s what we think about, at least for that particular moment.

This is why, when teaching, environment is so important. I remember one year, I had a poster of the Ten Commandments up on one of the walls of the room I was using. I think I taught on that subject twice during the whole year. Years later, the kids who were in that group still remember the Ten Commandments - but very little else that I taught that year.

I have also noticed that Catholics who attend Mass at parishes that are decorated with stained glass windows, statues,and traditional furnishings - where the music is very traditional, and where they use incense, and where the altar servers are encouraged to use the bells at the appropriate moments - seem to have a stronger grasp of their faith than Catholics who attend Mass in more modern-style buildings, where these things are not seen as being very important to our faith experience.

When all of the senses are being used, we retain more (because we have experienced more) than when we are only using one or two of our senses.

Growing up in the atmosphere of the church, I find rather that the church manipulates (though not necessarily intentionally) our senses. What we think are “spiritual” experiences are only our natural reactions to what we are being exposed to through our senses.

I find the more genuine spiritual experiences when I am outside in nature and paying attention to all that is going on in it. (of course, this becomes harder to do the more that nature is being manipulated with what man has done to it).

In light of what you said above, what do you make of the following verses?

Isaiah 1:12-14
Isaiah 65:2-5
Isaiah 66:2-4
Jeremiah 1:16
Jeremiah 18:15-16

Remember what is said in Hosea 8:8

And thank,you for your (name removed by moderator)ut.