I don't like being human --- is this despair/despondence?

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EIF5A

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The constant temptation, concupiscence, sin, envy, jealousy, pride, judgment, lack of peace, lack of constancy, etc.

I know I’m supposed to depend on God’s grace and mercy, but I really do hate the way I am.

If only that hatred can be turned into something positive like resisting evil…And maybe praying more.

It’s just overwhelming being anxious about not only my sins, but the state of the world and constant bickering within the Church, especially those who have not-so-positive things to say about the pope.

I’ve been planning to go to confession, but it’s just like, “Well, what’s the point? I’m going to cast another haughty eye or entertain lustful thoughts again.” I don’t even know if I have true contrition, even imperfect contrition.

What exactly is human nature? Aren’t angels like pure, sinless beings? Why did God create us? Are angels not capable of love and free will?
 
EIF5A said:
The constant temptation, concupiscence, sin, envy, jealousy, pride, judgment, lack of peace, lack of constancy, etc.

I know I’m supposed to depend on God’s grace and mercy, but I really do hate the way I am.

If only that hatred can be turned into something positive like resisting evil…And maybe praying more.

It’s just overwhelming being anxious about not only my sins, but the state of the world and constant bickering within the Church, especially those who have not-so-positive things to say about the pope.

I’ve been planning to go to confession, but it’s just like, “Well, what’s the point? I’m going to cast another haughty eye or entertain lustful thoughts again.” I don’t even know if I have true contrition, even imperfect contrition.

What exactly is human nature? Aren’t angels like pure, sinless beings? Why did God create us? Are angels not capable of love and free will?
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You have multiple questions. I too hate these bodies. They’re loathsome. Many of the Saints prayed to God to deliver them from the necessities of the body. The Imitation of Christ may be a book that you should read. Following the instructions within the book, you will secure a sound spiritual foundation.
 
Our glorified bodies are going to make these bodies loathsome in comparison. I’m speaking logically, am I not? How is my thinking heresy?
 
Living on earth is truly a misery. The more a man desires spiritual life, the more bitter the present becomes to him, because he understands better and sees more clearly the defects, the corruption of human nature. To eat and drink, to watch and sleep, to rest, to labor, and to be bound by other human necessities is certainly a great misery and affliction to the devout man, who would gladly be released from them and be free from all sin. Truly, the inner man is greatly burdened in this world by the necessities of the body, and for this reason the Prophet prayed that he might be as free from them as possible, when he said: “From my necessities, O Lord, deliver me.”
-The Imitation of Christ

You need to acknowledge the above depiction of what appears to describe our earthy bodies as loathsome. Listen to Saint Paul condemn the needful body.
 
Yes, this is a temptation from the devil to quit trying to be more like Christ. God does not look at the results, but the struggle. It’s perserverence that matters.
 
Not on your page OP, sorry to say.

These bodies are a wealth of experience, sight, smell, movement, etc.

Whereas, the darkness of death offers literally nothing.

Viva la vida humana!

ICXC NIKA.
 
It does sound like despair/despondence to me but before you automatically decide that’s another sin and get even more upset it doesn’t sound like you’re entering into this despondence with free will. You sound like you may be clinically depressed- you might seek out a doctor and see if that’s the case.

Detest your sins- but don’t detest yourself. God created you- in HIS image. God loves you. To reject yourself is to reject that.

You seem sensitive to the state of the world and for that reason I highly suggest you take a hiatus from the news and from social networking for a while. Sometimes we can get overwhelmed by the evil in the world but remember that the news isn’t going to report on all the people that made it home safe yesterday, all the people who entered into Holy Matrimony or brought a loved child into this world, etc. It’s going to report only on the bad things, and so it’s easy to think that’s all there is but it’s not. Take a break. Renew your spirit with good spiritual reading or maybe some good spiritual movies, prayer, adoration, scripture, etc.

And definitely go to Confession- don’t you always feel better after?

You are in my prayers.
 
Robert_Sock said:
Our glorified bodies are going to make these bodies loathsome in comparison. I’m speaking logically, am I not? How is my thinking heresy?
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The problem is that you are stating that our bodies are loathsome, not that they are comparatively loathsome. No matter how amazing our glorified bodies may be, they will never make our natural bodies loathsome. Claiming they are loathsome is rejecting a gift from God, which is heretical.
 
Thanks for your putdown! That I believe these bodies to be loathsome (relatively speaking) is a belief of mine. Maybe we have different definitions of what loathsome means, but I think I explained how I’m using it.
 
AKDee said:
It does sound like despair/despondence to me but before you automatically decide that’s another sin and get even more upset it doesn’t sound like you’re entering into this despondence with free will. You sound like you may be clinically depressed- you might seek out a doctor and see if that’s the case.

Detest your sins- but don’t detest yourself. God created you- in HIS image. God loves you. To reject yourself is to reject that.

You seem sensitive to the state of the world and for that reason I highly suggest you take a hiatus from the news and from social networking for a while. Sometimes we can get overwhelmed by the evil in the world but remember that the news isn’t going to report on all the people that made it home safe yesterday, all the people who entered into Holy Matrimony or brought a loved child into this world, etc. It’s going to report only on the bad things, and so it’s easy to think that’s all there is but it’s not. Take a break. Renew your spirit with good spiritual reading or maybe some good spiritual movies, prayer, adoration, scripture, etc.

And definitely go to Confession- don’t you always feel better after?

You are in my prayers.
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I suppose I have a slight bit of scrupulosity, but not to an extreme degree.

I just don’t know what to do.

What am I supposed to do?

Praying: I tried, but I can’t pray with love, confidence, or fear of God.

Reading spiritual things: I tried, but they are too heavy and I can’t emulate the saints.

Giving to the poor: What’s a few dollars, really? Should I give up everything I have? I probably should.

Proclaiming the “truth”: Occasionally, I post rebuttal comments on articles on Facebook or liberal websites like Huffington Post, but who am I to write that same-sex relations are wrong when I am gay (and trying to be chaste) myself and am a worse sinner?

Confession just seems like a routine, and I fear at some point, it won’t have meaning anymore. One day, I will no longer be repentant.

I just don’t get why human nature (whatever that means) is/was “good”. How exactly are we an image of God?
 
Robert_Sock said:
Our glorified bodies are going to make these bodies loathsome in comparison. I’m speaking logically, am I not? How is my thinking heresy?
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We are made in the image and likeness of God.
Certainly you don’t believe that to be “loathsome”??? :eek:
 
pianistclare said:
We are made in the image and likeness of God.
Certainly you don’t believe that to be “loathsome”??? :eek:
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A body that experiences pain, suffering and death (among a host of other negative things), is loathsome!
 
Robert_Sock said:
A body that experiences pain, suffering and death (among a host of other negative things), is loathsome!
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The body is not loathsome; the sin which brought about that state is what’s loathsome. Our bodies are broken shells of what they should be, but they are still made in the image and likeness of God, which Christ took on to bring salvation to all of us. There is no way you should consider the human body, which God himself took on with pain, suffering, death and all, loathsome.

If it’s good enough for God to take part in it, then it should be good enough for everyone.

That’s not to say it’s perfect, or that what’s coming isn’t infinitely better, but to conclude that they are loathsome simply because we have something better to look forward to is errant and logically incoherent.
 
EIF5A said:
I suppose I have a slight bit of scrupulosity, but not to an extreme degree.

I just don’t know what to do.

What am I supposed to do?

Praying: I tried, but I can’t pray with love, confidence, or fear of God.

Reading spiritual things: I tried, but they are too heavy and I can’t emulate the saints.

Giving to the poor: What’s a few dollars, really? Should I give up everything I have? I probably should.

Proclaiming the “truth”: Occasionally, I post rebuttal comments on articles on Facebook or liberal websites like Huffington Post, but who am I to write that same-sex relations are wrong when I am gay (and trying to be chaste) myself and am a worse sinner?

Confession just seems like a routine, and I fear at some point, it won’t have meaning anymore. One day, I will no longer be repentant.

I just don’t get why human nature (whatever that means) is/was “good”. How exactly are we an image of God?
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What are we supposed to do you ask?
Be the hands and feet of Christ in the world.
Be kind to everyone, even if they reject your kindness. Be at peace with yourself and God. Meaning, treat yourself and your body with respect…meditate on one line of scripture. Breathe it in…I recommend the website www.sacredspace.ie for daily 5 -10 minute reflection. Begin the prayer and click on the tabs that help you to discern the passage’s meaning. Begin your day with a spirit of thanksgiving and ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you can be useful to someone this day. At the close of the day give thanks for your blessings. I agree, take a break from the nonsense of FB and Huffington post. It’s not good to have one’s head in the sand, but don’t lie down with fleas either, you know?
If confession is routine to you…then meet one on one with the priest and TALK. Talk it out. Ask questions. That’s what they are there for. The help people to cope, understand, and in dong so they lead us to a better relationship with Jesus. You’re lost because you don’t nurture that relationship with Jesus.
When we say and believe that “there’s not use, there’s no point, there’s no benefit” to anything regarding Our Lord…that is an affront to the ONE who loves you more than anything. This Jesus died for your salvation. This one desires you to live with Him and the angels and saints and all holy men and women in heaven for eternity. You’re pretty important to Him.
Make Him your priority and see if things don’t just work out really well.
I’ll say a prayer for you. Check out that site. Really work at it. Give it a shot.
Nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
Peace.
May the profound peace that come from God dwell within you.
 
ProdglArchitect said:
The body is not loathsome; the sin which brought about that state is what’s loathsome. Our bodies are broken shells of what they should be, but they are still made in the image and likeness of God, which Christ took on to bring salvation to all of us. There is no way you should consider the human body, which God himself took on with pain, suffering, death and all, loathsome.

If it’s good enough for God to take part in it, then it should be good enough for everyone.

That’s not to say it’s perfect, or that what’s coming isn’t infinitely better, but to conclude that they are loathsome simply because we have something better to look forward to is errant and logically incoherent.
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It’s good enough for me too! It’s our life in these lowly bodies that will enable us to enter Heaven. Everything is cool! Surely we must loath things like disease, pain and suffering that these bodies often forces upon us…
 
Robert_Sock said:
It’s good enough for me too! It’s our life in these lowly bodies that will enable us to enter Heaven. Everything is cool! Surely we must loath things like disease, pain and suffering that these bodies often forces upon us…
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Yes, but that’s distinctly different from loathing the body, which is what you seem to be advocating. I apologize if I’ve misunderstood, but that’s how your writing is coming across.
 
We’re supposed to “do God’s will”.

And that’s not sinning. OK, got it.

But it’s impossible to not sin. That moment of judgment. That moment of thinking I’m better or more talented than someone else. And countless other things that run through the mind ceaselessly.

I don’t want that to happen. And I know it’s evil.

So why can’t I program myself to not sin?

Human nature is so weak and vulnerable.

Angels are higher beings. I just don’t get why God made us.

Angels technically don’t have a body (but somehow have eyes and wings, not sure how that works out). Is that a negative…?
 
If you willfully believe you are going to Hell no matter what, than yes, you are despairing and that is a very harmful mortal sin. It can hurt very badly in all kinds of ways–causing mental and physical health issues and of course, kills the soul like any other mortal sin. I despaired once for just about a whole day and as I lay in bed, my back started to hurt intensely in a way that hadn’t happened before and hasn’t since and I felt like I was surrounded by demons, waiting for me to die.

As far as not wanting to live on this Earth as a human anymore, that’s very understandable. There are so many temptations to sin mortally and to sin mortally is to risk eternal damnation, which doesn’t only mean eternal agony (as if that were not bad enough,) but being fully evil and hating God, as well as all His creation.
 
GEddie said:
Not on your page OP, sorry to say.

These bodies are a wealth of experience, sight, smell, movement, etc.

Whereas, the darkness of death offers literally nothing.

Viva la vida humana!

ICXC NIKA.
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What about Heaven?
 
This discussion on “loathsome” bodies is interesting. Most the replies have been accurate regarding how humans are supposed to love our gifts from God (including our lives and bodies). However, I find it interesting that nobody has provided a reason for loving our bodies with a source (although someone did vaguely reference St. Iraneus’ teachings).

Catholicism is very complex. In Luke 14:26 Jesus says: “whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes and even life itself, cannot be my disciple.”

This passage has to be incorporated into our lives while still loving our neighbors and expressing Christian Charity.
 
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