C
chevalier
Guest
Saint Josemaria’s version of positive thinking is quite Catholic. 
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D
deekod1967
Guest
Your very welcome Reen!
I believe the humanists are as religious as you and I - they are faith based like you and I - except their faith is in humans not God. Even in their denial of God their faith systems mirror that of religious faiths - it only shows how shallow humanity really is, we always want to come home to God in our heart of hearts, its what we feel comfortable with - even when we think we dont want it.
God bless,
Derek,
D
distracted
Guest
Sorry - haven’t read all posts but i can speak from my own experience:
I feel it is not wrong to be “positive” per se. But if by positive you mean to not think or say “negative things” (a subjective term, to be sure), well, that’s different.
The Protestants seem to think that having Jesus “on the cross still” (crucifixes in the Church, etc.) is negative. I don’t think so, but in many ways, it IS “negative” … unpleasant to think of the One I love most dying such a horrible death. It is actually, to me, unfathomable, no matter how many times i pray the rosary. Even so, i force myself to “go there” while reciting the Sorrowful Mysteries of the rosary because it bonds me more strongly with Jesus and i begin to see how my own sufferings (my crosses) parallel His…
Also, i don’t like when poeple act like you are supposed to be happy all the time because of your relationship with Christ. some seem to think something is wrong if you are not at peace 24/7 and/or happy or whatever… When, Truth be told, we have serious crosses, one of them being that it is HARD being a devout Christian in a world that seems to hate Christ (how many TV shows are about Him? How many tabloids speak of Him or His Church? I rest my case).
Anyway, i have peace and some happiness some times, but i am not a pollyanna by a long shot. Life on this Earth is not only (sometimes) Heaven, sometimes Purgatory, but sometimes (often??) downright Hell. And why be surprised about that when Jesus said that we “will be hated by all” because of Him…
I feel it is not wrong to be “positive” per se. But if by positive you mean to not think or say “negative things” (a subjective term, to be sure), well, that’s different.
The Protestants seem to think that having Jesus “on the cross still” (crucifixes in the Church, etc.) is negative. I don’t think so, but in many ways, it IS “negative” … unpleasant to think of the One I love most dying such a horrible death. It is actually, to me, unfathomable, no matter how many times i pray the rosary. Even so, i force myself to “go there” while reciting the Sorrowful Mysteries of the rosary because it bonds me more strongly with Jesus and i begin to see how my own sufferings (my crosses) parallel His…
Also, i don’t like when poeple act like you are supposed to be happy all the time because of your relationship with Christ. some seem to think something is wrong if you are not at peace 24/7 and/or happy or whatever… When, Truth be told, we have serious crosses, one of them being that it is HARD being a devout Christian in a world that seems to hate Christ (how many TV shows are about Him? How many tabloids speak of Him or His Church? I rest my case).
Anyway, i have peace and some happiness some times, but i am not a pollyanna by a long shot. Life on this Earth is not only (sometimes) Heaven, sometimes Purgatory, but sometimes (often??) downright Hell. And why be surprised about that when Jesus said that we “will be hated by all” because of Him…
G
Guidissimo
Guest
This is a big, challenging question! Because to expect evil and suffering can often be the thing that brings it about. Fear can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. At the same time a polyanna mentality can lead to all sorts of foolishness.
I must have a bold confidence that my labors will be successful, that they will not end up in failure, that good will come from my actions rather than evil. That the power of the cross is effective to turn back evil and bring God’s grace, peace, and covenant mercy into a situation. I can’t wonder if God will answer my prayers…otherwise I can take no risks at all, which puts you in a catch-22 of evil.
All things come from God, he is good and is the imminent cause of all that is good, we are his children, and furthermore Jesus defeated the devil on the cross, so by the position of our Sonship, we can put bold trust in the immediacy of the kingdom, of his blessing and spirit of promise, that he has a plan for good and that we are part of it, and that he will show his glory through spiritual and natural blessings, turning back evil at every turn.
At the same time, I think we can expect the providence of God and not receive it, contrary to every expecatation. And so we share in Jesus’ sufferings.
We also have an obligation of virtue to act with natural prudence and not put God to the test. Also, natural blessings create eternal obligations. But I think we can put great confidence in God that He will give us this prudence as well…
At least that’s where my thinking is today.
I must have a bold confidence that my labors will be successful, that they will not end up in failure, that good will come from my actions rather than evil. That the power of the cross is effective to turn back evil and bring God’s grace, peace, and covenant mercy into a situation. I can’t wonder if God will answer my prayers…otherwise I can take no risks at all, which puts you in a catch-22 of evil.
All things come from God, he is good and is the imminent cause of all that is good, we are his children, and furthermore Jesus defeated the devil on the cross, so by the position of our Sonship, we can put bold trust in the immediacy of the kingdom, of his blessing and spirit of promise, that he has a plan for good and that we are part of it, and that he will show his glory through spiritual and natural blessings, turning back evil at every turn.
At the same time, I think we can expect the providence of God and not receive it, contrary to every expecatation. And so we share in Jesus’ sufferings.
We also have an obligation of virtue to act with natural prudence and not put God to the test. Also, natural blessings create eternal obligations. But I think we can put great confidence in God that He will give us this prudence as well…
At least that’s where my thinking is today.
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