E
ethereality
Guest
Yes, I am a little angry with God for letting me suffer, as you say, although that’s an understatement (as I said, I don’t just suffer, I wish I were dead; I have trouble going to bed at night because of the thought of waking up for a new day of torture the next morning). I read “Salvifici Doloris” again, as was recommended, and it did help some. I am trusting God; e.g. I continue praying every day, hoping to be healed soon, trying to believe that my prayers are heard and will be granted soon.
Nevertheless, trying to believe the Church and trust in God doesn’t answer the other problems I’ve raised, namely, a certain apathy regarding death and non-Christian religions: If Archbishop Fulton Sheen really thinks “Live is Worth Living”, then he better show me why. I cannot feel sorry for the baby killed in the womb or the young adult with terminal cancer; I rather wish I were them. If I am to argue that the Church is correct and everyone else is wrong (e.g. the Quran), then I need evidence. Otherwise, I cannot say the Mohammedan is wrong; I can only say his understanding of history is different. (By the way, regarding Mohammedanism vs. Christianity, there is also a certain perverseness to the Christian meaning of suffering: Classically, it was God’s way of telling you that you’re doing something wrong. If Mohammedanism is true, how is God to convince the Christian, when he thinks that his suffering is evidence that he’s doing something right?)
“Aha! See?! You’re trying to test God, and that’s why He’s not healing you!” Nonsense, because as I’ve said, I’ve been trying to live as a devout Christian for years, I’ve been praying for healing for the better part of a year every day now, and so on. If I didn’t already have faith in God, if I didn’t already believe the Church, would I be doing these things?
“You’re trying to seek a sign, and the only sign that shall be given is the Resurrection!” Am I really seeking a sign? or am I seeking a relief from my daily torture? Again, the miracle I am requesting is of physical healing (the third kind of miracle classified by St. Aquinas), which the skeptic could deny as simply “not yet explained by science”. Since I’m not asking for irrefutable proof, I don’t think this qualifies as asking for a sign. (I’m not asking for Fatima’s Miracle of the Sun to be repeated in New York City.)
So what are your thoughts to all this? So far, you’ve only offered me words of kindness and encouragement to keep doing what I’ve been doing.
Nevertheless, trying to believe the Church and trust in God doesn’t answer the other problems I’ve raised, namely, a certain apathy regarding death and non-Christian religions: If Archbishop Fulton Sheen really thinks “Live is Worth Living”, then he better show me why. I cannot feel sorry for the baby killed in the womb or the young adult with terminal cancer; I rather wish I were them. If I am to argue that the Church is correct and everyone else is wrong (e.g. the Quran), then I need evidence. Otherwise, I cannot say the Mohammedan is wrong; I can only say his understanding of history is different. (By the way, regarding Mohammedanism vs. Christianity, there is also a certain perverseness to the Christian meaning of suffering: Classically, it was God’s way of telling you that you’re doing something wrong. If Mohammedanism is true, how is God to convince the Christian, when he thinks that his suffering is evidence that he’s doing something right?)
“Aha! See?! You’re trying to test God, and that’s why He’s not healing you!” Nonsense, because as I’ve said, I’ve been trying to live as a devout Christian for years, I’ve been praying for healing for the better part of a year every day now, and so on. If I didn’t already have faith in God, if I didn’t already believe the Church, would I be doing these things?
“You’re trying to seek a sign, and the only sign that shall be given is the Resurrection!” Am I really seeking a sign? or am I seeking a relief from my daily torture? Again, the miracle I am requesting is of physical healing (the third kind of miracle classified by St. Aquinas), which the skeptic could deny as simply “not yet explained by science”. Since I’m not asking for irrefutable proof, I don’t think this qualifies as asking for a sign. (I’m not asking for Fatima’s Miracle of the Sun to be repeated in New York City.)
So what are your thoughts to all this? So far, you’ve only offered me words of kindness and encouragement to keep doing what I’ve been doing.