Philosophy Archives - Page 11 of 22

Human Nature Is Not Good For Religion

December 12, 2014 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

Don’t Stop
At The Foundation

This is the first post in a series on Christian Basics. By Basics I mean essential issues, issues that apply to everyone.

Five such basics are: Belief, Baptism, The Lord’s Supper, Organization and Purpose.

These are more than foundational. They form the superstructure of Christianity as well.

A house is never just a foundation or slab.

Start a discussion around any one of these topics and the conversation either becomes heated or confused. Neither the glazed-over look nor frustrated response is unusual.

But these are basics. Simplicity should be the rule.

There are only so many issues to consider and there are only so many questions to ask.

The problem is the more we ask, the more complicated the answers become. They expand. They grow. And they become proprietary as well. [Read more…] about Human Nature Is Not Good For Religion

5 Guidelines For Making Personal Choices

November 27, 2014 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

The Freedom Of Choice
Should Be Guarded
With Deliberation

Because choice isn’t absolute, because some choices can be hurtful, because wrong choices can retard growth, because the number of choices we have is always reduced by making only one, and they are reduced even more when we make poor choices, we must approach choice-making cautiously, deliberately and judiciously.

The following guidelines are offered to inform the deliberative process: [Read more…] about 5 Guidelines For Making Personal Choices

10 Real Truths About Personal Choice

November 26, 2014 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

No Situation Is Void
Of Choice

Freedom is a hot button issue. History would be a very boring, and a short topic if it weren’t for all the skirmishes over personal freedom.

It’s universal. We all want freedom. When we have it we feel independent, unencumbered and unobstructed.

But is that really true?

Closely related to Freedom is Choice. If a person is free, the assumption is they make their own choices.

And that makes sense. Is a person really free if they don’t have choice and isn’t choice one evidence of freedom?

Freedom is the issue but choice is the mechanism.

Neither of these ideas comes without restrictions, though. Rules, conditions and limitations apply. [Read more…] about 10 Real Truths About Personal Choice

3 Benefits Of A Great Friendship

September 27, 2014 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

A Person’s Capacity
For Friendship
Is Determined By
The Number Of Secrets
They Keep

In a previous post I covered 11 Negative Friendships To Avoid. Now that that’s out of the way we can look at the positive benefits of a great friendship. These are the things we’re all looking for and hope to find in a friendship.

A good friendship is . . . [Read more…] about 3 Benefits Of A Great Friendship

11 Negative Friendships To Avoid

September 26, 2014 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

Friends Are Rarely
Saints
Friendships Rarely
Emotional Utopias

The word Friend, like the word Family, has been romanticized. It evokes idealized images of a perfect world and warm fuzzies for all.

The assumption is, a true friend can only be upright and a friendship can only be good for us. The reality is, again like family, a friendship can sometimes be very bad.

But we can’t allow that possibility to put us in a permanently guarded state. Sometimes the friends we make are the only ones available. They’re in our face, so to speak. We don’t have a choice so we make the best of what’s available.

Imperfect friends and friendships can still be very good. What we must avoid are the extremes.

Defining The Negative Friendship

All friendships have hurtful moments but an abrasion here or there doesn’t make it negative. A friendship becomes negative when it is more hurtful than beneficial over the long haul.

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Personality is an issue but not absolutely. A person’s nature is built in and is neither intrinsically good nor bad. An idiosyncrasy that irritates some people will be endearing to others.

From the examples that follow it is clear that negative is a character issue and that is what spoils the mix.

One reason we gravitate to these not-so-good-for-us friendships is they are like crutches. They reinforce our disabled thinking, and that begs the question. How many people really want to change? How many of us intentionally choose friends because they are good for us and not easy. Having friends who endorse our faults relieves the pressure.

Like the song says . . .

Some of them want to abuse you and some of them want to be abused.

It’s easier to stay as we are, and people who allow that are good for the friendship even if the friendship isn’t good for us.

That’s not how friendships are supposed to work but it does happen.

The truth is Friendship implies Equality, and good ones involve give and take. I wouldn’t say friendships will ever be absolutely equal, or absolutely good for us, but there should be a balance.

The following emotionally unbalanced extremes are ones we should avoid. [Read more…] about 11 Negative Friendships To Avoid