To the Christians in here... Exactly WHY did you choose it?

Discuss philosophical questions regarding theism (and atheism), and discuss religion as it relates to philosophy. This includes any philosophical discussions that happen to be about god, gods, or a 'higher power' or the belief of them. This also generally includes philosophical topics about organized or ritualistic mysticism or about organized, common or ritualistic beliefs in the existence of supernatural phenomenon.
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Grotto19
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Favorite Philosopher: Epictetus
Location: Niagara Falls, N.Y. USA

Re: To the Christians in here... Exactly WHY did you choose

Post by Grotto19 »

Dolphin42 wrote:It was indeed interesting enough and I read it all. May I ask: why did you choose to share such an intense personal story on this particular website?


Initial motive: because someone asked a question I knew the answer to. Whenever someone does this if I have the time I answer.

But why the depth of story. At the start of my reply that was not intended. But I am among other things a writer, and in a habit of going where the pen takes me. My writing begins with structure, but nearly always becomes something entirely different than I intended. Usually I am satisfied with my creation. But occasionally I yield something I can only describe as a giant turd. Which is frustrating as that turd took 20 minutes to create and will not be posted.

Regarding privacy or personal secrets. I only withhold anything for security reasons. If it is relevant to discussion I will tell someone any detail of my life that does not pose a security risk to myself or expose another person’s secrets. Because I value truth so highly being candid is in my opinion a high virtue. I don’t demand it of others but value it highly when I see it.
Dolphin42
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Re: To the Christians in here... Exactly WHY did you choose

Post by Dolphin42 »

One of the advantages of telling your story on a site like this is that it is anonymous and it doesn't really matter if it isn't perfectly composed elegant prose. You can just get it out there.

Do you find revealing that kind of information cathartic? One of the common characteristics of trauma is, I've gathered, people's need to talk about it - to externalise it; to eject it from the mind and place it in front of other people. I guess, in a way, the anonymity is a bit like talking to a psychiatrist. One of the most helpful things about that is the lack of any personal relationship with the psychiatrist, so you can be completely open and honest without worrying about its effect on the person you're talking to, or what they think about you.
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Grotto19
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Joined: July 26th, 2012, 2:11 pm
Favorite Philosopher: Epictetus
Location: Niagara Falls, N.Y. USA

Re: To the Christians in here... Exactly WHY did you choose

Post by Grotto19 »

Dolphin42 wrote:One of the advantages of telling your story on a site like this is that it is anonymous and it doesn't really matter if it isn't perfectly composed elegant prose. You can just get it out there.

Do you find revealing that kind of information cathartic? One of the common characteristics of trauma is, I've gathered, people's need to talk about it - to externalise it; to eject it from the mind and place it in front of other people. I guess, in a way, the anonymity is a bit like talking to a psychiatrist. One of the most helpful things about that is the lack of any personal relationship with the psychiatrist, so you can be completely open and honest without worrying about its effect on the person you're talking to, or what they think about you.
Your insight is likely often the case. But I am I suppose an odd bird. Anonymity is not an issue for me. My name is Frank Delgrosso I live in Niagara Falls N. Y. On youtube that name can be looked up and you can see a real pic of me as my icon. On Facebook under that name most of my content is public. The only content I conceal is that which involves others which may not wish to have it revealed. There is nothing in my life I keep private accept to protect others privacy. If it only regards me I will spill it without reservation even if “it” frames me poorly.

However as for the explicit nature of the story. That is born from the fact that those events are never out of my mind. They are always present like I would imagine a parent always has their child present in their mind. It colors every thought or discussion. In this case the question of why I chose Christianity it was completely relevant so I uttered it willingly and without reservation. The narrative was the reason and first cause leading to the result. There are some memories which we index as needed and others which are always at the top of the rolodex of our minds. My memories of those events are as clear now as they were the day after they occurred. They never left my mind, they hold I suspect permanent residence there. I would advise sensitive people to never join a military, because the sensitive mind holds those things for a very very long time.

As for catharsis. Psychology claims that doesn’t work. I used to believe they were wrong. But this is not the first time I have disclosed those memories, not even the fifth. Each time I cry, and rage, and despair all over again. Each time I think it probably helps to get it out. And each time it doesn’t. It feels like it is helping, but a day or two later nothing changed. So maybe my instructors were right in claiming catharsis is rubbish, which is the current stance in psychology. A phenomena that feels like it is doing something but ultimately doesn’t yield results. If anything I tell my story in this case hoping someone may look at the bible (or another faith) again if they too feel like humans are terrible and are in despair, and also as a warning that war really is hell and not to be eager to send young men to engage in it. I wanted to make it detailed enough to convey I am not coming from a place of teenaged angst or movie goer SJW rubbish. I make no claim that my experiances make me an expert in anything, but they are experiances most people are not at all privy to, and I think that has value.
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Lark_Truth
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Re: To the Christians in here... Exactly WHY did you choose

Post by Lark_Truth »

Hi, if you haven't heard already, I'm a Mormon, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and I don't plan on skipping out on my religion. It is to the death and beyond.

I was born and raised into my religion. For my whole life I have been a member and I love how it all makes sense. When I was younger, I was dedicated to Mormonism because it was logical, there didn't seem to be anything that challenged the idea that religion made sense. It certainly made me see a definite purpose to life.
As I grew older and progressed in my religious knowledge, further dedicating myself to my religion and finding my purpose in life. Many times, I have felt what I can only describe to be a warm, burning sensation inside of me that I know to be confirmation by the Holy Ghost (what most other churches refer to as the Holy Spirit) and I now have a firm testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that He lives, that He is my Redeemer who suffered in Gethsemane and died on the cross in Atonement for my sins and pain. I know that God is my Heavenly Father, and that He sent His only begotten son to earth for me and everyone who has lived, who does now live, and who will live in mortality.
And there you have it.
Truth is Power. Reason is Wisdom. Intelligence is Experience. Hope is Bright!
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