tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312447.post4490123858811039649..comments2024-01-29T08:39:40.754-05:00Comments on Musings of a Pertinacious Papist: Divine grace & the conversion of Hadley ArkesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312447.post-23333987469130511052011-09-26T20:33:40.419-04:002011-09-26T20:33:40.419-04:00Psychological "explanations" of conversi...Psychological "explanations" of conversion evade (and tell us nothing about) a person's rationale for converting.<br /><br />It's like Freud's explanation of theistic belief: it's because people have a "psychological need" for the security blanket of a protective father figure, says he.<br /><br />Let's assume for a moment that this is true. Even if it were, this fact would tell us nothing about whether or not God in facts exists. He just might. He may not.<br /><br />Put the shoe on the other foot. Let's assume that those who deny God's existence do so because of a psychological need to avoid guilt feelings and a sense of responsibility to a higher power. Even if this were true, it tells us nothing about whether God exists or not. Same problem. He might, or he might not.<br /><br />In logic, this sort of <i>ad hominem</i> is called a "genetic fallacy." It's interesting, but evades the question at issue.<br /><br />Same here. The interesting question here philosophically and existentially is not whether Arkes was "spiteful" or "needed to be accepted by the prolifers," but rather: What were his reasons for converting? Only by engaging a person's reasons for doing what he does, do we take him seriously and show respect for his humanity. Otherwise we're just behaviorists engineering social behavior with rats in cages.<br /><br />So why is it that Jews say they feel "fulfilled" when they convert -- or when they don't? These are the issues that ought to engage us here. No? -- Peace, PP.Pertinacious Papisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03213911570586726075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312447.post-73687772522228457792011-09-26T13:48:53.662-04:002011-09-26T13:48:53.662-04:00Arkes knew little about Judaism and needed to be a...Arkes knew little about Judaism and needed to be accepted by prolifers. There are Jewish pro lifers - we are fulfilled in Judaism. We are already " fulfilled". I suspect that Hadley converted out of spite.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312447.post-19596866577844835912010-05-06T10:07:46.885-04:002010-05-06T10:07:46.885-04:00Great news! I have always loved Hadley Arkes'...Great news! I have always loved Hadley Arkes' columns, and now he's a Catholic, a 'fulfilled Jew'!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312447.post-36958211051901874022010-05-05T18:59:11.719-04:002010-05-05T18:59:11.719-04:00Very different understandings of 'grace', ...Very different understandings of 'grace', those. Superficially similar sounding, maybe, but fundamentally different. Selflessness, understood as the opposite of 'Egotism' in Hinduism (as in Buddhism) means, not loving another as one loves himself, but awakening (<i>who</i> awakens?) to the fact that one's 'ego' is an illusion. Please.Sheldonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312447.post-18269445701315848722010-05-05T15:38:57.822-04:002010-05-05T15:38:57.822-04:00Grace. Divine grace is spiritual assistance not sp...<b>Grace</b>. Divine grace is spiritual assistance not specifically earned by its recipient. Most mystics believe that divine grace is offered at all times, in all places and to all beings, but the sentiments, thoughts and actions of the ego self, and individual isolation, block its entry. Everyone has received divine grace during selfless periods of their life. Mystics who gave up their ego and individuality were in a state of grace and may share it. Most mystics say that grace is essential to realize oneness; some seem to equate divine grace, love and spirit. <br /> <br /><i>"God's grace is the beginning, middle and the end. When you pray for God's grace, you are like someone standing neck deep in water and yet crying for water.”</i> Ramana Maharishi H <br /><br /><i>“God continually showers the fullness of his grace on every being in the universe, but we consent to receive it to a greater or lesser extent.”</i> Simone Weil J/C <br /><br /><i>“The deified person, while remaining completely human in nature...becomes wholly in God in both body and soul, through grace and the divine brightness of the beatifying glory that permeates the whole person.”</i> Maximus the Confessor C<br /><br /><i>"May I be far removed from contending creeds and dogmas. Ever since my Lord's grace entered my mind, My mind has never strayed to seek such distractions.”</i> Milarepa B <br /><br /><i>“One cannot see God without His grace. ...to receive the grace of God one must renounce egotism; one cannot see God as long as one feels “I am the doer.”</i> Ramakrishna H<br /><br /><i>"Give up to grace. The ocean takes care of each wave 'til it gets to shore. You need more help than you know."</i> Mawlana Jalal-al-Din Rumi I<br /><br /><i>"One who merits will find himself constantly aware of Hashem's [YHWH] blessings in his life, and will rejoice in the opportunity to spend another day on earth enjoying Hashem's grace and kindness."</i> Ba'al Shem Tov J<br /><br />(Quoted from my e-book at www.suprarational.org )Ron Krumposhttp://www.suprarational.orgnoreply@blogger.com