10-20-2008, 12:42 AM | #1 |
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Are we a Prozac People?
Today in HP Group, the lesson pertained to sufferings and trials, which inevitably boiled down to "choose to be happy despite the circumstances."
But the class examples struck me as odd and perhaps out of place. First brother spoke of how he lost his infant son, but that he wasn't sad but almost glad for the spiritual enlightenment. Second brother spoke of his teenage daughter overdosing on his heart medicine, with the same glib observations. It almost seems Mormons try to outdo each other as how spiritual they wish to appear, suffering horrible things only to say, "I felt so comforted." Is this why we're not moved by the sufferings of Afghani or Iraqi children, do we just pass it off, as "Oh they're in a better place now?" Now I'm certain I didn't witness these people grieving, but it almost seemed inhuman. Isn't it okay to grieve and to feel sadness over bad events? Are some people just constantly pumped up on prozac that they feeling nothing? Are they alive? I hope I never get to point past feeling, where bad things don't impact me, and happy things don't move me. An odd moment for me.
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Ἓν οἶδα ὅτι οὐδὲν οἶδα Last edited by Archaea; 10-20-2008 at 02:05 AM. |
10-20-2008, 02:42 PM | #2 |
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Has Pangloss ("All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds") been canonized yet?
A similar statement that will soon be canonized is "Everything happens for a reason." That is the stupidest statement of all time on multiple levels. |
10-20-2008, 03:10 PM | #3 | |
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This story reminds me of Elizabeth Smart's recent appearance on Oprah (I know, your favorite show), where she explained how she is totally fine and her experience of being abducted and (presumably) raped never bothered her at all because she's home now and has faith or some such. No therapy required! It was kind of spooky watching her say that stuff. |
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10-20-2008, 03:17 PM | #4 | |
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10-20-2008, 03:26 PM | #5 | |
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I don't think anything good can come from such discussions. They serve only to boost the self-righteousness of the naturally sanguine among us, reinforce the notion that one should be able to weather every storm in a buoyant little-orphan-Annie fashion, and undermine the faith of those who struggle to make sense of and come to terms with life's difficulties. There is a need to teach the peace of Christ and the power to overcome. But to turn such lessons into these kinds of bragging-fests is a spiritual and psychological disservice to pretty much everyone present. |
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10-20-2008, 03:29 PM | #6 | |
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"... the arc of the universe is long but it bends toward justice." Martin Luther King, Jr. |
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10-20-2008, 03:29 PM | #7 | |
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In reality, I kinda expect people to internalize more, "it was horrific, and still pains me from time to time, but I've come to grips with it in this manner...." How can we build up those who suffer if we expect them to "just have faith and get over it?" It also ignores those will biologically originated emotional difficulties and many other issues. It appears to me, we believe "Gospel" answers everything like magic, but perhaps I'm oversimplifying.
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10-20-2008, 03:30 PM | #8 | |
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10-20-2008, 03:39 PM | #9 | |
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Sounds like some serious denial.
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10-20-2008, 03:43 PM | #10 | |
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Very, very well said. Thanks. Nothing like adding to the guilt of the one who then quietly asks, "What's wrong with me? Why can't I just get over it so easily..."
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