Looking for a viable solution for newcomers
Philosophy · asked by user [] · 2010-11-30 · 0 answers
This is from another discussion:[br][br]
[cite]> Now they cant even utter the name of ISKCON without the disgust on their face.[br][br]
Thats a common mistake. Who harmed them? SP, his books, ISKCON... or specific persons? The same applies to gurukulis. Whom should they sue? Specific persons or ISKCON? [/cite][br][br]
Similarly, some theists suggest that one ought not to hold it against God if one has been hurt by Gods people ("Gods people"?).
[br][br]
Psalm 55 is a testimony to that:
[br][br]
12 If an enemy were insulting me,[br]
I could endure it;[br]
if a foe were rising against me,[br]
I could hide.[br]
13 But it is you, a man like myself,[br]
my companion, my close friend,[br]
14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship[br]
at the house of God,[br]
as we walked about[br]
among the worshipers. [br]
15 Let death take my enemies by surprise;[br]
let them go down alive to the realm of the dead,[br]
for evil finds lodging among them.[br]
16 As for me, I call to God,[br]
and the LORD saves me.[br]
17 Evening, morning and noon[br]
I cry out in distress,[br]
and he hears my voice.[br]
18 He rescues me unharmed[br]
from the battle waged against me,[br]
even though many oppose me.[br]
19 God, who is enthroned from of old,[br]
who does not change'97[br]
he will hear them and humble them,[br]
because they have no fear of God.[br]
20 My companion attacks his friends;[br]
he violates his covenant.[br]
21 His talk is smooth as butter,[br]
yet war is in his heart;[br]
his words are more soothing than oil,[br]
yet they are drawn swords.[br]
22 Cast your cares on the LORD[br]
and he will sustain you;[br]
he will never let[br]
the righteous be shaken.[br]
23 But you, God, will bring down the wicked[br]
into the pit of decay;[br]
the bloodthirsty and deceitful[br]
will not live out half their days.[br]
But as for me, I trust in you. [br][br]
While I agree that this kind of reasoning is viable for those who already have firm faith in God -- what about those who do not?[br]
What about those who, before they have reached any certainty about God or a spiritual organization (like ISKCON), were hurt by theists?[br]
What about all those vulnerable people seeking spiritual guidance who approach some spiritual organisation, and then get bullied by the members?[br][br]
What viable solution is there for them, if any?
[cite]> Now they cant even utter the name of ISKCON without the disgust on their face.[br][br]
Thats a common mistake. Who harmed them? SP, his books, ISKCON... or specific persons? The same applies to gurukulis. Whom should they sue? Specific persons or ISKCON? [/cite][br][br]
Similarly, some theists suggest that one ought not to hold it against God if one has been hurt by Gods people ("Gods people"?).
[br][br]
Psalm 55 is a testimony to that:
[br][br]
12 If an enemy were insulting me,[br]
I could endure it;[br]
if a foe were rising against me,[br]
I could hide.[br]
13 But it is you, a man like myself,[br]
my companion, my close friend,[br]
14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship[br]
at the house of God,[br]
as we walked about[br]
among the worshipers. [br]
15 Let death take my enemies by surprise;[br]
let them go down alive to the realm of the dead,[br]
for evil finds lodging among them.[br]
16 As for me, I call to God,[br]
and the LORD saves me.[br]
17 Evening, morning and noon[br]
I cry out in distress,[br]
and he hears my voice.[br]
18 He rescues me unharmed[br]
from the battle waged against me,[br]
even though many oppose me.[br]
19 God, who is enthroned from of old,[br]
who does not change'97[br]
he will hear them and humble them,[br]
because they have no fear of God.[br]
20 My companion attacks his friends;[br]
he violates his covenant.[br]
21 His talk is smooth as butter,[br]
yet war is in his heart;[br]
his words are more soothing than oil,[br]
yet they are drawn swords.[br]
22 Cast your cares on the LORD[br]
and he will sustain you;[br]
he will never let[br]
the righteous be shaken.[br]
23 But you, God, will bring down the wicked[br]
into the pit of decay;[br]
the bloodthirsty and deceitful[br]
will not live out half their days.[br]
But as for me, I trust in you. [br][br]
While I agree that this kind of reasoning is viable for those who already have firm faith in God -- what about those who do not?[br]
What about those who, before they have reached any certainty about God or a spiritual organization (like ISKCON), were hurt by theists?[br]
What about all those vulnerable people seeking spiritual guidance who approach some spiritual organisation, and then get bullied by the members?[br][br]
What viable solution is there for them, if any?