• rektdeckard@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    It’s simpler than all that. Satanists would say God is just You, or some version of yourself that is all the things you wish you could be. The fact that you are there praying means you have a good idea of what needs to change, and are searching for the strength within yourself.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldOP
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      4 days ago

      As I said, that makes it irrational. People like you say that, but when it actually comes to rewriting it, it makes no sense at all:

      Sought through prayer and meditation to improve my conscious contact with me as I understand myself, praying only for knowledge of my will for me and the power to carry that out.

      • rektdeckard@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        Dunno what you’re on about, makes complete sense to me. Just requires some mental flexibility.

          • rektdeckard@lemmy.world
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            4 days ago

            It takes conscious effort to be in touch with your deeper thoughts and emotions, so in a sense yes. Not everything that is known to the self is known to the conscious mind. Didn’t think that would be controversial.

              • rektdeckard@lemmy.world
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                4 days ago

                It’s fine that you don’t understand. I know plenty of non-religious people who were able to find their own meaning in those words

          • y0kai@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            4 days ago

            I think the key here, and I’m speaking from the POV of a 12-stepper, is the idea of introspection.

            Literally, all I learned from 12 step was to look at myself deeply, intensely, and with honesty; learn to forgive myself for the shitty things I’ve done; learn to forgive others for the shitty things they’ve done to me, while taking responsibility for my part in whatever that may have been; and to get into the habit of practicing those things daily.

            The part I think you’re missing with the quote above that you seem to be taking it literally, when in the quote itself implies that it and the idea of God in general, is to be interpreted by the reader however they see fit.

            Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

            I also think that the “sought through prayer and meditation” does not necessarily imply that one must do both, as it is speaking in the first person plural. Meaning, some people may pray without “meditating”, while others like myself may choose to meditate without “praying” and you can still say of the group “We prayed and meditated” without contradicting oneself. An “and/or” probably would’ve worked best there, but whatever.

            Now, as to whether I think AA and NA are culty? Absolutely, and it’s a big reason why I stopped attending.

            • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldOP
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              4 days ago

              “And” doesn’t just imply both, that’s exactly what “and” means. It doesn’t mean either/or, it means both. I have no idea why you’re suggesting otherwise.

              A ham and cheese sandwich isn’t ham or cheese, it’s both.
              A husband and wife is always two people.
              A horse and rider is not either a horse or a person riding a horse.

              You must know this.

              • y0kai@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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                4 days ago

                A ham and cheese sandwich isn’t ham or cheese, it’s both.

                I agree.

                When it’s ham and cheese sandwiches, I personally have to ask whether the speaker means there are ham sandwiches and cheese sandwiches, or just sandwiches with ham and cheese.

                ETA:

                A husband and wife is always two people.

                Yes, but when you say “we were husbands and wives” does this imply one person is both?

                • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldOP
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                  4 days ago

                  I cannot imagine a scenario where someone says “I have ham and cheese sandwiches” and they mean two different types of sandwiches.

                  And I also do not believe that you are so stupid that you would think that was what they meant, so I have no idea why you’re pretending to be. But if it is true, congratulations on being one of the most obnoxious people on the planet.

                  • y0kai@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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                    4 days ago

                    Please see my edit on the comment you’re replying to for a better example. I just needed a second to think about what I wanted to say.

                    Also, I’m autistic. So yeah, I’m probably pretty obnoxious, but at least I’m not out here just insulting people because they know from experience that language can have more than one interpretation.

                    edit: spelling