This is http://www.essayz.com/a9602211.htm         
Previous-Essay      <== This-Essay ==>     Following-Essay
Click HERE on this line to find essays via Your-Key-Words.
{Most frequent wordstarts of each essay will be put here.}
==========================================================
   %DENY REALITY OWN EXPERIENCES HOLY SPIRIT GROUND+960221
  %BEING PERSONAL COMMUNAL INTEGRITY FANTASIES REAL+960221
  %DELUSION VISION ILLUSION REVELATION CREATION GOD+960221
    %COLLUSION DISHONESTY TRUTH TRUST RISK LOVE SIN 960221

     When  we  deny the reality of our own experiences  we
blaspheme the  Holy  Spirit and we lose contact  with  the
ground  of  our being.   That is the one unforgivable sin.
Then there is no  basis  for  either  personal or communal
integrity;  for there is no basis for distinguishing among
fantasies,   realities,  delusions,  visions,   illusions,
revelations, collusions and creations.

     When  we deny the reality of our own experiences---we
deny the reality of our own being, deny the reality of our
creation,   and  deny the reality of our creator.     Then
there is no ground  for  distinguishing  between truth and
falsehood; and no ground for significant meaning in life.

     If we cannot trust our own experiences as being real,
then how are we to trust our own experiences of what other
people  say we should experience---and what  other  people
say we should never experience.?

     If we cannot trust our own experiences as being real,
how  then are we to trust our own experiences of  what  we
have come to believe God wants us to experience---and what
God wants us to never experience?

     What early experiences led us to deny the reality  of
our  own later experiences?   Are those early  experiences
which  led  us  to  deny  the reality  of  our  own  later
experiences reliable?  On what grounds  should  we   trust
early experiences,  rather  than  later experiences?   Are
some experiences so utterly  reliable that on the basis of
them no later experiences are ever to be trusted?

     Are  people who never trust their own experiences the
kind  of people who merit our respect,  trust,  honor  and
support?   Do we admire them and want to be near them?  If
so, why do we admire them and want to be near them?

     If we never trust our own experiences,  then what can
we reliably trust?   Other people's experiences?   What if
they   are   also  people  who  never  trust   their   own
experiences?  Are we to trust their experiences if they do
not trust their own experiences?   Why do so?    Are we to
trust their  experiences if they are utterly unlike  us---
and they too do trust their own experiences?  Why do so?

     Are  we  to  trust other people's  reports  of  their
experiences---utterly    and   completely---while    never
trusting our own experiences?   Won't that make us utterly
dependent upon  them;  and  utterly  vulnerable  to  their
inclinations  to  use and abuse us?   Won't that  make  us
utterly   dependent   upon   the   reliability   of    our
understanding  of  what  they  report---regardless of  our
experiences associated with  receiving their reports?  Can
that make sense?

     Are we to trust a formula, program, paradigm, system,
institution, organization, family or community which tells
us   that  it  is  IMPROPER  for  us  to  trust  our   own
experiences? How can doing  so ever lead  to  personal and
communal integrity---when doing  so  is the first  step to
total personal  disintegration?    How then are others  to
trust us?  How then are we to trust ourselves?

                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
==========================================================