Some interesting ideas that are useful for self reflection, as well as helping others navigate their journeys.
I agree that existential angst is a thing in itself and does not need to be blurred with merely psychological self-esteem issues.
And, yes, most people I know who are believers in Jesus and suffering are by it’s very condition already ‘enduring’ in the process. People who are suffering want to move beyond ‘endurance’ to freedom, vitality, abundance, restoration, a sense of relief, answers - the epiphania would be to move beyond having to endure, striving, merely surviving to entering a rest, enjoying the wonders of life again. Maybe freedom is what people want. In fact, I would add a category in the scheme:
W. Paul Jones has had an exceptional life and quite an amazing spiritual journey. As a Father of (5) girls, his entry into the Catholic Priesthood later on in life, was spiritually commonsensical. Looking at this pragmatically, the real trick is to have the empathy and ability to absorb and respect another’s ‘Obsessio’, while simultaneously celebrating with them their ‘Epiphania’. It’s a transaction of Love that then strengthens our own inclusive ‘Theological World’… Viz. ‘view’. Losing a part oneself in the encounter, you not only gain knowledge, but you give knowledge as well. Becoming ever more convivially chameleon-like is a challenging process, where our natural predilection is to recoil and thicken our philosophical resolve, rather than opening our hearts and minds to others.
These ‘worlds’ make an interesting typology. Seems fairly close to a Haidt’s moral foundations—albeit somewhat more individualistic in composition. Perhaps I belie my own obsessio by saying this feels like just one more enneagram or zodiac for our narcissistic age to gain a fairer reflection.
But giving this the benefit of the doubt, I’d be interested to see what types of pseudo-epiphenia people find to resolve or attenuate an obsessio.
Our current zeitgeist seems to have shifted from ‘condemnation-forgiveness’ to one of ‘conflict-vindication’. Did the one simply eclipse the other, or did we find some way to resolve the tension in the former? Or does our move to the ‘immanent frame’ render some of these worlds ‘diaphanous’?
Thank you for this series. I'm reading it with great interest. I see in myself, predominantly obsesio but also recognise moments of epiphinio. I'm enjoying looking at and considering my life through these lenses and look forward to your further wisdom about these worlds
Some interesting ideas that are useful for self reflection, as well as helping others navigate their journeys.
I agree that existential angst is a thing in itself and does not need to be blurred with merely psychological self-esteem issues.
And, yes, most people I know who are believers in Jesus and suffering are by it’s very condition already ‘enduring’ in the process. People who are suffering want to move beyond ‘endurance’ to freedom, vitality, abundance, restoration, a sense of relief, answers - the epiphania would be to move beyond having to endure, striving, merely surviving to entering a rest, enjoying the wonders of life again. Maybe freedom is what people want. In fact, I would add a category in the scheme:
Obsessio = Captivity
Epiphania = Deliverance/freedom
Where the spirit of the lord is there is freedom.
‘Conflict’ & ‘vindication’ doesn’t quite describe what I mean - deliverance isn’t just a social justice issue…there is more to it I think …
W. Paul Jones has had an exceptional life and quite an amazing spiritual journey. As a Father of (5) girls, his entry into the Catholic Priesthood later on in life, was spiritually commonsensical. Looking at this pragmatically, the real trick is to have the empathy and ability to absorb and respect another’s ‘Obsessio’, while simultaneously celebrating with them their ‘Epiphania’. It’s a transaction of Love that then strengthens our own inclusive ‘Theological World’… Viz. ‘view’. Losing a part oneself in the encounter, you not only gain knowledge, but you give knowledge as well. Becoming ever more convivially chameleon-like is a challenging process, where our natural predilection is to recoil and thicken our philosophical resolve, rather than opening our hearts and minds to others.
These ‘worlds’ make an interesting typology. Seems fairly close to a Haidt’s moral foundations—albeit somewhat more individualistic in composition. Perhaps I belie my own obsessio by saying this feels like just one more enneagram or zodiac for our narcissistic age to gain a fairer reflection.
But giving this the benefit of the doubt, I’d be interested to see what types of pseudo-epiphenia people find to resolve or attenuate an obsessio.
Our current zeitgeist seems to have shifted from ‘condemnation-forgiveness’ to one of ‘conflict-vindication’. Did the one simply eclipse the other, or did we find some way to resolve the tension in the former? Or does our move to the ‘immanent frame’ render some of these worlds ‘diaphanous’?
Thank you for this series. I'm reading it with great interest. I see in myself, predominantly obsesio but also recognise moments of epiphinio. I'm enjoying looking at and considering my life through these lenses and look forward to your further wisdom about these worlds