Faith, if providing connection, can repair, but I don't know that this will fix the loneliness and the heart felt connection that comes from meaningful relationships that we are created to have here on earth .. in the flesh. I don't know that it can be in-exchange for mothers who have lost their children, people who have lost their communities.... Just don't know...
I hear you. Sorry for your losses. Grief is a heavy time dependent healing of sorts. The wound itself is still part of us forever. Been there. And I found a way of living that honors myself and others. I give to others in various ways. I am nearly 80 now, loss of health is frequent reminder of life's fragility. I still have gifts I've been given, to share. It brings me joy. I believe everyone has a gift within themselves to share with the world. Sharing our precious personal gift gives one a sense of joy and purpose.
I am not speaking of my losses, per se.. but as a social worker, there are so many that many of us experience... and I do think faith helps.. but connection involves so much here on earth in the flesh. But yes, sharing the wisdom of trauma, sharing our gifts.. it does give purpose.
Asking for clarification. You note that "self -generated meaning and self-selected purpose are provisional" and put mental health at risk. Am I correct to see your position is that the mental health costs of pursuing our hero projects have discredited the atheistic existentialism that Sartre made famous? ("...existentialism's first move is to make every [person] aware of what [they are] and to make the full responsibility of [their] existence rest on [them." From the essay "The Humanism of Existentialism.")
I would like to know before I review The Shape of Joy.
"Discredited" might be stating it too strongly. Which might be a distinction between genres, Sartre making a philosophical argument and The Shape of Joy tracing out the implications of psychological research in the field of positive psychology. But, yes, if we put the story the science is telling over against Satre's argument, I think the science is indicating that he was overly optimistic in his claims, at least from a mental health perspective.
This is such a great post. Incredible insight. I’ve been trying to understand why I am loving writing my musings on Substack - just daily life stories intertwined with my faith. This post just captures it.
Faith, if providing connection, can repair, but I don't know that this will fix the loneliness and the heart felt connection that comes from meaningful relationships that we are created to have here on earth .. in the flesh. I don't know that it can be in-exchange for mothers who have lost their children, people who have lost their communities.... Just don't know...
Some wounds a
remain always. But I've known people who testified to joy in spite of it.
I hear you. Sorry for your losses. Grief is a heavy time dependent healing of sorts. The wound itself is still part of us forever. Been there. And I found a way of living that honors myself and others. I give to others in various ways. I am nearly 80 now, loss of health is frequent reminder of life's fragility. I still have gifts I've been given, to share. It brings me joy. I believe everyone has a gift within themselves to share with the world. Sharing our precious personal gift gives one a sense of joy and purpose.
I am not speaking of my losses, per se.. but as a social worker, there are so many that many of us experience... and I do think faith helps.. but connection involves so much here on earth in the flesh. But yes, sharing the wisdom of trauma, sharing our gifts.. it does give purpose.
My faith in the real live Jesus Christ has carried me for some 67 years and, by His Grace, will finally carry me Home one Day. 🙏🏻✝️❤️
Asking for clarification. You note that "self -generated meaning and self-selected purpose are provisional" and put mental health at risk. Am I correct to see your position is that the mental health costs of pursuing our hero projects have discredited the atheistic existentialism that Sartre made famous? ("...existentialism's first move is to make every [person] aware of what [they are] and to make the full responsibility of [their] existence rest on [them." From the essay "The Humanism of Existentialism.")
I would like to know before I review The Shape of Joy.
"Discredited" might be stating it too strongly. Which might be a distinction between genres, Sartre making a philosophical argument and The Shape of Joy tracing out the implications of psychological research in the field of positive psychology. But, yes, if we put the story the science is telling over against Satre's argument, I think the science is indicating that he was overly optimistic in his claims, at least from a mental health perspective.
This is such a great post. Incredible insight. I’ve been trying to understand why I am loving writing my musings on Substack - just daily life stories intertwined with my faith. This post just captures it.