Lost -> religion -> RL stuff

[thistlechaser]

Finally a new ep of Lost tomorrow night. Since the title is "The 23rd Psalm" I decided to google that to see if whatever that psalm is would have a clue to what the ep was about. Quite amusingly, hit #4 under that search was a page about Lost. I had thought I'd need to comb through pages of bible stuff before I found anything Lost-related.

So it turned out the psalm was one I was familiar with ("The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures...") and I quickly got distracted from thinking about Lost stuff. I read the psalm and the notes about it:

In describing the Lord as a shepherd, David wrote out of his own experience because he had spent his early years caring for sheep. Sheep are completely dependent on the Shepherd for provision, guidance, and protection. The New Testament calls Jesus the good shepherd; the great Shepherd; and the Chief Shepherd.

No offense intended to religious people, but I can't understand anyone willingly comparing themselves to sheep. "Sheep are completely dependent on the Shepherd for provision, guidance, and protection." Ummmm. No thanks? I'd rather trust in myself, in my own strength, in my own knowledge and experience.

Back in college, I was a psych major "by default". (I was in my third year and still had no idea what I wanted to major in. Psych had the fewest requirements, so I picked that so that I could still graduate in four years.) I took a series of classes about substance abuse, and the teacher was a big fan of AA. That was one of the few times I've seriously butted heads with a professor: The idea behind AA drove me nuts. The basic idea was that you-the-person were powerless. You had to give over control to "a higher power". Your substance abuse wasn't your fault and you didn't have the power to fix it, you had to rely on "a higher power". There were so many things about that that annoyed me! My first argument was what if you didn't believe in a god/some random religion? The professor told me that you could believe a chair was the higher power if you wanted -- BS. BS. BS. The other really big thing was ... why make people powerless? Why make people weak? YOU made this problem, correct it yourself!

(And watch me go off on a tangent, wheeee!) My sister and I are both overweight, but she got that stomach reduction surgery. I would never do that. She did it because she "couldn't" diet. She "couldn't" exercise. She was "powerless" to help herself. I would never, ever, ever do that. I wouldn't be able to look at myself in the mirror if I did. I made my own weight problems. Every time I eat or drink, it is my decision. I don't care if it takes me 10 years to lose the weight she lost in 10 months, I'll do it myself and I won't mutilate a perfectly healthy organ in doing so.

Well, this turned out rather more ranty than I had intended. Want to hear about my wacky Animal Crossing town instead? :P

Comments

[laurelwood.livejournal.com]

If the substance abuse/overeating/whatever isn't our fault, whose fault is it? Is this where we got the term, "The devil made me do it!"? What a load of crap. I'm the one hoisting the fork/bottle/whatever, and I'll take the blame for it. And if I put in a lot of hard work and angst to reverse the situation, I'll also take the credit, thanks! So much in life really IS beyond our control- could we at least have responsibility over our own habits? Yeesh.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

So much in life really IS beyond our control- could we at least have responsibility over our own habits? Yeesh.

Totally agreed. I sure as heck can't control when an earthquake will hit our area, but it's fully within my power to decide between eating a piece of cake and an apple when I'm hungry...

[kirbyk.livejournal.com]

Yeah, personally, I'm with you on the whole personal responsibility thing. I think this is a terrible mental trap, and one of the worst mis-uses of religion. I like Benjamin Franklin's "God helps those who help themselves" line a lot more.

On the other hand, it does clearly work for some people. If they can trick themselves into not being alcoholics, well, I'd rather be in a world with intellectually dishonest but sober people than a world of rational drunks. So, some amount of 'whatever works for you' is okay, especially as it reduces drunk driving.

But man, people realizing that they actually control an extremely large amount of their own life is so much healthier. Life is always full of options and consequences, and we should only do something if we like the set of consequences for that more than our other options. If I lack the will to do certain things I'd like to do (and there are cases where this is true), it's a situation entirely of my own making.

[gconnor.livejournal.com]

I totally agree... I believe my "higher power" is actually a part of myself. The noblest part, maybe. A lot of AA works great but the "let go and let god" part doesn't fit with my philosophy. "Better angels of our nature" maybe...

I guess chemical dependencies are a valid case where a person could actually cripple themselves to the point where they are truly powerless, because the chemical affects the brain and therefore affects their own internal "higher power". They are unable to make sound decisions because their brains are compromised. In that case, they need help from friends and loved ones to tell them when they are screwing up, a "higher power" doesn't really enter into it in my opinion.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I like Benjamin Franklin's "God helps those who help themselves" line a lot more.

If I were to believe in a god-like being, I'd certainly hope for one who worked that way. I don't want to be a child, a sheep, or any other helpless/hopeless critter!

On the other hand, it does clearly work for some people.

There is that. I almost put a disclaimer on my post 'This is just my opinion. If you like the idea behind AA and it works for you, then yay!'. Because, like you, I'd rather they be sober and dishonest/weak people than drunk and honest.

There's also a bit about the stomach reduction process: If it takes me years to lose the weight someone else loses in months, I would potentially have other weight-related health problems in the meantime. If someone else wants to do the surgery and they're comfortable with it, hey. It's their life.

If I lack the will to do certain things I'd like to do (and there are cases where this is true), it's a situation entirely of my own making.

Yeah. I was worried this post would make me come off as claiming to be perfect, which is far far from the case. But I try. When I fail, it's 100% my fault. But when I succeed? That's all me, too. And the success is so much better because it was done by me. :)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I totally agree... I believe my "higher power" is actually a part of myself.

Hmmmm. That would work for me, I think. If you could believe in the best parts of yourself. But in my (very limited) dealings with AA, it's always been "higher power = god".

I guess chemical dependencies are a valid case where a person could actually cripple themselves to the point where they are truly powerless ... a "higher power" doesn't really enter into it in my opinion.

And at that point they probably belong in a hospital or somewhere they can get professional treatment until they're straight enough to make their own decisions. But of course then come the money/social issues and all that. But still, there's no need for a "higher power" in that.

[morinotokei.livejournal.com]

Yessss finally there will be a new ep of Lost. Finally! That cliffhanger from like two months ago was awful. Are you still following SGA by the way? Also, what other tv shows are you watching, if any? Heh. I'm full of questions today.

And don't forget, there are tons of healthy benefits just in exercising itself.

[onionkiri.livejournal.com]

Self-defense. People can't or don't want to face the fact that they're responsible for their substance abuse problems; it's much softer on the ego to put on that front, cause no one wants to believe they messed up that badly (even if they know it deep inside). And if someone's in that situation in the first place, chances are they're already blaming it on something beyond their control anyway. At least that's my take. :)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

It's funny, but I don't even remember the Lost cliffhanger. I'm just barely into the show this season. :P But yes! I love SGA! It's my new most favoritest thing! Heehee. Ummm, other than SGA, I'm not watching much. SG1 reruns... How about you?

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that makes sense. It's sad, but it makes sense.

[morinotokei.livejournal.com]

[highlight for spoilers] [/spoilers]

I love SGA too, especially McKay. Yay, I'm glad you're watching that too. I had watched the first season of BSG but I sort of drifted off with the second, so I'm not sure if I'll be catching up on that. You know, SG1 looks so interesting, but I feel like I'm missing so much of that series since I've only watched scattered episodes here and there.

[pomr.livejournal.com]

Bigger than myself...like...Hulk Hogan?

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Oooh! Right, I totally forgot about all that Lost stuff. Heh.

I love SGA too, especially McKay.

Yeah, I love McKay, but so many of the characters rock! I'm reading lots of fanfic, too.

. I had watched the first season of BSG but I sort of drifted off with the second, so I'm not sure if I'll be catching up on that.

That series was recommended to me, but I've never really gotten into it (didn't give it much of a chance, really). I don't know why, especially since it's on the same night and station as SGA and SG1.

You know, SG1 looks so interesting, but I feel like I'm missing so much of that series since I've only watched scattered episodes here and there.

That's actually how I got into SG1 and SGA. I just kept watching random eps till I saw them all. Unfortunately (in my opinion) the new SG1 eps suck. Almost all the main characters are gone, which (to me) makes it like a totally different show. I enjoy the reruns of the first team eps though.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Hey, didn't the Hulkster always tell kids to say no to drugs? And he's way way stronger than us! What better "higher power" could you want? :P

[pomr.livejournal.com]

Y'know, I think he did. :) And Governor Schwarzeneggar is anti-Steroid! They're BOTH bigger and stronger than us! They're like a cosmic testosterone dual divinity!!!!

[kamalloy.livejournal.com]

*dies laughing* My day has just officially been made. ^^

[loneguardian.livejournal.com]

There's a fine line between personal responsibility in faith, and 'letting God deal with all of it'. Every person is responsible for their own actions, and getting out of situations they get themselves into. At least, that's my take. Yeah, I do believe God helps, but even with sheep, the darn thing has to -let- the shepherd catch it, and doesn't have to follow if it really doesn't want to. Interpreting that verse to mean that God has complete control over everyone's lives is the ultimate BS and excuse for not taking responsibility. People who don't do anything to help a situation aren't relying on God, they're being damn lazy. :P I like to say 2/3 of His name is 'go', if you don't do anything, neither will He. People are only weak because they let the strong ones dictate that they -should- be weak and easily controlled. Makes me damn sick to my stomach.

And don't get me started on the AA thing. My mother is an alcoholic and she drinks because she chooses to. She could stop if she wanted to, but she doesn't. She also had that stomach surgery thing, that helped kick her into the alcoholism. Everyone I've known that has had that surgery has always had severe physical, mental, and emotional problems. I lost my mother to that fucking surgery, and I lost my best friend to it. You're utterly doing the right thing in saying no and taking the long road, rather than the shortcut to psychosis. :P

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Heehee!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Interpreting that verse to mean that God has complete control over everyone's lives is the ultimate BS and...

Yeah. I only checked one of the Bible links, so I knew I was only getting one person's (or one group's) view on it.

I like to say 2/3 of His name is 'go', if you don't do anything, neither will He

Hee! I like that! :) It fit's with Kirby's comment about the 'god helps those who help themselves' quote.

Everyone I've known that has had that surgery has always had severe physical, mental, and emotional problems. I

I hate to say it, but I've seen the same thing. And the darned thing often leads to physical problems, too! I really wish they weren't permitted to offer it... or rather that people were smart enough (and strong enough) to say no.

[loneguardian.livejournal.com]

I really wish they weren't permitted to offer it

Same. v_v There's medical proof to show the damn thing isn't physically or mentally safe, yet they continue to offer it for some stupid reason. Probably for the cash they make off the lazy fat people who don't want to admit it's their own fault they 'can't' lose weight. Hell, -I'm- fat, and people have asked me why I don't have the surgery. My answer's always the same: it fucks you up, and I don't want that. :P (With less crass language for church people, of course. X3)