RE: Anyone else struggle with cynical/rude thoughts towards religious people?
October 11, 2024 at 11:15 am
I heard one of the most incredible conversion stories I've ever been told by a young conservative catholic priest about two years ago. Briefly, he was 24 at the time...just got his dream job, was set to be married in two weeks, and they were about to close on one hell of a house for a great price. He felt a feeling of intense freedom and love and serendipity wash over him, he knew that god was real, and then god spoke to him. So he quit his job, backed out on the house, and broke up with his squeeze to go to seminary.
It seemed to me that there must be some subtext of unfreedom, of unlove, of misfortune...underneath the glowing description of his life at the time. That maybe he didn't want one or any or some particular combo of those things and this was his way out of them. No, though. He informed me that he very much wanted all of it, and still did, but it couldn't happen because he was called. I asked all the usual questions about auditory hallucinations and got the usual answers.
Altered states.
It seemed to me that there must be some subtext of unfreedom, of unlove, of misfortune...underneath the glowing description of his life at the time. That maybe he didn't want one or any or some particular combo of those things and this was his way out of them. No, though. He informed me that he very much wanted all of it, and still did, but it couldn't happen because he was called. I asked all the usual questions about auditory hallucinations and got the usual answers.
Altered states.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
