Comments on: My Spiritual Sojourn http://www.kathrynpetroharper.com/mindfullife/2007/03/17/my-spiritual-sojourn/ express : discover : renew : create Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:40:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Kathryn http://www.kathrynpetroharper.com/mindfullife/2007/03/17/my-spiritual-sojourn/#comment-3214 Kathryn Thu, 22 Mar 2007 06:24:32 +0000 http://www.kathrynpetroharper.com/mindfullife/2007/03/17/my-spiritual-sojourn/#comment-3214 Hey Leah, I'm toying with the idea. I'm percolating and hope a unifying theme might emerge to shape it all. Hey Leah, I’m toying with the idea. I’m percolating and hope a unifying theme might emerge to shape it all.

]]> By: leah http://www.kathrynpetroharper.com/mindfullife/2007/03/17/my-spiritual-sojourn/#comment-3204 leah Tue, 20 Mar 2007 19:23:26 +0000 http://www.kathrynpetroharper.com/mindfullife/2007/03/17/my-spiritual-sojourn/#comment-3204 this was a fascinating read Kathryn. even though I knew much of this story, it helped to see it in outline form. i think you could write an excellent book on your spirtitual journey! are you planning on it? this was a fascinating read Kathryn. even though I knew much of this story, it helped to see it in outline form. i think you could write an excellent book on your spirtitual journey! are you planning on it?

]]> By: acm http://www.kathrynpetroharper.com/mindfullife/2007/03/17/my-spiritual-sojourn/#comment-3202 acm Tue, 20 Mar 2007 15:55:51 +0000 http://www.kathrynpetroharper.com/mindfullife/2007/03/17/my-spiritual-sojourn/#comment-3202 thanks for sharing -- it's always interesting to share the explorations of others, whether they have curved in similar or very different ways from our own. we all send out feelers of various sorts, whether toward other people, God, or the larger world... thanks for sharing — it’s always interesting to share the explorations of others, whether they have curved in similar or very different ways from our own. we all send out feelers of various sorts, whether toward other people, God, or the larger world…

]]> By: Paul Sunstone http://www.kathrynpetroharper.com/mindfullife/2007/03/17/my-spiritual-sojourn/#comment-3201 Paul Sunstone Tue, 20 Mar 2007 07:57:12 +0000 http://www.kathrynpetroharper.com/mindfullife/2007/03/17/my-spiritual-sojourn/#comment-3201 "I think that in some cases wounded people, people with little sense of confidence, people who rely on external validation, people who are vulnerable, people who are unclear on what they think, are those most likely to be captivated by the simple proscriptive and prescriptive nature of fundamental religions." That's a very interesting series of observations on the psychology of fundamentalism. It makes intuitive sense, too. I agree with you, Kathryn, that your yearning for spiritual expression even after the depression is in remission indicates you are not using religion for self-medication. The reason I was wondering about that, however, is because after looking back on my own life, I am fairly sure there were times that I used religion and philosophy as self-medication. So, I'm aware that sort of thing can and has been done. At any rate, yours is a very interesting spiritual journey, and put me down as another person who thinks you should write a book about it. “I think that in some cases wounded people, people with little sense of confidence, people who rely on external validation, people who are vulnerable, people who are unclear on what they think, are those most likely to be captivated by the simple proscriptive and prescriptive nature of fundamental religions.”

That’s a very interesting series of observations on the psychology of fundamentalism. It makes intuitive sense, too.

I agree with you, Kathryn, that your yearning for spiritual expression even after the depression is in remission indicates you are not using religion for self-medication. The reason I was wondering about that, however, is because after looking back on my own life, I am fairly sure there were times that I used religion and philosophy as self-medication. So, I’m aware that sort of thing can and has been done.

At any rate, yours is a very interesting spiritual journey, and put me down as another person who thinks you should write a book about it.

]]> By: Kathryn http://www.kathrynpetroharper.com/mindfullife/2007/03/17/my-spiritual-sojourn/#comment-3198 Kathryn Tue, 20 Mar 2007 00:31:46 +0000 http://www.kathrynpetroharper.com/mindfullife/2007/03/17/my-spiritual-sojourn/#comment-3198 That's an interesting question, Paul. I am certain that the retreat into fundamentalism right after the rape was a form of self-medication and an effort to create a sense of safety again. My earlier experience as a teen was an effort to find a social niche while growing up in a very strict, authoritarian household. The proselytizing just went with the territory, i.e., born again Christians are mandated to "witness" and try to get people to convert. I was less obnoxious in my second foray after the assault (at least I aimed to have more discretion) but probably still annoyed others. I don't know that the religion was an attempt to self-medicate exactly, because as you can see from my story, the yearning for spiritual expression continues even though the depression is in remission. I think that in some cases wounded people, people with little sense of confidence, people who rely on external validation, people who are vulnerable, people who are unclear on what they think, are those most likely to be captivated by the simple proscriptive and prescriptive nature of fundamental religions. That’s an interesting question, Paul. I am certain that the retreat into fundamentalism right after the rape was a form of self-medication and an effort to create a sense of safety again. My earlier experience as a teen was an effort to find a social niche while growing up in a very strict, authoritarian household. The proselytizing just went with the territory, i.e., born again Christians are mandated to “witness” and try to get people to convert. I was less obnoxious in my second foray after the assault (at least I aimed to have more discretion) but probably still annoyed others. I don’t know that the religion was an attempt to self-medicate exactly, because as you can see from my story, the yearning for spiritual expression continues even though the depression is in remission. I think that in some cases wounded people, people with little sense of confidence, people who rely on external validation, people who are vulnerable, people who are unclear on what they think, are those most likely to be captivated by the simple proscriptive and prescriptive nature of fundamental religions.

]]> By: gerry rosser http://www.kathrynpetroharper.com/mindfullife/2007/03/17/my-spiritual-sojourn/#comment-3197 gerry rosser Mon, 19 Mar 2007 19:15:42 +0000 http://www.kathrynpetroharper.com/mindfullife/2007/03/17/my-spiritual-sojourn/#comment-3197 Hmmm, my mom drug me to various Baptist churches when I was a kid, and that sums up my religious journey. Hmmm, my mom drug me to various Baptist churches when I was a kid, and that sums up my religious journey.

]]> By: Paul Sunstone http://www.kathrynpetroharper.com/mindfullife/2007/03/17/my-spiritual-sojourn/#comment-3196 Paul Sunstone Mon, 19 Mar 2007 17:39:00 +0000 http://www.kathrynpetroharper.com/mindfullife/2007/03/17/my-spiritual-sojourn/#comment-3196 An extraordinary journey! I'm curious if you ever thought that at times you were using religion as a form of self-medication for your depression? For instance, back in high school when you became a proselytizing Catholic? An extraordinary journey!

I’m curious if you ever thought that at times you were using religion as a form of self-medication for your depression? For instance, back in high school when you became a proselytizing Catholic?

]]> By: donna http://www.kathrynpetroharper.com/mindfullife/2007/03/17/my-spiritual-sojourn/#comment-3194 donna Sun, 18 Mar 2007 18:14:57 +0000 http://www.kathrynpetroharper.com/mindfullife/2007/03/17/my-spiritual-sojourn/#comment-3194 What a long, strange, trip it's been? ;^) You've been a busy girl! Karen Armstrong's "A History of God" is good comparative of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Nothing beats reading the Koran, of course, to understand Islam - beautiful writing as well. I've enjoyed most religious texts as mythology; the Tao Te Ching ultimately has had the most impact for me. Simple, yet effective in its own way. The rigidity of "accepted religious practice" in America is deeply disturbing to me - I think our national health is at great risk because of it. There are simply too many ways to experience being human to try and constrain so many people into a one-size-fits-all spiritual practice. I think your writings would be useful to many, many people struggling with this, and I don't see anything "strange" or "unusual" in your journey myself - it mirrors that of many, many people I know. What a long, strange, trip it’s been? ;^)

You’ve been a busy girl!

Karen Armstrong’s “A History of God” is good comparative of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Nothing beats reading the Koran, of course, to understand Islam - beautiful writing as well. I’ve enjoyed most religious texts as mythology; the Tao Te Ching ultimately has had the most impact for me. Simple, yet effective in its own way.

The rigidity of “accepted religious practice” in America is deeply disturbing to me - I think our national health is at great risk because of it. There are simply too many ways to experience being human to try and constrain so many people into a one-size-fits-all spiritual practice. I think your writings would be useful to many, many people struggling with this, and I don’t see anything “strange” or “unusual” in your journey myself - it mirrors that of many, many people I know.

]]> By: Laurel http://www.kathrynpetroharper.com/mindfullife/2007/03/17/my-spiritual-sojourn/#comment-3193 Laurel Sun, 18 Mar 2007 15:47:23 +0000 http://www.kathrynpetroharper.com/mindfullife/2007/03/17/my-spiritual-sojourn/#comment-3193 Holy crap, lady. You oughta write a book. A memoir. Just this condensed version of your life is riveting stuff. Holy moly. That's some journey you've been on. Or should I say, that's some journey you're on. Make me feel like my life's half-lived, timid by comparison. I didn't respond to your posts below, but please know that even though I don't pray, I am sending you every ray and cell of positive thought and energy that I can muster to your corner of the universe. Write a book, friend. I'm serious. Holy crap, lady.

You oughta write a book. A memoir. Just this condensed version of your life is riveting stuff.

Holy moly. That’s some journey you’ve been on. Or should I say, that’s some journey you’re on.

Make me feel like my life’s half-lived, timid by comparison.

I didn’t respond to your posts below, but please know that even though I don’t pray, I am sending you every ray and cell of positive thought and energy that I can muster to your corner of the universe.

Write a book, friend.

I’m serious.

]]> By: Tien http://www.kathrynpetroharper.com/mindfullife/2007/03/17/my-spiritual-sojourn/#comment-3192 Tien Sun, 18 Mar 2007 15:03:18 +0000 http://www.kathrynpetroharper.com/mindfullife/2007/03/17/my-spiritual-sojourn/#comment-3192 You certainly came a long way. I'm sure those who read will feel that way too You certainly came a long way. I’m sure those who read will feel that way too

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