tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859373979050969476.post9209599253920332294..comments2024-03-19T17:15:48.359-06:00Comments on A Mystic in The Church of Jesus Christ: Accepting FinitudeChristian Swensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10985278706342174458noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859373979050969476.post-16312752058437128032013-01-12T13:51:36.541-07:002013-01-12T13:51:36.541-07:00I also added a paragraph at the end that may make ...I also added a paragraph at the end that may make my thoughts a little more palatable.Christian Swensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10985278706342174458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859373979050969476.post-44278932576304409382013-01-12T13:38:05.091-07:002013-01-12T13:38:05.091-07:00In response to point 2), I actually agree with you...In response to point 2), I actually agree with you. You see, I have no idea as to what the eternities will be like, and so my blog contains many different attempts for me to understand it through a model. They are all inspired by intellectual influences of the time, and, most importantly, they are not all created equal. This post is my attempt to understand the Celestial Kingdom through Kierkegaard's "placing the particular above the universal" and Nietzsche's yes-saying attitude, and so may not be my most inspired work. If you'd like to see my favorite model, (influenced by the Buddhist concept of Indra's web)see "the Present Exaltation", published in June of 2012. Thank you for your feedback!Christian Swensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10985278706342174458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8859373979050969476.post-51117238162214260622013-01-12T12:00:15.398-07:002013-01-12T12:00:15.398-07:00Hey Christian! Cousin again. :) Just a comment or ...Hey Christian! Cousin again. :) Just a comment or two:<br /><br />1) I really like what you're saying about mormonism encouraging us to embrace our reality, rather than flee from it. We see the most converted members as those who are deeply involved in both church and community, committed to helping, giving and lifting rather than meditating off on a mountain somewhere. And I'm with you, I think that's really valuable and really valid (though also, I think, a tenant of many branches of Christianity).<br /><br />2) I would be wary though to say that this is all we anticipate for heaven, or all that we're committed to. Just because the sociality we share now will be the same is the sociality we will share after this life (we don't fall into some massive life-force stew, etc) doesn't mean, I believe, that many aspects of that sociality won't be transcendent, infinite, and spectacular beyond our imaginings. I think one of the reasons the converted work so hard now is in hopes of a perfect and exultant eventual life, not so that we can exist in the same status quo that we've engaged in our whole mortal probation. And you know what? As far as I know, 'our trip to the infinite world' may never end! I think we're always going to be pushing towards perfection (or at least for all the foreseeable future), and thus creating newer and greater goals for ourself to facilitate this improvement. While the Gospel teaches us to engage in others and our community, I think 'contentment' with our circumstance (beyond the contentment that comes from faith and living in the Spirit) is not a major tenant of this teaching. Heavenly Father has a lot to give us, and I think we should look forward to that. <br /><br />A little vague and roundabout (and I wish I had sources), and maybe a little obvious too, but...there it is. Keep it up Christian. :)Bronwen Halehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17532240599995839592noreply@blogger.com