RE: Re: ACT and Christianity, and LABELS

[Guest guest]

Dear Simone

Thank you for that excellent poem about 'instinctual knowing'. Got me thinking - and that's what I've been doing.

Behind the concepts is this sense of knowing....yes, I identify with that. We are also, however, blessed/cursed with 'words' which take us into the realm of what we think life is about, and what we want our own, individual lives to be about. I commend you very sincerely for taking the trouble to look 'behind' your current concepts. Experiencing the place of 'knowing' is very important, I think, and not an easy place to find. But I suspect that, with our capacity for 'words' that it may not provide a continuous resting place. That 'knowing' is a very important determinant of 'being' and 'doing' for some.

I don't like LABELS - too constricting. However - in this case I wonder whether the categories that these 'religious' labels define can be held together in one person? (I cannot speak for any group other than that calling themselves 'Christians'.) I would think not, but have hesitated in my reply, because I don't think that this is the place to explain why I take that view. I did so, in my earlier attachment about 'ACT and the Christian Tradition'. This was aimed, initially, at therapists, who I believed would benefit from taking this distinctive worldview into account when working together with Christian clients.

I really would like to explain why I think this way, however, and will be very happy to discuss this with you, or anyone who would like to contact me backchannel.

Having tried not to be obtuse - my mind is now telling me that it is time to sign off.

With very warm thoughts of your continuous hard work on 'being' and 'doing'

Ingrid

[Guest guest]

Dear Ingrid,

Thanks for your post. I think I understand. Is what you are saying ' we need to follow a set of values, set down by a religion of our choice'. Values that are in line with our own. I'm afraid I'm a bit slow on the theology front! In fact I'm a bit slow full stop!

I know that I know but I don't know what it is I know! Now hows that for confusion!

Would like to backchannel -do you mean talking privately to each other via our e-mail address?

Simone

RE: Re: ACT and Christianity, and LABELS

Dear Simone

Thank you for that excellent poem about 'instinctual knowing'. Got me thinking - and that's what I've been doing.

Behind the concepts is this sense of knowing....yes, I identify with that. We are also, however, blessed/cursed with 'words' which take us into the realm of what we think life is about, and what we want our own, individual lives to be about. I commend you very sincerely for taking the trouble to look 'behind' your current concepts. Experiencing the place of 'knowing' is very important, I think, and not an easy place to find. But I suspect that, with our capacity for 'words' that it may not provide a continuous resting place. That 'knowing' is a very important determinant of 'being' and 'doing' for some.

I don't like LABELS - too constricting. However - in this case I wonder whether the categories that these 'religious' labels define can be held together in one person? (I cannot speak for any group other than that calling themselves 'Christians' .) I would think not, but have hesitated in my reply, because I don't think that this is the place to explain why I take that view. I did so, in my earlier attachment about 'ACT and the Christian Tradition'. This was aimed, initially, at therapists, who I believed would benefit from taking this distinctive worldview into account when working together with Christian clients.

I really would like to explain why I think this way, however, and will be very happy to discuss this with you, or anyone who would like to contact me backchannel.

Having tried not to be obtuse - my mind is now telling me that it is time to sign off.

With very warm thoughts of your continuous hard work on 'being' and 'doing'

Ingrid

Support the World Aids Awareness campaign this month with Yahoo! for Good

[Guest guest]

Dear Simone

I think I may have created some confusion with talking about values, the sense of knowing and labels all together.

As a result of the relentless of words in our head, the sense of knowing is relentlessly dragged into 'wordiness', 'what is this-ness', labels. Apparently not a problem that geese have - lucky geese!! Labelling cannot be escaped for ever - if our minds are into thinking about what the label is, it will go back there - even after you have gone behind the concepts. The question about which label if any, will beg an answer. This can require quite a bit of research.

If the Christian choice is made, certain values automatically follow on that choice. That's what I meant by the 'being' and 'doing' - this choice will then impact on all of our values. I think at this point it begins to sound like a static set of rules to live by - being told what your values are to be. The Christian choice, however, involves beginning a relationship, not signing up for a religion. It holds all the 'beingness' and 'doingness' - the vitality - of any close relationship.

Yes - I do mean that I would be very happy to discuss this with you further on my private email address.

Ingrid