24 Feb 2004
Questions

Kathryn, over at A Mindful Life seconded this:

Paul Pearsall, a psychoneuroimmunologist, says that no real therapy can begin until the therapist understands how the client will answer three ultimate questions. These three questions are, why was I born, what is the purpose of my life, and what will happen to me when I die?

If a person can answer those questions, why would he or she need therapy? If questions were cliches those three would be "the real deal", "where the rubber meets the road" and "the last great gig in the sky". Far from being the point where "therapy" can begin, I'd say they define the point of full realization: that point when we can (at least partially) comphrend the human condition.

Most folks never even ask the questions, however, much less answer them. And most of the time when they are asked and answered, it's with a mish-mash of incoherent, contradictory, reguritated theology, given forth with little or no thought to it's logical implications.

It's also a perfect opportunity for me to regurgitate some theology.

Over the next three days, I'll take on each question, one at a time. Might post'em here, might just be a link here to a new place on my main writings page.

For those reading this who aren't heathen, perhaps it'll shed some light on our world view, and for those who are I promise a slightly different take. Heathen theology is very much a personal matter right down to it's core: we are without benefit of "scripture", and without even the advantage of omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent deities.

This means that every heathen has a slightly different take on things, so these musings should not be taken as "canonical" in any sense of the term. I think I could get a good portion of heathens to go along with them, however, as these questions are less about "theology" and more about "spirituality": they're at the top of the religious food chain. These are the questions that eat the rest of our respective faiths, or lack thereof, for lunch.

Stay tuned ...

00:00 /Asatru | 3 comments | permanent link