Self-delusion ok?

Soothfish · Dec 26, 2013

I use self-delusion on a regular basis to keep myself from being overwhelmed with anger and hatred. In a sense it's like lifting the cover on the steaming kettle that is my soul.

Most days I refuse to believe in the existence of evil deeds unless I have the power to stop it right then and there (and most of us never do).

For example, I recently saw a story about the Taliban tricking an innocent 8 year old girl into delivering a suicide bomb in which she was also killed. Seeing the picture made it even harder to deal with. Therefore, I developed a strategy of convincing my own mind that this story was nothing more than hearsay.

Then there are days when I witness evil firsthand and fail to stop it (why I believe that evil always wins). That is when the self-hatred intensifies. There is no point in releasing the hatred against the perp who is already going to court....so I release the hatred against the one who failed to stop it: myself

During all other days I try my best to detach from reality and live in a deluded fantasy. That is for the sake of my own emotional stability and also for the safety of the public. I would become filled with unquenchable wrath.

Does God approve of this strategy? When I hear Christians talk about prayer it basically sounds like they are using the exact same strategy but with a twist (faith in resurrection of the victims).

dhh712 · Dec 26, 2013

Soothfish said:
I use self-delusion on a regular basis to keep myself from being overwhelmed with anger and hatred. In a sense it's like lifting the cover on the steaming kettle that is my soul.

Most days I refuse to believe in the existence of evil deeds unless I have the power to stop it right then and there (and most of us never do).

For example, I recently saw a story about the Taliban tricking an innocent 8 year old girl into delivering a suicide bomb in which she was also killed. Seeing the picture made it even harder to deal with. Therefore, I developed a strategy of convincing my own mind that this story was nothing more than hearsay.

Then there are days when I witness evil firsthand and fail to stop it (why I believe that evil always wins). That is when the self-hatred intensifies. There is no point in releasing the hatred against the perp who is already going to court....so I release the hatred against the one who failed to stop it: myself

During all other days I try my best to detach from reality and live in a deluded fantasy. That is for the sake of my own emotional stability and also for the safety of the public. I would become filled with unquenchable wrath.

Does God approve of this strategy? When I hear Christians talk about prayer it basically sounds like they are using the exact same strategy but with a twist (faith in resurrection of the victims).

It is a difficult topic. The world is such a horrible place, I feel it is quite easy to become so emotionally affected by it, especially if we are able to empathize with others to an extreme degree. It can cause us great upheavals of emotion.

Basically I have used similar strategies in order to preserve my own mental stability for I have a rather efficient ability to empathize with others and the research I am involved in (particularly a specific topic some years prior to this) leads me into some dark places of human nature.

I don't know that anything is ok except to lean fully upon and trust only God. Yet we are weak humans, encased in this corruptible flesh. It is why it is necessary for us to have Christ's righteousness imputed onto us for it is the only way thing which will save us onto eternal life.

Self-delusion in my opinion can be seen as a sin because we are trusting in ourselves and not God to give us a peace of mind. However, if it is the only way given to a person to keep their sanity, I don't see it as something to turn from entirely. I would continue to pray to God about it, to ask Him to help you to lean entirely upon Him for peace of mind. I'm convinced our own weak ability to self-delude ourselves will crumble away as it can only do. Only God can give you the peace of mind you seek.

paul1149 · Dec 26, 2013

It's better to deal with reality. That's the only way to have a sound mind, and ironically, ultimately peace. The evil in the world points to a need for a Savior. It's better to face that square on and be driven to Jesus, even if in despair. Because it is in Him that we find resolution.

That doesn't mean we should wallow in evil 24/7. Far from it. Our main focus is on God. But we must walk in this earth, and evil and suffering are part of it.

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. -2Tim 1:7

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. -Rom 12:1-3

~Anastasia~ · Dec 27, 2013

I experienced something as a small child that I was unable to process. Yes, it was pure evil.

I spent the remainder of my childhood trying to "delude" myself that it didn't happen, or to force myself to forget.

I was always aware of a tremendous pressure on myself to to this. It wasn't healthy, and I knew the truth deep inside myself anyway.

You are asking does God approve? I'm not aware that Scripture answers this. But essentially we are lying to ourselves, or trying to.

The answer that comes to mind is "two wrongs don't make a right".

And lying is never right.

I think there must be more productive ways of dealing with it. Though without God, the options would be more limited.

Who knows? Perhaps if you become a Christian, because you have this sensitivity to evil and empathy for people, you could have the gift to become a great prayer warrior. Then you COULD do something about the evil.

Soothfish · Dec 28, 2013

Kylissa said:
Who knows? Perhaps if you become a Christian, because you have this sensitivity to evil and empathy for people, you could have the gift to become a great prayer warrior. Then you COULD do something about the evil.

That is possible but very unlikely. I've been trying to trust God for years and end up finding more and more reasons NOT to trust him then the other way around.

I have two short term solutions: 1. self-delusion 2. elimination of emotion

Willie T · Dec 28, 2013

Did Jesus have to "release" hatred? Or did He release what He chose to have within Himself, "love"?

You may not accept this, but you, yourself are the only one who can chose to take hatred into yourself... no matter how much of it is all around you, every day.

If you can ever get this, you will have moved just a little closer to what God originally created you for. The glory of God is man fully alive. This comes from John 10:10....

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Have you ever wondered why Jesus married those two statements? Did you even know he spoke them at the same time?

Did you? Now that you do know, what do you make of it?

Soothfish · Dec 30, 2013

Willie T said:
Did Jesus have to "release" hatred? Or did He release what He chose to have within Himself, "love"?

You may not accept this, but you, yourself are the only one who can chose to take hatred into yourself... no matter how much of it is all around you, every day.

If you can ever get this, you will have moved just a little closer to what God originally created you for. The glory of God is man fully alive. This comes from John 10:10....
Have you ever wondered why Jesus married those two statements? Did you even know he spoke them at the same time?

Did you? Now that you do know, what do you make of it?

I don't understand the cross. What was the point? The vast majority of adult humans are still unrepentant, still insane, still evil, and still going to Hell. So it looks like the cross was for those killed well before their time and maybe a few thousand to a million adults alive on Earth on any given year.

If it was purely a numbers game, Satan would be winning by a landslide.

This is why I say that I'm finding fewer and fewer reasons to trust God and why it is getting harder and harder. There is absolutely nothing to go on. Not the world and not the word. What a disaster! Maybe if I saw a bunch of miracles it would help (maybe) but we all know that those are exceedingly rare.

FutureAndAHope · Dec 30, 2013

Soothfish said:
I don't understand the cross. What was the point? The vast majority of adult humans are still unrepentant, still insane, still evil, and still going to Hell. So it looks like the cross was for those killed well before their time and maybe a few thousand to a million adults alive on Earth on any given year.

If it was purely a numbers game, Satan would be winning by a landslide.

The problem with the world are there are two few witnesses for Jesus actually making a change. But I don't believe that God will leave His world without a witness. He has spoken to me before, so I know he can reach out to others in the same way. Just becasue the whole world is not Christian now does not mean God can't reach the others, even if it is on their death beds.

Soothfish · Dec 31, 2013

FutureAndAHope said:
The problem with the world are there are two few witnesses for Jesus actually making a change. But I don't believe that God will leave His world without a witness. He has spoken to me before, so I know he can reach out to others in the same way. Just becasue the whole world is not Christian now does not mean God can't reach the others, even if it is on their death beds.

If the people he has 'called' are that lazy then he probably isn't all that concerned with humanity. He really hates us now doesn't he?

dhh712 · Jan 1, 2014

Soothfish said:
I don't understand the cross. What was the point? The vast majority of adult humans are still unrepentant, still insane, still evil, and still going to Hell. So it looks like the cross was for those killed well before their time and maybe a few thousand to a million adults alive on Earth on any given year.

The point of the cross was the glorification of God. It is not about us, it is about Him. If the focus was on the betterment of humanity, then you are absolutely right, the god of that view is a joke. If that god were true, then it is very correct that he has absolutely no power at all in this world.

That is the problem with humanity-centered Christianity and why it holds no water because it is very obvious that that god they worship has no power in this world. He can do nothing for his people. They are suffering; the point is for them to have all they can in this world, and do they? If their god is for them, then why do they suffer? It is a slander to the name of Christianity that people worship such base carnality as that. He is a feel-good opiate to get them through the harshness of this life and most of them eventually wake up and realize they are holding onto something which if you put any weight on it, it disintegrates.

Willie T · Jan 1, 2014

Soothfish said:
I don't understand the cross. What was the point? The vast majority of adult humans are still unrepentant, still insane, still evil, and still going to Hell. So it looks like the cross was for those killed well before their time and maybe a few thousand to a million adults alive on Earth on any given year.

If it was purely a numbers game, Satan would be winning by a landslide.

This is why I say that I'm finding fewer and fewer reasons to trust God and why it is getting harder and harder. There is absolutely nothing to go on. Not the world and not the word. What a disaster! Maybe if I saw a bunch of miracles it would help (maybe) but we all know that those are exceedingly rare.

If you are finding fewer and fewer reasons to trust God, then why beat your head against a wall? Just go back to whatever you believed in before. Problem solved.

Soothfish · Jan 1, 2014

Willie T said:
If you are finding fewer and fewer reasons to trust God, then why beat your head against a wall? Just go back to whatever you believed in before. Problem solved.

hmmmm that wouldn't turn out well. Violence is the only alternative to God. If heaven isn't interested in bringing justice to the wicked then that leaves only man to do the dirty work.

Then there are the spoiled self-absorbed little atheist kids. I never want to be one of those again.

Willie T · Jan 1, 2014

Soothfish said:
hmmmm that wouldn't turn out well. Violence is the only alternative to God. If heaven isn't interested in bringing justice to the wicked then that leaves only man to do the dirty work.

Then there are the spoiled self-absorbed little atheist kids. I never want to be one of those again.

So what are you doing, just complaining and grousing, or are you asking God for answers?

Soothfish · Jan 3, 2014

Willie T said:
So what are you doing, just complaining and grousing, or are you asking God for answers?

Answers and some type of miracle

Soothfish · Jan 3, 2014

Willie T said:
So what are you doing, just complaining and grousing, or are you asking God for answers?

Hmmmm yeaa I better stick to delusion and life's myriad distractions. Trying to understand anything about God will only make me more confused, frustrated, and angry.

NeoStar · Jan 5, 2014

Soothfish said:
Hmmmm yeaa I better stick to delusion and life's myriad distractions. Trying to understand anything about God will only make me more confused, frustrated, and angry.

Eh, maybe, but just remeber that the child you spoke of is in heaven. Cause all children go to heaven

Soothfish · Jan 5, 2014

NeoStar said:
Eh, maybe, but just remeber that the child you spoke of is in heaven. Cause all children go to heaven

but we're not in heaven. On this Earth she is a pile of splattered red gore and shattered bone. A lifeless husk.

I'm supposed to go through life accepting this world as is it and not being completely enraged by it?!

chrisstavrous · Mar 4, 2014

Soothfish said:
I use self-delusion on a regular basis to keep myself from being overwhelmed with anger and hatred. In a sense it's like lifting the cover on the steaming kettle that is my soul.

Most days I refuse to believe in the existence of evil deeds unless I have the power to stop it right then and there (and most of us never do).

For example, I recently saw a story about the Taliban tricking an innocent 8 year old girl into delivering a suicide bomb in which she was also killed. Seeing the picture made it even harder to deal with. Therefore, I developed a strategy of convincing my own mind that this story was nothing more than hearsay.

Then there are days when I witness evil firsthand and fail to stop it (why I believe that evil always wins). That is when the self-hatred intensifies. There is no point in releasing the hatred against the perp who is already going to court....so I release the hatred against the one who failed to stop it: myself

During all other days I try my best to detach from reality and live in a deluded fantasy. That is for the sake of my own emotional stability and also for the safety of the public. I would become filled with unquenchable wrath.

Does God approve of this strategy? When I hear Christians talk about prayer it basically sounds like they are using the exact same strategy but with a twist (faith in resurrection of the victims).

No one can be 100% evil and at the same time be 100% good, think, what would that would even look like.

parsley · Apr 13, 2014

Our bodies and minds are made with the ability to do this, so to a responsible extent it is not completely wrong. Above, it was brought up that our minds will delay a response until it can be dealt with more gradually, without a disabling shock to the system.

I think it is troubling that you can shut off the truth, and prevent yourself from acting against evil. If everyone in society did that, no one would be left alive.

It is an easier route out, less confrontation and chance of rejection. But a short-term neglect can hand over territory to bullies and oppressors, making our future need for confrontation so much greater.

Shutting off distant news is understandable, because otherwise we might get overwhelmed with despair. Cavemen weren't expected to learn where all the floods and wheel accidents were around the globe.

I tend to feel overload when the same news story continues day after day; and need to tune it out until something new is announced. That is different from tuning out a local situation or the troubles of a friend.

Take a look at how these habits formed. We are living in a time where gaming takes up a lot of our thought process, and we disassociate ourselves from dangers because we know games are virtual. Try to bring some humanity back into your actions and thoughts -- it might be something you need to actively work on.

Go feed a squirrel or put the groceries away...do some tangible acts of kindness.

Soothfish · Apr 14, 2014

parsley said:
Our bodies and minds are made with the ability to do this, so to a responsible extent it is not completely wrong. Above, it was brought up that our minds will delay a response until it can be dealt with more gradually, without a disabling shock to the system.

I think it is troubling that you can shut off the truth, and prevent yourself from acting against evil. If everyone in society did that, no one would be left alive.

It is an easier route out, less confrontation and chance of rejection. But a short-term neglect can hand over territory to bullies and oppressors, making our future need for confrontation so much greater.

Shutting off distant news is understandable, because otherwise we might get overwhelmed with despair. Cavemen weren't expected to learn where all the floods and wheel accidents were around the globe.

I tend to feel overload when the same news story continues day after day; and need to tune it out until something new is announced. That is different from tuning out a local situation or the troubles of a friend.

Take a look at how these habits formed. We are living in a time where gaming takes up a lot of our thought process, and we disassociate ourselves from dangers because we know games are virtual. Try to bring some humanity back into your actions and thoughts -- it might be something you need to actively work on.

IF I do as you suggest then I will be forced to choose the path of hyper-violence against all enemy forces. There would be absolutely no room left in my life for moderation. Considering how corrupt the legal system is just about everywhere, I would certainly turn to torture and killing as the instruments of justice. Anything less is laziness and hypocrisy.

parsley said:
Go feed a squirrel or put the groceries away...do some tangible acts of kindness.

Pretty silly compared to what evil is doing in the world. They are wiping out or corrupting entire families, entire communities, and the infinite lines of generations. Evil is monumental! Now what are we? We are pathetically useless...

Self-delusion ok?

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