jewish thoughts

[jimmys devoted]

the torah explins that anything in excess that takes away from your ability to rationalize and have free thought is detrimental.

However we have one holiday that get zonked is a good thing. Purim is that only holiday.

the torah has very rich explanations on what is considered and how to deal with things. I think so many people forget some basic things about their own spirituality that they look for escape in other means.

I personally loath anything that takes away from me in complete control.

However I do have my own non anethestic chemical addications. Dollmaking, sewing, reading, coffee............

[britjojo]

Coffee in itself can be a chemical addiction. But you are right that people too often forget that our spirituality is also often in need of attention; its one of the true levelling factors of every person, whether their faith is in the Bible, the Koran, or science or maths. It's all faith, because nothing has all the answers for us.

People of faith also still forget too often that the Bible, or whatever the book of your faith is, is the instruction book by which we should live our lives. That, if we live our lives according to it's word, we wouldn't have most of the problems that we do now-such as addiction.

[jimmys devoted]

Youknow. there is also another path... some people can be addicted to religion and spirituality. They can become blind to other ways or meanings wihtin what any good " book" suggetss or guides the individual to be.

So many kids suffer because of that.
So many marriages and indicviduals become lost within that as well.

I agree that any book that guides us, gives us tools live by gives the perosn hope and guidance is a needed part of any life.

[britjojo]

Yes, I started a thread about that topic a little way down this forum. I think that many people achieve good things through faith but like with everything else, some take it too far. Some will always suffer because of the actions of others, no matter how benign they may seem at the time.

[jimmys devoted]

I saw recentlyin tehnews where afamily refused medical helpbecause they wanted their child to be " cured" through religion. and the child died.
The stet coroner ordered an autospy and found snake venom in teh childs tissues.

Cults spring up and that kind of addicted sprirtuality is becoming an ever present danger.
I mean while alittle bit is good, a help, some just go so overboard they loose their objective.

[britjojo]

There is a difference though, between cult members and those who turn to faith for healing. And in fact, faith has been shown to have a beneficial effect on healing.

[mtajim]

every religion and faith tries to keep you out of addiction , it is we people who change it for our own purpose