Comments on: Embellishing Spiritual Experiences

By: Lowell Brown

Lowell Brown — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Is this Sunstone Lite?

By: Aaron Brown

Aaron Brown — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

It may appear that my post merely raises the same issues that John H’s recent post raised, but I don’t think so. John H’s post goes to the question of whether we interpret our spiritual experiences correctly. In contrast, I’m speaking to the issue of whether we can trust anyone to accurately represent “the facts” of their experiences to others, or to themselves … never mind how they ultimately choose to interpret those experiences.

Aaron B

By: Nate Oman

Nate Oman — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

J. also may simply have been mistaken. She may have been projecting her feelings onto others in her memory. People sometimes simply remember things incorrectly…

By: Aaron Brown

Aaron Brown — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Lowell -- please expound on what you mean by "stuff like this."

Aaron B

By: Zig Q.

Zig Q. — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Lowell,

Like my mama always said, "If you don't have anything nice to say..." or "If you don't have anything to contribute, then..." or "If you don't have a solution, keep your complaints to yourself" etc. etc.

Not to be peevish myself, but - why are you obviously reading all this, not to mention posting (which, in and of itself is fine and appreciated) if you aren't interested in what's being said?
"Sunstone-lite" is cute, but in implying the pretentious elitism (my interpretation) of those discussing, aren't you automatically guilty of condescension/elitism yourself? Pride is such a tricky little thing.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Oh!!! Yeah Bob!!!
I want to see that movie. It could seriously be the most irreverent fun I’ve had since cheerio racing under the pews was banned at age five.

By: Aaron Brown

Aaron Brown — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

So, Dave, am I a charlatan or a pious fraud? :)

Nate, I'm only "slightly" cynical? Please.

Aaron B

By: Lowell Brown

Lowell Brown — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Sorry for my peevish comment. I just don’t get the fascination with stuff like this.

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

We’re not sophisticated and European enough to call it Sunstone Lite. Actually, we’re just diet sunstone. All of the pretension, none of the intelligence.

(This is our second literary analogy this week. Just a few days ago, Kaimi likened us to the New York Post and Steve to Rupert Murdoch. I personally won’t rest until we’re being compared to the Economist…)

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Yeah, memory is a tricky thing. I just love those PBS specials about the mind and how it works and how our memories are shaped. What's the show called with Alan Alda?

It seems we humans are totally unreliable creatures.

I think you post is very fair to Jenny, giving her the benefit of the doubt, but I also think that you should probably acknowledge the potential flaws in your own memories.

It is of course natural to give more weight to your own memory of the situation than to Jenny's. It is your memory after all. Personally, I'd be more inclined to believe you over her.

But that doesn't necessarily make your memory of the situation the right one. Calling Jenny's memory "Totally and utterly false." gives more weight to your recollections than may be warranted, given the flawed nature of the human capacity to recall things correctly.