faith

Podcast : Why do people believe in faith healing?

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Since a 1906 revival in Los Angeles, people around the world say they’ve been cured by the Holy Spirit after preachers with the Gift of Healing laid their hands on them. Skeptics scoff, but science’s explanations are kind of vague. So what’s going on here?

Listening to this podcast, with religion in general on my mind, was extremely challenging. 

Since a pentecostal revival in Jerusalem, people around the world say they've been saved by the Holy Spirit after Jesus and the Gift of Salvation was bestowed on them. Skeptics scoff, but science's explanations are kind of vague. So what's going on here?

Some days, the answer is "faith."

Other days, I feel duped. 

But what I found most interesting was that anyone, of any religion or non, could listen to this podcast, replace "Faith Healing" with whatever they believe, and the outcome would be the same: mankind taking advantage of others, for the purpose of personal gain. Yet, so few question or consider or even imagine that they might be wrong, that their beliefs and answers and absolute truths may very well be a hoax.

Because to question another's belief is expected, even divine; questioning one's own is weak and immature, even wrong. 

Which just sounds scary to me.

 

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-N- Stuff  :  Favorite Podcasts

Doubt and Gossip : Faith and Certainty, with Philip Seymour Hoffman

I can't stop thinking about this movie. Doubt, directed by John Patrick Shanley is a simple and chilling (literally) film that, unapologetically, exposes the hearts and minds of us all, warns us against pride and dogmatic practices, and pleads with us to be men and women defined by grace and kindness, not certainty. 

The story of Doubt is guided by a few choice sermons given by Philip Seymour Hoffman's character, Father Brendan Flynn. In or out of context, they are powerful and worth a watch.

His first is of the power and place of doubt within our lives:

Reminds me of the passage in Mark 9:24, "I believe; help my unbelief!" 

At the root of all humanity, doubt unites us all and should drive us toward a heart of compassion, not arrogance and piety. 

We all doubt. That's why faith is called, "faith," not certainty. 

The second sermon is on gossip:

"I know none of you have ever done this."

And may it never be. 

 

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