[WepKeyday]

I want to invite members to think about and contribute questions for a spiritual IQ test. The idea would be not to ask dogmatic questions, but questions that require a response from the soul that would not require prior knowledge in the form of theological "information" so to speak, but what is your soul telling you.

For example:

Question: Is it better to be a victim of an injustice, or to commit an injustice?

Hopefully we can come up with 25 good questions.

[Valdoyes]

Ok...I'll be the wet blanket. First, what is the point of a spiritual IQ test? Is the result supposed to be helpful in some way or to "entertain and enlighten"?

Second, judging from the example it looks like you want a set of situational ethics questions.

Third, would not one have to presume some measure of genuine spirituality to actually suggest a "good" question? That leaves me out....spriitual is something I can spell on a good day...."being" spiritual in any way that matters...much less waxing didactic about it is beyond me at present.

Now I can churn out a ton of "gotcha" and "hmmm" questions...like make a list of the five best and five worst people in the past 200 years. Add yourself to the list. Which one on the list most deverves to go to hell? Assume any answer besides yourself is wrong. Give the reason why in 500 words or less. Five points will be deducted for any gratuitous use of platitudes.

[gkruCRi1]

I want to invite members to think about and contribute questions for a spiritual IQ test. The idea would be not to ask dogmatic questions, but questions that require a response from the soul that would not require prior knowledge in the form of theological "information" so to speak, but what is your soul telling you.

For example:

Question: Is it better to be a victim of an injustice, or to commit an injustice?

Hopefully we can come up with 25 good questions.

Sorry I'm leaving this open ended, but perhaps we could work the statement "keep your mind in hell and despair not" into a question.

Something along the lines of:

What is your reaction to the statement "keep your mind in hell and despair not"?

Or:

Does the statement "keep your mind in hell and despair not" offend your sense of the role which self-esteem should play in your life?

Well, as I say, maybe this is something we could work with.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[jokiruss]

Well, if I can dry the wet blanket, or at least make an attempt to contribute to this thread, I would like to offer not something of my own devising, but rather a saying from St. Isaac of Nineveh:

'Sin is the fruit of free will' - is it?

In Christ,

John

[Buyemae]

Very interesting Owen. Here's one that comes to mind (with a little help from Bishop Ware):


1.) Can the pondering of a Christian koan bring a self-noughting that one may be filled with an all-embracing sense of the divine indwelling?


Shalom-Shalom,

Rick

[Siliespiriulk]

I sincerely hope not to offend, but I am in agreement with Robert on this.

Is everything and anything to be subject to measuring by yardsticks of our own design?

In Christ,
Tanya

[investor]

Rick,

Can we come up with a simpler version of that?

[Enliseell]

Is it better to be a) poor or b) rich?

[lkastonidwedsrer]

Rick,

Can we come up with a simpler version of that?

Owen, I am not usually known for my brevity but I am more than happy to try again:


Can a Christian koan be a vehicle of Grace?

[Nzmoafzn]

My little idea here is to have a non-dogmatic test. So, how about something like:

Is it better to a) understand everything or b) admit we don't?

The Ware point is that we experience God's indwelling when we become humble and admit that our mind is a pale imitation of God's mind.

[CreativeAcrobate]

Fr. V,

So what do you see as the primary spiritual import of the axiom you cited?

Let's address that question, and then try to reformulate into a simple question that doesn't have the word "hell" in it.

[yK2VgoEI]

Koan, of course, is a trendy term used by new age enthusiasts. But most people don't know what it means. Paradox is perhaps our "Western" equivalent. But instead of asking a question about paradoxes, how about posing a paradox and offering an a) or b) answer? Ware is of course trying to point out that theology is not a bunch of information lying around waiting to be picked up, but involves the periagogue of the mind and heart. And that typically happens when our conventions are overturned and we are forced to look at ourselves and things differently. And when we are confronted with a paradox that cannot be resolved other than through faith and deep humility. So the purpose of a spiritual IQ test would be a true test of the spirit -- not to test the knowledge of information, but to interject into the consciousness the opportunity for conversion. When I place my head on the pillow at night, and inventory my attitudes and feelings and actions for the day, have I been a perpetrator of injustice? Do I have resentments as a victim of injustice? Is there another path? If I am asked the question, is it better to be a victim or a perpetrator, how does that change me? Call it dynamic catechesis?

[leacturavar]

Fr. V,

So what do you see as the primary spiritual import of the axiom you cited?

Let's address that question, and then try to reformulate into a simple question that doesn't have the word "hell" in it.

The spiritual focus of what St Silouan was told, I think, relates to sin and evil & how this is redeemed.

A question from this could be:


Is the evil which surrounds us something we must escape from at all costs?


Just a few ideas but I'm open to someone else formulating the question.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[foodselfdourileka]

Owen--It is probably me for sure . . . or maybe both but, I am fully persuaded that one of us needs a vacation as I consider the old Quaker saying: "Sometimes me thinks the whole world is crazy except for me and thee, and sometimes I suspect even thee!"

But, I wonder if the word usage of 'dogma/dogmatic' is what you want as it relates to assertions/beliefs more than it does questions. I do see value to what you are considering but I am wondering about your word usage/definition?

Rick the Glutton (for Punishment)

PS Do you like to go fishing?

[NerbuitW]

The only point in asking non dogmatically loaded questions is in order to avoid prejudicing the answer. Many of us would otherwise answer in the dogmatically "correct" way without paying attention to the question. Without the possibility of any change taking place. Example: "Do you believe in the Holy Trinity?" Yes, of course! OK, so what?

[wrbwrbwrb]

The obvious answer to Fr. V's excellent question is, of course, no. But perhaps a bit too obvious for some, and inexplicable to others. So, yes, perhaps there is a better way of posing the question to really confront the issue.

[PetraCromlich]

How about:



Is it better to a) fight evil or b) suffer from evil?

[VoriEremiagem]

Is it better to a) punish another person for something he did not do or b) be punished by others for something you did not do? (variation on a theme)

[joanasevilyboaz]

If you are extremely ill is it better to a) fight to stay alive or b) prepare for your death? (note: "prepare" could mean a lot of different things to different people.)

[ClaudeMarkus]

Is it better to be a) poor or b) rich? (or have we asked that question already?)