Does anyone feel like they took the red pill?

[Barbarbarann]

DH and I are active Christians. I was having an interesting conversation with DH the other day and we were talking about how being saved and following Jesus feels like we took the red pill from the Matrix. It feels like our eyes are opened to how evil is operating in the world and you can't unsee it. I feel like we are in an age where evil is deemed good and good is deemed evil and we are the only ones that can see it and others are mostly blasé, heads in the sand or mislead.

I wonder if anyone else out there feels that too? When I mentioned it to some ladies at a Bible study yesterday - I was met with blank looks. I am not some militant, Bible-thumping conspiracy theorist either, just someone who quietly reads their bible daily and prays.

Thankyou @pointythings. This is a song I posted on the spiritual music thread. It's an unusual piece of music but one I keep revisiting for good reason. The lyrics are something else!

d_

I also like to think nothing is doomed from the outset - but where the boundaries of that nothing are is more complicated. Is an individual woman wants to believe that there might be a miracle for her individual doomed pregnancy and wants to carry it to term, I'm at peace with that. But to force another individual woman who does not believe that and wants to terminate that doomed pregnancy to carry it instead is evil.

@pointythings, agree!

I think somehow the God omnipotent post upthread is pertinent in terms of allowing people autonomy. It's beyond the edge of my understanding but here goes. You can have the ability for full control but if you love people you want to allow them autonomy and would rather have willing unity than control.

I think certain experiences are transformational.. It changes your personality and the way you view the world. Some common transformative experiences are becoming an adult, becoming a parent, becoming religious or if you were religious becoming atheist, believing in a conspiracy theory, getting a near death experience or a diagnosis..

I'm an atheist. I do see evil in the world. Much of it comes from religion.

It's funny because those of us who have woke up from cult like religions feel like we have taken the red pill.
The Matrix is referenced often amongst us.

Do you think Christians are superior or that only Christians see and/or care what is happening on our planet.
You sound deluded

@Horrace I believe you. And I say that as a Christian. But the completely secular world can be equally alienating and horrifying too. It's the latter that I found me and mine victim of.

Christianity was my salvation. But my route in was somewhat unconventional. My church is online (non denominational) , I read the Bible, read devotionals from different denominations and none - for balance. Can't choose between denominations. I like online church and to have complete autonomy between receiving teaching and joining worship and prayer and going out into the wider community and engaging with people. I'm not part of an organised church team in that respect but have complete autonomy and do good where I see it is needed. So I'm not a victim of church politics. There is a (healthy) distance there. But I do think others are better t dealing with team work than me.

When I was in the cult (in their words Christian) I thought I was better than everyone else. I had and knew something that only those of us in the club shared. We were superior to the rest of the world.
So can't blame OP for her comments really.

Yes,that experience seems common. It shouldn't be like that though and doesn't have to be. What you are describing is just tribalism plain and simple.

@Barbarbarann How do we define "evil" eg depending on the goal thats needed to be achieved, and depending on the bible chosen eg old vs new test etc then alot of literal following of said books would be evil, so even in the bible itself alot of what's advocated would be evil by modern, todays standards.

For example passages such as:

Divine Commands in the Old Testament:
The command to exterminate entire groups of people, as seen in passages like the conquest of Canaan (e.g., Joshua 6:21). This raises ethical concerns about genocide.

Violence and Punishment:
Instances of harsh punishment, including the death penalty for various offenses, or engaging in certain practices. These may be seen as excessively severe by modern standards.

Slavery:
The Bible provides regulations for the treatment of slaves in the Old Testament (Exodus 21:20-21). While it acknowledges slavery, contemporary ethical standards strongly condemn the practice.

Come on, you know it's not healthy to think like the op. I don't know why you are encouraging it. Someone who thinks they are in the matrix is clearly not a well person!

Come on, you know it's not healthy to think like the op. I don't know why you are encouraging it. Someone who thinks they are in the matrix is clearly not a well person!

@Scottishshortbread11877, I assumed the OP was talking metaphorically and didn't mean it literally! Would you rather the OP was ill to prove you correct? I said I hope the OP isn't, what is wrong with that...I wouldn't wish mental illness on anyone.

@heyhohello I wouldn't wish mental illness on anyone either, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I'm not sure why you keep supporting Op's thoughts on being superior as she is Christian and seeing good as evil. I'm not going to engage with you further, I don't think the op's stance is healthy, you think it's fine. It's ok for us to disagree but no matter what your counter argument is I still feel the same about it. Have a great Sunday!

@Scottishshortbread11877,,

I don't think the op's stance is healthy, you think it's fine.

Have you read all my posts? Especially the initial one. I think the OP's stance is understandable, not uncommon but ultimately one that is flawed. Everybody who has mistaken thinking is not mentally ill.

Mental illness is more about when the stress (of life) is affecting an detrimentally individual so much they can't cope, losing sleep, appetite, decision making abilities etc etc

Have a great Sunday!

@Scottishshortbread11877, will do thanks. You too.

It's ok for us to disagree but no matter what your counter argument is I still feel the same about it.

@Scottishshortbread11877, ah, you really don't seem to like the cognitive dissonance something that doesn't fit with your mindset causes. I hope in real life you can put up with cognitive dissonance long enough to consider properly things that conflict with your world view so you keep learning. No one can know everything!

What if the OP is right? What if there really IS absolute truth and a big chunk of the world is rejecting if?

Let me see. An omniscient, omnipotent, benevolent deity who never appears, never communicates and never intervenes in what he has created, other than a reputed visit from his miracle-working son 2000 years back that wasn’t an unparalleled success, but who nonetheless requires endless worship, faith and acknowledgement??

I would say he was doing a piss-poor job, it’s perfectly reasonable for much of the world to ignore his existence in the circumstances, and he should maybe reconsider his approach.

What if Jesus wasn't the Messiah and the Jews and the Muslims are right?

I cannot understand the arrogance of believing that you have managed to find the one 'true' religion when the vast majority of the time what religion you are (if any) is massively dictated by where you were born and your family history

If everyone actually practised the core principles of their religions - compassion, forbearance, forgiveness, truth-speaking, devotion, eschewing negative qualities such as greed, jealousy, hatred and so on, the world would be a utopia. Warfare is generated by greed, materialism, hatred, separatism and ignorance. True religion at its core shouldn't be about those negative qualities, but alas, people are human...

Someone who thinks they are in the matrix is clearly not a well person!

I entirely reject the OP's point and belief system, but she doesn't think she's in the Matrix fgs! The red pill / blue pill analogy is in very common use, not just by people who are mentally ill!

Problem is which then texts ?

Muslims believe Jesus is the Messiah FYI.

I think most people see the evil but what can you realistically do about war and famine in far flung places. All you can do is look for the positives in your own life and spread a little joy where you can. There are very few who dont see it!

Belief is the death of intelligence. As soon as one believes a doctrine of any sort, or assumes certitude, one stops thinking about that aspect of existence - Robert A. Wilson

Beliefs are comforting, but just that. No-one knows better than you or I why we're here. Keep questioning, don't accept a doctrine