Looking for a group of extremely disciplined people

[andrew112]

I am talking about people that aspire to be just like God the Father himself. I know that it is probably impossible for anyone to ever be just like God because God never eats, sleeps, drinks, goes to the bathroom--basically, it's simply just because he does not have a body and is a spirit or soul. I greatly admire the discipline, power, strength, self-control, and love of God the Father, and I long to be like him. I know that it is pretty ridiculous that I am saying all this stuff and here I am typing away on a computer and staring at a screen while inside the safe comfort of my own home, but I would rather not be doing this right now. I would rather be fasting out in the wilderness, just like Christ did. I would rather learn to be just like Christ himself, and then probably even try to be just like God himself, even though I will never achieve that unless I am crucified, descend down into hell, and conquer satan himself.

I feel as though I have already gone though all of what Christ had gone though though. The reason why I feel this way is because I believe that I have suffered so much in my own life that it is either equivalent to the suffering that Christ went though, or perhaps even more so. I believe that I have gone though the psychological equivalent of fasting out in the wilderness for forty days and forty nights, getting whipped, flogged, and crucified by the public, and even descending down into hell and suffering in hell. Keep in mind though, that I said psychological equivalent, not physically, but psychologically. You can't see what goes on psychologically, but you can see what goes on physically.

And the question is: why am I still here if I have already gone though all of this torture, immense suffering, piety and austerity? I really do not know the answer to that.

Anyways, I am basically looking for people that have gone through similar experiences and shares the same core values that I have, which are: 1.) Love 2.) Self-control 3.) Discipline.

I know that it does not take much discipline or control at all to be sitting here comfortably typing away on my keyboard and staring at a computer screen, but this is not who I really am. I am really a person who greatly values the above core beliefs and values.

[KaleidoskopicVision]

The title of this post was unnecessarily provocative and suggestive.

Oh and there is absolutely no psychological substitute for the physical torment Jesus supposedly went through. Being nailed to a wooden cross and hung up for days? Being stabbed, whipped, beaten? Fasting for 40 days? I'm sorry, but there are no psychological equivalents to these things. You don't need people who will feed your distorted self image, you need some humility.

[rei]

Originally Posted by KaleidoskopicVision

The title of this post was unnecessarily provocative and suggestive.

agreed. most humans have been through a lot of incredibly painful experiences, often before they reach adolescence. if not, then it happens later. you did not give any details, but very very few people would experience the psychological equivalent of what Jesus experienced physically. i am not sure the two can be related in that way anyhow. physical wounds heal faster but are often harder to experience in the moment.

if you really wish to be around people who value the Christian meaning behind Love, Self-control, and Discipline, there are plenty of places you can go. you can visit the churches in your area to meet people, or you can move to the bible belt of the U.S. if you want to be around a lot of people who believe in these teachings and who think it is the only right way to truth and love. you could also join a monastery.

[andrew112]

Originally Posted by KaleidoskopicVision

The title of this post was unnecessarily provocative and suggestive.

Oh and there is absolutely no psychological substitute for the physical torment Jesus supposedly went through. Being nailed to a wooden cross and hung up for days? Being stabbed, whipped, beaten? Fasting for 40 days? I'm sorry, but there are no psychological equivalents to these things. You don't need people who will feed your distorted self image, you need some humility.

Gee, well thank you for offending me. And who are you to judge what my intentions behind this post was? I am not looking for someone to feed my "distorted self image". You have no idea what I have gone through, so please do not judge me.

He was not hung up for days. And yes, there are psychological equivalents to those things. What about Autism and Angel Man Syndrome? Also, just FYI, Borderline Personality Disorder is the psychological equivalent to getting third degree burns.

[andrew112]

Originally Posted by rei

agreed. most humans have been through a lot of incredibly painful experiences, often before they reach adolescence. if not, then it happens later. you did not give any details, but very very few people would experience the psychological equivalent of what Jesus experienced physically. i am not sure the two can be related in that way anyhow. physical wounds heal faster but are often harder to experience in the moment.

if you really wish to be around people who value the Christian meaning behind Love, Self-control, and Discipline, there are plenty of places you can go. you can visit the churches in your area to meet people, or you can move to the bible belt of the U.S. if you want to be around a lot of people who believe in these teachings and who think it is the only right way to truth and love. you could also join a monastery.

What was the title of my post suggesting? If it was offensive to anyone, that was the last thing that I intended it to be.

Also, psychological suffering is much worse than physical suffering.

[DerekMB]

Originally Posted by andrew112

I would rather learn to be just like Christ himself, and then probably even try to be just like God himself, even though I will never achieve that unless I am crucified, descend down into hell, and conquer satan himself.

"Who pray's for satan?"

You might read the text, and understand some...

But if you want to be like god you will need to understand it all.

The thing is, you don't know what you lack in understanding, as you are blind to it.

With time and effort, you will remove your blindness. Then you will be more like god.

[moonrambler]

Originally Posted by andrew112

I would rather be fasting out in the wilderness, just like Christ did. I would rather learn to be just like Christ himself

What about what Christ spent the rest of his time doing then?

You know. Hanging out with people. Healing people. Helping people. Loving people. Making friends. Sharing his thoughts about God, and the right ways to behave. Going fishing. Eating bread. Making wine.

[rei]

Originally Posted by andrew112

What was the title of my post suggesting? If it was offensive to anyone, that was the last thing that I intended it to be.

Also, psychological suffering is much worse than physical suffering.

i don't know what the title was suggesting, but the content of your post wasn't really reading as extremist to me. you say you would like to do some more extreme things like go off into the woods, but you also say you are writing from the comfort of your own home.

also, a lot of people are not comfortable with the notion of extremism. it sounds to them like people who will hold rigidly to an ideology and be willing to hurt others in some way so they can champion that ideology. and, i am not sure i see Love/Self-control/Discipline as extremist. are you really asking for a group of people who wish to put themselves in extreme environments so they can be more like Jesus? there is probably a term for that, but i may not be the only one who was expecting something different in a post about Christian ideas with "extremist people" in the title.

whether physical or psychological suffering is worse depends on several factors. besides, physical suffering often has a psychological component - Jesus crying out to ask why the father had forsaken him is an example of how the physical suffering affected him psychologically.

as i said, physical wounds heal faster but psychological wounds don't usually hurt as much in the moment. usually people will go numb or go into denial or experience some other form of emotional distancing to protect their psychological selves, which means they avoid the full gravity of the pain until they are ready to process it. you can't really create that distance when you experience physical suffering, so it's more difficult in the moment.

[KaleidoskopicVision]

Originally Posted by andrew112

Gee, well thank you for offending me. And who are you to judge what my intentions behind this post was? I am not looking for someone to feed my "distorted self image". You have no idea what I have gone through, so please do not judge me.

He was not hung up for days. And yes, there are psychological equivalents to those things. What about Autism and Angel Man Syndrome? Also, just FYI, Borderline Personality Disorder is the psychological equivalent to getting third degree burns.

And do you have Autism, Angel Man Syndrome or BPD?

And yes, according to the Bible, Jesus hung on the cross for more than one day. That doesn't sound like an experience psychological pain could easily replicate. Psychological pain and physical pain are separate things. I have never heard this about BPD and as I know someone with BPD, my experience with that person is contrary to your assertion. That doesn't mean it isn't true, she (person with BPD) has never described it as that painful, just that she has extreme emotional dejection and feels compelled to damage herself by cutting/burning herself and maybe that's what you meant? Perhaps I was quick to judge you, but your post sounded unnecessarily hyperbolic.

What have you gone through?

[blossom]

Fly to the Phillipines and participate in their yearly festival where a bunch of people are willingly crucified (with real nails through the hands and feet) to re-create and experience what jesus went through, if you are that keen. I'm sure you'll find some like-minded people there.

[KaleidoskopicVision]

Originally Posted by blossom

Fly to the Phillipines and participate in their yearly festival where a bunch of people are willingly crucified (with real nails through the hands and feet) to re-create and experience what jesus went through, if you are that keen. I'm sure you'll find some like-minded people there.

Seriously? Wow, I had no idea this existed. Doesn't surprise me, but still... very twisted. In the Bible, Jesus didn't even want to be crucified and the night before it was going to happen he was terrified.

[blossom]

I'm sure he didn't...who would want to be nailed to a cross...except a chronic masochist! Don't know if you've heard of a guy called John Saffran...he's a funny guy from melbourne who does all sorts of extreme things to rub it in the face of his jewish heritage (he's got issues). Anyway, in his latest production " Race Relations" he goes to the philippines and signs up for a crucifixtion...which they film live. It's not really that funny, more disturbing than funny...but it is interesting that people will go to these lengths.

Originally Posted by KaleidoskopicVision

Seriously? Wow, I had no idea this existed. Doesn't surprise me, but still... very twisted. In the Bible, Jesus didn't even want to be crucified and the night before it was going to happen he was terrified.

[blossom]

Hey...you changed the thread title!

Good for you. Don't know too many EXTREMELY disciplined people though...but you may find someone.

btw, how do you know God is a Father? Could God be a female? Just because it is written in the bible this way doesn't mean it is all correct? Have you ever questioned any of the stuff you believe in?

Do you know for a fact that God would WANT you to be just like him/her? Wouldn't he/she want you to be just like YOU, if he loves you so much?

Why would he make you YOU, if he wanted you to be like Him?

If he wanted that, he'd just make a whole bunch of God clones to be just like him...he didn't, he made you YOU...so maybe he'd be happier if you just got comfy being YOU?

What do you think?