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| Here are my remarks about [[doubts]]: Doubts are an inescapable component of [[work]] with [[material]] [[Free will|will]] [[creatures]]. There is no [[human]] who is totally [[doubt]]-free. You must [[face]] your doubt squarely, and [[decide]] which [[voice]] you will follow. It is not an easy [[choice]]. | | Here are my remarks about [[doubts]]: Doubts are an inescapable component of [[work]] with [[material]] [[Free will|will]] [[creatures]]. There is no [[human]] who is totally [[doubt]]-free. You must [[face]] your doubt squarely, and [[decide]] which [[voice]] you will follow. It is not an easy [[choice]]. |
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− | The [[choice]] is made more [[difficult]] by the [[fact]] that a [[system]] that is built upon [[free will]] choice is also a system which must withstand the inevitable [[appearance]] of [[conscious]] and [[unconscious]] [[errors]]. Particularly when you ask us questions that involve [[prediction]] of [[events]] on your [[planet]], there is great [[opportunity]] for error to enter. The rules bar the pre-emption of any [[creature]]'s [[free will]]. Between the [[prediction]] and the predicted [[event]], an infinite [[number]] of creature choices may change the result of the [[chain]] of [[events]] upon which we relied in making our [[statement]]. "[[Chain]] of [[events]]" is an imprecise term to [[describe]] this [[process]]. Rather is the [[reality]] better described by the [[movement]] of an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_current ocean current], like the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_stream Gulf Stream] current in your [[immediate]] vicinity. Along its margins, top, bottom, and sides, there is continual interplay of [[waters]], yet the whole is moving inexorably on to some further destination. Because of the changeability of [[fact]] sets, questions calling for [[predictions]] are disfavored, and only aggravate the [[human]] [[tendency]] to [[doubt]]. It is only secondarily because we [[fear]] that you will rely on our [[predictions]] that we [[hesitate]] to [[predict]]. The inescapable margin of [[error]], and its [[consequences]] on the [[human mind]], are the primary [[justification]]s for our distaste for [[predictions]]. | + | The [[choice]] is made more [[difficult]] by the [[fact]] that a [[system]] that is built upon [[free will]] choice is also a system which must withstand the inevitable [[appearance]] of [[conscious]] and [[unconscious]] [[errors]]. Particularly when you ask us questions that involve [[prediction]] of [[events]] on your [[planet]], there is great [[opportunity]] for error to enter. The rules bar the pre-emption of any [[creature]]'s [[free will]]. Between the [[prediction]] and the predicted [[event]], an infinite [[number]] of creature choices may change the result of the [[chain]] of [[events]] upon which we relied in making our [[statement]]. "[[Chain]] of [[events]]" is an imprecise term to [[describe]] this [[process]]. Rather is the [[reality]] better described by the [[movement]] of an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_current ocean current], like the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_stream Gulf Stream] current in your [[immediate]] vicinity. Along its margins, top, bottom, and sides, there is continual interplay of [[waters]], yet the whole is moving inexorably on to some further destination. Because of the changeability of [[fact]] sets, questions calling for [[predictions]] are disfavored, and only aggravate the [[human]] [[tendency]] to [[doubt]]. It is only secondarily because we [[fear]] that you will rely on our [[predictions]] that we [[hesitate]] to [[predict]]. The inescapable margin of [[error]], and its [[consequences]] on the [[human mind]], are the primary [[justification]]s for our distaste for [[predictions]]. |
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− | You and David have done well to freely [[discuss]] your [[doubts]] and logical [[conclusions]] regarding the veracity of your recent [[experiences]] with [[spiritual]] and [[celestial]] [[contact]]s. Having confronted them in true [[honesty]], you both saw that these [[doubts]] were not the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogre ogres] you had previously [[imagined]]. Truly, you are not [[alone]] with your [[problems]], and we are gratified to see that you unhesitatingly called on and [[received]] each other's fond [[assistance]]. This was not a test, nor was it intended to serve as a lesson, although it is clearly a useful [[experience]]. | + | You and David have done well to freely [[discuss]] your [[doubts]] and logical [[conclusions]] regarding the veracity of your recent [[experiences]] with [[spiritual]] and [[celestial]] [[contact]]s. Having confronted them in true [[honesty]], you both saw that these [[doubts]] were not the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogre ogres] you had previously [[imagined]]. Truly, you are not [[alone]] with your [[problems]], and we are gratified to see that you unhesitatingly called on and [[received]] each other's fond [[assistance]]. This was not a test, nor was it intended to serve as a lesson, although it is clearly a useful [[experience]]. |
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| You all live daily with more [[profound]] inconsistencies than these, for example, your [[societal]] concern with [[fairness]] and [[justice]], [[contrasted]] with the [[actual]] [[reality]] of some of the more brutal [[effects]] of your [[commercial]] [[economy]]. We look with [[favor]] upon your [[loyalty]] to spiritual [[progress]], your [[determination]] to press on, and especially your concern for the other members of your [[group]]. | | You all live daily with more [[profound]] inconsistencies than these, for example, your [[societal]] concern with [[fairness]] and [[justice]], [[contrasted]] with the [[actual]] [[reality]] of some of the more brutal [[effects]] of your [[commercial]] [[economy]]. We look with [[favor]] upon your [[loyalty]] to spiritual [[progress]], your [[determination]] to press on, and especially your concern for the other members of your [[group]]. |
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| ==Note== | | ==Note== |
− | Friday a.m., after a dawn discussion with David about doubts, and how to deal with substantive errors in the material. | + | Friday a.m., after a [[dawn]] [[discussion]] with David about [[doubts]], and how to deal with substantive [[errors]] in the [[material]]. |
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| [[Category: The Teaching Mission: Dialogues]] | | [[Category: The Teaching Mission: Dialogues]] |
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| [[Category: Will]] | | [[Category: Will]] |
| [[Category: JoiLin]] | | [[Category: JoiLin]] |
| + | [[Category: Doubt]] |
| [[Category: 1991]] | | [[Category: 1991]] |