The discussion about marriage and the ceremony that revolves around it hearkens back to my previous post about the explanation of individuality. I have “found myself” only through my relationships with others, specifically God and my Wife. My wife is the person who opened many doors in my life to areas that I never knew existed. Without these relationships I would be an entirely different person. It is only through my relationships that I can become the fullest expression of myself.
In others: I see my shortcomings, I see virtue that I strive for, I see examples of how to live or what to avoid, I see new ways of looking at the world, and I see my affect as an individual.
My life is given importance only in how I act with and toward others. Outside of others and their experience of me, “I” do not exist.We are individuals in the sense that we cannot stand apart from our experience of others.
Filed under: Life, Love, Marriage, Relationships
I know this is an old post, but I wanted to commet as I’ve been mulling over some ideas. The marriage thing is a little beyond me at this point, but I’m interested a lot in what you say about individuality and connection with others. Here is my personal belief (for what it’s worth). I can’t claim to back it up with any scripture so if you know of any let me know.
Anyway I believe we are ultimately connected to everything everyone. Often Christians speak the idea of oneness through the body of Christ but I think it runs deeper than a set of people with a shared belief. I think our souls are universally, cosmically, and spiritualy connected into one thing. That’s not a very good way of saying it maybe, but there it is “We are One.” This for me tells me how to treat others. When I find myself looking down on someone or being frustrated by them, I try to see myself in them. I know that they are more than a mirror to myself but are somehow part of me and my respect for them is a respect of self and of all life.
Anyway that’s just my two cents. I’d love to hear more of your thoughts on this.
Michelle (sister)
If I am understanding you correctly, it sounds like you are saying that we are all part of a larger cosmic being and unity. Your idea sounds pantheistic in my opinion. When I was on my spiritual journey, I too found this idea attractive because it forced me to see myself in others and to be more tolerant of them and their actions. Through the study of Orthodox Christianity, I feel that I have developed a deeper understanding of what oneness and unity mean. We are only one in Christ. I will write a full post to discuss the issues you brought up because I think that you got to the core of what I was trying to say. My comment can’t do it justice. Thanks for your comment and please check back in a couple days.