If it didn't matter...
In the course of a recent conversation with my wife, I asked, “If you knew it didn’t matter [in a religious sense], what would you do? What sounds fun, that the only reason you wouldn’t do it is because it’d be a sin?” We joked about it a bit: rob a bank, be a hooker, other ridiculous things. But I tried to get a real answer out of her, which was difficult even for her (she’s a naturally polite, law-abiding type of person). Finally she started to answer and stopped herself. She didn’t want to admit it. I probably wouldn’t have been offended by it. Everyone has at least one secret/taboo desire. I just want to know more about her, what really goes on in her head, more of the REAL her.
That got me thinking, again, about the restrictions of religion/faith. Do all the rules change who we are, force us to deny part of our own selves?
Maybe yes, but it’s for the better, inhibiting the worse part of our nature, the Super-ego to our Id.
Maybe no, because the restricted desires are temporary, not part of the personality, and they’d be destructive anyway.
Maybe yes again, and it’s wrong, preventing exploration, possibilities, and pleasure/happiness.
I can identify with each answer. I don’t really know where I stand.
Thoughts (religious or otherwise)?
