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Driving the Spirit Away... Positive feedback loop
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 5:33 am
by _zeezrom
For a living, I build computer models of dynamic systems for environmental studies. Within these systems, we find feedback loops. There are two different kinds of feedback loops:
1. Negative (balancing)
2. Positive (self-reinforcing)
A great example of a positive feedback loop is chickens laying eggs. The more eggs you get, the more chickens and thence, more eggs. This cycle, if not controlled by other influences would continue in a positive loop. Eventually, the population would get out of control.
An example of negative feedback is chickens crossing the road. The more chickens that are born and cross the road means more chickens will get hit by cars. If less chickens are born, then less chickens get hit. Eventually it balances out to a fairly stable population.
OK, where am I going with this? Maybe you got bored and haven't made it to this point. I hope you stay with me. I was thinking about it the whole time I did the dishes tonight. The LDS Church loves to teach its followers that the Holy Ghost will get offended/scared/chased away if you act/think in a way that is disagreeable to the Holy Ghost. At the bottom of my OP are a bunch of quotes that reinforce this. I could have found 100 more. They are EVERYWHERE in LDS teachings. It makes you think this is the most important teaching they have!
I would like to suggest that the LDS Church leaders put its members into a positive (reinforcing) feedback loop with their teachings of the Holy Ghost. What drives the Spirit away, according to the LDS Church leaders? Lots of things! In fact, there are so many things, you are forced to conclude that the Holy Ghost is the most hyper-sensitive being in the Universe. I would guess that he might even lack the ability to take a joke. You watch the wrong movie, turn up the music, look at a miniskirt, say "dammit!", listen to Nicki Minaj, get angry, get depressed, or get rowdy. You name it, he gets offended.
The problem with this is that once you start down the path, the holy ghost begins to retreat and makes it harder for you to get back on track. The Holy Ghost is the ticket to communicating with God. The more rowdy/depressed/allured you get, the further the Holy Ghost strays from you. The more the Holy Ghost strays from you, the more inclined you are to get more rowdy/depressed/allured. There we have it folks. The positive (reinforcing) feedback loop.
Luckily, there is an answer. It is called reasoning, common sense, and self respect. You muster up some of that and get yourself back to where you want to be. This is the stuff that you pay for and the LDS Church doesn't give you. You pay tithing for something that gives you an unhealthy, endless cycle. The solution is found in something the church doesn't even offer! You pay money and then go off and get your own solution to your problems! Baboom, baby!
So, here are some of the awesome quotes... no wait. I'll post them in the next post. I don't want this OP to be massive. That is annoying.
Re: Driving the Spirit Away... Positive feedback loop
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 5:34 am
by _zeezrom
Here they are:
Don’t participate in activities that drive the Spirit away such as listening to bad music, watching bad movies, using bad language, or being immoral or unclean. Questions and Answers, New Era, Jan 2008
Brothers and sisters, do we turn away the still, small voice? Do we do things that offend the Holy Ghost? Do we allow influences into our homes that drive the Spirit from our homes? The type of entertainment that we permit into our homes will certainly have an impact on the power of the Holy Ghost. Much of the entertainment of the world is offensive to the Holy Ghost. The Unspeakable Gift, APRIL 2003 Conference, JOSEPH B. WIRTHLIN
Disobedience and arguing drive the Spirit away. Strengthening My Family, Friend, JUNE 2004
Self-doubt and self-loathing drive the Spirit away. Once you have repented, replace your doubt and guilt with an attitude of self-forgiveness, and the ability to feel the love of God will follow. Questions and Answers, Ensign, FEB. 2012
But let us deal for a moment specifically with the question of just what it is about the [music] loudness factor, when used improperly, that may drive the Spirit of the Lord from us. New Era, JULY 1975, RANDAL S. CHASE
Many times when someone has sinned against us, we become bitter and angry. These feelings can make us miserable, even if we did not commit the sin. If we allow these feelings to stay in our souls, we will drive the Spirit of the Lord away. BASIC MANUAL FOR PRIESTHOOD HOLDERS, PART B LESSON 33: EXTENDING AND RECEIVING FORGIVENESS
Let them see that you avoid movies or television shows or Internet sites that would drive the Spirit away and thus make us less-effective instruments. OCTOBER 2000 SESSIONS, MARY ELLEN SMOOT
They learn to forgive each other and work through problems because they learn early that hard feelings drive the Spirit away. Ensign, JULY 2005, BARBARA WORKMAN
Do not punish or blame yourself or others for the child’s disability. Anger and bitterness drive the Spirit from us. DISABILITY RESOURCES, HELPS FOR FATHERS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
Good music doesn’t degrade you or anyone else. It doesn’t use foul language or drive the Spirit away. New Era, NOV. 2008, RICHARD M. ROMNEY
Just as smoking, alcohol, and swearing are not allowed because they chase away the Holy Ghost, so also is inappropriate music not allowed. Questions and Answers, Ensign DEC. 2002
We must never take things into our bodies or do things with our bodies that drive away the Spirit of the Lord and leave us without our spiritual protection against deception. Ensign, AUG. 2008, DALLIN H. OAKS
Don’t listen to music that drives away the Spirit, encourages immorality, glorifies violence, uses foul or offensive language, or promotes Satanism or other evil practices. Questions and Answers, New Era, NOV. 2003
Anything unfruitful and unfulfilling, which drives away the Spirit should be avoided... August 2010 LDS.org, Center Your Relationships on Jesus Christ
Profane and filthy language will poison minds, drive away the Spirit, and eventually condemn us. Ensign, FEB. 1991, JOHN S. TANNER
As you share online, focus on fruitful relationships that bring you closer to Jesus Christ. Anything unfruitful and unfulfilling—anything that drives away the Spirit—should be avoided. Dec 2011, LDS.org, SHARING THE GOSPEL ONLINE
Choose carefully the music you listen to. Pay attention to how you feel when you are listening. Don’t listen to music that drives away the Spirit, encourages immorality, glorifies violence, uses foul or offensive language, or promotes Satanism or other evil practices. New Era, JAN. 2009, HILLARY HOLBROOK
Most of us do yearn to be in tune with the will of the Lord. We do desire to discern more clearly the promptings of the Holy Ghost. But how? I’ve found that repentance and obedience are the essential refining processes: Repentance helps me understand and overcome weaknesses that drive away the Spirit. Obedience helps me appreciate and maintain the things that build spirituality. Ensign, AUG. 1984, JOY WEBB RIGBY
Those who attend the temple must be careful to not drive away the Spirit by focusing on worldly things. Friend, MAR. 2002, House of the Lord
Irreverent behavior takes away the Spirit and makes it difficult to learn anything.... Approach him privately and tell him the way he is acting is inappropriate behavior for church, and he is driving away the Spirit. Be kind and explain to him the church is the Lord’s house and he must act reverently. Ensign, Nov. 1991
For example, anything that drives away the Spirit of the Lord, such as pornography, profanity, or anger, will prevent us from obtaining the spiritual nourishment we need from experiences that would normally be effective as spiritual food. Ensign, DEC. 1998, Dallin H. Oaks
I knew that this kind of music drove away the Spirit, and that Heavenly Father didn’t want me listening to it. New Era, MAR. 2008, Instant Messages, LACY DOUGLASS
If you allow yourself to be angry, if you allow yourself to get into the wrong kind of company, you listen to the wrong kind of stories, you are studying the wrong kind of subjects, you are engaging in sinful practices, there is nothing that will be more deadening as to take away the Spirit of the Lord from you until it will be as though you had walked from a lighted room when you go out of this building, as though you had gone out into a darkness. The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, 139.
Re: Driving the Spirit Away... Positive feedback loop
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 10:09 am
by _Drifting
Here is a real example of a man getting angry and therefore offending the Holy Ghost.
12 ¶And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
and another...
7 ¶Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the Lord thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the Lord.
8 Also in Horeb ye provoked the Lord to wrath, so that the Lord was angry with you to have destroyed you.
Re: Driving the Spirit Away... Positive feedback loop
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 12:35 pm
by _zeezrom
Hey Drifting,
There is a difference in that Jesus (in those stories) got mad and stayed. Even though he was mad, he didn't abandon the folks. We might question his methods of parenting but at he doesn't use passive aggressive strategies like the Holy Ghost.
What do you think?
Re: Driving the Spirit Away... Positive feedback loop
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 12:41 pm
by _Drifting
zeezrom wrote:Hey Drifting,
There is a difference in that Jesus (in those stories) got mad and stayed. Even though he was mad, he didn't abandon the folks. We might question his methods of parenting but at he doesn't use passive aggressive strategies like the Holy Ghost.
What do you think?
I think His actions, by the terms of the agreement as it is explained by the Church, would have driven the Holy Ghost away. In which case, who's to say his actions were righteous?
Re: Driving the Spirit Away... Positive feedback loop
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 12:57 pm
by _zeezrom
Drifting wrote:I think His actions, by the terms of the agreement as it is explained by the Church, would have driven the Holy Ghost away. In which case, who's to say his actions were righteous?
oh! I didn't read your post carefully. It was 4:30AM - I hope that is a good excuse.
Good point, Drifting. But then, why would Jesus need the Holy Ghost with him in the first place?
Re: Driving the Spirit Away... Positive feedback loop
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 1:03 pm
by _Drifting
zeezrom wrote:Drifting wrote:I think His actions, by the terms of the agreement as it is explained by the Church, would have driven the Holy Ghost away. In which case, who's to say his actions were righteous?
Good point, Drifting. But then, why would Jesus need the Holy Ghost with him in the first place?
To stop him getting angry and wrathful...
Re: Driving the Spirit Away... Positive feedback loop
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 1:06 pm
by _zeezrom
LOL, Drifting.
Ok you have a good point.
Well, there is way too much Zeezrom on this board. Look! I'm all over the place and I'm starting to talk to myself. Yikes.
Re: Driving the Spirit Away... Positive feedback loop
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 1:08 pm
by _Drifting
zeezrom wrote:LOL, Drifting.
Ok you have a good point.
Well, there is way too much Zeezrom on this board. Look! I'm all over the place and I'm starting to talk to myself. Yikes.
As Mrs Zeezrom might say 'you can never have too much of a good thang'
Re: Driving the Spirit Away... Positive feedback loop
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 2:41 pm
by _Fence Sitter
Let me see if I understand the concept here. If I reply with an encouraging comment here you will continue with more post and if I ignore you or I am negative in my response you will cut down on your posts. It that about it?
"I Have the power".