Knowledge is freedom (from stress)

Image credit: Cottonbro Studio (Pexels).

Recently, I attended a discussion panel on atrial fibrillation. This is a heart condition that I was diagnosed with about five years ago, although I suspect I’ve had it since my latter years in Boston (when I was still swimming in the Krazy Sauce of Christian Science), so maybe since 2008 or 2009. I believe that to be so, as I do recall occasionally feeling symptoms of it back about then. The symptoms were very occasional, and mild. I’ll be honest, it scared me sometimes, but in my Christian Science-addled mind, I didn’t know what to do, so I kind of did a combination of ignore and deny, with a side of prayer thrown in for good measure. Fortunately, atrial fibrillation is generally, at least in early stages, not serious, and it is the most common form of arrhythmia (approximately 200,000 people in Canada have been diagnosed with it). However, if you don’t do something about it, it can get serious and lead to heart failure and, most commonly, to stroke.

Why not just move on and live and let live?

Sandy Lake – Bowron Lake Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada. Image credit: Emerging Gently.

The title of this post sums up some comments on posts that I’ve been receiving lately. It’s various versions of, “Why don’t you just move on?” or “Just let it go?” It does make me think, do I hold on to things I shouldn’t? Would it be better for me to let it all go and move on. Or, have I? I don’t really agree with what I see as the sentiment behind many of the comments. After all, I think most Americans would get pretty upset at anyone who loudly said they should just get over September 11th. Would you tell a parent who grieves their dead child to “get over it”? I don’t think so. However, these comments do also spur my thought in a good way by making me step back for a moment and make sure I’m not just wallowing in self pity here. That is something I do not want to do. I do not want to be shackled to my past.

Blog Update

I thought about posting this on April 1st. Since I returned to writing regularly here again, back in January, I’ve been posting weekly. I’ve come to realize that this is not really a pace that I can reasonably sustain with new and worthwhile content. I don’t want to waste your time or attention with stuff that I don’t think is worthwhile that I’ve written just because I want to post something every week. I’m also ever mindful of not wanting to cover ground that I’ve already covered. Life is also taking away from time to spend here. My wife and I are relocating to a different part of the province soon, so it’s going to get busy.

Lucky kid…

Recently, I had to take a family member to the emergency room at our local hospital. No big deal, it was just a nasty stomach virus that was making the rounds–painful and unpleasant, but not serious or life threatening. They were hooked up to an intravenous drip of saline and an anti-nausea medication to rehydrate them and quell their violent symptoms, and their condition improved quickly.

Leaving Christian Science saved me

Sometimes, I step back and wonder how I survived being a Christian Scientist. I think most of us who’ve left Christian Science do this–especially when we’ve been faced with, and overcome a serious physical ailment or injury. Since I left Christian Science about nine years ago, I’ve faced a few. However, the one that gives me pause is one involving the “C” word: cancer. Now, before anyone gets alarmed, let me assure you, it was not a serious form of cancer, and it is one that is rarely fatal.

A new post

Well, it’s been almost a year since I last wrote a new post. I had thought at the time that I’d just take a break for a few months, but it ended up being a longer break. As I said, I’m not quite finished with this project, but I’m probably close. How close is anyone’s guess (including mine). For now, I’m just going to post when I feel inspired, rather than returning to a regular schedule of posts.

Christian Science and Narcissism

Image credit: Google image search.

I’ve had occasion to discuss narcissism with an old friend recently who’s also, like me, a former Christian Scientist. We speculated somewhat on whether or not Christian Science either (a) creates narcissists, or (b) attracts and/or fosters them. I’ve had some on-line discussions with other ex-Christian Scientists on the topic as well. Here are my thoughts on the subject. Please note that I am not a mental health professional, nor is anyone else I’ve discussed this subject with. What you read here are the musings of an educated layman.

The Impersonal Christian Scientist

As I was writing and editing my recent post Love, I began to see issues I touched on there that I wanted to expand on, but it just didn’t seem to work within that post. The biggest one for me is something that has become very apparent to me as I’ve left Christian Science: the coldness and impersonal nature of many Christian Scientists–especially parents.

Confirmation Bias and Christian Science

The blog Godless In Dixie discusses the phenomenon of confirmation bias as it relates to Christians, and by extension most highly religious people, very well in this post. I especially found a deep resonance with this particular post and its subject matter, as I related it to my own experience in Christian Science. Godless in Dixie does a very good job of discussing confirmation bias, and what it means vis a vis being religious, so I strongly recommend reading his post as a primer for my post. Here, I want to take the subject of confirmation bias, and get into how I see it in relation to Christian Science and its rather grandiose claims regarding physical healing.

New Years

From “Rudolph’s Shiny New Year” – Rankin/Bass Productions (1976).

A scene from one of my favourite Christmas cartoons depicts the homecoming of the lost baby New Year after Rudolph’s quest to find him. New Years has always meant for me and most others a time for reflection, and also a time to start fresh. It’s usually also a time for celebration.