KnightofMists
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Joined: 7/29/2005
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I think the impression that Priests give up everything in their service to God is about as accurate as a slave gives up everything in the service to their Master. In other words, I think it is a mystical belief that is more illusion than reality.
I was raised catholic and many priests/nuns became family friends. I go to church as my work time allows and I am raising my children as practicing Catholics. I am very good friends with a priest who is The Provincial Head of His Order. I know a person that I partied with in my younger years that became a priest. Finally, when I was young man, priesthood was a considered option in my life and a lot soul searching was done before I decided it wasn’t the life for me. There were more than a few nuns of the Sisters of Service that where rather disappointed and surprised by my decision. You are very right that priests or anyone in religious life are more than their devotion. It is important to understand, that thou a priest as given a vow of obedience, actually being obedient does not stop the person from being who they are. In fact, priests’ fundamental being is a calling to their chosen way of living. There are also many manners to which priests will serve. A priest of an order is very much different than a diocesan priest. Priests of orders will tend to have a lot more restrictions/rules to abide by. As one begins to learn the inner workings of the priesthood, a person begins to see a much more complex set of choices and ideas than the layman actually will perceive or understand. But under all the rituals, rules of obedience, there is a person with a personality, desires, dreams, needs and flaws.
I think the analogy of a slave/submissive as being comparable to a priest to be accurate to some degree. I agree that it is accurate in that a priest like a slave is devoted towards a particular focal point; A slave/submissive to their Master/Dominant and a priest to their God and to lesser extent their order/dioceses.
However, priests are not automatically submissive. In fact, some are rather Dominant. My friend is a very much a Dominant person. His charisma and charm allows him to sway many people to his way of thinking and do his wants. He can walk into any room and with quiet elegance or strong presence and gain the attention and consideration of anyone. I watch him work people that don’t even know his calling. They generally always want to be helpful to him. It seems that he can communicate without words his authentic desire for another person’s well-being and his ability to guide them towards it. I believe that many Dominant’s have this gift as well. My friend’s natural gift and nurtured dominance does him well in his calling.
Many Dominants are devoted to something. With this devotion there comes obedience and discipline. For many Dominants this devotion is not towards a faith or another person, but to principles, values and/or an idea. Many priests are very much devoted to a set of principles as much as they are devoted to the rules/rituals of their church and sometimes even more so. However, a person’s devotion, be they a Priest/Nun or Master/slave, will be expressed by their submissive or dominant personalities. The important thing to consider is that devotion doesn’t equate to submission any more than rebellious equates to Dominance.
< Message edited by KnightofMists -- 5/12/2006 6:04:13 PM >
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Knight of Mists
An Optimal relationship is achieved when the individuals do what is best for themselves and their relationship.
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RE: Can anyone see the comparison? - 
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