I believe you, on 05 January 2013 - 09:30 PM, said:
You can have good intentions but still offend others.
I agree with your statements regarding the author but don't find it an adequate defense and your own comments also seems a bit dismissive of HavocWing's concerns, whom I share.
I also think the author at times characterizes mental illness as something that could easily be overcome if one chooses, or if one turns to God, not true. The OP is about mental illness in my view, for many actually suffering in the dark it won't help them, but what do I know, maybe it is about Mark's own experiences, but the way it comes across is an attempt to put himself in another's shoes, which requires empathy and I find none here.
It is almost as if Mark is blaming those who suffer as simply turning away from God and hating good. I don't think it works like that.
Well, I see no fault in being dismissive of something I don’t see worth serious concern.
(I’m talking about atheist concern the Christians are after them. Atheists are not after Christians either. Religion or lack of religion as part of political agendas excluded, but mark is not a politician as far as I can tell.)
I’ve understood the poem is about the Devil, not mental illness. He was not flung into the loneliness, he chose the desolation of hatred. Yet he desires souls to join him in self-inflicted refusal of light. This speaks of contradictory nature of the devil (personally, I do use term “devil” but only as a metaphor).
This poem is clearly the monologue of Satan - in my interpretation. The author will tell which one of us two was closer to what he wanted to relate.
From what mark has written and I have read so far, and that’s a lot of pieces, I’d say he’s trying to show people how turning to God can, among other, ease your spiritual and mental (yes, I see distinction between those) suffering.
Little digression: in my opinion, it’s very complicated and simple at the same time. Simply turning to God simply does help but not if it’s not genuine. That’s where complicated part begins. End of digression.
Anyway, it didn’t occur to me that a person that believes and feels the infinite comfort of true faith could be blaming me for not experiencing the same. Pointing to the source of light, encouraging people to open their inner eyes is an act of compassion, not placing the blame. The way I see it, of course.
If you get lost in my neck of woods, I’ll gladly give you directions, but to be honest, I’d feel a little strange if you’d get angry at me and accuse me of blaming you for being lost. How can I help you if you think I’m offending you with noticing you got lost? "Hello, hiker newbie, I see you’re doing great, all orientated and not at all wide-eyed, how about you follow me to a marked path just because you are really totally in charge and on a second thought, why don't I leave you to cope on your own because that's far better than accidentally implying you might be lost..."
In short, mark is sharing his experience of his faith, I wouldn’t read any ill intention into that.
2
