Merton

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1) Merton's understanding of meditation or contemplative prayer is quite interesting. He describes it as not a method or system, but that we should cultivate an attitude or outlook toward prayer. While this is true, we need to beware of the many obstacles in prayer, and our attitude toward it.

2) These obstacles are thinking of prayer as mere good will, resisting God, thinking there are tricks to the spiritual life, imprisoning ourselves, and a brave and absurd attempt to evade reality. Merton does offer help with these through a spiritual director, and watching out for some of these mentalities developing.

3) This chapter has helped my in many ways. Firstly, I now have a little reminder in the back of my mind to try new things, and cultivate outlooks toward prayer with God. Secondly, I now know what to watch out for in my prayer life, and feel more prepared for what is to come. I do wonder however, when he gives many outlooks to prayer, isn't that kind of a formula for how to come to prayer?

Bringing Solitude into Our Lives

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1) According to Nouwen, solitude is a time that you shut everything else out, and focus on God. This is not always easy, but with practice, it will become easier.

2) He believes this because without your mind focused on God, you can't listen to him. It's like trying to talk to a person at whisper level in a crowd. He suggests that we set a time on our calendar to meet God, and focus on him to begin to quiet the crowd around you.

3) He defines the absurd as the life deaf of God's voice, but the Obedient one the one that listens to His voice. I find this useful because it helps me understand the importance of the solitary life, and what is consists of

Athanasius

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I believe that Athansius is trying to say that we were created to know him and take part in his dominion over the earth. He did this by creating us after His own image or likeness. He also gave us knowledge of him that we may be better than the beasts around us and worship him. While we did this at first, over time humanity turned from God and beganto worship the creation that came from God. This resulted in everything in human life being thrown to the stars, and God having to come and redeem humanity. Along with this, God made himself known to man in three ways. Firstly, creation was build to reflect the creator, second was to learn to know God, the Artist of all things, and lastly, the laws built by man that reflect His laws. In this, I have experienced all three, but most of all, by seeking God, he has reviewed himself most. I have been able to make connections from Man's creation, to God's plan, seek him out through time in prayer and the word, and seen his marvelous power through creation, and miracles, or fixings of creation. I have been able to do this, only because God has green man by one way, one very humble act of sacrifice for us. God came, robed in flesh, and died as the perfect sacrifice for us, that we may be saved.