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 %DETERMINE TRUE GOD GIVEN SELF OTHER IDENTITY LOVE+950512
     %DISCOVER FIND DECIDE INTEGRITY GENETIC NATURE+950512
   %HONEST REPORT FEEL DESIRE ATTITUDE EMOTION FEAR+950512
 %CONCEPTION UNIVERSE COSMOS INTEGRITY CREATION SIN 950512

     It  is not a simple thing to determine what one's own
God-given identity is.

     We may try determine through will-power  to be  other
than we truly are---and find that will-power does not have
the power to change our God-given identity.

     We may try to determine through our own will-power to
make other persons be other than who they truly  are---and
find  that  it is not within our power  to  determine  who
somebody else will truly be.

     Sometimes  determination  has to do with  discovering
what God's will is, rather than having to do with deciding
how parts of God's Universe will be and behave.

     Often   determination   has  to  do  with   reflexive
realities; rather than with objective realities.

     We  may determine how high above sea level the top of
a   tall   mountain   is---and  properly  regard  such   a
determination  as  an  objective  discovery.    We  cannot
honestly   discover  our  God-given  identity---and   then
properly  regard  such  a determination  as  an  objective
discovery.

     We  cannot properly determine another  person's  God-
given   identity---and   them  properly  regard   such   a
determination  as an objective discovery.   No matter  how
such a  determination is made; it is a reflexive  reality,
not an objective reality.  The determination reflects back
upon us---and we  cannot  honestly  be  detached  from the
determination,  because we were intimately involved in the
determination.

     It is not always clear just how much of what and  who
we  are is determined by our God-given identity---and  how
much  is determined by will-power,   decisions,   actions,
intentions,   and  relationships on our part and upon  the
part of others.     The  proper determination  of our most
integrative  response  to  that question is   a  reflexive
reality---because  our response  reflects  back  upon  our
selves.    Such  a  determination  is thus  not  a  purely
objective reality.

     Some  determined people  are determined to make other
people be the kinds of  people  that the determined people
are  determined  to  require other people  to  be.    Such
determined  people  are  usually  domineering,   coercive,
manipulative,  violent,  alienative,  excommunicative  and
disintegrative.     Is   their   nature   God-given    and
unchangeable?    Does God have the  power to liberate such
determined  people to be  other than  they have been?   Do
such determine people have  the power to be other than God
would have them be?  There are no purely objective answers
to such questions;  no matter how determined we may be  to
determine what such answers are---through collusive  games
of   mutual  self   deception  about  which  we   generate
virtually 100  percent agreement.   All collusive games of
mutual   self   deception   are   reflexive   realities---
especially  when   such  games conceal   themselves   from
ourselves---and  we pretend that  the  collusive games  of
mutual self deception do not exist.

     Is it our God-given nature to play collusive games of
mutual self deception?  What kind of God have we conceived
if we believe it is our God-given nature to play collusive
games of mutual self deception?  What kind of universe has
God  created  if we who are creatures within the  universe
believe  that it is our God-given nature to play collusive
games  of  mutual self deception?   Can we within  such  a
universe hope to enjoy personal and communal integrity?

     Can we determine through will power the nature of our
intimate  relationships with each other?   Can we  through
determination decide which people we will find  attractive
and  which people we fill find aversive?   Can we  through
determination  be true to ourselves and each other?   What
then can  be  the grounds for our hope  for  personal  and
communal integrity---if we are so determined?

                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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