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OceanRat's avatar

I wish you every success on your journey. A timely read this Lent.

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Ray Alex Williams's avatar

Thank you friend. God bless 🙏

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Heather Walsh's avatar

Ray have you explored the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the Catholic Church? I have not heard you reference it and I think it would be a great support and comfort to you. It struck me that you are unconsciously doing it in your essays and commentary by taking the weight of all this on your shoulders. I think you need to share the burden with someone who will walk alongside you and pray for your soul to find peace.

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Ray Alex Williams's avatar

I need to talk to a priest about how that works in terms of being baptized already but still in RCIA and not yet confirmed as officially Catholic. Not sure exactly how that works. I’m not sure if I’m allow to receive that sacrament yet

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Robin Smith's avatar

Ray, given your background, I assume you are familiar with the Lacanian concept of Jouissance. My take on the concept, as a Christian, is that the Lack present in jouissance is an absence that can only be filled by Christ. All worldly attempts at filling that void in our being are bound to fail. Whether it’s masturbation or drugs or consumerism, all are trying to fill the same spiritual hole that was created when we fell away from God.

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Ray Alex Williams's avatar

Thanks for the comment. That’s very interesting. While I did study continental philosophy I mostly focused on Heidegger and didn’t ever really read Lacan. I’ll look into Jouissance though.

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Robin Smith's avatar

Briefly, in Lacanian psychoanalysis, jouissance is the idea that there is pleasure and pain, satisfaction and frustration. It's a sort of excessive enjoyment that resists symbolic understanding. This reveals a contradiction at the heart of human desire and leaves us with a sense of Lack.

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Ray Alex Williams's avatar

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.

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Michael Blissenbach's avatar

@Brandon Ward 😎 , check out my very dear friend @Ray Alex Williams’ powerful essay.

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