Qs about Xtianity-for any Xtians to answer (page 2)

Robdar

I call myself a Mystic - in the right company.

Ravyn,

To me Francois said it best. I consider myself a mystic but mention it only in the right company. There are so many fundies out there who will automatically think negative things when they hear that phrase. Those people can't wait to convert ya.

I will occassionally throw on Christian to the mystic title because Christ's message intrigues me. So does Buddha's.
The true mystics throughout time have harmoniously pointed away from concepts of gods outside of us, to the Infinite depths within as being the domain of divine Truth.

I agree with what Thomas is saying about the inner path. However, people need to start somewhere and usually a secular religion is where they start out. When religion can no longer answer their questions, that is usually when they seek the inward path.

I still pray because, to me, my God/Goddess represents my highest ideals and truth as I understand them to be at this time. It helps me to refocus by stating my intentions to them. Since I believe that this dimension will not be our only existence, I also believe that other like minds are already on those other dimensions and will give counsel, if requested.

Love,

Robyn--of the can't get this post to format correctly class

ESTEE

Ravyn,

I'm with you....wonderful thread! I call myself New Age because I don't want to associate myself with any "religion"...I call myself "spiritual", because I am indeed a wonderfully spiritual person....I don't believe in "Jehovah" anymore, I have purged myself of all the dogma associated with the JW's....quite willfully.....quite deliberately!

Interestingly, as a dub....when I read the book called, "Mankind's Search for God", and I read the part about the Mystic Religions....I meditated a lot about their beliefs....and thought.....hmmmmm......this makes sense.

I had years of therapy to purge the jw-isms out of my life. I have taken courses and read many books. I don't believe in any form of Christianity now. I love my new beliefs and my new life experiences. My world is finally making sense to me and I feel wonderfully happy and at peace with myself. I feel joy....true joy for the first time in my life! It doesn't go away....it just keeps on staying with me. My beliefs are working for me now.

My children are not in my life anymore because my life choices and their life choices clash. I realize those are their issues....that they must deal with in their own time and way. They are jws...and "locked in"....they are not free to explore....I gave myself permission to explore and move about freely, without restriction or limitation. I love my new found spiritual freedom...ummmm...spiritual mobility, shall we say. The JW form of Christianity or any other kind of Christianity are not for me....toooooo restrictive.....tooooo rigid....tooooooo patriarchal....tooooooo outdated.....

I am a freeeeee woman after all!!!!

Much love,

Esther

Ravyn

No Nomad I don't want to argue at all. I guess I am just a little disapppointed that xtianity would give me up so easily.

I do have to admit sometimes I feel unwanted by middle of the roadies.........reminds me of that line in that new teen movie about the girl who finds her father in London(dont know the movie--just the commercial) where the boy tells her 'why do you try so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?'

Ravyn

jgnat

*ahem*

I don't think I have ignored you, Ravyn.

We can look at religion as man’s search for God. I think Xthiests and Xtians can both agree on that. In various religions we can find variations in beliefs, rituals and practice. Some treat these different religions as choices on a grocery shelf; pick according to your taste. Others insist their brand is superior to any other (think Coca Cola and Pepsi). One could judge all of Christianity by reviewing it’s various forms and history, and declare it flawed. As I think every religion will be, as the starting point is our own flawed selves, perceiving darkly the Glory barely within our grasp.

Now, assuming that God does exist, what to we call God’s search for man? Futile? It is difficult to discuss this second topic with someone who does not really believe in a personal God. If you can put aside your disbelief for a minute, if such a God was personally interested in our welfare, He would have a difficult time of it. We could easily misinterpret His intent.

More later. Too much deep thinking on a lovely spring evening.

Ravyn

jgnat--are you middle of the roadish? I dont think of you that way......

Ravyn

Mystery

Ravyn - I enjoyed reading your thread - I am still searching for answers.

why do you try so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?
I havent' seen the commerical you were speaking of but, you just gave me a new favorite saying.

jgnat

Really? I am endlessly fascinated on what others think of me. I do tend to follow the rules of the road. Does that make me middle of the roadish?

Liberty

As to what I would call my spiritual practice now that I have left Watch Towerism behind, I would say that I most strive to be a skeptic who uses science to figure things out. Being a skeptic does not come naturally to me so I have to work at it. I am also quite interested in Buddhism, especially the Zen branches. It is interesting to me how so much of this Eastern way of thinking predates Western Psychology yet discovered the same things years ago using only reasoning and observation.

Qs about Xtianity-for any Xtians to answer

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