maybe i need to start a journal or something to help sort my thoughts .
it seems like right now i have to many things to deal with at once and i don't know how to slow down and take one issue at a time .
this past weekend i met a pastor from the church down the street .incredibily nice guy .
I'm not sure what I believe anymore, and I'm open to all points of view right now.
This is another way of saying that you have no beliefs anymore. Perhaps arriving at the point of no beliefs is the destination.
Why do you need beliefs. What you know is real, whereas beliefs are anybodies guess.
SnoobySnax
This is quite a coincidence. I just got back from Kefalonia on Tuesday 20 th June. We stayed at the Lovidis apartments. Fantastic weather. We found a superb restaurant near hat they call the square the square, although it isn’t, doing traditional Greek food and litres of wine at 6 euros (£4) We did lots of walking and probably passed you! Did you walk up the hill or drive?
Glad you had a great time in the heat.
a brief treatise on mysticism.
mysticism begins with a code of "morality" just beyond the reach of humanity.
guilt ensues; man cannot achieve this lofty standard of behavior.
The difficulty is that man, for most of his existence, has not understood the world he lives in and been unable to negotiate with reality in terms that make sense. Religion has gained control of people by claming to be in touch with reality. That is an invisible reality that cannot be understood without holy books, which to be holy need the endorsement of those in power. For example the Bible may not have survived without the help of the Roman Catholic Church.
People now days have access to facts about the nature of our world and universe that did not exist before.
This changes enables people to be more objective in deciding what they accept. The problem is that without religion of belief we come face to face with the stark possibility that we as humans are responsible for our world and its future. The awesome responsibility of that is too much for many to bear. Religion allows them to pass that responsibility onto an invisible being.
This enables people to live their short lives, safe in the belief that all will be well and they don’t have to worry. It is a trade off - pay the premium and relax. This is why here has always been room for religion or mysticism and it is likely there always will be. The world may advance more quickly if it were devoid of all such buffers but a world without such an escape could prove to be too much for many people.
The danger of organised religion that teaches hatred of the infidel, is that it can become fanatical and threaten the very future of life on earth. That extreme possibility must not be confused with a peaceful personal faith.
I see both points of view and realise that the balance we have, although a long way from perfect, allows people with faith to sleep soundly at night. What is right for one person is unacceptable for another.
To keep a small window open to the possibility that experiences people have had that cause them to have faith, is wise and encourages tolerance and empathy.
What if…………………..?
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i cant help but think of the analogy of pendulum swings when i think about how vitriolic some are towards religion (of any description), the bible (and other scripture), and christianity (generally, regardless of there being a wide range of denominational flavours) in particular.. it seems to me, from my perspective of sitting here on a remote scottish island, that there are a fair number of folks who may have left an intolerant and generalising religion but forgot to leave those attitudes with it.. just my 2p, coz to be frank i'm getting sick of it.. by all means enjoy some self-expression, it's a relatively free planet, but have a heart....
You talk a lot of sense for a rabbit
And, because, you were an open-minded, tolerant & non-judgmental Christian...which is a rather rare creature, imho.
I still have that opinion about you, but, not the Bible or any religion.
I guess you are saying that there is no need to throw Little Toe out with the Bible.
What if…………………..?
in his book " the zen teachings of jesus",michael leong presents a very different way of understanding some of the things jesus taught--thru the eyes of eastern thought.. here's a couple of examples.
(he first explains that we should try to view jesus as a poet teaching us how to live beautifully.).
when jesus is questioned as to the greatest commandment and his reply "you must love god with your whole heart, mind and strength.
This is an interesting thread and I was about to attempt to add something deep and meaningful but I suddenly realized I had nothing to say. Perhaps I have at last arrived.
First thing tomorrow we are off to the Greek island of Kefalonia where they made the film. ‘Captain Correlli’s Mandolin. There I shall sit and think of you all while I drink inferior Greek wine and ‘decorate my consciousness with flowers and incense.’
Whether I will discover a true reality, become disconnected from reality or discover the ‘perfect and pristine wholeness and purity that is my true and real identity’ is anyone’s guess.
As you can see my mind is already on holiday and for now I don't have to 'wake up.'
ever go to a circus and watch the tightrope walkers go from one end of the stretched line to the other balancing precariously along the way?.
it is only compelling to watch because one good slip could plunge the hapless performer to their doom!
the balancing act, then; becomes a question of getting from point a to point b without dying!
Terry - I get the impression that you are not having second thoughts about leaving the warm embrace of the Watchtower Society!
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i cant help but think of the analogy of pendulum swings when i think about how vitriolic some are towards religion (of any description), the bible (and other scripture), and christianity (generally, regardless of there being a wide range of denominational flavours) in particular.. it seems to me, from my perspective of sitting here on a remote scottish island, that there are a fair number of folks who may have left an intolerant and generalising religion but forgot to leave those attitudes with it.. just my 2p, coz to be frank i'm getting sick of it.. by all means enjoy some self-expression, it's a relatively free planet, but have a heart....
ANYTIME we get LT, Terry and Trevor discussing, arguing or sharing on the same thread.......I'm happy!
Kind words Peggy. I am flattered to be named in the same breath as these people.
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i cant help but think of the analogy of pendulum swings when i think about how vitriolic some are towards religion (of any description), the bible (and other scripture), and christianity (generally, regardless of there being a wide range of denominational flavours) in particular.. it seems to me, from my perspective of sitting here on a remote scottish island, that there are a fair number of folks who may have left an intolerant and generalising religion but forgot to leave those attitudes with it.. just my 2p, coz to be frank i'm getting sick of it.. by all means enjoy some self-expression, it's a relatively free planet, but have a heart....
The difficulty is that when we invest in a belief system it becomes something we value. If someone questions or criticises what we value it must be defended and supported. If we fail to adequately defend it then it can be damaged and in time lost. This process robs us of the opportunity to be objective.
Many here react against anything religious because of the anger they feel. Initially this was an anger towards God which developed into a belief that there is no God. So the anger has then become directed towards themselves for believing in a God and allowing such belief to affect their lives.
Now this has become a hostility towards anything that is outside of their frame of reference, or anything that might lead back to the concept that they have rejected.
I prefer to keep the brushstrokes small, but each to their own.
I have been married for 24 years - to the same woman. I use a broom
