Are you here to only hear what you want to hear ?.

[psychoslice]

Yes that's my question, are we afraid to hear what we don't want to hear, this is what I feel, we have threads where we cannot go to unless we are part of that organized belief. Why be here in the first place if all you want to hear is your own beliefs. This to me is sad, how can we ever grow if all we ever hear is what we believe is true to us, all we are doing is feeding our ego, or treasured beliefs...........yes so sad.

 

[YmirGF]

Quite the contrary, really. I don't have much need of an echo chamber and find what are often loopy alternate views to be quite stimulating.

For example, I find your use of the quote from the deplorable Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh in your signature to be mildly insulting. Religion is hardly rebellion.

 

[psychoslice]

Quite the contrary, really. I don't have much need of an echo chamber and find what are often loopy alternate views to be quite stimulating.

For example, I find your use of the quote from the deplorable Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh in your signature to be mildly insulting. Religion is hardly rebellion.

Well learn to know the truth, if it hurts you or not.

 

[YmirGF]

Well learn to know the truth, if it hurts you or not.

Truth is relative to understanding. Best not to get too hung up on it.


Or were you only interested in what you wanted to hear? Hehe (Couldn't resist.)

 

[psychoslice]

Truth is relative to understanding. Best not to get too hung up on it.


Or were you only interested in what you wanted to hear? Hehe (Couldn't resist.)

Whatever you believe, so be it.

 

[ratikala]

Yes that's my question, are we afraid to hear what we don't want to hear, this is what I feel, we have threads where we cannot go to unless we are part of that organized belief. Why be here in the first place if all you want to hear is your own beliefs. This to me is sad, how can we ever grow if all we ever hear is what we believe is true to us, all we are doing is feeding our ego, or treasured beliefs...........yes so sad.

namaskaram

you can go anywhere provided you stick to asking respectfull questions ,
but it is unwise to just barge into a DIR chalenging other peoples beleifs , that is not the best way to learn .

we will all develop our understandings and beleifs better if we actualy take time to listen and respectfully discuss .

it sounds too that you are suffering from just a little injured pride

please understand that any comnts made to you in Hinduism Dir just recently especialy on my part were intended to open your eyes and help you learn about Hinduism .

I am sorry to have to criticise Osho but as you see I am not the only one to have severe reservations about his teachings ....

For example, I find your use of the quote from the deplorable Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh in your signature to be mildly insulting. Religion is hardly rebellion.

so ''are we afraid to hear what we don't want to hear,?''

sadly the answer is yes !

 

[StarryNightshade]

I'm more than willing to hear other points of view, even if they go completely aganist what I believe.

That being said, personal truth tends to be extremely subjective. As such, it's best to not really get hung up on a search for an idealized form of "objective" truth.

 

[Buttercup]

Yes that's my question, are we afraid to hear what we don't want to hear, this is what I feel, we have threads where we cannot go to unless we are part of that organized belief. Why be here in the first place if all you want to hear is your own beliefs. This to me is sad, how can we ever grow if all we ever hear is what we believe is true to us, all we are doing is feeding our ego, or treasured beliefs...........yes so sad.

Personally, I've found it much easier to be open to pondering various spiritual viewpoints or dogmatic religious teachings since I've turned agnostic. So far, I haven't found a particular philosophy or religion that rings true enough to commit to that line of thinking. For now, I enjoy being "single". It took a very long time and much call to strength to divorce Christianity. Feeling free from religion means everything to me. I love the peace of mind most of all.

I did initially come to RF to hear only what I wanted to hear, however. That is, my motive was to talk to fellow Christians of like mind who wanted to encourage, edify and love each other in Christ on a daily basis. Cracks were beginning to form regarding my faith at the time and subconsciously I may have been looking for a way out. I only acknowledged this doubt in hindsight. Over a couple of years time and after reading various divergent viewpoints and having endless discussions with people here on the forum and in person, I came to realize my former beliefs were dead.

So, to answer your question, people may come to RF for validation of what they currently believe or perhaps they are searching for a new religious home and need to ask questions. Some people could care less about finding religion but enjoy discussing the subject. In other words, our minds can only "accept" what we are looking for at a particular time in our lives.

To me, it's not so much about holding so tightly onto one religious or philosophical teaching that you've closed the door to further education, but to keep exploring and considering until the ultimate conclusion (or no conclusion) feels right and true with your mind and soul. I will always believe the most important spiritual aspect in life is to continue to build up love and share it as you go. This is not an easy feat to perfect. I'm still learning and fall on my face all the time.

 

[Sabour]

Yes that's my question, are we afraid to hear what we don't want to hear, this is what I feel, we have threads where we cannot go to unless we are part of that organized belief. Why be here in the first place if all you want to hear is your own beliefs. This to me is sad, how can we ever grow if all we ever hear is what we believe is true to us, all we are doing is feeding our ego, or treasured beliefs...........yes so sad.

On a side note, many people in debates get busy proving that they are right instead of being right. Being busy proving that we are right, we struggle to see the points that the members are raising.

It is important for everyone to think out of the box for a while to see things as they are, of course me included.

 

[Iridessa]

"Are we afraid to hear what we don't want to hear?"
If you are completely secure in your own truth, then no.

 

[Brinne]

No, the reason we have DIRs is for like minded discussion, likewise there are sections that allow multi faith debate of a topic. For example, if you have a questions say about the practice of a certain sect of a religion, say like the practice of Sunni Muslims, you'd find a valid and trustworthy answer much faster in the Islam DIR rather than the Comparative Religion section.

That being said, there are in fact some people who just want to hear their right and nothing else. And I have no real problem with that, if that's what makes them happy than why should I ruin their happiness? I for one will be open minded and listen to new points of view but I'm not going to judge those who don't -- it's their choice, a close minded choice yes, but it's still their choice.

 

[icehorse]

I'm here to discuss ideas. My mind can be changed, but it takes a solid argument.

 

[YmirGF]

I'm here to discuss ideas. My mind can be changed, but it takes a solid argument.

Or a sizable bribe.

 

[icehorse]

Or a sizable bribe.

I've been outed!

 

[savagewind]

I am not here to hear what I want to hear. I am hear to hear what I like. Why would I waste time reading stuff I don't like? Anyway, I can't want to hear the great stuff I hear on forum because it's new and if I wanted to hear it it would mean I know it already. Making sense? No? Bummer!

 

[ShivaFan]

Personally, I think having a mix of DIRS specific to adherents and DIRS or forums where anyone can jump in, debate forums, DIRS who vote to allow others in, etc., it "works" and just leave it as is (for now, I don't consider a busy train terminal necessarily "broken").

My take on this is, anyone who has a clue about me knows that when it comes to managed human facilitation, there is no "answer" (IMHO). Now I am only being specific to such facilitation and not the cycles of nature - I really have a problem with and even see very real dangers with those types who demand (often under the delusion of utopian pipe dreams, typically in the modern era where such fools are led by "politicians" and promises [lies] of an "answer" to "answer seekers" who are a 1000 times more gullible to power grabs and slavery than "wise").

Why do so many squirrels think there is going to be some (perfect) "answer" (to these dilemmas of managed human facilitation)? I am saying there is no answer, only half-ways and it is never going to be answered but only best effort. And those who demand the "final solution" end up with total destrution and ugly souls haunting their mental stability.

There is no "answer" because even as imperfect as things are in these human "container systems" (like this forum) this is normal not having an "answer" so you really should not think of it as "broken".

I could be wrong, but it looks to me that this forum is fine. Not perfect, but if it ain't broke don't fix it. Especially if the plumber thinks they are building a castle when they are only looking at a toilet. This forum will NEVER be a castle, it is a toilet. Nothing wrong with a toilet, it has a utilitarian function so really it is about keeping the toilet clean and sanitary, but welcome to us to take a crapper but don't let it steam too long and let it "dissapear" in the big crapper in the sky because others are in queue to take a crap. I like toilets, most do.

But there is nothing wrong with trying to make the toilet more "pretty". Personally, I think that is better than making it more ugly. And clean is nice, too.

Ok ok - maybe a toilet isn't the perfect analogy. Half the people miss the target. So, there is no answer. Next someone will say it is better to crap in the forest. Whatever.

 

[Vinayaka]

We have the right to choose our experiences. It's a human right. Why in the world would I want to walk into a room of Hindu-bashers and let them spew their venom at me for a couple of hours? I don't walk into sleeazy bars or strip joints or watch violent TV or movies either.

I am so glad we have DIRs on this forum. If you go back a few years and read some stuff in the early days on RF, most of it was people defending their faith against accusations. That's not learning much, or having camaraderie with gentle people of your faith. It's just a crazy free-for-all.

Many of us (like me) learn so much just by reading the stuff in other DIRs. It's eye-opening.

 

[nazz]

Yes that's my question, are we afraid to hear what we don't want to hear, this is what I feel, we have threads where we cannot go to unless we are part of that organized belief. Why be here in the first place if all you want to hear is your own beliefs. This to me is sad, how can we ever grow if all we ever hear is what we believe is true to us, all we are doing is feeding our ego, or treasured beliefs...........yes so sad.

I'm actually always looking for something new I've not considered before.

 

[savagewind]

I'm actually always looking for something new I've not considered before.

This is what I was trying to say.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

All life is learning. I don't see why religion should be any different. The day I think I've learnt everything about ANY topic is the day I'll realise life has passed me by.