Do You Cling to Your Beliefs?

[Sunstone]

Just curious, but -- if you are seeking "spiritual advancement, possibly to enlightenment" -- are you in the habit of clinging to your religious and/or spiritual beliefs? Do you hold your beliefs firmly? Do you see them as necessary for your spiritual advancement?

And if so, how do you figure that is helping you?

 

[metis]

are you in the habit of clinging to your religious and/or spiritual beliefs?

I change religious positions probably more often that most here at RF change underwear.

 

[Sunstone]

I change religious positions probably more often that most here at RF change underwear.

I'm sure more often than I do. My motto is, "If it doesn't rot off, it's not ready to take off."

 

[PureX]

Just curious, but -- if you are seeking "spiritual advancement, possibly to enlightenment" -- are you in the habit of clinging to your religious and/or spiritual beliefs? Do you hold your beliefs firmly? Do you see them as necessary for your spiritual advancement?

And if so, how do you figure that is helping you?

Yes, I do 'cling to' my beliefs. But I see it more as a matter of survival then as some sort of spiritual path. I need to stay hopeful, and grateful, and appreciative of life and other people, and that takes persistent reiteration and practice, for me.

 

[Revoltingest]

My beliefs cling to me.
I've no choice in believing disbelieving as I do.
It seems there's an advantage not needing them.
I feel no threat from people who believe otherwise.

 

[Sunstone]

Yes, I do 'cling to' my beliefs. But I see it more as a matter of survival then as some sort of spiritual path. I need to stay hopeful, and grateful, and appreciative of life and other people, and that takes persistent reiteration and practice, for me.

That's interesting! Thanks. Just curious, but are you seeking spiritual and/or religious progress?

 

[atanu]

Just curious, but -- if you are seeking "spiritual advancement, possibly to enlightenment" -- are you in the habit of clinging to your religious and/or spiritual beliefs? Do you hold your beliefs firmly? Do you see them as necessary for your spiritual advancement?

And if so, how do you figure that is helping you?

When we calculate something we do not abandon the method mid-way.

 

[Sunstone]

Yes, I do 'cling to' my beliefs. But I see it more as a matter of survival then as some sort of spiritual path. I need to stay hopeful, and grateful, and appreciative of life and other people, and that takes persistent reiteration and practice, for me.

Is that kind of like Ruby Tuesday? "Lose your dreams and you lose your mind?

 

[Sunstone]

When we calculate something we do not abandon the method mid-way.

So you are seeking spiritual and/or religious progress?

 

[atanu]

So you are seeking spiritual and/or religious progress?

I am seeking (after my Guru's teaching) the source of "I". Is it spiritual or is it religious? I do not know.

 

[PureX]

That's interesting! Thanks. Just curious, but are you seeking spiritual and/or religious progress?

I am not seeking to 'progress'. I am seeking only to be more fully myself. To let go of the 'idea of me' that I carry around in my mind and heart from a lifetime of other people's expectations and projections, so as to be more truly myself. As I believe that is my purpose for being: ... to be ... what I was created to be.

 

[Stevicus]

Just curious, but -- if you are seeking "spiritual advancement, possibly to enlightenment" -- are you in the habit of clinging to your religious and/or spiritual beliefs? Do you hold your beliefs firmly? Do you see them as necessary for your spiritual advancement?

And if so, how do you figure that is helping you?

The only thing I really believe in is The Great Pumpkin, and even then, I guess I could go either way.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Just curious, but -- if you are seeking "spiritual advancement, possibly to enlightenment" -- are you in the habit of clinging to your religious and/or spiritual beliefs? Do you hold your beliefs firmly? Do you see them as necessary for your spiritual advancement?

And if so, how do you figure that is helping you?

I tend to shy away from having beliefs. I find them to be restrictive and limiting.

My worldview is experiential with working hypotheses.

 

[Sunstone]

I tend to shy away from having beliefs. I find them to be restrictive and limiting.

My worldview is experiential with working hypotheses.

This will astound and shock you, but I do much the same! I know! Appalling!

 

[Erebus]

It's rare that I do a complete 180 with regards to my beliefs but it has happened (I was once a Christian. Later, I was basically what you'd call a New Atheist). What I tend to do is refine my beliefs as I learn new things. Incorporate the useful bits and trim away the obsolete bits. For example, I used to identify with the Left Hand Path as I admired the focus on individual responsibility and improvement. I still believe in that, but find that many of the surrounding principles are no longer useful to me.

Rather than ask for a definition of spiritual advancement, I'll give my rough interpretation of it. I would view it as the way in which a person comes to better understand themselves, the world and how they fit (or don't fit) into it. As such, it would do me no good to hold onto beliefs, or elements of a belief, that I no longer find fit for purpose.

 

[WalterTrull]

Mental evolutionist here. Beliefs evolve. Some grow, some die, some flower, some don't. Interesting garden. Mostly just watching. Trying to keep the mustard seed watered.

 

[Shantanu]

I'm sure more often than I do. My motto is, "If it doesn't rot off, it's not ready to take off."

No: they are under constant review.

 

[Jim]

Just curious, but -- if you are seeking "spiritual advancement, possibly to enlightenment" -- are you in the habit of clinging to your religious and/or spiritual beliefs? Do you hold your beliefs firmly? Do you see them as necessary for your spiritual advancement?

I see myself on a path of progress, and there are things I'm hoping to see and do along the way. I don't see the path as having any final destination. I don't see myself as seeking advancement, but some people might call it that. I see myself as trying to learn to follow Baha'u'llah. I also see myself as the little drummer boy, playing my little toy drum for God, hoping to see Him smiling at me and my drum.

I don't call any of my views and ways of thinking "beliefs." I gave up having beliefs years ago. It looks to me like there is always some belligerence in people calling their views and way of thinking "beliefs," and that's where all the animosities and hostilities come from between people with opposing beliefs. Of course, not calling my views and ways of thinking "beliefs" is not enough by itself to keep the belligerence out of them. Freeing myself from belligerence is a never-ending struggle for me.

 

[Cooky]

Just curious, but -- if you are seeking "spiritual advancement, possibly to enlightenment" -- are you in the habit of clinging to your religious and/or spiritual beliefs? Do you hold your beliefs firmly? Do you see them as necessary for your spiritual advancement?

And if so, how do you figure that is helping you?

Interesting question... But doesn’t it seem like “beliefs” and “spirituality” are two totally different things? It does to me right now.

 

[BSM1]

The only thing I really believe in is The Great Pumpkin, and even then, I guess I could go either way.

Now if you can just convince someone to sit all night in the pumpkin patch with you...