Can you make a point without invoking liberals? I think that whole liberals vs conservatives mantra you keep spouting is just tiring. This isn't America.
-
Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:- Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
- Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
- Access to private conversations with other members.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!
Do your beliefs make you happy?
- Thread starter Spiderman
- Start date
Can you make a point without invoking liberals? I think that whole liberals vs conservatives mantra you keep spouting is just tiring. This isn't America.
Why should I? Every time a liberal here wants to drive home a point they bring up how awful traditional belief is
That's not true. And you're rambling about liberals again.
Frater Sisyphus
Contradiction, irrationality and disorder
I would say yes.
My Thelemic and Taoistic leanings combined with my flirtation with Discordianism, means for me that I (try to) appreciate the simple joy of existing and not letting the ordeals (trials and tribulations) get the best of me. I recognize the chaotic nature of the universe but I don't think that it defines us. At the same time, I embrace the chaotic and unpredictable-ness of reality and keep a healthy dose of humor with me.
My Thelemic and Taoistic leanings combined with my flirtation with Discordianism, means for me that I (try to) appreciate the simple joy of existing and not letting the ordeals (trials and tribulations) get the best of me. I recognize the chaotic nature of the universe but I don't think that it defines us. At the same time, I embrace the chaotic and unpredictable-ness of reality and keep a healthy dose of humor with me.
I’m wrong? Are you unfamiliar with Phoenix, Tom, and Anarchist?
If you go into forums, and make threads that SPECIFICALLY call out liberals in the title, then you're most likely going to get opinions that disagree with your statements. Especially if said threads are in the debate section. You are obviously taking some peoples' comments way too seriously. I think you need a thicker skin.
It's really unfair to call out a group of people, then complain that the group of people didn't agree with you. If you make threads like that, then what do you expect?
osgart
Nothing my eye, Something for sure
Thanks for sharing. My beliefs make me happy whenever I am thinking about them, but they are also very demanding on me. My feelings used to change from misery to hope, but now there is just hope interwoven at times with anxiety owing to very difficult life circumstances.
I never wonder if I will cease to exist after physical death because I firmly believe that the soul continues to exist forever, although that is not always a pleasant thought.Despite of the promises of a joyful afterlife that my religion promises, I still wonder what the accommodations will look like and what we will be doing “forever.”
Any suffering I have is all owing to the material world. When my thoughts are focused on God, other people, and the spiritual world, I am happy. I believe God knows my suffering and God cares but that does not mean God can remove my suffering.
Since suffering is the nature of the material world it was never intended to be a paradise. Most people seem to negotiate it pretty well, are happy most of the time, and enjoy the material world, but I surmise that is because they have their eggs in that basket. I do not look to the material world for happiness and I am much happier now that I have accepted that happiness is not to be there.
I believe this mortal world is preparation for a greater reality in a purely spiritual world where the soul will take on a spiritual body and continue to ascend through many worlds, but what those worlds are and what their nature is we cannot know.
I do not know what the intrinsic nature of God is but I believe God has love and compassion, justice and mercy.
Because organized life exists, and because it's highly intelligent I believe we are eternal. Or at least heading that way!
From nothing, I don't think anything intelligent can arise. So there is that special something that makes life happen. One could throw all the physics they want at it, and still nothing quite explains it, life. People can't quite get to the source of it.
So there is that untouchable dimension to reality.
Is life a brain? Or is the brain a vehicle for life? Is memory itself important? Or, does memory fade away? , like Alzheimer's. Some of my roadblocks to faith.
dfnj
Well-Known Member
I've given up on sin, salvation, eternal damnation, judgement, worship, and monarchy. What makes me happy is putting all my faith in a God of unconditional love who will let me enter the gates of heaven to experience eternally heavenly bliss regardless of my Earthly sins or how I practiced my religion. I just like the idea everyone is saved. I really don't like the idea of anyone I truly care about having to suffer eternal damnation. I think the whole idea of sin and eternal damnation is to manipulate weaker minds in giving away their power to church authorities.
The other thing thing that makes me happy is why we exist for God. I believe we exist so our omnipotent God can experience the thrill of having limitations by sharing our experiences of joy and sorrow. And what makes us enthusiastic makes God enthusiastic. So the very best thing we can do to have reverence for God is by culturing our enthusiasm for participating in God's creation for ourselves and other people. And we are against God when we make other people suffer or lose enthusiasm. The idea of everyone consciously and purposely working together to cultivate enthusiasm for each other as a way of showing reverence for God makes me happy.
Last edited:
dfnj
Well-Known Member
People only take away from you what you let them. If liberals are telling you that you are garbage response by saying, "You can't hurt me." How you respond to other people is ALL your responsibility. Don't let people bother you. Don't give away your car keys.
Trailblazer
Veteran Member
Lots of questions, but there are some answers... Here is a synopsis of what I believe...
~~ The soul is the vehicle for life because the soul animates the physical body while we are alive on earth...
~~ The mind is part of the brain. The mind is associated with the brain while we are alive in a physical body. The soul expresses itself through the mind while we are alive in a physical body but the soul is not physical, it is immaterial. The soul is a mystery no human mind can ever hope to unravel... It is a sign of God.
~~ Physical diseases like Alzheimer's only exist in the physical world. They affect the physical body and the mind while we are alive in a body, but when we die and cast off the mortal frame, they no longer affect the soul because the soul is no longer associated with the body.
~~ The body needs the soul to exist but the soul does not need the body to exist... After the physical body dies, the soul wings its way to a spiritual world and takes on a form comprised of heavenly elements from that realm. There is no way we can understand what that world will be like, which is why it has never been described in any detail by any Prophet of any religion.
osgart
Nothing my eye, Something for sure
Sign me up for that reality!Lots of questions, but there are some answers... Here is a synopsis of what I believe...
~~ The soul is the vehicle for life because the soul animates the physical body while we are alive on earth...
~~ The mind is part of the brain. The mind is associated with the brain while we are alive in a physical body. The soul expresses itself through the mind while we are alive in a physical body but the soul is not physical, it is immaterial. The soul is a mystery no human mind can ever hope to unravel... It is a sign of God.
~~ Physical diseases like Alzheimer's only exist in the physical world. They affect the physical body and the mind while we are alive in a body, but when we die and cast off the mortal frame, they no longer affect the soul because the soul is no longer associated with the body.
~~ The body needs the soul to exist but the soul does not need the body to exist... After the physical body dies, the soul wings its way to a spiritual world and takes on a form comprised of heavenly elements from that realm. There is no way we can understand what that world will be like, which is why it has never been described in any detail by any Prophet of any religion.
Trailblazer
Veteran Member
You are already signed up... You just don't know it yet.
There is a lot more cool stuff about the soul and the sfterlife where that came from... that was just a brief overview I pulled out of my hat.
Trailblazer
Veteran Member
Good advice. I might add that if people are trying to take stuff away from other people then they are the ones who have the problem. I might also add that how people respond to other people is ALL their own responsibility.
But I do let my husband handle the car keys because I do not like driving... I always ride a bicycle to work, rain or shine, sleet or hail.
Trailblazer
Veteran Member
Cool... I like your religion.
I also have a religion of one. Even though technically I belong to a religion of many I never seem to fit in. However, it is the the principles that matter, and I believe in those and try to practice them to the best of my ability. That is really what religion should be about, living a noble life, not getting saved. Nobody can save us but ourselves.
Last edited:
Curious George
Veteran Member
Is it then your beliefs that make you happy or thinking about them?
Trailblazer
Veteran Member
It is not the thinking that makes me happy, it is the beliefs, but I have to be thinking about them for me to realize I have them.
If I start thinking about worldly things I lose sight of my beliefs and I am not very happy.
Curious George
Veteran Member
I am having a hard time following. Are you suggesting that you no longer hold your beliefs when you do not think of them. For instance if you had a son, you would no longer believe your son is your son when you do not think about this relationship?It is not the thinking that makes me happy, it is the beliefs, but I have to be thinking about them for me to realize I have them.
While I find the idea novel and interesting, I am not so sure I agree. We have to many reactions that indicate belief despite having insufficient time to think about our beliefs before we react.
Truthseeker
Non-debating member when I can help myself
It is not the beliefs that make me happy, but communing with God makes me happy. Communing with God is everything. I don't like being separate from God, I want to be united with him. I feel bad when I try to commune with God, but He is far away. It doesn't help that I don't have much that is useful to do since I'm retired. I looked for volunteer work, but no one wants me because I am introverted and shy and have trouble expressing myself or relating to people. I don't like being crippled like this. But God understands me better than I do, and He accepts me. I have a loving wife so I am thankful for that. I'm sorry that this post is such a jumble of thoughts. I'm merely expressing myself.
Spiderman
Veteran Member
Great post! Are you getting disability benefits?
May your humble suffering make you spiritually advance!
metis
aged ecumenical anthropologist
Yes, pretty much so, and for three reasons. One is that I don't have to try and force myself to believe in anything [if any don't know where I'm coming from on that, they can read my faith statement at the bottom of the page], thus taking a "whatever is, is" position.
Secondly, I had a set of experiences that went on for almost two years that I've covered before here at RF that has left me with a position that there is "Something" out there even though I don't know what It is nor can describe It in any way.
And finally, the loving care from members of my family and close friends that have been strongly influenced by faith, even though we vary quite a bit as far as what we may believe, is truly inspiring and soothing. Compassion and a love of life, including a willingness to get involved to help others, they exhibit constantly. When you're surrounded by caring and loving people, it makes life so much more enjoyable.