Getting to know you: Discuss your faith

[Vinayaka]

I'm quite interested in some forms of Shaivism myself - currently reading a book about Abhinavagupta. And I would assume that your form of Shaivism is different from that, even if monist. So I guess that you could give a more detailed account than you did.

I don't read many books personally. The version of Saivism I follow isn't exactly intellectual. You can google monistic Saiva Siddhanta to find info. Only about 10 % or Saiva Siddhantins follow the monistic side. Many don't even know it exists.

 

[Deeje]

Some of the words you said reminds me of this scene

I notice that you do not identify with any specific religion. It's a shame that we are forced to label ourselves actually because as your description says the only religion to subscribe to is the one the Creator made....which is no religion at all.

There was no need to identify with a religion in Eden, because there was no such thing. There was no need for "churches", no need for books of law, no need for redemption or atonement or even sacrifice....there was just an assignment to fill the earth with their kind and to have dominion over all other creatures, meaning that they would all be under our watchful care as representatives of the Creator. If worship was to take place, it would be entirely natural as a result of appreciative hearts overflowing with gratitude for a generous provider.

Eventually, by continually increasing the workforce, the assignment would be fulfilled by every human doing their part to extend the boundaries of paradise until the whole earth resembled the garden of Eden.

Paradise is 'programmed' into the human psyche....it is where we were meant to live in peace and security. The majority of humans would love to live in these conditions, but wickedness was unleashed like a 'bad genie' and it was going to be a while before it could be 'put back in the bottle'. In fact it was used as a catalyst for teaching lessons to humankind as well as to the angels, that would last for all eternity.

The original mandate was to "fill the earth and subdue it" so eventually having fulfilled that assignment, there would be nothing stopping the Creator from making other worlds habitable and colonizing them. It's a vast universe so I can see that the possibilities are endless. I don't believe that such a vast space with infinite numbers of heavenly bodies, was created for nothing.

Many issues raised in the beginning of human experience have to be settled before we are brought back to God's original purpose. It's taken a long time, but we are assured that the wait will be so worth it.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

I have no idea what that means, so I don't know.

When you say Savi means God and what I mean by God is, is it God of the universe in the Abrahamic sense, or God as the demiurge? (Creator god localized only to earth and/or solar system).

 

[Liu]

I don't read many books personally. The version of Saivism I follow isn't exactly intellectual. You can google monistic Saiva Siddhanta to find info. Only about 10 % or Saiva Siddhantins follow the monistic side. Many don't even know it exists.

Thanks. So it's more focused on spiritual practice and bhakti I guess?
I might look into it further, but probably after I finished that book I mentioned so I can better compare the two and get nothing confused.

When you say Savi means God and what I mean by God is, is it God of the universe in the Abrahamic sense, or God as the demiurge? (Creator god localized only to earth and/or solar system).

He's a monist, that means Shiva = everything. Not only the universe, but every single being.

 

[dianaiad]

My cousin is mormon.....Question do Mormons contemplate cosmology in relation to Almighty God? For example understanding the universe that God created?

Not quite certain what you are asking here, to be honest. SOME of us (not many, but I've met one or two) are strict 24/7 day creationists. Most of us are "guided creationists" to some extent or other.

Me? I'm of the opinion that God pretty much pulled the trigger (perhaps the 'Big Bang') and sat back to see what would happen. When something happens on a planet that works for Him, He put His children on it...and earth is by no means the only planet upon which that could have, or did, happen.

Or something like that. Maybe not.

Mormons tend to have a lot of scientists...our view is mostly that yes, God Did it, but now we get to figure out how.
We're SUPPOSED to. Few, if any, of us get upset when science figures out how something works that USED to be attributed to 'Godidit." In fact, we get a bit excited; ok, now we know how that works. Next?...

I think....this is just me, of course, but I think that Our Father in Heaven probably gets tickled when we figure something out and get it right, scientifically.

 

[Vinayaka]

When you say Savi means God and what I mean by God is, is it God of the universe in the Abrahamic sense, or God as the demiurge? (Creator god localized only to earth and/or solar system).

I don't know who Savi is.
Siva is incredibly different than the Abrahamic sense of God, and I don't even know what the demiurge is. Very different paradigms, and I'm not sure any discussion would be fruitful. Usually east and west paradigms are so far apart there is little benefit from discussion.

Edited ... I googled demiurge, and no Siva is not that.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

I don't know who Savi is.
Siva is incredibly different than the Abrahamic sense of God, and I don't even know what the demiurge is. Very different paradigms, and I'm not sure any discussion would be fruitful. Usually east and west paradigms are so far apart there is little benefit from discussion.

Edited ... I googled demiurge, and no Siva is not that.

Sorry Siva or I guess it would be pronounced Shiva correct?

 

[Vinayaka]

Sorry Siva or I guess it would be pronounced Shiva correct?

Both are correct 's' as in salt is more common in South India, whereas 'Sh' as in shoot is more common in the north. A few people get adamant that their version is the only correct one. I use them interchangably.
i is the universal transliteration letter for what we know as long 'e' in English as in 'sheet' so it's sheevuh or seevuh, but not with the 'h' as it's used in Sanskrit.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

It's taken a long time, but we are assured that the wait will be so worth it.

Yes, it will. The Resurrection alone will make it worth the wait.

Another related issue to consider is that, while bad things have happened since the rebellion in Eden, individuals have only had to endure 70, or 80, or 90 years. Less than that, if they were ill or mistreated. Then they've died.

When the Kingdom comes and these ones are resurrected, i.e., brought back to life, their previous 80-year hardship will be forgotten! Reminds us of Isaiah 65:17, doesn't it?

Since we know that Jehovah cares for humans (especially His servants, Isaiah 63:9), I think that's how Jehovah must look at the barbarous things that happen to people: on an individual basis.

When you consider the Holocaust -- 10 million innocent people systematically slaughtered -- it's almost too much to fathom! But if you look at it on an individual basis....yes, it's still very sad, yet a person could only individually bear what he himself could, then that was it! Afterwards, they "RIP", until Jesus begins the Resurrection (John 5:28-29), and they're given life again and reunited with their loved ones! That'll be a marvelous time....when all past relationships -- between brothers and sisters, loving parents and children, dear friends -- will be restored, everyone (who wants it) living forever! -- Revelation 21:3-4.
What more good things will come, we'll just have to wait and see! -- 1 Corinthians 2:9; Isaiah 11:6-9 will be awesome, too.

 

[savagewind]

This forum houses a lot of members of different faiths and different philosophies. I know I've engaged in discussion with some of you but I've unfortunately never went into detail in getting to know you and how your faith affects you.

In this thread if you would be so kind in explaining the following:

1) What is your faith (e.g. Religion)/If not religious what secular principles do you live by?

I believe in the God of Abraham, but I have no religion. The principles I try to live by is to love and to be honest. I have learned that love and honesty must start with the self, but to be in accord with the people that I am in contact with.

2) What aspects of your faith/philosophies enrich your life?

Love.

3) What particular aspect of your faith/philosophy do you think others outside your faith ought to live by, and would greatly benefit from?

Live for the truth and seek righteousness and meekness. Not false meekness. Heaven forbid!

 

[arthra]

This forum houses a lot of members of different faiths and different philosophies. I know I've engaged in discussion with some of you but I've unfortunately never went into detail in getting to know you and how your faith affects you. In this thread if you would be so kind in explaining the following:
1) What is your faith (e.g. Religion)/If not religious what secular principles do you live by?
2) What aspects of your faith/philosophies enrich your life?
3) (Edit) What particular aspect of your faith/philosophy do you think others outside your faith ought to live by, and would greatly benefit from?

I'm a Baha'i. I became a Baha'i in 1965 and the Faith has "enriched my life" in terms of my marriage and family as well as encouraging me to continue in my profession of social work. It also has unified my family and immediate community. Our perspective on spiritual life has provided an uplift personally and in my relationships with family and friends.
Our faith encourages world consciousness, that is a goal that the nations will someday agree to build a world civilization. I'm convinced this will uplift the prospects of humanity.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

I'm a Baha'i. I became a Baha'i in 1965 and the Faith has "enriched my life" in terms of my marriage and family as well as encouraging me to continue in my profession of social work. It also has unified my family and immediate community. Our perspective on spiritual life has provided an uplift personally and in my relationships with family and friends.
Our faith encourages world consciousness, that is a goal that the nations will someday agree to build a world civilization. I'm convinced this will uplift the prospects of humanity.

Hey! I'm in the field of Social Work (currently finishing graduate school for my MSW)! It's nice to know that the Bahai faith has enriched your life and made you a catalyst as a person helping others.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

I notice that you do not identify with any specific religion. It's a shame that we are forced to label ourselves actually because as your description says the only religion to subscribe to is the one the Creator made....which is no religion at all.

There was no need to identify with a religion in Eden, because there was no such thing. There was no need for "churches", no need for books of law, no need for redemption or atonement or even sacrifice....there was just an assignment to fill the earth with their kind and to have dominion over all other creatures, meaning that they would all be under our watchful care as representatives of the Creator. If worship was to take place, it would be entirely natural as a result of appreciative hearts overflowing with gratitude for a generous provider.

I know my Muslim and Jewish friends may disagree with me but God's truth, at least in my humble opinion, is as wondrous and diverse and the illuminating stars in the heavens. My atheist friends who are quite pragmatic will often say that my belief in God is misplaced. But as you said in the second paragraph in bold that the natural order of worship being subject to God is natural. We are mere grains of sand when you look at our position in the universe. To think that all of us with our diverse beliefs but feel a connection to something higher than us is a wonderful feeling.

 

[Frater Sisyphus]

I am a hermeticist, in particular - a Thelemite. My beliefs are also derived from Taoism and Discordianism. The Tao, Chaos and humor are three ideas inherent in my view of the world and I believe there is a purpose (WILL - the great work) to my life - which I am yet to discover.

I am an 'agnostic pantheist', as far as the "isms" go - I believe that God may or may not exist in an esoteric sense and that God/s are the universe itself, but I don't believe in deities.

I haven't made up my mind on the afterlife either but I do relate to the concept of reincarnation, still I'm skeptical as usual.

Conjoining between that and my many comparative interests, is Kabbalah (in hermeticism/Thelema) - which really sparked my recent interest in Judaism (Or Jewish mysticism).

Comparative religion is a big extra-curricular study for me and I like exploring ideas that challenge and inspire.

 

[Frater Sisyphus]

I see I missed this:

3) (Edit) What particular aspect of your faith/philosophy do you think others outside your faith ought to live by, and would greatly benefit from?

Ought? if anything, to be aware of the reality tunnels we live in and to embrace the chaos of life (rather than be trodden down by it), whilst trying to find their Will (purpose) in life.

Apart from that, dogmas and catmas aren't my thing. Love and other virtues are advised, harming others is shunned but really that's it.

 

[Araceli Cianna]

So when you meditate or pray to the Goddess, what do you ask for? Is there an overwhelming sensation of power that you feel as if she is there?

It's different with each deity. When I pray to Diana I get a general feeling of support. With Durga I get peace from my anxieties, with Quan Yin I get compassion and kindness, with Jesus I get love and forgiveness. But those are just the feelings. I also get the visions and out of body experiences with these deities which is why I think they are drawn to me as there is a strong connection already there. I can't explain why, but I have prayed to some deities that I think I'd like to work with but there's just no connection, I don't hear or feel or experience anything.

So yeah I do get those experiences, but I don't seek them out. They tend to just happen. Usually I just pray or meditate on them in a devotional manner, I make a habit of trying not to ask for too much as they are bigger than me and I think they should be revered in a way you would revere a very close mentor or older friend. But another point is I try not to appropriate and try hardest in my capabilities to honour each deity in context of the religion they came from. I don't believe all goddesses and gods are one... they are all unique and individual to me.

I usually don't invoke them together either, but I make sure each deity is cool with me contacting the other, and I have rarely contacted some together and it's like their energies amplify each other for a stronger experience, but I only do that when I feel the need for it.

Besides all that, I am actually some kind of agnostic about all this. I have my beliefs but I'm not sure whether it's all real or psychological. But the practices benefit me mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, so I do it for the peace I find in my heart through it. I do not mind either way what the truth is, I'm just a person that needs some kind of connection to something I perceive to be bigger than me. And because of that I'm really accepting of other religions and beliefs that help others in their own life too.

 

[Liu]

Both are correct 's' as in salt is more common in South India, whereas 'Sh' as in shoot is more common in the north. A few people get adamant that their version is the only correct one. I use them interchangably.
i is the universal transliteration letter for what we know as long 'e' in English as in 'sheet' so it's sheevuh or seevuh, but not with the 'h' as it's used in Sanskrit.

Interesting - I normally just go by the Sanskrit pronunciation, in which it has "sh", and a short "i", like in "shiver". Good to know that pronouncing it "ee" is not just something done by westeners but an actual Indian version.

 

[Vinayaka]

Interesting - I normally just go by the Sanskrit pronunciation, in which it has "sh", and a short "i", like in "shiver". Good to know that pronouncing it "ee" is not just something done by westeners but an actual Indian version.

 

[Fool]

Not everyone lives by the golden rule...Certainly none of the gang members around me I know hence the 3rd question.

that is service to self vs the law of service to ONE, or ALL.

the service to self can only evolve to the 6th density and then realizing this must start again from a lower level and evolve.

only the absolute can be of service to self, the service to self aspects are simply prolonging the inevitable.

 

[Kenny]

1) What is your faith (e.g. Religion)/If not religious what secular principles do you live by?

Christian

2) What aspects of your faith/philosophies enrich your life?

forgiveness, love, self worth, equality, proper exercise of authority, humlity, servanthood and the list can go on.

The result was that my wife and I were able to break the generational divorce sequence.

3) (Edit) What particular aspect of your faith/philosophy do you think others outside your faith ought to live by, and would greatly benefit from?

I guess love would encompass it all.