I'm confused and searching!

[janni]

I want to introduce myself and explain a bit about my search for the truth. I know most of you have your own beliefs, and I am not looking to be converted to them. I am one of many still seeking answers. I’d like to compare notes. I am curious about what things coming from the other side are really true. I am just looking for an honest discussion of communications from the unseen.
I was raised as a Christian Science child, and taught that Mary Baker Eddy was divinely inspired. I became disenchanted with that religion when I was 17 (I will explain about that later).
Next I married a Roman Catholic and joined that church. Divine enlightenment abounded in their teachings. I left them when I left my first husband.
Back in the 70s I dove into the New Age thing with all the psychic and metaphysical forms that it embodied. I did Reiki, visited mediums and all the rest.
Then I got caught up with Fundamentalist Christians. Had to pitch all my New Age books, etc. But they promoted a direct line to God via prayer. That’s all I’ve been seeking, a direct line to the other side so I can understand the real truths. I came to see these people as blind target shooters, throwing other people out of whack.
Buddah was divinely inspired. That is generally accepted. Native Americans communicate with their ancestors. Edgar Cayce communicated with the Universal Consciousness. Some of my family are now Mormons. I’ve just read some of their history and am a bit dismayed by their supposedly divine message.
Another of my children has become a radical fanatical Fundamentalist Christian, and claims to have a direct line to God. But some of the things that he thinks God tells him to do just don’t seem right to me.
Has anyone on this forum traveled a similar path to mine? What conclusions have your drawn? Let’s talk.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

Buddha was divinely inspired? Maybe someone should have told him that...

 

[Onkara]

Buddha was divinely inspired? Maybe someone should have told him that...

Brahma did according to the Pali Canon.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

Brahma did according to the Pali Canon.

I heard the devas urged him to teach, but never that his enlightenment was coerced. You might only be talking about the teaching though.

 

[Onkara]

I heard the devas urged him to teach, but never that his enlightenment was coerced. You might only be talking about the teaching though.

Hi
I took inspired to mean that Buddha was inspirational. Not sure how Janni meant it.

 

[Onkara]

...
Has anyone on this forum traveled a similar path to mine? What conclusions have your drawn? Let’s talk.

Welcome to the forum Janni
You have certainly been involved with a lot. A lot more than me but I am sure there are others. What are you searching for now? I think that is key to removing any confusion.

 

[Super Universe]

Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get.

 

[seeking4truth]

If God exists then anyone sincerely trying to find Him will do so. All religions teach that. The question is which route is the best one to take. For me the Ahmadiyya interpretation of Islam did that and answered a lot of questions without the need to attack anyone else's belief or suspend my ideas of logic or science. I also believe that the development of religion including the development of Islam and the Ahmadiyya interpretation shows that a living God exists and is actively involved with those who seek Him out.

 

[BSM1]

Hey, J. Evidently we have shared many of the same experiences. I have found in my life that everyone must find their own truth. No one can tell you what the truth is, they can only share their truth. It's up to each person to decide their reality.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

Hi
I took inspired to mean that Buddha was inspirational. Not sure how Janni meant it.

Probably that Buddha entered enlightenment through some revelation of a Supreme Being, which I find particularly funny since he then stated belief in a Supreme Being was a hindrance to nirvana.

 

[Onkara]

Probably that Buddha entered enlightenment through some revelation of a Supreme Being, which I find particularly funny since he then stated belief in a Supreme Being was a hindrance to nirvana.

Hi G.
I don't recall reading anything that explicit about supreme beings, rather I would say that: Enlightenment isn't related to a belief. The belief in any permanent self is a wrong view for Buddha, because the belief hinders the eightfold path which leads to enlightenment.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

Hi G.
I don't recall reading anything that explicit about supreme beings, rather I would say that: Enlightenment isn't related to a belief. The belief in any permanent self is a wrong view for Buddha, because the belief hinders the eightfold path which leads to enlightenment.

Exactly.

http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/2107114-post1.html

 

[Katzpur]

Some of my family are now Mormons. I’ve just read some of their history and am a bit dismayed by their supposedly divine message.

Let’s talk.

Would you mind elaborating on this statement? I'm particularly interested in your use of the word "dismayed." In trying to oversome this "dismay," it may help you to understand just how Mormonism fits into Christianity. We believe that as part of Jesus Christ's ministry, He established His church. We believe that after He and His Apostles died, that men changed it. We believe that He has re-established it in this day and age. That's really what this "divine message" was all about.

I have a very strict personal policy, janni, and that is to not proselytize my beliefs. To begin with, it's against forum rules , but it's also against my own rules. But if I can ever answer any questions about Mormonism for you, please know that you can depend on me for accurate information and no preaching!

 

[Pegg]

May I ask what you expect a 'direct line' to God to entail?

Do expect a verbal communication, or a vision or some physical experience from this direct line?

The only 'direct line' i've experienced is the one left for us in the pages of the bible. The bible records his message to us from those who claimed to have a direct line to God. for me, the bible is the only direct line we have today and i would say that studying it and learning from it is the equivalent of learning directly from God.

 

[dyanaprajna2011]

You're a seeker, and you're willing to travel to get there. That's a good thing, and you've come to the right place. Myself, I've done a bit of traveling as well. Let me tell you a little bit about my journey. I was raised by agnostic parents, but I brought myself up in Christianity. Denominations-Free Will Baptist, Southern Baptist, IFB (Independent Fundamentalist Baptist), United Methodist, Eastern Orthodox. Right after High School, I toyed with the occult/satanism/wicca thing for about a year or two, before going back to being a Christian. During my marriage, while still calling myself "officially Christian", I began to look into Taoism and Islam. After my divorce, I got even deeper into Islam, but, have since settled on Buddhism, where I feel right at home, and couldn't imagine myself being anything other than a Buddhist. So, keep looking, enjoy the journey. You'll get to your destination.

 

[Bird123]

I want to introduce myself and explain a bit about my search for the truth. I know most of you have your own beliefs, and I am not looking to be converted to them. I am one of many still seeking answers. I’d like to compare notes. I am curious about what things coming from the other side are really true. I am just looking for an honest discussion of communications from the unseen.
I was raised as a Christian Science child, and taught that Mary Baker Eddy was divinely inspired. I became disenchanted with that religion when I was 17 (I will explain about that later).
Next I married a Roman Catholic and joined that church. Divine enlightenment abounded in their teachings. I left them when I left my first husband.
Back in the 70s I dove into the New Age thing with all the psychic and metaphysical forms that it embodied. I did Reiki, visited mediums and all the rest.
Then I got caught up with Fundamentalist Christians. Had to pitch all my New Age books, etc. But they promoted a direct line to God via prayer. That’s all I’ve been seeking, a direct line to the other side so I can understand the real truths. I came to see these people as blind target shooters, throwing other people out of whack.
Buddah was divinely inspired. That is generally accepted. Native Americans communicate with their ancestors. Edgar Cayce communicated with the Universal Consciousness. Some of my family are now Mormons. I’ve just read some of their history and am a bit dismayed by their supposedly divine message.
Another of my children has become a radical fanatical Fundamentalist Christian, and claims to have a direct line to God. But some of the things that he thinks God tells him to do just don’t seem right to me.
Has anyone on this forum traveled a similar path to mine? What conclusions have your drawn? Let’s talk.

In this time based causal universe even God's actions can be seen. Figure out what, how and why God does what He does and you will acquire great understanding of God and what everything is all about. This can lead you to God. It's a much better course than following others. Still, it is important that everyone makes their own choices in life. Life's lessons are best learned that way. In no way am I demanding anything.

 

[Dingbat]

You're a seeker, and you're willing to travel to get there. That's a good thing, and you've come to the right place. Myself, I've done a bit of traveling as well. Let me tell you a little bit about my journey. I was raised by agnostic parents, but I brought myself up in Christianity. Denominations-Free Will Baptist, Southern Baptist, IFB (Independent Fundamentalist Baptist), United Methodist, Eastern Orthodox. Right after High School, I toyed with the occult/satanism/wicca thing for about a year or two, before going back to being a Christian. During my marriage, while still calling myself "officially Christian", I began to look into Taoism and Islam. After my divorce, I got even deeper into Islam, but, have since settled on Buddhism, where I feel right at home, and couldn't imagine myself being anything other than a Buddhist. So, keep looking, enjoy the journey. You'll get to your destination.

^This is some excellent advice. Enjoy the journey I know that I am just finally arriving at that state and it took a while. Not fully settled in but I am much less interested in the destination than I am the path I currently tread. I think looking for an endgoal is a massive hinderance don't think of trying to find a faith that fits but finding yourself.

I get you about Mormonism though and understand what you mean. One of the biggest reasons I walked away from the faith of my birth. I don't put much faith in any group that claims they have truth of any sort. That is about the biggest thing I can offer avoid the snake oil salesmen gimmick. Anyone claiming they have all encompassing truth is merely lost and trying to justify their current campsite.

 

[George-ananda]

Dear 'I'm confused and searching! '
　
Have you given deep thought on the teachings of the east (India),,,i.e. Buddhism/Hinduism?

You owe it to youself to at least consider these answers. I feel a lot of 'confusion' (confused is how you describe yourself) comes from the challenges of grasping western concepts and all the doubts/confusion/paradoxes/truths that view of God creates.

I think a lot of these confusions (and threads of almost the same arguments on RF) comes from the fact that our God concept needs a more modern/intellectual understanding from what our well-meaning ancestors could bring us thousands of years ago.

I think the best teachings of the eastern masters can give us a more advanced understanding of existance that is more intellectualy and spiritually satisfying.

Keep positive......

 

[janni]

This discussion was my first post and I think I've gotten into the wrong area. Sorry, I didn't mean to offend all you Buddhists, as I've always felt more comfortable with Buddhism than most any other religion. I think I'll go mingle with the Seekers (and change my statement about Buddha). I'm just trying to find out what messages from the other side ring true. Thanx for your input here.
Janni

 

[no-body]

You don't have to be a part of a religion to study it or even learn from it and use its teachings. You can treat religion like a sample box of chocolates but if you eat too much you will eventually be sick of the whole thing in general.

Of course if you are the type that thinks religions entails community that is fine. There is nothing wrong with wanting to join something, but if you just join any group you are interested in at the drop of a hat you are seeking something deeper that you won't find by joining a group.