Learning about people’s faith & what they believe in, how they think about it & try to practice it

[Niatero]

If I was going about learning here using the same methodology you're using, I know I wouldn't retain anything, due to information overload.

Not retaining things in my mind doesn't mean that I'm not retaining things in my heart. I'm quite sure that I am. My impression of each person is definitely evolving.

 

[Kathryn]

I'm amazed sometimes about His generosity. What do you think is the purpose, what is God aiming for, in what He inspires you to do?

I believe He wants me to be a conduit of His grace. I believe one way I can do that is to leave every space better than I found it.

 

[Vinayaka]

That's why I went back through the thread again. Originally my goal was to help diversify people's images of followers of different faiths. When you asked me that question, I thought that I would also like it to help me get to know each person better individually. I'm going back through the thread now, with that purpose in mind.

Yeah, I'd have to do that a few times. In over 10 years on here, I figure I actually know about 10 or so people well enough to have learned form them. People come here for many different purposes. They're lonely, they want to proselytize, they're killing time, they like to chat with somebody, they want to improve their writing skills, they have a need to be heard, they use it like a break from life instead of TV, and much more, I'm sure.

 

[Kathryn]

That’s funny, I just posted about that a few hours ago. Post #67

Oh, sorry I missed it, I have been moving which SUCKS by the way!

 

[Niatero]

I believe He wants me to be a conduit of His grace. I believe one way I can do that is to leave every space better than I found it.

Exactly. "By grace are you saved." That means the best that we can do for people's salvation is to be a channel for God's grace.

 

[Niatero]

Oh, sorry I missed it, I have been moving which SUCKS by the way!

I meant that it was funny, that after all this time, I decided to post about it almost at the same time that you decided to ask me about it!

 

[Aupmanyav]

Exactly. "By grace are you saved." That means the best that we can do for people's salvation is to be a channel for God's grace.

Sure about that?

 

[Niatero]

I'm having the kinds of conversations with people in this thread that I've been dreaming of having online for years, and never could.

 

[Niatero]

Sure about that?

I can't get @Audie to help keep me in line, but maybe you can replace her.

I'll revise that. "By grace are you saved." That means that the best way one way we can help people enter God's kingdom is to be a channel for His grace.

Sorry, that was for Kathryn.

 

[Niatero]

Yeah, I'd have to do that a few times. In over 10 years on here, I figure I actually know about 10 or so people well enough to have learned form them. People come here for many different purposes. They're lonely, they want to proselytize, they're killing time, they like to chat with somebody, they want to improve their writing skills, they have a need to be heard, they use it like a break from life instead of TV, and much more, I'm sure.

After an hour or two, I'm still on page 1. (multitasking)

 

[JustGeorge]

The reason I asked is that as I stated before, I don't think learning has taken place unless it is retained. I taught school for 30 years, and a student could reiterate what I had said that afternoon, but if you asked them a week later, or a year later, it might not be there at all. So psychologically there is an entire part of educational psychology put into practice by reteaching concepts at certain intervals, so that it is retained.

I realized I have a problem with retention, and I'm working on that. I'm taking things much more slowly.

 

[Niatero]

The reason I asked is that as I stated before, I don't think learning has taken place unless it is retained.

The most important learning for me is changes in my attitudes and behavior, which can happen with or without verbalizing it and remembering the words, or when and where the learning happened.

Here on this forum, I've occasionally expounded on things about my faith either because I was asked to, or because I felt it worthwhile to clear up the misconceptions. Then the other person would indicate they understood, but then 2 weeks later they would just reiterate the same misconception that had me explaining in the first place, proving they didn't learn it at all. So I discontinued saying much about my faith at all, and became more of a watcher. If you have no actual audience, what's the point?

That helps me understand why you asked that question. I'll think about that, and how it might apply here. But was it to help you decide how much you want to share in this thread?

(later) One possibility I see is that people might think that this is a chance to correct misunderstandings and misinformation about their religion or faith, and later be disappointed. I wasn't thinking about it as way for people to do that, and I'm not sure I would want try to do that here. I would have to try to think of questions to ask for that purpose, and I'm not sure that it would actually do anything to correct misunderstandings and misinformation in people's minds. I'll think about it some more.

 

[Niatero]

Here on this forum, I've occasionally expounded on things about my faith either because I was asked to, or because I felt it worthwhile to clear up the misconceptions. Then the other person would indicate they understood, but then 2 weeks later they would just reiterate the same misconception that had me explaining in the first place, proving they didn't learn it at all. So I discontinued saying much about my faith at all, and became more of a watcher. If you have no actual audience, what's the point?

Are there things that you might tell me to correct misconceptions if you thought I would retain it? If so, do you have any ideas about how I could retain it?

Would it be things for example like people incorporating Hinduism into their beliefs by calling Krishna a Manifestation of God?

Incidentally, I'm not saying any more that I have faith in the first teachers, or central teachers, of some religions. I gave up searching for a qualifier. Now I'm just saying "some teachers," meaning some of the characters in the stories, fictional or not. That's one thing I learned from a conversation with you. For Hinduism I might say avatars, but I'm not sure of that, so I'll just say "some teachers" that I pick and choose however I want to.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I'll revise that. "By grace are you saved." That means that the best way one way we can help people enter God's kingdom is to be a channel for His grace.

Beg to differ. Atheists do not believe in God, son or his kingdom, or in so-called messengers presumed to be sent by him.

 

[Niatero]

Beg to differ. Atheists do not believe in God, son or his kingdom, or in so-called messengers presumed to be sent by him.

I wasn't saying that to you. I was saying it to Kathryn. Well, the first time I was saying it to Kathryn. I'll fix that. Thanks.

 

[Vinayaka]

Are there things that you might tell me to correct misconceptions if you thought I would retain it? If so, do you have any ideas about how I could retain it?

Would it be things for example like people incorporating Hinduism into their beliefs by calling Krishna a Manifestation of God?

Incidentally, I'm not saying any more that I have faith in the first teachers, or central teachers, of some religions. I gave up searching for a qualifier. Now I'm just saying "some teachers," meaning some of the characters in the stories, fictional or not. That's one thing I learned from a conversation with you. For Hinduism I might say avatars, but I'm not sure of that, so I'll just say "some teachers" that I pick and choose however I want to.

I have no idea if you hold any misconceptions about Hinduism, as you haven't said much about it. The part about Krishna being called a manifestation of God was one of the things I was referring to, though, as an idea that needed to be corrected. It's a belief for Baha'i, but they were also insinuating it was a belief for Hindus too.

The main general misconception I object to is looking at Hinduism through an outsider's lens. That's where things go wrong, as it's an experiential religion, so without experiences in it, what can you say. Book 'knowledge'? Other peoples' words.

I'm happy to hear you've changed your opinions on some things from your dialogues.

 

[Dawnofhope]

NOTE: I intentionally posted this in the Interfaith forum, which I thought was a non-debate forum.

I’ll be inviting people here to ask them questions about their faith, not as representatives of their religion or other association, but about how they think about it personally and try to practice it. I have some specific people in mind, but if anyone would like to volunteer for it, I’m interested.

(later) It doesn’t have to be a religious faith. It can be any way of life a person believes in and tries to practice.

Thanks for inviting me to speak about my faith.

My faith (Baha'i) is about service to the community through my professional life. It appears to me to be at the core of any religion or altruistic philosophy.

 

[Niatero]

Thanks for inviting me to speak about my faith.

My faith (Baha'i) is about service to the community through my professional life. It appears to me to be at the core of any religion or altruistic philosophy.

Thank you. Service to the community through your professional life. Are you thinking of the saying "work is worship"? I wouldn't think your service would be only through your professional life.

One of the questions I've been asking is, do you have any ideas about what inspires and motivates you to want to serve the community?

 

[Dawnofhope]

Thank you. Service to the community through your professional life. Are you thinking of the saying "work is worship"? I wouldn't think your service would be only through your professional life.

One of the questions I've been asking is, do you have any ideas about what inspires and motivates you to want to serve the community?

Service or meeting the needs of others or the community is part of every sphere of life though I tend to be somewhat of a workaholic these days. Faith helps move from being self-centred to less self-centered.

Saying 'work is worship' feels somewhat like a slogan, but seeing work or service to the community for the right reasons is part of what being a Baha'i means to me.

 

[Niatero]

Service or meeting the needs of others or the community is part of every sphere of life though I tend to be somewhat of a workaholic these days. Faith helps move from being self-centred to less self-centered.

Saying 'work is worship' feels somewhat like a slogan, but seeing work or service to the community for the right reasons is part of what being a Baha'i means to me.

Thank you. Another question that I've been asking is, how has your faith evolved over the years, how you think about it and how you practice it? Was there a beginning to your faith? If so, how did that happen?