Sand Dancer
Currently catless
I do. I love spirituality.
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Spiritual but not religious
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I do. I love spirituality.
Today we find many diverse religious choices, many non-Christian besides the so-called Christian mostly in name only.
Religious immigration has shifted and changed the religious landscape in both the political and religious institutions.
So, we now have a free-for-all religious landscape or a country that operates as a free-religious market place.
Thus, youth has become disengaged and distrustful of both the political and the religious with this leading to being a spiritual but Not religious person.
In other words, a new style that of being inside of a person instead of being affiliated with a particular religion or belief system.
Perhaps, a social gospel and personal salvation with values up for grabs, leading to religious syncretism, but that's another subject.
I find there is a difference because: pursuit of religion, or the Bible, is about: how to serve God.
Whereas, placing supreme importance on science, but science is Not the teacher of morality; morality to be governed by.
Seems to me that Jesus also understood the desire to be in a sacred place, that would be the temple of his day.
However, Jesus too had his fill with those holier-than-thou religious Pharisees.
Jesus pronounced many ' woes ' upon those false religious leaders and gave his reasons why for those ' woes ' in the 23rd chapter of Matthew.
Jesus too taught there should be ' universal truth ' and he taught that ' religious truth ' is found in Scripture - John 17:17
' inspirational truth to speak of ' can be found at www.jw.org
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Question Everything
We are living in the information age, where all of humanity is sharing their stories, traditions, wisdom, and spiritual insight with one another. It is the age of technology, of scientific discoveries, and unparalleled opportunities to learn and grow. Light, knowledge, and truth are expanding as older mistaken superstitious darkness is pushed from the face of the earth.
I had a special experience in Belize - we were touring the Actun Tunichil Muknal cave, and our Mayan tour guide shared his family's story. His grandparents refused to enter the cave, told our tour guide he would be cursed for it, that he was going against his tradition and dishonoring his ancestors. Despite his upbringing, he was able to break free of those superstitions. As he talked about his families' beliefs, there was no anger or humor - he was very respectful, but also very honest. He knew they had been confined in such a small isolated community for so long, they just did not understand. He was blessed for going into that cave - despite what everyone said - a very good income.
Much of the old generation has been confined in a small isolated community. It is good to honor their love and caring intentions. So very sad when old, false, superstitious and close minded beliefs split apart families, and keep some societies in the dark.
For most, SBNR is not an invitation for "missionary" work. We are not looking for any spiritual groups. We have found our home. We have taken ownership of our own ability to research, and find truth. we do not need to lean on any arms of flesh, for cursed are they who lean on any arms of flesh
no middle men. no borrowed light. freedom, honesty, and the incredible treasure hunt enjoying precious gems from all groups of humanity.
Is that what you think we are to God? If we were some sort of inferior bacteria, then why would God send his most trusted son to redeem us? Do you acknowledge the role of Jesus Christ at all? Do you know why he was sent?
Well, to my way of thinking, if that were true, then we would exhibit no morality or altruism at all....we would be purely instinct-driven like the animals who have no free will (outside of when to eat and drink and procreate) and who have no concept of the future. We alone are created in the image of God, so that our assignment here can be carried out intentionally and with purpose.
Do you understand our purpose here?
Strangely, we can give to God something that he cannot give to himself....our love and loyalty, by obeying his laws and doing so with a willing heart. He cannot force us to love him and he will not use his power to force us to obey him. This life is about testing our willingness to put 'self' to one side and to put God's will first in life. How many are willing to do that?
Tell me...is there one truth or many? As far as I am aware, the truth is the truth and no matter what perspective you view it from, it never alters that truth.
Who created "dogma"? God or man? How can you tell the difference? (Matthew 15:8-9)
I can see the appeal......but what if you're dead wrong? What if there is a God who created all things and he has a plan for planet earth and even the whole universe, stretching into eternity?
What if he is offering us all a place in those plans but we didn't believe him?
"Religion" was absent from God's original purpose for this earth....there was no need for it because all humans were going to serve the one true God here as a united brotherhood for all eternity. There was no book of rules or any difficulties to be experienced.....until humans began to think that they would be better off doing things "their" way......are we better off?.....have we ever been?
We are living in the information age, where all of humanity is sharing their stories, traditions, wisdom, and spiritual insight with one another. It is the age of technology, of scientific discoveries, and unparalleled opportunities to learn and grow. Light, knowledge, and truth are expanding as older mistaken superstitious darkness is pushed from the face of the earth.
I had a special experience in Belize - we were touring the Actun Tunichil Muknal cave, and our Mayan tour guide shared his family's story. His grandparents refused to enter the cave, told our tour guide he would be cursed for it, that he was going against his tradition and dishonoring his ancestors. Despite his upbringing, he was able to break free of those superstitions. As he talked about his families' beliefs, there was no anger or humor - he was very respectful, but also very honest. He knew they had been confined in such a small isolated community for so long, they just did not understand. He was blessed for going into that cave - despite what everyone said - a very good income.
Much of the old generation has been confined in a small isolated community. It is good to honor their love and caring intentions. So very sad when old, false, superstitious and close minded beliefs split apart families, and keep some societies in the dark.
For most, SBNR is not an invitation for "missionary" work. We are not looking for any spiritual groups. We have found our home. We have taken ownership of our own ability to research, and find truth. we do not need to lean on any arms of flesh, for cursed are they who lean on any arms of flesh
Very interesting ^ above ^ and how true. We are truly living in the information age. ( or one person called it that we are in a technocratic age )
This 'age of technology', has made possible rapid Bible translation which is also now being done in remote translation offices so that people can have access to Scripture right where they live and in their own mother tongue or native languages which helps push aside spiritual darkness as never before in history.
To me, truly Matthew 24:14; Acts of the Apostles 1:8 is now international in scope as never before done earth wide in history.
As Jesus also taught we do Not need any arms of flesh to lean on, but we do need Jesus' teachings found in Scripture as religious truth - John 17:17
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Question Everything
Leaning on any book is leaning on arms of flesh. Some beautiful ideas in the Bible, and some horrific ones too. All books are created with arms of flesh. I do not know if Jesus actually existed, or who authored which words in the Bible.
Funny thing with kids, often they will say "mom said you have to...", when mom said nothing of the sort.
Nothing is shown to be true because it is written in a book. Truth is revealed through applying ideas, not reading books.
I've watched a few documentaries on cults - Christian and otherwise. So strange, for all the groups - people crying, filled with spirit, all claiming they know the "truth".... Then the 2nd coming does not happen when predicted - and original texts of leaders like Charles Russell are buried, and new myths are created and new prophets like Rutherford are born... create your own "translation" of the good book to fulfill your own needs, call others corrupt while doing little to clothe the naked...
Keep waiting for armageddon and preaching doom...
The rest of humanity is not anxious for the world to be destroyed, we are celebrating and helping end racism, sexism, child abuse (much within church groups), and all the darkness perpetuated by ignorance of those who claim to know "the truth".
Free speech, free to disagree the elders, free to send leaders to jail for abusing kids, free to talk about unfulfilled predictions...
The righteous are not persecuted... Those who create contention, refuse to serve their country, refuse to allow children medical care, refuse to hold child molesters accountable - this is what brings persecution.
Sorry... you were probably born into it, like everyone else... there are a few who will celebrate their first Christmas this year, get their first gift from Santa. They have a new family now, a loving family that let's them question, and think, and honestly explore. When you are ready to leave, you will not be alone
the new dawn awaits.
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Question Everything
For anyone out there who has left, or is in the process of leaving a religious group - due to receiving further light and knowledge, or through horrible abuse.
If you are trying to hold onto some semblance of spirituality through it all - and many do not - here are a few things to contemplate:
Stages of Faith: James W. Fowler - Wikipedia
See also: The Dark Night of the Soul — Center for Action and Contemplation
If you are trying to hold onto some semblance of spirituality through it all - and many do not - here are a few things to contemplate:
Stages of Faith: James W. Fowler - Wikipedia
See also: The Dark Night of the Soul — Center for Action and Contemplation
Leaning on any book is leaning on arms of flesh. Some beautiful ideas in the Bible, and some horrific ones too. All books are created with arms of flesh. I do not know if Jesus actually existed, or who authored which words in the Bible.
Funny thing with kids, often they will say "mom said you have to...", when mom said nothing of the sort.
Nothing is shown to be true because it is written in a book. Truth is revealed through applying ideas, not reading books.
I've watched a few documentaries on cults - Christian and otherwise. So strange, for all the groups - people crying, filled with spirit, all claiming they know the "truth".... Then the 2nd coming does not happen when predicted - and original texts of leaders like Charles Russell are buried, and new myths are created and new prophets like Rutherford are born... create your own "translation" of the good book to fulfill your own needs, call others corrupt while doing little to clothe the naked...
Keep waiting for armageddon and preaching doom...
The rest of humanity is not anxious for the world to be destroyed, we are celebrating and helping end racism, sexism, child abuse (much within church groups), and all the darkness perpetuated by ignorance of those who claim to know "the truth".
Free speech, free to disagree the elders, free to send leaders to jail for abusing kids, free to talk about unfulfilled predictions...
The righteous are not persecuted... Those who create contention, refuse to serve their country, refuse to allow children medical care, refuse to hold child molesters accountable - this is what brings persecution.
Sorry... you were probably born into it, like everyone else... there are a few who will celebrate their first Christmas this year, get their first gift from Santa. They have a new family now, a loving family that let's them question, and think, and honestly explore. When you are ready to leave, you will not be alone
I can agree a new dawn awaits, and in Scripture it is the coming millennial dawning or Jesus coming 1,000-year governmental reign over Earth.
Yes, if we question and think and honestly explore Christmas we find non-biblical roots as the base of it.
In other words, when we question, think and honestly explore the Christmas story is Not really biblical but a mixture of non-biblical with the biblical.
The' keep waiting for Armageddon' is Not preaching doom because God is going to make wars to cease earth wide - please see Psalms 46:9
Rather, it is man with his doom-and-gloom Doom's Day Clock with its hands set to striking the dark midnight hour for mankind.
Whereas in Scripture, unlike man's rulerships, God has chosen to put Jesus in office as King of God's Kingdom - 1 Corinthians 15:24-26.
Listen or read the morning news and find out about the 'bad news' of men's kingdoms or governments, compare that to the 'good news ' (Not bad news) of God's kingdom ( thy kingdom come...)
Good News such as:
Jesus will subdue enemies - Psalms 110; Isaiah 11:3-4; Rev. 19:14-16
Jesus will usher in global Peace on Earth among persons of goodwill.- Micah 4:3-4; Isaiah 2:4
Jesus will fulfill Rev. 22:2 that there will be ' healing ' for earth's nations. No one will say, " I am sick....." - Isaiah 33:24
Jesus will lead in transforming Earth into a beautiful paradisical Earth as described in Isaiah 35th chapter.
Jesus will bring an end to ' enemy death ' on Earth as mentioned at 1 Corinthians 15:26; Isaiah 25:8
P.S. I own the very old 7 volumes of Studies in the Scriptures written by Charles Taze Russell. They are Not buried but displayed on my bookshelf.
Remember: Proverbs 4:18 because spiritual light grows brighter and brighter with the passing of time. It is Not stuck stagnant.
What dogmas of those faiths do you not agree with?
PureX
Veteran Member
Mostly, anything related to masquerading the pretense of knowledge as faith. And anything masquerading fantasy and knowledge.
What masquerades fantasy and knowledge?
PureX
Veteran Member
When religions confuse their artifice with their mysteries, they tend to masquerade their fantasies as "special" (spiritual) knowledge.
What do you mean artifice with their mysteries? I agree with you that special spiritual knowledge isn't true. Esoterica has nothing to do with living our lives. Mystical stuff is confusion and God is not an author of confusion.
PureX
Veteran Member
We humans have difficulty dealing with the unknown/unknowable. It frightens us, and reminds us of how vulnerable we really are. So we like to invent artifice: images, stories, rituals, and so on as a way of helping us feel less uncomfortable with the great mystery of (our) existence.
Unfortunately, we then have a tendency to confuse our artifice with the mystery, itself, and imagine that we are "figuring it all out". Or worse, that we already have figured it all out. And then we start preaching our BS to everyone else, because the only way for these lies to survive is by propping them up and burying them in more lies, until there is no 'mystery' anymore, and we think we have all the answers.
Organized religion have a strong tendency to fall into this trap.
Billions of people of all cultures are interesting in God because we know we will all die. Our only hope as limited creatures is to somehow get to God. Death is a wall with only one small door that has "God" written on it, and that promises us some light. Because of the depressing reality of life and impeding death, some people seek comfort through religion, hoping that God will open that door if they strive to live a good life. But no good works, praying, self denial, will turn God from punishing us for not following His laws. Ephesians 4: 17-18.
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longerlive as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. People seek God through rituals because their understanding has been darkened.
I agree with you, but I dont agree with organized religion. I believe in having a relationship with God and making God a part of your life.
PureX
Veteran Member
People turn to God for lots of reasons besides fear of death. In fact, fear of life, I think, is the more immediate concern for most of us. And ultimately, it's the fear of our not being in control of our own circumstances. So we turn to that which we feel IS in control. And too often we then try to gain that control through religiosity. For some of us that works, but for many, it only leads to endless and frustrating delusions.
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What do you mean fear of life? We aren't in control of our own circumstances. Ultimately God is in control. We can't gain control because God is in control. God isn't about religion. Religious rituals are people trying to find meaning apart from seeking God, because people want to be their own God. Religion does teach falsehoods, like name it and claim it teachings. God isn't a genie. Believing that God is a genie minimizes who God is.
IndigoChild5559
Loving God and my neighbor as myself.
Where in the world do you get that idea? Religious ritual works hand in hand with seeking God.