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Well.. if this isn't the most backwards question. Me, actually talking about.. experiencing 'faith'? Keep your eyes out for crazy things, pigs flying, hell freezing, etc. As far as religions go I'm some odd combination of catholic (the adjective form), polytheistic, and agnostic. Being raised non-catholic (noun) Christian, before my early teens I'd grown a strong distaste for much of the Bible, the terrible behaviors people use the Bible to justify, 'stereotypical' churches, and pretty much the entire idea of aligning with a religion. Despite my personal opinions on the matter, I've always felt faith & spiritualities (and politics, but that's another story) belonged separate from your assessment of individuals, not influencing relationships or social interactions except when the subject of those interactions was explicitly focused on one of these topics, and to be left within the confines of that discussion after it's finished. For this reason I've had friends of many faiths, our differences having no bearing on how we treated each other, and I have listened to and enjoyed some religious music despite choosing to change my interpretation of their lyrics to speak of life or love rather than God or faith. Though I enjoyed the art and the lyrics, they never reached me in the manner I figure the artists intended, despite appreciating them regardless. Recently songs and bands I've listened to since before I 'lost' or 'gave up' my faith have been inspiring a different reaction from me they never did in the past, even when I was a 'believer'. I love music and it makes me feel warm and happy, a feeling I'm glad to know well. They're starting to make me feel.. differently. None of these articulate the experience accurately, but if you take them all and blur the lines you might have an idea of what I mean. Happy, warm, content, safe, secure, comfortable, peaceful, 'loved' I guess, excitement. There's a different surge of feeling.. it makes me energetic, and very, very confused. Though I appreciate him and many prophets and wise men I'm not even sure I believe Jesus as an individual ever existed (perhaps a composite of an idea of a perfect person). And even if I bypass that I wholly believe there's much more to his story, he would not condone much of the teaching done in his name, nor the actions taken on his behalf. Why is a holy man I'm not even sure is real from religions I definitely disagree with that I've spent much of my life disassociating from creating any reaction at all in me, much less one like this. It doesn't make any sense. Even while I'm experiencing this feeling I'm still actively disagreeing and rejecting the entire idea in my mind. Hell, I'm even someone who has in the past actively discouraged people from having literal interpretations of religions. I engage in debates against (and in favor at times, for the sake of thoughtful and engaging discussions) religions and faith on a not-uncommon basis, with anyone who desires to do so and is willing to agree to not take any of it personally or get emotionally invested in the conversation. The only thought I have explaining this worth mentioning outside my brain is insecurity. Perhaps it is comforting me because I'm vulnerable, and I feel people will accept support systems even if they don't truly agree with them if they are distressed enough. But even this confounds me because I am consciously aware of this phenomenon, though I surely am less than secure at times.. I am lost.
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"Faith is not something to grasp, it is a state to grow into. ~Mohandas Gandhi"
Great quotes Catholic!
(22 Sep '13, 11:26)
ele
I have decided that label no longer fits me "catholic" .So if you want to label me by the dogma that feels best for me right now call me "Jedi".
(23 Sep '13, 03:43)
ursixx
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@snow in this world of division where people are blind cast stone(judge) at each other and are trap under that same stone(judgment).in this world where people praise them self and see other people piece of wood (error) and do not see their own piece of (wood) error how can they ever correct them self? open your eyes to see, lift that stone and you will find me there. properly split that piece of wood and you will find me there. seek the living one that you are. if you keep my saying you will never taste death. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbBmpaDBizA how else does one stop being a dead one and become a living one that can go back above? the flesh is flesh and the spirit is spirit. the flesh profited nothing. Verily verily I tell you one needs to be born again of water and the spirit. Let there be light, be the light that you can be, experience and enjoy. |
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If youf christian faith crumbled, there is nothing to worry. I will help you to have a universal concept! Even Jesus was only confirming the Eastern Wisdom, which is universal. Bhagavat Gita is the part of Mahabharata, the great Indian Epic, which symbolically picturizes ancient great wisdom. Hinduism is originally called Sanatana Dharma (Eternal Religion, which is defined as “taking delight in the welfare of all”—Gita 12:4, 20) which has no founder, as in the case of other religions. Even the name of the writer of Mahabharata is symbolic, Vyas, literally diameter of a circle, which implies if universe had a diameter personified, what his vision would be, that is what Mahabharata and its essence Gita are. Interestingly, the major truths Jesus declared were only a confirmation of those found in Gita. 1) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mathew 5:3) Those who have no sense of possession in their hearts feel attached to nothing but God; they have no impure motive in dealing with others as they view everyone as child of God; hence have purity (Mathew 5:8), which in turn produces peace (Mathew 5:9), and both of which make one contented. (Mathew 6:32) These three qualities—PURITY, PEACE and CONTENTMENT—make one feel like being in heaven. The opposite of these three qualities are “lust, anger, and greed” which are said to be “the three gates of Hell.” (Gita 16:21) 2) What is the means to reach this state? Be whole as your Hevenly Father is, who sustains both the righteous and the unrighteous. (Mathew 5:44-48; Gita 5:29) In other words, “Take delight in the welfare of all.”—Gita 12:4, 20. 3) God does neither save nor punish anyone: “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Mathew 7:2; 23:12; Mark 4:24) (Gita 2:47;3:27; 5:14, 15; 9:8, 10) 4) Hence God has not chosen any religion as exclusively belonging to Him. (Mathew 7:12, 21-23; 21:43) (Gita chapter 12; 18:53, 54, 66) Hence, God does not force anyone to take a course of righteousness. Instead, He only arranges a conducive environment (Heaven on earth) for the righteous, and PERMITS the egoistic to bring in hell on earth, which apears when humans gradually forget their divine nature. When humans forget they are children of God, and turn materialistic, their changed perceptions and fragmented minds bring in separation and self-importance [desire to add, lust, anger, greed, conflict] and lack of peace. Thus the heaven on earth becomes a hell on earth—AT MAN’S WILL and CHOICE. When the unrighteousness reaches its climax, God destroyes the hell on earth, and brings in heaven on earth again.—Daniel 2:44; Gita 4:7. Jesus said the present Age will be followed by a better Age (Mathew 12:32) Gita says Ages repeat like DAY and NIGHT; and sages call one cycle as one Kalpa. Though there are various calculations about the duration of a Kalpa, one of them puts it as 5000 years. [Calculations of lakhs of years do not make sense, because Last Days with increasing pollution—environmental and moral, and increasing stock-piles of weapons of mass destruction will, of necessity, be shorter in duration] That means first half of Kalpa (2500 years) called Heaven/DAY is reserved for the righteous, and the second half of Kalpa (2500 years) called Hell/NIGHT is reserved for the forgetful. Cycle repeats at man’s will—God brings in Heaven on earth, and man slowly transforms it into Hell on earth. This cycle will repeat so long as man swings between remembrance of his REAL divine nature and forgetfulness of his REAL divine nature! This is why most of the religions have the concept of Trinity, which symbolically points to the three main roles of GOD—Generation, Operation and Destruction! God generates/creates Heaven on earth, operates/maintains His own residence (Heaven above), and destroyes the heaven-turned Hell on earth! This is what most of the religions/cultures allude when they say there was a time when things were like a paradise on earth, then it was deteriorated into hell, at man’s will, like the one we find ourselves in today! Interestingly, this truth, found in the scriptures, is also found hidden in certain words of some languages. Suppose, all the patients who were cured by Doctors were asked to coin a word for CURE; and they coined COMEDOCTOR for it! Because for them coming of doctor to them means cure for their diseases. Similarly, aaram, the Sanskrit [also in Hindi, Urdu and Persian] word for rest, ease, quiet, comfort, is a combination of two words (Aa = come, and Ram = God), thus implies the world will become a Heaven, only when God comes, or rules the earth! And the worthy ones (those who have purity, peace and contentment) will have the appropriate inheritance (asti), hence are called aastik, which is translated as theist; and the unworthy ones (those who did not bother to manifest those qualities) will have no inheritance (na asti), hence are called nastik, which is translated as atheist! Hence in Sanskrit, nastik means one who does not have an inheritance in the first part of Kalpa, but find himself in the second half of the Kalpa (also called NIGHT) “where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth,” as the real rulers will be “LUST, ANGER and GREED” (Mathew 8:12; Gita 16:21) Hence, theists or atheists have nothing to do with belief in God, but do have to do with whether they have the above qualites or not! Hence Jesus could say: “I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”–Mathew 8:11, 12; compare also Mathew 21:43. @t d Joseph it is not about only feeling like being in heaven. the living one the pure of heart really see god above and the peace makers become sons of God and are admitted in the kingdom of God as little pearl of great value. the kingdom of God is spread below on the earth and people do not see it. the kingdom of God is made of light of the living one. since people are in division and see only the outside the flesh they are in darkness and do not see the living one. they need to be born again-
(23 Sep '13, 07:49)
white tiger
of water and spirit when the 2 become one with out fear they can cross the last door and go back above. a little child of seven day just told you this so that you find the place of life. is my word not worthy? the dead are not alive and the living will not die. Let there be light, be the light that you can be, experience and enjoy.
(23 Sep '13, 07:52)
white tiger
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Because you've grown spiritually & you wish to explore and experience for yourself.
..and as @White Tiger says -
..he's a very wise man our White Tiger.......
link
This answer is marked "community wiki".
you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.
(26 Sep '13, 08:12)
white tiger
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Guess I'll always be Catholic (adjective) ..
Several days ago I posted this: http://www.inwardquest.com/questions/79767/my-christian-beliefs-crumbled-down-can-one-outgrow-the-teachings-of-the-bible. Reading your post, I just realized, I am liberated.
Indeed Romel, I was very interested in your question and even commented on it awhile back. That is part of why I intentionally phrased the title similarly, because I somewhat likened my situation to yours in reverse. Thanks for including the link. =)