Why you do/don't believe

uh oh....

someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed....


...again..

 

you know i could edit my post right now and make you look like a real dumbass. lol.

 

when i was a wee tot, two books influenced me

one was a collection of scientific discoveries throughout history

the other was the bible

one book was intelligent, reasonable, and opened my eyes to the wonders of the world around me

the other was a bunch of bizarre fairy tales and bloody histories of people i would want to avoid at all costs

i am no longer an atheist, as i was when i was 10

but i still think the bible should not be read by children

[or believed by adults]

 

there aren't enough whys for the wise.

nothing is obliged to resemble what anyone wants to pretend to know about it.

that doesn't exclude anything anymore then it requires it.

there are almost certainly more and more wonderful things then any of us could possibly imagine, even big friendly invisible unknowns, nontangable spirit unknowns, like what people have invented names like god for.

but when people threaten each other over what they tell themselves, what they speculate about these things, their really blinding themselves to the love and wonder of them, of what and how they might actually be.

the biggest athiest is a smaller threat to any belief, then the smallest fanatic of that belief itself.

likewise, whatever is out there, whatever loves us and wishes us well, why hide ourselves from that love, by adimantly imposing our own speculations, those of our fellow limited mortal other and own selves?

i'm not addressing this specifically or only at christianity. i only replied to this thread thinking it was in the general area of all beliefs.

that the question of why beleive WHAT YOU DO, was being addressed to all believers and disbelievers in everything and anything.

it is in that context that my response above was and is intended. a context that INCLUDES christianity certainly, but is by no means limited to it.

=^^=
.../\...

 

I have my own idea system that pushes me to be a good person. This is sometimes defined by the moral code of a religion, or society and sometimes the actions come from my own personal understanding of good.

I like this alot.
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 3)
Blessed are the meek: for they shall posses the land. (Verse 4)
Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Verse 5)
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. (Verse 6)
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Verse 7)
Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. (Verse 8)
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Verse 9)
Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 10)

and this:
Go placidly amid the noise and haste, & remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly & clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud & agressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain & bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your acheivements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many people strive for high ideals; and everywhere the world is full of heroism.
Be yourself, Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of Spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Beyond a wholesome disipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees & the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you the, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors & aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be Happy.

and this:
• The First Insight... A Critical Mass
A new spiritual awakening is occurring in human culture; an awakening brought about by a critical mass of individuals who experience their lives as a spiritual unfolding, a journey in which we are led forward by mysterious coincidences.
• The Second Insight... The Longer Now
This awakening represents the creation of a new, more complete worldview, which replaces a five-hundred-year-old preoccupation with secular survival and comfort. While this technological preoccupation was an important step, our awakening to life's coincidences is opening us up to the real purpose of human life on this planet, and the real nature of our universe.
• The Third Insight... A Matter of Energy
We now experience that we live not in a material universe, but in a universe of dynamic energy. Everything extant is a field of sacred energy that we can sense and intuit. Moreover, we humans can project our energy by focusing our attention in the desired direction, in that where attention goes, energy flows, influencing other energy systems and increasing the pace of coincidences in our lives. It is possible to see this energy enveloping all living things.
• The Fourth Insight... The Struggle For Power
To gain energy, we tend to manipulate or force others to give us attention and thus energy. When we successfully dominate others in this way, we feel more powerful, but they are left weakened and often fight back. Competition for scarce, human energy is the cause of all conflict between people.
• The Fifth Insight... The Message of the Mystics
Insecurity and violence ends when we experience an inner connection with divine energy within, a connection described by mystics of all traditions. A sense of lightness or buoyancy along with the constant sensation of love are measures of this connection. If these measures are present, the connection is real. If not, it is only pretended.
• The Sixth Insight... Clearing the Past
The more we stay connected, the more we are acutely aware of those times when we lose connection, usually when we are under stress. In these times, we can see our own particular way of stealing energy from others. Once our manipulations are brought to personal awareness, our connection becomes more constant and we can discover our own evolutionary path in life, and our spiritual mission, which is the personal way we can contribute to the world.
Here the four main "control dramas"—the Interrogator, the Intimidator, the Aloof and the Poor Me—are discussed. Each person unconsciously prefers one of these four to suck energy out of others (as described in the Fourth Insight). A way of getting these under control is disclosed.
• The Seventh Insight... Engaging the Flow
Knowing our personal mission further enhances the flow of mysterious coincidences as we are guided toward our destinies. First we have a question; then dreams, daydreams, and intuitions lead us towards the answers, which usually are synchronistically provided by the wisdom of another human being.
• The Eighth Insight... The Interpersonal Ethic
We can increase the frequency of guiding coincidences by uplifting every person that comes into our lives. Care must be taken not to lose our inner connection when we have become part of romantic relationships. Uplifting others is especially effective in groups wherein each member can feel energy of all the others. With children it is extremely important for their early security and growth. By seeing the beauty in every face, we lift others into their wisest self, and increase the chances of hearing a synchronistic message.
• The Ninth Insight... The Emerging Culture
As we all evolve toward the best completion of our spiritual missions, the technological means of survival will be fully automated as humans focus instead on synchronistic growth. Such growth will move humans into higher energy states, ultimately transforming our bodies into spiritual form and uniting this dimension of existence with the after-life dimension, ending the cycle of birth and death.

Alot of these writings are beautiful ideas. And sometimes I think they all might be a good path. But I do not close my eyes to other paths.

“I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig, you get dirty; and besides, the pig likes it.” ~Shaw

 

are we being serious still?

damn fedup ease up bro.
isn't a big deal.

 

I dont exactly have the means with which to share my reason for knowing God but I can calmly state that I know Her without any hesitation. If I were to try and explain Fedup's question of How? I would say that I've seen Her, felt Her, tasted Her, etc but beyond all of the physical sensations, I've known Her in a way that will never be expressable. Painting pictures in a person's mind with words is one thing, knowing God is personal and can only be shared by actions with no selfish intention on the part of the actor.

 

as an adult

i have had my share of mystical experiences

i have also taken my share of drugs

and have my share of hereditary mental illness

which is why i can go no further than agnostic

[atheists believe too much for my taste]

 

Oh, that's just Fedup. Just ignore him.

 

Note what's been happening here. The thread started out well. People were observing the rules set out by the OP and we were having a civil discussion. Then along came somebody who just can't play by the rules. Instead of sticking to presenting his own views, he's into his usual schtik of attacking others' views. His way or the Highway.

 

Not mine. I don't ever try to push my views on anyone else, and have never said that mine are better than anyone else's, because I don't believe it. The only people I've seen trying to do that are you and your fellow anti-Christians. You take every thread with the same old litany of mindless anti-Christian incantations, and people who are looking for useful discussion get personal attacks and cuss words instead.

 

I am a true polytheist....i believe in many deities, many supernatural beings, a world full of spirits and a manifest reality that is many layered and beyond time.