Replies to 'An Open Consideration of Reality and Religious Beliefs'
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March 3, 2006, 5:03 pm PST
 Quote From: fredastare In previous posts in other forums there can tend to be what I feel are over zealous perhaps even in your face people with almost rigid criteria for what makes a Christian. Am wrong for feeling sadness and sometimes even anger when they are clearly annoying others with continued 'preaching' so to speak?
In one way I feel truly delighted when someone has found a path that is Good and Loving. Yet there are moments that I question their sincerity of the Love for God. Yet when a few speak of fearing the Lord and really instill the negetive and even frightening aspects found in the Old Testament and the Book Of Revelations, I cringe. I wonder whether it serves the ego, instead of the soul?
I Believe that it is a wise and beautiful thing to 'fear' Our Lord. Not in a trembling and worrisome way of thinking of fire and brimstone, more in the way one fears dissapointing their mom and dad. A healthy fear that keeps in check with our conscience and allows us to live with dignity and pride.
So aside from my annoyance of this behaviour, what is my root cause for feeling this way? My intellect tells me that it may be due to my own dislike of perhaps an inner doubt I may unknowingly have regarding my own Spirituality?
Plus another thing that I am working on is in discerning the Tiger. It is very helpful, and I have met situations in a completely foreign manner from my former ways! Yet there are times that I feel compelled to aid one who I feel is unjustly being treated, and especially if there was no provocation to warrant such treatment.
If you search my posts you may find one I believe yesterday or perhaps the day before. I was growing frustrated for Ploppypop, and Charles & Tracy and others..........and I posted a message. I felt a need to protect Ploppypop and the others, (people I don't really know). I have always carried this trait with me, it's just I'm learning to subdue my feelings of 'right fighting'. Why do I want to help others - not a Saint here, I've been a contemptable sinner, and just wonder why I allow others' anger and affect me?
your thoughts will be appreciated,
Peace I find the "bible thumpers" annoying because they contaminate the teachings of Jesus AND their rigid, rule-oriented religion impedes their own and other people's ablility to see the clear path that God has laid out for us at our feet.
I do not fear God just as I never feared my parents. I loved them and (other than a teen rebellion) making them proud of me has always been my desire. I have made them happy so far and that in return has given me a happy life.
It sounds like your path is clear to you-you will fight the fight for the underdog. If that is what your soul pulls you to do-do it with passion. But don't let yourself forget the example we recieved in the life lived by Jesus and I look at the life lived by Mother Teresa the same way. They give a good example about living your real life with passion and still retaining grace and kindness. |
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March 3, 2006, 5:03 pm PST
Quote From: fredastare In previous posts in other forums there can tend to be what I feel are over zealous perhaps even in your face people with almost rigid criteria for what makes a Christian. Am wrong for feeling sadness and sometimes even anger when they are clearly annoying others with continued 'preaching' so to speak?
In one way I feel truly delighted when someone has found a path that is Good and Loving. Yet there are moments that I question their sincerity of the Love for God. Yet when a few speak of fearing the Lord and really instill the negetive and even frightening aspects found in the Old Testament and the Book Of Revelations, I cringe. I wonder whether it serves the ego, instead of the soul?
I Believe that it is a wise and beautiful thing to 'fear' Our Lord. Not in a trembling and worrisome way of thinking of fire and brimstone, more in the way one fears dissapointing their mom and dad. A healthy fear that keeps in check with our conscience and allows us to live with dignity and pride.
So aside from my annoyance of this behaviour, what is my root cause for feeling this way? My intellect tells me that it may be due to my own dislike of perhaps an inner doubt I may unknowingly have regarding my own Spirituality?
Plus another thing that I am working on is in discerning the Tiger. It is very helpful, and I have met situations in a completely foreign manner from my former ways! Yet there are times that I feel compelled to aid one who I feel is unjustly being treated, and especially if there was no provocation to warrant such treatment.
If you search my posts you may find one I believe yesterday or perhaps the day before. I was growing frustrated for Ploppypop, and Charles & Tracy and others..........and I posted a message. I felt a need to protect Ploppypop and the others, (people I don't really know). I have always carried this trait with me, it's just I'm learning to subdue my feelings of 'right fighting'. Why do I want to help others - not a Saint here, I've been a contemptable sinner, and just wonder why I allow others' anger and affect me?
your thoughts will be appreciated,
Peace Dear Fred, I think there is always resistance to change, and we humans seem to be the worst about that. I see the seeds in my garden and that just can't wait to break through and grow and reproduce and die and become compost so they can come back and do it all over again. I think with the case of Charles and Tracy, the hardest thing for most people to grasp is that he could have loving feelings for both his mistress/friend and wife/life partner at the same time. Not only that, but for him to have the "balls" to come on national television suggesting that there might be another way to deal with the situation, other than the age old "traditional" one; well, you know, he's challenging a tradition that is thousands of years old. So you can expect a considerable amount of resistance. Remember though, how I have said that "resistance" is part of the process here. Each of us has to decide how we are going to respond to that. Nevertheless, I think things are going to continue to change. Hopefully, people will start to feel more free to practice love in a way that is meaningful for them, and maybe that's the better word to use rather than "right" or "appropriate". At least, that's what I'm hoping for and I think Victor Frankl, Nazi concentration camp survivor and author of Man's Search for Meaning might agree. We need to honor each persons search for meaning in their lives and in their relationships. Peace, Turtle Love |
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