Religiously speaking, I don't know what I am. I was raised Roman Catholic but started questioning what had been shoved down my throat later in my teens. I had deep conversations with people about the world and I felt more alive, more awakened than I had ever in my life. While I was in the Army I again had a Catholic awakening and thought I would get out of the Army and go into the convent - yeah, me a Nun - NOT. By the time I was about 25ish I didn't believe in any organized religion, I was feeling controlled. Unfortunately my children did not benefit from any form of religion except the "Be a Good Person" faith. We sent them to Catholic High School not so much for the faith side but more for the private education side.
I am now at a point in my life that I feel very spiritual but not religious. I believe more in A Course in Miracles, Disappearance of the Universe. These "courses" make sense to me, the belief resonates within me like nothing I've ever felt, faith wise. I always felt like something was missing inside me, there was this nagging feeling of more learning that needed to happen. I'm an infant in my study but my understanding grows more by the hour, I have found my Creator.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Spiritually Thinking...
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12 comments:
Looks like we ended up on the same path. I too am spiritual and not religious. I view churches as a crutch and a business. Some folks just need someone showing them the way. I personally do not.
I've also noticed that church has become entertainment as well. It's as if they are putting on some sort of production to entertain everyone. I don't need this either.
Have a terrific Sunday. :)
I'm glad that you are finding what makes you happy. I have my own brand of spirituality that works for me, and I'm content, too.
I think it is important for everyone to move through life with the knowledge that their thoughts are their own. Life is a rich mixture, almost a carnival of ideas that are showered over us all from the day that we gasp our first breath. It is important to go through life with the knowledge that we are all individual and a one size fits all policy really doesn't work.
The older I get the more I question and I have to say I am not keen on affiliating myself to a power base. My head and my thoughts belong to me and solely to me, which is a good job because there is so much love within me that anyone else could get well and truly lost!
I am intrigued by your experiences--somewhat similar to mine. I have not found what you have found (but I will look into the site you mention). What bothers me most about various religious groups is lack of tolerance and respect for other groups.
MamaFlo,
I went to the website you mention and read some excerpts from the books listed. This author's ideas seem a bit "out there." Visitors in his living room from outer space? Which of these books have you read? What is this man's basic premise? I hope you will write about this in an upcoming post and explain how you understand his philosophy. I value your perspective.
Patricia -
A Course in Miracles is really the starting point in this "thought", Disappearance of the Universe is like going through the Course x 25. The visitors were "Masters" and he likened them to aliens because he didn't understand. This "thought" does not entirely negate traditional thoughts but rather goes many steps further in helping us understand a more spiritual awakening.
Actually my husband has studied and given this "thought" much more time and understanding (he's a very logical thinker if that gives you any further indication).
Because of your background in communication, I think you would find this very intellectual and would make a great deal of sense.
Maybe I will begin talking about this in more detail - thank you for the suggestion.
I have gotten more out of my daily Dalai Lama calendar and his quotations than a lifetime of Catholic masses. I, too, am spiritual and not religious anymore. I refused to force my kids to make their confirmations at age 13 because I truly don't think they understand what they are doing. I knew that I was making the right decision when my son asked me to make his one day. "Why now?" I asked, to which he responded "Because Chris Ward got $200 for his!" Nuff said.
Good luck on your journey.
I am not a very religious person, but I am a very spiritual person. I am quite into esoterism and I think it is a good alternative to churches. In the sense of spiritual well being. Which, of course, many people find in churches.
By the way, your new profile picture is very nice.
I'm going to check this out. I am religious but for the same reasons Sandee mentioned i don't attend church usually. Plus it's often a popularity contest and that's just not what the God I worship is in any way about.
I'm a former seminarian. I found out that priesthood is not my calling. I can serve the Lord in a different way. The church has become disconnected with the world. It has become materialistic in more ways than one. I do not attend church anymore because I have come to realize that it does not practice what it preaches. I have remained faithful in the ways of the Lord and at the end of the day, we all will answer to Him alone.
Dear MamaFlo,
Thanks for the explanation. I will look forward to hearing you explain this in upcoming posts. I consider myself open-minded but very skeptical. It's funny you hearing you describe your childhood reactions to Catholicism because I had similar strange reactions to my childhood upbringing in the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church (which to my mind was extremely anti-Catholic when I was a child). About the time of Kennedy's election, I remember hearing sermons about the dangers of Catholicism and how Catholics were trying to take over the country. Much of this activity soured me permanently on this particular Protestant sect and although my parents forced my continued attendance while I was young, I ran from this church as fast as I could as soon as I was of age. (My sister is still a very devout Lutheran and claims it is much more tolerant sect these days). I would have much more faith in religion if I actually saw evidence of it bringing people together rather than tearing people apart.
This was very interesting. Everyone needs some sort of spirituality. As a devout practicing Catholic I was very curious about what you were discussing, Mama Flo. Like Patricia I am looking forward to reading more.
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