First off, New here. This is a great site. Many threads I have seen have great views and arguments. Just reading them has helped me to question and
understand my own beliefs better. This thread in particular, has been both enlightening and entertaining. I wish to thank the OP and everyone else who
has contributed, even if I personally thought you were way off wrong.
While reading I tried to come to up with some profound and enlightened discourse for my first post, but realized that others have done so better. If
not all that they said I agreed with, then in the general, in different posts, may have covered almost all of my perception of the universe.
reply to post by Amagnon
Much of what you say sums up my opinion. Thank you for a well spoken and thought out post.
I believe that 'absolute faith' in what you 'believe' to be an 'absolute truth' only hinders the expansion and growth of technological knowledge
and advancement, as well as the growth, maturation and transcending of petty, intolerant and destructive impulses of then species.
Belief, Religion and Spirituality are all different things, and are found in different magnitudes in every persons perception of "reality".
Belief - When you know, or assume that specific data is valid and correct on an almost automatic level. This is were
Amagnon's
Left-Brained/Right-Brained Filtering affect what data you accept as true facts, and what you see as misguided or propaganda.
Religion - A congregation of people who share common belief. Usually under the 'guidance' of an authority closer to the 'Spiritual Center',
thus with the absolute right to tell you what you can actually believe and expects total and unwavering obedience.
N.B. This is in no way confined to the organizations that proclaim a GOD/GODDESS/BEING OF HIGHER POWER/AWARENESS/TRANS-DIMENSIONAL PLANE TO BE
ATTAINED. All 'atheist' Sciences, all Philosophical and any collection of people, mundane to theological, suffer from a hardening of the traditional
and accepted, making them hidebound and intolerant of any data that deviates one iota. (Look up the meaning of that saying, "One Iota's
difference").
Spirituality - The feeling of harmony, connection with all around you. An inner welling of peace, power and/or clarity of thinking. This may be
false and self-misguiding, but, having experienced it myself many times, and looking at ALL the data, not just parts that back-up my theory, I have to
admit, I have NO idea at all what it really is, but am convinced that there IS something there.
Again this is not connected with any kind of strict belief in a GOD/etc. Though because of the nature of the experience, it does leave one feeling
something higher, more valid, more deeper.
I did the whole Christian thing when I was a child. I was classed as disruptive, argumentative and a trouble maker. Really my behavior was
disgusting. I tried to understand. I truly was interested in finding out how and why. when I questioned what I thought of as complete nonsense, my
querys were intended to help enlighten me, not attack the Sunday School teachers or the Faith. But I was always told that my trying to understand the
bible in any rational way was wrong, EVIL. That one had to just accept that it is true, because "we are telling you it is".
As a baby I would cry when in a Church. At 5, I was Christened. I fought, got loose, made a destructive mess trying to escape, was caught wriggling
out a window. Screamed blue murder as they wetted my head. Felt like it was burning. I still know the difference between normal and Holy water in a
blind test.
I am not an atheist. I tried it, But the belief system was as rigid and illogical as my experience with Christianity. I operated day to day with
automatic reactions based on my Beliefs, but all data is examined, retained and integrated into a sometimes contradictory whole.
[edit on 30-5-2009 by ThunderStone]
