Perhaps You Could Help..., Would love to hear opinions!

I s'pose I'm not surprised. I'll have to get my wife to try this. She's a devout Jehova's Witness. Now quit laughing. We have surprisingly few conflicts. She tolerates my beliefs just as I tolerate hers.

Swanny


1. Neo-Pagan (100%)
2. Mahayana Buddhism (95%)
3. Unitarian Universalism (86%)
4. Hinduism (85%)
5. Bahá'í Faith (83%)
6. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (78%)
7. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (77%)
8. Liberal Quakers (74%)
9. New Age (70%)
10. New Thought (68%)
11. Jainism (67%)
12. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (65%)
13. Theravada Buddhism (64%)
14. Taoism (63%)
15. Sikhism (60%)
16. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (52%)
17. Scientology (50%)
18. Orthodox Quaker (49%)
19. Reform Judaism (48%)
20. Secular Humanism (42%)
21. Orthodox Judaism (41%)
22. Jehovah's Witness (40%)
23. Eastern Orthodox (32%)
24. Islam (32%)
25. Roman Catholic (32%)
26. Nontheist (30%)
27. Seventh Day Adventist (21%)

I guess it wasn't that off. I'm no Quaker, but I would consider myself a Liberal Christian Protestant. Still hold true to the beliefs. As far as issues like homosexuality, drugs n' alcohol, Bible thumping, I'd have to say I deviate from the norm though. I guess you can call me an open minded Christian. We're not the stereotype.

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Lady of the River,
It is good that we can speak openly and question openly in here. It is good that we can say what we believe without intent of offending and expect wise responses. I would advise you to first determine which book you believe to be the most accurate and speak with different people concerning this also read multiple peices of information on this. I was not raised a Christian. I too doubted His existence or abilities. It is made even more confusing when you have multiple people giving you what they call truths but they all sound so different. Much of the truth is found in many religions today, but there is a root truth and you must dig deeply to get to the root of that old oak tree. His roots are deep and they are strong. They are the foundation for all other religions. It is good that you question and are not lead along blindly, only remember to search for the truth asking for wisdom even if you are not sure where the wisdom comes from it will come to you if you seek with a pure heart. God is not bound by human limitations. We as humans use 10% of our mental capacity. We were made in the image of God not as God himself. He can and does hear each and everyone of us and knows our hearts. But don't let me tell you to seek Him. I want you to seek for truth and in so doing you will most likely find Him.
Seek and ye shall find.

Well said myriad, well said.

Myriad, thy words carry the solid ring of truth. Seek the wisdom, seek the truth, and beware the falshoods of the darkened youth

Lady of the River,
I hope your truth seeking journey is going well.

hehehe, well it Taged me right on. 100% Pagan and loving it.
Guess I did a complete turn around from being a Mormon and christian.....go figure ...heh
Angel

Lady of the River

I can understand having a difficulty with this concept. As humans we are finite beings and the concept of an all powerful God kind of blows our minds.

If you accept a beginning to creation, you have to accept that there was a beginner (regardless of what you think that beginner was) If you accept it as a being then the concept of this being (God) as all Powerful (when you consider the scope of the universe) and all knowing, plus all present (able to be anywhere at once and multi task like crazy) perhaps the ability to do all this would become more comprehendable.

After looking at the evidence for our existence being happenstance and arriving at the conclusion that there had to be a plan and design for life and the universe. I had to accept a designer. (much longer involved story than this but I know you don't have all day )

Accepting a designer was the beginning of accepting everything else. It didn't happen over night and I will always have difficulty with certain aspects simple becase of the infinite nature of it all.

Just my POV

Peace

Mikel

At 14 you should be questioning a lot of things! Spirituality is what one feels inside and I do not believe anyone is wrong................well, I believe one belief system is wrong but that is because of where I live and the people I've lived around and had to work with. But other than that, to each his own. I am a Christian, studying Wicca at the moment -- curious and my brother is Budhist. My sis-in-law is Bahai. My dad is "a Mason and a Shriner." So, what is right for you must be right, as long as you do not hurt others.

And that's my 2 cents worth.

Let me stereotype you then. You are a thoughtful, caring human being! Now how do you like THAT pigeon hole?

At 14 you should be questioning a lot of things! Spirituality is what one feels inside and I do not believe anyone is wrong................well, I believe one belief system is wrong but that is because of where I live and the people I've lived around and had to work with. But other than that, to each his own. I am a Christian, studying Wicca at the moment -- curious and my brother is Budhist. My sis-in-law is Bahai. My dad is "a Mason and a Shriner." So, what is right for you must be right, as long as you do not hurt others.

And that's my 2 cents worth.

Those of us who actively work at seeking truth, either inside or outside of our organized religious group are fostering the one truely critical element: a seeking spirit. As long as we keep that alive we have hope. As long as we have hope, we have life and a chance to develop our character and horizons.

I am a 20+ year Buddhist (Soka Gakkai). I started life as a Mormon and developed a critical flaw at age 10, that drove me away from that belief system: I started to think and question. It was not allowed, so I bailed. I studied many of the other traditions before settling on Buddhism. There is much truth and value in most of them. I settled on Buddhism because of the focus on taking responsibility for our own lives and taking posative action to develop our life and do what is called "human revolution". Real time results from practicing an active life philosophy appealed strongly to me. Too many of the other traditions I studied were passive, relying on a "professional cleric" to spoon feed beliefs and thoughts. There is a built in conflict of interest there.

That said, I honor anybody who promotes that seeking spirit in their life, whatever direction they go with it.

Wow!!! I am impressed! You are so very profound! Seriously! We think a great deal alike considering we are related. You are a remarkable man..........with a thinking, working brain.

I deeply agree that as long as we are seeking we are thinking and therefore living and have hope. Glad the only guide I follow is the Great Almighty and I look to you for advice. Seriously!

From an "Old GUY" Throw religion Out the Window. Go for a Personal Relationship with God. Worshipping with other believers is a good thing. And the very best thing is learning about a God who cares about YOU as you are period warts and all. You dont have to "get right" to approach God. God will "make you right"