I had begun with the topic of the human body but...I am thinking that I really need and want to talk about spirituality right now.
Let's start with beliefs...I am very curious.
What do you believe?
1. Do you believe there is a God?
2. Do you believe there is a heaven?
3. Do you believe there is a hell?
4. Do you meditate or pray?
5. What belief most sustains you...helps you through challenging times?
I am not a religious person myself...but I am spiritual. I am finding myself wanting to learn more about this side to me.
Come sit a spell and shoot the breeze. Sweeten the day with a little synchronicity...
22 comments:
I meditate. Sometimes I talk to God, mostly I meditate.
I say I am spiritual rather than religious. It is very private for me, centering on tolerance, understanding, mostly love.
Religion often seems to be the reason behind war, and I don't understand that.
I like the Eastern religions - Buddhism, Taoism - because they teach life more than rituals.
Because I have spent time in meditation & prayer, I have come to the following conclusion;
Saying the word, "God" is, for me, like trying to sum up the history of the universe in one word. I only use it so that we can have this kind of discussions. My concept of God is beyond words. So in answer to question one I guess, its yes.
I don't believe in heaven and hell in the same sense that we have come to understand through Christianity. So, no!
Belief does not sustain me at all.
Awareness usurps belief. All men through the ages have read from the holy scriptures, texts and sutras and have found differing truths; hence the need for different denominations, sexts and world religions.
Believing in something read or heard is never equal to that still small voice of knowing that can come from plain awareness.
Remember the simplicity of, One Day at a Time?
Try it moment by moment
I sincerely believe that there is a living and true God as mentioned in the Bible. God is real to me as I experience His goodness and mercies to me in many ways especially in my struggles with bipolar disorder.
Before my diagnosis, I have gone through about 10 or 11 severe depression episodes each lasting some 3 to 6 months or sometimes longer. It is the belief in God that keeps me going day by day. Though I couldn't feel God's presence with me during those time because depression caused my thoughts and feelings to be flat or distorted, God did showed me much kindness through the people around me. During severe depressive episodes, I was often suicidal. I wish God will take me home to be with Him. I have no fear of death, because the Bible tells us that if we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord, His precious blood cleanse us from our sins and when we leave this world, we shall be with God in paradise (heaven). So, yes, I believe in heaven and hell, because the Bible says so.
Whenever I am better or well, I know that God sustains and preserved me. I found much encouragement and strength through prayers and reading of God's Words ie Bible. God assures me through some verses in the Bible that He cares for me and is working all things for His glory and my good. I am drawn nearer to God through my darkest days and most painful experiences when no one can understand or help me. I throw myself completely upon God and found consolation and comfort in His love. I know that nothing in this world will last forever. No human love or friendship, no possession, fame or success will lasts forever. But my relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ will last for eternity. One day I will be with Him to enjoy my eternal rest and communion with Him. Meanwhile, I look to Him for strength and grace to run my race here until the day He calls me home.
Sorry for this long post! This is very much a matter in my heart and I love to talk about it. You can read more of my experiences of God's goodness and mercies to me on my blog. Take care!
I don't pretend to know what is on the other side of the door. I don't understand how some people are so sure of all the details.
I just have a feeling that there is something and that something is good. God in the abstract.
Nice set of questions!
My answers: I believe there is some kind of guiding force, but it’s not the God the priests and nuns told me about when I was a kid (the bearded guy in the sky controlling everything).
Heaven and Hell – don’t know; I live my life as if this is all there is and I better be the best person I can be simply because it’s the right thing to do. If it turns out there IS a heaven, that attitude should get me in.
My belief in the basic goodness of humanity and the positive side of the guiding force gets me through challenging times. I strongly believe that I can figure out acceptable solutions to most problems I encounter.
I am also more spiritual than religious and in those times when I feel the need for an organized version of all of this, I lean toward Unitarian Universalist congregations. Each is unique, but most provide a great home for making the search for one’s own individual spirituality.
1 - Yes. It appears to be the most logical answer. Since all physical phemonema need a first cause, I think an eternal creator makes more sense than inanimate matter somehow springing to life of its own accord.
2 - Yes, an afterlife, in any case. It may not be wings and harps, but I'm sure it's there. My personal belief is in Jesus Christ as my savior, so I believe in a nice place.
3 - The bad place? I think it probably exists, but I think it may be less-populated than some believe.
4 - I pray often. Usually, it is to say "Thanks", which I believe is about the best prayer there is. I'll ask for intercession on behalf of friends going through particularly tough times. I believe that God hears our prayers, but will not always grant what we desire. More detail in #5.
5 - Everything gets better eventually, and all things - even when seen as disasters when they happen - eventually work for the common good. That's a hard one to swallow when you've been hit with some horrible personal trial, but I've always found it to be rock-solid truth in my own life. Believing as I do in Jesus Christ and in an afterlife, even death - the ultimate personal tragedy - results in something better.
Others mileage may vary, but all of the above sure keeps me happy the majority of the time.
1. Do you believe there is a God? Yes, I believe in God who created me as well as saved me.
2. Do you believe there is a heaven? Yes, I do. Christ through His death and resurrection, every legal hindrance has been met and satisfied. There is nothing that can keep me from the promise. Hebrews 9:15 "For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant."
3. Do you believe there is a hell? Yes, I do. I believe that without Christ through the Holy Spirit, we are nothing except worthy of going through the WIDE GATE of hell because of sins we have inherited from Adam. The very first "sinner" that went to hell was Lucifer (now Satan) and in my view, Lucifer (Satan) is the grandfather of sins.
4. Do you meditate or pray? Majority of my prayers are through my heart and mind than my mouth. Humility is putting God first in our prayers while pride is putting God last in our prayers. To me, all prayers are formal coming from my heart. There is "NO" wrong way to pray since prayer is spiritual from the heart. That's between God and the believer who worship. Jeremiah 17:10 "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve." One thing we have to remember is that prayer basically means “transferring my “will” to God’s will”.
5. What belief most sustains you...helps you through challenging times? This is one of my main topics in my blog. God has given me His grace to cope with my sufferings through the sources of "thorns" which are weaknesses, insults, distresses, persecutions and difficulties in this life. God's providences in my life were my "wake-up calls" as well as making me a better Christian. I realized that when I am trying to understand why He is doing this, my life is more peaceful and more enjoyable. Even though God will not take away my problems but He always been there for me when I am facing problems.
I live my life as a moral person. I do not believe all the books written by men and then used to control the masses.
The religious formula has been done over and over again by many faiths.
Beyond that I do not know. Kindness and honesty are their own rewards.
I believe in something - a convenient shorthand is God but my God isn't like any religions version of God - not that I'm aware of anyway. (side bar note - in AA some people use God as a a shorthand for Group of drunks, or Good orderly direction - I like that one).
No I don't believe in a heaven.
No I don't believe there is a hell.
Yes I do but in my own quirky way given my God is quite a bit home grown again my stuff is quite unconventional.
My belief - that nothing is so bad I can't get through it, others get through the most terrible stuff so I draw on their experience and strength, that is my "God" the shared experience and wisdom of others to show me whatever I have I can get through it with dignity, with integrity and learn through it
1. a God of my understanding
2. I'd like to
3. For many it's here on earth. Religious people believe there is a hell; spiritual people have been there.
4. Indeed I do. There are no atheists in foxholes.
5. The belief that I'm not alone. I may be alone, but I don't choose to believe it.
There's my spirituality in a nutshell, dear.
I believe in numbers 1 thru 4. Praying and faith has gotten me through many a tough time.
1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes
5. I guess the belief that gets me through hard times is the fact that things always change. When life gets crappy it can't stay that way forever (unless you choose it to be that way). Time passes. Change is a constant.
thank you so much for your very heartfelt and well articulated answers! i am so happy that i can discuss such a subject here. you guys are great.
1. Do you believe there is a God? - Yes. Evolution take too much faith.
2. Do you believe there is a heaven? - Yes
3. Do you believe there is a hell? - Yes
4. Do you meditate or pray? - Not really.
5. What belief most sustains you...helps you through challenging times? - “Do to others as you would have done to you.”
Let's start with beliefs...I am very curious.
What do you believe?
1. Do you believe there is a God?
YES
2. Do you believe there is a heaven?
NO
3. Do you believe there is a hell?
NO
4. Do you meditate or pray?
Both. Prayer is for thanks, mediation is for calm and introspection.
5. What belief most sustains you...helps you through challenging times?
This one is hard. I will have to get back to you.
Seems like we are both on religion ;)
Although I was raised going to church, praying, singing, reading the bible, memorizing complete chapters (and some books) of the bible (that's a whole nother story), attending revivals and such, I currently do not fit into any one belief system or denomination. My mother was raised Assembly of God and my father Methodist. They married and decided that Nazarene was a good compromise - that's where my foundation comes from - but our family for various reasons migrated to a Southern Baptist church - that's where my brother's foundation was set. Several of my family members do not agree with my deeply-felt thoughts and beliefs when it comes to God and spirituality.
I believe in God which is a force beyond description. I believe that God chooses an infinite number of ways to reveal himself and speak to the great variety of beings on this planet. So I guess that makes me more spiritual and less dogmatically religious.
I believe in souls and spirits, including the Great Holy Spirit who has spoken to my heart. I believe in some type of spiritual life beyond our physical lives. I believe that my grandmother's spirit visited me the morning she died while I was sleeping and laughed at me for asking to sleep a little longer before talking with her.
I believe in Angels, seen and unseen. I've felt an angel's hug and comfort when I was terribly distressed once. I felt wrapped in a being who held me until I had released my anger and grief (unrelated to MS.)
I believe that each being has a special place and purpose in this life. Some may know exactly what that is and others may be lead on their path by listening to the voice in their heart which is placed there by God. This voice is also where my prayers and medications come from.
I also believe that no humans have to capacity to truly comprehend God and the vastness of everything. A little sliver of one verse which reassures me during times of doubt or disbelief is that "all things are possible."
I may not understand all the details in how God guides my life, but I do have a strong faith that my life is guided by a force beyond my comprehension. And since God chose to place me in this life and to reveal himself through the teachings of a Christian church and the Holy Bible, I do believe in Christ.
ya know...i love when we have discussions here on my blog because you all give so much. again...thank you. i am really enjoying reading your thoughts.
My two bits? I don't believe in God or any sort of supreme potentate, so that in itself sort of rules out the reward/punishment phase of the game. *s* I meditate, I think. I sit for as long as I can and let the dust settle so I can take out my soul (raised Catholic, so I still use the word *s*) and take it apart and clean it up, repair the dings and such, make sure it's oiled good and stick it back in place. I do this as often as I can. The calm I can generate during those times seems to flow out into the rest of my life, ripples from the stone tossed in the pond, and that gives me comfort. We don't need guilt and fear of punishment to be 'good,' we need a deep and persevering sense of responsibility.
Thank you for the forum!
I believe there is something after death. I believe everyone has the right to believe as they wish without judgements from others, as long as they do not hurt others. I KNOW there ARE atheists in foxholes. I know there are many hypocrites who say they cherish their God, yet act against their God's teachings. I believe people who kill because their God says it is the right thing to do, are fools and dangerous sheep. I believe any heaven and hell are here on earth within each of us. I believe many people use God as an excuse to be hateful. I believe Jesus walked this earth. I believe dinosaurs existed. I think Darwin was flawed in his theory, but no more so than any Pope, Rabbi, or Matthew, Mark, Luke,and John. I have been visited by spirits of dead people and animals. I believe I may have lived before in another body. I believe our brains hold many answers to our questions. I believe in science and the power of love to heal, and change souls. I believe in souls. I belive our purpose is to love, to make ourselves and those we meet/know of--better people who love more and give more and sacrifice more. My mind meditates every day, my soul takes flight every day, even as my feet are firmly on the ground. I am any religion that does not exclude. I mean what I say and I say what I mean. Why did Jesus not laugh more? Why does God never mention dinosaurs in the Bible? In the Koran? He just wasn't that into them? :-)
1. With no doubt!
2. Yes and I hope to be there wearing a crown.
3. Yes! and I want no part of it!
4. Often! anytime anyplace!
5. The belief I will answer for my actions, The good and the BAD! Also, my blessing.
6. When all else fails ----- whiskey on sale every other week!
Why does God never mention dinosaurs in the Bible? In the Koran? He just wasn't that into them? :-)
LOL
The existence of dinosaurs was not known until the 1800's.
Sure, people knew of large bones, but no one could make sense of the whole business until relatively recently. And the Bible was written by...people (or so I believe).
I like Diane's answer. I believe the purpose is to be the best we can to each other here and now, because now is what is important.
Not so that we can get some reward in "heaven" or avoid going to "Hell".
Nope, I do not believe in God...
The concept of heaven was not an original part of the Hebrew belief system. They believed you lived and died and that was it.
Heaven only came about after the book of Daniel when the Israelites had been removed from the Holy Land and resettled elsewhere. They were suffering because of their belief system and questioned the elders as to why they should keep on suffering when everyone else around them was having it so good.
Check it out... True story.
Nope, I don't do the heaven thing either.
Hell? Need I even answer that one? Great deity that says you have free will, but, if you don't accept me you're going to eternal Hell and suffer terrible agony forever.
Nice...
The belief that sustains me?
Eventually I'll die and the suffering will cease...
Post a Comment