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Post by notca on Feb 17, 2017 22:28:06 GMT -5
What attracts me about Unitarianism is that it DOES accept the existence of a "God".. and one is free to worship that "God" in what ever form one believes.. Whether it's nature, or spiritual. The concept of punishment is not entertained.. There is no Trinity.. Jesus is not considered "god". Hence the name. ONE GOD... not three in one as in Christianity. The 'Blessed Trinity' always bothered me. Christianity drives people away from belief in God by teaching things like God being three entities, the Son sitting at the right hand of God, ....the throne of God, and ...God's hand. Jesus clearly taught that God is a Spirit with no physical form. What Christianity teaches would lead one to think that God is a being who sits on a throne in a kingdom, expects to be praised and worshipped, demand obedience and punishes cruelly those who disobey. Then in the next instance they teach about love and forgiveness and kindness to one's fellow man. None of that makes sense to me. It's contradictory. I know it's hard for humans to think of an omnipotent, omniscient spirit without physical form or to be able to separate in their minds the soul/spirit from the physical body. But the clergy could try to help people to understand it. I wonder if they understand it themselves?
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Post by QuickSilver on Feb 18, 2017 8:36:38 GMT -5
I always have had a problem with PDR.. (Public Display of Religion) I am uncomfortable expressing faith or worship in front of anyone.. even fellow church goers. It just embarrasses me for some reason and I can't explain it. I work for a faith based organization and they pray before every meeting or assembly.. I close my eyes and think about something else..
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Post by notca on Feb 18, 2017 8:50:17 GMT -5
I always have had a problem with PDR.. (Public Display of Religion) I am uncomfortable expressing faith or worship in front of anyone.. even fellow church goers. It just embarrasses me for some reason and I can't explain it. I work for a faith based organization and they pray before every meeting or assembly.. I close my eyes and think about something else.. I agree and I too am uncomfortable with PDR. I feel that if one has the faith, it is between himself and God and there is no need to display it for all to see. I get the feeling that public displays of faith are to make others think they are such GOOD people.
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Post by lilian on Apr 1, 2017 12:01:33 GMT -5
I'd liked to get into Buddhism!
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Post by Warrigal on Apr 5, 2017 23:20:37 GMT -5
I might become a Quaker because they are pacifists and encourage introspection.
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Post by highlandannie on Apr 6, 2017 1:51:25 GMT -5
I think it would be Buddhism. Although, I am not sure about not killing creepy crawlies. But I empathise with the basic tenets of the religion and do not eat meat anyhoo! The nice thing about Buddhism is you don't have to 'join up' and follow the rules. You can just take the practices and teachings that appeal to you. You really only need the 'rules' if you are going to become a monk or nun.
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Post by Fireheart on Apr 17, 2017 19:24:38 GMT -5
I think it would be Buddhism. Although, I am not sure about not killing creepy crawlies. But I empathise with the basic tenets of the religion and do not eat meat anyhoo! The nice thing about Buddhism is you don't have to 'join up' and follow the rules. You can just take the practices and teachings that appeal to you. You really only need the 'rules' if you are going to become a monk or nun. I like that too. That's also one of the things that I love about being pagan. There is no pressure of strict rules. It's mostly peace and nature... awareness and respect.
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Post by highlandannie on Apr 18, 2017 6:13:00 GMT -5
The nice thing about Buddhism is you don't have to 'join up' and follow the rules. You can just take the practices and teachings that appeal to you. You really only need the 'rules' if you are going to become a monk or nun. I like that too. That's also one of the things that I love about being pagan. There is no pressure of strict rules. It's mostly peace and nature... awareness and respect. I was doing a lot of searching in my 40's and found I really clicked with Celtic Paganism. I was a solo practitioner for several years. Still feel a bit of a Pagan as I feel more connected to every living thing - even moreso with nature. So I'm eclectic. Unlabeled. Drives my sister crazy as she likes nice, simple labels. She'd prefer I had the same label as her - Catholic.
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Post by notbob on Apr 20, 2017 7:23:16 GMT -5
Just so you all know, I'm not arguing with anything any of you have said...but...if you eat meat, you've killed it - whether you physically killed it with your own hands, purchased it at the market, or received it as a gift. That first bite makes you responsible for that animal's death to some extent. Where sexual misconduct is concerned, what does that mean...anything other than the missionary position?...masturbation?...homosexuality?...bondage?...or something much more serious like rape?...although rape really isn't about sex. It's a violent act, or it's at least, unfairly coercive. I have never meditated. I tried when I was much younger, but I never understood exactly what I was supposed to do. I take nothing away from anyone who meditates, practices Buddhism, or practices another religion, but as an atheist, I don't understand the need for such things with the possible exception of meditation...which I don't know how to do. highlandannie, according to what chinadoll1981 said, you don't have to give up alcohol. You're just not supposed to get drunk...which is a subjective term unless you're driving a vehicle. So what exactly does "doesn't consume intoxicants to lose mindfulness" mean? I don't drink alcohol, but I'm curious.
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Post by highlandannie on Apr 20, 2017 7:38:12 GMT -5
Just so you all know, I'm not arguing with anything any of you have said...but...if you eat meat, you've killed it - whether you physically killed it with your own hands, purchased it at the market, or received it as a gift. That first bite makes you responsible for that animal's death to some extent. Where sexual misconduct is concerned, what does that mean...anything other than the missionary position?...masturbation?...homosexuality?...bondage?...or something much more serious like rape?...although rape really isn't about sex. It's a violent act, or it's at least, unfairly coercive. I have never meditated. I tried when I was much younger, but I never understood exactly what I was supposed to do. I take nothing away from anyone who meditates, practices Buddhism, or practices another religion, but as an atheist, I don't understand the need for such things with the possible exception of meditation...which I don't know how to do. highlandannie , according to what chinadoll1981 said, you don't have to give up alcohol. You're just not supposed to get drunk...which is a subjective term unless you're driving a vehicle. So what exactly does "doesn't consume intoxicants to lose mindfulness" mean? I don't drink alcohol, but I'm curious. IMO you are taking the rules too seriously and looking at them as one would organized religion. Buddhism is not a religion as there is no deity - so actually Buddhists are atheists. I am not a Buddhist and have no plans to call myself a Buddhist. I just take from Buddhism what I find helpful. Unless you are planning on becoming a Buddhist monk or nun, the 'rules' don't really matter. And if you are a monk or nun you don't drink alcohol or have any kind of sex. As for alcohol, 'real' Buddhists drink no alcohol at all, not just refrain from getting drunk. It's easy to learn what meditation is. Just look it up online - there are many kinds. Most people have the wrong idea about what meditation is. They think your mind must be empty of thought. People have different methods that work for them and one of the results of proper meditation is better ability to concentrate. What worked for me was counting my breaths and when a thought came in I'd visualize it floating away in a balloon. Here's a good site that answers many questions: Buddhanet
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Post by highlandannie on Apr 20, 2017 9:38:57 GMT -5
rebecca2013 Nope no Buddhist wars! And they never knock on your door with a brochure! Thich Nhat Hanh is an exception to the practice of non-interference of Buddhists. He is/was an activist and protested the Vietnam war which got him kicked out of his home country of Viet Nam. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King. I have read some of his works... a brilliant scholar. I've got loads of his books, although he tends to repeat the same things after a while, so I haven't bought any new ones. Saw him speak in London in 2012 and joined a group meditation with him in Trafalgar Square. I planned to book a couple of weeks at his community in France, but never got around to it. I only wanted to go when he was there and would do classes, but then he had a stroke and was unable to speak for a long time. I think he's nearly recovered now. Alternately I wanted to do a bike riding trip in that part of France with hubby and spend a day at the community on one of their mindfulness days. (my husband is Catholic but says he's a mix of Catholic/Buddhist/Pagan!) Plum Village
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Post by notbob on Apr 20, 2017 9:45:21 GMT -5
Again, I'm not arguing with anything anyone is saying. In fact, I agree with virtually everything. From what I know of Buddhism, I love it. I believe everything in the Universe is interconnected. I don't drink, but my wife does and I have no problem with it. Throughout my years (a total of 48 years as a single man), I never tried to force myself on anyone. I find rape despicable, but I also find high pressure salespeople despicable. I don't personally kill anything as I'm not a hunter or a farmer, but I eat meat and as far as I'm concerned, that makes me just as much a killer as one who pulls the trigger or prods an animal with an electric wand. I do my best to treat everything with respect, but I am human and I am flawed. I don't steal and I do my best to tell the truth but the fact is, every human lies to varying extents and I'm no different. There are times when it would be considered acceptable to lie. For example: Johnny's dad is an alcoholic who is in the bar getting drunk most every night. One day in class, the teacher asks Johnny in front of the class, "so Johnny, did your dad go out and get drunk again last night?"
I am fully aware of my imperfections and I have no reason to fear them. I am comfortable in my own skin despite all my flaws because I strive to be better. I am not motivated by money or power. I love all that exists in the Universe and respect the value each and every "thing" has as part of the magnificent cycle of things.
I guess what I'm getting at is, why would I think that meditation would be beneficial and/or, why would I want to further explore Buddhism? I understand that Buddhists are not evangelicals, but from my perspective as everything relates to me personally, I would have no passion to become a Buddhist, and I don't feel a desire to meditate. That's not saying I wouldn't get something out of it if I were to try to better understand meditation, but I don't have a desire to try.
I know...everything I'm saying is about me, me, me. I'm just curious about how I can relate to the things some of you are doing and how any of this might be beneficial to me - or anyone else for that matter.
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Post by notbob on Apr 20, 2017 9:46:09 GMT -5
I AM enjoying this conversation btw.
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Post by highlandannie on Apr 20, 2017 10:13:57 GMT -5
notbob We aren't arguing, just discussing. If you never had any problem with stress or you live mindfully (in the present, not constantly thinking about the past or future) then you're fine. No need to meditate or look into mindfulness techniques.
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Post by Drifter on Apr 20, 2017 12:43:28 GMT -5
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