Tastyfrzz · 61-69, M
Education. There were too many inconsistencies and unbelievable stories in the Bible. Then I discovered many other issues.
This was one of my first posts in 2010.
Religion as I see it for now....
I am somewhat still at a stage of development where I am somewhat torn between the religion of my upbringing (Lutheran) and what I have discovered in my journey seaking the truth.
The works of Spong, Marcus Borg, Bart Eherman, and several others have me convinced that religion of the world are seriously flawed. I'm guessing that that came about through the temptations of power and greed. For example, the Apostles Creed is what really has me confused. Why would any organization desiring to remain in power still hang onto 5th century views of the world and ancient mythology. Biblical scholars agree that much of the new testament is midrash of the old testament and attempts to appease the Romans' whose state religion was Mithraism. The old testament was destroyed at one point and rewritten from memory--ever play telephone?. Genesis is a conglomeration of stories from several different time periods and cultures. Moses and David were likely nonexistent super-hero characters. Even the concept of the devil is a construct from anther religion (Zorastorism). The ties between Buddhism and Judaism has not been explored enough yet IMHO. The fact that there are only 7 pages of the teachings of Jesus and the rest is wild heroism, political subterfuge, and outright fiction bent on control of the masses really has me suprised that Christianity survived. Constantine and his wife were probably the only thing that kept it going. If US history had been recorded like the life of Jesus, people 1800 years in the future would think that George Washington was a great man who rode on a white horse, had wooden teeth, a big S on the front of his shirt, and had a side-kick named Robin!
Buddhism has many more teachings than Christianity but they are buried in tons of old writings inaccessible to us. Some of which are word for word of what Jesus was saying. I've read the Koran and the book of Mormon and find them both to be on the fringe. Ron Hubbard and Scientology are probably about as believable as the book of Mormon. I tried Unity but I've become tired of the continuous requests for Tithing by a fat rich gal with a southern accent; and while the meditation was relaxing the discussions of the metaphysical seem to be basically hogwash. The only reason I have not given up all faith is because of things that I have personally experienced. As a child living in the middle of nowhere I heard a child's voice telling me to look up at the praying hands. A shadow of a cloud had formed onto another cloud exactly in that form. My cousin and my parents were there and saw it too.
I have no answer for it. When going through my divorce 10 years ago I experienced a series of connected dreams that guided me even though the church would only have sermons on how it was a sin and they couldn't do anything for me.
In my search for a new church I had another series of dreams. I won't bore you with the details unless you want to hear them. So yes, I'm confused. I cannot go back to religion as it is but I don't know quite where to go.
One more experience I should also mention is that about 6 years ago, while waking up I experienced (that’s the only way I can say it) a voice saying, “Look to the Opposites, What you Seek is What you Find”. I even went to the Lutheran minister at my church and talked to them about it. I’m sure they thought I was nuts.
Recently though, on a lark I Googled “Opposites”. The results were quite interesting and seemed to be related to an advanced form of Zen. I also finally got the message of ‘Seek” and ‘Find”. So where the heck did all of this come from. I had never read anything on Buddhism (Zen or otherwise) up to that point. I’ve picked up a few books at Half-Priced-Books in December of ’07 (read 10 pages of one of them) and read a book on my nightstand in Singapore while I was there in November of ’07 but that is it. I’m not Buddhist or a promoter of it. I’m just confused.
To "Have a Nobel Mind" is a good goal but I cannot believe that there is not something more. As for the afterlife I cannot remember before I was born so I suspect it is similar. The affects of brain damage and dementia of people I've known also indicate to me that whatever is left of us after this life is probably not much that can be recognized. Are we just a collection of memories and emotional responses? Once they are gone, what is left other than the memories others have of us? Kristin’s out of body experience and Sandy’s discussions of other near death experiences with patients make’s me at least hope that in our mind’s last dying seconds it at least leaves us with the illusion of a better place.
The great wind after Dad’s death and the few seconds of complete understanding of the future just before the deer walked out in front of me on November 6th , 2010 really makes me believe that there is more than this life. The general truth that we exist and that everything must have originated from somewhere adds to that belief. While I don’t really believe that we are in God’s image, I do believe we are concentrated forms of its’ imagination.
This was one of my first posts in 2010.
Religion as I see it for now....
I am somewhat still at a stage of development where I am somewhat torn between the religion of my upbringing (Lutheran) and what I have discovered in my journey seaking the truth.
The works of Spong, Marcus Borg, Bart Eherman, and several others have me convinced that religion of the world are seriously flawed. I'm guessing that that came about through the temptations of power and greed. For example, the Apostles Creed is what really has me confused. Why would any organization desiring to remain in power still hang onto 5th century views of the world and ancient mythology. Biblical scholars agree that much of the new testament is midrash of the old testament and attempts to appease the Romans' whose state religion was Mithraism. The old testament was destroyed at one point and rewritten from memory--ever play telephone?. Genesis is a conglomeration of stories from several different time periods and cultures. Moses and David were likely nonexistent super-hero characters. Even the concept of the devil is a construct from anther religion (Zorastorism). The ties between Buddhism and Judaism has not been explored enough yet IMHO. The fact that there are only 7 pages of the teachings of Jesus and the rest is wild heroism, political subterfuge, and outright fiction bent on control of the masses really has me suprised that Christianity survived. Constantine and his wife were probably the only thing that kept it going. If US history had been recorded like the life of Jesus, people 1800 years in the future would think that George Washington was a great man who rode on a white horse, had wooden teeth, a big S on the front of his shirt, and had a side-kick named Robin!
Buddhism has many more teachings than Christianity but they are buried in tons of old writings inaccessible to us. Some of which are word for word of what Jesus was saying. I've read the Koran and the book of Mormon and find them both to be on the fringe. Ron Hubbard and Scientology are probably about as believable as the book of Mormon. I tried Unity but I've become tired of the continuous requests for Tithing by a fat rich gal with a southern accent; and while the meditation was relaxing the discussions of the metaphysical seem to be basically hogwash. The only reason I have not given up all faith is because of things that I have personally experienced. As a child living in the middle of nowhere I heard a child's voice telling me to look up at the praying hands. A shadow of a cloud had formed onto another cloud exactly in that form. My cousin and my parents were there and saw it too.
I have no answer for it. When going through my divorce 10 years ago I experienced a series of connected dreams that guided me even though the church would only have sermons on how it was a sin and they couldn't do anything for me.
In my search for a new church I had another series of dreams. I won't bore you with the details unless you want to hear them. So yes, I'm confused. I cannot go back to religion as it is but I don't know quite where to go.
One more experience I should also mention is that about 6 years ago, while waking up I experienced (that’s the only way I can say it) a voice saying, “Look to the Opposites, What you Seek is What you Find”. I even went to the Lutheran minister at my church and talked to them about it. I’m sure they thought I was nuts.
Recently though, on a lark I Googled “Opposites”. The results were quite interesting and seemed to be related to an advanced form of Zen. I also finally got the message of ‘Seek” and ‘Find”. So where the heck did all of this come from. I had never read anything on Buddhism (Zen or otherwise) up to that point. I’ve picked up a few books at Half-Priced-Books in December of ’07 (read 10 pages of one of them) and read a book on my nightstand in Singapore while I was there in November of ’07 but that is it. I’m not Buddhist or a promoter of it. I’m just confused.
To "Have a Nobel Mind" is a good goal but I cannot believe that there is not something more. As for the afterlife I cannot remember before I was born so I suspect it is similar. The affects of brain damage and dementia of people I've known also indicate to me that whatever is left of us after this life is probably not much that can be recognized. Are we just a collection of memories and emotional responses? Once they are gone, what is left other than the memories others have of us? Kristin’s out of body experience and Sandy’s discussions of other near death experiences with patients make’s me at least hope that in our mind’s last dying seconds it at least leaves us with the illusion of a better place.
The great wind after Dad’s death and the few seconds of complete understanding of the future just before the deer walked out in front of me on November 6th , 2010 really makes me believe that there is more than this life. The general truth that we exist and that everything must have originated from somewhere adds to that belief. While I don’t really believe that we are in God’s image, I do believe we are concentrated forms of its’ imagination.
bookerdana · M
Because they both knew and lived their faith
class · F
Became depressed
Searched for God from where i knew to start
Studied in intervols
Asked specific questions
Let God guide
Searched for God from where i knew to start
Studied in intervols
Asked specific questions
Let God guide
Frostcloud · F
H1raeth · 41-45, M
@Frostcloud I didn't realize Mormons did that.
Frostcloud · F
@H1raeth modern day mormons don't practice polygamy or child marriage anymore but their religion originated from it. flds (mormons who follow the book of mormon to a t) supposedly stopped practicing within recent years following warren jeffs arrest. but who knows.
the racism is still present but not loud and they've made steps to be better about it. like in the 70s i think black men have been allowed in the priesthood i think.
the racism is still present but not loud and they've made steps to be better about it. like in the 70s i think black men have been allowed in the priesthood i think.
