Who thinks of "other than Christianity" when you think Spirituality and Religion [Spirituality & Religion]

@Roadsterrider I started out as a Christian, fell away from the faith partly due to wanting to explore other things and [b]partly due to [u]what I perceived as hypocrisy of much of the perceived leadership[/u] of the church. [/b] I get that...for me, it was that I realized that "what I did" as a worship leader, was "leading others" astray in ways. It's really deep and hard to explain but it was more than giving Glory to God, I felt that I was worshipped in ways and I said NO.

As I matured and did my own research I came to the conclusion that [b]my relationship with God it just that, my relationship, it isn't up to the opinion of anyone else what I should believe. [/b] That's what I think it takes from us; maturity and research and a "certitude" that what we believe, what core beliefs we should to base our actions upon, are up to us.

[b]To me being "spiritual" without committing to God is like trying to join an army that has no general to lead them. [/b] I am questioning this, not because I think it is wrong, but because it is too easily agreed with. Can a person be "spiritual" but be an A THEIST...having no personal or identifiable image or being? I have to question.


One of the most interesting things I have ever read regarding religion wasn't from the bible, it was a story about a boy and his grandfather, they were talking about why grandpa didn't go to church with grandma, the boy was concerned that it terribly frustrated his grandma and [u]questioned why he didn't go to church to make her happy[/u]. After careful thought, grandpa responded, [b]"The spheres really do have their music, but it isn't up to another man to tell me how I have to listen." [/b] I love the wisdom, love and honesty in this story. My father, an atheist, went to church to hear me sing when I was younger and later, to appease my religious sister. If we ACT upon the faith of another, to appease them, I see that as no different than being trauma abused/stockholm syndrome. The one thing that we are given in this life, is freedom to choose. When we lose that, what true hope do we have whether we are spiritual OR religious? Thanks for your comments... please share more if you like.

@MsAlaineEYes About being spiritual without being a believer in a particular deity, as a Christian, the rules I live by come from God. For a Muslim, they come from Allah, without that framework, there are no rules except what an individual thinks is right. I don't see "being spiritual" as having a direction. Having a belief system is part of everyone, some of us choose to believe in a higher power and that there is some plan for this world and us and some choose to believe there is nothing else, this is it.

I don't think your dad was experiencing Stockholm Syndrome, I would guess that he as a father knew that singing was important to you and he wanted to see you sing. As for going later with your sister, she wanted to share her experience with him and he agreed to go. My wife loves to go to casinos, I have tinnitus and hate the noise at the casino, but I still go with her because she likes it.

@Roadsterrider I agree, Spirituality can be exercised/observed/create focus for one's life without religion (the rules and structure with a Deity). I have seen in "[b]having to have a believe system[/b]" something of a crutch and shelter from the storm/a refuge from learning more about ourselves. [b]When we take religion away, who are we???[/b]

Oh, no, I didn't mean to say that I thought my Dad, rest his precious soul, was a victim of Stockholm syndrome (I meant to say "others" in religion, many I have met, many who have broken ties with me because I am not longer "the kind of christian they are". sorry)...

No, I meant to say that my Dad went to church and said a prayer OUT OF LOVE for us, mainly for my dear Baptist sister. We were more important that him expressing atheism. He loved us. I was the only one who had the talk about religion with us. He said unapologetically, that he didn't believe in God...and I kept asking questions and he answered but to my knowledge, I was the one who found my Dad. I found HIM and didn't have to label him as being "saved" to feel ok with his passing. Mom had passed first Sept 2011. I did not get a chance to ask him how he felt about her passing. He looked to be at peace.

He came to church to hear me sing before I went to my first short terms missions trip in France. I didn't feel that he went "to church" then. Exactly. He was a giver in ways that I didn't see while he was still alive with us. I miss him more for his honesty and love. He past Dec. 2012.

Another comment: You said: [quote]as a Christian, the rules I live by come from God. For a Muslim, they come from Allah, without that framework, there are no rules except what an individual thinks is right.[/quote]

Respectfully, I had to chuckle for two reasons, I once believed that God and Allah were separate entities, even as an agnostic for a short while, I learned that there is ONLY ONE GOD, called by different names, different "rules" as you call them and I have since learned that they are mostly ALL the SAME. No disrespect to His Holiness the Christ, Jesus...my Savior and my Friend...I love Him more everyday; much more than when I was a Christian. I guess to love someone we must KNOW them...

Also, I had to chuckle with the thought that "what a person thinks is right becomes a rule for them". I understand what you mean, but when analyzed it may look more like a spectrum. One end is [b]hedonism, pure egocentric thinking [/b](and I can testify to how my ex husband, father to my son, abusive narcissist, is on this end of the spectrum, and claims to be a christian) and living and the other is [b]selflessness (yes, I believe that A Theists can be selfless and serve mankind [/b](and thus serve God, aha, lol) better than those of any certain faith. Maybe the presumption that we tend to want RULES in our lives, someone to tell us what is right and wrong and what is the most noble, most generous, most loving and merciful way to live (among hundreds of other attributes that most faiths attribute to God)

I can referred to God, as "God"... or for me, ([b][big]Yá Bahá'u'l-Abhá![/big][/b]---Persian for the Greatest Name...means The Gloriest of ALL Glories!!!-Baha'i faith

I hope you are enjoying our conversation. I wouldn't mind starting some more with holy writings from Christianity, Islam, Baha'i, Buddhism (which is a philosophy and some psychology) Zoroastrianism and Hinduism...I might do that because I would love to discuss one writing, small, at a time and see how we see that from our different perspectives.
Namaste,
Ms A