112 replies to this topic

[Mr Walker]

Beany, on 18 December 2012 - 06:02 AM, said:

I disagree with the last statement. My dad was an atheist, my mother very religious, yet they both had equal capacity for imagination, humor, compassion, generosity, creativity, and love of family & life. When my dad crossed over, there wasn't enough room in the chapel to fit every one in who came to pay their respects. His beliefs or lack of made not one bit of difference to the world at large, because he always showed up with a huge heart. My kids really don't have any beliefs, either, but they are much like their grandfather, a blessing to their communities.

My dad was like that also and I was amazed how many peole from all walks of life came up to me at his funeral and told how he had helped them along their lifes road. He didnt have a religious bone in his body. Neither did i for the first 22 years of my life. BUT, add a spiritual /religious dimension to such a person and you HAVE to add something to their total humanity. That happened to me.

Adding something cant subtract from the totality of a person, it has to make the person something more and closer to their full potential. It is like teaching a person to speak, or read, or think logically, or speak a second language, or understand maths or poetry, or how to play a musical instrument.
So, no matter what a person is without a spiritual dimension they are more when they acknowledge and embrace one. They can see things in alternative ways and think using a different model of thought. They are linked to humanity and the universe around them via the divine spirit however they perceive that to be. They are given greater empowerments, physical and psychological, either via the power of belief, or via the abilty to tap into the physical powers of god/the divine/the cosmic consciousness.


One can only be more,  and closer to full human potential, when one develops a spiritual awareness or a connection to the divine.

Tha t does not diminish the many wonderful people like my father or yours who had no such connection or perception. My father was a secular humanist with the emphasis on active humanism. He acted how truly spiritual and religious people are supposed to act, yet without a recognition of those forces motivated, rather, by  the human spirit and a value/philosophical based system of ethics and moralities.

[Darkwind]

Beany, on 18 December 2012 - 06:02 AM, said:

I disagree with the last statement. My dad was an atheist, my mother very religious, yet they both had equal capacity for imagination, humor, compassion, generosity, creativity, and love of family & life. When my dad crossed over, there wasn't enough room in the chapel to fit every one in who came to pay their respects. His beliefs or lack of made not one bit of difference to the world at large, because he always showed up with a huge heart. My kids really don't have any beliefs, either, but they are much like their grandfather, a blessing to their communities.

Sounds like my Dad, he to was an atheist. I miss him. He was a great story teller with a singular sense of humor.  I know a lot of atheist, more than I do Christians.  One is a musician.  I find logic and creativity go hand in hand most of time.

[Beany]

Mr Walker, on 18 December 2012 - 08:34 AM, said:

My dad was like that also and I was amazed how many peole from all walks of life came up to me at his funeral and told how he had helped them along their lifes road. He didnt have a religious bone in his body. Neither did i for the first 22 years of my life. BUT, add a spiritual /religious dimension to such a person and you HAVE to add something to their total humanity. That happened to me.

Adding something cant subtract from the totality of a person, it has to make the person something more and closer to their full potential. It is like teaching a person to speak, or read, or think logically, or speak a second language, or understand maths or poetry, or how to play a musical instrument.
So, no matter what a person is without a spiritual dimension they are more when they acknowledge and embrace one. They can see things in alternative ways and think using a different model of thought. They are linked to humanity and the universe around them via the divine spirit however they perceive that to be. They are given greater empowerments, physical and psychological, either via the power of belief, or via the abilty to tap into the physical powers of god/the divine/the cosmic consciousness.


One can only be more,  and closer to full human potential, when one develops a spiritual awareness or a connection to the divine.

Tha t does not diminish the many wonderful people like my father or yours who had no such connection or perception. My father was a secular humanist with the emphasis on active humanism. He acted how truly spiritual and religious people are supposed to act, yet without a recognition of those forces motivated, rather, by  the human spirit and a value/philosophical based system of ethics and moralities.

We may be more than we acknowledge if we had a spiritual dimension, IDK, but I have never thought my dad was lacking in any way that mattered. Maybe he didn't reach his full potential, but what he did achieve far more than many people. But he wasn't perfect, he struggled with alcoholism while my mom struggled with mental illness. Yet, despite these struggles, or maybe because of efforts to rise above them, they were humanists. When I was a kid I resented the dysfunctions, now as an adult, I have immense respect for how they managed to retain their humanity, humor & compassion in the face of their diseases. That has become my definition of courage.

[SpiritWriter]

Beany, on 18 December 2012 - 05:52 AM, said:

That is just flat-out beautiful. Did you write it yourself, or are you quoting someone? Thank you for sharing this beautiful piece.

Oh thank you so much. I'm glad you like it.

Yes I wrote it. :

[SpiritWriter]

Paracelse, on 17 December 2012 - 06:00 PM, said:

Mary couldn't not have been a virgin right before birth, it's an impossibility.  Furthermore, the concept of Mary was already an archetype found in many other culture.  Athena was born of a god's brain, Horus was born of a dead father, the Celt had a Virgo Paritura (Virgin going to give birth) they worshiped all over the Europe (one of which was found and destroyed in the Chartres Cathedral).  Actually if read Ean Begg's book on the Cult of the Black Virgin, you will see that Mary wasn't really the only one virgin.

I say all things are possible through God. All he would have had to do was put a little seed in there...

[SpiritWriter]

Paracelse, on 17 December 2012 - 06:00 PM, said:

Mary couldn't not have been a virgin right before birth, it's an impossibility.  Furthermore, the concept of Mary was already an archetype found in many other culture.  Athena was born of a god's brain, Horus was born of a dead father, the Celt had a Virgo Paritura (Virgin going to give birth) they worshiped all over the Europe (one of which was found and destroyed in the Chartres Cathedral).  Actually if read Ean Begg's book on the Cult of the Black Virgin, you will see that Mary wasn't really the only one virgin.

Also you are missing the point. I said I wouldn't be surprised if Mary was a virgin, as a manifestation of the legends.

Edited by SpiritWriter, 18 December 2012 - 09:44 PM.

[SpiritWriter]

I do believe in prophetic word..

[Mr Walker]

Beany, on 18 December 2012 - 02:55 PM, said:

We may be more than we acknowledge if we had a spiritual dimension, IDK, but I have never thought my dad was lacking in any way that mattered. Maybe he didn't reach his full potential, but what he did achieve far more than many people. But he wasn't perfect, he struggled with alcoholism while my mom struggled with mental illness. Yet, despite these struggles, or maybe because of efforts to rise above them, they were humanists. When I was a kid I resented the dysfunctions, now as an adult, I have immense respect for how they managed to retain their humanity, humor & compassion in the face of their diseases. That has become my definition of courage.

It wasnt until i left home and saw the world that I realised how lucky I had been, not just with my parents but my whole social environment.
My parents were perfect.
How do i know?
How else could they have raised a perfect child?   Seriously while not perfect my parents were the best i could have had. Not a dysfunctional bone in their body loving disciplined self aware and preapred to spend the timre and do anythng it took to vbring their kids up to be loved solid citizens They gave up smoking as we kids were born.

They never touched more than a glass or so of alcohol in our presence and mostly at times like christmass They physically disciplined us but never once touched us in anger or even got angry, and always explained the ethical and moral rationale for beheviour punishment and expectations  They explained the purpose of punishments and that they were dealing with behaviour not us as people. ie their love was unconditional but our behaviour had consequences.
They spent considerable time reading to us and introducing us to creative play and imagination. They taught us life skills from cooking sewing gardening through mechanics and design and construction. Mum only had 7 years of schooling and never did any high school. Dad by comparison was a genius but became a skilled fitter and turner to povide a state govt job for his family.

[Beany]

Mr Walker, on 19 December 2012 - 11:18 PM, said:

It wasnt until i left home and saw the world that I realised how lucky I had been, not just with my parents but my whole social environment.
My parents were perfect.
How do i know?
How else could they have raised a perfect child?   Seriously while not perfect my parents were the best i could have had. Not a dysfunctional bone in their body loving disciplined self aware and preapred to spend the timre and do anythng it took to vbring their kids up to be loved solid citizens They gave up smoking as we kids were born.

They never touched more than a glass or so of alcohol in our presence and mostly at times like christmass They physically disciplined us but never once touched us in anger or even got angry, and always explained the ethical and moral rationale for beheviour punishment and expectations  They explained the purpose of punishments and that they were dealing with behaviour not us as people. ie their love was unconditional but our behaviour had consequences.
They spent considerable time reading to us and introducing us to creative play and imagination. They taught us life skills from cooking sewing gardening through mechanics and design and construction. Mum only had 7 years of schooling and never did any high school. Dad by comparison was a genius but became a skilled fitter and turner to povide a state govt job for his family.

You're just saying this to make me feel bad, right? No, glad someone had a happy childhood. I didn't, but on the other hand, I'm a very happy adult, so go figure. Maybe because it's been an easy ride since then. Get all the garbage out of the way early so that anything that comes after is better by comparison!

Edited by Beany, 20 December 2012 - 04:41 AM.

[Darkwind]

I try not let my childhood define me as an adult. Take the good, leave behind the bad. There is no perfect parent, Lord knows I wasn't.  But what does this have to do with God or Goddess?

[Beany]

Yeah, we did wander off topic, huh? For me, the goddess is important, as I look to a sacred idea/ideal that mirrors my experiences as a woman, something which allowed my spiritual journey to begin internally instead of externally and didn't require a shift in gender identification, which for me meant moving away from and out of myself. While I understand that God is genderless, semantically God is referred to as masculine, and the language we use plays a role in how we shape our reality. So I prefer she/her, and the feminine goddess who is every bit as powerful in her own right as the male, because of who she is, not who she gave birth to, or who she tended or followed.

[SpiritWriter]

I believe regarding god as male maybe helpful for some and regarding her as female is helpful to others understanding both is helpful for individuals personally at times perhaps but more importantly so they can understand another that may view god differently than they do. If you need to repair damage done to your psyche by a male or males a male father/lover figure is good to do that. If you are male you may want a father or mother figure but you may feel uncomfortable being very intimate with a male god.. good thing there are both the attributes, both are beneficial, depending on who you are and what you need.

[SpiritWriter]

But really though god is god.. in the presents of the lord I rarely think about male or female. I am just glad im not hung up on one or the other and I do deeply respect both. It is important but at the same time it is not...

[Mr Walker]

Darkwind, on 20 December 2012 - 11:21 AM, said:

I try not let my childhood define me as an adult. Take the good, leave behind the bad. There is no perfect parent, Lord knows I wasn't.  But what does this have to do with God or Goddess?

Oh a lot, I think.

Patriachal /matriachal  societies, the role of men and women in society/family and a childs life, parenting figures, our need for /habitualisation to,  a loving authorative presence in our lives. All these things contribute to both human construction , and perception/ understanding, of our gods. For every child their parents are their gods to begin with, and for most we define our gods in mother/father terms. Just think of the words we use "our father" or "earth mother" etc.
The biblical god and many early pagan gods  are clearly expressed in these terms and the ancient babylonians, who perhaps started the whole thing in the abrahamic tradition, divided their fertility gods into powerful male and female figures who, in totality, expressed the dual nature of humanity..

[SpiritWriter]

SpiritWriter, on 20 December 2012 - 04:18 PM, said:

Sorry, I just want to punctuate this better....


I believe regarding god as male may be helpful for some and regarding her as female is helpful to others. Understanding both is helpful for an individual's personal self at times, but more importantly it is good to know that someone else may view God differently than you do. If you need to repair damage done to your psyche by a male or males, a male father/lover figure is good to do that with, or you may feel more comfortable with a female God, there can be arguments for both.  But for me a relationship with a male god is healing. If you are male you may need a father figure but you may feel uncomfortable being very intimate with a male god.. good thing there are both the attributes, both are beneficial, depending on who you are and what you need.

I know that was kind of corny to re-say the same thing. But I was on a regular computer this time and was easier to edit with. To be quite honest I do not like typing on these forums on my phone. I might be getting more used to it now though....


peace 4 now

Edited by SpiritWriter, 20 December 2012 - 08:40 PM.