Good morning everyone.

I hope the day is finding you well. I would love it if you could take just a few minutes out to give your unput.

What person/persons in the world past or present either inspired, influenced, or affected you deeply religiously, spiritually, or just simply in your being if you are neither religious or spiritual?

What world event have you lived through that inspired, influenced, or affected you religiously, spiritually, or just in your being if you are neither religious or spiritual?

I'm doing a little research, not for my college courses but simply for myself. I want to learn different aspects of what people find inspiring and what affects their core.

Also please state why these this thing or person/persons inspired or affected you if you can. If not I would just like to hear from you.

No one influenced me Star..And I am being honest...I took it apon myself to worship God my own way...I was forced as a child to go to church every week...I was taught the bible...but when I became old enough to understand things more I broke free from it...and followed what I wanted to believe in

I never really listened to those that preached to me....I have my own mind...I make my own decissions...but everyone is different

Hmmmm...Well all people that were involved in good acts of kindness, charity, happyness, joy, love...theres far too many to mention but instead of being inspired by someone...why dont you become the one to inspire others? You will become your own star- you will be looked up upon and you can set an example. I try to be the best person i can be not because i have to...i truely want to...it doesnt matter what is around....theres alot of hate and evil in the world but i tell you now- theres nothing as powerful as goodness.

In terms of world events that inspired me in my lifetime i have to say ive lived in fairly rough times...such huge segments of terrorism, wars, the asian tsunama, hurrican katrina, september 11th, madrid bombings, london bombings i have to say nothing has inspired me...the pope dying was kind of Sad...Princess Diana dying was very sad. Seeming as i dont have a "blame god" attitude- i accept things that happen good or bad- and i need not spiritual enlightenment because my spirit is enlightened to the core.

So its all gooood...

I would have to say my parents influenced me the most spiritually though not in a positive fashion. I had religion forced upon me and was taught to never question anything. Therefore as I got older I left organized religion and started questioning everything. As a result I find myself studying many difference concepts, philosophies and beliefs and coming to my own conclusions.

As far as a world event...hmm...I did live through 9/11 of course however that had no affect on me spiritually. Politically maybe.... . So I would have to say as an event...having children would have to be the most spiritual event I ever encountered. The miracle of life is truely a life changing and powerful spiritual moment at least in my opinion.

Star what a lovely thread, i have to say i was certainly influenced by many as a child, most notably my grandmother, she said the truth lives in you measure all things you find outside of yourself against that, investigate all things never close yourself from learning and growing, noone can tell you who you are you define that.... I feel i was very fortuante to have been raised by her and my grandfather , alot of what i stand for today was inspired by them...They felt that guiding a child in love and encouragement was their contribution to humanity, if that child was a benefit and enhancement to humanity they had done their job.... neither was ever interested in anything but their grandchildren, my grandmother quit working to be with us and my grandfather turned down many 'careers' to be with us kids......all of us are happy thriving adults with children that are truly loved.......I hope this helps Star

I would have to definantly say my parents...

I have the most wonderful parents in the world... I was raised in a Christian home with lots of love.

I am still a very strong faith Christian...but don't necessarilly follow one religion, I was raised Baptist.. but I see myself as more non-denomiation... For I believe in God 100% and have a personal relationship with him.

I was always taught to speak my mind and to always stand up for what I believe in... My parents have always been there and always will be... and as long as I am happy ... they trust and respect the decisions I make in life.

It's amazing to have that kind of suppport... and I am truly blessed!

As you already know Stargazer, I have many influences.
The first would be a father figure I met when I was about 18, he did counselling. I learned from him for a few years. Then, through books, Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, Shakti Gawain, Don Miguel Ruiz (the Toltec Wisdom way) then, the 'live 24 hours a day' by the AA. Even though I was never in AA, the teachings in the book are helpful.
Next, the Dalaï Lama is a personal favorite, his mere image calms and soothes me.
and then there are the wonderful friends I have made along the way, that help and guide and listen and teach me. I am a truly blessed soul.

Original post quote:
{"What person/persons in the world past or present either inspired, influenced, or affected you deeply religiously, spiritually, or just simply in your being if you are neither religious or spiritual?"
"What world event have you lived through that inspired, influenced, or affected you religiously, spiritually, or just in your being if you are neither religious or spiritual?"}

- My short, coy (ha, ha), and clever (ha, ha, ha) answer: Everything and everyone influences me. Regardless of whether or not I recognize the particular influence(s), undoubtedly to some certain degree All Things have had, currently have, and will always have affect/effect upon me. To deny this would be absurd. I am as you are as everyone is: the result of every movement, every choice, every idea, every chemical reaction--All Things--that have occurred leading up to this very moment. And it doesn’t stop here, now; to the contrary, I am changing, redefining, reinventing, re-identifying myself as I write this.

- To detail: My maternal grandmother, Lucy, had the greatest amount of influence upon me. She listened. She showed me the extraordinary benefits of embracing diversity. She let me find my own way.
Famous person: MLK Jr. who proved that one courageous man is a majority.

- World event: too many to list but they all pale in comparison to several personal "frozen moments" that have made all of the difference as to who am I, what, and why.

Michael

personal greatest influences: the potentials.

world of human events: none. too insignificant.

Nobody

When I was growing up my parents didnt really care whether I went to church or not.... It wasnt till in college I met this girl who taught me how to read the bible and so much more she was a real angel in my life......... I wasnt excatly on the right path but I sure feel that if it wasnt for her who knows how things would've turned out? She really helped me by opening her home to me & getting me out of a real bad situation.....

That's when I excepted Jesus in my life and ever since then no matter what my problem is, when I pray with all my heart he always comes through.........

I know this is going to sound dumb, BUT I always tell people my lady bug story..
I once prayed for a lady bug in the begining of winter in chicago for this little boy & the next day in school yard there it was it was so amazing............

GOD & ANGELS ARE REAL.............. BUT UNFORTUNETALY SO IS THE DEVIL

As you may know I'm a NB, so I'll expand a bit on that.

It seems as though through my schooling, English teachers have had some of the best insight. One of the people who made me question my beliefs and literally turned my life around was my 8th grade English teacher. He is one of the greatest men I know and I would be a liar to say his beliefs and words have not influenced me. Be friends with your teachers, and you just may learn a lot.

I have tried to avoid being influenced by anyone but sometimes when i read something particularily interesting such as Nietzche or Marx or Martin Luthor King Jr. I am moved to study more myself. But then i choose what to study and how much to believe/disregard etc so it is still a matter of me influencing myself

The one person who had any type of influence and who was an inspiration to me regarding religion, was my Mom. She was very religious and was a devout Catholic, after her death, I drifted away from the Church. Although I'm not a practicing Catholic at the moment, I still hold onto my teachings and beliefs.

Common Sence showed me that being an Athiest makes sence.

~Thanato

Wow I came back to find a lot of responses. Thank you all very much for partaking. As I read your thoughts its given me a better understanding of each of you. Anyone else is free to throw in their two cents as well. I figured since I asked I would share my own inspirations, influences, and affects.

Ultimately I believe I’ve molded myself into who I am but I can’t say I did it all on my own without inspiration, influence, or affect. I simply took it all in and continue and everything shapes me and I shape myself.

Religiously my grandparents influenced me. They drug me to church as a child and instilled fear but from that course of events and fear that I was inspired to just the opposite, without fear.

Spiritually and just in my being I’ve been both inspired and affected by so many. My family never inspired me except my brother and sister. We grew up in a terrible way and we have inspired each other to break the cycle of hate and cruelty that we grew up with. My close friends, fiancee and children inspire me everyday and I wouldn’t be who I am personally and spiritually without them.

Other people in this life that both inspired and affected me:
Buddha, the first time I heard his words they inspired me.
Jesus, the first time I saw him on the cross it affected me.
Martin Luther King, his words inspired me in my being.
Mozart, first time I heard his symphonies it affected me and inspired me. It caused me to pick up my own violin.
Ernest Hemingway, his poetry inspired me and affected.
Davinci, his art and genius just reached into my core.
Einstein, his mathematical genius inspired me to solve my own problems through research and study of myself.
Robert Shaw, when he said, “We fight for the men and women whose poetry has not yet been heard.”
Edgar Cayce, his words were freeing and inspiring.
There are so many more but these people helped to give me inspiration, influence, and affected me. They were all different aspects of human endurance, capability, and spirit.

The events in my life time that inspired, influenced, and affected me were; The Oklahoma bombing, The Iraq war, 9-11. These events made me cry, made me really look into myself and analyze what I was living for. They also inspired me in the way that people always managed to come together through it, in the darkest of times.

But of all the things and people that served to inspire me and my spirit it was the people that gave me love when I needed it the most. That was my greatest inspiration and an inspiration that I hope to share with others through this life.

Such the Lightworker you R, Stargazer.......

My mother has been an astrologer for over 40 years. She’s 71 now. She was into astrology, tarot, palm reading and is an empath.
All this while I was growing up.

Not knowing what to do as far as teaching us about spirituality as a young mother raising 3 small children, she looked to her mother who was catholic. She left our (me and my siblings) religion and or spirituality up to my grandmother.

My grandmother sent me to a catholic school from 3rd grade to 8th…

Now, I was going to a catholic school and being raised by this woman that was way ahead of her times, being into everything metaphysical…

You can guess I had a lot of questions for the nuns in the school. And, as a result I got smacked around quite often….

I began reading everything about metaphysics from the early age of 9…this was during the time I was attending a catholic school too mind you, so I was getting other lessons there.

I like to think I got the best of both worlds…My mother being a free thinker and my grandmother being religious, I was able to make up my own mind as to how my spirituality would develop.

And, that’s exactly what happened…I kept an open mind and as a result of being in both worlds I feel it was the very best way for me to learn and continue to learn and grow.

I thank both my mother and my grandmother for this.