  |
|
|
|
New Thought: A Faith, A Philosophy, A Way of LifeRead the article this discussion is about
This archived discussion is "read only". « Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next » » sacred_insights - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Thought and Spiritualism fou In response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Thought and Spiritualism founded posted by RichardSpeaks:I am glad Judy addressed your questions and I totally agree with her description. I suppose on a more personal level Spiritualism explained and allowed me to work with the psychic aspects that were open to me as a child. It gave me and understanding as to why I would know things or could sense the need for healing in another. As with all gifts/talents being able to work with them and develop them is a wonderful thing. I always had a sense that those who died were not "gone" just in a different space and so Spiritualism allows me a spiritual path that builds on this understanding. It allows me connection to loved ones, guides and teachers whom I can and do continue to learn from. We live in the here and now trying to get the most and best out of this life experience because we know that there is more to come in the afterlife that is affected by what we choose to do here. We are spiritual beings having a physical experience and we are meant to learn all we can here about being spiritual in the physical state. Cat -- posted by sacred_insights » Pinky102 - Small Question In response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Thought and Spiritualism fou posted by sacred_insights:"We live in the here and now trying to get the most and best out of this life experience because we know that there is more to come in the afterlife that is affected by what we choose to do here."(my emphasis) How do you know what you say you know? -- posted by Pinky102 » RichardSpeaks - Re: Small Question In response to Pinky102"How do you know what you say you know?" Good question. Alfred North Whitehead said that all truths are half truths. He's probably right. When we in New Thought say Truth, we speak of God, of Source, of Spirit. And the best we can hope for, as far as actually understanding those words is that we get glimpses. Not wholes, but previews, shots, peeks. As you may well have noticed throughout my posts, I have never claimed that I am in possession of Ultimate Truth. I am a seeker. And I am not really attached to the outcome of this journey. I am not seeking a destination; rather I seek enlightenment along the way about the way. That's why Buddhists can't use vacuum cleaners. They lack attachments. Bad joke, but it makes a minor point. I seek to be free from outcomes. Allowing each day to present what it presents. Whatever is true, is true. I just am not privy to it all. . .yet. Hear those who say they seek Truth; run from those who say they've found it. -- posted by RichardSpeaks » Pinky102 - Re: Re: Small Question In response to Re: Small Question posted by RichardSpeaks:I might have answered the question about the same way. But, I was asking Cat who is the one who made the absolute statement.
-- posted by Pinky102 » sacred_insights - Re: Small Question In response to Small Question posted by Pinky102:Well I know what I know from my experience. As a medium I am talking to passed on loved ones and some do share what their experiences after death are like and most of these experiences have various aspects in common. Also there are a variety of channelled Spiritualist texts where common aspects of the afterlife are presented if one should care to do some reading. I could ask you as a Christian how do you know what you know about what your faith teaches about the afterlife. You would direct me to the Bible as a channelled text would you not? What makes it any more reliable than channelled Spiritualist literature? That has always been my question. Anyway, the simple answer is that I trust my experience and my guides, guardians, teachers and loved ones have impressed upon me that there is an afterlife and what it is like. That with much reading of Spiritualist literature leads me to understand that there is something more than this physical life. I do not say that I know exactly what it will be like but I am confident that there will be an afterlife for me to explore and discover regardless... All the rest is details and I will enjoy the discovery of what I had right and wrong when I get there... Cat -- posted by sacred_insights » sacred_insights - Re: Re: Small Question In response to Re: Small Question posted by RichardSpeaks:I did not say it was an ultimate truth many say there is no God or afterlife and who am I to dispute their experience. On the other hand, it is just that I have been impressed by the spirit influences around me and Spiritualist literature that there is an afterlife to look forward to as the next stage of spiritual progression and growth and seeking... and I accept it. I do not require that you or others accept this idea, but an understanding that there is an afterlife and that individual personality survives the change called death are core to Spiritualism. My understanding works for me and is why I live my life as I do. What others do and believe is up to them. Cat -- posted by sacred_insights » RichardSpeaks - Re: Re: Re: Small Question In response to sacred insights"My understanding works for me. . .what others do and believe is up to them." I agree completely. But since this is a discussion, I, like you, am simply putting forth what I believe. If there is an afterlife, and you believe in it, wonderful. It's not that I don't believe in an afterlife per se. It's that I have no real concept of what it might be like. And consequently, it has no relevance for me. This life is the greatest gift we have been given. And I want to live it to the fullest. Have so far, and will continue to as long as I draw breath. This may well be a learning ground; I believe it is. But it is also meant to be pleasureable. Not at anyone else's expense, mind you. But still, a little levity and humor and trips to the mountains and a great vegan dish and sex occasionally all make for a much more interesting life than just preparing for an afterlife. But that's just my view. Thanks for reading. -- posted by RichardSpeaks » Pinky102 - Re: Re: Small Question In response to Re: Small Question posted by sacred_insights:"I could ask you as a Christian how do you know what you know about what your faith teaches about the afterlife. You would direct me to the Bible as a channelled text would you not?" No, I wouldn't. It appears that the main difference between your religious beliefs and the Fundamentalist is in regard to your doctrines. Other than that, you both speak as though you know without any doubts that you represent the absolute truth and neither seems to have any reservations about your beliefs. But, when it comes to the after life, I'm all for it.
-- posted by Pinky102 » sacred_insights - Re: Re: Re: Small Question In response to Re: Re: Small Question posted by Pinky102:You assume much here there are many differences: 1. Proselytization is not acceptable. 2. Science is respected not ridiculed. 3. We understand that each will find in the afterlife or not what they seek. The idea is that each designs their own afterlife or lack of it. I heard it once said that heaven is like an orange there is a slice for each of us. In that everyone will find a place. Now the language is dated but the idea is that there is a bit of truth in each faith and what matters is that the folks who live by them become better people. 4. We accept other faiths as valid for the believer, but question what someone says about their faith when their actions are incongruent with what they profess to believe. We do not accept abuse by anyone least of all those who profess to be doing God's will. 5. Nothing is absolute except change. As for no doubt in my beliefs... I doubt much and much of the time lol but I do trust my experience and what research I have done on the matter. There is always room for growth and change and when new information comes along that makes more sense I will be the first to check it out. That is the biggest difference between Spiritualism and Christianity, by not being bound to the Bible and seeing it in a reasonable historical context, we can adapt and change and add to our beliefs when there are new better theories to be explored and accepted if they prove to be valid. Most Christians are not so easily able to do so from what I have seen. Even when they no longer see the Bible as factual they cling to its myths and expect that the rest of society should follow suit. If it works for them great but I do not think it is working for the majority of society. At least if I have to be sure about something, it is the afterlife and what I know if it is inclusive of all people regardless of religion or the lack there of. Cat -- posted by sacred_insights » sacred_insights - Re: Re: Re: Re: Small Question In response to Re: Re: Re: Small Question posted by RichardSpeaks:I agree with your ideas here about living life to the fullest and enjoying all that we were endowed with for pleasure so long as it does not harm others. Life is for the living and through that life experience we do learn and grow spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically. And as to the discussion I also agree that each is to put forth their ideas in an effort to be better understood and to better understand others. As for not believing in an afterlife I have no issue with that see my post above. I do wonder though if this is a common belief of folks who follow New Thought or something personal to you. If it is a main idea of New Thought then it seems that how one lives life here becomes even more important and having that understanding is a good thing as it is sure to make the conscientious New Thought follower more aware of who they are and what they are here for. In the end result as long as we are better people because of what we believe and we genuinely live our faiths to the best of our ability then it seems we are doing what God intended we do. Cat -- posted by sacred_insights « Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next » Please follow the guidelines set forth in the Suite101 Posting Etiquette when adding to the discussion. |
|
|
|
