New Thought: A Faith, A Philosophy, A Way of Life

Top 36. Jul 25, 2005 5:12 PM

» RichardSpeaks - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Small Question

In response to sacred insights

'I do wonder. . .if this is a main idea of New Thought.. ."

New Thought, as a faith/philosophy doesn't really take a stand on an afterllife. Each individual is free to decide and define that idea for themselves. Many of us do believe in an afterlife, and as I wrote some time back, many believe in reincarnation. I lean in that direction, but not in the Hindu sense. I believe that, since life is continual, that Life is all there is, that each of us, as an aspect of the One, is an experience of the One. Therefore, that energy that is you will keep recycling for as long as Spirit wants it to. But I could be wrong. That's why I said that for the most part, all of the stuff about the afterlife, reincarnation, and other beliefs just doesn't hold a lot of relevance for me.

Not so for all New Thoughters. In fact, more than holding to strict beliefs, we prefer to celebrate. Many of our churches call their services Sunday Celebrations rather than services, per se.

-- posted by RichardSpeaks

Top 37. Jul 25, 2005 5:17 PM

» Pinky102 - Another Question

In response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Small Question posted by RichardSpeaks:

Do New Thought churches provide social programs and or communitye ministries or do they just have Sunday Celebrations?

-- posted by Pinky102

Top 38. Jul 25, 2005 5:18 PM

» RichardSpeaks - Re: No Contest

In response to Pinky102 and sacred insights

Actually, I am going to leave all these posts right here for this reason: no matter our particular religious or non-religous views, we believe we're right. And sometimes we can get a bit testy about it. Me, too. It's good to let others see how stuffy some so-called liberal minded folks can actually be.

However, for the sake of brevity, I think you two have taken your little bantering about as far as needs be, don't you agree?

Thanks for the input. Now back to civility.

I love you both.

-- posted by RichardSpeaks

Top 39. Jul 25, 2005 5:36 PM

» plox - No Contest please

In response to Re: No Contest posted by RichardSpeaks:

I'm probably just odd, but I like to see the editor of the topic taking part in the discussions.
If I were not interested in what he had to say, I wouldn't have visited the topic in the first place.

Question: how do I find a church like yours in my area?
Would the phone book listing identify it as New Thought?

-- posted by plox

Top 40. Jul 25, 2005 6:42 PM

» sacred_insights - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Small Question

In response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Small Question posted by RichardSpeaks:

That is somehow the answer I thought you would give. It is the same as many aspects of Spiritualism. There are general principles but there is also freedom of personal interpretation. This seems to be what is happening with New Thought re ideas of the afterlife and that is how it should be I think.

I can agree with you that we are energy and as energy cannot be destroyed it simply changes form. While I do have some ideas as to what might happen to our energy when we die this does not mean that I am not open to other ideas.

Celebrating the here and now seems to be a good thing that comes from New Thought...

Thanks for sharing you thoughts and experiences.

Cat

-- posted by sacred_insights

Top 41. Jul 25, 2005 7:58 PM

» sacred_insights - Re: No Contest please

In response to No Contest please posted by plox:

Now there are some good questions... smile

Cat

-- posted by sacred_insights

Top 42. Jul 26, 2005 7:42 AM

» spiritalk - Re: Re: Dogmatism

In response to Re: Dogmatism posted by sacred_insights:

The thoughts were meant for you...along with: Flow spirit Flow!

Not even Spiritualism followers always agree and getting into nit picking does not work!

God bless, J

-- posted by spiritalk

Top 43. Jul 26, 2005 4:52 PM

» RichardSpeaks - Re: No Contest please

In response to plox

"How do I find a church like yours in my area?"

Look in the directory under Churches for Unity or Religious Science. Not Unitarian. They're a bit different. Not bad, just different.

Unity is a little more Christian oriented in its service program, not fundamentalist by any stretch of the imagination, just a little more conservative. As a matter of fact, right now I minister to Unity churches almost exclusively. The two Religious Science churches I minstered to finally got full time ministers. I'm freelance. RC is less conservative and less Christian flavored. Depending on the minister, New Thought churches will be more upbeat, or more conservative. I'm sure you'll find one you like.

Anyway, those are the two groups that can get you started. If you live in a relatively large metro area, you may find several of each and can make choices among them.

Let me know how your search goes.

And much success to you.

By the way, I record on tape all of my Sunday messages. I sing, too. So I record the music as well. If you're interested in getting some of the tapes, let me know. Right now, I only charge the costs to duplicate them and mail them.

-- posted by RichardSpeaks