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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: New Thought Spiritualism?? In response to Re: Re: Re: Re: New Thought Spiritualism?? posted by spiritalk:There will never be a prisoner claim a change to Spiritualism...we advocate Personal Responsibility and they can be saved in Chritianity. This alone, draws many to its doors. Yes and it is funny how that works. My boyfriend worked as a personality profiler in the provincial penal system... He said that in the 3 years he did that job he never had one prisoner who felt they were responsible for the crimes they committed. Each had a story to explain why their situation was someone else's fault. Also many of them turned to Christianity because of the notion that sins are washed away and one does not have to be accountable for their actions once saved by Jesus... That was his comment not mine. Although it is a distorted way to use Christianity it is the common misnomer that folks who are not willing to be personally responsible for their actions have about being Christian. They assume that being a born again Christian can enable them to avoid accepting personal responsibility for their actions. I doubt it is true but the religion does lend itself to this kind of thinking it seems and so does draw many prisoners and others who would avoid personal responsibility into the fold. Cat -- posted by sacred_insights » RichardSpeaks - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Thought Spiritualism?? In response to sacred insightsInterestingly enough, on this issue I have to politely disagree with you. Christianity, if nothing else, preaches personal responsibility for one's actions. It is up to the individual to come to the realization that he/she has been living in a way that is detrimental to him/herself, the community, the world. And worse, displeasing to God. Salvation is not about being let off the hook. Salvation is being freed from the penalty of Original Sin, of disobedience to the will of God. When one comes under the influence of the Holy Spirit through the acceptance of Christ, one takes on a NEW responsibility. One recognizes that it is necessary to do all and be all one can be in order to not only lead others to Christ, but to be a living example of the joyous life in Christ. Without personal responsibility, that example is impossible. One doesn't just get saved and then rest on one's laurels. No. Salvation is a free gift, but living the Christian life is a tremendous responsiblity. You carry the weight of the entire world on your shoulders. You are responsible for their very souls. And in most cases, those who accept Christ also accept that responsibility willingly. Fun, eh??? -- posted by RichardSpeaks » sacred_insights - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Thought Spiritualism?? In response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Thought Spiritualism?? posted by RichardSpeaks:Well I did say it was my boyfriend's perception of the attitudes he has seen in the criminal population that he was profiling while he was in that job. By the way most of the prisoners who claimed to find Christ did so to look better in front of the parole board. And you guessed it too many of them reoffended once they got out... So I guess I did not get the Christian thing or the civic responsibility thing right either! By the way, you are the first one who has explained Salvation since I have been on Suite without attacking me personally for stating that many do see the concept as one that is too easily abused and misunderstood by those who claim to have inherited it because they are Christians. As a New Thoughter do you believe in Salvation or were you explaining the concept in general terms? Also by Original Sin we are talking about what? And as a New Thaughter do you also believe in this concept? Thanks for your post. Cat -- posted by sacred_insights » RichardSpeaks - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Thought Spiritualism?? In response to sacred insightsYour questions about my beliefs as a New Thought adherent: I was a fundamentalist Christian from the time I was five until 1982 (I won't tell you how old I am!!). I was invited to Mile High Church of Religious Science in Denver. Mile High is one of the largest New Thought churches in the country. And wonderful. I knew immediately that I had found a home. I began to study New Thought principles and ideas and in 1990, I entered a New Thought seminary in Portland, Oregon, where I currently live and have since 1988. I was ordained in 1993 and began a ministry with my partner, Iris. We are still ministering but not in a church. I am a "freelance" minister now. I have several churches that I minister to on a regular basis. About salvation, no, we do not accept the need to be saved from hell, to accept Jesus in order to get to heaven. Jesus was a great teacher. But so was Krishna, and Mohammed, and the Buddha. In fact, the Buddha, of all four, sums up New Thought the best: The thought manifests as the word; the word manifests as the deed; the deed develops into habit; and the habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and its ways with care; and let it spring from love born out of concern for all beings. From the Dhammapada (The Sayings of the Buddha) Love is the key. Jesus even said, in Luke 17:21 that the Kingdom of God is within us. And Mohammed warned us that without love, peace was impossible. We borrow from all the great traditions, throw out that which is outdated, or destructive, and keep what will work for us in this day and time. That's why it's called New Thought. There's a lot more to it than the above, but you get the point. And no, we do not buy into the concept of Original Sin. When Lucifer (which means Light Bearer) told the couple that their eyes would be opened and they would be like God, knowing good from evil, he was right. God even admitted it later and kicked the Couple out of the Garden "lest they take from the Tree of Life and live forever. . ." to become competition. See the myth? -- posted by RichardSpeaks » sacred_insights - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Thought Spiritualism?? In response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Thought Spiritualism?? posted by RichardSpeaks:Thanks for sharing your experiences and your beliefs. It helps to know as much as we can about other faiths and take that which is good and toss out the rest. I like New Thought method of looking at many great teachers. Learning from many is the best way to feed the mind and spirit. The freedom to explore spirituality is something the Spiritualism gave me. It was something I never felt was part of my life as a Christian while I was in college. Cat -- posted by sacred_insights » RichardSpeaks - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Thought Spiritualism In response to sacred insights". . .something I never felt was part of my life as a Christian. . ." I understand. We were always discouraged from studying other religions because "the devil uses those religions to lead the true believers astray." Wow! Narrow? I guess!! And indeed, learning from all avenues allows for the expansion of the mind. As you and most of us know, we barely use 10% of our mental capacities. There is so much power in our brains that we will mostlikely never tap, but spiritual paths like New Though not only allow, but encourge the reach. Open to new ideas, new opinions, even new facts while they remain facts. I believe fully in inner guidance, and I am convinced that Spirit, with my permission and request of course, helped me find my way out of that morass called Christianity. Christians continue to fight and argue and bad mouth each other. You probably have noticed how anti-Catholic Tigerhalf is. It's not surprising. Most Evangelical Christians have closed their minds to anything but their own narrow view. Now, that's ok, I suppose, if you choose, but I don't. Thank God. Let there be Light! -- posted by RichardSpeaks » spiritalk - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Thought Spiritua In response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Thought Spiritualism posted by RichardSpeaks:And turn that light (spotlight) onto the narrow view! God bless us one and all...to find a path that truly reflects spirituality. Interesting take on salvation...thank you.
-- posted by spiritalk » sacred_insights - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Thought Spiritua In response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Thought Spiritualism posted by RichardSpeaks:That discouragement to explore other spiritual ideas might be good for the business of Christianity but it is a determine to the individual believer because it limits natural curiosity and any additional spiritual understandings that might come from exploration of other spiritual ideas and faiths. Also seems to be that backbiting is the nature of the beast... Ok well whatever works for folks I guess... Let them duke it out... it is not like they are ever going to find the answer or successfully change the view of the other who they think is wrong... I may not agree with all of what you believe and in fact I might not even agree with any of it, but I do respect that it is your path and that you do have the right to decide for yourself what makes sense to you spiritually. No amount of arguing on my part is going to win you over to a different way of thinking if all I do is trash your view. The purpose of this discussion seems to be not to change each other but rather to better understand each other and that seems to me to be a useful result. If changes in our thinking happen for either of us it is because we have found value in the exchange and have decided to make a change... We are the only ones who can change ourselves through our thoughts, words and deeds anyway... Cat -- posted by sacred_insights » RichardSpeaks - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Thought Spir In response to sacred insights"We are the only ones who can change ourselves through our thoughts, words and deeds anyway... Absolutely. When I minister, it's not to get people to accept my beliefs. It's to give them more resources to make better decisions in their lives. Even not accepting what I teach is a growth process. It can establish what they do believe in a greater way. Or it can give them pause for thought. At any rate, since I do not believe in any kind of eternal punishment, what I teach is about the here and now, ways to live in more harmony with each other and our world, and to create a deeper relationship with our Creator. It's that simple. You can tell that in my articles. I am not out to convert anyone. Thanks for your comments. -- posted by RichardSpeaks » sacred_insights - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Thought In response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Thought Spir posted by RichardSpeaks:I do like your style... I might be able to accuse you of many things, I am am sure, if I put my mind to it but intending to convert is not one that would be on my list LOL! As for discussing religion in context of its mythology I do think you have done a great job of that in the Phil's Mythology and Us thread in spite of some posters feeling threatened and getting nasty. My comment about fundies not being the only ones who get nasty was not a dig at you personally but rather a reminder that none of us are immune to resorting to nasty responses when we feel we are being attacked by another for presenting our view in a thread. I do hope you will keep reading the Mythology and Us thread and contribute your knowledge on mythology where it will be appreciated and not get too bothered by those who disagree with your comments and choose to be nasty about it. I like the way you and a few others post and it is having a good impact on my efforts here also I think. 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. |
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