I wrote this in another DU forum. - feedback please

[Kire]

it's very stream of consciousness, so I don't claim anything in here as fact, just thoughts coming out of a keyboard, your feedback is appreciated




I have done a lot of "research", whether it be Unitarians, Baptist, Methodist, Kabbalah, several different 12 Step groups, including AlAnon, Hindu, Buddhist, Post-modernism, Anarchy, Agnosticism, Psychological theories, there's also inspirational stories in business and politics, etc..

It's not all about one thing.

I have found that it's best to learn about what is written down. What are the concepts that I learn from this group? I then can make up my own mind, or not. Maybe at some later point, it will make sense.


What do I want? What feels right? What does my intuition say?

Faith, Acceptance, Harmony?

Admonishment, Punishment, Hellfire?

Honesty, Open Mindedness, Willingness?

Those aren't the only options, there are many that come to mind. Somebody once told me just to think about whateer positive words I can think of, get them all down on paper and meditate on it for a while. Keep it where you can see it.

But nothing is really ever THE answer.

There are laws, and they are universal. But, there are times when the laws don't seem fair, or make sense. I'm living in my head, and I can only understand what I can understand. God, or a Higher Power, is much bigger than I can ever understand. I can stand there in awe for only so long. Eventually, I'll get hungry, or dirty, or anxious or a hundred other things I'll need to "be in the world" for.

For years and years, I would hold on to the fact that I can always come back to that state of peace, but now, I have found myself able to walk around and go about my business in a pretty meditative state. It's weird. I can't make you do it, but I hope this gives you faith that it can happen.

Please keep replying to this message so that we can help each other understand what is going on.

I get benefit from just learning about whatever there is to learn, and there is a lot to learn. I have forgotten this many times, and I probably will again. Something made me curious to know more, and I am grateful for that. Not because I think I will get something out of being grateful, just that it could be a whole lot worse.

Read some of my less political journal posts to get where I'm coming from.

I'd really like to know what everybody thinks about this.

In the Christian Liberals/Progressive People of Faith Group:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=291&topic_id=4726&mesg_id=5283

Recommended reading: Anything by Max Weber, expecially Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.

there's another world religions book that is used in most comparative religion class, I think I looked at it a couple of times. I have heard that it is helpful, as a start, but I don't remember the name, though. I wouldn't read it and think I'm cured, though. Neither would a lot of people on an honest spiritual quest.

[FloridaJudy]

1. Was the book by Matthew Fox?

I found his compilation of "universals" from many religious traditions One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing from Global Faiths terrifically helpful in clarifying my own spiritual practices. Fox is a Christian, and I'm a Buddhist, but the wisdom he offers could be useful to those of almost any religion. Well, probably not to the "My God is better than your God, and you're going straight to hell" types, but to those open to other ways of seeing things it's invaluable.