Deconverting

[vajradhara]

Namaste Casi,

you perfer Casi to the full screen name?

Namaste

Thank you for your supportive post...I am already feeling snippets and moments of joy free from fear....The world is before me and I can breathe again.

Peace,
Casi

i suppose that, if there were anything that i could say which would help you in some manner, i am more than happy to do so however, i think that, rather than anything i could say, i would like to offer you one bit of something we Buddhists try to do when we are looking at our beliefs and so forth:

"Come, Kalamas. Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated hearing; nor upon tradition; nor upon rumor; nor upon what is in a scripture; nor upon surmise; nor upon an axiom; nor upon specious reasoning; nor upon a bias towards a notion that has been pondered over; nor upon another's seeming ability; nor upon the consideration, 'The monk is our teacher.' Kalamas, when you yourselves know: 'These things are good; these things are not blamable; these things are praised by the wise; undertaken and observed, these things lead to benefit and happiness,' enter on and abide in them."

may your walk be blessed with positive karma!

metta,

~v

 

[Cassiopeia]

Namaste Casi,

you perfer Casi to the full screen name?



i suppose that, if there were anything that i could say which would help you in some manner, i am more than happy to do so however, i think that, rather than anything i could say, i would like to offer you one bit of something we Buddhists try to do when we are looking at our beliefs and so forth:

"Come, Kalamas. Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated hearing; nor upon tradition; nor upon rumor; nor upon what is in a scripture; nor upon surmise; nor upon an axiom; nor upon specious reasoning; nor upon a bias towards a notion that has been pondered over; nor upon another's seeming ability; nor upon the consideration, 'The monk is our teacher.' Kalamas, when you yourselves know: 'These things are good; these things are not blamable; these things are praised by the wise; undertaken and observed, these things lead to benefit and happiness,' enter on and abide in them."

may your walk be blessed with positive karma!

metta,

~v

Namaste V...

Thank you for your words. They have reminded me to put my feet firmly back on my path and to just keep my eyes fixed on the journey and not others.

Blessings,
Casi

 

[vajradhara]

Namaste V...

Thank you for your words. They have reminded me to put my feet firmly back on my path and to just keep my eyes fixed on the journey and not others.

Blessings,
Casi

doesn't Dick Clark say something like... keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars?

fairly sage advice for a t.v. personality

metta,

~v

 

[Orontes]

Orontes...my life has always been metaphysical. It means I no longer am bound by shakels that held me from enjoying a path of joy and truth. One that kept me in the chains of fear.

Hi Casi,

I don't think I expressed my question clearly. What I meant was: Christianity considers itself monotheistic and as such appeals to an Absolute that is also thought to be the ultimate arbiter of morality and salvation. Do you agree with that idea or have you adopted a different understanding of reality?

 

[rahma]

Casi, I hope your spiritual journey leads to places that are fulfilling. Best of luck to you

 

[Cassiopeia]

Hi Casi,

I don't think I expressed my question clearly. What I meant was: Christianity considers itself monotheistic and as such appeals to an Absolute that is also thought to be the ultimate arbiter of morality and salvation. Do you agree with that idea or have you adopted a different understanding of reality?

MOM!!! Orontes is speaking in big words again!!! Try restating this again please What is it you want to really know? I have obviously left Christianity as the ulitmate religion. What is it you are asking me?

 

[Orontes]

MOM!!! Orontes is speaking in big words again!!! Try restating this again please What is it you want to really know? I have obviously left Christianity as the ulitmate religion. What is it you are asking me?

Sorry, I was just curious whether your renunciation of Christianity also meant a renunciation of the larger understanding of reality that typifies Christian thinking. In short: do you believe in a single God or Divine authority? Do you believe that Being is also the source of morality?

You chose the pagan moniker: paganism in its traditional understanding included a pantheon (the Celts, Greeks, Egyptians for example.) Modern forms, I think, are eclectic: often opting for a neo-shamanism (forces of the earth/universe) that can be tapped into. In either view identifying a moral act is less clear and perhaps not an important question. Would either of these views be yours or do you hold to a different model?

Maybe you haven't thought about this kind of thing yet. I was just wondering which direction you were moving, if you had decided.

 

[peepnklown]

Believe it or not, not all religion is based on fear.

Never said it was.

 

[WhatIsTruth]

May your journey towards spiritual truth be a blessed one Casi

Its hard finding a spiritual home...sometimes its really hard...mine has been FAR from a easy walk in the park. Just keep your eyes on the prize..if I may use such a phrase...

Erica

 

[onikirimaru777]

God is God, worship how you see fit.

However, I wanted to make another point in defense of Christianity. You said you didn't want to be bound by the shackles of fear, and that is a great point. I was raised in a traditional baptist setting, one in which the pastor would occasionally talk about how sinful certain people were and how bad Hell was. Turns out, I don't believe in the typical Hell. I am a Universalist Christian, and I believe that Christ's sacrifice has bought the salvation of ALL people, not just the elect or righteous. Too many times have Christians created God in their Image, and that is blasphemy. My God, my Christ, aren't bound by the interpretations of certain pastors, but is above them all. We want to condemn people to Hell because we don't like their actions, but in the grand scheme of things, my God is love, a love that is above love as we know it. Though God hates the sin, He has saved the sinner from the beginning.

 

[chokmah]

Congratulations, Casi, I wish you well.

 

[Dragons87]

It is my personal hope that you will change the icon back soon.

Allow me to say:

God bless!

 

[WhatIsTruth]

Can't you just wish her well?

 

[Dragons87]

I am! In my own way!

Okay, okay, let's go for secularism:

Please. I do wish you well. I wish everybody well! Lol. *hugz & smooches*

 

[RichardT]

what can I say.... Know that you are still loved in the christian community.... and it is your free will to leave the faith , not I , nor God can do anything to change your free will..

I will speak blessings for you none the less...

 

[Fuzzy]

First, on the subject of switching religions...

While, in certain paradigms, you eventually have to face some Divine Critic,
the thing you have to face most often is yourself.

doesn't Dick Clark say something like... keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars?

fairly sage advice for a t.v. personality

Well, he IS 500 years old or something...

 

[gwenmead]

Congrats and welcome, Casi.

 

[Cassiopeia]

First, on the subject of switching religions...

While, in certain paradigms, you eventually have to face some Divine Critic,
the thing you have to face most often is yourself.

It is that very fact that I have to face myself everyday is why I make the choices I make.

facing the Divine will come hopefully not for a very long time as I would like to walk this life with a bit of peace first.











[/QUOTE]

 

[rahul_sharma]

Best wishes to you on your Spiritual Journey.

 

[SpaceIsThePlace]

congratulations on finding a religion that brings you peace! i'm happy for you. may your journey be a happy one.