Alternative Spirituality

» spiritalk - God and the Elephant

In response to God and the Elephant posted by BrianTubbs:
That's the idea! We can all believe in God. But each of us will worship according to what WE think is God in our experience. What an interesting world! It could be rather dull if we all believed the same.

God bless, J

-- posted by spiritalk

» Brian Tubbs - God and the Elephant

In response to God and the Elephant posted by spiritalk:

Okay, we agree that a person's understanding of a person, place, or thing is based primarily on that person's vantage point or perspective. Hence, the elephant analogy.

But...

What I also want us to make sure we agree on is that, in the elephant analogy, there is still an elephant. In other words, there is a larger reality than what each visually-impaired person can see, touch, or feel.

The same is true with God. You're right that "each of us will worship according to what WE think is God," HOWEVER....

There is still....GOD. And God is bigger than our individual perspectives.

God represents Absolute Truth - a truth that is larger than our perspective, is EXTERNAL to our perspective, and is NOT dependent upon our perspective.

» spiritalk - God and the Elephant

In response to God and the Elephant posted by BrianTubbs:
Yes, God is so much more! Then again, we do wish to define, do we not? And in that definition is how we can Understand God in all His glory!

From the Kasidah, Part IV: All faith is false; all faith is true: Truth is the shattered mirror strewn in myriad bits, while each believes his bit the whole to own.

God bless, J

-- posted by spiritalk

» Brian Tubbs - Humanity and God

In response to God and the Elephant posted by spiritalk:

J, I think we agree that God is bigger than us - and that we, as finite beings, are (in our own limited, imperfect nature) incapable of grasping the full essence of God. I think we are in agreement on all those points.

But, do you believe God is capable of communicating Himself, Herself, Itself (whatever pronoun you wish for now) to us - in spite of our limitations?

We may not be able to bridge the gap, but can God?

» spiritalk - Humanity and God

In response to Humanity and God posted by BrianTubbs:
I have a very firm belief in my ability to 'talk' with God. I send out prayer and am answered in so many and varied ways. Yes, God talks to all of us...do we listen? is more the question.

God is spirit. We communicate spirit to spirit. We also communicate spirit to spirit with human beings that are passed on into spirit world. I firmly believe in unseen communication.

God bless, J

-- posted by spiritalk

» Brian Tubbs - Revelation

In response to Humanity and God posted by spiritalk:

J, I agree (again) with you. I think you're right on the money with what you say above.

I guess that brings us to two possible areas of disagreement -- history and literary revelation.

Do you believe that at least some of the historical people and events recorded in the Bible are true?

And...do you believe that at least parts of the Bible (remember that it wasn't always a unified book - but is really sixty-six different books) are divinely inspired? Do you believe it's possible that God inspired people to write down certain things - things that represent spiritual, authoritative truths for us even today?

» hawknut - Where am I?

In response to Humanity and God posted by spiritalk:

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Hi Spiritalk and Jolinda.
Is this the ~~ALTERNATIVE~~ Spirituality topic? Is this where folks come to discuss unconventional, nontraditional ideas and lifestyles existing outside the establishment? (Dictionary.com)

-- posted by hawknut

» Brian Tubbs - Where am I?

In response to Where am I? posted by hawknut:

So, does that mean traditional folks are unwelcome?

Jolinda is a fellow Suite writer. I'm here to support her and enjoy the discussions. If I'm offending you, Jolinda or Spiritalk, I'll leave.

I didn't think the mere presence of a traditional Christian would be a problem.

» hawknut - Where am I?

In response to Where am I? posted by BrianTubbs:

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didn't think the mere presence of a traditional Christian would be a problem.
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Not your 'mere' presence, Brian - but your purpose here. Are you here to learn about other spiritual paths, or here to convince these nonChristians that their beliefs and paths are wrong?

-- posted by hawknut

» Brian Tubbs - Purpose

In response to Where am I? posted by hawknut:

First, a question: How are traditional Christians to learn what others outside the traditional faith think and believe without engaging them in discussion?

Second, what if I am here to "convince these nonChristians that their beliefs and paths are wrong?" Does the First Amendment not apply here? If I were lambasting them, ridiculing them, or being otherwise rude, I can certainly understand my being asked to leave - as well as your intervention. But have I been rude? Have I attacked anybody? I'm just talking with them. I'm reasoning with them. I'm asking questions. When did these things become a problem?