Alternative Spirituality

» pink101 - So, Cat

In response to Enjoy Your Break posted by sacred_insights:
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So, Cat, tell us about your feelings regarding your disaffection with what you were so recently embracing.
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Am I wrong is that supposition?
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-- posted by pink101

» sacred_insights - Good and Evil

In response to Good and Evil posted by pink101:
Hey Phil:

Sorry for the delay. Went to the US for a few days holidays and I intentionally stayed away from email and internet so I could get a true rest.

Now just because good and evil are thought to be comprised of different factors by different cultures, this does not discount the duality of the notion of good and evil. What are interesting are the sociological examples of what each culture sees as good and evil and how they express this in religion and society.

Cat

-- posted by sacred_insights

» sacred_insights - So, Cat

In response to So, Cat posted by pink101:
Well Phil, I am dissatisfied with the church politics that corrupts most churches. While I still believe in the principles of Spiritualism, I am not sold on how some of the churches are doing in presenting and promoting the religion.

I also find most supposed Spiritualist leaders are phonies when it comes down to it. I still practice my beliefs but I don't need the confines of church to do it.

Cat

-- posted by sacred_insights

» pink101 - So, Cat

In response to So, Cat posted by sacred_insights:
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I have come to a place where I can see that I've been addicted to religion--especially a certain brand of Christianity.
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Like all addicts, I've needed a fix and I've reached out to get it whenever I could. Sometimes it worked, at least for a while, and sometimes it didn't. But, in the end, I have come to a place where I think I can see myself as being Cat.
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What do you think of that?
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:)
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-- posted by pink101

» sacred_insights - So, Cat

In response to So, Cat posted by pink101:
Well Phil for some religion can be very addictive so it is safe to say you are not alone in your self-discovery! I figure that some ministers are really wrapped up in it because of the sense of power and position they derive from the title of reverend. On the other hand it seems to me that some of us eventually grow out of the need for conventional religion. We find our spirituality in every day practice of real life not just as part of the facade that is often played out by the phony Sunday seekers who are basically jerks the rest of the week and figure they are doing fine spiritually just because they warm a seat in church on prescribed days.

To me there is a need for community but I can do that through volunteer work or some other such activity where it actually serves a real purpose and is not just showing up for the sake of keeping up appearances.

It seems to me that you and I are burned out with organized religion and are choosing to rediscover a simpler, more basic and more practical way to express our spirituality and community participation.

Why do you think that you were so addicted to religion? What was it that it gave you that kept you coming back for more? You talk about a particular brand of Christianity. What was your brand of choice?? How did it differ from the others you might find that are popular with the masses?

Cat

-- posted by sacred_insights

» pink101 - Support Groups

In response to So, Cat posted by sacred_insights:
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"(1) Why do you think that you were so addicted to religion? (2) What was it that it gave you that kept you coming back for more? You talk about a particular brand of Christianity. (3) What was your brand of choice?? (4) How did it differ from the others you might find that are popular with the masses?"(My numbers added).
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Heh heh. Tough orders.
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1. My realization that it took up an inordinate part of my life. And, more so, that I made many decisions based on my addiction--decisions that were very poor supports for my family and my career.
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2. It was the need for the 'fix' to make sure that I was okay with those people whom I thought made a difference in my life.
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3. I was stuck in Christian Fundamenatlism. It wasn't a 'choice' so much as it was what I was 'hooked' on. Forcing religion on a child is an abuse to be reckoned with.
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4. When I looked outside my family's brand, I was forced to come back in to get 'their' approval for who it was that I was.
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I've almost finished reading Richard Dawkin's book, The God Delusion. I recommend it highly. I was fooling myself for a long time about the 'moderate' brand as though it was what I wanted to have in my life. That's like a heroin addict saying, "I think I could live with a quarter dose rather than the full shot." No way, Hosea!
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It takes a lot of courage to break your addiction. I'm 75 and I had a bad dream about it last night. Go figure.
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:)
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It would be good if there were support groups for people who are addicted to religion.
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Breaking the addiction of religion in your life. That would be a good book. I wish I had the discipline to write it.
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-- posted by pink101

» sacred_insights - Support Groups

In response to Support Groups posted by pink101:
Support groups and books on the subject of Religious Addiction and how to beat it would be helpful.

Since you have discovered and broken your addiction to religion what do you now do for spiritual fulfillment that is not connected to religion?

I donno if I was addicted to my involvement in Spiritualist Churches but I will say that I let it take up way too much time in my life and family often felt like they were in second place. I suppose I wanted to please others and I discovered I was good at being a church worker and the founder of the church I was involved with took advantage of my willingness to work for the church. Sadly, it happened gradually over time so I did not realize just how wrapped up in it I had become until I finally exited the church.

Now I meditate daily and read spiritual and educational books to challenge my mind. I also post on boards like this one because it gives me some sense of community and allows me to share in experiences with others who are also recovering from abuse from their churches and rediscovering their own spirituality.

Hmmm I might just research and write that book some day Phil...

Cat

-- posted by sacred_insights

» pink101 - Support Groups

In response to Support Groups posted by sacred_insights:
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"... what do you ... do for spiritual fulfillment that is not connected to religion?"
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That's the question, isn't it?
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And, it expresses the very nature of the addiction itself. What do you do when there is no fix? Try something else? Instead of cigarettes, you try cigars, pot, or just eat more? Or do you just go deeper inside your own being? That's hard to do without another person who is willing to go along with you on that long trip. Would you recognize such a person if they came along?
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I hypothecated that when two of us join forces at any level, ouir relationship expresses the spirit of what it is that we are about. We live in times when it is difficult to involve ourselves with each other in such intimacy. But, we can talk about it safely here on the 'Net as though it were an academic issue.
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It's bigger than me. It's bigger than you. It is a cultural thing. If we can remove ourselves and get high enough outside our own beings so that we're looking down and culture itself, we can see there is a flow. And, we can commit ourselves to work toward building an understanding of what it required of us if we are to do the work.
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What we can do is to plant seeds.
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Have you ever read, The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
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:)
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Here's a link:
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http://www.amazon.com/Little-Prince-Anto...

-- posted by pink101

» sacred_insights - Support Groups

In response to Support Groups posted by pink101:
I don't know Phil I like to think I can be spiritual without all the religious crap. I like discussions here and elsewhere where I am able to consider who I am and what I think by talking to others. It may seem academic but for me it is a way of seeking some sort of community.

The realization that I was becoming dogmatic was one of the reasons I left the online sites for a while. I did not like that I was coming across as a spiritual snob and that this kind of behaviour was encouraged by people around me who are supposed to be spiritual teachers! I am ashamed to say I allowed others to have this kind of impact on me but it is true. But the good thing is I was able to see what was happening and eventually walked away from the bigots.

I am glad I can be myself and that I have been able to walk away from negative bigots in Spiritualism and still maintain my personal integrity. I discovered that spirituality is about self-discovery and not about what church you attend or religion you follow. I will always believe what I do as a Spiritualist but I am a much gentler person. I am more thoughtful than and not as hard on others as I used to be. I think I am learning and growing as God/the Universe intended me to.

No I have not read the book. Why do you like and recommend it?

Cat

-- posted by sacred_insights

» pink101 - Support Groups

In response to Support Groups posted by sacred_insights:
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Read the review.
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It's passed off as a fairy tale for children; but, it is for adults who are seeking their own identity. There are helpers.
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Is it your idea that the spirit is the same as the core of your being?
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-- posted by pink101