Organized Religion

[Baile]

Originally Posted by elisi

that's my kind of experience.

I have two rock, shell, feather and wood alters, in my house and yard. I'm kind of religious about adding beach objects to them. Only don't tell Seawolf or I'll never hear the end of it.

[norseman]

Originally Posted by elisi

that's my kind of experience.

Beachcombing is my idea of a good time and almost on my doorstep [that's what I have been doing today ]

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by Baile

Ha! Some can and do 24/7/365! Oh my Miss Hepburn! May I call you Katie?
Brilliant.

I prefer 'Brilliant'...but if you must...Kate is fine.

[Baile]

Originally Posted by Miss Hepburn

I prefer 'Brilliant'...but if you must...Kate is fine.

Heh. Just making a Spencer Tracy joke with the Katie thing.

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by Seawolf

It's interesting that the word religion is viewed with such antagonism in Western spirituality, considering many of the popular beliefs are based on Eastern religion.
The popular speakers and authors that define our Western new age
belief systems are basically rehashing Eastern religious beliefs for our modern society.

We have religion and spirituality and then organized religion and beliefs...

I'm thinking the op was talking about those org religions where the Elders
have altered old scriptures to their liking, sent out soldiers to behead the infidels or
Pagan peasants collecting herbs in the fields, controlling their attire, sexual practices,
filling them with fear or guilt about tithing....well, fear and guilt about most things....
speak of Allah or Jehovah or Jesus' Father as pretty scary....or the ones ordaining their
Ministers to preach of hell and brimstone....keeping the flock in a holding pattern
for centuries that their is a sepparation between them and their Maker...that there
needs to be a "go between'....that being the Church of whatever denomination.

Rather than teaching you and you alone can connect with your Creator, period.
No tithing, no ceremonies, no interference from the Elder Fathers of any Church...Iyatollah or Swami or Rabbi or Pope

[Seawolf]

Originally Posted by Miss Hepburn

We have religion and spirituality and then organized religion and beliefs...

I'm thinking the op was talking about those org religions where the Elders
have altered old scriptures to their liking, sent out soldiers to behead the infidels or
Pagan peasants collecting herbs in the fields, controlling their attire, sexual practices,
filling them with fear or guilt about tithing....well, fear and guilt about most things....
speak of Allah or Jehovah or Jesus' Father as pretty scary....or the ones ordaining their
Ministers to preach of hell and brimstone....keeping the flock in a holding pattern
for centuries that their is a sepparation between them and their Maker...that there
needs to be a "go between'....that being the Church of whatever denomination.

Rather than teaching you and you alone can connect with your Creator, period.
No tithing, no ceremonies, no interference from the Elder Fathers of any Church...Iyatollah or Swami or Rabbi or Pope

But we all learn from others, whether we like it or not. That's the way the human mind works. That is unless you've come up with your own spiritual beliefs that have no outside influence whatsoever, which would be impossible.

Maybe instead of being so against things because we percieve them as 'different' or 'bad', we can look at the positive side of them. The positive side of religion, actually outweighs all the negative things you listed above by quite a bit.

Those of different religions than ours are people just like us, we're all human beings. Westerners sometimes like to think of themselves as superior, and spirituality is no exception, but it's probably more spiritual to see others as equals instead of as so inferior because we perceive them to be different. Humans have been doing that since the beginning, maybe we can look beyond it and instead of seeing people as 'those mind-controlled religious people', we can see others as children of God and see our similarities. We're not actually as different as we think, we just tell ourselves we are to make us feel good.

Originally Posted by Baile

I have two rock, shell, feather and wood alters, in my house and yard. I'm kind of religious about adding beach objects to them. Only don't tell Seawolf or I'll never hear the end of it.

i too love the gifts i find. i was taught by my elders that when you take a feather, rock, etc., you always leave a 'thanks' in its place. i carry a tobacco pouch and place a pinch of tobacco on the ground. it's just a reminder that you must always respect and give back.

Originally Posted by Seawolf

Those of different religions than ours are people just like us, we're all human beings.

One might think that should be some sort of common understanding, some sort of basic knowledge in a spiritual forum. But I have to drop that belief.

[Miss Hepburn]

Hi,
We are talking about different things.
Superior, inferior, differences, similarities, perceptions of difference? What?

I'm only speaking of Organized Religion....period.
Western, Eastern, Buddhist, Islam, Jewish, makes no difference.
I don't care for what goes on within the organizations, period...that means
lies, distortion, executions, manipulations, hoarding of money.
I will leave it at that.

I don't know who you are talking to about ...'we are all humans, people are just like us,
children of God....'
I have read the other posts here and no one seems on a Third Grade level to me.
If it seemed I was putting down the masses...it is the Hierarchy of the Religions that I was.
....or the dogma they teach people.

Originally Posted by Seawolf

But we all learn from others, whether we like it or not. That's the way the human mind works. That is unless you've come up with your own spiritual beliefs that have no outside influence whatsoever, which would be impossible.

Maybe instead of being so against things because we percieve them as 'different' or 'bad', we can look at the positive side of them. The positive side of religion, actually outweighs all the negative things you listed above by quite a bit.

Those of different religions than ours are people just like us, we're all human beings. Westerners sometimes like to think of themselves as superior, and spirituality is no exception, but it's probably more spiritual to see others as equals instead of as so inferior because we perceive them to be different. Humans have been doing that since the beginning, maybe we can look beyond it and instead of seeing people as 'those mind-controlled religious people', we can see others as children of God and see our similarities. We're not actually as different as we think, we just tell ourselves we are to make us feel good.

[Baile]

Originally Posted by Miss Hepburn

I don't know who you are talking to about ...'we are all humans, people are just like us,
children of God....'
I have read the other posts here and no one seems on a Third Grade level to me.
If it seemed I was putting down the masses...it is the Hierarchy of the Religions that I was.
....or the dogma they teach people.

Nothing to add other than well said and thank you.