Spiritual isolation

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by Starman

In my opinion there is no such thing as spiritual isolation; how can I be isolated when I am bathing in divine spirit? People feel isolated when they feel disconnected from their community or other people but I am not isolated when I feel spirit in my life.

When I get 'information' from spirit: I am usually alone.
When I have a conversation with spirit, it is as if I am communicating with my best friend, and it never includes others.

[SaraTherase]

I agree that isolation comes after the dark night of the soul but I also feel that isolation aka hermit mode to be a crucial fundamental part of not only spiritual development but overall development and growth as a human being. Isolation seems to be deeply connected to grief and ones need to isolate and do soul searching pertaining to loss.

I also have personally found that when I fully embrace my true self and walk the spiritual path so to speak that isolation can stem from a place of moving out of resonance with that which I no longer match in vibration so that too can lead to isolation.

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

.... but isn't that true of virtually all religions?

I'm thinking some have a bit more leeway. I might NOT believe
in healings for example ---but the Pentecostal Church would not 'kick me out'...I don't think...they would work on me
harder and maybe laugh at my doubts.
Same with Christian Science - they would consider them doubts that need to be worked on.

[Starman]

I believe that a lot of people just do not know how to live with themselves, they need someone around them to feel connected, but there is also an inner connection, which to me dispels isolation. It is my opinion that spiritually we are never alone.

It is different for each individual person; we all need alone time and some need more alone time then others. I go off alone camping in nature, it energizes me, and then I come back around people and give them that renewed energy.

[Miss Hepburn]

I thought Mo was talking about being a recluse, hermit, alone -similar to Jesus' 40 days of spiritual and physical isolation or to a Monk's.
But, what I understand, he is talking about the 'feeling' of being alone in his interpretations or understandings of something, say - Scripture.
As he said in Post 5 _ "....one that has this approach realizes that he is isolated from others..."

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by Miss Hepburn

I'm thinking some have a bit more leeway. I might NOT believe
in healings for example ---but the Pentecostal Church would not 'kick me out'...I don't think...they would work on me
harder and maybe laugh at my doubts.

Memories....

I once had 3 members of a Pentecostal Church invite me to their Church to do healings and possibly give the Sermon.

This came about from a 15-30 minute encounter at a 'breakfast' counter. I never told them what I believe but did show them certain scriptures from their Bible.

I would say we have more in common with others then the questionable/debatable beliefs.

[Gem]

Originally Posted by Molearner

Gem,

This is excellent and to the point. Oddly the institution or church that feels they are being subverted are basically broadcasting that there are weaknesses in their accepted beliefs and that they are not capable of defending a position that is shaky. Viewing this as a threat to the social order or institution in olden days one could be pronounced a heretic with increasing levels of punishment. In modern days the common punishment is more li

I'm one of the few who understands the context, and thereby understands the isolation. Of course you can feel isolated in all sorts of contexts: as the black sheep in the family, as the only one not invited, being shunned from a congregation, as the Asian kid in Arkansas with bad English and so forth... and the spiritual lights who are floating about here also relate to isolation through their own personal experience of it. It's just they don't really listen, so they missed the context being bit too wound up in their own grand ideas. I'll be perceived as rude, and so will you, I'm sure of that, when in fact, you weren't listened to, you were rolled over, and they don't even know that happened. I'm more of a details guy. I don't have much in the way of grand allusions but I know what's happening on the ground, and feeling isolated is something we all feel sometimes. I often feel like I'm in my own private Idaho.

[Starman]

Any isolation I have ever felt, as a child or adult, was in passing; it came and went rather quickly. These days I do not readily embrace how people define me, and I have not felt isolated in many decades.

Most people want to belong but some are fine not belonging. Egoistic suicide often happens when a person feels isolated, alone, and have no social integration. It is considered “ego” centered by the psychological community.

Using the Freudian model of ego; ego constantly seeks attention, and when it is not given attention, it, or we, may feel isolated. This is a standard ego psychology perspective. But we can give attention to ourselves regardless whether we receive attention from others or not.

In my opinion we need to learn how to love ourselves and not wait around for others to love us. We have to give to ourselves as an adult what we did not receive as a child. People need people, of that I am sure; we are social creatures.

But today most socializing takes place online with people who we may have never physically met, and lots of people online feel connected to other people online; in my opinion there is no right or wrong in this, especially if it resolves feelings of isolation. Although I do love physically touching another person, of course with their permission. I do love physically hugging.

[vibrations]

I could t have said it better myself, there are those who are like hermits and enjoy their own company, so this stage would be easier for them. I suppose theres a healthy and unhealthy way we can look at this and find balance within. Having compassion for the self I agree is the key, looking back at the mere reflections of ourselves help us find who we are and reach our higher self.

[Gem]

The world is kinda isolating in general, moreso than it once was. A symptom of our times, it seems.