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Post by E on Apr 27, 2009 12:36:57 GMT -5
I think that my religious journey is not that at all. I don't think I am particularly religious. I think I am spiritual. I want to see the spirit of things.
But then again I think that the spirit of things is the energy of things. I think that when we channel our energy or spirit into something that we can do great things. I don't mean great things in the sense of "good" things either. I mean great as in monumental, great as in large. I think that when you channel your spirit into something you care enough about, huge things can happen. I think the common person would call this passion, or being passionate. If you are passionate about your .. work, for instance, you do well. You accomplish much.
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qira
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Post by qira on Apr 27, 2009 13:26:56 GMT -5
Interesting question.
I think my path is both religious and spiritual - that is it has both communal and solitary practices and aims, and both external and internal work associated with it. On one hand, I am definitely of the mystic bent, and spent time in meditation and doing interior work - I also, like many of us here, am one who sees the Divine manifest in the world around me, and can get very caught up in that.
But I'm also a communal person, someone who works to bring justice and compassion into the world, and someone who is very aesthetically oriented. I love beauty, ritual, and the power of a group of people coming together in community.
so I'm both for sure.
Qira
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Post by Shannon on Apr 28, 2009 10:50:24 GMT -5
I hate that I have to make these short...
I would say I'm spiritual but that my motivation is to become religious.
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qira
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Post by qira on Apr 28, 2009 12:34:01 GMT -5
interesting. why is it your motivation to become religious? say more?
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Post by Shannon on Apr 28, 2009 20:31:48 GMT -5
interesting. why is it your motivation to become religious? say more? Understand that I don't mean this interpretation is for everyone, but for me being spiritual is much less structured than I would like it to be. I really am searching for A religious regime and participation in my life.A reason for why I do things and why I must do them. Even if its just to rebel against it and challenge it. Because that's better than a void and feeling like there is no tether between me and what is.
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Post by Denethor on Apr 29, 2009 17:37:39 GMT -5
By "a religious regime and participation" do you mean more ritual? A code of conduct? A community? All three? Or something else?
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Post by Shannon on Apr 29, 2009 21:04:42 GMT -5
By "a religious regime and participation" do you mean more ritual? A code of conduct? A community? All three? Or something else? All three, I suppose. But not ritual in the cloak and dagger sense. ( I know that's not how its generally used.) And not community that I would have to participate in but that I knew shared my same beliefs. And I suppose I want these things in the hope that it would create a mathematical formula. Believing and living Y = the truth and presence of Z. That's the short of it anyhow.
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Post by E on Apr 29, 2009 23:44:52 GMT -5
I think that a religious regime is a religious heirarchy. A preset, preformed version of "how to". I think that if one is looking for something to "belong" to that this is a good place to start daily. {EDIT} I think that one must have conscious "destination" in our religious mind and that we must seek it daily. {EDIT}I also think that as a Pagan, that path is not clearly defined. We don't go to "church every sunday" or read the bible 3 times a week or give up sex for lent. I think that part of being a Pagan is choosing what part of which practices you want to adhere to. I think it gives us a certain type of "religious freedom" one can't find in most modern organized religion.
I like having the choice of whether to attend local function whether it be a festival, ceremony.......anything. I like having the option of when and how to participate in "the regime". I like having a choice.
That doesn't mean that I am any less connected with my beliefs. If anything, it makes them stronger. I think that having a choice in religious aspects make them easier for me to accept.
Everything about our religion is "take what you will and leave the rest.
I need that.
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qira
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Post by qira on Apr 30, 2009 6:47:22 GMT -5
Interesting. I definitely have had a religious experience in a pagan context -- belonging to Four Quarters, I was at moon services twice a month, taught classes, engaged in pastoral counseling, helped marry people, wrote ceremonies for festivals. It was definitely religious, and definitely pagan, but still without a defined set of dogmas, if you know what I mean.
Qira
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Post by Shannon on Apr 30, 2009 10:46:23 GMT -5
I think that a religious regime is a religious heirarchy. A preset, preformed version of "how to". I think that if one is looking for something to "belong" to that this is a good place to start. I also think that as a Pagan, that path is not clearly defined. We don't go to "church every sunday" or read the bible 3 times a week or give up sex for lent. I think that part of being a Pagan is choosing what part of which practices you want to adhere to. I think it gives us a certain type of "religious freedom" one can't find in most modern organized religion. I like having the choice of whether to attend local function whether it be a festival, ceremony.......anything. I like having the option of when and how to participate in "the regime". I like having a choice. That doesn't mean that I am any less connected with my beliefs. If anything, it makes them stronger. I think that having a choice in religious aspects make them easier for me to accept. Everything about our religion is "take what you will and leave the rest. I need that. Well i suppose it depends on which type of religion it is. Though most do have a hierarchy, even pagans have their Gods. I don't see is as oppressive to have a ritual or tradition that you follow to connect with your beliefs. I see it as an enrichment of your life, a purpose to your actions, and a connection to your beliefs. There are groups in paganism in which the 'road' is defined. And there are even groups who find the grab bag mentality of 'whatever works' from any or all beliefs to be offensive and culturally insensitive. Some people seem to whitewash the myths they pick out remaining ignorant to the deeper, more subtle undertones of the religion. A religious practice does not equal Christian tyranny by default. And Christian practices, such as lent, aren't less powerful or valid than pagan libations. Sacrifice is a common theme. To me, not doing something because its reminiscent of something else, seems like I'd be cutting off my nose to spite my face. But then, I also understand how hard it is to truly break away from your previous religion to the point where it no longer influences your decisions. Once you do, though, you really have 'freedom' from it.
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Post by E on Apr 30, 2009 16:38:13 GMT -5
All valid points.
And I agree with many, but I think my main stance here is that one can be spiritual with out being religious.
You are totally right about "grab bag" tactics, but those aren't what I'm referring to. I think that for one to take anything from something, one must fully understand that something. It's kinda like "I want to know what is in the salad before I choose what to eat around". What do you think?
For me, I find it easier to take the centering, mental wellness, self upkeep more in line with what I need right now than celebration and ceremony.
Not to say that won't change. THAT is the best part of being Pagan, I can change.
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Post by Shannon on Apr 30, 2009 17:57:20 GMT -5
I never said one cannot be spiritual without being religious. Spirituality is what your beliefs create, it's how you feel, it's who you are. Religion is the acts you do faithfully to fulfill your spirituality. I was simply stating that's what I needed for my spirit. It wasn't an attack on your spirituality. In fact, I was focused on posting about myself and not on you at all.
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Post by E on Apr 30, 2009 18:41:22 GMT -5
I didn't think it was. I suppose you are just making me think. It feels good to kinda "probe" my beliefs.
I guess there is alot more religion in my regime then I thought there was.
I mean every time my kids get sick, I turn to herbal remedies and consciously try to channel energy into their healing. When I feel out of whack I make an offering of food stuffs to the elements. There is so much that I plan for the future, like Aut's rite of passage to womanhood and the boys first hunts...
Maybe I am religious...
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qira
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Post by qira on May 1, 2009 7:53:28 GMT -5
interesting points. I used to think that the grab-bag approach was totally irresponsible. then I realized that pretty much every major religion in the world has done it, to one degree or other. why should Pagans be different, I wonder? I'm not settled on this point, but it's something that I think about a fair bit.
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Post by blackrose on May 1, 2009 9:11:31 GMT -5
All I can hear is my mother's voice in my head saying, "If everyone else jumped off a cliff... "
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