Struggling with this thing called Faith

Sunna · Aug 27, 2011, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xeneon

I get what your trying to saying but I haven't lost anybody. People in this world do bad things to other people. You can't stop what other people do, I know but you can't tell me to say okay thats my past get over it. I'm not choosing to be stuck. I am stuck!!!

I understand what you are saying, too. It is not easy to let go of compulsion to judge everything. After all, we are all possessed by the orginal sin. And it was not just any old knowledge we gobbled up, oh no!, it was knowledge of GOOD and EVIL. Prior to that we were innocent. If something happened, it happened, it was neither good nor evil, it just was. Now we feel that if we stop the judgment the whole world will go to hell. We see so much evil and we believe if we do not fight it, protest it, suffer over it, we will fail in our duties to the world.

I watched movie "Kundun". It is about life of Dalai Llama up to his escape to India. As the monks educate him, he is being told that his duty is to just love, love everyone and everything, that's all. Towards the end of the movie, there is a scene where he is overcome by visions of slaughter and horror being perpertrated by the Chinese invaders upon his people. He stands surrounded by piles of murdered, tortured to death bodies, spreading in cirlces outwards from him, on to infinity. And it struck me how unnatural, according to my convictions, the reaction the actor portrayed was. He felt the unimaginable slaughter, he did not close himself off from it, I could see it touching him deep within, yet he did not respond with just rage: "we must kill these monsters who do it!", "we must fight to the death!", "to arms!". This, I realized, was indeed buddha of compassion, being thrust upon shoulders of slight 18 year old kid. Could I have done it? Could I have continued to "just love" when faced with that? I didn't think it was possible, and yet that's what one human being had done.

Other human beings found God in unlikeliest of places, in concentration camps, in terminal wards, on death rows.

My best wishes to you on your search.

Xeneon · Aug 28, 2011, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Open Eyes

Your welcome Xeneon,
When my daughter hit age three every day I was presented with a lot of what is that and "WHY". And I found it exhausting because to every answer I presented to a WHY there was still yet another WHY. And so I devised a way to allow her to ask a certain amount of WHY'S and then present an answer that could not be presented with yet another WHY.

It is human nature to continuously ask WHY and try to find ways to either SEE or FEEL or TOUCH or even HEAR the answers. We use our senses that relay messages to our brains to collect information and understand our environment and life itself.

When I had to answer the question, "WHAT IS AIR?" that was challenging because it is not something we can readily see. When I think about that question that Abaham asked God and his answer "I AM" I cant help think about the many answers I had to give too to a three year old and to be honest that question kept coming the whole time I raised my daughter and even comes today.

In my own life I have had many challenges and serious questions. I had to make a decision at one point when I had found out my alcoholic husband who had stopped drinking and was in recovery admitted to cheating on me. I also had a child that asked me if she was going to lose her mommy and daddy together family that she had always been so proud of and made her feel special. I didn't know what to do, what was best, and I could not seem to find an answer. I finally decided to bring the question right to god. I pulled into a church and asked to see a preist and present the question to him. Well, the poor man was completely overwhelmed and I really caught him off guard and he really didn't know what to say. That was when I realized that church is not the one place to find GOD. That is why JD's input about the Church and the Garage makes so much sense, especially to me.

So I had to look in a lot of different places, but one place that was important was in the feelings of my own child and what it meant to her. I finally made the decision to stay and try to give my daughter what she asked for and find the strength to somehow forgive my husband. It was a very challenging journey and did have a profound effect on me. But I did notice along the way there were little messages coming from different places that helped to guide me. And I had to learn how to listen and watch for these messages. I did pray a lot and every time I did I would find answers, often in the most unexpected places.

I am a middle aged woman and I have been through a lot in my life, many challenges that I had to find a way through. And it was very challenging and I tried my best and I am sure I made mistakes, but I did try. And I realize that for the rest of my life I am going to continue to ask WHY and HOW TO UNDERSTAND AND OVERCOME. And I also realize that every human being is going to do the same. If I can share any of the messages and wisdom and understanding I have gained, perhaps I am just another part of that big answer, "I AM", "I AM EVERYWHERE", "I AM IN YOU".

Open Eyes

Thanks Open eyes!!! You have alot of knowlege thanks.
Today is going to be a start of new day!!!

Xeneon · Sep 03, 2011, 10:20 PM

This is my opinion, if I can't talk about my situation and can't get some good feed back here. Then what the point. Who cares if someone mentioned the bible. You saw the title to this form and you didn't have to read. If you thought you where going to be affend then you shouldn't of clicked and read the thread. This place is full of things that can affend someone or trigger someone. I will stand for what I believe, even if that may be that I get kicked off something because you know what that means. It wasn't meant to be. There are other ways to deal with things. This place is great but if I don't get honest replys then this place is doing me no good. So please stop coming in this thread and debating what is right and wrong. There was 2 big warning signs before you can in. When you saw the title of the form (Sanctuary for Spiritual SUPPORT) and when you saw the title to my thread which was called Struggling with this thing called Faith. I would REALLY like if you want to futher this conversation if someone was right or wrong in another thread. My thread wasn't to cause a disagreement, it was to HOPE that someone to lend a hand and give me some advice. I got more then, I ever thought I would. I thank every single person that decided to take there time out of there day to read my thread and to reply to it. Thanks!!!

Sep 03, 2011, 10:29 PM

And,I genuinely hope that the assists that you are receiving would continue.You will not be kicked off.At the most,the thread may be closed.But,if at that point,you feel that there are members here you want to private message,I would encourage you to do so,and make every attempt to further your quest,and feed that hunger within.You face a normal and natural inner struggle,and which many many people share with you.Keep your chin up....

DocJohn · Sep 04, 2011, 05:52 AM

Just a gentle reminder as we move forward with this thread that we are in the Spirituality forum. That means no mention of any specific religion or religious icons, beliefs, etc. Thank you for your cooperation.

DocJohn

(JD) · Sep 06, 2011, 02:05 PM

For everyone's guidance in this "discussion" in the "sanctuary for spiritual support" ....

it's tough to share, I know, when limited.When you limit yourself in what you can think, and then limited in how to share, well, it's just tough.

Please continue on your journey. There are good things ahead.

Cracked_Pot · 03:53 AM

Wow, free will, and all that? You got some understanding going on there.You know, I watched my high school sweet heart, and also my wife, take her last breath tomorrow
morning, Wednesday 1991. Man, did I get ticked off at God. He let me pout for a couple of years, then one day, He just kinda knocked and said "what are you ticked about?" My wife. I prayed for you to heal her! "And, what happened?" You let her die, I said. "God said, hey, rocket scientist, if I had healed her cancer, how long would she have lived? what would have been the next thing that got her? disease? terrorist attack?" He just stopped for a minute and let me think, then He said, "I answered your prayer better than you even thought. Yes, I could have healed her down here, and one day, you probably would have still had to watch her die. Oh, I did one way better than that! I healed her forever!!!" That faith you were talkin about? It's still there, you've just chosen to set it aside for a time. God is faithful, even when I'm not!!!

Xeneon · Sep 08, 2011, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cracked_Pot

Wow, free will, and all that? You got some understanding going on there.You know, I watched my high school sweet heart, and also my wife, take her last breath tomorrow
morning, Wednesday 1991. Man, did I get ticked off at God. He let me pout for a couple of years, then one day, He just kinda knocked and said "what are you ticked about?" My wife. I prayed for you to heal her! "And, what happened?" You let her die, I said. "God said, hey, rocket scientist, if I had healed her cancer, how long would she have lived? what would have been the next thing that got her? disease? terrorist attack?" He just stopped for a minute and let me think, then He said, "I answered your prayer better than you even thought. Yes, I could have healed her down here, and one day, you probably would have still had to watch her die. Oh, I did one way better than that! I healed her forever!!!" That faith you were talkin about? It's still there, you've just chosen to set it aside for a time. God is faithful, even when I'm not!!!

Wow thats amazing story!! Thanks for sharing!!

Willcat · Sep 09, 2011, 07:20 AM

I'm a collective void of all belief. Tho I have a unfamiliar understanding of spiritual things...as well as an atheist can that is.

I like sunrises and the sets of the sun. Many plants, incests and animals hold a deep association...kinship with my heart.

I do not care to understand anything further as mythology has to offer...I must remain free of such appeal so as to enjoy the undulated beauty of life.

My way is often misunderstood. I do not contradict nor do I affirm one side or the other with regards to mythology, Simply I proceed with open eyes and clear conscious.

I make no effort to deny what I do not see. I live life as it is presented before me. That is enough for me to manage...on good days.

I am an atheist and I just want to be allowed to exist...as I will commit to do without apologies.

Sep 09, 2011, 08:10 AM

Good for you willcat,but did you read the rest of this thread?.....If you want to express your personal views,perhaps create your own thread....maybe titled....my spiritual views or lack thereof,many will be able to relate to that....but I don't understand why you visited xeneons thread to insert this.If you read the title and the subsequent posts perhaps you will understand the content/focus the op originally presented?The title of this forum is Sanctuary for spiritual support.Do you need support on your spirituality?

Perna · Sep 09, 2011, 10:56 AM

A book that have helped me enormously was C. S. Lewis' The Great Divorce:

http://www.amazon.com/Great-Divorce-.../dp/0060652950

Xeneon · Sep 11, 2011, 02:10 PM

I thank everyone for coming to my thread and be willing to give me advice. I really appreicate it!!!

(JD) · Sep 14, 2011, 02:00 PM

May you find the peace you seek.

HaleBopp13 · Oct 08, 2011, 12:17 PM

Hello sweetheart.
Believe it or not, I know EXACTLY what you're going through. This time may be painful for you, but it will pass... if you are willing to confront the doubts and ask those questions you think are forbidden. I tried to ignore them and they never went away until I allowed myself to ask the questions. Many people have gone through what you're going through. Remember that the path to the truth is painful and full of uncertainties. If you wish to go back to faith, certainly do so! But if you find that that doesn't work and you can't go back... you can come talk to me if you want. I've been where you are! Hang in there!

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Struggling with this thing called Faith

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