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> This will likely be unpopular here, Whatever works for you. There's nothing wrong with religion or spirituality as long as it serves you well. Of course, thi

by Dewie 12y ago

> This will likely be unpopular here, Whatever works for you. There's nothing wrong with religion or spirituality as long as it serves you well. Of course, this could be said about anything, but I don't see any legitimate reason for naysayers to single out religion as a crutch or something. Your approach sounds like some kind of meditation, to me. Certainly that has proven to be beneficial to a lot of people. I'm not one to dismiss the spiritual side of meditation, either.

kirse 12y ago
It's unfortunate that what I have presented comes off sounding as an "approach", because it is a relationship. Praying is talking to God, and reading the Bible is hearing and being able to discern his word (knowing Him). As scientists and engineers we like to dissect and explain things in terms of our extremely limited body of knowledge. We set up structures and frameworks and rules for living and whatnot. But in the end, it's not an "approach". The best relationships have no one-way approach, they're fluid and you're authentic and vulnerable with each other. And sometimes there really are no words to explain that connection, just the inexplicable shared bond of emotion in the quietest moments. And so is the same with a relationship with God. To attempt to squeeze something so incredibly dynamic into the limited confines of the knowledge of this world / science would merely rob it of its power. Nor is it self-serving, nor was the focus/goal to reduce fear/anxiety... which can only be described as a side effect.
- Dewie 12y ago
  > It's unfortunate that what I have presented comes off sounding as an "approach", If I had spiritual beliefs and practices, I would still call that an approach. I could have a really personal and deep relationship with god, or whatever it is, and that is still and approach that works for me. Maybe that diminishes it? Well, I meant more to say that there are many roads to Rome. Some people find the answer in a Christian god, other people find the answer in a god that is more akin to a universal mind. Other people don't think the notion of a god/gods useful or truthful. Some people, and religions, will call this viewpoint heresy. Do I look at spirituality as a sort of means-to-an-end? Yes. If you find a way that makes you a good person and makes you lead a full/happy/whatever criteria life, then that in itself is a big reward. Is it self-serving? Yes, but I don't view that as a bad thing. An important factor, I guess, is that my beliefs around spirituality don't involve some struggle against evil, or saving others, or some eternal and final scoreboard, which many religions have. I don't think this life makes or breaks anything. In that sense, I am more curious about how to live a good life, because that's all I have right now, or might ever have.

by Dewie 12y ago

kirse 12y ago

It's unfortunate that what I have presented comes off sounding as an "approach", because it is a relationship. Praying is talking to God, and reading the Bible is hearing and being able to discern his word (knowing Him). As scientists and engineers we like to dissect and explain things in terms of our extremely limited body of knowledge. We set up structures and frameworks and rules for living and whatnot. But in the end, it's not an "approach". The best relationships have no one-way approach, they're fluid and you're authentic and vulnerable with each other. And sometimes there really are no words to explain that connection, just the inexplicable shared bond of emotion in the quietest moments. And so is the same with a relationship with God. To attempt to squeeze something so incredibly dynamic into the limited confines of the knowledge of this world / science would merely rob it of its power. Nor is it self-serving, nor was the focus/goal to reduce fear/anxiety... which can only be described as a side effect.

Dewie 12y ago
> It's unfortunate that what I have presented comes off sounding as an "approach", If I had spiritual beliefs and practices, I would still call that an approach. I could have a really personal and deep relationship with god, or whatever it is, and that is still and approach that works for me. Maybe that diminishes it? Well, I meant more to say that there are many roads to Rome. Some people find the answer in a Christian god, other people find the answer in a god that is more akin to a universal mind. Other people don't think the notion of a god/gods useful or truthful. Some people, and religions, will call this viewpoint heresy. Do I look at spirituality as a sort of means-to-an-end? Yes. If you find a way that makes you a good person and makes you lead a full/happy/whatever criteria life, then that in itself is a big reward. Is it self-serving? Yes, but I don't view that as a bad thing. An important factor, I guess, is that my beliefs around spirituality don't involve some struggle against evil, or saving others, or some eternal and final scoreboard, which many religions have. I don't think this life makes or breaks anything. In that sense, I am more curious about how to live a good life, because that's all I have right now, or might ever have.