Posted by Dena on June 10, 2008, at 2:12:31
In reply to Lou's reply to Sigismund-cogbi, posted by Lou Pilder on May 16, 2008, at 6:55:06
I'm having a hard time understanding the nature and purpose of the Faith forum, altogether.
When I first came here, back about 7 years ago now (thereabouts), I was quite into institutional Christianity, and I couldn't manage to NOT foist my views "as fact" upon others -- and managed to get blocked over and over and over ... I belive my last blocking period was 64 weeks -- which is over a year. Whew! I shall squelch my perverse sense of pride over such an accomplishment! ;)
In all seriousness, my beliefs have morphed over the years, particularly once I left the institutions, and I've come to believe that each one is on their own spiritual journey -- I still have my own particular views, but I no longer feel the need to foist them. I've come to appreciate others' views as valid and valuable -- and I have a better trust in God, to meet each one where they are, as they are, and go with them on each journey.
HOWEVER, it seems odd to me that those of us WITH various spiritual beliefs cannot be given the freedom to express those beliefs, if only in an educational way, for the benefit of others to better understand us -- and it CAN, and SHOULD, be done in such a way as to be "this is what I believe" rather than "if you believe anything differently you are a nincompoop."
I believe (last I checked!) that we're all adults here, and as such, we can both be considerate of others, AND *choose* to not take offense, or to not be threatened, by the notion that others have varying beliefs from our own.
IF someone feels offended, they can say to the offender, "what you said offends me". And the offender can say something like, "I'm sorry, that was not my intention -- I was trying to convey what I believe, but I didn't mean to harm you in any way, please forgive me." And the offended one can say, "I forgive you." And EACH one can CHOOSE to give the other the benefit of the doubt.
Each one can be a grown-up, and assume the best of the other. It's freeing. It's empowering. It's fun! And, it makes for good relationships, which in turn makes for good conversations.
Given all of THAT, I do not see what the problem is with Lou having the freedom to share his spiritual experience, and to quote what the Rider said to him ... each of us is free to consider whatever he shares, and choose whether to disregard it, or to contemplate it. Freedom!
I believe that unless and until we, as inviduals in various stages of growth, can take responsibility for our own reactions to others, and to examine why we are offended, we're stuck, at the mercy of everyone around us.
When I am offended by someone, I can examine it, and ask myself, "why did that hurt me?" I can ask myself what that incident reminds me of -- it could very well be that it's triggering an older, unresolved hurt from the past -- something which likely needs attention, discovery, and healing. I can determine whether I want to be defined by others, or whether I want to be a person who says, "hmmm, how interesting that they have that opinion." I can ASK them if they intended to put me down or offend me. I have choices - so many choices...!
I see that Lou has been in this community for many years, and has invested a lot of his time and energy into relationships here. I see that he is trying to share something which has been personally meaningful and important to him, with the rest of us here. I would like to honor him, by listening to him, by reponding to him, and allowing his experience to benefit me in whatever way that seems good to me.
How in the world can his open sharing be seen as a threat to a community that's designed as a place in which to share one's faith with others?
I very much enjoy listening to others' faith journeys! I almost always find something that enables me to grow personally, or at least to understand the other person better -- and isn't THAT important, in any context?
I say, let Lou share, as he shares, and let the rest of us exercise our maturity and choices of HOW to respond, as he does.
And, let others share openly as well ... we have nothing to fear but fear itself ...
One woman's opinion, FWIW!
Shalom, Dena
"The unanswered questions aren't nearly as dangerous as the
unquestioned answers.""We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking only to
learn that it is God shaking them." - Charles West"Naked is having no clothes on. Nekkid is having no clothes on and
being up to something.""Our truth, when it becomes the ONLY truth, ceases to be truth."
"While we're not fearful of tasting new things, we don't necessarily
swallow all that we taste."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
poster:Dena
thread:821127
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20080424/msgs/833904.html