maadmax 0
Absolutely! Look at how God reached out to people through Thor! In the day, people'd be crazy to mock Thor.
linz***
And just when I had given up on you. Maybe there is hope for you yet 
______________________________________
Squeak 17
There are spiritual truths in the world. There is an incredible and enlightening wisdom in life, and I think you would agree. Many of these truths require belief, but that doesnt make them fictional.
Umm, not there is not, there ARE Spiritual BELIEFS, and they are not universal ergo they are not truths.
You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?
shaark 0
What is spirituality? (That's also a question for you. Language can be so limiting in communication.)
Maybe: an awareness of self, and a quest to try and grasp some sense of the meaning of life. A joy in consciousness, and for many a need to hope that individual consciousness continues after the death of the body.
As a spiritual person I experience great joy of life. I dearly hope my consciousness will continue, and hopefully will even expand. Don't know if it will.
God may exist, but if so by definition is unknowable. And not humanly understandable.
An entity may or may not have created the universe. (I prefer 'multiverse'. Universe is too parochial.) Unknowable.
Given such an entity, it may or may not be self aware. Probably such a human concept means nothing.
Such an entity may no longer exist. Maybe the entity became the multiverse. Who's to know?
Big bang? Most recent and most favoured origin theory.
Even this does not quite get us to it's singularity, and we have no comprehension of the singularity itself, or anything before. Isn't it great that there is so much to explore?
For religious and non-religious alike the origin of the universe question, no matter how far back one can or wants to take it, seems to be a fantastically exciting quest, a spiritual quest.
I would say --- Be in awe that you are an aware part of everything. We are, at least in a small way, the consciousness of the universe. And, if there is awareness after death, a consciousness of a realm we know nothing about yet, or maybe just a different consciousness of the universe we now inhabit.
How cool.
I'm excited.
Glad I live today and not in any time/place that let religion block thought.
Maybe: an awareness of self, and a quest to try and grasp some sense of the meaning of life. A joy in consciousness, and for many a need to hope that individual consciousness continues after the death of the body.
As a spiritual person I experience great joy of life. I dearly hope my consciousness will continue, and hopefully will even expand. Don't know if it will.
God may exist, but if so by definition is unknowable. And not humanly understandable.
An entity may or may not have created the universe. (I prefer 'multiverse'. Universe is too parochial.) Unknowable.
Given such an entity, it may or may not be self aware. Probably such a human concept means nothing.
Such an entity may no longer exist. Maybe the entity became the multiverse. Who's to know?
Big bang? Most recent and most favoured origin theory.
Even this does not quite get us to it's singularity, and we have no comprehension of the singularity itself, or anything before. Isn't it great that there is so much to explore?
For religious and non-religious alike the origin of the universe question, no matter how far back one can or wants to take it, seems to be a fantastically exciting quest, a spiritual quest.
I would say --- Be in awe that you are an aware part of everything. We are, at least in a small way, the consciousness of the universe. And, if there is awareness after death, a consciousness of a realm we know nothing about yet, or maybe just a different consciousness of the universe we now inhabit.
How cool.
I'm excited.
Glad I live today and not in any time/place that let religion block thought.
There are spiritual truths in the world. There is an incredible and enlightening wisdom in life, and I think you would agree. Many of these truths require belief, but that doesnt make them fictional.
Umm, not there is not, there ARE Spiritual BELIEFS, and they are not universal ergo they are not truths.
This is where you will have to express what you know about how to achieve the greater and finer things in life. If your universal truths can impact that in any way, I am all ears believe me. What makes you truly happy? Why do you have opportunities others do not and visa versa? Where is your wisdom? What do you offer?
"We didn't start the fire"
What is spirituality? (That's also a question for you. Language can be so limiting in communication.)
Maybe: an awareness of self, and a quest to try and grasp some sense of the meaning of life. A joy in consciousness, and for many a need to hope that individual consciousness continues after the death of the body.
As a spiritual person I experience great joy of life. I dearly hope my consciousness will continue, and hopefully will even expand. Don't know if it will.
God may exist, but if so by definition is unknowable. And not humanly understandable.
An entity may or may not have created the universe. (I prefer 'multiverse'. Universe is too parochial.) Unknowable.
Given such an entity, it may or may not be self aware. Probably such a human concept means nothing.
Such an entity may no longer exist. Maybe the entity became the multiverse. Who's to know?
Big bang? Most recent and most favoured origin theory.
Even this does not quite get us to it's singularity, and we have no comprehension of the singularity itself, or anything before. Isn't it great that there is so much to explore?
For religious and non-religious alike the origin of the universe question, no matter how far back one can or wants to take it, seems to be a fantastically exciting quest, a spiritual quest.
I would say --- Be in awe that you are an aware part of everything. We are, at least in a small way, the consciousness of the universe. And, if there is awareness after death, a consciousness of a realm we know nothing about yet, or maybe just a different consciousness of the universe we now inhabit.
How cool.
I'm excited.
Glad I live today and not in any time/place that let religion block thought.
I really liked your post. It is without ignorance. I am glad your spirituality brings you joy, and hoping that it does bring joy to others as well. The only thing that makes me a Christian is that I believe Jesus died for my sins and that he came from God (who you consider to be the aware or unaware consciousness of the universe if I read your post right). Knowing these two very simple things allows a spirit of love so powerful to indwell within us that it actually testifies to us all the time. Grace is this measure, and yes, it is eternally revealed, meaning, we cant put an actual measure on it as it does grow through its revelations. Love by nature can grow stonger in absence, and also through accepting forgiveness. What I have found is that the deeper I go, the deeper it gets, there seems to be no limit through faith.
Where it seems that we differ a bit is that I think you may underestimate hope as it applies to the fullness of life. The more I understand even just fractions of this love, the more I am empowered to believe and the more sure my hope gets. A hope that is sure and waiting is the greatest gift we can recieve through faith, and love seems to be the greatest way to make that connection with us. Had Christ come in any other way, I dont think he would have represented God. Instead, he came with a love so limitless that it must be believed to be recieved in any measure. So while your belief seems to be fashioned around the conscience for its power, mine is fashioned around a limitless love and desire to be the righteousness of God. There is something within us that desires righteousness, the more we feed that desire, the closer we come to the power in our actual existance. Its about giving ourselves what we truly want. Unfortunately for our sinful nature what we truly want conflicts with it.
Sprituality to me is about finding life. The absolute fullness of it. I believe the secret of life is to find life, and that only love and truth can get us there. Just saying that it takes life to find life is a challenge for anyone still in ignorance as they sincerely believe there is no life beyond what is seen and touched even though they constantly search for it both consciously and unconsciously. Both the search and the reward are expressed in the Gospel, and was the very message of Jesus.
"We didn't start the fire"
Squeak 17
There are spiritual truths in the world. There is an incredible and enlightening wisdom in life, and I think you would agree. Many of these truths require belief, but that doesnt make them fictional.
Umm, not there is not, there ARE Spiritual BELIEFS, and they are not universal ergo they are not truths.
This is where you will have to express what you know about how to achieve the greater and finer things in life. If your universal truths can impact that in any way, I am all ears believe me. What makes you truly happy? Why do you have opportunities others do not and visa versa? Where is your wisdom? What do you offer?
I don't offer anything
I live my live in a manner that suits me, and it works,
What I don't do is go around espousing that my way is the way for any one else. Or prophesying that my belief systems are the global panaceas to all lifes ills.
Beliefs are nothing more than that, they are not TRUTHS (necessarily) and not LAWS.
As i said before I don't give a crap about how you live your life, but don't try to suppose that it's the way for the world.
You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?
shaark 0
If there is a God I would hesitate to be so rigid in thinking as to ascribe the human concept of 'love' to such an unknowable entity.
I do not have any belief either for or against the possible existence of a god. I think this is the most honest position for a thinking, critical person to take.
Righteousness of god? So many different religions, so many different cultures. What is right, or righteousness? Very slippery concepts, and most definitely not absolutes.
I don't get what you mean re 'hope'. Hope for life after death?
Secret of life is to find life? Don't think there is any 'secret'. Live, experience, learn, try to understand as much as possible, question, think, enjoy. Maybe favour more a Buddhist-style philosophy --- respect everything, and try not to let your living be negative for anything/anyone.
Sure this is a challenge, but challenge makes life worth living. A belief in a god is not a prerequisite, and I do not see why a non-belief should make it more of a challenge, and if so, why, then striving with this challenge should be even more fulfilling.
Want to get into science more?
I 'believe' in our subjective universe. I 'believe' that the ground is solid, and if I bounce it will hurt. I also 'believe' the ground is a macro representation of quantum effects, vis. force fields. I 'believe' force fields are a manifestation of vibrating strings (never mind what particular flavour of string theory). When I skydive my reality is the macro world. When I sit and ponder about a rock, I am gratified that present day physics allows me to sort of understand on a much deeper level. I also can include the Indian (native American) concept of "only the rocks live forever". I can also touch, taste, see and feel the rock. The totality gives me a partially satisfying appreciation of a little bit of the universe, of life.
More science. We can somewhat grasp Relativity. We cannot relate to Quantum physics, though we make use of many quantum effects. The quest to understand the origin of the universe seems to require the integration of both scales of 'reality'.
Again I say How Cool. That critical human intellect can tackle such questions, such concepts. With a basis in verifiable 'facts'. Science is a credit to humanity, and vice versa.
I do not have any belief either for or against the possible existence of a god. I think this is the most honest position for a thinking, critical person to take.
Righteousness of god? So many different religions, so many different cultures. What is right, or righteousness? Very slippery concepts, and most definitely not absolutes.
I don't get what you mean re 'hope'. Hope for life after death?
Secret of life is to find life? Don't think there is any 'secret'. Live, experience, learn, try to understand as much as possible, question, think, enjoy. Maybe favour more a Buddhist-style philosophy --- respect everything, and try not to let your living be negative for anything/anyone.
Sure this is a challenge, but challenge makes life worth living. A belief in a god is not a prerequisite, and I do not see why a non-belief should make it more of a challenge, and if so, why, then striving with this challenge should be even more fulfilling.
Want to get into science more?
I 'believe' in our subjective universe. I 'believe' that the ground is solid, and if I bounce it will hurt. I also 'believe' the ground is a macro representation of quantum effects, vis. force fields. I 'believe' force fields are a manifestation of vibrating strings (never mind what particular flavour of string theory). When I skydive my reality is the macro world. When I sit and ponder about a rock, I am gratified that present day physics allows me to sort of understand on a much deeper level. I also can include the Indian (native American) concept of "only the rocks live forever". I can also touch, taste, see and feel the rock. The totality gives me a partially satisfying appreciation of a little bit of the universe, of life.
More science. We can somewhat grasp Relativity. We cannot relate to Quantum physics, though we make use of many quantum effects. The quest to understand the origin of the universe seems to require the integration of both scales of 'reality'.
Again I say How Cool. That critical human intellect can tackle such questions, such concepts. With a basis in verifiable 'facts'. Science is a credit to humanity, and vice versa.
In the case of the origin of the universe, what impact does that have on spirituality? On getting the absolute most out of life? This is a sincere question by the way.
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