I have a confession to make...

[GWguy]

Your assertion that a belief in God is necessary for spiritual health is quite naïve. Those who believe in God do not have an exclusive right to spirituality. Spirituality is a much broader concept.

Agree. You can be spiritual and still be agnostic or a non-believer. Japanese are a perfect example: there is a spirit for almost every item or object. A river spirit, a sun spirit, a radish spirit.... and on and on. Spiritual without reference to a God.

 

[mamatutu]

Agree. You can be spiritual and still be agnostic or a non-believer. Japanese are a perfect example: there is a spirit for almost every item or object. A river spirit, a sun spirit, a radish spirit.... and on and on. Spiritual without reference to a God.

That is a very good point. The Japanese have a very strong life and family value ethic and appreciate all around them, and everything is very orderly. Not by government, but by the way they believe and live. My parents traveled all over the world in their time, and were very drawn to the Japanese experience. My mother brought back a miniature Japanese garden with real sand and a little rake that you could use to make the sand exactly perfect. It was always on her desk, raked to perfection, and always in order. I have that now, and it means a lot to me.

 

[my-thyme]

for mAlice:

 

[ProximaCentauri]

Agree. You can be spiritual and still be agnostic or a non-believer. Japanese are a perfect example: there is a spirit for almost every item or object. A river spirit, a sun spirit, a radish spirit.... and on and on. Spiritual without reference to a God.

Yeah, the Japanese culture offers a great example...a spiritual connection to the earth, maybe somewhat similar to American Indian culture.

Then there's music, poetry, art...all certainly expressions of human spirituality.

I believe one can also have a spiritual connection to the universe. After all, we are all composed of the same matter; the dust from exploded stars.

 

[DoWhat]

we are all composed of the same matter; the dust from exploded stars.

Finally, somebody tells me I am a STAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Life is now good.

 

[ProximaCentauri]

Finally, somebody tells me I am a STAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Life is now good.

If thinking of yourself as a "Star" works for you, go for it...it's better than thinking of yourself as a Black hole.

 

[This_person]

Your assertion that a belief in God is necessary for spiritual health is quite naïve. Those who believe in God do not have an exclusive right to spirituality. Spirituality is a much broader concept.

And, like I believe the way I do, you certainly have the right to your opinion.

That's why I discussed how I feel about religion and not a generic concept of generic religion.

 

[ProximaCentauri]

That's why I discussed how I feel about religion and not a generic concept of generic religion.

Not sure what you mean by this.

 

[mamatutu]

Finally, somebody tells me I am a STAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Life is now good.

It wasn't good before?

But, you do understand the dust to dust thing, right?

 

[mamatutu]

If thinking of yourself as a "Star" works for you, go for it...it's better than thinking of yourself as a Black hole.

That might be the best reply I have ever seen on this forum in my 3 years here!

There used to be yearly forum awards on who was who. Vrai should bring that back and the 'like' button. And karma which was before my time, but I have read it was hoot!

 

[This_person]

Not sure what you mean by this.

I mean you told me that I have a naive belief. I was discussing my belief strictly in terms of Christianity. You "corrected" me with generic spirituality. While I did use the term spiritual, my intent was strictly Christian. You believe someone can be spiritually healthy without God, and I disagree. The Japanese can certainly have their rock spirits and the American Indian can paint with all the colors of the wind, but it is my belief that spiritual health comes from the Holy Trinity. I respect their right to their beliefs, but that doesn't diminish or invalidate mine.

 

[ProximaCentauri]

That might be the best reply I have ever seen on this forum in my 3 years here!

There used to be yearly forum awards on who was who. Vrai should bring that back and the 'like' button. And karma which was before my time, but I have read it was hoot!

Thanks, just trying to keep it fun with a little sarcasm to counterbalance his sarcasm.

 

[ProximaCentauri]

I mean you told me that I have a naive belief. I was discussing my belief strictly in terms of Christianity. You "corrected" me with generic spirituality. While I did use the term spiritual, my intent was strictly Christian. You believe someone can be spiritually healthy without God, and I disagree. The Japanese can certainly have their rock spirits and the American Indian can paint with all the colors of the wind, but it is my belief that spiritual health comes from the Holy Trinity. I respect their right to their beliefs, but that doesn't diminish or invalidate mine.

Right, thanks for clearing that up for me. I respect your right to your beliefs; like you I may not agree with them and conversely, may consider them spiritually unhealthy. But just realize that many, including Christians, will beg to differ with you.

Do you believe the Dalai Lama to be spiritually unhealthy? I suspect many people around the world, including many Christians, revere the Dalai Lama as one of the most spiritual human beings on the face of the planet. Yet, he has no belief in a supernatural.

 

[PrchJrkr]

If thinking of yourself as a "Star" works for you, go for it...it's better than thinking of yourself as a Black hole.

Racist!

 

[BOP]

She attacked my belief. Do you think that I should value her opinion?

No she didn't. Your reading comprehension skills are slipping. Badly.

 

[BOP]

If thinking of yourself as a "Star" works for you, go for it...it's better than thinking of yourself as a Black hole.

Racist.

 

[Radiant1]

And karma which was before my time, but I have read it was hoot!

You'd have fun with karma.

 

[Larry Gude]

You'd have fun with karma.

 

[Bann]

I mean you told me that I have a naive belief. I was discussing my belief strictly in terms of Christianity. You "corrected" me with generic spirituality. While I did use the term spiritual, my intent was strictly Christian. You believe someone can be spiritually healthy without God, and I disagree. The Japanese can certainly have their rock spirits and the American Indian can paint with all the colors of the wind, but it is my belief that spiritual health comes from the Holy Trinity. I respect their right to their beliefs, but that doesn't diminish or invalidate mine.

Yet, you diminish others' beliefs. If you believe others are entitled to their own beliefs, then you wouldn't demean them by saying those beliefs were unhealthy.

 

[Larry Gude]

Yet, you diminish others' beliefs. If you believe others are entitled to their own beliefs, then you wouldn't demean them by saying those beliefs were unhealthy.

That's because, quite often, when we say are for freedom and liberty and the Constitution, we mean 'as long as you understand it like I do'.