No one has anything to fear from God, and being eternal, nothing from man either. The only one that causes you problems is yourself. That is why it is so important to learn about yourself.
How about this, then; as you’ve pointed out, being religious and being spiritual are two quite different things (I agree). A spiritual person doesn’t necessarily have to be religious - such as yourself. However, it seems to me that being religious implies being spiritual also; a type of spirituality in which certain points are held in common with others, certainly, but still personal and “contacting, learning, understanding” etc.
So that would be why I disagree with your point about spirituality always having “unconditional love” behind it. Those who believed in the Egyptian or Norse or Greco-Roman gods could certainly be called religious, but I would argue they were also spiritual. And so spirituality, in those cases, pretty much did not have unconditional love as a main point.
You have heard of exchanging/comparing experiences through speech and email and books?
I have been studying this for over twenty years now. Don’t know what you mean by verify, this is personal experience we are talking about. To be honest I don’t care what others think or believe, when they have an experience they will know what we are talking about also.
Having religion does not imply being spiritual. Religion is made up of rituals and laws and such. Religious people generally do not go beyong that doctrine. They are told and believe that these rituals, beliefs, and laws are all they need. In Christianity you must accept Jesus as your personal saviour and you are good to go. However, there may be a small percentage of people who actually read the Bible all the way through and try to follow the teachings of Jesus. If they follow the teachings of Jesus they are practicing unconditional love. But in summary religion has nothing to do with spirituality.
And all people who believed in the Egyptian/Norse/so on gods were not spiritual? Every single one of them did not go beyond that doctrine?
It seems to me you have a circular argument on your hands - you can tell who’s spiritual because they practice unconditional love, and you can tell who practices unconditional love because they’re spiritual.
I have to run so more later, but I think it’s become quite obvious that if this conversation is to continue in any meaningful way, terms must be defined and agreed upon.
For me, the word “God” refers to a supernatural being that is in some way “The Creator” of life on earth, and is, in some way, a conscious guiding, directing, thinking, largely separate force in the universe.
What you speak of above is more of where I tend to lean when I am leaning to believing in anything along these lines at all, and that is that all life, particularly all human life, is connected in a sort of “behind the scenes” way that some call spirit, others call higher consciousness, etc. There is no “otherness”, jsut as you say here. We are all connected with each other and together create our collective reality.
So, for the purposes of this discussion, so that we do not get bogged down in arguing about WORDS, can we agree upon these words in this way?
I don’t recall saying you had a problem - merely that you had a circular argument. If you’re happy with that, that’s fine. Unless you mean something to do with my question, that you seem to have deftly dodged, but hey, don’t worry. There’s no need to question yourself. And no, I can’t believe what I will; I cannot will myself to believe something else, as i’m sure you’re aware.
I’m afraid I don’t know your quote, though (i’m assuming it’s a quote, and not just just talking in German). Could you translate?
Well, I have no circular argment just because you say I do. People do believe what they want to believe, and can change that belief on the moments notice at will if they desire to do so. Belief and truth are not equal. The phrase was german meaning: “it makes no difference to me.”
So “setting aside the commandments of god” and “nullify[ing] the word of God” aren’t a problem? That seems to contradict what the good ol’ JC said in Matthew 5:17. But hey, I’m not biblical scholar. I just speak English. These are all New International translations, for what it’s worth.
Quite true, but you presented no defence. Given that I am certain you would want your beliefs presented in the best light possible, and that due to your doctrine of unconditional love you should want me to understand you, I assumed that if you had a defence you would have given it. Even now, you’re not actually providing a reason, just pointing out that it is possible for you to a have a reason.
I disagree. People can only change their beliefs because of outside motivation. If someone has decided they have misgivings or new problems with their faith, it is because something has happened to change their mind, not because they have suddenly changed their mind absent of any stimulus. I invite you to change your beliefs about something, right now, as proof of this; you might believe that cows are blue, for example. Given the motivation of proving me wrong, I am sure you will be able to do this if you are correct.
I agree completely, and tbh don’t know what i’ve written to make you believe I don’t.
Thanks! But i’m not certain why it wouldn’t. As I said, you love unconditionally, and you believe your views to be correct. Surely you should care very much what I believe.
No matter how much God loves, He does not overide the decisions of His children. If they want to do things harmful to themselves in the physical they have the free will to do just that. God knows that eventually, like the prodigal son, they will give up their self-destructive behavior. They are always safe and secure, He created them eternal like Himself. I am not obliged to change the world or anyone in it. I can and do help others when they ask, many are helped. I can and do change my beliefs on a daily basis, this is not something great, everyone does the same.