Do you read the holy book of your faith on a regular basis? Be it the Bible, Torah, Quran, or teachings of another prophet, is that where you turn when you need guidance or assurance of your path?
Me too...I don't read the Bible to my kids anymore, just on occasion...after my experience working at the parochial school, I'm really at a loss for how I feel about Christians now...you wouldn't believe some of the stuff I;ve seen from so-called god fearing folks...and I can't abide hypocrisy...but that's exactly what I found there. I know it isn't the religion per se, however, I've not met many church goers who really practice what's in the Bible...it's just become a historical manuscript to me...I hope this makes sense...
Being pagan, there is no one holy book for my path. I do love reading books on spirituality, both fiction and nonfiction, and on the history of religion. But when I need guidance, I go direct to the Source. Quilting and gardening are my preferred methods of meditation. I need something active, and both of those are repetitive mindless actions that allow me to focus elsewhere and Listen.
Ah, yes, grapevine, I remember that game...and considering there are different versions of the bible too, that kind of takes some of the glow off too...and someone mentioned earlier that the Da Vinci Code changed their views of the bible a bit...can you imagine if this bit of speculative fiction were actually true??? Now there's a sobering thought.
Don't know if you've read the story of the Grand Inquisitor by Dostoyevsky (sp?)...I read it more than 25 years ago...it's about a prophet/savior whose message meets with staunch rebellion from the common people, no one believed he was actually who he said he was and they threw him in jail....so who's to say we would even know a savior if he breezed into town?
Me too, Cara...I'm glad you have had similar experiences because for many years, I blamed myself for not fitting in...I vowed to be kinder to myself during the next half of my life, and I will never doubt myself to that extent again...my oldest daughter recently asked me the other day WHY in heaven's name did I send her to that place to begin with??? She sees right through all the nonsense, and she's a child...but she doesn't think there's anything wrong with HER, she knows it's them...Out of mouths of babes, LOL.
I remember up until a few years ago, I felt if I didn't say a prayer exactly how I learned it (ex. Our Father), that I wasn't praying correctly. I now know it is my own individual way I pray that gets results, not just saying a particular prayer that I was told I had to say at a young age over and over again. It seemed like when I did that, my mind always wondered because I was so bored with the words. When you say a heart felt prayer, than listen (meditate), it seems to have more results. I do the same as ginger.cookie. I read about all different religions and pick what I think best fits me. I guess I would be considered Pagan too because I believe in The Goddess and God and they say if you believe in more than one God, your Pagan, but I don't really have a name for the religion I practice except Spirituality.
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The last time I read the bible was during a Bethel Bible Series course many years ago.
Ah, yes, grapevine, I remember that game...and considering there are different versions of the bible too, that kind of takes some of the glow off too...and someone mentioned earlier that the Da Vinci Code changed their views of the bible a bit...can you imagine if this bit of speculative fiction were actually true??? Now there's a sobering thought.
Don't know if you've read the story of the Grand Inquisitor by Dostoyevsky (sp?)...I read it more than 25 years ago...it's about a prophet/savior whose message meets with staunch rebellion from the common people, no one believed he was actually who he said he was and they threw him in jail....so who's to say we would even know a savior if he breezed into town?
Praying is talking to God, Meditation is listening.
I do the same as ginger.cookie. I read about all different religions and pick what I think best fits me. I guess I would be considered Pagan too because I believe in The Goddess and God and they say if you believe in more than one God, your Pagan, but I don't really have a name for the religion I practice except Spirituality.
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