Do you have trouble explaining ?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-20-2000
Do you have trouble explaining ?
15
Sun, 12-11-2005 - 6:03pm

Do you have trouble explaining your religion/faith?

Growing up RC, that was all I used to have to say. People would ask, I'd say "I'm Catholic" and that answered the question.

Now I find when I'm asked that it's very hard to explain Unitarian Universalism. Our minister was talking about it last week...unlike other religions, ours really needs to be experienced to truly understand. You can put our Principles & Purposes out there, but that really doesn't touch it. I know I went to uua.org when I was checking this religion out, saw the Principles & Purposes, and thought, "well, sheesh, YEAH! Who doesn't believe that? That's not hard!". I had no idea how much thought & effort would go into trying to live those principles every day...how much *I* would change as a result. Someone else said we're the opposite of Fundamentalists, no matter which religion they come from. That's true, but to the "outsider", is that at ALL enlightening?

Not like I want to go out & convert the world, lol, or even evangelize, but I feel I'm doing my religion a terrible disservice by not being able to explain what's so great about it, what keeps me coming back, how I believe it helps me as I strive to be the person I *want* to be....

Does this ring true for anyone else here?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 12-11-2005 - 9:49pm
Yep.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2003
Mon, 12-12-2005 - 12:23am

I agree with Ginger Cookie. I used to try to explain what I believe in mainly because I love discussing and learning about spirituality. But I've found from some painful experiences that you have to be careful what you say when it comes to certain things like religion. It's such a sensitive subject so it's best to be polite or not even try unless you know the person is open minded or like minded. Religion/faith/spirituality is such a personal thing. It's one of the quirks of this world.Not everyone is as accepting of differences -- which is why this board is so special!

-gnd-

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-02-2005
Mon, 12-12-2005 - 12:30am

Hi Lorax

BTW,,,,that's a favorite book in this home for the kiddos. All time favorite play too. =0)

I'm LDS. I've been on a few boards where religion was of no consequence and all I had to do was say I'm LDS and that pretty much summed it all up for others. No more questions or very few but I thot much of the time that was b/c they weren't religion boards. So, polity may have had some factor in there.

On debate boards, I do have a hard time explaining what I believe, even it seems, as of recent to members of my own faith. I was just trying to explain something to someone and it makes me nervous to tell you the truth. I don't know why but it does. I'm very grounded in my beliefs and often I think that comes across as me sounding "haughty" or arrogant. I was even referred to as being a narcissist. Which I had to laugh at inside.

I feel like I am doing a disservice b/c I don't seem humble when really behind this screen is a very humbled person in awe of others for sticking to their chosen paths amid the chaos in this world.

I'd like to explore this more....

Peace
Sen

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Mon, 12-12-2005 - 12:47pm

I don't try to explain my beliefs unless someone tries to force theirs on me.


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2001
Mon, 12-12-2005 - 1:12pm

Very wisely said. I agree wholeheartedly. ;))

When I was growing up, the common saying was to never discuss politics or religion at a social gathering. In particular, with family, LOL! :D

Various boards like we have here let us do both, discuss and/or debate, without repercussions in our real lives. At the same time, in talking about my faith on-line, I solidify and clarify it in my own mind, or at times, in writing about it, it becomes revelatory to more deeply understanding my Path. It's all good. :P

Gypsy




Edited 12/12/2005 1:36 pm ET by gypsywolfwoman


Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(



iVillage Member
Registered: 12-23-2003
Tue, 12-13-2005 - 11:30am
I do, but I don't stress over it as much as I once did.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Tue, 12-13-2005 - 3:36pm

Cee,


For some reason, your posts print off on the left side of the new template on both my home and work computers.


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 12-13-2005 - 5:00pm
Yep, I've had it happen to me too.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2001
Tue, 12-13-2005 - 6:42pm

Lady C's posts are where they are supposed to be on my Safari browser. I have Javascript turned off to get rid of all the blinky crap, but her posts are in the right position, with or without Javascript turned on...

What I want to know is why people's signatures keep showing up (and some are 'way too lengthy and big and cluttery for my taste) when I have specifically set my board preferences to block 'em. Yet another problem with the new format? Also, the programmer messed up because whenever you change the print size (I need bigger than what iVillage provided) things are printing on top of each other in places where the links to different things are. Grrrr! Most web pages are written better, and accommodate and reposition properly. Poor job, this!

Gypsy




Edited 12/13/2005 6:44 pm ET by gypsywolfwoman


Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(



iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Tue, 12-13-2005 - 10:31pm

As usual, the IT folks seem to have released the new version without testing it in realtime/actual use.


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