posted April 16, 2013 11:47 AM            

The language and symbols of Christianity have intoxicated me, to some extent, and continue to infuse my life. I feel deeply grieved when this results in alienating me from people of other faith traditions, and from my more free-thinking brothers and sisters. But I do not know if it can be helped. If not for Christ, I might have been a Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, or New Age Lightbearer; but my heart was stolen by the thorn-crowned thief on the cross.

They may just have to put up with me, and trust that, while the language may be off-putting, my unexpected interpretations of it -- the sentiments themselves -- may be ones which they are more than happy to approve. Ironically, I find that those most drawn to "the letter" of Christianity, while empathizing with my use of it, tend to be the ones most annoyed by "the spirit" of Christianity; at least, as I interpret it.

I do my best to restrain that language when speaking with non-Christians, or when commenting on their threads. I do, however, give full expression to it, when posting in Divine Diversities, especially if it is a thread I've begun in order to share my own path. If folks find it off-putting, they are welcome not to come breezing through my door -- that is, any thread I have erected in that part of the forum.

I do consider Divine Diversities my own neighborhood, and any thread I start there as another room in my own home. All are welcome, and I do my best to respect their views, but hopefully they will try to respect mine, as well, inasmuch as they have chosen to enter my home.

I realize not everybody sees it that way. This is a public forum, of course, but I think it is only fair and gracious to consider that the founder of a thread has a somewhat greater claim upon it, and that we ought not to enter people's threads with the intention of making them our own.

posted April 16, 2013 01:55 PM            

What I wrote about my religion was only a lead-up to a more general question, which was the point of this thread. It is not at all about religion. I figured it would be easily understood by the crowd in Lindaland Central, and that we would be discussing the general conduct on threads, not just as it applies to my preaching.

I would expect Feedback and Interaction on any forum open to the consideration of these things. My point was not that I am resistant to feedback and interaction. My point is, perhaps we have a right not to expect aggressive combativeness. Is it somehow more appropriate to enter another person's thread with the intention of aggressively dismantling their position, than it is to state one's own position, on a thread on has begun oneself?

posted April 16, 2013 02:11 PM            

I see no real, practical away around this from happening.

posted April 16, 2013 02:46 PM            

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Originally posted by Heart--Shaped Cross:
Randall,

I hear you, but try to understand, the religious slant is my experience. I can only draw upon my experience; specifically, THE experience which led me to offer that more general inquiry. If we are going to corral the "religious slant", what else are we not allowed to speak freely about in our own experience?

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It does not matter.

Your experience is related to religion and is categorized as such.

Anyways this forum (and other forums too) were made for discussions and debates on certain topics.

Since this is a religion and spirituality forum that hosts people of many different beliefs your words are to be challanged by those who believe their opinion is the right one (as you are yourself) and it does not say anything about the people who post or their opinion on you as a person ( well...most times...)

Anyway whats the use for theories that are left untested? How can we know they are true?

posted April 16, 2013 05:27 PM            

Doomlord,

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Since this is a religion and spirituality forum that hosts people of many different beliefs your words are to be challenged by those who believe their opinion is the right one (as you are yourself)

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I suppose I do think my opinions are right, or they would not be my opinions, but that doesn't mean they are not constantly changing and developing as new experiences and ideas present themselves. My mercury is conjunct Mars -- I practically live for debate. I'm more than happy to defend my views. In fact, I may put more time and thought into doing that than anybody on this forum. That's not a boast, just a probably fact. I have a lot of free time and this is one of my true passions.

posted April 16, 2013 09:02 PM            

No one has ownership of a thread Divine Diversities is my neighborhood, and Padres and kats and Randalls et al.... we all live here and share the block. I`m happy you come here to share as well. May we all make space for the other and not split hairs over a thread/forum being ones personal home.

Do unto others as you would have done unto you.

posted April 16, 2013 09:21 PM            

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Originally posted by juniperb:
HSC,you`ve been around long enough to know the protocol of Lindaland. A thread belongs to: first Lindaland and then the poster[b]s. It is the Mods responsibility to keep it within the context of the title.

No one has ownership of a thread Divine Diversities is my neighborhood, and Padres and kats and Randalls et al.... we all live here and share the block. I`m happy you come here to share as well. May we all make space for the other and not split hairs over a thread/forum being ones personal home.

Do unto others as you would have done unto you.

[/B]

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edited to add

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at bothers me is when somebody comes in and makes some terse, flippant, dismissive comment, based on some preconceived notion of what my words mean, without even allowing for the possibility of discussion. Nine times out of ten, when these people hear me out, they're shocked to learn that Christianity as I see it has practically nothing to do with the narrow forms of it which have always dominated the minds of the masses. They may even come to appreciate it, and all religions, in a way they would have balked at in the past.

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I suspect that is part of the reason Monks head for a cave. ...

posted April 16, 2013 09:54 PM            

No need to hammer it home;
I already saw, and said I saw:
"Fair enough, Randall. I see your point."

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I suspect that is part of the reason Monks head for a cave. ...

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And why I stopped posting here for two years? ...

But, as you know,
"It is easy to be holy on a mountaintop."

I come here as much to be challenged
as to share all I have seen on the mountain.

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To expect another, in a public forum, to be as serious as you is not going to happen. Experience has taught you and I that long ago. Don`t have expectations and all will fall into place for you here.

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I appreciate the advice and I'll try to make use of it.

T once posted a quote -- something like:

"People will rise to meet your level of expectation."

There is truth in that, as there is in what you wrote.

posted April 16, 2013 11:26 PM            

By success, I mean moving past the expectations that went before you and moving onto a wider Path. A less contentious path laden with patience while Knowing the Truth and Reality are hidden under eons of veils.

We each, in time, uncover life`s mysteries and come nearer to God. As we are Guided, may we make tiny ripples upon the pond and leave the waves to those who desire a splash.

posted April 17, 2013 01:07 AM            

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Originally posted by Heart--Shaped Cross:
Fair enough, Randall. I see your point.

Doomlord,

I suppose I do think my opinions are right, or they would not be my opinions, but that doesn't mean they are not constantly changing and developing as new experiences and ideas present themselves. My mercury is conjunct Mars -- I practically live for debate. I'm more than happy to defend my views. In fact, I may put more time and thought into doing that than anybody on this forum. That's not a boast, just a probably fact. I have a lot of free time and this is one of my true passions.

What bothers me is when somebody comes in and makes some terse, flippant, dismissive comment, based on some preconceived notion of what my words mean, without even allowing for the possibility of discussion. Nine times out of ten, when these people hear me out, they're shocked to learn that Christianity as I see it has practically [b]nothing to do with the narrow forms of it which have always dominated the minds of the masses. They may even come to appreciate it, and all religions, in a way they would have balked at in the past.[/B]

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well good as your intentions might be people here have right to believe in anything they wish and not listen to other opinions (sad as it might be)and you cant force them to listen as well.

if someone disrespects your explanations and is unwilling to hear anything you say "just becuse" its up to you to decide if you are going to keep on talking or not....but he does not owe anything to you.

posted April 17, 2013 11:30 AM            

Thank you for the wise and charming words.

doommlord,

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well good as your intentions might be people here have right to believe in anything they wish and not listen to other opinions (sad as it might be)and you cant force them to listen as well.

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I cannot force them, no. For one thing, I am miles away, so there is no question of me holding a person down and forcing them to hear me out. Nor would I do such a thing. But I can speak with passion and hope to persuade them to listen. Even if they only listen out of anger, and with an eye toward proving me wrong, they are still listening, and good may come of it.

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if someone disrespects your explanations and is unwilling to hear anything you say "just becuse" its up to you to decide if you are going to keep on talking or not....but he does not owe anything to you.

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You're right. He does not owe it to me to listen, to think, to respond thoughtfully, nor in a civil manner. I admit, this has been one of the hardest lessons for me. We all have lessons that come easy -- things we learned in past lives -- and others that come harder -- things we may not learn in this life. I tend to expect more from people. I tend to demand a worthy opponent; someone who is willing to be challenged and equal to the task. It frustrates me to be dismissed by all these dilettantes, who want to declare victory without stepping into the ring. But, you're right. They don't owe me a fight, let alone a fair fight.

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think that someone came in to tell you about his opinion of christianity and gave you explanations and quotes you personally did not believe to represent christianity truly....wouldnt you resist him too?

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posted April 17, 2013 11:56 AM            

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You give off an "I want to be a GURU" vibe, and you won't find followers here.

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The vibe I give off is: "I want a real discussion."

When you claim to know more about my beliefs than I do, without even reading more than a few lines, or allowing for a discussion, that seem arrogant to me. Try to hear this: I don't want to be a guru. I don't want followers. I just want to be understood. Can you tell the difference? If you understood me, you would not necessarily take the path I have taken. You may not even respect it, but you would understand what I am trying to do. That is the extent of what I ask of you, or anyone who comes in here claiming to know where I am coming from without even hearing me out. If you don't want to hear me, or dialogue with me, that's fine. But don't automatically assume you have the slightest idea of what my religion is about. My Christianity is closer to Jungian Psychology, than to anything you have heard before.

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Most of us have a distaste for Kool-Aid, and we ain't buying what you're selling.

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Randall, here you are, heaping insults on me. Comparing me to Jim Jones. I'm not selling anything. I'm giving it away for free. The fact of the matter is, you have no idea what I believe, and THAT is why you are in no position to abuse it. I am defending my choice to make use of a SYMBOL system. A language. The symbols I have chosen belong to the Christian tradition, but I could just as easily have chosen symbols belonging to the New Age traditions we see taking shape. I wonder if you would be so dismissive and aggressive towards me then. But you still seem to think I am trying to convert you to some sort of dogmatic Christianity. You claim to be a spiritual person, but you sound like the secular humanist you once accused me of being.

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You will get a better response by not presenting yourself as the be all end all of wisdom and enlightenment. The sheer audacity of your pompous statement about the top of the mountain speaks volumes.

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Again, you are insulting me. When did I ever make any claim about being the "be all, end all"? Many seekers have gone to the mountain and returned with wisdom to share. I don't claim to be the first, the last, nor the only one, by any means. Nor have I ever claimed to have reached the summit. You added that part yourself, to complete your distorted image of me. I'm sure you will continue to see me that way, despite all the times I have clarified myself and admitted fault and tweeked my positions. So be it.

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A little humility goes a long way.

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