Comments on: The problem is “organized” religion … or is it? http://punctum-saliens.org/2007/02/01/the-problem-is-organized-religion-or-is-it/ Leaping Point: Take a flying leap and see where you land Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:24:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Ken http://punctum-saliens.org/2007/02/01/the-problem-is-organized-religion-or-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-1015 Ken Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:21:20 +0000 http://ifyouregonnadothatyougotta.org/2007/02/01/the-problem-is-organized-religion-or-is-it/#comment-1015 Valerie, <blockquote>I’ve never been keen on organized religion even though I spent 16 years in all-girl Catholic schools (nuns, rubrics, dogma, the whole nine yards).</blockquote> <i>"even though ..."</i>? Don't you mean <i>"because ..."</i> ;-) <blockquote> Inherent in the nature of an institution is it attempt to “survive”. Once survival is at stake, the purpose of its founding gets lost</blockquote> I agree. In addition, once leaders get a taste of power their main goals are to maintain that power and increase it if they can --- even if it results in catastrophy. Look at James Bakker, Jerry Falwell, and David Koresh. Thanks for sharing your spirituality with me. I agree that love should be a huge part of our spiritualty. Thomas Merton said that a lot. So do most mainstream Christians but in many people there is a huge disconnect between saying "the greatest of these is love" and actually doing the loving. You said, "I ultimately am part of God, even if I forget it from time to time" and this is so true. That is exactly the viewpoint of the mystical versions of all religions. There is no duality between God and me but a forgotten unity. You said, "All this is to say I believe we create our own reality" and I'm starting to think this is true. This sounds very "new age-ish" and I'm not sure what I think about new age, but I've been thinking about prayer and have come to the conclusion that prayer has everything to do with us and nothing to do with God. It's all about changing our attitudes and becoming open to new things. After all, Jesus himself said: <blockquote>if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you.</blockquote> Talk about creating your own reality! I've beent thinking about a post on prayer and this verse but I just haven't gotten it all worked out. Soon, I hope. Valerie,

I’ve never been keen on organized religion even though I spent 16 years in all-girl Catholic schools (nuns, rubrics, dogma, the whole nine yards).

“even though …”? Don’t you mean “because …” ;-)

Inherent in the nature of an institution is it attempt to “survive”. Once survival is at stake, the purpose of its founding gets lost

I agree. In addition, once leaders get a taste of power their main goals are to maintain that power and increase it if they can — even if it results in catastrophy. Look at James Bakker, Jerry Falwell, and David Koresh.

Thanks for sharing your spirituality with me.

I agree that love should be a huge part of our spiritualty. Thomas Merton said that a lot. So do most mainstream Christians but in many people there is a huge disconnect between saying “the greatest of these is love” and actually doing the loving.

You said, “I ultimately am part of God, even if I forget it from time to time” and this is so true. That is exactly the viewpoint of the mystical versions of all religions. There is no duality between God and me but a forgotten unity.

You said, “All this is to say I believe we create our own reality” and I’m starting to think this is true. This sounds very “new age-ish” and I’m not sure what I think about new age, but I’ve been thinking about prayer and have come to the conclusion that prayer has everything to do with us and nothing to do with God. It’s all about changing our attitudes and becoming open to new things. After all, Jesus himself said:

if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you.

Talk about creating your own reality!

I’ve beent thinking about a post on prayer and this verse but I just haven’t gotten it all worked out. Soon, I hope.

]]> By: Valerie http://punctum-saliens.org/2007/02/01/the-problem-is-organized-religion-or-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-1014 Valerie Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:33:12 +0000 http://ifyouregonnadothatyougotta.org/2007/02/01/the-problem-is-organized-religion-or-is-it/#comment-1014 I've never been keen on organized religion even though I spent 16 years in all-girl Catholic schools (nuns, rubrics, dogma, the whole nine yards). Inherent in the nature of an institution is it attempt to "survive". Once survival is at stake, the purpose of its founding gets lost...what I think happened in all religions. I consider myself a spiritual person in that i acknowledge that all things in my life [and Life] have a relationship to God, Goddess, All That Is. There is no worshipping, rather a gentle appreciation of all that I can see, imagine, experience; and the intention to be open to giving and receiving love. I do believe in eternity, but not heaven and hell, judgment by anyone but my own choices to create contrast, learn from them for whatever purposes and create again, returning to my godliness, growing and creating some more. I ultimately am part of God, even if I forget it from time to time. Meditation is a good way to develop an inner life. I applaud communities of like thinkers who can provide support, socialization, etc. for their members, but spirituality may or may not be a result and certainly not to be confused with "doing church" for the sake of "being saved". I've only read about the experience after death from several channels, none of which contradict each other; however, it sounds as reasonable as anything else I've heard…that we create our own afterlife. If we expect to see streets paved with gold, the Blessed Mother, hell, the face of God, we will create that. I was told many have created "fire and brimstone" because they thought that's what they deserved, but no one yet has "jumped in". All this is to say I believe we create our own reality, by the universe’s law of attraction. Creating my own reality is an easy concept for me to accept because what I create, I am also responsible for and can change, recreate anew. And, I intend to keep reaching for the next highest truth...no absolutes. I’ve never been keen on organized religion even though I spent 16 years in all-girl Catholic schools (nuns, rubrics, dogma, the whole nine yards). Inherent in the nature of an institution is it attempt to “survive”. Once survival is at stake, the purpose of its founding gets lost…what I think happened in all religions.
I consider myself a spiritual person in that i acknowledge that all things in my life [and Life] have a relationship to God, Goddess, All That Is. There is no worshipping, rather a gentle appreciation of all that I can see, imagine, experience; and the intention to be open to giving and receiving love. I do believe in eternity, but not heaven and hell, judgment by anyone but my own choices to create contrast, learn from them for whatever purposes and create again, returning to my godliness, growing and creating some more. I ultimately am part of God, even if I forget it from time to time. Meditation is a good way to develop an inner life. I applaud communities of like thinkers who can provide support, socialization, etc. for their members, but spirituality may or may not be a result and certainly not to be confused with “doing church” for the sake of “being saved”. I’ve only read about the experience after death from several channels, none of which contradict each other; however, it sounds as reasonable as anything else I’ve heard…that we create our own afterlife. If we expect to see streets paved with gold, the Blessed Mother, hell, the face of God, we will create that. I was told many have created “fire and brimstone” because they thought that’s what they deserved, but no one yet has “jumped in”. All this is to say I believe we create our own reality, by the universe’s law of attraction. Creating my own reality is an easy concept for me to accept because what I create, I am also responsible for and can change, recreate anew. And, I intend to keep reaching for the next highest truth…no absolutes.

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