Author Topic: Share Your Faith  (Read 23436 times)

Offline Sassafras

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Share Your Faith
« on: January 18, 2007, 05:18:07 PM »
Share your Faith with us and the Washington Post.

I know there are not many people a part of the MCF Community, but we have to start somewhere, so lets start now.  So Register if you are not yet a member and start posting.

Please read some of the Faith stories at the Washington Post and then tell us your story....

The story from Pete Lyon was very touching.

Sass

« Last Edit: January 18, 2007, 05:32:48 PM by Baha'i Sassafras »


It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens. ~~Baha'u'llah

The chief idols in the desecrated temple of mankind are none other than the triple gods of Nationalism, Racialism and Communism, at whose altars governments and peoples, whether democratic or totalitarian, at peace or at war, of the East or of the West, Christian or Islamic, are, in various forms and in different degrees, now worshiping. ~~Shoghi Effendi, The Promised Day is Come

Offline User Name

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Re: Share Your Faith
« Reply #1 on: April 15, 2008, 06:30:15 PM »
Well, i'm a mixed bag of "spiritual"

Grew up around "Southern Baptists" but i like Rock music and dancing, and free thinking, so that didn't work.  Plus, i'm not a fan of hypocrites or red neck priests that think they are gonna mind control someone who controls their own mind (too long and boring a story, but the instances of this are numerous, trust)

Was "agnostic" for the most part throughout my life.  I guess my "test of faith" was in being an honest and caring individual and being shat on by everyone from girlfriends to family, including many who claimed to be religious people.  Figured, well, guess your "God" is not the same guy i was lead to believe he was so..  Plus, i dont for one second think the Bible is "God's word" and if i go to hell for that, well i'm just sorry.  Its man's interpetation, at the least.  That right there takes all the credibility away for me.  (see that guilt creepin up in me???  boooo)  I trust no man.

Now, i like to read Buddhist principles and find a lot of it fascinating, but i'm a materialistic being of sorts so i could never truly abandon everything i love in order to prove anything faith related.  I know where my heart is, and i don't care if others believe that or not.  Doesn't matter, does it?  Not if you're a true believer, imo. 

So when asked "religion?" i decline an answer because i really don't see the point in wearing another label anyway.  I get by with my own "faith" i don't need to be taught one.  I dont need to be "saved" either, i've been this same way since birth.  I've never "strayed" from my own conscious guiding and i don't see that happening in the second half of this life either. 

« Last Edit: April 15, 2008, 06:34:34 PM by indegruv »

Offline Sassafras

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Re: Share Your Faith
« Reply #2 on: April 18, 2008, 04:15:27 PM »
Wonderful answer!

You have many of the same or similar feelings about religion as Mick and I do.  The only difference is we are members of a religion - the Baha'i Faith.  We, as Baha'is don't proselytize, so if anyone has any questions about our religion, people have to ask.  Though, neither Mick nor I will go through the day without saying something about the principles of the Baha'i Faith so to maybe trigger conversation from a passer-by.  Religious conversations are becoming more and more part of the conversations on the internet so I figured a little  :O---:O wouldn't hurt.

About me:
I grew up within a non-church-going Christian family but I always had questions about religion outside of Christianity, questions nobody really had the answers.  That was OK because one day I met my husband-to-be and on the second day I asked questions about his Faith and on the third day I said it was good.  On the fourth day we moved in together and on the fifth day I investigated the Writings of Baha'u'llah (the Prophet Founder of the Baha'i Faith).  On the sixth day I became a Baha'i and on the seventh day all 6.5 million Baha'is in the world rejoiced.   ::D  (There are over 7 million to date.)

Religion can be an OK topic or not, depending on the person's believes.  Someone really involved in the "dogmas" of a religion without knowing it tends not to be able to look at the gray areas of spiritually.  We are the type of people that believe you don't have to go to church regularly to be spiritually deepened.

About the Bible and the Word of God... Man CAN NOT change the Word of God.  He can make it pretty difficult for the masses to grasp the true meaning of His Word by decades of interpretations, but there will come a day when another Manifestation of God comes to reiterated the Word of God of the past and give mankind the new direction for society to advance.  If a person wishes to read the Bible and understand the teaches of God, read only the red words.

 W==(:D)==


It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens. ~~Baha'u'llah

The chief idols in the desecrated temple of mankind are none other than the triple gods of Nationalism, Racialism and Communism, at whose altars governments and peoples, whether democratic or totalitarian, at peace or at war, of the East or of the West, Christian or Islamic, are, in various forms and in different degrees, now worshiping. ~~Shoghi Effendi, The Promised Day is Come

Offline Truthsayer

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Re: Share Your Faith
« Reply #3 on: January 12, 2009, 02:40:56 PM »
Religion is my favorite topic. I'll probably be posting in this forum alot. From that information would you believe that I am actually NOT a religious person? I have defined the difference between religion and spirituality and would like to spell it out for all of you to enjoy.


     R   emaining on the dark side of

     E   nlightenment.

     L   iving in ignorance of the truth within the word

     G   od has spoken.

     I   nstilling and worshiping fear, while

     O   ppressing all understanding of the true

     N   ature, which is God.


I thank God that I grew up in a family unit where it wasn't mandatory to go to church. I attended sunday school as a child by my own choice, but never felt comfortable there. My mind was not forced closed by all of the strict rules of conduct enforced by the church that would guarantee me an eternal seat in hell if I broke them. Instead, I was free to question the true nature of God. As my journey progressed, all of my questions were answered. Here is what I have discovered:



     S   oul's journey along an ascended

     P   ath toward enlightenment.

     I   ntegrity and

     R   ighteousness lead the way, converting

     I   gnorance and fear into

     T   ruth and

     U   nderstanding.

     A   scending into the

     L   ight, fear is erased,

     I   gnorance replaced by

     T   ruth. God's wisdom and understanding are

     Y   ours throughout eternity.


It is my faith that this latter path is the one Jesus lived His example by, and it is the path He laid for us to follow.
As God as my witness, I cannot tell a lie.  ;)

Offline Sassafras

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Re: Share Your Faith
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2009, 05:13:59 PM »
Quote from: Truthsayer
Religion is my favorite topic. I'll probably be posting in this forum alot. From that information would you believe that I am actually NOT a religious person? I have defined the difference between religion and spirituality and would like to spell it out for all of you to enjoy.

Very nicely said, Truthsayer!

I have characterized over the years that people who are "Religious" tend to be well versed in the Writings and go to Church every Sunday, but many times there is a certain "Spirituality" they lack.  On the other hand, individuals who are "Spiritual" have a more enlightened personality and tend to live their life as an example to others.

Religion is one of my topics of choice too.  Looking forward to future conversations.

____________
Just Me

Sassafras


It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens. ~~Baha'u'llah

The chief idols in the desecrated temple of mankind are none other than the triple gods of Nationalism, Racialism and Communism, at whose altars governments and peoples, whether democratic or totalitarian, at peace or at war, of the East or of the West, Christian or Islamic, are, in various forms and in different degrees, now worshiping. ~~Shoghi Effendi, The Promised Day is Come

Offline misfitguy

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Re: Share Your Faith
« Reply #5 on: January 23, 2009, 05:47:28 AM »
I have met more spiritual people that do not attend a church than I have met that do.  On the other hand, that doesn't suggest that I haven't met spiritual people that also attend a church, including a couple of Pastors.  A spiritual person is non-dogmatic and probably has learned to listen to their soul and has come to depend on it for guidance and direction.  It is this dependence that helps create humility, truly one of the most fleeting attributes of God but maybe one of the most sought after.  If we live our life trying to attain the Attributes of God, we will truly become a spiritual individual.  This can be done without having to retire to a monastary or becoming part of a church structure.  It would probably be impossible without recognizing one of the Manifestations of God and following their guidelines, though and, of course, the more time that has passed since the Messenger shared His directions to the world, the more time man has had to invent dogma, taking away importance from His precious message.

Mick
Go to www.misfitscentral.net  Why not?

Military justice is to justice what military music is to music.

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"The world is one country and mankind is its citizens..."  Baha'u'llah

Offline ganglian

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Re: Share Your Faith
« Reply #6 on: May 06, 2009, 11:10:40 PM »
Share your Faith with us and the Washington Post.

I know there are not many people a part of the MCF Community, but we have to start somewhere, so lets start now.  So Register if you are not yet a member and start posting.

Please read some of the Faith stories at the Washington Post and then tell us your story....

The story from Pete Lyon was very touching.

Sass



grew up episcipalian, then congregational, wet through a brief buddhist in college, now a christian member of the sufi order international, a sub set of the Chisti tariqah of the sufi path.

Offline misfitguy

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Re: Share Your Faith
« Reply #7 on: May 07, 2009, 06:30:00 AM »
Share your Faith with us and the Washington Post.

I know there are not many people a part of the MCF Community, but we have to start somewhere, so lets start now.  So Register if you are not yet a member and start posting.

Please read some of the Faith stories at the Washington Post and then tell us your story....

The story from Pete Lyon was very touching.

Sass



grew up episcipalian, then congregational, wet through a brief buddhist in college, now a christian member of the sufi order international, a sub set of the Chisti tariqah of the sufi path.

Ganglian,

I welcome you to Misfitcity Forums.  I remember you from the bigfoot forums.  Are you a member of NESRA as well.  I consider myself a religionist and, yet, wasn't aware of Tariqa.  I have now done some reading on it at these sites.  Please let me know if they are accurate. 

First on Tariqa  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tariqah

Then on the Chisti order  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chishti

I was pretty impressed with this statement, "The Chishti Order is known for its emphasis on love, tolerance, and openness."

Thank you for sharing and maybe you could share with us how you found this Faith and what drew you towards it.

Mick
Go to www.misfitscentral.net  Why not?

Military justice is to justice what military music is to music.

~Groucho Marx

"The world is one country and mankind is its citizens..."  Baha'u'llah

Offline ganglian

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Re: Share Your Faith
« Reply #8 on: May 07, 2009, 04:58:23 PM »
Share your Faith with us and the Washington Post.

I know there are not many people a part of the MCF Community, but we have to start somewhere, so lets start now.  So Register if you are not yet a member and start posting.

Please read some of the Faith stories at the Washington Post and then tell us your story....

The story from Pete Lyon was very touching.

Sass



grew up episcipalian, then congregational, wet through a brief buddhist in college, now a christian member of the sufi order international, a sub set of the Chisti tariqah of the sufi path.

Ganglian,

I welcome you to Misfitcity Forums.  I remember you from the bigfoot forums.  Are you a member of NESRA as well.  I consider myself a religionist and, yet, wasn't aware of Tariqa.  I have now done some reading on it at these sites.  Please let me know if they are accurate. 

First on Tariqa  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tariqah

Then on the Chisti order  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chishti

I was pretty impressed with this statement, "The Chishti Order is known for its emphasis on love, tolerance, and openness."

Thank you for sharing and maybe you could share with us how you found this Faith and what drew you towards it.

Mick

Well Mick, Ive always had an interest in it, and it was loser to my approach to faith (meditative/contemplative) and when I found there as a sufi center in NY I sought initiation into the order and have been with them since, nicest people Ive ever met. Among them are christians, muslims, jews and our study circle has a hindu member as well. Its what works for me, and in your Bahai faith I see many similarities btw.

Offline ganglian

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Re: Share Your Faith
« Reply #9 on: May 07, 2009, 04:59:29 PM »
Share your Faith with us and the Washington Post.

I know there are not many people a part of the MCF Community, but we have to start somewhere, so lets start now.  So Register if you are not yet a member and start posting.

Please read some of the Faith stories at the Washington Post and then tell us your story....

The story from Pete Lyon was very touching.

Sass



grew up episcipalian, then congregational, wet through a brief buddhist in college, now a christian member of the sufi order international, a sub set of the Chisti tariqah of the sufi path.

Ganglian,

I welcome you to Misfitcity Forums.  I remember you from the bigfoot forums.  Are you a member of NESRA as well.  I consider myself a religionist and, yet, wasn't aware of Tariqa.  I have now done some reading on it at these sites.  Please let me know if they are accurate. 

First on Tariqa  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tariqah

Then on the Chisti order  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chishti

I was pretty impressed with this statement, "The Chishti Order is known for its emphasis on love, tolerance, and openness."

Thank you for sharing and maybe you could share with us how you found this Faith and what drew you towards it.

Mick


incidentally you might also check out sufiorder.org

Offline misfitguy

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Re: Share Your Faith
« Reply #10 on: May 11, 2009, 07:56:42 AM »
For your information, Baha'u'llah gave us the knowledge of the Progressive Revelation of God.  He explained that God, since Adam, has given us a Messenger or a Manifestation to reiterate the message of the past and to give the most recent message that would advance society.  We see Adam as the first person that recognized God.  He is the symbol of the first Manifestation and it was this recognition that gave us a soul and changed us from animals to humans. 

Baha'u'llah, the most recent Manifestation of God, was a Muslim, in the same sense that Jesus was a Jew and Mohammed was an Orthodox Christian.  The Sufi's and the Sunni's were both looking for him in 1844 via their own phropecies and many simply missed him or denied him.  Many didn't and that is why there are now 7 million Baha'is in the world today.  So much of what you agree with when you looked at the surface of the Baha'i Faith would be those same things that are taught in Taraqa and those things would have come from God.  We can always find like things in all of the religions of God.  For instance, the Golden Rule is found in every religion of God around the world. 

Anyway, good having you.  If you would like to post some prayers or directions, I would enjoy them.

Mick
Go to www.misfitscentral.net  Why not?

Military justice is to justice what military music is to music.

~Groucho Marx

"The world is one country and mankind is its citizens..."  Baha'u'llah

Offline ganglian

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Re: Share Your Faith
« Reply #11 on: May 15, 2009, 08:30:44 PM »
For your information, Baha'u'llah gave us the knowledge of the Progressive Revelation of God.  He explained that God, since Adam, has given us a Messenger or a Manifestation to reiterate the message of the past and to give the most recent message that would advance society.  We see Adam as the first person that recognized God.  He is the symbol of the first Manifestation and it was this recognition that gave us a soul and changed us from animals to humans. 

Baha'u'llah, the most recent Manifestation of God, was a Muslim, in the same sense that Jesus was a Jew and Mohammed was an Orthodox Christian.  The Sufi's and the Sunni's were both looking for him in 1844 via their own phropecies and many simply missed him or denied him.  Many didn't and that is why there are now 7 million Baha'is in the world today.  So much of what you agree with when you looked at the surface of the Baha'i Faith would be those same things that are taught in Taraqa and those things would have come from God.  We can always find like things in all of the religions of God.  For instance, the Golden Rule is found in every religion of God around the world. 

Anyway, good having you.  If you would like to post some prayers or directions, I would enjoy them.

Mick

actually I think the predecessor of Hazrat Inayat Khan may have been a zoraroastrian, but anyway this is our invocation of prayer

towards the one
the perfection of love, harmony and beauty
the only being
united with all the illuminated souls who form the embodiment of the master
the spirit of guidance

Offline Husker Du

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Re: Share Your Faith
« Reply #12 on: August 30, 2009, 10:55:37 PM »
I've studied a few faiths, and been to different places of worship.  I really enjoy learning about faiths.  The one I ever felt the closest to would be Vaishnavism.  For the most part though this quote sums it up for me: "I don't want you on my side. I want you on your side. No armies. No armies. Army of one. I'm the lord of my church. I wrote the book. I'm the man on the cross. I'm the boss and I believe. Amen." 

Offline misfitguy

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Re: Share Your Faith
« Reply #13 on: August 31, 2009, 06:46:40 AM »
An interesting quote for sure.  Where does it come from? 

One I like is, "The only answer to the ills of the world is a spiritual answer."  There isn't another law that could be passed that would help mankind be better.  There isn't another adage that could be conceived that could make mankind nicer.  There isn't another item that could be invented that would bring us peace.  It is only when each individual spiritually chooses to not hurt each other that the "ills of the world" will end.

Mick
Go to www.misfitscentral.net  Why not?

Military justice is to justice what military music is to music.

~Groucho Marx

"The world is one country and mankind is its citizens..."  Baha'u'llah

Offline Husker Du

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Re: Share Your Faith
« Reply #14 on: August 31, 2009, 12:43:42 PM »
An interesting quote for sure.  Where does it come from? 

One I like is, "The only answer to the ills of the world is a spiritual answer."  There isn't another law that could be passed that would help mankind be better.  There isn't another adage that could be conceived that could make mankind nicer.  There isn't another item that could be invented that would bring us peace.  It is only when each individual spiritually chooses to not hurt each other that the "ills of the world" will end.

Mick

It comes from a guy named Henry Rollins (Writer, Musician).   I think it's rather intense to say that there isn't another law that could be passed or adage that could be conceived that would make mankind nicer.  I think that kind of limits the possibilities, plus it's just based on opinion, or what you and others might believe.  I think it's great to say we should choose to not hurt each other but I think it's way more complicated than that and doesn't always have to be tagged to spirituality.

 

sir-individual