lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

For some the terms religion and spiritual are one in the same, however, the two "concepts" are anything but the same...

Are you a "religious person or a spiritual person??
In your mind is there a difference, and if so, what defines the difference?

Do you agree with or not the following:
1) Theistic. Spirituality is about God, especially one's relationship with God, and any mysterious encounters or happenings that result from it.

2) Extra-theistic. Spirituality is not framed in theistic terms but rather as a kind of transcendence that is “bigger than me” and beyond the ordinary....

3) Ethical. Spirituality is living a virtuous life by helping others and transcending one’s own selfish interests to seek what is right. This is a definition of spirituality that most conservative Christian to the secular neo-pagan, agreed was the essence of authentic spirituality....

4) Belief and belonging. Believing, for instance, could either be a way of talking about devout spirituality or a way of describing superstition...

I identify with the word 'spiritual' more, because to me it implies a more intimate connection (with God) than 'religious, Religious' means something that you are doing, where spiritual' is something that you are feeling or experiencing."

One principal problem with attempts to separate religion from spirituality is that the former is saddled with everything negative while the latter is exalted with everything positive. This is a totally self-serving way of approaching the issue and something you only hear from those who describe themselves as “spiritual.” You never hear a self-professed religious person offer such definitions and it's disrespectful to religious people to suggest that they would remain in a system with no positive characteristics whatsoever...Or is it?? Can you be religious but with spiritual preference the guiding force in what you believe about religion, itself....

Secular belief is just that..Man made conception and interpretation of what "they believe God meant"..Does that uniformed belief then need be my belief or am I to believe what my Heart knows of my personal experience and oneness with our Father??

RockKnutne Loc: Valhöll

When you start a topic, you mean business! These are all very good thoughts and well thought out ideas. Where does one begin on this much soul food? My mouth is watering, because I just love ribs and chickens. I bring the ribs and, many times use them to run off the chickens. ;)

Now where was I? Oh right... , religion and spirituality, good topic. I find that they are both mentioned in God's word. I also find that people have poor reading comprehension sk**ls and, that is why they confuse the two many times. Add to this, that they use church as a place to catch a Sunday nap and, they don't hear very well either.

Why is spirit needed at all in religion? It's like the wind, you can't see it but, you sure can see and feel its effects. I wonder why the unthinking atheist misses that? I guess because they just don't think. Not about spirit, not about much as far as I can tell. They can't see wind but, they say they believe in it because they can feel it. Yet, if a believer says they believe in God, because although they've never seen Him, they believe fervently in His existence because they can feel Him. How do you spell hypocrisy?

God's word says this about spirit,

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in t***h. John 4:24

In John 3:8, it says,

"The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

Now, why can't the unbeliever grasp that? Can they not hear? I think they choose not to and, that's a fact.

God's word tells us about religion too. I said both were mentioned in there. In James 1:27 it says,

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Wow, a blueprint for pure and faultless religion acceptable before God. Now, anybody can measure a religion by those standards. Now hang on, that's religion you can judge rightly. Then why do all people just judge players and, hardly ever the game?

There is nothing wrong with the game. Not unless you find widows and orphans reprehensible and, wish you could just step over them like a street wino. Liberals say they love the environment so much, that they prefer hugging trees to children. How messed up is that? You can callously butcher an unborn child from the womb of a mother and, that's called the right of a woman these days. It is more appropriate to call that a left and not a right. As in left all sensibilities behind. Now, doesn't the Woman's Left Movement just make more sense? Does to me.

Liberals and atheists, many times they are one and the same, find environmental pollution repugnant and yet, never give a thought to the pollution of their minds. That might be because they suffer from plank eye. That's not a form of pink eye, it is more like in Matthew 7:3-5, where it is diagnosed as follows:

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Are the godless hypocrites? You bet they are. Are believers also, you can count on it. The difference is one cares and, goes to the doctor to get treated and the other, just wallers around in their own filth and makes erroneous judgements about everything.

Here's a question for the godless from an old Sinatra tune...

Would you like to swing on a star?
Carry moonbeams home in a jar?
And be better off than you are?
Or would you rather be a pig?

Well, would you?

:wink: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Augustus Greatorex Loc: NE

I disagree.

She Wolf Loc: Currently Georgia

I do not define my philosophy as either. I do have a problem with organized religion. I believe in God but not the Christian God. I know very little about Christianity. My temple is the least organized place on earth. If I do not go to temple, it doesn't matter for I can worship anywhere. I do not believe in public prayer for me prayer is a private matter between me and my God.

I respect everyone's religion. For I believe everyone must find his or her own path to God. When I hear Christians are being persecuted it makes me very angry. Everyone should have the right to worship their God as they see fit.

I feel we have become a petty country. I do not celebrate Christmas. However, if my neighbors want to place religious icons on their property, I feel that is their right. If the majority of people in my little town want the ten commandments in the court house, it doesn't bother me in the least. If a store clerk wishes me a Merry Christmas, I usually say Merry Christmas in return. To me they are simply wishing me peace, which I think is a good thing.

PoppaGringo Loc: Muslim City, Mexifornia, B.R.

Linda it is too early (my excuse) for me to give a coherent response, so I will go with Rocks commentary. My frontal cerebellum doesn't function well before noon.

Armageddun Loc: The show me state

In the beginning God: Genesis1 :1
He who testifies to these things says, "Yes I am coming quickly,"
Amen. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all, Amen.
Rev. 22:20-21.

The above and everything in between the two Books is both reality and Spiritual. But all From God. Therefore to me it is Christianity.

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

And that's perfectly fine..Thank You for taking the time to reply..Much appreciated...

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

I agree with what you are saying..I need not attend a church to speak with He, above..I can and often do anywhere I am when the feeling or need arises.. To me the Church stands as a moral re-enforcer for your religious preference..And like you I believe all have the right to believe in what they want or to not believe..
fundamentally, how is any church bad, when its concept is to do good...Given what we are witnessing through out the world, we need more positive re-enforcement now, than ever before..
Bless you and Thank You for replying..

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

And, that, Sir, is perfectly alright..When you feel your mind snapping into jump start mode, lease feel free to jump in..I'm sure you, like Rock will have something very profound to add....

This isn't anything but a learning opportunity of religion or spiritual awareness or kindred spirits, or soul mates etc..Wh**ever suits your fancy~~~ :thumbup:

cant beleve Loc: Planet Kolob

Question,when you say your temple is the least organized place on earth,I'm confused. That would seem like chaos. Is chaos your temple? I'm not trying to be rude or judgemental. I am trying to figure out what exactly is your line of thinking. If you know little about christianity,may I inquire as to why?. Living around people predominantly of one faith,I don't understand not looking in to what they are all finding so attractive. If I lived iin India? I believe I would want to know,what the beliefs are so I could understand why they throw multicolored paint on crouds of people. Do I make any sense? I hope you receive this the way it was intended. Love. 🗽

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Alpha and the omega, know it well...Everything in between is however, as "man" views it and then applies their logic to it..

I believe, and that is enough for me, but I, likewise, find myself on a constant seek and find in more clarity...As do others, Thank God... ;-)

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Once again, I must take a moment or two to respond to your eloquently written post...I can immediately tell you that I agree with what is said but do have a view comments to add.....

Armageddun Loc: The show me state

Amen :thumbup: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.. :!: :!:

Check out Deut. 29:29

RockKnutne Loc: Valhöll

Auggie, I disagree with wh**ever you disagreed with, which was... ?

Don't mind me, I just like to be disagreeable and unsympathetic to the two-word poster.

Jump on in, nobody bites in here. I mean not yet, I know I'm still full from breakfast.

:evil: :XD: :evil:

She Wolf Loc: Currently Georgia

I probably did not explain what I meant by least organized. We take turns leading and maintaining the temple. We do not actively recruit new members. People tend to come to us. We do not accept all who ask.

When I say I know nothing of Christianity, I mean I have never studied their Bible. I have a general idea but I feel that is not enough to comment one way or another. I would never presume to comment on a religion I have only the most basic knowledge of.

The majority of people in my small community are not Christians. Since my faith brings me peace and a closeness to my God, I see no reason to change. I appreciate your being interested enough to ask.