Do you believe in a higher power?

[4dogs3cats]

None of the above, and dont bother to try to label me as a certain religion, cause it plainly isnt a religion that I belive in, I believe that I will find out what is the true ending is, when I die, I am not saying anything exists or doesnt. And no religion as of yet has that set of beliefs.

^ Agreed.

I think all the time why things happen the way they happen. And I think how strange it is and how things work and why we are here.

I cant say I dont believe in God. I was rasied catholic, my parents have been happily together for 26 years, and I have never had anything really terrible happen to me knock on wood! I just find it hard to believe that just because i dont pray and go to church that I am going to hell.

I live my life with morals, I dont do drugs, I dont sleep around. I am the most honest and compassionate person you'll meet. And if there is a God, and he feels I dont belong in heaven because i didnt pray to something that was never proven to me, than I dont want to go there anyway.

 

[FoxyWench]

elegy VERY good point.

 

[bubbatd]

Live by the Golden Rule , say the Lord's Prayer and believe in the Apostle's Creed . Doesn't hurt to know a few Bible verses either . Also , pray for others beside yourself !

 

[yoko]

i said yes

i don't think going to church is the only thing though. *i know a ton ofpeople who are like i go i am christian*

for me there are 2 HUGE things that i saw and i was like there has to be a God. one time at camp we were on the top of the valley with the river running through the bottom part of it *it's in talaquah* it was pitch black except for the fire that we were all roasting marshmellows over. i went over and sat on the side of the hill facing the river and it was full of nothing but fireflies! :O i didn't have a camera and it's hard to describe what it looked like. but the whole valley area and river were lite up from them!

the second time was actually this year i went on a road trip to new mexico. up by abique lake. middle of no where. drove out to this one area with HUGE rock formations, even further out in the middle of no where and spent a day out there with yoshi. no people, cars *other than mine*, and not natural sounds within miles of me. it was AMAZING

also i believe that God sent me yoshi to get me through probably the hardest part of my life i have ever been through

 

[Island dog]

I feel that peace outside in nature too. I don't consider that spiritual though. I just feel very in the moment without a care in the world.

I like that feeling.

Yes, really absorbing, not just seeing, feeling the nature around you. I would never call it spiritual though. I wouldn't associate that feeling with the God and Jesus references from other members.

 

[puppydog]

Live by the Golden Rule , say the Lord's Prayer and believe in the Apostle's Creed . Doesn't hurt to know a few Bible verses either . Also , pray for others beside yourself !

The bible was written and edited by men. It was created to serve the purposes of men. Mainly the so called apostel, Peter.

 

[Miakoda]

ive personally talked to alot of people who are so concerned with the mainstream version of "religion" and "spirituality" that they dont realize that that wonderfull feeling they get when they sit outside under the sun and connect with themselves or the world around them...THAT is also a form of spirituality.

And for me it's the opposite. For example, my uncle lives on 100 acres of land complete with horses, cattles, trees, a pond, fish, etc. I can sit out there and waste the entire day away just taking in everything around me. Watching the horses gallop full speed across the land yet running for no other reason than because they love it, well, it's intoxicating. Noticing each and every distinct feature of the cows and the way they smell and the way they move and sound.....it fascinates me. The sounds the trees make when a strong wind blows and the way they bend with that wind....I just sit and ponder just how did they do that. I can lie back and watch the clouds go by and just get lost in all that's around me.

But I see it all as God's doing. He made those things and he made them for me to enjoy. He wants me to study them and find pleasure in them.

My grandfather (dad's dad) was a Southern Baptist preacher. Although they lived in Texas (Kermit, Midland, White Oak) for all the time I remember, I do remember loving to go to church when we were visiting. Often times their church held it's service outdoors on the grounds and IMO there was nothing better than to free onesself of the manmade walls of a church and just enjoy nature at it's best. I remember thinking that there was no way we were going to be able to pay attention, and I sure didn't get into trouble, but I actually find it easier to listen to and absorb a sermon when outside underneath the blue sky and sunshine hearing the birds sing. Like I mentioned above, it's intoxicating.

EDIT: Oh, & it's not just sunny days I enjoy. Although I'm scared to death of tornadoes and it saddens me to think of the destruction they bring, I am completely fascinated by them! In fact, thunderstorms and lightning fascinate me. I will wake up in the middle of the night if one starts and go sit outside on the covered patio and watch it or just watch it from the window. When hurricanes hit, it's hard for me to do anything but watch. The strength, the power......it's amazing.

 

[skittledoo]

But I see it all as God's doing. He made those things and he made them for me to enjoy. He wants me to study them and find pleasure in them.

Exactly

 

[Dizzy]

People of religion - mainly christians - are looked upon as a bit.... excentric here.....

We really don't have religion in our culture.

But, bear in mind, we were a pagan nation..... we were converted to Christianity and I don't think it really took as well as they might have liked. Of course it was widespread, but I can tell you, the church of england is more like a hobby than actual religion.

In fact.... this sums it up LOL

WATCH ME OK!!

 

[FoxyWench]

mikoda, nicely put.

dizzy...
yup im british off the boat and it was about 4 yrs before i left that i found my pagan path, during that time i noticed just how many athiests there were, how many people didnt belive in anything or would rather belive in nothing than go to church...
or those who whent to church ones or twice a year just to make sure...just in case...or make face...
for many being baptized/christend is simply a way to ensure that ONE DAY you can get married in a church as is supposedly every little girls dream (roman catholic church will nto allow none catholic to marry in their gods house) kind of sad realy...

your very right, i think the heathen blood is just too strong to resist LOL!

Eddie Izzard is Fracking AWESOME, i love this set!

 

[Dizzy]

Yeah, I was never christened, and people only christen their babies for the party I think these days.... And yeah, to get married in a church.

I don't know ANYONE who goes to church.

I met a christian girl over the summer, and she was a novelty - she went to church on a sunday, and we were all like.... wow!

People here (that I know) are far more into paganism and Buddhism I'd say........ At least... you will hear FAR FAR more people say they can relate to it anyway.

 

[FoxyWench]

yeah i have heard buddhism was on the rise in a big way over the last few years.