Our Spiritual Journey (beliefs, preaching, experience, atheist, bible)

[Lightkeeper]

I think most people are in very different places along their spiritual journey or their journey of self discovery. I believe that each place is correct and we are where we need to be. Many of us feel the need to preach to others and assume that others are in a lesser place. I have found that's not true. The least of us may be very much farther along the path. I have also learned to accept that we are not all going to the same place and it doesn't matter. We may not even be looking for the same things.

I think when we preach our beliefs they usually fall on deaf ears, because we only learn what we are ready to learn. Also, I believe we teach what we ourselves need to learn. The thing I have been learning to do is to love and support. Change only comes with acceptance. I can't make a person's wound heal, but I can love them and comfort them when they are in pain. This allows them to heal much faster by their own means. To sum it up being there for people and comforting them wherever they are at in their journey is the most loving thing we can do for another person. And the most loving thing we can do for ourselves is to accept where we are in our own journey.

If they want to know something, they will ask.

What are your thoughts on this subject?

[Green Gaia]

"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear."

I do not believe in "preaching" to others my beliefs. In fact, I don't even share with them what I believe unless they ask or we are engaged in a discussion. But even then, I try to approach it in a purely factual way, "This is what I believe..., this is why... " I never say, "You should believe this way too because I am right and you are wrong." That is condescending and arrogant, IMO. Sometimes I find myself feeling superior to others spiritually, and that is wrong and I know it. We are all in different places spiritually but I try to remember that we have something to learn from everyone.

Like Lightkeeper said, showing love and compassion to others, especially when you don't agree with them, is the best way to show them what you are about, not preaching to them or trying to convert them.

[Sunstone]

I have noticed that most people who proselytize me are poor listeners. They might be good speakers, but they are poor listeners. In their rush to tell me where they think I should be on my spiritual journey, they don’t make an effort to understand where I am. In their proselytizing, there is no spirit of mutual discovery, there is no spirit of sharing experiences, nor a spirit of sharing insights. It’s all about them. Their god. Their whatever. In short, they are bores.

[Lightkeeper]

Even atheists can proselytize. I have a cousin who when he learned I was an interfaith minister, became very defensive. He began to tell me how I should believe in science, I should study more than religion. He said he would never be interested in hearing anything I had to say. This was all before I even spoke. I do study science and listen to all sides of the story. I found him very fearful. I will respect his fear by not discussing anything religious with him.

[Mr Spinkles]

Speaking of not sharing your beliefs unless asked....Lightkeeper and Maize: what do you believe? (about God, the Bible, spirits and so forth)

[Lightkeeper]

I think answering that would be off topic. I agree with Maize, I really don't like to talk about my beliefs. What works for me doesn't necessarily work for someone else. I stay very open.

[wilieha]

I think it scary that I could have written what Maize said.
Wilieha

[Green Gaia]

Originally Posted by wilieha

I think it scary that I could have written what Maize said.
Wilieha

And why would that be scary?

[Green Gaia]

Originally Posted by Mr_Spinkles

Speaking of not sharing your beliefs unless asked....Lightkeeper and Maize: what do you believe? (about God, the Bible, spirits and so forth)

I'd be happy to answer those questions in a PM.