Isolated from the world

It's interesting. Outside of RF, I have not met any person, in person, who identifed as pagan or any faith in that area, Wicca, etc, until almost ten years ago. That was just going into a Metaphysical store and talking with an older Wiccan about her walk into her path. I saw, for the first time, this year March my first Pagan pride festival. I get out but not that much, it seems.

I didn't know there were Buddhist living near me until four years ago. The only religious that live around me are Christians. When I was in college, there were Christians and Muslims.

I never had any of the debates we have here in person. Yes, a Christian would give me a sharp eye and another would tell me they want Jesus to save me or I would be doomed; but, the manner in which they approach the subject was quite more nice than online (anywhere online).

Which I find odd, really. Online, we talk to people all around the world. There is a whole lot of diversity in thought and I am sure that being online, one would have experience in at least tolerating if you dont like the word accepting people who differ than you.

However, all this jiz jazz, I only get online. It's like all the news, the "what's new", the neo-pagan vs pagan, the "pagan enough" to the traditional pagan vs non traditanal and so forth I had no experience with until I came online.

Gosh.. I didn't even know I was an atheist, pantheist, animist, and, what was the other one, rats forgot, until I met the internet. When I first met the internet, all I knew was Christian stuff. Later, that's when I heard of all these terms.. mostly monotheism area. But deist? What's that? Polytheist? Is that like Christianity without the Jesus believing in more than one god? You got to be kiddin' me, there are actually Hindu around here? Never met anyone who identified as Hindu in person. Go figure.

Anyway, I didn't know I was so isolated until I came online. I didnt know I had so many multiple personalities until I came on RF. I dont know if that is a good thing.

It is an interesting observation nonetheless.

Observation rather than debating rethorical questions.

It also makes me think, and this is my opinion only, that if one needs to do self exploration to understand what his or her faith is, online just like books can be helpful. You're speaking to many people and getting different opinions. On the other hand, there is a lot to take in. Labels change. Personalities alters. All of the sudden, you are a religious gypsy. (I like that. Religious Gypsy). Anyway, take what we say less seriously than you would listen to yourself. I learned this by experience, really. I identified my core value and am shaping my life around it. What do you value? Scrap the beliefs... hold off on the practices... what's important to you?

I add this because sometimes online data can overwelm anyone who is thinking about their beliefs (or whatever they want to call it). I honestly never had this, this extreme until I came online.

What is it about being online that, if this happens to you, kinda of puts a hold on what really matters? Obsession with RF (naw, that's not what I mean). Technology? Too much information for the growingly less focused mind?

Who knows.

Anyway, just a thought. Not a sermon.

Carlita said:

Scrap the beliefs... hold off on the practices... what's important to you?

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Explore ideas, maybe look at new stuff, maybe let go of some beliefs. But keep some kind of practice going, I think that's important.

Spiny Norman said:

Explore ideas, maybe look at new stuff, maybe let go of some beliefs. But keep some kind of practice going, I think that's important.

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More find what you value before you dedicate yourselve to a practice. Example, I dedicated myself for two and a half years to catholicism. I didnt think about how it should be important to me before (or somewhat before) I even taken the sacraments. I had been going to Mass with my friend over five years!

Practicing as a Nichiren Buddhist has its ups. So does Zen. With Buddhism, I am inlign with the Dharma but the practices are a different story. If I kept with practice, then I loose the "reason" or value to that practice.

Beliefs=adopted results of self reflection

EDIT

Best to self reflect when taking up a commitment. Not like changing clothes.

Carlita said:

Beliefs=adopted results of self reflection

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I find it more useful to focus on practices.

Spiny Norman said:

I find it more useful to focus on practices.

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We differ. Either that or Im just lazy. For me, its find the purpose than do the action (why should I not put my hand there? Cause the heat will burn you.) So, I dont. If it were practice first, I learn belief by burning my hand.

Never got that way of thinking.

Carlita said:

Never got that way of thinking.

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I regard practices as a means of exploration.

Spiny Norman said:

I regard practices as a means of exploration.

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By burning your hand first?

Carlita said:

By burning your hand first?

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I think sometimes you just have to try things out and see. If something works and is helpful then continue with it, it it isn't then move on. I think it's good to have some kind of continuity with practice because beliefs can change.

Spiny Norman said:

I think sometimes you just have to try things out and see. If something works and is helpful then continue with it, it it isn't then move on. I think it's good to have some kind of continuity with practice because beliefs can change.

Click to expand...

Of course both. I wouldnt jump of the cliff with the rest because I need the experience first (in addition to belief). I dont know. That sounds odd.

Carlita said:

It's interesting. Outside of RF, I have not met any person, in person, who identifed as pagan or any faith in that area, Wicca, etc, until almost ten years ago. That was just going into a Metaphysical store and talking with an older Wiccan about her walk into her path. I saw, for the first time, this year March my first Pagan pride festival. I get out but not that much, it seems.

I didn't know there were Buddhist living near me until four years ago. The only religious that live around me are Christians. When I was in college, there were Christians and Muslims.

I never had any of the debates we have here in person. Yes, a Christian would give me a sharp eye and another would tell me they want Jesus to save me or I would be doomed; but, the manner in which they approach the subject was quite more nice than online (anywhere online).

Which I find odd, really. Online, we talk to people all around the world. There is a whole lot of diversity in thought and I am sure that being online, one would have experience in at least tolerating if you dont like the word accepting people who differ than you.

However, all this jiz jazz, I only get online. It's like all the news, the "what's new", the neo-pagan vs pagan, the "pagan enough" to the traditional pagan vs non traditanal and so forth I had no experience with until I came online.

Gosh.. I didn't even know I was an atheist, pantheist, animist, and, what was the other one, rats forgot, until I met the internet. When I first met the internet, all I knew was Christian stuff. Later, that's when I heard of all these terms.. mostly monotheism area. But deist? What's that? Polytheist? Is that like Christianity without the Jesus believing in more than one god? You got to be kiddin' me, there are actually Hindu around here? Never met anyone who identified as Hindu in person. Go figure.

Anyway, I didn't know I was so isolated until I came online. I didnt know I had so many multiple personalities until I came on RF. I dont know if that is a good thing.

It is an interesting observation nonetheless.

Observation rather than debating rethorical questions.

Click to expand...

Just my advice, it helps a lot seeing everyone as a human being with no label identity. It also helps to take some alone time for yourself and clear your mind of what you think that you know and what everyone else is filtering in your mind. Diversity is amazing and unique and beyond that diversity it always helped and helps me to focus on the things all human beings have in common. Explore but be your own self. It's hard to do that when we're being bombarded with a ton of different opinions and many wanting to mold us to the point it hinders us thinking for ourselves and has our minds all over the place. Explore but give yourself alone time. It always helps a ton not being a respector of certain persons and certain words/languages and not try to compulsively have the need to identify and fit in as something. This is just my advice.

It's great that you observe that about yourself, shows good awareness. I've always thought that you were one of the most kind, diverse, and understanding people on here. Very easy to reason/talk to.

Unification said:

Just my advice, it helps a lot seeing everyone as a human being with no label identity. It also helps to take some alone time for yourself and clear your mind of what you think that you know and what everyone else is filtering in your mind. Diversity is amazing and unique and beyond that diversity it always helped and helps me to focus on the things all human beings have in common. Explore but be your own self. It's hard to do that when we're being bombarded with a ton of different opinions and many wanting to mold us to the point it hinders us thinking for ourselves and has our minds all over the place. Explore but give yourself alone time. It always helps a ton not being a respector of certain persons and certain words/languages and not try to compulsively have the need to identify and fit in as something. This is just my advice.

It's great that you observe that about yourself, shows good awareness. I've always thought that you were one of the most kind, diverse, and understanding people on here. Very easy to reason/talk to.

Click to expand...

Thank you.

I honestly feel there's a double edge sword to that. When I self-reflect, if I don't have a focus, goal, (or label), I'm floating around. It's like making a cake without the goal to make a cake. So you mindlessly start puting flower, eggs, and water together and hopefully it would turn out good even though you haven't put any thought into what you're making and what its even called to understand it.

In person, I don't come across a lot of labels that identify someone positively. Online, you have agnostic atheists, Christian Buddhists, Pagan Animist, and so forth. It's like calling you by your first name. (Reminds me of how they pose American India tribes where each person of the tribe has a name from their family and tribe rather than individual. Same with Deaf Culture, I can speaker more factualy on that. The sign name or label you have identifies not only a word but its alo a characteristic of who you are and however the person wants to use that word to describe him or herself. (I know, run on).

When I do my prayers and such, everything makes sense. When I step away from my altar, everything falls a part again. I'm sure that that is with any person of any faith regardless of how long they practiced. When I ask questions like "is there anything about your faith you're uncomfortable with" I kind of what to know if some of us are human.

Anyway, my point is, I explored myself way too much. So much that my own former psychologist tells me I would be Freud's best friend. I have so much time on my hands for various reasons that I'm just in a hole right now. I'm not getting younger either; so, I'm just at that point of knowing what aches and pains are that wont go away. Illnesses that can only be treated but never cured. So on and so forth.

It's a good idea; and, I realize I am actually the opposite when it comes to "finding myself." It's not a sit and think type of finding myself. Thats another reason Im so tired. Moving around so much. Everything is exhausting.

I took a break from RF and it helped with the obsessivenes because I dont have a t.v. and other outside stimuli. Other than that, it didn't do anything.

Labels are labels. They only matter when I plug them in online. In person, well, it's hard to get to know others if you are too much of aware of yourself. It becomes more self-centered (psychologist had to correct me, I thought it was selfish). That was almost fifteen years ago.

I really owe him too.

Anyway, thank you for your words. Just not together yet.