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The religion you would choose if you realized you're gay

youknowme

Whatever you want me to be.
Spirituality is a fancy word for living your morals and finding your place through what you feel is important, your purpose (if you have one), and your overall sense of self. There are varied ways people live their true selves, usually found the older they get. Some by exercising every morning, volunteering, and taking care of family. Others through prayer (reflection of self-improvement), and, maybe helping others.

I didn't use the term religion in my reply because it has too many negative connotations that it's not seen in its context. It's only seen in relationship with specific religions even though those religions don't define nor own the word as a whole.

Ya, I don't need "spirituality" or any other proxy you wish to use. You are still trying to necessitate a certain kind of connotation with the term spirituality, that simply does not apply to everyone.
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
Ya, I don't need "spirituality" or any other proxy you wish to use. You are still trying to necessitate a certain kind of connotation with the term spirituality, that simply does not apply to everyone.

Another word, since English only has but so many words to define how someone lives and why, I don't know. What would you call in one or two words the act of living your morals, your purpose (if you have one), taking care of self and others, and just finding your sense of self?

I'm native in English but some concepts aren't fully described in English so if you look at the context, spirituality wouldn't have such a negative context.

Kind of like saying "B/tc" is a bad word as a whole, but it is only bad when used in a negative context. To extend it, a word isn't bad in itself.
 

youknowme

Whatever you want me to be.
Another word, since English only has but so many words to define how someone lives and why, I don't know. What would you call in one or two words the act of living your morals, your purpose (if you have one), taking care of self and others, and just finding your sense of self?

I'm native in English but some concepts aren't fully described in English so if you look at the context, spirituality wouldn't have such a negative context.

Kind of like saying "B/tc" is a bad word as a whole, but it is only bad when used in a negative context. To extend it, a word isn't bad in itself.

I think you are trying too hard to lump everyone under one term, that is not a realistic approach.
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
I think you are trying too hard to lump everyone under one term, that is not a realistic approach.
0

I actually don't know if any humans don't want to better themselves in any sense of the term. Our natural psychological and physiological well-being whether chosen or not is set for survival until one dies. Making it religious (or however you call it) is a human thing. Outside that, the only people I'd guess who struggle with living are those who have severe depression or like condition that prevents them from taking care of themselves. Even animals have that ability to want to take care of themselves and children.

Each culture has their own views, though. I'm from the U.S. we're still trying to find our sense of self outside of working two full time jobs or struggling to find jobs or whatever situation each of us may be in.
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
That sense of 'spirituality', on the 'psychology' side of the broad definition, doesn't require a religion at all.

Nope. Some people like structure others do not. I just think religion has a negative connotation. Many people are religious in the general sense of the term. I do understand why people don't want to use the term. I wasn't raised religious so I don't have that view just what I read in the dictionary and experience myself. Like any abstract or complex word, it's by context.
 

youknowme

Whatever you want me to be.
0

I actually don't know if any humans don't want to better themselves in any sense of the term. Our natural psychological and physiological well-being whether chosen or not is set for survival until one dies. Making it religious (or however you call it) is a human thing. Outside that, the only people I'd guess who struggle with living are those who have severe depression or like condition that prevents them from taking care of themselves. Even animals have that ability to want to take care of themselves and children.

Each culture has their own views, though. I'm from the U.S. we're still trying to find our sense of self outside of working two full time jobs or struggling to find jobs or whatever situation each of us may be in.

From what I have seen "spirituality" does not always mean "bettering oneself" and in many cases it actually seems to do the reverse.
 

jfietsam

Member
So if we disagree it must be out of spite? Is that what you are suggesting?

Absolutely not, if you can't tell, Deeje and I have been having a civil disagreement towards beliefs, but I'm going to his people to see if I can learn more about the book I believe in. The difference is that each of us brings grounds for our arguments whereas I'm just seeing a combative attitude with no real content. I am asking you to show us what you have found that we have not. I'm here seeking truth, so if you want to help point me in the right direction, then please help me out my friend. I read your other posts, and I still don't know what you believe in. I only know what you don't believe in. I get it in a sense though, because I'm not a fan of most Christians. They have terrorized this world in every sense of the way, and they're all pots calling the kettles black. They say the Germans are evil for doing to the Jews what we did to the Native Americans. Then they call the Muslims bad for treating them the same in their countries. No one even talks about what we did to the Japanese in WWII. Now the Chinese are harassing the Muslims, but no one cares. No one cares about the Muslims in China, but they care about this one journalist who was killed by the leaders of one of Trump's allies. It's all about what suits their needs best at the time it seems. At the same time, we are not Christians and do not like this sort of behavior either, so why take your anger out on us?

Jesus was sent only to Jews. He did not preach to anyone else unless the special circumstances warranted it. A Phoenician woman begged him for help. (Matthew 15:22-24; Matthew10:5-6) Another exception was the Samaritan woman at the well.

The crowds he fed were all Jews. Gentiles were not yet invited....but their time was coming. Jews got first chance to fill the ranks of the Kingdom because of God's promise to Abraham.



The prophesies in Daniel fill in those gaps. He saw the march of world powers who had dealings with his people....interpreting King Nebuchadnezzar's dream, he began with Babylon, onto Medo-Persia, then Greece, then Rome and then Britain, later allied with America. The march of world powers ends there. In the days of the current world rulership, God brings his Kingdom in to "crush" all human rulerships out of existence and replaces them. (Daniel 2:44) We are deep into the time of the end.



The people who were not God's people were the Gentiles. It was unthinkable that hated Gentiles would ever attain God's blessing apart from the Jews.....but because they could never keep their covenant, God ditched them as his people and chose others from the Gentile nations to fill the ranks. (Matthew 22:1-14)

These were not circumcised in the flesh but were circumcised in heart. They would join their Jewish brothers unitedly serving their God as disciples of Jesus Christ.



OK...you are going to have to clarify this bit....who is Jesus Christ in your understanding? What does Jesus not have the power to fix? You've lost me.



Could it be that you are just a little too easily influenced perhaps? A Muslim accent? :eek: Wowsers!



Proverbs 18:1 helps there. We can get carried away with the thoughts in our own heads......that is never good. We need the company of balanced Christians who are not extreme in either direction. God recommends somewhere in the middle is always a good balanced position. Zeal is good but unbalanced zeal is fanaticism. We are human and need to enjoy life as well as the serious stuff. Soon I believe the world will be plunged into a situation that it will not know how to handle. We all need to use the time left wisely.

The dress code applies only to us. If you don't own a suit but have dressed neatly, no one will care. It shows that you have respect for God's worship and that will be appreciated. We have had people turn up in shorts and T-shirts. Come....and be welcome! Just listen and learn. Are you currently having a Bible study? If not, you'll probably be offered one. :) Try and study with an elder. You already have good Bible knowledge so you will need someone experienced.

All the best....

I'm going to hit two points here, and then maybe I'll do a Bible study with someone. To me, Jesus was someone who lived a moral life as a good person. If I had to guess a character in the Bible, my money is on King Solomon all day. He was definitely sent down by God, and the New Covenant was undoubtedly a thing until at least 2008 or 2012. Now if it really went away, I don't know, but in 2008 I stopped attending church, and I met a new God at that time in my life. I haven't been able to find the other one who used to rule over my life. I also feel that over the last 10 years, there has been a steady societal decline like none our American ancestors have seen.

I know Jesus went to teach at synagogues, but there also seemed to be other crowds around that don't specify who he was talking to. A part of me felt the Gentiles referred to the pagans(Ishmaelites) mores than simply those who were not Jewish, but I'm not really too sure. To me, Paul was the only person claiming to be Jewish in the New Testament. I really wish I could have been there to understand better.

I'm glad you suggest an elder, because I didn't know you guys had any. I'll probably attend and ask for one. That's a good idea. I imagine some new member trying to help me, and it being a very frustrating process for both of us.
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
From what I have seen "spirituality" does not always mean "bettering oneself" and in many cases it actually seems to do the reverse.

Spirituality is a broad term and needs to be used in context. You've never heard of spirituality used in a positive or neutral way?

The only words in English I can think could be considered as specifically negative is N/ but, then, that depends on context. It wasn't considered bad to one group of people but it did for another. Now, it's a bad word all around. Think of the word Negro. In America, that was used to describe black people but go in Spanish countries, it just means the color black.

Spirituality has negative connotations. Those connotations do not define the word itself. I wasn't raised religious, so I don't have negative views of spirituality and religion. Words like homosexual, I do but that's based on experience. It's not bad in itself.
 

youknowme

Whatever you want me to be.
Absolutely not, if you can't tell, Deeje and I have been having a civil disagreement towards beliefs, but I'm going to his people to see if I can learn more about the book I believe in. The difference is that each of us brings grounds for our arguments whereas I'm just seeing a combative attitude with no real content. I am asking you to show us what you have found that we have not. I'm here seeking truth, so if you want to help point me in the right direction, then please help me out my friend. I read your other posts, and I still don't know what you believe in. I only know what you don't believe in. I get it in a sense though, because I'm not a fan of most Christians. They have terrorized this world in every sense of the way, and they're all pots calling the kettles black. They say the Germans are evil for doing to the Jews what we did to the Native Americans. Then they call the Muslims bad for treating them the same in their countries. No one even talks about what we did to the Japanese in WWII. Now the Chinese are harassing the Muslims, but no one cares. No one cares about the Muslims in China, but they care about this one journalist who was killed by the leaders of one of Trump's allies. It's all about what suits their needs best at the time it seems. At the same time, we are not Christians and do not like this sort of behavior either, so why take your anger out on us?

Please make separate posts for different people.

I don't care if people are Christians, but I think anyone that boast they have the one and only truth are full of themselves and insanely egoistical to boot. This idea that there is only one true God and one true religion is the greatest cancer in religion and it led to some of the darkest corners in human history.

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
 

youknowme

Whatever you want me to be.
Spirituality is a broad term and needs to be used in context. You've never heard of spirituality used in a positive or neutral way?

The only words in English I can think could be considered as specifically negative is N/ but, then, that depends on context. It wasn't considered bad to one group of people but it did for another. Now, it's a bad word all around. Think of the word Negro. In America, that was used to describe black people but go in Spanish countries, it just means the color black.

Spirituality has negative connotations. Those connotations do not define the word itself. I wasn't raised religious, so I don't have negative views of spirituality and religion. Words like homosexual, I do but that's based on experience. It's not bad in itself.

Sorry, that I don't fit into the context that you want.
 

jfietsam

Member
Please make separate posts for different people.

I don't care if people are Christians, but I think anyone that boast they have the one and only truth are full of themselves and insanely egoistical to boot. This idea that there is only one true God and one true religion is the greatest cancer in religion and it led to some of the darkest corners in human history.

Will you please clarify who is boasting and what you mean exactly from true God onward. Grammar typically helps with points like this one. Who says we've found the true religion anyways? Maybe that's why we're on here? Maybe some of us are tired of waiting for Jesus to come riding a cloud around answering all our questions...
 

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
What is it exactly that you two believe that us Bible believers should believe as well? Will you pull truth from these other religions and sects and bring it to us? If you have grounds for an argument, then by all means, please share what you guys have found that we have not.
As for translations, there is currently a thread where I am insisting that "unicorn" is a poor translation from the original Hebrew re'em.
As for the schisms, do you need us to point anything out for you?
 

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
Spirituality is a fancy word for living your morals and finding your place through what you feel is important, your purpose (if you have one), and your overall sense of self. There are varied ways people live their true selves, usually found the older they get. Some by exercising every morning, volunteering, and taking care of family. Others through prayer (reflection of self-improvement), and, maybe helping others.
That's not really spirituality though. Some would call it self-actualization. Some would call it an examined life. Some would say it's self-ownership.
No need to attach spiritual connotations to it unless it's what someone follows. For those without any religious/spiritual/supernatural/metaphysical believes, there is just no reason to call it spirituality.
 

youknowme

Whatever you want me to be.
Will you please clarify who is boasting and what you mean exactly from true God onward. Grammar typically helps with points like this one. Who says we've found the true religion anyways? Maybe that's why we're on here? Maybe some of us are tired of waiting for Jesus to come riding a cloud around answering all our questions...

I thought you were reading @Deeje's replies. Are you not? Also I have no idea what you mean by, "what you mean exactly from true God onward."

Now that you mention it.....the Bible says that there is only "one Lord, one faith and one baptism" so I guess that means that there is only one religion that God recognizes......we had better recognize the same one.
 
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jfietsam

Member
As for translations, there is currently a thread where I am insisting that "unicorn" is a poor translation from the original Hebrew re'em.
As for the schisms, do you need us to point anything out for you?

Well I'm with you that no translation is perfect. I've read two translations of the Bible, and I keep a Tanakh handy as well. Jehovah's Witnesses actually have an app with multiple translations of the Bible, so when they get stuck on a verse, they can read what other translations say to get a better idea. You don't need to believe what we believe or in anything at all, and guess what? No one cares as far as I see it. I don't know you, so if you want to deny God's existence, then cool, go ahead and disbelieve all you want. So your only point in sharing is to let us know your opinion on the translation of unicorn? Why didn't you just say that to begin with? You would look like a much nicer person, and you may have actually gotten some help from someone.
 

jfietsam

Member
I thought you were reading @Deeje's replies. Are you not? Also I have no idea what you mean by "what you mean exactly from true God onward."

From that point in your original post I quoted, it would be considered a run-on sentence with no punctuation to help me better understand what you're expressing. So to be exact for you, I was talking about this statement "one true God and one true religion is the greatest cancer in religion and it led to some of the darkest corners in human history." I did not understand it.

I am obviously reading his replies, and I saw that. I believe in one true God as well, and I'm trying to learn what exactly that means. @Deeje was trying to teach me what that means to him and his brothers and sisters. I have not said I have all the answers, and in fact, I am seeking more answers. I understand why people of various religions don't allow just anyone to influence their beliefs though, because there are plenty of people who want nothing more than to lead others astray which I simply don't understand. Where is the gain at someone else's loss? Does it make these people feel better about themselves or something? I don't know, usually I just feel shame towards myself and don't know why when I behave so poorly. Previous experience shows that I learn from mistakes like those though.
 
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