Born with belief?

path_of_one said:
Welcome!
Worship/prayer/meditation is for me: first, a celebration (literally, sometimes with music and dance) of God/the Divine and life. Secondly, it is a time for introspection, to honestly assess myself and my thoughts and feelings, to be still and try to listen to my inner voice about things that concern me. Thirdly, it is a time to gain rest and energy

Many Druids, for example, have peace rituals about once a month, in which we meditate on and visualize peace. Many Christians pray for people and events all over the world, asking God to intercede. Perhaps you don't believe such things matter, but many of us firmly believe that positive thought and/or appealing to the Divine matter.
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Thankyou very much for your thoughtful replies.

Worship I acknowledge has a place. The issue is the amount of time expended in such a process. Some religious people worship several times per day. If they were truly spiritual they would of course see that this time spent on 'self' might be better given over to truly needy people / enviromental causes & tasks. Worship at the end of the day gives the user pleasure so however you cut it, is essentially self indulgent and delivers to the user pleasure as a final outcome in one guise or another.

Nothing wrong with pleasure but there is something very wrong with people that dont 'put themselves out' and give real time and effort to aid other people, or in my case other species.
 
Hi,Thunk and All--

Maybe what you are trying to say is that, if people are going to worship, perhaps they should "worship in their hearts as they go"? I believe this (and I also value the quiet times.):)

InPeace,
InLove
 
Blessed87 said:
You're right, God doesn't need our demonstrations of faith, but He certainly deserves it. Psalm 24:1 says, "The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world and all who live in it."
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Thankyou.

But, does your God deserve such time and energy? Imagine the energy that could be bought to bare in the doing of good tasks that provide a practical value added outcome to the recipient.

I am disheartened by Mans enviromental vandalism so I put time and energy into doing practical stuff to counter - balance such effects.

The religious Lady near me spends a great deal of time in Church worshiping, so she has less time and energy to effect practical good change. To me her behaviour is somehow a little selfish when there is so much practical work she could do if she worshiped less. If I were God I know what Id prefer her to do and it wouldnt be praising my exsistence quite so much.
 
Hi--Peace to All Here:) ,

I believe we all have different gifts--it sounds like what is in your heart is to help heal the suffering earth that humankind has abused and afflicted.

I just wanted to say that I don't know exactly what your neighbor does at her church where she spends so much time, but I can tell you that the church I attend has an outreach ministry to the needy--we have a food pantry and a financial relief fund. There are other ministries there, such as music and children's ministries, which are geared to inspire brotherhood and love toward all people, as well as love for the earth and responsibility toward the environment.

InPeace,
InLove
 
InLove said:
Hi--Peace to All Here:) ,

I believe we all have different gifts--it sounds like what is in your heart is to help heal the suffering earth that humankind has abused and afflicted.

I just wanted to say that I don't know exactly what your neighbor does at her church where she spends so much time, but I can tell you that the church I attend has an outreach ministry to the needy--we have a food pantry and a financial relief fund. There are other ministries there, such as music and children's ministries, which are geared to inspire brotherhood and love toward all people, as well as love for the earth and responsibility toward the environment.

InPeace,
InLove
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I merely seek to understand life and Human nature.

In summary I find too many religious people wear thier religion like a badge and imagine the mere fact they act 'religiously' and undertake worship is good enough without much effort in truly selfless endeavour.

Thier religiousity often doesnt extend to significant, true or effective input in the furtherence of good causes.
For example, where I live in Hertfordshire England, there is a Quaker group. All appear very rich. Why do they cling to this wealth??
Surely God would want say 80% of this wealth (essentially stuff & money) given to those without a bowl with which to eat or to revive ancient forests.

You see these people arent really totally moral and selfless through thier actions. ACTION SPEAK FAR LOUDER THAN MERE WORDS AND WORSHIP.
This I think shows where there true soul / motivations lie.

A lack of action cannot be counter - balanced by worship & a love of God.
 
THUNK said:
You see these people arent really totally moral and selfless through thier actions. ACTION SPEAK FAR LOUDER THAN MERE WORDS AND WORSHIP.
This I think shows where there true soul / motivations lie.

A lack of action cannot be counter - balanced by worship & a love of God.
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I agree. "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:14-17

I think you're right in saying that many people are spending too much time thinking about what the next church activity is rather than the immediate needs around them, both spiritual and physical, I know I've been that way far too long.
 
Neither do I, tadpole:) . But the evidence seems to point in that direction?

Welcome to CR--I don't think I have said that to you yet. If I have, and have forgotten, then well, since I can't remember being born...

You will forgive me?:)

InPeace,
InLove
 
thank you in love for replying to my messages and your warm welcome. i am just learning to navigate this forum business (i haven't ever done this before) so i apologize for my tardy reply. by the way, i was just looking for my tao te ching book so i could tell you which trans. it is. it's hiding but i promise to find it.
 
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