Quizzes & Puzzles51 mins ago
Spirituality In General.
38 Answers
I don't have figures, but I am under the impression that spirituality generally is on the increase.
Apart from accepted religions, there seems to be such widespread belief in all things spiritual.
These range from tree huggers, Gaians, New Agism, Mother Earth thingys, yoga, meditation, astrology and horoscopes, diviners, yingies and yangies and they come in all sizes and flavours etc etc etc.
So, maybe not a belief in Santa Clause, tooth fairy, or the Easter Bunny, but you get my drift.
Do you agree with my impression, and if so, why do you think this is so?
Oh yes, forgot to mention ghosts, and the experiencing of our dear departed.
Apart from accepted religions, there seems to be such widespread belief in all things spiritual.
These range from tree huggers, Gaians, New Agism, Mother Earth thingys, yoga, meditation, astrology and horoscopes, diviners, yingies and yangies and they come in all sizes and flavours etc etc etc.
So, maybe not a belief in Santa Clause, tooth fairy, or the Easter Bunny, but you get my drift.
Do you agree with my impression, and if so, why do you think this is so?
Oh yes, forgot to mention ghosts, and the experiencing of our dear departed.
Answers
Who was it said: 'when people stop believing in God they don't believe in nothing, they believe anything'?
04:36 Mon 21st Sep 2015
To enhance the spirit or soul, or the eternal part within us, is a personal and individual path. Religion is one path, unfortunately obscured by man's interpretations to a point of invalidating it's usefulness.
The still small voice within us, can and often is ignored, but some, sense or feel an emptiness, or yearning for a deeper meaning to our perceptions of reality.
Upon death we shed our personalities, and desires, and that eternal part, that spark, that still small voice, once again returns to an ocean of energy and intent, of love and deepest compassion. We are all at school, some yearn to improve, others can't or won't be bothered. Spiritual desire is the inclination for our eventual home.
The still small voice within us, can and often is ignored, but some, sense or feel an emptiness, or yearning for a deeper meaning to our perceptions of reality.
Upon death we shed our personalities, and desires, and that eternal part, that spark, that still small voice, once again returns to an ocean of energy and intent, of love and deepest compassion. We are all at school, some yearn to improve, others can't or won't be bothered. Spiritual desire is the inclination for our eventual home.
-- answer removed --
@SandyRoe
//Who was it said: 'when people stop believing in God they don't believe in nothing, they believe anything'? //
Somebody who didn't care for how atheists define atheism?
It seems that even when we claim there is no evidence for anything to be belived in, we are not believed. If our views are not respected, why shouldn't we reciprocate that lack of respect?
//Who was it said: 'when people stop believing in God they don't believe in nothing, they believe anything'? //
Somebody who didn't care for how atheists define atheism?
It seems that even when we claim there is no evidence for anything to be belived in, we are not believed. If our views are not respected, why shouldn't we reciprocate that lack of respect?
Theland, I was once working with a "So Called Born Again Christian" we had take 2 Service Users to Trafford Centre Manchester, it was time for lunch so she suggested we go to a pizza outlet, I said we can not do that as the service users did not have teeth, her reply, well I like them & insisted we go, she tried to persuade the wrong person here, are you trying to climb the favouritism ladder with your beliefs?
No, not at all.
Without a degree in the sciences, I have to turn to those who can understand the science and its application or misapplication to the subject in hand.
Dawkins does not convince me, others do, and I started out years ago completely neutral.
The Bible is the number one convincing evidence for my beliefs.
Without a degree in the sciences, I have to turn to those who can understand the science and its application or misapplication to the subject in hand.
Dawkins does not convince me, others do, and I started out years ago completely neutral.
The Bible is the number one convincing evidence for my beliefs.
@Zacs Master
But for this :
https:/ /en.m.w ikipedi a.org/w iki/Des tructio n_of_th e_Libra ry_of_A lexandr ia
we might have had *contemporary sources* with which to corroborate at least the historical sections of the bible.
However, I feel that would lead to criticism along the lines that historical authenticity, over the life and times of the tribes of Israel was used to lend weight to the embedded pieces of mystical happenings which, for all we know, mysteriously eluded all the scribes who contributed works to the Library of Alexandria, of antiquity.
Of four possible fires, the one in 391AD concurs with something naomi has posted more than once, which is that the accounts of Christ probably existed as oral history only, for about four centuries, before finally gaining enough status for a scribe (high class profession, remember) to commit it to velum. Or, failing a sympathetic professional scribe, you need a formalised church and a permanent monastery, safe from attack by, or fully approved by the Romans/Byzantines, in which adherents will train as scribes. Maybe the need to churn out copies was what drove the monastic lifestyle, who knows?
(I just checked and Council of Nicaea was 325AD.)
But for this :
https:/
we might have had *contemporary sources* with which to corroborate at least the historical sections of the bible.
However, I feel that would lead to criticism along the lines that historical authenticity, over the life and times of the tribes of Israel was used to lend weight to the embedded pieces of mystical happenings which, for all we know, mysteriously eluded all the scribes who contributed works to the Library of Alexandria, of antiquity.
Of four possible fires, the one in 391AD concurs with something naomi has posted more than once, which is that the accounts of Christ probably existed as oral history only, for about four centuries, before finally gaining enough status for a scribe (high class profession, remember) to commit it to velum. Or, failing a sympathetic professional scribe, you need a formalised church and a permanent monastery, safe from attack by, or fully approved by the Romans/Byzantines, in which adherents will train as scribes. Maybe the need to churn out copies was what drove the monastic lifestyle, who knows?
(I just checked and Council of Nicaea was 325AD.)
//Who was it said: 'when people stop believing in God they don't believe in nothing, they believe anything'? //
Words to that effect are commonly attributed to Chesterton - but it's utter nonsense. Why it was awarded best answer is anyone's guess. More wishful thinking on the part of the OP I suspect.
Words to that effect are commonly attributed to Chesterton - but it's utter nonsense. Why it was awarded best answer is anyone's guess. More wishful thinking on the part of the OP I suspect.
@Zacs
Yes, realms of speculation again. Sorry.
I can't recall if it was swept up in a city-wide conflagration, in a war, or if it was 'torched' in an act of gross philistinism.
Book burning is always about suppression of truth, erasure of history and the wiping out of a competing culture. A 4th C. zealot just might resort to destroying (mainly Greek?) texts which were contemporary accounts of Roman empire characters of the 4BC-30AD administration of the province round the corner, if they were contentious with the canonical version.
I'll have to read the background to the event again to re-apprise myself of the facts.
Yes, realms of speculation again. Sorry.
I can't recall if it was swept up in a city-wide conflagration, in a war, or if it was 'torched' in an act of gross philistinism.
Book burning is always about suppression of truth, erasure of history and the wiping out of a competing culture. A 4th C. zealot just might resort to destroying (mainly Greek?) texts which were contemporary accounts of Roman empire characters of the 4BC-30AD administration of the province round the corner, if they were contentious with the canonical version.
I'll have to read the background to the event again to re-apprise myself of the facts.