Silent3
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Thu Jan-27-11 08:14 AM
Original message |
"I tend to think of Deity as a concept, and not an actual filled job position." |
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A friend on mine posted that on his Facebook page. I thought I'd share. :)
I can never quite figure out this friend of mine -- which is exactly how I think he likes it. He performs Wiccan ceremonies while having both embraced and rejected "Wiccan" as a label, he has called himself a Sufi (SUFI was his personalized license plate for a while), he wouldn't call himself an atheist or an agnostic (or hasn't yet -- who knows if I were to ask again?) but often says things as thoroughly skeptical sounding as many atheists and agnostics might say.
I don't think he's ever made any statement about belief, or lack of belief, where I didn't get the impression that he might as well be winking when he said it.
At times I think his approach to religion is like a role playing game (he does run D&D games), that he just likes acting out the parts and the rituals of belief. (Even as an atheist myself, I've enjoyed participating in Beltane rituals a few times, and a couple of Wiccan weddings.)
This friend makes me wonder how many other self-proclaimed believers are, at least in part, going through the motions of their religion and/or spirituality as a kind role play. I suspect that my friend is hard to pin down on the sincerity and exact nature of his beliefs not because he's being deliberately evasive, but because he enjoys the ambiguity.
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PDJane
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Thu Jan-27-11 08:20 AM
Response to Original message |
1. That's delightful........... |
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I think I would like your friend.
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WolverineDG
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Thu Jan-27-11 08:22 AM
Response to Original message |
2. Perhaps he's on a spiritual journey |
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& instead of mocking or deriding him (& other "self-proclaimed" believers) for "play acting" & "insincerity," perhaps you should respect the fact that he is still searching.
dg
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Silent3
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Thu Jan-27-11 09:22 AM
Response to Reply #2 |
4. Perhaps you could take that giant chip of your shoulder |
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I am not "deriding" him. If you knew him as I do, you'd know he's likely to be happy that others are left a bit confused about where he stands on things, wondering about the things I wonder about.
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WolverineDG
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Thu Jan-27-11 12:59 PM
Response to Reply #4 |
5. When someone implies that a person who follows various paths is "insincere" |
Silent3
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Thu Jan-27-11 01:03 PM
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6. Well isn't it wonderful that you're so sensitive... |
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...and caring, protecting my poor friend from "derision" he wouldn't find derisive or give a damn about? He plays up the doubt about his degree of sincerity himself, hence statements like the title of this thread.
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deutsey
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Thu Jan-27-11 08:52 AM
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3. Or he could be like Lao Tzu said and when you name the Nameless |
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(like naming it Sufism, Wicca, etc.) you lose what It really is.
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toddaa
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Thu Jan-27-11 11:24 PM
Response to Original message |
7. Believers v. Seekers v. Wanderers |
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Believers have found what they are looking for.
Seekers have not.
Wanderers just like to go for walks and enjoy the scenery.
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DU
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Mon May 06th 2024, 11:38 PM
Response to Original message |