Red
Well-Known Member
I have created a thread around the existence of Christian nationalism within the body politic. And here it is. Your mistake, and I’ll assume it’s only a mistake, is to think my problem is with Christianity, when it’s clearly with nationalism. Do you understand nuance? I hope it’s not me you’re calling hateful of Jews and Christians.
It’s not easy being a human being. Many people rely on spiritual beliefs to get them through a day, to get them through a life. I was raised a Roman Catholic. As I told you earlier, I spent years exploring the inner traditions, not the outer beliefs, of many faiths. Loved reading the works of Christian mystics. St. John of the Cross. If you want to understand the “dark night of the soul”, his are the works to read. St. Teresa of Avila. Read the mystics of all faiths. I wanted to hear their experiences. I wanted those experiences myself. Wanted to know God personally. Decided to seek out a religious order to join, believe the monastic life would be best for me, in this lifetime. I was not satisfied with the outer faith I was raised in, including the first 7 grades taught by nuns. I needed to know more. I wanted to know God.
In the long run, I did not live a monastic life, but never stopped seeking the truth about the nature of reality, the purpose of human life, the common thread at the core of all faiths. And this is the man you think is brainwashing people here to hate Jews and Christians?? There was, there is, no hatred at all in my heart for Jews or Christians. None.
As noted, for the purpose of thinking kindly toward you, I will assume this is all a case of mistaken understanding on your part. I’ve been a seeker since I was a child. We are all in the same boat. It simply is not easy being human. I considered once, that since humans may be the only animal that experiences “existential angst”, that is, knowing we are going to die, that perhaps faith was evolutions way of helping such a self reflecting animal to deal with that realization of mortality. I still wonder about that, but personal spiritual experiences suggest otherwise to me.
I just hope it’s not me you are calling hateful toward people of faith, Jews, Christians, seekers like myself. I don’t like that at all. You have no right, at all, to judge me in such a manner. Shame on you for spewing so much venom toward myself and others. You can read the words of many, many priests and ministers speaking out against Christian nationalism.
It’s not easy being a human being. Many people rely on spiritual beliefs to get them through a day, to get them through a life. I was raised a Roman Catholic. As I told you earlier, I spent years exploring the inner traditions, not the outer beliefs, of many faiths. Loved reading the works of Christian mystics. St. John of the Cross. If you want to understand the “dark night of the soul”, his are the works to read. St. Teresa of Avila. Read the mystics of all faiths. I wanted to hear their experiences. I wanted those experiences myself. Wanted to know God personally. Decided to seek out a religious order to join, believe the monastic life would be best for me, in this lifetime. I was not satisfied with the outer faith I was raised in, including the first 7 grades taught by nuns. I needed to know more. I wanted to know God.
In the long run, I did not live a monastic life, but never stopped seeking the truth about the nature of reality, the purpose of human life, the common thread at the core of all faiths. And this is the man you think is brainwashing people here to hate Jews and Christians?? There was, there is, no hatred at all in my heart for Jews or Christians. None.
As noted, for the purpose of thinking kindly toward you, I will assume this is all a case of mistaken understanding on your part. I’ve been a seeker since I was a child. We are all in the same boat. It simply is not easy being human. I considered once, that since humans may be the only animal that experiences “existential angst”, that is, knowing we are going to die, that perhaps faith was evolutions way of helping such a self reflecting animal to deal with that realization of mortality. I still wonder about that, but personal spiritual experiences suggest otherwise to me.
I just hope it’s not me you are calling hateful toward people of faith, Jews, Christians, seekers like myself. I don’t like that at all. You have no right, at all, to judge me in such a manner. Shame on you for spewing so much venom toward myself and others. You can read the words of many, many priests and ministers speaking out against Christian nationalism.