New guy searching for the divine

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Oceanbreeze

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Hello everyone. I am an educator from Colorado, USA, and I have always been fascinated by different religions. I was raised Lutheran, but as I grew older I have searched for the divine by trying to experience Islam, Hinduism, Shinto and Paganism. I’m sort of a hodgepodge-believer, if that makes sense. I hope to learn more about faith and to grow on my spiritual path during my time here. I look forward to meeting and having awesome conversations with you all.
 
Which Colorado Ocean are close enough to feel the breeze?

Wellxome to I/O looks like you have been traveling thru religions...what resonates so far? Have you ever taken the test at belief.net?
 
wil said:
Which Colorado Ocean are close enough to feel the breeze?

Wellxome to I/O looks like you have been traveling thru religions...what resonates so far? Have you ever taken the test at belief.net?
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Well, different things speak to me in different faiths. Here it is in a nutshell. In Christianity and Islam, I love how the focus is on a relationship with God and that God is merciful, but I have a very hard time believing that people go to hell just because they practice a different religion. In Paganism and Shinto I love how the gods/divine is found in nature, but it’s not always easy to find others who are open to these concepts. I love how Hinduism believes all their gods are part of One God, but I’m mot sure about reincarnation. I love worshiping in different ways, but I get anxious if I HAVE to do it a certain way. I guess I’ll have to take that test on Belief.net and see where that sends me!

And I love the ocean. I’m actually a scuba diver, though I don’t get to go often. Unfortunately Colorado has not had an ocean in millions of years haha.
 
Welcome, good to have you here! Thanks for the intro, that's a good amount of experimentation and open-mindedness.

Which kinds of pagans have you met?

I live close to the Baltic sea, which is not an ocean, not a lake, has no tides, is salty, is connected to the North Atlantic... and yet it's there and people take it for granted. Our categories are descriptive at best, not prescriptive, I feel.

Hope you like it here at least as much as I do!
 
Oceanbreeze said:
it’s not always easy to find others who are open to these concepts
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Nature of interfaith eh? Or rather nature of religions? That is what makes us different ...which concepts we believe, grok, or resonate with.

I find the more open you are to variety of understandings, the more you are drawn to this part of this belief and that part of another...while you are following a combination of gut, heart, brain and ... Ya get blamed of cherry picking...stepping outside the fold of the group you just stepped into.
Oceanbreeze said:
I get anxious if I HAVE to do it a certain way. I guess I’ll have to take that test on Belief.net
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you and I may have similar issues with what I refer to as the dogma and song and dance.

Many believe in the narrow hard road...i believe accessing the illness in the richness does not need to be a struggle...that at times it can be like falling off your bike...it isn't something we have to learn...but something we should try to remember.
 
Oceanbreeze said:
Hello everyone. I am an educator from Colorado, USA, and I have always been fascinated by different religions. I was raised Lutheran, but as I grew older I have searched for the divine by trying to experience Islam, Hinduism, Shinto and Paganism. I’m sort of a hodgepodge-believer, if that makes sense. I hope to learn more about faith and to grow on my spiritual path during my time here. I look forward to meeting and having awesome conversations with you all.
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Greetings Oceanbreeze and welcome. Should you wish to explore the Left Hand Path feel free to make your way over to our Subforum in the Alternative Group and ask away! ⛧
 
wil said:
Exploration of religions...

It is a privilege eh?

Or is it a right?

Maybe fodder for another thread.
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I'm not sure I am understanding you correctly.
Where have I said the LHP is a privilege or a right?
Maybe I misunderstand your inquiry and you would like to reiterate your inquiry?
 
My response was not to your comment, but the original post. I was just contemplating demographics, availability of other religions, Etc.

I mean we have the internet now and whoever has access can get wherever they can go and find out quite a lot.
But a hundred years ago? You are pretty controlled by your parents beliefs and the beliefs of where you were born. For many was there even a choice?

Most of our current religions were born and thrived and grew during a Time long past. Where Choice was not always an option where disagreement ended in banishment or death.

Still today there are both religions and areas and Families which choosing to make a different choice or even Explore others beliefs is sinful or frowned upon.
I feel I am privileged to live in a Time and location and associate with people that I can have these kinds of discussions
 
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wil said:
My response was not to your comment the original post. I was just contemplating demographics, availability of other religions, Etc.
I mean we have the internet now and whoever has access can get wherever they can go and find out quite a lot.
But a hundred years ago? You are pretty controlled by your parents beliefs and the beliefs of where you were born. For many was there even a choice?
Most of our current religions were born and thrived and grew during a Time long past. Where Choice was not always an option where disagreement ended in banishment or death.
Still today there are both religions and areas and Families which choosing to make a different choice or even Explore others beliefs is sinful or frowned upon.
I feel I am privileged to live in a Time and location and associate with people that I can have these kinds of discussions
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Oh, I'm sorry, I did misunderstand! and YES We are All privileged in these times to the enormous amount of information on the internet. Perhaps the greatest value of this World Wide Web!
 
wil said:
no worries, I think I am a little complicit.
Is it possible following the left hand makes you often questioned and leaves you regularly defensive?
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I know I am endlessly challenged, questioned, oppressed, and many times hated regarding this Path, though I don't think I come across as defensive, at least I hope not.
 
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