Hello All!

[Gently Gazing Eyes]

I recently stumbled on this site in my search for more message boards like the ones in which I commonly post. I've a great interest in comparative religion, theologies of different religions, general philosophy and philology, and just about anything else relevant you can think. I was raised as a Pentecostal Christian in Texas, slipped into agnosticism and eventually came out of it with leanings towards alternate spirituality. Just about everything interests me; I've taken interest in Gardenarian Wicca, Universal Eclectic Wicca, Discordianism, Hellenic Reconstructionism, and some various other little tidbits from here and there. Recently I've been devoting time to Nietzschean Exsistentialism, a sort of strong atheism that has some very interesting points to it from a philosophical perspective.

Just figured I'd say hi and a bit about myself.
I look forward to meeting people and talking about various things.


By the way, I'd like to advocate people who read this to visit http://www.mysticwicks.com, since it's a very similarly-oriented forum.

[I, Brian]

Hi Gently Gazing Eyes, and welcome to CR.

Certainly an eclectic mix of beliefs there.

As for mysticwicks - yes, I'm a member there (I think Ben is as well) but I don't post much, as this place keeps me very busy. We really should get more people from there posting here, though.

[Susma Rio Sep]

Originally Posted by Gently Gazing Eyes

I recently stumbled on this site in my search for more message boards like the ones in which I commonly post. I've a great interest in comparative religion, theologies of different religions, general philosophy and philology, and just about anything else relevant you can think. I was raised as a Pentecostal Christian in Texas, slipped into agnosticism and eventually came out of it with leanings towards alternate spirituality. Just about everything interests me; I've taken interest in Gardenarian Wicca, Universal Eclectic Wicca, Discordianism, Hellenic Reconstructionism, and some various other little tidbits from here and there. Recently I've been devoting time to Nietzschean Exsistentialism, a sort of strong atheism that has some very interesting points to it from a philosophical perspective.

Just figured I'd say hi and a bit about myself.
I look forward to meeting people and talking about various things.


By the way, I'd like to advocate people who read this to visit http://www.mysticwicks.com, since it's a very similarly-oriented forum.

In my case I have not traveled as far and as wide as you. I have considered myself for some time now as a postgraduate Catholic, and at present attend service in a free evangelical church. But I think I can attend any kind of service in any religion, provided they have an open door policy.

I came across this forum as I was looking up people I used to know and exchanged views in another web forum: administrators, moderators, members. I got banned from that one.

I asked to be a member here. And I got accepted. So far so I good, I have not been banned yet.

What I am inclined to in my posts is to point out the weak points in others' posts, or to ask questions about their religions, which questions they perhaps consider to be unacceptable to them -- maybe my way of asking, or to inquire about their more personal matters in order to understand their thinking.

Well, I won't bring up this matter anymore of how I discovered this forum.

No flattery intended and no suckering up to the owner, Brian: but I believe he is a sensible and reasonable chap, not megalomaniac in his position as owner and administrator.

Now back to your introduction and description of yourself: I wonder if I may suggest that you also try to be an independent, non-label bearing, critical, and open minded practitioner of religion, unflinchingly guarding your autonomy?*

Susma Rio Sep

*Send me a private message, OK? If this suggestion stir any discomfort with you. See?

[Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine]

Zdrastvuitsye, hola, shalom, salaam, Dia dhuit, namastar ji, hej, konnichiwa, squeak, meow, :wave: Gently Gazing Eyes.

I am a jewitch (a Jewish witch) who has some familiarity with a few of the sects you've mentioned (through a couple of classes about the philosophical backgrounds in Wiccan & neopaganism and Ethnicity & the occult, plus being friends with a practicing Discordian.)

Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine

[juantoo3]

Kindest Regards, Gently Gazing Eyes, and welcome to CR!

[Gently Gazing Eyes]

Originally Posted by Susma Rio Sep

In my case I have not traveled as far and as wide as you. I have considered myself for some time now as a postgraduate Catholic, and at present attend service in a free evangelical church. But I think I can attend any kind of service in any religion, provided they have an open door policy.

I came across this forum as I was looking up people I used to know and exchanged views in another web forum: administrators, moderators, members. I got banned from that one.

I asked to be a member here. And I got accepted. So far so I good, I have not been banned yet.

What I am inclined to in my posts is to point out the weak points in others' posts, or to ask questions about their religions, which questions they perhaps consider to be unacceptable to them -- maybe my way of asking, or to inquire about their more personal matters in order to understand their thinking.

Well, I won't bring up this matter anymore of how I discovered this forum.

No flattery intended and no suckering up to the owner, Brian: but I believe he is a sensible and reasonable chap, not megalomaniac in his position as owner and administrator.

Now back to your introduction and description of yourself: I wonder if I may suggest that you also try to be an independent, non-label bearing, critical, and open minded practitioner of religion, unflinchingly guarding your autonomy?*

Susma Rio Sep

*Send me a private message, OK? If this suggestion stir any discomfort with you. See?

Oh I do tend to be extremely critical. At the same time, I tend to be moderate and acceptant of other peoples' views. There's a quote from the Bible - though I cannot tell you where it is - that says something to the effect of "Seek out your own salvation with fear and trembling." And there are many other - mainly new age, admittedly - philosophies that revolve around the idea that spirituality is an individual effort and that all points can be seen as valid.

However I am a bit of a curmudgeon at times, and I do get the occasional urge to instill general disarray, so I appreciate the sentiment. In advance, unless it is explicitly stated otherwise in the specific post, I don't mean anything I post here to be offensive to any specific person. If I make a negative statement, I address the ideals instead of the person stating them; and only then upon basis of evaluation and critique. I shall try to put a hamper on some of my own opinions so as to avoid dampening the opinions of others.