Why are the New Age movement and other exotic ideas so attractive?

[rinnie]

I agree there are a lot of frauds out there when it comes to the New Age movement, but there are some very talented and honest ones too. ‘Some’ have the gift, not a lot sadly.

I think a lot of people are drawn to the New Age because it is all about connecting yourself with what comes natural. We are connected to Mother Earth, without her, we cannot eat, breath or survive. I feel the New Age offers a special connection with this and more. It’s not just about having a reading done by a Medium or receiving some Reiki healing (which by the way is a beautiful, relaxing way to unwind), it is about connecting with your Angels too. Christians believe in Angels and acknowledge the Archangels too, St.Michael, St.Raphael etc. All beautiful Angels that did a lot for our world.

Spiritualists have a deep love for Angels, and often call on their own ‘Guarding Angel/s’ to protect them in a situation, or ask for their assistance in something. They believe if you don’t ask you will not receive help, because of the free will thing.

Crystals are another common New Age attraction. Not only are they beautiful to look at, but they have healing qualities. Rose Quartz for love and fertility, Tigers Eye for courage, Amethyst for spiritual awareness.

I was raised Catholic, baptised, communion and confirmation. I ventured into the New Age for over 10 years. Nothing ‘bad’ ever happened to me. I was not possessed by the Devil, or any other spirit. I simply started to have an open mind, and wanted to find out more about myself and the amazing things I was capable of. Us humans are amazing! Through the New Age, I found Meditation, Yoga and Reiki. They are not evil things, they have been done for centuries. Catholics meditate on the scriptures, well, Buddha was meditating well before that.

Please do not worry about your Sister. She has spread her wings, and is exploring her life, her spiritual journey. I believe that we are all seeking God/The Creator/Goddess/Great Spirit, whatever name you choose to say does not matter, we are all “seeking”, and eventually, we will all meet again, as all the paths join in the end.

Blessings to you.

Okay let me ask you a question how can Tigers eye give you courage? Rose quartz love and fertility? I was always taught those things come from God? Are you not making those things false gods?

 

[Sufjon]

Not quite. There are some gifts that the devil does give to further his end. But then I don’t think you believe in the devil. But you believe or not he does.

 

[rinnie]

Sufjon don’t disguard the devil either. He does exist and goes out of his way to fool people.

He does exist simply because we are shown in the begiinning of the bible he is real, and look what he did to Adam and Eve.

Always be on grard and always pray IN the name of Jesus Christ Satan get away from me.

When you can feel him is in very different ways. Anxiety is his biggest weapon of today. He loves fear because he knows what fear can do to us.

When we experience fear and anxiety he is at his peak. That is when we say God possess me he will run, He is scared of God.

But he is alive and well in many ways of today. Please do not forget that.

Here are a few.
Money
Power
Drugs
Lust
Envy
Hate
Selfishness

Just to name a few. Any evil in the world you can bet he has a large hand in it.

 

[Ahimsa]

Sufjon don’t disguard the devil either. He does exist and goes out of his way to fool people.

He does exist simply because we are shown in the begiinning of the bible he is real, and look what he did to Adam and Eve.

Always be on grard and always pray IN the name of Jesus Christ Satan get away from me.

When you can feel him is in very different ways. Anxiety is his biggest weapon of today. He loves fear because he knows what fear can do to us.

When we experience fear and anxiety he is at his peak. That is when we say God possess me he will run, He is scared of God.

But he is alive and well in many ways of today. Please do not forget that.

Here are a few.
Money
Power
Drugs
Lust
Envy
Hate
Selfishness

Just to name a few. Any evil in the world you can bet he has a large hand in it.

Some Hindus equate the Christian “Satan” with the Hindu “Maya”.

 

[Ahimsa]

Some Hindus equate the Christian “Satan” with the Hindu “Maya”.

Interestingly, St. Augustine argued that evil doesn’t really exist…which is what Hindus say about Maya.

 

[tqualey]

Hi, Rinnie,

As a young child, the youth fad at the time was to have a rabbit’s foot - as a sign for ‘good luck’. Well, the concept of superstition was too advanced for me at the time … but, I do recall wondering why anyone would have such a dead animal’s foot - it obviously did not provide the animal with any safety!

While the various items change … the concept is still the same: we can manage the future by gettng particular items and these items will somehow influence other variables so that we can get our own way. It did not work in the distant past (even the Oracle of Delphi would hedge her bets by being vague and annoyingly ambiguous!) and it will not work today.

God is real and so is the Devil! Decide early on who we wish to serve because that is the judgment that will be rendered upon our death.

God bless

Okay let me ask you a question how can Tigers eye give you courage? Rose quartz love and fertility? I was always taught those things come from God? Are you not making those things false gods?

 

[Sufjon]

Sufjon don’t disguard the devil either. He does exist and goes out of his way to fool people.

He does exist simply because we are shown in the begiinning of the bible he is real, and look what he did to Adam and Eve.

Always be on grard and always pray IN the name of Jesus Christ Satan get away from me.

When you can feel him is in very different ways. Anxiety is his biggest weapon of today. He loves fear because he knows what fear can do to us.

When we experience fear and anxiety he is at his peak. That is when we say God possess me he will run, He is scared of God.

But he is alive and well in many ways of today. Please do not forget that.

Here are a few.
Money
Power
Drugs
Lust
Envy
Hate
Selfishness

Just to name a few. Any evil in the world you can bet he has a large hand in it.

Hi Rinnie: What you’ve said is very true. Anxiety and fear are currently and probably always have been the biggest obstacles, and the root cause of these is attachment. Attachment to people you love and things you own, attachment to a particular job that secures the possessions we are attached to, and attachment to these bodies. All of these attachments lead to fear - fear of loss. Fear that things won’t go t he way we want them to. To be shackled by attachment and fear is the way of nature. Most people follow the way of nature. We look for what pleases us and what agrees with us. The way of grace is to find the flow and become part of the current. Grace rides the waves rather than fighting them. The way of grace takes one fully through all experience with the joy of knowing that it is part of the whole.

I don’t think it matters whether there is a dramatic personification of evil like the devil. Either way, it’s a matter of what you chose to let into your life. I know that there are personifications of God. They come about from time to time to give people something to wrap their heads around. Otherwise God is hard to form much love for. Most of us need these God incarnations like Jesus., Krishna or Mataji in order to set our minds on something to reach for and to love about God. But loving them is not the end objective in itself. Falling in love with an incarnation of God like Jesus, Krishna, Ramakrishna or Mataji is just so we can learn to love God and then to see Him in other people and the world around us. Once we love God in a human form (in your case probably Jesus), then you can start feel His rhythm and fall into place with it, then synchronizing yours with His. Then you become an instrument of God. This is why there are personifications of God who come among us. If we align ourselves to these, I think it probably doesn’t matter if there is an incarnation of evil, because you have become an instrument of God, and God doesn’t lose anything.

Maybe demons or devils can take over your body and tear up your house and cause you to lose your home and your friends and your health and totally disrupt your life. Perhaps they can destroy everything that mattered to you, taking away all the things you loved. What a great position for some demon to put you in. he has just taken away all the things that were getting between you and God. What an opportunity!

I belong to God. Whatsoever there is lurking about in this world to hurt me does so in vain. What I am at the core cannot be touched, destroyed or altered.

Your friend
Sufjon

 

[tqualey]

Hi, Sufjon,

Here is where we differ… maybe … If by dramatic personification you mean a little robust guy dressed in red tights, with a arrow tipped tail, having horns and a goatee, carrying a red trident - hey that is Hollywood’s version of evil. And, I do not agree with that either. But, if your view is that ‘evil’ is just being overwhelmed by negative thoughts - and that is as far as it goes … well … we really do differ.

Not only is evil real, but the Evil One and his minions are equally real. At one time the name ‘Light Bearer’ (Lucifer) really meant something in describing this beautiful anglic creation of God. But, this angel abused his free will and abandoned his Creator with the idea that it was not in his nature to worship anyone other than himself. The poet John Milton captured the flavor in Paradise Lost when he has Satan say in reference to his ultimate inabilty to storm heaven’s gates so now he can only see destroying humans, “Which, if not victory, is yet revenge.”

To dismiss evil as just the inherent limitations of humans is to set oneself up for a major and most unpleasant surprise. No doubt about it - the Evil One’s greatest success is to convince men that he either does not exist or that he is just a impotent imp without real power or much long term ability.

It is not for naught that Satan hates the Blessed Virgin Mary - after all, it is her foot that will grind his head into the dirt. Considering what high regard this prideful spirit holds himself - this must be one of the most disquieting torments he suffers - just thinking about what will come to pass!

God bless

I don’t think it matters whether there is a dramatic personification of evil like the devil. Either way, it’s a matter of what you chose to let into your life. I know that there are personifications of God. They come about from time to time to give people something to wrap their heads around. Otherwise God is hard to form much love for. Most of us need these God incarnations like Jesus., Krishna or Mataji in order to set our minds on something to reach for and to love about God. But loving them is not the end objective in itself. Falling in love with an incarnation of God like Jesus, Krishna, Ramakrishna or Mataji is just so we can learn to love God and then to see Him in other people and the world around us. Once we love God in a human form (in your case probably Jesus), then you can start feel His rhythm and fall into place with it, then synchronizing yours with His. Then you become an instrument of God. This is why there are personifications of God who come among us. If we align ourselves to these, I think it probably doesn’t matter if there is an incarnation of evil, because you have become an instrument of God, and God doesn’t lose anything.

Maybe demons or devils can take over your body and tear up your house and cause you to lose your home and your friends and your health and totally disrupt your life. Perhaps they can destroy everything that mattered to you, taking away all the things you loved. What a great position for some demon to put you in. he has just taken away all the things that were getting between you and God. What an opportunity!

I belong to God. Whatsoever there is lurking about in this world to hurt me does so in vain. What I am at the core cannot be touched, destroyed or altered.

Your friend
Sufjon

 

[Sufjon]

Hi, Sufjon,

Here is where we differ… maybe … If by dramatic personification you mean a little robust guy dressed in red tights, with a arrow tipped tail, having horns and a goatee, carrying a red trident - hey that is Hollywood’s version of evil. And, I do not agree with that either. But, if your view is that ‘evil’ is just being overwhelmed by negative thoughts - and that is as far as it goes … well … we really do differ.

Not only is evil real, but the Evil One and his minions are equally real. At one time the name ‘Light Bearer’ (Lucifer) really meant something in describing this beautiful anglic creation of God. But, this angel abused his free will and abandoned his Creator with the idea that it was not in his nature to worship anyone other than himself. The poet John Milton captured the flavor in Paradise Lost when he has Satan say in reference to his ultimate inabilty to storm heaven’s gates so now he can only see destroying humans, “Which, if not victory, is yet revenge.”

To dismiss evil as just the inherent limitations of humans is to set oneself up for a major and most unpleasant surprise. No doubt about it - the Evil One’s greatest success is to convince men that he either does not exist or that he is just a impotent imp without real power or much long term ability.

It is not for naught that Satan hates the Blessed Virgin Mary - after all, it is her foot that will grind his head into the dirt. Considering what high regard this prideful spirit holds himself - this must be one of the most disquieting torments he suffers - just thinking about what will come to pass!

God bless

Hi Tqualey: As I said before, I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about what Satan might be. In this material realm there seems to be both good and evil. They also seem equally necessary. I don’t think anything came into being outside of God’s design, rather, all potentialities were accounted for from the start, therefore I don’t curse anything. It is all part of God’s creation. That doesn’t mean that one should participate in evil. Avoiding it is a part of our growth experience, and to the extent to which I avoid it is the manner in which I denounce it. To curse or hate evil is to exhibit evil. It is all just the passing of events in the drama of creation. That which I am was around before any of that, and remains unchanged. There has never been a time when what I am didn’t exist, nor a time when I will cease to be. The realization of what I am - what we are is our task. The Second Coming of Christ is at a different time and place for each being. It is the time at which you reach the realization of the Christ within you, and in turn, you will see Him in all things. And you won’t fail. It might take you a million years, but you won’t fail.

I focus on what I aim to achieve, therefore, I have little interest in what is evil beyond the point of looking for it introspectively in my own behavior. If there is an old man with a white beard at war with some creature with horns and a cloven foot somewhere, I am sure the old man can hold His own. My job is to account for what Sufjon does. I am keeping an eye on Sufjon and doing my best at guiding him to where I aim to take him.

Your friend
Sufjon

 

[rinnie]

Hi, Sufjon,

Here is where we differ… maybe … If by dramatic personification you mean a little robust guy dressed in red tights, with a arrow tipped tail, having horns and a goatee, carrying a red trident - hey that is Hollywood’s version of evil. And, I do not agree with that either. But, if your view is that ‘evil’ is just being overwhelmed by negative thoughts - and that is as far as it goes … well … we really do differ.

Not only is evil real, but the Evil One and his minions are equally real. At one time the name ‘Light Bearer’ (Lucifer) really meant something in describing this beautiful anglic creation of God. But, this angel abused his free will and abandoned his Creator with the idea that it was not in his nature to worship anyone other than himself. The poet John Milton captured the flavor in Paradise Lost when he has Satan say in reference to his ultimate inabilty to storm heaven’s gates so now he can only see destroying humans, “Which, if not victory, is yet revenge.”

To dismiss evil as just the inherent limitations of humans is to set oneself up for a major and most unpleasant surprise. No doubt about it - the Evil One’s greatest success is to convince men that he either does not exist or that he is just a impotent imp without real power or much long term ability.

It is not for naught that Satan hates the Blessed Virgin Mary - after all, it is her foot that will grind his head into the dirt. Considering what high regard this prideful spirit holds himself - this must be one of the most disquieting torments he suffers - just thinking about what will come to pass!

God bless

That is what we think the devil looks like huh But ironically he was supposed to be the most beautiful angel.

That actually makes more sense. A beautfiul Angel could talk you into more then a man with horns and a tail.

 

[rinnie]

Hi Sufjon, Yes I agree with the other post we do differ in our beliefs a little.

See to us we are not always in control. We like to think we are but when there are times of stress or surprise we do stupid things.

It is easy to say this is what I would do or that. But try being caught in the moment and have a split second to think! That is when the devil moves in when we are not thinking properly.

He came after me for a week straight. I don’t talk about it often but my husband got cancer. He was strong, I can’t describe the feeling but its like a cold dark place in yours soul that you have the you don’t even know existed.

He put all kinds of horrible things in my head. He said to me in my mind give me your soul and I will cure your husband. He said if you trust God your husband will die. I was only in my early 30’s as was my husband and had 2 kids.

I swear to you he had the fear in me that you will never know. I finally said outloud alone, he would always come when I was alone.

I screamed enough! Go, if GOd wants him he will take him. I trust God. He has never been back from that moment on.

Not at that degree. He is always lurking but GOd and the ANgels have always supplied me with the warm light from then on.

I knew from that moment good or bad God would take care of me.Well he cured my husband. But I learned even if he did not the light would still be here for me to follow.

 

[Sufjon]

Hi Sufjon, Yes I agree with the other post we do differ in our beliefs a little.

See to us we are not always in control. We like to think we are but when there are times of stress or surprise we do stupid things.

It is easy to say this is what I would do or that. But try being caught in the moment and have a split second to think! That is when the devil moves in when we are not thinking properly.

He came after me for a week straight. I don’t talk about it often but my husband got cancer. He was strong, I can’t describe the feeling but its like a cold dark place in yours soul that you have the you don’t even know existed.

He put all kinds of horrible things in my head. He said to me in my mind give me your soul and I will cure your husband. He said if you trust God your husband will die. I was only in my early 30’s as was my husband and had 2 kids.

I swear to you he had the fear in me that you will never know. I finally said outloud alone, he would always come when I was alone.

I screamed enough! Go, if GOd wants him he will take him. I trust God. He has never been back from that moment on.

Not at that degree. He is always lurking but GOd and the ANgels have always supplied me with the warm light from then on.

I knew from that moment good or bad God would take care of me.Well he cured my husband. But I learned even if he did not the light would still be here for me to follow.

Hi Rinnie: You sound like a very spiritual person and remind me a lot of my sister. She has experiences like the one you shared. I’m glad you held your ground and also glad that you have been given more time with your husband!

Your friend
Sufjon

 

[rinnie]

Hi Rinnie: You sound like a very spiritual person and remind me a lot of my sister. She has experiences like the one you shared. I’m glad you held your ground and also glad that you have been given more time with your husband!

Your friend
Sufjon

Thank-you so much my friend. Yes It changed our lives forever. He has been cancer free for close to 20 years now

 

[benedictus2]

Hi Sufjon, Yes I agree with the other post we do differ in our beliefs a little.

See to us we are not always in control. We like to think we are but when there are times of stress or surprise we do stupid things.

It is easy to say this is what I would do or that. But try being caught in the moment and have a split second to think! That is when the devil moves in when we are not thinking properly.

He came after me for a week straight. I don’t talk about it often but my husband got cancer. He was strong, I can’t describe the feeling but its like a cold dark place in yours soul that you have the you don’t even know existed.

He put all kinds of horrible things in my head. He said to me in my mind give me your soul and I will cure your husband. He said if you trust God your husband will die. I was only in my early 30’s as was my husband and had 2 kids.

I swear to you he had the fear in me that you will never know. I finally said outloud alone, he would always come when I was alone.

I screamed enough! Go, if GOd wants him he will take him. I trust God. He has never been back from that moment on.

Not at that degree. He is always lurking but GOd and the ANgels have always supplied me with the warm light from then on.

I knew from that moment good or bad God would take care of me.Well he cured my husband. But I learned even if he did not the light would still be here for me to follow.

Very good post! Indeed the devil is real.

One of the converts to Catholicism wrote that what made him believe in God, is because he had a brush with the devil. He came to believe that the devil is real, so he thought that is that were so, God must be equally real.

I think Baudelaire wrote true when he said that the devils greatest trick is convince us that he doesn’t exist.

 

[benedictus2]

I honestly have never spent a lot of time thinking about the devil, and I’m not planning on spending a lot of time on it.

That may be so, but it does not make him any less real. It would be good to get to know the wiles of the devil, for then you will know when you are being led astray. That is what spiritual discernment is all about.

Everyone has the ability to see more than what is commonly seen on a day to day basis. However, spending a lot of time seeing the past or the future might be a good way to rob yourself of the present.

That is true. However, I am not talking about the kind of seeing you refer her.

There have been a lot of saints from every religion who have done supernatural things.

Sainthood is not about doing supernatural things. Sainthood means that one’s will is totally submitted to God so therefore we think and act according to His will.

These things are secondary and not of much importance. I do not believe they are done to give people faith. Rather, it’s a simple matter that strange things happen around people who are close to God.

That is true again. But I wasn’t referring to those kind of gifts. The devil does give ”gifts” to drawn one from God. That is why I keep re-iterating discernment, discernment, discernment.

God is beyond the physical world and what might be called creation in that regard, but then so are you. The physical world exists within God as it does within you.

Sorry but that is not Christian theology. The physical world does not exist within me. I am part of the physical world though.
What you’ve just written there is Hindu thinking and just highlights the fact that Hinduism is contrary to Judeo Christian understanding.

This answers the question as to why I spent so much time talking about your nervous system and mind in the last post. Consciousness (God’s) creates the physical world.

Again, that is opposed to Christian teaching. Consciousness does not create the physical world God did and does, but God is more than just consciousness.

Your body is part of the physical world and it is an agent whose s purpose to to experience what has been created by consciousness.

Wrong again as far as Christian theology is concerned. My body is part of the physical world and I was created by God to be in covenant – in communion – with Him.

The problem is that the body gives you the impression that you are a singular and independent consciousness.

I have a separate consciousness yes and so do you. You may want to think that there is only one consciousness but that isn’t so. If you think that way, then sorry but that is not Christian teaching.

This is not the case. Your body and brain are an independent experiential tool that feeds experience back to consciousness.

Again that may be Hindu teaching but that is not Christian.

And there is only one consciousness - the One that created it all. The ego (sense of separate self) created by the sense driven body wants badly to survive, but it cannot.

Again, that is not Christian teaching. I suppose you are getting my point here now. Hinduism is Hinduism and Judeo-Christianity is Judeo-Christianity and never the twain shall meet.

The appeal of certain religions is to feed that ego’s desire to live forever, because this is what it desperately wants.

Only because you think, based on your Hindu belief, that it is the ego that desires to live forever.
In actual fact that desire for eternal life was wired into us when God created us. But again, I am speaking here from Christian theology so as you can see, totally different to your beliefs.

The problem is that this can never be, because this ego doesn’t really exist anyway.

Only according to you and Hinduism. Not according to Judeo-Christian belief.

You on the other hand have always existed and always will, so there was never anything to fear anyway.

Totally wrong again as far as Christianity is concerned. I have a beginning, God created me so I did not always exist. Neither did you even though you may want to think so.
So here is a cross road for you. You either believe in Christianity or you believe in Hinduism.

 

[benedictus2]

The problem is that we are pulled around by our egos (bodies and sense organs) all our lives and hence are unable to see the nature of what we are.

Wrong, again as far is Christianity is concerned. What pulls us away from God is the evil one and our predisposition to sin.

This is why transcendental meditation is used. It strips away that illusion of separateness, and brings one into contact with God.

Sorry but I don’t believe in TM. To be quite honest I think it is hogwash. I have heard of testimonies of people who have done centering prayer (which were patterned after TM) and they explained that it was more an encounter with the evil spirit.
Sorry to be rather brutal about that but that is what I have read from those who have dabbled in it.

This might be why your scriptures say “Be still and know that I am.”

Wrong again. It says “ Be still and know that I am God”. And believe me, so many Christians get the wrong meaning of that phrase as welll.

If you do not pluck that away from the rest of the psalm, you will be quite surprised at what the whole psalm says.

So here it is - Psalm 46 - in full

*God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress. *

Thus we do not fear, though earth be shaken and mountains quake to the depths of the sea, *

Though its waters rage and foam and mountains totter at its surging. The LORD of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. Selah* *

treams of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High.* *

God is in its midst; it shall not be shaken; God will help it at break of day.* *

Though nations rage and kingdoms totter, God’s voice thunders and the earth trembles.* *

The LORD of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. Selah* *

Come and see the works of the LORD, who has done fearsome deeds on earth;* *

Who stops wars to the ends of the earth, breaks the bow, splinters the spear, and burns the shields with fire;* *

Who says: “Be still and confess that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”* *

The LORD of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. Selah*

I hope that reading the entire Psalm puts that tiny bit you quoted in the right context.

 

[Lokabrenna]

I’ve already responded to this thread but I thought of something else I’d like to add. I think it’s a given that at some point many people will become dissatisfied with the traditions that they were raised in, so they go out seeking for something that does fit their needs. Sometimes, they might find it in one of the other “established” traditions, or they might find it in an eclectic mix of many traditions (like the New Age movement). At some point, they might eventually return to the religion of their parents, or they might not.

I know it’s probably difficult for a devout Catholic to understand how anyone could be dissatisfied with Catholicism, after all, it provides for their spiritual needs, so why wouldn’t it work for everyone else? One person might come away from Mass feeling like they’ve touched the sacred, I personally always came away bored out of my skull even when I was going through my “ultra-religious” phase, different strokes for different folks, I suppose.

 

[tqualey]

Hi, Lokabrenna,

Being, “…bored out of…” your skull is really a personal problem based on an inability to handle the present moment - whatever that may be. Some go to Mass to see what they can ‘get out of it’ - this approach ultimately leads to them no longer going with the complaint that, “I did not get anything out of it”. Actually, Mass is not a spectator activity - it requires participation and attention.

If one goes to religious services the way one goes to the grocery store - with a selection from this aisle and then from that and a sprinkling from over there and then some from over here - when one gets home and examines what they have selected there is profound disappointment - almost like ‘buyers regret’. it looked good at the time - but, now under better lighting it is really worthless.

Each day brings us closer to our personal meeting with God. My guess is that you are on this list because of a nagging doubt about just how far paganism will carry you. As Benedictus 2 pointed out - the devil is quite real, and has had a very long set of experiences in deceiving humans into believing he is an ‘angel of light’ (2Cor 11:14) and the devil is quite pleased with such a title. Call him the Father of Lies and he is a lot less happy - becuase he must now work a lot harder. He has all eternity to gather as many souls as he can… so it is best to find out about this spirit so that you can descern what is actually being presented to you.

God bless

I’ve already responded to this thread but I thought of something else I’d like to add. I think it’s a given that at some point many people will become dissatisfied with the traditions that they were raised in, so they go out seeking for something that does fit their needs. Sometimes, they might find it in one of the other “established” traditions, or they might find it in an eclectic mix of many traditions (like the New Age movement). At some point, they might eventually return to the religion of their parents, or they might not.

I know it’s probably difficult for a devout Catholic to understand how anyone could be dissatisfied with Catholicism, after all, it provides for their spiritual needs, so why wouldn’t it work for everyone else? One person might come away from Mass feeling like they’ve touched the sacred, I personally always came away bored out of my skull even when I was going through my “ultra-religious” phase, different strokes for different folks, I suppose.

 

[Lokabrenna]

"Hi, Lokabrenna,

Being, “…bored out of…” your skull is really a personal problem based on an inability to handle the present moment - whatever that may be. Some go to Mass to see what they can ‘get out of it’ - this approach ultimately leads to them no longer going with the complaint that, “I did not get anything out of it”. Actually, Mass is not a spectator activity - it requires participation and attention.

This sounds like a bit of a cop-out to me. Call me crazy, but I didn’t feel like I was ‘participating’ even when I was giving the rite my full attention, just sitting and being quiet didn’t do anything for me. Even when I sang in choir, I was given the instruction: “Now, don’t sing too loudly, you’re just hear to lead the singing,” and I was just like: “Well, I thought we were all supposed to be singing together?”

I personally find more fulfillment singing and dancing and sharing food with my gods than I ever did sitting (or kneeling, or standing) in the pews at church, but I’m me, you’re you.

If one goes to religious services the way one goes to the grocery store - with a selection from this aisle and then from that and a sprinkling from over there and then some from over here - when one gets home and examines what they have selected there is profound disappointment - almost like ‘buyers regret’. it looked good at the time - but, now under better lighting it is really worthless.

I’ve felt buyer’s remorse before, and it wasn’t anything like the feelings (or lack of feelings) I felt during church, and I certainly didn’t call it quits just because it was boring (to me). It was a combination of factors.

Each day brings us closer to our personal meeting with God. My guess is that you are on this list because of a nagging doubt about just how far paganism will carry you.

Actually, I joined because I haven’t had the opportunity to engage in interfaith dialogue since Beliefnet was bought by Fox News (and even earlier, when they moved and most of the population didn’t follow them). I like my tradition just fine, thank you, and before you ask, I haven’t been plagued by nightmares, heard voices in my head telling me to kill people, or had any compulsion to sacrifice animals. My collection of tarot cards is right next to me on the shelf as I type this, and I’ve felt no sinister vibes from the unholy combination of ink and paper. Actually, I feel rather like I did when I was Catholic, less guilt-ridden, though.

As Benedictus 2 pointed out - the devil is quite real, and has had a very long set of experiences in deceiving humans into believing he is an ‘angel of light’ (2Cor 11:14) and the devil is quite pleased with such a title. Call him the Father of Lies and he is a lot less happy - becuase he must now work a lot harder. He has all eternity to gather as many souls as he can… so it is best to find out about this spirit so that you can descern what is actually being presented to you.
God bless

Thank you, but I simply don’t accept the Bible (or any book, for that matter) as holding any particular authority anymore than you would accept a quote from the Eddas or the Epic of Gilgamesh or the Vedas as having any relevance to your faith. Quoting the Bible at me and expecting me to agree with everything it says isn’t going to cut it.

 

[tqualey]

Hi, Lokabrenna,

It probably was a cop-out… but, only you know the dimensions of this. The Mass is not choir grouping - and to really focus on this rather than the Christ becoming present on the altar through the words of the priest acting in the person of Christ is tragic. Adding to your experience was a petulant choir director certainly did not help matters - but, maybe this person had lost sight of what the Mass is about, too.

As I understand participation, it is not only a voluntary act but one that requires a certain amount of discipline. As the People of God, we are from a Royal Priesthood and interact with the priest celebrant throughout the Mass. It has been my experience that there are essentially three groups of people at an event: those who makes things happen, those who watch what has happened and those who do not know that something has happened. Those who participate with the priest at Mass are united with Christ in this wonderous mystery. I think that is a goal to reflect on.

When I was a student we had to learn and become rather conversant with the ancient Greek gods. The stories were truly amazing, humorous, shocking and giving one some insight into the people who enjoyed such adventures. Ultimately, the concept of multiple gods demonstrating human failings to a grand degree had to wear thin - even for the ancient Greeks. I guess it was the idea that all of these competing gods just could not have sprug up (even from the head of Zeus) and that only One God could have created everything with such order, pattern, and perfection.

Rejecting, the Bible or “…any other book for that matter…” must truly limit your resources. Whatever negative experiences you have had - either in or out of choir - that have lead you away from Christ - can be addressed. We have only one soul, and doing what is necessary to prepare ourselves to meet our Divine Judge is the challenge we all must face.

God bless

This sounds like a bit of a cop-out to me. Call me crazy, but I didn’t feel like I was ‘participating’ even when I was giving the rite my full attention, just sitting and being quiet didn’t do anything for me. Even when I sang in choir, I was given the instruction: “Now, don’t sing too loudly, you’re just hear to lead the singing,” and I was just like: “Well, I thought we were all supposed to be singing together?”

I personally find more fulfillment singing and dancing and sharing food with my gods than I ever did sitting (or kneeling, or standing) in the pews at church, but I’m me, you’re you.

I’ve felt buyer’s remorse before, and it wasn’t anything like the feelings (or lack of feelings) I felt during church, and I certainly didn’t call it quits just because it was boring (to me). It was a combination of factors.

Actually, I joined because I haven’t had the opportunity to engage in interfaith dialogue since Beliefnet was bought by Fox News (and even earlier, when they moved and most of the population didn’t follow them). I like my tradition just fine, thank you, and before you ask, I haven’t been plagued by nightmares, heard voices in my head telling me to kill people, or had any compulsion to sacrifice animals. My collection of tarot cards is right next to me on the shelf as I type this, and I’ve felt no sinister vibes from the unholy combination of ink and paper. Actually, I feel rather like I did when I was Catholic, less guilt-ridden, though.

Thank you, but I simply don’t accept the Bible (or any book, for that matter) as holding any particular authority anymore than you would accept a quote from the Eddas or the Epic of Gilgamesh or the Vedas as having any relevance to your faith. Quoting the Bible at me and expecting me to agree with everything it says isn’t going to cut it.