Anyone non-religious here? Please be nice!

[Moabite]

I'm very intrigued by shamanism. Practitioners who travel to "the other side" in order to gain specific knowledge in order to re-balance waking reality.

I believe that you can choose the superstitions that will apply to you. Such as how certain omens have different meaning to different cultures. I see snakes and black cats as positive omens, someone else may not. Do you have any omens and what do they mean to you?

 

[Boyd]

sorry I stepped in it yesterday and didn't self edit, went to bed and didn't get on for a bit today. Thanks for the answers folks

 

[Pupsnpullets]

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I don't really believe in omens but I do believe is setting intentions. It's like setting the sails on a yacht. I may want to go north and there may be rough weather to the north, however, it is my intent to go north so north I go, but I may delay it a day or two before setting sail.

As for omens, well that word always takes me to the word 'ominous' and it makes me vaguely uncomfortable. I do believe in messages, though. For instance if I'm dealing with a problem and a hummingbird buzzes me, I'm reminded that hummingbirds are the tiniest of birds but they don't take any nonsense from any other bird, they're very courageous. They also have very long beaks that reach right into the center of the flowers, and that reminds me not to 'beat around the bush'. I don't see many cats of any color where I live but I do see a few snakes. Snakes remind be that I can move through any problem, there's no reason to stay stuck. You know, they shed their skins and move on with new bigger ones.

I'm certain there is probably evil around somewhere, but once again, I have no intentions of proving it one way or the other. My intent is to focus on what I would like to have in my life and deal with anything that comes up along the way. I don't go around looking for red lights. I'm sure there are those who think of me as a Pollyanna

 

[SunnyDawn]

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Welcome Joe17. I'm sure many religious folks feel the same way you do. Unfortunately, as with most things, it's the extremes that get our attention most often and these extremes often shape our mindsets. All in all most of my religious friends are very easy-going and very respectful of my beliefs but then again the areas I've lived in aren't as conservative as some. Thanks for reminding us that there are many open-minded folks like you out there!

Pupsnpullets there is nothing wrong with being a Pollyanna! My Dad is like that and he is just precious!

 

[Organics North]

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Nicely said! Your words strike home for me. "setting intentions" yes good way of putting it!

Last week I heard a NPR program on Placebo's (The sugar pills substantial ability to effect outcome of ones health issue.) I feel it applies here and is of the same "genre" as the concept of setting intentions.......IMHO belief or will is incredibly powerful. SO if someone TRULY believes seeing a purple polka dot elephants means you will have "good health".......Then it is more probable for that individual. This does not in any way mean someone will have the same outcome. It is because they do not share that belief.

So if you believe in an omen then it can be real. This does not mean the omen is real. It is only because you believe in it.

ON

 

[Aunt Bea]

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Well, now, that's my definition of spirituality, too. You've said it very nicely. We're all spiritual beings; we just have to explore that part of ourselves more.

Sometimes we're so busy developing the left brain, logical, conscious thinking part of ourselves that we neglect the other part, the right brain, intuitive, holistic part. For me, exploring the spiritual meant turning off the thinker. Now that's hard to do! My brain was always thinking, thinking, thinking..... I had to teach my brain to hush so I could 'hear' myself and feel

Our education system and culture really emphasize left brain things; our language is left brained, we put a lot of emphasis on math and science and athletics, we stress competition. That's not a bad thing, it's just that the right brain activities are important, too, in order for that side of us to be developed.

 

[deb1]

What do you think would be most surprising to religious people to learn about non religious people?

When I was religious I thought that most nonreligious people were very bitter. I suppose that I believed that only religion could give you a sense of peace. Also, I am surprised how much better I feel about myself. Actually that shouldn't be surprising, the religion that I belonged to taught that humans were mainly nothing without God. Of course, I didn't feel very good about myself. When you are told that you are worthless without a supreme power and that all your good actions spring from him but your bad actions are your own fault it is amazing that anyone would feel good about themselves.

 

[curliet]

As many people have mentioned here, religious people seem to be surprised that non-religious people can be "good" people. That's evidenced by those remarks such as "what a Christian thing to do" and many other words to that effect. Those who are brought up to believe that only God and the Church/Temple/Mosque etc are qualified to instruct us in how to act don't see that most of us have it within us to 'feel' the difference between right and wrong.

 

[EweSheep]

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Friendship
Treat each other with kindness and compassion
Share
Love one another
Basic needs of mankind


If you were out in the desert, praying to God all the while for water and got nothing in return. If I see you wanting of water, I would give you water, not because you are Christian, it is because we are humans and our basic needs are the same. And you would hope later down the road, someone will return the favor whether you are Christian or not.

 

[Prettiest Frog]

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What surprises most religious (specifically Christian) people about me is that I have actually read the bible from cover to cover and know it better than most of them do, and am perfectly able to quote scripture right back at them. And the more they press, the less nice I am about doing so.

It also tends to shock them to learn that I am an ethical, moral person who will stop in the rain to help someone change a tire without asking for or expecting recompense. Apparently, only 'good, god-fearing Christians' help each other