Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Philosophy/religion

Join our Philosophy forum to discuss religion and spirituality.

Original poster

interfaith relations/sharing thread

150 replies

nearlythree · 13/10/2006 23:08

Given the atmosphere on some sections of Mnet, and the lovely time we had on the Shana Tova thread, I was wondering if anyone was up for an interfaith sharing thread?

OP posts:
SamhainWitch · 20/10/2006 22:06

I believe it is a nice crossover from Paganism to Christianity, still keeping a lot of the old beliefs in place.

Maybe there is an online community you could join. Not the same I know, but better than going it totally alone.

SamhainWitch · 20/10/2006 22:08

Here maybe?

Sorry, not looked at in detail so I may be off the mark.

Original poster
nearlythree · 20/10/2006 22:12

Thanks, St.G, I agree with you, it is a good bridge and I think it somewhere that those with beliefs like mine can find a home.

You can join 'scattered' Celtic communities like Aidan and Hilda, in fact I nearly did before the dcs, but they (my angels) are the reason why I can't right now. For it to have any meaning you need to go on regular pilgrimage and also use the daily office, which I'd find hard with three under five. Maybe one day though!

OP posts:
Original poster
nearlythree · 20/10/2006 22:14

Thanks, StG, they produce great liturgy and prayer books. Just spotted that they have a forum which they didn't before. Their site seems to be having problems so will check them out again. Thanks again, I really appreciate your kindness.

OP posts:
SamhainWitch · 20/10/2006 22:28

No worries. Isn't that what we are here for, helping each other?

Original poster
nearlythree · 20/10/2006 22:32

Indeed.

OP posts:
lisalisa · 21/10/2006 23:13

Message withdrawn

lulumama · 21/10/2006 23:17

Hi ladies....hope you are all well....saw a beautiful rainbow before....there is a blessing that is supposed to be said upon seeing a rainbow that thanks god for not destryoing the world when he flooded it (noah's ark )........it just made me think that in amongst the badness and destruction,,there is always beauty and something to remind us of the goodness that there is .......

lulumama · 21/10/2006 23:18

Hi LisaLisa..you'll know the bracha for rainbows then!

did you enjoy simchat torah ...my Uncle was chazan bereshis at his shul......

lisalisa · 21/10/2006 23:22

Message withdrawn

Flamebat · 21/10/2006 23:25

I'm sorry - not been back for a little while...

is one born a 'witch' or can you learn to be one?
I was born one I think... always knew what I believed, it just took a while to find out it had a name, but I think it can be either.

and can you nurture any psychic abilities and grow them as it were?
Ad StG said - you can nurture them, but I think some are born with more than others (in the same way that some people are born naturally intelligent, and some have to work like hell to get the same level of knowledge etc)

do you have to believe in ghosts/spirits etc..to be a witch?
Again as StG said - you don't have to, but it helps. I am slightly odd in the fact that I am a very scientific pagan... I tend to need to see/prove something before I believe it (I am a biologist at heart), but I have experienced enough to have that backup.

sorry if you prefer a different term to witch....

Witch is good

After death?
I am still not sure... something happens... I like the idea that we keep going until our soul is completely evolved, learning different lessons with each life. I don't think it is an instant reincarnation though - time is all relative, and I think that we probably have quite a while to work through what we have learnt before we are plunged into the next life. That probably sounds gibberish.

Lisalisa - Again, I don't know a great deal about Orthodox Jews... how do you have to dress and act (I know that is a HUGE question )

lulumama · 21/10/2006 23:34

thank you flamebat

and that must have been lovely for you LisaLisa...

ChildrenOftheCornMeadow · 22/10/2006 00:22

dewwaves back slightly drunkenly and therefore comments on nothing

Papillon · 22/10/2006 07:40

Hallo everyone

bit late coming to this thread, and I see you are now drinking and all old buddies

I am Paps - Stay at home Shaman

Off this evening to Festival of lights - Deepavali at a friends home. Have fascinating conversations with my friend about kundalini, spiritual worldview (especially western vs hindu), yoga and mango leaves!

I am openly interested in all the ways of spirituality, especially Energy.

lulumama · 22/10/2006 08:06

morning paps-- stay at home shaman...sounds fun!

i am jewish, not very observant...very interested in spirituality...and the whole concept of 'energy'......it's all fascinating...and i am enjoying other people's points of view and experiences..and a thread that is respectful and tolerant .......

Flamebat · 22/10/2006 10:27

Been waiting for you to pop up Paps

Original poster
nearlythree · 22/10/2006 14:31

Hi, everyone!

Hello, Paps, good to see you here! I used to celebrate diwali with my best friend; sadly we've lost touch now as she's moved to the States.

There was a nice piece on Diwali on Teletubbies yesterday which dd2 was watching. Dd1 came and asked me what was going on, so I explained and said they were giving thanks to God. I said that Hindus see God in a different way from us, but that it didn't matter as it's the same God for all of us. Dd1 looked at me like I was mad and said, 'Of course, Mummy, God has the whole world safe in his hand!' She then started to explain how the sky is blue, and then beyond that is outer space which is black, and then beyond that is God, but that God is on the ground too!

Hi lisalisa, good to see you here, too, I really loved your Shana Tova thread. Lulumama and lisalisa, what is simchat torah (if I have that right)?

Lulu, we saw the rainbow too, it was very exciting as it was dd1's first. What is the blessing to say as dd1 would love it (Noah features a lot in our tradition esp. in material for children). How is babylulu?

OP posts:
lulumama · 22/10/2006 14:39

Lisalisa can probably explain it much better...

but here goes

simchat torah - is the celebration of the giving of the torah...

it is one of the most joyous festivals..when the last portion of the torah is read...there is a lot of singing and dancing ( men only) in the synagogue...all the torah scrolls are removed from the ark and the men take turns to carry them and rejoice....

it's a great festival for kids-- flag waving, and sweets and lots of celebrating..

when the first portion of the torah is read....bereshis- the beginning...there is a lovely atmosphere in the synagogue ..

it is a big honour to be chosen to read the last and the first portions and the reader will make a kiddush at shul after the service to celebrate...a kiddush is a blessing / celebration to mark something happy or important happening within the community..

i think LisaLisa can explain it better as she is more observant..but that is the gist i think

lulumama · 22/10/2006 14:42

this is a link to the rainbow blessing

lulumama · 22/10/2006 14:45

and thank you..babylulu on the mend...doc says it is a virus...temp is lower today and she is more comfortable..!

spinel · 22/10/2006 17:35

Enjoyed reading this thread please keep it up. For the record I am a Spiritualist. Thanks to those of you who asked StG how I was doing, the answer is GREAT.
Blessings all

Flamebat · 22/10/2006 18:48

Ooooh - so are you Mother StG???

Its is sooooooooooo good to see you posting!

spinel · 22/10/2006 20:00

flamebat yes for my sins i am her mother

lisalisa · 22/10/2006 21:11

Message withdrawn

lulumama · 22/10/2006 21:18

LisaLisa- brought up Orthodox......lived up the road from a Jewish school, mikvah at the bottom of the road...totally Jewish - shukl every week..althouhg not shomer shabbat...ate out etc...a bit secular really but observant of the shabbat to an extent and high holidays

things happened that made me question my total belief..as i got older i began to doubt certain things...my husband is an atheist ..although we had a Jewish wedding,which was lovely.....our children have hebrew names....

but it is hard, especailly where i live now, where there is no community, the small one that there is is reform....

my uncle is lubavitch after finding religion in his teens

so their kids have gone to yeshiva & sem and had 'arranged ' marriages...2 rabbis in our family now!

so i keep my hand in, so to speak..

there is one thing that sticks in my head from all my jewish education...that is how i try to live my life now

we were told a story that a man went to Rabbi Akiva and asked him to recite the essence of the torah whilst standing on one leg..if he fell...the man would not believe in Judasim , i think....( recollection of details a bit sketchy !!!)

but the Rabbi stood on one leg and said

Do unto others as you would have done to yourself........

so basically, that is how i live..and encourage my DS who is 7 to live.....

i wishi had more faith and i love all the traditions of the religion...but i'm just struggling to swin against the tide.....