Guidance sought

[MillieMallard]

Have namechanged. I’m a Catholic and am active in my church. I go to Mass regularly. I abide by the teachings. I have been listening to faith leaders from my own and other denominations and faiths online for some time now. I also have friends with other faiths, Christian denominations and general outlooks.

I need to talk to someone because I need to discuss some faith questions but I can’t talk to my priest. The reason for this is that I know him very well which sounds contradictory but as he is embroiled in my whole life, I need neutrality. Also, he is always so busy that I don’t want to be an inconvenience. There’s lots more to this but I don’t want to out myself. A key area though is that my friend’s partner is a leader in another faith and believes I am not saved because I am Catholic. I’ve listened to information from so many avenues that I’ve been overloaded in my quest for an answer and just would like someone neutral with some theological knowledge to talk to. Any ideas? Also I haven’t come in here to be slated by atheists as seems to happen on so many other forums. Please help with any useful suggestions. I feel desperate. I just don’t know where to turn.

@leafbud

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

In your example, if we changed the word mind for consciousness, would that have any relevance to you?

Or referred to mind as either egoic mind and Spiritual mind.

The egoic mind having been created by humans and the Spiritual Mind having been created by God. Would that make sense to you?

Then would this quote be seen as pointing to something?

"Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

-Romans 12:2

noego, mind/consciousness both/either are meaningful to me. The egoic/human mind versus Spiritual mind does make sense to me. I do understand that some thoughts are spiritual, some carnal. I continually pray that I am quick to dismiss carnal thoughts, those which are against God's will and forget them.

Yes, I find the Roman's quote is meaningful to me. When I considered my use of the word imagination and how the word is often connected to the carnal/fleshly egoic mind it made me refine my consideration in more detail regarding how thoughts subsequently might manifest physically in real life. If they are spiritual thoughts we are engaging with and then enabling manifestation through our actions, for example, they could be seen to be prophetic.

@leafbud

Let me take you through the quote as I perceive it.

"Do not copy the behaviour and customs of this world

So to me that means the egoic world created by humans and all the human constructed concepts. The list is endless........

but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think

So the thinking changes from being egoic, believing in egoic thought and the dropping of all human constructed concepts, because I am being told not to follow them

Then you will learn to know God’s will for you

So by dropping everything. All that's left is God's will. Or as I describe it pure consciousness.

Which is what I have been trying to put across in this thread.

When you drop everything, body, mind, concepts, programming and conditioning etc. In fact everything from this world what is left. It can only be.........................that which observes everything without attachment. As soon as it attaches it returns to this world. In the quote above that goes against Gods will.

So stay here in this place

which is good and pleasing and perfect

You mocked that poster. That is not reasoned debate.
Possibly, but to be honest I thought it was me being wound up, so I thought I responded in kind. Do you believe the stuff they're saying? It's using English language but it sounds like they're under the guidance of some sixties eastern guru, so much so that any meaning they are trying to impart is lost.

I pretty agree,noego. The attachment I was describing earlier was regarding the attachment I have in my relationship with God. The feeling of connection. This can go wider too, in sharing that kind of love with other people.

Pretty much, I meant to type.

It's using English language but it sounds like they're under the guidance of some sixties eastern guru, so much so that any meaning they are trying to impart is lost.

I can answer any specific questions on my comments. I don't actually think the concepts are that unheard of or particularly difficult. Unless you are refusing, point blank, to consider any validity that they might have.

@leafbud

This can go wider too, in sharing that kind of love with other people

Oh believe me, this is coming from a place of love. This divinity is seeking your divinity. Consciousness reflecting consciousness if you like.

Language is getting in the way though :)

noego do not worry, in the past I have spent years studying linguistics and I find it absolutely fascinating which only adds to our discussion. It is interesting that this slight language barrier has helped me refine further my understanding regarding the relevance of a gaining sense of stillness, peace or calm in order to discern more spiritual thoughts with more ease.

@leafbud

do not worry

I don't it's not even on the radar :)

@Jason118

it sounds like they're under the guidance of some sixties eastern guru

It goes further back than the sixties. Something like 2,500 years ago for the teachings of Buddha, the 6th century BC for Lao Tzu and elder contemporary of Confucius. The same with Zen, all of which was BCE.

So if you got your head out of your arse then maybe you would have a better understanding of ancient teaching and language.
Namaste
Om Shanti

I don't it's not even on the radar :)

Fab! I'm getting there. I aim not to and when I do it rarely is completely overwhelming. I have my moments though.

I aim not to worry, I mean.

@leafbud

I have my moments though

I understand

noego, thanks.

I have even worried about worrying before now! Ridiculous, I know!

@leafbud

Try not to resist the changes that come your way. Instead let life live through you. And do not worry that your life is turning upside down. How do you know that the side you are used to is better than the one to come?

Rumi

I agree when the change is right and necessary. However sometimes changes loomed which could have threatened my family and have been wrong. I knew it, deeply, and my actions have stopped them before. Turned things around. Amazing outcomes which I thank God for.

So if you got your head out of your arse then maybe you would have a better understanding of ancient teaching and language.
At last - some language I understand, thank you.

At least you're taking an interest Jason

@leafbud

I have even worried about worrying before now!grin Ridiculous, I know!

“Don't worry about anything at all.
You are not here by accident.
This form is just a costume for a while.
But the one who is behind the costume,
this one is eternal. You must know this.
If you know this and trust this,
you don't have to worry about anything.
This world is so full of love.
And your heart, your being,
is so full of love, so full of peace.
You don't have to go
to some place else to find peace.
It is right where you are.”
― Mooji

Thank you, noego, that is lovely.

I try to understand many different points of view - helps frame my own belief system without being closed to things that I'm not aware of. Sometimes though, people are so full of themselves and their own beliefs they fail to see how ridiculous they seem to mainstream, curious, people.

without being closed to things that I'm not aware of.

Really? Many people are Buddhists and many people are Christians. It really is not that unusual. I'm surprised you seem so unaware of the type of discussion involved regarding these belief systems.

Sometimes though, people are so full of themselves and their own beliefs they fail to see how ridiculous they seem to mainstream, curious, people.

If you are truly curious, ridiculing ideas and concepts new to you. is not the way to learn anything. This site, I expect would really blow your mind.

forum.ship-of-fools.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi

helps frame my own belief system Maybe the frame is getting in the way.

Sometimes though, people are so full of themselves I know it can seem like that, in some cases it's true.

Just a thought. Maybe you follow these threads to confirm your own belief system. Reading the post. Yes! Still a load of nuts spouting mumbo jumbo. Glad I have no part in it. I can sleep soundly at night knowing I'm doing the right thing, all is well. Is all well.

@Jason118

helps frame my own belief system

What makes you think you need a belief system?

Sometimes though, people are so full of themselves and their own beliefs they fail to see how ridiculous they seem to mainstream, curious, people

Without people being outside of the mainstream, a lot of the advances in humanity wouldn't have been made.

Mandela was outside the mainstream of apartheid
Descartes
Galileo
Socrates
Da Vinci
Gandhi
Einstein
Freud

Perhaps being curious is all that is needed. A questioning, introspective self enquiry. Does the world need another belief system?