Are you open to religious experiences?

[Alex K]

I've never had much to do with protestants, but they look like ignorant moneygrabbers most of the time.

Luther wasn't exactly a role model either. Raving antisemitic and idly standing by whilst the barons slaughtered the peasants. Even worse, he condemned the peasant insurrections of the 16th century and took the side of the high and mighty.

Not comparable in severity, but his ideas on science also weren't very impressive. There's this quote about copernicus or so...

"There is talk of a new astrologer who wants to prove that the earth moves and goes around instead of the sky, the sun, the moon, just as if somebody were moving in a carriage or ship might hold that he was sitting still and at rest while the earth and the trees walked and moved. But that is how things are nowadays: when a man wishes to be clever he must . . . invent something special, and the way he does it must needs be the best! The fool wants to turn the whole art of astronomy upside-down. However, as Holy Scripture tells us, so did Joshua bid the sun to stand still and not the earth."[55]

[KevinM1]

The only thing that interests me about religion is the art (and I'm talking old school stuff, like Bach's fugues) and architecture.

The closest I've come to a spiritual experience is looking up at a clear night sky in Yellowstone, free from light pollution. It's awe inspiring and humbling to have a clear glimpse of the scope of the universe. But, even then, I don't ascribe (prescribe? one of the scribes ) actual spirituality to it because I don't believe in spirits.

[Alex K]

Hell yes, the fugues and the stars, that's my kind of spirituality! I'm currently spiritualy addicted to the passacaglia and fugue.

[Spooky]

The only thing I've ever been mildly interested was neo paganism and wiccan.

I was drawn to it because of nature being the only divine element and because it's not in any way judgmental or ignorant of scientific knowledge. When it comes to respect, I respect everyone, whose belief doesn't discriminate.

The agnostic in my profile plays to the above. I'm certainly over all the scripted gods, but I'm still open to spirituality without building my life on it.

Interesting. I had an army buddy who was wiccan. A rather peacful and accepting guy. Nothing at all like the southern baptist douche who kept trying to exorcize him.

All told I'd say I'd agree.

[Silver]

I have been down many paths of religious beliefs in my lifetime, and I can state with certainty that I have absolutely no desire to experience any of it ever again.

[thesummerqueen]

Spiritual experiences?

A long time ago here, I posted poorly shot pictures that barely captured the experience of returning to one of the three major touring caverns in Northern VA. I hadn't been there for over a decade. I had a terrible, passionate and profound urge to kneel and touch the rock, as if somehow you could feel through the cold layers the slow, beating heart of the earth. Everything in those caves was so beautiful, from the anthodites in their formerly vacuum sealed chamber, looking like blossoming flowers, to the ribbons of rock festooning walls and ceilings, finer and thinner than the most polished hand-carved marble. And none of it - NONE OF IT - was formed because of us. If no one had discovered the cave, those formations would still be there in a darkness so extreme that a human would go mad living in it. And yet, even deep, deep under the earth, the cave tour guides had to be very careful about light sources because wherever a lamp shone for extended periods of time, moss grew. Life is so tenacious.

Did you know that the Appalachian mountains are some of the oldest on earth? There's something almost Lovecraftian about them. They aren't as spectacular looking as the Rockies because they're so much older, worn down by rain and wind and life. When you drive through them at sunset, the more distant ones take on a look like they're made of glass and amber, like sidhe halls shut to human entrance. I discovered my atheism, and one of those spiritual places, standing on a deck overlooking the Shenandoah river as it fought to melt out of its winter stupor. Spring creeps up the mountains a hands breadth at a time, like a bride sliding off her icy white gown and revealing herself in cream and pink splendor, when the dogwoods and redbuds bloom. It's achingly lovely. If you go a bit off the paths from the Blue Ridge Parkway, you find glades that fill with streamers of sunlight, glittering with dustmotes like fairies among all the wildflowers. It is a pagan place - if there were a Goddess, she would wander there.

Rhythm will tell you - the only true words in the bible were when Moses was told to take off his shoes, for he stood on holy ground. The whole earth is a spiritual place, and full of those experiences. You can feel it when you plunge your arms elbow deep into damp spring soil. You can taste it during crazy thunderstorms when the air is thick with humidity and ozone.

I got "We are Star Stuff" inked on my arm, because the most spiritual expression I've ever heard came digested through Sagan, then Neil deGrasse Tyson as he passionately explained that we are made of the guts of exploded stars. We are made of the universe's fabric, part of it in a way that no biblical tale can ever hope to match. That makes me feel divine and luminous, the elements of starlight briefly robed in mortal flesh.

Oh yes. I am open to spiritual experiences. Whitman's "Song of Myself" is a better hymn to the profound nature of the earth and its inhabitants and their place in the universe than ever any "religious" text.

Which is probably why if I were to have any *religious* experiences, they'd probably be Wiccan.

[dyresand]

Buddhism on the other hand i'm looking into it.

I'm interested in it, but I'm a European to the bones. It doesn't fit my nature. I'm certainly not an ascetic being.

you can be a atheist Buddhist i see no harm in it. Better after life deals too.
put it this way no heaven no hell. no god breathing down your back to love him no satan to get punished by. well your supposed to be at peace anyways.

[Minimalist]

I visited the Temple of Hadrian in Ephesos a few years ago. Didn't seem particularly religious in spite of the fact that Hadrian was real.

[bennyboy]

Absolutely. Religion is one of the most interesting aspects of any culture.

My favorite religious experience so far was visiting a Krshna temple in Vancouver. They give free Indian food (yum!), and they dance in an incense-filled room to work up an appetite first. And there were at least a dozen cute teenage girls in saris, some white and some Indian, dancing. And the temple walls were all painted with trippy images of Krishna and Shiva, and the interior was lavishly decorated. And the people who show up for the free feast are an interesting mix of businessmen, street kids, and old hippies. You'd have to be a total square not to go there and just totally trip out in pure acceptance and happiness. The trick is when it's all done-- put your tie back on and go to work, and don't start thinking too much about whether your job is "ultimately satisfying," or whether your lifestyle really makes you happy-- or you may never leave.

Good times, religion. Good times.

[vorlon13]

A couple of times while under great stress I've had 'religious' themed experiences.

While visiting a friend in the hospital (shortly before he died of AIDS and weighing all of 80 pounds) I instantaneously saw an angel outside the hospital window.

Had a 'ghost' in the back seat of my car while I was driving (and crying) many years ago. He was 'bemused' I was upset over his dying.


Never considered either experience to have been 'real', I was aware of what a rough go I was having at the time in regards to friends dying horribly from HIV, and I was still new to sobriety too. Probably a wonder I didn't unhinge entirely.


I have since realized another friend (ex boyfriend, actually) who subsequently joined a religious order most likely felt a 'calling' to it while in my presence. (if you're thinking Brian factors into this, you're correct) I understand 'Rs' interpretation of the event entirely, but even though we shared the experience, I in no way felt a 'calling' to become a brother in a catholic order, even if 'R' considers me a vehicle in getting that calling to him. I don't have a problem with 'R' having joined the order however. The order actually required their brothers to stay busy caring for the sick, and 'R' was quite good at that. (more so than me) When he became ill (not HIV), the order took care of him.

I only have an objection he was eventually buried out of state, but, that is a minor thing.