Religion

[Heaven]

I think I'm just worried that this has become a christian dominated thread as we aren't getting input from people of other faiths anymore? Did we scare people off? Are we being too evangelical?

Yeah, me too, come back peoples!!!! I liked hearing about Judaism and Islam in particular.

[Jennifer13]

I'd love to know if there are any other ppl around who haven't posted but have non-Christian beliefs. Such as Buddhism, etc.

But I guess, this thread is probably somewhat representative of the fact that in our little corner of the world Christianity is the major faith. Altho Christian religions still seem to vary widely in their beliefs, even amongst themselves.

[Bathsheba]

Kerry I added a little edit to my last post... hope you saw it I definately see where your heart is at. And I also understand and applaud the teachings of your priest. And Nelle: I agree a specifically Christian thread could be a good idea. Sarajane: I agree: I was very interested in the Jewish/Islamic information as well! I look forward to learning more!

Our priest asked us all at Church last Sunday about unusual places where we find ourselves praying. I didn't mention it but I immediately thought: on the train. I find just sitting there (when the kids are quiet and/or asleep in their pram) a very positve experience. I often see other people on the train who seem to have fallen through the safety nets of society and I pray for them. I basically chat to God all throughout my day (in my head LOL I'm sounding like a bit of a nutter!) but because I am a SAHM I am often isolated... I travel on the train every 2nd day or so... and I really enjoy this time of prayer. Anyone else do this or pray somewhere unusual? I guess I am raising this as prayer or communing with nature perhaps in the case of Wiccan's (is this right? I hope I'm not offending) could be something we all have in common no matter what our faith? Oh and BTW another person in our church said that they pray on the train.... that's why I didn't mention it.

[kerry]

Ok... a teaser for all of us....

Question: Which feast day / time in your religious/spiritual calendar do you enjoy the most? Why and what about it is it that you like?

I think this is a good question because everyone can come up with an answer to it... I would love to know about some pagan, muslim, judaic, hindi, budist, shinto, rituals and feasts. Or any others out there.

ETA: Maybe those who don't have a belief structure could still answert this by talking about their favourite time in the year, why it is so and what they do... might be something like an annual family holiday or a regular family get together or even the footy grandfinal or Melbourne Cup.

ETA: Yep bath... so your eta and posted above... no issues with anything that has been said by you or others. Actually pretty thick skinned about my religion and phylosphies, must feel comfortable with the decisions I have made there.

[Heaven]

I like the (christian) passover that we celebrate. I just think it's really nice. It's not like the Jewish one as obviously that is about the exodus from Egypt. The Christian passover is about Jesus sacrifice and is on the same day as the last supper and you do the same as what Jesus did, i.e. footwashing, communion. I just really like it because you think, on this day, however many years ago, Jesus was doing the same thing. And it makes you really think about what it must have been like for him, having this meal and preparing to suffer and die. I can't explain very well why I like it I don't think.

Bath, I can't really think of a certain place I pray. Maybe in the shower in the morning, when I just have time by myself and am being naughty and just standing there enjoying the hot water.
I haven't read 'the secret', personally I think it's not a secret and is pretty obvious so I'm not giving them money for it, lol. But I saw them on Oprah and one thing that stuck in my mind is they said you have to always ask yourself what you are thankful for. So usually I do that in my shower time, just saying thanks for all the good things in my life.

[kerry]

Bath - Yep, when i did the train thing I often prayed or had my own internal conversation with god. Or simply reflected on my life.

[kerry]

I love the easter celebration... the fasting, the many masses which are all so different to standard mass. Spiritually it is the most significant one for me. Actually I think its the tradition and fasting that I love the most about easter. Fasting you say... for me it is really important, I think it allows for some great internal reflection and analysis but also is a simple way to re-affirm my choices about my spirituality.

I will also confess to loving Christmas... the music, the emotions behind it and the togetherness that I feel its just so special, even with all the angst that comes with the family gatherings I wouldn't not do it for all the tea in china.

[Heaven]

I think fasting is good too. You don't realise how much time is taken up by eating or preparing food! lol. And it feels like you have a purpose when you do it, and u get a sense of achievement at the end.

[Yael]

Hey guys,

You haven't scared me off, i've still been reading but have had a crazy few weeks (brother was in a serious car acccident with fracture spine etc - but he is ok), and i've just found out i'm iron deficient, which accounts for why i'm so tired (along with manically trying to finish my course before the baby arrives).

I just have like 4 pages of questions/points to respond to, so once i find myself with a spare hour or two, i will sit down and try and respond from my POV.

Have a great afternoon everyone!

[kerry]

Yael... hope your brother is on the mend soon, I'l keep him in my prayers.OM I didn't realise how far along with number 2 you were already, plus studying again! I remember you studying your little backside off while pg with your son. Hope your doc gave you some good iron suppliments. Have a good shabbat and see you back here when/if you get a moment.

[butterfly_warrior]

Glad to see you back, Yael. I too have been reading, but not posting as I've had some real life stuff to deal with.

When it comes to Christian festivals, I would have to say that Easter is the one I simply can't do without, and the one where the commercialisation of the holiday annoys me most. The reason we chose to get married on Easter Saturday is a bit of a reflection of this - Good Friday was the day we ended our lives as single people, and Easter Sunday was the day we began our life as a married couple with the day of "transition" in between. It also makes Easter an extra special time for us as well - we're just as likely to celebrate our wedding anniversary on Easter Saturday as we are on the actual date.

I was really upset by the fact that I was too ill with OHSS to make it to church for any of the Easter services this year.

BW

[Heaven]

Good to know you'll be back Yael, I've really enjoyed your contributions.
A hard couple of weeks for you, hope everything starts looking up from now on.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Good to see you back in here, Yael!

i think I'm going to ignore any poster who doesn't answer polite questions addressed to them and just belittles other people - that's not a specific, just a general as just because people have been mostly respectful so far doesn't mean everyone/new people will be in the future.

I would like to see a specifically Christian thread, as there are so many differences in the Christian faith with all the different denominations and personal faith, I'd love to know who believes what and why. But that's like asking for a favourite Bible translation - I love the King James Version but dislike the NIV, for example, which is the opposite to most people!

Bath, I used to pray on my journey to work, now I do my prayers while I'm feeding DS to sleep at night. We're both relaxed and I know I don't have to rush my prayers or DS because there's nothing that's better to do or demanding my attention. I'll still pray on the move if I think of a reason to (in fact, DS enjoys songs of praises while I'm pushing him in his pram), but it's mostly as DS goes to sleep and at my prayer group.

I also think we can respect other people's religion while still believing Christ is the only way to heaven. And you're far more likely to have someone open to the possibilty of wanting to learn more if you respect them and their beliefs because it's not so "high-stakes", so to speak.

[paradise lost]

Hmm, i think i see this a little differently. Didn't the Old Testament tell us (re: food i think) that we must not eat what we KNOW we shouldn't eat? So we must do what we know to be the right thing?

I think if you are a Christian then Christ is the way for you. If you are a Muslim then the teachings of Mohammed (PBUH) is the way for you, and so on. I believe that all the relgions CAN be right in a world of endless wonder. It reminds me of the description i mentioned pages and pages ago where the kingdom of heaven is described as everyone is facing god and facing one another and no-one with his back to anyone. God, whatever you percieve that entity to be, has the power to create a Universe which we cannot even BEGIN to understand, i am sure that sort of being has no need for the pettier external rights and wrongs, only the big rights and wrongs we have inside. That is why we have an internal moral compass we can follow. I think if a personal God exists (which i'm not sure on for me, but can see it exists for other people) it is what is in YOUR heart that matters, and not the outward trappings. So that being knows what you believe and if you're behaving in a way you know to be right. The name you put to that set of values, or code of behaviour, Christianity, Islam, Taoism, would not mater to God, God does not need names, God speaks only Love. Did that make sense? It's a really difficult concept to get my head around let alone get out onto the screen.

I used to wonder about god being water. There was no life without water. Water is in everything. You cannot live without water. Water is omnipresent. It gives life and can grind the hardest cliffs to dust. It carves mountains, feeds seedlings, can carry you to a new land or sweep you away and smash you to bits. It's an analogy i often come back to ponder.

Of the Christian festivals i like Easter the best. I sometimes do lent because i think it's good for me, and i like the sadness of Good Friday and the Joy of Easter Sunday. I think i like it best because everyone is born and everyone dies but only Christ rose from the dead.

B

[Lulu]

Right - I just lost an entire post which has taken me AGES to type. Will be back in when I am not so shirty....

[paradise lost]

Lulu, that's SO annoying!

[mummycate]

I think this thread is great. I think that new threads on different religions would be good, if there were enough people interested in a certain religion. I chose not to baptise my daughter. I feel that religion is a free choice and its not up to me what religion my daughter belongs to. I grew up Catholic, and went in and out of faith. At the moment I disagree with so many of the teachings and rules of Catholicism. Their view on stem cell research disgusts me. You can get stem cells from other places other than embryos. The umbilical cord blood is chockas with stem cells. Also DP and I are not married, and we have no plans to. I should be on my way to hell. My partner is studying Buddhism, and I think that's great. I believe I am agnostic. I don't discount higher beings and faith, I just don't choose one or live by any specific beliefs. DD is going to pick her own religion, and DP and I will not sway her to any. Its her choice 100%. What are your opinions of this?

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Cate, it's fantastic that you have thought so much about this. I've always been interested iin the teachings of Buddhism and Taoism as there is so much wisdom in there, especially about just getting on with things and the path of least resistance. Putting some of those ideas into practice does help life a lot. That said, I am bringing DS up as an Anglican because I believe that's best for him. With religion, as with anything else to do with parenting, we make the choices we believe are best for our children.

BTW and totally off-topic; you should pop over to the Feb 2007 Baby Buddies - I haven't seen you in there. It's great to chat about what babies of a similar age are doing. Your Elouise looks gorgeous so she'll fit right in with all the other stunners in the group.