Are you a Christian spiritual person?

[LI SNOWBIRD]

Alas, I am not. But I just read a book that is spiritual. It does not try to "Justify the ways of God to man" as Milton did in "Paradise Lost", but rather tells a charming story of personal loss and questioning God's relevance and place in one's life.
I will only say that The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit become flesh to help a man come to grips with loss and with his relationship with them.
The book is "The Shack" by William Paul Young.
It was an interesting read-- but I'm still not spiritual though I am Christian-- I would recommend it

[elbear]

If I read between the lines, spiritual meaning the qualities of being spiritually minded..goodness, kindness, helpfulness and so on..then I've been on the path (sometimes slip off), most of my life. I call it religious but we get caught up on semantics with terms. I believe in God too, but not the anthropormorphized God. I have grown up Christian so I see God in this light or the qualities of God, is a better description. I think the Mystics, who seem to have no problem with each other no matter what background, have it right. Being spiritually minded, how should I act? The Golden Rule is the answer and I believe it included all things and creatures on this earth. I tend to stay away from extreme dogmatics especially as they break this rule and in this sense say religions divide, heart-felt spirituality brings us together.

[Taltarzac725]

If I read between the lines, spiritual meaning the qualities of being spiritually minded..goodness, kindness, helpfulness and so on..then I've been on the path (sometimes slip off), most of my life. I call it religious but we get caught up on semantics with terms. I believe in God too, but not the anthropormorphized God. I have grown up Christian so I see God in this light or the qualities of God, is a better description. I think the Mystics, who seem to have no problem with each other no matter what background, have it right. Being spiritually minded, how should I act? The Golden Rule is the answer and I believe it included all things and creatures on this earth. I tend to stay away from extreme dogmatics especially as they break this rule and in this sense say religions divide, heart-felt spirituality brings us together.

I like that approach. I rarely go to church but minored in Religious Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno. Brought up Lutheran but really do not accept some of their doctrines. I have not really found a church that has just doctrines I can accept. So many religious rules seem to come down from rulers using religion to manipulate for some goal they had at that time. I do believe in the Golden Rule and probably see Jesus Christ as the messiah but this is basically just a leap of faith.

[graciegirl]

I am not sure just what I am, but I would like to be buried with a Mass and I would like to see my grandchildren walk down an aisle like their ancestors did and I like and feel comforted by tradition. Sometimes my faith in God slips but I honor it in others, just as I accept someone who does not believe. My tendency is to accept, unless the person means to hurt or to harm another. My concept of God is goodness.

If God is, he will understand me and all others who try to do what they think is right. And I am pretty sure he does exist and he loves us.

[kittygilchrist]

I wonder why this thread is located in the forum for laughs....unequivocally, yes.
Gratefully, humbly, yes, I am.

[elbear]

(Smiling) God loves a cheerful person?

[Challenger]

(Smiling) God loves a cheerful person?

1 John 4:8
Whoever does not love, does not know God, for GOD is Love

I do not know the answers to the questions of Diety. I do know that the quoted passage is helpful in my quest for meaning of life.

[SALYBOW]

I too read "The Shack." It is a very interesting and inciteful read. It definitely shakes up some peoples images of the Triune God. I love how the author presents the different members of the Holy Trinity.

[jblum315]

No, 'fraid not. I was until I was about 10 yrs old.

[rubicon]

I believe we are by nature spiritual beings. I believe most people on their death beds become believers. Since energy can't be destroyed and we are composed of energy we will always exist. We all lived and will travel between the two eternities.

The problems associated with all religions rests with the conceit of some humans.

[elbear]

Can you explain travelling between two eternities? I'm not sure what you are saying.

As humans we search for "something more" and this is evidenced in every area of life. Look at our creativity! Watch us when confronted with a puzzle! Our spirituality is not shut up in just one area,we seek, we wonder. Why should it be different in death? All through life we see regeneration all around us is by faith it seems normal to believe in something beyond death.

[jblum315]

Have you ever stopped to think exactly what is meant by meeting our loved ones again in Heaven? Will they be old and feeble? or will they be rejuvenated and young and healthy? in which case they would be a lot better off than me, old and dead. And what fun would that be?

[karostay]

I wonder.

[tedquick]

Some quick thoughts:

First off, I have wanted to respond to nearly all of the posts from the first to the last. I have chosen instead to address a variety of items herein. Snowbird, what a wonderful and thought-provoking question!

“The Shack” is a wonderful book, but so is “Cross Roads”, another Paul Young book. I actually liked the latter one slightly better than the first but both are wonderful reads. Each presented the Triune in a very personalized manner. While the Triune is a challenging concept, the closer friend that Christ became to me (during the reading of these two books) helped me to understand and feel His Love and His unbounded Friendship better than before. Reading the two books has brought me closer to Them/It/God/Christ. Of course, I recognize that I became closer to Christ instead of Him becoming closer to me, as Christ is always there. When I don’t feel close to Him I am the one who has moved away, not the other way around.

For those who have any interest in the hereafter/heaven I strongly recommend two other books, “Heaven is for Real” (about a 4-year old who had an NDE) and “Proof of Heaven” (a neurosurgeon who was near death and unconscious for 7 days). Both are exceptional reads. I will have moved permanently to TV by the end of the month and for anyone who does not want to purchase either one of these books I would gladly loan one or both to you. And Snowbird, each of these books is spiritual in nature.

As a Christian I believe that Christ died for all of us. All the rest is simply unbelievably fascinating and interesting. I have done many Bible studies and been involved in a very closely-knit group of men for the past few years and we all love the intrigue and experience of trying to determine exactly what it is that God would like us to know about Him. It might be as simple as He wants each of us to search out, in our own ways and in our own being, who and what He is from each of our own private and personal perspectives. It is up to each of us to determine that in which we believe or don’t.

I also think that religion is the worst thing that ever happened to Christianity. “In the name of religion” too many wars have been fought and too many people have died. While I think that religion is dangerous, it is only such when its goal is anything other than the simple (yet challenging concept) of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. I do think that the formality of “church” provides a format for those of us who want to worship and/or share our beliefs with others. I attend church regularly for rejuvenation and revitalization, yet most of my learning and investigation comes from the inner action and discussions that can be found in small groups.

I will be following the rest of this thread with interest.

[DruannB]

Interesting topic. My husband was just asking me today if I thought we would be able to find a church in TV that suits our beliefs about being "disciples of Christ." We're not crazy about the term "Christian" since it has been so abused throughout the centuries. I imagine we'll try all the churches in the area, but if anyone would like to make a suggestion, we would love to hear what makes your church special. Prior to returning to church just this year, we stayed away for about 20 years, believing as Emily Dickinson did that you can celebrate God anywhere. Now we find the church community inspiring and it allows us to grow in so many positive ways.

[PR1234]

Religion is belief in someone else's experience.
Spirituality is having your own experience.
~ Deepak Chopra

[tedquick]

Interesting topic. My husband was just asking me today if I thought we would be able to find a church in TV that suits our beliefs about being "disciples of Christ." We're not crazy about the term "Christian" since it has been so abused throughout the centuries. I imagine we'll try all the churches in the area, but if anyone would like to make a suggestion, we would love to hear what makes your church special. Prior to returning to church just this year, we stayed away for about 20 years, believing as Emily Dickinson did that you can celebrate God anywhere. Now we find the church community inspiring and it allows us to grow in so many positive ways.

My wife and I have visited TV 6 or 7 times. We purchased a little over a year ago and will be making our final move to there the 30th of this month. We have checked out and number of churches and chose New Covenant United Methodist Church located at 3470 Woodridge Dr. It is about the size of the church we are leaving (around 2000 members). As I intimated in another post, I go to church for revitalization and rejuvenation and I get my learning and growth from small groups that I attend. I need both and I enjoy both. While the church size may be intimidating and fairly impersonal, the intimacy I like to share I find in small groups. Give New Covenant a try.

[sunnyatlast]

God is spirit. Therefore, when He made us in His own likeness, He made us as spirits.

God is also eternal, and therefore as spirits made in His own likeness, our spirits are eternal, too.

Genesis 1:

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;

And let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it;

And rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis+1&version=NASB

[DruannB]

Thank you for the suggestion. We will check it out.

My wife and I have visited TV 6 or 7 times. We purchased a little over a year ago and will be making our final move to there the 30th of this month. We have checked out and number of churches and chose New Covenant United Methodist Church located at 3470 Woodridge Dr. It is about the size of the church we are leaving (around 2000 members). As I intimated in another post, I go to church for revitalization and rejuvenation and I get my learning and growth from small groups that I attend. I need both and I enjoy both. While the church size may be intimidating and fairly impersonal, the intimacy I like to share I find in small groups. Give New Covenant a try.

[karostay]

I believe we are by nature spiritual beings. I believe most people on their death beds become believers. Since energy can't be destroyed and we are composed of energy we will always exist. We all lived and will travel between the two eternities.

The problems associated with all religions rests with the conceit of some humans.

Right On!

[Nightengale212]

The Shack sounds interesting and I will check it out on Kindle. Currently reading Jesus on Trial by David Limbaugh and enjoying it very much. It is a conversion story of a fallen away Christian who is also a lawyer and uses his legal expertise to determine if the Gospels are truly the inspired Word of God.

[Villages PL]

Alas, I am not. But I just read a book that is spiritual. It does not try to "Justify the ways of God to man" as Milton did in "Paradise Lost", but rather tells a charming story of personal loss and questioning God's relevance and place in one's life.
I will only say that The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit become flesh to help a man come to grips with loss and with his relationship with them.
The book is "The Shack" by William Paul Young.
It was an interesting read-- but I'm still not spiritual though I am Christian-- I would recommend it

I sometimes feel spiritual though I wouldn't call myself a Christian; I don't follow any religion. At any rate, it's not something I try to work on, it's either there or it's not. And sometimes it's not there.
I don't think there's anything anyone can do to become more or less spiritual. You either have it or you don't. In other words, it's not something you decide on an intellectual level.

[Taltarzac725]

The Shack sounds interesting and I will check it out on Kindle. Currently reading Jesus on Trial by David Limbaugh and enjoying it very much. It is a conversion story of a fallen away Christian who is also a lawyer and uses his legal expertise to determine if the Gospels are truly the inspired Word of God.

That book "Jesus on Trial" sounds very worthwhile. I minored in Religious Studies looking for answers. Mainly, I wanted to know why God let Michelle Mitchell be murdered on my birthday while I was a student of her mother. I had had taken Mrs. Barbara Mitchell's English class at Earl Wooster High School. I never told that reason to anyone at the University of Nevada, Reno until after my friend Tom S., was knifed a number of times in the chest area and was dead for a few minutes. The Philosophy professors found me a little cold about Tom S's predicament . He had tried to pick up a married woman near a whorehouse called Mustang Ranch. I guess he wanted more of a challenge. The jealous husband got off very lightly on the attempted murder charges. That's the story I heard anyway from Tom S. Not sure if all of it was true. I do still wonder if God gets involved with our day-to-day lives and why.

[elbear]

That book "Jesus on Trial" sounds very worthwhile. I minored in Religious Studies looking for answers. Mainly, I wanted to know why God let Michelle Mitchell be murdered on my birthday while I was a student of her mother in her English class at Earl Wooster High School. I never told that reason to anyone at the University of Nevada, Reno until after my friend Tom S., was knifed a number of times in the chest area and was dead for a few minutes. The Philosophy professors found me a little cold about Tom S's predicament . He had tried to pick up a married woman near a whorehouse called Mustang Ranch. I guess he wanted more of a challenge. The jealous husband got off very lightly on the attempted murder charges. That's the story I heard anyway from Tom S. Not sure if all of it was true. I do still wonder if God gets involved with our day-to-day lives and why.

You like many of us are a seeker. We have many questions and not all of them get answered. It's a process, discerning, walking down the center of the two-edged sword slowly understanding what we need and only wish for. I dislike cliches but then it really is a journey for those who seek not a destination. Can you understand?

[eweissenbach]

I have read all the posts in this thread and see many views that I agree with. I go to church somewhat regularly as I like being part of a group of people seeking a better life. I won't attend a church that is judgemental, dogmatic, or political, which many are. I have largely lost faith in organized religion due to the many unseemly things I have seen from people who claim to be righteous. I have lost trust in man's ability to interpret and convey the will of a God, seeing clergy commit the most egregious crimes again and again. I cannot believe in the Bible as the infallible word of God, because of some of the unbelievable stories which I believe were conjured up by early church leaders as cautionary tales to those who might be inclined not to follow their rules, as well as the inconsistencies therein. I try my best to live a life that observes the teachings of Christ and the Golden Rule, but I wouldn't consider myself a spiritual person. I believe in live and let live and don't deny anyone else the right to worship as they see fit as long as their religion doesn't preach hatred or bigotry.

[onslowe]

Maybe religion is a turn-off to some because through the ages it's definitely where the sinners have been. Ugh. Christ - as I have decided He is - is cool. He really didn't mean all the things He said, and he certainly didn't hang round with sinners. No way. And I really don't believe He said (I can pick and choose…after all it's MOI) to the Apostles "I will be with you until the end of time." Nah, sounds too much like He was favoring religion! No way.

He was not really a Teacher, because that might involve doctrine, believing and discipline. He was cool, and was only spiritual like me. I'm a good person, I like sunsets and trees and I don't go for submission or surrender. I don't hurt anyone and that is all God wants. Doesn't want worship - dull. Doesn't want praise - egotistical. Doesn't want us to think of Him. It's all about us and our self created little world.

[eweissenbach]

Maybe religion is a turn-off to some because through the ages it's definitely where the sinners have been. Ugh. Christ - as I have decided He is - is cool. He really didn't mean all the things He said, and he certainly didn't hang round with sinners. No way. And I really don't believe He said (I can pick and choose…after all it's MOI) to the Apostles "I will be with you until the end of time." Nah, sounds too much like He was favoring religion! No way.

He was not really a Teacher, because that might involve doctrine, believing and discipline. He was cool, and was only spiritual like me. I'm a good person, I like sunsets and trees and I don't go for submission or surrender. I don't hurt anyone and that is all God wants. Doesn't want worship - dull. Doesn't want praise - egotistical. Doesn't want us to think of Him. It's all about us and our self created little world.

No offense, but I have read your post twice and I am unclear on the point you are trying to make

[Halibut]

The Unitarian fellowship in Summerfield has some good programs.

www.uufmc.org (http://uufmc.org/index.html)

[Barefoot]

As humans we search for "something more" and this is evidenced in every area of life. Look at our creativity! Watch us when confronted with a puzzle! Our spirituality is not shut up in just one area,we seek, we wonder. Why should it be different in death? All through life we see regeneration all around us is by faith it seems normal to believe in something beyond death.

If I read between the lines, spiritual meaning the qualities of being spiritually minded..goodness, kindness, helpfulness and so on..then I've been on the path (sometimes slip off), most of my life. I call it religious but we get caught up on semantics with terms. I believe in God too, but not the anthropormorphized God. I have grown up Christian so I see God in this light or the qualities of God, is a better description. I think the Mystics, who seem to have no problem with each other no matter what background, have it right. Being spiritually minded, how should I act? The Golden Rule is the answer and I believe it included all things and creatures on this earth. I tend to stay away from extreme dogmatics especially as they break this rule and in this sense say religions divide, heart-felt spirituality brings us together.

I believe we are by nature spiritual beings. I believe most people on their death beds become believers. Since energy can't be destroyed and we are composed of energy we will always exist. We all lived and will travel between the two eternities.

The problems associated with all religions rests with the conceit of some humans.

Religion is belief in someone else's experience.
Spirituality is having your own experience.
~ Deepak Chopra


Here are some of the previous posts that I found to be meaningful.
No agenda, just learning like many others.

[chachacha]

to answer the title question, personally i believe i am a spiritual person and have had my own spiritual experiences which assure me that God is real. i cannot imagine my life without my Catholic faith, which imbues every aspect of my being....i did not really like the book The Shack but would not say one should not read it. onslowe's post says a lot!

[Gospel singer]

From an early age, I always wondered why I was born. Was in church when I was 16 and 17 yrs old.. was searching but never seemed to find anything. - Left there, went out and did exactly whatever I wanted to do in life for 13 years. Through life's circumstances, and in desperation, ,I wound up on the floor and prayed to Jesus. I said "I've made a royal mess of my life, and if you can make anything good out of my life - I give my life to you". And, as I found out, HE took me at my word, and began to make himself real to me. At 69 today (my birthday), I would say it's been an incredible and marvelous journey - an adventure everyday. Finding that relationship was like walking through a portal of the supernatural - and I found it was the KEY. …. so simple, after all. In that 13 years, I delved into everything you can think of, always looking and looking and never finding. … reading books that always would lay out all the questions, but in the end, had no answers ! - so frustrating. I found out that being religious is a dead-end. Being religious was just something to soothe my conscience, made me feel better about myself that 'Oh, I went to church today'… but, you could really sum it up to be a zero. That's like, for years, cutting the grass of somebody that is really famous, and never, ever meeting them.- a real zero. Because, I really was NOT ACQUAINTED with Him. I had to make that KEY connection, and then everything changed. I was now on the inside circle of the ONE that counted.

[asianthree]

I was raised in a multi religious home. Mother was southern baptist, but also Native American . Father was catholic, off the boat German family. I then dated and attended temple just to round out my life. Most spiritual came from the native side. I am up at sunrise for salutations, to be at peace for the upcoming day. Believe everything happens for a reason, that you can not worry about things you can not change, and when it's your time there is no changing it

[justjim]

Jesus often answered a question with another question. Am I as spiritual a Christian as I ought to be? The answer is no. Most Christians fall into this category. We are all sinners--even following accepting Salvation thru the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that he gave his Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life ." This verse is Christianity in a nutshell.

Don't be confused---it's really simple. John 3:16 says it all. Most of us are not true "Bible Scholars". We accept By faith. That said, read the scriptures and learn.

[lamplighter]

Maybe religion is a turn-off to some because through the ages it's definitely where the sinners have been. Ugh. Christ - as I have decided He is - is cool. He really didn't mean all the things He said, and he certainly didn't hang round with sinners. No way. And I really don't believe He said (I can pick and choose…after all it's MOI) to the Apostles "I will be with you until the end of time." Nah, sounds too much like He was favoring religion! No way.

He was not really a Teacher, because that might involve doctrine, believing and discipline. He was cool, and was only spiritual like me. I'm a good person, I like sunsets and trees and I don't go for submission or surrender. I don't hurt anyone and that is all God wants. Doesn't want worship - dull. Doesn't want praise - egotistical. Doesn't want us to think of Him. It's all about us and our self created little world.

I don't think Christians don't agree with Christ's teachings, only what man has added to them or how they are twisted. His teachings are about heart for if it is not in your heart, it's all ego and hot air.

[elbear]

Alas, I am not. But I just read a book that is spiritual. It does not try to "Justify the ways of God to man" as Milton did in "Paradise Lost", but rather tells a charming story of personal loss and questioning God's relevance and place in one's life.
I will only say that The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit become flesh to help a man come to grips with loss and with his relationship with them.
The book is "The Shack" by William Paul Young.
It was an interesting read-- but I'm still not spiritual though I am Christian-- I would recommend it

after reading your post, I downloaded the book to my kindle and just finished reading. It was emotionally difficult in the beginning chapter..but found it a powerful book to read. Thanks.