How has your view of religion or spirituality evolved as a result of spending time on the forum? (church, suicide)
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I've become more disillusioned. I previously believed that despite my disagreement with others' religious beliefs, their intentions were at heart good ones. I've come to learn how much darkness and unkindness toward other humans is hidden behind religious beliefs. I always knew this existed, of course, but only here did I learn the true extent of it. Volunteering as a moderator has really hammered that home.
ETA: Realized I was only focusing on the negative side. On the other hand, I've discovered that there are some truly interesting people with heart out there, and it's not tied to any one religion or the absence of one.
I thought at this point it might be a good idea to share a few exchanges and people in general on here that were influential in helping me see into the minds of others.
I've been extremely wary in the past of listing people like this for fear of offending those I might not mention. This is by no means an exhaustive list. There are many people who have had an influence. These are a just a few of the most prominent examples:
WoodrowLI
Woodrow for those that are unfamiliar was a Muslim and a moderator on here. He passed a few years ago.
He made quite an impact on me. Still to this day I don't understand much about the Islamic faith. But Woodrow had more patience than anybody I think I have ever come across.
People would come to the forum to ask questions about Islam and he would patiently go to great lengths and in great detail answer peoples questions. He never once got annoyed or frustrated or angry with anyone, no matter how objectionable people could be sometimes. He was just the kindest soul. He also had great respect for other religions and cultures. His wife was native American Indian I believe, which to me was the oddest combination. He was a great example of a human being that showed me that Islam is a religion of peace, or at least it was through Woodrow's eyes.
Katzpur
Katzpur is a Mormon. She is another poster with endless patience.
I remember she once said something to the effect of this (paraphrasing - I'm not using her words but my memory of what she said)
"People always comment what great people Mormons are, despite their religion.
People don't seem to recognise or acknowledge that we are great people because of our religion'.
Wow, that one really struck home with me. That really made me see Mormonism in a new light. It's such a simple concept (and I know it seems obvious, but it wasn't obvious to me) but it made me recognise that we shouldn't all be so judgemental of other peoples beliefs and faiths.
If it enhances people lives, who are we to judge?
Mordant.
Mordant doesn't post much on here these days.
He is one of the few people who has lived two entirely different lives from a faith perspective. He was raised and spent most of his life as a really devout Christian. Hook, line and sinker, he genuinely believed it all and lived it all. At some point along the line, he became an atheist.
He's one of the few people that was able to explain 'faith' from two entirely different viewpoints, having experienced both and from opposite ends, he had a really unique perspective.
I'm a person who always found 'faith' a great mystery. He was able to explain it to me from the viewpoint of an atheist, like a window into a world I would never experience but at least understand.
That's all I have time for today.
I may come back and add a few others later.
Sorry I haven't had time to respond to individual posts.
I thought at this point it might be a good idea to share a few exchanges and people in general on here that were influential in helping me see into the minds of others.
I've been extremely wary in the past of listing people like this for fear of offending those I might not mention. This is by no means an exhaustive list. There are many people who have had an influence. These are a just a few of the most prominent examples:
...
Katzpur
Katzpur is a Mormon. She is another poster with endless patience.
I remember she once said something to the effect of this (paraphrasing - I'm not using her words but my memory of what she said)
"People always comment what great people Mormons are, despite their religion.
People don't seem to recognise or acknowledge that we are great people because of our religion'.
Wow, that one really struck home with me. That really made me see Mormonism in a new light. It's such a simple concept (and I know it seems obvious, but it wasn't obvious to me) but it made me recognise that was shouldn't all be so judgemental of other peoples beliefs and faiths.
If it enhances people lives, who are we to judge?
...
I very much agree with you about Katzpur. I've had a bit of an interest (as an observer) in Mormonism because I grew up in the town where Mormonism was born. Katzpur's posts often inspire.
I thought at this point it might be a good idea to share a few exchanges and people in general on here that were influential in helping me see into the minds of others.
I've been extremely wary in the past of listing people like this for fear of offending those I might not mention. This is by no means an exhaustive list. There are many people who have had an influence. These are a just a few of the most prominent examples:
WoodrowLI
Woodrow for those that are unfamiliar was a Muslim and a moderator on here. He passed a few years ago.
He made quite an impact on me. Still to this day I don't understand much about the Islamic faith. But Woodrow had more patience than anybody I think I have ever come across.
People would come to the forum to ask questions about Islam and he would patiently go to great lengths and in great detail answer peoples questions. He never once got annoyed or frustrated or angry with anyone, no matter how objectionable people could be sometimes. He was just the kindest soul. He also had great respect for other religions and cultures. His wife was native American Indian I believe, which to me was the oddest combination. He was a great example of a human being that showed me that Islam is a religion of peace, or at least it was through Woodrow's eyes.
Katzpur
Katzpur is a Mormon. She is another poster with endless patience.
I remember she once said something to the effect of this (paraphrasing - I'm not using her words but my memory of what she said)
"People always comment what great people Mormons are, despite their religion.
People don't seem to recognise or acknowledge that we are great people because of our religion'.
Wow, that one really struck home with me. That really made me see Mormonism in a new light. It's such a simple concept (and I know it seems obvious, but it wasn't obvious to me) but it made me recognise that we shouldn't all be so judgemental of other peoples beliefs and faiths.
If it enhances people lives, who are we to judge?
Mordant.
Mordant doesn't post much on here these days.
He is one of the few people who has lived two entirely different lives from a faith perspective. He was raised and spent most of his life as a really devout Christian. Hook, line and sinker, he genuinely believed it all and lived it all. At some point along the line, he became an atheist.
He's one of the few people that was able to explain 'faith' from two entirely different viewpoints, having experienced both and from opposite ends, he had a really unique perspective.
I'm a person who always found 'faith' a great mystery. He was able to explain it to me from the viewpoint of an atheist, like a window into a world I would never experience but at least understand.
That's all I have time for today.
I may come back and add a few others later.
Sorry I haven't had time to respond to individual posts.
I thought at this point it might be a good idea to share a few exchanges and people in general on here that were influential in helping me see into the minds of others.
I've been extremely wary in the past of listing people like this for fear of offending those I might not mention. This is by no means an exhaustive list. There are many people who have had an influence. These are a just a few of the most prominent examples:
WoodrowLI
Woodrow for those that are unfamiliar was a Muslim and a moderator on here. He passed a few years ago.
He made quite an impact on me. Still to this day I don't understand much about the Islamic faith. But Woodrow had more patience than anybody I think I have ever come across.
People would come to the forum to ask questions about Islam and he would patiently go to great lengths and in great detail answer peoples questions. He never once got annoyed or frustrated or angry with anyone, no matter how objectionable people could be sometimes. He was just the kindest soul. He also had great respect for other religions and cultures. His wife was native American Indian I believe, which to me was the oddest combination. He was a great example of a human being that showed me that Islam is a religion of peace, or at least it was through Woodrow's eyes.
I agree with you about Woodrow, RIP. I had a very negative and mistaken view of Islam based on the actions of the fanatics wreaking havoc through terrorism. Woodrow corrected my understanding of true Islam. He even revealed that what I considered my own view of death as rebirth is actually fundamental to Islam. They view death as a birth, a beginning not an end, which is why they do not fear it. Unfortunately, some evil-minded Imams and whatnot exploit this to create "suicide bombers" as tools for their political ambitions.
I thought at this point it might be a good idea to share a few exchanges and people in general on here that were influential in helping me see into the minds of others.
I've been extremely wary in the past of listing people like this for fear of offending those I might not mention. This is by no means an exhaustive list. There are many people who have had an influence. These are a just a few of the most prominent examples:
WoodrowLI
Woodrow for those that are unfamiliar was a Muslim and a moderator on here. He passed a few years ago.
He made quite an impact on me. Still to this day I don't understand much about the Islamic faith. But Woodrow had more patience than anybody I think I have ever come across.
People would come to the forum to ask questions about Islam and he would patiently go to great lengths and in great detail answer peoples questions. He never once got annoyed or frustrated or angry with anyone, no matter how objectionable people could be sometimes. He was just the kindest soul. He also had great respect for other religions and cultures. His wife was native American Indian I believe, which to me was the oddest combination. He was a great example of a human being that showed me that Islam is a religion of peace, or at least it was through Woodrow's eyes.
Katzpur
Katzpur is a Mormon. She is another poster with endless patience.
I remember she once said something to the effect of this (paraphrasing - I'm not using her words but my memory of what she said)
"People always comment what great people Mormons are, despite their religion.
People don't seem to recognise or acknowledge that we are great people because of our religion'.
Wow, that one really struck home with me. That really made me see Mormonism in a new light. It's such a simple concept (and I know it seems obvious, but it wasn't obvious to me) but it made me recognise that we shouldn't all be so judgemental of other peoples beliefs and faiths.
If it enhances people lives, who are we to judge?
Mordant.
Mordant doesn't post much on here these days.
He is one of the few people who has lived two entirely different lives from a faith perspective. He was raised and spent most of his life as a really devout Christian. Hook, line and sinker, he genuinely believed it all and lived it all. At some point along the line, he became an atheist.
He's one of the few people that was able to explain 'faith' from two entirely different viewpoints, having experienced both and from opposite ends, he had a really unique perspective.
I'm a person who always found 'faith' a great mystery. He was able to explain it to me from the viewpoint of an atheist, like a window into a world I would never experience but at least understand.
That's all I have time for today.
I may come back and add a few others later.
Sorry I haven't had time to respond to individual posts.
I agree with that. I can say I've also learned a heck of a lot from Harry Diogenes. Very smart guy.
I agree with that. I can say I've also learned a heck of a lot from Harry Diogenes. Very smart guy.
Since you BOTH share the same false basic premise about our Reality, it stands to reason that you and he would complement and help confirm one another's views.
Atheists will always succeed in inspiring Theism. I know this not just from my own experience, but I remember sharing something here from a video blogger, and the guy posted an update a few days later saying that he had such a negative amount of atheist responses, that he was declaring himself an "ex atheist" or something to that effect. He no longer wanted to identify in that way.
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