November 10, 2001
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I've Been Thinking
As I was making my bed this morning, I cleaned out the pile of books that I've gone to sleep reading this past week. I laughed when I realized the thing they all have in common - they are all religious in nature - and aother characteristic - they are each written from the viewpoint of a different religion. In my pile this week I have a book by a Pantheist, a Buddhist, a Jew, a Jewish Christian, and a Protestant Christian writing about 9 months spent in a monastery.
I quoted from one of these books the other day, in conversation and I was surprised by how shocked the other person was that I was reading a book authored by someone from a "pagan" religion. (Don't try to guess which book was under discussion, you'd be wrong!)
I was tempted to launch into all the arguments for how it is that reading different viewpoints is helpful in the pursuit of my relationship with God. I even took a DEEP breath (this was going to be a sustained argument) then just before I started to speak, GOd whispered a joke in my ear. Okay, I didn't hear a literal voice, so you guys reaching for the thorazine can relax.
But God let me know that it wasn't my place to "set straight" anyone. And He did it by making me laugh. I think that the spiritual lesson here is that "turn the other cheek" sometimes means turning the verbal other cheek. I very rarely have anyone actually smack my face. But I regularly experience people who through ignorance, rudeness, hostility to my message (the kids never want to pick up their toys), or just outright contentiousness, say things that tempt me to jump right back into it and argue.
So this week, I'm going to be cultivating a spirit of hearing what other people have to say and letting them say it without trying to set them straight. If you know me in the Real World - you're laughing right now. But because of my commitment I'm not going to say "stop it, that isn't nice!"
Comments (6)
Very mature outlook, may it "rub" off on the rest of us. It is interesting to learn the hows and whys of other religions, but I also heard someone teach once about knowing the enemy. He said that instead of trying to learn about the enemy just learn more about God and when the enemy appears you will know its not God (hope I said that in an intelligible way). That's been my philosophy and the Word does say to draw near to God and the enemy will flee but its all just my opinion and sonething to think on. Certainly not trying to "set you straight" : )
God Bless - Dale
Question for psalmist... Shall I interpret, based on your comment, that people of other religions are regarded as the "enemy"? If so, why? (Seriously.) You & I are from different religions, but I don't look on you as an enemy--rather, simply as someone who perceives Divinity in the manner in which it is revealed to you.
To use an example from psych-oriented perception tests, imagine a cube (or other 3-dimensional object) that has each side adorned w/different colors, textures, symbols & images. If different people were allowed to view only one side of the cube (i.e. the side that faces them most readily) & asked to describe what they saw, their descriptions would all be quite different--but they would still all be describing the same thing. As one schooled in psychology & religious studies, this is how I have come to relate to other religions.
Anyway, peace...
As one who knows you - I am laughing!!!!
What's this "reality" stuff you people keep talking about? Religion is fine, spirituality is fantastic, reality is just an illusion that gives insane people a common point of reference when we feel the urge to talk about the weather.
I know this must be true because this week alone I've had several people cock their heads to the side and ask me "What color is the sky in your world?"
Good for you! Too many times we are told to follow a very narrow view of Christianity, without being allowed to discover for ourselves what other religions (or sects) believe. God gave us a brain, and I really think he intended for us to use it!
you are an intriguing woman, you know?
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