starclad is my care2 name,clad by the stars above.I am a Pilgrim Explorer,no religion,no labels,no gimmicks.I dedicate this life to learning,sharing,helping and caring.My destination is known by fate,but the journey is mine to take.With Priority given to the environment and detachment from materialistic ideals..... i have all that i need,my partner and a child.The Universe has a way of balancing all that we create so use that power wisely.........BLESSED BE TO EVERYONE.................

 [ send green star]

Care 2 Name: Bradley A

I am born again Christian, I accept the Lord as my Savior in the eighties. Went through some difficult times, became angry with God for events in my life. Did the demonational Church scene for awhile and became disenchanted with it and the people involed. Left church, God, in the ninites. Lost a job of 25 years due to downsizing. Gave up everything and moved and started life over in Arkansas. Found love, God shortly after the move. Asked God for his forgiveness and came back to God and non demonational church. My faith and understanding of God has grown. I believe Jesus is my savior, died on the cross for our sins.

I am here: To learn and listen about peoples viewpoints why they believe the way they do. To share God with people and open that door for them if they are willing. I tolerate all beliefs.

Merry Christmas to all

 [ send green star]

1. Your Care2 Name: Shanna B.
   
2. Your spiritual inclination: This question is kind of difficult for me to answer. Simply, I have a strong desire within to find the truth. I respect all religions but also know that not just one of them is correct in entirety. I believe that God is in each one of us and is expressed through us. I don't like to put myself in any one category. My parents and family are from a catholic background, when I was 7 or so I began attending a christian church with friends, have attended a Baptist church where I was baptised, and have often considered myself 'christian'. For some years now, I've had doubts in my mind about christianity and catholocism, and my respect for other religions was not shared by those around me. So I kind of consider myself an oddball spiritually because there hasn't been anyone whom I can speak to about my differing views. So I am glad and excited to have found this group because I have so many opinions that I'd like to share and debate with others. I've looked into other religions such as paganism, christianity, buddhism, hinduism, and others and their histories but can't seem to settle into one and put myself under their overall belief-systems.
   
3. Number of years on your chosen spiritual path: I will have to say that I've been on my current spiritual path all of my life. My life is my path.
   
4. Your reason for being at this group: To share in discussions and diversity of spirituality and personal truths, to teach, share and learn.
   

 [ send green star]

1. Your Care2 Name: Josh
2. Your spiritual inclination  Atheist
3. Number of years own your chosen spiritual path. About 5 as an full blown atheist, had been agnostic for most of my life prior to that. Came from a Christian back ground(Methodist)
4. Your reason for being at this group Was directed to one of the threads hear from another group and it looked interesting.

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My name (and care2 name) is Sara.  I am Jewish.  I have been Jewish my whole life (36 years), but I was brought up pretty secular, and have become more religious/observant over the past 18 years.  At first, my Judaism was seperate from my spirituality (yes, that's possibly). but lately I've merged the two and I've found a lot of spirituality within Judaism.

I serve as an interfaith chaplain in hospice and help  people of all faiths on their spiritual journey so I am interested in discussions of faith and spirituality. 

 [ send green star]

Your Care2 Name:.....Annie Your spiritual inclination...Christian( New Testament only) , Buddhist, Taoist, more Number of years on your chosen spiritual path... 30 Your reason for being at this group... Sharing perspectives

I posted this in another thread but I think it sums up a sufficient intro.

I had an eclectic protestant exposure growing up and, at the time, felt comfortable enough with it. However, at about 19 I began becoming more aware of other teachings and was especially distressed over the belief of many that only those who accepted a particular belief could go to heaven. Wait a minute, I thought. An all powerful God would surely not condemn most of the peoples of the world to hell when they probably had not even heard of that particular belief! Wouldn’t it be part of God’s job to make sure they at least knew the rules?

And so began my explorations. Often I would start to feel "whew, now this is something I can totally accept" and then the sermon would include something that my whole being would reject and I would move on. Along the way I encountered many teachings/beliefs which seemed very right and were/are of great value to me. I also learned that there is extensive overlapping consensus among many teachings/beliefs which only seem very different on the surface. I also think that we do not have any one, all encompassing, doctrine of absolute truths, that has not been filtered through those presenting it.

Now, how I’ve resolved all these possibilities, within myself, is that I am comfortable with "my working hypophysis". What that means is that at any given period of time I have come to accept certain beliefs and think and act as if they are my truth.

However, having reached my current beliefs while exploring many doctrines purporting "the" truth, and having benefitted by remaining discriminately receptive, I realize there may be, yet again, some new perspective which I will choose to incorporate .

So I am open to hearing about and reflecting on "your" truth, as long as you can present it as just that.

 [ send green star]

Hello, my name is Mary.  I was born and Baptized a Lutheran.  I still worship in the Lutheran Tradition.  I am very active in my Church.  I am a Lay Communion Minister, serving in the Church and at Home Communions.  I am a Lay Reader and Chair the Altar Guild.  I feel being on the Altar Guild is like being a Church Mother.  Preparing the Table and just being a general nurturer. 

Sometimes I am a little disappointed with my Brothers and Sisters by what I see as a shallowness within the Church.  But that is Mankind and not God's doing.  Of course I am sometimes disappointed with my own shallowness....

I think sometimes I have some Pagan tendencies also.  I have deep regard for Nature.  Sometimes I feel great power from the Earth.  Of course I don't understand a lot about that...but maybe I can learn here.  I have felt great healing from the natural world. 

I am married to my childhood sweetheart.  I still get excited when I think about him...ahem...sorry.  I have three wonderful grown daughters.  I have five dogs...Ruby, Sparky, Sister, Barney, and Thelma Lou.  One feral (sort of) cat-no name-just kitty.  I work part-time as a Surgical Technician and part-time as a Massage Therapist.

Why am I here?  I would love to have conversations about Spirituality.  Maybe form some relationships around those conversations.  After all, relationship is all we really have.

 [ send green star]

Hello: this is Mrs O.

I have been raised in to learn from many different religions.

As a child I was raised Baptist and felt my love for Jesus Christ as I know him to be as a preteen. However I was never baptist because I always felt in my heart that to be truely baptized by the Holy water than one must be baptized in a River as it is the water that was closest to the earth and most holy too me and I have yet to attend a church that regularly practices this.

As a teenager I was influenced by Mormons, Catholics and Jehovah Witnesses. I was also introduced to various other religions and told these are the churches and religions in your neighborhood. I do not care what church you go to visit them choose which one you like and attend one. Which meant to me at the time I would usually go to the church closest to my home or the church a friend would take me too. I also have Native American influences in my life and took what has empowered me into my heart. As a young adult. I experienced difficult times in my life and was introduced to Tarot and such and told to follow my heart.I experienced a great deal of confusion by all this but learned alot to. I began watching various religion programs on television and meditated on it when I felt myself loosing way. I had opportune to spend a great amount of time around someone who claimed to be a Pagan and what I found was that although we accepted different people as our "God" or "Goddess". We both agreed on alot of issues such as the love of what the earth provides and gives to us and such. He celebrated Halloween and I celebrated Christmas but we both felt the passion for what we did and lit candles on our chosen paths. Another thing that I learned from all this is that although I can not see or feel my Higher Power the Spirit that I feel inside and depend on that it has helped me through many a hard times to feel a close connection to my Lord and Saviour as I feel that he is. I also accept even though it goes against my church I was raised in but not the Baptist Church I attended as an adult as even in Baptists there are several different affiliations. That we are too respect eachother in this world and there religions We are to love who we feel protects us and cares for us. "Do Unto others as you would have them do unto you". I feel as I am Christian but in a somewhat Progressive form, in such that I believe through my knowledge of interdenominational and non-denominational churches etc. that inside everyone is a higher power a spirit of sorts that guards them and takes them and guides them through there journeys in life and what I feel in my heart is different than what another. I try not to force my ways on others but I will share. I am heartbroken when my Lords name is taken in vain because I feel that my personal beliefs are be disrespected but I know that my Lord is forgiving as I should be as well. I feel that I am a Christian but the meaning of christianity has changed considerably over the years and is changed and used so much differently today than it was even 5 or 10 years ago and I find that saddening. To me is being a Progressive Christian, means that I accept that everyone has in them there own idea of who or what is there "Higher Power" to me my higher power is the Lord Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour although to others it may be something different.I believe that the sun,moon, stars and earth all have a purpose but that purpose to me may be different than the next person. I have so much that happened in my life that I can only explain that there is a higher power that guides me through my days, Guardian Angels places amongst everyday people by someone higher to see us through our human joys and sorrows. I have difficulty with the evolution theory because I do not feel my ancestors were monkeys. I have difficulty believing that Dinosaurs and Humans could possibly exist together in the present form, but I have seen miracles that can only be explained by someone of a higher power so I believe that my Lord guides me and I pray to him although I accept that others feel differently. It is saddening the many misconceptions I hear when people think of Christians or Christianity and the way that it has progressed to such a confusing state. To me it mean I will move through life with the guidance of my Higher Power I will love everyone as my neighbors and hold true what I believe in my heart to be true. I felt this would be a good group because it continues to expand what I have searched on my own in a quest to learn of various religions and why they believe what they do, instead of hearing "This is the one and only true religion that you must follow" it holds true that although there are several different religions and denominations of religions only what you feel is true and what you see to be true is right for you. I will share my beliefs and feelings with anyone and this will give me a place I hope to do that without anyone feeling I am forcing my beliefs on them which I have seen done too many times and even in Christianity I see so many different interpetations of what is or isn't. What I do know is that during the worst times of my life something higher than me guided me to live a life that is totally unexplainable expect by a higher power and to me that higher power is The Lord as I know and accept and Love him.

God or Goddess Bless whichever you believe

 [ send green star]

The Care2 name (as is throughout computing) is Robbie D...

1.  I've never really been sure about the Spiritual inclination aspect, but from the results of a recent survey taken part in, I'd say it lent in the direction of Panentheism...

2.  I've been walking a Spiritual pathway, for over 12 years now, although looking back over my life, I can see that much of what I now know, and practice, formed the cornerstones and foundation of my life, from a much earlier age...

3.  I'm with the group, to watch, listen and learn, from that which others do and say, for in every spoken or written word; there is a message that might have an answer or missing element to or of: life...

If I'm lead to contribute at any time - that in it'self: is a bonus...

The fascination - lies in the un-known...

Peace to all...

Robbie D.... 

 [ send green star]

My Care2 name is old  barbs because I am 82!

My spiritual inclination is Liberal Church of England

It is difficult to say how many years along spiritual path because I have had several starts, diversions and halts, but I think things really took off for me in about 1975 when I went to a Lenten discussion group at my church and was put in touch with books by Harry Williams. Then through a workmate, I was introduced to a charismatic group called the Community of Celebration through their music and that led to finding more about the Holy Spirit and having an experience of the Spirit. I then trained to become a lay minister, hoped to be ordained when it became possible for women in the C of E but was turned down - very painful still after 25 years.

I decided to join this group to discuss and read dicussions in a wider group than my much loved but sometimes restricting church.

 [ send green star]

My name is shazadi.  I am unsure of my "spiritual inclination" at the moment.. I have been on a quest for about a year now re. this.  At the moment I am researching Celtic Reconstructionism as it seems nearest what I am seeking.  I began seeking an alternative to my liberal Christian (Episcopalian) upbringing about ten years ago.  I am here to hopefully learn more, and hope to be a positive contribution.  Thank you for allowing me to join

Blessings.. shazadi

 [ send green star]

1. Your Care2 Name: joseph
2. Your spiritual inclination CATHOLIC
3. Number of years own your chosen spiritual path. 10
4. Your reason for being at this group to chat and discuss spirituallity of the world

 [ send green star]

Greetings everyone.  My name is Cynisa. I follow an earth-based spirituality, and consider myself a Pagan. I've always been a Pagan although I didn't know the name for it. I'm also influenced and open to any type of wisdom, especially Buddhism. I don't condemn any path and consider all paths to be tools. Like hammers, they can build shelters for the ravaged, or kill. I suppose the greatest path (and tool) is that of the heart. I truly believe that if one's spirituality connects one to the earth and to the human community (all of them; not just a few), then its a pretty good thing.  

I'm exited to join this group as it is such a rarity to have a forum in which to field religious and spiritual views. In a parallel universe, I'm sure I must be a lawyer as I love to debate!

Just a few more things about me: I'm a mother and poet. I just quit my job as a child advocacy program coordinator to attend graduate school. I'm also an English instructor. Thanks for having me and I look forward to listening and posting.

 [ send green star]

1. Your Care2 Name: Rachel Ann my real name as well.
   
2. Your spiritual inclination Orthodox Jew, Ashkenazi, more Mizrachi (just ask)
   
3. Number of years own your chosen spiritual path. Almost all my life now. I was born Jewish, but we were more traditional than anything else.
4. Your reason for being at this group Share, learn.
   

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1. Your Care2 Name:
2. Woodrow F.
4. Your spiritual inclination 
5. Muslim
7. Number of years own your chosen spiritual path.
8. Accepted Islam as My belief last year. But studied the religion from an academical view for over 40 years.
10. Your reason for being at this group
11. Dale H. told me about the group, and Mentioned that there were few Muslims mentioned

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  I have responded several places before coming here.

>>>
It would be polite to share a brief
introdcuation about yourself and your spiritual beliefs here. But if
you can not figure out what to share then please answer the following
questions before posting any where else at this group.
>>>

1. Your Care2 Name: OleGreyMikeK   Mike or MikeK is fine
2. Your spiritual inclination: This is a difficult one: I am Christian, but my beliefs are not along the lines of what most think of when they hear "Christian"
3. Number of years own your chosen spiritual path.     32 years:  about 3/4 of my entire life.
4. Your reason for being at this group: The chance to learn as much as I have to share.

A brief intro then: 

I am a computer operations/technician, mostly programming end, I like to fiddle with electronics (building things from spare parts and schematics), woodworking including pyrographic art, I read incessantly books on biology, astrophysics, chemistry, entymology, psychology, quantum physics, and etc. I am interested in nearly everything.

The beliefs that set me apart from most Christians are:

I do not believe in a trinity.  Nor that any man was ever God, including Jesus.

I do not believe in devils, demons, nor fallen angels (mistakes of God).

I do believe that the Tanakh is the Foundation of truth, that Jesus himself constantly reminded those around him with the words “have you not read?”

   I believe that, without the foundation, whether it be one’s religion, or one’s house, the structure can not be sound.

  I believe that the Bible speaks of death being a cessation of life, not the beginning of life.

  I believe that we are truly mortal. Meaning we “breath our last” and that is it IF there is no resurrection from that state.

  I believe the way was demonstrated for us, and that this very important aspect of his life is ignored, looking for a handout.

  I believe we have a path to walk, a mountain to climb, each person’s being different from his fellowman/woman;  thus no one can judge how far along the path they are compared to another, nor how well anyone has done to find the mark.

  I believe in one God, He that is portrayed in the Tanakh.

I believe in love of all, tolerance of all, but also reserve the right to correct what is incorrect, concerning what I believe, when it is stated incorrectly by another.

 [ send green star]

1. Your Care2 Name: Janice G.
2. Your spiritual inclination I was baptized, confirmed, and attended a Lutheran church but did not discover spirituality until I became a friend of Bill W.  It was only in witnessing true spiritual awakenings that I discovered the difference between institutional religion and spirituality.
3. Number of years own your chosen spiritual path. My spiritual path began with my recovery from alcoholism.  I have 24 years of recovery but have only made a strong choice to believe since the death of my son three years ago.  I spent some time in a "liberal" Baptist church which was all inclusive and almost cast out.  I have returned to the church of my childhood since I began losing family.
4. Your reason for being at this group   I am particularly interested in the coming Gospel of Judas and would like to hear the reactions of people coming from a variety of paths.

 [ send green star]

     My name is Paul.  I'm more like Nancy, above.  I was raised in a family of Christian missionaries to India.   Later in life, I rejected the style and what I thought was a narrow view of the human approach to God, or the spirit of life.

   I've practiced a simple meditation for over 30 years.   During that time, I've varied in my discipline.  when I was younger, I lived about 7 years or so in a kind of monastic type of life, but without odd clothing or rituals.

   I believe God is within, and can be experienced practically by opening one's heart, becoming still, and feeling the presence within.    I don't do any rituals, and I don't follow any book.   I do read lots of inspiring books, however, including many of the world's scriptures

 [ send green star]

1. Your Care2 Name: Dynamite (or 'Mite or Dyna...)
   
2. Your spiritual inclination: Any religion/path that I can relate to that helps me understand God
   
3. Number of years own your chosen spiritual path: Years? , About a month of actively seeking but kinda always just knew certain things.
   
4. Your reason for being at this group: Above all... to learn
   

 [ send green star]

1. Your Care2 Name:  yogamom318   
2. Your spiritual inclination   I'm......a Wiccan/Buddhist/Christian/Jew...  I have started on the Wiccan path in recent months, I've followed Buddhism for several years, I was raised Christian and Jewish together.  I guess, I identify more Wiccan beliefs as a whole.
3. Number of years own your chosen spiritual path.  I've only been on the Wiccan path for about 6 months now.
4. Your reason for being at this group  Information, conversation with others about spirituality, and just finding my way!

 [ send green star]

My Care 2 Name: Old Ben Panda

My religion: I was born a Hindu , I went to Catholic School and my wife is Jewish. I am interested in knowing about the underlying philosphy behind most if not all religions.  I truly believe that there is more than one path to self realisation and towards the divine. I try to keep an open mind and I want my children to be able to distinguish between faith and dogma.  I am here to learn and because I want to share my thoughts and opinions.

 [ send green star]

The closest I've come to a label that others might comprehend is that I am a Panentheist. I think there is One Life, and that everything that exists in and out of form is enclosed within, part of, never separate from, that Life.

I'm also very eclectic in my approach to spirituality. I study the scriptures (though I think they were largely written for the mystics among us, which I am not).

I began moving toward this path when I was twelve, but took a few years off to be a Christian, then moved on to the more inclusive spiritual understandings I've developed over the years. I follow no teacher, specifically, thus I can branch out into all fields, and am especially interested in quantum physics, which is proving the existence of Soul/Consciousness, and that Consciousness is the cause of matter and not its effect.

Why am I here? Because I'm fascinated by how and why people think the way they do, and because I love sharing what I know, and hearing the responses from others. Namaste, ND

 [ send green star]

The other thread was getting a bit long. Here's a continuation. If you posted in the other one, no need to post here.

------------------------------------------

It would be polite to share a brief introdcuation about yourself and your spiritual beliefs here. But if you can not figure out what to share then please answer the following questions before posting any where else at this group.

1. Your Care2 Name:
2. Your spiritual inclination
3. Number of years own your chosen spiritual path.
4. Your reason for being at this group

 [ send green star]