What happens when because of yahoo answers you view religion or the world differently?

Question

What happens to your mind, when you see something from a different perspective, does it grow, change, flourish?

Does a tear drip from your eye as you expirience something new, as a tear drips from my eye, when I read something, that changes my view?

Do you fear further changes? Do Fundamentalist Christians fear becoming "regular" Christians? Do Atheists fear becoming "Agnostics"?

I'm not bragging, it was never an intention, but there are people, a few, who were "die hard atheist" who are now "a little agnostic".

They were that way, just didn't have the wording for it, but they shared that agnostic world view.

They were changed in how they view themselves, not that they themselves changed.

Do you put yourself under the microscope on yahoo answers? Do you put your favorites there and observe them? Do you watch them grow, as I do, watching my fans grow as people, continueing their journey of life to its fullest.

RAmen

Answer 1

The only constant is change. I'm grateful for YA and yes it has changed my views. Eloquently put...not my personal views per se, but my view of myself. I have been deeply moved. I have been entertained. I have been challenged. I have been motivated. I have seen conviction from both sides of the fence. I have seen love. Yes, it is a "journey" the greatest one of all...the journey to self.

Answer 2

When I see things from a different perspective my mind grows which is a good thing. I never want to become a static individual.

I have actually shed more than a few tears about either a question or answer I have seen on this board. I'm not ashamed to admit that either.

I don't fear change.... I fear becoming to rigid and intolerant to new views. Change is good. I can't speak for all Atheists but no I do not fear becoming Agnostic.

I always put myself under a microscope no matter where I am. I am my own worst critic and I hold myself to standards I'd never dare hold anyone else to.

I do enjoy watching people grow as individuals... it makes me smile.

Answer 3

The ebb and flow of Answers participation makes results vary, but I have noticed something reawaken in myself that had been asleep for a while. Years ago I had been told that I am a natural Taoist and once again I looked into it a few weeks ago... Well, ok, I really only just read the "Tao of Pooh" - a book about how Winnie the Pooh is actually a Taoist. There were a number of things that I read in that book that reminded me a lot about how I felt about things - particularly the bit about "Busy Backsons" and how we are overcomplicating our lives these days.

As an agnostic, Answers reawakening my interest in Taoism doesn't threaten me one bit.

What does bother me is that I learned that I am either growing increasingly angry with the the three "world religions" or that I really needed to vent at them. Probably a bit of both. I knew enough about them to know that I wasn't going to convert to any of them any day soon years before Answers existed, so I can hardly call it a conversion of any sort, but the pent up anger bothers me because I like to think of myself as accepting and open-minded. Instead, I too have been all too tempted to beat up on "those unbelieving fools" - or in my case beat up on the pompus idiots that think they have it all figured out. The sad thing is that in many ways we are all alike in this contemptuous behavior... or at least it disappoints me. I realize that my anger is reactionary, but is that the right response? Can one only compete in a world hell-bent on hatred and sanctimonious behavior?

Answer 4

First off, I want to say that your questions and statements impress me -- it's clear you thought deeply about it before posting. Well done.

Yahoo! wouldn't be responsible for anything that changes your perception here (I THINK), because you are ultimately responsible for your own actions. You chose to read some of the answers and questions here, and therefore whatever positive or negative consquences that occur, you will be responsible for.

One weakness I see in some people is that we are unable to see through perceptions other than our own, which is why emotions such as compassion and empathy are hard to truly experience. If everyone had this ability, there would be a much much more peaceful world than there is now because we would be able to see the children crying when their parents are shot dead, we would be able to see buildings with people crushed when we throw bombs around carelessly, we would be able to see how heartbroken a wife is when her husband is brutally murdered in war.

But these are big issues. I really don't think these can be solved until we solve the problems and issues that exist within ourselves -- our doubts, our fears, our desires. Until those are attended to, we can do nothing to help others, much less the entire world. I'm not saying we need to "fix" them, because nothing really can ever be fixed 100%, but we need to address them and convert them from obstacles blocking our path to sources of motivation that push us to achieve our true, genuine best. Once we are able to attend to ourselves, we need to help those around us, our friends, our family. If they can't help themselves, it's a sign that they need help helping themselves. Give it to them, it can be as simple as listening with a caring ear. Then we move on to the community, the society, the world.

However, it's nearly impossible for one person to solely accomplish this with their own actions and words. It's a team effort, until we're a team, what I said above is just a dream that's only within our reach if we have more than our own two hands reaching for it.

Wow...I never imagined my answer would go to that. But I hope it helps. Even if it was a little bit of help to you, I feel that the last ten minutes I spent typing this up was worth it.

Answer 5

Then Y!A has achieved its objective, to make people think :) I no longer fear change of any kind, because I know that God is with me. It took me a long time to realize that, and while I am not completely out of my wilderness, I no longer fear it.

I put myself under the microscope and in front of the telescope. I am an open book and I am constantly being introspective :)

Answer 6

I am a Christian period.This forum is full of atheist and other non-believers and what they have said dosen't change me a bit.I am rooted and grounded in my beliefs.Greater is He who is In me than he who is in the world.I personally don't think that this forum is an adequate place to really learn what a person is about, because we can't know whether a person is lying about what they believe or if they are trying to get a rise out of people.And some of these people on this site are probably nothing more than mere adolescents.,,so there:)

Answer 7

Well, sometimes i learn things in yanswers that I thought I knew but was wrong in the details.

Religious epiphanies are few and far between, but if this episode of megalomania continues you should take your med and call your doctor.

Answer 8

Yahoo answers is entertaining as well as enlightening. Which reminds me of a question that has been on my mind. It has got to be good to expand your thinking and embrace new ideas.

Answer 9

Yahoo answers has not changed my views any. I still think there are plenty of idiots in the world.

Answer 10

I think that you made an excellent comment. I believe it simply means that you have an open mind and overstand that the more you know the more you realize that you don't. Peace.