What is your internal experience while here in Y!A's R&S forum?

Question

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What arises within you as you ponder your questions, others' questions, your answers, and others' answers?

What do you learn from this about yourself?

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(I speculate that the best reason to participate in Y!A's Religion & Spirituality forum is to learn about yourself.)

Answer 1

It occured to me just how subjective the whole religious experience is, how differently people approach it and how different what they wish to get out of it can be. I was amazed at how many atheists hang out here; the contrast between them and the more radical fundamentalists in Christianity mainly point up how discontinuous is their respective worldviews and why neither reaches the other with their arguments. Also I was interested to see how many Muslims there are here as well, and how differently they and the Christians are treated. Stereotyping lives on in this microcosm, but there have been questions that make me think and reconsider my own worldview. One effect that Y!A has had is to reaffirm the absolute need for open-mindedness. Otherwise this might as well be WWF Wrestling...

Answer 2

At first, I was disgusted by some of the questions/answers. Now I ignore the ones that are childish, mean, bigoted, etc.

I learned that many here have a warped view of Christianity. Some because the people they have encountered have not shown Christ Jesus in their lives. Some perhaps because we as Christians are fallible and they take that to be weak or hypocritical. Some are angry. Some have an agenda they want to promote. Some because they think that if they tell their point of view loud enough and long enough those who believe will finally 'understand'. I've learned patience, love and pity. I've learned that no matter what I will tell the truth to the best of my ability, even if it is not what others want to hear. I've learned that I can be hypocritical, and I am working on that.

Answer 3

It makes me think about what I believe, or don't believe as the case may be. It makes me look at how the issue of religion, my attitudes about it, where they came from, how it informs my actions and how it doesn't. It makes me think about my past, and see how the puzzle pieces fit together, and it gives me something new to study each and every day (today it's "End of Faith", then the Koran, then the Satanic Bible...there is this never-ending list of things I want to read, so I know what is actually in those books, not what I think is in them). I find it immensely educational, and like most educational experiences, you get out of it what you put in. It isn't enough to say something about the Nazi Party and Christianity, for example. You have to know something about that, and what the deal was with the Jews, to put together a well-informed response, or you can fight fire with fire if you're being disrespected, or not. It's very flexible, and I like that.

I've changed a lot since I started participating here, and I don't see any end to the changes...except for one...I'll never be a deist again.

Answer 4

I learn that I can be tempted to give mean answers, to drop down to peoples level when they are insulting and insult them back, but a good dose of self control can prevent that.

Ive learned that we are all so much the same and yet so different.

I'm always shocked by the amount of ignorance people can show in this day and age, because I usually think since the media is everywhere, people really know their truths, but that's a misconception on my part and ignorance is still very prevalent.

Answer 5

Having been a student of different religions and belief structures, I have found that there is one simple yet immutable fact here in the S&R sector, and it is this: Too Many Answerers Lack The Essetial Spark That Our Creator Gave Us, Which Is That Spark Of TOLERANCE, which requires a solid and strong sense of humor. We aren't all designed to agree one-hundred percent with each other or our interpretations of ancient writings. This is evidence in iteself of our Creators' sense of humor and this is what enlightenment is all about. Ponder, rather, Why Are We Here? Shall all of us proselytize to each other ad nauseum? Are we capable of agreeing to disagree?

I have learned that I know little, and the what I learn here does little to increase my knowledge or understanding. Yet, I have found that, in many instances, when I do answer here, My answers are seldom mocked or ripped apart.

Bless you and this day.
Peace!

Answer 6

I participate in YA because I enjoy learning. I am a very inquisitive person and truly enjoy knowledge and others' opinions. I review answers to gain these.

I also enjoy stating my opinions/beliefs. There is nothing wrong with sharing, if you don't fight about it.

Also, I hope I may help another person with their challenge. Not just in this section, but with any situation.

Answer 7

I an always amazed at the number of "Fundie" responses. I had always assumed that the number of people who believed the Bible literally was a very small percentage but going by the answers here it is much higher than I ever expected. Also I am amazed at the number of young earth creationists.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

I do agree, I have learnt that I need to work on my tolerance and patience with people who i disagree with. In general I am very tolerant but it is people who are willfully ignorant I have difficulty with and don't understand at all. I am working on it and hope to become a better person in the end. I also enjoy hearing the other point of view.

Answer 10

Consider this previous question as it relates to their purpose for being here:

How accurately does this article describe psychotic religious extremist fundamentalists?
http://www.officer.com/publication/artic...

Cyber Harassment
Its forms and perpetrators

My answer:
"Live chat harassment or "flaming" (online verbal abuse)" applies best. When people are harassed due to religious beliefs, race, disability etc., it is even more serious. When this occurs it is called a hate crime.