In a free society why won't people accept me for who I am--non-traditional spiritualist?

Question

I don't believe in organized religion but have my own beliefs. My beliefs are kind of a mixture of Taoism and science with life experience. And I'm accepting of others beliefs but am margialized by society. I have a hard time making friends and can't find a girlfriend to save my life. The religious friends I have or have had eventually distance themselves from me. We are supposed to live in a free country so why is it like this you think?

The phrase 'to save my life' is just a manner of speaking that expresses my frustrations, not to be taken literally. And I do not push my beliefs on others, I try to keep them to myself anymore. And freedom isn't just about laws its about how people treat other people (for instance if the community is racist and there are laws againts racism people will still be victims of racism).

Answer 1

People fear things they don't understand; thus, they stay away from it or kill it.

Don't give up, there are others like you and you will eventually meet them.

Answer 2

Why do human beings act like human beings? Probably, because they are human beings. Not to say that there aren't some diamonds in the rough that don't judge someone harshly based on differences. Everyone has their own reason for not accepting others for who they are. Most of the time I think it's because they are not comfortable with who THEY are.

One question. Those religious friends that you have, did you try to convert them all the time...or did you respect their beliefs? I believe in respecting others personal beliefs. This does not mean that you must squander your own. For instance, if I were to go into a mosque would I keep my shoes on just because I don't personally believe that the place is holy? Of course not. I would respect their religion and take my shoes off. Would this mean I'm rejecting Christianity, my own religion? No way. It's just showing respect for other people's personal beliefs.

God bless you.

Arthur :)

Answer 3

Because the nail that sticks up gets hammered down.

---- Chinese proverb

I think you're mixing up a couple of concepts. "Free country" is one thing, and "getting friends and dates" is another.

Usually, spirituality is something that just doesn't come up right away in a social relationship. It's private, and it should stay that way until people know each other better. Take more time to get to know people -- and let them get to know you -- before you get into this whole intimate area.

Finding a girlfriend -- you can run a free Yahoo personals ad and just say something like "seeking woman in my neighborhood for casual movie dates, maybe more." Don't talk about your deepest dreams, or start naming the children you don't have yet. Just give your age, political orientation (say "liberal" or "progressive" if they fit, and DON'T say anything else), general looks, etc.

Movie dates are good because you'll have something to talk about both before and after the movie (if you have coffee before or after). Meet her in a public place so she's not scared. "Casual" usually means you each pay for your own ticket, but you decide how you want to handle that.

And save the heavy philosophy and religious explorations for the fourth date. Not the first! :) Good luck.

Answer 4

"The devil made me do it!"

Acceptance is a two-way street. Must practice what you want to receive from others. Stop labeling people just because they don't agree with you. Christians are taught not to be unequally yoked with non-believers. I for one will talk to you till the cows come home and accept that you believe what you believe even if I believe that you are wrong. In my world that is called DEBATE or the EXCHANGE OF IDEAS. The pitiful name calling is where intelligent discussion ends. If you feel sorry for yourself about your own beliefs than maybe you need to re-examine your beliefs. This FREE COUNTRY founded on Judeo-Christian principles does not promise that your feelings won't be hurt.

I am a CHRISTIAN and I know who I serve and worship. I've tried other belief systems. I've even gone to college to be brainwashed by secular-humanist professors (oops...name calling...done for definition purposes only). I've read, researched, and questioned. I then made MY CHOICE. I don't need permission from any earthly creatures. I have God in my life and that is all I need.

Maybe you should check God out in a very thorough way instead of depending on hearsay.

Answer 5

I am Muslim. I accept everyone's beliefs. Although I have people stereotype me because of those crazy people in Iraq, I understand that believing is hard without seeing. But the reward to believing is seeing what you believe. If it is that bad, move to Michigan. The people there accept many cultures. (I live in Memphis) Try to find women who are not of an organized religion beause later on when you have kids, there will be problems. Hope I Helped.

Answer 6

i would assume the people that are having an "issue" are mainly christians, cause they feel they have to "convert" everyone....

i could be wrong, but this is what i've mostly come up against.

maybe you talk to much about you 'spiritual' beliefs. you just have to find someone who believes the same as you... and people you come across, that are a certain "religion" don't speak about "religious" topics, cause eventually it will come in the middle of every relationship.

i have learned this, and lost many friends regarding religion and politics :0) the two most taboo topics

Answer 7

It IS a free country and you are free to choose your beliefs, friends, and anything else for that matter. But WHO in the world ever SAID that this country was built just for YOU though??

You should start to live up to your Avatar's namesake. It's best to move on and make new friends, too, bro...

Peace be with you.

Answer 8

Because you're different. We claim to be a "free society," but we are generally suspicious of anyone who falls outside of what they refer to as "the mainstream (though they never tell us what that means)." For right now, atheists and gays are the target of society's wrath; it used to be Communists, but since they're hard to find nowadays they had to pick on someone else. You spiritualists are also outside of accepted parameters, but since you are relatively few in number you don't pose much of a threat yet. My advice: Keep it to yourself, and if someone asks about your "religion," just answer "Sorry, that's a private matter, and I don't discuss it in public," and change the subject. I'm an atheist, and that's what I do; If they persist, I tell them they're being rude and walk away.

Answer 9

Because real Christian and true believers do not compromise and cannot be equally yoke with an unbeliever like you. But what is nice about being a true Christian is, even if they wont get involve with unbelievers, they still pray for and bless them. Its not being righteous all the time, but Christians still have a heart.

Answer 10

This depends on how much you advertise your religion. For example: I've known people to come onto pagan message boards and ask us to help them because all their Christian friends abandoned them. We'd ask them for more details and they would reveal that they constantly talked about their faith to their friends to the point of trying to convert them to paganism. And they wondered why they weren't being accepted.

This may not be your case, but think about it. I generally do not talk about my religion in real life, and people have left me alone because the subject never came up.

Answer 11

You are free to believe however you want in a free society. That's the point.
And your friends are also living in a free society that allows and encourages them to seek out those whom they wish to be friends with.

If one wants to have friends, one must show HIMSELF to be friendly.

A free society does not automatically mean that you will have friends. Friends are found among people who are like-minded.