pretty self explanitory, what has been the one most beneficial thing and the one least beneficial thing in your spiritual journey. Atheists answer as well. This isnt about religion unless you want it to be, it is about spirituality and where you are today.
2007-12-15 04:54:04 · 7 answers · asked by Mo 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
* note from above, least beneficial, meaning most hurtful
2007-12-15 04:55:46 · update #1
As a child, I was hospitalised for an accident. In this missionary hospital, I met a monk who told me stories of Vedanta philosophy. I would credit most of my strength and resilience to this philosophy (which is not a religion in itself). This monk helped me the most.
As an adult, I visited a Church and in my innocence told people that I was not a Christian. One pastor came to me and asked me how I felt. His hands were clasped in the way they are trained and he was desperate to place a halo on my head. His attitude was most shocking - as if I was a lost soul and had no knowledge of a concept of God. It was insulting, as I could have ripped his ego wide apart by asking some simple questions on Christianity itself. I still remained polite out of respect for the Church and Jesus. I never visited that Church again.
Now, while answering your question, I realise two vital differences:
1. The depth of the monk in his poor clothes - and the shallowness of this pastor with all the rich clothes and aura around him. This church is stinking rich - and receives donations from western countries by the millions.
2. This pastor had probably been part of many management-type of trainings that they do. (I have also undergone these - but for business). The monk had none.
2007-12-17 06:06:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think the one thing that helped me on my spiritual journey the most was when my husband and I had our first child. He was very sick and the doctor told us he would probably be dead by the next morning. I had been raised in a christian home but it had always been my parents religion not mine. That night out of desperation I prayed like I had never prayed before. My son did a complete turnaround and by the next day was doing much better. After that experience I knew that my relationship with the Lord was something that was precious.
One thing that tends to get me down and used to hurt me spiritually was when people who were supposed to care about me decided to gossip, and tear me down. But now I just rely on the Lord more.
2007-12-15 05:05:31 · answer #2 · answered by karen m 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hurt me the most - A blind faith acceptance of the elementary school textbooks proclaiming evolution as fact. I really used to believe the picture of a series of "ape-men" starting with about a two foot tall ape and ending with a six foot tall "modern" man. Found out later that they weren't even based on skeletons - one was based upon a tooth and part of a jawbone - turned out later to be a tooth and jawbone of a pig - but the picture stayed in the textbooks.....
Helped me the most - examining things from all sides of the argument and not accepting someone elses opinions as fact.
2007-12-15 05:02:22 · answer #3 · answered by teran_realtor 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most beneficial: Reading.
Least beneficial: Wrong company.
2007-12-15 05:01:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It really depends on where you want to arrive. For me, I want my spiritual journey to arrive at the truth, supportable by objective, validatable, verifiable evidence. What helps me arrive there is the constant use of critical thinking.
For others, I understand that the desired destination may be somewhere else. In which case, they had better use different methods for arriving there.
2007-12-15 05:02:41 · answer #5 · answered by CC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Least beneficial: Christian brainwashing.
Most beneficial: The teachings of Satan. Helps to empower the soul, and find truth.
2007-12-15 05:06:42 · answer #6 · answered by Jakero Evigh 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
An Assembly of God church was the final nail in the coffin of Christianity for me. I had seen the bigotry spouted from televangelists but when i witnessed the ignorance in person I was disgusted beyond my imagination.
Then I began to participate here. I have seen remarks like:
1. "Belief in evolution sends thousands to hell every day."
2. "Aids is God's punishment for homosexuality."
Now I feel only disgust for fundamentalist religious nut jobs.
2007-12-15 05:11:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋