How many of you think about changing your point of view about Spirituality and Religion but don't dare?

Question

How many of you, religious and atheists, would like to jump to the other side of the wall for a little while and see things differently?

How many of you would have the courage to see through the other person's eyes?

How many of you would have the courage to get out of your own bubble and at least try to see beyound?

Answer 1

I am just starting to see things from points all around the religious circle instead of from a set and unmoving point. Being raised a Christian there were absolutely NO other options. I didn't even realize there were other religions except the different "brands" of Christians (Methodist, Baptist, etc.) until well into my adult years. There were Christians, Catholics (well to the outside edge of religion) and then there were cults where followers were brainwashed and killed. I married a Christian and we raised our children in the Christian church though both of the adult children are on their own quests for the truth. I have been seeking and learning about other faiths. For the first time I am finding peace. I actually see the New Testament as being at least partially manipulated by government in the early years of the era for political and social control. The constant barrage of "be good or go to hell" was enough make people conform. I would never ever ever share with my parents or my husband's parents that I am not an absolute Christian any more. My husband's family is so close to being Amish that I would be shunned from now to eternity. I am desperately seeking spiritual wisdom through studying different paths and pray daily that God leads me to the truth.

Answer 2

I do this all the time. Just because I am Catholic it doesn't mean that I would put down any other religion.
I've even visited other churches and have actually thought about switching to Episcopalian. The Catholic church won't budge on some rules that are too old and outdated.
My youngest Son is an atheist. Now he believes in Wicca. He's explained to me why, I've read about it and done research online and am simply glad that he has a belief. He was in a horrific car accident last month that almost killed him and he loved the fact that I kept prayer vigils with the family around him twice a day. He now says that he believes in a lot of things, even God to a point.
People in America are afforded the "Freedom of Religion" Act. God doesn't judge and I don't think he would approve if we judged.
God just asks that we believe. People have the right to believe but DO NOT have the right to try to force religion on others. Doing so usually pushes the person away from God at a running pace.
God didn't make one man better than the other. We should ALL respect any form of religion a person chooses.

Answer 3

Yes, over a four year period on here, I learned of two people who had been Jehovah's Witnesses but then left that group and professed the Christian faith (orthodox, as opposed to fringe). Their emails stated clearly that their eyes had been opened due to learning things on this site they would otherwise never have known about. One said that she was really angry at first, reading things about the JW history that she felt must have been lies, until she checked it all out and discovered it was all too horribly true. Fortunately, Christians she was in contact with helped her realise that none of that need prevent her drawing close to Jesus Christ. If I thought I was completely wasting my time on here, I'd take up knitting instead. But I know that the Holy Spirit is the one who is at work, and even atheists have woken up to the reality of God. I worked besides two people who testified to being atheists - until God made himself known to them. You are right, however, saying it's futile for Christians "to say that science is wrong". Fortunately, the vast majority of Christians don't believe that and don't go down that road. We can still have healthy exchanges about some aspects of science that are NOT set in stone of course! But personally, I just like to try to get people thinking about the significance of Jesus Christ.

Answer 4

I think I already do. I think I do understand why atheists believe the things they do (or don't). I hope that isn't arrogant.

But all of the questions I've ever read from an atheist, agnostic or questioner are things I've thought about and struggled with, and come out on the other side of. I'm lucky because I know that the god that many fundamentalists try to push onto society is NOT the God I worship and follow. I suspect that most atheists aren't in a position to know this, because of the harm that lies and half truths about God has done to them.

This is one of the reasons I read all the questions and answers from atheists and agnostics I can. I'm always looking for an insight that I overlooked or a fact that I misconstrued, or something that doesn't jive logically with my theist beliefs.

If I am wrong about my belief in God and specifically in Jesus Christ, I definitely want to know it.

Answer 5

I've already been on other sides of the fence. I was a Christian for years. I thought I was an Atheist for a year, but was mistaken. I even explored Buddhism and Wicca before finally coming to understand what I believe and why. I think you'll find that many Atheists have already been there and done that, too.

Answer 6

I've seen many sides, but certainly not all. I'm not afraid to understand other views, actually I search them out through books mostly, but have personally experienced them myself or through interactions with various family members or friends. I was only fearful of this when I was Christian, but that was a while back now. I've changed for the better in this regard.

Answer 7

I grew up as a Christian (Methodist), now I'm an agnostic. My in-laws are Buddhist on one side, Catholic on the other. My parents are still Methodist, some of my extended family is Southern Baptist.

In the military, I was an Arabic linguist for a brief time, and part of my job was studying Islam. In my own soul-searching, I studied various other religions as well.


I've pretty much seen it from all sides.

Answer 8

My faith is constantly challenged. And as new truths come my way, my faith demands I use it.

This is why I see Islam as a religion of great majesty. I've considered moving to Islam. But, I have to be honest and say, yes, my family would be freaked out, and that would be too much for me.

One of the "directives" that God's given me is to protect, provide for, and love my family. To me, its a divine covenant that I am unwilling to break.

I figure my life isn't all about me.

peace

Answer 9

I've done this. It's hard to change your mindset and what you've been conditioned to believe or not believe. But once you open your mind to the possibilities, you see things that were there all along, which you never noticed.

Answer 10

My whole life has been a journey, seeing through as many "eyes" as possible. I finally like what I see.