Is there a difference?

I think so...interested in others thoughts here.

Was a time not so long ago when I was very religious (Fundamental Baptist, including 2 yrs. of Bible College). Now, life is much more free and open to ideas of life, eternity and what lies ahead. Sure, I can debate the Bible from whatever viewpoint (hermeneutic, if you wish)

For instance, IMO, "death" is a verb that applies only to the physical carcass we live in at this time. Parts can go bad (always do), but is this physical body the only home we will know?

ISO

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the only home some may know...there is a difference in everyday aplactions but a religios person can have the random spirtiual experence...peace

To me a spiritial person is one who doesn't have to wear their religion on their sleeve. They live it.

A religious person is religious once a week or whenever it serves them.

My opinion and unfortunately my personal experiences too.

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What I freely have been given let me freely share

Mogie,
I agree with you 100%. In my past experiences, those that proclaimed their religious beliefs and performed them during services, wore a totally different face outside of church.

I couldn't understand how they could be so righteous and judgemental when they were supposed to be "Christians"?

I found it hard to fit in because of that...

livluvlaff

i think religous is diffrent from spiritual b/c u can be spiritual without ever having to affiliate with a god or superior power. i think u can be spiritual about the earth 4 example. just a thought!

blakeb I like that thought. Being spiritual doesn't have anything to do with being religious. It has to do with caring.

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What I freely have been given let me freely share

I feel one day people will awaken to the truth.
We are all energy like batteries.
Energy can not be created or destroyed.
It can only change from one form to another.

So therefore there is no more or no less energy around when the earth started than there is now.
It is just in another form now.

I am leaning more towards an idea that we are being recycled like reincarnation.

Back to the battery idea.

You can put a battery in a remote and it will do one thing and then take it out and put it in another and it will do something else.

I think originally were all one mass of energy then we exploded like the big bang that was the universe's begining.

I also think we are on a cycle. That when we(larger unified mass of energy) exploded it was the begining and we are working our way back by imploding back to the original mass of energy.

I also feel like the earth is a living creature just like us.
I think it needs us just as much as we need it.

People need not worry about fighting amongst each other.
It is pointless.

I recently have been reading the Tao.

Peace and bong hits.

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Interesting. One question though, how is it that a battery is a suitable metaphor for the spirit, soul, and mind? I understand what you are saying, my friend and brother, but it doesn't fit. Reincarnation is a moot point. I know it is held in high regards and subsequently believed by many different peoples and cultures, but not logical from a spiritually scientific approach. Take the population for example. It has grown exponentially and consistantly since the first man walked the earth. It is numbers. If someone dies, then is reincarnated, the numbers would remain the same, balanced between the human and animal world, though some would say that we are animals ourselves. I disagree, but that is another thread altogether. Seeing as the population (human & animal) has rose or become extinct, or dwindled down, but then increased again, proves that reincarnation is impossible. There is a Creator, one Creator who is infinitely beyond our understanding, yet we are hardwired to seek him out. Just like we are hardwired with instinct. That is why we often yearn for more, but we dont fully understand how or why. Those who seek Him, find Him, and unless they are indoctrinated by human teaching, they are content. Believing with those who are like-minded and truly seek Him as opposed to trying to "figure" Him out. You cant figure Him out, but you can believe, and LET him reveal Himself to you as an individual, in general. Once you do that, you will begin to feel more content and things usually tend to fall into place.

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I was just using reincarnation as an example.

I do not believe any conventional beliefs.

I am more a seeker of the truth.

I like to read alot about all different types of ideas and religions.

I was raised to be a very religious christian.
Then I started seeing how it is used to manipulate people is so many ways.

I feel like some people need something to believe in.

I do not see away to get any direct answers about any after life.
I just see many different revolutions of ideas.

The people choose to believe this or that here and there.

I have a problem believing anything.

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Of course we all have different beliefs, and I'm not knocking any one for that, at least not intentionally. It's just that we are all on a journey whether we like it or not. We are all in different places in that journey, different stages if you will. The longer you seek Him and don't let the TOILS, not the resposibilities, but Toils of this life distract you, you will find Him. If you draw close to Him, He will draw close to you. He will reveal Himself on His own terms, in a way that we as individuals can understand. We've gotta let Him do it. We cant begin to try and understand Him, because as the sky is high above the earth, so His ways are above our ways. One day we will pass away whether we like it or not, whether we are prepared or not. Fact is Fact.
Peace

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I just realized I was way off topic. Sorry guys, you know how it is.
Midgrade, I understand what you are saying, brother, that's why I posted the above post.

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No doubt we all die.

I wish I could believe sometimes. I think it would be nice to be that simple.
I mean if only it were that easy I should say.
For me it is not unfortunately.

I just does not seem feasible.

Off topic indeed.
I almost forgot.

I am more of a spirtual person.
I do not consider myself religious at all.

It does not bother me that others are or if they just pretend to be once a week.

I do not feel a need to put on a show.

I lean more towards love for my fellow humans and animals.

The love you get is equal to the love you make.

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I know that we also learn from each other. He puts people in our path to help us. By discussing different experiences and being honest with yourself, and the people around you, keeping an open mind, but seeking and accepting the truth that is revealed to you BY HIM, not any one man, you will know Him. Seek and you will find was once said somewhere. It is true. The void can be filled. And it's great.

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ya yall r crazy i like it love what u want but we are all energy

You gotta let go man. Sometimes it's hard for us. That's why we gotta be there for each other. It's not easy, but it is realistic. Trust me. Peace of mind rocks. I suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, as well as Social anxiety that is crippling. It is very hard for me to leave my house, but I'm making progress thanks to Him, my wife and kids, family, and of course, Mary Jane! LOL It was put here for a reason after all! =)

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Ok Duracell, LOL, we can agree to disagree, to be at peace, but truth is truth and just like physics it is undeniable.

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That is just it
I do not feel a void or a need to know a god.

I may one day.

I just have always felt foolish praying and hoping for this that and the other.

I believe life is chance in every aspect.

Anything can happen to anyone at anytime.

I also feel strongly that todays religion is abused and missleading to the masses.

Many many times through history has religion been used as a way to control the populus.

I am not saying that is the case all the time.

It just saddens me that so much of the population depends on someone else to tell them how they should live and what they sould do.

How warm and fuzzy they must feel to have faith.

To me faith is a just a smoke cloud.
How anyone can truly have faith in antyhing is beyond me.

Deep down do these people really believe this stuff?

I also have been reading about the similarities of other religions.
How moses for one has a different name in another religion but, basically it is the same story.

This takes me back even further to where all religions originally derived from the dead sea scrolls.

This is something tangible that we can study.

To me it makes no sense for these muslims to be fighting for their god.
Just like the crusades made no sense.

Those are just 2 examples of manipulation through religion.

So in the end almost all religion is simmilar in the key basis'.
They are just different perceptions and they have been further manifested in seperate and unique cultures.

In the end they all mean the same.
You should not kill
You should not steal
etc. etc.

Just be just and fair with each other and try to love as many people as you can.

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So many truths. True, RELIGION has become an evil, manipulative force disrupting and hurting the lives of so many people. The religious traditions of men make Him almost unreachable. They inadvertently disrupt our natural communication with Him. We suffer because of this. We all affect each other either directly or indirectly, whether we realize it or not.

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we should believe in science lol

We agree on that atleast.

LOL

I judge no one and would like to love everyone.
It is hard sometimes though.

As Jesus said the richious man will turn the cheek.

I feel like the Bible is nothing more than lessons to learn and live by.
People are bad about making it out to be more than it is.

Nothing is more displeasing to me than a religious person who looks down on someone else for whatever reason.

According to thier religion God is the only judge.

It is the natural intincts that man need to work on.

One can appear to be very religious and in secret be worse than any supposed shameless sinner.

I feel like the truly richious person does not judge another person for any reason.

In my expierence the people who seem to be the best are actually the worse. And vice versa.

I also feel like you can learn something from anyone no matter who they are.
Whether they are brilliant or mentally challenged.

The expierences we receive from interacting with each other will teach us the most important lessons.

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