tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9688231.post111573490848899793..comments2023-07-21T04:37:22.165-04:00Comments on Got a one-way ticket on the Disoriented Express...: Something serious, something sillySuzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00019402152935518795noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9688231.post-1115763196228263202005-05-10T17:13:00.000-05:002005-05-10T17:13:00.000-05:00Thanks for the commentary - I was going to e-mail ...Thanks for the commentary - I was going to e-mail you a link to my post out of courtesy, but was running late for work already when I posted it. :) <BR/><BR/>I do want to clarify that when I was asking about staying Christian, I was not meaning that in any way as a challenge to your faith, or as any disrespect to your choice. As a member of the "all paths lead to the same center" camp, I can respect anyone's spiritual choices. The question was instead genuine curiousity about the thought process behind the choice, and mild amusement at myself and my constant need to question.<BR/><BR/>Interesting point about picking a path and mining it for meaning. I think there are two points of view on that subject - for that matter, they're two mindsets that people tend to take on any number of subjects: either (a) you pick one thing and specialize in deep knowledge, or (b) you pick up knowledge that is more shallow, but spread across a wider variety of subjects. My spirituality is more from column B, although I do like to think that I've got pretty deep knowledge of a couple different faith traditions.<BR/><BR/>*above my pay grade* - Hey - how did you figure out how to get PAID? I just got told, "Listen, you'll like this assignment; you'll get to meet interesting people, see an interesting planet... Compensation? Oh, we'll discuss that later..." <BR/><BR/>Never trust the planning office when they tell you an assignment will be "interesting"... :) :) :)Suzannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00019402152935518795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9688231.post-1115751726168690622005-05-10T14:02:00.000-05:002005-05-10T14:02:00.000-05:00From Real Live Preacher,Hi there,Obviously I follo...From Real Live Preacher,<BR/><BR/>Hi there,<BR/><BR/>Obviously I follow my referal links. It's addicting and I enjoy meeting people this way.<BR/><BR/>First, thank you for your kind words about my faith. I pray that I live up to the spirit of what you've said.<BR/><BR/>Second, why stay a Christian if I reject the trappings of Christianity? Actually, I see this differently. I see the trappings as not being Christianity, but a bunch of cultural crap that has taken the place of the essence of the message.<BR/><BR/>So in holding to the central message and calling of Christianity, (God loves me and Christ died for me and I'm to live as much like Jesus as I can) and in dropping the trappings which really aren't a part of the historic message, I see myself as participating in a liberating and wonderfully historic spiritual tradition that dates back 2000 years. I'm committed to this path and really, no one has much time to try out too many paths. I mean, you have to pick something and stick with it, mining it for all the meaning you can find. I've been working Christianity hard for 25 years and I'm just beginning to understand.<BR/><BR/>I'd like very much to think that you and I are worshipping and serving the same Creative force behind the universe. That's above my pay grade though. So I'll serve and worship in my way and respect and love your freedom to do the same.<BR/><BR/>peace,<BR/><BR/>rlpAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com