On Jun 19, 10:15 pm, atypican <[email protected]> wrote: > Ok here you go..... > > Several years ago I went through a period of euphoric spells where my > perception shifted, and I noticed things I hadn't previously noticed > (or at least not as clearly or consistently). I was noticing > underlying messages/lessons behind ordinary events, interpersonal > interactions, communications, works of art, journalism, etc... > > In real time, without need of strenous intellectual effort, I was > doing some deeper interpretation. Also (during interaction with > others) I was able to muster quickly what I thought were creative and > clever responses and provocations. > > But what was going on in my mind while restful was an awesome > spectacle. It felt like I was being interrupted. They were welcome > interruptions. I was thrilled that this was going on in my mind. I > would lie awake for hours "watching" what was going on in my mind and > feel like I never lost sleep. I was in such a state that I could leave > my eyes open in the dark and play with my imagination more robustly > than ever before. I would have thoughts (literal ones) that I wanted > to remember later, so I would get up and write them down. > > Being atheist,I have long been averse to any concept with "religious" > connotation. (as it is understandably popularly understood) > > But there was no mistaking that I was going through a religious > experience. My brother had a discussion with me during this time about > the etymology of religion, and made a point (that I took to heart) > about religion. > > It simply means "a tying back".......... Nothing necessarily theistic > about that. Nothing necessarily superstitious about that. Like having > roots. > > I compiled a collection of scripture (texts). This I call "self > canonization" and I try to promote the practice, as a method for what > I call "philosophical self-criticism." How to make the transition from > mainly being "taught" to thinking more for yourself. I support > outgrowing worship. > > I have roots, religious roots, If I might even be so fruity, spiritual > influences. > > Never during any of these practices/experiences did I learn anything > which begged a change in my atheistic stance. I remain atheist. > > I felt a stong desire for a sort of fellowship. I felt like an > atypical atheist, I felt like an atypical Christian (obviously). I > knew I wasn't interested in subjecting myself to indoctrination but I > wanted to go "on the record" (in keeping with a religious textual > tradition, I highly value) as silly as that might end up looking. :) > > I am busy trying to more completely remove the beam from MY eye if you > will. After experiencing this special "clarity", I am (oh so > selfishly) cultivating the conditions that (I think) have brought it > about. > > In my quest I have mostly encountered people who want to establish a > teacher/student relationship. I would rather hang with people who are > into the more dignified peer to peer thing. > > I hope at least something jumps out at you from the above jumble of > text, I need help :) ..... > > atypican >
I think you need a teacher. I call the state I believe you to have experienced, reverie. Do you ever have panic attacks? I think you should try Sufism. Read this, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sufism Tell me what you think about the stuff they are saying about hearts in the third paragraph under the heading Basic Views. Tell me what were the conditions you think caused your entrance into the state. Does it happen all the time or the one time? > On Jun 19, 4:30 pm, Bridge <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > On Jun 19, 4:49 pm, atypican <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > I look forward to it. > > > > If you are inquisitive we can start right away. If not be patient and > > > I'll give you something to start with. :) > > > Yeah, I'll wait. > > > Offer up something and between the rest of us, we'll give you a > > nervous breakdown! ;-) > > > > On Jun 19, 12:56 pm, Bridge <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > On Jun 19, 12:48 pm, atypican <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > The group is hardly a "failed experiment"......remember that? > > > > > > It's almost everything I hoped it would be. n(thanks in large part to > > > > > you) > > > > > > I just wish there was someone to really press me, challenge me. I am > > > > > not as good at self-challenging as I used to be, my beliefs are a > > > > > little more "cemented" than perhaps they should be. > > > > > Well, this calls for a treatise of your beliefs. > > > > > I'll challenge you. > > > > > > On Jun 15, 5:57 pm, Bridge <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > On Jun 15, 5:24 pm, atypican <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > > Mainly to have my beliefs challenged and criticized. I want to > > > > > > > explain > > > > > > > how I think as best I can, plus refine my thoughts etc.. > > > > > > > It's funny but even with the huge disparity in what we are, I find > > > > > > that everyone hanging around is pretty high level in at least what > > > > > > they are...there are so many commonalities coming out. > > > > > > > Brock posted a list of stuff he doesn't believe are axioms and > > > > > > almost > > > > > > everybody agreed. > > > > > > > At least we got the right foundation to work together. > > > > > > > > On Jun 9, 6:15 pm, Bridge <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > > > I'm explaining the group to my friend Dorn. I'm wondering, "Why > > > > > > > > are we > > > > > > > > all here?" > > > > > > > > > I'm here to break my mold and to break others.- Hide quoted > > > > > > > > text - > > > - Show quoted text - -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "A Civil Religious Debate" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/a-civil-religious-debate?hl=en.
