Do you believe that the rituals of other faiths have power? - Page 2

[asherah]

Sigh.
I know the rules here, Playdoh, thanks so very much.

And do you not see, EFmom, the difference between what you just posted, and your previous post? There is a HUGE difference between saying that ritual doesn't work for you.. or that you find it artificial..

and characterizing those who do it as "children playing dress up."

I criticize and question ChristianITY freely.. without feeling a need to characterize ChristiANS. There is a difference between discussing a concept and characterizing PEOPLE.

And so, Playdoh.. I really don't need you to quote rules at me.
I am not objecting to criticisms of my religion.. or taking posts that do not support my belief personally.

I am saying it isn't neccessary to give negative characterizations of PEOPLE in intellectual discussions.

Sorry if you can't see the difference, but there is a huge one.

[PurpleBasil]

Originally posted by tricia80
Ok im a blonde... what does RC stand for...

Roman Catholic

[EFmom]

Well no, actually, I don't. What I said originally was

In fact, I dislike ritual a great deal--it seems like children playing dress-up or something to me.

Note the "I dislike" and "to me" in that sentence. I did not say that anyone who likes or does ritual is playing dress-up.

My own belief is that God has chosen to reveal him/herself to people in different ways. Some ways speak to some people, and other ways speak to other people. Ritual, while it might speak to you, does not speak to me.

As I mentioned, I find unprogrammed Quaker meeting to be extremely powerful. To other people, it feels like a bunch of people sitting in a circle nodding off, or at best, meditating. I have had friends who attended meeting with me express that very sentiment. That's perfectly fine with me--Quaker meeting just doesn't speak to them, but it does to me.

I love my UMC minister very much. I also love the congregation. They are wonderful people. Still, nearly every Sunday, when the minister has donned his vestments and comes strutting down the aisle doing that stylized march best known to brides, I look at him in the vestments and the word "tablecloth" pops into my head.

[asherah]

I have no issues with the fact that ritual does not appeal to you.
As I said in my post.. I believe there are many ways of focusing spiritual intent... and ritual is only one. There are many others.. if Quaker meetings serve you better, great.

I guess we are just going to have to agree to let this go.
There is nothing you can say that is going to make me feel okay about hearing something sacred described as "children playing dressup."

But you are entitled to your opinion, and to characterize it any way you want to, I suppose.
But, I am entitled not to like it.. and I don't. So, there we are.

Anyway, this is toooo OT...

and to answer the OP, again....
Yes, I think the rituals of other faiths have power.. because the power is in the intent of the participants, not in the ritual itself.

[PurpleBasil]

Originally posted by asherah
Sigh.
I know the rules here, Playdoh, thanks so very much.

You'e welcome!

Originally posted by asherah
And so, Playdoh.. I really don't need you to quote rules at me.
I am not objecting to criticisms of my religion.. or taking posts that do not support my belief personally.

Hmmm..you thank me and then - oh well whatever.

Originally posted by asherah
Sorry if you can't see the difference, but there is a huge one.

Yeah, don't see it. IMO, you did take EFmom's opinion very personally and attacked accordingly.

For me, I do not belief rituals have inherent power and I don't think those who practice ritual can wield any power via ritual.

[asherah]

I did not attack anyone, Playdoh.
I did not say "you are a so-and-so.."
I stated an objection to something that was said.

And what does it have to do with YOU anyway?
EFmom is perfectly capable of speaking for herself.. and has done so. I have responded... I think perfectly civilly... and I am trying to move on.

I am not sure why you are so invested in a disagreement... or misunderstanding.. that has nothing to do with you. You are not, in fact, helping.

Anyway, I am DONE with this. I agree to acknowlege EFmom has the right to her opinion.. and to move on.
If anyone really has a need to continue with this, or to have the last word, I suggest we take it to PM, and let others discuss whether they think people's rituals have meaning.

[Arduinna]

I guess I'm curious as to what kind of power that we are talking about.

On the one hand I do believe that intent is important. But in my case the "props" if you will are there for a reason and it's not just to look cool.

Of course this is a thread with members of different religious backgrounds and practices so I can definately understand that to some people the "props" may just be "ornamental". Not so, in my case.

But I function outside of Wicca and the big three.

[candiland]

Ooooooh, I feel some SPANKINGS coming on!

[Arduinna]

Candi, you already got us in activism.

I think your true colors are showing

Candiland is kinky!!!!

:LOL

[Nemmer]

Originally posted by klothos
in a nutshell... i believe that the belief in a ritual or faith gives the ritual or faith power.

I agree with this.

[tricia80]

Ok now for my first blonde moment... i should of known what RC meant.. as that is what my parents tried raising me as...


now what are classifying as ritual here?? many things can be considered ritual and dont neccssarily need "props" plus i believe in my opinion that "props" are there for symbolism its doesnt mean they have any real power themselves.... i believe very much intent is everything and how u r directing that energy...

there are many things we do in a day one may considered ritual and others might now... so we need maybe to clarify ritual... i consider reading my daughter a book everynight before bed, kissing her and hugging her a ritual...


omg i think i made sense today... woo hooo :LOL

[DaryLLL]

OK, my dh has been atteding UU for over a yr. I go now and then. This yr he offered for me to get palms for his church for Palm Sunday. As I am now a florist and I could get a deal.

So the Saturday before, we were in the garage, "stripping" the fronds. And I saw myself doing it and I thought, Holy Carp, my MIL's prayers seem to be working!

:

But I did not go to church that Sunday or Easter. So, they only are working a little bit. What do you think? :LOL

[hotmamacita]

I didn't think asherah attacked anyone, btw. I found asherah's post very informative actually and she and EF seemed to work out the misunderstanding. I actually appreciated the exchange b/n the two and didn't see it as attack on either side.

DaryLLL- I don't know. I mean if all your IL's are praying are about are fronds and church attendence then .

more to say but i smell a funky diaper.....

[Arduinna]

Whatever things you believe to be true, or at least capable of happening, they have some power over you. Things you don't believe to be true or capable of happening have little or no hold on you.

see this always confuses me. one the one hand I do believe in the power of thought. As in I do believe that I have made myself ill in the past. But I get lost when the power of thought get's taken (by some, and not specifically the person quoted) to mean that I can wish things from not happening.

You know the old, you can't curse me if I don't believe in curses.

[DreamerMama]

Originally posted by hotmamacita


more to say but i smell a funky diaper.....

OT:

Can I use that as my sig line? That is always happening to me!:LOL

[DreamerMama]

I have no clue what is going on in the afterlife, but I can imagine my soul flipping out about a certain ritual taking place. It makes me really angry now thinking that one day, after I am dead, this will happen. If my soul is able, I may just haunt the poor person that did it. I feel that strongly about it. I made my decision on earth, and even if their religion is true, I don't want any part of it EVER.

nuff said.

[DaryLLL]

Originally posted by hotmamacita

DaryLLL- I don't know. I mean if all your IL's are praying are about are fronds and church attendence then .

more to say but i smell a funky diaper.....

LoL, hotmama. No, they have been praying for decades for me to quit worshiping Satan and conspiring with him to take over the world. You know, in a big New Age coup.

[asherah]

Candiland is kinky! Candiland is kinky!

And thanks for your kind words, Hotmamacita...

I am gonna start a thread on "props".. thought Ard would but since she didn't, I will.

[lilyka]

Rituals:

Some people are ritual people and some are not. Iam. after years of thinking people who were ritual people were just going through the motions. :LOL But low and behold when I stepped back and looked at it my life has allsorts of rituals in it (not just religous but in all areas) and for me rituals trigger things in me, the line me up so to speak. they are a form of worship. It is hard to explain. But those rituals that bring me comfort and bring me close rot god by reeminding me who he is adn what he is are far more than just going through the motions. for example communion - it is a ritual and it would be easy for someone to slip into going through the motions etc. . . but for me going through the familar steps and doing the familar things and hearing those words that have been drilled into me since child hood lines me and draws me into the act in a more real way. anyway, that is just my thoughts on rituals. Some people have it in them for them and some don't. I htink it is just a personality thing.

Do the things other people do as a part of thier spirituality effect mine:

I think they can. First of all I think after I die it is a done deal and my soul is sealed for whatever afterlkife I have chosen for it. secondly, I think somethings have power and others don't but ultimately we all have free will. I do think we can loose things in this world from heavenly places through prayer and fasting and such that have to power to influance principalities and heavenly beings and give them strength to influance our thinking, our openess to God or to bind our openess to God and connection with Him.

wow this is hard to sort without the benifit of conversation. Let me use an example. Lets say Suzie has rejected her families beliefs but Suzies mom keep praying and fasting and such. Suzie still has free will but becasue of those prayers God softens Suzies heart and send Angels to shield Suzie from things that would derail her or lead her astray and binds the powers that would seek to encourage her rebellion and keep her away. So he can take away the encouragement from the other side.

On the flip side I believe that people can influance me by praying to thier gods and i have to be sure that I am not receptive to those things that would come at me and i have to have moy protection at the ready and stand stead fast at all times.

Of course this is all from my narrow minded, conservative Christian world view. there i have said so no one else has to waist there time pointing out the obvious.

[umsami]

I do. I believe there are many ways to connect with God. I know that I can feel God when I pray in a mosque or at home, or visit a church or temple with friends.