Being Religious and Spiritual 2 Religiosity and spiritual life

Posted on 2013/12/11 by Bijbelvorsers

Religion, religiosity and spirituality are not the same. Many people use the three words as synonyms and see no difference between them. Religiosity has to do with the quality of being ‘religiose‘ or being extremely, obtrusively, pious, sanctimoniously or even sentimentally religious, but in its broadest sense it also used to indicate the sort of activity a person is willing to take on for that what he believes. It is about the numerous aspects of religious activity a person is willing to undertake, his dedication for that belief or religious doctrine. Another term that would work equally well, though less often used, is religiousness for the person’s belief in a god, the God of gods or in gods and their observance of associated activities.

With the choice of a religion comes the preparedness to follow certain teachings of that religion and to follow a sociocultural program for developing spiritually and for bringing spiritual realizations into everyday life according to the teachings or doctrines of that religion. In that movement about certain teachings concerning the individual and his environment the person shall want to become part of that religion and as such would want to take certain attitudes and do certain exercises in that faith. doing those readings, meditations and exercises for the mind, the person shall use ‘‘spirituality’’ to refer to his or her inner experiences that arise from trying to put such programs into practice.

Folk religiosity and faith (Photo credit: AlmaGamil_Philippines)

Through the ages lots of people tried to find ways to come to a higher ecstasy or to get into raptures. Their actions in their faith should bring them “Spirituality” bringing them in exaltation a sense of transcendence, sacrality, and ultimacy, making them ready to bring praise, tribute, worship, acclaim, glory, blessing, homage, reverence, magnification, apotheosis, glorification, acclamation, panegyric, idolization, extolment, lionization, laudation, in elation, delight, joy, excitement, inspiration, ecstasy, stimulation, with exhilaration, jubilation, exultation, joyousness. Their religious actions want to trigger the ‘becoming more’ going beyond or exceeding the Self. To do this, encoded signs and symbols may be the means by which experiences not only are generated but are described, even recognized and labelled, as religious. The many religions, the world is rich, have always relied upon several symbolic forms for breaking outside of the profane world. In most religions the believers try to come into an other stadium of life and of feeling. They even try to come in an other or alternative reality known only through its ecstatic qualities and interpretive frames.

Even within contemporary, more secular social settings, research suggests that those persons most involved in their religious traditions are more likely to report having strong religious experiences (Yamane and Polzer 1994, pp. 1–25).

To come to full or real spirituality the person has to give himself or herself to the faith which she want to follow and take on its traditions, demanding not only the will to come to an interior life or religious discipline but also to undertake social action, making ethical choices, family commitments, friendship, to live and work according that faith and to make choices for the way to live and in politics.

Whilst ‘Religion’ is a human invention that centers on specific rituals and a set of stories that outline a basic moral code and belief system, ‘spirituality’ is a natural reaction on feeling and the way people do behave. Spirituality relates to the spirit or essential essence of humanity. People who say they are spiritual are working to grow and better this inner force. Religious people are generally spiritual people as well, but spiritual people do not necessarily have to be religious. They may work to attain a heightened spirituality through alternative methods. Religions often, but not necessarily, have a hierarchy of initiates, bringing those further into the inner circle, leading the rituals for the general populace. Their rituals may look or seem spiritual but often can be performed on automatic pilot leaving the spiritual out.

Graph of timelines for major religions (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Some people may be very religious but not exactly spiritual, not interested to dig deep in themselves. Some religious people are not so much interested in doing the things themselves, but just want to follow set regulations and handlings done in the religious community. They for example just want to sit down in church and be passive, looking and hearing what is going on, with sometimes even having the mind strolling of to somewhere else. Whilst the religion may be brought on by their parents or their environment where they grew up to get spiritual they have to undertake themselves the action to be willing to enter the spirituality which stems from their inner soul, and not from the hierarchy of their religion, their pastors or priests, but is dependent on their will to search in themselves, to look for the very essence of their own being. The spirited approach or spirituality like the religion may come form influences of different sources, where the parents, in first instance or the most important one, and from driving forces in the life of the person, like a God Almighty.

Some think spirituality can be achieved only through the use of every moral quality in its proper place and on its proper occasion. Moral shall influence the way of thinking and the background of material shall give possibilities to think about those theories, values and attitudes. Because being bounded to the natural state of our being in the universe, our ‘natural state of man’ has a very strong relationship with his moral and spiritual states, so much so that even a person’s manner of eating and drinking affects his moral and spiritual states. If the natural state of a person is subjected to the control of the directions of divine law it becomes his moral state and deeply affects his spirituality, as is said that whatever falls into a salt mine is converted into salt. That is why several Holy Scriptures like the Torah, the Bible and the Qur’an have laid stress on physical and psychical cleanliness and postures, and their regulation in relation to all worship and inner purity and spiritual humility.

According to the Bible the first essential quality of a spiritually perfect man is that his relationship should be correct and right both with his Creator God and man, his fellow-creatures. Both relationships should be right and correct which can only retrieved by having righteous conduct, seeking good influences, safeguarding oneself against conduct which is likely to harm the relationships.

The division of ‘morals’ is to be found also in religious faith and in religious life. It is important, therefore, to be clear about religious faith and religious life. There are people who equate religious life with moral life and think they are the same. To them to be religious is to be moral and to be moral is to be religious. This is incorrect and confusing.In religious life ‘morality’ and ‘spirituality’ may be the cornerstones. A man of good moral character may be just moral and be not necessarily religious. He may be a good man but not a perfect man. His moral part is all right, but not his spiritual part. We as human beings should come into ‘a being’ or ‘a creation’ where moral, spirituality and religion are in balance in a correct relationship with the other creatures and with the Creator.

Religious views generally have a great impact on a person’s lifestyle and differing views can cause conflict in relationships. In history we have seen enough examples where the religion was used to come in conflict with other members of the creation. An atheist may be incredibly uncomfortable if their significant other wanted to attend religious services and continue prayers every day. Likewise, a person who is used to being involved in religious practices may feel like something is wrong with them if their boyfriend or girlfriend doesn’t want to come with them to their Holy books study or other religious gatherings.

Many religions cause difficulties in a family or in a community. – Icon-religion (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The religion may become a stumbling block in a family whilst the spirituality may have the family grow, because it can be independent from the religion. In a family religion can really become a hot mess of opinions, beliefs and arguments. Whereas, spirituality is life affirming. Even atheist can be a spiritual human being. Spirituality is a way of life. It is the only way to conquer ignorance. the spirituality is looking to get out of spiritual blindness which may cause enough foolishness, benightedness, unenlightenment. Spirituality may take the person beyond his first thought limits and bring him or her out of mental darkness. It is understanding that we all are part of a whole. The realm of spirituality is mystical and mysterious. When we look at the world with an attitude of wonder and awe, we become aware that the world is filled with spiritual life. Part of spirituality is being willing to admit that something is beyond our comprehension. With our materialistic attitude and ego-tripping of today, many having a high quality ore it is difficult for them to come to the science in understanding the world, trying to find answers they may never find. When we look at the universe and into our own hearts and see that which we don’t understand, we know that we have touched that which is unknowable and holy. To come to the acceptance of nullity is the most difficult part of spirituality. Only by willing to see the futility of our self, accepting that insignificance we shall be able to become really spiritual. though we may be religious it can well be that we are not at all spiritual.

Preceding article: Being Religious and Spiritual 1 Immateriality and Spiritual experience

Next: Being Religious and Spiritual 3 Philosophers, Avicennism and the spiritual

Read also:

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Additional reading:

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religiosity-cover-test-2 (Photo credit: jeffmikels)

The Rise of Religion Might Be All About Sex (alternet.org)
A study suggests religion might have arisen to protect certain reproductive strategies, like long-term partnership.
Is There Still a Place for Religion? (virtuoussociety.com)
Sociologists juxtapose the low religiosity of countries in Northern Europe with their low rates of crime and poverty. Unbelievers in America remark that religious people are over-represented in US prisons—and under-represented among its scientists and thinkers. In the opinion of many researchers, the statistical landscape of religion is bleak.
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the US states with the lowest incarceration rates have the lowest levels of religiosity. But when controlling for race, income and other social factors by way of regression methods, Stark finds that religion is actually negatively correlated with violent crime.
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To the extent that social scientists have neglected rigorous analysis in favor of more agreeable correlations, they must re-evaluate their assumptions, and paint their portrait of religious society in finer strokes, and from a wider palette. They will likely find that faith does not cast a shadow on modernity, but rather lights its way.
Texas A&M professor blends neuroscience, religion in new course (believervsnonbelievers.wordpress.com)
In the apparent conflict between science and religion, many are turning to the field of neuroscience to weigh in on debates like whether the Book of Revelation was based on an inspired dream, like Paul said it was, or a simple neurological process.
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With more than 50 years of research and teaching experience across the entire spectrum of neuroscience, Klemm admits that his emphasis is on neuroscience, because, as he says it, “I’m not a preacher,” but he wants the students to take their own religious beliefs and try to make the connection with what he teaches them about neuroscience.
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Religionists hold that humans have free will and are accountable for their beliefs and choices, while scientific experiments have led scientists to believe that free will is an illusion.
Supplementary Materials on Spirituality and Religion (chermercado.wordpress.com)
For those who want to expand their understanding of the topic and Spirituality and Religion, you may refer to the following links below. I’ve provided some points of reflection that should help you re-think things though you may not necessarily agree with them.
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Some Thoughts about the Integration of Spirituality and Religion
The tendency of people who claim to be Spiritual but not religious is to treat faith as if it were a buffet: cherry-picking only the good parts and leaving the rest behind (as explained by the meme above). It’s convenient and satisfying but it doesn’t capture the essence of real faith.
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Faith is a matter of reciprocity because it is a two-way street.
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In summary, if your aim is to develop a personal but life-giving spirituality, it needs a check-in balance system to make sure it does just that. This check-in balance is easily provided by organized religion.
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The Value of Community in Christian Spirituality
To relate with the Church, then, is to concretely relate with Jesus, who is God afterall. If you find yourself having a difficult time dealing with the Church’s imperfection, that’s insight in itself into how it might be like for God to be dealing with each and everyone of us. To relate with others (the Church), then, is to get to know more how God relates with us and how He has to deal with our petty problems and imperfections.
Religion Vs. Spiritual (etsuwmst.wordpress.com)
Many people religious background comes from what their parents instill in them but once they reach a certain age is where they find their true calling as to what they think and feel is right. Realistically most people just conform into whatever is most common to them.
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Religion is organized; it’s more of a physical thing. Like something imaginable as far as seeing or feeling. Religion is instituted by man. In a religion there are many gods, although they are serving the same purpose. Just like there are many beliefs in religion. Where a spiritual person does not have an organized way about being spiritual, it is all within yourself. It’s more of being spiritual than something being physical.
Religiosity Raises Risk Among Sex Offenders, Clergy More Dangerous Than Other Groups (atheistrev.com)
Male clergy accused of sex crimes were found to be more dangerous in some important ways than matched non-clergy offenders (Langevin, Curnoe, & Bain, 2000). And religiosity was positively associated with the number of convictions for sex crimes and the number of victims among convicted male sex offenders (Eshuys & Smallbone, 2006). It was also inversely related to the age of the victims (i.e., more religious offenders tended to victimize younger children).Parents place clergy on pedestals due to their presumed connection to some sort of “god,” and they teach their children to do the same. They lower their guard because the pastor wouldn’t possibly do things like that. Clergy are often viewed as morally superior to the rest of us, and the same goes for highly religious non-clergy. They are given the benefit of the doubt again and again. We couldn’t possibly question behavior that would never be tolerated in other contexts. And this continues despite evidence that clergy and highly religious persons may actually be more dangerous to our children.
Who is religious? (suryanarayanarajumd.wordpress.com)
Common man understands religion by belonging to certain religion or belief system, he follows the pattern followed by crowd, mob by going to temple on certain dates, enjoys the entertainment involved in it.But religiosity is an inner science, “doing” is relevent to outer but “non-doing” is the key to inner exploration which does not mean laziness but it demands heightened awareness. With heightened awareness you touch a point from which you witness the seemingly opposite things are complimentary both in the outer and the inner.
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First prepare the mind for self-inquiry
First when you are not doing bodily or mentally which include thinking, concentration, contemplation, when all activity caeses “you simply are”, “just be”.
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develop the skill of watching self activity which is nothing but self-inquiry.As you go on watching self activity from your center of being, thought process slows down, there is radical change in self-activity and one fine day self stops functioning when it is not required. Mind is not enemy but because of lack of awareness in functining of daily activities at present it is dictating our way of life. Mind means past plus future. But life is in the present.
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Why meditation is essential?

The whole education makes the human mind conditioned to trust only in objects which he can dissect their basic constituents.

The problem arises when when one tries to analyze the subject in the same way. An average mans thinks of Self in an objective way.

But the nature of subjectivity is that it cannot be observed. That which is observable is not your subject.

Meditation, watchfulness is the key to explore the inner. With watchfulness a distance is created between the watcher and the mind.

As watchfulness crystallizes the distance becomes longer and longer. Soon the mind is so far away you can hardly feel that it exists.
Spirituality is the world around us (realmof13.wordpress.com)
God and spirituality are pretty controversial subjects in this day and age. I myself have run the full circle of beliefs, not really wandering, but falling into the next one based of experiences and changes of perception. I have never been the biggest fan of organized religion, but I have recognized the good it does for those who participate with good intention in their hearts.
Religious vs. Spiritual (reginayflorence.wordpress.com)
Many people study different types of religions. It says “ the fact that many of the negative things which people attribute to religions are features of some forms of some religions(usually Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), but not of other religions (like Taoism or Buddhism).” We are stating that being spiritual is expressing our religion. By worshiping our spirit it shows that our religion is more than that. It is a way of getting deeper with him(God). It bring a deeper meaning to us when we believe.
Relying on Religion (creativesolblog.wordpress.com)
Many conversations concerning the topic of religion get quite personal, emotional and out of hand fairly fast. This is the case so often that common etiquette generally recommends that one avoids the subject all together (especially at the dinner table).

Accommodation of the Void

Posted on 2013/10/30 by Bijbelvorsers

When the darkness was in the eternal past something happened which many human brains can not cope with. It goes beyond their human capacity to understand.

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There is only one major doctrine for humankind and that is the believe that there is a Supernatural Divine Being that is the Originator of everything.

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We loathe a void because we detest that what we can not or do not know and/or understand. the emptiness of the void seems so unreal and untouchable. That a void is considered something bad is strange, because the nothingness can also be pleasant or something very intriguing. The being without something is creating a possibility to get something which shall be filled or made un-empty or full, and fullness looks something great.

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When there is nothing there can not be energy, so those thinking there would have been nothing before the Big Bang should wonder how the mass could get moving and energy created out from nothing.

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You may say nothing in existence did not first come from a void. When the void is really only an empty space it also could become a vacant space. Void should not always be equal to ‘without force’ or to be ‘invalid’. When the ‘void’ has nothing it can also not have volition or the act or power of using its own will or choosing to make a decision or going into action. This interferes with the idea of the big Bang being the beginning of the universe.

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To say that the reason that there is a void created is because that which was there to begin with no longer fits is too easy to give way.

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It is our egotistical culture and our proud which makes that we want to be able to unravel the things in front of our eyes. We all think we can explain everything and have difficulty to believe the unbelievable or that what seems to be impossible to grasp. It is very easy to become upset by the ’emptiness’ that would be controlled by Something Higher than a human being. Most man consider man the most high and superior being. They think they can use freely all plants and animals and do whatever they want with them.

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Having to accept that there would be something before that Big Bang, which controlled already the things leading up to that Big Bang makes it very difficult for many people. should they then understand that there would be an other Ego that was capable to do what they only can dream of? The Something which is incomprehensible for man which has been there and is still there to fill the space of emptiness within, is the Something we get to know to be the All Being or Allah, the Only One God, Divine Creator.

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that divine Creator is the “I am that I am” the “Being that is”: “I am”. Opposite being “there to be”, we can find the human beings there not to present themselves for the other, but preferring having the others for his or her own being. Ours is a culture that glorifies “having” instead of Being. It is true that when we are ‘Being’, we are not in need of ‘having’. this is what the “I Am” of the Scriptures tells us. He wants us to see how we should become void for the other. We do not have to empty us for ourselves but we do have to empty ourselves by giving to others and having the others and the Supreme Being filling us.

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The world may have come into being by a positive energy and now we have the counterpart where humankind creates lots of negative energy. Negative energy creating within us a feeling of lack, and when we have a feeling of lack. This shortcomings can get us back down in the well of darkness, back into the void of the world.

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But God does not want to see us in the darkness. He wants to see us in the light.

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Light was created to be mightier than the void. It should be the rays which can open our eyes and get us further on the path of experience and challenge to go forwards to better pastures in a realm which shall be better than this world.

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We may feel the things that we desire the most that we are still not yet ready for, we may look to others and think they do have it better than us. But we should look into our own hearts and find the light shining in there. When we are trying to fill the void with energy that is not the correct energy we are doing ourselves no big favours, so we better go looking for the right energy. The good force, which is provided in the universe for all to find and to grasp. We are not meant to fret over the void.

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We may not let us be blinded by those who would like to tell us that there is nothing in the void (thereby making it a negative thing). We should look further than our nose, further than most people believe.

We may carry our past but should only take the best out of it and carry on going into the future, being aware that once the energy got flowing it shall not stop until the Person who started it going calls it to stop.

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Though that Being Who started all the energy going is not willing to have it stopping; He promised that whatever turbulence there would come, once in the time there shall come a moment when there would be another Big Bang, namely the Third World War or Armageddon, and then the end would come for this world system. Then the promised Saviour will take over and shall take care that the right persons with the right energy shall be able to continue their path to the Kingdom of God, the World of the First and Foremost Divine Creator.

Then we shall be able to speak of the First World and the New World. Let us be ready to be there in the right place on the right time to enter that New World.

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Preceding articles:

Nothingness

Blackness, nothingness, something, void

“Before” and “after” the Big Bang

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Read also:

The Origin of Life on Earth: Creation or Evolution?

Two states of existence before God

A viewpoint on creation

The World framed by the Word of God

Creator and Blogger God 1 Emptiness and mouvement

The Divine name of the Creator

Cosmos creator and human destiny

Creation of the earth out of something

Creation gift of God

Creation and the Bible

God, Creation and the Bible Hope

A viewpoint on creation

Without God no purpose, no goal, no hope

Heed of the Saviour

Darkness, light, burning fire, Truth and people in it

Kingdom of God what will it be like

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The Mana'o Blog

THE VOID

The Void. Ugh!

Even thinking about it in terms that can be thought as even being semi-friendly makes a lot of our brains itch. We loathe a void. A void means that we are empty of something and that the void demands to be filled. What we are not realizing is that there is a reason for the void and once it is that we understand the reason, there will be no more void. Too many of us are not accepting this. Too many people believe that a void is a bad thing when in reality it is only a neutral thing and doesn’t carry any negative energy until we choose to believe that it is something other than what it truly is, which is merely and only a void.

Nothing in existence did not first come from a void. A void is really only an empty space…

View original post 1,348 more words

Don’t be the weakest link

Posted on 2013/10/29 by Marcus Ampe

After the children boom the world has become so egocentric it chooses to have an other chain than before World War II.
The family became not any more in the first place, but the gain of money became prime priority. After enriching themselves the western world came confronted by more than one financial crisis and got in a deep well. Now people have to work with more than one to be able to survive. Children in the family are now seen as an extra cost better to be avoided.

Those who believe in God and His Plan, should remember their task given in the Garden of Eden and later renewed by the son of God.
We should rethink how we want to live and what to do with ourselves, future generations, education and the use of our environment.
We also should check which material we want to use to build up our necklace. Each of us has to make the right choice willing to be a good part of the chain, which can hold humanity together. We ourselves can make a weak or strong link, but should strive to be the better link, having openings for other chains to join.

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In If life was a manuscript… the writer says:

Habit deals with progressive and consistent action that is designed to build in you the discipline needed to succeed whatever your ambitions may be. The main point behind habitually performing progressive daily actions however small is that it cultivates a mindset that respects small beginnings and a willingness to try. Think of how even the great Usain Bolt was a baby learning to walk long before he became the fastest man in history.

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Craft encompasses a willingness to learn. Craft is what directs your habits and builds on your voice. Craft is the acquired knowledge and understanding needed to exploit your voice. A lot of people are interested in doing something special, to change the world or live an interesting life, but few are dedicated to these ends. A demonstration of dedication is the amount of time one devotes to acquiring knowledge in their area of interest. Education is meant to open one’s mind to the beauties of universal knowledge and lead to a path of continuous learning – a means to an eternal end and yet people have mistaken education to be an end in itself.

In What’s your score? Setting goals that work for you he continues:

Life by its very nature is a series of goal-achieving processes that have a cumulative effect on our entire existence. From the moment we are conceived, nature initiates a series of life stages required to help us build the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual maturity needed to live up to the demands of adult responsibility. In an ideal world, these life stages should occur smoothly in a way that rightly equips us for life. Sadly, most people even in adulthood do not have a solid foundation for life and are left to live lives based on correcting one mistake after another.
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The three elements -habit, voice and craft – help with goal setting because they help you create a rhythm for your life.

The celebrated writer Christopher Hitchens once made an interesting addition to the famous saying, “everyone has a book inside them”.

His addition was as follows,

“everyone has a book inside them, which is exactly [where], it should in most cases, remain”.

Than Moonga Mkandawire, the founder and Managing Director of ES Capital Partners and a self-taught musician and composer refers to Hitchens his rather cynical remark here because its humour masks a truth that applies to life in general, which is the value of perseverance during hardship.

Should yours happen to be the book that others believe is best kept inside and yet you are moved by a compulsion to write that will not let you go, the following elements of writing might come in handy no matter what anyone else says about you.

In the previous articles about fatherhood, stay-at-home dads and stay-at-home moms we told you that we do have to make choices in our life. Each of us has the free choice either to go with this world and continue in the direction the contemporary world wanted to evolve or to change direction. Each of us can choose the road which they would consider best for them. Depending on those who decide to take other roads, the world can turn around. We can make a difference, if we stop looking at those beyond our reach, and do put our priorities right, we can show other where our soul is. We also do have the free choice to choose those with whom we want to associate and work with. As a Christian such choices are very important, not only for ourselves, but also for the next generation.

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Fathers do one of three things: they perpetuate a cycle or they break a cycle or they start a cycle.

Our craft is how we shape our skills-set and acquire the knowledge needed to carry out our task.

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Find also:

I’m not a Mooch

Dignified role for the woman

A learning process for each of us

Determine the drive

Be a ready giver

Casual Christians

Fear of God reason to return to Holy Scriptures

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The Weakest Link (upstraight.wordpress.com)
I’m pretty sure you’ve heard it said that the home is the basic unit of a society. This is true, as human beings make up a society and every human being is a member of a family, at the very least, he/she has a father and a mother (whether or not he knows who they are), otherwise he wouldn’t exist.Now, you most likely have heard the phrase/proverb “a chain is only as strong as its weakest link”. This proverb has …well a very literal origin. A chain is made from several pieces of metal or iron, usually ovally shaped, linked together. The strength of the chain to bind or pull or lift whatever you want, literarily depends on the weakest link, because if the load you want to lift, for instance, is too heavy for the weakest link, it will give way, and the load will come tumbling down.Interestingly, this principle applies to …virtually everything. The success or failure of an endeavor is tied to the weakest link, which may be a person or a technicality. If the weakest link is strong enough to see the endeavour through, we have a success. If it is not, we have a failed situation.

About Christopher Hitchens….. (atheistfallacies.wordpress.com)
There is no way to use science to make a positive rational assertion for why human beings should have inalienable rights, likewise there is no way to us evolution to do the same. In fact it is quite possible to use both to do the opposite. The only way that you can make a positive rational assertion for why human beings should have inalienable rights is if you posit god in some form. You have to assume some authority some universal law to which all people are beholding and then you can have human rights. {About Christopher Hitchens…..}

Christopher Hitchens Remembered (oldroadapples.wordpress.com)
“The life and career of award-winning journalist Christopher Hitchens is chronicled in this video collection. Hitchens, in his singular voice, reports and reflects on cultural trends, political events, and the forces that define our Age.”

You Are The Weakest Link; Goodbye. (christopherryandueck.wordpress.com)
The paradox that arises is that to be a truly selfless notion it should not conjure feelings of jealousy or contempt.
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If I give myself a break and believe in my abilities and still joyfully stay back to allow others to succeed, that would be selfless. I know that I am good at my job, good at guitar, decent at writing, but I am Terrified of the implications if I admit it.

The weakest link (guiltyoverdose.wordpress.com)
ever gazed at the sky and wondered if your’e a consistent person in the sense that do you portray the same image with all people no matter what they resemble to you , do you change your personality in order to accommodate with the group or individual that your’e interacting with. I think of it all the time , I like to retrace my day in my head go through the main events , sit alone and think what if I did something in a different way how would it have affected me and then I remember that I’ve always been like that.
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the next time you gaze in the stars or wander off in your thoughts don’t think what would’ve happened instead make it happen.

“You Are Only As Strong As Your Weakest Link” (rsdstakeholders.org)
We are all familiar with the saying; “you are only as strong as your weakest link”, but do we really know what it means?
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In a previous blog, two Rockwood parents shared their varied experiences. One of those parents goes on to share what they feel needs to be done to strengthen a weak link in our community district.

How Jeff Goins Went From 50 Blog Readers To 100,000 (sebastianmarshall.com)
I found the paradox is, if you want to be happy and have a purpose-filled life, you actually need to do the opposite of what you’re inclined to do. Instead of get, give. Instead of trying to accumulate more, do something for yourself. Do the opposite. At least, try it as an experiment. If you’re constantly trying to strive for more, what if the point was the opposite? Fill the opposite, fix the brokenness. What if the design is that we shouldn’t live independent of others, but rather giving and helping others who are in need?
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Why are people self-centered? I don’t know. The goal of philosophy and religion is often to answer that question. I’m more interested in the solution.Nobody likes this about themselves, being so selfish, but they think it’s the only way to survive. I think a better solution to filling that hole is give, be generous, empty yourself rather than trying to fill the hole.Everyone who has ever been in love, who has ever been a part of a cause bigger than themselves, then they’ve already felt this. It’s not a call to altruism, it’s confirming what you’ve felt — that you can work towards a larger whole.

Retired Navy Seal, Marcus Luttrell, Talks About Persistance (freeemployeenewsletter.com)
The keynote speaker was Marcus Luttrell, #1 national best-selling author of Lone Survivor and retired Navy Seal from Operation Red Wing in Afghanistan in 2005. His purpose was to give the audience a perspective on a truly bad day and how a person can overcome anything.
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“No matter how many times I got hit, I just kept getting back up. I never stopped. Don’t every quit for anything.”

I’m not a Mooch (steppingtoes.wordpress.com)

Surviving Motherhood: things to get excited about, right now (steppingtoes.wordpress.com)

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Every person’s life is a link in a chain. From our families to the communities that hold our societies together, we form a perpetual link that holds humanity together. Whether our families and communities succeed or fail depends on the quality of decisions made by the individual members; a chain is only as strong as its weakest link goes the old adage.

But what makes a decision good or bad? Surely individual experiences are so diverse that a general rule for good or bad decisions cannot apply across humanity? Rest assured that this is not what I wish to establish in this article. What I want to share is an observation that was brought to my attention at the inaugural Cornerstone Men’s Conference by the keynote speaker, Bishop Simon Peter. Speaking on fatherhood, he said that fathers do one of three things: they perpetuate a cycle or they break…

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Texts, writers, accessibility and willingness

Posted on 2013/10/21 by Marcus Ampe

To get people interested in sharing their thoughts together on a mixed platform may not be so easy as I would think. All my life I may have been an optimist and somewhat an utopian, believing in the good of man. All my life I have tired to sell things which people were not interested in: ballet and the Word of God.

Today, noticing how egocentric and materialistic people have become, I want to revive perhaps my enthusiasm of 1968, going back on the barricades demanding respect for humanity and nature. Whatever people may believe or not believe, how you turn it, living next to each other, they have to find a way to live with each other and to find a space where they can live peacefully in good conditions.

American Christians

Living on this planet we can not seclude ourselves from this system of life. It is to easy to withdraw from what is happening in the world saying it is far away or that would be worries for the next generation.
Certainly those who call themselves Christians should be respectful to the creation of the Divine Creator. They should be even more aware than an atheist how we should take care of the earth, because that was one of the tasks given to man in the Garden of Eden. Also knowing that everybody is created in the image of God, we should be respectful to those people who the Creator allows to live on this earth, be it people we do like or people we do not like. We can not like everybody the same. It is impossible to love everybody the same. But Christians should have brotherly love for those around them.

Out of love they should let others know what they might expect or what there could happen to the world. We should figuratively be awake all the time and always be prepared to be ready for what would come over us in time. To be fully prepared we therefore should also know what is going on in the world.

Today people may be limited in time, having to work with two (or more) to be able to pay the rent, gas and electricity, trying to manage the household with shopping cooking and cleaning. For relaxation television and social media may demand attention.

I do believe we in the multiple amount of information we do need a a point of assembly or a depot where all information can be amalgamated and sieved. We have to get through so much information that it can be useful and profitable to have the news-gathering sifted. I believe we should, even when the time would perhaps not be ripe, take efforts to present the public a news platform where several writers of different opinions can come together and have their text next to the other, so that people can form their own opinion, and strain that what they do want to select.

The world keeps changing, but the thirst for news is always there. Today what happens in one place may have severe percussions in an other place. Many might think it is not possible to have different opinions next to each other, and people should stick with their own group of people not mixing with others. but we may not forget that we do have to live with others. We can not stop becoming more mixed cultural entities. More and more people are crossing borders and looking for other places to live and work. In their new surroundings they shall have to integrate and find ways to live in unity with the community.

CP Scott wrote in ‘A Hundred Years’ for the Guardian, in 1921:

In all living things there must be a certain unity, a principle of vitality and growth. It is so with a newspaper, and the more complete and clear this unity the more vigorous and fruitful the growth. I ask myself what the paper stood for when first I knew it, what it has stood for since and stands for now. A newspaper has two sides to it. It is a business, like any other, and has to pay in the material sense in order to live. But it is much more than a business; it is an institution; it reflects and it influences the life of a whole community; it may affect even wider destinies. It is, in its way, an instrument of government. It plays on the minds and consciences of men. It may educate, stimulate, assist, or it may do the opposite. It has, therefore, a moral as well as a material existence, and its character and influence are in the main determined by the balance of these two forces. It may make profit or power its first object, or it may conceive itself as fulfilling a higher and more exacting function.

Our first aim is not to make gain or to get into power. Our aim is to inform people and to make them aware how the world is turning around. We should know what is happening outside our door of the family house or the community. I do believe in the power of information. People can get more knowledge when they receive the opportunity to get more information about all sorts of matters.
In the writings we would like to present on “Stepping Toes” we would like to give a reflection of this outside world. I am convinced journalists can have a contribute role in our society. They may reflect and give others material to think about. They may make us more conscious of what is going on and what can be done. Their writing and our writing may reflect and influence the life of a whole community; it may affect even wider destinies. We do not want to be an instrument of one typical organisation or one government, but would like to have a part in playing on the minds and consciences of men.

With “Stepping Toes” we not only would lay things bare, which others would prefer that they stayed unseen. I do agree we would love to consider the material from a civil worldly (non-religious) point of view and at the same time present other articles discussing a few things from our Christian point of view. As such we would like to leave the people free to choose from the different writers who they would like to read, but hope they shall all get the reasonable attention. By presenting the different views people shall be able to make up their mind themselves. We should not, all the time, do that for them. as such giving that liberty of interpretation we do hope that It may educate, stimulate, or assist.

I expect from the writers on “Stepping toes” honesty, cleanness, courage, fairness, a sense of duty to the reader and the community. The subjects I would like to see covered are those of Human Interest, environmental news, and the Way of life, call it Lifestyle, the Being and feeling. cp scott

Comment is free, but facts are sacred. “Propaganda”, so called, by this means is hateful. The voice of opponents no less than that of friends has a right to be heard. Comment also is justly subject to a self-imposed restraint. It is well to be frank; it is even better to be fair. This is an ideal. Achievement in such matters is hardly given to man. We can but try, ask pardon for shortcomings, and there leave the matter. {CP Scott in The Guardian, ‘A Hundred Years’ in 1921}

In the 1970s, The Independent and The Observer where with the Daily Telegraph my favourite newspapers and on Wednesday I did not wanted to miss the Guardian. In Dutch De Standaard was and is still my favourite newspaper.

Wanting to offer an overview of the happenings of the day I decided also to try the up-to-date links to interesting content of the Guardian in the web blog. I do hope this content may provide within our blog posts topical and interesting material which also can draw repeat traffic to our blog.

But we would love to see also some writers posting on “Stepping Toes” themselves, giving their impression of what happens in the world.

Anthony Sampson wrote in Anatomy of Britain Today:

“In America journalism is apt to be regarded as an extension of history: in Britain, as an extension of conversation”

Arthur Miller wrote:

“A good newspaper, I suppose, is a nation talking to itself”

I would love to hear the nations of the world in conversation with one another. Having youngsters and older ones talking about how they see the world and look at its history.

I am convinced in the latest generation, born in the 1990s it should be possible to find also some persons who have the same energy as the second war and just after second war generation had.

I do believe it should have to be possible to find writers who are passionate about spreading the truth and seeing people walk in
liberty. I look forward to meeting such inspirational people who also would like to give their life meaning and to dedicate it to helping others with providing information, working at the development of humanity.

There should be around enough thinkers and communicators interested in sharing useful information as regards the total well being of mankind, spiritual, financial, social,medical and intellectual. People who want to uncover those who are not telling the truth. Passionate about spreading the truth and seeing people walk in liberty should be the drive which keeps us going and has us spreading the news.

It is now that we can talk to future generations and should work together to inform them, knowing that they will be the leaders of
tomorrow. All together we should like to face the “Youth”.

Those who feel that we talk to them, and those who feel the calling for helping to inform the general public are welcome to join us, to try to build a platform where we show to have an eye for those in peril. It may be perhaps not such nice news, but here we would like to let others know where other people are treated unrighteous. We want to show the inequity, the racism, the poverty, but we also want to show that it can be different. It would be great if we could present a lot of good news, because to that the newspapers and the television journals do not spend time enough. And we are convinced there are also many great things happening in this world which should make us happy.

In case you have some good news, let us know. Share the good tidings with us.

the word of God (Photo credit: jangkwee)

If you are a religious person you probably know what your religion teaches. did you ever wondered about those teachings and do you put them in the light of what is happening in this world? On this site we would like to ask you to have a look at what happens in the world and to question which attitude you want to take as a Christian. You shall be able to find neutral news, non religious news but also reviews of what denomination try to bring to their community. At this platform we shall not step back to question you to compare the things of the world with the things written in the Bible. We shall not mind daring to ask if the teaching of your religion lines up with what God says in His book. We shall dare to ask you if you are you sure. Do you study the Bible to make sure? If you do not, look at what Jesus says and consider the Words of his Father, Who is also our Father.

We want to offer ways to keep ourselves strong and united whilst being ourselves. This can be done by accepting that people may think differently and by allowing the Word of God to teach us, rebuke us and encourage us. God speaks to us all, and speaks to each one of us individually. We all can and should read the Bible and take it as our most important guide, so that we may be prepared for every good work.

Let us not wait but start the good work now and take up our pen to reach as many people as possible.

Please do find:

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Heroes for human rights (reallaplaineslectures.wordpress.com)
Hollywood films, historical texts and countless other anecdotes and stories which have happened in the past, depict heroes in our world. And while these are interesting and inspiring, I cannot help but shed light on the more important heroes of our contemporary times.
Place of the Presence (viktoriaveigas.wordpress.com)
In the Garden of Eden, sin had broken the face-to-face relationship between God and humanity. Sin forfeited our first parents’ unhindered communion with God. However, the Creator still desired to draw us to Himself and to enjoy a deep covenant relationship with fallen humanity, and He began this process right there in Eden. Centuries later, in saving Israel out of Egypt and establishing the sanctuary and the sacrificial system, God again took the initiative in bringing humanity back into His presence.
God Grief (devotionsinmotion.wordpress.com)
God created man in His own image and yet, Creator God, was grieved in His own heart, that He made us. All the land, the water, the planets and every creature on the earth, were spoken into being, with the exception of man. With His hands, He lovingly formed us, from the dust of the ground. Human beings rebelled against Him. He created us to have fellowship with Him; and yet, corruption began in earth’s most perfect place, the Garden of Eden. From the beginning; God gave man a choice, to obey or disobey. Man chose the latter.
Chi and DMT – Two Accesible Mysteries That Evade Scientific Validation (wakingtimes.com)
“Science cannot solve the ultimate mystery of nature. And that is because, in the last analysis, we ourselves are part of nature and therefore part of the mystery that we are trying to solve.” –Max Planck, ‘Where Is Science Going?’There are some mysteries in life so common that nearly anyone can experience them, even though no one can fully explain them.

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Stepping Toes

Things said on this site possibly can upset someone

Tag Archives: Egocentricity

Accommodation of the Void

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Don’t be the weakest link

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Texts, writers, accessibility and willingness

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