Communicating On A Global Forum.

[Philippa]

Right, and I think that's just the way the universe is constructed. There has to be a contrasting opposite to balance things out. Nothing is inherently 'bad' from that perspective. These things exist in all of us...good and evil. We are all a bit good and a bit bad, it's only society that tells us we have to only be one and not the other.

I think if people were to own their own dark sides, and see where they are sometimes mean, angry, sad, evil, as well as when they are good, and kind and loving, then there would be less chance of us acting out these aspects of us. Owning our own shadows is what helps make us whole humans.

I'm very into philosophy though. :D I used to be completely atheist, and then came to conclude that there is a God, it's just not the god that I was taught at school. Tao is what I resonate with most. In nature opposites find harmony. For every 'evil' thing that happens in the world, someone is being kind to someone and balancing the scales. It's a never ending dance of duality.

 

[ashdawn8287]

I completely agree with the Tao prospective.

I always believed in God or something more powerful. I don't know what it is, but I call it God. I have a lot of faith that things will work out the way they are intended too and if you just believe in the good and aim for the good things will work out for you. That doesn't mean ignoring the evil, but just balancing it out like you said. I try to be that balance I guess. I don't know haha. I am still getting use to my spirituality and finding a holistic view of it.

I recently rejoined the church I was baptized in that my grandfather taught at. He was an AMAZING person, the only good in my childhood.

It is great in all, but I noticed last time that we have a message board. We post, post its on it to ask questions that bother us and you are allowed to look at other peoples anonymous questions. My post was "Why do people lie? How do you forgive and help someone who lies?" I guess I was struggling with that, that week. And just trust in general. The other questions students posted were, "How come there are homosexuals?" A lot of post it notes had that on it. It really bothered me. Like focus in on yourself, not others. Maybe next week I will write on the board, "Why do people care so much about homosexuality when it does not affect them?"

That's my main problem with that church. I am willing to give it a try this year, but as far as sexual orientation and the way things work, I don't believe that should be used against people at church or discriminated upon. I know it is highly debatable in religion. I noticed the minister said the first meeting, "We do not discriminate. We want you hear dispute your circumstances to help you. It doesn't matter where you come from, your age, your race, you ethnicity, we don't discriminate." I kept my big fat mouth shut. It's like uhhh you left out sexual orientation you do discriminate lol. I guess it deals with my dad being a non practicing transsexual. I know all the issues he has dealt with that have even fallen upon me. I know there is something wrong in the genetic aspects. And the more science reveals the more genetics play a big part in determining gender and even sexual orientation.

I don't think science and religion are mutually exclusive. I believe if you ignore points in either one, it does not help either field get further to "the truth" about humanity at all.

I am really enjoying this philosophy class. Glad you like it too. It is so interesting!!!

I am minoring in women and gender studies, apparently it is philosophy at my University. I did not know that and I do know how I feel about that. I guess women and gender issues are not black and white so I get that aspect of it. I start next spring with that minor. I hope it is good.

I am interested in getting educated on different religions. Are there any sources you used that were beneficial with the Tao beliefs that you could share? I like those ideas.

Thank you :)

 

[Philippa]

You sound like you are very different to most christians ashdawn, no offense to anyone here who is christian by the way, but there are a LOT of homophobic people in the catholic church, and it's so ridiculous I'm beyond getting angry about it. I've never understood why it should bother anyone what two people do in the privacy of their own home? It is completely illogical, irrational and just plain stupid. It's also extremely destructive and painful to so many, and against the whole concept of "Love thy neighbour" which is one of the ten commandments.

I'm always happy to meet an open-minded christian. :)I think you should totally go for posing that question to them. It needs to be addressed. We should not still have to worry about people living in fear in the 21st century. We are supposed to be evolved beings, but I see nothing of the sort.

Oh I can't really offer any sources in regard to Tao, as I never really read about it. Apart from a little book written by Lao Tzu, I never actually researched Tao, I just kinda 'got it' naturally from a young age, and I was right into Zen and mindfulness at 21, which i have no doubt paved the way for me to have quite excellent coping skills when I did experience a lot of trauma.

My greatest source for learning about Tao was and is Nature. Just observe nature...you'll learn all you need about it.

 

[ashdawn8287]

That is so weird that you said observe nature because I do. It is why I live in the country away from the city noise. I just appreciate it.

Yeah after a couple of meetings with these people, I came home with a bad feeling last group meeting because of that, and I want to go there in part of my healing not coming away feeling guilty for having a transsexual father. Not that, that has anything to do with sexual orientation, because it doesn't, but if they don't accept homosexuals that makes me believe they would not accept that.

I like the being good and carrying about people and follow the person jesus was. I like those concepts. I just don't really like anything else but that. So I think I might need to try out a different church. Again I have meet with these people 5 times so I will give it a try, but if I come home with another bad feeling when I am trying to rid of those I really need to take control of that and find something that makes me feel less bad or pissed off.

I am going to post that question Wednesday.

:)

 

[ashdawn8287]

I wasn't going to church expecting them to accept that without issues at all. That would have been dumb of me. I just did not know it would pop up every where and really bother people. Being around that makes me uncomfortable and something I really need to look into more.

 

[Abstract]

I haven't read this all but just wanted to comment on this Dawn.

a lot coming from one person

give everyone a refresh and a "remember why you are here

Really you are saying this is mostly about one person but you then post a thread that expresses itself in general terms and say you want to give everyone a refresh.

Personally I don't think that is an ideal way to address things and directly tends to be much better than indirect messages.

I think we all misunderstand what others intend at times. Partly because it is the nature of written communication, to a much lessor extent because of culture, and mostly because we all tend to have our own buttons that can be pushed because of past issues.

There are various types of unhelpful ways to respond when we misunderstand or are offended by something. Some do so directly and aggressively and others do so more passive aggressively. The healthiest way is to check on someone's intention first and then respond assertively and directly if there is a need.

The other thing to consider is that patterns or interactions that happen on forums are usually played out in real life too.

Just my take on this.

 

[twopenny]

Oh dear - what is a RVer?

Apparently it's somebody who has a motor home. She was a 'full time RVer', so she and her husband lived in a motor home full time, and rented out their house.

 

[ashdawn8287]

Abstract, I am not doing this with you.

Its a global forum and we do miscommunicating sometimes that particular situation, it encouraged me to post because I have ran into it before. That's all there is too it.

You are focusing on the mundane and missing the point.

 

[anthony]

The problem with text is not new, in that it is difficult to convey emotions. Sure, if you're a grammar genius, then absolutely you can convey emotion, just as it is done in novels and such. It can be done, but for most it is difficult. Add to this a mental health condition that focuses people on black and white thinking, and too many times some veer only towards the negative interpretation and not the positive, or they simply can't see anything other than negativity for their own clouded emotional state.

You actually correctly cited the issue in its broadest specificity AshDawn, being "I only know my world." If you read that as it is, then it is a singular and only pertains to the reader, nobody else.

Too many times some people should just shut up and say nothing, even though it is a forum where you 'can' state your opinion, the problem is that too many times a person doesn't understand stating their opinion versus shoving it down another's throat with continued responses which removes stating an opinion to defending it / forcing it upon others.

People wonder why this forum has the ruleset it does... because history here has depicted the primary issues faced by mental health and black and white thinking.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Personally I don't think that is an ideal way to address things and directly tends to be much better than indirect messages..

I think that sometimes people need a voice so when the direct method is no longer an option, they go the indirect route. Instead of simply accepting things as they are, they must make their point so something that started off between two people suddenly involves a lot more people who were inadvertently and unknowingly dragged in.

 

[Tanishq]

Can we just all be friends?

Ashdawn, We may not be bladder buddies for forever because we are on route to its healing. but I can tell you we will be good buddies for forever.

To all forum folks, English is mine third language. So please bear with me. :D

I do understand and I am so thankful that I have made few friends here who are coming from different background. It makes me feel good to see it get along well with them. :)

 

[Tanishq]

history here has depicted the primary issues faced by mental health and black and white thinking.

and it takes long time to understand someone.