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Post by glrogers67 on Aug 23, 2016 6:17:02 GMT
Welcome!! You have entered a space where all people are invited to gather to discuss matters of Spirituality, in mutual respect and friendliness: "Considering...Spirituality." Here, the focus is on personal spirituality and not dogma. We welcome with open arms people from any, all, and no religious/faith backgrounds, and those who practice spirituality on their own, to join us for a discussion centered on a higher consciousness. Each day there will be a quote, question, or discussion prompt presented for all to ponder and respond to.
**In maintaining an atmosphere of comfort and trust, we do not allow proselytizing (the effort of trying to convert others) or the denigrating of the religions and viewpoints of others. We also avoid bringing up topics such as politics, hot button social issues, or anything that can be considered divisive**
As this was a WW board, we also discuss our personal wellness, including our weight management program. We share our struggles and our triumphs regarding such as well as discuss things like family, friends, jobs, hobbies, outside interests, etc... We strive to build each other up with loving support in a positive manner. Let us not ever tear one another down in any way, shape or form.
Regular thread starters for the time being are:
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday: Gary / Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: Holly
Yet if anyone is so inclined, please feel free to start a new thread by beginning with the title: "Considering ... (topic)," post this introduction (by way of copy & paste) then follow that with a post putting forth a question and/or quote (with or without some explanation) for us to ponder today. The topic can be inspired by your personal faith, but please do remember that anyone from other spiritual paths should be able to answer it.
Shalom, Love & Light, Blessed Be, Namaste...
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Post by glrogers67 on Aug 23, 2016 6:31:27 GMT
Ephesians 6:
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Consider these excerpts from a BYU devotional given February 12, 2002 by Elder Dennis L. Largay:
I would like to speak about a great robbery that is taking place among us. It is of more consequence than any theft in history. The thief is Satan, and his objective is to rob us of light. Lucifer does not want to steal light for himself; he wants to steal light because it is the presence of light by which he can be defeated. Since Satan abhors light and avoids its presence, and since he cannot conventionally steal light against one’s will, his efforts and temptations are designed to entice his targets to voluntarily yield it up that he might more freely and effectively carry forth his destructive plans.
An abundance of light in a person’s life is manifested by virtues such as faith, hope, charity, patience, kindness, and humility. Outward signs of light are easy to recognize: respect, dependability, dedication to duty, modesty, obedience, and reverence for the things of God. When light is diminished in our lives, motivation toward spiritual things also diminishes to one degree or another. We are less exact in our commandment keeping and less dedicated to activities such as home teaching, Church attendance, temple attendance, scripture reading, and prayer—the very things that intensify light in our lives. With insufficient light we are more susceptible to temptation, and like a plant without the nourishment of the light of the sun, without the nourishment of the light of the Son of God, we can also weaken and shrivel and eventually die spiritually.
Consider this account by our founding prophet, Joseph Smith:
After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.
But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.
It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him! [JS—H 1:15–17; emphasis in original]
Today's q/q: How can you put on your "armour of light"? How is it diminished? How is it enhanced? You might consider activities which invite spiritual light and activities which drive away spiritual light.
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Post by fabulessme on Aug 23, 2016 14:21:09 GMT
For me, I don't believe in Satan or having to put on the armor of light as referred to in Ephesians. I believe that we control darkness and light in proportion to how we control our ego. It is through the ego and is lust for survival at all costs that pain and suffering enter the world. The ego will tell you you've been wronged. you're entitled to more, to better. you need more power. and so on. It will use fear, low self esteem and greed to fuel its own power and survival. We mistake the ego voice as our own voice. It's not. It (our ego) starts with the individual. Collectively it's what fuels war and most of the calamities we experience in the world. Almost all of them are self inflicted. Master your ego and you are automatically in the light. Not following your agenda, following G-d's. Living for the greater good rather being self serving. Definitely Easier said than done.
Now, we do need the ego. It's how humans survive. What we don't need to do is let the ego run our lives. We should be led by our inner spirit, our inner light and connection to G0d. The ego takes a back seat. Blaming Satan, kinda takes us off the hook it appears that forces outside of ourselves are attacking us. It appears that we cannot control what happens. I believe that we need to take responsibility both individually and collectively for creating light and goodness in the world or the opposite.
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Post by hollygail on Aug 23, 2016 17:47:11 GMT
Wow. I'm so glad Nora responded. While my opinion is not the same as hers, at least it's closer to my thinking than the quotes for today.
I thought of "light" from a different perspective. Our liturgy talks about God's light; here's just one quote from the morning (daily and Sabbath) liturgy.
Bless us, source of being, all of us, as one amid your light, for by your light, Adonai, our God, you give to us, Torah of life, and lovingkindness, justice, blessing, mercy, life, and peace...
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Post by fabulessme on Aug 23, 2016 18:04:18 GMT
Holly, All that you describe is light. or better Light. The less our ego rules the more Light is apparent in all of us. We synch our intentions with lovingkindness, justice etc.
I'm glad that we kinda, sorta agree at some level. I'm also glad that my opinion didn't blow everyone outta the water. That's what I love about being here. We are open to hearing someone's spiritual interpretation. We don't necessarily have to jump on board.
My view is not the traditional Christian perspective (obviously LOL)
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Post by glrogers67 on Aug 23, 2016 18:53:39 GMT
Obviously! I feel the power of Satan drawing me away from light, and I feel the power of the spirit drawing me toward spiritual light. There is an "assignment" in the talk I quoted in which he asks us to get out a piece of paper and list on the left things we do that draws away from spiritual light - things like excessive TV, excessive internet usage, reading negative material in books and newspapers, viewing pornography, gossiping, backbiting, etc. and to list on the right things we do that invite the spirit and light into our lives, things like prayer, scripture study, other uplifting reading, service to others, etc. If there is more on the left than on the right we have a problem!
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