AngryFemme and I agree that we need to fine-tune SotD and My God regarding the issue of spirituality. She has pointed out that some people of a spiritual bent may hesitate to post in a forum replete with UFOs and questionable ghost videos, and I agree.

My thinking is that things like spiritual healing (shamanism, for one) belong here in SotD, while spirituality in general and spiritual growth in particular would be more appropriate in My God. We may try to have the forum descriptions altered.

This thread is for members to comment on the above, and/or address the larger issue of spirituality versus religion in general.

What's the difference? Religion--especially the Abrahamic religions--tends to be exclusive, setting Prods against Catholics, or Jews aganist Gentiles, or Muslims against almost everyone (including some other Muslims).

Spirituality is inclusive--as in "we are All One."

Also, religion tends to be outer-directed--"Believe this because the Bible or the imam or whatever says so." Spirituality teaches one to look within for truth.

All you need to know is that truth can be found in the Bible and every opposing religion, spirituality, philosophy, or theory is garbage.

All you need to know is that truth can be found in the Bible and every opposing religion, spirituality, philosophy, or theory is garbage.

I've found most of my "truth" from other books. Please go back to My god.

I've found most of my "truth" from other books. Please go back to My god.
This.

My thinking is that things like spiritual healing (shamanism, for one) belong here in SotD, while spirituality in general and spiritual growth in particular would be more appropriate in My God. We may try to have the forum descriptions altered.

So if someone wished to discuss trying to access the so-called Akashic records, this would be a matter for...? It strikes me as an overwhelmingly SotD topic given its metaphysical nature, but I could also see the case being made for this as "spirituality in general", as it supposedly requires access to a spiritual/non physical plane.

Or am I just nit-picking?

It is unfortunate that alot of people cannot differentiate between spirituality and religion. One can have spirituality through lets say, a daily exercise routine. The word spirituality in just the word alone is where confusion sets in for many people. Even if it were divide into 2 seperate forums, there would definitely be , as we say in the chemical field, "cross-contamination." This means that alot of people may not understand the posters true intent, and may take it to heart. That is my take on it.

So if someone wished to discuss trying to access the so-called Akashic records, this would be a matter for...? It strikes me as an overwhelmingly SotD topic given its metaphysical nature, but I could also see the case being made for this as "spirituality in general", as it supposedly requires access to a spiritual/non physical plane.

Or am I just nit-picking?

That one could go either way, and I think that it ultimately depends on the direction of conversation the OP wants to steer it in.

Since it could easily fall into a theosophical discussion pertaining to a God concept, that would be appropriate for MGCBTSOOYG. It could be debated that the Akaschic records aren't generally accepted among the religious groups and considered mysticism.

On the metaphysical end, if the intention of the OP was to discuss access to the Akashic records to gain the ability to reanimate objects, become clairvoyant, or access it through a consciousness-raising meditative trance - then it would be more geared towards Science of the Damned.

IMO, it would be the responsibility of the threadstarter to define what kind of discussion they're seeking to stir up and make their best judgment on which forum to post it in.

While sometimes discussions can veer off it's original topic naturally, with or without the input of the OP, then it's no big deal to move it to the most appropriate forum if it ends up going in a different direction than intended.

I could even see it being started in Mad Scientists, with the Akashic records being presented as one hypothesis of the existence of a multi-universal psychospere, then end up being moved to Science of the Damned if it veered off into an Edgar Cayce discussion.

Or I could see it being started in Science of the Damned, with the intention of it being considered a discussion on the metaphysical, and then being moved to Conspiracy! if the posts therein consisted of the ideas surrounded by supercomputers controlling society by the "living angels" that record every event that ever transpired, commandeered by supreme alien beings. :eek:

Even if it were divide into 2 seperate forums, there would definitely be , as we say in the chemical field, "cross-contamination." This means that alot of people may not understand the posters true intent

The subject matter itself is tricky, at best. I would judge where to place a thread based on asking myself two qualifying questions: Is it pertaining to a God concept steeped in personal spiritual growth or religion (MGCBT), or is it pertaining to a more metaphysical, universal conscious-raising experience that taps into alternate realities and extra-sensory perception(SOTD)?

Well said.

Personally, over the years I seem to have a knack for coming up with genre-bending threads, and dither endlessly over which forum to place them in. Usually, I just say to hell with it, stick it SOMEWHERE, and let the appropriate mods sort it out.

So if someone wished to discuss trying to access the so-called Akashic records, this would be a matter for...? It strikes me as an overwhelmingly SotD topic given its metaphysical nature, but I could also see the case being made for this as "spirituality in general", as it supposedly requires access to a spiritual/non physical plane.

Or am I just nit-picking?

Not at all. My take is that while your example would surely be SotD fodder, a discussion of some material that was found in the ARs MIGHT be more appropriate to My God.

For my part, for the time being, any thread in one forum that really seems better suited to the other , I would move but leave a permanent redirect in the original forum.

This thread has gotten 65 views in SotD, so over it goes to My God.

Spirituality for most people, starts off as being indoctrined into a particular religion and keeping the points that interest you the most (i.e. I have an eternal soul).

I would argue that spirituality is (in MOST cases) nothing more than a by-product of religion. In America, for example, most young children will encounter and participate in the Christian religion. When they find it leaves a bad taste in thier mouth, they will begin searching for something that tastes better or "adopting" their "own" beliefs about the nature of the world. What is really taking place is modification of the intitial meme, into something more palpable.

I agree that spirituality can be a branch off or influenced by religion. However, I think spirituality is, as Armsmerchant said, more introverted in how the beliefs are conceived.

Spirituality is inclusive--as in "we are All One."

Sure, but if you disagree or question this, then they will delete your posts (as you have mine in the past). :)

Also, religion tends to be outer-directed--"Believe this because the Bible or the imam or whatever says so." Spirituality teaches one to look within for truth.

I do not believe spiritualism, the spiritualism we are discussing, emerges through an act of introversion: the pebbles plunge into the puddle, and the water rises, but the rainwater that fills this hole comes falling from above: the subject is just a hollowed container, a point where cultural structures can converge and resonate.

I would argue that spirituality is (in MOST cases) nothing more than a by-product of religion.

You know what they say: you can't be a hermit unless there is a body politic to distinguish yourself from.

That one could go either way, and I think that it ultimately depends on the direction of conversation the OP wants to steer it in.

Since it could easily fall into a theosophical discussion pertaining to a God concept, that would be appropriate for MGCBTSOOYG. It could be debated that the Akaschic records aren't generally accepted among the religious groups and considered mysticism.

On the metaphysical end, if the intention of the OP was to discuss access to the Akashic records to gain the ability to reanimate objects, become clairvoyant, or access it through a consciousness-raising meditative trance - then it would be more geared towards Science of the Damned.

IMO, it would be the responsibility of the threadstarter to define what kind of discussion they're seeking to stir up and make their best judgment on which forum to post it in.

While sometimes discussions can veer off it's original topic naturally, with or without the input of the OP, then it's no big deal to move it to the most appropriate forum if it ends up going in a different direction than intended.

I could even see it being started in Mad Scientists, with the Akashic records being presented as one hypothesis of the existence of a multi-universal psychospere, then end up being moved to Science of the Damned if it veered off into an Edgar Cayce discussion.

Or I could see it being started in Science of the Damned, with the intention of it being considered a discussion on the metaphysical, and then being moved to Conspiracy! if the posts therein consisted of the ideas surrounded by supercomputers controlling society by the "living angels" that record every event that ever transpired, commandeered by supreme alien beings. :eek:



The subject matter itself is tricky, at best. I would judge where to place a thread based on asking myself two qualifying questions: Is it pertaining to a God concept steeped in personal spiritual growth or religion (MGCBT), or is it pertaining to a more metaphysical, universal conscious-raising experience that taps into alternate realities and extra-sensory perception(SOTD)?




"AGREED"

BFR--bumped for relevance.

AngryFemme and I agree that we need to fine-tune SotD and My God regarding the issue of spirituality. She has pointed out that some people of a spiritual bent may hesitate to post in a forum replete with UFOs and questionable ghost videos, and I agree.

My thinking is that things like spiritual healing (shamanism, for one) belong here in SotD, while spirituality in general and spiritual growth in particular would be more appropriate in My God. We may try to have the forum descriptions altered.

This thread is for members to comment on the above, and/or address the larger issue of spirituality versus religion in general.

What's the difference? Religion--especially the Abrahamic religions--tends to be exclusive, setting Prods against Catholics, or Jews aganist Gentiles, or Muslims against almost everyone (including some other Muslims).

Spirituality is inclusive--as in "we are All One."

Also, religion tends to be outer-directed--"Believe this because the Bible or the imam or whatever says so." Spirituality teaches one to look within for truth.

I have seen on other forums people have subsections, why not just make a sub-section? Spirituality and Religion and put a sticky before the sub-sections that can argue over the difference between Religion and Spirituality...? Unless, the forum application this site uses cant do that... :-/

I have seen on other forums people have subsections, why not just make a sub-section? Spirituality and Religion and put a sticky before the sub-sections that can argue over the difference between Religion and Spirituality...? Unless, the forum application this site uses cant do that... :-/

That could be done, in theory--however,there would still be people who don't know the difference, or who would argue vehemently over which is which, and some Pagan wags might start arguing over which is witch. Ahem. Sorry.