The danger here is that we get caught up in an analytical debate about ones source of wisdom.
In speaking of integrity, I'm learning that if you can feel and visualize what it is to have integrity you can attract more of it in your life.
Speaking simply and reading about integrity is good in the sense that it serves as a mental reminder. However, debating over it into a class system of "right and wrong" brings in negative energy into the fold and will attract more negative energy.
Seems we are energy magnets of our thoughts and feelings. It's important to remember in nature, there's no system of right and wrong. Just results.
What every animal on this planet can do is focus more on what you want in life and you will have it regardless of what you believe or not. If you want integrity, you will have it. If you want to be a serial murderer, you will have it.
Buddha says believe only in what you experience for yourself.
Jesus says seek and ye shall find.
Ghandi says be the change that you want.
Throughout history, there's a consistent message, all having to do with taking focus on every level and fiber of your being...startingright now.
Thank you for being willing to open up a dialogue.
I arrived at my belief system based upon reality. I did my share of praying and crying and hopeing and reading and guess what? I found out "IT" is not out there, "IT " is within. IMO and experience. That does not mean I teach self worship, that would be silly, that means I honor what is and teach this to my sons, honor earth, everything and every one deserves respect and "it" is in all of the above so what one does comes back to you. So be careful what you say and do because... and that tends to happen quickly while one is living, if crap happens after death... who does it affect? The living! The dead are busy feeding others!
Among the many hats I wear is Rev. I have a Masters in Divinity. I have read spiritual lit. in Hebrew, Latin and Greek as well as very poor English translations until my eyes crossed.
I can tell you neither God, nor Jesus wrote one word of any of "it", unless you can also add Alice in Wonderland and Dracula as inspired works too and anything by Dr. Seuss, all written by men.
I do lead a spiritual life and include my boys every day. We start with counting blessings. We honor those who have passed and celebrate those that are with us. Sometimes we dance into breakfast, sometimes I torture my kids by singing. We all note the sunrise and moon and then we go about our day. Everything we do is a meditation. Mindful. Present.
God was not involved in the conception of my children. Sperm and egg were. Reality. No, I did not call on god and am not mary and know that sex was involved.
I respect your belief system, if it gives you comfort and peace, go for it, mine gives me comfort and peace and guides me in my family values.
I look forward to chatting further. Simply understand I was christian. Key word: WAS.
Yes, integrity is very important and I do agree with that. We must not just preach to our children something we are not doing ouselves because children do watch what we do. Teaching our children everyday life I agree with also, but the fact remains there is more to life than the reality of this life. There is a life after this one and we need to teach our children that also and prepare them to meet their creator.
Worshipping God is much better than worshipping ourselves. Yes, we tach our children many things and are either good parents or not-so-good parents, but God is the one who gave us those children and entrusted us to their care. We should remember that without God how much harder it is to raise children. I always looked to God to help me. I was not a perfect parent. I made mistakes, but everyone does. But I had a heart that loved God and wanted the same for my kids.
Everyone has to do what they think is best in their particular families, but I think it is a shame to leave God out of the picture when he is the one who created them through you. He's the one who gives life and wakes us up every morning to enjoy the lives of the children he gave to us. Eternity begins at the end of a life on this earth. where will they spend it. where will you spend it. Jesus is available in the Now, but you cant teach that if you have never experienced him in your life which to me is very sad.
The Bible is more than a Book, it's more than Religion. It is a Relationship with God. Read it for yourself with an open heart and God will reveal himself to you.
Maybe we can continue to talk some more. I would enjoy that.
Yep, one must walk the walk not simply talk. In my experience children learn by what they see, and touch and hear first.
If a parent teaches from a book one thing and flips off another while driving, the child gets the flip, not the word. The word goes in one ear and out the other. It is the parents/guardians, Actions in everything with everyone that the child understands.
Mixed messages lead to mixed up children that lead to many mixed up adults.
IMO.
It still boils down to integrity. Say what you mean and follow up. The proof is in the pudding!
I agree with you, Dar. Even if you are a believer in the afterlife, it seems to be to be in your best interest to "do unto the least of these" in any case. A fair and just godling would honor someone trying to do the best he or she can for others. The other sort is not worth worshipping in the first place.
Teaching our children that we are mutually responsible for one another in life, to feel empathy for other creatures, human or not, to respect the planet, and to find joy in one another is the best family value there is. The best way to teach children this value is to let them see you living it, not to preach it from a book.
I hope that one day my children will look at their own unique lives and see that their father and I did indeed 'live' that value through them, and that they will then turn around and choose a way to live that value in their own lives, in their own families, in their own communities, and in the world at large. I believe they will.
Yes you missed something. And I admit I was not clear . Teaching children how to live after death is useless. Because the idea of eternity is intangible.
Teaching children how to live in the present, firmly planted in reality, makes more sence to me. It is how I parent my children. It works for our family. So far, so good. I do teach about being mindfull and reaching inner peace through meditation. It is all in the head.
Scolding? LOL. You feel I was scolding? How did you get that out of a typed post on a computer?
I had a wonderful day and plan on having another one living in the present, try it. I am having a fantastic summer vaca with my sons. They are cool kids and I am one happy mom. Thing is, I don't worry nor teach values and ethics about life that are not real. It makes a huge difference in living. IMO.
So my kids already know about choice. They know the facts about real issues that we all face, and they know how to figure out how to make ethical choices based upon real; in real time, events and behave accordingly. The also accept personal responsibility for their actions,as do I.
Jesus is not available in the now, only his ideas are and only apply when actually practiced. Imo and experience.
Response: "Teaching children who are dead is useless info" Did I miss something? Where did that come from. The rest of the message sounds like a scolding. Must of had a bad day.
Teaching children how to live while dead is useless info.
Integrity involves real life, now. That is what counts. I do not care what happens in the after life, can't even get a decent burger. We die, and after that there is no tangilble proof anything else happens beyond becoming lunch for other critteres. Teaching children to live for a myth is really not realistic.
Telling a child to fear eternity that no one can even comprehend is not teaching family values. It is teaching lying is completely acceptable and accepting personal responsibility for ones actions is moot because Jesus will forgive everything after you die! That means one can even murder and get away with it. All the murderer has to do is say I am sorry I am saved... uh no.
That is not a family value, that is a crime.
I am saying spirituality involves the now not the later. Morals and ethics must be applied in the present. With integrity. And dishes must be washed, and people must interact in the present, ever talk with a corpse? They do not say much.
Yes; many talk with spirits, yet are they tangible? Can they change their uderwear, brush their teeth?
I teach selfless work. Do until you die, do it with love and compassion and be sensitive to culture and wonder. Live with integrity. Do not worry about after death/eternity. Live and teach today.
"New Age Movement". That's a new one for me. The Bible says "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) so I would assume you dont believe in the Bible or Jesus. Family values is much more than teaching our children to work hard and to cook and handle tough chores. Yes, it is important to teach our children these things, but don't forget the ones that will prepare them for "Eternity". Thats's the best thing you can do for your children. Teaching them to love God and live their lives for him are the most important. Everything else is secondary. Being a parent is a hard thing and takes alot of work and is a BIG responsibility. Chores, cooking, (important) but not the most important.
My family values are of the New Age, a movement on its way to becoming a religion. My family and I have always valued hard work, something kids are not exhibiting today. If I had a son or daughter, I would teach him/her how to handle tough chores and cook for themselves. Simply put, I want my children to become happy, healthy adults. Once the New Age becomes a religion, then we would have religious values that will blow your mind.
