I am compelled to respond to you for I share a similar experience.
Learning about other faiths need not mean infidelity to one’s own, it is rather an enriching experience to know that it is all belief, my belief, your belief and others’ belief in action and each one works for the believer.
I have an odd usage of the word “translator” that I turn on when I am in a place of worship other than what I am brainwashed with. The imaginary gadget filters the crude data into refined essence. Some 15 years ago, I took my five year old daughter and ten years old son to every place of worship, they invariably would ask me “Dad, what are they saying?” and knowing this I prepared my self to translate in a language that they would comprehend. Be it the Synagogue, Mosque, Church or a Temple, the bottom line was same “God is the creator, we have to be grateful to him/her/it, we have to be thankful for the life, that our actions and have consequences….” I had that down well.
One day, at the middle of the Bhajans (hymns chanting) at the Hindu Temple, my daughter popped the question and I had the answer to which she stood up (every one in the temple sits cross legged on the floor) and raise her hands and said it aloud “Gee Dad, it is cool, that God can be worshipped in so many ways”. That was it, which statement now has become a part of my Pluralism teaching.
I do not see God, as it does not exist in form, nor is it compressed in words, but I see her presence in everything, and he is indeed omnipotent. Whether it is a synagogue, Temple, Church, Mosque or any place of worship, I see the same essence of the creator in a variety of words. My translator device kicks in and reads the words Jesus, or Jesus the son of a God into the creator, Krishna gets translated into the same creator, Allah gets translated into the same creator.
There is just one singular cause that caused the existence and we can call it God for convenience. No matter what words you say, or how you bow, lean, kneel or prostrate, you are acknowledging something that is greater than you, and that brings humility and humility removes conflicts and gives birth to conflictlessness while retaining the diversity, which is oneness of nature and One God (not opposed to NO or many Gods, but oneness of our existence).
I was trained to thank the lord in the Islamic format, and I will continue to live with that schema without grading other ways of worshipping. The Christian, Hindu, Jewish or other formats of acknowledging the creator are working formats to the subscriber and the format that I am trained works for me, as other formats feel natural to the other. I see the same essence in all forms of worship. It is the religion bud that I am attuned to.
Mike Ghouse
www.MikeGhouse.nt
__________________
Re: Mind During prayers
Thank you for this beautiful and eloquent insight, Jannah.
When I’m least distracted, I seek the understanding that Jannah describes, plus an intention to be fully in God’s compassionate Spirit and Will.
Learning about other faiths need not mean infidelity to one’s own, it is rather an enriching experience to know that it is all belief, my belief, your belief and others’ belief in action and each one works for the believer.
I have an odd usage of the word “translator” that I turn on when I am in a place of worship other than what I am brainwashed with. The imaginary gadget filters the crude data into refined essence. Some 15 years ago, I took my five year old daughter and ten years old son to every place of worship, they invariably would ask me “Dad, what are they saying?” and knowing this I prepared my self to translate in a language that they would comprehend. Be it the Synagogue, Mosque, Church or a Temple, the bottom line was same “God is the creator, we have to be grateful to him/her/it, we have to be thankful for the life, that our actions and have consequences….” I had that down well.
One day, at the middle of the Bhajans (hymns chanting) at the Hindu Temple, my daughter popped the question and I had the answer to which she stood up (every one in the temple sits cross legged on the floor) and raise her hands and said it aloud “Gee Dad, it is cool, that God can be worshipped in so many ways”. That was it, which statement now has become a part of my Pluralism teaching.
I do not see God, as it does not exist in form, nor is it compressed in words, but I see her presence in everything, and he is indeed omnipotent. Whether it is a synagogue, Temple, Church, Mosque or any place of worship, I see the same essence of the creator in a variety of words. My translator device kicks in and reads the words Jesus, or Jesus the son of a God into the creator, Krishna gets translated into the same creator, Allah gets translated into the same creator.
There is just one singular cause that caused the existence and we can call it God for convenience. No matter what words you say, or how you bow, lean, kneel or prostrate, you are acknowledging something that is greater than you, and that brings humility and humility removes conflicts and gives birth to conflictlessness while retaining the diversity, which is oneness of nature and One God (not opposed to NO or many Gods, but oneness of our existence).
I was trained to thank the lord in the Islamic format, and I will continue to live with that schema without grading other ways of worshipping. The Christian, Hindu, Jewish or other formats of acknowledging the creator are working formats to the subscriber and the format that I am trained works for me, as other formats feel natural to the other. I see the same essence in all forms of worship. It is the religion bud that I am attuned to.
Mike Ghouse
www.MikeGhouse.nt
__________________
Re: Mind During prayers
Thank you for this beautiful and eloquent insight, Jannah.
When I’m least distracted, I seek the understanding that Jannah describes, plus an intention to be fully in God’s compassionate Spirit and Will.
The first time I visited a Masjid, I just showed up cold. A friendly Muslim explained what would be happening, and assured me I was welcome to join the prayer, or to observe without joining in. I got into the prayer line. (That was what was I there for.)
When prayer started I struggled with lots of scary inner turmoil. Would praying with Muslims repudiate of my relationship with the Holy Spirit? Was I communing with some spirit other than God’s? Was I eschewing a personal relationship with God, and embracing an abstract and impersonal thought construct? Was I compromising or diminishing my devotion to Christ or even my salvation? Was this inner turmoil an affront to God? A warning from God? A sacrilege against the worship taking place around me?
This agitation continued. I kept holding all these questions up, asking for grace, direction and mercy. I felt a touch of Christ spirit (what we Quakers call a “leading”) – like directed insight calling up words and thoughts: “Don’t be troubled. Be at peace. These worries are unnecessary. These are good people. I (God) love(s) them. They love me (God). They are worshiping me (God). Honor their worship.”
David Humanitycheck
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