  Spiritual
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We can say to the politicians and ordinary people and everyone who is concerned about the safety of the country, or who is afraid of the power of the state: forget the country or the state - think about the kingdom of God and its justice and righteousness. Then you will keep the power of the state within bounds and make it serve the rights of everyone, and the rights of nature too.
- Jurgen Moltmann, author of Jesus Christ for Today's World
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Knowledge and Spirituality
I may have mentioned in another newsletter that I am completely enamored with Rob Bell's most recent book Velvet Elvis. If you haven't read it yet, I want you to stop reading this Newsletter right now and go find it on Amazon (using the Writing.com search link right below your log in information) and order a copy. The week I read it, I ordered a copy for every household in my family. They all love it, and so will you. 
Done?
OK.
Now, in the first chapter, the author talks about beliefs and how they must be flexible like a trampoline instead of concrete and rigid like a brick. We have to be able to know and absorb enough so that when our beliefs are hit with something, we flex and grow and bounce back. Our fiber structure may never be the same, but our beliefs are still intact. Moreso, people have fun on trampolines.  With bricks, when they are hit with something, they fall down. They don't absorb or change or grow, they just tumble over. Besides, no one (who is a kind, compassionate person) has fun playing with bricks.
He goes much deeper into the analogy and makes a lot of good points - but that's really what stuck with me. Am I able to flex and bend and bounce back when my beliefs are challenged? Do I know enough about what I believe to be true and can I still believe the same things based on my life as a growing person with continuing experiences? You know, when I really looked at what I believed and how I defined myself, I couldn't answer yes to either question. I have a talent of learning, and I hadn't done that in my spiritual life - which was a waste. So, I went and bought every book on the reading list in the back of Velvet Elvis. I've made it through three of them and finished The Word on The Street (an alternate translation of the Bible). What I am really learning is that I don't know much...
My mom told me the other day that I needed to look at the things that made me dislike other people and see if those were really things I disliked about myself. Well... (after much grumbling) I admitted the answer was yes. One of those things is that people tend to spit off the same things we have heard again and again from the church without really knowing what the Bible says and not having an answer when they are asked questions. So many people, myself included, have just learned doctrine by tradition and social pressure instead of actually reading what the holy books say. We are cautioned by Paul to not be gullible - to live with a discerning spirit while learning the truths of the world.
Paul, if you don't know, was a Jewish scholar before he was an apostle. In his letters to the church, he quotes Roman mythology and poetry. He didn't just study Jewish spirituality. Like many people of his day, he studied an abundance of subjects - commentary on Jewish law by many different rabbis, spirituality of the Romans, literature and art, and so on. We need to be just as well rounded.
My brother, Brother Bob, often says that there are many truths in this world that have originated with God but aren't exclusive to Christians. He believes that sometimes a non-believing world stumbles across one of God's gifts and, not recognizing where it came from, uses it. While there are many arguments that can come up to that, it's a very interesting belief. It's one of those things that makes you want to sit back and think - what if things like astrology, psychics, and supernatural abilities are true, and God designed it when He created the universe?
Then I think - what else have I learned that supports that? What goes against it? How else can we explain things like this? Does this affect my faith and how I interact with what I believe?
Without a sturdy knowledge foundation, we can't really answer that for ourselves. I knew that in myself, I wanted to be able to answer those questions. I wanted to be able to have an intelligent and polite discussion with someone over those topics. I wanted to know enough and have enough wonder to be open minded about my faith. And maybe, most importantly, I wanted to learn that I didn't have all the answers and that I shouldn't be ashamed of that. The path to knowledge is the important part.
Here are some tips that I have found that may help you expand your knowledge of your faith and help you discuss and think about different points:
 Read the holy book of your choice. No matter which faith you align yourself with, you need to know what's in the book - not just what tradition and doctrinal interpretations have told you, but what it actually and literally says. Also, read different translations - see how they pertain to each other and to your life. (For instance, there are some really cool parallel Bibles being sold now with one translation right next to the other.) Read short bits at a time, and spend time thinking about what it says in the context it was written and how it relates to similar situations in today's time.
Search out scholars, pastors, rabbis, and teachers that have commented on the holy book of your choice and see what they have to say. Pick up their books at the library or bookstore. Learn how they interpret different passages and think about the context of the scripture. Compare and contrast theories and beliefs. Think a lot. 
Learn about the history of your faith - not just the world history taught in school, but about the civilizations and political atmosphere that shaped the way people believed. For instance, learn about how Roman politics and practices shaped the future of Judaism and Christianity. Learn how the Irish (and Cajun) adapted Christianity and paganism to work together. Reread the scriptures with the history in mind and think about how the authors must have been influenced and shaped by the world around them.
Learn what other faiths believe and read their holy book for yourself. Think about how it relates to you and your beliefs. Compare and contrast it (scholastically - not emotionally) to what you believe and what you have learned in your studies.
And possibly most important - read with a discerning mind. Don't just blindly accept what everyone has to say, but think about it for yourself and compare it to other things you have learned. Take notes and write a journal about your thoughts towards what you learned that day and how it makes you feel. Write articles on what you have learned and invite other people to talk with you (scholastically - not emotionally) about what you believe and how what you have absorbed affects your faith. Review and recommend books. Be an active participant in your growth.
I believe that no matter what you believe or what religion you subscribe to, it is vitally important to learn about it and grow your knowledge of it. Don't just accept what people have told you blindly - especially even me - but go out and learn something for yourself and then use it to write about what you believe.
(By the way - I was searching for articles on beliefs and I mainly found Christian ones - if you have an article that is about your beliefs and is not Christian, please submit it in the comment field below! I'll feature them in my next newsletter)
Have a great time until I get to write to you again! Love is a Mommy (no foolin)
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Thank you so much to everyone who commented!
werden 
I agree with the point of what you are saying. However, we must see sin and disobedience the way God sees it. God hates it because it destroys lifes. Is one sin worse than another? I don't think so. I think God sees all sin as the same. True certain actions may have more consequences than others. When Jesus confronted the woman who comitted adultery, He didn't condemn her but he didn't excuse her sin either. He told her to "Go and sin no more."
AdoroTeDevote
I agree that Christians as a whole need to make more effort to remember to reach out in love to the lepers of our society, but that is not to say we should compromise the truth to do so.
Jesus reached out to the adulterous woman and told her that as no one has judged her, nor does he. Then he said, "Go, and SIN NO MORE."
What our society does not seem to understand is that accepting a person as they are does NOT indicate permission to wallow in their sin. We are to speak the truth in LOVE and engage in one of the great spiritual works of mercy; to admonish the sinner.
There are many ways to evangelize, and sometimes, the best way is simply to show people the love of Christ while living our own lives as an example. We do not have to compromise the truth in order that someone else feel good about their immoral conduct. The Truth does not change and will never change, and it is not determined by popular vote.
In Christ Jesus
JCP
Francis Isaac Davenport
Hello and how are you doing? I read your newsletter with mixed feelings. When I hear someone make these statements, I wonder...? If you mean the acceptance of sin and a morally ethically bankrupt life style, ten I have to agree with you.... NOT. If you mean understanding that we all start there (morally and ethically bankrupted) and we should be agents of change then I do agree. I am writing about that in a story right now. If you read me, you will realize I am not a posturing self righteous Pharisee but I do believe in living righteously.
I do agree, and don't believe I mentioned that we should condone sin. However, I do believe that the focus needs to be on the person with a heart of compassion for their situation instead of focusing on the things that they are doing wrong. God is the one who convicts people of their sin - and we need to remember that we need to work on taking the plank out of our own eye before we bring up the mote in someone else's. When we have minds with such a sin-centered focus, we open ourselves up to creating cynicism, hypocrisy, and bitterness in those who need nothing more than a shoulder to cry on and a gentle reminder that God loves them before they can let Him work in their lives. The best way to focus on sin, is to look inward and work with God on what He sees in you. Then, inevitably, people will see the changes in you as well and hopefully start working with God inside themselves.
Schreiben-Gal
It is wonderful to enjoy fredom of speech especially in the areas of religions and politics. It is ironic that both areas have appointed spokespersons that people look to for answers, i.e., The President and the Pope and those in supporting positions. You are either a follower or a leader in any aspect of life. Both these great leaders are also great servants of the people. It is my desire to see our leaders encourage the masses to become more active in their faith and I believe this to be true of our current day.
I agree - it's amazing how when we can see role models standing up for something we agree with or disagree with on a basic level that it encourages us to think about it, write about it, and talk about it. That can only lead to self reflection and a deeper understanding of faith.
Wren
You've done an excellent job with this letter, and I agree with everything you've said. Nevertheless, you are perhaps confusing religion with spirituality. Although your spirituality, and mine also, are heavily laced with Christianity, that is not so for everyone. Spirituality is not limited to a belief system.
Thank you. I have interesting definitions of religion and spirituality and tend to interchange them. While religion can be spirituality, it is an organized form of worship and doctrine. When I speak about spirituality, it is a very personal set of beliefs and faiths, and I know that will not be the same in every person. However, as a Christian, I do tend to use more examples from what I know and have learned growing up in a religious home and church.
maylee
Wonderfully explained!
scherpenisse
Amen to that, Love. I do believe that Jesus calls all of us to include others, not exclude them. His message is one of love and forgiveness, and that's the message we must share with others. Thank you for such a beautiful thought.
Thank you both very much! 
Uniqueey
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God never intended for us to hate, He intended for us to fulfill the great commission, which is to spread the gospel and lead people to the Lord.
We are to love our enemies and be a testimony for Christ and bring people the message of salvation. We can't do this if we're spreading messages of hate. If you're not saved, you will go to hell for all eternity, there is not mistaking that, but if you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and repent of your sin, you will be saved and there will be a place for you in heaven! This is a life-changing, heart changing process, you cannot come away and be the same person as before you asked Jesus to be your personal Savior.
Uniqueey
Thank you for the comment!
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Spiritual: June 21, 2006 Issue [#1109]
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