  Spiritual
This week: Edited by: NaNoKit  
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How do you explain your faith to those who do not believe? Do you ever feel challenged in your faith? Do you ever feel you should rationalise it?
This week's Spiritual Newsletter has a look at atheism and faith.
kittiara |
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Sometimes I struggle with my faith. It’s not that I don’t believe, it’s just that I am uncertain about the finer details of it all. This past month, due to something that happened in my life, it’s been worse than usual. Because of this, it’s not been that easy for me to think up a good Spiritual Newsletter. I’m supposed to inspire, provide food for thought and hopefully write something uplifting. Instead, I have been left to wonder whether or not atheists might have a point.
In my online travels, I come across quite a few atheists. Atheists do not believe in the existence of any Gods or Goddesses. They reckon that the existence of a Higher Being is as likely as the existence of faeries, or unicorns, or the flying spaghetti monster. Some believe that religion was designed as a means to control the masses. Some even believe that faith in an invisible, unproven Higher Being might be a delusion, which should be treated. Others feel that it’s fine for people to have a faith, if it helps them, but they simply do not believe and reckon that this life is all there is and at the end of it one stops to exist.
I’ve read many a debate between believers, agnostics and atheists. At times, these debates can be interesting. It’s probably easier to argue faith from an agnostic point of view, or an atheist point of view, because believers do not have all that much to work with. Christians, for example, have the Bible, but the Bible is not seen as concrete evidence of the existence of God. It is argued that the Bible contradicts itself in places and that even within the Christian community there is division about what to take literally, what to view in a metaphorical sense, which bits were records of the mindset of the times and which bits transcend the ages and should still be followed. Then there is the confusion for some about the wrathful God of the Old Testament and the loving God of the New Testament. Arguing that God and Jesus exist because the Bible says so is not an easy one…
So then, what does the Christian in my example have as proof of the existence of God? How can we prove that we’re not merely suffering from a delusion, or have fallen victim to a method to keep the masses controlled and obedient? A feeling within? Personal experiences of how our faith changed our lives for the better? Personal experience of how our faith gives us the strength to deal with difficult times?
For an atheist, this will never be conclusive evidence. And that’s okay. I can’t explain why I believe in God, I just know that I do, and have done from a young age. I simply feel He’s there, and even though I might be undecided about the finer aspects of everything, and am aware that my faith is probably illogical due to a lack of concrete evidence, I’ve never truly wavered in my belief.
This may sound odd, as a Christian, but I am happy for the existence of atheists and agnostics. We don’t all have to believe in the same things, and they have just as much of a right to believe (or not believe) in Gods and/or Goddesses as I do. I don’t see myself as better or worse than others simply because of a difference in opinion about faith.
The fact that people are free to make up their own minds is a good thing. And you know, I love taking part in, or reading, a good debate every now and again.
~~~
My previous Newsletter included an invitation to submit items about your faith. The idea was that learning about other faiths helps us to understand and appreciate them.
At this moment in time, I have only received a couple of items. Therefore, I will extend this informal event for another month. The guidelines are as follows:
I invite you all to write about your faith/spiritual path. Why is this the right one for you? How does it affect your daily life, your views, and who you are? What would you like other people to learn and understand about your faith?
I welcome essays, but also stories (fiction or non-fiction) and poetry, so long as they are relevant and give us all some insight. Please keep the content to 18+ or under, and the intro to E. There are no restrictions on item size - just please keep it reasonable!
Little disclaimer - please be respectful of other faiths - I'd like to read about your faith, not why another one isn't the "right" faith, so to say  .
I'll give out some small prizes (Awardicons and Merit Badges) to the ones I feel are the most insightful. I might bring in a guest judge if I receive a good amount of entries. And, of course, I'll include as many entries as possible in my Editor's Picks.
You can send in your items through this Newsletter, or via email. Please use the | |  | Invalid Item
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I look forward to reading your work .
kittiara |
This item was one of the pieces sent in to the above event. I have awarded it with a Merit Badge . It's a very insightful item.
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The Spiritual Newsletter Team welcomes any and all questions, suggestions, thoughts and feedback, so please don't hesitate to write in!
Bluesman  - The Spiritual Newsletter has always been enlightening but sometimes guarded, understandably so. It seems this week a can of worms has been opened. I hope you three are ready! Be blessed... The Gospel BluesMan
Thank you, Gospel BluesMan! I must say, I wasn't entirely certain on how my previous newsletter topic would be received, but fortunately, it's been alright. I think we can be too careful, at times. Of course, I will never go out of my way to offend. That's a promise to all my readers .
~~~
salliemoffitt - Thank you for encouraging people of all faiths to share their religion. I enjoy learning about other faiths and their beliefs, because it teaches me to be more tolerant of other's lifestyles. We should respect the religious views of others, even when they are contrary to our own.
Thank you for writing an inspirational newsletter!
Sallie
Thank you so much for your kind words, Sallie! I am glad you enjoyed my newsletter . And I fully agree with you!
~~~
Hiker Poet Girl  - How do i send material to this newsletter that I want to submit? I am Very new to this site and have not learned my way around yet but there is a VERY important piece that I would love to submit. I await your reply anxiously...
Hi! At the bottom of this newsletter you will find a section with the title "Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Newsletter!" It sounds like you'd like to submit an item. Each item on this website has an item number. You can find this at the top of your item when you have it open, or to the side of your item when you view it in your portfolio.
If you copy this number, you can enter it in the box at the bottom of this newsletter. The box is named "Writing.Com Item ID To Highlight (Optional):" In the box underneath it you can also write a comment to go with the item, or anything else you'd like to say.
I hope this helps, and look forward to reading your work!
~~~
Zeke - While I agree completely with your premise that we should never inhibit the exhibition of one's faith, I also believe that when that exhibition causes security concerns like completely covering one's face we should not allow it. It has nothing to do with discrimination. It has to do with the law.
Zeke
Hi Zeke! The case you mentioned is indeed a complicated one. Would you regard the covering of one's face a security concern at all times, or merely in certain circumstances? For example, would walking along the high street to do some shopping be a concern if one's face were covered? I know that some people may feel threathened by it, and for others it isn't an issue.
I am not trying to be argumentative, and I fully respect your views. I'm also not fully versed in the various laws of different countries regarding this. In my own country I have seen ladies who wear the burkha and I do not have a problem with this, but from time to time there are debates about whether or not it's a suitable garment for certain work places such as schools.
~~~
Victoria Earle - I'd like you to take a look at a unique piece written by my classmate, Justin Gold. I'll get him to rename the story so the title shows up in the bitem tag.
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I think he did a wonderful job with this. Thanks!
---Vicki
Hi Vicki! I have read the item written by your classmate, and I agree that it's a very interesting and unique item. Thanks so much for bringing it to our attention . I have included the item in my Editor's Picks!
~~~
Light - What would be the best genre for New Age Spirituality based writing? From the list of genres on this site, Inspirational and Spiritual seem to be the best choices. I have two such items in my portfolio, but I write mostly Sci-Fi / Fantasy stories.
Regarding your question, I use to be a Scientologest. Like many New Age religons, it is not based upon worship. The belief is that God does not have the need to be worshiped. A weding in Scientoligy is centered around making a commetment to one another, where there affinity for each other is strengthened by maintaining good communication and commmon experiences. This concept is invisioned in there rings.
Hi! I do believe the Spiritual genre would be suitable for those items . If the item deals with what you believe/believed in, and you wish to share this with others, the Spiritual genre would definitely be my choice. If you've written the piece to inspire others, or you feel it may be inspirational to others, then the Inspirational genre would be suitable as well. Perhaps both would apply!
I invite you to send in an item . I do not know much about New Age religions, and it would be interesting to learn more.
~~~
Wishing you a week filled with inspiration,
The Spiritual Newsletter Team,
Sophurky  , northernwrites, kittiara
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Spiritual: July 22, 2009 Issue [#3177]
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