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brightlotusmoonI love this: http://ebonypearl.livejournal.com/286679.html
And this is what I tell people when they ask how I communicate with my gods and my spirits and my part of the universe.
EDIT:
Let me clarify here:
I really love this person's point of view. What she is saying is that she prefers to pray quietly, but sometimes when she sees a single person in public praying so loud that it seems to be causing a scene, she gets a little irritated -- although she does not judge, discriminate, or ask the person to stop. The point of the post is that everyone should be able to pray however they wish, but in her personal opinion, some of the louder, more blatant displays do not feel right to her, and she simply walks away from them. It's not like she starts scolding them.
It is my personal opinion that quiet, private prayer is the best way, but I don't think everybody should do it just because I do it.
I don't want to give off the impression that I judge or discriminate against people who pray out loud in public. I do not.
Let me tell a little story: In downtown DC, a small group of men gather every so often in front of one of the Metro station entrances. They have an elaborate sound system, wood boxes to stand on, and loudspeakers. They shout and blare hatred and intolerance and prejudice and discrimination against anyone who does not think like they think, anyone of any religion, race, lifestyle, walk of life, etc. They will rant and rave and talk about how God tells them He wants all these "sinners" destroyed unless we all come to their way of thinking. It is a display of pure prejudice and narrow-mindedness.
Do I get irritated when I walk past and see them preaching? You bet I do. Do I simply walk away without saying a word? You bet I do. I leave it alone. And I think to myself, "I don't like their message. But they say it anyway, it is their form of communicating with God, and I will not infringe on that right."
This is what I mean, this is what the person I linked to means. We are not talking about your average person who stands on a street corner and loudly praises God and prays for people. We are talking about those who make a scene and a show. Yes -- that causes annoyance in some people. But the only ones being outwardly judgemental are those who scream it out loud, not those who think, in their own minds, "Wow, I don't think I like what that person is doing."
I also feel that people should pray together and in groups because it strengthen's each individual's spirituality. I think it is wonderful. I like to pray alone, but that is just me.
I am sorry if this post causes any misunderstandings or bitterness, as that was not my intention. All I said was that I appreciate someone's personal viewpoint on a certain subject, not that I don't like people who do certain things that I don't do.
And this is what I tell people when they ask how I communicate with my gods and my spirits and my part of the universe.
EDIT:
Let me clarify here:
I really love this person's point of view. What she is saying is that she prefers to pray quietly, but sometimes when she sees a single person in public praying so loud that it seems to be causing a scene, she gets a little irritated -- although she does not judge, discriminate, or ask the person to stop. The point of the post is that everyone should be able to pray however they wish, but in her personal opinion, some of the louder, more blatant displays do not feel right to her, and she simply walks away from them. It's not like she starts scolding them.
It is my personal opinion that quiet, private prayer is the best way, but I don't think everybody should do it just because I do it.
I don't want to give off the impression that I judge or discriminate against people who pray out loud in public. I do not.
Let me tell a little story: In downtown DC, a small group of men gather every so often in front of one of the Metro station entrances. They have an elaborate sound system, wood boxes to stand on, and loudspeakers. They shout and blare hatred and intolerance and prejudice and discrimination against anyone who does not think like they think, anyone of any religion, race, lifestyle, walk of life, etc. They will rant and rave and talk about how God tells them He wants all these "sinners" destroyed unless we all come to their way of thinking. It is a display of pure prejudice and narrow-mindedness.
Do I get irritated when I walk past and see them preaching? You bet I do. Do I simply walk away without saying a word? You bet I do. I leave it alone. And I think to myself, "I don't like their message. But they say it anyway, it is their form of communicating with God, and I will not infringe on that right."
This is what I mean, this is what the person I linked to means. We are not talking about your average person who stands on a street corner and loudly praises God and prays for people. We are talking about those who make a scene and a show. Yes -- that causes annoyance in some people. But the only ones being outwardly judgemental are those who scream it out loud, not those who think, in their own minds, "Wow, I don't think I like what that person is doing."
I also feel that people should pray together and in groups because it strengthen's each individual's spirituality. I think it is wonderful. I like to pray alone, but that is just me.
I am sorry if this post causes any misunderstandings or bitterness, as that was not my intention. All I said was that I appreciate someone's personal viewpoint on a certain subject, not that I don't like people who do certain things that I don't do.
