There is one thing I'm becoming more sure of:

[OneGrassRoot]

Being unsure of things (big picture things) is VERY disturbing to people. Admitting that I don't know anything about the big questions of life really seems to agitate certain people.

I sense it's because they seem to feel it's a matter of me not COMMITTING to beliefs. That's not the case. I truly don't KNOW and I'm okay not knowing.

When I say I don't personally believe others truly KNOW anything beyond a shadow of a doubt either, and it's really more about belief and faith than knowing, then that really pissed them off.

Whether it's fundamentalist Baptists or science types or spiritualists -- all seem to have a great disdain for me.

Oddly, I kind of like that.

:hippie:

[BlancheSplanchnik]

1. :)

true, it IS pretty uncomfortable not knowing. Not easy being calm about the reactions of others, too.

Hrmmm....
I'm thinking....

that the need, the burning desire to KNOW, something, anything, is behind the appeal of politics too....

and science, and anthropology, and social action and and and.....

most human striving.....

desire fuels evolvement, at the base of everything....

I'm thinking.............


:)

[OneGrassRoot]

2. I think the desire to know and understand does drive everything...

as well it should. I love evolution and discovery and all that entails.

It's not that I don't have a desire to know. I guess I kind of think that if we know how the big picture works, we wouldn't have a need to be here any more?

To me, the journey is about learning and discovering, and being open to the possibility that what is truth today may be disproved tomorrow as our perceptions and perspectives evolve.

I honestly didn't realize how much my being THAT open about life disturbs people until recently.

Until Facebook.

:rofl:


:hug: to you!!!

edit for clarity and hugs!!!

[I Have A Dream]

3. Haha!

I'm often scared of your Facebook posts, OGR; your "friends" are really mean to you sometimes. :wow:

I keep yelling to you in my head "'Unfriend' that person, girlfriend!!!" I'm so evolved... :eyes:

I hate it when people are mean to you. x(

:loveya:

[OneGrassRoot]

4. LOL....

I can feel you cringing, IHAD.

And I often really debate whether or not to post something, knowing I'm inviting scorn.

I can't say I understand why I choose to do it because I really don't like conflict. :shrug:

I think it's like a huge intensive seminar or something for me, in learning to speak my truth and get more comfortable with interacting with so many different types of people -- and trying to understand where these people are coming from.

I kiddingly refer to how many "batshit crazy" people there are (and I seem to be surrounded by so many), but I still believe it's really fear. People live in fear...it's so sad. :(

And, there's something about me that triggers this fear, which manifests in agitation and anger. I'm not sure what that is; maybe when I figure that out, something will shift. ;)

I really haven't been engaging at FB that long; I'm sure a "purge" is in my near future!

Thanks for caring, Dear Heart! :loveya:

[OneGrassRoot]

5. I don't mean THAT shift....

;)

I just mean a shift with me...and relationships. :rofl: ;)

Just saying...

[I Have A Dream]

7. It's like being in DU's Religion and Theology forum.

:scared:

[OneGrassRoot]

8. I have zero desire to go there...

just as I have no desire to venture into a Sarah Palin rally!

:)

[MorningGlow]

11. LOL that's what I said in OGR's similar post on FB

I do believe I also said "that place is teh evil"--that and the Health forum. :scared:

[BanzaiBonnie]

6. It's good to now that you don't know

I was comfortable for a loooooong time knowing that I didn't know anything. And I still don't know anything... much. What I do know is from my own experience, so I must say that what I know is "as far as I know". If what I have experience of is helpful to anyone, that's the best I can do.

One of these days, I'm going to devote a blog entry to the subject of not knowing.

[OneGrassRoot]

9. I look forward to that blog entry....

While I'm not nearly articulate enough about this to have a coherent discussion, much of this stems from my belief, my personal belief, in "energy" (I think everything is energy in different forms, beyond that I can't define anything...lol) and the possibility that time as we know it, and parallel lives and all those things that are WAY over my head, may be in play.

That forms my lack of knowing because I do believe we have a huge evolutionary leap at hand to open up an understanding beyond what we currently experience; an understanding that may topple many current truths.

I respect when others know something for themselves, and share that knowing in case others may benefit. I do believe people have personal truths and knowings; I just don't know that it applies to others in a universal way as many claim.

When others sharing their knowings, it's one of the ways I learn. So, thank you. :hug:

And even if I may not agree with someone's personal knowing, if it is sincere (and not a manipulative/controlling/judgmental approach to something), I can honestly say I respect it.

[Shallah Kali]

10. isn't intolerance of questioning and ambiguity kinda the definition of fundamentalism?

i don't know many many things and that is ok. I have learned to accept that fact and be mostly comfortable with it. There are facts and I know my own experiences and others experiences are our personal interpretation of that reality is filtered through our mental/emotional patterns and experiences.

it seems that many conservatives for example it seems shades of grey are intolerable. they cannot stand to have things be ambiguous. They want things Right or Wrong, Good or BAD, Divine or Evil. They want a strong determined leader who is sure of what s/he is doing even if it is firmly leading them off a cliff like a herd of lemmings.

ambiguity is scary. i love having answers to why and how of things as much as any other person but I don't always get them. i have had to learn to live with it, tolerate it and somewhat make peace with it. it is what it is and getting wound up over it won't make reality alter itself to suit me so let it be as best as I can.

[OneGrassRoot]

13. Nice to see you Shallah....

I hope you're feeling better...:hug:

I give this whole subject entirely too much thought and energy. Why people react the way they do intrigues me, it truly does.

So, I continue to dive into the discussion periodically, or initiate them. ;)

Take care of you. :hug:

[MorningGlow]

12. Fear--but why?

So many people are so darned determined to insist that they know absolutely EVERYthing about EVERYthing, but behind it is nothing more than a deep-down, kid-under-the-bed fear. But of what? Why? Why do they think it's not safe if they say "Gee, I don't have the answer to that"? :shrug:

Me, I don't care. I have feelings/intuition, I have opinions. I have a sense of what's true. But I could be entirely wrong. Doesn't matter.

[OneGrassRoot]

14. I know, it's fascinating!

I'm really intrigued as to what is at the heart of all the fear.

This human thing is so hard that having a "rule book" of sorts that one can feel comfortable relying on -- whether it's a holy book or a science book -- may be the only way some people can navigate life. When those books, figurative or literal, are called into question, they get SO defensive! :wow:

It's a personal affront to them.

I understand the fear that others' beliefs can indeed impact our own lives (e.g., we don't want right-wingers' beliefs affecting our civil rights, nor do we want modern science trying to outlaw traditional alternative healing methods). But I observe those on both sides of the religion/science equation approaching the discussions with such scorn and disdain and complete judgment that it renders them incapable of respectful interaction.

Like I wrote today, I don't think people should be blinded by religion or science.

[Shallah Kali]

16. the heart of fear...

can you remember the earliest fear you ever had? I remember being scared of the dark. my dear deceased dad's love of ufo documentaries and other spooky stuff did not help. I still feel that inner kid in me at times still huddled under the covers waiting for ufos to light up the night sky and abduct her or monsters under the bed to nab her. I would beg my Mom to stay with me until I fell asleep with her on the outside of the bed so whatever-it-was would grab her first - and GOD did I feel GuIlTY about that!!!

i guess it all goes back to primal fear.

we start as little bitty babies in a big world, dependent upon adults who are HUGE GIANTs and don't always make sense and aren't always fair. our parents and even older siblings are our first gods who we adore and fear. i am not sure what I am trying to say. it's all down in the root chakra the primal needs and fear when those needs aren't met. darned dramamine

[BanzaiBonnie]

19. Uncertainty is more difficult for some

And when someone insists they know it all, it feels like a mask to me. They are hiding behind their uncertainty. Either that or they are just full of it.:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[rosesaylavee]

15. I think you will find more comfort

in a Unitarian Universalist or UU congregation than you might think... I know LOTS of people who admit they don't know what they don't know and it really is ok. Scientists and new agers sitting together every week and enjoying each other's company even. Not trying to proselytize ya or anything but there are groups where thinking otherwise is ok.

[OneGrassRoot]

17. You're so right...

I attended a UU gathering years ago, and was shocked that atheists were there! But shocked in a good way. It's more about community than dogma. Gotta love that.

I attended a local Unity Church at the same time (over a decade ago), trying to find a "home," but was amazed how materialistic (for lack of a better word?) it was. Granted, it was just one church and probably not indicative of other Unity Churches, but there was a huge focus on prosperity consciousness and physical/material success.

UU was a completely different vibe. I really enjoyed that.

I may venture back there one of these days...

:hug:

[rosesaylavee]

18. Some of my best friends are Atheists :)

Seriously. It's more about individual journey. There is guidance so that it's NOT a free-for-all anything goes religion that Garrison Keillor is so fond of saying about UUs - it's a commitment to help each other grow. And I am sure there are other groups that do similar things for its members. I guess I just wanted to give you some comfort that you are not really the only one... there are many more like you out there... even in NC I am certain!

I am amazingly right about this you know. :)