That's right E.H. We do things all the time that at first sight look like they go against our "princibles", but when one sees a bigger picture we do them by choice because of the consequences that go with our actions. Example, I don't believe I need to wear a seat belt, the law says I do, so I wear it. I don't want a ticket, which would be the consequence of my action. We laugh at our people's jokes because WE will feel better, making THEM feel good.

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May your awareness be perfection

I agree..I think it involved the ego more and less of sticking up for one's rights because you can go through the motions of the circle and holdings others hands without saying the prayer. Just going through the act of holding hands is an act of unification between people and I'm quite sure atheist are not against people being unified.

I haven't the foggiest, but there might be a myriad of reasons and I would think all of them valid.


Yes, and some people don't laugh at jokes they don't find funny, and some people don't listen to stories they've heard before. It doesn't make it rude to not do such things.


It's being included in a circle of religious spiritualism that I do not agree with nor support. Engaging in prayer IS holding hands with those people and lowering your head. Some atheists would really not want to do that, and I say that's fine. I don't appreciate other people calling it rude.


Again, apples and oranges. You did out of respect and because you wanted to. This other person didn't want to be included in the prayer circle.

One day I was giving a book signing and I showed up a little early and walked right in a energy healing circle. I don't believe in energy healing, but sat down and and even let the healers do their work. I saw it as that someone wanted to give me something and I accepted it greatfully. I accepted the act of giving not the belief.

I feel that this person was intentionally drawing attention to himself. Stepping outside of the circle has cause L.K. to notice as well as others I am sure. What was the purpose? To make a statement? He was not asked to stand up for what he believes in, but to join in a circle. He could have found a reason in his own interpretation to have joined the circle but he failed to think that far. I believe if there is such thing as Karma, then he created it for himself and others through his action.

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May your awareness be perfection

If you agree to play, you agree to play by the rules that are implied. If they are uncomfortable with what is going on at an event, they should not go. That is the way I feel about it anyway.

I took part in the circle and felt empowered for days. This was not because of the praying it was because of the energy of a group of people who were all focused on something uplifting. The 12 step groups use the handholding circle. There is a power in a group that becomes one.

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InterfaithForums.com-Where your ideas and beliefs count.

Indeed, I have read that people who do meditation together benefits more out of it, then people who do it individually.

For this reason, collective meditation is often encouraged in India.

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You yourself are your only friend. You yourself are your only enemy.

---Krishna ( Bhagavad Gita )


“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”

---Buddha


The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is reason.

---Thomas Paine

In fairness, I said what I would do, not what I expect everyone else to do. Just as I try to respect the celebrants in a wedding, where I can (remember, I said I won't pray, which also means I won't say "amen," or make any sort of religious sign or comment), I also respect other people's choice not to do so. For some, I think we have to accept that it is deeply offensive to bow their head in a circle when everyone else is doing so as a deliberate obeisance to God. Some people would look on this differently than I do, and feel that it would be hypocritical. I would not want anyone to behave in a way that made them, in their own eyes, a hypocrite.

It's not just one side or the other that has to bend when differences are encountered. It always works better if both can, or if both can respect the reasons that the other cannot.

Allen

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evangelicalhumanist: Greek "eu"=good and "angelos"=messenger. Spreading the good news of Humanism.

I would also do the same, if I were in any kinda situation like those. I don't think it hurt anything for the Atheist guy to stay out of the circle. He probably did stand out some, though, but it's his choice. As I have said before, everyone in the world is not respectful of things like the ways you describ. For me it is very admirable to still see that people still do practice it, though.

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When a man sleeps in his bed, his soul leaves him to soar above, each soul according to its own way.......
The Zohar

That's the same attitude as the "if you don't like it here, move!" group of people. The unwillingness to allow someone to abide by their own respective beliefs, and to force them to conform or leave, is highly irregular and I find it especially ironic in an interfaith website.

There are no rules implied, only rules given and accepted.

Again, if there was dancing at this wedding and I did not participate in it, would I then be rude for not participating in the dancing? As if.