Core beliefs

[RevKathyV]

I hope I can express what I desire here acurately. What are your very core religious/ spiritual beliefs...the ones that you apply to your daily life and affect how you treat and respond to people?

[octavius]

I'll bite.

I view the world very pessimistically. My glass is half empty, and people NEVER get the benefit of the doubt. I assume that everyone has their own best interests in mind, not mine. And what's so strange about that? I live the same way. Nobody owes me anything, and I don't owe anyone other than common courtesy at most.

The world is my oyster. I take what I want, when I want. I calculate. I scheme. I manipulate 99% of the people I encounter to somehow benefit me. In general, I believe people are cruel. When people surprise me and show me that they can be civil, polite, nurturing, or self-less, then I return the courtesy in kind.

My religion is me. My spirituality is me. The world as I experience it is a product of my own desire, magick, and manipulation.

[RevKathyV]

Would you hurt someone intentionally to get your "oyster". lets say, stab or shoot them.even if they didn't do anything but get in your way of your "oyster"? Why or why not?

[octavius]

Originally Posted by RevKathyV

Would you hurt someone intentionally to get your "oyster". lets say, stab or shoot them.even if they didn't do anything but get in your way of your "oyster"? Why or why not?

Violence is the tool of the weak-willed. I believe in the right to protect oneself and one's loved ones, however, there are better tools than violence for evoking one's will. I've never had to use violence to get what I want, and I never would. Unwarranted violence is abhorrent.

[Lightkeeper]

I can't say that religious or spiritual beliefs effect how I treat and respond to people. Over the years through trial and error I've learned that if you are nice to people they are generally nice back. I don't respond from a belief system, I respond from my beingness.

[RevKathyV]

LK, isn't your belief in your beingness in a sense your belief system?

[Eolas Pellor]

My key belief is called "Dallethys", which is the idea that all things must be kept in balance. IN daily life, this involves a lot of learning to look beyond the surface of people, and learning to see them as they are...and a good deal of acceptance.

This is not a non-interventionist position, however. Believing that Dallethys is important requires that I intervene and take sides, usually against the stronger side, and against those who have the "my way or the highway" approach.

[metis]

Originally Posted by RevKathyV

I hope I can express what I desire here acurately. What are your very core religious/ spiritual beliefs...

I believe it's best for me to avoid having beliefs.

...the ones that you apply to your daily life and affect how you treat and respond to people?

The "golden rule", which cuts across most religious traditions.

[Lightkeeper]

Originally Posted by RevKathyV

LK, isn't your belief in your beingness in a sense your belief system?

No, beingness "is". It is not a belief system. My only real belief is to have as few beliefs as possible, they get in the way of who we truly are.

[octavius]

Originally Posted by Eolas Pellor

My key belief is called "Dallethys", which is the idea that all things must be kept in balance. IN daily life, this involves a lot of learning to look beyond the surface of people, and learning to see them as they are...and a good deal of acceptance.

This is not a non-interventionist position, however. Believing that Dallethys is important requires that I intervene and take sides, usually against the stronger side, and against those who have the "my way or the highway" approach.

Do you defend the "weaker" side simply because it's weak? What if the weak side contradicts your other beliefs or morality? Is your sense of balance truly ambiguous? If so, how do you reconcile that?