Comments on: “G-d – Imaginary Friend for Grown-Ups?” http://dovaryeh.wordpress.com/2007/08/01/g-d-imaginary-friend-for-grown-ups/ Everything Between Heaven and Earth and Beyond Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:54:39 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Silly Old Bear http://dovaryeh.wordpress.com/2007/08/01/g-d-imaginary-friend-for-grown-ups/#comment-632 Silly Old Bear Mon, 06 Aug 2007 20:59:48 +0000 http://dovaryeh.wordpress.com/2007/08/01/g-d-imaginary-friend-for-grown-ups/#comment-632 Cynthia, Thank you for an absolutely wonderful story - well not all of it was wonderful - but your love and sincerity is palpable even through the screen. Do I have to tell you that the image of a bunch of bikers in the back of a courtroom, supporting some little one who's been hurt dreadfully, makes my Inner Kid very happy. I can see them helping him/her feel bigger and stronger, and the perp feel smaller and vulnerable at the mere sight of them :-) Cynthia,

Thank you for an absolutely wonderful story – well not all of it was wonderful – but your love and sincerity is palpable even through the screen.

Do I have to tell you that the image of a bunch of bikers in the back of a courtroom, supporting some little one who’s been hurt dreadfully, makes my Inner Kid very happy. I can see them helping him/her feel bigger and stronger, and the perp feel smaller and vulnerable at the mere sight of them :-)

]]> By: Cynthia S. http://dovaryeh.wordpress.com/2007/08/01/g-d-imaginary-friend-for-grown-ups/#comment-631 Cynthia S. Mon, 06 Aug 2007 20:17:33 +0000 http://dovaryeh.wordpress.com/2007/08/01/g-d-imaginary-friend-for-grown-ups/#comment-631 Pt. II- However, I have pulled completely away from this church, and do not feel a need for a building to go to where other humans have organized a religion for me to obey through them. I feel it's like a game of "telephone": the more people the message goes through, the more distorted it becomes. I believe there is a Universal Higher Power that is not just the creator of all, but all things contain his/her energy & light as part of that creation. The light inside of us is as one with any manifestation of the light elsewhere, particularly as we seek our Creator--our true Home. That is all prayer is, is making that connection in either direction. It does not matter whether we receive it as a voice, a sudden major thought in our head, a recognition of an eternal truth in a book or from something someone said, or even an angel. What matters is we are NOT alone---and that we have the innocence or humility of a child to accept our "Friend" and listen/talk with him/her. In brief, life is tough--we need to know how to survive and make truth/love-based decisions;we are here to learn & to make a difference: we have a Friend--unseen usually, but not imaginary, and we need him/her. Our Friend loves us unconditionally,although not all that we do. Our Friend will guide us, answer us,teach us,and forgive our mistakes. Love is invisible but most certainly not imaginery, either :) P.S. I like the biker image! Here in the US there is a national group of bikers called Bikers Against Child Abuse(B.A.C.A.). They work through child advocacy groups,and meet and allow each child who is facing trial against their perpetrator toadopt one or more of them. They become like big brothers/sisters to them,give them a biker teddy bear, have a picnic, give then gentle rides (with childsize helmet) around their neighborhood, and are there sittingin the back of the courtroom as the child's "back up"! The child feels far less intimidated with their friends there, and I am sure the perpetrators notice! Pt. II- However, I have pulled completely away from this church, and do not feel a need for a building to go to where other humans have organized a religion for me to obey through them. I feel it’s like a game of “telephone”: the more people the message goes through, the more distorted it becomes.
I believe there is a Universal Higher Power that is not just the creator of all, but all things contain his/her energy & light as part of that creation. The light inside of us is as one with any manifestation of the light elsewhere, particularly as we seek our Creator–our true Home. That is all prayer is, is making that connection in either direction. It does not matter whether we receive it as a voice, a sudden major thought in our head, a recognition of an eternal truth in a book or from something someone said, or even an angel.
What matters is we are NOT alone—and that we have the innocence or humility of a child to accept our “Friend” and listen/talk with him/her.

In brief, life is tough–we need to know how to survive and make truth/love-based decisions;we are here to learn & to make a difference: we have a Friend–unseen usually, but not imaginary, and we need him/her. Our Friend loves us unconditionally,although not all that we do. Our Friend will guide us, answer us,teach us,and forgive our mistakes. Love is invisible but most certainly not imaginery, either :)

P.S. I like the biker image! Here in the US there is a national group of bikers called Bikers Against Child Abuse(B.A.C.A.).
They work through child advocacy groups,and meet and allow each child who is facing trial against their perpetrator toadopt one or more of them. They become like big brothers/sisters to them,give them a biker teddy bear, have a picnic, give then gentle rides (with childsize helmet) around their neighborhood, and are there sittingin the back of the courtroom as the child’s “back up”! The child feels far less intimidated with their friends there, and I am sure the perpetrators notice!

]]> By: Cynthia S. http://dovaryeh.wordpress.com/2007/08/01/g-d-imaginary-friend-for-grown-ups/#comment-597 Cynthia S. Sat, 04 Aug 2007 19:18:09 +0000 http://dovaryeh.wordpress.com/2007/08/01/g-d-imaginary-friend-for-grown-ups/#comment-597 OH I DO NEED TO GET HERE MORE OFTEN!!! Umm. . . . sometimes it is hard to understand the effects and ramifications of religious abuse (in my case, various "hellfire and brimstone" Xstian churches when under age 20, and then escaping to what I thought was going to be a loving, family-esque (called each other brother & sister,etc.) religion, ie. "Mormonism" when I was 20, where once baptized upon very basic/limited teachings with extremely vital, consequential things left out (at least when I was taught by the missionaries), suddenly the toxic shaming and strict rules and finger-shaking starts to evidence itself. For example, "Never say no to a [church] calling", or "job". "Follow the leaders/Brethren, especially the Prophet, unwaiveringly, or your faith is weak." (This is not supposed to be considered "blind faith"--one may pray about and "gain their own personal testimony of" any aspect ofthe Gospel" AS LONG AS the answers received AGREE COMPLETELY with the teachings of the Church!). If you get a different answer you are not listening to the "right" source--[eg. God, versus the "Adversary, Devil, Satan," etc.]! The reason it was hard for me to distinguish the religious abuse, despite living emotional pain continually, and my semi-adult age of 20+, is because I was raised in a very emotionally and physically abusive family with an extremely unwell, controlling mother. Add this to our church-going and it became a very "crazy-making" fertile ground for abuse of all kinds, which for me, became emotionally undistiguishable. Oops! Interruption--Pt. II to follow very soon. OH I DO NEED TO GET HERE MORE OFTEN!!! Umm. . . . sometimes it is hard to understand the effects and ramifications of religious abuse (in my case, various “hellfire and brimstone” Xstian churches when under age 20, and then escaping to what I thought was going to be a loving, family-esque (called each other brother & sister,etc.) religion, ie. “Mormonism” when I was 20, where once baptized upon very basic/limited teachings with extremely vital, consequential things left out (at least when I was taught by the missionaries), suddenly the toxic shaming and strict rules and finger-shaking starts to evidence itself. For example, “Never say no to a [church] calling”, or “job”. “Follow the leaders/Brethren, especially the Prophet, unwaiveringly, or your faith is weak.” (This is not supposed to be considered “blind faith”–one may pray about and “gain their own personal testimony of” any aspect ofthe Gospel” AS LONG AS the answers received AGREE COMPLETELY with the teachings of the Church!). If you get a different answer you are not listening to the “right” source–[eg. God, versus the "Adversary, Devil, Satan," etc.]!

The reason it was hard for me to distinguish the religious abuse, despite living emotional pain continually, and my semi-adult age of 20+, is because I was raised in a very emotionally and physically abusive family with an extremely unwell, controlling mother. Add this to our church-going and it became a very “crazy-making” fertile ground for abuse of all kinds, which for me, became emotionally undistiguishable.

Oops! Interruption–Pt. II to follow very soon.

]]> By: mysteryofiniquity http://dovaryeh.wordpress.com/2007/08/01/g-d-imaginary-friend-for-grown-ups/#comment-574 mysteryofiniquity Fri, 03 Aug 2007 13:20:46 +0000 http://dovaryeh.wordpress.com/2007/08/01/g-d-imaginary-friend-for-grown-ups/#comment-574 Silly Old Bear, You know that's true: "The “you need faith” as the response to everything, including being broke and physically ill, was what told me that something wasn’t right for me in that mind-set." I never thought quite like that, but it's like pasting the same template on every answer. Don't believe? Here's the answer. Don't have answers to prayer? Here's the answer. They assume that everything has that same answer and somehow we are just doing it wrong! Hmmm..Good thoughts! Silly Old Bear,

You know that’s true: “The “you need faith” as the response to everything, including being broke and physically ill, was what told me that something wasn’t right for me in that mind-set.” I never thought quite like that, but it’s like pasting the same template on every answer. Don’t believe? Here’s the answer. Don’t have answers to prayer? Here’s the answer. They assume that everything has that same answer and somehow we are just doing it wrong! Hmmm..Good thoughts!

]]> By: Silly Old Bear http://dovaryeh.wordpress.com/2007/08/01/g-d-imaginary-friend-for-grown-ups/#comment-562 Silly Old Bear Thu, 02 Aug 2007 23:50:27 +0000 http://dovaryeh.wordpress.com/2007/08/01/g-d-imaginary-friend-for-grown-ups/#comment-562 Thank you mysteryofiniquity! Yes. I agree. That voice - it really has no relevance if it's from within us or actually G-d speaking to us - the point with that voice, when we have "cleaned it from all the garbage" is that it will guide us. I am glad you are recovering from fundamentalism - its hard work and you should be proud of yourself :-) The "you need faith" as the response to everything, including being broke and physically ill, was what told me that something wasn't right for me in that mind-set. A person cannot believe more or less. So abusing people spiritually because they do not believe the same things others do is just contrary to anything truly spiritual. Funnily enough, I never blamed G-d for any of it, except not striking those people with a good old lightning - but I got over that, and decided that Judaism had a little more to offer me. I am glad you like that Burly Guy Image. :-) Thank you mysteryofiniquity!

Yes. I agree. That voice – it really has no relevance if it’s from within us or actually G-d speaking to us – the point with that voice, when we have “cleaned it from all the garbage” is that it will guide us.

I am glad you are recovering from fundamentalism – its hard work and you should be proud of yourself :-)

The “you need faith” as the response to everything, including being broke and physically ill, was what told me that something wasn’t right for me in that mind-set.

A person cannot believe more or less. So abusing people spiritually because they do not believe the same things others do is just contrary to anything truly spiritual.

Funnily enough, I never blamed G-d for any of it, except not striking those people with a good old lightning – but I got over that, and decided that Judaism had a little more to offer me.

I am glad you like that Burly Guy Image. :-)

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