Quote
quackdave
There is no logical reason to be in a rush, so I don't see any reason for urgency other than the non-reasons given me by my former "guides", who I now look at more like "jail guards". They put this fear of 'getting it wrong' and urgently needing to 'choose' on me, basically to keep me under their power, and -- in the examples of Byron Katie and the like -- in their 'club' and paying their membership fees.
I guess what I'm saying is: Could it be that someone told you that you need to choose sides in the great spiritual dialogue, and perhaps warned you that choosing wrong would cost you your soul? That's what happened to me...many, many times. And I bought into it like thirsty man grabbing for what appeared to be a glass of untainted water.
qd
Yes -- this is what happened to me too. I was brought up Catholic, and taught that nonCatholics could not go to heaven. My grandparents and favorite uncle were condemned to Hell, or at least Purgatory/Limbo because they were Protestant, the nuns taught me. Never mind that they were the kindest, most honest people you'd ever want to meet, as well as being devout Christians. As a young adult, I joined a Bible study group, only to be told that the Catholics were heretics, and that I couldn't go to Heaven unless I became born-again -- being a good Catholic wasn't enough, according to them. A good friend became a Mormon, and apparently being born-again...or a good Catholic was not enough to get you to their heaven, or at least the higher levels. You had to become a Mormon. I later joined a Buddhist sect that said you had to follow their way -- and be devoted to their guru -- or you would never reach enlightenment and you'd create so much negative karma, that all kinds of horrible things would happen to you.
I have always been the kind of person who just wanted to get it right -- always give the right answer. In school this may be possible -- in real life, it is not, especially with religion. ALL the religions say that they are the only right one -- and that you will suffer if you don't devote yourself to the "right religion." Well, where is the evidence that one religion is the right one? If it really matters to God what religion we practice, why doesn't He just come down and TELL us to be Episcopalian, a Sunni Muslim, a Seventh Day Adventist or whatever?
I still would like to be certain, but I am slowly learning to live with not being certain. I remind myself, that suicide bombers and other fanatics and persecutors are VERY certain that they are doing the right thing -- and their certainty causes them to commit cruel, destructive acts that cause immense suffering. They would be far less likely to commit these atrocities if they did have some doubts and uncertainty.