life stuff - your opinions

[goingslow]

I think I know what you mean. Im very careful and i pretty much always hold back with people.  Either that or I explain things in their terms.  Like "do you think God would do that", but I dont actually put my beliefs out there.  

Also about the gossiping thing I understand that too.  But i dont really want to hurt anyone's feelings.. Just around me I change the subject.  

I guess for me it depends on if a person is the type that likes to improve themselves.  If they're introspective im more likely to share things i've found out about myself.  But none of my family is introspective and if I share anything they think im really weird.  

I agree that its better to have their pride.  But I know its hard watching people you care about act in ways you know arent right.

[cainam_nazier]

You openly disscuss your beliefs here!!
What is the difference?

Many conversations take place here all the time with out any beliefs changing at all.  Some times they do.

The idea is not to talk to them in a manner to get them to change thier beliefs but just so that they know where you stand on certain subjects.  If they decide that they agree, then that's that.

You are always in a state of flux.  Always changing, never stagnant.
You never know who you will be tomorrow, and you can never be the person you were yesterday.

[fredhedd]

i think the difference is that the people on this forum are open to having their beliefs changed.  some come here looking for guidance or ever for a change of belief.  w/ someone that you care about that is already set in their ways, it's hard to know whether or not a good arguing would be appreciated.

[ralphm]

There comes a time in people's life when their beliefs can really hold them back. When my father was dying he was carrying tons of catholic guilt from the divorce thing and was scared of being burnt forever in hell. I think I was able to tell him that a loving god would not punish forever and told him about NDE stories i had read about.Hopefully his transition was made easier by my sharing.

[Euphoric Sunrise]

I know exactly what you mean. With my sister and my dad i could (i've never aimed to have a conversation about religion etc. with them) have very flexible conversations about these things i think, because neither seem to be cemented in a particular place, and neither express any religious beliefs commonly. My mother, on the other hand, seems set in the belief that there is a God, there is no Satan and every single being goes to Heaven, no matter what. I'm not saying she's wrong, but she states her beliefs as if they are facts at times and i get a bit annoyed at that. I never say anything though, exactly for the reason you stated. I don't want to knock any of my mother's arguments out of the window and have her confused and unsure of her life. If she feels safe in her beliefs i think it's good if she keeps things like that.

[fredhedd]

my grandmother and i had a conversation about life and death.  i've never really conversed w/ her about this before but she is catholic and i know how she feels about what happens when you die. it was a pretty good conversation but i held back in places.

we differ in opinion in certain things.  i've had certain experiences through meditation and projection that have changed the way i feel about religion, life and death.  when we talked i didn't tell her about certain things because they are different from what she thinks and may even directly oppose her thoughts now.  

of course we both feel strongly about our own opinions.  she respects what i say maybe more than anyone else in the family because i've got my head on straight.  that's why i'm not sure if i should hold back w/ my thoughts.  part of me feels that i shouldn't say too much because i don't want to take the chance of weakening or changing any of her beliefs.  even if i succeeded in convincing her otherwise of things she believes now, i can't imagine it would feel good to anyone to change their beliefs at such a late age.  

i feel the same way about my dad at certain times.  not about religion but just about how things should be handled generally in life.  maybe something along the lines of gossiping in a derogatory manner, but not just that.  i feel i know things now that are true that he wouldn't agree w/ but if i sat down and explained myself fully, that he then would agree w/.  even if i do get through to him about certain things, am i supposed to feel good to now know that he feels he has been wrong in acting certain ways for the last fifty years?  for certain people it's better to have their pride.