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Welcome to Exploring Belief Systems, God and the Spirituality Network.
Hi, I'm Peter Jones, our new Moderator. This is my first network since joining Ryze, which I inherited on Saturday, November 4, 2006, from my great, noble, sincere, and kind friend Ernie Martin as he wishes to move on to newer pastures. I had originally been posting on 500 Citizens and the Truth Seekers Networks prior to this one, and have been posting on here for just over 1 year. This is also the time this Network has been functioning.
I too, like Ernie, am keenly interested in world religions, God and Spirituality. I grew up in Germany until I was 3 and half years old, and in the United Kingdom from 1948.
As a young child I attended a traditional Methodist Church for a while in Birmingham, which my parents used to frequent, and have always as far back as I can remember had an awareness of God. As I grew up in my early teens I started to study the Bible, and later Judaism and Christianity, and attended Synagogue for a while, too.
Now living near Birmingham in Sutton Coldfield, I am in contact with many different cultures such as West Indians, Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs. Also I have had much experience involving smaller Christian groups, such as Christadelphians, the Churches of God, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, and fundamentalism.
In 1985 I was led to start compiling a book on the Gospels, which after many years of studying, I finally completed the work and got it published in 2003, entitled "The Gospel of the Four".
The purpose of this Network is to encourage each other to share and discuss our beliefs and spirituality as well as enquire and ask others questions in case of further clarification.
Lets aim to be civil and kind towards others and their views. If I find our posts of an abusive nature, being offencive or not positive enough, the posts may be deleted without notification. If any posts are posted on a negative basis, become offencive or abusive and uncivilised, the offender could be barred from participating on this Network without notification.
A sense of humour is always a paramount requirement in any worthwhile relationship and endeavour. Occasional jokes and humorous posts are always welcome. Spirituality and beliefs should also have a snitching of wit associated with its tenor as with the wrong spirit the topics can sound over serious, and ignorantly judgemental.
Any topic/subject related to societal beliefs, religions, the universe, God, gods, Divinity, and Spirituality are there to be shared.
What you'll see on this Network are lots of variations on religion and spirituality - all the colours of the spectrum of the rainbow, so to speak. Everything is not all black and white, as there is grey, too, and there are shades and hues in between the colours of the rainbow.
The purpose of this Network - is not to try to change anyone's point of view or convert anyone, but to consider different points of view and think about them without being offended. We can't honestly have a constructive exchange if we're busy being upset. The truth is our spiritual or religious beliefs are very deeply felt - and while we may not share the same point of view - we can still respect each other for our spiritual diversity and the wondrous creations of God that we each are.
Coming together to discuss what might be a unpredictable topic must be in an atmosphere of mutual respect - even if what another person posts chafes up against our own personal beliefs.
Again, welcome and have fun in sharing and understating our differences. Let's continue to celebrate life.
Namaste!
(Namaste, an exclamation and a respectful greeting said when giving a namaskar the traditional Indian greeting or gesture of respect, made by bringing the palms together before the face or chest and bowing. In Hindi it means, "I acknowledge the god in you").
Pete, on behalf of Ernie our previous Moderator
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