Personally, I find most of my spiritual experiences too sacred to share with just anyone -- especially those who I have never seen or spoken with in person. However, I can appreciate the missionary zeal of people who want to use the Internet to fellowship new converts and share the Gospel.
As I tried to wrap my mind around this site, I still feel a bit sheepish about using the rather impersonal on-line world to spread the Gospel. What's next? Mormon missionaries in Second Life?
I bet the folk singer Joan Osborne, best known for her hit "One of Us," wondered:
What if God was one of us?
Had a blog like one of us
Just a surfer on the net
Tryin' to make it on reddit?
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Comments: 23
I've contemplated starting my own site.
I agree with Connie that there are sacred experiences that I don't share in public or even in private for that matter.
I'm also not that accomplished as a writer and I would want to represent myself well.
On the other hand I am most interested in helping others come unto Christ. My experience has been so rewarding! I assume that you can relate to that.
I would rather share religious material in person. Doing so allows me to notice nonverbal cues and I can adjust what I say accordingly. Religious experiences are not limited by words. Of course we have to use words for much of our communication. I usually feel it is important to "back off" when people begin to feel interpersonal pressure. Also I'd prefer for religious conversations to be accompanied by "the spirit." Information alone is quite limited. So it is difficult to share words alone in a blog.
I have no probably sharing spiritual experiences with others, but at the same time you have assess if someone will respect what you share. My qualm with this site is that the Internet is so impersonal at times. Personally, I would appreciate a chance to assess someone in person or by talking with over the phone before I share too deep of an experience.
However, we have to share such experiences, but is the Internet the best place to do so?
Sometimes in Mormon-speak we use "fellowship" as a verb.
We meet in church each week to fellowship each other so that we can help one another live by Gospel standards.
Ideally proselytizing is a matter of sharing something that brings you happiness and peace; superiority should have nothing to do with the motives of someone who shares their spiritual beliefs.
That sounds like the definition that I go by; I agree that I did give it a limited definition above. Thanks! However, the definition does not address the motives behind the preaching or sharing of one's beliefs. If you are aware of synonyms that encompass the nuances of motivations, I would love to learn about them.
I personally feel that condemning people is a horrible way to proselyte; that's not Christ-like. Jesus Christ did not walk around condemning everyone. He taught by love and even dined with prostitutes.
People need to emphasize the positive of religion like bringing them happiness and peace while recognizing that such feelings can come from sources other than religion.
How can anyone but God know who is going to heaven? Read the Bible. Yes, I know that answer does not satisfy you.
You're correct that you need to live a good life by loving God (and thus, obeying his commandments) and your neighbor. As a Mormon, I would also add that you need to perform certain ordinances like baptism, but one needs proper authority to do conduct these ordinances. The Mormon Church argues that it is the only church with authority, and that is what separates us from other Christians. That's almost another topic completely.
Hmm... Here's a question. Can anyone assert their spiritual beliefs while completely avoiding an attitude of superiority?
Agreed. Let each to his or her own. However, people should be able to share their beliefs in a respectful manner that does not put others down. On the other hand, others should not always -- granted, sometimes they may be correct -- view a person's attempt to share something with them of a spiritual nature as a smug expression of superiority incognito. Ideally, respect is exercised by both the giver and recipient, but unfortunately this is not the case in too many situations.
I typically don't do it much online unless that's the only way I have of reaching someone (such as a poster on a web site asking a question about something). I usually just act as the spirit prompts.
I am not saying that I don't think that sharing spiritual experiences on-line is taboo; it just seems weird sharing personal, sacred things with complete strangers. If I get to know someone a little -- via e-mail, perhaps -- then that is different.
The quest remains what would people like to know or learn about our religious convictions? If we start be telling them how strong our feelings are we can come across as pretty scary. One thing we can do is find people who might be interested in something we have to share, to share a little bit of something and then, depending upon their interest share more.