Fearing the 'Dark Hats'? Cynical of the 'Love & Light' Think those believing in XXX are crazy?

[Leila Raven]

What happens when you encourage people from diverse spiritual perspectives to come together is some of them will have preconceived notions about those from other spiritual perspectives different from their own. There's a word for this boys and girls, it's called prejudice. Literally from the prefix pre - before, and judgement, judging someone or some belief system before you know it. So your judgement is based on assumptions.

If you are having a negative feeling or reaction toward a 'faith'. This is normal, we all have preconceptions and prejudices of some type or another. What is important in terms of our own personal enlightenment and growth, as well as that of global enlightenment in growth. Is acknowledging our negative prejudices, and exploring them. 

Ask yourself, What are your negative prejudices. Where did they come from? Who taught them to you? Did you have a bad experience with one or some people and are now assuming all people from a similar viewpoint must be the same? Did your own faith, family, or society work hard to create a fear or hate response in you to something? Have you bothered to ask yourself ... Why?

What is it you dislike, are afraid of, or are concerned about? Have you really educated yourself broadly about the situation, or have you only listened to 'one side' of the equation. Have you taken the time to explore those views and beliefs from those who actually have them from an open mind and heart? Or are your own negative emotions holding you back? Think about those words, holding you back. That's what negative emotions do, you are limiting your own growth, and subsequently world growth, by holding on to your negative preconceived biased notions of others in the world.

If you want to hold on to them, you will find all the justifications in the world. However, I encourage you to examine closely any little bit of unease, discomfort, negativity, within yourself, and root out it's source, turn it on it's head, and if you can Love it to death, erase it from existence, and create instead a new world of tolerance, within, and without.

We are all one, all family, all interconnected, and interdependent. We all want a safe world for ourselves where we can freely be ourselves, explore, grow, and self actualize. We can only do that if we create it for ourselves and each other. If you want respect, acceptance, compassion, and even love... you must give it.

Leila Raven

[Leila Raven]

For instance I may love someone who is an alcoholic and is abusive when they drink, they may decide that they do not want to stop drinking, no matter what. I can love and accept them, but not accept the behavior, and refuse contact with that person whenever they are drinking, or even refuse contact entirely 'boycott' as a form of social pressure. I can still accept that it is their choice, their life, and have love and care for them. Perhaps I find out they have started driving when drinking, I may even opt to call authorities to arrest them in accordance to my values around concerns for someone getting hurt.

I had written a bit more, but It seems it limits the comment lengths... (going to have to see if I can change that).  I think I pretty much covered most of what I was trying to get across anyways.

We can absolutely have compassion and acceptance of people and that they are going to be who they are, think what they think, feel what they feel, and make the choices they make, no matter how much we or anyone else may wish otherwise. Accept what we cannot change, from a grounded, centered, compassionate place. Yet still act on our own ethics and beliefs toward managing actions we perceive in the world as damaging.

[Leila Raven]

There are always situations where one may choose a path that someone perceives as 'harmful' in some way. Usually when it violates the consent of others. Most people who are not on that path, would likely view it as something 'negative'. We're allowed to have judgements on things and we're allowed to disagree with peoples paths, in fact, with the diversity in the world and in nature, it's inevitable.

The reality is, the spectrum of what exists is what exists. Dealing with what exists from a place of spiritual strength, a place devoid of irrational fears and hates, a place that comes from compassion and love, is going to be the most enlightened stance.

There will be those who believe in engaging in things most would consider atrocities. However fearing them, hating them, or seeking vengeance serves no purpose. We have the most chance of improving any situation if coming from a place of calm centered compassion. If our own spiritual and moral paths indicate that we should do what we can to prevent others from harming others, then yes, we have a personal and ethical responsibility to act on that. That is not judgment coming from a place of fear or hate, that is a compassionate response to a conflicting situation.

You can have unconditional acceptance of people, without accepting all their beliefs or behaviors.