• silverwhisper said on Mar 21, 2007....

  unlike most people, i discuss politics & religion intensely IRL. i'm pretty proficient in trying to understand someone else's perspective on such things and am generally sufficiently conversant in the matter being discussed that i can tease out why a person believes what he or she does. i agree that our stances are a reflection of our characters.
  
  i'm much more interested in discussing my views w/ those who do not share them: it forces me to analyze my beliefs but also acquaints me on the odd occasion w/ a new reason for a different stance, and those moments i treasure. i am here b/c i want to learn.
  
  ed

• secretlife said on Mar 21, 2007....

  FD:  i'm a believer that our actions define our characters.  i'd much prefer reading about a person's experiences and their thoughts of the experience than their religious or political views.  i think i have enough insight to get a pretty clear picture about a person just by reading about their experiences and thoughts.

  I'm not sure still what i'd hoped or expected to find here at soulcast.

   

   

• mobil said on Mar 21, 2007....

  I think many Christians believe it is their sworn duty to show the right path.
  That if they don't, a soul might be lost. Some may use this stage to further
  their ability to show that path.
   
  I know my children were educated in a Christian School setting. They would
  become extremely worried for a friend who did not believe as they did.
   
  You see, they didn't want their friend to go to hell. It's a scary thing thinking
  you might save a person from hell and due to a lack of effort on their part
  this might  not happen.
   
  I once thought that maybe God wanted me to become a Pastor, I wrestled
  with it for some time. I asked for guidance and it came to me.
   
  LOL, me a pastor? No way, I just wasn't cut out for it. I do my bidding in a
  different way. I feel the Lord within me and I let him work through me. He
  gave me an impressive body and a soft heart, a kind disposition (most of
  the time lol).
   
  I didn't come here to touch others, I came to write about all sorts of things.
  I thought I might write about politics and religion, but damn, you just can't
  argue that to any satisfactory conclusion, not in my opinion.
   
  So I write about my life mostly and I've found I am able to touch some, help
  a little maybe. I've also been touched and blessed by those I've met here.
  Thanks FD......great post

• queenparanoia said on Mar 21, 2007....

  AMEN to that!!!
   
  i believe here in soulcast people are expecting to be heard in a way that they cant be heard in real life. like me. and nope i dont impose my own religion. i'm proud of it but i dont shove it down your throat. i respect each and everyones own opinion of their faith because i believe that religion is my personal relationship with God.
   
  peace!!!

• beyondtheveil said on Mar 21, 2007....

  faithful- First of all, My friends and I have discussed politics and religion since I've known them and we have never ended with bad feelings. Perhaps this is one of the reasons we chose each other. And we have disagreed many times.
   
  Religious beliefs and political ideologies do not necessarily reflect or define a person's character. They do not my family and friends. They partially define, but do not totally reflect who they are.
   
  A rejection of my political and religious beliefs, such as they are, would never be looked on by me as an ultimate rejection of my essence. It is only important that my philosophies be discussed if I feel the need or desire to do so.
   
  It is not important for me to discuss personal philosophies, except to learn, and only then with people who are willing to discuss in a reasonable manner regardless of their beliefs. I would rather discuss these things with people of different beliefs, because birds of a feather discuss themselves.
   
  When I post, which is somewhat rare, they are things close to me or I'm interested in and just hope others are also. I am who I am because of my memories, experiences, and feelings- not because of religious or political beliefs.

• Ladyfly said on Mar 21, 2007....

  I'm not sure what to say about politics or religion. I have views on them both, but they are my views. I always seem to get myself in arguments with friends or family when discussing these two topics.
   
  I post the good, bad and the ugly in my life. And if someone can relate or has advice, then it's great to read their comments.
   
  A friend of mine says that it's not a good idea to discuss your life and problems with people that have the same issues. She says it's like the blind leading the blind. I say that if that person knows how you feel, then they can be more sympathetic. That's why I love Soulcast and the people that have become my friends here. We try to help eachother out and that's what I expect to find.

• mom said on Mar 21, 2007....

  any personal views whether it is religion, politics etc. can be discussed openly if there is a respect for each others views.  Am I defined by my religious beliefs?  In some ways yes I am.  I am also defined by my own life's experiences whether they are good or bad.

• openclose said on Mar 21, 2007....

  I don't discuss religion or politics with many people and I am not going to do it here.  I have my own beliefs and many people don't agree with them.  I respect others beliefs though just as I would hope they would mine.
  I don't know what I was expecting here at SoulCast.  I found this site because I wanted a place to post that my family and friends wouldn't know about.  There are times when I need to say something that could be hurtful to them.  sometimes I just need to talk something out.  What I have found here is that this is a community of friends.  We may never meet in person, but we have a common bond and that is something that I need right now.  Comments are always welcome.  I don't always comment on things only because I am not so good with words sometimes.  I have read things here that has touched my heart.  I have also read some things here that make me wonder about other peoples sanity.  I know that I have the option of clicking that little X in the upper right hand corner if I choose to not read something.
  So yeah, that is what I feel about SoulCast (if it made any sense)

• Corinthian said on Mar 21, 2007....

  Quoting FD:
  "What about you?  Is it important that you discuss your personal philosophies with those similar to yours?  Would you rather congregate with birds of the same feather?  What do you expect to find here at Soulcast by posting your ideas?"
  
  I would like a healthy discussion, even with people of differing opinions. By "healthy" I mean let us engage and focus on the issue at hand and not let it end in petty bickering or personal attacks.
  
  It would be pretty boring to always have people say "I agree."
  
  What I'm really looking for is good discussion that can make us all think, can make us re-assess, re-affirm or discard our old thought patterns, and come up with better and stronger convictions.
  

• kelly said on Mar 22, 2007....

  Oh come on.  We all know we come here for the petty bickering and personal attacks.  :-)  It's the same reason people go see the Indy 500.  They're hoping for a spectacular crash.
  
  

• Corinthian said on Mar 22, 2007....

  kelly: Well, yeah, there is that...but it gets tiresome after a while.

• husbandhater said on Mar 22, 2007....

  SoulCast is like thinking out loud. I like to hear different views there is no need for me to congregate with those that think alike. If I don't move beyond my own ideas how will I learn and grow?

• hotaka said on Mar 22, 2007....

  I like reading what people have to say. If I read something that differs from my view I look at it as a chance to either expand my own views or a way to confirm that my beliefs make sense to me. I think it is possible to say what you believe in without antagonising other people. So long as you understand that just because what you believe in makes sense to you it doesn't mean others are going to accept your views.

  We used to have a guy here, lidstrom82 I think was his tag, who was devoutly Christian and would go to great lengths to discuss his views with others. I always thought he was very diplomatic and congenial. I liked how he talked about Christ and his relationship with Him and how he "listened" to what others had to say. But some people thought he was trying to ram his beliefs down the throats of others. He was not like that but often misunderstood.

• Corinthian said on Mar 22, 2007....

  hotaka: Well, there is always that urge for a "devout" Christian to swing others to his belief...because he believes he's saving them from hell. I was once like that. I'd be very careful and diplomatic about it so as not to offend anyone, but that was my end goal.

• hotaka said on Mar 22, 2007....

  Hi Corinthian. Yes, I know what you mean. But I have met a couple of those devout Christians here who have presented their cases as clearly and diplomatically as though they were describing their hobby or family life. But some people chose to take offense simply because of the conversation topic. Those guys never said, "You should believe..." and so on. They simply said, "This is what I have found to be true and right for me." I had a lot of respect for those guys. I debated in a very friendly and open manner certain points about geology with one guy called thenack. I really learned a lot of interesting things from him though his views disagreed with mine. He inspired my understanding of earth sciences more. I would have loved the chance to go hiking with him.

• redrocks said on Mar 22, 2007....

  well, I came here to posts inner thoughts -- and themajority of them are not debetable. i wrote what happens to me daily and my impression.
  but i agree with you on this: I like to stay with the people with ideas similar to mines. I don't love debates too much coz I am not very good in discussing and sustain a thesis

• FaithfulDisciple said on Mar 22, 2007....

  Everyone thank you for letting me in on your views.  Having said that, I now begin to understand where your own posts and opinions are coming from.  I myself didn't expect to find vibrant, warm, friendly and intellectual discussion here at Soulcast.
  
  While not really expecting to find anything here at Soulcast initially, I soon realize that our unique community provided some kind of unbiased and ready set of good listeners who not only offered common sense advice but also well meaning anonymous friends willing to offer their time and talents to help other strangers without expecting anything in return..
  
  It really came as a surprise to me that some of my reflective blogs would ever touch anyone enough to make an impact on their lives in times of predicament.  But I'm sure glad that even by posting, I have made an effort to reach out and touch someone as your blogs also have touched me and offered me something from you to think about.
  
  

• silverwhisper said on Mar 22, 2007....

  FD, i honestly believe that with your sincere heart and quiet discipleship that you are the very model of an ambassador of your faith. i consider it the greatest of luck to have encountered you here.
  
  ed

• FaithfulDisciple said on Mar 22, 2007....

  Thank you Ed, I probably wouldn't have met such a gifted, talented and excellent writer such as you if it weren't for this unique site.  And the same goes for Secretlife, Mobil, Hotaka and everyone else here, the list is too long to mention but you all know who you are.
  
  In real life, choosing your friends can be a long and tedious process.  But here at Soulcast, so many good friends abound with so little time to spend them with.  IMHO, we were all meant to get to know one another through this fateful site.  This is perhaps the reason, why so many before have tried to leave but find themselves coming back to it again later.  They can't find elsewhere what they found here at Soulcast.
  

• Lora2bc said on Mar 22, 2007....

  I have great respect for people who stick to their beliefs and even fight for them, religious or political.  I think it is not enough to talk about them, you have to actually fight for them or live them.  Now, we don't have to sway people to our beliefs, if they see it in us and the results are great then they might be convinced.  I don't pretend that I know everything, I am learning everyday from my experiences and through others.  This blog is a way for me to express myself; and to me that is important.  Being able to express ideas and share them is an intricate part of being human. 

• frontanack said on Mar 23, 2007....

  I have spent most of my life in isolation.. even when we lived in big cities.  It is wonderful to meet new people and hear new ideas.  to interact and communicate... and I wanted to be able to share the stuff that has kept me alive during the years of virtual solitary confinement.    yeah,... on the christian witnessing thing.. it was one of the most dread elements of trying to be a christian  They would have you believe that you were responcible for the damnation of any one and everyone you did not convert... do you realize how scary that is?  at this point, I can not even think of a less Christian idea than that.. I mean.. who could ever ride a city bus? you  know... and I took it all so seriously.  but, that is not the case now.  thank GOD!!... I just like to hold his hand on the side road.  I give the dog a hard time for crapping on the walking path... and that is what I have to say about that.. for now.  haha.

  I did not expect to find such a wonderful group of people willing to share the secrets of their souls in such an open and intimate manner.. and for that, I am so grateful.  It is a treasure beyond measure or comparison.  thank you , all.

• truthsayer said on Mar 27, 2007....

  I am just tagging this for later comment.  Nice post FaithfulDisciple.  I am at the office printing more flyers for tomorrow.  I will be going out of town again at 4:30AM!  I will comment after I get back...probably Saturday sometime.  I hope you are still "here" then : ) 
   
  Later friend,
   
  truth

• shiningstar said on Mar 28, 2007....

  I think it is a wonderful place to blog.  What did I expect to find at Soulcast??I suppose I wanted to stretch a bit and see if the views and people of the world were more different online than in the flesh.  Know what I mean????It takes all kinds and that is joy for me.  Each and every person is so deeply beautiful all I want to ever do is to let them find the beauty,  the joy, the power within their own selves.  How they find it or where is up to each of them.  I want them to know that they are are deeply loved by life and live,  move and breathe and have their being in love.  I love to hear their beliefs and share a little part of their lives for just a moment.

• truthsayer said on Apr 05, 2007....

  Dear FD:

  I was looking for a barometer.  A bit of "the world" in cyberspace, that was like a random sample, so to speak....REAL FOLKS, of all shapes and sizes, all ages and cultures, all beliefs and dogmas, all walks of life.  I found it. 

  I didn't know that there were many writers at first.  Not just bloggers, but people that wanted to write for a living...I missed the whole "write and get paid for it" thing.  My SO found this website for me, to get me writing again.  It has worked ; ) 

  I have the bonus of getting to know all of you, getting to read about you, your lives, your loves, your beliefs.  It is a special thing to have found soulcast.  I know it is just a beta version, and thus, it could turn into something that we have to pay for, I suppose.  For now, I just appreciate the opportunity to have shared a little slice of life, with all of you.  Thank you, one and all.

  truthsayer

• The_Ranting_Logician said on Apr 09, 2007....

  I haven't really read all the comments since I must be leaving for school in a moment but really I started blogging to get my ideas, writing style, and life out there online. I also did it to see if my writing at all stacked up to other people. My whole life I've been told "You're amazing at writing" and I honestly havent bought it for one goddamned second. I figured if I joined an anonymous blog I could find out once and for all if my writing really is any good.

  I chose Soulcast because it seemed like a friendly, intelligent, inviting community. I've been pleasantly surprised to see that my assumptions were correct and everyone on here is smart and friendly. I've been so lucky, just as truthsayer said, to stumble upon this place and to be able to share so much with you all. I pray we never have to pay for this place...because I'd probably end up doleing out whatever the price was

• yesidid said on Apr 18, 2007....

  I come here to read what people have to say, because i believe most people's actions don't reflect who they really are. As people grow into adulthood, we learn to conform, and please others, thereby coming here anonymously, blogging about how we really feel.

• marysaaka said on May 16, 2007....

  I expect to find, since I see what this blogging is about, whether I am able to make a difference in someone life by posting comments to there blog and also to post blog and receive comments even if they are not of the highest degree in turn of grammars, spelling and sentence structing with lot of errors, just post the comments, I think each and every one here in the sc community want to be acknowledge at some point.

• inspiration2jms said on Oct 20, 2007....

  When I am first getting to know a person that I am interested in building a relationship with, I tend to tell them my views on some things, religion and politics, so that they are well aware of that part of me from the very beginning. I find that it makes for arguments and hurt feelings later if I do not.
  I am one of those people that tells folks the rules of my house the very first time they enter it. I do not allow the use of the words God and Damn together in my home and overuse of the word fuck is ignorant and will not be tolerated either. I also tell them that I am a terrible hostess but there is always something to drink in the Frigidaire and I tell them where the glasses are kept.
  That is just how I am. Every one knows right away where I stand.

• wakingharmony said on Oct 23, 2007....

  I should really check my mail more often. I Like the fact that you can pretty much say what you want.  i also get the sense that there are special friends "souls" that seem to keep an eye out on everyone...and most people are very forgiving of the lack of knowledge of people like myself....lol like now..I don't remember what all I was going to say ..but it all sounded good in my head when I started..maybe some day soon you'll figure a way to read my mind....hmm that could be dangerous lol Take care and I am just Thankful for everyone and soul here. Forever & always Margaret Aka WakingHarmony

• sheltercrow said on Oct 30, 2007....

  I assume that I will find the usual cross section of wing-nuts and lonely, crippled, nonsensical, depraved polyglots like myself. There is such a charm in reading the likeminded scatological screeds of the “I don’t have a dream” mob.

• messenger said on Oct 30, 2007....

  speaking with ram das...all is stuff ..if looking for clear.... advertise any secrets in the news paper ..interesting concept..words keep the brain trapped in an illusion  that is destroying human existence..so since a awsom awareness came to me in l983..the process of installing the info in this brain has been very very worthwhile...advance to go collect individual unique self..more joy..soulcast is fun potential since fun is an internal experience ...etc ..bye

• Clair_de_Lune said on Jan 05, 2008....

  I expected to find respect, maybe even kindness, certainly pesonal equanimity..
  
  
   
  
  
  At the very least, I did not expect -supposed-popular bloggers in this community to disintegrate into the name calling variety..
  
  
   
  
  
  That was a disappointment to me..
  
  
   
  
  
  They were..
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
  It didn't help that the direction was at me..
  
  
   
  
  
  But it would have been wrong at anyone..really..
  
  
   
  
  
  And the short term friends I thought I'd made here werent of the sticking variety..
  
  
   
  
  
  On leaving..that's what sealed the deal for me..
  
  
   
  
  
  But some of your blog entries were an interesting insight into the burgeoning burden of reverse prejudice amongst the non-faithful..and the huge personal deficit of casual ignorance and blind insensitivity..
  
  
   
  
  
  I came back..and would..only for this question..
  
  
   
  
  
  Because it's answer holds a clue to why I came..
  
  
   
  
  
  and answers why I am leaving..
  
  
   
  
  
  Anyway, I don't need to waste my time with a virtual version of high school..
  
  
   
  
  
  I wasn't so keen on it the first time around..and at least..the first time..I got some credits for being there..
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
  

• shiningstar said on Jan 06, 2008....

  Ditto that for me. I expected open mindedness but some people control,  seemingly,  the crowd here and all have made up there minds and sucessfully knock off anyone that expresses differently than they believe or they do.  But all are allowed and is that not a most joyful thing.Peace

• Clair_de_Lune said on Jan 12, 2008....

  yes, not what I found in the last 10 days'
  
  
  lol
  
  basically..
  
  lol
  
  roflol
  
  lol
  
  yea, sad..
  
  laffsunu :^/
  

• chizad40 said on Jun 05, 2008....

   
  I COULDN"T AGREE WITH YOU MORED
   
   
  http://www.soulcast.com/post/show/127072/Believe-or-Die%21%21%21

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