In Reply to: Re: picking up the pieces posted by susie on March 10, 2004 at 03:12:08:
That is kinda how I look at it too. I don't believe that religion and spirituality have anything in common but they can complement each other. I know many very "spiritual" atheists and agnostics. I guess I am an agnostic. But I think spirituality is about how i feel about myself and how I treat others and the world around me. And I am FAR from perfect! One thing I hate about the family in hindsight is the drilling we got about being "nothing" "worthless" "Shit" etc. It is a lot like domestic abuse. very emotionally abusive.
I remember one time after my son's dad died and I yelled at them "DONT BE ANGRY" when they were reacting real angrily. But I stopped myself then and there because I had learned that all our feelings count and are there for a reason.(and not to squelch them unless they were a danger to the person or others!) And I apologized to them. Squelching emotions that did not coincide with Berg's were anathema. (whether it was having the appropriate reaction to what was happening or being angry-or other feeling- WITH berg against what ever was his target at the time.)
It was a real freedom to know that I do not have to smile all the time and treat everybody with "P.R." appearance being a "sample".
I had to learn what and who I was after getting out. I did not know what politics, clothes, tastes in films, books, etc that I had.
We were all so "codependent" in that group, walking on eggshells and waiting for the other shoe to fall when there was a time of solace.
Anyway, thank you for your compliments and I enjoy reading your posts. :)