Spiritual Leadership - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

innovis · 01-09-2007, 10:42 AM

I'm not sure if this is the correct place for this or not, but...

It seems more and more that women I meet want a man (as a relationship partner) who is a spiritual leader. So my question is, how can I be more of a spiritual leader? I myself do not consider myself religious, but I am very interested in the philosophy/ethics/doctrine of religion, so in the past 2 weeks I've started reading the Tao Te Ching, the Bible, etc. Is it that they want someone who will be able to guide them, support them, or be some kind of strength?

As a side note, the women I'm referring to are Christian, but is this generally true?

The_Jazz · 01-09-2007, 12:09 PM

Serious answer: I've never heard any woman want to be with a "spiritual leader", and I've dated some Bible-bangers. I'm actually having trouble imagining the kind of woman who would be after that particular trait other than The Church Lady (of Dana Carvey fame). If it's a blow-off, maybe she's only into dating guys from her church or something, which seems like a big "steer clear" sign in and of itself to me.

Not serious: 1) found your own cult 2) set yourself up as the second coming 3) Profit!

mixedmedia · 01-09-2007, 12:19 PM

4) Marry every one of these women looking for spiritual leaders.

But seriously, I've never heard anything like this before.

Ourcrazymodern? · 01-09-2007, 01:25 PM

I've never heard anything like this before, either. Where did it come from?
& why did you only recently started reading these nonsenses?
ps, I think the Asians have a better handle on it.

innovis · 01-09-2007, 10:19 PM

Well, these are generally conservative southern Presbyterian college girls. There is one in particular I like, who likes me, but is concerned that we don't share the same beliefs. She is probably more liberal and questioning than all of the other girls in the group, but I can still tell that she wants support spiritually, and it is a large part of her life.

Why am I reading them? Because I don't want to be ignorant, because alot of things have Bible references and parallels that I don't understand. I'm also seeing if any of them make sense, and have a good general *way to live your life* message.

PS: I'm thinking that I'm leaning most towards Buddhism, because Taoism seems unrealistic and Christianity #1 is difficult for me to believe and #2 seems to feed on someone's desire(for *something* or heaven) or guilt.

mixedmedia · 01-10-2007, 03:01 AM

Well, frankly then, you should probably leave these girls be to find the spiritual leaders then or just commit to dating them casually. If you can't even begin to believe their religion how are you going to be one's spiritual leader? Besides, this has to be a regional thing, I don't think it's that common among all Christian women, and certainly not among non-Christians.

Actually Buddhism has many more fantastic stories and concepts to take on faith than Taoism does.

Ourcrazymodern? · 01-11-2007, 05:20 PM

I have a statue of Buddha and a statue of Mary in my garden. She has her back to him of course. There have been religious differences of opinion between my beloved and I, but as long as you can eventually agree to disagree, the relationship evolves.

"Every man is my superior in that I may learn from him." - I'd attribute it properly but I only remember it from All in the Family.

01-09-2007, 10:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
innovis Crazy	Spiritual Leadership I'm not sure if this is the correct place for this or not, but... It seems more and more that women I meet want a man (as a relationship partner) who is a spiritual leader. So my question is, how can I be more of a spiritual leader? I myself do not consider myself religious, but I am very interested in the philosophy/ethics/doctrine of religion, so in the past 2 weeks I've started reading the Tao Te Ching, the Bible, etc. Is it that they want someone who will be able to guide them, support them, or be some kind of strength? As a side note, the women I'm referring to are Christian, but is this generally true?

01-09-2007, 12:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
The_Jazz Asshole Administrator Location: Chicago	Serious answer: I've never heard any woman want to be with a "spiritual leader", and I've dated some Bible-bangers. I'm actually having trouble imagining the kind of woman who would be after that particular trait other than The Church Lady (of Dana Carvey fame). If it's a blow-off, maybe she's only into dating guys from her church or something, which seems like a big "steer clear" sign in and of itself to me. Not serious: 1) found your own cult 2) set yourself up as the second coming 3) Profit! __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin "There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush "We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

01-09-2007, 12:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
mixedmedia has all her shots. Location: Florida	4) Marry every one of these women looking for spiritual leaders. But seriously, I've never heard anything like this before. __________________ Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

01-09-2007, 01:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ourcrazymodern? still, wondering. Location: South Minneapolis, somewhere near the gorgeous gorge	I've never heard anything like this before, either. Where did it come from? & why did you only recently started reading these nonsenses? ps, I think the Asians have a better handle on it. __________________ BE JUST AND FEAR NOT

01-10-2007, 03:01 AM	#6 (permalink)
mixedmedia has all her shots. Location: Florida	Well, frankly then, you should probably leave these girls be to find the spiritual leaders then or just commit to dating them casually. If you can't even begin to believe their religion how are you going to be one's spiritual leader? Besides, this has to be a regional thing, I don't think it's that common among all Christian women, and certainly not among non-Christians. Actually Buddhism has many more fantastic stories and concepts to take on faith than Taoism does. __________________ Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

01-09-2007, 10:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
innovis Crazy	Well, these are generally conservative southern Presbyterian college girls. There is one in particular I like, who likes me, but is concerned that we don't share the same beliefs. She is probably more liberal and questioning than all of the other girls in the group, but I can still tell that she wants support spiritually, and it is a large part of her life. Why am I reading them? Because I don't want to be ignorant, because alot of things have Bible references and parallels that I don't understand. I'm also seeing if any of them make sense, and have a good general way to live your life message. PS: I'm thinking that I'm leaning most towards Buddhism, because Taoism seems unrealistic and Christianity #1 is difficult for me to believe and #2 seems to feed on someone's desire(for something or heaven) or guilt.

01-11-2007, 05:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ourcrazymodern? still, wondering. Location: South Minneapolis, somewhere near the gorgeous gorge	I have a statue of Buddha and a statue of Mary in my garden. She has her back to him of course. There have been religious differences of opinion between my beloved and I, but as long as you can eventually agree to disagree, the relationship evolves. "Every man is my superior in that I may learn from him." - I'd attribute it properly but I only remember it from All in the Family. __________________ BE JUST AND FEAR NOT