[TerAlelmlor]

as lisa (and many others) have at one point predicted, we stand at any crossroads involving our relationships, and i've noticed that people who still adhere to orthodox science and skepticism are often unnerved at any mention that you are interested in metaphysics or alternative medicine.

while i don't make any effort to "convert" anybody into any particular set of beliefs (i explicitly tell people they can walk whatever path they like and i don't care), and while i understand the prejudices of religion, i'm still finding it very difficult to relate to more scientific-minded people who are confused and/or threatened by the direction i'm going in. many of them would still very much like for me to get out of that field. the question is, is there any way to simply get along, and still maintain your truth and your path in life, without having to throw away otherwise good relationships because of an inability to
agree to disagree?

many facets of orthodox science (especially what is fed to people thorugh mass media) are not ready to accept some of the things proposed in metaphysics. this is why i for one don't find it necessary to keep explaining one's path to somebody else, explain why you are into it or are drawn to it, or prove how it works. it's frankly nobody else's business, not even those who are close to you, and most people who are asking you out of fear wouldn't hear you anyway. now while i find it better to simply agree to disagree, this still can become a point of contention between me and other people.

it's easy to see that the growing popularity of science during the renaissance gave people an alternative to religion, when people started taking empirical data as true, rather than blind faith. this wasn't necessarily a bad move; however now both science and religion can take a hardened stance against things having to do with higher consciousness. and robert anton wilson once mentioned that he would receive letters both from fundamentalist religious people as well as scientific-minded skeptics, the former accusing him of being a satan-worshipper, and the latter accussing him of being a charlatan and fraud. he said that, "both groups share in the same crusading zeal and the same total lack of humor, charity, and common human decency."

so any thoughts on this? any thoughts on how we can all simply get along, regardless of which way we lean? how do you get along with a more skeptical crowd that isn't really ready for the direction you're going in?