Terminology

Religion is somewhat of a touchy subject with many people.  Though I thought it might be good to point out where it is that I stand, especially since I have several posts talking about the personal power within a person to be a god and another about the universe providing.

Over the course of my life, I have studied many religions and in nearly every one of them there were good ideas and ideals and also things that I felt were lacking.  Most religion has an organized structure that tells people what is acceptable and what is not. The parts that explain how to be a good person I agree with and I love many of the stories that embody these morals.

I do believe that there are higher powers than man. For the most part I do not believe that they seek worship. I do my best to be a good person and to improve the lives of others around me. And that will have to be enough.

The main problem that I have with religion in general is, even though it may not be intended, people are taught that they are just victims, that they have no control over their lives. They are taught to forget about the bleakness and sadness of this life and to just soldier on.

And I find that idea horribly repulsive. No matter how awesome the afterlife may be,  nobody living remembers it. For the living, this is all there is. So I think that we should do everything we can to enjoy the lives that we have, to make them as awesome as possible.

Does that mean that I think we should chaotically run rampant and trample over the values of those that feel otherwise? No. I think we should still follow the words of a great yet humble man that declared "An ye harm none, do as thou wilt shall be the whole of the law" . I think that all peoples of all faiths should live together harmoniously and do our best to make the world a better place.

The concept of a single all knowing and somehow decidedly man-shaped being makes sense to a lot of people. To me the concept that the universe itself (all of it together) is a single super conscious being makes sense. By my words and actions, I mean no offense. So when I say universe, you can supplant the word that means single all knowing being to you. It matters not to me if your word is universe, god, prophet,the spirit, flying spaghetti monster, or hyper-intelligent squirrel. The concepts and ideas that make sense to each are their own to decide. And just because a thing does not make sense to me does not prevent it from being perfection to another.

If it is truly belief that shapes what is and we truly believe in our symbol, however we choose to view and accept it, then it is real, even if only for ourselves.

Let not the word I choose to describe that thing prevent you from accepting the message behind what I say. If you can change that one term and suddenly what I say seems acceptable, then my perspective and yours really are the same.

If not then it's time for jihad!!!

Just kidding.
Love, light and peace
till next time.