Auspex66

Ok, well I have another story to share. This is only my second message, so I am going to give up some of my idea's and just let my brain flow for a while.
Never in my life have I been subjected to forced religion. Unlike most kids in america, I was never made to attend church, go to sunday school, or even attend funerals or pray sessions. I consider myself very lucky in this aspect, because I could stand back and observe the happenings of "religious people". I was a curious girl, I would wander into churches just to see what they were like, talk to friends and family about their gods and wordly laws, and from all my knowledge thus far from life, I have selected only the good idea's out of all religions. I don't think I am one particular religion, hell I don't even know what to call myself, but I believe, honestly, that I have one of the best spiritual relationships ever.
I believe in two trinities. A father trinity and a mother trinity. The boy, the father, the wise man. The girl, the mother, and the wise woman. Basic stages of life and passages that I recognize to be pinacles in our course of life. I believe in the spirit of humans that can be seen through the eyes. I believe in a code of respect for the earth and for animals who hold wisdom we can only hope to know. I also believe that marijuana connects me to a spiritual peace inside of myself. (this goes along with the idea that nature holds untapped secrets, I mingle with other herbs and their medicinal and spiritual properties as well) Right now my battle is living within the laws of nature, which, unfortunately is not easy for a suburban kid that has grown up with all these wondeerous material things. I bask in the glory of simple knowledges of the earth and plan one day to keep and live on my own land. I don't really discuss my spiritual beliefs with anyone, because, like marijuana I think it should be a personal private affair.
Auspex

Bailey1138

I was in a similar upbringing myself, although I did go to funerals and the like. I ended up just sort of discovering my own beliefs along the way, although they seem to differ greatly from yours. But that's alright, we all have to find our own way and reach our own conclusions. Otherwise, what's the point? Nice post Auspex.

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"All you do is head straight for the grave, a face just covers a skull awhile. Stretch that skull cover and smile."--Jack Kerouac, Visions of Cody

schwadood

I too have found my beliefs my own. It started way before I smoked when I would just sit and think. I eventually started thinking about religion and why there are so many. Which one is right? I decided that they were all right because they all had the same goal, just different ways to get there and different words to describe it. I started reading about Buddhism and eastern philososphy, things that we in America just aren't exposed to much. I try not to put a name on any of my beliefs, because the last thing I want is for them to become organized, but I do have a name for one part. What I call the oneness. The oneness is the connection between all living things. It is our mind. It is what the Christians call god. It is what the Buddhists call pure conciousness. It is love.

It's nice to hear that someone else has taken the same path I have, but it took you somewhere else. Or maybe it didn't? You have a good one Auspex! peace

sifion

If there's something wrong with the world today (besides drugs beeing illegal, violence, etc.), is the fact that kids are in most communities raised by their family religion and in most cases forbiden to question it or to have the freedom of looking up for ideas in other religions. I was raised as a Christian and was also open-minded enough to question it and to come to my own religious ideas. .
I think that in todays world we should raise our kids with the freedom of looking up for their own beliefs, guiding them to the aproach of them by the basical rule that is to be greater citizens and to live in harmony with others

blazebluntz

Religion restricts what you can believe. Like many Christians believe that only they will go to heaven. What kind of statement is that to make and teach your kids? Only Christians are worthy? I think it's ridiculous. I think it leads to close-minded individuals, thus leading to close-minded communities and so forth.

twexile

I was forced to go to every meeting and/or prayer meeting that could be conceived for a Christian to work their way into heaven! In my early teen years I decided to start studying the religions of the world through books (I had access to several very, very good libraries), correspondence, and clandestine meetings (if my mother had caught me...well let's not get into that). Through this I began to see that most, if not all, religions had a common source or origin, then there must be a truth some where to be found. Yet, I had determined that it is not found, for it is revealed and in that you may be the only one or the only one that you know of that has this belief! However, you are all that matters when it comes to that which is your personal belief! I have also come to the conclusion that truth is relative, therefore your truth may not be truth to someone else and their truth may not be truth to you! We should each be convinced in our own revealed truth or belief, for it is relative to, possibly, only one or just a few (when you live on a planet with billions a few could be in the millions)! I believe that there is an intelligence in this universe far greater and far, far more powerful than ourselves. Mankind and all other life on this planet is far to complex to be a chance occurrence of the survival of the fittest, although it is very possible that evolution was a tool of creation! I do not believe that man will be going to heaven, for this earth was created for man and this is our home (man is not eternal, if he is then tell me why did my father die), but if you believe as I believe that all things are possible...hey...I cannot tell you what another being of an understanding far, far greater than that which mankind has or ever will surpass can or cannot do, nor can anyone else, for it would be like an ant trying to explain the capabilities of mankind to another ant! Do you think an ant could do that? It might be possible...I don't know! I believe that there are a vast number of unknowns in this universe that a scientist may say I cannot prove it therefore it doesn't exist. There was a time when mankind believed the world to be flat and that it was the center of the universe and persecuted or killed anyone that said otherwise, so just because it cannot be proved now can anyone really say it doesn't exist or it is not possible? A very wise man once said, “You won't know, what you don't know, until you know, and to find out you must go to the far, far fence...feel me!” -- John Lee Whitehead. That is so very true, for we will not know until we know, however until then we can believe as all things are possible! Just as mankind has found out that the world is not flat, nor is it the center of the universe and a simple thing like that took mankind thousands of years to figure out, so time will tell.

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Disclaimer: All statements above are the express opinion and/or belief of the author and are not to be considered to be facts, nor should they be used in any legal proceedings. I hope this makes the closed-minded happy!