"If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice." ~ Freewill by RushThis will not come as a shock to most of you (I am still guessing). I don't subscribe to any one line of thought or belief. There are certain problems for me with most any organized religion. Yet I do not lack faith or grace, and I consider myself a spiritual person. I simply don't know what ties us all together or how it all began, and nothing I have read so far rings true. I am not holding out for ultimate proof, but what I believe needs to make sense to me.
I believe that evolution is a driving force in our world and species, but don't discount something divine involved in the beginning. When I think about the world as a whole, I'm not sure it can all be explained by chance.
I think there is something that ties us all together, but I think of it more in a horizontal plane rather than looking to the sky. I believe in the human spirit more than any other.
I am always interested in knowing, but I am comfortable that there will always be the unknown. I don't know what happens when this life ends, and at this point in my life, I am OK with that.
I have a (strong) moral compass and I have often wondered where it all came from. I am sure there is some hardwired nature involved, but a good portion of it came through the nurture of my parents, relatives and friends. I was taught to think about others and the world at large mostly by the example and practice of my parents.
I honestly don't know what people think of me with regard to my lack of defined religion. I don't know if they think me damned or not. No one has tried to save me yet, so I suppose not. I clipped this out of the paper 15 years ago:
"I never told my own religion nor scrutinized that of another. I never attempted to make a convert, nor wished to change another's creed. I am satisfied that yours must be an excellent religion to have produced a life of such exemplary virtue and correctness. For it is in our lives, and not from our words, that our religion must be judged."
~ Thomas Jefferson to Mrs. Harrison Smith 1816.Religion has become a hot topic, at times so hot that people cannot discuss it. Along with politics, religion seems to be a taboo topic, at least outside party lines. Though this may go against the sentiment of Jefferson's quote, since I do not have a defined religion I feel it fair to share some of what I believe:
- I don't think things "happen for a reason". Things happen, and people try to find reason.
- Life is difficult. Once you accept this, you transcend it.
- If there is a higher power, he/she is not involved in day to day minutiae of our lives.
- I believe in doing what I feel is right because it is right. I am not waiting for my reward in heaven (or here for that matter).
- The long-term benefit almost always outweighs the short-term gain.
- The way you live your life is the best way to show what you believe.
- I believe in this world and I am not looking forward to the end of days.
- If there is a heaven, I don't believe there is just one. As most religions damn those that don't believe in their book/God, that damns us all.
1 comment:
I COMMEND YOU MY FRIEND! I was so excited reading this post. Your honesty and vulnerability with your "90%" is inspiring. You are doing the admirable thing in really searching for truth and answers your way, and being honest about how you feel about what you find. I love it. I'm reading a book right now called "Blue Like Jazz" written by a flaming Liberal Christian that I think you may enjoy. He's ( Donald Miller ) got some great things to say. Anyhow, thanks so much for sharing this with your faithful friends. Rock on!!
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