So after I dealt with my little bank dilemma, I finish flipping through my email and come across an email from someone who assumed I was an atheist. A couple of things first off:
1. Gross generalizations are always stupid...
2. Don't assume. It's bad practice...
3. I have nothing against atheism. I am Unitarian Universalist. I firmly believe that each person is entitled to the pursuit of the spirituality that fits them best. I don't push my beliefs on other people and I expect the same respect from them. (Why do I set myself up for disappointment?!)
4. I am not atheist. I am probably about as far from atheist as you can get.
So, you ask, why has someone assumed I am atheist? Well, this is where the gross generalization comes in.
I think creationism is a crock of poorly written mythology.
This, evidently, makes me an atheist. Personally I feel that my belief in the Universe as a guiding force and my personification of Mother Earth and Father Sky really preclude me from being an atheist. And I'm going out on a limb here but I am pretty sure most, if not ALL atheists out there would agree with me on that!!!
So out of respect for all the REAL atheists out there let me state that I am not an atheist. Please do not think that any of my spiritual beliefs in any way represents the atheist community.
And lastly, despite not being an atheist, I do believe that creationism IS a crock of poorly written mythology. This doesn't make me an atheist. This make me logical!
Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts
Friday, February 6, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Sound like anyone you know????
CHARACTERISTICS OF INDIGO CHILDREN;
• Have strong self esteem
• Know they belong here until they are told otherwise
• Have an obvious sense of self
• Have difficulty with discipline and authority
• Refuse to follow orders or directions
• Find it torture to wait in lines, lack patience
• Get frustrated by ritual-oriented systems that require little creativity
• Often see better ways of doing things at home and at school
• Are nonconformists
• Do not respond to guilt trips, want good reasons
• Get bored rather easily
• Are creative
• Are easily distractible, can do many things at once
• Display strong intuition
• Are gifted and/or talented, highly intelligent
• Are often identified or suspected of having ADD or ADHD, but can focus when they want to
• Are talented daydreamers and visionaries
• Have very old, deep, wise looking eyes
• Have spiritual intelligence and/or psychic skills
• Often express anger outwardly rather than inwardly and may have trouble with rage.
• Need our support to discover themselves.
• Are here to change the world – to help us live in greater harmony and peace with one another and to raise the vibration of the planet.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CRYSTAL CHILDREN:
• Have loving, forgiving, magnetic personalities
• Very nurturing, love cuddling, kissing, and hugging
• Do not like clothing, they seem to prefer nakedness, and if they have to wear clothing, it had best be soft and natural cotton or silks.
• Communicate telepathically
• Start talking late in childhood
• Have a strong desire to help others, especially other children in need.
• Have large eyes
• Have food allergies and be “picky” when it comes to their food. Prefer vegetarian meals.
• Have a strong fantasy and creative play
• Be able to see other worlds and dimensions
• Like to play with stones and crystals
• Love nature, water and animals
• Exhibit healing abilities.
• Creative, artistic, musically oriented.
• Have strong self esteem
• Know they belong here until they are told otherwise
• Have an obvious sense of self
• Have difficulty with discipline and authority
• Refuse to follow orders or directions
• Find it torture to wait in lines, lack patience
• Get frustrated by ritual-oriented systems that require little creativity
• Often see better ways of doing things at home and at school
• Are nonconformists
• Do not respond to guilt trips, want good reasons
• Get bored rather easily
• Are creative
• Are easily distractible, can do many things at once
• Display strong intuition
• Are gifted and/or talented, highly intelligent
• Are often identified or suspected of having ADD or ADHD, but can focus when they want to
• Are talented daydreamers and visionaries
• Have very old, deep, wise looking eyes
• Have spiritual intelligence and/or psychic skills
• Often express anger outwardly rather than inwardly and may have trouble with rage.
• Need our support to discover themselves.
• Are here to change the world – to help us live in greater harmony and peace with one another and to raise the vibration of the planet.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CRYSTAL CHILDREN:
• Have loving, forgiving, magnetic personalities
• Very nurturing, love cuddling, kissing, and hugging
• Do not like clothing, they seem to prefer nakedness, and if they have to wear clothing, it had best be soft and natural cotton or silks.
• Communicate telepathically
• Start talking late in childhood
• Have a strong desire to help others, especially other children in need.
• Have large eyes
• Have food allergies and be “picky” when it comes to their food. Prefer vegetarian meals.
• Have a strong fantasy and creative play
• Be able to see other worlds and dimensions
• Like to play with stones and crystals
• Love nature, water and animals
• Exhibit healing abilities.
• Creative, artistic, musically oriented.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Religion vs Spirituality revisited....
I have found myself arguing semantics yet again!!! I take the bait way to easily!! I have already discussed my views on how religion and spirituality differ in this post. However I feel the need to delve a little deeper and provide a few examples.
The usual warnings apply. I am an opinionated smart a$$ and this is my blog. If you are easily offended move along now! blah, blah, blah....
I would first like to elaborate on a statement I made in the above referenced post. "Religion is easy, spirituality takes work." With this statement I was referring to figuring out what you believe to be truth. Organized religion makes this an easy task. Most of them have a convenient, albeit wordy, 'user's manual'. For example, the Bible tells Christians just what their version of truth is and if you have difficulty understanding there is someone that will be happy to tell you just what everything means. Personal spirituality takes a bit more work than that. We must examine everything and decide for our self what is Truth.
The reason for the clarification is because what I am getting ready to say might sound like I am contradicting myself. I am not. If you think I am re-read everything and call me in the morning!
I recently got into a discussion about "Native American Spirituality". The argument was that there is no such thing as ONE Native American spirituality. Each group has their own spiritual practices. My rebuttal was that if you were to break down these seemingly different practices to their very core reasoning that they would be the same.
Don't over think this. It isn't that difficult! (This is where I might sound like I am contradicting myself. Spirituality takes work but that work isn't necessarily hard!)
For example, certain groups hold a particular herb or food in great regard. This can seem, outwardly, like a spiritual difference. However, if you break down WHY these things are considered holy or special it usually relates to the nourishing way of Mother Earth. The way each groups honors Mother Earth's nourishing spirit has developed based on their location (this is a cultural filter) NOT their beliefs.
The spiritual belief is the same. Mother Earth nourishes us and provides us with a place to live.
The way that is honored is what is different. For the Hopi, corn holds a sacred place in their culture. That is because corn is a main source of nourishment. Corn is how Mother Earth provides for them therefore corn is sacred. Just because another groups honors Mother Earth through a different source does not make their core belief about Mother Earth different.
Religion results from a cultural filter being applied to spiritual belief.
Let's strip this down even further. I am going to go as far as saying most religions stem from the same root spiritual belief. That root? Well, that would be the Golden Rule. Can it really be possible that all the Christians out there actually share the same fundamental spiritual belief as me??
I know it is hard to believe! Still don't buy it?
(BTW, I can't take credit for the above list since I found it online. Unfortunately I can't give credit for it either because I can't remember where I found it!)
I think that ‘the Golden Rule’ is a fundamental link between all of humanity. I might go as far as calling it our one true instinct. Obviously, I have an optimistic outlook on the potential of humanity.
The many cultural filters that have been applied to this root belief is what is responsible for all the varied religions around the world.
So while we may not share religious beliefs, that doesn't mean we can't share spiritual ones. (WOW, there's the UU coming out in me!!)
So this begs the question....
Why can't we all just get along????
The usual warnings apply. I am an opinionated smart a$$ and this is my blog. If you are easily offended move along now! blah, blah, blah....
I would first like to elaborate on a statement I made in the above referenced post. "Religion is easy, spirituality takes work." With this statement I was referring to figuring out what you believe to be truth. Organized religion makes this an easy task. Most of them have a convenient, albeit wordy, 'user's manual'. For example, the Bible tells Christians just what their version of truth is and if you have difficulty understanding there is someone that will be happy to tell you just what everything means. Personal spirituality takes a bit more work than that. We must examine everything and decide for our self what is Truth.
The reason for the clarification is because what I am getting ready to say might sound like I am contradicting myself. I am not. If you think I am re-read everything and call me in the morning!
I recently got into a discussion about "Native American Spirituality". The argument was that there is no such thing as ONE Native American spirituality. Each group has their own spiritual practices. My rebuttal was that if you were to break down these seemingly different practices to their very core reasoning that they would be the same.
Don't over think this. It isn't that difficult! (This is where I might sound like I am contradicting myself. Spirituality takes work but that work isn't necessarily hard!)
For example, certain groups hold a particular herb or food in great regard. This can seem, outwardly, like a spiritual difference. However, if you break down WHY these things are considered holy or special it usually relates to the nourishing way of Mother Earth. The way each groups honors Mother Earth's nourishing spirit has developed based on their location (this is a cultural filter) NOT their beliefs.
The spiritual belief is the same. Mother Earth nourishes us and provides us with a place to live.
The way that is honored is what is different. For the Hopi, corn holds a sacred place in their culture. That is because corn is a main source of nourishment. Corn is how Mother Earth provides for them therefore corn is sacred. Just because another groups honors Mother Earth through a different source does not make their core belief about Mother Earth different.
Religion results from a cultural filter being applied to spiritual belief.
Let's strip this down even further. I am going to go as far as saying most religions stem from the same root spiritual belief. That root? Well, that would be the Golden Rule. Can it really be possible that all the Christians out there actually share the same fundamental spiritual belief as me??
I know it is hard to believe! Still don't buy it?
Christianity:
"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 7:12
Buddhism:
"...a state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another?" Samyutta Nikaya v. 353
"Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." Udana-Varga 5:18
Native American Spirituality:
"Respect for all life is the foundation." The Great Law of Peace.
"Do not wrong or hate your neighbor. For it is not he who you wrong, but yourself." Pima proverb.
Judaism:
"...thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Leviticus 19:18
"What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. This is the law: all the rest is commentary." Talmud, Shabbat 31a.
Hinduism:
"This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you. Mahabharata 5:1517
Islam:
"None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself." Number 13 of Imam "Al-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths." 5
Bahá'í:
"Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst not have ascribed to thee, and say not that which thou doest not." "Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself." Baha'u'llah
"And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself." Epistle to the Son of the Wolf
Confucianism:
"Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you." Analects 15:23
"Tse-kung asked, 'Is there one word that can serve as a principle of conduct for life?' Confucius replied, 'It is the word 'shu' -- reciprocity. Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.'" Doctrine of the Mean 13.3
"Try your best to treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself, and you will find that this is the shortest way to benevolence." Mencius VII.A.4
Taoism:
"Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss." T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien.
"The sage has no interest of his own, but takes the interests of the people as his own. He is kind to the kind; he is also kind to the unkind: for Virtue is kind. He is faithful to the faithful; he is also faithful to the unfaithful: for Virtue is faithful." Tao Teh Ching, Chapter 49
(BTW, I can't take credit for the above list since I found it online. Unfortunately I can't give credit for it either because I can't remember where I found it!)
I think that ‘the Golden Rule’ is a fundamental link between all of humanity. I might go as far as calling it our one true instinct. Obviously, I have an optimistic outlook on the potential of humanity.
The many cultural filters that have been applied to this root belief is what is responsible for all the varied religions around the world.
So while we may not share religious beliefs, that doesn't mean we can't share spiritual ones. (WOW, there's the UU coming out in me!!)
So this begs the question....
Why can't we all just get along????
Monday, December 8, 2008
Religion vs Spirituality
How do I get myself into these arguments??? I must attract the religious crazies. Is that a good thing or bad thing??? So here is the gist of the "discussion" I had with someone a bit ago.
Religious Crazy (RC): Well, if you don't believe in God then what religion do you practice?
Me: I am a member of our local UU congregation and consider myself a UU but that doesn't define my beliefs. I prefer to refer to my beliefs as spirituality instead of religion. I don't really like "religion".
RC: I'm confused? Your beliefs ARE your religion. It is the same thing as spirituality. How can you have one without the other?
Me: Easy, they are NOT the same thing!
RC: Yes they are.
Me: They might be for you, but for me they hold distinct differences and I would prefer to never "practice" a religion. I prefer to develop my spirituality.
The conversation came to a screeching halt as the RC spent the next hour scratching her head trying to understand what I was saying. The response I finally got was...
RC: I don't really understand what you are saying but I will be praying for you!!
Oh yippie!! (Actually I do believe in the power of prayer mainly because it almost always is positive in nature and I believe in the power of positive thinking.)
So for all you religious crazies out there, and the regular crazies too, let me elaborate on the topic of religion vs. spirituality...
Religion and spirituality are totally different animals! They are often billed as the same thing. That isn’t the case and they are not dependent on one another. One can be spiritual and not have any affiliation with religion and one can be a devout follower of religion but have no spirituality of which to speak. The problem with religion is that people depend too heavily on it. People buy into the dogma and never really examine what it means, why it exists or how it relates to the World around them. This is where people miss out on spirituality. Religion is easy, spirituality takes work.
Religion requires us to follow as set of rules that were written by someone else. Religion tells us these rules are right because the ‘supreme being of choice’ said so. Religion tells us that there is no need for us to examine their validity because that has been done for us. As long as we follow the rules religion has set forth, then we are free of condemnation for the results of our actions.
Spirituality, on the other hand, requires us to get in touch with our World, cultivate our knowledge, enlighten ourselves and develop our own rules. Spirituality then holds us responsible for how the rules we developed affect the World. Spirituality does not tell us if our rules are correct. That is for us to discover. Spirituality encourages us to continually evaluate our rules and change them if they need adjusting. Spirituality is an ongoing experience, nothing is set in stone. Spirituality requires us to do the work for ourselves. It requires us to think.
Religion eliminates the need for us to get in touch with our governing energy, be it called God, Goddess, Spirit, Creator, etc. Religion provides us with "trained and educated clergy" whose job it is to get in touch with the governing energy and help the lay people to understand. Spirituality requires each of us to shut up and listen to what our specific governing energy is trying to tell us. Religion has caused us to loose touch with the energies that are there to help guide us while we develop our rule book.
After all, the rule book is already written for religion. Spirituality just provides us with blank paper, a pencil and a bottle of white-out because, while religion feels it is infallible, spirituality understands that the search for the correct set of rules is a never ending journey that is bound to takes us on a few wrong turns in the process.
Religious Crazy (RC): Well, if you don't believe in God then what religion do you practice?
Me: I am a member of our local UU congregation and consider myself a UU but that doesn't define my beliefs. I prefer to refer to my beliefs as spirituality instead of religion. I don't really like "religion".
RC: I'm confused? Your beliefs ARE your religion. It is the same thing as spirituality. How can you have one without the other?
Me: Easy, they are NOT the same thing!
RC: Yes they are.
Me: They might be for you, but for me they hold distinct differences and I would prefer to never "practice" a religion. I prefer to develop my spirituality.
The conversation came to a screeching halt as the RC spent the next hour scratching her head trying to understand what I was saying. The response I finally got was...
RC: I don't really understand what you are saying but I will be praying for you!!
Oh yippie!! (Actually I do believe in the power of prayer mainly because it almost always is positive in nature and I believe in the power of positive thinking.)
So for all you religious crazies out there, and the regular crazies too, let me elaborate on the topic of religion vs. spirituality...
Religion and spirituality are totally different animals! They are often billed as the same thing. That isn’t the case and they are not dependent on one another. One can be spiritual and not have any affiliation with religion and one can be a devout follower of religion but have no spirituality of which to speak. The problem with religion is that people depend too heavily on it. People buy into the dogma and never really examine what it means, why it exists or how it relates to the World around them. This is where people miss out on spirituality. Religion is easy, spirituality takes work.
Religion requires us to follow as set of rules that were written by someone else. Religion tells us these rules are right because the ‘supreme being of choice’ said so. Religion tells us that there is no need for us to examine their validity because that has been done for us. As long as we follow the rules religion has set forth, then we are free of condemnation for the results of our actions.
Spirituality, on the other hand, requires us to get in touch with our World, cultivate our knowledge, enlighten ourselves and develop our own rules. Spirituality then holds us responsible for how the rules we developed affect the World. Spirituality does not tell us if our rules are correct. That is for us to discover. Spirituality encourages us to continually evaluate our rules and change them if they need adjusting. Spirituality is an ongoing experience, nothing is set in stone. Spirituality requires us to do the work for ourselves. It requires us to think.
Religion eliminates the need for us to get in touch with our governing energy, be it called God, Goddess, Spirit, Creator, etc. Religion provides us with "trained and educated clergy" whose job it is to get in touch with the governing energy and help the lay people to understand. Spirituality requires each of us to shut up and listen to what our specific governing energy is trying to tell us. Religion has caused us to loose touch with the energies that are there to help guide us while we develop our rule book.
After all, the rule book is already written for religion. Spirituality just provides us with blank paper, a pencil and a bottle of white-out because, while religion feels it is infallible, spirituality understands that the search for the correct set of rules is a never ending journey that is bound to takes us on a few wrong turns in the process.
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