Posted by sid on May 28, 2002, at 23:59:31
In reply to Giving up on one, trying another, posted by wendy b. on May 27, 2002, at 20:21:24
I was also baptized a Catholic, although even my parents never went to church much. In my culture, religion was oppressive for centuries, until the 1970's, when there was a "mind" revolution (the quiet revolution, it's called). Since then, people are atheist, agnostic, have stayed with the roman catholic church or have turned to other religions and sects even. Although I tend to think that most people (in my culture, still) are either agnostic, or they have spiritual beliefs without belonging to a specific religion (not actively anyway, like me - on paper I'm a catholic, in reality I'm not practicing). Religion has become a personal rather than a social thing, a bit like sex is a personal thing. So in general, I don't speak about my religious beliefs, just like I tend not to talk about my sex life with everybody. I consider it a very personal thing, and I usually don't like people asking about it, or telling me about their religious beliefs and practices. Except perhaps in a multicultural setting, where inter-cultural exchange would be the main objective, rather than religion itself. But hey - I've talked about sex on these pages, so why not about relogions too?
I guess I'm a typical product of my generation and educational rank. I am agnostic. I can't figure out if God exists or not, so why spend a lifetime trying to figure it out, or devoting myself to something that may not exist? I think that if God exists, then life after death might too, but I won't know until I'm dead, which I'm not eager to achieve. I have some spiritual connection with nature however - I find it soothing, and I find my purpose in it. I'm part of nature and nature is part of me. That's as far as I go these days in my spirituality. I find comfort in meditation and viniyoga - my thoughts, my though processes, "being inside my head and feeling good about it" is what grounds me. Admiring nature does it too. Listening to music sometimes too. As far as how I live, I think I have high moral standards, and I admire that in others. Not because I am afraud of God or because my religion tells me, rather, because I was raised like that, and because I value that. I do not hurt someone purposefully, and in the same way, I don't let others hurt me or the people I live and feel that I should defend. On top of that, if I still have time and energy to do good for others, then I'm glad to do it. That's my basic way of living, based on my values rather than religion.
I tend not to like organized religion. They have been, and many still are, tools of control and repression over the millenia, and I don't condone that. Also, I have met many supposedly religious people who went to church every week who did terrible things to others, so that's not something I'm impressed with (someone being religious). Actions speak for themselves, rather than appearances. I prefer people who have high morals but do not necessarily associate with an organized religion or do not broadcast their good deeds everywhere. I also tend to think that a world without religion would be a happier one - just think of all the conflicts in the world that are caused by religious conflicts! The massacres, the aculturation, etc. - religion is unfortunately often related to power, politics and money.
I know I won't be popular for what I wrote here, but that's OK. People are entitled to their beliefs and religious associations. Me too. So in general, I'm not crazy about religion, any religion, even mine. High morals and the ability to be amazed by the people and the nature that surrounds us speaks to me a lot more than any religion could.
- sid
poster:sid
thread:2
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20020527/msgs/3.html