religion

May 14, 2003

Tom,

I am sorry you had such a bad experience with organized religion. I know what it's like to want to give something your all, I am like that too an take teachings very serouisly as well. I think it is a good quality you have and you seem like a very compassionate person. I think people tend to expect more from Christians because the teachings are so based in forgiveness and non judgement, pacifsm, ect. that it is too apparent that many Christians are not practicing what they preach, and are actually seemingly contridicting the teachings at every turn. I used to have a big problem with that, and now I have a small problem with it and am finding some peace with the issue. It is harder still when clergy men are inconsistant. Christinaity encompasses so many people that the babies tend to get thrown out with the bathwater, those who are doing well and walking the path are overshadowed by the many who aren't doing as much. I think just because a person becomes a Christian does not mean they will suddenly have the ability to change all of their patterns and bad habits, who knows, maybe they were less loving and kind before and this is the "Improved" version were are seeing. People have fault, we all have it and we always will, most likely. When we look to Christians or Muslims or Buddhists will will find inconsistancies and can be disappointed. When you say "Islam treats women like this", it is not Islam but people, people treat people like this. It is wrong, wrong by Mohammad, wrong by Jesus, wrong by Buddha, and I would imagine wrong by the Lord and Lady or the Gods of Paganism.

I would say to anyone, if they open their heart to Jesus, open it to Jesus, and don't worry about how well your neighbor is living up to his example. Worry about how you are living up to his example. Similarly with any religion. People will fail to meet the high ideals of unconditional love and compassion, everyone of us to varying degrees. Christianity has a concept that you probably know saying that all sins are equal. It seems strange at first, how could that be? But I like it because it helps keep me from being self rightous, and reminds me we are all just trying to walk our various paths and we are stumbling together.

I am a "bad" Christian by all accounts, or some Christians would see me as a heathen. I accept all religions as having equal value, I do not believe homosexuals should be banned from church but treated with respect, I do not believe that Ghandi will go to hell because he wasn't Christian. And it is hard that these qualities that I find are my good qualities are reasons I am not "Christian". But God bless them. I say forget about the followers and evaluate the source of any teachings and whether it speaks to you.

A quick answer to your second question, there is no evidence that is not in your heart. You feel it and believe it or you don't. Each is acceptable. That is why it's called faith!

peace

Siobhan

I was force-fed a lot of Catholic baloney from a very young age, and when Iwas a Catholic, I was the real deal. I was an altar boy, I went to massevery Sunday, I gave up sugar and lollies for lent, even going to mass everyday for that period, once. I'm a bit of an all-or-nothing person: probablywhy I'm vegan. I don't like to just talk the talk, I have to walk it,whatever the down-side. But as for being born spiritual, I suppose if youbelieve in "spirits" yes, but frankly, where's the evidence?Tom

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