 |
|
The recent blogs have been very interesting. I have come to believe that there are as many paths to a Higher Power (whatever you may conceive that power to be) as there are individuals. Spiritality seems to be a part of our basic makeup, so each personl needs to find the path that works for them. I have been doing a lot of investigative reading over the last little while and this has lead to some major changes in my belief system.
I was brought up in a traditional Christian religion. Then, as an adult, I joined a religious group that has many of the characteristics of a cult. As a child, I was led to believe that God was very vengeful, severly punishing wrongdoing even to the point of torturing people forever in a burning hell. Is it any wonder that I had trouble believing that "God is Love"? I couldn't understand how an loving God could possible torture people forever. I would never be capable of such cruelity,and I was just a child. How could you ever hurt someone you loved.I found that God to be a fearsome entity. I found it difficult to build a bond with somethig I was afraid of. My second set of religious beliefs were extremely strict, with many rules, requirements, and obligations to be met. They also insisted that only those who followed all these obligations would survive "Armaggedon" (God's war which would "cleanse" the earth). Association with persons not of the same faith was strongly discouraged and all other faiths were condemned and believed to originate with Satan. In this religion I felt that I was not, and never could be, good enough to survive Armaggedon and be part of God's "New Order of Things". Again my religeous beliefs did not foster a love of God, only feelings of inadequacy. Eventually, a long time after I was "kicked out" of that organization, I was able to discard that belief system. It was difficult to overcome the indoctrination that I had undergone for 20 years.
At this point in my life, I don't have all the answers. I can't define God other than to know that there is an Intelligece in the universe that knows more than I do. It is a Force for good and embodies love. It does not foster fear and is not exclusive. I will never again belong to any group that believes that it has all the answers and the only answers.The name that I might attach to this Power does not matter - It is known by 1000 names and more. I accept that, at this moment, this Power is beyond my personal ability to define - and that's OK. Acceptance that this power exists is enough.
|
 |
||||||||||||||||||
