First of all, a disclaimer – although I was raised as a Southern Baptist, my thoughts and beliefs are not based on any particular religious dogma. I am, in fact, leery of all organized religion because I see it as a man-made construct that is all too often used to wield power over the masses and enrich its leaders. Historically, more wars have been fought over ideological conflicts than any other cause, and those battles have brought death and suffering to untold millions of people throughout the ages.
I am, for all intents and purposes, done with religion in my life. Spirituality, however, is a different matter – and quite a different subject, as I regard it.
The foundation of my spiritual house is love, which can be expressed in many ways – love for a life partner, parents, children and friends; compassion toward our fellow man; generosity in the sharing of our resources; kindness to animals; respect for the environment. Love radiates outward from the core of our being like ripples in a pond, affecting everything around us to one degree or another.
The maxim that coexists with this foundation of love – the thing that puts feet to the feeling – is the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Such a simple thing, really, but so many times our egos get in the way of the implementation of this basic tenet. I ask you – how much better off would the world be if everyone in it subscribed to that handful of words? There would be a vast improvement almost immediately, I’d imagine. However, with human nature being as it is, I don’t hold out much hope for that outcome anytime soon, if ever.
The “devil” in my spiritual world is selfishness. It’s so easy to care only for ourselves and our comfort, without regard for the consequences of our self-centeredness. We want, we need, we like, we desire – we, we, we – as if WE were the center of the universe, instead of the one-in-seven-billion people on the planet. What gives us the right to put ourselves over others? What about their rights and desires? We are all one people, whether we realize it or not. We are voyagers on this spaceship called Earth, and if we are to survive the journey in any reasonable fashion, we had better realize it – and the sooner, the better.
I’ve had an interest in metaphysical subjects from an early age, although I didn’t really know that term at the time. All things psychic, paranormal, astrological or in some way “out there” held a great fascination for me. Having had a couple of psychic incidents as a child (astral projection and seeing my uncle’s ghost) made me curious to learn what else was going on that was outside of our everyday experience.
One of the events that finally set my mind free of my religious upbringing is a non-Western religion class I took in college. I had gone back to finish my degree as an adult 20+ years after I began. I’m very grateful to have taken this class (and others) later in life, because my adult perspective and life experiences made me appreciate and comprehend the fullness of it as I never would have as a youngster.
The current state of my spiritual beliefs is a synthesis of my Baptist upbringing, Buddhist principles and metaphysical aspects. I believe we are spiritual beings currently having an earthly experience. I believe there is a guiding force in the universe (call it the Great Spirit, God, or whatever word of your choosing). I believe in the principles of love, the Golden Rule and kindness to others. I believe in karma and in the spiritual balance of the universe. I believe there is a non-physical realm that exists, even though we can’t perceive it with our physical senses. I believe our spirit continues far beyond this earthly life. I believe great adventures are waiting for us that we can’t even imagine.
In short – I believe.
Tags: religion, spirituality
