Find Religion

I’m out soaking up the sun at the beach for a week, so a number of my bloggin’ friends are guest posting for me! Today’s guest poster is DaveP from PopBuzzUK. Enjoy!

I was brought up vaguely Christian. By that I mean my family were Christian, and I went to a Church of England school, but I never really attended church. In Religious education, we were taught about the world’s major religions, although we were always brought back to believing Jesus was the Son of God, and that if you didn’t follow him, then you’d go to hell.

All the way through school, I had two problems with this. One was that straight after R.E. class, I’d walk in to a science laboratory and be taught about atoms, molecules, and the nature and origins of the universe. Hang on I thought, how could both of these theories I’m being told as gospel be true? I personally have as many problems believing in the big bang theory as I do believing that God made the world in seven days. There was clearly a man named Jesus around at that time, but are the stories attributed to him true, or legends passed down wrongly through many generations? I had a questioning mind at that age, and pondered these things often.

The other problem I had was the fact I saw religious conflicts happening on a daily basis around the world. During the day, I was being taught that Judaism, Christianity and Islam were all peaceful religions, and that harming other people was a major sin. Then I’d go home and watch the evening news where images of religious zealots were killing innocent people whose only crime was being different. Why has believing something different from someone else become a reason to hate and a need to wipe people off the face of the planet?

So my schooling had a big impact on me, and I now have my own beliefs that don’t really fit in to any particular mould. I believe in the evolution of our species, as discovered and explained by Charles Darwin. But I still don’t know how it all began, and I don’t even think we’re meant to know. I don’t believe in heaven and hell, but I do believe in an afterlife. If this is it, then it all seems a bit pointless, and my instincts tell me there is something far better on the other side of death. Or is that just hope? I don’t blindly follow any religion, but I do respect everyone’s right and ability to believe what they want to, so long as it doesn’t inflict on my life.

And the point to all this? I’m grateful that I received a rounded education, which gave me the knowledge and capacity to make my own mind up about these things. Surely that is the very meaning of educating children? And I’m fearful that with the rise of faith schools, kids will be indoctrinated in to one way of believing, without being taught there is even an alternative.

religion, religion in education, religion in schools, public education, god, evolution, creationism, creative, big bang

I’m out soaking up the sun at the beach for a week, so a number of my bloggin’ friends are guest posting for me! Today’s guest poster is April Gilford from Life as a Christian Woman. Enjoy!

When Allison asked for guest bloggers, I jumped on the chance and decided to talk about religious tolerance. Although in my own blog I concentrate on issues relating to Christian women, I believe that tolerance of others is a vital attitude for moving toward a more cohesive earth. Finding religion in everyday life is a spiritual journey, no matter where that journey begins or the name of the god[s] one believes is at the end. In order to practice acceptance and cohesion, we must first learn what it is we are tolerating.

The United States is at war with Islamic radicals. The Jewish nation of Israel exchanges fire with Palestine. Christians are arrested in China for religious practices. In the midst of all of these conflicts, the United Nations pushes for more global economies, trade agreements are signed between countries, and contact with nearly any person in the world is only a click away on the Internet. How do we reconcile functioning in today’s world-wide information age with conflicts raging over basic cultural and spiritual beliefs?

Peace will only come through understanding. Understanding other peoples will not excuse genocide and atrocities against women and children, or explain starvation, disease, and governmental dictatorships. But it is essential to opening the doors on these issues. If you take into account the thousands of religions and belief systems throughout the world, one element becomes clear in all of them: those beliefs shape the way in which that culture, family unit, or single person lives life. Whether subtle or blatant, beliefs contribute to actions. 6,000,000 Jews were killed for their religion during World War II. By the latter-1900’s, the Bororo Indians of South America drove themselves to extinction by their own fascination and obsession with death. For both cultures, in acting or being acted upon, they believed.

The purpose of my post today is to challenge you. Choose at least one religion other than your own or the one you grew up in and learn about it. What are the major tenets of that religion? In which geographical areas is that religion represented? What are three major events that happened in the history of that religion? How is that religion practiced outwardly by its followers? How is that religion similar to and different from your own? Find the writings or teachings of a leader of that religion and read them. To get you started, visit www.religionfacts.com, a website dedicated to archiving the major facts on religions of the world. As you learn a little about it, you can search for other sources on the web. Then come back here and let us know what your search revealed in understanding other people and their actions.

Allison challenges you everyday to find religion in your everyday life. Today, I am challenging you to find another religion and understand the everyday life of someone else.

religious tolerance, tolerance, religion, find religion, learning about religion

My boyfriend’s parents recently closed the deal on buying a piece of land. They’ve also finalized the plans with a contractor and within a month or so will break ground on their new house. They currently live in a very nice area and own a very nice house, but they’ve worked hard for the past 40 years and have now saved up to buy their dream home. And it’s going to be a masterpiece.

Yesterday, I talked with you about the concept of “no pain, no gain.” Without the effort of going on a spiritual journey, you can’t have the rewards of finding peace with yourself, life, and the Divine. This journey can (and should), last your entire life. However, don’t forget that at some points, it’s OK to stop and build a house.

Think of your spiritual journey as a renter’s situation. You test religious schools of thought and constantly move from one idea to another. It’s a lot of work, but you have to live somewhere, right?

But, when you find a neighborhood you love and have worked hard in order to afford it, why not build a house? Your spiritual house can continue to change slightly (think of it as remodeling or building additions or adding a pool), but to have a house means that you’re pretty solid in your faith and ideas.

Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of advocating for a spiritual journey? you may ask. Not necessarily. Remember that it takes years of hard work to be able to afford a house that you really love. You shouldn’t settle for something cheap and shoddy, just like you shouldn’t settle for a religion that doesn’t perfectly fit you. It’s also ok if your house doesn’t look like every other house on the block. Think of a religion as a homeowners’ association–they have certain rules that you have to follow (ie, a Christian believes in Jesus), but you can also deviate a bit to make your house (your religion) your own.

What’s the advantage of building a house? Some people never quite find what they want, and that’s ok. Your spiritual journey can last until the day you die. But when you have a house (religion), it’s easier to have guests (talk to others about your beliefs), easier to decorate (mesh out your exact beliefs and specific ideas), raise a family (talk to your children about the Divine), and, in general, be happy. Having a house can be a wonderful thing.

Don’t jump into things too early, but also don’t be afraid to say “Yes. This is what I believe, and where I fit. I am a *insert religion here*.” Don’t be afraid to build your house.

building a house, God, religion, Divine, religious, religious house, building, spirit, spiritual journey, journey

You’ve heard the concept “no pain, no gain,” right? It applies to much more than just doing crunches or running marathons. The no pain concept can be applied to most parts of your life, include religion.

What do I mean? Well, to truly get the most out of life, it’s important to go on a spiritual journey, not just have a religion spoon-fed to you. Yes, it’s a lot of trouble. Yes, it takes a long time. However, the reward is a happier, healthier life.

Are you an atheist? If yes, I’m sure you’ve been an attempted convert at least a few times in your life. And, amazingly, that’s a good thing. I’m not against atheism. If it’s what works for you, that’s fine with me. However, what I am against is people who never take the time to consider that God might be real.

At the same time, if you’re religious, I best you’ve been confronted at least once or twice in your life by someone who challenges your views on God. And that’s a God thing too! I’m not against organized religion. I am against people who join a religion before ever considering other possibilities.

Rethinking about religion is difficult, especially if it’s a tradition in your family. No pain, no gain. When you think about how religion affects you and how it can (and cannot) work with your life is crucial. I honestly believe that the Divine wants us to find a way to fit religion into our own lives. That doesn’t mean that religion should be secondary in your life. It shouldn’t always be easy. However, if Christianity doesn’t make sense to you, you shouldn’t be a Christian, even if that’s how you were raised.

Bottom line: don’t give up on religion. When the going gets tough…get going!

atheism, religion, no pain no gain, religion, religious journey

Ok, now I’m not a huge Paris Hilton fan. I also don’t hate the girl. What I will say is that I don’t envy her. Going to jail, no matter if you deserve it or not (I’m not joining that debate!) is scary, and she has to go through it with the entire world watching her, mocking her every move. That stinks.

But I don’t want to talk about Paris’ plight as much as I want to talk today about something good that can come from jail–finding religion. Or, maybe a better way to put it is finding peace with God. One of my friend spent some time in jail a number of years ago, and while you’re not allowed to bring much, you are allowed a copy of the Bible (or, I think, any religious text). While in jail, he read the Bible start to finish and it changed his life.

Now, I’m not saying that Paris is going to read the Bible while in jail and come out a “saved” person. I don’t really know much about Paris—in fact, for all I know, she could be extremely spiritual already.

That said, I simply wanted to touch on the fact that religion really can help people going through rough times (like a jail sentence). However, why is it that we turn to religion only when things are going wrong? Shouldn’t we have religion in our daily lives, even on the good days. Religion is like the opposite of a fair-weather friend.

And I don’t think God minds too much, but I do think your life is more fulfilling if you allow your religion to enter your life completely, not just when you’re in need. Don’t wait until you go to jail to read the Bible. Read it today.

EDIT: Right after I wrote this post, the Associated Press reported that Paris has been talking to Barbara Walters via phone:

Hilton has been saying that she is changed by her jailhouse experience, and she repeated that theme with Walters: “Now, I would like to make a difference. … God has given me this new chance.”

religion, find religion, religious, Paris Hilton, Paris, Hilton, Paris Hilton jail, Paris Hilton jail sentence, jail Paris Hilton

A friend of mine had this in his AIM profile, and I found it inspirational, so decided to share with you all:

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
- Matthew 6:34

I worry. A lot. You can just ask my boyfriend if you don’t believe me. You know what though? This advice is spot-on. Today has enough trouble, let tomorrow’s troubles for tomorrow.

There was no weekend homework on Friday because I have a special assignment to be done during the weekend instead! As always, if you participated in the homework challenge leave a comment here or send my a private message using the contact button to the right!

This weekend’s homework: Take God to work.

Bible verse: “No on can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” -Matthew 6:24

“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” - Psalm 105:4

Devotional: Last week we talked about Take Our Sons and Daughters to Work Day. But what about God? You might make lots of time for God in your home and on the weekend, but does He can a place in the office?

The answer, of course, is yes. God should be in our lives at all times, including when we are at work, but this can be somewhat tricky if there are multiple religious faiths represented in your office/place of employment. The trick is to include God in your workday without making others feel uncomfortable. Here are some suggestions for taking God to work:

-Start off your day right by taking God on your commute. Leave your house a bit early so that you don’t have to rush on your way to work. That way, you can be less tense in traffic. Allow others to go and if someone cuts you off say a silent prayer for them instead of throwing the finger.

-Keep a Bible in your desk at work. You may never have time to read it during your work day, but it will be there in case you do need/want it someday.

-Don’t be a pushover, but do some favors now and again. In the Bible, it is written that it is better to give than to receive.

-Pray before your meals. If you’re worried about offending someone who is not of your religion when you’re out to lunch with others, say a silent prayer. Remember, prayer doesn’t have to be ten minutes long. You can simply say “God, thank you for the food I am about to eat. Amen.”

-If you hang pictures on your walls, choose one with and inspirational Bible quote. This will not only guide you during the day, but will also possible motivate others who come into your office.

Ok, ok…I’ll admit it. I can throw quite a temper tantrum when I’m angry. Being upset about something often leads me, like most other people in the world I’d imagine, to say things I don’t mean and do things I wouldn’t normally do. One time, when mad at my boyfriend, I whipped a plastic cup across the room. Not at him…but haha, come on, Allison, grow up!

Even Jesus threw a temper tantrum or two in his day, though–remember that time he threw over the tables of the money collectors in the temple? Simple put, anger is a normal human emotion, and yes, you have to learn to deal with it in a healthy way, but it doesn’t need to be avoided in your life complete. If you’re angry, be angry!

Anger only becomes sin when we are selfishly anger or when we allow anger to linger in our hearts. “Don’t sin by letting anger gain control over you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil.” Ephesians 26-27.

For advice about stopping unhealthy and sinful anger, read Neel’s post here.

SELMER, Tenn. - A preacher’s wife accused of murdering her husband said Wednesday that he punched and kicked her, forced her to have sex and refused to grant her a divorce.

Testifying in her murder trial, Mary Winkler told jurors her husband, Matthew, was a smart and talented man, but could also be mean in both his actions and words.

“I just wanted out,” she said. “He just could be so mean.”

READ MORE

This story makes me really sad…This women felt so cornered and so trapped that killing her husband was her only option. During the trial, she talked about how he forced her to do things she didn’t want to do in the bedroom and kicked her in the face or used a belt when they were fighting. Everything was her fault, from a problem with their children to the rain.

My heart really bleeds for a situation like this.

If you are being abused, verbally or physically, there is help. Use the contact link to the right to email me, and I can and will help you. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

abusive relationships, abuse, Mary Winkler, Matthew Winkler

Today, all eyes are on the campus of Virginia Tech where, I’m sure you’ve heard by now, over 30 people were gunned down this morning when a shooter attacked the campus. As of yet, the gunman has not been identified, nor has it been released whether he was a member of the student body. One thing is certain: this is the deadliest shooting in the history of the United States. As I’m writing right now, 33 are confirmed dead, including the shooter. It has not been released if police killed the shooter or if it was suicide.

EDIT, 4/17:Since writing this yesterday, the gunman has been identified as Cho Seung-Hui, a senior VA Tech English student, and it has also been determined that he shot himself. The number dead stands at 33, with the students still in the hospital as stable.

At times like these, most people, myself include are just dumbfounded. I look to the sky. Why, God? Why? Death is never an easy part of life, but on top of death, shear tragedy.

And yet, it is difficult to not want to bring the shooter back to life, just to shoot him again. Most people will agree with me when I think, I hope he suffered. That, dear readers, scares me. My own feelings about this situation make me question my very ability to write a daily blog about religion. For in the Bible, it says,

“If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.”
1 John 1:8-9

To condemn the shooter, as heinous as the crime may be, is to put ourselves above as somehow “better.” It is to deny the sins within ourselves. I’m not justifying what the shooter did. This was a horrible, horrible thing, and he is a cold-blooded murderer. However, right now, I’m pledging to open my heart to forgiveness.

Remember, forgiveness is not the same as saying “it’s ok.” It’s NOT ok. It will never BE ok. Forgiveness is simple saying “I acknowledge what you did, but it is not in my place to judge you.” God will judge this event; I feel confident in that. The deaths of the innocent will not go forgotten, here or in an eternal life. However, it is important that we don’t let the grief and hate consume us. It is important to realize that the loss of ALL the lives today was a complete tragedy, but we are still living, and we can work towards creating something positive out of this.

My first reaction is to tell you to donate to any one of the numerous funds that I’m sure has been set up/is being set up in the names of the victims. Give what you can in their honor to make Virginia Tech safer and to help close friends and family members with funeral expenses and with getting the help they will surely need with the grieving process. On second thought, I’d like to recommend something else as well–donate or volunteer within your own community. What happened today at Virginia Tech could happen at your alma mater or at the college where your child attends or even at your local high school. Violence is a problem that is not going away. By giving what you can when you can, you will help to make our communities a safer place.

God bless all of the deceased, God bless all those left behind.

forgiveness, God, heaven, death, Virginia Tech, school shootings, VA Tech, Virginia Tech shooting, VA Tech shooting, education, violence

I was talking to a group of women in my community and the topic was brought up about how, “God never gives you more than you can handle.” I got to thinking what on earth does that mean? I don’t believe that for one bit! It struck me as very naive` and a great way to keep yourself from active action to change or serve those in need in our community. What about the people who find themselves on the other end of a gun in their own hands-is that considered more than one can handle? What about children who are so tormented in public school that they snap and go off and shoot & kill people. Is that being given more than can be handled? What about the people who can’t fit in with the guidelines of societal standards and find themselves in jail , insane, profiting from illicit means or worse? It is this Pollyannaic thinking that ‘oh, everything happens for a reason and hopefully we learn from our mistakes’, that discounts the human frailty. What about the person who gets their life snuffed out by a reckless drunk driver? We already know that one puts life at risk when drinking & driving. Why does it take that person killing someone to make them stop doing destructive behaviors and have the reverence for life that was intended before they take an innocent life?

Life is. Life is impersonal. Life is chaos. We all know about being at the right place at the right time (or the wrong!). It is that which makes us essentially human that makes us contrive something from nothing (or everything) or make sense from the chaos. That which we would like to think is divine intervention, fate or destiny is merely a sort of crippled coping mechanism to the forces that we have no control over. Taking the responsibility for our free will also has an accountability factor that is often overlooked. If everything happens for a reason then we can quell our impulse to help hungry people in our community because well, by golly, God won’t give them anymore than they can handle, right? If everything happens for a reason we can rationalize away the needs, the cries, the sorrow and the lack all around us. I think the true context of “God never gives you more than you can handle,’ is that we are to find our niche` in society, our place to serve, in whatever way is our unique gift, and give it all we got with all the heart and love and sweat and determination you would give anything you want to thrive. I’m reminded of the woman who wanted to help the hungry children in her community. Everyday children came to her door begging for food because they were so impoverished they went hungry. She wasn’t a woman of means by any means, but she could afford a couple extra loaves bread a week and some jelly & peanut butter. She began making peanut butter & jelly sandwiches for the kids. Soon the word spread that this woman was giving out PB & J sandwiches and dozens of kids were coming to her door, the numbers growing each day. She made more and more sandwiches and fed the kids that were hungry in her community. I can tell you, those kids were changed by her thoughtfulness, kindness and compassion. It’s the little things like that, that transforms neighborhoods into communities. A gift so simple, so meaningful and so basic. She is an inspiration to me.

Be inspired, take something on. Get out of your comfort zone. Help someone in need. Let your freewill be someone else’s lifeline. You never know when your unique kindness will help someone bend a little further and keep from breaking. We can do no great things. Only little things with great love.

When a man and a woman become one,
that “one” is You.
And when that one is obliterated, there You are.

Where is this “we” and this “I”?
By the side of the Beloved.
You made this “we” and this “I”
in order that you might play
this game of courtship with Yourself,
that all “you’s” and “I’s” might become one soul
and finally drown in the Beloved…

Rumi | Jalaluddin Rumi, Mathnawi

This sort of blissful oneness that Rumi writes of is reminiscent of the sacred sex we see in some religions. Japanese & East Indian cultures acknowledge sexual power as sacred. It is called Kundalini in India and is part of the life force energy that it represented as a snake that lay coiled at the base of the spine. Like a snake the sexual energy uncoils with arousal & climbs up thru all the chakras until oneness with creator & universe is attained. There is also belief that as spirit we are no longer male and female separate but that we are whole within our selves as a balance of each. Sexual bliss is one way on earth that we can achieve the feeling of not being separate from each other, not only in body but in spirit. This is why some people feel like there is a soulmate out there for them. Because they are remembering being whole in spirit and know that finding someone to love and love them back is part of a satisfying life, in fact as close to nirvana as we can get without mind altering drugs or being skilled as a yogi or monk.
As an armchair philosopher, I think it holds some truth. Look at the polarities we have on earth; we have day & night, good & bad, happy & sad, yin & yang, sweet & sour, north & south. All the balance of heaven is divided when manifest. It’s as if we are light shot thru a prism that is formed in each unique expression but all from one direct source.

Goddess religion is not based on belief, or based on history, in archeology, in any Great Goddess past or present. Our spirituality is based on experience, on a direct relationship with the cycles of birth, growth, death and regeneration in nature and in human lives. We see the complex interwoven web of life as sacred, which is to say, real and important, worth protecting, worth taking a stand for. At a time when every major ecosystem on the planet is under assault, calling nature sacred is a radical act because it threatens the overriding value of profit that allows us to despoil the basic life support systems of the earth. And at a time when women still live with the daily threat of violence and the realities of inequality and abuse, it is an equally radical act to envision deity as female and assert the sacred nature of female (and male) sexuality and bodies.

These wise words above are from Starhawk, one of the essential leaders of the Goddess movement.

Our experience is a reclaiming of the power of the feminine forces. All humankind comes from woman. It’s not that far of a stretch of the imagination to think our Creator is actually a Creatress. When I first realized I was seeing God’s face, I didn’t recognize Him because it was Her. Now that I have Her in my gaze, I realize I am looking at Me. She is no further than my own heart. This gives me great comfort. Find her in your heart of hearts. Just ask and then listen. Sometimes all we need is the right question. Sometimes we need to find the right key to unlock ourselves. What opens your heart of hearts? And what lay within the depths? These are important question we all can be asking ourselves as we come closer to self-realization, which can be your own personal rapture!

Keith Ellison, the first Muslim to ever be elected to Congress, is being sworn in on the Quran, instead of the Bible.

Now, that alone is sparking enough controversy, but to even add to the heat, the Quran being used once was owned by Thomas Jefferson.

Oh my goodness, was Old TJ a Muslim?????

Nah. Thomas Jefferson simply was a person who can be a role model and inspiration to us all. He was religiously tolerant.

It’s difficult in America to practice tolerance towards other religions, especially with so many of our troops dying at the hands of self-proclaimed American enemies who happen to also be Muslim.

Sometimes, we just need to take a step back. We’re all human right? Thomas Jefferson, as well as many of our other founding fathers, realized this.

If you’re having a problem with religious tolerance and want to take steps towards love, try following these tips:

1. Start small. Don’t jump right to visiting the worship service of another religion. Instead, focus on becoming religiously tolerant of denominations within your own religion.

2. Learn. You don’t have to believe the Quran (or Torah, or Bible, or whatever) to read it. However, reading other religious texts and information will help you understand why another person acts the way he or she does.

3. Make friends. Meeting new and interesting people of different faiths can help you overcome religious hatred. Instead of focusing on religion right away, start the conversation with another topic. I bet that people of other faiths are more like you that you’re willing to admit.

4. Ask for help. A member of your clergy can help you overcome your hatred. Religious tolerance doesn’t make you weaker in your own faith. A priest, minister, rabbi, etc can help you move past whatever is bothering you.

Keith Ellison, congratulations on your appointment. Make God guide your Congressional decisions as you guide this country.

Keith Ellison, Congress, Quran, Bible, Thomas Jefferson, religion, tolerance

I’ve been getting lots of junk emails asking me to visit a dating website “where Christian singles meet.”

Internet dating is certainly a crazy fad right now. Actually, it might be even more than a fad–I think Internet dating might be here to stay. I’m not against the idea. I mean, what’s the difference between meeting a cute guy or girl at a bar and asking him or her out or meeting that same cute guy or girl at the bar and asking him or her out there. Either way, it’s a risk.

I like the fact that there are websites just for Christians. Some people are only interested in partners of the same faith, but Christians don’t exactly have brands on their foreheads to denote them in public. It’s nice to be able to meet a bunch of Christians all in one place, other than at church.

That said, remember, dear readers, that dating someone you don’t know very well can be dangerous. I know, I know, you’ve heard it all before. Just promise me that if you meet an Internet friend you’ll be careful. It can truly turn into a long relationship or friendship if you do, but it can be a scary situation as well if you aren’t careful.