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Joys and Trials of Religion meme

August 18, 2007 at 9:55 pm by mahud

eirsinitiate from Birch Grove has memed me.

Rules

  1. You have to use your own belief system for the meme. No fair using someone else’s to make a joke or satire. Being humorous about your own religion is encouraged!
  2. You have to have at least one joy and one trial. More are encouraged. And no, they don’t have to be equal in length, but please be honest.
  3. You have to tag at least one other person. More are appreciated!
  4. Please post these rules!

Joys

For a long time I believed knowledge was the key to my Christian beliefs. I’m sure many Christian would dispute that, but it was the way it looked to me. The need to have a correct understanding of godhead and the plan of salvation to avoid eternal damnation.

My belief that doctrinal knowledge is no longer key to my spirituality, it has enabled me to except that all religious paths are valid, and has been a great help to me in leaving the faith of Christianity (a rather slow process that has taken me around 5 or so years).

I believe that we all are all unique individuals at different stages of spirituality, that can change with and beyond our current life time, probably through reincarnation in this reality or a possible limitless of realities.

This helps me to understand people (whether actively spiritual or not, or ignorant or in denial of spirituality). I respect everyone regardless of where they are at in their current life cycle.

This belief stems from my study of Buddhism, that we are all have different needs that need to be met (through many lifetimes) before Nirvana can be attained, except I don’t believe that the extinction of the no-self. I believe that the self is an important and valid part of our existence. Everyone is where they are at for a reason, and It helps me understand my fellow human beings, without judging them. Including outspoken Christian Fundamentalists.

Since coming to terms with everything about it takes the dark paranoiac edge of reality. No longer am I living with a lost world destined to hell, just people at different stages of their life/s.

Trials

I like the Arthurian legend concerning the knights of the round table who separately begin their quest for the grail by entering a forest were the is no path and the trees are thickest. This is where I am at the moment. I’m following an unknown series paths, with no idea where they are going to lead me. But this really is part of life that all go through. There are no right and wrong paths, exactly, but without some kind of guide we must brave the journey alone.

Currently I’m looking for a guide to help me through the forest of life journeys. I’m practicing meditation that’s kind of hard for me. My mind is constantly serging with thoughts, problems, anxieties, and it’s not easy to relax and direct my meditations into a place of peace. Meditation is something that I feel will benefit me a great deal (also help with my SA), and so I’m just going the have to work at it.

Ok, I tag these wonderful people…

  1. Terri @ Aquila ka Hecate
  2. R.E. @ The Sacred Space
  3. Kay @ In the Spirit of Chaos
  4. Cat @ Quaker Pagan Reflections
  5. Jeff @ Druid Journal
  6. Danielle @ Modern Musings

« My Interest in Mythology | The Death of Medusa and the birth of Pegasus »


6 Comments (Have your say)

  1. Sarah

    Comment on August 19, 2007 at 3:34 am

    Hooray! Someone took up my meme!

    I can comiserate with the unknown path, but I personally find that the element of the unknown makes life more interesting. Harder, and much less reassuring, but more interesting.


  2. mahud

    Comment on August 19, 2007 at 8:32 am

    Doh! I forgot to post the rules. (fixed)

    The unknown is such a big part of our lives, without it life wouldn’t have any meaning, so even though it’s a trial, without it we would miss out on the joy of discovery, for one thing :)

    Reminds me of an episode of DS9, I watched a couple of weeks ago, that I’m going to post as my quote of the week


  3. Aquila ka Hecate

    Comment on August 19, 2007 at 3:50 pm

    Noooo…meme-tag. :) Thanks for the viral infection -I’ll have to wander off and think about these things.
    My partner has spent all day today err..fixing our computer, so I’m a little worn out at this point.
    The first thing that happened, of course was that when I tried to log on I couldn’t.
    Hmm..I’m the one who makes a living talking to computers, but I’ve got very little patience with the damn things-figures.
    Love,
    Terri in Joburg


  4. kay

    Comment on August 21, 2007 at 12:36 am

    Thanks for the tag Mahud. I shall respond to it when I get a chance. :) Sooner rather than later, hopefully.


  5. R.E.

    Comment on August 25, 2007 at 7:18 pm

    I took a stab at it! http://earthspirituality.blogspot.com/2007/08/joys-and-trials-of-nascent-pagan.html


  6. Joys and Trials Revisited « Birch Grove

    Pingback on September 4, 2007 at 3:27 pm

    […] Mahud on Between Old & New Moons […]


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