Power, control and wealth or peace, enlightenment and salvation? Which is the primary motivation for religion? I often view organized religion as the former with a little of the latter on [...]]]> Sorry if the following is a bit lacking in cohesion. I’m just working with some rough ideas which may or may not eventually be polished.

Power, control and wealth or peace, enlightenment and salvation? Which is the primary motivation for religion? I often view organized religion as the former with a little of the latter on the side for the sake of appearances. That’s my general perception based on what I’ve observed in my own experiences and in history. That’s just an observation, not a condemnation. There are religious groups and individuals that practice their faith and religion in very positive ways and I admire them for that.

I have nothing against religion or faith. Recently, I’ve found that my own faith is finding a stronger foundation. Conscientious faith, balanced with reason and intellect, can be very beneficial while blind faith, sustained by fear and ignorance, can be very dangererous. I find religion, particularly Christianity and its innumerable denominations, quite fascinating.

I think a religion should provide guidance in the search for truth rather than a set of iron-clad, no-room-for-deviation, set-in-stone rules for everything you do and for attaining what someone has told you is the truth. You shouldn’t follow a particular spiritual path just because someone else follows it or someone has set you on that path and told you to follow it while looking straight ahead, ignoring everything on the periphery.

Instead, you should follow the spiritual path that suits you. If the path you’re on isn’t leading you where you thought it would take you or you discover another path that looks more promising, feel free to change. Whichever spiritual path you choose, it will ultimately lead you to the same destination.

• “Believe nothing just because a so-called wise person said it. Believe nothing just because a belief is generally held. Believe nothing just because it is said in ancient books. Believe nothing just because it is said to be of divine origin. Believe nothing just because someone else believes it. Believe only what you yourself test and judge to be true.” — Buddha
• “Say nothing of my religion. It is known to myself and my God alone. Its evidence before the world is to be sought in my life; if that has been honest and dutiful to society, the religion which has regulated it cannot be a bad one.” — Thomas Jefferson
• “It is a fine thing to establish one’s own religion in one’s heart, not to be dependent on tradition and second-hand ideals.” — D. H. Lawrence

Personally, I find ideas to be much more useful than beliefs. I feel that, ultimately, we are responsible for our own souls and must choose our own spiritual path. Its not a responsibility to be taken lightly nor casually entrusted to someone else. For what it’s worth…

Apparently, I’m not alone in my agnostic ways. A growing number of people, referred to as “Nones”, are reporting that they have no religious beliefs and are turning away from organized religion. They are not becoming atheists but are [...]]]> I read with interest “The Coming Age Of The Nones” in Andrew Sullivan’s The Daily Dish blog.

Apparently, I’m not alone in my agnostic ways. A growing number of people, referred to as “Nones”, are reporting that they have no religious beliefs and are turning away from organized religion. They are not becoming atheists but are skeptical and distancing themselves from organized religion, particularly Catholicism and fundamentalist Protestant denominations.

No doubt, some of this is a reflection of the sex abuse crisis. But the intellectual collapse of Christianity under the leadership of Protestant fundamentalists and Catholic theocons is surely relevant. The well-deserved inability of literalists to win many converts among educated people is also surely salient. The emergence of the politicized Christianist right – and its assault on Christianity as a freely chosen spiritual process – will surely lead to a continued and accelerating flight from organized religion.

Mr. Sullivan’s analysis of the political breakdown is interesting. The numbers of Independents and Democrats among the Nones has grown over the last decade while the number of Republicans who are Nones has decreased dramatically. He sees the Republican party as becoming an essentially Christianist fundamentalist party. I’ve casually noticed that a lot of fundamentalist zealots also tend to be Republicans.

And yet they do not dismiss the possibility of a God they do not understand; and refuse to call themselves atheists. This is the fertile ground on which a new Christianity will at some point grow. In the end, the intellectual bankruptcy of the theocon right and Christianist movement counts. Very few people with brains are listening to these people any more. They have discredited Christianity as much as they have tarnished conservatism.

The idea of a new form of Christianity arising is interesting though I’d be hesitant to align myself with such a movement. As in my political thoughts, I tend to be like Franklin and Jefferson in my approach to religion. Like Franklin, I tend to be tolerant and accepting of people’s religious beliefs although I do get a little peeved when their practice of religious freedom infringes upon the rights of others to practice theirs. And like Jefferson, I like Christ’s precepts and I’m a bit put off by mythology, the rituals, and the supernatural concepts that seem to require blind faith at the expense of reason. I have nothing against faith but there should be a balance.

Am I a None? Possibly, if only for the sake of choosing a category. My sister once described our religious affiliation as “non-church-goer” which summed it up pretty well. Still, I think I’ve gone beyond that. Christianity forms the foundation of my “God concept” but I see no problem in investigating and adapting other ideas. Like the foundation of a building, you don’t just mixed sand with the concrete. You add gravel, stones, and rebar to strengthen it.

Don’t look for me in a church, a synagogue, a mosque or a temple. You probably won’t find me dancing naked around a bonfire in some pagan or Wiccan ritual either, although you may find me dancing naked around a fire just for fun. Oh, don’t call me spiritual. I acknowledge spirituality but it is not any sort of focus or driving force. I have found that most people who call themselves spiritual are really lost and desperately grasping at any belief structure that gives them momentary comfort.

Today’s Quote: “Planning is for amateurs.” — Stuart Wilde

Here are some sample subject lines from my Yahoo bulk mail:

Today’s Quote: “The need for change bulldozed a road down the center of my mind.” — Maya Angelou

I’m really beginning to wonder about these things. They obviously have a conservative slant to them.

You Are 55% American Most times you are proud to be an American. Though sometimes the good ole US [...]]]> Bruce Springsteen – Born in the USA

Today’s Quote: “The need for change bulldozed a road down the center of my mind.” — Maya Angelou

I’m really beginning to wonder about these things. They obviously have a conservative slant to them.

The scores looks to be 45 percentage points too low. Just because I don’t sing the praises of King George III and his divinely inspired wisdom with a flag and a beer in one hand and a gun and a Bible in the other, it doesn’t mean I’m any less American than those who do. They have a right to their delusions just as I have a right to mine.

The “good ole US of A” is not what makes me cringe. What makes me cringe are the words and deeds of many of our elected officials and the pompous asses they pander to. I cringe when I think of the things they do in the name of God and country under the guise of keeping us safe, preserving our liberty, and defending our freedom when, in fact, their laws and policies have done just the opposite. Yes, these purveyors of fear, uncertainty, doubt and ignorance strike fear into my heart.

Freedom? Do you have any idea of how low the United States ranks in personal freedom? We’re not even in the top 30 nations on Earth. When it comes to freedom, we talk the talk but we don’t walk the walk.

I’m sure Thomas Jefferson would be advocating another American revolution if he were alive to see what the nation he helped create has become.

By the way, Born in the USA is not a patriotic song extolling the virtues of America. Listen to or read the lyrics.

Today’s Quote: “The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive. It will often be exercised when wrong, but better so than not to be exercised at all. I like a little rebellion now and then. It is like a [...]]]> Dreamer – Cute Butt

Today’s Quote: “The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive. It will often be exercised when wrong, but better so than not to be exercised at all. I like a little rebellion now and then. It is like a storm in the atmosphere.” — Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Abigail Adams, 1787 (He’s always been one of my favorite founding fathers and not just because we share the same birthday.)

Your fingerprints are everywhere. Do you really trust the government? No one in their right mind does. I’m seldom in my right mind and I don’t trust them.

[03/26/2010 Edit] Our only saving grace is that computers in the various government agencies don’t talk to one another … yet.

I heard that song on the radio back in March 1992 and never heard it again. I wonder if I can find it anywhere.