On Faith

I don’t think I’ve ever taken on a religion post. I meant to work on one this week, Jen’s Spin challenge kept nipping at the corners of my thoughts on a way too busy work week.

Like Jan, I’m not sure where this might be going, but I’ll just get started and see what happens. I almost feel like I should have done this on a Random Tuesday as my thoughts on religion run the gamut.

I guess I could start by saying I always thought there was more to life than this world we live in. So, in my own way I’ve always had faith and believed.

I did not grow up going to church. My mom wanted us to go, or said she did. She and my dad used to fight about our lack of church going. My dad was agnostic and told my mom she could take us kids to church, but he wasn’t coming. She took us to Sunday school for a time, but not for too much time.

I used to go to church with other families on occasion. Like when you spend the night at a friend’s house on Saturday and they take you along with them to church the next day. I acted all whatevers. But on the inside, I was hoping for a spiritual epiphany that never happened. Mostly, I was only aware of hypocrisy and judgmentalism (apparently made up word I'm keeping).

I found my solace, my center, mostly in nature. I’d go for hikes alone. I liked cliffs and views.

Sometimes I would notice a moment of grace in something random. It was like everything became both clear and surreal at the same time.

There are many things that bother me about organized religions. Uppermost is the narrow mindedness of those who are loudest. The horrible things that are done in the name of religion both past and present. I often wonder if others besides myself notice the similarities in the self-righteous zealots of opposing religions…

I also wonder why these same people do not notice the similarities of what is good about their faiths.

I have been teased (accused) of having a smorgasbord belief system in that I am curious and open to all faiths. I have read several major religious books and there’s a lot of common ground as far as I am concerned.

Love one another. Be kind. Help one another. Be of service.


“The alien living with you must be treated as one of your neighbor born. Love him as yourself.” Leviticus 19:34

For more spins on religion, go on over and visit Jen at Sprite's Keeper.