Your Church Sucks.com!

What Do You Call It?

2007-03-20T18:34:00.000-07:00

What do you call it when you have beliefs and you want something to be true (for you)... so during your ensuing research and investigation, you either consciously or subconsciously filter and interpret the information you find to support your preconceived notions?

From a sociological perspective this phenomenon is called social constructionism. It means that some thing or concept which may appear to be natural and obvious to those who accept it, is in reality an invention of a particular group or culture. The idea is that social constructs are human choices or preferences rather than universal laws. People form beliefs based on their experiences and then institutionalize them as traditions; eventually declaring them as facts and possibly even laws. This socially constructed reality is said to be a re-produced reality usually carried out by good-intentioned people acting on their human interpretations and knowledge of their experiences.

So is social constructionism a form of ethnocentrism or bias? How would the actual scientific validity of your findings fare? And if these findings were skewed or prejudiced in some way, does that mean then that they are not true for you? Should they be true for everyone? For no one? Can faith (in anything) be measured and proven?

"Miracles don't prove faith' they're invitations to faith." - Unknown

Here's Your Sign...

2007-02-04T10:34:00.000-08:00

While I do not endorse an atheistic world-view, I found the following list from an atheist-authored website to be very intriguing and largely accurate in my experience. As a "practicing Christian" for the majority of my life, I've personally held some of these mis-informed views. This is not a bashing session; I am just pointing out some potentially painful realities for consideration (which has been the mission of this blog from the start).

Top 10 Signs You Might be a Fundamentalist Christian:

10 - You vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of yours.

9 - You feel insulted and "dehumanized" when scientists say that people evolved from other life forms, but you have no problem with the Biblical claim that we were created from dirt.

8 - You laugh at polytheists, but you have no problem believing in a Triune God.

7 - Your face turns purple when you hear of the "atrocities" attributed to Allah, but you don't even flinch when hearing about how God/Jehovah slaughtered all the babies of Egypt in "Exodus" and ordered the elimination of entire ethnic groups in "Joshua" including women, children, and trees!

6 - You laugh at Hindu beliefs that deify humans, and Greek claims about gods sleeping with women, but you have no problem believing that the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary, who then gave birth to a man-god who got killed, came back to life and then ascended into the sky.

5 - You are willing to spend your life looking for little loopholes in the scientifically established age of Earth (few billion years), but you find nothing wrong with believing dates recorded by Bronze Age tribesmen sitting in their tents and guessing that Earth is a few generations old.

4 - You believe that the entire population of this planet with the exception of those who share your beliefs -- though excluding those in all rival sects - will spend Eternity in an infinite Hell of Suffering. And yet consider your religion the most "tolerant" and "loving."

3 - While modern science, history, geology, biology, and physics have failed to convince you otherwise, some idiot rolling around on the floor speaking in "tongues" may be all the evidence you need to "prove" Christianity.

2 - You define 0.01% as a "high success rate" when it comes to answered prayers. You consider that to be evidence that prayer works. And you think that the remaining 99.99% FAILURE was simply the will of God.

1 - You actually know a lot less than many atheists and agnostics do about the Bible, Christianity, and church history - but still call yourself a Christian.

Source: (evilbible.com)**

**We do not endorse nor oppose any referenced websites mentioned in this blog; we merely want to present ideas, thoughts and concepts that provoke thought congruent with this blog's stated purpose. Keep what you wish, leave the rest.

QFtD 4

2007-02-13T10:53:00.000-08:00

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” - Dr. Seuss

"I must confess that my disdain for the Christian religion stems not from my upbringing in it, but rather my first real hard look into it from a more enlightened perch." - Gershwin Hagenstoudt, 1930, German Scholar

"The divinity of Jesus is made a convenient cover for absurdity. Nowhere in the Gospels do we find a precept for Creeds, Confessions, Oaths, Doctrines, and the whole carloads of other foolish trumpery that we find in Christianity." - John Adams, 2nd U.S. President

QFtD 2

2006-11-04T12:58:00.000-08:00

"...the way you pay attention to something produces the way you experience it. Attention is a powerful tool. If you pay something positive attention, it will move forward in a positive way. If you pay something negative attention, it will move forward in a negative way. Either way, it will move forward. Attention to anything makes it larger. Attention is an enlargement device." - Neale Donald Walsch

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." - Albert Einstein

QFtD 3

2007-01-21T16:58:00.000-08:00

"The acknowledgment of God is not the establishment of religion." - Judge Roy Moore

"God loves to offend the mind to reveal what's really in the heart." - Marc Bredenkamp

"Nothing is so much to be feared as fear. Atheism may comparatively be popular with God himself." - Henry David Thoreau

QFtD 1

2006-10-05T13:15:00.000-07:00

"Truth is truth until it becomes organized." - Dr. Wayne Dyer

"Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind." - Albert Einstein

Inerrant?

2007-01-16T19:21:00.000-08:00

Inerrant. The dictionary defines this as... free from error; not liable to error. This word is often used in the following sentence: We believe in the inerrant Word of God... the Bible. My question is simple yet profound. Is the Bible the inerrant Word of God or isn't it? Is it possible that we don't have all of the information? Is it possible that through intentional or unintentional human error throughout history, we only have a portion of the truth of what God wants? Is this possible...?

If God gives us brains, intelligence and discernment, then we are certainly required to use these faculties in all areas of life... including the scrutiny of our spiritual convictions. Therefore, as a thinking person, I have to look at the realities and myths surrounding the most famous spiritual text in history. The Bible. If a person is going to base their entire life around every word, detail and translation of any sacred scripture, then that person has to give due diligence to the full study, investigation and understanding of that source. And if during this investigation there are discrepancies, contradictions or controversies apparent, then a responsible person (who cares about these issues) is charged with asking and attempting to have his or her questions answered. To resort to the "faith" argument only, while quoting chapter and verse, when science and reason point elsewhere, is grossly irresponsible. We cannot dismiss justifiable reasonable doubt all in the name of faith.

There is simply too much historical, scientific and achaeological evidence to support the possibility that the Bible, as it exists today, is at best incomplete, or at worst, a largely fictional document. To argue for literal translations and applications of the majority of the New Testament while rationalizing and justifying away major portions of the Old Testament violates the laws of deductive reasoning completely. Biblical scholars and adherants themselves say that the Bible is an "inspired work" that has to be accepted fully... as is. We cannot pick and choose which parts to like and believe in and which parts to loathe and belittle. It's all or nothing so it better be inerrant.

So what if the Bible text as it exists today is incomplete? What if certain sacred sciptures were left out that shouldn't have been? What if some "inspired" scripture was included that should not have been? What if some of the well-intentioned fellas at the Council of Nicene in the 4th Century were off the mark a bit? How would that change or alter the Christian "Biblical World-View?" What if some of the editing, addition or deletion of scripture done throughout history was wrong? Again, what if stuff is in there that shouldn't be and what if stuff is not in there that should? I don't know the answers to these questions for sure, but I have to ask if it is even possible.

Certainly mountains of evidence exist today that cast a rather large shadow of reasonable doubt on the notion that the Bible of today is complete and accurate. Many scholars and historians have written about this extensively for centuries. And if it's possible, then one cannot in good conscience, live a life rigidly and completely conforming to a potentially incomplete or partially fictional truth... simply because we were told to. And just by even asking these questions and making these statements, I will likely be labeled as someone who is being deceived, because the Bible says so. I will be categorized as someone who has strayed or back-slided... away from God. But this very God supposedly gave us all the faculties with which to question and reason in the first place. The Bible says "seek and you shall find Him." Well the more I have sought, the more questions I have; and I suspect that I am not alone.

I believe that some people choose their religion out of convenience . It becomes more convenient to "pick" some existing faith tradition because an infrastructure is already in place. There are places to go, denominations to affiliate with, events to attend, groups to join, gatherings to participate in, music to listen to, books to read, and an overall culture to join and "belong to." It's just easier to go with the flow that's already there. It's like coloring by numbers. It's plug and play. It's really a form of laziness because questioning and investigating requires a lot of effort and due diligence that many people are unwilling to put forth.

Now I am not arguing for or against the God of the Bible, I am simply saying that I don't know. I don't know the answer. But I am not willing to settle for someone else's answer just because I don't have an answer of my own (yet). The Christian God may be the One True God or the Muslim God may be the One True God or some other God may be the One True God. Who's to say? Who really knows for sure? No finite human being does that's for sure. So if that is true, then we have to be open to all conceptions of God and have faith in our openness and trust God to direct our path, wherever it leads. That is true faith and an empowering faith. Now I don't have to be judgmental of you and your choice of religion or tradition and continually try to prove you "wrong" by making my choice "right."

I am not here to bash the Bible. I've spent many years studying and applying its principals to the best of my ability. I truly believe the Bible is full of wonderful wisdom and amazing truths that should be consumed and incorporated into our lives. But I cannot accept that God speaks through it alone. There are many, many other sacred scriptures in existence (several predating the Bible by thousands of years) that also contain profound insights, wisdom and truth that should not be ignored simply because they are less famous or familiar to us. How plausible is it to believe that all spiritual writings, outside of those included in the Old and New Testaments, are uninspired at best and deceptive at worst? In Alcoholics Anonymous it is often said that God is speaking to all of us, all of the time... we just miss most of it. It may be time to take the blinders off. Rarely does operating with a scarcity mentality produce positive results. Opened eyes allow God to open our hearts to show us His truth, our truth, the truth.

The "Selling" of Religion

2007-01-07T22:09:00.000-08:00

It happens in churches, small groups, mosques, coffee shops, cathedrals, temples, living rooms and even door-to-door everyday all over the world. Religion, or spirituality if you prefer, is big business and is being bought and sold incessantly; and as such the "Selling" of Religion is as pervasive as it is perverse.

In the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, there is a chapter titled "We Agnostics." This chapter deftly discusses the spiritual aspects of the AA program without polarizing readers (something most religions could learn from). Many AA adherents cite this chapter as the first literature to really communicate and get through to them about the often-touchy subject of spirituality. After carefully studying the chapter for several years, it becomes apparent why Bill Wilson's words so readily resonate with so many people. He's not trying to sell anybody anything. He is advocating consideration over conversion.

As consumers, we all love to buy but hate to be sold to. Attempting to sell religion to prospects only serves to devalue the very faith that is often held in such high regard. People must be allowed to uncover, discover and decide about matters of spirituality, faith and religion on their own, in their own way. For meaningful and lasting impact, we have to be allowed to formulate "our own conception of God" as the Big Book outlines. Hardcore right-wing conservatives will quote biblical chapter and verse warning against the dangers of denying the One True God, while extreme left-wing liberals will debunk the whole God idea entirely in favor of science and intellect.

This blog promotes blurring the lines between "the left" and "the right" without watering down the Truth. What exactly that Truth is for you may depend on who you are, where you've been and how you got here. Just be certain that your God, Higher Power, or Souce will reveal this Truth to you given the necessary amount of time, life exeperience and guidance... provided you are willing to accept it. No sales call necessary, simply a willingness to consider. Amen.

Free Fallen...

2006-11-19T21:41:00.000-08:00

It's troubling, very troubling for a lot of people no doubt... But exactly why is the recent scandal surrounding Colorado pastor Ted Haggard so upsetting? The answer depends on who you are and what you believe pertaining to matters of the spirit and religion. Many are shocked, self-righteous, cynical, outraged, and jaded. Others are forgiving, compassionate, empathetic, reasoning and optimistic.

From Christianity Today, November, 2006: As the Rev. Ted Haggard expresses sorrow for being a "deceiver and a liar," leaders of the National Association of Evangelicals are distancing their organization from the man who led it for three years. Both Haggard's 14,000-member church in Colorado Springs, Colo., and the NAE have cut ties with Haggard after he admitted to "sexual immorality" with a male escort. "Internally, I think most evangelicals will not tie what happened with Ted Haggard to NAE," said Anderson, senior pastor of Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, Minn. "They will understand that if there are 45,000 churches [affiliated with NAE], that 44,999 of them have leaders that did not misbehave and that one person misbehaved and that that is an anomaly." Externally, he said, people looking from the outside at evangelicals may attempt to paint them all with one brush. "There will be those that will think the worst of evangelicals because of this and I'm sorry about that," Anderson said. "This is not who we are. This is not what we do. This is an exception."

Yes, some are going to chuck the whole thing (religion, spirituality, faith) now because one highly visible evangelical leader got caught with his proverbial pants down. Others will rally and defend the faith, praying for the rather large remnant of skeptics. As with anything, an extreme reaction one way or another in a situation like this is probably not a good idea. In fact, extreme reactions swinging any direction at any time is probably never a good idea.

And so, defining "right" and "wrong" now comes into question... again. Was Mr. Haggard's alleged homosexual behavior and drug use wrong? Or, as a nationally known evangelical leader, was his covert actions to cover up and hide his behavior wrong? The answer depends on what you believe; what you have faith in and what you hold as truth in your life. So the positions on this subject will be varied and many.

The issues here are adultery, substance abuse and lying. The fact that this man was a nationally known preacher is beside the point. That's right... it matters little what his day job was. He is a man, he is a human being, therefore he is certain to make mistakes. We as a society, make this a larger issue by erroneously placing certain people on spiritual pedestals and then are aghast when they fall off... "I am a deceiver and a liar, there's a part of my life that is so repulsive and dark that I have been warring against it for all of my adult life." "Please forgive me," Haggard wrote. "I am so embarrassed and ashamed…. I am a sinner. I have fallen." "I will never return to a leadership role."

What a shame... for many, many reasons. This guy probably should return to a leadership role someday because like it or not, he now has a very unique perspective that can eventually help others. He has "fallen from grace" according to evangelical Christianity, yet other faiths might assess that he is now free from the bondage that had enslaved him. His truth is now out. Whatever he chooses to do next is up to him, but nonetheless, he is "set free." What is "right" and what is "wrong" depends on what you believe. Another example is the Governor from New Jersey who resigned from office in 2004 after the news broke that he was gay. Tragedy or triumph? According to former Governor McGreevey, he is happier now that the truth is out and he can live the life he used to have to hide. He has recently published a book about his past life, his choices, and his plans for the future. He wants to use his position today to help others who struggle with sexuality issues.

How many of us suffer from various assorted sordid seductions and distractions? Here me clearly... I am in no way condoning nor condemning Pastor Haggard's actions. I cannot, in good conscience, pass judgment on another person's behavior, defining it as right or wrong, good or bad. My own past behavior and personal life disqualifies me of that. It's about progress, not perfection. But in some ways I am relieved for him. At least now he is free. Free from the lies, from the deceit, from the artificial life that he was leading. Now he and his family have the opportunity to heal... whatever the final outcome turns out to be. And for that I am grateful, because it is only through suffering and pain that we truly learn who we are and what we are made of. I've heard it said, "Character is like film, it can only be developed in the dark." Amen.

A New Religion

2006-12-29T00:39:00.000-08:00

Our purpose is not the creation of a new religion; an endorsement of a movement; nor a devotion to a tradition... but rather about remembering an old realization. The realization of who we are... why we are here... what we are capable of... where we are going... and when we will finally realize all of this.

Belief

2006-12-18T00:15:00.000-08:00

I'm not believing in much... except not believing in much these days.

An athiest? No. A fundalmentalist? Definitely not. An agnostic? Not sure; but then again that's the definition of an agnostic... someone who's not sure about God. Not sure about what God is, what God isn't, what God looks like, what form God comes in, what religion (if any) best captures God's essence, what to do about all this uncertainty. Seek, read, ask, learn, study, investigate, meditate, pray, think, question, discern, doubt, be, believe, wonder, feel, heal...

So I'm actually believing in much... including believing in much these days.

Tunnel Vision Religion

2006-12-05T09:50:00.000-08:00

In God We Trust...? Whose God? Your God? My God? Their God? Of course it's our FAITH that answers this question. But individual faith and the ensuing debate of which religion or if religion is as old as time itself. And I am not attempting to answer the question... just asserting that maybe it doesn't have an answer afterall. And if that's true, maybe we can stop arguing, judging, and killing in an attempt to be "right." The religious blinders we wear are usually obvious to everyone except ourselves. The inherant message of tunnel vision religion demonstrates a micro-worldview resulting in macro-separation, constriction and thus suffocation. Oh my God...!

Does Your Church Suck?

2006-10-30T08:30:00.000-08:00

No, your church doesn't suck. Neither does mine, or hers, or his, or theirs. That's the whole point... that's the irony here. I am not shooting down any specific religion, tradition, belief or faith. Rather, I am attempting to build them up through awareness by discussion and exploration. Endorsing or opposing anything without proper and thorough knowledge about it is ridiculous. Though we've all been guilty of this from time to time if we're being honest.

"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance - that principle is contempt prior to investigation." - Herbert Spencer

What I'm saying here is that in a lot of cases, I just don't know. I don't know enough about many of the world's religions, traditions or movements to make an assessment either for, or against them. Therefore, I believe we all have an obligation to investigate and come to our own conclusions based on a combination of science, psychology, spirituality and faith as seen from a macro/world-view. Not from a limited geographical or socio-cultural perspective.

So what is this investigation supposed to produce? Definitive answers? Final conclusions? A sense of righteousness? No, no, and no. I would simply like to offer a broad collection of thoughts and perspectives on spirituality that may influence and produce an attitude of openness and unity that may not have existed before. If this open and unified attitude shines light where it was once dark in even one life, then I will have done what I set out to do...

FAITH

2006-11-15T11:44:00.000-08:00

Why write about spirituality, belief systems and faith? What's the point; the purpose? Because fighting over religion pushes people to reject it all at best, or causes world wars at worst... any outcome along this continuum is tragic. As soon as we remove the compulsion to be right; to prove someone or something else wrong, we're free. We're free to begin exploring the vastness of the undefinable while moving closer to Truth... the truth and our truth.

The great debate is whether Truth is absolute or relative. And the truth is, that Truth can only be deemed absolute by FAITH, which I'll define as:

Finite Filters
Applied to
Interpret Infinite
Truth &
Higher Power

We all need something to believe in; to belong to; to build a life around. Faith therefore, is a necessity, not a luxury. Even those who claim to have no faith, have faith in that belief... they have faith in their non-belief. Faith is influenced by, and a product of our finite mind’s filtering process. All information that we receive passes through filters affecting how we perceive that information. Since perception is reality, we call this filtered or processed information our “beliefs.” Depending on an individual’s social and cultural filters, perceptions of the same information can result in very different beliefs or truths. As these beliefs are applied to our lives, our behavior is then affected by our interpretations of “truth.” So faith in anything then literally becomes an applied interpretation of filtered information. Regarding infinite principles of spirituality, these interpretations of truth become known as religions, traditions, movements, ideologies and mythologies.

Currently there are approximately 2,500 known religions and over 70 ancient scriptures in existence. All religious traditions teach about the same basic concepts of love, compassion, faith, humility, caring, hope and life, etc. The types of descriptive words and phrases used to define the objects of worship may differ, but the same basic premises exist within each. Man-made words like Allah-Awakening-Being-Buddah-Consciousness-Enlightenment-Eternal Life-God-Heaven-Holy-Jehovah-Jesus-Meditation-Muhammed-Prayer-Salvation-Source-Unity-Worship... these are all adjectives created in an attempt to describe that which is indescribable.

So is God "out there," "in here," or "everywhere?" How is it that some religions can talk of faith in eternal life while so many people are struggling to simply survive in this life? We have to shift our faith's focus from simply avoiding the bad to consistently accessing the good. Make a move toward embracing life vs. escaping reality; fulfilling destiny vs. fighting demons. This will only be possible when we shed tunnel vision religion and replace it with broad-scope spirituality. I’ve heard it said that God is working in our lives all of the time... we just miss most of it. Let's hope we don't miss what's meant for us all in name of "faith."

God

2006-11-05T21:35:00.000-08:00

Religion taught me what God wasn't.

Recovery showed me who God is...

Shepherd or Sheep?

2006-11-08T09:12:00.000-08:00

Which one are you? Are you both at times? I am. Sometimes I like to be led; most times, truthfully, I need to lead. Notice I said NEED to lead, not just want to or prefer to. There is a big difference. A difference is that I have felt guilty about this in the past. A difference that I have felt the need to apologize for. But no more...

There is nothing instrinsically wrong with being led or leading. A person is not weak or inferior if they follow, nor are they necessarily better than or full of themselves if they lead. It is what it is. We are who we are, not what we do or don't do. We all have an innate need to belong to something, to believe in something collectively bigger than we are as individuals. And it really matters little whether you follow something that already exists, or you are the creator of something new. For any scenario, circumstance or situation to have real meaning, awareness has to be present. Authentic awareness of what it is, what it is not, where it's at, and what it means.

So regardless if you are the shepherd or the sheep... the real issue is your recognition and understanding of your place in the herd, and how you will use that position for the greater good.

Spiritual Recovery

2006-10-11T13:20:00.000-07:00

Best selling author, Dr. Wayne Dyer says there is a spiritual solution to every problem… I believe that. The problem though is that many people are confused and broken when it comes to spirituality, and therefore unable to access the solutions. Traditional religion hasn’t worked for a lot of people. I know from experience that this is true. Yet it is often taboo to ask “why not.”

The recovery movement has been very successful helping people who suffer from many kinds of addictions to not only recover, but to discover a new way of life. Active spirituality and connection to a Higher Power is central to most 12 Step recovery programs. I propose applying these concepts of recovery to our spiritual paths as well; one that I suspect many people need recovery from... spiritual recovery.

I can’t count how many times I’ve heard people refer to themselves as recovering Catholics or recovering Baptists or recovering something’s. This apparent epidemic requires us to investigate the underlying problem, not simply the symptoms of the problem. I suspect that the problem isn’t any specific religion, denomination, sect, or "cult"; the problem is our finite perceptions, definitions and interpretations of these traditions; most of which promote a separation theology forcing us to choose a “religion” like choosing a favorite sports team. "Me against you, us against them." And God help us once this starts to happen; oh wait, it already has... If we can begin to recover spiritually as individuals first, only then will we be able to recover spiritually as a collective whole. This collective spiritual shift will come to recognize unity as more than just an ideal, but a practical reality. Go team!

For more inspirational articles & resources visit www.tomleu.com!

Spiritual Ethnocentrism

2006-10-21T10:57:00.000-07:00

There’s got to be more to it. At some point we come up against a wall. A wall where the reason has run out, the intellect has run out, the science has run out. We have to be willing to step out on faith and believe that there has to be more to it all; to our life, to this world, than our finite minds can fathom. Our reason and our science tells us that more possibilities can and do exist than our simplistic beliefs want to force us to accept.

We all have a need to be on the winning team. Our ego’s need us to be. We’ll do, believe, accept, justify, or rationalize anything and everything in order to support our choices in our vain and endless attempt to be right. Instead of being happy and well-adjusted, most would rather appear to be right and thus come off self-righteous.

All world religions and spiritual belief systems operate on a blend of science, psychology, reason, and faith. When the archaeology, historical evidence and reason run out… we have to step out on faith. This faith to accept things beyond our own ethnocentric beliefs... the beliefs that have been shaped largely by what were exposed to in the societies where we grew up throughout our lives, has to be given the same opportunity to exist as our other "faith" does. Faith has to be encouraged to accept our own beliefs as well as the possibility of other belief systems.

For example, since approximately one half of the world adheres to the Islamic religion, many more Muslims exist than Christians. Given that only a small percentage of western missionaries that will reach an even smaller percentage of the Muslim world, Christianity tell us that the rest are doomed to hell. This seems inconceivable that the personal and caring God that the Bible teaches about would allow this to happen. Logic tells us that there has to be more to this than our human minds will ever be able to contemplate or comprehend. God has to have a divine intention and supernatural order to things that will not allow the majority of his creation to perish simply because they were born in Pakistan instead of Pennsylvania. As soon as we start believing that we fully understand what God is and why he does what he does…we prove our ultimate ignorance and profound lack of real understanding. Rigid religion and lifeless dogma are soul poison and the enemy of a loving God. Even this statement though is a belief that is filtered by a faith that is primarily a product of the western world.

As intelligent and honest, faith-professing people, we have to be able to admit that we will never have 100% understanding of the subject of spirituality and faith. We should believe what we believe; but we should also be tolerant of other beliefs to exist because we cannot claim exclusivity or certainty of anything without some degree of faith. None of us will ever know ultimate and pure truth until we die perhaps. We can write books, give lectures, put on seminars, preach and teach using every multi-media means in existence to reach multitudes of people and convert legions of followers, still without ever knowing for certain... save our faith.

This is spiritual ethnocentrism... believing what we believe is somehow better or "more right" than other beliefs that we truthfully know very little about. It is contempt prior to investigation. It is not really bad, it is not really good, it just is. But just as is everything that God allows us to have and gives glimpses into who He really is... it all works together for good. We start to mess things up by assigning labels and categories to the undefinable. We distort the message of the truth by creating dividing lines on battle grounds. We perpetuate the problem by promoting piety. In the midst of this confusion however, we must carry this same faith forward and trust that God will sort it out in the end. We shouldn’t assume that responsibility, Lord knows we have enough to worry about managing our own lives, let alone attempting to manage the beliefs and convictions of others all in the name of "saving them." The phrase, Healer, heal thyself, comes to mind here.

What of Biblical Christianity? What of Buddhism? What of A Course in Miracles? What of Judaism? What of Islam? What of Jehovah’s Witnesses? What of Scientology? What of the New Age or New Thought? What of Hinduism? What of Catholicism? What of it all? Who’s right? Who’s wrong? Which team are we to pick? Is it easier to accept only one, or harder to deny several? What are the consequences for the wrong choice? The right choice? Is there a wrong AND a right choice? Should we choose at all? What if we’re wrong about the whole thing? What of it?

The Irony

2006-10-01T09:35:00.000-07:00

I cannot reconcile the rigid ideology of only one "true" religion or only one true concept of God when many others halfway around the world, and some right next door, are equally convinced of another. Are those who believe in the "wrong" religion or God simply unfortunate because they happened to have been born in the wrong place at the wrong time? Wars exist and death results because differing, yet exuberant faith in the perceived truth contained within one holy text or tradition, exists all over the world. Wiser men and women have wrestled with this for centuries. Am I not being hypocritical now... attempting to make religion "wrong?" No. I am not implying that religious theology is wrong; I am stating that separation theology posing as religion is wrong. Herein lies the irony...

I've long studied and attempted to live according to Christianity and its dominant denominations based primarily in the West. I now owe myself the diligence of attention to other prominent world religions and traditions to better understand what I've previously rejected. However, no matter the amount of intellectual analysis, authentic and allegiant belief requires faith. Embracing infinite truth requires faith in a macro world-view of spirituality. Accepting finite truth necessitates faith in a micro world-view of religion. I propose the former. Whether you agree or disagree, I invite you to check back often, comment and ask questions.

The Purpose

2006-09-29T11:26:00.000-07:00

The purpose of this blog is not to OPPOSE any religion, spiritual tradition, ideology or movement... but rather to PROMOTE a spirit of unity and to encourage the exploration of all Truth. I take the position of being FOR, and open to, not AGAINST, and closed to other belief systems prior to thorough investigation of sacred scriptures, ancient texts and classic spiritual literature. Infinite and absolute Truth cannot be defined by the finite and relative. Therefore we must, in good conscience, be willing to unbiasly consider all forms Truth.

First Post!

2006-09-11T14:47:00.000-07:00

Today, 5 years later, we remember the heroes from 9/11/01. As we're reminded of the horror that humanity inflicts upon itself (all in the name of religion), we recognize the need for spiritual unity more than ever. Simply put: closed religion is fear-based and ushers in death; open spirituality is freedom-based and produces life. As individuals, and then as a collective-whole, we need to choose life. This blog will be dedicated to the awareness and pursuit of this endeavor.