Amorphous

I am a deeply spiritual person yet I subscribe to no particular religion.

I have great respect and admiration for what I consider to be the core beliefs of Christianity as I see them. For instance: I believe that God is in each of us, though many of us do not realize it. I believe that God is the key to salvation and that without it there is mostly suffering. I believe that money and riches almost always corrupt. I believe we should treat others as we would be treated. I believe in acceptance. I believe in simplicity. I believe that retaliation is not the answer and that compassion earns more than aggression. I believe that the wisdom of the bible does indeed hold the secrets to everlasting life and a seat in heaven beside God. I believe that Jesus was the son of God and that he died so that we might hear his message and be saved.

But I don’t believe in the way of life or the beliefs of many of those who claim to be Christian. I don’t believe in the traditional interpretations. It’s the specifics that mess everything up. I don’t believe in their typical concept of Heaven or Hell. I don’t believe in damnation. While I believe that Jesus was the son of God, I also believe (as is stated) that we are all children of God. In that specific way, I believe Jesus was no different than you or I. We are all God’s children, made in the likeness of God, with God inside each of us. I do believe that Jesus was special and deserving of respect and admiration, but I do not believe that he is the only way into heaven. While I believe in the sacred wisdom of the bible I do not believe that most of its words should be taken with any form of literal interpretation. I believe that the bible has two messages for two different types of people. For those that understand the parable, I believe it is both milk and meat — milk for the children (figuratively, not literally) and meat for the mature (again, figuratively). I don’t believe in the lack of tolerance many Christians have, nor their strong desires for space and security and development at all costs, nor their hatred for those things that differ from them.

I believe in the Catholic and Orthodox concepts of ritual and symbolism, I believe in the Mormon concepts of Transcendentalism, family, and respect, and I believe that anyone that believes they are consuming actual human flesh and blood and yet doesn’t not consider themselves a cannibal is lying about something.

I also believe in the Buddhist concept of Karma and the idea that possessions line the path of suffering. I believe that enlightenment is our primary earthly goal and that it lines up directly with the Christian heaven. But, like Christianity, I believe it is a means to an end with both milk and meat in its practices. Do I need to give up all of my belongings, sensuality, and food after the sun reaches it’s apex in the sky in order to find my way toward freedom from suffering? No. But if I followed those traditions to the letter would it lead me where I wanted to be? Most likely.

I believe in the Hindu concept of Brahman or, loosely, God. Specifically:

• prajnānam brahma: “Brahman is knowledge”
• ayam ātmā brahma: “The Self (or the Soul) is Brahman”
• aham brahmāsmi: “I am Brahman”
• tat tvam asi: “Thou art that”
• sarvam khalv idam brahma: “All this that we see in the world is Brahman”
• sachchidānanda brahma: “Brahman is existence, consciousness, and bliss”.

More over, I truly believe in the distinction of Hinduism between two types of Brahman:

• Saguna Brahman: to indicate the “God” with form and traits and therefore, often, doctrine and dogma.
• Nirguna Brahman: the formless “God” that represents all things.

Though I, admittedly, know very little about it, I have respect for the loyalty and devotion of Islam.

I believe in the divinity of nature and the cosmos. This last bit excites the Pagans and Astrologists but really shouldn’t . I don’t subscribe to most of the Pagan aspects of divinity, magic, or enchantment. While I do believe that celestial bodies can impact our selves and our lives in more ways than we commonly believe, I don’t think I’ve ever met an Astrologist who really understood what he or she was talking about. I do believe that this Earth and all of its components, whether divine itself or not, is an important aspect in what makes us human. It’s cycles and seasons are embedded in who we are. It breathes out so that we might breathe in. And in that very breath we, too are part of its breathing, in and out, benefiting all of the life it holds. Without the delicate balance of its ecosystem we would cease to exist without heavy reliance on technical advancements and artificial replacements. The oceans pound against the shore and the moon lights up the night. Time passes overhead, touching nothing, and yet changing all. Earth would not live as it does without our Sun, feeding its plants and, in that, feeding all living things. And the sun would not operate as it does with all those other elements across the cosmos pulling and tugging just so. Regardless of how our great Earth managed to fall into this exact placement, there is no doubting that we are its child and that it will nourish us at all costs until the day that it too passes. And it, too, will pass as all things do.

I believe that superficially following any written guide will lead to, at best, a superficial understanding. I believe that this is exactly the intent of, for instance, the Christian bible. Those that follow superficially lead better, more wholesome lives because that superficial message leads there. Those that follow deeply lead the same wholesome life, but through understanding not obedience. And those that merely follow the abridgments and interpretations of others with unknown intent are doomed to misunderstand and suffer.

I choose to understand. I choose to live in harmony with my creator. I choose to honor the rhythms of that from which I came. I choose to respect the God that lives inside of me and, equally, the God that lives inside of you. I choose to worship nature in all of its mystery. Love is my doctrine. The quest of truth is my sacrament. Service is my prayer. And I choose to covenant with others. To dwell in peace together. To seek knowledge in freedom, To serve humanity in fellowship, To the end that all souls shall grow into harmony with the divine.

Amen. So say we all.