Let me start by saying that I really have no feelings about the path you take in this life, in regard to religion. Or if you find no religion suits you best. My core belief is that we should each choose whatever path works best for each of us and that my friend is an individual choice. My preference is that we each do our own research and find what works best for our own lives and that those around us support that decision even if, or especially when it’s not the path they chose to take. Personally, I have no issues with cherry-picking from several belief systems and creating your own. I really don’t have an issue with any path as long as your path is not being pushed onto others. I also take issue with ad hominem attacks when others do not agree with your belief system, no one else needs to besides you. As pagans would say, do as you will, but do no harm. With that said, let’s begin on this journey, shall we?
Let me start by saying that I really have no feelings about the path you take in this life, in regard to religion. Or if you find no religion suits you best. My core belief is that we should each choose whatever path works best for each of us and that my friend is an individual choice. My preference is that we each do our own research and find what works best for our own lives and that those around us support that decision even if, or especially when it’s not the path they chose to take. Personally, I have no issues with cherry-picking from several belief systems and creating your own. I really don’t have an issue with any path as long as your path is not being pushed onto others. I also take issue with ad hominem attacks when others do not agree with your belief system, no one else needs to besides you. As pagans would say, do as you will, but do no harm. With that said, let’s begin on this journey, shall we?
A little background on me. I was raised non-denominational Christian protestant in southeast Texas. My father was a punk rock musician/biker in LA, and my mother was a hippie. When I was about five years old, they found Christianity and thus began their journey. As with most homes I grew up around, you were whatever religion your parents were. Honestly, I didn’t know there were choices. I mean I knew you could be different denominations, but I thought everyone was automatically Christian and if they didn’t come to church, they knew Christianity was right but they wanted to sin right now. I remember so many adults in church explaining this to me. You’re either a practicing Christian or you know you should be but are astray. Or that they were angry with god or the church. When I was 17, my family converted to Orthodoxy. This was completely new to us but my father is a researcher and he wanted to follow the most correct religion to what Jesus would have practiced. The Orthodox Church claims that they have church the way Jesus taught his disciples and they were founded in 33AD. The Catholic church broke off from the Orthodox when the bishop of Rome clashed with Orthodox church fathers thus creating the first Christian schism.
Now, being much like my father, needed to find the truest form of Christianity for myself. Now, remember, I am of the belief that there is no other choice other than Christianity. So at 17, I am living in an Orthodox convent and I begin studying. The hope was I was studying to become a nun but for me, I wanted the truth. This began my decades-long journey of studying religions and engulfing myself in each one to find the right fit for myself. I should explain that as a child, I grew up in the country. I played in the woods and created my own games. I loved to pick leaves, bark, and other bits of nature to come up with concoctions that could heal or make dreams come true or other such magical things. I recall as a young teen I would be asked if I read cards, and my only thought was “um like jack, king, queen?’ what on earth did it mean to read cards? I know how to play some card games, um what? In the churches I was brought up in all of that is of the devil, even certain music or books.
Anyway, back to my studies. I was going through every denomination, submersing myself in each one, after all, how can I fully understand if I don’t fully practice? When I discover there are other choices, you don’t have to be a Christian, in fact, there are many religions that predate Christianity. WHAT?! I met pagans that believed in many gods and goddesses, and atheists who researched and came to the conclusion that they don’t see there being any supreme being. Hindus, Sikhs and so much more than I had imagined. I joined a Celtic Wiccan coven and began studying under the high priestess. I was eventually ordained with that coven. I think being brought up in a religious home I was drawn to religion. However, my passion for researching belief systems has never ended. In the early 2000s in LA I attended Gnostic meetings, got into Buddhism, and Taoism, and really enjoyed Hinduism. My practice has changed throughout the years and now it’s really my own unique path.
As I said when I started this, I believe strongly in freedom, each of us should be allowed to choose any path that works for us. Many ask me now, why I don’t follow Christianity. Well, my research led me on a different path. One of my favorite stories is about the discovery of the Sumerian Tablets. The researchers actually went there to prove the bible correct when they stumbled upon these tablets that have many of the same bible stories just with different names. Researching further, you learn that even the Sumerian tablets were taken from previous peoples. How can the bible be correct if it’s merely an adaptation of previous generations? At best it’s a graphic retelling of previous stories. I’m fine with this, however, I don’t take the bible as fact but as more allegory. I learned in my studies that the first apostate to the church was the Gnostics, which is why the Gnostic texts were removed from the bible. I find that these texts hold more power and relevance than many of the books that remained. I would argue that the council of Nicea did the bible a disservice by removing and hiding those books. But I think there was an agenda to be served. If Jesus existed, from the information we have he had women disciples and teachers. Jesus used mysticism to heal and perform miracles or magic. History regardless of whether it’s religious or not has long been shrouded in guesswork but I think we would be remiss if we didn’t look at this honestly and ask, why are the bible stories so similar to these previous stories? And why aren’t we talking about it? Can we start there?
I don’t think anyone is bad or mean or wrong for not following the same belief system that I have, I would like to be treated the same. I don’t bring the topic of religion up. Usually, I’m asked before I input on this topic. If you witness to me I will ask you to stop then I will return the favor. The best route is to respect each other’s paths and allow everyone the freedom to choose their own. We live in a world of information, if anyone wants to know your path, they will ask then you can freely share, until then I don’t see the need or why it has to be brought up. Obviously, whatever reli9gion works for you, makes your life better, and you enjoy this path then by all means do it! Follow it! I’m happy for you! All I’m saying is it doesn’t work for me and that can be the end of the conversation.
