My Belief System

We all have them, choices that is. We get to choose what we want for breakfast or how late we want to stay up at night. We can choose what books we wish to read and in this country, we even get to choose what we wish to believe in. Isn't that a wonderful thought? We don't have to agree with anyone as long as we aren't violating any public rules.

If my memory serves me, the Pilgrims came here so that they could worship the way that they wanted. This is what America was founded on. The fact that all religions are the same in the eyes of my GOD, is my belief and to have someone point out to me that only this religion or that religion is the right one, seems to violate my senses.

I can't imagine a GOD who wouldn't be proud of the Hindu who honors his Gods, loves his neighbors and takes very good care of his extended family.

My God is so large that he doesn't fit into any of the standard forms that are out there at this time. He encompasses everything. He doesn't have arms and legs but I was still created in his image. I might just be a fractal of God (Quantum). This thought was brought to me by Paul Eno in his book TURNING HOME. Isn't this exciting stuff?

When I was very little, I knew that I lived in here. I got to look out of the windows (eyes) and had to make sure the plumbing worked and the roof was neat. Don't forget to clean up the siding as much as possible. Even then I knew that I wasn't the house that I lived in.

This story is being written because of an e-mail that I got today. I sent this person a wonderful picture show of how great this beautiful world is and how lucky we are to live here. In return she wanted to tell me that it is only great if I believe the way they do. That is such a small box to put my great GOD into!

Yesterday I listened to Paul Eno on a CD. He studied to become a priest and then never took his vows. He explained that the English version of our Bible has been altered from the original Greek but most people swear by what they are reading in the present translation. One of his examples was: Matthew 22:39 "Love your neighbor as yourself." He said that the Greek says, " agapesis ton plaision sou os seauton: Love your neighbor because he is yourself." Which goes back to what the Devas have always told me, "We are all one."

Eno was hesitant to get into all of this but he did say that the Hell that most people talk about is very different than what the Greek spoke of. They talk about GOD being an all consuming fire, which is a lot different than Dante's fire and brim stone - Hell. I just found out there is a test on the internet that one can take to "find out what area of Dante's Infernal, you will be spending your eternity. (Guess you can find anything on the internet. Is that a pick "your box" kind of game?)

We have so much to learn and instead of researching it ourselves we rely on what other people have told us down through the ages. I really liked Paul Eno because he did the research. He studied the original Greek text. He intended to fit into the box but he too, found the current rules too confining. That doesn't mean that he doesn't believe in what is written but just not what you and I have read.

I guess when someone asks me what my religion is, I am not sure. There have been so many Christed ones over the years. (A Nun once told me, "Christ wasn't his last name, it was the station that he attained." She told me that it is the level that we are all trying to attain.)

There is so much to learn, no wonder we keep coming back again and again trying to get it right. Buddhists and Hindus talk about "getting off the wheel" so we don't have to come back again. Why would a great portion of the people on this planet believe in something that is so similar? And their religions are much older than the current major religion in our country.

When I hear about the fact that most people I know believe in a three-headed God I think, "That is what is right for them." Or how about the Hindu God, Vishnu with all her arms. It is OK for them. I do not have to conform to someone else's idea. The person that sent me the e-mail is so sure that I am lost but truly, I feel found. I am comforted in the knowledge that my God is so wonderful that he created me just the way I am.

Those of you who have been reading about my unordinary life in my first blog, (www.maggiebrowneakaphyllisheitkamp.blogspot.com ) will understand why I would never fit into any of the boxes that are presently available. My God is so much bigger than the religions that are around me today.

I feel that we are only a visitors on this planet for a small amount of time. When we leave here there are worlds for us to explore.

So what religion does that make me?