tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57601087149830425772024-03-14T06:48:26.932-04:00A God-Sized PuzzleTake a step back and we can begin to grasp the interconnectedness of reality and our place in it. We have an active role to fill in putting together this God-Sized Puzzle and we can't do it alone because we are each other's missing piece.Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.comBlogger418125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-35557512927584202692014-05-03T12:54:00.001-04:002014-05-03T12:54:33.439-04:00Keeping Atheism in the ClosetI get bombarded with all sorts of articles on Facebook, and every now and then I stumble upon a gem. This article goes over the phenomenon of keeping Atheism and Atheist in the closet. My personal expedience coming out as a non-believer is not far off from the stories mentioned in the article. I try to avoid talking about religion but when it does come up I get plenty of "I'm praying for you", "just go to church more", and "you were a Christian when you were younger". I'm not the type that rubs my Atheism in your face. In fact what I enjoy is dialoging, sharing, and learning why others believe what they believe. I'm more interested in the person than the beliefs themselves. The article made a great point as to what drives this uneasiness that believers have of unbelievers:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“For many families, being religious is less about spiritual beliefs, and
more about family identity. More than anything else, going to religious
services is a family togetherness activity, or even a family duty. As
Sally M. says, who was brought up Catholic but has been an atheist since
childhood, says, “The whole family has always treated church like a
chore, so they probably assumed I was claiming atheism to get out of
wasting my Sunday. If my mother had to drag herself and the rest of my
siblings out of bed, there was no way I was getting out of it.” <b>And some
believers may think that participating in religious rituals will
somehow draw atheists back into belief.</b></i></blockquote>
I don't attend church because it doesn't speak to me. Some have said that I need to "let the Spirit in" and then I'll believe, that if I "let go" or "stop trying too hard" that the spirit will flood in. But no matter how I've approached this nothing happens. The only person I will attend church with is my wife, I do this out of love, support, and respect for my wife's beliefs. When I do attend with her I am as respectful as possible but I will not lie about my beliefs, or lack thereof. (Thankfully, and surprisingly, that awkward conversation has not happened. I guess most church goers simply assume everyone else there is a believer.)<br />
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So why are believers so uncomfortable with unbelievers even existing? I believe it's because they've been taught not to question their beliefs by fellow believers, pastors/priest, and even scripture itself, that when they meet someone who has wrestled with these questions they begin to question the religious aspect of their identity. I believe the more inclusive and accepting of others the person is the less likely the believer will feel threatened by non-believers. If a belief held by your religious community keeps you in fear of those outside of your group is it really worth it to keep that belief? Did you really choose to follow that belief (Note: I'm talking about a single belief not a religion, or religion as a whole.) or are you only believing out of fear of being excluded or out of tradition? Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-55303963998975796092014-04-16T11:52:00.001-04:002014-04-16T11:52:13.352-04:00There is No They If there is one thing I can safely say I believe in that would be in our connection with our fellow man.Social media sites like Facebook was created with the intent of bringing people together, and in a sense it has. But more often than not I witness the opposite of people transcending their tribal identities, I witness them digging their heels and cutting ties, both in the real and virtual world, with those who may challenge their tribe. People feel safe and cozy within their group, and a group can shape their identity by identifying a group, cause, or belief that is opposite of what they stand for. But when it comes down to it there is no They.<br />
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Of course humans will always catalog and label their reality, it helps us give order to a seemingly chaotic universe. What I mean by <i>There is no They</i> is that we're all human. Regardless of our gender, skin, life choices, beliefs, <b>we are all human</b>. We get so involved in our other labels that we tend to forget (or simply ignore) our most basic identity when interacting with each other. I see so many images and posts being shared online which highlights how one group is violent, dumb, and backwards compared to their own group. These images and posts don't educate or elevate mankind in any way. They were created to simply put another group down. It doesn't highlight real injustice (e.g. real persecution for one's beliefs vs. a loss of entitlement) nor does it bring constructive conversation to get people to examine each others views let alone their own.<br />
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But maybe I'm asking too much from a social media site where friends share images asking that I will give a Thumbs up if I hate evil or if I remember a particular artifact from my childhood in the 80s.<br />
<br /> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/7P3TrGCMHNU" width="420"></iframe><br />
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I've shared this video multiple times but Ram Dass hits the nail on the head, There is No They.<br />
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<br />Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-1956024767185120062014-04-13T15:12:00.001-04:002014-04-13T15:12:38.125-04:00Be Your Best SelfIt's been almost a year since I've written anything here. I've been busy with Grad school and family that it was hard for me to have a spare moment of reflection. I also realized that my journey I started 5 years ago has shifted. I spent the last 5 years on this blog discovering who I am and now I think it's time to simply be that person. I spent so much time reflecting on how to become a better, more loving human being that it completely escaped me that to become that person I must be my best self.<br />
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I believe that most people struggle with being their best self because they're not comfortable in their own skin. To analyze the darkest part of ourselves is too much for some people. And that's ok. It is all a part of being human. Once we accept our frailty, our faults, our humanness we can begin to overcome the darkest part of ourselves and be our best self. We can begin embracing the beauty of what we can be, the enormous potential in being you. You're the best person who can be you, no one can play that part better than yourself. Just remember that each of us are unique cosmic events, there never has been nor ever will be another you or another me. So why not be your best self?<br />
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<br />Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-60392318593867617512013-06-09T15:48:00.001-04:002013-06-09T15:50:31.565-04:00We're All Stories, In the End.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYINdkJzceeIfQRwdpE-SjPJ-v5i9U10Y75cQ3Z0cf61_NvIPHBBgshnvLI5fXBflgfH5DiAxpqrPvKVBUb4_p2IyfQI6qnjPSA_AqBgz3L242fMy7CWeQ4Ek4V1yNXvORWM_XbcUs13mg/s1600/Doctor+Who+Stories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYINdkJzceeIfQRwdpE-SjPJ-v5i9U10Y75cQ3Z0cf61_NvIPHBBgshnvLI5fXBflgfH5DiAxpqrPvKVBUb4_p2IyfQI6qnjPSA_AqBgz3L242fMy7CWeQ4Ek4V1yNXvORWM_XbcUs13mg/s400/Doctor+Who+Stories.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
I saw this on Facebook and felt it was worth sharing. The quote comes from the season 5 finale of <i>Doctor Who</i>, "The Big Bang". The Doctor's last words to a sleeping Amelia Pond: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"It's funny, I thought, if you could hear me, I could hang on, somehow.
Silly me. Silly old Doctor. When you wake up, you'll have a mum and dad,
and you won't even remember me. Well, you'll remember me a little. I'll
be a story in your head. But that's OK: we're all stories, in the end.
Just make it a good one, eh? Because it was, you know, it was the best: a
daft old man, who stole a magic box and ran away. Did I ever tell you I
stole it? Well, I borrowed it; I was always going to take it back. Oh,
that box, Amy, you'll dream about that box. It'll never leave you. Big
and little at the same time, brand-new and ancient, and the bluest blue,
ever. And the times we had, eh? Would've had. Never had. In your
dreams, they'll still be there."</i></blockquote>
The line used in the picture has stuck with me because it sums up what I believe. After our bodies return to the Earth our stories continue. These stories connect and define us while also creating new stories. A beautiful example of the interconnectedness of our stories is portrayed in last year's film,<i> <a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/08/im-on-cloud-atlas.html">Cloud Atlas</a></i>. The film is based on David Mitchell's 2004 novel which consists of six stories spanning from the 19th century to a post-apocalyptic future. The characters of the six eras are connected to each other through storytelling and are inspired by that connectedness to fight the injustice of their time. The stories stand alone independently but when they are told together they create a beautiful interwoven tapestry of us, a story of being human.<br />
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Some people fear that they'll be forgotten after their death, but even the shortest and seemingly insignificant of lives have a part to play in the choir of humanity. One of my favorite <a href="http://youtu.be/Fz7K9swt-qk?t=11s">Doctor Who scenes</a> happens between Wilfred Mott and the 10th Doctor in "The End of Time":<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The Doctor: I'm older than you.<br />
Wilfred: Get away.<br />
The Doctor: I'm nine hundred and six.<br />
Wilfred: Oh really though?<br />
The Doctor: Yeah.<br />
Wilfred: Nine hundred years. We must look like insects to you.<br />
The Doctor: I think you look like giants. </blockquote>
The beauty of our collective stories is not solely found in the most prominent threads in our tapestry, but in the sea of unique threads interconnected and bound to one another. When we discover that interconnectedness we come to appreciate each others stories that much more. And as we blend we begin to forget where one story ends and another begins. <br />
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So what is your story? Have you found your story's place in the tapestry? Are you making it a good one?Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-68396353350940161442013-05-21T12:24:00.002-04:002013-05-21T12:24:34.892-04:00The Geography of Hate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEHLjbWI7F8r6JYXkEfJLGE9XpY7T9Q6XUNRsihVI3_IIb60ez5PvfLaJUvyWS5KgBIqrzJzYukmKPDKiTgAJSjfvhbmfEFjPxIUFaAAksNXHPStQb_UG81LtqM7iff0QeCAz-VsK6R2Q/s1600/Hate+Map+Tweets.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEHLjbWI7F8r6JYXkEfJLGE9XpY7T9Q6XUNRsihVI3_IIb60ez5PvfLaJUvyWS5KgBIqrzJzYukmKPDKiTgAJSjfvhbmfEFjPxIUFaAAksNXHPStQb_UG81LtqM7iff0QeCAz-VsK6R2Q/s320/Hate+Map+Tweets.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
Vorjack from <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/unreasonablefaith/2013/05/mapping-hate/"><i>Unreasonable Faith</i></a> shared this interesting interactive map which shows the areas in the U.S. which produce the most hate tweets on Twitter. This map is based on 150,000 geotagged tweets between June 2012 and April 2013 which contains racial or sexual slurs. Here's a snapshot of my local region showing homophobic tweets in the Eastern Tennessee and North Georgia area. You can check out the full interactive map <a href="http://users.humboldt.edu/mstephens/hate/hate_map.html#">here</a>. The interesting thing is that the majority of the hate tweets originate in the Eastern half of the U.S. The process, and pitfalls, in collecting and mapping this data is explained<a href="http://www.floatingsheep.org/2013/05/faq-geography-of-hate.html"> here</a>. Any thoughts?Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-64903209603725824212013-05-14T20:39:00.001-04:002013-05-14T20:39:58.061-04:00The Dream of LifeThere is something about listening to speeches (sermons?) by Alan Watts which really strikes a chord with me. I've only read a couple of his books and even though I don't completely buy into everything he talks about it's fun to think about and play with the ideas in my head. It always inspires me to look at life differently.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wU0PYcCsL6o" width="560"></iframe><br />
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If we had a chance to dream the perfect dream of life would we get bored and end up dreaming of a normal life? Boredom is one of many reasons why I can no longer understand the point of living in bliss for eternity in heaven. Even as I child I (secretly) asked myself <i>"wouldn't eternity be boring?"</i> As a teenager I even had dreams where after a few <span class="st">millennia in heaven</span> I dove off the edge of heaven and back to earth (reality) because I found heaven boring. <br />
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I can understand why people feel the need for heaven to be real. Life is rough, heart-breaking, and down right miserable at times and some people rely on the hope for a way out. <i>Heaven=hope</i> to billions of people and the last thing I want to do is to pull the rug from under their feet. To me, heaven is more of a distraction from the here and now. There is so much beauty to see and experience that I can't see myself ignoring all of reality, however short in comparison, in hopes of entering a place (or state of mind) of eternal bliss. Who I am contains experiences and memories of both good and bad things and I can't fully appreciate the good moments in my life without the bad. I believe learning to live with the ups and downs of life is what being human is all about.<br />
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Does this idea that we are all connected, that we're all <i>waves of an ocean</i>, of any benefit to anyone? Although I have trouble believing that at the core we are God playing hide and seek, the idea that we are connected to each other and the universe helps me to be more understanding, compassionate, and to tread carefully and respectfully in life. This concept isn't necessary for me to be compassionate and understanding of my fellow man but is simply a story which symbolizes and illustrates why I do. So which is more important to you: controlling your adventure of dreams or simply experiencing them?Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-49790385970065805422013-05-10T12:06:00.002-04:002013-05-10T12:06:12.366-04:00"You Got To Touch His Freakin' Heart"A video of Jeff Bliss, a Duncanville High school student, going off on his teacher has recently gone viral. Here's the video if you haven't already seen it.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bQ2VAV3HYdU" width="420"></iframe><br />
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The teacher is now <a href="http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2013/05/09/duncanville-high-teacher-on-leave-after-student-viral-video-rant/">on leave with pay</a> pending an investigation of the incident. You can watch an interview with Jeff <a href="http://youtu.be/bKjqjpePhTc">here</a>. I've felt this kid's frustration before when I was in high school (and in college at times). Some teachers just hand out material for you to learn and the students regurgitate it on a test (I personally tend to forget what was taught after taking a class taught like this). Although he probably could have delivered his message in a more appropriate manner sometimes rants like these have to be expressed and witnessed by the public to get to the root of the problem. <br />
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I enjoy classes where there is interaction between the teacher and their students. Not every student learns the same and some need more involvement from their teacher. If the teacher hadn't brushed off the student (<i>"you're wasting my time"</i>, <i>"get out"</i>) the video probably wouldn't have gone as viral as it had. A student's success depends on all parties involved: the parents, student, and teacher. In this case Jeff was frustrated because he values the importance of a good education. He wants to succeed but feels that this specific teacher was not making any attempts to hear him out let alone teach beyond passing out worksheets (err, "packets"). I know the education debate is complex and I don't believe that cutting a teacher's pay (the "stick" approach) is going to resolve our nation's failures in education. I also don't want teachers teaching me or my kids with such an extreme lack of enthusiasm for their job that it causes an outburst like this one. At least in college you have some options towards choosing your teacher and I've seen some students, prior to their appointed registration time, research professors on <a href="http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/">ratemyprofessors.com</a>. I've personally never used the site prior to today and don't really plan to in the future but felt it worth mentioning. When a student like Jeff, who returned to school after dropping out, feels this strongly about the education system then you know there are issues to be addressed. If the kids (with the help of parents) are truly trying their best then the least the teacher can do is try to inspire the kids. Jeff said it best, <i>"you got to touch his freakin' heart"</i>.Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-67226379965351456962013-05-08T08:45:00.000-04:002013-05-08T08:45:01.205-04:00Clara Oswald: The Red Shirt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pyj7_nOVIOedTFXv__pBU-OxQ-wdqo1g5sDTqTK1f3mF7dp2fNz7guG3ukmkFegjq1_qp53X3Cnl9k-z9BtS9ck4VFtlwIwdMhkXLpIuivJyKh_Lp5T7Rs_lT-AqbnDPl29X1yLJlmlV/s1600/Clara+Red+shirt+Meme.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pyj7_nOVIOedTFXv__pBU-OxQ-wdqo1g5sDTqTK1f3mF7dp2fNz7guG3ukmkFegjq1_qp53X3Cnl9k-z9BtS9ck4VFtlwIwdMhkXLpIuivJyKh_Lp5T7Rs_lT-AqbnDPl29X1yLJlmlV/s400/Clara+Red+shirt+Meme.png" width="266" /></a></div>
Although I mainly write on religion and spirituality I thought I'd continue my thoughts on Doctor<br />
Who and theories on the identity of Clara Oswin Oswald. One of the common themes I've found reading on theories on Clara's identity is that she wears red, <a href="http://www.stephanie-mcgee.com/2013/04/clara-oswin-oswald-theory-part-2.html">a lot</a>. Combine that with the fact that she keeps dying and you can't help but calling her a <i>red shirt</i>. Others have also noticed <a href="http://abadplanwellexecuted.tumblr.com/post/38949439358/someone-please-tell-me-that-im-imagining-this">roses referenced</a> in several episodes, possible hinting at a connection with Rose Tyler (a popular theory being that Clara is the daughter of Rose and 10-Two). Even though the color red may be a foreshadowing of Clara's death why does she keep coming back only to be killed again? The way the Doctor desperately tries to keep Clara alive after seeing her die twice before reminds me of Desmond's attempts to keep Charlie alive in <i>Lost</i>. Regardless how many times Desmond tried to keep him alive Charlie had to die. <br />
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There is a <i>Grand Unified Doctor Who and Clara theory </i>found <a href="http://oswintheories.tumblr.com/post/49907050637/the-grand-unified-doctor-who-and-clara-oswald-theory">here</a> which attempts to explain why Clara keeps popping up throughout history. It states that she is in fact a Time Lord who used a <span>Chameleon Arch on herself. Even though her body dies her Time Lord essence fights its way back into existence constantly being reborn throughout time. It's an interesting theory (although I'm unfamiliar with the Classic Doctor Who series so I'm not sure of the theory's plausibility) but I really like the focus on her essence fighting its way back into existence. Unlike Charlie in <i>Lost</i> where death was unavoidable, life is unavoidable for Clara. Regardless of her true identity I believe her constant rebirth is tied to the <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/exploringourmatrix/2013/04/doctor-who-journey-to-the-centre-of-the-tardis.html">Doctor's identity</a> and acts to remind the Doctor of something incredibly</span> important ("Run, you clever boy. And remember.").<br />
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And on a side note, does the <a href="http://blogtorwho.blogspot.com/2013/05/nightmare-in-silver-promo-pics.html">promo pic</a> of the new episode, <i>Nightmare in Silver</i>, not remind anyone else of <i>The Last Supper</i>?Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-51869584330549185782013-05-03T10:07:00.001-04:002013-05-03T10:07:40.361-04:00The Doctor Who is Named...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuF9Faql-xJwjG2seoz8rhNnT5YJwvWZ7EmQ44v6Ea9NJ_zPLVPqLB9Rr-2hpnncZnhYIKN2wf6jXcgPL8PmuV2NnfTsMqNl5Ylfbs4CpZVnQtyoRPL4JgaEZ2Sk8YkGIBsroNYkS3yOS/s1600/Doctor+Who+Tao.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuF9Faql-xJwjG2seoz8rhNnT5YJwvWZ7EmQ44v6Ea9NJ_zPLVPqLB9Rr-2hpnncZnhYIKN2wf6jXcgPL8PmuV2NnfTsMqNl5Ylfbs4CpZVnQtyoRPL4JgaEZ2Sk8YkGIBsroNYkS3yOS/s1600/Doctor+Who+Tao.PNG" /></a>So while wrapping up my last post on<a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2013/05/our-thoughts-about-god.html"> our thoughts on God</a> a line from the Tao Te Ching and my excitement to watch Doctor Who tomorrow accidentally collided inside my head. I love reading about the intersection between religion and science fiction so I couldn't help myself from creating this meme. The line was <i>"The Tao that can be named (spoken) is not the eternal Tao."</i>Although now that I think of it a better line to use would have been <i>"The Name that can be named is not the eternal name."</i> I don't believe Moffat and friends will actually reveal the name of the Doctor but instead talk about the power in knowing the name and what may befall if that name fell into the wrong hands. My wife and I are banging our heads against the wall trying to figure the identity of Clara Oswald, I suppose, like everyone else. Even though we may not guess her identity we're definitely enjoying trying to solve it. Let me know if you can come up with a better meme. I'd love to hear them. Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-50161881595033894422013-05-03T08:21:00.000-04:002013-05-03T08:21:44.994-04:00Our Thoughts About God<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wLCjzBoTXuRcXFuwtGTADZIrm1VoJs9cWzHKRfUtKO8dWMFRO9laTMmsz8OdJasrch4N0Wy2R1Xecymq6Acpp4v1Ipl87t6q-c1nDR98WWwzAWwNM18l9Xo-PBC57Kw_6dmuTEi-8jBB/s1600/thoughts-about-god.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wLCjzBoTXuRcXFuwtGTADZIrm1VoJs9cWzHKRfUtKO8dWMFRO9laTMmsz8OdJasrch4N0Wy2R1Xecymq6Acpp4v1Ipl87t6q-c1nDR98WWwzAWwNM18l9Xo-PBC57Kw_6dmuTEi-8jBB/s320/thoughts-about-god.jpg" width="320" /></a>This image sums the first of many questions I asked myself when I began my spiritual journey over 7 years ago. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Our thoughts about God are just that: thoughts about God. They are not
God. They approximate God. This includes the thoughts, now written, of
the biblical writers and all theologians since. All their thoughts and
all their writings are not God, but approximations of God."</i> -<a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/nakedpastor/2013/05/our-thoughts-about-god-and-god/">David Haward</a> (You can see more of David's work <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/nakedpastor/">here</a>.)</blockquote>
This was when I began to differentiate between my thoughts and what God is. How I define God is just that, <a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2010/09/god-is.html">my definition</a>. To embrace the idea that our thoughts are just approximation carries with it a humbling affect. It allows me to understand how someone else may view and define God (or anything else for that matter) differently. God then becomes malleable (a playdoh god, maybe?) able to change shape and grow depending on the viewer. This tells us more about ourselves than it does about God herself granting us another window into the heart of our neighbor. Is there a God beyond our personal playdoh god? Sure, why not, who knows. Does it matter? That depends how important it is to you for your thoughts about God to be real. <br />
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This is something most people don't readily think about because it introduces a sliver of doubt on what they consider to be the foundation of their beliefs. But doubt is not the <i>"gateway drug"</i> which leads down the slippery road to Atheism, it is a constructive tool which helps us analyze our beliefs. Analyzing what we believe helps us to better understand why we believe the things we believe. Would you rather accept a belief system you simply inherited from your parents and/or environment or would you like the chance to choose what you believe for yourself? In the end we decide what religion to follow (or not follow), which house of worship to attend, and what spiritual practices to practice. In the end we make our choices based on our thoughts after weighing the evidence we analyzed. Now multiply that process by several billion people and it becomes clear that our thoughts about God are simply that, our thoughts. Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-63982525158193092592013-05-01T07:37:00.001-04:002013-05-01T07:40:03.990-04:00How Good Do We Have to Be? Part 6- Final thoughts <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaS4vFv6xRfYceTDGD500os9XGErjDYOK0BnRuBe1aVz-XQjMM5rBTxsMaEamuTi1iuacrSQsqVUmocNpeS3wvXQlz1AXJaMbbq3brb1N3C85NiSrOlD7NHNeWbEee9jJtmAs_3G7WcJsm/s1600/How+Good+do+we+Have+to+Be-Kushner.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504961865815430914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaS4vFv6xRfYceTDGD500os9XGErjDYOK0BnRuBe1aVz-XQjMM5rBTxsMaEamuTi1iuacrSQsqVUmocNpeS3wvXQlz1AXJaMbbq3brb1N3C85NiSrOlD7NHNeWbEee9jJtmAs_3G7WcJsm/s320/How+Good+do+we+Have+to+Be-Kushner.jpg" style="float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 212px;" /></a><i> </i><b>[I started <a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/search/label/Blog%20Series%3A%20How%20Good%20Do%20We%20Have%20to%20Be%3F">this blog series</a> well over a year ago on Harold Kushner's </b><b><i>How Good Do We Have to Be?
</i>and life got in the way and I never got a chance to finish reviewing the book. I recently recommended this book to other
people which caused me to dig up this long unfinished post.]</b><br />
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In the last couple chapters Kushner explains that life after Eden wasn't a punishment at all but a gift to be cherished. We are conscious about our death and having that knowledge makes our days that much more beautiful, or at least it should but we allow guilt and fear to overtake our lives. How good do we really have to be? There is no bar we have to meet that any higher power requires of us. What we can do is forgive, love and accept our friends and family for who and what they are, human. We are going to make mistakes and holding the ones we love to unreasonably high expectations will only feed the damage caused by guilt and fear. It is hard to be humble and vulnerable but if we open ourselves to others and understand our shared suffering then we don't have to suffer alone. And by opening ourselves to others we allow love to flow freely between us. <br />
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Kushner closes with what he deems is the most important word in the Bible found in Genesis 17:1. <i>Tamim,</i> which is usually translated as <i>perfect</i> or <i>blameless,</i> can translate to mean something like <a href="http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0117.htm"><i>whole-hearted</i></a>. Kushner states that God, as a God of forgiveness, doesn't want us to be perfect but to strive for integrity. As fallible humans unable to go back to Eden (existence before eating from the Tree of Knowledge) we should strive to be true to the core of who we are and the goodness found within all of us. In the final chapter Kushner shares one of my favorite stories, <a href="http://youtu.be/Ga4Ce9fUt3Y"><i>The Missing Piece</i></a>, by Shel Silverstein. Like the circle who is content with searching for its missing piece after finding and leaving it behind, Kushner suggests we are more whole when we are incomplete.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"The man who has everything is in some ways a poor man. He will never know what it feels to yearn, to hope, to nourish his soul with the dream of something better...There is a wholeness about the person who has come to terms with his limitations, who knows who he is and what he can and cannot do, the person who has been brave enough to let go of his unrealistic dreams and not feel like a failure for doing so."</i></blockquote>
There is a wholeness in coming to terms with our humanity, with our fallibility. When we give up our search for perfection, accept ourselves and others for who we are, and strive to be our best selves, then we find there's plenty of love and forgiveness to go around.<br />
<hr />
<br />
Part 1: <a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2010/08/how-good-do-we-have-to-be-part-1-story.html">A Story of Emergence</a><br />
Part 2: <a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2010/09/how-good-do-we-have-to-be-part-2-guilt.html">Guilt and Shame </a><br />
Part 3: <a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2010/09/how-good-do-we-have-to-be-part-3-cycle.html">The Cycle of Guilt</a><br />
Part 4: <a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-good-do-we-have-to-be-part-4.html">The Wholeness We Seek</a><br />
Part 5: <a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/07/how-good-do-we-have-to-be-part-5-is.html">Is There Enough Love for Everyone</a><br />
Part 6: Final Thoughts Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-4401331287020982402013-04-29T10:37:00.002-04:002013-04-29T10:40:01.746-04:00The importance of ChangeThe concept of personal growth and change has been on my mind again, something which I <a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/09/youve-changed.html">touch</a> upon <a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2011/09/life-beyond-christianity.html">here</a> a<a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/search/label/Blog%20Series%3A%20Conversations%20with%20Ourselves"> lot</a>. It is an important topic to me because I've embraced that change is constant. And even though some changes in the universe can be interpreted as negatively impacting our lives I can't recall anyone actively seeking change which would make their life worse. Looking back we might be able to pick out the bad choices in our lives but at the moment we may have believed that was the best decision for ourselves. When it comes to my personal spiritual growth I have made choices which I believe would strengthen my spirituality, and my walk with my fellow man. Others who fail to understand the reasons behind my choices will interpret my change as negatively impacting my life as well as those closest to me. They say with a negative tone that <a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/09/youve-changed.html">"you've changed"</a> as if shaming me would shock me back into being the old Sam.<br />
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I don't believe it is possible to go back to being the person we were before. We are constantly being affected by our environment, people, and events that it is simply impossible. And if it were possible (say by some timey,wimey revision of history) what would be the point of living a life where nothing changed? Outside of it being incredibly boring you wouldn't experience anything new and exciting, nothing would happen to you. So when others approach me with the "you've changed" look/tone I feel as if they would prefer that I stay in the same state that <b>they're</b> comfortable with, regardless of my personal feelings. They are uncomfortable with your changes without knowing the reasons behind the change. I've gone from 7th Day Adventist -> <a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/07/why-sbnr-top-10-reasons.html">SBNR</a> (I'm not in love with the label but that's the best I can find so far) and most don't ask what inspired (and continues to inspire) me to change or discuss my journey but instead focus on what was so wrong about my prior religious identity that I had to discard it. When I reply with <i>"it simply didn't work for me"</i> most take it as an attack on Christianity itself and by then any hopes of dialogue dissolves into a rant of how lost I am and ends with them saying they'll be praying for me (I've got a small army of people praying for me). Just because Christianity doesn't work for me DOES NOT mean it won't work for you. But if you're of the mindset that one faith is completely true then by definition it has to work for everyone, and if not the blame falls on the individual and not the religion. My beliefs changed because of the experiences, people, and events in my life. Change was bound to happen and will happen again. So how will you react to changes in your life? Will you fight or embrace them?Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-90275544023307244062013-04-04T10:21:00.001-04:002013-04-04T10:21:31.009-04:00Defending God<div class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhAlylw_bCWQMWFCqdZ3rt6bjYanMFgcA5MqjoYxIQf-FJqf8vE0_4FzMupzD0CylxRvU5S8B2OU1ioKah0FzuKDDk3wJ4zcybyJTFtXMMANJKEdNg6q2ewXhknZJp_fCZIthsyIApDOH/s1600/godly+grilling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhAlylw_bCWQMWFCqdZ3rt6bjYanMFgcA5MqjoYxIQf-FJqf8vE0_4FzMupzD0CylxRvU5S8B2OU1ioKah0FzuKDDk3wJ4zcybyJTFtXMMANJKEdNg6q2ewXhknZJp_fCZIthsyIApDOH/s320/godly+grilling.jpg" width="316" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">I've been gone for quite a while mostly busy with school but I thought I'd share something I came across again yesterday. Andrew Hackman, from <a href="http://mrhackman.blogspot.com/">Hackman's Musings</a>, shared this verse on Facebook.</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>And the Lord said, " “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity or compassion. 6 Slaughter the old men, the young men and women, the mothers and children, but do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the old men who were in front of the temple.</i> ~ Ezekiel 9:5-6</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;">How does this verse make you feel? Are your initial thoughts to defend or oppose it? What if we made some minor changes to the verse like the following:</span><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>And Allah said, " “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity or compassion. 6 Slaughter the old men, the young men and women, the mothers and children, but do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the old men who were in front of the temple.</i> ~ The Holy Quran sura 9:5-6</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Does that make a difference? Would you defend one more so than the other, or do you find them both abhorrent? What if I tied these words to Hitler? Would it make a difference if we added context to each of these scenarios? What if we explained that the residents of the city needed to be exterminated or else they would continue to commit heinous crimes against humanity?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The words themselves regardless of the source are abhorrent, period. The issue some people struggle with is what to do about the source. If the source is someone (or some group/institution) you identify with what do you do with a verse/quote promoting genocide? What does that verse/quote tell you about the source? Are your tribal loyalties so important to you that you would defend the source regardless of what he/she/it may say?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">If you can work out some clever double think so that your source stays innocent and blameless while </span>promoting something as sicking as genocide AND still be able to sleep at night, then I applaud your skills in mental gymnastics. I, on the other hand, can not look at a verse like this without feeling sick. Opposing this verse doesn't mean I throw out the Bible entirely or despise the religion (or the believers) around it. I just can't believe in a deity which calls for genocide in one verse and then promises showers of blessings and love in the next. It is the image of a barbecue-obsessed deity, who <a href="http://www.thebricktestament.com/joshua/massacre_of_jericho/jos06_01.html">demands obedience or blood</a>, that I have rejected after many years struggling with questions brought up by reading the<a href="http://mrhackman.blogspot.com/2013/03/facebook-faith-13-is-god-bi-polar.html"> rarely mentioned</a> parts of the Bible. Studying the Bible <span class="hw">in-depth is what set me on the path to the conclusions I've reached today. <i>(Although, I wouldn't mind grilling with Thor.)</i></span>Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-279691020243183282013-03-10T13:49:00.001-04:002013-03-10T13:49:33.588-04:00'Merica<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBaAyXDYg-2em95asLXvGd7o-AqZvbQmD1XYlaUMJ7n0KK_IwthrQsTbysq5Z_Ko6WLN76yUeFoJWZ0JSmT9NQwbmH4rKqZyZVCCBBNQ4viui06UowJadSAe78PqWvlKYzGjSoHsj4mI9/s1600/randy+merica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBaAyXDYg-2em95asLXvGd7o-AqZvbQmD1XYlaUMJ7n0KK_IwthrQsTbysq5Z_Ko6WLN76yUeFoJWZ0JSmT9NQwbmH4rKqZyZVCCBBNQ4viui06UowJadSAe78PqWvlKYzGjSoHsj4mI9/s320/randy+merica.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i> 'Merica! Where we can say and do whateva we want! </i><br />
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My Facebook feed gets flooded with all sorts of quotes, rants, and proclamations of love for food, family, and God. Facebook does allow me to filter the feeds from anyone I'd rather not see. I don't use the filter because this seems like overkill to me since I do enjoy seeing updates, photos, and connecting with loved ones I don't have time to see. The bombardments of memes and praises for Jesus doesn't phase me one bit. What does concern me are the individuals who share jokes and memes without understanding the message of what is being shared (or if the do understand, they're so completely detached from reality they fail to grasp the inhumanity of the message). Take this <a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/09/homegrown-extremists.html">meme</a> for example where someone posted the results of what is supposed to be a nuclear strike on Mecca (I think) saying that the <b>problem</b> was "solved". I won't go into how many MORE global problems that would bring up (social, economic, culural, environmental, etc.) but you get the idea.<br />
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So when I come across something like this I try to point out why this is morally wrong. I try not to do it in a smug <i>"holier than thou"</i> manner but simply pointing out that the individual might need to reevaluate sharing what they shared. Depending on your Facebook settings these images and jokes can be seen by friends, family, coworkers and companies looking to hire you. You may think the content is funny, and you ABSOLUTELY have the freedom to share it, but do you really have to act on an impulse simply because you are free to do so? Some fundamentalist groups believe it is their right to stand up for their beliefs by publicly condemning gays, and when they are prevented from partaking in their hate speech they play the "We're being persecuted" card. In the end you'll just end up looking foolish trying to protect your pride and beliefs. <br />
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I believe we should focus more on how we should utilize our freedoms to improve the quality of life for our global neighbors than abuse those freedoms for our own selfish reasons. But we are talking about Facebook, it is the home for egocentrics. Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-82887911462982635942013-02-10T10:30:00.001-05:002013-02-10T10:30:42.274-05:00Blog Series: Sunday Sermon Podcasts- The Vicious CircleThis Sunday's podcast with the Rascally Rabbi Rami Shapiro is entitled "Vicious Circle: Theology and the Demonization of the Other" which was recorded back in March of 2012.Enjoy.<br />
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<a href="http://www.podbean.com/" style="border-bottom: none; color: #2da274; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-left: 41px; text-decoration: none;">Podcast Powered By Podbean</a><br />
<i>"Boxes are everywhere. Once they're set and once we've agreed to live within them our notion of truth and what's right is pretty much fixed....The more locked in we are the easier it is for us to not simply lock the other out but to assure on a very deep psychosocial level that the other is actually evil."</i></div>
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I love listening to talks by Rabbi Rami because he introduces questions which I find helpful in sweeping the mind of our images and ideas of Reality (God, etc.). Are UUs a religion of <i>neti neti</i>? I'm not sure, but then how do you avoid the vicious circle? How do you escape other boxes while keeping one foot in new one ( the UU box)? Sound off in the comments. Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-45088747455599257452013-02-07T09:30:00.001-05:002013-02-07T09:30:42.340-05:00I am the One Who Knocks<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLHTHc9jCdsmeVbISwVwswQ6IBhQemo_nHlLUEdwaOO2KEtgn-Re6xy_7DxwzNGFJ21gZ83XAx2BeTL82lk_Fkm5EQzNnOloX32puIkhQ5jrHu2yDSjnlngMg08e3pmTmayP7QfKWXw8E/s1600/Breaking+Bread+shirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLHTHc9jCdsmeVbISwVwswQ6IBhQemo_nHlLUEdwaOO2KEtgn-Re6xy_7DxwzNGFJ21gZ83XAx2BeTL82lk_Fkm5EQzNnOloX32puIkhQ5jrHu2yDSjnlngMg08e3pmTmayP7QfKWXw8E/s320/Breaking+Bread+shirt.jpg" width="209" /></a> <i>Although this post doesn't contain any spoilers about Breaking Bad there may be spoilerish moments via the link. Ye be warned.</i><br />
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Breaking Bad is one of my all time favorite shows and is one of the few shows which still causes my heart to race. I never really thought too much on the intersection between religion and Breaking Bad mainly because I'm completely drawn into the story that I miss what can be very some very intriguing concepts where this show intersects with religion. While I was cleaning around the house my mind wandered to<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMEq1mGpP5A"> this scene</a> where Walter was correcting Skylar, his wife, as to who truly is the enemy of the story. In this scene Walter exclaims he has no reason to be afraid of someone knocking on his door to shoot him, but instead in one of his best moments he says that <i>HE is the one who knocks</i>. It took me all of 4 seconds (yeah, I'm embarrassed it took so long, I really should dust off my Bible more often) to realize where I've heard this particular string of words. The next most <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trH1AdXnclQ">memorable scene</a> (at least to me) has Walter White dealing with a meth distributor in the desert. Declan, the distributor, asks Walter who he is, in which Walter replies by saying they all know who he is and eerily demands that they say his name. He wants people to know who he is. This is in contrast to Jesus in Luke 9 asking his disciples <i>"who do you say that I am"</i> and then warned his disciples not to reveal his identity to anyone. The following video also highlights some other moments most notably Walter coughing up drops of blood on his hands. <b><i>Warning: this video DOES contain spoilers and violence. </i></b><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qpqVpi3tWiA" width="560"></iframe><br />
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This led me to a <a href="http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/breaking%20bread">treasure trove</a> of images on the internet (the one pictured being <a href="http://monkeygong.com/art-shop/shirts/breaking-bread-t-shirt">my favorite</a>) merging Jesus with Heisenberg: both are associated with life and death. <br />
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If you haven't seen Breaking Bad then I highly recommend catching up on Netflix before the series conclusion this Summer. (And on a similar note I thought <a href="http://www.bubbleblabber.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/ned.jpg">this picture</a> merging Ned Flanders and Walter White was too good not to share).Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-62227454884536870732013-02-02T11:59:00.003-05:002013-02-02T12:01:18.241-05:00Why Do You Get 18%?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2oRwnLyy-vvsGKMzFr34l1UDbYvYZl4PK9wtIuV6-PI3maEefX-Cu0PzpolaLsXLzvGrabNam5ik9DL6JzC5RGjRNwyhNq25kKKGHw9klWgpObY2mHPTDFzV9-ehU0RNi1RNsADoExc6/s1600/applebees-receipt-posted-to-reddit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2oRwnLyy-vvsGKMzFr34l1UDbYvYZl4PK9wtIuV6-PI3maEefX-Cu0PzpolaLsXLzvGrabNam5ik9DL6JzC5RGjRNwyhNq25kKKGHw9klWgpObY2mHPTDFzV9-ehU0RNi1RNsADoExc6/s320/applebees-receipt-posted-to-reddit.jpg" width="320" /></a>This image has exploded on the interwebs and even hit the <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/applebees-defends-firing-waitress-pastor-receipt-192100973.html">news</a>. I've seen some <a href="http://pic.epicfail.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/tip-win-pi.jpg">humorous</a> (and <a href="http://cdn-www.i-am-bored.com/media/hooters-bad-tip.jpg">plain</a> <a href="http://cheezburger.com/5299614208">awful</a>) restaurant receipt images but what's sad about this one is that this pastor played the religion card to justify not giving a tip (although Bell and company claimed they left a $6.29 cash tip on the table).<br />
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She apologized stating she's embarrassed by her lapse in judgement, but frankly, as many in online forums have stated, she wanted someone to see it she's just ashamed that her unchristian behavior went viral. So let's break it down shall we?<br />
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<i>"I give God 10%"</i><br />
Bell is boasting how faithful she is to God by proclaiming she renders to God what is God's. This <i>holier than thou</i> attitude is a cry for attention and acceptance. We all want to be loved but why go out of your way to get someone fired over your wounded pride?<br />
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<i>"Pastor Alois Bell"</i><br />
I understand why some doctors prefer being called doctor, they worked hard for their title (as long as they don't let it get to their heads), but why mention you're a pastor on a restaurant receipt? Writing pastor on a receipt is not a <i>get out of jail free card</i>, they're not going to look at that and say<i> "she's not being rude, she's a pastor"</i>. It doesn't allow you any special privileges in society. It's like walking into a room and "<a href="http://youtu.be/hiCilTzhXrA">declaring bankruptcy</a>", it's not anything.<br />
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<i>"Why do you get 18%"</i><br />
This reads <i>"why should I be more generous to you than I am to God?"</i> Forget that she's a pastor or even Christian for a moment, and focus what this says to you as a human. This is saying my loyalties to my ideals and beliefs deserve more of my attention and resources than my fellow man. Everything is second to _____ and if anything threatens or is elevated above _____ then I will reminder you/ it of your/its place. If you can't connect with or even have a shred of compassion for your fellow man (never worked in food service but I'm sure it is rough) then you can't call yourself a pastor. <br />
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I feel for the fired waitress, even though she did break<a href="http://imgur.com/gallery/b79Ib/"> corporate policy</a>, who only posted it as a comical example of a bad tipper. Hopefully she won't be out of work for too long but this is a clear reminder how interconnected we are to each other and even the smallest of actions can have serious consequences. Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-28744614219263158212013-01-14T07:48:00.002-05:002013-01-14T07:48:34.763-05:00The "Dangers" of Being Open to Other Beliefs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9n_x7yiGfxQXiLdXA1lzVImjB6dJ8agGuVYzGWqbgpv5ILmSRdV7VIRLAJ89NoxzC6eIHaHaVwSu_1oejHw2opBGHvVISUsCtYEeUcJ6fW78K_41qhOBnLr6A-szPC-Tpk0-MviEZCTyk/s1600/2013-01-09.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9n_x7yiGfxQXiLdXA1lzVImjB6dJ8agGuVYzGWqbgpv5ILmSRdV7VIRLAJ89NoxzC6eIHaHaVwSu_1oejHw2opBGHvVISUsCtYEeUcJ6fW78K_41qhOBnLr6A-szPC-Tpk0-MviEZCTyk/s320/2013-01-09.png" width="320" /></a>What's better than a great question you can mentally wrestle with for hours?<br />
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The questions which come from attempting to answer the first one.<br />
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Andrew Hackman, of <a href="http://mrhackman.blogspot.com/">Hackman's Musings</a> (jeez, if I continue mentioning this guy any more in my posts I may come across as a stalker), shared on Facebook a gem of a question, along with this comic, I'd like to pass on to you like the flu. I hope I infect you.<br />
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<i><span class="userContent">"What if you expected yourself to be as open to another faith as you desire others to be open to yours?" </span></i></blockquote>
<span class="userContent">This question is geared more towards people who believe they already<i> have</i> the truth and want to share their truth with you. Of course they'd rather not have you share back, evangelism can't work if you're BOTH open-minded. Dialoguing with another person is a great way to get infected with foreign ideas and concepts.</span><br />
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<span class="userContent">But what really are the dangers of exposing yourself to other beliefs? If you have confidence your faith will not waiver by a handful of words what harm will come by simply listening to others? If anything it can be a good test of your faith. If a thought provoking conversation with an unbeliever causes your spiritual knees to wobble then wouldn't you want to discover why? Not everyone is born to the faith they follow, at one point in their life they may have made a decision to follow their current beliefs, they were once <i>open</i> to then foreign beliefs and ideas. Why stop there? Why stop being curious? </span><br />
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<span class="userContent">A believer's easy answer would be <i>"I have the truth now so everything else is irrelevant"</i>, but that answer doesn't cut it for me. I believe in the insatiable curiosity of humankind and our desire to connect with one another. To crush or hinder that spirit saddens me and, in my opinion, feels like you willingly accept to entrap yourself in a cage in hopes of receiving a false sense of hope and security in a chaotic universe. The universe is fluid, it keeps changing, evolving, and growing, so what makes us think we don't change as well? As an Agnostic/SBNR (ugh, I despise labels) I try to expose myself to a wide variety of beliefs (which there ain't too much here in the South) because I find religion and spirituality are beautiful expressions of our humanity. The language of religion, stories, and rituals gives us a way to connect with one another, so exposing myself to other beliefs helps me to connect to more of my global neighbors.</span><br />
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<span class="userContent">Being open minded to other beliefs doesn't mean you HAVE to agree with others, it means being attentive and actually listen to what others are sharing. Wrestle with it, find the commonality and the differences between you and the foreign beliefs. Most importantly, again in my opinion, find out<b> the why</b> behind what they believe is important to them. When you discover that your global neighbor shares in similar hopes, dreams, and fears you will find that we are all cut from the same cloth, or if you prefer, molded from the same clay. </span>Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-67371118633510118542013-01-01T12:16:00.002-05:002013-01-01T12:16:32.201-05:00Do I Offend?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvogyxWIMpuYGpLKYaPH-wJzwotY6zJd-1mJXBnbBGpOy4OxgMsej6ALamkiYYPQ4_hys1IPP_8vIZP-wd5-G661YzRCbf0don3yWTYmtTJXOXjz3QRL3Iq5VyF9MAGrr3GbtLwxTpvmR/s1600/do+I+offend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvogyxWIMpuYGpLKYaPH-wJzwotY6zJd-1mJXBnbBGpOy4OxgMsej6ALamkiYYPQ4_hys1IPP_8vIZP-wd5-G661YzRCbf0don3yWTYmtTJXOXjz3QRL3Iq5VyF9MAGrr3GbtLwxTpvmR/s400/do+I+offend.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Religion is a touchy subject, it has its pitfalls but it also has those beautiful awe inspiring moments found in the stories they tell. When I speak about those stories I do so with full respect to the people who place their faith in them. I'm not here to pull the rug from under anyone's feet, that's counter productive. I do however shine a light on the evils caused by men using religion to carry out their unjust deeds. Even Agnostics have morals and values, we're just as human as everyone else. Every now and then I'll write a post or make a passing comment related to religion which causes a Facebook friend to "delete" me, or I find myself on the receiving end of a long winded speech as to how I'm going to Hell. These don't phase me anymore I just find it curious as to why people find it necessary to act this way. First, I do become a bit discouraged that a long time friend would sever our digital friendship over a difference of opinion/belief since social networking sites is the main way I keep in touch with many of my friends. (A busy stay at home dad working to finish a M.S. on a tight budget doesn't get out to socialize much.) So unless I run into them by chance at the grocery store I may never see them again. (By this point I realize that if they get THAT offended over a string of words we weren't very good friends to begin with.) Second, threatening me with eternal torment in Hell is like threatening me with a flock of evil, flying (but decently dressed) monkeys. I'd just find it amusing.<br />
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So I asked myself, how did I offend others? Was it my choice in words? Was it the method in which they were delivered? Was it the message itself? Or was it simply because I'm on the "wrong team"? I'm a fairly friendly person, so much so that my wife says I'd be friendly to Hitler. I don't go around spouting hate either. What I've concluded ( those offended please correct me if I'm wrong) is that I'm simply batting for the wrong team. Once you're seen as the "enemy" all sorts of walls go up. Some will try to convince you to come over to their team so that they won't have to view you as the enemy. Others will cut off all interaction so that they don't become infected with your beliefs. Either way things change, people change. And as we enter into a new year let us ask ourselves how we will change? Will your changes <a href="http://rabbirami.blogspot.com/2013/01/what-difference-do-you-make.html">make a difference</a> in the lives of others? Or will your walls seclude yourself from others <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/30/nyregion/woman-is-held-in-death-of-man-pushed-onto-subway-tracks-in-queens.html?_r=0">causing you to fear them</a>?Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-9466259610641910422012-12-30T11:25:00.000-05:002012-12-30T11:25:20.091-05:00The Bad Samaritan <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivui7K96QolEKKGV545mlQ-SvWER79o6fa42EFWNbXa5anJX6GFpQ-kZUwaVnje3wl0F1nKEH3h2Kpp8s8ObWU9V-w2RQTaWmZTWhBMkBvDoQBJmwNUbdYq1eqTRPsEj5weRCJdVGwXidn/s1600/bad+samaritan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivui7K96QolEKKGV545mlQ-SvWER79o6fa42EFWNbXa5anJX6GFpQ-kZUwaVnje3wl0F1nKEH3h2Kpp8s8ObWU9V-w2RQTaWmZTWhBMkBvDoQBJmwNUbdYq1eqTRPsEj5weRCJdVGwXidn/s400/bad+samaritan.jpg" width="400" /></a>Dr. McGrath <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/exploringourmatrix/2012/12/the-bad-samaritan.html">shared this interesting image yesterday</a> with a twist on the Good Samaritan. There was a bit of a debate in the comments on what the image meant. There is a bit of a political message in the image but this is due to the blurring of the lines of self identification. I believe this image is a left leaning response to the Christian conservatives who support being armed (which I have no problem with those choosing to be armed). The Parable of the Good Samaritan begins with Jesus being asked to identify who is considered a <i>neighbor</i>. The despicable foreigner, the Samaritan, became (or should be) the Christian example of how to be a neighbor, in which Christians are called to love. The disconnect is when those who self identify as Christian conservatives blame the victims of tragedy instead of turning to their gold standard of morality, the Bible, and seek out a viable solution to help prevent similar tragedies in the future. I'm not saying ALL Christians are guilty of this disconnect mainly because there is no singular definition or group representing all of Christianity. I'm talking about people who believe <a href="http://scotteriology.wordpress.com/2012/10/26/you-cant-be-a-christian-if-you-dont-own-a-gun/">you can't be a Christian if you don't own a gun</a>, and believe God deals out <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/exploringourmatrix/2012/12/speaking-foolishly-about-god-and-tragedy.html">collective punishment</a> because we've <a href="http://onkneesforjesus.blogspot.com/2012/11/gays-caused-hurricane-sandy.html">been unfaithful</a>. They lean on their own understanding and call that "<a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/exploringourmatrix/2012/12/proverbs-35-fundamentalist-version.html">trusting God</a>". The Bible is not simple to read or even interpret. But the message of the Good Samaritan seems fairly straightforward: be merciful to your neighbor. <br />
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<br />Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-7335562895573080372012-12-23T11:09:00.000-05:002012-12-23T11:09:04.883-05:00Surviving "The End"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlMEhZY7ErbdhRuNcOQbfSMRA3xZE63Fy4O5FdN4JfsTnP3MlHxtMKu8T7ocTEG9ICrjivwEt_HwzUhx0MgTwBwbIDK7KT6iA1qkybik5D26sJnXg3rmMz4LkwhMEIF0v40jueOZ54A4K/s1600/worst+apocalypse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlMEhZY7ErbdhRuNcOQbfSMRA3xZE63Fy4O5FdN4JfsTnP3MlHxtMKu8T7ocTEG9ICrjivwEt_HwzUhx0MgTwBwbIDK7KT6iA1qkybik5D26sJnXg3rmMz4LkwhMEIF0v40jueOZ54A4K/s320/worst+apocalypse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
So with another doomsday come and gone I thought I would bring up some questions I've been pondering.We've survived <a href="http://scotteriology.wordpress.com/2012/05/16/another-day-another-apocalypse-sigh/">several</a> lesser known <a href="http://scotteriology.wordpress.com/2012/04/30/here-we-go-once-more-the-world-is-ending-in-may-again/">doomsdays</a> from "<a href="http://scotteriology.wordpress.com/2012/05/23/a-year-after-the-non-apocalypse/">prophets</a>" as we neared the Mayan 2012 apocalypse. I never believed anything would happen on 12/21/12 but now that it's passed without a bang will people fall for these doomsday predictions again? With the most well known doomsday come and gone I believe (and hope) people will be less willing to lend an ear to the boys who cry wolf. There will always be more prophets heralding the end, and more <span class="st"> charlatans preying on the fears of the people. Which brings me to my next question: how will this affect the belief in end time prophecies of religious believers? Will they continue to believe in their prophecies because the Mayan apocalypse was a false, secular prophecy? Or will this cause them to question their eschatology? Will this also lead to questioning their beliefs in Heaven, Hell, and the afterlife?</span><br />
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<span class="st">Feel free to chim in with your thoughts. I hope to get some feedback from religious believers who've been affected by the passing of this non-event.</span>Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-22691778578114726112012-12-01T09:17:00.003-05:002012-12-01T09:24:30.726-05:00Conversations with Ourselves: Making Sense of It AllThroughout this series the core theme I want to get across is the importance of asking questions. Questions allows us to explore and create within our vast universe. And as we explore, our interconnectedness to each other and the universe is strengthened. But living with all these questions rattling around in your head can be unnerving especially when you're trying to make sense of it all. On the surface, questions don't offer an immediate peace of mind. This is why people gravitate towards religion which offers answers to many of life's questions. I'm OK with religion being used in this manner even though some would say it is a crutch. Sometimes life is too hard to deal with and there is no shame in believing in something to help you through life's obstacles. What I am against is people bashing others in the head with their "crutch". <b>You can't serve love on a plate of hate.</b><br />
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So how do we make sense of it all? How do we make sense of life with a bag of unanswerable questions or, worse yet, questions which leads to other questions? What has helped me in my personal journey is coming to terms with the chaos of life and knowing that we are already There.<br />
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People desperately seek out a constant state of happiness, they want to know that everything will be OK. They want the assurance that nothing will go wrong, they want control over the future. But no matter how hard you struggle no one's future is ever secured. (And in terms of Christianity and the afterlife, no knows for sure that they will go to Heaven, they can only hope and believe they will.) So what then? Do we go through life a nervous wreak waiting for the axe to fall at any moment? That would be as pointless as a dog chasing its own tail! Once we come to the understanding that life is full of chaos and we stop trying to control the uncontrollable we can begin living. Shit happens. Life is full of ups AND downs. <b>Instead, we should surround ourselves with good friends and family to celebrate the ups and to comfort each other during the downs.</b> <br />
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It is easier, and much more interesting, for me to live with the questions than accept a prepackaged answer. Questions help you connect with the world around you, they help you to grow spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. They help us to discover and embrace our humanity more fully. So sit back relax with a few good friends and enjoy the moments we have on this pale blue dot.<br />
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<a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/10/conversations-with-ourselves-question.html">Part 1) Conversations with Ourselves: The Question</a><br />
<a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/11/conversations-with-ourselves-internal.html">Part 2) Conversations with Ourselves: The Internal Struggle</a><br />
<a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/11/conversations-with-ourselves-external.html">Part 3) Conversations with Ourselves: The External Struggle</a><br />
<a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/11/conversations-with-ourselves.html">Part 4) Conversations with Ourselves: Reflections on Who We Were</a><br />
<a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/11/conversations-with-ourselves-making.html">Part 5) Conversations with Ourselves: Making Peace with Chaos</a><br />
Part 6) Conversations with Ourselves: Making Sense of It All Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-70874234080202598872012-11-22T11:47:00.001-05:002012-12-01T09:21:05.000-05:00Conversations with Ourselves: Making Peace with ChaosOne of the most frightening things about my journey into the realm of endless questions is the chaos. For Christians, or any believer, their faith grounds them to a tangible answer, it can give hope during chaos. But even then some of those religious answers don't make any sense especially when bad things happen to good people. How then do we deal with chaos?<br />
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A believer would hold on tighter to their foundation, to their god, and hope and pray for the best. If things go their way they thank god for watching over them and move on, if not then the most likely acceptable answer is that god had different plans for them. This mentality exempts you from really dealing with the chaos of life. As long as god is in control you don't have to face the chaos of life, you don't have any real reason to empathize with the suffering of others because god is in control of their lives. Whatever happens is suppose to happen for a greater plan (which begs the question why even pray during hard times when your suffering might be a part of The Plan?). This was one of the breaking points which caused me to drift away from Christianity.<b> I absolutely can not accept that human suffering is "good" and necessary in fulfilling a divine plan.</b> Any suffering is just that, suffering. But instead of wishing it away or hoping that an invisible, silent god (who apparently thought it OK for you to suffer) would take the pain away, we should be seeking out a more human approach. We should support each other even if we're powerless to help, sitting silently with those in pain does more good than a powerful, silent god.<br />
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The best visual example of the struggle with chaos is in the 2009 dark comedy film by the Coen brothers, <i>A Serious Man</i>, a film about a physics professor, Larry Gopnik, whose life begins to crumble around him even though he's been a good man, a serious man. <br />
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It was a difficult transition moving from a reliance on a silent god towards making peace with chaos. There were many low points in my life where I truly wanted to wish/pray things away. But that wouldn't have solved the problem nor helped me to deal with my emotions. I feel this transition has strengthened my empathy towards my global neighbor as well. And as we strengthen our relationships with our global neighbor the easier it gets to face the unknown. Where once I simply blamed the troubles of a stranger on their lack of faith I now realize that the rain does indeed fall on the just and unjust. So why not reach out and share an umbrella?<br />
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<a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/10/conversations-with-ourselves-question.html">Part 1) Conversations with Ourselves: The Question</a><br />
<a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/11/conversations-with-ourselves-internal.html">Part 2) Conversations with Ourselves: The Internal Struggle</a><br />
<a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/11/conversations-with-ourselves-external.html">Part 3) Conversations with Ourselves: The External Struggle</a><br />
<a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/11/conversations-with-ourselves.html">Part 4) Conversations with Ourselves: Reflections on Who We Were</a><br />
Part 5) Conversations with Ourselves: Making Peace with Chaos<br />
<a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/12/conversations-with-ourselves-making.html">Part 6) Conversations with Ourselves: Making Sense of It All </a>Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-80001869896245855792012-11-15T09:27:00.003-05:002012-12-01T09:22:20.952-05:00Conversations with Ourselves: Reflections on Who We Were<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsA2Djo7aEpZ1JFJN7RpJwHg7TIUt0QTxAskuenQzhay_Tw5GiecwQ___2cjOJuJrPgd7Rl97SA_8mET3iJCphtaaI9nouQf9uWQbxZ20yvIr4N-5cphAvHSdFJB2P05BAOfbw1CydZyke/s1600/summit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsA2Djo7aEpZ1JFJN7RpJwHg7TIUt0QTxAskuenQzhay_Tw5GiecwQ___2cjOJuJrPgd7Rl97SA_8mET3iJCphtaaI9nouQf9uWQbxZ20yvIr4N-5cphAvHSdFJB2P05BAOfbw1CydZyke/s640/summit.jpg" width="308" /></a>The idea of having a conversation with 2006 Sam is what inspired me to write this series. What would 2006 Sam think of 2012 Sam? Would '06 cringe at the thought that everything he believed in would be out the window 6 years later? Would '06 avoid taking this journey knowing he might end up like me? I thought about writing this one in an interview style format but I can't think like '06 Sam anymore and I would probably make him sound too cartoonish. I thought about seeking out someone who shares the beliefs I held in '06 but even then that would fall short because every spiritual journey is 100% completely unique. It can not be copied or duplicated. Oh there can be similarities but all spiritual journeys are unique.<br />
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[<a href="http://www.nakedpastor.com/2011/02/21/cartoon-summit/"><i>Summit</i></a> by David Hayward (<a href="http://www.nakedpastor.com/"><i>Naked Pastor</i></a>). This is part of David's <a href="http://www.nakedpastor.com/category/sophia-2/">Sophia series</a>. I highly recommend checking out David's work if you haven't already.]<br />
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Looking back, I don't have any regrets for how my journey has taken shape. There were many dark moments along the way but in the end I made it through. This journey is not about a destination or any kind of spiritual enlightenment. It is about learning how to be human, it is about embracing all the <a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/search/label/Blog%20Series%3A%20The%20Dance%20of%20Ecclesiastes">chaotic moments of life</a> and cherishing my remaining years I have on this pale blue dot. '06 Sam was looking for something, his<a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/07/why-sbnr-top-10-reasons.html"> missing piece</a>, and what I've found is that I've had it all along. I was chasing my own tail. As I migrated away from Christianity I found myself more accepting of those different from myself. My basic human morality (don't steal, hurt, lie, etc.) has remained the same. I've just widened the definition of who I call my brother. This doesn't mean that Christians are closed minded people, but for ME and MY journey I am more embracing of my global brothers and sisters. The journey I've taken can still be taken within religion, it doesn't necessarily have to lead you away from your original faith but what it will do is help you discover who you are and who you can be. It is a noble goal to be your best self, but you can't get there if you don't explore.<br />
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So if you are still sitting on your doorstep fearful of taking that first step my question is why are you sitting outside instead of safe and comfy inside? What's holding you back? Something drew you to step outside so why not explore a little?<br />
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<a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/10/conversations-with-ourselves-question.html">Part 1) Conversations with Ourselves: The Question</a><br />
<a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/11/conversations-with-ourselves-internal.html">Part 2) Conversations with Ourselves: The Internal Struggle</a><br />
<a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/11/conversations-with-ourselves-external.html">Part 3) Conversations with Ourselves: The External Struggle</a><br />
Part 4) Conversations with Ourselves: Reflections on Who We Were<br />
<a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/11/conversations-with-ourselves-making.html">Part 5) Conversations with Ourselves: Making Peace with Chaos</a><br />
<a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/12/conversations-with-ourselves-making.html">Part 6) Conversations with Ourselves: Making Sense of It All </a>Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-32686060285419479502012-11-08T09:07:00.003-05:002012-12-01T09:22:57.474-05:00Conversations with Ourselves- The External Struggle<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8u8J-7_gqKvPHsVDVYalqNvcYAUviqSyD5h062VQQbCOJJQ1V5nvwe3YTJqRmO-6LI2lxonPvO7DTXbS_NJiQOAvMy9HphfipZrGf0fDe7OAsu2-HpX6XG3kbXH1c9efexnJLIzaf4f8k/s1600/facebook+testosterone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8u8J-7_gqKvPHsVDVYalqNvcYAUviqSyD5h062VQQbCOJJQ1V5nvwe3YTJqRmO-6LI2lxonPvO7DTXbS_NJiQOAvMy9HphfipZrGf0fDe7OAsu2-HpX6XG3kbXH1c9efexnJLIzaf4f8k/s320/facebook+testosterone.jpg" width="320" /></a>So far we've covered the struggle with mustering up the courage to ask ourselves <a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/10/conversations-with-ourselves-question.html">who we really are</a> and the <a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/11/conversations-with-ourselves-internal.html">internal struggle</a> it brings when we open up Pandora's box. It's one thing to internally wrestle with difficult questions but the external struggle with what others may think is different and can be just as challenging (even more so for some). Keeping the internal struggle in is near impossible, we want someone to talk to, someone to share in the journey.<br />
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We gravitate towards a community where we can be comfortable. A place where we can suffer and journey with one another instead of alone. We first try to reach out to our friends and family members because we trust them to accept us for who we are and to be understanding. This can be difficult if they firmly oppose what you may be struggling with (i.e. change in religious beliefs, change in political stance, or sharing something like sexual orientation) and the fear of rejection by your loved ones can be too much to bear.<br />
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How do you handle both the external and internal struggles? Some would say it's far easier to give up asking and <i>go back</i> to who you once were. Go back to what? We are constantly changing, evolving, so there's no way I could be the same person I was before I started questioning. In my situation I did not have anyone locally who shared my same evolving views. And that's when I turned to the internet and sought out a digital community of like-minded people. If it weren't for people like Don (<a href="http://simplethoughtsfromaquestioningman.blogspot.com/"><i>Simple Thoughts from a Questions Man</i></a>), Doug B (<a href="http://gropingtheelephant.blogspot.com/"><i>Groping the Elephant</i></a>), Andrew Hackman (<a href="http://mrhackman.blogspot.com/"><i>Hackman's Musings</i></a>), and Ronnie (<i><a href="http://captron52.blogspot.com/">Dreaming with Captron52</a></i>) I wouldn't have progressed as far as I have without their experiences and insights they shared (there are many more so don't feel bad if I left you off, I appreciate you as well). The internet grants us the ability to connect with others across the globe who share the same interest. My recent post on the <a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-spirituality-of-facebook.html">spirituality of Facebook</a> touches on this global connectedness. The web also grants us with a digital dose of courage allowing us to say things we wouldn't normally say to people face to face. Believe me, I've gotten quite a few suggestions that I should<i> jump off a cliff</i> or that they're <i>praying for my lost soul</i> and one interesting "I hope your children kill you for what you believe". I believe the interactions, comments, and squabbles on social networking sites like Facebook depends solely on the participants. If you're a jerk (or I should say "troll") then your external struggle is going to be much harder. <br />
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I know some of the things I say may offend, but why are you offended? Have you tried to examine why you may feel offended by my non-belief? If I say "I don't believe that Jesus is the son of God", or "the God of the Bible is too violent", why would it bother you (if you're Christian)? It's just a statement of what I believe (or not believe) and declaring a statement should not destroy your beliefs. I don't go out of my way either to pose these questions to those who may feel uncomfortable (I have certain Facebook friends filtered out from receiving certain "blasphemous" posts). HOW and WHY we say things is important but more important is the quality of our relationship with our friends, family, and neighbors. I want to improve that relationship while also discovering who I am. Along the way I may ask disturbing questions and I don't ask them to be a jerk but to discover and explore. Dr. McGrath at <i>Exploring Our Matrix</i><a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/exploringourmatrix/2012/11/the-challenge-now.html"> sumed it up best</a>: "let's be human first."<br />
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<a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/10/conversations-with-ourselves-question.html">Part 1) Conversations with Ourselves: The Question</a><br />
<a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/11/conversations-with-ourselves-internal.html">Part 2) Conversations with Ourselves: The Internal Struggle</a><br />
Part 3) Conversations with Ourselves: The External Struggle<br />
<a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/11/conversations-with-ourselves.html">Part 4) Conversations with Ourselves: Reflections on Who We Were</a><br />
<a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/11/conversations-with-ourselves-making.html">Part 5) Conversations with Ourselves: Making Peace with Chaos</a><br />
<a href="http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/12/conversations-with-ourselves-making.html">Part 6) Conversations with Ourselves: Making Sense of It All </a>Eruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.com2