Organized Religion

Damn. I'm pissed. I hate when people mess up God in the eyes of others. Damn.

I was talking to a friend today. He mentioned Santa. I mentioned Santa didn't exist. He took it pretty hard...So I told him, "But don't worry I'm pretty sure aliens exist". And he said, "Oh man, are you one of those annoying people who thinks aliens don't exist?" I was like, "No. I strongly believe in the possibility aliens exist. I've seen enough evidence that supports it." (I'll talk more about it in another blog). He said, "I just think it's ignorant to say we're the only ones in the entire galaxy. I don't need proof, I have faith. At this point I'd say there's more proof of aliens then there is of God". I said, "Ouch".

He says he believes in God or a Higher Power -but not organized religion. He's kind of against Christianity -though he's still open-minded about hearing other people's beliefs.

It turns out he was introduced to Christianity as a young age and raised to believe that religion over any other. My Grandpa was the same way. He was "over churched" as a kid and became agnostic as an adult. Same with John Rzeznik s well. Raised catholic -now he's against the institution, though he still believes in God.

I think parents should only introduce their kids to a religion, not make them a part of it. Kids will then grow to resent it or even repell it as they become older and seek more independence. Especially at teenage times, when they are lost most and need guidance the most, they will repell the beliefs that were pushed on them when they were kids. I think this is due to this thing called "consent". It's the reason 12 year old's can't join the army.

Being told what the truth is and discovering the truth for yourself are 2 different things. When people find truth for themselves they believe in it 100% more than they do when others tell them: This is true, believe it. But kids can't figure things out for themselves, they need guidance. But they also don't need to be forced. It's just better to let kids be open-minded until their old enough to understand and find out things on their own. Then they can commit to a religion or their own beliefs because they have that maturity. It's like marriage. It's something that should be taken more genuinely and committed to when you believe it is True.

An some religions are actually good to avoid. Satanism is an obvious one, but over used as an example at this point.

Anything "Fundamentalist"- oriented is a bad religion. Fundamentalist Islam: Women should be beaten if their faces and heads are uncovered. Yah... Fundamentalist Christianity: There's no such thing as evolution and a woman's place is in the home raising kids -not working. Yah... I don't even want to think about what Fundamentalist Judaism might include. 

They are skewing God. I believe truth to be found in Christianity and Buddhism -above others. In Islam I found too much violence and concern with Revenge. In Judaism I heard too much about God smiting people. I don't believe it, to be honest. I believe God to be Love and Light. I believe his essence and life force to be in everyone -which is how you see some people walking in their own shadows and others glowing bright out from within. Our souls are bound to this life force and we can see it most when we rise above things like hate, jealousy, laziness, apathy, lust, vanity, over indulgences, greed... So to say God smites people and punishes people and hates certain people is to degrade who God truly is. Hate is beneath him.

When we truly know ourselves then we can discover the true nature of God. There's something interesting I've been noticing about people lately. Air Signs from the Zodiac and Water signs from the Zodiac tend to be more "spiritual" than religious. This isn't to say they can't join in a particular religion, but they are less concerned with rules, codes, and regulations and more concerned with Soul and achieving a higher state of being. Fire Signs and Earth Signs of the Zodiac on the other hand, tend to be more stubborn and regimented. They tend to place more emphasis on rules, laws, and codes -though they are still reasonably open-minded most of the time. They are more grounded in a particular religion. The main difference between these signs is this:

Air/Water: Beliefs based on religion, experiences, and the bliefs of others. If someone has chosen a particular religion above others, it is in a respectful and insightful way that is still open to change and skepticism. They encourage others to believe what they choose. Sponge.

Earth/ Fire: Once they have found a set system that works for them an their lives, they commit to it. They can still listen to other's beliefs, but there's has been chose and is more cemented. They encourage others more to join their religion and like practicing it's rules and enforcing them. Stone.

Both have their advantages and disadvantages:

Air/Water are more easily misled and more prone to founding beliefs on "senses" and "feelings" rather than facts and historical, educated understanding.

Fire/Earth signs have more conviction in their faith and often greater numbers of people in their same group or organization. They are also more likely to suffer from certain rules and codes that prevent them from seeing truth elsewhere because if their religion is questioned on it's accuracy, then there is a possibility other parts of it may be wrong. They therefore have a greater tendency to be defensive and more closed minded in some ways to truly understanding the whole truth.

Maye this is just my biased opinion as a Pisces, but I think  Religion is like a fire. When you stand close to it, you can experience its warmth and light. But if you step into the fire, you will get consumed by it and destroyed. People should take from religions and develop their own Belief Systems.

"It is in our lives and not our words that our religion must be read." — Thomas Jefferson