I believe that we all have souls. I believe that there is one great power, a divine source.  Some people call him Yaweh, some God, some Allah, some Brahma, some cosmos, some the oversoul.  I believe that there are many paths to this deity, and that each of us takes the path that feels 'right' to us.  I believe in reincarnation, that we have been here before.  Some of us have old souls and are on our last tour of this reality.  Some are new souls and have ...

Here's a question for all the Christians in the house: How comfortable are you with the thought of sharing heaven with a mass murderer?  A pedophile?  A person who delighted in torturing little children before they beat them to death?  How comfortable are you with spending eternity with people who rob and rape and kill and pervert and abuse?  With people who were so vile in life that they had to be segregated from the general population and imprisoned for the rest of t...

Did you know that according to Gnostic and Jewish tradition, Eve was NOT Adam's first mate? According to Haggadah, a book of oral legend usually associated with the Talmud, Lilith was the first woman. She was created from dust, the same as Adam, but she only remained with him a short time.  Why? Because she insisted upon enjoying full equality with him, saying that she had a right to do so because she was created the same way as he was. Adam, apparently, didn't like it.  Ne...

What if the Bible isn't the end of the story? What if there's more to the nature of the divine and man's relationship with such?  What if the Council of Nicea only got it partially right - what if there are other teachings that are just as valid that expand upon the teachings of the Bible?  What if?  How would that affect your faith?  Your beliefs?  Your perceptions of what is real and what isn't? What if?  Would it change things for you?  ...

Forever serenity wrote an article earlier today asking why athiests do the things they do Link .  I wrote this article a while back and thought that this was a decent answer to her question. I'm different. I'm not like you.  I don't share your faith, your beliefs, your religion. And I am perfectly okay with that.  I'm not against your praying for me.  I'm not against your quoting the bible  to me.  I'm not even against your talking to...

I'm having a hard time with Buddhism lately.  I mean, the precepts are wonderful, but.....I'm a scrapper at heart *winks @ LW* and that just doesn't jive with Buddhism. I've been reading and thinking about Hinduism a lot lately.  I can dig the trinity they have - Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu, creator, protector, destroyer.  It's a lot easier to swallow the concept of three separate deities, each representing a single facet than it is the Christian god who destroys cities, drown...

After the discussion about why the bible uses 'let US make them in OUR image' in the book of Genesis, I went and got myself a copy of 'The Other Bible'...it's a collection of Gnostic and early Kabbalahic texts, as well as the dead sea scrolls and some gospels that were ultimately rejected by Christianity. I started to read The Secret Book Of John, and part way into the first couple of chapters I got another idea as to why that particular phrasing was used Yahweh, the God tha...

Do you believe that the bible is a complete document?  Do you think that the gospels and other books rejected by the Council of Nicea have any value? What's your opinion about the Nag Hamadi and Dead Sea Scrolls?  I would like to know how much creedence you give to these texts and the message held within.  Do you think that they're also divinely inspired? I'm asking because I'm genuinely interested.  If I was going to 'bash' I'd do so blatantly.....  

According to the dictionary, I'm a heathen.  I don't believe in the monotheistic God of Christianity or Judaism or Islam. However, my 'heathenhood' does not mean that I am devoid of morality or compassion.  I don't worship Satan, I don't sacrifice lambs on altars, and your children will not be magically corrupted just by being in my presence. I'm a practicing Buddhist.  I try to adhere to the four noble truths  Link and the eightfold path Link . Those precepts ar...

I'm thinking about going on a retreat. A buddhist retreat.  There are quite a few within a 8 hour drive from where I'm at.  Some are weekends, some are months long.  Some you have to pay for, some you don't...the ones that don't require cash ask that you pay 'in kind', that you bring some food items from their list of approved foods, or that you donate things like cushions or bed linens etc.  You're also required to do some manual work around the monastery....it's pret...

I read this in Oprah's magazine and immediately thought to ask my fellow bloggers their thoughts..... QUESTIONS OF FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY 1) Which of your beliefs are unshakable? 2) When and how has your faith been sorely tested?  What beliefs and practices sustained you though those times? 3) Ultimately, faith is an individual decision.  We discover for ourselves what works for us, whatwe believe in, how we relate to the divine.  Write a simple prayer that expres...

'......the nature of the essential urge toward enlightenment is enlightenment itself.  The very fact that we are intrigued with the spiritual quest stems from the source of the light, so to speak.  Consequently, enlightenment is not an end; it is truer to say that it is the beginning' David A Cooper, Silence, Simplicity and Solitude.

People often ask me how to practice, what to do. After many long-winded explanations on my part, I came across this quote which I think does a much better job.... 'Have confidence in your own spiritual potentiality, your ability to find your own unique way.  Learn from others certainly, and use what you find useful, but also learn to trust your own inner wisdom.  Have courage.  Be awake and aware.  Remember too, that Buddhism is not about being a Buddhist, that is, obtaini...