Quote:
Originally posted by Diva_01
Religion is such a touchy subject for some people, as is reincarnation. What are some of your beliefs on the subjects, and why?
Also: Do you believe in Hell or the Devil? This has sparked many a discussion for me...
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Well. . . I am not afraid. . . . so here goes:
Religion has it's place and has greatly enhanced our appreciation for life in some ways. On the other hand, it has been misused. It has been misused to control and manipulate people, oppress people (i.e., early American Christian's justification of slavery through scripture), and can harm people more than help them in such cases. Radical and obsessive practices often separate us from, more than unite us with our higher power, divinity, God, or whatever you choose to call it. For this reason, I am very critical of various denominations, including the one I left. For me, engaging in the practices of that denomination was like being a hamster on a spinning wheel going no where, but constantly and feverishly trying to get there in a hurry. For this reason, I am also very cautious about the practices I engage in, and what (spritually focused) group of people I associate with and let influence me. Religion is not bad in my opinion, and like I said has it's place, I just think for the most part many people don't have a clue about what it really is to be a functional, healthy, practicioner of their religious faith. Religion is something that many people dread and fear, feel obligated to and push on people, and for no good reason other than that is what some spiritual leaders promote as being holy, dedicated, in proper place/order, etc., which is ludicrous.
As far as reincarnation goes. . . I don't know. I have sort of mixed feelings on that. I think that a part of us never really dies, but just sort of diffuses, so I don't necessarily believe that anyone was say Elvis in a past life and came back, but maybe has a little bit of Elvis in them, and more than one person can have a part of him in them. . . . if that makes any sense.
I believe hell is a state of mind, and that there is no worse hell that you could ever go to than the one right between your ears.
Historically speaking the devil has been a very controversial figure. According to many traditions/mythological accounts, the devil was not an evil being originally, but became villified for various reasons, some including religious takeovers, misunderstanding of foreign religious practices, the biblical 'fall' account of an angelic being rebelling against God thus becoming evil, etc. Do I believe there is some synthesized being that embodies all evil, goes around perpetuating that evil, and is as powerful as some faiths profess it to be... no. I do believe there are not so good and good things all around and in us that always fight to be dominant. In some people, evil dominates, in others, good dominates. Opposites are necessary for life to exist, so, if there is one, I just think it's a 'necessary evil', but nothing to fear, and darn sure nothing to talk about every Sunday morning
That is one thing that really turned me off about the denomination I left; every other sentence was about the devil. I think maybe if the church talked more about God than the devil maybe people wouldn't have so many issues all the time. Even right now I am cringing at the thought of even paying homage in my sentence to a personification of evil. It is just really repulsive and unsettling, but I could write an entire book about that issue in the church, so I will leave it be. I believe you are what you think about, occupy in your mind. In Iyanla Vanzant's book "One Day My Soul Just Opened Up", she talks about how fear can make you see and hear things that are not there. I think that in the denomination I left, they instill this unnatural fear in people that subsequently becomes a reality. It is really sad. The Bible states in 2 Tim 1:7 that '..God has not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind'. If something makes me fearful, renders me powerless, does not love, and compromises my sanity, it is not of God... simple as that. To believe in the power of evil or a devil is contrary to the Bible, a questionable practice at best, and will do nothing but stunt your spiritual growth.