On Religion
What do I believe?
I’ve been walking a line since I started this publication, almost a year ago now. And in the past month or so in particular, I’ve let y’all in on quite a bit. Well, this is my attempt to explain where I stand On Religion and Spirituality. These are simply my opinions, given what I’ve experienced in the 46 years I’ve lived on this good green earth. And I am not attempting to sway or diminish anyone else’s beliefs. I also reserve the right to change my opinion, if a better one presents itself — the thoughts and reflections below will remain a work in progress.
Let me be frank in the beginning, so that you can get a good idea of where I’m headed: I am a former Christian, who has renounced that institution in favor of Philosophy. And although I often find comfort in the translations of the Stoics, I consider myself a student of Eclecticism. I’ll provide you with a suggested reading list at the end, just in case you yourself are interested in such a path.
So here’s the thing — I could go all in on a number of teachings, if it weren’t for one or two issues. For instance: Stoicism lacks spirituality, and I may not be religious, but I’m damn sure spiritual. And boy oh boy do I love the Vedanta — but it loses me on the reincarnation business, I just can’t y’all. I think it’s much more likely that we only live on through our shared experiences and influences on others. But I’m also fine with not needing an answer to this…
Oh and it’s not necessarily the original sin problem, or even the fact that the Bible is written mostly of allegory, but passed off as fact. Though I certainly don’t think that we’re all born evil and in need of a deity outside of ourselves to save us. And it’s hard for me to understand how anyone could look at an infant, and continue to believe in original sin. The real issue I have with Christianity, is that I think its teachings do us great harm by taking agency away from the individual. And frankly, I’m not too sure that Christianity has Jesus’ teachings right anyway — I’ve even used the word, “Hijacked” before, as a reference.
I mean look, just like the Buddha — Jesus left us no writings. And if I’m not mistaken, the first accounts of his words were recorded years after his death. And I’mma just tell ya, knowing how my own memory works — I find it hard to take any of the words in red, as fact. We’re making translations, from translations. They are second hand quotes at best. That said, me and JC are 😎. He is one of my mentors, and I place a high value on my interpretation of his teachings. Just as his official fan club does.
You might think I sound confused, but let me tell you — I have never before had such clarity.
You see, I’m quite alright with admitting that I haven’t gotten it all figured out. That I don’t know what comes after this life. And in that, in being comfortable letting go of a certainty, I find contentment. I know there’s something, call it God, The Universe, The Creator, or Whatever. And I’m completely okay with not having to understand what that ‘something’ is. I know one thing for sure, the God that I’ve come to know and love over the past 46 years isn’t going to damn a soul to burn in hell for eternity, just because it doesn’t believe in one thing in particular. And Golden-Pearly Gates? To me, that implies that God’s Love is locked away, and only available to a privileged few. Na, I don’t think so.
So what do I believe?
I believe that Perception is Reality — the world is exactly what we make of it. We are our thoughts, and our thoughts are shaped by our experiences. That there are some things that are within our control, and some things that are not. And that acceptance of this, is the first step to finding contentment with all that is. Gratitude is the key.
“I am more than I appear to be, all the earth’s power and energy are in me.” -Robin Sharma
I believe that God is the energy that encompasses all things. Therefore he is everything. I think that we have the power to control our own energy, and to affect the energy that surrounds us. So we should be a light of positive energy to the world. Gratitude, and a higher purpose are the way to true happiness.
What about life after death then?
Well, I’m not sure — and frankly, I’m not even sure that anyone here could be.
Could my Meme & Papa be my Guardian Angels, and whisper suggestions in my ear from time to time? Or detain me in some way throughout the day, so that I miss out on some horrific accident? I’d like to believe it works that way, but I just don’t think so. I think that it’s much more likely that they live on through me, and the influence they had on me while they were here.
Again, that puts the agency back on me. No one else is coming to save me. Just like, there’s no one else to blame — I am responsible for my own actions. It’s up to me to save myself. To live right, by finding gratitude in everything. Amor Fati
And if there is some existence for us after this life — I seriously doubt that its streets are lined in gold, and its mansions are filled with virgins ripe for the taking. Or that you must believe in one strict version of what God is, in order to be given a place there.
I do however think that if there is something after this, how you chose to live this life will play a huge role in what that next cycle will hold. That without knowing gratitude, peace, hope, and love here, there is no way you will ever find it in the next world. We are our thoughts, and that’s all we’ll take with us… Be, gratuitous service — we are what we think and do.
But again, I think that it’s more likely that our legacy lives on in others.
Therefore I think that happiness is best found in pursuit of a higher meaning. In finding something you love to do, and sharing that thing with the world in an uplifting manner. For me, that’s found in my writing — in this piece right here! I’m sharing these, some of my most intimate thoughts with you, so that you may also find gratitude in what comes your way. And my wish is that you’re filled to the point that your love spills over, and splashes onto everyone you come in contact with also.
I’ll admit, this is the most difficult subject that I’ve ever written about. But I feel that I owe it to others to share my perspective On Religion. And keep in mind, I’m still learning more every day — heck, I’ve just learned the terms dualism and non-dualism in the past couple months! So I’m definitely no authority on the subject.
“Philosophy is not something you can learn; but perhaps you can learn to think philosophically.” -Jostein Gaaarder
Okay, so now that you know what I do and don’t believe, let’s talk about how I’ve come about this view. What makes me a student of Eclectic Philosophy?
I know that I know nothing. Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel. As long as you live, keep learning how to live. The only thing that we require to be good philosophers, is the faculty of Wonder.
Y’all know I’mma quote guy. And I think that the above references to Socrates, Seneca, and Gaarder, lay it out quite well. I choose Philosophy because what it asks of me is simple, and the reward is easily obtainable. If I stay curious and continue to study, I am rewarded with knowledge. With knowledge comes more understanding, and when that is applied mindfully within my daily life — I am better able to navigate it, and therefore find that it goes more smoothly. This better enables me to pursue my higher purpose.
The 14th Dalai Lama says that everyone should find their own spiritual path. And it’s best if we choose the one we were taught early in life — as our world is most likely built around its truths. However we must not be afraid to find our own way, if that one does not serve us well.
So I use Stoic doctrines as my guidebook, because Stoicism speaks in a language that makes sense to me — it’s a Practical Philosophy. Its Dichotomy of Control is an applicable strategy of where one should place their attention. And I see many correlations in its tenets, and in corresponding ones that I find helpful in many other philosophies.
I bet you already know my favorite maxim! Yes, it’s Zeno’s, “Well-being is realized by small steps — but is truly no small thing.” Maybe it resonates so well with me because I was shipwrecked, and lost everything I had too… Or maybe it’s because — small steps, I can manage.
“I will keep constant watch over myself, and most usefully, put each day up for review.” -Seneca
My journal is the canoe that I use to navigate the sometimes calm, mostly turbulent river of life. One of my favorite books is Marcus Aurelius’ very own journal, we know it as Meditations. And I am of the opinion that this is the single greatest habit I’ve developed. Without it I would be lost. A daily journaling practice is the easiest way to make big changes in your own life.
And with that, I’ll suspend this essay — as I said in the beginning, this is a work in progress…
I’ve told you what I do and don’t believe in, and given you a taste of how I reached these hypotheses. I will not be adding citations, as this is not an academic essay. But I’m fairly confident that you can find the basis of most of these opinions in the texts listed below. Happy Reading!
The Bible
The Vedanta Treatise by Avula Parthasarathy
Approaching the Buddhist Path, by the 14th Dalai Lama and Thubten Chodron
Discourses, Fragments, Handbook, by Epictetus
Seneca’s Letter’s & Other Writings
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma
The Power of Now, or anything by Eckhart Tolle.
I also read Massimo Pigliucci, and Ryan Holiday extensively.
If you’re tired of the consumer lifestyle, I recommend Goodbye Things, by Fumio Sasaki.
And I’ve found a treasure trove of lectures by some of the most celebrated minds of today’s time in, The Great Courses(I use a free version from my library’s Hoopla app). You can literally take a class on anything!
I am curious 🤔 what are your thoughts on the church sign pictured above? What is the message it’s sharing, saying to you? I’ll leave my thoughts in the comments as well.
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I recently published, Lessons from an 1yo. But I didn’t mention my biggest lesson in that essay. Watching my grandson grow from birth to year one, absolutely confirmed that perception is reality. And that 100 percent of that comes from our experiences.
I’d like to mention that I cut out a section where I rambled a bit, after I read the excerpt from The Power of Now in my narration. But basically I’d just said that I was using that as an example of a different way of interpreting Jesus’ words. And that I hope it would inspire others who aren’t Christian to look at his words in a new light. As much as I pretend to discount them in this essay, there is much that can be learned from those scriptures. And now for my view on the church sign-
Here’s a picture of a church sign in a local community. When we passed it, and I first read it, I was taken aback. “Wow,” I said to my Sweetheart. She asked me, “What is it?” So I read her the sign and asked her what she thought. And she’d had the same initial response as I had. She said, “That’s ugly, they could have done without that last part.” “Exactly, it’s judgy,” I said. “It’s like they’re pointing their finger and sticking their tongue out, going ‘nana-boo-boo, Jesus even loves you’.”
Y’all the thing is, I think that they fail to see what it might look like from another perspective. They’re too close to it, maybe if they looked at it as a passer by would, it would read differently. And for me, it’s a good example of how they often participate in the world. I think that sign is like the idiot screaming about the rapture from a speaker outside of sporting events – it’s more likely to push people away from Christianity, than bring them to trust it as a life philosophy.
I completely get where you are coming from. The only thing that kept me "Christian" was realizing that all the ways you describe Christianity in the beginning are exactly what you said, "hijacked" versions mostly for political power all the way back to the beginning.
A lot of Christians are not actually interested in Jesus at all and many who don't identify as Christian follow him better than I. I find hope in the fact that Jesus never actually converted people to a religion, but to a way of life, and that he elevated a polytheistic Roman centurion as an example of faith.
Not trying to sway you at all, but you may be interested in Open Relational Theology which emphasizes a version of Christianity that leans into the human agency you describe. It is also compatible and growing as a philosophy among Buddhists and many other religions because it does not demand conformity to a particular faith. It is more about a way of seeing God's interaction with and influence in the world in partnership with human agency rather than over and against. If you're interested, I recommend the book, "God Can’t" by Tom Oord as a starting point.
I for one am grateful that the hijacked versions of any faith are not the only way. Without getting back to the original intent of those early wisdom teachers who the traditions were based on, every path can become destructive to individuals and society in varying degrees.
Stay curious and blessings to you in the new year.