Sitting on the fence pondering religion

I don’t “do” religion. As a child I loved history and found it very disturbing when Kings and Queens waged war in the name of religion. As an adult I love history and find it very disturbing when people blow up themselves and murder others in the name of religion. So I really don’t think it’s for me.

My parents sent me to Sunday school and I found the story of baby Jesus interesting but I also find faeries fascinating and have a recurring memory of seeing a fairy in my garden as a child. Is it a real memory or did I read way too many fairy stories?

I like bits of everything. I used to read Tarot cards and a lot of Christian folk told me that I was dabbling with evil. I don’t’ see myself as a bad person: I’ve never murdered anyone and try not to judge people…too harshly. (I’m human. We judge people). So, I read the Tarot’s. I didn’t feel evil. I’m an impatient person and if god had a plan for me he wasn’t revealing it to me in a timely manner so I was saving him the trouble.

I wear an Evil Eye on a chain around my neck along with a little wooden elephant which to me symbolises Ganesh: The Hindu deity and remover of obstacles. He’s also considered as a symbol of wisdom and a bringer of good luck. I have a picture of Ganesh on the wall above my desk at home which I like to look at from time to time.

This year I created a small area in my garden that I call my Japanese patch where I placed a small Buddha statue surrounded by pea shingle. I feel at peace just looking at that area. But I feel at peace anywhere in my garden surrounded by some of nature’s wonders. I can spend hours staring into my pond. I also have small ceramic fairies in some of the plant pots in my garden. If I was going to “do” religion it would be Druidism. I’ve been interested in Druids since reading the book Defy the Eagle by Lynn Bartlett. I’ve read that book a half dozen times and will never part with it. Or I’d be a Pagan as I find nature fascinating and wondrous.

I consider myself to be a spiritual person. But I like fairies and Gargoyles. I like the Arthurian mythology, and I like the Norse and Greek mythologies. I find a lot of Creation mythologies interesting in their similarities. I want someone to find concrete proof of Atlantis in my life time because I want it to be true. My jury is still out on the existence of aliens but I do love to watch them on TV.

I digress. I haven’t even begun to explore all of Hinduism but some of their deities are interesting. I’ve read about certain religions in order to find a persons motivation for doing what they do. Most of the time it’s not that easy as the motivation usually lies in history and politics. My bottom line is this: If your religion causes you pain or to inflict pain on others then you need to find another religion. But hey, I’m not one to force my beliefs on other people.

I Googled for a definition of religion and found the following:

• Oxford dictionary definition (theistic): “1 the belief in a superhuman controlling power, esp. in a personal God or gods entitled to obedience and worship.

• An organized system of faith and worship (Joseph Priestly vocabulary)

• a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny; “he lost his faith but not his morality”
• an institution to express belief in a divine power; “he was raised in the Baptist religion”; “a member of his own faith contradicted him”
• Religion—sometimes used interchangeably with faith or belief system—is commonly defined as belief concerning the supernatural, sacred, or divine, and the moral codes, practices and institutions associated with such belief. In its broadest sense some have defined it as the sum total of answers given to explain humankind’s relationship with the universe. In the course of the development of religion, it has taken a huge number of forms in various cultures and individuals. …
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion

Definitions of Spirituality on the Web:

• This term is defined quite differently by monotheists, polytheists, humanists, followers of new age, Native Americans, etc. A common meaning is “devotion to metaphysical matters, as opposed to worldly things.” Another is “Activities which renew, lift up, comfort, heal and inspire both ourselves and those with whom we interact.”
  www.religioustolerance.org/gl_s1.htm
• An inner sense of something greater than oneself. Recognition of a meaning to existence that transcends one’s immediate circumstances.
  www.nature.com/nri/journal/v4/n11/glossary/nri1486_glossary.html