I am a child of the Earth, and My religion is Life, with its many faces

I was raised a protestant Christian, in name at least. When I was young, my mother became a Mormon convert. By the time I was 21, I believed that Mormonism was the one and only true religion, but that I was incapable of living up to their standards.

Then my eyes were opened, and this was the true miracle. I took a class on comparative religion and heard, what can only be called truth, flowing out of the mouth of my instructor. From that day forward, my whole life seemed to tumble out of time to this day. I realized that the world is very big, and that one religion cannot conceivably cover it. At that point I learned only about traditional world religions; much later I went on to discover Goddess based spirituality and it transformed my life.

What followes is a short narrative on my experiences with, and my understanding of, particular religions and my favorite links to religious sites. Keep in mind that truth is never cut and dry, it is flowing and changing, and my opinions are likely to change as well. There is no right or wrong here, only perspective.

NOTE: As I am far from being the last word on religious practices, if anyone notices anything in these paragraphs which is not quite accurate, please e-mail me and I will be happy to make the correction. Likewise, if anyone who belongs to any of these religions is offended by what I have said, please let me know as that is not my intention.

Druidism/Wicca/Paganism - This would cover all Earth based religions. Because these religions allow for free thinking and self discovery, it's difficult to give a definition that is universally applicable. While there are many branches here, these religions have more in common than different. The most common thread is the connection to nature and to the Earth. In the past 50 years or so, and more markedly in the past 10 years there has been a huge movement of Earth based religions, and as far as I'm concerned, it's about time! No one can deny that our planet is in a serious state of deterioration due to our modern "progress" where science is concerned. We are a nation of convenience. We like our food neatly packaged and prepared for us; we like to get where we want to go as quickly as possible, we like to be able to spray things out of cans. We don't want to deal with bugs or rodents so we poison them. This all takes a toll on our planet and the last 50 years has seen more damage to the earth than all the previous years combined. These religions recognize the destructive paths we have been walking and a serious attempt is made at change. These religions promote respect for the earth as a living entity. We are not the owners here, we are merely passing through. Most of the religions that fall into this category claim to have connections with religions which existed before the advent of Christianity, and to an extent they are correct. The Druids were around a long time before the Romans, and later the Christians, came north. But in a sense, these religions are also new. We know very little about what the Druids and the ancient Celts were like, so these religions have borrowed ideas and sometimes, most notably wicca, made up things that seem to fit. There is no right or wrong in this. Being ancient doesn't make something more valid - just ask the early Christians. This site is the best one on the web for Earthbased religions. This site includes everything from the Druids to the ancient Celts to Native American Traditions. It is not only the best pagan site that exists, it is the best site on the web as far as I am concerned. It contains all my favorite links, and more. Explore all the links; it will take you days, but it is well worth the time.

Christianity - This religion is far more complex than anyone can guess. When you consider Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Mormonism, Amish, all of Latin America, and the hundreds of protestant sects that exist in Europe and North America, you have a religion that is quite diverse - almost as diverse as all the pagan religions available. In addition to the varieties of Christianity practiced today, there is Mysticism, a number of heretical sects, Celtic Christianity and Gnosticism of the past. There is a lot here if one takes the time to explore. The core of the belief system is the crucifiction and resurrection of Jesus, but that is where the similarities end. Some more conservative Christians believe in the literal crucifiction and bodily resurrection, while the more liberal ones see this a metaphorical and universal truth. Sadly, in my opinion, many christians believe that Christianity is the only true path and that all others are lies. However, they may be the majority, but they are not the totality. There are a lot of Christian sects - especially today, that recognize other paths as being equally valid. There are some who even recognize the "feminine face of god." A huge step from the "fire and Brimstone" baptists of the past.

Judaism - This is truly the most incredible group of people in history. They have managed to survive as a culture and as a religion in spite of great odds. Despite being forced to the bottom rungs of the social ladder throughout history, the Jews have managed to be among the top contributors of science, education and culture at large. Judaism convinces me beyond doubt that the foundation of a religion is not its belief system, but rather its rituals and heretage. In virtually every period in history, they have stood out as unique among all contemporary religions. Judaism was originally a tribal religion, which was unique in its monotheism. Unlike many modern religions, Judaism is rooted in life, in the here and now and in History rather than in a supposed destination to be acheived. Jewish Rabbis, the teachers of Judaism, are allowed to marry and encouraged to reproduce. The Jewish people are unique in that they find divinity in their suffering, and in their deliverance from suffering. Up through the current century the Jews have endured persecution like no other people, and have come out of it stronger than before. It's almost as if the suffering and oppression is what sustains this religion and binds these people together. Jews today can be found throughout the world. They are as varied in their degrees of orthodoxy as Christians, perhaps even more so, but it is the heretage, the rituals and holy days which bind them. In addition to a rich heretage, Judaism also has a powerful mystical side. Study of the mystical cabala can consume ones life and generally takes 35 years to complete. (Most of my knowledge of Judaism, little I assure you, can be credited to Houston Smith. Other than participating marginally in passover and Haunikka celebrations, I have no experience. See Houston Smith's book Religions of Man.)

Islam - Islam, more that any other religion in the world, is truly Monotheistic. Islam is currently one of the largest religions in the world. This religion came about in the 7th century CE in the Middle East. There are currently two groups of Islamic people, the Sunnis and the Shi'ites, the Sunnis being the larger group by far. The Shi'ites are more conservative, while the Sunnis are more liberal. Despite its Militaristic reputation, Islam is a universal and accepting religion, and one of its very basic tenants is the equality of all men. In fact, when one makes a journey to Mecca to visit the Kabba, the holy stone, all men must wear the same garments so that social status is erased. Also, the Muslims believe in charity, given directly to the poor, to erase some of the economic inequality. A devout Muslim will practice the 5 pillars of Islam. These are 1) Stating the creed at least once in ones life time. This is "There is only one God and he is Allah, and Muhammad is his Prophet." In practice a muslim will say this many times in his life though once, with conviction is required. 2) Prayer, 5 times a day. 3) Charity as already mentioned. 4) Observance of Ramadan, which is a month based on a lunar calendar in which a Muslim must fast as long as "the differnece between a white and black thread can be seen." So basically, from sun up to sun down would be the time to fast. And finally 5) At least one pilgramage to Mecca. There is a mystical aspect of Islam - Sufism. This tradition is so incredible that it deserves its own section. Please see my page on Mysticism, Heretical Sects and Ancient Religions for information on them.

Hinduism - Of all the major religions of the world, I feel that Hinduism comes most closely to putting Truth out clearly for all to see. One reading of the Upanishads or the Bagavadgita will drive home that point. One of Hinduism's great attributes is that it recognizes all religions as being valid paths. Part of this is due to Hinduism's belief that one must start where one is, and as a matter of fact, one doesn't have a choice. If a person is indulging in pleasure, a Hindu would say that this is where he is on his path. Hinduism doesn't admonish its adherents to turn away from pleasure or worldly pursuits because it recognizes that eventually they will discover that there is more to life than pleasure - perhaps not in this life time, but as everyone is bound to go through life after life, eventually we all will choose a higher path, and eventually reach oneness. There are literally hundreds of sects in Hinduism and hundreds of Gods and Godesses. The three main ones are Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and thier consorts. These are the creator, the sustainer and the destroyer. Unlike western religions which are based on historical events, Hinduism is a cyclical religion and these three gods represent that cycle - after destruction comes creation again. When a westerner thinks of Hinduism, yoga immediately comes to mind. There are 5 basic types of yoga and each will appeal to a different type of person. Hatha yoga is the one most known in the west - the physical yoga. Bakti is a devotional yoga, Jnana is the yoga of knowledge, Karma is the yoga of work, and Raja is the yoga of experience or meditation. It would take a great deal of space to go into these so I won't do so here. Another thing one thinks of is Karma. This concept is misunderstood in the west. Karma means work, but it also means the laws of cause and effect. To use a turn of phrase, you reap what you sow. It's obviously far more complicated than that; Hinduism isn't easily summed up. Due to the accepting nature of the religion, reformation, with one major exception, isn't a common occurrence. The major reformation in Hinduism was more directed at social concerns than religious ones as we shall see. I'll examine this next.

Buddhism - Buddhism was a major reformation in India in the 5th century BCE. However it didn't last long in India because it was quickly incorporated into the multi dimensional Hindu religion. What did happen with Buddhism was that it traveled to China where it found fertile ground and grew to be one of the major world religions. Siddharth Gautama, the founder of Buddhism was a prince in India with all the pleasure and indulgence that entails, but he rejected his station for asceticism. Finally, he rejected asceticism and took what is called The middle road. Buddhism in its pure sense, is one of the most simple religions around today. It's not a religion about God per se, nor is it about ritual, myth, or beliefs. It is a religion about being awake. Buddha means awake. Buddhism is based on a realization that nothing that is tangible is permanent - even life, and that this causes suffering. The four noble truths of Buddhism are that 1. Life is suffering. 2. Suffering is caused by desire. 3. The way to stop suffering is to stop desiring. 4. The 8 fold path, a system of living in awareness, is the way to stop desiring. Desires keep us attached to the physical plane which is destined to decay. The goal of the Buddhist is to escape this attachment and attain a state of compassionate detachment - Nirvana.

Taoism - It seems that the more diffuculty I have in finding something meaningful to say about a religion, the more profound the religion is, and this is certainly the case with Taoism. The ubiquitous yin yang symbol is a Taoist symbol. My daughter's kindergarten teacher tried to explain the meaning of the yin yang symbol to a group of 30 five year olds. My daughter explained that "In the middle of the good there is a little bit of bad, and in the middle of the bad there is a little bit of good, and they are always going into each other." My first impulse is to say that this explanation is a bit too simple, but is it? I could go on about how Taoists believe that each thing contains it's polar opposite and that they constantly flow into each other, but then I'm just repeating what she said. If nothing else Taoism is a religion of simplicity. It's about being rather than doing. Tao means the Way. It is the essence, the nature of things. Of course, you should take this with a proverbial "grain of salt" since the Tao Te Ching points out that any words used to explain Tao, don't explain it because Tao is beyond words. Taoists use water for an analogy quite frequently, and it is rather appropriate. Water doesn't seek mountain peaks and doesn't resist when force is applied. It takes the shape of it's container and seeks the lowest level, yet in a subtle way water is the strongest substance there is. It has the power to shape the earth and it is the essence of all life. Taoism is about the quiet subtle strenth of nature. Nature happens by itself in due course, not by will or force, simply by being, and to the Taoist, being who and what you really are is the only thing you can really do. Accepting this is the Way, the Tao.

Zen - Zen is a branch of Buddhism that is significant enough to merit its own description. I have included it here after Taoism because it has been said that Zen is a marriage between Buddhism and Taoism. While Buddhism originated in India, Taoism grew up in China. If we take the migration of Buddhism to China combined with Taoist philosophy we have Zen, one of the most profound and peculiar religions around. Like Taoism, Zen does not find truth in words, and in fact,according to Zen Buddhists, words mask real truth. It is for this reason that Zen takes words and turns them upside down in order to bring its adherents to enlightenment. Zen teaches by useing Koans which are riddles that have no logical answer. The Zen master would require his pupil to come up with an acceptable answer despite the seeming impossibility. These Koans force one to go beyond logic. An example of a koan would be "What is the sound of one hand clapping" We've all heard this one I am sure. An acceptable answer for a Zen master may be something seemingly unrelated such as "The sun rises in the Morning, and the child sleeps." Through Koans and meditation, a zen student will start to have flashes of enlightenment, or Satori. Zens point is that words do not capture the essence. Words are false understanding of truth, and the only real Truth is not limited by time or space or words.

I must give credit to Houston Smith here for my basic knowledge of current religion. Not only did I take a class that he taught, but other classes that I have had used his book as a primary text.