This being Easter, I decided to do something different today and write a little about my religious/spiritual views, something I rarely talk about on the blog. I guess I rarely talk about it because my views are somewhat unconventional by Southern standards… but what the heck.
Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch are a series of 3 books which are a good starting approximation of what I believe. Some of the key things I believe which are points Walsch makes in the series:
by Neale Donald Walsch are a series of 3 books which are a good starting approximation of what I believe. Some of the key things I believe which are points Walsch makes in the series:- Organized religion as we know it teaches that God is something outside of you that you must constantly strive to attain. And you keep trying and failing over and over again because you’re reaching for something that’s unattainable, and in the end the best you can hope for is to be “saved” even though you don’t deserve it. Organized religion makes the individual feel small and powerless.
- In fact, there is nothing to attain because God is within us. We connect with God by discovering (as Walsch puts it, remembering) who we are, and by interacting with other parts of God (other people, animals, the environment).
- Jesus did exist, and is very much a role model to pattern our lives after, because he demonstrated this connection with God through himself, others, and the world around him at every moment.
- The concept of sin is B.S. and has been used by organized religion to control people for the past 2000 years. There’s no such thing as sin.
- Reincarnation, on the other hand, does exist. People come back to Earth as many times as they need to in order to learn the lessons to be learned through physical existence. Then they continue to on to other planes of existence where there is more to be learned (or again, “remembered” in Walsch’s words).
- Time is not real. It’s one of the rules of the game we agree to when we play the game of physical existence.
- Obligation vs. opportunity. This is one I could write an entire series of posts about. Walsch writes that when you act out of opportunity, when you do things because you want to do them, you’re acting out of love and experiencing what it’s like to be God. When you act out of obligation, you act out of fear and are experiencing the opposite of God. This is one I’ve always felt innately but never was able to put into words until Walsch wrote it. If you want to make sure I’ll refuse to do something, tell me I’m obligated/expected to do it.
- The point above does not mean that one should act completely selfishly with no sense or regard for the feelings of others. Since one of the main ways to connect with God is to connect with others, you experience God when you do for others.
- Organized religion has failed to keep up with the pace of human development over the last 100 years. It must change drastically within the next one to two generations or it will seem as archaic and silly as the Roman gods seem to us today. I’m not picking on Christianity here; I’m talking about all major mainstream organized religions all over the world.
All right, that’s enough. If you agree with the points above, check out the books. If you disagree, that’s fine too. And now, we return you to the usual stupid crap topics discussed in this blog.
Beer report:
Previous total: $771.00
Beers 139, 140, and 141 (but 134, 135, and 136 according to the Saucer):
Stone Arrogant Bastard $11.00
Maudite $6.00
Moretti $4.50
Tip: $21.50 x ~30% = $6.00
Total: $27.50
Grand total: $798.50
Stone Arrogant Bastard is one of my most highly recommended beers of the entire 200. However, at 22 ounces and 7.2% ABV, this is one best done when you have a designated driver. The Maudite (8%) is not for lightweights either. Thanks to those two, I was down for the count early in the evening. Not even a Red Bull could bring me back to life. I was home by midnight. Dammit, I hate that. I go through periods where I can stay out real late and get by on 4-5 hours sleep a night, and periods when I need 8 hours a night. I’m currently in one of the 8-hour periods, which is why I haven’t written about closing the Saucer and then hanging out at McGuinness for hours afterward lately – not nearly to the extent I did December-February. I’m hoping to swing back to the 4-5 hour sleep requirement in time for great spring weather. If I go to bed early I’ll miss seeing some tube tops.
I’m over my anger at the Saucer and am back on good terms with the place. They restored my 3 most recent lost beers. I said I wasn’t going to do that, but the date I want for my plate party is a mere 5 days after I finish my 200th beer, so I can’t afford to lose any. Also, when I was in there Thursday with a friend, the manager bought us a round, which I thought was a very nice gesture and was much appreciated.
Friday is the next big day I’m really looking forward to. For one thing, it will be the first Trolley Tour of the year with really nice weather. Also, I got invited to a private party in the area, and there was just something about the way the invitation was worded – maybe it was “catering by Gus’s Chicken and Big Foot Lodge” – that puts it high on my list of parties to attend. Sorry, it’s a private party, so I can’t spill the beans on this one (exceptions: close friends, e-mail me if you don’t know what party I’m talking about).
Brunch at Majestic, 11 AM. Still undecided what to do between 1 and 5. McGuinness is probably the leading candidate, but who knows. Easter egg hunt for free beer when the Saucer opens at 5.
It’s too cold to wear shorts to brunch. This sucks.