Free to Be[lieve in] You & Me

i was reading Auren's recent post about choosing a religion, and a whole bunch of stuff came flooding back to me...

actually, i think a number of people do choose their own religion -- i'd say i've pretty much done that.  in my case it's more of a secular humanism / buddhist / shinto combination -- whatever the hell that means.  non-denominational agnostic spirituality, perhaps?  i guess it could probably best be described by the title of a book/musical by Marlo Thomas called Free to Be You & Me.

Yeah, that's my religion :)

That, and Sesame Street, and Zoom, and Schoolhouse Rock.  Funny how all of those involved the 70's, TV, and music.  maybe what i'm really saying is i choose to worship the cathode ray tube and the phonograph player.

some history: my mother was raised Catholic, but probably had at least a few questions about the foundations of her religion and its patriarchal architecture.  tough to be both a liberal feminist and a catholic at the same time.  my father was methodist or something christian i think (shows how much i know), and he now plays the organ for the church he attends.  kind of unusual he's ended up back in the church, since he was always such a free spirit for many years.  but in any event, my parents separated when i was fairly young, both re-married.  my mother didn't really force me to go to church, and i never enjoyed it that much the few times i attended.  i did like the music, and i sang in a high-school concert choir... but that was different.  that was music.  (probably another acceptable definition of religion for me)

back when i was around 9 or 10, I remember doing a lot of thinking about what kind of creature God would be if "he" or she did exist... and i decided at least according to most major religions, i didn't really agree with the basic tenets & philosophy.  certainly i didn't agree with its historical impact re: exploiting foreign cultures, inciting religious wars, institutionalizing male-dominated societies, and keeping inappropriate myths and fables alive far beyond their useful livelihoods.  so pretty much after age 10 i decided i just didn't want to practice a religion that didn't make sense to me.

that said, i've always considered myself a very spirited and spiritual person.  i don't believe in God in the "Supreme Being" sense, but i also don't believe you can prove non-existence.  i guess i just don't care so much about whether God or gods exist, nor whether i'll go to heaven/hell, be reincarnated, or become food for worms.  i like the idea of reincarnation, but even if i'm just dead when i'm dead, I'd prefer to spend the time i have just living in peace with others & the world, and leading an enjoyable, interesting, and spiritual life.

that's enough for me.  hopefully it's also enough for a supreme being, should they exist.

right Marlo?  right.

Comments

[Coleman Wheeler]

Yep, Dave -

Marlo Thomas (of "Free To Be You & Me")
Is Married To Former TV Host Phil Donahue -
& Is The Daughter of Comedian Danny Thomas.

[Damon Billian]

"that said, i've always considered myself a very spirited and spiritual person. i don't believe in God in the "Supreme Being" sense, but i also don't believe you can prove non-existence."

I don't think "God" is something we can comprehend. I also hate how people fight over basically the same things w/ religion. I also dislike how there's a battle between science & religion, when both have their elements of truth.

Me: I've leaned Buddhist, with all of its faults, because it is more of a philosophical/teaching religion than a preaching/wanting to be dominant one. I wouldn't consider myself a true Buddhist, however...too many bad habits..hahaha.

Is this the Marlo Thomas that was connected to Phil Donahue?

Dr. Seuss works wonders for the English language. I wonder if other languages have their equivalent?

If people really take the time to read what Buddha or Jesus said (or most other religious figures), I think they largely tried to pointing us to things that made us more "human".