Isn’t it interesting how “believers” invariably pull out the fear card, heh And brrrr, that “shattering” word is indeed frightening, no?

I say, “he” shatters nothing If notions (or whatever) get shattered, we do the shattering — we create or destroy with our beliefs (believe and it shall be so, remember?), many of which have been burned into us via the fear that is the controlling tool of most religions.

The “God” in the bible is a term that collectively describes an energy that is within us all. That book’s all about us. It should be interpreted like a dream, symbolic.

I mean really, think about it. If this was a real entity named “God,” why in hell would he have interest in beings that are in no way powerful or valuable even in their own eyes. I dunno. But if I were this all-powerful god, I’d want “my children” to know they are powerful, just like me. Extremely valuable to me, no matter what they do (much like human children to loving parents, eh?) I’d write ‘em a book advising them about their own power, how to use it safely. I surely wouldn’t want them to learn dependence on me, as if they could do nothing with their own power — WEAK, and essentially nothing without me. Those would be some boring kids, lol — and I surely wouldn’t want to spend “eternity” on the other side with them

If the bible is potent with contradiction, there’s a reason for that. It hasn’t been properly interpreted There are people who do see truth in the fairy-tale, symbolic stories of the bible. An interpretation that shows that we are the “God,” we create our own lives, and we are so very valuable — no matter what we do or believe. “Children of God.” That reference is one of a plethora of little clues “God” is within us. We are God.

And even if there were a separate God, it’s an impossibility to both love and fear someone. How many people do you deeply love and fear at the same time? If you’re in such a “love” relationship, I’d advise re-thinking your definition of love.

… “or whether the world would benefit most by dispensing with all religious boxes.”

Any religion or other organization that references others as lesser (“sinners,” “wretches”) is a cancer in our world. Their euphemistic ramblings are about nothing but hatred and judgment. I don’t care what they consciously say or think they believe. When you look at another as less, that’s hatred. And fear is the root of it.

We don’t need religion — we very much don’t need it. But I know of at least one “old religion” that embraces, loves and accepts all, respects and loves nature… That one is in no way harmful to us, and the loving nature of it surely blesses us.

Again, regardless of the type of organization, if it spews judgment and hatred upon any of us — bellowing at a pulpit that we better do this or that or else… That kind of ongoing “affirmation,” brainwashing from ludicrious interpretations of an old book, will eventually kill us per the self-loathing that it seeds and cultivates, every Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night…

I don’t need any more time to think about it. Traditional/mainstream religion is a disease in our world, in our minds and heart. And either we “cure” it or it’s gonna take us all out. It has created a world of hatred, not love. Go figure.

Peace,
Dove

ESVA

GOD IS NOWHERE

Believers in their darkest hours, dismay,
while scholars in their books and thoughts despair
reaching out from the moments disarray
find anxiously, God is nowhere.

In a flower, beauty is a twirl, a red.
the tree, branch and leaf, a mother’s breast,
from rock, all above ‘ below is spread.
the sun, in giving, is power at its best.
Know every sign by a careful pare
beyond all this, God is nowhere.

The universe is there to claim a mind,
yet adherents of careless thought beware,
in any search we are left behind.
Outside existence, still, God is nowhere.

Some people love boxes.
Boxes have straight edges and sharp corners.
Boxes are either open or closed.
Best of all, you can stick labels on boxes.

Some people think a church is a box.

Some people hate boxes.
Boxes have straight edges and sharp corners.
Boxes are either open or closed.
Worst of all, you can stick labels on boxes.

Some people think a church is a box.

If you put chocolates in a box, do you get a box full of chocolates or a chocolate box?
If you put Christians in a church, do you get a church full of Christians or a Christian church?

Some people think a church is a box.

Some people love boxes; especially boxes with labels.
Some people hate boxes; especially boxes with labels.
Some say that the people that love boxes and the people that hate boxes are simply each in their own box.
They say the only difference is the label.

The difference in my case was my first leaving the faith had to do more with me initially feeling rejected and unable to measure up to the standards of the group. Then tumbling head long into a hard season of self-fulfilling prophecy of medicating the pain with alcohol and drugs further ingraining the idea that without the fundie god I was doomed to a life of hell both here and in eternity.

When I hit bottom, went into treatment and followups w/ AA I was encouraged to try to whole higher power thing again. As the stability in my life grew, it was easy for me to internalize that god had given me a second chance, I could be forgiven and start over again.

In my apostasizing, it has been more of an intellectual epiphany regarding the absurdity of it all which actually had its start while I was on staff at a fundie bible college and had the opportunity to read more church history and theology than is normally allowed or encouraged for the average pew sitter in the particular fundie group I was involved in.

It began with questions and serious doubts about the rapture and end times theology. Discrepancies in history of what really constituted a 1st century church model, and a few years exploring Eastern Orthodoxy have brought me to a place of having a hard time understanding how I ever accepted all the sin and atonement theology of the christian faith.

Based on my experience, I’ve wondered if there may be a subtle distinction between a backslider and an apostate.

I have really enjoyed finding this blog!

So I am not sure that any practicing Christian will think THEY are in a box of any kind. After all, the scales have fallen off of their eyes; they know the Truth.; My guess is that many Christians will pity the de-convert who has tried to put God in a box of their own making, and found that god lacking.