Question for the biblical religious

[pacfan]

Sorry about that, brother Andre, I fully understand your situation now. I have no intention of imposing my views on anyone, but on the contrary I encourage you, and even my buddy Bilbo, to express your beliefs. It's my principle to support any religion because I believe all religions are united at least on the principle of love, peace and justice, and eventually I believe all will be united on that principle - goodness. It's mainly the Godless idea that I attack, like the theory of evolution in its pure form. We need as much religion in this world as possible because I think ultimately that will be what will unite the word in peace.

I've learned to think differently over the years, even in my own religion - the traditional Catholics will probably abhor my own doctrines because I don't take the bible literally. To me it's full of symbolism. For example the Catholic doctrine of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I see the Father of course as God, the Son as the God or Jesus living within our own hearts who can only be reached thru faith, and the Holy Spirit as the universal energy that flows thru the channel to the world and to the individual in in various forms - which of course is not the way Catholics believe. I've learned to think this way probably because of my meditational influence: you are probably aware that famous story of Zen monk telling someone to first remove all the preconcieved ideas he has before he can thing rightly, just like cup of tea that must be emptied of old tea before it can be filled with new one. I have learned to do just that, remove my original thoughts which were primarily motivated and clouded with the instinct of survivor, and once free from that survivor prejudice that fans hatred, anger, war, etc., I am trying fill it with what flows from above. I must say I'm probably not yet perfect, and perhaps still has some of that ego, as you say, prejudice left in me that may influence my thoughts. But on the whole, I'm very confident I've gotten rid of most of those prejudice.

But again, I must warn you, if anything I say will compromise your belief, by all means, stick to your faith because you've chosen that path and it's your faithful duty to stick to it, no matter what. Who knows, all this might just be a test for you. The only thing I can say firmly is that I don't subscribe to the idea of almost all religion, including Catholics, that theirs is the only true religion (which naturally implies that they are the only ones to be saved), while all others are wrong and therefore condemned. Again I can be wrong, but I believe God breathed the idea of religion on all civilization, just as I think Lyle mentioned something like all tribes developed similar culture at about the same time. But since humans are imperfect channels, they all received that God inspired idea differently. But not so strangely, almost all religion goes thru their evolutionary process but are nervetheless united on the principle of love, justice, and peace. On that principle I believe all will be united one day. Perhaps I'm a bit naive.

But Andre, do not be inhibited from expressing your religious views, although it may naturally invite some haters; I always encourage everyone to express his views. Nobody has a monopoly of ideas, so we can all learn something from one another.

Well thanks, Andre, consider me your brother. With much love, pacfan.