Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Sarah Winnemucca Quote

Hello and Happy Wednesday!

Today's quote is brought to you by Sarah Winnemucca:

The saddest day hath gleams of light, The darkest wave hath bright foam beneath it, The twinkles o'er the cloudiest night, Some solitary star to cheer it.



There'll be a new interview Saturday so be sure to check back!

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Justin Whitaker

Hello and Happy Saturday!

I wish to thank Jenny for her enjoyable interview last week. Thanks for sharing your faith journey with us Jenny!


Today we have a new interview so please welcome Justin Whitaker. Justin is a Buddhist and I know you'll enjoy his interview as well!


Here Is Justin Whitaker's Introduction:


I am a doctoral student in Buddhist Ethics splitting my time between Montana, England, and India, amongst other travels. I grew up and completed my first degree in Montana and went on to study in England. I made my first trip to India last year as a teacher of Buddhist Philosophy for Antioch University's Education Abroad program. I am grateful for my travels as they have enriched both my life and my teaching career. I am also an amateur photographer and marathon runner.

http://americanbuddhist.blogspot.com



1) What religion do you practice?
I practice Buddhism.

2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I am a convert. I basically eased into it with some courses at the University when I was 20 years old. With most Buddhists, especially in the West, there is no official 'conversion ceremony.' One simply 'takes refuge' in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha and that's it. Before converting I was an atheist or 'Freethinker' - very much interested and engaged with theological questions, but holding no particular religious beliefs.

3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
Yes, in Buddhism there are degrees of observance, but they are not well defined or codified. Some Buddhists uses these labels, borrowed from Western religions, in order to clarify their own type of practice.

4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
As a Buddhist in the West, I'm not sure exactly what my degree is. I'm rather orthodox and conservative in some of my understandings of concepts such as karma and rebirth, and moderate in my attempts to perfectly uphold the five precepts.

5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
In Buddhism, afterlife is generally conceived as rebirth for those who do not attain awakening in this life. Those who lived a poor life here will be reborn in a 'lower' realm as an animal, hungry ghost, or hell denizen (not too pretty). And of course the higher realms correspond with the human, titan, and godly realms. But it's fair to say that these are mainly states of mind, meaning that if we act horribly now, we will be consumed with either painfully desirous (hungry ghost) or angry (hell denizen) minds in the future, whether in a future literal life or not. This explanation also falls within the Buddha's main form of teaching which was pragmatic, psychological, and this-worldly. I believe that for the Buddha there was/is truth to the doctrine of rebirth, but I don't think we're meant to be too literal about it.

6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
It's not a given, but it IS the mission of thousands or millions of people out there called Bodhisattvas to get everyone into an awakened state. For now, all that holds us back is our own ignorance, fueled by and fueling our greed and anger. Once those are overcome, one is awakened, sees the connectedness of all beings, and vows - if not done already - to bring about the awakening of all others.

7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
I think it fits in the sense that I've always been a pretty laid back person and Buddhism has a reputation for fitting the peaceniks and 'it's all good man' hippy types. On the other hand it has offered powerful antidotes to my difficulties with anxiety and depression.

8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Buddhists across the world have a variety of holy days, most particularly vesak, the celebration of the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha. But, like many Westerners, I am not particularly observant.

9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Most certainly, yes. I have had the great fortune of a great diversity of friends in all possible ways.

10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Yes, I would and have celebrated the holy days of people of other faiths. Being raised in a Christian society, Christian holidays such as Christmas are part of my culture. For me, Christmas is about family, joy, and sharing at the coldest, darkest time of the year. It happens to be a time adopted by early Christians and designated as the birth of their savior, but the holiday predates them and is observed in different, yet very similar ways around the world.

11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
On the one hand, I believe fully in the freedom of religion, all religions. But on the other hand I believe religion serves to lift people up to be their best selves. Thus for the burka I believe that those who choose to wear it should be allowed, so long as it is done freely with honest understanding of the social and political circumstances accompanying that choice. I have listened to Muslims discuss the burka, pro and con, and I hope that these discussions continue and percolate into the broader populace. Of course there are many nuances to the question, such as children wearing it, and the question of location. Shariah Law is even more complex! As with ancient Jewish or Christian texts, or even Buddhist sutras, I think it may be useful in the formation of laws in some societies. But again, all laws must serve to lead people to greater freedom and independence (or as my favorite philosopher would put it: away from heteronomy - literally 'ruled from the outside' - and toward autonomy, self-legislation).

12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Yes. In the West, women hold equal footing as leaders in almost all branches of Buddhism (Tibetan being the exception). In Eastern countries, where Buddhism has taken root over the last 2500 years, the religion has mostly adopted the patriarchal structures of those countries. This is shifting though, slowly, mostly due to the influence of Western values in those Eastern countries.

13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
No, absolutely not.

14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
I hope that some elements, such as being able to return to my breath during a heated moment or developing all-pervading loving-kindness do affect all parts of my daily life, even if only minutely. But from the outside, one might not call me particularly 'Buddhist' in my daily activities. Even meditation, the hallmark of Western Buddhism, is generally only a weekly practice for me. On issues such as abortion and gay marriage I would imagine the views of my own family play as strong a roll as my religion does.

15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
I would have no problem with that.

16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
Perhaps. What matters in Buddhism is not faith, but actions. Of course faith in such things as karma (that your actions will have consequences) might be essential in the beginning, what leads you on to a future in this realm or another are your choices and the actions that follow. Buddhism, by the way, speaks of acting with "body, speech, and mind," and also asserts that the mind is the most important, as actions (of body and speech) follow it "like a cart follows the ox."

17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
I'm not sure I understand the first question, so I'll skip on to the second. In the West there are a variety of Buddhist leaders who speak for Buddhism. These range from monks such as H.H. the Dalai Lama and Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh to academics such as Robert Thurman or Charles Prebish, to a younger generation of Buddhists such as Rev. Danny Fisher and Vince Horn. These are just some of the ones I'm most familiar with, but many others pop up here and there. Most of them I think I agree with on most things - but I likely gravitate toward them for just that reason, in part. And Buddhism here in the West generally promotes free thinking, so whether I agree or not, as long as I am learning and developing greater insight into the world through these public faces, I am happy.

18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No, fortunately nothing of the sort.

19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No, absolutely not.

20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes, if and when I practice it and bring its principles into my life, I do tend to feel peace of mind.

21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
Tricky question. In the literal sense of "me having lived in a past life and me coming back in a future one" I see no reason to hold this belief. But in a more nuanced sense of a continuous flow of experiences (physical and otherwise), arising and falling away in each instant, then there seems to be something like reincarnation happening all the time. As for the space in between, I'm not sure it's important to how I live my life day to day, so I'm happy to plead ignorance/agnosticism.

I'm glad to participate in this and wish you and your readers peace, happiness, and well-being!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Jack Layton Quote

Hello and Happy Wednesday!

Today's quote is brought to you by Jack Layton:

My friends,
love is better than anger,
hope is better than fear,
optimism is better than despair,
so let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic.
And we'll change the world.


There'll be a new post coming on Saturday.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Jenny (aka RetroHousewife)

Hello and Happy Saturday!

First up, I wish to thank Adam for his wonderful interview last week.
Thanks so much for sharing with us Adam!

Today we have a new interview so please welcome Jenny (aka RetroHousewife).
Jenny is a Christian and I know you'll enjoy her interview as well!

Here Is Jenny's Introduction:


My name is Jenny, I'm a Christian, a wife, a mom, a blogger and an artist. My life is crazy, my daughter has special needs, my husband has PTSD as well as a traumatic brain injury from his service to our country in Iraq and I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. If it weren't for my faith I think I would have crawled under the covers and not come out. God is good.

http://ahappyhomeisaretrohome.blogspot.com/



1) What religion do you practice?

I consider myself a Christian

2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I was raised in this religion part time in that my parents were divorced and I saw my dad every other weekend and during the summer, he was/is Christian, my mom was/is not, although she does believe in God.

3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
I think that there are different degrees of observance in any religion because people are not all uniform in their beliefs, faith, strengths and convictions.

4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
I don't really know how to answer that question because I've never felt a need to classify myself into a category like that. I don't know that I can really answer that, I just don't feel like I could fit myself into one category.

5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
That depends on who you ask. The Bible says Heaven and Hell but different people interpret it different ways. I personally believe in Heaven and I believe in hell as well.

6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
No not everyone makes it to Heaven. Those who have asked Christ into their hearts and their lives do, those that asked to be saved receive that gift. Everyone has the opportunity and the gift of mercy and grace are free but they aren't automatic- you must ask.

7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
I didn't pick my religion because it is a good fit, I picked it because I believe that it is what God wants, because it is the truth not because it is convenient, it's not like picking out a handbag.

8) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?

Yes I have many friends of other faiths from Jewish to Buddhist to those who aren't even sure if they believe in god.

9) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Honestly I am not sure. I would have to pray about it and make sure it wasn't dishonoring God in any way.

10) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
It depends on the specific.

11) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
No, I didn't realize any place of worship segregated still.

12) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
My religion definitely affects my daily life, when disappointments come my way I am able to take comfort in the fact that God has a plan for me and that even though I may have wanted something badly and not gotten it that He has a master plan, he sees all and he knows what is best for me and what I wanted wasn't part of it or wasn't part of it at this time. I honestly don't have to give much conscious thought to my religion when making a decision because my religion isn't something separate from me, its part of me, it's who I am. Sometimes I may be swayed by my human nature to make a wrong choice and sometimes I do because...well, I'm human but usually I will have a nagging feeling inside of me letting me know that its not the right choice, whether or not I choose to ignore that feeling or not is on me.

My religion doesn't affect how I feel about abortion, my own personal feelings do but they happen to go along with my religion. As far as gay marriage....this is something I struggle with, the Bible tells us that a relationship should be between a man and a woman and that anything else is wrong but I think that there are far worse things out there than to love another person. I'm neutral on the subject, I'm not for it, I'm not against it, I have had gay friends and I am sure I will again in the future, it is not up to me to judge.

13) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
I don't think I would have a big problem with it, of course I wish that she would marry a good Christian boy lol but ultimately it is her life and her decision and I would just have to pray that her spouse would come to know God.

14) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
I am not wise enough to even begin to broach that subject.

15) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No I have not.

16) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No I feel empowered by my religion, I feel precious.

17) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Absolutely. God wants us to put our worries on him. God may let us feel the sting of our bad decisions but he will never leave us forlorn, no matter what I go through I know I am not going through it alone and I know God ultimately has a plan for me.

18) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
No I don't. Because it is not taught in the Bible, I think God would have mentioned that, its sort of a biggie lol

Thursday, August 18, 2011

George Carlin Quote

Hello and Happy Thursday!

Today's quote is brought to you by George Carlin:

People who say they don't care what people think are usually desperate to have people think they don't care what people think.



There's a new interview coming on Saturday so be sure to check back!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Future Interviews and Dates Published

Hello and Happy Tuesday!

Here is the list of all the future interviews and the dates they will be published on:

August 20th: Jenny (aka the RetroHousewife)- Christian
August 27th: Justin Whitaker- Buddhist

September 3rd: Musa Talib- Muslim Convert
September 10th: Umm Salihah- Muslim
September 17th: Joel Holopainen/Jouji Heion- Buddhist
September 24th: Harry/Hanrei Banzan- Buddhist

October 1st: Dalyn Robert Montgomery- Mormon
October 8th: Louise Rogers- Unitarian
October 15th: Adrian Worsfold- Unitarian
October 22nd: Christina- Pagan
October 29th: Elinor Predota- Pagan

November 5th: Janie (aka Mother Moon)- Pagan
November 12th: Larry Tanner- Atheist
November 19th: Modern Girl- Unitarian
November 26th: Vincent Enlund/Viking Jack- Asatru

December 3rd: Malwina- Christian
December 10th: Navjeet Singh Sandhu- Sikh
December 17th: Omar Ghraieb- Muslim
December 24th: Liorah Lleucu- Jewitch
December 31st: Christopher Darren Horn- Noahide

January 7th: Heather Cardin- Bahai
January 14th: Manuel Araujo- Polytheist
January 21st: Helio Pires- Polytheist
January 28th: H. Jeremiah Lewis/Sannion- Polytheist

February 4th: Emberlyn Rayne- Wiccan
February 11th: Ian Crossland- Mathematics
February 18th: Courtney- Buddhist
February 25th: Galina Krasskova- Heathen

March 3rd: H. Kaur- Sikh
March 10th: Laura Dartez/Onyx Moon- Pagan
March 17th: Kristine McKee- Non-denominational
March 24th: Christian Mengele- Christian
March 31st: Ed Grainger- Ex-Jehovah's Witness

April 7th: Marie Liane Rioux- Gnostic

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Adam/Perthro Pathfinder

Hello and Happy Saturday!

I wish to thank Bill Jiryu Webb for his intriguing interview last week.
Thanks so much for sharing with us Bill!

Today we have a new interview so please welcome Adam.
Adam is a Pagan and I know you'll enjoy his interview as well!

Here Is Adam's Introduction:


My name is Adam, and I turned 40 years old in July. I am a third shift frozen/dairy stocker at Walmart, and have been working there for almost a year now. The other jobs I've had included working on computers (for about a year, though I've done it as a hobby for much longer), working as an automobile technician (for 10 years), and before that, I served in the U.S. Navy during Operation Desert Storm. I consider myself to be a sort of “jack of all trades”, as I have worked on many different types of mechanical and electrical equipment in my lifetime, as well as doing household plumbing work and other odd jobs, which has given me the ability to diagnose problems on and repair almost anything. I am currently separated from my wife, and I have 3 daughters.

http://thestagwarrior.blogspot.com



1)What religion do you practice?
I am a Pagan. Or maybe you could say I'm a witch. I believe each of us has the power to manipulate energy, and that we do so every single day of our lives, through our interactions with others, and with nature. While I believe the pagan gods and goddesses exist, I personally do not “worship” them, but rather see them as guides and companions, no better than me, as my soul is just a little less (a LOT less) evolved than theirs. That's what living life is for. To evolve, to grow, to become more than I was when I started this life.

2)Are you a convert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to go to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
If you could call it converting, I did that 2 years ago. I acquired new knowledge that required me to alter my view of the universe, and what the reality of my existence is. And I said a prayer of sorts to the god that came to me in a dream, to help guide me on my new path. I was raised to believe in Christianity, and held loosely onto many of the concepts of that religion until I was introduced to paganism, then my whole world changed, things finally made sense.

3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (orthodox, conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance? Within your religion, which one are you, and why did you choose it?
If I had to label myself, I'd have to say I'm a liberal pagan, as I consider all other belief systems to be just as valid as my own, I mean why can't we have multiple pantheons existing at the same time in this vast universe? As far as I know, there's plenty of room to go around. And yes, I'm sure there are conservative pagans, who choose to believe that there is only one “right” way to be a pagan, but that is not me. I chose to be this way because it's what makes sense to me, there's too much evidence in my mind to think any other way.

4)What is the Afterlife in your religion? (Heaven/Hell concept)
I believe in heaven and hell, it's just not for me, the Christians go to those places. So if you are a Christian, when you die, you go to one or the other. When I die I will revert back to my energy state, and plan my next life with my spiritual guides and mentors, as well as some of the people I will live that life with. As far as I know, many pagans have a similar idea when it comes to what happens to us when we are not in these bodies.

5)In your opinion, does everyone make it to heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
I'm sure the Christians do, that's what their God says will happen if they accept him as their Savior. If they do not, then I guess they go to Hell. The rest of us that are not of His pantheon go “somewhere” else I believe, it's a little hard to explain, as spirits don't have a “location” as we humans can perceive it, and they don't perceive time as we do either, so eternity to us is like seconds to them. We are incapable of comprehending the way they see time, and that's not an insult to humans. The way I see it, while in these bodies, we are prevented from knowing too much about our “other” existence, because having knowledge of that existence would prevent us from doing what we are here to do, and that's to be human. It would end up feeling like we were wearing a costume, and we would not want to be in that costume for long.

6)What makes your religion a good fit for you?
I believe it because it makes the most sense to me, it's where I feel I belong. That's the reason I picked Perthro Pathfinder as my craft name, because I feel I've found my path. I believe that if you have to have a name, a label, then it should reflect what path you are on, because when we are NOT human, I don't believe we have names at all.

7)What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Every day is a holy day to me, this entire life, from start to finish, was planned out ahead of time, and I'm not about to screw it up by not realizing how special it is to be a human, to be given the opportunity to learn and grow, to become more than I was when I got here. I find even mundane things to be sacred, and I keep my eye out for signs from my guides that give me insight on what choices to make, to keep my life on track for what I planned to accomplish this time around.

8)Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Yes I do, some of my best friends are Christians, and I enjoy discussing religious topics with them, because they understand how open minded I am, and do not condemn them for believing as they do, nor they for me.

9)Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days?
Yes, who doesn't love Christmas? Or a good Easter egg hunt? Besides, the pagans were celebrating many of those holidays before the Christians did, so it's not REALLY celebrating another faith's holy day.

10)Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Not only are they allowed, it is assumed and welcomed, as there are many women who are pagans. It is a matriarchal religion, with Mother Nature at the center of many pagan belief systems, and there are goddesses as well as gods. I think it's wonderful to be a part of a religion that does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, or ethnic background.

11)How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc.?
My religion IS my life, in essence, I see everything as sacred, every moment of my life has the opportunity to teach me something new to help me grow, to change, to become more. I think the major “issues” we face are a part of the learning process for each of us, and it is not my place to judge those who would decide to have a lifestyle I would not have, or make choices that I would not make, it is their path, not mine.

12)How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
As I just stated, everyone's path is their own, and that includes my children, when they choose who they will marry, it is their choice, their path, so if it is to be with someone of another religious belief system, then I have no problem with that.

13)In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
I'm sure they will, if they believe they will, if they are of the Christian faith. I don't believe there is a hell for those of my belief system, or of many others, so no, for the most part, I don't think so.

14)Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
That's a loaded question, because while personally I have never felt like it does, there are people of other belief systems who DO see pagans as “beneath” them, and that we are all going to hell in a handbasket, and it bothers me to see them be so rigid, and to not see the value of others' opinions, but at the same time, that is THEIR opinion of me, and I don't have to believe it too.

15)Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes it does, it makes me feel as though I know my place in this universe, and gives me a sense of purpose, and has really answered for me the “big” question, “What is the meaning of life?”

16)Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
Yes I do, you could say it's at the core of what I believe. This is not my first life, nor will it be my last, and each time I live a life, it is to learn certain lessons, or to have certain experiences. I also know that not each life is completely successful in its goals, and then another life must be lived to try again, making for an infinite number of possible lives to be lived. I believe this because it just makes sense to me, there is too much evidence to support the idea, people all the time meet and seem to know everything about one another, and some have extensive knowledge about subjects they were not taught in their current life, it just makes too much sense to NOT believe.



Thursday, August 11, 2011

Terry Fox Quote

Hello and Happy Thursday!

Today's quote is brought to you by Terry Fox:

I know that you can do the impossible


There's a new interview coming on Saturday so be sure to check back!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Updated List of YMR Participants

Hello and Happy Tuesday!

Here is the Updated List of Past, Present and Future Posts:


Agnostics: 4
Apikoros: 1
Asatru: 1
Atheists/Objectivists: 14
Baha'is: 2
Buddhists: 9
Christians: 15
Druid: 1
Ex-Jehovah's Witness: 1
Feri Witchcraft: 1
Gnostic: 1
Heathen: 1
Hindu: 1
Jewish: 7
Jewitch: 1
Mathematics: 1
Messianic Judaism: 2
Muslims: 10
Mystics: 2
Noahide: 1
Non-denominationals: 3
Pagans/Wiccans: 15
Pantheist: 1
Polytheists: 4
Sikhs: 2
Sufi Darvish: 1
Taoist: 1
Unitarians: 3
Womanist: 1

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Bill Jiryu Webb

Hello and Happy Saturday!


I wish to thank Monica Chase for her wonderful and very interesting interview last week. Thanks so much for sharing with us Monica!


Today we have a new interview so please welcome Bill Jiryu Webb. Bill is a Buddhist and I know you will enjoy his interview as well!


Here Is Bill Jiryu Webb's Introduction:

I was raised in a strict Catholic family, and tried to incorporate it into my life. However, try as I might I was never able to accept the essential illogic of the whole thing. Eventually I drifted away from the church, and for a number of years dabbled in a variety of New Age ideas. Over the past 20 years I have found that the secular practices of Buddhism seem to fit my needs and provide me with the satisfaction of following a well-defined path.

http://digital-dharma.net



1) What religion do you practice?
I refer to myself as a Buddhist Ignostic. An ignostic is one who maintains that there can be no sensible discussion about the existence of god until we arrive at a definition upon which everyone can agree. Until that point, we are literally speaking nonsense. A Buddhist, of course, is one who attempts to follow the path and precepts outlined by the historic Buddha about 2500 years ago.

2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I would not call myself a convert, because I do not practice Buddhism as a religion. However, it does not conflict with any other belief system, to my way of thinking. I know observant Jews and Catholics who practice Zen, even a couple of Southern Baptists -- although I'm pretty sure they don't talk about it much at Sunday meetings.

One of the things that first drew me to Buddhism is the fact that it is the only major religion that does not proselytize, nor does it claim to give you something for nothing. One has to seek and work at Buddhist training, and it's a real pain in the ass for a while. Then you start to get the point, and see some results.

To me a religion involves things like beliefs, a metaphysical or supernatural reality, faith, dogma, ritual, prayer, salvation and eternal reward. I consider myself to be a spiritual person, but not religious. At all. I believe in the human spirit: love, compassion, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, responsibility, contentment and occasional joy. These are things that bear fruit immediately. I don't trust the Big Banker In The Sky to pay me back when the note comes due.

3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
There are substantial degrees of disagreement within Buddhism regarding practice. All Buddhist faiths follow the Four Noble Truths, which culminate in the Eightfold Path, and all serious practitioners take precepts, which are guidelines for living similar to the Ten Commandments, but not mandatory nor punished by gods. Buddhists believe that bad behavior brings its own punishment, right here and often right now.

The differences that arise are principally over the degree to which mysticism should play a part. They range from Tibetan Buddhism, with its great variety of supra-natural beings, to some Zen sects which do not believe in a supernatural component at all (the position that I espouse). It should be noted that following the teachings of Buddha does not require a belief in the supernatural.

4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
I don't know how to answer that. It's like asking a Baptist what position he would hold in the Catholic church. I make a real and sustained effort to follow the precepts and the other guidance that Buddhist philosophy provides. I have "taken refuge," (analagous to confirmation in some Western faiths), but my practice is largely solitary both of necessity and preference. I read, meditate regularly, and attempt to live according to my understanding of Buddhist ethics -- with varied degrees of success.

5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept).
Some Buddhists believe in reincarnation, althouth it was not a teaching of the Buddha. That got grafted on from the Hindu faith, and was tweaked by the Tibetans and the preceding Bo religion that so shaped their practice. Personally, I do not expect an afterlife or any form of survival after death. I believe that there are no dress rehearsals -- this is the Big Show, so you'd better play your part the best you can. That is not to say that I negate the possibility. I am not arrogant enough to believe that I have that answer, I simply find no evidence of it. I am trained as a scientist, and such concepts are not amenable to study, therefore can't be commented upon rationally.

6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
I believe people get what they deserve. If I am a kind, pleasant person who treats others fairly, then I will attract that sort of person into my life and it will be good here and now. That is my reward for good behavior. If I behave badly, I will attract others like myself and will end up having to watch my back all the time, whether or not I become wealthy in the common sense of the word. Whether that extends to an afterlife, I can't say.

7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It is based on pure logic. Every idea of the basic Buddhist teachings can be examined with whatever kind of scrutiny one likes, and will always withstand the analysis. (I understand that many will disagree with that statement. To that I can only say that it is likely that their study of Buddhism may have some gaps in it.)

8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Buddhis "holy days" celebrate things like the Solstices, the birth and death of the historical Buddha, and a variety of similar things. They are observed differently by various sects. I observe them by making an effort to live up to the precepts as closely as possible for that day.

I should probably include the Precepts I keep talking about, for the sake of clarity:

I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from ...

...harming living beings.
...taking things not freely given.
...sexual misconduct.
...false speech.
...intoxicating drinks and drugs causing heedlessness.

If one thinks deeply about those things, it becomes clear that they have a great deal of meaning beyond the simple words that make them up. For example, taking things not freely given also extends to cheating your boss by wasting time at work, and a lot of other stuff. One meditates; one learns; one applies. Sometimes.

These are all things that cloud the mind and prevent a clear perception of reality. The goal of Buddhism, vastly oversimplified, is to see reality and only reality -- to abolish delusion.

9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Some of them. I don't consider a person's faith to bear on friendship at all, unless it causes them to behave in ways that are detrimental to others. I find it difficult to be friends with that sort of person.

10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
I do it frequently. It has nothing to do with me, in terms of practice, and it is an opportunity to be with friends during happy times.

11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I believe that things of that sort are a matter of personal choice, and I have no opinion on them per se. However, when they are forced upon others it is no longer a religious issue, but an issue of politics and/or control. I believe that forcing anyone to do something that they do not want to do is wrong. It is sometimes necessary, but there is always a degree of wrong, even if it is on both sides. The parallel thought to that is that we should all have the right to do as we please, as long as it does not interfere with anyone else's right to do as they please. As the Wiccans say, "And it harm none, do what thou wilt."

12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
I would never belong to an organization that discriminates on the basis of sex, sexual preference, race or other aritificial ways of separating human beings. Some Buddhist sects allow women to attain the highest offices, many do not. In that respect, I believe they are behaving unskillfully. To the extent that I participate in formal religious activities, I do so in a Zen tradition that does not discriminate.

13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
See above.

14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
I try to consider it in those decisions and activities where it is applicable, with greater or lesser success. I find no conflicts with those things because while I might deplore them and never consider them for myself, it is none of my business what others do, so long as it harms no one else. (Don't go there; I am a scientist, and I know the difference between undifferentiated cells and viable creatures, human or otherwise. It is not an issue that I debate.)

15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
My children follow their own paths, which is fine with me. I don't consider religion to be a criterion for partnerships, although it can certainly complicate them if the parties allow it to do so.

16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
I think the idea of a loving god and hell is an oxymoron. That said, I don't believe in either.

17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
Buddhists rarely claim to speak for others. They may offer teachings and opinions. In that regard I greatly respect His Holiness The Dalai Lama, The Venerable Thich Nhat Hahn, and I was a disciple and great fan of Abbot John Daido Loori, of the Mountains and Rivers Order, until his recent death.

18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
Not as far as I am aware. I don't live my beliefs in such a way as to draw that kind of attention to myself.

19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
Quite the contrary; it empowers me greatly.

20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
That is the whole point.

21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
See "ignostic," above. I don't think the issue can be discussed rationally, so there is no point in contemplating it. Death is a part of life. Life is what it's about. If there is an encore -- and I see no reason to believe there will be -- it will be a pleasant surprise. The whole point is to live so that it doesn't matter. Live a good life here, and it will be a satisfying life. Then if anyone's handing out medals beyond the curtain, you win again.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Mary Wollstonecraft Quote

Hello and Happy Thursday!

Today's quote is brought to you by Mary Wollstonecraft:

The beginning is always today.


There's a new interview coming up on Saturday so be sure to check back!

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

September Interviews

Hello and Happy Tuesday!

Here's a sneak peek into the September Interviews:

we'll hear from Musa Talib who converted from Judaism to Islam, Umm Salihah who is a Muslim, Joel Holopainen/Jouji Heion who is a Buddhist and Harry/Hanrei Banzan who is a Buddhist.


All excellent interviews you won't want to miss!