Saturday, April 28, 2012

On Her Own



Hello and Happy Saturday!

I wish to thank Kendrick Macdowell for his very interesting interview last week.
Thanks so much for sharing with us Kendrick!

Today we have a new interview so please welcome On Her Own.

On Her Own is an Atheist and I know you'll enjoy her interview as well!

Here Is On Her Own's Introduction:
Born and raised in the Modern Orthodox Jewish tradition, On Her Own spent many years trying to come to terms with what she saw as the contradictions within the Jewish faith before leaving the fold. While she still values many of the rituals and traditions of her ancestors and still practices many of them, she is now an atheist.


On Her Own blogs at http://findingherpath.blogspot.com



1) What religion do you practice?
I'm in the semi-strange position of continuing to practice some elements of a religion (Judaism) while not believing in its basic tenets at all.


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 an Orthodox Jew. I guess I've gradually "converted" to be an atheist Jew. Judaism still plays a big part in my life as I celebrate many of the holidays, though generally not in the traditional way I was taught to celebrate them.


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'll just talk about Judaism now, since I guess I still do consider myself to be Jewish (although, how odd -- I don't believe in the religion, but I still consider myself to be Jewish; I think Judaism is one of the only religions that is also an ethnicity). Yes, Judaism has a variety of different types of observance. (I'm also going with different types of observance rather than different "degrees" because I've met some very observant Jews in all of the different denominations; they just have a different philosophy of how Judaism should be observed. I don't buy into the "Orthocentric" view of Judaism which classes all the non-Orthodox branches of Judaism as "less observant."


In Judaism, there is Orthodoxy (which itself can be split into Litvish, Hasidic, Centrist, Modern, etc., etc.), Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, Renewal, and probably loads of other smaller branches that I don't know about. What separates the Orthodox and Conservative movements from the others to me is an allegiance to time-old rabbinical interpretations of Jewish law. However, where the Conservative movement allows for reversals of old interpretations of the law by their rabbinical court and is relatively socially progressive in their interpretations of the laws, Orthodoxy remains more rigid.


4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
Okay, well I've already established that I am atheist but let me also step back for a minute and say that belief in God and in the veracity of the claims the religion makes (i.e., with Judaism -- that the Torah is authored by God and was received at Sinai) is not necessarily essential to be considered a practicing Jew. (Some Jews will inevitably disagree with me here, but I even know people who practice Orthodox Judaism who don't believe in these things.)


In any case, I am an atheist but I do still practice/observe Judaism in some ways. That said, I don't fall very easily into any of the categories that exist. I recently discovered a branch of Judaism called Humanistic Judaism, which is secular humanist in its philosophy but still ascribes to some of the values and traditions of Judaism. I guess this would be the closest to what I am, although I feel odd categorizing myself as such as I have never been to any service/celebration that was Humanist Jewish, nor have I ever met a Humanist Jew.


Here's a rundown of my current level of observance:


-- I don't keep kosher (even on Passover) or do anything to observe the Sabbath most weeks (I do occasionally do something though) or fast on Yom Kippur.


-- I do have my own way of celebrating the holidays (which I usually decide upon soon before the holiday and are frequently not very traditional) including holidays that most secular Jews don't celebrate (read: Sukkot, Shavuot, Purim). I do identify strongly as a Jew and read Jewish-related books/websites/articles, attend Jewish-related lectures, etc.. I also occasionally enjoy participating in Orthodox/traditional celebrations of Shabbat and/or holidays.


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)
Oy. Well with Judaism it's not really so clear cut. Popular Jewish culture definitely ascribes to the idea of heaven and hell, at least to some degree. Growing up, I always heard that a Jewish soul spends up to a year in gehennom (hell) to cleanse it before going to heaven and that this was why people said kaddish (a prayer of mourning) for someone who died for a full year after their death. Also, people love to talk about evil individuals (read: Hitler, etc.) as being in gehennom.


However, the idea of hell/heaven isn't really so fleshed out in the Torah and it seems to have developed later on in the history of Judaism. But here's me being scholarly! Certainly in popular Jewish culture those ideas exist -- as well as the idea of "Olam Habah" (the world to come) and ideas of messianic times where everyone deserving will be reincarnated.

I still think that even in popular Jewish culture these ideas are not quite as well defined as they are, for example, in Christianity.


6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
I don't believe in heaven/paradise.


7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
Um, well. The degree to which I practice Judaism has more to do with my upbringing and the respect for my ancestry/cultural history than anything else. Atheism is a good fit for me because it intellectually makes sense to me.


8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Jewish holidays include: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot/Simchat Torah, Chanukah, Tu B'Shvat, Purim, Passover, Shavuot, Tisha B'Av, in addition to a bevvy of smaller fast days and other smaller holidays. If I go with the term "holy days" instead of necessarily "holiday," there's also Shabbat, which happens every Friday night/Saturday


I try to do something for most of the holidays to feel connected with my heritage and my upbringing. Sometimes I celebrate these holidays in a traditional manner but most of the time it's non-traditional. For example, whereas Yom Kippur is generally observed by fasting and attending synagogue (even amongst the less traditional branches of Judaism), last year I went on a hike. This reflected my understanding of the spirit of the day, which is contemplative and reflective.


9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Yes! Always! They are some of my favorite friends, too. Indeed, my friends poke fun at me for always wanting to know so much about religion and swaying the topics of discussion towards religion (be it how they were brought up or if/how they celebrate it or feel towards it now).


10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
I have. Last year, I attended a Christmas service at a church and joined two of my friends for Christmas dinner. To me, it's just a way of appreciating life and humanity as a whole. Similarly, I have invited people who are not Jewish to celebrate Jewish holidays or Shabbat with me. I actually enjoy it more that way. I like the pluralism of it and getting to talk about where the traditions are rooted, what they mean/have meant to me, and how they look to someone for whom they are completely unfamiliar.


11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
This is a really tough question. Rather than talk about the burka or Shariah, I will talk about the Jewish laws of tzniut (modesty, which overwhelmingly apply to women rather than men), since I have more background in Judaism.


I see Jewish tzniut laws as a reflection of the society in which the religion was born and continued to grow. In that society, women were considered property and were most certainly governed over by men. The way I see it, these laws were a way to keep women in check and keep them from posing a threat to the establishment.


Today, many women who I consider to be strong, interesting, and vibrant individuals (and who sometimes consider themselves to be feminists) ascribe to these laws and feel a connection to them. I don't necessarily understand why they wish to do so or why they believe that these laws are directly from God, but I respect their decision to follow the laws. The only time I will start to get angry/upset is if I feel like a woman/women are being bullied into keeping these laws against their own will (be it by their husband, their teachers, other women, or the community as a whole).


12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
In the branch of Judaism in which I was raised women have traditionally been barred from becoming a rabbi. This bothered me to a great degree when I started to analyze it as a younger adult. At that time, it was becoming more common to have women in other, lesser positions of power -- like a yoetzet who is trained to make decisions regarding marital purity laws. More recently (in the last year), an Orthodox woman was ordained as a rabbi. This was met with severe disapproval from the larger Orthodox community but I was inspired and excited by it. I think that not allowing half of your society to have input into the decision making processes that govern their lives is straight-up unethical.


Other branches of Judaism have been ordaining women as rabbis for decades now. The Rosh Hashanah service that I recently attended was led by a female rabbi and it was one of the most inspirational and amazing services I'd ever been to. I do believe that it's only a matter of time (though maybe still decades away) before the idea of the female rabbi becomes increasingly acceptable among the Orthodox.


13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
Orthodox synagogues segregate women from men. Other branches of Judaism do not. Intellectually, the segregation bothers me as I don't see why women shouldn't be as engaged in the services as men. However, on an emotional level, when at a traditional service, I still feel more at home and comfortable when there are separate sections for men and women. I do not like this about myself.

14) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
I don't have any children and currently don't plan to. If I did have children and they wanted to marry outside of Judaism, I would support them. However, I imagine that psychologically, there would still be a part of me that would be upset about it. This is especially ironic because I, myself, would consider marrying someone who isn't Jewish.


This inner, judgmental (and Orthodox) part of me exists and is real but I am not happy about it. It's a result of years of training and is more instinctual than faith-based. I recognize it and try to fight against it. It's the same way people will recognize that racism is wrong and try their best not to be racist but still find themselves instinctually making racist assumptions, etc..


Here's a riddle that illustrates my point. Someone told this to me and my inability to figure it out surprised the hell out of me:


A man and his son were driving down the street when suddenly they got into a huge accident. The ambulance came and found that the father was dead on arrival but the son was still alive. They took him to the hospital where he was instantly admitted to the emergency room. There, the doctor looked down at the boy and exclaimed, "That's my son!" Who is the doctor?


**Answer and commentary is at the bottom**


15) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
No. And even mainstream Orthodox Judaism doesn't believe that.


16) 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 think everyone who practices something that they consider to be Judaism is a practicing Jew. However, it bothers me when Orthodox Jews claim to speak for Judaism, deriding all other branches of Judaism as inauthentic and wrong.


17) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No.


18) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
Yes. I feel like traditional Judaism and the Torah devalue me as a woman. The Torah seems to be directed at men and seriously devalues women, from my perspective.


19) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
No. Neither atheism nor Judaism gives me peace of mind.


20) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
No. It's completely illogical and nonsensical. I don't even believe in God. Why would I believe in reincarnation?


**The answer to the riddle in #14 is that the doctor is the boy's mother. This may (hopefully, especially in context?) seem obvious, however when presented with the riddle, many people will struggle and say, "The man in the car was his adoptive father and this is his natural father," "He's the son of a gay couple," etc., etc.. Indeed, this is how I answered it. When I found out the answer, I was disgusted with myself. Why was I, a feminist, assuming that the doctor was a man to the extent that I was ignoring the most obvious answer? Obviously, even as I've reexamined gender roles ad nauseam and concluded that contemporary gender constructs are problematic, I've still absorbed that ideology into the way I think on some deeper, subconscious level.









Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Lynn Johnston Quote

Hello and Happy Wednesday!

Today's quote is brought to you by Lynn Johnston:


I've always felt that life is a novel, and part of it is written for you, and part of it is written by you. It's up to you to write the ending, ultimately.


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

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Kendrick Macdowell



Hello and Happy Saturday!

First up, I wish to thank Thom for his wonderful interview of last week. I enjoyed reading your answers and I thank you for sharing with us Thom!

Today we have a new interview so please welcome Kendrick Macdowell. Kendrick is an Agnostic and I know you'll enjoy his interview as well!

Here Is Kendrick Macdowell's Introduction:


For most of my adult life, I've been not so much religious as a student of religion, rarely observant but always respectful of faith embraced with good will. My professional life has been steeped in law and politics in Washington DC. I was raised as a non-denominational evangelical Christian, but moved into a different space in my 20s. I've traveled extensively. I danced with the Hasidim in Jerusalem, attended lively Christian services, and a funeral with hints of witchcraft, in Kenya, participated in a consecration ceremony at a Buddhist monestary in South Korea, did Siddha yoga at Baba Muktananda's ashram in India, did Buddhist Vipassana meditation at an ashram in India, did a Native American sweat lodge in northern New Mexico, and wrote my master's thesis on the phenomenon of Eastern mysticism in America during the Sixties. I'll never know the truth, but I do believe religion, at its best, is the profoundest and most beautifully textured expression of the human urge to connect with what is ultimately beyond our comprehension.


htpp://kendrickmacdowell.wordpress.com/




1) What religion do you practice?
I do not practice any religion. I was raised an evangelical Christian, but do not practice that religion. Later I converted to Judaism, but do not actively practice that religion. I am a student of all religions and deeply respectful of the religious impulse.


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?
A bit complicated. I was raised an evangelical Christian. During my travels, I met and fell in love with an Israeli woman. Ultimately I married her, and converted to Judaism before doing so. Apart from some seasonal observances and Shabbat meals, I did not actively practice Judaism. My wife and I did agree that our son would be raised Jewish, and I remained committed to that agreement after we divorced. I attended his Bar-Mitzvah in Israel five years ago, spoke my Hebrew lines, and was very proud of him.


The conversion process to Judaism was fairly rigorous. Judaism is not evangelical and does not actively promote conversion. The most common reaction to indicating intent to convert is "why?" I like that. I did not convert for conventionally sound reasons. I converted because I was in love with a Jewish Israeli woman. To be sure, I saw much to love and admire about Judaism. But to be honest, I could have found much to love and admire about several other religions, had my beloved been of that faith. The choice of Judaism was about love. I spent a year in study of Jewish texts and participation in the cycle of Jewish holidays and festivals. I was already circumcised, thankfully, so I needed only a rabbi to prick my penis and draw a drop of blood to validate the conversion. This was bizarre to me, but unobjectionable, because I was in love. I converted through a Reform Rabbi (because Reform Judaism made more sense to me than Orthodox Judaism), but, somewhat ironically, the Reform conversion process was actually more rigorous than the Orthodox conversion process. It would have been a bit easier to convert through an Orthodox rabbi, had I been willing to say certain things I wasn't willing to say. One consequence of converting through a Reform rabbi is that most Orthodox congregations do not recognize the conversion as valid. So while I had undergone a fairly rigorous conversion process, I was not recognized as "Jewish" by many Orthodox Jews. The ways this mattered, at times, are another story.


3) Within your religion are there degrees of observance (i.e., orthodox, conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
As I am not an active practitioner of any religion, I take this question as an inquiry about "degrees of observance" for, I suppose, agnostics. I think there are "degrees of observance" for agnostics. I'll call them respectful, neutral, and hostile. I am in the respectful camp.


Respectful agnostics acknowledge the impossibility of knowing whether any of the many religious narratives are true, but respect the yearning for truth in every religion. Respectful agnostics defend religions and religious people against bad-faith attacks. Respectful agnostics support religious liberty and the free exercise of religion. Respectful agnostics forcefully challenge the condescension of secular commentators who suggest that religion is unintelligent or backward or benighted.


Neutral agnostics do not subscribe to any religious narrative, and do not have any interest in these narratives. Neutral agnostics go about their life without any particular interest in religion.


Hostile agnostics actively challenge religious narratives. Hostile agnostics consider religion a net negative in human affairs, a delusion at best, and an excuse for oppression at worst. Hostile agnostics challenge apparent contradictions in religious narratives, and view such contradictions as evidence of religion's intellectual bankruptcy.


4) Within your religion what degree of observance are you (i.e., orthodox, conservative, moderate, liberal)? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
I am a respectful agnostic. I choose it because any religious narrative, sufficiently studied and understood, might be true, and more importantly, might save a human being from despair. I choose it because religious people are generally respectful and tolerant, and deserve respect in turn. I choose it because I think religion gets a bad rap in our secular culture, and because it has become too easy to whack religion and religious people without a particle of understanding about them. I choose it because I believe a religious upbringing is more likely (though not guaranteed) to give you a basic understanding of right and wrong, and a better grasp of moral issues in both daily and public life. I choose it because hostility to religion offends me, because looking for contradictions in religious narratives is like looking for mis-written phone numbers in a phone book. It's "gotcha" religious politics, and fails to appreciate the depth and breadth of religious narratives.


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)
I do not know.


6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Pass.


7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
I'm not sure there is such a thing as a "good fit" with religion, except in the sense of a "fitful" relationship with God. I am what I am because I cannot be otherwise.


8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
I am ashamed to say I do not have holy days and do not celebrate them. I wish I did.

9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Abundantly.


10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Absolutely. Why not?


11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
The burka is a dress chosen by Muslim women to signify modesty. When it is freely chosen, it is to be respected. When it is imposed and not freely chosen, it is a symbol of oppression of women.


"Shariah law" is not a single, monolithic code. Only the jihadists wish us to believe "Shariah law" means one thing and one thing only. "Shariah law" is a collection of commentaries. People are freaked out about "Shariah law" because they're buying into the jihadists' poisonous nonsense. Shariah law isn't any scarier than English common law, and typically yields the same result. Moreover, there is NO danger -- let me say it again, NO danger -- of "Shariah law" taking hold in America or any American community. The effort to make "Shariah law" a scare tactic in electoral politics is a disreputable bigotry. Now let's be plain: if some benighted and brutal Muslim community abroad interprets "Shariah law" to support some stupid abomination, like stoning a woman, then here is what they are: benighted, brutal and stupid. They do not speak for Islam. No one who speaks in good faith calls for the imposition of Shariah law in any non-Muslim country. All who speak in good faith recognize that Shariah law might be referenced in a court case without sparking ridiculous fears of jihad conquest of the American judiciary.


12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman, etc.) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
I do not believe there can be a modern justification for excluding women from religious office. It is the trajectory of every religion to treat men and women equally regarding religious leadership. It may not happen in my lifetime, but eventually, all religions will acknowledge the equal status of men and women.


13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
If I had a place of worship, it certainly wouldn't segregate.


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?
My positions on abortion and gay marriage come from political, rather than religious, thinking. I support the right to abortion and the right to gay marriage based upon a certain view of the limited role of government. Religion does not come into play. If I were more actively religious, I believe my positions on abortion and gay marriage would be the same. I would view efforts at citing scriptures to support one claim, or its contrary, as competing interpretations on matters, ultimately, of individual conscience. In other words, this or that scriptural passage would be relevant, but not dispositive.


15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
In the abstract, I'd have no problem with it. But in a particular circumstance, I'd wish to know the capacities and tolerances of the two people and their families. In other words, there is nothing wrong, per se, about marrying outside one's religion, and it can be an enriching experience. But it's not for everyone, and it creates complications and challenges that some people, and/or their families, are simply not well-suited to handle.


16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
"Hell" is a concept that drove me away from religious practice. As much as I love religion, I cannot subscribe to a view that condemns innocents to eternal torment -- and don't even get me started about how you define "innocents." Any religious doctrine that sends some people to eternal delight and some people to eternal torment, based upon their willy-nilly, culturally-dictated decision to do this or that religious gesture, is unacceptable. The concept of Hell, for all the beauty of religion, is perhaps the ugliest invention of the human imagination. But I get the narrative impulse. If you're trying to corral a mass of people, induce good behavior, and consolidate ecclesiastical control, heaven is a great carrot and hell is a great stick.


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 don't understand this question.


18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No.


19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No.


20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
In an odd way, yes. My thoughts about religion give me a certain solace. I am not proud of my lack of religious observance and I wish I had the capacity for faith, but my contemplations of religion and matters of the spirit always bring me comfort. In fact, there is no other subject that gives me greater comfort.

21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
I have no evidence for reincarnation one way or the other, but the concept solves many knotty problems -- especially if there is such a thing as a soul. The evolution of that soul makes most sense within a reincarnation rubric. But the concept may be, like the concept of hell, a convenient heuristic. The human imagination is awe-inspiring. Our constructions in the world of the spirit put the grandeur of brick-and-mortar architecture to shame. Whether or not reincarnation is real, it was bound to be invented.







Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Conan O'Brien Quote

Hello and Happy Wednesday!

Today's quote is brought to you by Conan O'Brien:


If life gives you lemons, make some kind of fruity juice.



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

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Thom

Hello and Happy Saturday!


I wish to thank Marie Liane Rioux for her very interesting and informative interview. Thanks so much for sharing with us Marie!


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



Here Is Thom's Introduction:




About me. I am 24, living in Japan with my newly wed wife. We are very happy. I am stationed here as a member of the U.S. Air Force. I work as an engine mechanic. It's a very fulfilling job, and hope to do the same when I get out. I spend most of my time either learning to play the drums, and soon the piano, or reading articles on the web. Mostly about religion, science and human relations. I also write articles of my own on my blog. Not many people read it, but it's nice to put my ideas out there, and see what the random person thinks who happens upon them. Oh, also, I am a heavy reader of Manga and watcher of Anime. A lot of people automatically categorize these two mediums as childish and not worth their time, but there are several very good ones, and many lessons can be learned from them. They are not as childish as most think. Not even close. Other than that, I'm just a regular nerd/guy/whatever you want to call it :)

http://belowtheasteroids.net/


1) What religion do you practice
I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, LDS.


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.


3) Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox, conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
Haha, this is a good question. Not really. Either you’re an active member, or you’re not. Well, I guess you could say there are degrees of observance. But only two. People who drink caffeinated beverages, and people who don’t. It’s a matter of interpretation. One of our rules is that you cannot drink coffee or tea. But it does not specify as to why. Some, “Orthodox” members extend this to all caffeinated beverages, as caffeine is the main part of most coffee’s and tea’s. And the others do not extend it. And our leaders have never taken part in the argument, instead leaving it all up to us.


4) Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox, conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
In consistence with the above statement, I am not “Orthodox”. I drink several caffeinated drinks, Dr. Pepper, Mt. Dew. I enjoy these, and don’t see any problem with drinking them.


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)
For LDS, there are kind of two afterlife’s. The first is when you die. If you lived a good life, are of the LDS faith, and did all the things required of you, you will go to spirit paradise. Everyone else will go to spirit prison. Now, in this spirit prison, it is not a “prison”, more of a school. Spirits from paradise will go to prison to teach the spirits there. And all who accept the message, and accept Jesus Christ as their savior, so on and so forth, will leave prison and go to paradise. There is a lot more to all of this, but that’s the gist of it. Until the millennium or end of days etc, all spirits will go to one of these two places. At the millennium, at one point or another, all spirits will be resurrected, given immortal bodies of flesh and bone, and then will go before God tobe judged according to their works. Depending on their judgment, they will go to one of three kingdoms of glory. The Celestial Kingdom, the Terrestrial Kingdom, the Telestial Kingdom, in descending order. There is a fourth place, Outer Darkness, but the possibility of going to outer darkness is infinitesimal, so I wouldn’t worry about that.

6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Yes, in my opinion, everyone will make into “paradise” per se, because all three of the kingdoms mentioned are kingdoms of glory.

7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
I wouldn’t say that my religion is a good “fit” for me. I would say that I am still in it because of the experiences I’ve had in it, personal experiences I’ve had with God and the Holy Spirit. For me, I have to have concrete proof that something is right. When someone says, “I like this because it fits me” or “I like this because I am comfortable”, I feel like they are wasting their time. Just because it fits you, or it is comfortable, does not mean it is right. It has to be what is right, something that will bring you to your full potential, something that will pull you out of your comfort zone and push into growth. To “fit in” and “be comfortable” is to stagnate.

8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
We celebrate Easter and Christmas as holy days, marking the birth and resurrection of our savior, but for a LDS specific holiday, we celebrate Pioneer Day, the 24th of July, marking the first entrance of LDS members into the Utah valley.

9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Yes. I have many friends who are not of my faith, and we are great friends.

10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Yes, I would, if they requested it of me. I think we should all be open minded enough to want to experience other’s beliefs, with experience comes understanding, and friendship and love. Sounds corny, but that’s what it is.

11) What are your thoughts on the Burqa, and Shariah Law?
I see the Burqa as a religious garment, and should be treated as such. If you believe you should wear it, then wear it with pride, and people should not discriminate against those who do. We have our own garments, and they are of great significance to us. As to Sharia law, I really cannot say much. I do not know very much about Islam, I’m sorry.

12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, imam etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
No. And I feel that that is the right thing because that is what has been revealed to us as the correct way. I wish I could give a better answer, but I do not know the full explanation as to why that is the way it is, and I don’t want to give a false answer.

13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
…..Yes and no. We have three meetings in succession each Sunday. The first hour is Sacrament meeting, where we all meet as a congregation, the next hour we separate, all males who hold the priesthood go to priesthood meeting, all the females of age go to Relief Society, and all female teenagers go to Young Womens, and the male teenagers go to Young Mens, and the children go to primary. The last hour is Sunday School, where each respective age group is combined. All the adults in one class, and the teenagers in one etc. But, during any one of these meetings, one could go to any of the others if they wished, there are no rules saying “You will go to this meeting”. That’s just the way it’s handled. The order is also different from area to area, that is not set out either.

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?
It does not have a large effect in day to day living, other than because of it I try to live and treat others well.

15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
That would disappoint me, but I would fully respect and support my child. No one should ever make important decisions just to please or appease others.

16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
No.

17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? i.e. who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
I would have to point to our prophet and general authorities. They speak for us, and I agree with them wholeheartedly. They are prophets, seers and revelators, receiving God's word for us.

18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No.

19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No.

20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes. All of it, the beliefs and practices in this life, the rewards and life after this one, being able to be with my wife and family. Wonderful.

21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
No. When you die you will go to the spirit kingdom, into its respective area for you, and will wait there until the Judgment day.


Wednesday, April 11, 2012

William Lyon Mackenzie-King Quote

Hello and Happy Wednesday!


Today's quote is brought to you by William Lyon Mackenzie-King:


A true man does not only stand up for himself, he stands up for those that do not have the ability to.


A new interview will be coming up Saturday so be sure to check back!

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Marie Liane Rioux

Hello and Happy Saturday!

Thank you so much to Ed Grainger for his very interesting and in-depth interview of last week. Thank you for your courage and sharing your journey with all of us. Thanks Ed!

Today we have a new interview so please welcome Marie Liane Rioux. Marie is a Gnostic and I know you'll enjoy her interview as well!

Here Is Marie Liane Rioux's Introduction:



My story is one of triumph over adversity. Being visually impaired (and physically disabled – Cerebral Palsy which affects my left hand and leg) were never viewed by me as a handicap, for, I have the privilege to work with a handsome four footed dude named Capone, my seeing – eye dog. The question always was how do I achieve my goals? I have a B.A. in psychology, 21 years experience assisting the disabled to enter the work force. Upon leaving the rehabilitation field with no visible job prospects and if other employers could not or would not hire me, I would hire myself. The ability I have to see into a person’s past lives led me to seek training in the field of Hypnosis. I am a Master Hypnotist . Yes, the ability to see into a person’s past lives does address another of my abilities; abilities I have had since my childhood (was eleven in November of 1963 when I told my sister that the then US president John Kennedy should not go to Dallas for he would not return alive) abilities which grew stronger and more prevalent as I matured. I am a Medium. I sense, see (not always clearly), hear at times or feel the spirits, angels or earth bounds (ghosts) around me and like all Mediums I am psychic (all Mediums are psychic but not all Psychics are Mediums). I also am a channeler as well. This means that by permission of the Godhead my soul and consciousness leave my body (briefly) and let my primary Spirit Guide Sheila use my full body (she walks, talks, and writes utilizing my voice and limbs) to bring forth the information that she has been assigned to give the earth plane by the Council of the “Other Side” and the Godhead. Furthermore when I channel Sheila my soul and consciousness usually then go to the “Other Side” to the alcove or to the corridor between the earth dimension and the “Other Side”. In addition Capone and I share our lives with our family, friends and our two feline companions named respectfully Misha and Teeka.
On the “Other Side” I am a Architect and a researcher and my eternal name is Susan. I do research into energy, vibration and the effects of vibration upon corporeal particles.

My blog is
http://sheilamyspiritguidespeaks.wordpress.com
and my website for hypnosis and past life regression is http://www.mytranceformations.ca/



1) What religion do you practice?

I am a gnostic - a seeker of knowledge - it is not a religion per say for me

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 catholic but had certain beliefs all my life that I knew to be true which were contrary to the catholic belief system. Eventually as an adult I left religion all together. I remain very spiritually anchored

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 no degrees of observance. I live my life, try to do good and assist others where I can.

4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?

NA

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)

Accordingt to my Spirit guide when we die we cross dimensional planes and go home to the "Other Side" where we resume living our eternal lives. There is no hell per say, the only hell we will know is the earth plane. The only difference between dark and light souls is that the ligt go to the "Other Side" and the dark keep re-encarnating here on the earth plane and will do so until re-encarnating stops. Once re-encarnating stops, the dark souls will be taken back to the Father and cleansed and remain part of his uncreated mass. Being dark or light is a choice we make.

6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?

see above answer

7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?

It connects me to the "Other Side"

8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?

No holy days in particular. I observe Mother God's day in early December (8th). I just give thanks for all She does for us. Her and God the Father

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

Of course, why would I not

10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?

Yes just as we celebrate them on the "Other Side"

11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?

I can't be specific here but I do know that often the various prophets had their words of wisdom misintrepreted by their followers. As long as the individual agrees and has choices and is treated with respect. It is their choice as to how they live not mine.

12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?

Of course why not, to not allow this would be an insult to Mother God

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

No spirituality does not do this for me. I worship wherever I happen to be.

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?

It affects all my life. I speak daily with my guide and Mother and Father God. I follow my charted course. Gay marriage, abortion are all part of our learning and charted course.

15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion? Since I don't follow a religion that would be the child's decision to make not mine.

16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?

I don't believe in hel,l the earth plane is the only hell we will ever know. We write our chart before we come into life and the religion, if we follow one, is part of that chart.

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?

As a seeker of knowledge my truth and yours may not be the same, each must follow thier own soul heart.

18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.

no

19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?

no

20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?

of course, this life is my school and I am here to learn. When I finish this life I return home to my eternal life. I have no fear of death, only the body dies, what is me lives on for eternity.

21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?

Of course, it takes many lives to learn our leasons. I view earth as a boarding school we come to learn and return home after finishing each grade. I have had 49 lives on the earth plane and I am living number 50 right now.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Dian Fossey Quote

Hello and Happy Thursday!

Today's quote is brought to you by Dian Fossey:

When you realize the value of all life, you dwell less on what is past and concentrate more on the preservation of the future.

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

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

May Interviews

Hello and Happy Tuesday!

Here's what ymr has in store for your May Interviews:

we'll hear from Barry Bell who is a Unitarian, Allyson Szabo who is a Hellenic Polytheist, Kallista Silverheart who is a Witch and Aine O'Brien who is a Witch.

All excellent interviews you're not going to want to miss!