Monica Chase

Hello and Happy Saturday!

First up I wish to thank Renee Olson/Sosanna for her wonderful interview last week. Thanks so much for sharing with us Renee!

Today we have a new interview so please welcome Monica Chase.
Monica is a Pagan and I know you will enjoy her interview as well!


Here Is Monica Chase's Introduction:


Hi (waves to the crowd). My name's Monica. I'm a modern eclectic solitary Pagan. I'm also a mom, a wife, and a Toy's 'R' Us kid that really doesn't want to grow up.
My Blog Lost in Astral Space is about my personal journey as I try to weave my faith and my hectic life together.

http://lostinastralspace.blogspot.com

and now on to the questions!


1) What religion do you practice?
And right off the bat comes the most difficult question for a modern pagan to answer, lol. I would honestly say that no two pagans would identify their faith in the same way which is why I tend to nickname modern paganism as the twisted pathways.
Religion can mean many things, but I tend to see it as a way to describe a basic moral code and identify with others who follow that same code. My code is not that dissimilar to many others. My faith leads me to choose to be responsible for my actions and self aware of how my choices will effect me and the world around me, to value the dualities in life (good/bad, light/dark, male/female, etc.) as neither half would have the same worth without the other. My faith also leads me to the deep seeded belief that divinity is present in every moment of every day, and that it is my great joy to recognize that divinity and honor it to the best of my ability.
I call my personal religious choice eclectic paganism. In a nutshell what that means to me is that I am a polytheist that borrows from whatever pantheons and traditions personally connect with me and create a bit of a mash up that feels correct for me. The great thing about paganism in general is that there is no right or wrong other than what feels wrong to the individual which allows for the creation of a very personal connection to the divine.

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?
For me this question has a bit of a yes and no answer. My family is christian, in fact catholic, but have not practiced since I was a small child. Three years old in fact. Here's where I'll let you in on a hilarious family story that still makes my Dad laugh till he cries and explains how I came to start on the solitary (practicing outside of a "coven" or group) pagan before I became anything else.
When I was young my family went to mass every Sunday and did the whole Catholic thing pretty seriously at a regular church complete with the graphic statue of Jesus (great guy, wish more people would have listened to his message) hanging over the altar. Then one Sunday during mass when I was three I had an epiphany, pretty much the first one I can remember of my life though my Mom says the day I found out I had toes was a pretty big one too. I connected the dots in my little stubborn head that the guy they talked about as dying in a horrible way for my "sins" was the guy hanging up bleeding on the wall. This did not sit well in my mind. See I thought that the statue was in fact, Jesus. THE Jesus hanging there bleeding to death in front of all of us and he was only doing it because he was really really nice. This upset me a bit, and when three year old Monica got upset she was not want to suffer in silence. So I proceeded to wiggle out of my seat in my little sailor dress (my Mom loved them and at some point all of us were forced to wear them which is why I was known to throw up upon immediately leaving the house) and dodged past my Dad's hands as he tried to grab me and put me back in my seat. I then made a run for it and tried to get people to rectify the horrible situation I was seeing. In effect I ran up and down the pews screaming "take Jesus off the cross". The priest was not amused. My Dad thought it was funny as hell, and that's why my family was asked to leave the church and not come back. None of us ever went back.
That's when my parents sat me down and taught me that the divine was something I had to find on my own, and that no man in a funny dress (no matter which man or what dress) could tell me how to connect to that divinity, and that I didn't need any building or group of people to do it. It's about the journey not the destination. Which launched me on my journey to discover who or what God is to me.

3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
Nope. Not in my personal path. There are pagan groups that do have a structure to them, but as you could guess, I've never been much of a joiner, lol.

4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
I am the Grand Poobah of Awesomeness! J/k. I'm just a woman walking the path of her life.

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 tend to ascribe to a version of the after life that is similar to the ancient celts. I believe that after the body expires we are left with a final choice- if we feel we have more to learn we reincarnate and start life all over again, if we need a rest we can pause in the Summerlands (not a heaven so much as just a place to chill and catch up with loved ones) until we either choose to reincarnate again or go on to the third choice which is choosing to cease to be.

My spiritual system allows me the freedom to choose. I can be a good person or I can be a bad person, there is no great reward or punishment. I will reap what I sow in this life and that helps me focus on improving the person I am now and not worrying about what will happen to me after death.

6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
I don't know, can you solve for x? Lol. My belief is that everyone goes through the choice and gets the afterlife they want.

7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
I am a worrier. I look at a problem and worry it to death. My belief system allows me to find the things that I have to work on to make me a better me. Improving on how I interact with the world will in a small way make it a better one and what better goal is there than to make the world a better place?

8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
I tend to follow what is called "the Wheel of the Year". This means honoring the changes in the seasons and the major equinoxes. To celebrate I generally arrange for a family activity that highlights the changes that are going on in nature at that time of year (such as going apple/berry picking in the summer and fall and then using those in a meal or to bake with). I really feel that in the modern world we lose sight of the seasons and what they bring to our subconscious and try to keep myself and my family in tune with them.

9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Definitely. I have friends of all sorts of faith. Each person has their own path, even if it looks similar to someone else's. As long as you don't try and push me off mine into the mud I won't try and push you off yours.

10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
If they asked me to of course I would. To me all faiths are a personal and important choice. If someone chose to honor me by including me in a spiritual practice that had meaning to them I wouldn't turn them down. Unless of course it involved a virgin sacrifice (which honestly where would you even find one of those these days) or something that is illegal. Me no likey jail.

11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
The burka does not offend me as long as the person wearing it freely chooses to do so. As for Shariah Law I feel that consenting adults can worship in any way that they see fit that does not harm another person, however I would never willingly submit to it and would personally take exception to someone forcing a child into it.

12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
I am perfectly ok with women holding religious offices in any faith, but only practicing my own and as I don't have those types of labels makes it a moot point. I don't personally think that the male of the species has exclusive rights on moral fortitude (anyone remember the Borgia's? anyone?).

13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
Considering my places of worship is any place I am, such as my kitchen I am all for someone else heading in there no matter what gender especially if I get some grub out of it.

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 religion is part of every decision I make every day either consciously or unconsciously.
Faith isn't my deciding factor on my feelings about abortion or gay marriage but it does coincide with them. I am not a fan of abortion, and would never undergo one myself if there was any other choice, but I have no right to judge or criticize someone else's choices. As for gay marriage I am perfectly ok with it. Everyone should be afforded the same rights or no one should have them.

15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
As long as there was equality in the relationship and they were allowed to choose which path they wanted to follow (ie. no cults) I would be perfectly ok with it.

16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
Nope. Everyone has the same choices.

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?
The pagan community at large has a lot of people who speak for different aspects of it and who act appropriately and inappropriately. Just like all the other religions honestly.

18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
Thankfully no I have never had to deal with that.

19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
Nope. Because I am a solitary practitioner the group mindset that tends to set dogma above personal worth doesn't sneak into my practice.

20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes, it gives me the inner peace and strength that I need to navigate a not always nice world.

21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
Absolutely. There is too much to learn from life to possibly learn it all in a short 80-100 years.

Larry David Quote

Hello and Happy Thursday!

Today's quote is brought to you by Larry David:

A place to go - that`s what my mother always instilled in me. You need a place to go. And you`re worthless unless you have a place to go.


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

Huge Thanks!

Hello and Happy Tuesday!


I wish to thank YMR participants:

Kriss, KV, Stephanie, Friko, Skeptitcher Rebbe, Judy Dudich and Renee Olson/Sosanna.

Thank you all for sharing your journeys with us. I very much enjoyed reading everyone's unique and candid interviews.
Thanks for making this a very interesting Summer read!

Renee Olson/Sosanna

Hello and Happy Saturday!

I wish to thank Judy Dudich for her very interesting interview last week. Thank you so much for sharing your faith journey with us Judy!

Today we have a new interview so please welcome Renee Olson/Sosanna. Renee is a Wiccan and I know you will enjoy her interview as well!


Here Is Renee Olson/Sosanna's Introduction:


I am a 42 year old married mother of one. My husband of 8 years and I live in a small town in rural North Carolina. We moved here to my hometown from his hometown of San Deigo. We raise Chihuahuas and I work as a business analyst for a consulting firm from home. Our daughter lives in London and is currently working on her Masters.

I love Latin music, Latin food and have a passion for justice. I donate to several organizations most of them being through care.org. I identify myself as a lesbian and work hard to further the rights of the LGBTQ community.

My other passion is our food. We are poisoning our bodies with preservatives and chemicals. Many of my blog entries also relate to Vegetarianism and going completely Organic.

Here are links to my social networks/blogs

Confessions of a Modern Witch - Blog

Facebook


1) What religion do you practice?
I am a solitary Wicca

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?
My family raised me as good ole southern Baptist. I found very quickly that I didn’t fit there. When I was about 22 years old I met someone who was Wiccan. She introduced me to the earth and the moon. I learned a new way of loving and caring for people. For some you can “join” or “become” a witch and be brought into a coven. Since I am a solitary, I never had that and I practice my craft in the presence of the guardians and nothing more.

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 lots of “degrees” if you will. Wicca is an earthbased religion that encompasses a variety of Gods/Goddess. Some groups have a specific Goddess they worship others only the “idea of the goddess”. So not a name (Dianic) for example, more of the spirit of the law if you will. I find it most comfortable to recognize the force behind the name and less about the name. Some are very strict in rituals. They must have exact salts or exact minerals, I’m more of practical witch, in that I use what I have.

4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
I think I selected this type of practice because it feels most comfortable to me. In Wicca it’s more about how the world feels around you. Even if it’s a Sabbath I still may not call the quarters, or cast a circle if I’m not feeling connected to the moment. I need to have the spirit or the energy within to send it out. I abide by the rule of three. Whatever I send out comes back to me times three. I don’t want to send out something ½ heartedly. I want all good things positive things and whole hearted things to come back to me times three.

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)
The thought of an afterlife, is not really what most believe. Again, Wicca is very personal so each coven, or group may have their own beliefs here. Some believe in reincarnation. This is what I believe. I don’t think energy ever stops. Even after death, something has to happen to that energy. I believe in Karma. I believe that once we have learned all we need to learn from this world we can reach a higher state of enlightenment. Until we reach that state we keep coming back in different forms until we finally figure it out.

There is no heaven and no hell. Those are stories made up to make people obey laws. Instead of just obeying because it’s the right thing to do, sometimes stories are created to “scare” people into being good.

I don’t believe in any type of punishment system that way. That would mean that we would have a God/Goddess (energy) that seeks revenge.

6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Same thing here. At the end, you reach enlightenment and become a part of a bigger energy. You cannot have good without bad. There is a positive and negative, simply because it’s negative doesn’t mean it’s “evil”. Its just not good.

7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It’s a feeling I get. Call it spiritual or a calling I’m not sure really. I do know that I stopped practicing for about 4 years. I put on over a 100lbs. I was miserable. I was hurting, my body, my mind. One day I pulled my altar out of the closet and lit a candle. My mind and body began to mend. When I stop and feel the energy from the grass and hear the wind in the trees my spirit can be calm and accepting of life. I think that without Wicca, my spirit (energy) suffers. I need it just as I need air.

8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
My favorites are Beltane and Samhain

MBOLC
The festival of light. It is being celebrated on February 2nd. We Wicca’s celebrate the Goddess’ recovery from birthing the God. We celebrate the lengthening of the days. Christians celebrate this day as Candlemas, and it is also known as Groundhog Day. On Imbolc, candles are lit everywhere in the house and left to burn. During rituals, people who hold the candles form a circle. The colors of this holiday are mainly white and orange. The altar is decorated with a wheel (for the wheel of the year) and flowers, for instance heather or snowdrops. During the ritual, milk and cheese, curry dishes and herbal tees are consumed as well as offered as sacrifices to the Goddess and the God.

OSTARA
celebrated May 21st. It is an enthusiastic celebration with music and dancing. The earth begins to awaken. The altar is decorated with the fresh green of nature, for instance SCHNEEGLOECKCHEN. Incense consist of frankincense and myrrh. Sacrifices are milk, milk products and herbal tees, and also wine.

BELTANE
celebrated May 1st. Beltane is the most important holiday for Wicca’s. Everything is fertile, the earth thrives. The sun god has matured into a man and desires the Goddess. They fall in love, and she is pregnant with his child. The Wicca’s celebrate the fertility of the Goddess and that she became a mother while a virgin. The festival is very frisky. The altar is decorated with colorful petals, spring flowers and ribbons. The green denotes the Goddess, for the God we erect a small May tree. The incense consists of frankincense, rose and lilac. The sacrifices are cherries, milk products, strawberries and wine. During Beltane, the participants sing and dance around a big fire which is built in a protective circle.

LITHA
The summer solstice on June 21st is the highlight of the year. Everywhere, the earth shows the fertility given by the God and Goddess. The earth shares her plenty with us – desires which are brought forth during Litha are most often granted. The incense consists of frankincense, lemon, rose and lavender. The altar is decorated with summer flowers and fruit (which is also sacrificed). The colors of this holiday are yellow and orange. There is usually also a sword on the altar and a mirror to catch the sun, or rather the flames of sun. On this day, domestic animals and the family can be blessed and protected in a circle.

LUGNASAD
On August 1st Wicca’s celebrate Lugnasad. The farmers begin the harvest of the grain which was sown in the spring. The God slowly loses its power, the sun becomes weaker. The altar is decorated with corn puppets, braided willow wreaths and stalks of grain. Sunflowers round the whole thing off. Incense consists of sandalwood, rose and aloe. The colors are red and orange. Sacrifices are rice, bread with wheat kernels and berries and apple wine. During the ritual we throw breadcrumbs into the fire and throw grain kernel at statues of the Goddess. Lugnasad is a festival of thanksgiving for the fertile soil in which a good harvest has grown.

MABON
Mabon is celebrated on September 23rd, it is the fall equinox. The God prepares to die, to begin a journey into the Unseen. Fall is clearly present. The trees begin to lose their leaves. We celebrate this holiday once more with the fruits given by the fall. The altar is decorated with acorns, pine cones and colorful leaves. Incense consists of myrrh, sage and pine. The colors are dark red and brown. Sacrifices and dishes are bread and root vegetables, apple wine and fruit juices.

SAMHAIN
Celebrated October 31st, Halloween. This is the parting from our God, yet knowing that it is only a brief separation as he will be born again from the Goddess at the Winter solstice. We use this day to meditate, honor the dead and let their memories live. The altar is decorated with Pumpkins, Photos of our departed loved ones, fall flowers and nuts. Sacrifices are apples, nuts and cranberry muffins with apple wine or mulled wine. Incense consists of nutmeg, sage or mint. Usually there is also a dark mirror on the altar which allows for contacting the departed. If we have a question for a departed one, we concentrate on the mirror during the ritual; the answer comes the next night in a dream. After the holiday, the leftovers remain behind for the ghosts.

YULE
The winter solstice on December 21st stands for the reincarnation of the sun god through the Goddess. The altar is decorated with a white or yellow table cloth; a yellow or white candle should already be present. Incense consists of frankincense, oak or myrrh. We sacrifice bread and wine.

9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Yes, I consider everyone to be my friend until they do something to me, or to others that would remove them from that category. I do not judge people based on their beliefs or their background. I judge on actions.

10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Every other Sunday we go to my grandmother’s house, who is devote Christian. She accepts me and my life, but does not fully understand Wicca. She prays before every meal. I sit quietly and observe. I would never disrespect someones religious ceremony or rites. Now, I personally do not pray, as I do not believe it in. But I would go, and learn about others around me. Variety after all, is the spice of life.

11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
There are many religions and belief systems that may not coincide with modern laws. Shariah Law is one of those. We cannot however, say, hey this is wrong, you can’t believe that! And then take away their rights to practice how they wish. We have to respect the fact that this is a choice. Some go and say, the women don’t have choices, they’re abused so on… We as outsiders cannot come in and make that judgment. How does that make us any different than finding native tribes and telling them they’re sinners and they have to wear clothes? It doesn’t. In today’s world, we have the internet, we have the media and newspapers. I understand that if someone were in a position of being “forced” to wear a burka then we may feel like we want to rush in and save them. But remember, there are those out there that wear their burka out of respect for their god. We are not so all knowing that we can assume what’s in the heart of another.

12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
As a Solitary I do not have any of these types of rules. In a Coven, they will have a High Priestess and possibly a high priest to conduct rituals. Some Dianic covens have only females in higher offices. One of the draws to this religion is that they value the masculine and the feminine.

13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
I am a solitary. My place of worship is the air, the earth, the sun… All are welcome here.

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?
Each morning when I wake, I try to take a moment to thank the air for being there. The sun for rising and the earth for strength. Deep in my heart I want everyone to be equal. Everyone. I don’t want anyone to be left behind or lost. I think that my spirit actually had me select Wicca instead of the other way around. I cannot even begin to order another person to Have or Not Have an abortion. Gays and Lesbians are just like everyone else. They just love differently than others do. To me it’s no different than being a vegetarian or a meat eater. I feel better when I only eat fruit and veg. The meat makes me feel full and gross. And I can see how gays and lesbians may feel the same about sex with different sex partners. To me Bisexuals are really fully enlightened in that they can see love in all.

15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
My daughter is agnostic. I raised her with bibles, religious texts and introduced all sorts of different traditions to her as a child. She is 23 now and says, she thinks something might be out there, but for now, she chooses to be agnostic.

I couldn’t be happier. I wanted to raise a child with an open mind, a clear head and a hunger for knowledge. I have that.

16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
There is no hell in Wicca.

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 this question. As a Solitary, I don’t have contact with others in rituals so I’m not sure who would be practicing and who not. Wicca doesn’t have a “one voice” if you will. There is Witches Vox and those sorts of sites that offer information to covens and non-covens. But there’s nothing that would compare to let’s say the Vatican.

18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
Yes, after moving to California I had a car window bashed in on a side street. My bumper stickers were Wicca in nature.

I was let go from a job, oddly enough also in California after a security guard came up to me and said “Nice bumper stickers you have”

It was a temp job so there wasn’t much I could do about it and again no proof really because no one “officially” told me anything.

19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
Never.

20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Absolutely

21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
Yes, that is a staple in my practice and interpretation of Wicca. Again, not all Wicca followers believe this strongly but for me it’s a central point. I believe that after I have learned all I can I will then evolve up to the next level, or enlightenment.

Sylvia Browne Quote

Hello and Happy Wednesday!

Today's quote is brought to you by Sylvia Browne:

The weeds keep multiplying in our garden, which is our mind ruled by fear. Rip them out and call them by name.


There's a new interview coming Saturday so please check back!

Judy Dudich

Hello and Happy Saturday!

Thank you so much to Skeptitcher Rebbe for his candid interview last week. Thanks so much for sharing with us!

Today we have a new interview so please welcome Judy Dudich. Judy is Catholic and I know you will enjoy her interview as well.

Here Is Judy Dudich's Introduction:

Judy Dudich resides in the quiet woods of South Central, Pennsylvania. She’s mom of 10 , Grammy to 3, and wife to her best friend, Tom. Judy enjoys learning along-side 8 of her children who are still at home each day.

With 24 acres of forests, creeks, and fields, her yard provides the perfect “outdoor Science classroom” for her homeschooling lifestyle!

Judy blogs at http://benmakesten.blogspot.com/

She Tweets as: benmakesten and she has a personal Facebook page, as well as a business page for her website: Homeschool Faith and Family Life

http://www.thebestofhomeschoolfaithandfamilylife.com/



1) What religion do you practice?
I am Catholic.

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 suppose I am what many would call a "cradle-Catholic"; meaning, I was raised in the Faith from birth. However, as I came of age in wisdom and understanding, I took it upon myself to research many other faiths and denominations so as to "make sure" that I embraced the Catholic Faith by my own convictions; and not just those that were passed on to me in my youth.

3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
This is an interesting question. On one hand, I would say that "no" there are not varying degrees of observance if one is being "true to the Faith and Teachings of the Church"; although "participation" in the "life of the Church" if you will is part of a personal journey that is embraced and exemplified in varying degrees throughout one's life. On the other hand, terms such as "conservative", "moderate", and "liberal" have been attributed to people of Faith to relate to aspects of their spirituality which involve whether or not they accept and follow ALL of the Teachings of the Church, what their political preferences and practices are, and how much and to what degree they celebrate and share the Faith in their family and community life.

4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
According to how I described this in the question before this one, I would say that I embrace the Catholic Faith and ALL of Its Teachings in the fullness of which It is intended. By "modern standards and categorical thought" I imagine that most would describe me as " conservative" although I do not like that term, for as I expressed above, there is only "The Catholic Faith" and one either accepts it and embraces it or one doesn't...In other words, a person can't be "just a little bit Catholic".

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)
As a Catholic, I believe in 4 "last things" that will ultimately occur for every person/soul that has lived on earth. These are namely: physical death of the body, the final judgement,
hell, and heaven. I believe that due to the fall of man and the sin of Adam, all human beings are destined to undergo a bodily death. In the final judgement (which I believe in because Christ has promised it), the living and the dead (which will be resurrected) will undergo the judgement of Christ wherein God's infinite mercy and justice will prevail.
Those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and have committed themselves to Him in acknowledgement of their own sins and in seeking Him as Redeemer, will pass on to eternal life in heaven (which is the fullness of communion with God) or... those who reject God's love and mercy and remain unrepented of their sins, will pass on to eternal damnation (which is the self-imposed punishment of their refusal of God's love and is the complete and vacuous life without God's presence)

6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
I think that the answer to this question is explained in # 5.

7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
I do not believe that religion is supposed to be a "good fit" for someone as much as it is supposed to be means to end insomuch as it provides the pathway and the teachings to the fullness of an Absolute Truth. In that regard, then "yes", my religion is a "good fit" for me because I believe that the Catholic Church is the true church instituted by Christ and carried on through His Apostles until the present day, and that in the Teachings, traditions, and customs of the Catholic Church can be found the fullness of God's Truth and Revelation for ALL people.

8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Oh! We have SO MANY beautiful and wonderful Liturgical feast days and holy days in the Catholic faith. I could write pages on the celebrations and recognitions of special people and days throughout the Church year. However, I will list the 6 most important holy days here:

1) Christmas Day, December 25, the Nativity: This day is to commemorate the birth of Christ! God, among us!

2. Soleminity of Mary, Mother of God, January 1, recognizing the significant and beautiful role that the young virgin Mary played in our Salvation, as Mother of Our Redeemer!

3. Ascension Thursday, 40 Days after Easter, remembering and celebrating that wondrous day when the Apostles saw Our Lord arise to return to the Father in heaven and to prepare a place for us!

4. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 15, when we rejoice and celebrate Our Lady's entrance, body and soul into heaven to worship Her Son and enjoy eternal peace and Salvation!

5. The Immaculate Conception, December 8, celebrating the conception of Mary, Redeemed and prepared in a special way by Her Savior Son, in the womb of her mother, Ann, without stain of Original Sin so as to provide a pure and sacred vessel through which Jesus would be born.

6. All Saints Day, November 1, rejoicing and celebrating all of those who have gone before us in faith and have received entrance into the kingdom of heaven...The Church Victorious!


9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
The Lord said, "Love thy neighbor as thyself". All people are to be friends. It is my hope that I can extend a hand of friendship to every person I meet along this beautiful journey called "life". Some accept that invitation, others don't.

10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
We have joined in with people of other faiths for various celebrations on many occasions. For instance, we have taken part in learning about the Seder meal at Passover in an effort to undertand and embrace the Jewish roots of our Faith. We have also participated in many Ecumenical prayer services and celebrations with others from various faith backgrounds in our community. As long as a celebration or holy day does not stand in contradiction to our fundamental belief in One, True, Living and Triune God, then we are happy to lift up our hearts and minds in celebration with others.

11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
If, by this question, you mean, what do I think of these things in general...it is my belief that the greatest gift given to us by God is that of "free will" and therefore all peoples are free to believe as they wish in accordance with their faith...the Muslim people who adhere to the laws of Shariah and the wearing of the burqa are free to do so .

If, by this question, you mean do I think that there should be a law against Muslim women wearing the burqa in public, as France is preparing to enact this April, then I would say that I am not inclined to support laws which take away a person's religious freedom.

12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Women may hold many offices and minister in a variety of ways in the Catholic faith. Women may not, however, be ordained to the priesthood. Jesus was a man and His twelve Apostles, the first priests, were men. Moreover, the basis for the Church's Teaching on ordination derives from the New Testament (1 Corinthians 11: 1-16 and 1 Timothy 2:11-24, as well as 1 Corinthians 14:34-38) and the writings of the early Church Fathers. Pope John Paul II reiterated and confirmed these ideas when he wrote that, "Although the teaching that priestly ordination is to be reserved to men alone has been preserved by the constant and universal tradition of the Church and firmly taught by the magisterium in its more recent documents, at the present time in some places it is nonetheless considered still open to debate, or the Church’s judgment that women are not to be admitted to ordination is considered to have a merely disciplinary force. Wherefore, in order that all doubt may be removed regarding a matter of great importance, a matter which pertains to the Church’s divine constitution itself, in virtue of my ministry of confirming the brethren (cf. Luke 22:32) I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church’s faithful" (Ordinatio Sacerdotalis 4).

There are so many wonderful ways that women can serve within the Church!

13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
If you are referring to "gender" segregation: On the matter of ordination to the priesthood, the Catholic faith is segregated in that only men may receive this Sacrament. I can think of no other instance within the Church where the genders are segregated.

If you are referring to "race" segregation, then "no", our places of worship do not 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 Catholic faith plays a crucial and pertinent part of all aspects of my life. It is an integral part of "who I am" and "who I am in relation to God", therefore it is always in my thoughts and always "present" to me in my daily life. As far as the issues you have mentioned such as, "abortion" and "gay" marriage, it affects my decisions greatly for I believe that the Bible is the Inspired and true Word of God and therefore I accept what God had to say and continues to say, through His Church, on these matters.

15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
As I have known many people who have entered into mixed marriages of faith; and have seen that in all of those marriages there have been added stresses and struggles (in addition to the common and expected ones in any marriage) I would hope that my children will be led to marry others who share their Faith. That being said, if our child were to chooe someone whom they felt God has led them to marry and that person were of another faith, we would fully support them in wedding, so long as it did not lead our son or daughter to sin (for instance, getting married outside the Church). We, in fact, DO have a son-in-law who is not Catholic and we love and accept him as a member of our family just as we do our daughter-in-law, who IS Catholic.

16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
I believe that Salvation comes through Jesus Christ.
I believe that the fullness of faith and belief in Christ on earth is found in the Catholic Church and that all Salvation comes through Him and His Church. However, the mercy of God is an infinite fountain of love and I know that Jesus will accept any and all who profess Him and accept Him as SAVIOR before death...this grace and blessing upon the world comes through the fullness of His Truth and presence in the Church.

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 believe that sadly, there are many in the public domain who profess to be Catholic and yet live and act in such a way that is directly contradictory to the Teachings of the Church. For instance, one can not be "Catholic" and vote in favor of "choice" and "abortion". One can not be "Catholic" and vote to change the definition of marriage as being ordained by God between one man and one woman. Colleges that claim to be "Catholic" and yet invite speakers who are openly in defiance of the Teachings of the Church are not praciticing their Faith.

18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
I have never been the target of a "hate" crime.
I have, however, endured persecution because of my Faith and lifestyle within that Faith. In addition to being Catholic, we are a homeschooling family with 10 children. Sadly, there are many in modern society who think that these aspects of our living gives them right to judge, mock, disregard, and verbally attack us.

19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
I have never felt "devalued" by my religion.

20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Christ gives me peace of mind and inasmuch as He is found in my religion, then my religion also gives me peace of mind.

21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
No, I do not believe in reincarnation, if by that you mean the embodiment of a person as a new form after death.
I do not believe that a person, born in the image and likeness of God will be "reincarnated" and brought back to a life on earth in another form because Jesus taught that all persons will be "resurrected" body and soul to spend eternal life in heaven or hell.

JRR Tolkien Quote

Hello and Happy Wednesday!

Today's quote is brought to by JRR Tolkien:


Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.


There'll be a new post on Saturday so please check back!

Skeptitcher Rebbe

Hello and Happy Saturday!

First up I wish to thank Friko for her wonderful interview last week. Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us Friko!

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

Here Is Skeptitcher Rebbe's Introduction:


I grew up in a traditional conservative Jewish home and at a young age being Jewish was very important to me. As I grew older I began to see some of the hypocrisies of my Synagogue. At the beginnning of college career I became more involved in Jewish activities and events and ultimately began living as a Lubavitch Orthodox Jew by the time I graduated from my university.

Part of being a Lubavitcher is an emphasis on bringing other less observant Jews into the fold of Orthodoxy and to push them to achieve greater levels of observance. As I had a full time job, I decided that I am better suited to "help" Jews online in various internet forums. As I began to argue the case for Orthodox Judaism and Chassidus it became apparent that my arguments and beliefs were not as sound or rational as I had once believed. Over time with hours of frustration and continual research I was made aware of many serious problems to Jewish theology and ultimately decided to give up my faith in it, but not my lifestyle as an Orthodox Jew.

I currently am married to a wonderful and open minded woman and have 1 son and another on the way. Although she is still a believer and doesn't yet know the full extent of disbelief, I am slowly informing her of what I have learned and how it is affecting my beliefs.

A few months I also began blogging as a way to sort out many of the feelings and thoughts I must keep hidden in my day to day life in order to stay a part of the community I still wish to live in. It has been and continues to be a great adventure for me both emotionally and intellectually.

1) What religion do you practice?
I am a practicing Orthodox Jew (specifically the Chabad-Lubavitch Chassidic movement) however I do not believe in the basic tenents of Jewish and Chassidic theology. I do not believe in G-d(s) or any divine or supernatural beings or forces.

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 a Conservative Jewish household. I grew up with some Jewish practices, going to synagogue on Shabbos and holidays, observing many holiday rituals and we kept kosher to a high degree in relation to many non-Orthodox Jews. I became more religious in college and over a few years became a strictly observant Orthodox Jew. Over the last several months I have lost my faith in the truth of Jewish and Chassidic theology.

3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
Judaism does have degrees of observance. Being a practicing but non believing Jew also have the the same levels of observance available, however most non-believing Jews don't practice Judaism at all and those that do are more likely to be less observant rather than more observant.

Some defining differences would be whether or not Shabbos laws, Kosher laws and family purity laws are strictly observed or not. Other than that there are few defining lines that can be drawn between degrees, most differences are scaled in shades of gray.

4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
Currently I strictly observe a Chassidic Jewish lifestyle. Keeping kosher, shabbos, prayer, etc. I do so currently because this is the lifestyle I am most comfortable with. It is possible my lifestyle may change as my beliefs have.

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)
Afterlife is death. Your conciousness will cease and your body will biodegrade into the the natural enviroment. The memory of your life and actions may live on in the minds of those who knew or knew of you, but ultimately all life is temporal and we are mortal.

This however shouldn't be cause for despair, but a call for enjoying your life and to make the most of what we have and appreciate it.

6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Everyone's conciousness will cease upon death.

7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
My beliefs are just what I happen to believe. I can't choose what I find to be true or factual, it is either convincing for me or it isn't. It has nothing to do with it being a good fit or not. If I could choose my beliefs like I can choose food from a buffet line then I would explain, however my response to this question is the same response I suppose most would give to the question "What makes the fact that 1 + 1 = 2 a good fit for you?"

I don't think there is anything in particular that draws me towards an Orthodox lifestyle. It mostly has to do with the way I was raised. A combination of nostalgia and a close community that I enjoy being a part of.

8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Everyday is a day of great significance. I celebrate it by doing things I enjoy with the people I love and respect.

As a practicing Orthodox Jew, I also participate in the rituals of Jewish holidays, such as Shabbos, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkos, Chanukah, Purim, Pesach, Shavuos, etc. I enjoy the festivities and the relaxing mood these holidays bring on.

9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
If they are my friends then we are friends. I treat others with respect, regardless of religious affiliation. Beliefs aren't of much consequence to me with regards to my relationship with people. Their actions towards me and those I love and respect are what counts.

10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
I would depending on the situation. Currently doing so may hurt my relationship with my wife as she is a believing Orthodox Jew, so if she didn't approve of my participation I wouldn't participate out of respect for her and our marriage. I also wouldn't participate if doing so required me to do or say something that I either find immoral or contrary to my beliefs (such as sacrificing an animal for slaughter or singing a hymn in praise of Jesus). Other than those restrictions I wouldn't mind participating in the religious holyday or ritual of others.

11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I find a burka to be a symbol of suppression of individuality. I am not well versed in Shariah Law to give an informed opinion on it. I have heard that some Shariah Laws are cruel and unfair. I won't dismiss all of Shariah Law on the basis of a few bad apples, I would have to look into it and understand each law on its own and within its own context.

12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Many Orthodox communities have certain restrictions, namely that women are not allowed to be Rabbis, read publicly from the Torah at services, sing in public or teach certain religious subjects in certain settings. I don't care much for these restrictions. However I recognize that the lifestyle I am living and enjoy wouldn't exist in the same way were it not for these restrictions.

13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
Yes. I actually don't mind it so much. I am less self consious when only around men during davening. It feels more comfortable.

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?
Living as an Orthodox Jew affects my life in many ways everyday, from the way I dress, to what I eat, to what I can say in my community. It encompasses almost every aspect of my daily life.

My beliefs on abortion and gay rights are not developed nor controlled by my religious lifestyle, although it probably help shape it in some ways, as did my environment as a whole. I am for the most part pro-life, but I definitely allow for exceptions. I think that if a woman wishes to have an abortion it must be done in the first few months. After that I can't morally justify the rights of a womans choice of family planning over the rights of the baby still within their mothers womb. I fully support gay rights, including gay marriage.

15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
As long as they are happy and fulfilled and are not hurting others, I will fully support them.

16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
No, everyone ceases to exist after death, regardless of merit.

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?
Religion is mostly a group thing. It gets really complicated since most of the time there is no strict standard for who is and is not in a group, and even when there is a standard many times labels overlap and this causes conflict as to who is in your group or not. It is all pretty tedious and pointless really.

I don't identify myself with any belief system. I am a religion of one. No one claims to speak for me, and I don't claim to speak for anyone else.

18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
Not to my knowledge.

19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
Sometimes I feel less important within my Jewish community, however my own personal beliefs don't make me feel less important.

20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
My mind is constantly in struggle with moments of peace and clarity. I enjoy this arrangement and it gives me a sense of purpose and growth.

21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
No. There is no evidence supporting it.

Farley Mowat

Hello and Happy Thursday!

Today's quote is brought to you by Farley Mowat:

Inaction will cause a man to sink into the slough of despond and vanish without a trace.


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

August Interviews

Hello and Happy Tuesday!

Here's a sneak peek into the August Interviews:


We'll hear from Bill Webb/Jiryu who is a Buddhist, Adam who is a Pagan,
Jenny who is a Christian and Justin Whitaker who is a Buddhist.


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

Friko

Hello and Happy Saturday!

Thank you so much to Stephanie for her very enjoyable interview last week. I enjoyed reading your answers and I thank you for sharing Stephanie!

Today we have a new post so please welcome Friko.
Friko is Agnostic and I know you'll enjoy her interview as well!

Here Is Friko's Introduction:


I come from Germany and grew up in a rural environment where the Church played a major role in society. Catholic and Protestant, no fundamentalism at that time of any sort. This was not long after WWII and life was very hard. I was educated at girls' schools, mainly catholic, with only a few protestant children in the class. We had religious instruction and were obliged to attend a mid-week church service as well as a Sunday service.

I lost contact with the church during my grammar school education, mainly for political reasons. I could not reconcile Germany's recent past - although we were never taught about it at school and all my knowledge came from my own family - with some of the preaching from the pulpit. But as they say, once a Catholic, always a Catholic, the wrestling never stops.

I have lived in the UK for many years. Our household is liberal, law-abiding and pretty decent, I would say. Every member of the family is encouraged to think for themselves. We have religious and non-religious family members, Christians and Jews, several races, black, white and brown and although we do not always agree with each other, we give each other plenty of space.

http://frikosmusings.blogspot.com/



1) What religion do you practice?
I do not practice any religion as such, in that I do not attend any services of any church.
I would, however, consider myself to be 'a good Christian' in so far as I hope to follow the moral code prescribed by Christianity and most religions, if not all of them; I don't know of any religion which advocates moral and spiritual wrong doing. 'Christian', because I grew up in a world where Catholicism was dominant and I attended an exclusively Catholic school for the first four years of education. My background is very mixed, ranging from Catholicism, incl. a very religious grandfather whose sister was a nun, to another branch of the family who were mainly communist/socialist/left-wing political and anti Catholic church.

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 an agnostic, a searcher, and have yet to find a reason to make a decision. Certainty is not part of my nature, questioning is. I started this process when I was about 14 years old and have not found an answer to date. The reasons for breaking with Catholicism were political at the time and part of the background of the country I lived in. My disillusionment was then far more with the church hierarchy than actual faith itself.

3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
Not applicable

4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
Not applicable

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)
The concept of heaven/hell is not one I have any certainty of. When a person dies their body dies with them and their soul becomes one with the cosmos; this is what I would like to believe. As for reward and punishment, those are human-made concepts; I cannot believe that an omnipotent, all-embracing, all-understanding, all-forgiving entity would be petty in any human sense.

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

7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
I object strongly to this expression. Religion should not be 'a good fit'. Religion of any kind should not be adapted to suit the petty constraints or otherwise of man. If there is a God, man does not tailor him to suit his personal needs. That would be utterly presumptuous.

8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
The days of the Catholic calendar are still, even now, special to me and I celebrate them in the old-accepted fashion, in spite of not attending church services. My thoughts turn to the original meaning of these days and I will not allow them to become mere 'holidays'.

9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Most certainly. A person's faith is a matter for their own conscience, not mine.

10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
We would have to discuss comparative religions to answer this question in depth. I actually believe that those who worship God, worship the same God.

11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I don't know enough about Islam to be able to give a reasoned response. I will not rave and rant blindly. I would be very unwilling to wear the burka, for whatever reason.

12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Not in the Catholic Church, but the church of England is moving into the 21st Century. Personally, I can see no reason why a woman cannot be as good and devout a religious leader as a man.

13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
Pews are for all, women, men and children. That's a good thing.

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 daily life is not affected very much by the conscious thought of any particular religion. As I said earlier, I try to live a kind, decent, honest life. Basic human decency allows for weaknesses, wrong turnings, failings; we all go wrong at times. I have no problem with gays or lesbians, but I am not sure that a civil contract between people of the same sex can be called marriage. This is purely semantics; I would prefer it if a different expression could be found. This is probably due to my age and old-fashioned understanding of the word 'marriage'. I want to make it clear that I do not object on moral grounds. Abortion is such a huge and painful subject that I feel almost disinclined to answer. I cannot, simply cannot, believe that any woman would decide to terminate a life voluntarily, lightly, without the most agonising heart searching. But I will not judge; this is a matter for a higher judgment.

15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
It has happened, I am fine with it.

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? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
I don't quite understand the question. The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church; he does not necessarily speak for me.
Nobody speaks for me, I am an Agnostic.

18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No and I hope not to become one now, after filling in the questionnaire.

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

20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
No, on the contrary.

21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
I would so dearly love to be able to believe in reincarnation, it would be so comforting, so nice and cosy to know that this is not all there is.
Life is over in a flash, for the most part it is quite brutish, so a vision of an afterlife in a paradise of whatever religion would make up for the suffering in the here and now. I can give you no answer.

I would like to add that this questionnaire deals in certainties. The questions presuppose that there are definite answers and that we, fallible and ignorant human beings that we are, can simply lay our hands on them and produce them. That, I suppose, is what faith is.

I am afraid, I don't have the answers.

http://frikosmusings.blogspot.com/