My Beliefs - Gods, Goddesses and the Energy of Life (or whatever you want to call it)
So, this is partially a working-out-what-I-believe post, and partially an experiment. I’m quite fickle, so I was curious to see what would happen if I wrote out my ‘beliefs’ one day, then go back to read them… a week later, or something. This all stemmed from a question during my tutorial today (the topic was Hinduism, no idea how we got onto this), and the following is something I wrote on the train home:
MY BELIEFS
“God” -one overall, supreme being who created all. No gender, image or personality. Simply energy. Inhabits all of creation - it is in and around everything (plants, animals, buildings, air, water, fire, earth…).
Gods and Goddesses - all gods and goddesses from all religions that ever have or will exist are ‘real’ in that they are all aspects of the one higher power, manifested into a tangible form so that humans can better and more easily understand it. Not necessarily all ‘sacred’ or ‘condoned by “God”’, but all ways humans have attempted to understand the higher power, through different points in history.
- Universal gods - Represent a common theme - something which shows up in most cultures/religions. Eg. gods and goddesses of life, death, celebration, fertility, harvest, knowledge, weather (general), war, peace, motherhood, etc.
- Specific gods - gods of a region, product or thing (eg. wine), profession, ritual or practice. Aka. a god or goddess which represents something unique to that culture/religion at that point in time, and doesn’t apply to other cultures/religions.
“Energy” - probably one of my stranger, and more difficult to explain, beliefs. The higher power which is both the Supreme Being and Creator, is also the life force of all things - their spirit if you like. But not only of living things - anything and everything in creation has spirit. There is a symbiotic relationship between the spirit and the creation because of this - each feeds off the other. Spirit is the energy of life, and that energy is returned (absorbed) into the greater whole when we die (or, in the case of plants/non-living entities [rocks, rivers, buildings] when they decompose/dissolve/crumble/reduce) because that energy is no longer needed to sustain our ‘life’.
But as that energy inhabits different things it is coloured or flavoured by that it inhabits. Energy inhabiting a river becomes… somehow water-elemented, etc. As conscious, living entities, what we choose and how we live determines how we colour our energy - hence energy could become good, kind, peaceful, angry, malicious or dangerous because of who/what it is in contact with. There is always a ‘pure’, greater whole of energy, and there is the energy which inhabits creation, which becomes coloured or tainted, and is then added back into the greater whole as new energy inhabits new creation. The two work through a cycle. The is always both - separate yet combined; unique yet deeply interlinked. Each serving its own purpose, yet both always necessary. Hence the energy of life is never destroyed - it doesn’t die with us when we die - but cycles through time. After all, science says that energy can never be destroyed, only changed, doesn’t it?
Spirits - ghosts, ghouls, apparitions, sprites, faeries, poltergeists, goblins (as in the mischievous, annoying things) - I believe in to an extent. Believing they can be seen pushes it for me, but believing they are there, manifestations of the energy of life, hiding just beyond our plane of sight - that is what I do. They’re like mini gods and godesses - they represent different aspects of the one higher power, but don’t have the history of worship that the gods and goddesses do (not to the same extent anyway). Some examples, and how they fit into my theory of energy:
- Sprites and Faeries (note I use the old spelling - mainly to distinguish between modern day children’s story fairies and the entities I consider as elemental representations - ‘faeries’) - elemental manifestations. Energy which has been coloured particularly strongly with ‘water’ could be manifested as a water sprite, for example. Like the gods, they represent a fraction of the higher power, though more as a representation of the creation and how it has affected the energy of the higher power, not the higher power itself. Not tangible; just energy.
- Ghouls (and all those negative ones) - Negative energy? Someone or somewhere or something which has done/experienced/been used for something terrible could have coloured its ‘energy’ negatively. Hence that energy is manifested as something like this.
- Ghosts - Maybe? Manifestations of “dead” energy? Someone who dies but won’t let go of their life energy and therefore the energy is somehow manifested?
- Poltergeists and Goblins (as in mischievous, troublesome spirits) - Maybe? More abstract idea of mischievous/harmful energy being manifested. Malicious energy, too, perhaps.
Though I said above that I don’t really believe that these ”beings’ can be seen, as such, I believe they can sometimes be felt. Because the energy of life flows through us and is us, we are able to feel the energy around us sometimes (some better than others - children better than adults, perhaps, because their mind, and imagination, is more open to such ideas) and hence sense these beings. From the feel of them we can get a general impression of them and, from that and our previous knowledge from mythology and fairy tales, we can form ideas of how they ‘look’ - not that there is any reason they would have an actual fixed form, being simply energy.
A point that is constantly brought up in my religion course is the idea of living religion - the things people do in their every day life as a habits or continual practice which is part of their religion. A Hindu, for example, doing puja every morning, or a Catholic going to mass every Sunday.
I don’t have any specific daily/weekly/scheduled thing I do for my beliefs. I do attend church every Sunday, but that is more because my parents go and it’s simply easier to go with them than have the argument about me not going (though I still follow Christian beliefs to a point, so it’s not like I’m completely against the religion, or am going to church for no reason). Rather, I have little… quirks, that most would consider part of my personality or behaviour, which show my beliefs.
For example, I would rather pick up a spider and take it outside than spray or kill it. If I was actually bothered to remove it, that is. I often play, briefly, with ants whenever they end up on me or on my table or such, trying to get the little thing to climb onto my hand, before letting them run off (not the best example, but it’s the truth. They amuse me, the little ones). I have a tendency to…compare and decide things according to my ‘gut feeling’ (which I usually assign colours to, but that’s an entirely different matter that would take way too long to explain). I greatly dislike doing anything that will affect, change or interfere with nature - even a small thing like picking up rubbish I see lying around, to campaigning for and donating money to environmental organisations (occasional, considering my age, available time and complete lack of money) to stop logging, and such causes. My hate of anyone who tries to ‘play god’ - genetic modification is a pet peeve of mine, though I recognise the necessity and advantages of some branches of the science.
I also observe the cycle of the moon, keeping track of the full moons and new moons. I remember, though not always celebrate, the festivals of the equinoxes and solstices and the lesser festivals that fall between them. I track the movement of the sun, moon and stars across the sky, though I’m no astronomer. All in all, I remember, observe and celebrate the yearly cycle of nature and the world around me.
There is more, of course, but this is a taste of the complicated and entirely weird mix of beliefs that I call my own. As I said, this is partly to work out my beliefs in my own head and partly as an experiment, but an comments on anything I’ve said would be most welcome. I’m still learning, and I always will be, and I’m always welcome to hear what other people think. Even if its the complete opposite of what I do.
The Crucifixion and Resurrection
Before he was arrested Jesus went to a mountain to pray to God because he didn’t want to die. However, he was willing to do God’s will, and hence, when the mob came to get him he went willingly. The mob, including soldiers and priests, was led by Judas, who had betrayed Jesus for thirty pounds of silver. The disciples wanted to protect Jesus, but he told them to stand down. Still, the high priest’s servant lost an ear.
Jesus was taken before the Council – elders of the people – and asked if he was the Son of God. He replied that he was the “Son of Man” and that he would soon be seated at the right hand of God. The High Priest became angry and sent Jesus on to Pilate, the governor.
Pilate, however, could not find Jesus guilty of anything. So he sent him on to Herod, who, soon enough, returned Jesus. He also thought Jesus was innocent.
At that time it was the Passover, during which Pilate usually released one criminal. Because he thought Jesus was innocent, he asked the people if they wanted Jesus released. But they said they wanted Barrabus, a robber and murderer. The people wanted Jesus crucified.
Because it was the people’s will, Jesus was then flogged, made to wear a crown of thorns and a purple robe and, eventually, carted away to Golgotha (the “Place of Skulls”) to be crucified. A random stranger, Simon, carried his cross. A sign was placed above Jesus saying “King of the Jews”.
The people gave Jesus wine to drink, so that he would live longer in case God came to save him, but God didn’t. When Jesus died, a nearby soldier said, “Truly, he was the Son of God.” To check that Jesus was dead, the soldiers speared him in his side and water and blood came out. This fulfilled several prophecies. Many people were at Jesus’ death, including Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James.
A rich man, Joseph of Arimethea, went to Pilate later on and asked for the body of Jesus. He then wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and lay Jesus in his own tomb then rolled a great stone across the entrance to the tomb. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were both there, sitting opposite the tomb.
Jesus, at one point during his teachings, had said that he would rise again after three days. So the chief Priests and Pharisees went to Pilate and demanded that the tomb be secured for three days, in case the disciples decided to steal the body and claim that Jesus had risen from the dead to prove that he was the Son of God. Pilate gave them soldiers and sent them to guard the tomb.
On the day after the Sabbath (Saturday), before dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb. When they arrived there the stone no longer blocked the entrance to the tomb and an had angel appeared. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead and is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.” (Mark) John says that the women did not see the angel first, but rather went to fetch some of the disciples.
Either way, Jesus appeared before his disciples (eleven of them), and showed them his hands and his feet which had been pierced with nails when he was crucified. Thomas would not believe that Jesus was alive until he saw the evidence. So Jesus spoke to the disciples, telling them to “proclaim the gospel” and “make disciples of all children” before he ascended into heaven.
(Written as a brief summary of Jesus’ arrest, death and resurrection for Youth Group this Sunday. The first half is more vague than the second, as I’ve mainly summarised last week’s lesson on the arrest and crucifixion. This is aimed at high school kids. Feel free to comment or question on what I’ve written - I’m still learning!)
The Arrest of Jesus
Jesus’ arrest was only possible because of one thing: he let them do it. True, Judas was paid 30 pounds of silver to betray him, and hence led the mob to Jesus, but he willingly went forward to meet his would-be captors, even telling the disciplines to stand down when they drew their swords.
Before he was arrested, Jesus went to a mountain where he left the disciples briefly to pray to God. He didn’t want to die – Luke says he prayed “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me.” However, he also followed that with, “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
When Jesus returned to the disciples he chided them for having fallen asleep, but then urged them to, “Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” (Matt 26:46)
Two of the first four books of the New Testament say that Judas kissed Jesus in greeting as a way to identify him for the mob, while the others claim that Jesus identified himself. Either way, Jesus was arrested with very little bloodshed – the high priest’s servant lost an ear – and completely willingly.
The first group Jesus stood before was the Council – elders of the people who consisted of the chief priests and scribes. Here he was questioned on if he was the Son of God, but, annoyingly for them, he replied: “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matt 26:64) This angered the High Priest Jesus was talking blasphemy against God! – so they sent Jesus on to Pilate, the governor, to whom he gave similar answers. Unlike the priests though, Pilate could find nothing for which Jesus was guilty.
According to Luke, Jesus was then sent to Herod (because Jesus was a Galilean and Galilee was Herod’s jurisdiction) and although Herod and his soldiers mocked Jesus, he still sent him back to Pilate.
At that time it was the Passover (which celebrates the story of Exodus, in which the Israelites flee their slavery in Egypt) and it was Pilate’s custom to release one criminal whom the people asked for. Because he did not think Jesus was guilty of anything, and because he thought the priests had arrested Jesus purely because they were jealous of him, he offered to release Jesus. But, instead, the crowds cried out for Barabbus, a robber and murderer. When Pilate asked what he should do with Jesus, the crowds yelled back that he should crucify him. This is because the priests had been riling the people up, to get them to say what the priests wanted.
So, because it was what the people wanted, Pilate took Jesus to be flogged, and the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns to put on Jesus’ head, and gave him a purple robe. He was brought out before the Jews once again, but they still wanted him crucified and talked Pilates into doing it for them. So Pilate sent Jesus to Golgotha (“Places of Skulls”), with Simon, a passerby, carrying his cross for him. Jesus was crucified between two criminals, with the soldiers throwing dice for his clothes and a sign above him reading, “King of the Jews”.
In Matthew, Mark and John Jesus is given wine to drink from a sponge so that he would live a little longer, because the crowd wanted to see if God would come to save him. According to Luke, Jesus cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” while John writes that Jesus said, “It is finished,” before he died. In all accounts but John, the centurion who watched over the cross said, at Jesus’ death, “Truly, he was the son of God.”
(Written as a brief summary of Jesus’ arrest and death for Youth Group this Sunday. This is aimed at high school kids. Feel free to comment or question on what I’ve written - I’m still learning!)
for being an atheist i say oh my god, oh god, oh lord and jesus christa disturbing amount.
Sign of the times, perhaps?
(Source: wyatted, via dont-be-obvious)
Apologies for the language, but I agree.
(Source: zorascreation, via harrypotterfacebookconvos)
