A brief synopsis of my spiritual beliefs
(Though panookah 's puts mine to shame =P)
My spiritual philosophy falls somewhere between deism and full-fledged theism - I believe that a God of some sort created a universe (at least one universe) with the potential to harbor life (probably with the knowledge that life would arise), and more or less left things to develop on their own. While I do think that humans evolved from less complex life forms, I am of the opinion that this doesn't make our connection to the divine (unique among living creatures) any less sacrosanct. I believe that God is a laissez-faire sort of deity, who gives probability and free will control over our lives, perhaps intervening in occasional moments of mercy or righteous anger (for some reason, I find the thoroughly Old Testament image of God smiting someone with a thunderbolt very amusing xP). I know in my heart that this God wants us to display kindness and love, and will reward us for doing so, either in the form of an idyllic afterlife or good karma.
As for religion: I think that it is illogical to judge a religion on claims that it shares with other faiths (i.e. OUR sacred text is the word of God; OUR ruling deity is the one true God, etc), and somewhat idiotic to put stock in those claims when made by a given religion's doctrine, but not another's. The only basis upon which a particular religion should be evaluated is the worldview or code of conduct that it espouses.
I believe that there is an afterlife in which we are reunited with the loved ones we have lost - an afterlife in which we are closer to God. While I'm not sure whether I buy the concept of a "hell," per se, I'm sure that those who have committed grievous wrongs are made to atone, somehow. Or perhaps it pleases my desire for justice to think so. =P I'm convinced, though, that God judges us on the overall character of our hearts, as opposed to keeping a ledger of "sins".
My spiritual philosophy falls somewhere between deism and full-fledged theism - I believe that a God of some sort created a universe (at least one universe) with the potential to harbor life (probably with the knowledge that life would arise), and more or less left things to develop on their own. While I do think that humans evolved from less complex life forms, I am of the opinion that this doesn't make our connection to the divine (unique among living creatures) any less sacrosanct. I believe that God is a laissez-faire sort of deity, who gives probability and free will control over our lives, perhaps intervening in occasional moments of mercy or righteous anger (for some reason, I find the thoroughly Old Testament image of God smiting someone with a thunderbolt very amusing xP). I know in my heart that this God wants us to display kindness and love, and will reward us for doing so, either in the form of an idyllic afterlife or good karma.
As for religion: I think that it is illogical to judge a religion on claims that it shares with other faiths (i.e. OUR sacred text is the word of God; OUR ruling deity is the one true God, etc), and somewhat idiotic to put stock in those claims when made by a given religion's doctrine, but not another's. The only basis upon which a particular religion should be evaluated is the worldview or code of conduct that it espouses.
I believe that there is an afterlife in which we are reunited with the loved ones we have lost - an afterlife in which we are closer to God. While I'm not sure whether I buy the concept of a "hell," per se, I'm sure that those who have committed grievous wrongs are made to atone, somehow. Or perhaps it pleases my desire for justice to think so. =P I'm convinced, though, that God judges us on the overall character of our hearts, as opposed to keeping a ledger of "sins".