Yesterday, Part 2
So, with yesterday's bit of wisdom in mind, I pose myself a question (out loud here, because I'm interested in open opinions from those who are inclined to share such). Knowing that religion is not going to go away, and that it's not going to stop screwing lives and ideas over, intentionally or not, I have to make a choice. How do I intend to live under this shadow?
I can't very well rail against it as I have (imagined myself) been doing in the past. That's a useless waste of spiritual, intellectual and physical energy.
I won't join up. Sure, it would be great to go for a dip (again) and come up in this great sea of cheery love and harmonious coexistance (stick with me here, it's hypothetical). The problem would be that I would soon realize (again) that the philosophy of nearly any religion I might join will broadside not only my sense of social ideals, but also my compassion, my intellect, and my morality (wait, I have morals??).
As a person who has chosen to develop as an individual in a world of societies and communities and churches and groups, I've done a really good job of isolating myself. I function alone, maybe not strikingly well, considering my current state of affairs, but I do continue, and shall until I die. So the question is not "How will I get there?" It's simply my nature to go on, and I know that, eventually, one way or another, sooner or later, I will arrive. That's not a concern.
No, the real question for me right now is, "Where am I heading?"
Hah, pretty damned easy question to ask. People ask it to themselves all the time. I have just been so focused on going somewhere that I had not really looked at where I'm actually headed.
I have to take this question as a totality, as well. Kids graduating from high school ask this question, and it's usually in reference to choose college, or tech school, or work, or whatever. That's only part of my question. I have to consider not just my physical destination, by my spiritual and intellectual as well.
I think it boils down to the understanding that I have defined myself. With this definition, I have my point of reference from which I can address and value the rest of existance. I find this definition of self too small for my liking, and so I have to find other things to which I can relate...
I suppose this is the point where someone pipes up with, "Go where ever you want to, Bill."
I can't very well rail against it as I have (imagined myself) been doing in the past. That's a useless waste of spiritual, intellectual and physical energy.
I won't join up. Sure, it would be great to go for a dip (again) and come up in this great sea of cheery love and harmonious coexistance (stick with me here, it's hypothetical). The problem would be that I would soon realize (again) that the philosophy of nearly any religion I might join will broadside not only my sense of social ideals, but also my compassion, my intellect, and my morality (wait, I have morals??).
As a person who has chosen to develop as an individual in a world of societies and communities and churches and groups, I've done a really good job of isolating myself. I function alone, maybe not strikingly well, considering my current state of affairs, but I do continue, and shall until I die. So the question is not "How will I get there?" It's simply my nature to go on, and I know that, eventually, one way or another, sooner or later, I will arrive. That's not a concern.
No, the real question for me right now is, "Where am I heading?"
Hah, pretty damned easy question to ask. People ask it to themselves all the time. I have just been so focused on going somewhere that I had not really looked at where I'm actually headed.
I have to take this question as a totality, as well. Kids graduating from high school ask this question, and it's usually in reference to choose college, or tech school, or work, or whatever. That's only part of my question. I have to consider not just my physical destination, by my spiritual and intellectual as well.
I think it boils down to the understanding that I have defined myself. With this definition, I have my point of reference from which I can address and value the rest of existance. I find this definition of self too small for my liking, and so I have to find other things to which I can relate...
I suppose this is the point where someone pipes up with, "Go where ever you want to, Bill."