Pants are only a barrier to my Enlightenment.

[bratenfrau]

So this is my life, it would seem: spending all morning at work trying not to strangle my boss, and all afternoon counting down the hours until I get to go the fuck home. Sound familiar? I'm sure I'm one of about 216 million people (oh, wait, strike that: 1,524,014 people!!! Take THAT, Very Stupid Education Writer!) who spends every last minute

Comments

[f_o_n_y]

i'm not religious, but i do believe in trying to be an ethical person. i also believe that there is a profound human energy which we all add to and draw from.

our job is to add more good to that energy than bad.

[bratenfrau]

That's a mighty fine maxim for living your life. So as far as ethics are concerned, are you simply a Golden Rule kinda gal? Or is there some more specific set of general rules for life you try to adhere to? And do you believe in a god? I'm fascinated by this kind of thing.

And jeez, I'm just now realizing how unFriday a topic this is. :)

[f_o_n_y]

i think the basis of ethical laws is that you don't hurt other people, so i try to stick to that. i think everybody's entitled to happiness however they define it, so i do my best to not get in the way. i'm far more likely to walk away from an ugly situation than stay and add to the negative energy surrounding it.

no, i don't believe in god. i think that having a god (especially in the christian sense) takes a lot of responsibility away from the individual. the idea of sinning your whole life and repenting at the end is bullshit; i'm more a fan of karma.

i have fairly strong buddhist leanings, i guess. the dalai lama is one of the few spiritual leaders i really respect. i don't necessarily believe in reincarnation per se, but i do believe that the energy we create persists forever.

[bratenfrau]

Interesting. I think you and I actually believe virtually the same stuff. And if there's one thing I don't like to hear, it's people hanging all the responsibility on gods. I call it the Reverse Superbowl Syndrome: whenever somebody wins a game, they give god all the credit; yet when they lose, it's their own fault (although usually it works the other way around for most people, hence the 'Reverse' part).

Also, immutable, unconscious forces of Karma are so much more trustworthy than fickle, smiting, bearded, Charlton-Heston-lookin' gods, no?

[bratenfrau]

SUCH a cheater. With the links and the whole making-me-read-more-than-a-paragraph-comment shit. ;) I'll get myself up to speed on the inner workings of your soul anyway.

[bratenfrau]

It's a novel I'm beginning to read now. ;) Were you really excommunicated?? That's so badass. You're like the frickin' Pope uh Avignon ovah heya!

(ha)

[saigon_ch]

Its hard to explain my beliefs. I was raised in a Catholic/Lutheran home. (Fun stuff let me tell you)

I guess I never really believed a lot of the teachings. Right now I am in the process of converting to Judaism because well its hard to explain. I believe in a powerful force. Not a man up there sitting around on a cloud with lightning bolts (all though thats is pretty cool to think about)

I believe we are all responsible for our own good and evil. I don't believe "satan" can make you do anything you don't want to do. I don't believe in Satan.

You have to be a good person. First to yourself and to others. Live life to the fullest because there is no dress rehearsal.

[bratenfrau]

Thanks for that. Actually I was thinking of you while writing this (and our discussions about Judaism). So my question is: you have to be a good person... or what? Do you believe in a punishment/reward system of any sort? Heaven? Hell? Lightning bolts?? Scratch that last one. :)

[saigon_ch]

I dont believe in the modern heaven and hell. I think we all return our spirits into a great energy of light and darkness. How we led our lives depends on how close to the center we are. The center is warm light powerful energy. (I so need a thesarus to describe that) After time, our souls can progress closer and closer to the warmth. I think that souls for new people are taken from this center warmth and light and put into new people. That is why you can meet a person and have this instant connection as if you were soulmates. (friends can be soulmates too) Because perhaps you ended up with pieces of the same soul. So I guess its a form of reincarnation of sorts

[bratenfrau]

It makes perfect sense. :) Thanks for the insights, I appreciate 'em.

[deathbytamarind]

I am currently rocking capris at Casual Friday. Pants be damned!

Good luck with the job thing. I will put out positive vibes for you.

[bratenfrau]

Thanks for the well-wishing (and pantsfree update!). You didn't answer the question, but I'll assume that was on purpose. ;)

[deathbytamarind]

I missed the question! Faith? Faith no more

[bratenfrau]

Well said. Thanks for that (and sorry for the minimal arm-twisting). :) So clearly you still believe in Jesus... do you believe he's a savior of the world and all that, or is it irrelevant now?

[lilysnowflower]

First of all. I refuse to discuss this until you kindly separate me from the multi-celled organism. Please and thank you :D

[bratenfrau]

But you're the wicker man's head! And boobs! The multi-celled organism needs you!!

(Ok, fine. You're extra-super-cuddly-wuddly-special. There. I said it. :) )

[lilysnowflower]

I will weigh the heartfeltness of this sentiment and get back to you after the weekend.

[lilysnowflower]

I can't stop making up words, man. Have a good weekend. The scarecrow's heart will miss you :)