Philosophy Post #1

Chapter 1

Philosophy of Religion, & how I found mine.

So here at UCA, I've been taking a Philosophy class (which just so happens to be my favorite class). Right now we are in the Philosophy of Religion--and I have figured out some things that were nagging at my brain for awhile now.

I never thought religion in the south was quite right, especially in Cabot. College has definitely shown me that I was right--it really isn't right. There is so much corruption in churches here...don't even get me started. Before I get into this huge post though, I need to make things clear:

1. I'm going to be posting a lot about philosophy here now, it's really inspiring and thought provoking to me. When I title something "Philosophy Post #whatever" I'm basically saying "This is congruent to a discussion board, please leave comments and TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!" I cannot explain the importance of your feedback. Without feedback and discussion, this is just me blabbering on about my views on things to (figuratively) a wall. I have 34 followers--some of you must have an opinion somewhere down deep inside.

2. About feedback, please only offer intelligent responses. If you're going to tell me I'm wrong--back it up. I've learned a LOT about arguments and how to find & destroy bad ones. Not saying that I'm right about everything, just that I don't want things like "YOU DEVIL WORSHIPPER" in my comments because that's just hateful and would fully prove that you haven't really read & digested my post.

3. Things I talk about in Philosophy posts will not agree with the beliefs of the general public. Just as a warning.

SO now that housekeeping is done, let's get down to it--

I am a Pantheist.

Pantheism-the doctrine that God is the transcendent reality of whichthe material universe and human beings are onlymanifestations: it involves a denial of God's personality andexpresses a tendency to identify God and nature.

(dictionary.com)

In English-- God is nature. He is all around us and identified as the universe itself.

(myself)

More specifically, I believe that God created the universe, but he is also a part of it. He is the life.

I can see things in nature, even my own hands, and honestly say I have seen God. There are some things that are just too beautiful to just be a natural process. I believe God is a supernatural being who is within and part of the natural world (i.e: Identified as the universe itself).

When I was a child, probably 9 or 10 years old, I was in the car with my Pa-Buddy (grandpa) and my little brother. We were coming back to my grandparent's house, and it was nearing sunset. The dying sunlight cast upon all of the trees made them the most brilliant green I had ever seen at the time, ethereal emeralds. Just as an observation, I said "Green must be God's favorite color, because it is everywhere" and my Pa-Buddy just started smiling and said "from the mouths of babes!" and I remember being extremely confused at the time, but I understand it now. From my point of view, God has always been an intrinsic part of the world we live in.

That is a memory that has never left me. The only place I have ever seen that brilliant green again was on Highway 25, at sunset. Coincidentally this is only a few minutes from where I was when I was a child and saw it. I'll never forget how vivid it was.

Let me make one thing clear, if it hasn't been clear enough. Pantheism is a completely and totally different belief than Atheism. Atheists believe that God truly does not exist. The way I view Pantheism--I can find God in anything I see. I'm just separate from organized religion for personal reasons.

Within the past two or three years, I had come to realize I didn't agree with a lot of what "Christians" here in the south believe. I stopped identifying myself with them a long time ago. I still believe that a man named Jesus died for our sins. I still believe he saved me, and that there is a heaven. I just do not believe that God sits up there and watches us all the time. He is part of us, and our world.

I love going to church, but not just any church. A genuine one. I need to find one of those. It's seemingly impossible to me, at least in Arkansas. I want to go somewhere where I will truly believe the person preaching, and it won't just be me who believes them. I want to go somewhere where people listen, and develop their own opinions on the beliefs of the preacher. I want to go somewhere where people are really getting the message. Which raises the question of "how many people will believe that you really have the conviction in what you believe?"

I'm Spiritual, not Religious--but if I have to pick one, I'm a Pantheist, and quite proud of it.
Please let me know what you think :))