Friday, April 27, 2012


FROM FUNDAMENTALIST TO FREE

"Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth."  - John F. Kennedy
Many of you know that my spiritual background is that of a fundamentalist Christian, who literally believed every word of the Bible:  Every story, every event, every person listed in that Good Book.  However, I have undergone many paradigm shifts through the last years, and my beliefs have changed considerably.  

Before going any further, let me just say that I know many religious people who are extremely satisfied with their chosen beliefs, and whose lives exemplify love and service.  They are healthy individuals who eat the meat and spit out the bones of religion, rather than being choked by them.
 
As for me:
My concept of God has expanded from an anthropomorphic view.  I now see God in everyone, regardless of whether they have “invited” him in.  I believe in a Divine Consciousness; a cosmic, universal oneness.  I believe that those who have gone before us are still available to us, so that we can tap into their collective wisdom.  One of my favorite problem-solving meditations, in fact, has me seated at a table with admired souls from history (including my beloved grandparents), who all make themselves available to help me find a solution!  I believe that certain persons throughout history are true spiritual masters, having evolved to such an extent spiritually that they set the supreme example of love, compassion, and peace for the rest of us.

As for an afterlife, reincarnation makes the most sense to me.  When I read about out-of-body and life-after-death experiences, these seem to confirm reincarnation to me.   I also believe that part of what happens in the afterlife is based on what we expect to happen.  It makes sense to me that souls who have adhered strictly to a certain religion would congregate together in the afterlife.   I no longer believe in a literal hell where one is tormented and tortured eternally, with no hope of relief.  I believe that we view, experience, and judge our own actions once we leave this body, and that if more time is required to learn specific lessons, further events will be experienced until we evolve spiritually.   To me, this is much more in line with a philosophy of love than the notion that people will be eternally cast into a pit of darkness for simply failing to adhere to the “correct” set of beliefs.

My goal is to learn absolutely as much as I can during this lifetime.  I want to study and grow, exchange thoughts and views with other people.  I will never again allow any one person or group to dictate to me how I must live or what I must believe.  If I encounter philosophies in the future that make more sense to me than my current ones, I AM FREE TO CHANGE MY BELIEFS…. AND SO ARE YOU!

There is one person to whom and one person for whom you are completely responsible:  YOU.  What others think is best for you, what others think is "The Truth," and even what others want for you is irrelevant.   Everyone is molded and bound by something; the trick is not to allow anyone else’s baggage to bind YOU!    Have you ever wanted to _______?  Is it your secret passion to ________?  As a child, did you feel driven to ________?  Well today is your lucky day!  Because YOU are the one with the ambition and the power to make ________ a reality! 

I have found that The Big Three can be either incredibly beneficial or unbelievably harmful as we walk our road:  Faith, Family, and Finances.  These can either embolden us to live out our dreams, or trap us into a fearful, unsatisfying life.   
“My faith does not allow _____.”  
“My family would be horrified if I _____.”   
“I could never afford to _____.”   

Once you discover who is REALLY in charge, these excuses no longer hold water.  If your religion keeps you from living your dreams, it is time for a DIVORCE.  If your family’s love for you is dependent upon you believing a prescribed doctrine, you both need some shaking up.  And if your finances are currently too limiting to live your dream all at once, you do it the same way you would eat an elephant:  One bite at a time!  Start today.  There are always small steps you can take on the pathway to living your dream. 

SET YOURSELF FREE!   Drop limiting beliefs and limiting people.  Surround yourself with those who support you.  Only read, watch, and do what absolutely inspires you!  One day you will take your last breath.  Until then, I urge you to squeeze every bit of life from every minute you are given!  Don’t waste your valuable time trying to live up to anyone else’s expectations or beliefs.   Learn what it takes to make your own dreams a reality, and get on with it.  If no one else believes you can do it, I DO.  Send me a postcard when you get there.

10 comments:

  1. That is beautiful, Janice. You sure have knocked down the walls of "the box". This blog reminds me of something I said to you the other night..."I want to surround myself with people that think I am amazing...and choose to see only the best". I too must take this philosophy and apply it to how I see others as well... I hope your family and friends see this transition in you as liberating and positive...you are more inclusive than ever, mama Jesus, and He would be (is) proud of you.

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    1. Thank you, my sweet friend. The road has been interesting, glad you have been my companion along the way. xo

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  2. "Divorcing Religion" must have been a hard moment for you.It's a huge step and takes great courage to question the beliefs that served as your foundation and security in your life, (especially when new beliefs can alienate you from the friends and family you love.)I applaud your courage to poke your head beyond your comfort zone. I wish you the best in your quest to better understand life...and yourself. Most of all I hope you can appreciate the beautiful person you are. You bring light into the world Janice. I'm proud to have you as my friend.

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    1. Thanks for the kind affirmation, Trish. Life is never dull, that's for sure. It is helpful having friends who are compassionate and encouraging!

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  3. I really can relate to what you are saying and totally agree with living life to the fullest!

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    1. Thanks for reading my blog, Brenda. Nice to know others can relate! HERE'S TO LIFE! Sometimes messy, never dull.

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  4. Amazing, boldly embrace pure selfishness and bring anarchy into the world. If you have a “secret passion to” _______ rape, murder, steal, abuse insert anything you want, “today is your lucky day!” You can make it a reality! Is your faith in the way, well then throw it away. Would your family be horrified? Who cares all that matters is me, what I want, what I desire, me me me me me me. We need more people to stand for those struggling to embrace their inner sociopath.

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    1. What confidence you have. That ______rape, murder, theft and abuse, I can only assume that you mean only the most deviant for your example, are all automatic natural consequences to the discarding of those stone aged beliefs that you call religion. Embrace your inner sociopath? Those are pretty tall claims, considering how easy it would be for me...no, no...for you!, to gather compelling evidence to the contrary; that almost all sociopaths, rapists, (mass) murderers, and child molesters, embrace one form of organized religion or another. And before you wag that tongue of yours, Hitler was a practicing Catholic. Atheists don't fly planes into buildings, and Priests should not be allowed access to little boys. So come on. I can find the evidence...Dare to look deeper.

      And one more thing. YOU...who ever you are, should look closely into that mirror of yours, and ask yourself this one thing..Do I ______only refrain from raping my neighbor, then pushing him into an on coming train, because my bible tells me so? I would hate to think that that's all that's standing in the way of someone's safety...sociopath indeed.

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    2. Hmmm... I have not checked my comments in a while. Interesting point of view, Anonymous. It is disturbing that you gravitate towards violence as a "secret passion." I hope that you can come to terms with your own fears and be relieved of them through personal evolution, which is actually what this post was all about. I wish you only the best in this life.

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