3/13/11

Belief.

- A state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing.

- Something believed; especially a tenet or body of tenets held by a group.

- Conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon especially when based on examination of evidence

People have several different beliefs. That's what makes diversity. It would be a sad, dull world if we all believed in all the same things. How would we learn from each other? Everyone's peripheral thoughts and ideals would be so narrow and limited that no one would have creativity. The definition of belief was striking to me. "...habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing". When you ask America what their belief is, what do they tell you? "Oh, I'm Christian". Okay....but what is your belief? "Oh, well, I'm protestant". Typical response, yes? When we ask people what their belief is, naturally we tell them the one thing we believe in that is most important to them---their religion. Not who they believe in, but rather...what they believe in. If you walk dahntahn and ask someone what their belief is they are not going to say "God"....or I wouldn't think they would. Chances are they will say "My belief? I believe God created [insert biblical verses] and that He shall rise again and [insert more biblical verses] and that one day we will all be [insert inspirational biblical verse]. That's my belief" Okay....so maybe not that extreme. But point being, especially in America, our substance of belief has come to what we think is the single most important object that we have come to "believe" is what shapes us. And for many, it is our religion. Or is it God? Or is our spirituality? [GREAT segue coming up!]

ONE: Per earlier discussion, beliefs are meant to challenge one another. Thus...I don't care if you disagree with any of these points. In fact... I wish some of you will disagree! (hence the whole point of the prompting picture).

So, controversial belief numero uno is.... Religion is not Spirituality; Spirituality is not Religion. A peculiar fact is that we don't see this whole notion of "spirituality" outside of America. Why are people in Europe and other countries religious or irreligious and yet Americans have this self-developed third category called "spiritual"? Are Americans special? Or is it rather that distinction is really just a product of American culture?

Why, of course! The term itself came to be used in the 60s when there were widespread revolts against every form of organized authority (surprise surprise) including "organized religion". Every establishment and system of authority was thought to be corrupt and evil, including those which were religious. Ah, but of course, Americans weren't prepared to abandon religion entirely (would it really be America if we gave up so easily). So, hence the creation of a new category which was still religious, but no longer included the same traditional authority or evil supremacy---Spirituality.

Many people can surely be spiritual and not have any religious affiliations. Well...take me for example! Spiritual? Yes. Religious? Ehhh....uh....errrrr.......not really. I don't really affiliate myself to one organized religion. I don't feel I need to. I am spiritual and may believe in some of the core values that a "religious" person may believe. I still have a belief. I have a belief that God is our savior--the same belief a protestant, baptist, catholic, etc. believe. Sure, religious people can be spiritual...but I've seen many people be "religious" and not actually spiritual. To fathom the depths of the Scriptures of the various religions across the world, one would need to dive deep into the pearls of wisdom contained in the various sacred Scriptures of the world. Spirituality is, in my opinion of course, oblivious of a religion. In terms of spirituality, one needs not to go to a mosque, temple or a church in search of God. I can stay home on Sunday and still find God in my life. It is contemplation and contemplation only which shall lead someone to the Almighty God... Not what organized religion tells you to do to find Him. I believe spirituality and religion and separate, and that one can live without religion but not without spirituality. Spirituality forms the central core of every living being. It is the spirit within every human being that we exist as physical form on this planet (yes, even that douche that you think doesn't have a soul!). We may or may not indulge ourselves in understanding religion or spirituality, but inherently every living person pursues some kind of spirituality in every manifestation they desire. Spirituality is a fundamental of life which cannot be ignored. Every soul has spirit. I'm not talking no cheerleader, loud, obnoxious spirit, but the very spirit that is dormant in ourselves. It's there....and its not religion. Even religious people have spirit...but to mix the two and call them one is just foolish, yo.

TWO: Being gay is not a choice. I don't care what you think. I've said it before, and I'll say it again.... If I had the choice to live a straight life versus a gay life....what do you think any normal person would choose? Would any person, religious or not, really pick of lifestyle full of ridicule, stereotypes, and negative stigma?

So a guy has a substantial amount of money (point being, money isn't an object) and is looking to buy a car. He has the choice to buy a nice looking new, modern, sporty, solid car....or a very different looking car that a majority of society would deem unnatural or too different. Surely, he would get many weird looks if he chose that second car. Perhaps even given stereotypes if he picked that car. He knows he could choose the first nice-looking car and fit in with the rest of America. That would be an easy choice. But why on earth would he choose the second car that would perhaps make life harder on him purely based on society's reaction to the car?

Well...why would I choose this lifestyle when, if I did in fact have a choice, could choose a straight lifestyle where I could go down the street holding hands with a women and not get any different looks or remarks about it. Why would I choose a life where I can't even walk down the street too close or god-forbid holding hands with another guy and get a negative feedback from society.

I've told people this before, and again, I will say it for the purpose of this message: I sometimes wished I was dead instead of having to life this gay lifestyle forever. Don't you go calling no suicide hotline, that was in the past. In all seriousness, I can't stress enough of the frustration of the notions regarding choosing this lifestyle. Don't even get me started on "just praying about it". No...I'm going to stop there before I go on a long...long tangent. Honestly, however, I did wish a lot that I would just be stroked dead instead of living this socially unacceptable lifestyle. This isn't just something I can choose and if I don't like it I can return it, or try something else. There is no receipt for being gay--no exchanges, no returns.

The definition of belief stating "Conviction of the truth of some statement . . . especially when based on examination of evidence" Well...I wasn't going to go there, but if I must. To all who have held us up against the wall telling us it's not how we were born and God wouldn't make mistakes like us... tell me what the genetic leads scientists are finding are all about. It is difficult to make this claim with research being in its infancy stages, but it is definitely a start in the conversation about the "gay gene". Whether you believe this gay gene or not, it is definitely something is gaining attention, and I do hope that it will prevail and prove once and for all that people don't just choose a lifestyle of mockery, pillory, bashing, stigmas, and eternal damnation. We just don't. What I would give to have a normal lifestyle and to have a normal family where other families wouldn't look at my family as different....and where my children won't have to worry about what their friends would think about them having two dads. I would never intentionally make my child go through a life of fear from what his peers may think of his family. How could I live knowing my child is too scared to bring anyone over because he doesn't know what to say when they ask where his mom is. In fact...this is why I struggle to reason having children. But...that is far into the future and a whole new discussion.

I'll close with this: I'm sick and tired of people holding their beliefs too close to their heart (and minds) to the point of being so totally oblivious to other beliefs. There is no ultimate supreme belief than another. Different beliefs are what makes us different from one another and makes us think outside of our own perspectives that we've been shaped to think as. I'm open to all discussion on different beliefs, but when it comes to criticizing beliefs rather than intelligently arguing on them, it becomes risible and suddenly not worth the effort to get into. Take these words as you wish, but remember that your beliefs can be far different than mine...but guess what, that's okay. A good listener tries to understand what the other person is saying. In the end, he may disagree sharply, but because he disagrees, he wants to know exactly what it is he is disagreeing with. I believe attempting to fathom all of the different beliefs is part of reconciliation of knowing our differences. In fact, I'd go as far as to say the very purpose of existence is to reconcile the strong opinion we hold of ourselves with the appalling things that other people think about us. New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not already common. Which is okay! People don't understand that new opinions are controversial and worth the discussion, because they are not common. Lastly, if a man isn't willing to take some risk for his opinions, either his opinions are no good.....or he's no good.