"Inspired by Tee..."

Tee over at "The Diva's Random Thoughts" posted a topic the other day in which she asked questions. I have spent a great amount of time thinking about them.  My Mom and Dad were never very religious people... but when we were kids, they did insist that we go to Sunday School... later I went to church... and even became involved in various activities in my church... Hell, to the point where I mentioned to my once-upon-a-time-wife that I might go to seminary.  She told me bluntly that if I did that, she would divorce me... Hell, she divorced me anyway, so I guess I should have gone!


As I've aged, I've shifted from being 'religious' to being more 'spiritual'...

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religious [rɪˈlɪdʒəs]  

adj

1. of, relating to, or concerned with religion

2.

a.  pious; devout; godly

b.  (as collective noun; preceded by the) the religious

3. appropriate to or in accordance with the principles of a religion

4. scrupulous, exact, or conscientious

5. (Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) Christianity of or relating to a way of life dedicated to religion by the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and defined by a monastic rule

n

(Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) Christianity a member of an order or congregation living by such a rule; a monk, friar, or nun

religiously  adv

religiousness  n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

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spir·i·tu·al  (spr-ch-l)

adj.

1. Of, relating to, consisting of, or having the nature of spirit; not tangible or material. See Synonyms atimmaterial.

2. Of, concerned with, or affecting the soul.

3. Of, from, or relating to God; deific.

4. Of or belonging to a church or religion; sacred.

5. Relating to or having the nature of spirits or a spirit; supernatural.

n.

1.

a. A religious folk song of African-American origin.

b. A work composed in imitation of such a song.

2. Religious, spiritual, or ecclesiastical matters. Often used in the plural.

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I'm not sure that the definitions helped a great deal...  afterall, I do believe it's what one feels inside and how one acts that goes greatly toward defining who and what that person is...


I guess when I claim to be 'Spiritual' and not 'Religious,' I am making the distinction about not being all caught up in the finer details of what makes one a Baptist... or a Methodist... or any of the other World's religions...


I do belive in a higher power... I do believe in God... but from that point on, I start to struggle a bit...


I have found that over time, as I read and learn more about different theologies, I've found myself 'cutting-and-pasting' from them and creating my own 'Shoesology.'


I've read several of Gary Zukav's books... he is best known for  'The Seat Of The Soul'...

It's been a while since I have read this book, and I may need to go back and re-read... a great deal of what he espouses in his writings seem to greatly mirror Hinduism... especially from the concept of reincarnation.  My buddy, KP, Hindu and Dot-Indian, tells me that Hindus believe that one can be reincarnated forward or backward... so if in this life time as a human, there is a life lesson that you can learn better as a dog, a cat, or a rat, or a whatever, that is what happens... Zukav is of the opinion that everyone is reincarnated forward.  Of course, there is no evidence/proof that any of this happens.  I think having a belief system... some kind of tenet... just helps one adjust as he/she moves through Life.

Zukav and the Hindus agree that one lives and is reborn over and over until something akin to the 'perfect Life' is attained.  From that point, they then ascend to Nirvara or some other Heavenly Bliss... of course, if that is true, then what happens once we reach that level?

I have been visited in dreams by my friend, Barry, and my former mother-in-law.  I say visited, because in those dreams, each said or did something to address something in our lives/relationships that had not been finished.  I believe that my Dad intervened the night that I was prepared to take my Life...  now on that night, Dad didn't appear in any form or fashion, but instead, in a comment that kept playing over and over in my head.


My son, BoyShoes insists that my Mom... his grandmother, was sitting at the foot of his bed reading him a story... and that when he sat up in bed, she put her finger to her nose to have him remain silent.

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Who really knows, Tee... what is out there?  Scientists are saying that Outer Space is the last great frontier, but I'm just not sure.  Of course, I'm not in any kind of hurry to make that journey!!

~shoes~