Hello folks. I feel I've been out of the witness organization long enough to have developed some pretty good idea of what my beliefs are now in regards to a higher power and organized religion that I felt comfortable to share it with you , my friends here on JWD. I respect you all have your takes, religious and non- religious, but just wanted to share a little of myself with you folks , wondering if any of you have felt what I feel. This way you'll get to know Mr. Flipper a little better and I'm interested in all your thoughts too.
First of all , in regards to a higher power , I do have a belief in something up there above that is causing the seasons to change , sun to shine, planets to orbit in the universe, rain to make vegetation grow , and generally make this earth a planet in which we can breathe , live and choose to enjoy life. Whether I call him or it, God, the great spirit, like the native americans did , I feel something is watching over us. But I feel it seems he or this power just lets us work out our situations in life , and it's up to us what you or I will make of our life. He or it does not control our life, or will not save us from ourselves or bad decisions, but the flip side to that is we get to relish and be happy with our good decisions in life ourselves. In regards to good and bad , I tend to lean toward the Buddhist view only in the expression , " What goes around comes around ". In other words if you treat people bad, eventually it will come back on you. May take awhile , but bad Karma will get ya. And the opposite is true. If you do good to others , in time those good things you do will eventually bring good things to you. Not always perhaps, but generally speaking.
Also, personally I do not believe in any organized religion . The reason I feel that way, of course as you can imagine is being messed over by the unjust Witness religion , but for me it goes much deeper than that. The problem I see with all organized religions is each one thinks they have the right way of life and recommend that to others. Each has a set of beliefs in which they expect their members to adhere to and control these members thinking. So if one member wants to say, " think outside the box " or belief , they are looked at as a threat or danger to the others belief system. In other words, it appears there is no room for compromise. The reason I can't think that way is I feel in life we are faced with many situations in life , that , depending on the time, circumstances, and other variables could be handled in various different ways for your own or someone's benefit. But with most religions, a view is either black or white. Right or wrong. I feel there are many gray areas in life that come into play, that demand us to use our thinking ability to reason on , not just printed rules put out by a church to tell us which way to go. I feel if a person needs a religion with other people in it, to comfort them, and identify with, then that's great , for them . But I also feel God or the great spirit, higher power or whatever will help your life just as much, if you look to this source one on one, in a personal way as many have. I guess I have just seen too many alledgedly "religious " people in my life feel they are a notch higher than non-religious people, because they believe in " God ". At times one of the first things they will be sure to tell you, " Oh, we're christians ! We go to such and such church. " Then I say, " Hi, I'm Mr. Flipper, I don't go to church, but ya know, I get just as much happiness out of life as you do ! " I'm being tongue in cheek here, I don't say that, but have felt like saying it before. Anyway I respect ya all and your takes, my wife and myself are very happy with what life is giving us. So , how do you guys feel about the higher power issue and organized religion ? Feel free to express yourself either way. All replies will be answered. Does anybody feel like I do? Or, if not express that too. Should be interesting ! Peace to all of you, Mr. Flipper