chuck@hyster.DEC (Hyster::Hitchcock 264-6540) (12/11/84)
Newsgroups: net.singles Path: decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-hyster!hitchcock Subject: Singles, Faith and What Works Posted: Tues 11:55:00 12/11/84 > The reason there are so many different sects is that they > disagree on the biblical validity of each other's stands on > a wide range of issues, including those of interest to > single adults. Martin has an enlightened attitude. To participate fully in one's religion yet remain aware of its relativity is a sign of someone who is in touch with how fragile beliefs actually are. What I haven't heard yet in this discussion is, How does what you believe work for you? As someone who actively belongs to a pagan religion, I find that what I believe directly affects who I become involved with. My tradition has a strong element of being "caretakers of the Earth." My SO is part of a native American Indian tradition with a similar bent. We meditate, do rituals to celebrate our connection with the elements, go to Pagan gatherings, and generally work toward healing ourselves through our own human energy. The fact is, orthodox religions (especially Christianity) promote dominance over the earth, focus on divinity outside yourself (rather than coming from within) and hierarchical structure (rather than a decentralized form of organized chaos, which is more typical of contemporary pagan religions). Martin may be the exception to this, but as someone who has a Masters in Theological Studies from a Methodist Seminary, I can tell you from first hand experience that he is the exception, Jeff is the rule. So what works? Well, I say that paganism is a more appropriate religion for singles for this day and age because it promotes the freedom to experiment with developing an equal partnership between you and your SO, it opens you up to our inherent aloneless in the world rather than masking it with a god who intercedes on your behalf (so you are confronted with developing a relationship of harmonic tension: seeing your SO as wholly other and a projection of your inner self, yet connected with you psychically in a way that goes beyond physical limitations). And ultimately, it forces you to take full responsibility for your actions especially in relationships because, to quote an old pagan saying: What you send out to the world, returns to you many times. And THAT belief has some pretty aMAZing affects with your SO in a world of deteriorating relationships. Chuck ARPA: hitchcock%hyster.dec@decwrl.ARPA ENET: HYSTER::HITCHCOCK