My daughter Sarah interviewed me for a World Religion class assignment. Hope she is not sorry she asked me. . . Here are the Qs and As.

Who or what is God to you?

I believe that God is the sum of all souls living and dead. What we call God is the energy through which life exists and is sustained.

Do you believe in life after death?

Yes, but not life as we experience it now. I believe that when we die we join the group consciousness and are one with everyone and everything that has ceased to exist in tangible form, exists now, and will exist.

 Do you pray? Meditate? How often?

Although my beliefs differ from traditional Judeo Christian dogma, I am a product of my upbringing as a Roman Catholic. I do pray, asking the group consciousness for help, strength, favors, forgiveness, etc. I also meditate but not as Buddhists or Hindus do, to achieve a higher state of consciousness. I meditate to relax and to re-energize my body and mind. I pray and meditate daily.

Do you feel religious belief or lack of it significantly affects a person's outward behavior?

I do. Religion serves our culture as a sort of moral and ethical roadmap that comes from a power higher than human law. For many, it defines what is right and what is wrong, what is considered acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Therefore, lacking religious beliefs, and fearing only human consequences or rewards for one's actions, I believe most people might act irresponsibly and unkind to others because they do not fear divine retribution (being sent to hell) or reward (the other place).

Do you feel that the course of world events is guided by some spiritual power?

Not in the sense that God orders events to happen in a particular way at his discretion. Mankind makes its own bed and then has to sleep in it. However, I do believe that a critical mass of people who believe in the same principles (the group consciousness) can create a wave of acceptance for actions they take causing others to be swept up in the strength of their faith.